PR Newswire/Les Echos/
Press Release
Paris, September 10, 2008
Accor confirms its commitment to Poland by raising its stake in the Orbis group
to 50%
As part of its hotel development strategy in Central Europe, a market with very
strong growth potential, Accor has announced that it has raised to 50.01% its
holding in the Orbis group, which is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Accor
, which had held a 45.48% share in the company since August 2007, recently
acquired an additional 4.53% stake at a price of PLN 55.4 per share,
representing a total investment of approximately 35 million euros.
A formerly state-owned company that was eventually privatized in 2000, Orbis is
Poland's historic leading hotel operator, with a portfolio of 62 hotels (12,000
rooms), including 42 operated under the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, ibis and
Etap Hotel brands. All of the properties enjoy outstanding locations in the
country's 30 largest cities.
A partner with Orbis since 1973 and shareholder since 2000, Accor has been
gradually increasing its stake in the company. From the outset, the Group has
been committed to working closely with Orbis teams, sharing skills and
expertise through franchise agreements.
In expressing his satisfaction with the transaction, Gilles Pélisson, Accor
Chief Executive Officer, said: 'Strengthening our holding in Poland's historic
hotel leader with its very high quality assets represents a unique opportunity
for Accor to develop its brands-especially in the economy segment-in Central
Europe's largest country, which enjoys excellent growth prospects.'
Orbis, which earned net profit of 41 million euros on revenue of 307 million
euros in 2007, will be fully consolidated as from July 1, 2008. In addition to
hotels, the company also has operations in travel services, car rental, coach
services and casinos, and has approximately 4,600 employees.
Accor was advised in the transaction by Société Générale Corporate &
Investment
Banking.
*****
Accor, the European leader and a major global group in hotels, the global
leader in services to corporate clients and public institutions, operates in
nearly 100 countries with 150,000 employees. It offers to its clients over 40
years of expertise in its two core businesses:
- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, ibis, all
seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands, representing more than 4,000
hotels and nearly 500,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically
related activities, such as Lenôtre.
- Services, with 30 million people in 40 countries benefiting from Accor
Services products in human resources, marketing services and expense management.
MEDIA CONTACTS
INVESTOR RELATIONS
Emmanuelle Baumgartner Alain Delrieu Sandrine Guendoul
Eliane Rouyer-Chevalier Solène Zammito
Media Relations Director Senior Press Officer Communications Manager,
Senior Vice President, Deputy Director,
Tel.: +33 1 45 38 84 77 Tel.: +33 1 45 38 84 85 Hotels Northern Europe
Investor Relations & Financial Investor Relations
Tel.: +33 1 45 38 18 17
Communications Tel.: +33 1 45 38 86 33
Tel.: +33 1 45 38 86 26
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