Report Publication Announcement • Mar 3, 2016
Report Publication Announcement
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Broadwater Park Denham Buckinghamshire UB9 5HR United Kingdom
March 2016
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to let you know that IHG's Annual Report and Form 20-F 2015 has now been published and can be viewed, together with a video from the Chief Executive Officer, on our website. Visit the online reporting centre on www.ihgplc.com for further details.
We are committed to delivering long-term shareholder value and, on Tuesday, 23 February 2016, the Board announced its intention to return US\$1.5 billion to shareholders by way of a special dividend with a share consolidation (Special Dividend) to be paid on 23 May 2016 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 6 May 2016.
This US\$1.5 billion return continues IHG's excellent track record of delivering sustainable and attractive returns to its shareholders. Since IHG's demerger from Six Continents PLC in April 2003 and following the payment of the Special Dividend, IHG will have returned US\$12 billion to shareholders, including US\$1.8 billion of ordinary dividends. IHG will have made additional returns to shareholders in nine of the 13 years that it has been a standalone public company.
I am also pleased to announce that the Board is recommending that the final dividend for 2015 is 57.5 cents per share, resulting in a full-year dividend of 85 cents per share, an increase of 10% compared with 2014. This converts to a sterling final dividend for 2015 of 40.3 pence per share and a full-year dividend of 58 pence per share (based on an exchange rate of US\$1.4267: £1.00 as at 19 February 2016). Subject to shareholder approval at IHG's Annual General Meeting (AGM), the final dividend will be paid on 13 May 2016 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 1 April 2016.
Tracy Robbins stepped down from the Board and her role as Executive Vice President, Human Resources, on 15 January 2016 due to health reasons. We have also announced that Jennifer Laing and Ying Yeh will retire from the Board following the AGM, having served on the Board for 10 and eight years respectively.
On behalf of IHG I would like to thank Tracy, Jennifer and Ying for their invaluable contributions to IHG over the years.
Jill McDonald, a Non-Executive Director, will succeed Jennifer as Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee.
continued . . .
* This document requires you to take action if you wish to receive an email notification whenever shareholder documents and information are available on our website (see the section of this document entitled 'Electronic communications' for more information). If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. This notification is not a summary of the Annual Report and Form 20-F 2015 and should not be regarded as a substitute for reading the Annual Report and Form 20-F 2015.
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If, in future, you wish to receive an email notification (rather than a letter on paper) whenever shareholder documents and information are available on our website, please register your email address at www.shareview.co.uk. You will need your Shareholder Reference Number, which can be found on your Form of Proxy to be sent to you in April alongside the Notice of AGM. We will then send you an email message each time we display a shareholder document on our website.
If at any time you want to change the way you receive shareholder documents, want a paper copy of a specific document, have any queries regarding this letter or are unable to locate the documents on our website, please contact our Registrar at the following address:
Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA
Telephone 0371 384 2132† (UK calls) +44 (0) 121 415 7034 (non-UK calls) 0371 384 2255† (textphone∞ for UK calls) +44 (0) 121 415 7028 (textphone∞ for non-UK calls)
The AGM will be held at 11.00am on Friday, 6 May 2016 at InterContinental London Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7QY. The Notice of AGM, which will set out the resolutions to be put to the AGM and information about the business of the AGM as well as further information relating to the Special Dividend, together with the Form of Proxy, will be sent to you separately in April.
The AGM provides a useful forum for direct communications with shareholders and I look forward to meeting you and answering any questions that you may have.
Yours faithfully
Patrick Cescau Chairman
† Lines are open 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays. ∞ Callers must have compatible equipment.
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