Currency Risks The Company has operations in a vast number of countries with many different currencies and is therefore exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations. The most important foreign currencies are the Swedish Krona (SEK), the Norwegian Krone (NOK), the Danish Krone (DKK), the U.S. Dollar (USD) and Pound Sterling (GBP). The exposure from the DKK is, however, limited as the currency is virtually pegged to the EUR. When entities within the Group generate revenues and incur costs in different currencies, they are subject to transaction exposure. In contrast to the leased business, where the nature of the business normally is local and the exposure consequently also limited, the fee business is generally subject to a relatively notable transaction exposure. This transaction exposure arises when fees are collected by entities located in another country than that of the hotel from which the fee originates and is mainly related to fees from managed and franchised hotels located outside the Nordics and the rest of Western Europe. Hotels in these regions with a large international customer base, however, generally adjust their room rates charged in the local currency to take into account volatile fluctuations in the EUR, Rezidor’s reporting currency, or the USD. As a result, the exposure to exchange rate fluctuations on fee revenue from Rezidor’s managed and franchised hotels is mitigated through the company’s policy to adjust prices based on fluctuations, except for food and beverage where Rezidor does not adjust prices.
All hotels use a reservation system that is set up and managed by the Carlson Group; for which the hotels pay a fee to the Carlson Group. The fees are collected centrally by Rezidor and paid further on to the Carlson Group. As these fees are paid in USD, the Group is exposed to fluctuations in the value of the USD, also affecting the leased hotels. For the managed and franchised hotels, this exposure is limited as the fees collected from these hotels in USD also are matched by an outflow in USD when the fees are paid further on to the Carlson Group. Rezidor also pays franchise fees to the Carlson Group for the use of the brand names as well as a minor portion of the marketing fees collected. These fees are all paid in USD. However, as the base for the calculation of the fees is the revenue of the hotels in local currency, the transaction exposure is limited. The Company presents its financial statements in EUR. Since certain of Rezidor’s foreign operations have a functional currency other than EUR, the consolidated financial statements and shareholders’ equity are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations when the income statements and balance sheets in foreign currencies are translated into EUR. The exposure on the consolidated equity is however lowered through the decision to not own any real estate as this reduces the total assets denominated in foreign currencies. Credit Risks At the local hotel level, the credit exposure is normally limited, as the accounts regularly are settled in cash or by accepted credit cards. Credits are only offered to customers under a contract and only to companies or registered organisations with a legal structure. Credit terms must be described in the contract and comply with the central treasury guidelines as described in the finance manual. As for managed and franchised hotels, a thorough background check of the hotel owner is made before entering into a new contract, including an investigation of the creditworthiness. The credit term is normally 30 days for both local hotel customers and for fees. The central treasury guidelines set strict rules for the followup of overdue receivables and for credit meetings. In some cases Rezidor grants loans to owners of Rezidor’s hotels, or to joint venture partners and associated companies in early
stages of new projects. The terms for such loans vary, but in principle there is an agreement on interest on the loans and the repayment schedule is based on the project opening and project progress. Cash not necessary for the normal course of business is deposited in a bank. Central treasury is responsible to coordinate the handling of surplus liquidity and liquidity reserves, and only central treasury or persons authorised by central treasury may engage in external investment transactions. Individual hotels and administration units with excess liquidity which cannot be held on accounts within the cash pool structure can invest externally only with the prior consent of central treasury and in accordance with the finance policy. According to the finance policy, the investments of surplus liquidity can only be made in creditworthy interest bearing securities, in securities with high liquidity, in investments/securities/deposits with short-term maturity, and, as regards deposits, only in financial institutions with a rating of A-1/P1 or higher. Liquidity Risks Liquidity risk is that the Company is unable to meet its payment obligations as a result of insufficient liquidity or difficulty in raising external financing. Raising of capital and placement of excess liquidity is managed centrally by the central treasury function. The Group has objectives for liquidity reserves, such as excess cash and irrevocable credit facilities, that the Group should have available at any time. The central treasury function monitors the cash position of the different entities within the Group on a daily basis to ensure an efficient and adequate use of cash and overdraft facilities. Rezidor has secured appropriate overdraft and credit facilities through a long term agreement with a leading European Bank with solid credit ratings. The banking structure provides a cross-border cash pool in which a majority of the cash flows within the Group is concentrated. Through this bank agreement, the Company has also secured combined overdraft and guarantee facilities with varied terms for a total amount of MEUR 105. In addition, the Group has credit facilities of MEUR 1.8 granted by other banks. Effective 1st June 2011, Rezidor favourably renegotiated the terms of its banking structure including the existing long-
13 Annual Report 2011
quently no impact on the income statement or equity. The main financing risk is related to Rezidor’s ability to control and meet the company’s off-balance sheet commitments under leases with fixed rent payments and management agreements with guarantees. Such fixed lease and guaranteed amounts have historically been agreed on a fixed rate basis with indexation as a percent of change in the relevant consumer price index, and are, therefore, not exposed to variations in the market interest rates. In addition, these commitments are normally limited to an agreed maximum financial exposure, which is usually capped at 2–3 times the annual guaranteed result under a contract or an annual minimum lease.
The Rezidor Hotel Group
Board of Directors’ Report