Starwood Reports Fourth Quarter 2008 Results
Residential
Residential fees in the fourth quarter of 2008 totaled $2 million compared to $6 million in the same period in 2007.
Selling, General, Administrative and Other
Selling, general, administrative and other expenses decreased 35.6% to $96 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2007. The decrease was primarily due to the Company’s continued focus on reducing its cost structure.
In the fourth quarter, the Company completed the second phase of its overhead cost reduction program, making significant reductions across several corporate departments and divisional headquarters. These actions have resulted in expected run rate savings of approximately $100 million. The Company anticipates completing the review of other functional areas, and implementing reductions in those areas, by the end of the first quarter of 2009.
Restructuring Charges and Other Special Charges, Net
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a $109 million charge, including approximately $30 million of severance and related charges associated with its ongoing initiative of rationalizing its cost structure in light of the current economic climate and the decline in activity in its business units. The charge also included impairment charges of approximately $79 million primarily related to the Company’s decision to not develop certain vacation ownership projects.
Loss on Asset Dispositions and Impairments, Net
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company recorded impairment charges of $64 million related to five owned hotels in which the carrying values exceeded their estimated fair values. In addition, the Company recorded a $22 million impairment charge to write down its economic retained interests in securitized vacation ownership notes receivable based on a change to the expected future cash flows as a result of the current economic climate.
Asset Sales
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company sold three hotels in Venice, Italy for net cash proceeds of $206 million. These hotels were sold unencumbered by any management or franchise agreement and the Company recorded a gain on the sale of these hotels of $124 million (net of taxes) in discontinued operations. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company sold the Westin Turnberry for net cash proceeds of $99 million. This sale was subject to a long-term management agreement and the Company recorded a deferred gain of $27 million in connection with the sale.