I believe you meant w(t) = 261(1.06)^t, where " ^ " indicates exponentiation.
The projected annual growth rate comes directly from the "1.06" in this equation: It is 0.06, or 6%.
2009 is 9 years past 2000, so let t=9.
Then w(9) = 261(1.06)^9 = $440.95 million.
This is the projected company worth in 2009.