30.11.2009 Messe Frankfurt remains profitable in 2009

Sales once again in excess of €400 million – further acquisitions announced – new events to be held in Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt continued to perform extremely well in 2009. “Even in this very difficult environment, we will generate a considerable profit”, said Michael von Zitzewitz, Chairman of the Board of Management of Messe Frankfurt, presenting the preliminary figures for the 2009 financial year. According to current projections, consolidated sales for 2009 will be €423.5 million. Von Zitzewitz: “This is on a par with 2007 and as such is most satisfactory”. Once again, roughly a quarter of Group sales (€90 million) have been generated outside Germany. Von Zitzewitz expects profits before tax to be in the region of €30 million.

At 92 trade fairs all over the world, Messe Frankfurt played host to more than 62,800 exhibitors and 3.2 million visitors. Approximately 1.7 million square metres of net exhibition space were booked.

In the current financial year, 31 trade fairs and exhibitions were held in Frankfurt, comprising a total of 1.19 million square metres of net exhibition space and attracting some 37,900 exhibitors and 2.25 million visitors.

Messe Frankfurt’s 14 own events were attended by 19,000 exhibitors and 740,000 visitors. The total exhibition space rented amounted to approx. 823,000 square metres. At the Group events organised by Messe Frankfurt Exhibition, international exhibitors accounted for 67 percent of the total, while international visitors comprised 38 percent.

In addition to the trade fairs, the 76 congresses and conferences organised by Congress Frankfurt made an important contribution to maximising the capacity utilisation of the exhibition grounds. The Special Events department oversaw 55 events at the Frankfurt venue. These included 32 events held in the Festhalle, a particular highlight being the German Gymnastics Festival.

A total of 54 trade fairs were held abroad, attended by more than 850,000 visitors. The total exhibitor count was over 22,300, while the net exhibition space booked was in the region of 468,000 square metres. Michael von Zitzewitz observed that the Group’s event business in China has been very encouraging. In the second half of 2009, Messe Frankfurt's Chinese trade fairs outperformed previous events in terms of almost all key figures. Prime examples of these include Guangzhou Lighting and Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics and – outside China – Beautyworld Japan as well.

Expanding long-term business through acquisitions

In the coming months and years, Messe Frankfurt intends to use its financial strength to generate acquisition-led growth. “Where suitable opportunities arise that fit with our business, we will use them to fuel our growth”, stressed von Zitzewitz. One of the main areas of focus will be on securing new events for the Frankfurt base.

At the same time, Messe Frankfurt is developing its business abroad by means of acquisitions. In September, the company acquired a majority interest in the Taiwanese A&S Group, a leading organiser of security technology trade fairs in Taiwan and Vietnam. Michael von Zitzewitz: “This not only allows us to strengthen our Intersec brand, but also to invest in a field that is growing in importance worldwide and to gain a foothold in a promising new region”.

The third focal point in the event business is the need to sustainably secure in-house and guest events. For example, together with the German Publishers & Booksellers Association, Messe Frankfurt succeeded in extending the long-term contract for hosting the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Investments in the Frankfurt exhibition grounds

This year saw Messe Frankfurt further optimise its home venue with the official opening of the new Hall 11 and the Portalhaus entrance building.

At the same time, a photovoltaic system was installed on the roof of Hall 10. Following the great success of this project, the photovoltaic area is currently being expanded.

Since 1999, the company has invested over €800 million in modernising its site. Michael von Zitzewitz: “Frankfurt can boast one of the best exhibition grounds in the world without having had to subsidise it”. Now that the new hall has entered service, all major construction work on the exhibition grounds has been completed for the moment.

2010 “set to be a difficult year” – sales growth forecast

Michael von Zitzewitz expects 2010 to be a difficult year. “The entire exhibition industry must face up to the economic and structural changes in the markets in which we offer platforms for trading and interaction.”

The company will continue to streamline and optimise the organisation at its Frankfurt headquarters. It intends to boost event business both in Frankfurt and abroad. “We have every confidence that, in the coming year, we will be able to increase sales and pave the way for sustainable and profitable growth.”

Background information on Messe Frankfurt

Messe Frankfurt is Germany’s largest trade fair organiser, with 424 million* euros in sales and more than 1,500 employees worldwide. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 28 subsidiaries, five branch offices and 52 international Sales Partners, giving it a presence for its customers in more than 150 countries. Events “made by Messe Frankfurt” take place at more than 30 locations around the globe. In 2009*, Messe Frankfurt organised more than 90 trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.

Comprising an area of 578,000 square metres, Messe Frankfurt’s exhibition grounds are currently home to ten exhibition halls and an adjacent Congress Center. The company is publicly owned, with the City of Frankfurt holding 60 percent and the State of Hesse 40 percent.

For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com

*Preliminary figures for financial year 2009

 

Contact
Messe Frankfurt GmbH
Markus Quint
Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1
60327 Frankfurt
Tel. +49 69 75 75-59 05
Fax +49 69 75 75-58 83
pr ess messefrankfurt .com
www.messefrankfurt.com