The Messe Duesseldorf Group can look back on a successful 2000: its core business continues to flourish while its market position as a leading trade fair organiser remains secure.

With earnings of DM 29.334 million, consolidated sales for 2000 were DM 659.786 million (1999: 590.054 million). This is comprised of:

• Messe Duesseldorf GmbH: DM 548.101 million (1999: DM 423.730 million)
• BVV Fairs & Exhibitions Brno: DM 95.199 million (1999: DM 97.269 million)

as well as other participating interests of Messe Duesseldorf. Of Messe Duesseldorf's DM 548.101 million sales, 394.086 million were generated by proprietary events staged at the Duesseldorf venue, and DM 56.634 million by guest events and other sales. The merger with Messe Duesseldorf International GmbH added a sales share of DM 97.381 million.

Trade fair operations themselves were marked by very positive developments. In 2000, 43 trade fairs and exhibitions (1999: 41) were staged at the Duesseldorf venue, 22 of which were proprietary events (1999: 26) and 21 guest events (1999: 15). The net hall space occupied was 1,294,019 m2, which was 4.3 percent more than the previous year's 1,240,738 m2. The number of exhibitors rose to 29,594 (1999: 29,419), while the number of visitors increased to 1,827,408. This represents a rise of some 4.6 percent over the previous year (1,746,420). Compared to events in previous years, Messe Duesseldorf's own events staged at the Duesseldorf venue notched growth in all three categories: net hall space +8.1 percent; number of exhibitors +7.4 percent; and number of visitors +2.5 percent.

drupa 2000 made a considerable contribution to gross income. It was also the first event staged in the new Halls 6 and 7, which served to increase exhibition capacity by 30,000 m2 gross to a total of some 230,000 m2 gross.

The expansion in capacity was instrumental to this leading fair's substantial increase in exhibitors (+16.4 percent), net hall space (+16.2 percent) and visitors (+8.4 percent) compared to the previous staging.

In the year under review, the performance of other leading trade fairs such as MEDICA, boot, GDS, CARAVAN SALON as well as wire and Tube also surpassed expectations, with significant increases over previous stagings in some cases. Among trade fairs showing the most dynamic growth was notably ProWein, which welcomed 18 percent more exhibitors, attracted 33.8 percent more visitors and covered 29.7 percent more net hall space.

Highlights of 2000 included:

• Ongoing service improvements as a result of completion and commissioning of new Halls 6 and 7, introduction of a new logistics concept and increased use of the Internet as a communications tool.
• Organisation and operation of the German Pavilion at Expo Hanover and the Deutsches Haus during the Sydney Olympics.
• Involvement in the construction of a new trade fair and exhibition hall in Krasnaya Presnya, Moscow.
• Involvement in the expansion of the trade fair center in Léon, Mexico.
• Successful continuation of the Pudong project with an investment volume of $99 million together with Messe Muenchen GmbH and Deutsche Messe AG, Hanover.
• Founding of MD China in Hong Kong.
• Founding of CIDEX Trade Fairs PVT. LTD, an Indian subsidiary in Delhi, together with KölnMesse GmbH.

Due to the staging cycle, 2001 will be a less profitable trade fair year with sales of some DM 400 million and negative earnings for the year. Duesseldorf's event highlight in 2001 is the plastics fair K, staged every three years, which will make a significant contribution to gross income. Events to date in 2001 have performed as well as or even better than expected.

Duesseldorf, 3 April 2001

For more information:
Messe Duesseldorf GmbH
Ingo Lentz
Phone: +49 (0)211 4560-995
Fax: +49 (0)211 4560-8548

Further information