News about Holding Messe Duesseldorf GmbH

Date: 13.05.2004

Messe Duesseldorf reached its financial targets across the board in 2003. “Despite an unfavourable economic environment and a difficult event cycle, we met our forecasted goals and proved once again that trade fairs are a key medium”, noted Werner M. Dornscheidt at Messe Duesseldorf GmbH’s press talk on the financial statements. Further, he added that the figures underscored Messe Duesseldorf’s entrepreneurial power.

2003’s net income reached over €14 million, on consolidated sales of about €240 million. These results were generated by Messe Duesseldorf GmbH, accounting for nearly €190 million and pre-tax net income of approx. €6 million. These include sales of over €139 million from the Group’s proprietary trade fair projects in Duesseldorf, as well as the guest events and other sales, the international trade fair operations (not including foreign subsidiaries) of some €29 million and further participating interests of Messe Duesseldorf.

In 2003, 18 proprietary and 16 guest events were held in 17 halls with a gross area of 234,000 m², featuring some 24,000 exhibitors who presented their innovations to over 1 million visitors. Last year, the share of foreign exhibitors climbed to 58 percent; the share of foreign exhibitors climbed to 58 percent while 24 percent of visitors came from abroad.

The lion’s share of 2003’s earnings came from MEDICA, GDS, boot, iba, GIFA and CARAVAN SALON/TourNatur. NEWCAST and TourNatur both made successful debuts last year. Of the guest events, four were first-timers: Public Design, POWER-GEN Europe, ZUKUNFT KOMMUNE and GEV Getränke Fachmesse, whose successor event – the proprietary beverage trade fair bevex – will complement hogatec, Intercool, Intermeat and Intermopro from 2004.

In 2003, Messe Duesseldorf staged 22 proprietary events and participations, 49 events acting on commission and over 130 sales promotion events outside Germany. Thirty-nine percent of sales were generated in Russia. Sixty-four foreign representative offices serving 105 countries and 13 direct participating interests and subsidiaries around the world – specifically in China and Russia – comfortably reached their ambitious targets in 2003, reported Dornscheidt.

Lord Mayor of Duesseldorf and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Joachim Erwin confirmed the company’s outstanding international position: “Messe Duesseldorf GmbH’s activities around the world are a key factor in globalising Duesseldorf’s events. They set the standard for German trade fair organisers. At the same time, they are a major gateway for Duesseldorf as international trade and business center”.

Another major milestone in 2003 was the selection of Werner M. Dornscheidt, who stepped in as successor to Wilhelm Giese at the beginning of 2004. He intends to focus on further enhancing the company’s customer orientation within the scope of customer relationship management.

Fairs often have a counter-cyclical impact on the downswing in a sector, because chance encounters often prompt people to come up with astonishingly creative ideas and set projects in motion. As Dornscheidt explains, “In the age of globalised regional markets, a trade fair company’s value is no longer based on its fixed assets, but on a loyal customer base that grows down the years. Customer care will play an increasingly crucial role in the trade fair business and more than ever guide our every action”.

2004 will bring strong sales and earnings in line with the event cycle. Messe Duesseldorf GmbH anticipates sales of €300 million, for earnings after taxes of over €22 million. In 2004, 36 trade fairs (24 proprietary and 12 guest events) will be staged in Duesseldorf, and are expected to draw about 28,000 exhibitors and some 1.8 million visitors. Highlights will include mega fairs drupa and K.

WORD download of this news,
    Statements by Werner M. Dornscheidt and Joachim Erwin
    as well as videostream with original voices