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| Nürnbergmesse Planning More Acquisitions Crisis mood? Not in the NürnbergMesse Group. "We're on course, " confirms Managing Director Bernd A. Diederichs, who expects a spot landing for the current business year in terms of the planned turnover and year-end result. With a few exceptions, the events in Nürnberg and at international venues have remained extremely steady and some of them are still excelling with between five and nine per cent growth for space. The fact that the attendance trend cannot match these figures does not surprise Diederichs. "The average drop of eight per cent for our own international events is absolutely within the scope of our expectations." The Nürnberg exhibition experts did not expect the high degree of exhibitor satisfaction, however. "Our exhibitions are mainly sending out an optimistic signal at present: Business continues, and there is a life after the crisis, " says Diederichs. He also wants to set this signal for NürnbergMesse and announces more acquisitions in Germany and beyond on the basis of the record results for 2008. The past business year 2008 was the most successful in the history of NürnbergMesse. Group turnover rose by 23 per cent over 2007 to reach 153.2 million euros. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA ) were 29.0 million euros (2007: 27.6) and the operative result (operating result plus profits from subsidiaries) 10.9 million euros (2007: 9.4). Despite the extensive investments of the past ten years and the high interest and depreciation burdens resulting from the over 90 per cent self-financed share, NürnbergMesse again achieved a balanced year-end result . 2008: above-average growth in all segments All segments of NürnbergMesse grew at an above-average rate in 2008, which enabled the group to achieve a record turnover a good twelve per cent above the relevant business plan. For example, turnover in the segment of own and partner events climbed by 27 per cent to 70.8 million euros. The directly related turnover in the exhibition services segment increased by 23 per cent to 25.5 million euros. The guest events segment grew by ten per cent to 35.7 million euros. The turnover of the CCN CongressCenter Nürnberg segment also climbed again – by 21 per cent to 12.6 million euros. "This good development confirms the decision to expand the congress capacities, which began with CCN Ost and is now being continued with the redesign of CCN Mitte. I am sure we will see more above-average growth rates in this segment in the coming years, " Diederichs is convinced. The development of the international segment was also convincing in the past year, where turnover was increased by 50 per cent to 8.7 million euros. The purchase of NürnbergMesse Brasil in April 2009 will almost double turnover in this business segment in the current year. A total of more than 27,000 exhibitors (international share: 37 %) occupied some 882,000 m2 of display area in 2008. 895,000 trade visitors (international share: 20 %) and 365,000 consumers attended 173 events in Germany and abroad. Here the Internet is an essential tool for exhibitors and visitors to prepare and follow up the exhibitions and create communities. 11,700 exhibitors are meanwhile present on the Internet with company information and product descriptions on the so-called ask platforms of the NürnbergMesse exhibitions. This service was used by 2.7 million users with some 18 million page impressions in 2008. "Due to the lively demand for our online services, we will continue to expand this segment in the coming years and at the same time anchor the lead nature of our exhibitions in this medium as well, " Diederichs announces. 2009: growth pause – no crisis Diederichs expects a spot landing in terms of turnover and year-end result for the current year 2009. "At the moment we have no reason to revise our plans made in late summer 2008. Although the variance between a very successful exhibition like IWA & OutdoorClassics with more exhibitors, sold space and trade visitors and Stone+tec with declining figures in these three categories is becoming greater, the growth balances out the losses. So we are at most making a growth pause, but there is no sign of a crisis at NürnbergMesse, " emphasizes Diederichs. Due to many exhibitions taking a scheduled break especially in the second half of the year, turnover will settle at approx. 125 million euros, the level of 2006 and 2007. Diederichs has no intention of taking a break when it comes to acquisitions: "We still have a few things in the offing even after the purchase of NürnbergMesse Brasil, especially in South America, but naturally in Germany and Europe as well." The latest acquisition of NürnbergMesse takes place as early as autumn this year: VOICE Days plus, a congress exhibition focusing on voice technology. "Here we are investing in a future issue and reflecting one of the Metropolitan Region's strengths at the same time, " says a delighted Diederichs, who as always revealed no details of the price paid for the event. "Other acquisition projects are currently being examined and we expect to report the success of one or another of these this year. Profitable and well-placed companies offer attractive opportunities particularly at times like the present." The event portfolio of NürnbergMesse is extended by altogether a dozen new exhibitions and congress exhibitions in 2009: four in Brazil, one each in North America, India and China, and five in Nürnberg. "The regional distribution makes it clear that Nürnberg remains a focus of our activity, " emphasizes Diederichs. Bernd A. Diederichs and his team are eagerly looking to 2010. "We will know more about this in the autumn. We currently expect to resume our growth path in the coming year and beat the record result of 2008. Assuming all hell doesn't break loose, " he adds as a precaution – and smiles. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Exhibition News :: home page |