In the first half of 2007, the consolidated earnings of the Swiss Exhibition Group rose to clearly above the CHF 200 million mark for the first time, to stand at CHF 221.8 million. Earnings were up 47% on this same period of the previous year, while first-half profits increased by about 130% to CHF 41.9 million. Alongside the group's own robust exhibition programme, this outstanding result was additionally due to its expanded business in the wake of acquisitions.
Swiss Exhibition can look back on an exceedingly gratifying first half for 2007. Consolidated earnings from 1 January to 30 June 2007 totalled CHF 221.8 million (same period the previous year: CHF 151.0 million) while first-half profits stand at CHF 41.9 million (CHF 18.2 million).The balance street structure as per 30 June 2007 shows total assets of CHF 472.0 million (as per 30 June 2006: CHF 431.3 million). Outside capital of CHF 286.2 million (CHF 264.9 million) is set against equity of CHF 185.8 million (CHF 166.4 million).
Gratifying course of business
The expected clear increase in the result has been exceeded by a considerable margin. Two key factors can be seen as being responsible for this marked increase over the previous year. A number of exhibitions are held on a rota basis, and 2007 was a year in which a large number of the company's own exhibitions came round again. Swissbau, in particular, which is only held every two years, had a positive impact on the first-half result for 2007. Apart from this, subsidiary Expomobilia AG, which has been part of the Swiss Exhibition Group since 1 January 2007 was included in the consolidation.
In addition to this increase stemming from rotas and acquisitions, most of the company's own exhibitions - including BASELWORLD, Art Basel, Swissbau, GiardinaZÜRICH and Swiss-Moto - upped their performance indicators compared with the previous time, thus highlighting their strong position and pronounced acceptance in their markets. Business at subsidiary Winkler Veranstaltungstechnik AG was highly positive, with double-digit growth.
Year-end earnings in excess of CHF 300 million for the first time
Given that the exhibition programme differs from year to year and that the group was expanded by Expomobilia AG, a direct comparison with the previous year is only of limited information value. The first-half results also cannot be extrapolated to the end-of-year result on a linear basis, since there are always more exhibitions in the first half of the year than in the second, which includes the months of July, August and December, when few events take place. In addition to this, more money is spent on maintenance and repairs for the exhibition hall infrastructure in the summer months. The prediction that the annual accounts for 2007 could show income in excess of CHF 300 million has, however, been bolstered by these first-half figures.
Media contact
Christian Jecker
Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +41 58 206 22 52
MCH Swiss Exhibition (Holding) Ltd.
CH-4005 Basel
The press release can be downloaded from the following link:
