Record revenue of €216.1 million, €3.4 million in net income, 74 trade fairs, 2 million visitors
In 2006 Koelnmesse posted record figures in terms of revenue (€216.1 million), the number of events staged (74 trade fairs in Cologne and abroad) and the number of visitors welcomed to Cologne (almost 2 million). The consolidated companies concluded fiscal year 2006 with profits amounting to €3.4 million — a result that was considerably better than expected. The positive forecasts of last January were confirmed by the Annual Report, which was presented to the press by Mayor Fritz Schramma, Mayor of Cologne and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Koelnmesse, and Herbert Marner, President and Chief Executive Officer, on June 21, 2007, in Cologne. According to the report, "2006 was the most successful year in the company's history."
Schramma praised the company's "excellent results," which means "there's no reason to fear our competitors in Germany." The mayor said the excellent results of 2006 were due to "a healthy mix of existing trade fairs and a total of nine premieres." Herbert Marner also pointed out that the company is moving in the right direction: "We have everything it takes to continue the positive processes we've started. Our top priority will be to further develop the leading fairs in Cologne while expanding the international scope of our business through the events we stage in growth markets abroad.
Revenue increased by almost 6 percent compared to previous events Koelnmesse posted €216.1 million in revenue for 2006, the highest figure ever reached in the company's history. The previous benchmark, which the company established in 2001, was just under €206 million. The total increase in revenue was just under 19 percent compared to 2005. The consolidated companies' revenue from the events held in 2006 marked a 5.9 percent increase over the revenue from the respective previous events. Instead of the slight loss that was predicted at the beginning of the year, the annual balance sheet shows net income of €3.4 million. Koelnmesse's earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA) amounted to €24.5 million. Koelnmesse GmbH contributed revenue of €154 million to the consolidated balance sheet, and Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH posted revenue of €9 million. At €40.2 million, Koelnmesse Service GmbH posted the highest revenue in its history, as did Koelnmesse International, whose figure of €39.8 million includes the revenue of Koelnmesse subsidiaries abroad.
The final work on the Master Plan, which was still very extensive in 2006, accounts for most of Koelnmesse's investments for the year, which totaled €38 million. On average, 593 employees worked for the consolidated companies in the course of the year.
74 trade fairs, 32,000 companies, almost 2 million visitors The consolidated companies organized 74 trade fairs and exhibitions last year. Of these, 32 were own-company fairs in Cologne, 26 of which were organized by Koelnmesse GmbH and six by Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH. A total of 19 trade fairs were held abroad, and Cologne hosted 23 guest fairs. The large number of events that took place in 2006 was in part due to the favorable combination of the various trade fair cycles. Three trade fairs with a three-year rotation were held: Anuga FoodTec, IMB and Entsorga-Enteco. These events for capital goods were able to exploit the opportunities opened up by the new Northern Halls to a particularly high degree.
More than 32,000 exhibiting companies from over 100 countries attended the events of Koelnmesse last year, up by almost 8 percent compared to 2005. The number of visitors rose by 30 percent to total just under 2 million. They came from over 200 countries — another record-breaking figure.
Where does Koelnmesse stand today?
- The Master Plan, which included the modernization and partial new construction of the exhibition grounds, was concluded in 2006, long before the originally planned target date of 2010.
- Koelnmesse further refined its online services for its customers, as well as its internal IT processes. Koelnmesse's outstanding portfolio of services puts it in a leading position in the worldwide trade fair sector.
- In 2006, Koelnmesse staged four new events in Cologne and five new trade fairs abroad in a further demonstration of its innovative power. These included ProSweets, the international trade fair for suppliers of the confectionery industry, a successful own event developed by Koelnmesse. The scooter and motorcycle fair INTERMOT, which took place in Cologne for the first time, was one of the company's most important acquisitions in recent years. The company also further refined its leading trade fairs, such as the ART COLOGNE, which has been rescheduled as a spring event; imm cologne, in which Koelnmesse will cooperate with the industry to present the kitchen segment in a completely new way; Entsorga-Enteco, which has evolved very successfully from its predecessor, Entsorga; and INTERNATIONAL HARDWARE FAIR / PRACTICAL WORLD, which will be open for the first time to interested consumers from the do-it-yourself segment.
In 2007 these fairs will be joined by five new events abroad: the first satellite in the art segment, the ART COLOGNE PALMA DE MALLORCA, as well as Sweet & SnackTec China in Shanghai, Sweets Middle East in Dubai, Wine & Gourmet Macau and the International Sports Facilities Expo (ISFE) China in Beijing.
- In 2006 Koelnmesse continued to expand its international marketing network. With new companies in Thailand, the UK and Spain, it now has ten subsidiaries and foreign representative offices in more than 80 countries.
Revenue of €195 million predicted for 2007
Schramma and Marner both pointed out the challenges that Koelnmesse and the entire trade fair sector will have to face in the future. The competition between Germany as a trade fair location and the up-and-coming trade fair companies in the other European countries and Asia remains fierce. Brand-new fairs require several years of development before they can contribute to a company's overall profits, and the major sector trade fairs are increasingly reaching their respective saturation points.
The 2007 program comprises 70 events in all, including 44 of Koelnmesse’s own trade fairs in Cologne and abroad. Koelnmesse expects its consolidated companies to post revenue of approximately €195 million in 2007, amounting to an increase of more than 7 percent compared to the respective previous events.
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