MCH Group with a good result
- Operating income of CHF 323.9 million, group profit of CHF 20.7 million: slightly up against the comparable year of 2009
- 80 MCH and third-party exhibitions with more than 15,000 exhibiting companies: strong market position of the internationally and nationally leading exhibitions
- Approximately 50% of the overall investment of CHF 430 million in the new hall at Messe Basel now been made: the project is running on schedule.
The MCH Group, which takes in MCH Messe Basel, MCH Messe Zürich, MCH Beaulieu Lausanne and several event services companies, can post a gratifying result for 2011. With the less busy exhibition schedule due to the individual exhibition rotas (this was a year with no Swissbau, which only takes place in the even years) the operating result and profit are below those of the previous year, as had been expected. Despite the still difficult economic conditions, it nonetheless proved possible to boost the operating result and profit to above the figures for the comparable year of 2009.
With operating income of CHF 323.9 million (2010: CHF 366.3 million; 2009: CHF 285.5 million), the MCH Group's consolidated result for 2011 is an EBITDA of CHF 56.5 million (CHF 78.3 million; 2009: CHF 61.1 million) and a group profit of CHF 20.7 million (CHF 37.4 million; 2009: 19.9 million).
Investments totalling CHF 79.6 million were made, including CHF 64.2 million for the new hall project in Basel. At the end of the 2011 building phase, some 50% of the overall investment of CHF 430 million in this project had thus been made. The project is running on schedule and is on budget for completion in time for the opening of BASELWORLD 2013.
The operating income from exhibitions organised by the MCH Group itself or as part of a joint venture, accounted for 69.4% of the company group's operating income in the reporting year. A further 9.7% is accounted for by the infrastructure rental business (without MCH exhibitions) and 20.9% by the event services field (Rufener events Ltd., Expomobilia AG, Winkler Multi Media Events AG). All in all, 9% of the MCH Group's operating income was generated abroad.
The consolidated total assets at the end of the year under review were CHF 743.9 million, with liabilities of CHF 440.6 million and shareholders' equity of CHF 303.3 million. The equity ratio is 40.8%.
In the course of the financial year, the price of the MCH Group's registered share fell by 19.8% from CHF 47.70 to CHF 38.25. One of the reasons for the decline in the share price is the capital increase which was successfully completed in May 2011.
Positive exhibition figures
The majority of the exhibitions staged by the MCH Group itself - and particularly the internationally leading world shows of BASELWORLD, Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach - ran in a highly gratifying manner, testifying to their strong market position. If the figures for the individual exhibitions are compared with those for the last time round, a positive picture emerges. The number of exhibiting companies and visitors rose, and there was also an increase in the gross exhibition surface.
In 2011, the MCH Group was involved in a total of 80 exhibitions. Alongside the 33 MCH exhibitions and joint ventures, there were also a further 47 third-party exhibitions. Seventy-seven exhibitions were held at the three MCH locations of Basel, Lausanne and Zurich. More than 15,000 exhibiting companies took part in the 80 exhibitions, which attracted almost two million visitors.
The continued expansion of the exhibition portfolio constituted the main focus of the group's development last year. Alongside the majority holding in Asian Art Fairs Limited and Hong Kong International Art Fair, it proved possible to launch several new exhibitions at national level. A key role is played here by the synergy potential created through the integration of MCH Beaulieu Lausanne, which has been wholly owned by the MCH Group since November 2011.
Motions to the general meeting
The Board of Directors will submit a proposal to the General Meeting on 7 May 2012 for the payment of a dividend of 5%.
In addition, the Board of Directors will submit a proposal to the General Meeting for Dr. Karin Lenzlinger Diedenhofen, Werner Helfenstein and Dr. Ulrich Vischer to be confirmed in office as members of the Board of Directors for a further term of two years. The Board of Directors will propose to the General Meeting that KPMG Basel be elected as statutory auditors for a term of office of one year.
Further information
Publication of the 2011 Annual Report: 13 April 2012
General Meeting for 2012: 7 May 2012
Internet
www.mch-group.com
Media release
http://www.mch-group.com/en-US/News/Media/MediaMCHGroup.aspx
Figures for events, group income statement, group balance sheet
http://www.mch-group.com/en-US/News/Reports.aspx
Media contact
MCH Group Ltd.
Corporate Communications
Christian Jecker
+41 58 206 22 52
christian.jecker@mch-group.com
