Annual Report 2015

Overall, according to information provided by

organisers, the 25 guest events held at the location

in Cologne involved more than 7,800 exhibitors and

over 370,000 visitors.

Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH, the wholly-owned

Koelnmesse subsidiary specialising in guest events

and other events, concluded the 2015 fiscal year

with new records in sales and result. Contributing to

this, among other things, were the successful

acquisition of the FESPA trade fair, the leading event

for the screen printing, digital printing and textile

printing community.With 65,000 m

in take-up of

gross hall space, 700 exhibitors and around 44,000

international visitors, at the location in Cologne,

FESPA was able to set a new fair record for visitors

and exhibitors.

In the existing-customer business, FIBO, with 725

exhibitors and 138,000 visitors, as well as the

sixth edition of the EUROBAUSTOFF-Forum with

40,000m

of exhibition space, was again able

to provide for very good economic results.

Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH was able to

generate sales of EUR 15.8 million with the market-

ing and rental of available hall capacity to national

and international trade fair organisers, companies

and event agencies; this sales amount was 18.8%

higher than had been forecasted. The company

achieved a surplus of EUR 7.2 million before profit

and loss transfer; here, too, it significantly outper-

formed the expected amount of EUR 4.6 million.

The trend in the net asset position was cyclical.

On the balance sheet, this is mainly reflected in the

form of a significant TEUR 562 decrease in total

assets, which fell to TEUR 926. On the assets side,

this decline is primarily the result of the TEUR 485

decrease in trade receivables, which stood at TEUR

457. On the liabilities side, the significant TEUR 292

decrease, particularly in advance payments received,

led to the lower figure for total assets. Accordingly,

the equity ratio increased to 54.0% (previous year:

33.6%).

04. Trend of business and situation of Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH

The company is included in the cash management

system of its parent company Koelnmesse GmbH.

Opportunities for the company arise from the

Koelnmesse 3.0 investment programme. Particularly

the addition and flexibilisation of space will signifi-

cantly increase acquisitions of guest events,

special-interest fairs and special events. The

company sees risk factors particularly in insufficient

hotel capacity and high hotel prices in Cologne.

Plans are for Koelnmesse Ausstellungen GmbH to

organize 21 guest events again in 2016. It antici-

pates sales of EUR 12.0 million and a surplus before

profit transfer of EUR 4.2 million.

05. Overall presentation

The Koelnmesse consolidated companies and

Koelnmesse GmbH developed successfully in the

cyclically strong 2015 fiscal year. The trend in

business also exceeded expectations and led a

significant increase in sales and earnings compared to

plan. Overall, the strong trade fair cycle and the

above-target trend in events in 2015 lead to record

sales and a record result, both at Koelnmesse GmbH

and in the Group.