Dr Wolfram von Fritsch

Deutsche Messe AG will invest millions in expanding and developing the Hannover Exhibition Centre.

During a meeting in Hannover last month, the supervisory board approved capital spending of over EUR60 million (USD73.8 million), the largest investment package for the company in over 10 years. Groundwork was laid for the rebuilding of halls 19 and 20, and for acquisitions in Germany and abroad.

"Now that the strategic realignment of the company has been completed, we are now entering a new phase of forward-looking investment," says Dr Wolfram von Fritsch, managing board chairman of Deutsche Messe AG.

In 2011, the company says it staged the most events in its history and reported the best results in 10 years.

"For Deutsche Messe, the year 2011 marked a substantial turnaround," von Fritsch says. "We are keeping our word: Deutsche Messe will continue to operate and grow on the basis of its own resources and, over a four-year period, will reach its target of achieving a cumulative profit."

In 2011, Deutsche Messe reported revenues of EUR292.8 million (USD360 million) and earnings excluding special items of EUR23.5 million (USD28.9 million)

Last year, over 25,000 companies took part in the 62 trade fairs and exhibitions staged by Deutsche Messe in Germany. The events attracted 2.2 million visitors, including 330,000 from abroad.

More than 13,000 enterprises exhibited at the 41 foreign trade shows organised by the company. The events attracted over 1.2 million visitors. The total exhibition space rented in Germany and abroad amounted to 3.4 million sqm (36.6 million sqft).

Von Fritsch explains that, in line with the company's mid-term plans, no profits will be earned in 2012 due to the comparatively small number of major events being staged in Germany this year.

The supervisory board endorsed the company's plans to rebuild halls 19 and 20 along the northern perimeter of the grounds, in close proximity to a tram station. The existing halls, which date back to 1961, are two of the oldest buildings on site and no longer live up to modern exhibition standards.