PRESS RELEASE: Media Release | MCH Group - Results 2012

MCH Group AG / Media Release | MCH Group - Results 2012 . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

A gratifying result for the MCH Group

* Operating income at a new high of CHF 390.2 million.

* At CHF 27.4 million, the third-highest group profit since the company was first set up, despite extraordinary negative items.

* New building at Messe Basel completed on schedule and within the specified budget.

The MCH Group, which takes in MCH Messe Basel, MCH Messe Zürich, MCH Beaulieu Lausanne and a number of event services companies, can post a good result for 2012. With operating income of CHF 390.2 million (2011 CHF 323.9 million; 2010 CHF 366.3 million), the consolidated result for 2012 is a group profit of CHF 27.4 million (2011 CHF 20.7 million; 2010 CHF 37.4 million).

Investments totalling CHF 198.8 million were made, including CHF 172.1 million for the new hall complex at Messe Basel. The consolidated total assets at the end of the reporting year are CHF 885.8 million, with liabilities of CHF 556.5 million and shareholders' equity of CHF 329.3 million. The equity ratio is 37.2%.

In the course of the financial year, the price of the MCH Group's registered share rose 42.5% from CHF 38.25 to CHF 54.50.

New high for operating income

With operating income up 20.5% and 6.5% respectively over the two previous years, the figure of CHF 390.2 million achieved in 2012 marks a new high for the company. Compared with the previous year, the tightly packed exhibition schedule, in particular, had a positive impact - especially with Swissbau, which is only held in the even years, and the Hong Kong International Art Fair (the future Art Basel in Hong Kong) which was included in the accounts for the first time.

Income from the MCH Group's 34 own exhibitions and joint ventures accounts for 68.8% of overall operating income. This is CHF 43.5 million up on the previous year and also slightly higher than the comparable value for 2010. Gratifying growth has been recorded in the Event Services business field. At CHF 91.3 million, income was boosted by 34.9% and 27.6% respectively compared with the past two years, and the share of this business field in the overall income is 23.4%. All in all, CHF 57.5 million of the MCH Group's operating income was generated abroad (14.7%).

Gratifying group profit despite exceptional expenditure

At CHF 27.4 million, the group profit is between the results of the two previous years, as had been expected. In the light of two once-only extraordinary negative items, it can be regarded as gratifying. The switchover of the pension fund to a defined contribution scheme involved exceptional expenditure of CHF 8.4 million. And, at Winkler Multi Media Events AG, unscheduled depreciation of CHF 5.3 million was made on inventories.

Positive event figures

The MCH Group's exhibition companies staged 30 exhibitions last year and were also involved in a further four exhibitions in the form of joint ventures. Thirteen of the total of 34 exhibitions were held in Basel, 11 in Lausanne, 7 in Zurich, 2 in Miami Beach and 1 in Hong Kong. Added to this came 46 third-party exhibitions at the Basel, Lausanne and Zurich locations. The total of 80 exhibitions registered 16,394 exhibiting companies and 2,133,599 visitors. In the congress centres in Basel and Lausanne, 37 conferences and more than 400 additional events were also held.

A comparison of the key figures for the MCH Group's own exhibitions with the figures for the last time round presents a positive picture: the number of exhibiting companies and visitors has increased by 2.0% and 4.6% respectively, and the gross exhibition area was stepped up by 4.1%. For the group's own exhibitions and joint-venture exhibitions in Switzerland, some 30% of the exhibiting companies and 10% of the visitors came from abroad.

New building at Messe Basel successfully completed

The 2012 reporting year additionally saw the second and decisive construction phase for the new building at Messe Basel. Under the management of overall contractor, HRS Real Estate, the new hall complex was completed on schedule and in line with the plans and the set budget, and was handed over to MCH Messe Basel on 8 February 2013. On 4 March 2013, assembly work started for the BASELWORLD Watch and Jewellery Show, which will be opening its doors on 25 April 2013.

Motions to the General Meeting

The Board of Directors will submit a proposal to the General Meeting on 27 May 2013 for the payment of a dividend of 5%.

In addition, the Board of Directors will submit a proposal to the General meeting for Rolando Benedick and René C. Jäggi to be confirmed in office as members of the Board of Directors for a further term of two years. The Board will similarly propose to the General Meeting that Martin Vollenwyder be elected as a member of the Board of Directors for a term of two years. Martin Vollenwyder is stepping down as a member of the Zurich City Council and delegate of the City of Zurich on 14 May 2013, but is still available as a member of the Board of Directors of the MCH Group. He will be proposed to the General Meeting as a successor to Heini Brugger, who will be retiring from the Board having reached the statutory age limit. The Board will propose to the General Meeting that KPMG, Basel, be elected as the auditors with a term of office of one year.

Publication of the 2012 Annual Report: 02 May 2013

General Meeting 2013: 27 May 2013

www.mch-group.com

Media release

Key figures for events, group income statement, group balance sheet

Media contact: MCH Group Ltd. Corporate Communications Christian Jecker +41 58 206 22 52 christian.jecker@mch-group.com

Media release: http://hugin.info/134007/R/1687892/553604.pdf

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Source: MCH Group AG via Thomson Reuters ONE [HUG#1687892]

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MCH Group AG Basel

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http://www.mch-group.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires

   March 26, 2013 02:16 ET (06:16 GMT)- - 02 16 AM EDT 03-26-13