OREANDA-NEWS. The MCH Group with its head office in Basel, which takes in MCH Messe Basel, MCH Messe Z?rich, MCH Beaulieu Lausanne and a number of event services companies, is reporting a good result once again.  With operating income of CHF 449.4 million, the consolidated income statement for 2014 shows an EBITDA of CHF 84.9 million (18.9 % of the operating income) and a group profit of CHF 32.8 million (7.3 % of the operating income). Although operating income is 4.9 % down on the exceptional 2013 business year, it is 15.2 % above the 2012 business year which is comparable in terms of exhibition cycles. The EBIDTA was increased by 6.1 % and 31.4 % respectively compared with the previous two years. The group profit is 7.5 % above the 2013 business year and 19.7 % above the 2012 business year.

The consolidated total assets at the end of the reporting year are CHF 877.6 million with liabilities of CHF 496.3 million and shareholders' equity of CHF 381.3 million. The equity ratio was increased to 43.4 % (previous year 38.3 %). Investments totalling CHF 19.0 million were made in fixed assets during the reporting year. A gratifying free cash flow enabled the net debt (short and long-term loans minus cash and cash equivalents) to be reduced to CHF 155.3 million (previous year CHF 222.3 million).

In the course of the  2014 business year, the price of the MCH Group Ltd.'s registered shares rose 8.8 % from CHF 59.55 to CHF 64.80.

In the light of the factors that affected the result for 2014, the development in the operating income and the group profit by comparison with the previous years can be regarded as highly gratifying. In addition to the exhibition schedule - including Swissbau which is only held every two years - the MCH Group once again benefited from special effects in conjunction with the Baselworld Watch and Jewellery Show in the 2014 reporting year, although not to the same extent as in the exceptional previous year. Added to this came the acquisition of the remaining 40 % of Asian Art Fairs Limited. On the negative side, the depreciation and financing outlay for the new Messe Basel exhibition complex had an impact over the full year for the first time. The 2014 accounts also contain provisions of CHF 3 million for the necessary restructuring at the Lausanne location.

In view of the weak exhibition cycle (no Swissbau, none of the exhibitions held every three years) the MCH Group expects sales and profits for the current 2015 business year to be substantially lower than for 2014.

Motions to the General Meeting

The Board of Directors will submit a proposal to the General Meeting on 4 May 2015 for the payment of a dividend of 5%.

The Board of Directors will submit a proposal to the General meeting for Rolando Benedick, Ren? C. J?ggi, Dr. Karin Lenzlinger Diedenhofen, Dr. Ulrich Vischer and Martin Vollenwyder to be confirmed in office as members of the Board of Directors for a further term of one year. The Board will similarly propose to the General Meeting that Dr. Ulrich Vischer be confirmed in office as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a further year.