Fiera Di Vicenza and Rimini Fiera Complete Merger to Become Top Trade Show in Italy

(IDEX Online) – Italian trade show organizer Rimini Fiera Spa and Fiera di Vicenza Spa have announced the successful completion of their merger agreement, with the official founding of the NewCo Italian Exhibition Group Spa (IEG).

Following talks over the last few months and the approval of the respective shareholder meetings, the two companies have united forces to become one single corporate entity, generating the first example in Italy of a merger between trade show enterprises.

Italian Exhibition Group Spa becomes the top body in Italy in terms of the number of directly organized shows with 61 in its portfolio (90% own property) and 160 other events and congresses. It will be Italy's leading player in the promotion and internationalization of some of the most important and successful Made in Italy production chains. The company's aim is to be listed on the Stock Exchange and to act as a unifying element for other trade show organizations, the companies said in a statement.

On the basis of the financial soundness and performances that Rimini Fiera and Fiera di Vicenza have achieved in recent years, significant joint economic results are expected for 2016: a turnover of about 119 million euros, the second Italian player in terms of overall volume, strong profitability and net assets of more than 100 million euros.

The Italian Exhibition Group Spa was presented in Rimini during a press conference attended by President Lorenzo Cagnoni, Vice President Matteo Marzotto and Managing Director Corrado Facco.

Matteo Marzotto, Vice President of Italian Exhibition Group Spa, said: “This merger is a historic fact, not only for Rimini Fiera and Fiera di Vicenza, but also because it creates a trade show entity that … we believe will be a further aggregation pole and development impetus for a true Italian trade show system. The deal between Rimini and Vicenza - which came about extremely quickly, thus proving our determination and practicality - is the result of our vision for a high-standing industrial project that will be at the service of the very best Well Done in Italy production chains and an engine for their internationalization, as well as a powerful and attractive market place for leading companies the world over.”

Corrado Facco, Managing Director of Italian Exhibition Group Spa, declared: “The merger between Rimini and Vicenza is based on the strong business logics and financial soundness of the two organizations which already allow us to present significant aggregate data. The fact that the union will not create any product overlay is a big advantage since it means that we can expand the company's market. In fact, Italian Exhibition Group Spa will be Italy's top player in the direct organization of large trade show and congress Events, characterized by close relations with the territory of reference and production chains, in which, through its Shows, it boasts a position of international leadership. It will be an attraction platform for entire sectors of the Italian economy, able to develop added value and propose quality services to the company and Institution systems that, to various degrees, will interact with the company.”

Pictured: President Lorenzo Cagnoni and Vice President Matteo Marzotto.