As predicted, Maurizio Ermeti was confirmed at the helm of the Italian Exhibition Group, elected president by the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’ meeting after having so far led the trade fair event organization company listed on the Milan Stock Exchange. The new board of directors, in office for three years, also confirmed Corrado Peraboni as CEO.
The meeting unanimously approved the 2023 financial statements which closed with a profit of 14,160,861 euros, revenues of 212.4 million, an ‘adjusted’ gross operating margin of 49.5 million and a net result equal to 13.3 million. The net financial position is negative for 71.9 million.
What made last year’s accounts run were the various events launched by Ieg: from TTG, Sigep, Mir and Beer&Food attraction, which grew by 20% compared to the previous edition, to Ecomondo (+15%) and T-Gold (+5 %) up to Key which recorded an increase of 41%.
“We are the first player in Italy for organizing events on the circular economy and alternative energies,” Ermeti pointed out. The new industrial plan “is very ambitious – confessed the president on the sidelines of a press conference -: a plan that envisages the company growing much more, with the 2023 results which have effectively positioned us as the only Italian exhibition company with having emerged with superior results during the pandemic period compared to our competitors”.
The merger with the Bologna fair remains archived. “It was a spark but it didn’t lead to any fire,” commented Ermeti. “Mergers? The others must first return to pre-pandemic levels, we are the only ones who have done so”, commented Peraboni. The construction of the new maxi pavilion, the ‘dome’, is underway. “The free area will be 17 thousand m2, it will be the largest arena in Italy. It will be able to host international sporting and musical events”, assured Ermeti. And the group’s expansion abroad continues. “In Riyadh – anticipated Peraboni – we will have a first event in the wellness and sports sector in February 2025”.
