Artexis Easyfairs has announced new members to its advisory board, strategic acquisitions and record growth for its 2014-15 financial year.
One year after the consolidation of Artexis and Easyfairs as a single corporate entity, the firm has revealed that its turnover broke through “the symbolic high” of €100m (US$112.3m) to €107m (US$120.2m), up almost 15 per cent.
The firm also reported that EBITDA was up by 20 per cent at a record figure of €16m.
“We achieved this extremely positive result through a combination of strong organic growth and strategic acquisitions, while maintaining a strong balance sheet structure,” said CFO Marc Hellemans. “This gives us substantial potential for future developments.”
Key acquisitions, new ventures and partnerships over the past financial year include:
· Artexis-SMG strategic joint venture;
· Strategic partnership with Libramont;
· Two new venues in the portfolio: Nekkerhal–Brussels North & MICX-Mons
· Pack&Move Basel, Macropak Utrecht, Dry Cargo Europe Conference & Exhibition Rotterdam, Advanced Engineering UK, Tank World Expo Dubai
· Autonomies Belgium, Maghreb Pharma Expo Algeria
· FACTS Belgium, Antwerp Convention; Dutch Comic Con.
· Publication: Tank Storage magazine
In addition, Artexis Easyfairs is consolidating its executive team with the appointment of Anne Lafère as COO, who joined Artexis in 1998.
Lafère will lead the company’s development around the corporate mission “Visit the future” alongside CEO and founder Eric Everard and CFO Marc Hellemans.
The firm has also appointed four new members to its advisory board, to help identify new opportunities and shape its future direction.
The four new members include: Sophie Dutordoir MD of Electrabel and CEO of GDF SUEZ Energy Benelux; Nick Forster, a consultant to the exhibition industry and previously group commercial director of Reed Exhibitions; Thierry Geerts MD of Google Belgium and Denzil Rankine, founder and executive chairman of AMR International.
Håkan Gershagen, who was recently appointed president of the Artexis SMG joint venture remains a board member. The other members of the advisory board are Chairman and CEO: Eric Everard; COO: Anne Lafère; CFO: Marc Hellemans; secretary of the board: Benoît David.
