Swiss Exhibition set for success

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The consolidated income of Swiss Exhibition Group rose up to CHF
236.2 million over the first six months of 2008. First-half profits
totalled CHF 30.3 million. Profits were below those of last year, as
had been expected, since the different exhibition rotas meant that
fewer exhibitions were held. Despite this, the figure still
represents the second-best half-year result in the group's history.

Swiss Exhibition is able to report a highly gratifying first-half
result for 2008. Consolidated income from 1 January to 30 June 2008
totalled CHF 236.2 million and constitutes an all-time high (same
period previous year: CHF 221.8 million). The first-half profits are
CHF 30.3 million (CHF 41.9 million). The balance-sheet structure as
per 30 June 2008 shows a balance-sheet total of CHF 460.4 million (30
June 2007: CHF 472.0 million). Outside capital of CHF 248.1 million
(CHF 286.2 million) is set against the group's own capital of CHF
212.3 million (CHF 185.8 million).

Gratifying course of business

Swiss Exhibition's half-yearly and annual results are always subject
to a number of fluctuations, which need to be taken into account when
comparing different years, since not all the group's own exhibitions
are held every year, and the non-annual exhibitions are held at
different intervals too. In addition to this, major differences exist
in the event schedules for the first and second half of the year. The
more constant business activity in the event services sector is
unable to offset these traditional fluctuations.

Hence, contrary to the case for the first half of 2007, there was no
Swissbau exhibition (every two years) in 2008. The Hilsa exhibition
(every four years) was, however, held by contrast to 2006, although
this could only partially compensate for the absence of Swissbau. The
gratifying increase in income is thus due first and foremost to the
good performance achieved over all the business sectors.

The different product range has also given rise to fluctuations in
the profit margin. In line with expectations, group profits for the
first half of 2008 are lower than for this same period of the
previous year. They are, however, clearly above the like-for-like
value for 2006 and constitute the second-best half-year result in the
group's history.

Income in excess of CHF 300 at the end of the year again

In view of the major seasonal fluctuations, it is not possible to
take the half-year result and extrapolate it on a linear basis to the
end of the year. The exhibition schedule is always much more tightly
packed in the first half of the year than during the second six
months - which also include the months of July, August and December,
where few events are held. In addition to this, maintenance and
repair work on the hall infrastructure is also concentrated
predominantly on the summer months. Since the second six months of
even years are also somewhat weaker than in the odd years (with no
Igeho), the extra sales achieved during the first half cannot be
maintained through to the end of the year. Swiss Exhibtion expects
income slightly below the previous record year. The profit is
expected to be below the value achieved in the first half of 2008.

Media contact

Christian Jecker
Head of Corporate Communications
Phone: +41 58 206 22 52
christian.jecker@messe.ch

MCH Swiss Exhibition (Holding) Ltd.
CH-4005 Basel
http://www.messe.ch

The press release can be downloaded from the following link:

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MCH Messe Schweiz (Holding) AG
Basel

WKN: 553176; ISIN:
CH0010358494; Index: SPI, SPIEX, SSCI;
Listed: SWX Local Caps in SWX Swiss Exchange;
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