Exhibition organiser Survey GmbH has sold a controlling stake in the successful German ZOW show to UK company Clarion Events.
Survey managing director and ZOW concept founder Peter Meyer said the takeover by London-based Clarion of the Bad Salzuflen show, plus two other German trade fairs, was an “ideal” move.
“At my age, running a mid-sized company, I need to start thinking about who will succeed me,” said Mr Meyer.
“But now my problem is solved. The expansion policy we pursued when the market was good left our capital base thin during the economic crisis – and the takeover has even solved this problem.”
A new company – Clarion Survey GmbH – has been formed to run the German ZOW show, Focus Küche & Bad and FMB Zuliefermesse Maschinenbau, with Mr Meyer continuing his role as managing director and holding a significant share in the company.
Increased capital funding is being made available to the new company, which will focus solely on the German market, to secure further development of the shows.
