Acquisition Gives Messe Frankfurt South African Subsidiary

Messe Frankfurt, one of the world’s leading trade show organizers and producers of Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany, will have a permanent presence in Africa in the future. The group is acquiring a 56 percent majority stake in the South African trade show organizer South African Show Services (SASS), based in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

The SASS portfolio includes trade shows such as the Johannesburg International Motor Show, the Rand Show, the AMID Motorcycle Expo, the Johannesburg Boat Show and the SA Outdoor Lifestyle Show. The new subsidiary’s portfolio also includes Automechanika Johannesburg, which has been organized under license by SASS since 2009. 

The remaining 44 percent of shares will continue to be held by the former South African shareholders. The company is to be renamed South African Shows Messe Frankfurt. The previous SASS management team – Raymond Burke, Pula Dippenaar and Phillip Otto – will remain on board, to be joined by Ute Schuchardt, who is transferring from Frankfurt to Johannesburg. 

“This transaction allows us to further expand our global presence,” said Uwe Behm, member of the executive board of Messe Frankfurt. “Our activities in southern Africa demonstrate our firm belief that the future offers a wealth of opportunities for the African continent. We are pleased to be joining forces with such a successful South African company that is ideally acquainted with the local market conditions.”