Expo Giant Expands Global Footprint

Exhibition giant Deutsche Messe is in the process of acquiring a 100 percent stake in Sodeks A.S., organiser of ISK-Sodex, Turkey’s largest trade fair for HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technology. The contracts for the takeover were signed recently in Istanbul.

Deutsche Messe’s Turkish subsidiary Hannover Messe International Istanbul currently owns 50 percent of Hannover-Messe Sodeks Fuarcilik, the joint venture company that organises ISK-Sodex. Over the past 10 years, Hannover-Messe Sodeks Fuarcilik has successfully grown ISK, which is held biennially, into Turkey’s biggest trade fair.

The last event, held in 2010, featured 883 exhibitors and attracted more than 80,000 visitor registrations. Hannover-Messe Sodeks Fuarcilik will continue to organise the fair under the new ownership set-up.

“We are pleased to announce that Murat Demirtas will stay on as chairman of the board and general manager of Hannover-Messe Sodeks Fuarcilik, so that the fair will continue to benefit from his considerable expertise and experience,” said Alexander Kühnel, general manager, of Hannover Messe International Istanbul.

The takeover of ISK-Sodex is the latest step in Deutsche Messe’s overseas growth strategy. “There is still significant potential for growing our overseas business,” said senior vice president global fairs, Wolfgang Lenarz.