Annual report 2001 - GL events

3
1989
Alliance between the Group Polygone, France’s number
one in installation of exhibitions and events and the
Group Cré-Rossi, Europe’s leading provider of furniture,
accessories and floor dressing for rent. The new entity
takes the name of Générale Location.
By bringing together new and complimentary knowhow,
the directors of both groups reach a double
objective :
- satisfy the clients' expectation for a global offer in the
general installation and the rental of furniture for trade
shows,
- reach a critical size, positioning the entity as the main
supplier for show organizers, and more particularly :
Blenheim/ Miller Paid-upman, Paris Exhibition
Committee, Reed, CEP Communication.
1990 – 1997
Acquisition of the assets of the company Chenel (net sales of
19 M€), working in the general installation of exhibitions.
Creation de EMP GmbH, a company specializing in furniture
rental in Cologne.
Acquisition of Vachon, centered around the activities of
rental of up-scale furniture for decorators and of renting out
of antiques for shows, movies, television, photographers’
studio. This take-over allows the group to broaden its offer
and thus to enlarge its clientele base.
Purchase of the company Pichot Exposition, general fitter
for exhibitions.
Development of the events activity : European Summit of
Cannes in June 1995 and French Speaking Heads of State
Summit in Benin.
Creation of GL Image
Acquisition of the company Décorama (1997 net sales :
7m€), a service company of up-scale stands, signage, fittings
for large distribution and museum fittings (signage of the
National Library of France).
Creation of the company GL Middle East in Dubaï which
acquired 100% of the capital of the company Eastern
Exhibition Services Ltd, specializing in the creation of
general installation of stands.
Acquisition of 60% of the capital of the company Profil,
service agency of hosts, hostesses and interpreters, adding to
the range of services Générale Location offers to organizers
and exhibitors.
At 31 December 1997, the Group Générale Location has net
sales of 113 M€.
1998
Générale Location is official provider of the World Cup of
Football, the group achieving net sales of 13 m€.
Acquisition of Ranno Entreprise representing net sales of
about 9 m€ and specializing in the general installation
of exhibitions.
Since 1978, the group has continued to reinforce its
commercial presence in France by opening offices
covering all the French territory and by creating an
international network in 6 countries on 4 continents. At
the same time, it developed a tool allowing it to answer
calls for tender worldwide such as, World Cup of Football
of 1998, World Fair in Lisbon in 1998, Olympic Games,
Summit of French Speaking World, Summit for the Heads
of State in Cannes, Tennis Tournament in Roland Garros,
Cannes Film Festival.
It is also partner of France’s most prestigious shows such
as : Première Vision, Prêt-à-Porter, Bâtimat, FIAC, SIAL ,…
Through a policy of investments, Générale Location is
today one of the major players in the world in the
provision of services linked to exhibitions and events.
On 25 November 1998, the company GENERALE
LOCATION is listed on the Second Marché of the Paris
Bourse.
At 31 December 1998, the group realized consolidated
net sales of 130 m€ and a net consolidated group profit
of 3.4 m€.
1999
Générale Location acquires Procap and FTB, operating in
access control and data processing. In 2000, both
companies are merged and united under the name GL
Data System.
In Hong Kong, GL Hong Kong carries forward to the
company GL Furniture Asia its furniture activity. GL
Furniture Asia is owned at 60% by GL Hong Kong and at
40% by a local partner.
Générale Location acquires 51% of the company SECIL.
This acquisition of interest is part of a project to obtain
the renewal of the delegation of the city of Lyon in order
to manage Lyon Convention Center.
Générale Location acquires 23.52% of Paris expo, a
company listed on the Second Marché of Paris Bourse
and in charge of the management of the exhibition hall
at Porte de Versailles in Paris.
After a take-over bid launched by Unibail, Générale
Location brings over its own shares bought originally at
€ 117 and realizes a capital gain of 14.3 m€ after
expenses and corporate tax. The impact on the financial
structure of the group is quite significant, since the
gearing is reduced from 93% at 31 December 1999 to
22% in February 2000.
At the end of 1999, Générale Location sells the company
Prisme 3 Enseigne and the non-trading real estate
company Les Aguais.