GES Service Companies, An Affiliate of GES Acquires Melville Exhibition Limited and Event Services and Corporate Technical Services Limited
Acquisition Provides New Opportunities to Service Clients in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 2, 2007 – GES Exposition Services, Inc., a subsidiary of Viad Corp (NYSE:VVI) announced today the acquisition of market-leading United Kingdom exhibition contractor Melville Exhibition and Event Services Limited (Melville) and exhibition registration and database services company Corporate Technical Services Limited (CTS).
“Melville and CTS are market-leaders in the United Kingdom, have a strong and experienced management team, and have a reputation for providing superior client service,” said GES President and CEO Kevin Rabbitt. “In addition, Melville and CTS share our core values, have similar discernable differences and provide a solid platform to strengthen and build upon our international presence. GES’ acquisition of Melville and CTS is a key step in our growth strategy. It positions GES as the only official services contractor to offer show organizers and exhibitors one company to seamlessly handle all of their exhibition needs in the United States, Canada and Europe.”
“This is an exciting time for Melville and CTS employees and clients,” said Melville CEO Nick Marshall. “GES is a highly respected exhibition contractor and I, along with the entire Melville and CTS management team, look forward to providing clients with a seamless exhibition experience from Europe to North America.”
The acquisition of Melville and CTS allows GES to expand internationally and provides additional opportunities to serve clients of GES and Melville. The companies will share best practices and are committed to GES’ operational vision of integrated planning, strong execution, a safe and secure workplace and the implementation of technology to drive great customer service.
This acquisition combined with Exhibitgroup/Giltspur’s European companies Voblo GmbH & Co KG based in Düsseldorf, Germany and Exhibitgroup/Giltspur SDD based in Sheffield, England allow parent-company Viad Corp to provide a full portfolio of wholly-owned exhibition services in Europe.
ABOUT GES
Las Vegas-based GES Exposition Services, a subsidiary of Viad Corp (NYSE: VVI) services every major exhibition and event market across North America. GES provides a wide range of services including exhibition planning and design, turnkey and custom exhibit rentals, material handling, staging, overhead sign rigging, temporary electrical equipment, signs and graphics manufacturing, installation and dismantling labor, carpet and furnishings, and transportation services. GES produces many well-known shows including the International Consumer Electronics Show, IMTS, International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair - USA®, International Council of Shopping Centers, MAGIC, CONEXPO-CON/AGG and IFPE. For more information, visit www.ges.com, www.gesexpo.ca, www.showtech.ca, and www.tradeshowelectrical.com.
ABOUT MELVILLE
Melville is the United Kingdom’s leading all services exhibition contractor, based on site at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (The NEC), ExCel in London, GMEX in Manchester, and near the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow. Melville provides electrical, furniture, carpeting, shell scheme, logistics, graphics and venue services. For more information, visit www.melville.co.uk.
ABOUT CTS
CTS provides a full portfolio of data solutions for events including registration, data services, online products, research and technology solutions for the way registration information is collected, evaluated and used. For more information, visit www.ctsnet.co.uk.