Press Release

No. 25 / Cologne, May 12, 2009

IMB exhibitors:
Many in favor of Cologne as trade fair location

Koelnmesse CEO Böse: "We aim to continue providing the sector with IMB
its own trade fair" World of Textile Processing

Cologne 2009
After the conceptual sponsor of IMB — World of Textile Processing, the VDMA
21st to 24th April
German Garment and Leather Technology Association, ended its partnership
with Koelnmesse just a few days after the successful end of IMB 2009, many
companies voiced their irritation concerning the association's one-sided course www.imb-cologne.com
of action. They regard IMB as the perfect presentation platform for their
Contact:
products and services. "We are currently holding extensive discussions with the
Michael Steiner
companies. From the very beginning, these discussions have highlighted the Telephone

great importance that the exhibitors of IMB attach to the event as an + 49 221 821-3094
Telefax
international sector platform. We wish to respond to this support so that we can + 49 221 821-3446
E- Mail
continue to provide the textile sector with an internationally important trade m.steiner@
fair for the textile and clothing industry in Cologne in the future,“ says koelnmesse.de
Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse GmbH.
Koelnmesse GmbH
Messeplatz 1
Thomas Rasch, Executive Director of GermanFashion, Modeverband 50679 Cologne
P.O. Box 21 07 60
Deutschland (Fashion Association Germany), finds it difficult to understand the 50532 Cologne
Germany
decision of the association: "We regret the decision of the VDMA trade
Tel. +49 221 821-0
association. We cannot understand how it can now question a trade fair that is Fax +49 221 821-2574
info@koelnmesse.de
as internationally successful as IMB. It is the leading international trade fair for www.koelnmesse.de
state-of-the art technology in the clothing and textile industry, a true 'brand
Management:
product' that is firmly fixed as part of the sector's self-image. The sector needs Gerald Böse (Chief Executive Officer)
Oliver P. Kuhrt
such a platform, and IMB can provide it." In all the discussions held after IMB it
Herbert Marner
has become apparent that the greatest potential of IMB — World of Textile Dr. Gerd Weber

Processing lies in its mix of extensive clothing expertise and its interplay with Chairman of the Supervisory Board:
the other areas of application of the sewing industries. Mayor of the City of Cologne
Fritz Schramma

Place of business and (legal) domicile:

Cologne - Amtsgericht Köln, HRB 952
Johannes Ibach, Group Marketing Manager of Amann Group, agrees: "We Page
2/3
achieved our goals at the trade fair. Even though we also experienced declining
visitor numbers, the discussions we held were very intense and they led to
many new contacts and follow-up activities. As in previous years, IMB proved
to be the perfect presentation platform for our innovations." Thomas Willing,
Managing Director of Avery Dennison Central Europe GmbH, goes one step
further: "We achieved everything we aimed to, our stand was packed and we
had more visitors than three years ago — it was an excellent trade fair. We
expect the next IMB to be even more successful than this year's event."

For Dr. Kerstin Friedrich, authorized shareholder of GRAFIS - Software Dr.

Kerstin Friedrich GbR, the decrease in visitor numbers didn't stop success:
"Participation at IMB 2009 was a huge success for the Grafis team. We held
many more discussions with customers and interested visitors than we did at
the last IMB. The share of foreign visitors had decreased noticeably, which was
most likely due to the reduced travel activities resulting from the current
economic crisis. This was, however, more than offset by the increased domestic
interest. We are therefore very satisfied with the results of the fair."

According to Gerald Böse, it is essential to bring the international range of the

trade visitors back to the levels that have characterized IMB for decades and
ensured its success: "Modern trade fairs are primarily oriented towards the
trade visitors. With its supporting program and other aspects, IMB is no
exception to this rule." Jochen Cramer, Marketing/Sales Manager of KURIS
Spezialmaschinen GmbH, agrees: "We would like to see more visitors from the
USA and Asia. Apart from that, we hope that the location of IMB remains in
Cologne." For the next IMB Berthold Rademacher, GT Sales Manager of Brother
International Industriemaschinen GmbH, hopes that the "same levels of trade
visitors will again be reached." He believes that at IMB 2009 "the quality of
visitors had already clearly changed in the direction of decision-makers who
came to Cologne with the intention of making investments. We were satisfied
with the fair in every respect."

Koelnmesse CEO Böse points out that "The positive response of the sector is a
huge motivation for us. We will use the excellent international reputation of
IMB as a high-tech platform for the textile and clothing industry to once again
considerably increase the international scope of both exhibitors and visitors at Page
3/3
IMB - World of Textile Processing. I am sure we will already notice the initial
results at the coming IMB Forum in May 2010. We will build on this
foundation."

Koelnmesse holds the trademark rights to IMB and thus fulfills the
requirements to continue to stage the event unchanged in the coming years.