Digital services giant Informa has snapped up the world’s largest privately owned event and exhibition organiser in a multi-billion pound deal with private equity firm Blackstone.
The FTSE 100 group revealed on Tuesday it had acquired London-headquartered Clarion Events for £2.2bn from Blackstone. The deal brings over 100 business-to-business live event brands under the Informa umbrella, including the world’s largest consumer electronics and home appliances trade show, IFA Berlin, the International Casino Exhibition and the Defence & Security Equipment International that is held biennially at London’s ExCel.
The deal will be funded through the net proceeds from a £940m equity placement, done in partnership with Retailbook. Informa will also pause its current sharebuyback program as part of the takeover.
Following the acquisition, the group expects to make £4.2bn in annual revenue from live events.
By 2027, the deal is expected to nudge up the company’s profit per share by mid-single digits. Meanwhile by 2029, it expects that combining the two businesses should save £50m in overlapping costs and bring in roughly £25m in extra income.
Informa to separate divisions
The blue-chip firm also laid out plans on Tuesday to separate its academic markets arm, which sits under the moniker Taylor & Francis. It said the move came as the division was approaching $1bn in revenue and growing at four per cent annually.
“We believe it will now benefit from greater flexibility and freedom through the next phase of its development, as Informa further expands the depth and reach of its B2B portfolio,” Stephen Carter, Informa’s chief executive, said.
The group has launched a formal process reviewing all options for separation and is set to announce the outcome alongside its 2026 full-year results.
The Clarion deal is the latest in a string of acquisitons for Informa in the lat few years as it beefs up its events and digital services presence.
In October 2024, it snapped up Ascential for £1.2bn, bringing the Cannes Lions International Festival and Money 20/20 into its portfolio. In December of the same year it merged its tech business with US-basesd TechTarget to bulk up its marketing offering.
