Digital services giant Informa, a FTSE 100 group, announced on Tuesday that it has acquired Clarion Events, the world's largest privately owned event and exhibition organiser, for £2.3bn from private equity firm Blackstone. This acquisition brings over 100 business-to-business live event brands under the Informa umbrella, including IFA Berlin, the International Casino Exhibition, and the Defence & Security Equipment International.
The deal will be funded through net proceeds from a £940m equity placement, done in partnership with Retailbook. Informa will also pause its current share buyback programme as part of the takeover. Following the acquisition, the group anticipates generating £4.2bn in annual revenue from live events.
Informa also revealed plans to separate its academic markets arm, Taylor & Francis. The company stated that this division is approaching $1bn in revenue and growing at four per cent annually. Informa's chief executive, Stephen Carter, commented that the move would provide the division with "greater flexibility and freedom through the next phase of its development." A formal review process for all separation options has been launched, with the outcome expected to be announced alongside Informa's 2026 full-year results.