UK events and media company Informa will acquire events rival Clarion –organizer of the world’s largest gaming industry trade show ICE Barcelona – from private equity giant Blackstone in a £2.24 billion (US$2.97 billion) deal.
In an overnight announcement, Informa said it was also separating its Academic Markets business in order to focus on its core B2B business, with the acquisition of Clarion “further reinforcing its position as the leading operator of B2B Live Events.”
Clarion will, it added, bring a leading portfolio of over 100 B2B brands including eight marquee brands with revenue of over US$30 million and eight power Brands with revenue of between US$10 million and US$30 million.
This will take Informa’s portfolio of marquee and power brands to over 100 while giving it immediate entry into three high growth strategic categories, including gaming courtesy of ICE Barcelona and iGB Live. The others are electronics via the world’s largest consumer electronics event, IFA Berlin and Defence/Security through leading international brand, DSEI.
“Informa is today accelerating the focus on our core B2B business, as we announce plans to separate our Academic Markets business, Taylor & Francis,” said Informa’s Group CEO, Stephen A. Carter.
“The planned separation of Taylor & Francis coincides with further expansion in B2B through the £2.24 billion acquisition of Clarion, the UK-based owner of more than 100 B2B Live Event brands. The combination will underscore Informa as the UK-listed, international leader in B2B Live Events, with annual Group revenues exceeding US$6 billion and underlying revenue growth of 7%-plus.”
Informa said the acquisition of Clarion will be funded through a mixture of committed acquisition financing and the net proceeds of a around £940 million (US$1.25 billion) equity placing.
Clarion has, the company explained, been valued at an enterprise value of £2.24 billion including some tax benefits, representing a pre-synergy multiple of 11.1x on expected 2027 EBITDA.
The transaction is expected to complete towards the end of this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
Informa said the focus for both companies will be to finish 2026 “as strongly as possible,” with the initial three-to-six-month period post-combination to focus on delivery, minimizing distractions for colleagues and operating to the plans and budgets already committed for 2027.
Clarion will become an operating business within Informa through this period, led by current CEO, Lisa Hannant, who will remain in her role and join the Informa Executive Leadership Team, the company explained.
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