Informa has reached an agreement to purchase Clarion Events for €2.64 billion ($3 billion) from Blackstone. This acquisition is part of Informa's strategy to enhance its B2B events portfolio.
To finance this transaction, Informa plans to raise approximately €1.1 billion through the issuance of new shares. Following this announcement, Informa's stock experienced a 4% increase.
CEO Stephen Carter remarked on the acquisition, stating, "To that end, we’re adding another portfolio of brands to our business, Clarion Events, which is a very complementary fit."
Blackstone commenced the formal sale process for Clarion last year amid growing activity in the events sector. B2B events companies have garnered significant interest from investors, particularly as in-person events remain resilient against the backdrop of rising AI technologies.
In 2023, Hyve Group completed a $1.8 billion sale to Hellman & Friedman, and Searchlight Capital Partners acquired a stake in CloserStill Media for $1.73 billion.
Lionel Assant, Global Co-Chief Investment Officer at Blackstone, remarked that Informa represents an ideal partner for Clarion as it embarks on its next phase.
In addition, Informa has initiated a formal exploration of alternatives for its academic publishing unit, Taylor & Francis, which generates nearly $1 billion in revenue and sees an annual growth rate of around 4%. Taylor & Francis comprised roughly 17% of Informa's total revenues in 2025. The company anticipates sharing the results of this process along with its full-year results in March 2027.
