Informa has announced its intention to acquire Clarion Events from Blackstone for £2.24 billion, a strategic move aimed at boosting its presence in high-growth sectors, particularly gaming. Blackstone previously purchased Clarion in 2017 from Providence Equity Partners and managed the business through the difficulties posed by the Covid pandemic when many live events were halted.
The deal is expected to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2026 and is valued at approximately 11.1 times Clarion's anticipated EBITDA for 2027. Informa expects Clarion’s diverse portfolio of events to significantly enhance its scale in vital industries, projecting the company’s revenue in 2027 will surpass £575 million ($761.6 million).
Within the acquisition, Informa includes Clarion’s WorldGaming branch, which features its flagship events such as ICE and iGB L!VE, along with other notable brands spanning various sectors, including defense and electronics.
Informa's CEO, Stephen Carter, stated that this acquisition aims to restore the company's previous goal of becoming the largest B2B live events enterprise globally. In a video shared on Informa's LinkedIn page, he remarked, "This will leave the Informa Group pursuing the strategy we first laid out in 2013, to build a position in B2B live events and become the leading, the largest and the most international live events business anywhere in the world."
Carter emphasized the advantages of integrating Clarion into Informa’s existing portfolio, particularly highlighting gaming. He mentioned that the merger would underscore Informa's position as an international leader in B2B live events, projecting annual group revenues to exceed $6 billion with an underlying growth rate of 7%.
Alex Pratt, managing director of Clarion’s WorldGaming division, expressed support for the acquisition, stating, "Informa’s data, digital capability and international reach are exactly what our live and digital ecosystem needs to go further, faster."
Post-acquisition, Informa anticipates that its B2B live events division will achieve revenues exceeding £4.2 billion from a portfolio of around 1,000 specialized brands. The company highlighted growth opportunities particularly in the IMEA (India, Middle East, and Africa) region, where Clarion currently has limited presence.
Informa's announcement outlined that merging Clarion's brands into its structure would create significant new revenue opportunities and position the new entity as a strong growth operator with underlying growth surpassing 7%. They anticipate achieving approximately £50 million in annual operating synergies from operational efficiencies, alongside an expected additional £25 million in operating profit from increased revenue by 2029.
Lisa Hannant, the current CEO of Clarion Events, will maintain her position and join Informa's executive leadership team. She remarked, "This marks an important new chapter for our business. We have built a portfolio of market-leading brands, established strong positions in attractive markets, and created a culture recognized across our industry."
Hannant highlighted that Informa’s investment is a validation of the quality of their business, its brands, and its people, acknowledging the contributions of her team as instrumental to Clarion's success.
Funding for the acquisition will come through cash financing, supported by an equity placing and a retail offer estimated at around £940 million. Informa expects that despite the scale of this acquisition, its pro forma net debt will remain below three times EBITDA by the end of 2026 and drop to below 2.5 times by the end of 2027. To facilitate this, the company plans to pause its ongoing share buyback program.
Informa anticipates that the acquisition will lead to an increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share by mid-single digits in 2027 and a double-digit post-tax return on invested capital within three years.
