Informa is set to purchase Clarion Events from Blackstone for £2.24 billion, a move that enhances Informa's presence in high-growth strategic markets such as gaming. Blackstone originally acquired Clarion in 2017 from Providence Equity Partners, navigating the challenges of the Covid pandemic when live events were largely suspended.
The acquisition deal, announced on Tuesday, is anticipated to finalize in the fourth quarter of 2026, valuing Clarion at 11.1 times its expected EBITDA for 2027. With this deal, Informa projects that Clarion will generate over £575 million ($761.6 million) in revenue by 2027.
Included in the acquisition are Clarion’s WorldGaming business and notable events like ICE and iGB L!VE, along with other prominent brands in sectors such as defence and electronics.
Informa aims to revitalize its ambition of becoming the largest B2B live events company globally, as shared by CEO Stephen Carter. During a video announcement on LinkedIn, he stated, "That will leave the Informa Group pursuing the strategy that 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 highlighted the positive impact of adding Clarion’s portfolio, particularly in the gaming sector, saying it would provide further momentum to Informa’s existing capabilities. He estimated that the expanded B2B live events segment would achieve over £4.2 billion in revenue from about 1,000 specialized brands.
The acquisition is expected to improve Informa’s presence in North America, Asia, and Europe while identifying growth prospects in the IMEA (India, Middle East, and Africa) regions, where Clarion has previously had limited exposure. Informa emphasized that by integrating Clarion’s brands, they would reinforce their leadership in the B2B live events domain.
The transaction is anticipated to generate approximately £50 million in annual operating synergies and an additional £25 million in operating profit by 2029 due to enhanced efficiency across various operational areas.
Lisa Hannant, the current CEO of Clarion Events, will continue in her role 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 that is recognized across our industry. This is a moment to recognize the outstanding contribution of our teams."
The deal will be financed with cash sourced from dedicated acquisition financing and net proceeds from an equity placing and retail offer totaling around £940 million.
Despite the sizable transaction, Informa expects to keep its pro forma net debt below three times EBITDA by the end of 2026 and reduce it to below 2.5 times by the end of 2027. Additionally, Informa plans to temporarily halt its current share buyback program to facilitate the acquisition. The transaction is projected to increase adjusted diluted earnings per share by a mid-single-digit percentage in 2027, aiming for a double-digit post-tax return on invested capital within three years.
