Informa to buy events rival Clarion from Blackstone for £2.24bn
Informa, a FTSE 100-listed events organiser, has agreed to purchase Clarion, a London-based events business, from private equity firm Blackstone for £2.24 billion. The acquisition will add over 100 events to Informa's portfolio, including the DSEI defence and security exhibition and the pop culture-focused AwesomeCon convention. This move represents Informa's strategic focus on consolidating its core live events business whilst separating its other operations. The deal is expected to accelerate Informa's growth and improve its earnings per share from 2027 onwards.
Clarion's event portfolio spans a diverse range of industries, from the Classic Motor Show in Birmingham to technology, gaming and design conventions, alongside travel shows. DSEI, held biennially in London alongside events in Germany and Japan, has drawn protests over the presence of Israeli defence companies, with hundreds demonstrating outside the fair last year. Informa, headquartered in London with 14,000 employees, plans to fund the £2.24bn acquisition through a £940m share placing and other financing. The company is simultaneously launching a formal process to separate Taylor & Francis, its academic publishing arm established in 1852, with a decision to be announced alongside full-year results in March 2027.
- Informa acquires Clarion for £2.24bn, adding 100+ events including DSEI arms fair
- Deal funded by £940m share placing; expected to boost earnings from 2027
- Informa spinning off academic publishing division Taylor & Francis
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Informa is a London-based company that organises conferences, exhibitions and major events around the world. It is one of Britain's largest publicly listed companies. Clarion is a rival events organiser currently owned by private equity firm Blackstone, and Informa has agreed to purchase it for £2.24 billion.
Clarion operates over 100 different events across a range of industries from technology and gaming to motoring and travel. Its portfolio includes the Classic Motor Show held in Birmingham and various consumer and business conventions worldwide. The company also operates DSEI, a major international defence and security exhibition held in London and other locations.
The acquisition represents significant consolidation in the events industry, bringing together two of the sector's major operators. Informa is betting that combining its existing business with Clarion's established portfolio will help it grow faster and increase profitability. The company is funding the £2.24 billion deal through a share placing and other financing.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “UK events firm that hosts arms fairs and comic shows sold to rival for £2bn”.