UNITED KINGDOM —Informa has agreed to acquire UK-based events operator Clarion Events from Blackstone in a deal valued at an enterprise value of GBP 2.24 billion, alongside initiating a strategic review to separate its academic publishing division, Taylor & Francis. The acquisition will be financed through a combination of dedicated debt facilities and a non-pre-emptive equity placement raising approximately GBP 940 million. To prioritize capital toward the transaction while maintaining balance sheet flexibility, the group has paused its active share buyback program, targeting a net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio below 2.5x by late 2027.
This dual transaction significantly realigns Informa’s corporate portfolio toward high-growth commercial exhibitions while granting its academic publishing arm operational independence. Taylor & Francis currently generates approximately USD 1 billion in annual revenue with 4% underlying growth, whereas the combined live events division is projected to achieve revenue exceeding USD 5.7 billion across more than 1,000 corporate brands in 30 countries. The transaction allows Informa to divest lower-margin publishing exposure and double down on scalable, high-margin live exhibition franchises that command high pricing power.
The acquisition expands Informa’s global reach across key B2B sectors, adding prominent trade shows in defense and security, gaming, electronics, and energy distribution to its existing event lineup. Geographically, Clarion strengthens Informa’s operational presence in Western Europe and North America while offering significant potential for brand expansion into the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia through Informa’s regional infrastructure. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is scheduled to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
From a financial perspective, the combined live events business is expected to deliver an underlying annual growth rate of over 7%, supported by GBP 50 million in run-rate cost synergies and GBP 25 million in incremental annual operating profit from revenue synergies by 2029. Informa projects the transaction to deliver mid-single-digit growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share in 2027 and a double-digit post-tax return on invested capital within three years. Headquartered in London, Informa PLC is an international business intelligence, live events, and academic publishing group operating in more than 30 countries.
