Informa, a FTSE 100-listed events company headquartered in London, has announced the acquisition of Clarion, a London-based events organiser, for £2.24bn. The deal represents a significant expansion of Informa’s event portfolio, bringing more than 100 additional events under its management. Clarion’s event roster encompasses a diverse range of gatherings, from major industry conferences to consumer-focused shows.
The acquisition adds several high-profile events to Informa’s existing portfolio. Clarion operates DSEI, a defence and security exhibition held biennially in London as well as other international locations, alongside Awesome Con, a comic book and pop culture convention held in Washington. The company also organizes travel expos, classic car exhibitions, and technology and gaming events. Clarion’s Classic Motor Show in Birmingham, scheduled for next month, is marketed as the world’s largest vehicle club gathering.
Informa’s chief executive Stephen Carter stated that the acquisition aligns with the company’s strategy to concentrate on its core live events business. Concurrently, Informa announced plans to separate Taylor & Francis, its academic publishing division, with a formal review process underway. The publishing arm, which generated approximately $1bn in revenue last year, was acquired by Informa in 2004 and specializes in journals and books across science, medicine, technology and engineering sectors.
To finance the Clarion acquisition, Informa will conduct a share placing that will raise £940m, including a retail offering through broker RetailBook. The company projects that the takeover will accelerate growth and enhance earnings per share beginning in 2027. Share trading in Informa increased 1.4% following the Tuesday announcement. Informa’s shares have remained relatively flat so far this year, as the company was compelled to reschedule several Middle East events due to regional conflict.
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