Informa to Buy Clarion Events for £2.24bn (US$2.97bn) in Major B2B Deal

Informa Group Plc will acquire Clarion Events for GBP2.24 billion (US$2.97 billion), the companies said on 7 October 2026. The London-listed publishing, business intelligence and exhibitions group disclosed the deal in an update to the London Stock Exchange and said it will partly finance the acquisition through an equity issuance targeting gross proceeds of GBP940 million. Clarion Events is the UK-based organiser of more than 100 B2B live event brands, including the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) Barcelona, next scheduled for 18–20 January 2027.

Deal mechanics and immediate financials for the Informa acquisition of Clarion Events

Informa described the purchase price as GBP2.24 billion and confirmed the equity raise of GBP940 million as partial funding for the transaction. The company framed the transaction as a strategic buy that will complement its existing exhibitions and data businesses.

Stephen Carter, group chief executive of Informa Group Plc, said the acquisition of Clarion, "the U.K.-based owner of more than 100 B2B live event brands," will help position Informa as the U.K.-listed international leader in the sector. He added that the enlarged group will have annual group revenues exceeding US$6 billion and that Informa expects underlying revenue growth of "7 percent plus or minus".

What Clarion Events brings to Informa and the events calendar

Clarion Events is a privately held United Kingdom firm that runs major trade shows across sectors including the gaming industry. Its portfolio includes the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) Barcelona. Clarion told customers and partners that "business will continue as usual" and that the forthcoming ICE Barcelona edition remains on the calendar for 18–20 January 2027.

Lisa Hannant, chief executive officer of Clarion Events, said the combination with Informa creates "significant opportunities to accelerate growth, expand our reach and continue investing in the products, services and experiences that create value for our customers and communities around the world." Clarion emphasised continuity for exhibitors, sponsors, partners and suppliers during the transition.

Funding, ownership history and comments from Clarion’s private equity backer

Clarion has been owned by Blackstone-managed private equity funds since a statement in June 2017 announced Blackstone's acquisition. Clarion acknowledged Blackstone's role in growing the business under that ownership and thanked the firm for its stewardship.

Lionel Assant, global co-chief information officer at Blackstone, was quoted in Clarion's press release as saying the investment since 2017 aimed to "build a truly global leader in events and exhibitions," and that, together with Clarion's management team led by Lisa Hannant, Blackstone was proud to have helped create a scaled, internationally reaching platform.

Strategic rationale and what it means for the B2B events market

Informa characterised the deal as a step to consolidate its leadership in live B2B events. Clarion's catalogue — more than 100 brands across industries — adds reach and sector diversification to Informa's portfolio. Informa's stated revenue scale after the acquisition, and its target for underlying revenue growth of around 7%, frame management's expectations for integration and future performance.

For the gaming sector specifically, ownership of ICE Barcelona moves one of the industry's most visible trade shows into Informa's stable. That change will be material for exhibitors, platform vendors and buyers who use ICE as a key sourcing and networking event.

Operational and market implications for exhibitors, sponsors and suppliers

Clarion's assurance that "business will continue as usual" signals that organisers plan minimal disruption to event operations and exhibitor arrangements in the near term. The next ICE Barcelona dates are confirmed, and existing commercial relationships with sponsors and suppliers are expected to remain active while integration work proceeds.

Operational tasks for both companies will include integrating commercial teams, aligning event technology and potentially migrating back-office functions. Informa's scale and stated access to capital via the equity raise are positioned as advantages when coordinating such an integration across multiple markets.

"The GBP2.24-billion acquisition of Clarion... will underscore Informa as the U.K.-listed, international leader," Stephen Carter said in prepared remarks.

"We are grateful to Blackstone for their support and stewardship over the years," Lisa Hannant said, thanking Clarion's previous owner.

Timeline and next steps

Both Informa and Clarion issued public statements on 7 October 2026. The announcement to the London Stock Exchange constituted the principal public disclosure of the purchase price and the planned funding route. The companies did not disclose additional transactional terms in their public releases.

Integrations of this scale typically follow a sequence of regulatory clearances where required, operational planning and commercial outreach to key customers. In this case, the statements from both parties signal a cooperative handover and continuity of events, starting with ICE Barcelona in January 2027.

What deal-watchers and industry participants should monitor

Observers should track any required regulatory approvals in relevant jurisdictions, the completion and allocation of the GBP940 million equity raise, and whether Informa publishes updated guidance that quantifies expected synergies or one-off integration costs. Exhibitors and sponsors will watch for any commercial changes to participation terms at ICE Barcelona and other Clarion brands as the two organisations combine systems and sales teams.

For markets where Clarion and Informa both run events, the consolidation will be visible in sales outreach and event calendars. Suppliers should expect detailed integration timelines from commercial contacts as the companies move from announcement to implementation.