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B2B media and events giant Informa has acquired the B2B events company Clarion, adding more than 125 live B2B events to Informa's portfolio, and contributing to what will be a tenfold growth in related revenue over the past 13 years. Informa paid an enterprise value of £2.24 billion (US$2.97 billion) to Blackstone for the deal. With Clarion integrated into company, B2B live events will generate revenues of more than £4.2 billion (US$5.7 billion) across some 1,000 B2B brands in more than 40 market categories and across more than 30 countries.
Higher revenue, strategic growth
Among the more than 125 live events acquired as part of the deal are eight "Marquee" brands, with revenue greater than US$30 million, and eight "Power" brands, with revenues between US$10 million and US$30 million.
The deal gives Informa immediate access to three high-growth strategic categories:
- Electronics, such as IFA Berlin, the world's largest consumer electronics event
- Defense/Security, including the large international DSEI
- Gaming, including ICE in Berlin
It also deepens Informa's presence in the categories such as:
- Technology, including the leading insurance tech brand, ITC Vegas
- Energy, including North America’s largest energy transmission and distribution brand, Distributech
Informa will now have shows in more than 20 vertical categories that generate more than US$50 million in revenue. The deal also gives Informa deeper inroads into the Americas and Asia markets, and significantly expands its presence in Europe.
Clarion, which was founded in 1947, currently has more than 12 offices worldwide, and employs more than 2,000 people.
Industry consolidation
The deal follows Informa's recent acquisition of the Global Wellness Institute in September, as well as larger exhibition-industry deals like the Emerald-Questex tie-in and the $1.8 billion acquisition of the Hyve Group by private-equity firm Hellman & Friedman. Consolidation is ramping up as B2B and exhibitions firms increasingly look to gain a global foothold and deeper data insights via expanded portfolios.