FTSE 100 group Informa has announced a strategic overhaul involving the separation of its academic publishing business Taylor & Francis and a £940mn equity raise to fund the £2.2bn acquisition of rival events group Clarion from private equity firm Blackstone. The move narrows Informa's focus to its core live events operations. CEO Stephen Carter, one of the longest-serving FTSE executives with nearly 13 years at the helm, has grown Informa to an £11bn market cap through aggressive expansion in live events.
Informa will evaluate all options for the separated academic unit next year. Shares initially dipped nearly 2% before recovering and rising 3%. The acquisition adds over 100 business-to-business brands to Informa's portfolio, including IFA Berlin, DSEI, and ICE in Barcelona.
Annual revenues are expected to exceed $6bn post-acquisition, with the deal funded through acquisition financing and equity placement. The sale marks a positive outcome for Blackstone amid challenging private equity exit conditions. Recent sector activity includes Providence and Searchlight selling Hyve to Hellman & Friedman for $1.8bn.
The transactions reflect renewed demand for in-person corporate events following pandemic lockdowns. Carter recently relocated from the UK to the UAE to lead operations from a rapidly growing region, though Informa remains committed to its London listing.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing