Informa to Acquire Clarion Events for $2.96 Billion in Landmark Industry Deal

Welcome to the latest edition of Snöcap.

SPOTLIGHT: Informa has agreed to acquire Clarion Events from Blackstone for $2.96 billion, adding more than 100 event brands to its portfolio in one of the biggest deals the exhibition industry has seen. The acquisition would give Informa’s B2B Live Events business an annual revenue base of more than $5.7 billion across roughly 1,000 brands in over 30 countries.

The deal also signals a sharper focus on B2B events. Alongside the acquisition, Informa plans to separate Taylor & Francis, its academic publishing business, as it doubles down on live events. Clarion brings established brands across electronics, defense, security and gaming, including IFA Berlin, DSEI and ICE Barcelona. Subject to regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, further expanding Informa’s reach across the global events market. Read more below.

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Informa to Acquire Clarion Events for $2.96 Billion in Landmark Industry Deal

Informa PLC has agreed to acquire Clarion Events from Blackstone for $2.96 billion, a deal that adds more than 100 business-to-business event brands to the London-based company’s portfolio and, according to Informa, reinforces its position as the leading international operator of B2B live events.

The company announced the deal alongside plans to separate Taylor & Francis, its academic publishing division, leaving Informa focused on its B2B business. The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory clearances.

“Informa is today accelerating the focus on our core B2B business, as we announce plans to separate our Academic Markets business, Taylor & Francis,” said Stephen A. Carter, Informa group chief executive.

Once the deal closes, Informa’s B2B Live Events division is expected to generate more than $5.7 b in annual revenue across about 1,000 brands in over 30 countries. The acquisition gives Informa immediate scale in electronics, defense and security, and gaming through Clarion events including IFA Berlin, DSEI and ICE Barcelona.

Key financial terms include:

• Enterprise value of $2.96 billion (£2.24bn), or 11.1 times Clarion’s expected 2027 EBITDA, falling to about 8 times including targeted cost and revenue synergies
• Clarion revenue of more than $760 million (£575m) expected in 2027, with adjusted operating profit margins above 30%
• An equity placing of about $1.24bn (£940m), or about 9% of Informa’s issued share capital, alongside committed acquisition financing
• Expected underlying growth of 7% or more annually for the combined B2B events business

Clarion CEO Lisa Hannant will remain in her role and join Informa’s executive leadership team.

“Informa’s decision to invest in Clarion is a recognition of the quality of our business, our brands and our people,” Lisa said. “This is a moment to recognise the outstanding contribution of our teams. Their passion, expertise and commitment have helped build the successful business that Informa is investing in today.”

Taylor & Francis, which publishes more than 170,000 articles a year, is approaching $1 billion in revenue with 4% underlying growth. Informa will report the outcome of its review of the business in March 2027.

“With Taylor & Francis approaching $1bn in revenue, growing at 4%± and with its Open Research capabilities firmly established, we believe it will now benefit from greater flexibility and freedom through the next phase of its development, as Informa further expands the depth and reach of its B2B portfolio,” Stephen said.

ExCeL London Names Sam Gibson as CIO to Support Future Growth

ExCeL London has appointed Sam Gibson as chief information officer, a new executive position created to support the venue’s growth through its long-term technology and connectivity strategy.

The appointment follows the venue’s multimillion-pound program to upgrade its digital infrastructure and connectivity, part of a broader plan to become the world’s leading event destination.

Sam brings more than 20 years of experience in technology leadership, including senior roles in the events sector, most recently at Clarion Events. He has also worked in the property and construction industries, where he designed and carried out digital strategies.

ExCeL CEO Jeremy Rees said: “Technology and connectivity are increasingly fundamental to the experience our customers expect and to the future of world-class events.

“As we continue to invest in our people, our products and our place, Sam’s appointment strengthens our Executive Team and brings further focus to an area that will play an increasingly important role in Excel’s future growth. He will also lead an ambitious new phase of our connectivity programme, which we look forward to announcing shortly.”

Sam said: “It’s a hugely exciting time to be joining Excel London. The expectations of organisers, exhibitors and visitors are evolving rapidly, and technology has a key role to play in creating outstanding event experiences. I’m looking forward to building on the venue’s strong foundations and helping shape a connected, customer-led technology strategy that makes events easier to deliver, more engaging and creates new opportunities for our customers and the venue.”

Countdown Begins to IMEX America as Industry Confidence Builds Ahead of Next Week’s Opening

Meeting and event professionals are finalizing their plans as IMEX America returns to Las Vegas next week for its 15th edition, with early appointment bookings signaling growing confidence across the industry.

Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX, said demand was visible as soon as the show’s meeting system went live.

“The excitement around this year’s show was evident from day one. The first appointment was booked within two minutes of the system going live, and in those first few hours meetings were being scheduled at an average rate of one every two seconds. That level of engagement shows just how much value our community places on meeting face-to-face and making every moment on site count.”

Egypt, Costa Rica, Mexico and Buenos Aires have increased their presence this year, while Salt Lake City and Sacramento have doubled their booth space. Montenegro will exhibit for the first time, and Canada, Orlando, Wynn Resorts and Marriott Hotels & Resorts return with larger sponsorships.

Announcements expected at the show include:

• Washington, D.C.’s latest meetings outlook.
• A new milestone for Puerto Rico as a live entertainment destination.
• The launch of ImpactAIQ, an artificial intelligence platform that evaluates event impact, with IMEX America as its pilot.
• New research from SITE and EIC.

A new Tech-Enabled Futures track moves the discussion from how to use AI to how to make it more human, covering trust, technology adoption and in-person experiences. A Design Matters focus adds five education tracks, including a Design for Spectacle track with a session on the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Snöball will be at IMEX America next week! Our Snöballer-in-Chief, Rachel Stephan, will be there to chat about how event organizers can reach more people, get their communities involved and grow their events through peer-to-peer marketing solutions.

93rd UFI Global Congress to Explore the Future of Exhibitions Amid Industry Uncertainty

The 93rd UFI Global Congress will examine how the exhibition industry plans for what comes next as organizations face an uncertain business environment. The event takes place Nov. 2-5 in Bahrain under the theme “Stronger Connections, Smarter Futures.”

UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, is organizing the congress with Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) and the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).

“Hosting the 93rd UFI Global Congress is significant for EWB, bringing the global exhibition community together in the Kingdom for the first time. With just one month to go, we are looking forward to welcoming industry leaders from around the world for a programme that will explore the trends, opportunities, and ideas shaping the future of our industry. Beyond the discussions, we invite delegates to experience Bahrain’s distinctive hospitality, connectivity, and growing business-events ecosystem, and to build impactful connections that extend well beyond the Congress,” said Sara Ahmed Buhejji, CEO of BTEA and chairperson of EWB.

“‘Stronger Connections, Smarter Futures’ encompasses exactly what the UFI Global Congress is all about. In a rapidly changing and unpredictable world, the value of coming together, sharing perspectives, and finding clarity for what lies ahead has never been stronger. We are proud to bring this year’s edition to the Kingdom of Bahrain at a time when solidarity matters deeply. Having recently visited the Kingdom and many of the venues we will use during the Congress, and having experienced firsthand the excitement and enthusiasm of our hosts, I have every confidence this will be an exceptional edition,” said Chris Skeith, CEO and managing director of UFI.

Lord Stephen A. Carter, group chief executive of Informa, will give the keynote, “Power of Live,” on the value of in-person events and how data and AI are creating opportunities for the industry. Hugh Jones, CEO of RX, will close the first day with a session on how organizers can design shows that help attendees do business.

On the final day, Wolfram Diener, president and CEO of Messe Düsseldorf Group, will become UFI president, succeeding Panittha Buri, vice chairperson of Bhiraj Buri Group.

Are you heading to the UFI Global Congress? So are we! Saad Tawfiq from  will be there to talk about attendee acquisition, peer advocacy and how trusted referrals can help bring more people to your events.

Who is hiring?

Amex, Global Business Travel | Senior Event Producer

Hyve, London | Event Director – HLTH Europe

Diversified UK & Europe | Senior Marketing Executive

Samsara | Strategic Events Marketing Manager

BainCapital | Meetings and Events Director