Informa to Buy Clarion for £2.24bn in Deal Covering ICE and iGB

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Altay Celikkaya

Content Manager

Updated: 14/10/26

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Informa has agreed to acquire Clarion Events from private equity firm Blackstone at an enterprise value of £2.24 billion, adding major gambling industry brands, including ICE and iGB, to its international business events portfolio.

The proposed transaction, announced on 6 October 2026, accompanies Informa’s plans to separate academic publisher Taylor & Francis as the group concentrates on business-to-business events.

The acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Informa's £2.24bn Clarion Events deal featuring Stephen Carter and major iGaming event brands.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Key Takeaways From Informa's Clarion Acquisition

Informa has agreed to acquire Clarion Events from Blackstone at an enterprise value of £2.24 billion.
Clarion’s gaming portfolio includes ICE Barcelona, iGB L!VE and iGB Affiliate.
The acquisition will be financed through committed funding and an approximately £940 million equity issue.
Informa expects the deal to improve adjusted earnings per share from 2027.
The company is separately reviewing options to separate Taylor & Francis.

Clarion Deal Expands Informa's B2B Events Portfolio

According to Informa’s official company announcement, Clarion owns more than 100 specialist B2B brands spanning gaming, electronics, security, energy and technology.

Informa expects Clarion to generate more than £575 million in revenue in 2027. Following the acquisition, the combined B2B events business is projected to exceed £4.2 billion in annual revenue across approximately 1,000 specialist brands.

The company has identified around £50 million in annual operating savings and targets an additional £25 million in annual operating profit from revenue opportunities by 2029. The transaction is also expected to deliver a mid-single-digit increase in adjusted diluted earnings per share in 2027 and a double-digit post-tax return on invested capital within three years.

To finance the acquisition, Informa plans to raise approximately £940 million through an equity issue and use committed acquisition financing. The company will also pause its share buyback programme to redirect capital towards the transaction.

ICE and iGB Brands Join a Larger Events Portfolio

For gambling operators, suppliers and affiliates, Clarion’s gaming business is central to the transaction. Its portfolio includes ICE Barcelona, iGB L!VE and iGB Affiliate, alongside executive networking programmes and specialist industry events.

The acquisition could create opportunities for international expansion, cross-marketing, sponsorship and digital services through Informa’s existing infrastructure. Existing industry relationships were evident at ICE Barcelona 2026, where suppliers expanded their partnerships. The transaction may also create opportunities around iGB L!VE’s operator and affiliate networking activities, although organisers have not announced changes to individual events.

Taylor & Francis Separation Remains Under Review

Informa is also exploring the separation of Taylor & Francis, its academic publishing business, to strengthen its focus on B2B events.

The division generates approximately $1 billion in annual revenue, with underlying revenue growth of around 4%.

Informa Group Chief Executive Stephen A. Carter said:

Informa is today accelerating the focus on our core B2B business.

The company is reviewing potential separation structures, with the outcome expected alongside its full-year financial results in March 2027. No final separation arrangement has been confirmed.

What Happens Next for iGaming Events?

The Clarion acquisition is expected to complete towards the end of 2026, following customary regulatory clearances. Clarion Chief Executive Lisa Hannant will remain in her role and join Informa’s Executive Leadership Team. During the first three to six months after completion, Clarion is expected to continue operating under its existing business plans while integration opportunities are assessed.

The transaction also comes as gambling event organisers expand their focus on technology, research and international networking, reflected in WorldGaming’s partnership on the 2027 iGaming Trends Report.

For iGaming operators and B2B suppliers, the immediate development represents a potential change in ownership rather than a confirmed restructuring of ICE or iGB. Future integration plans will determine how Informa expands Clarion’s gaming brands internationally.