Informa repositions itself through Ascential acquisition

In a significant strategic realignment, Informa, the business events company listed on the London Stock Exchange, announces a global restructuring following the recently completed acquisition of its British competitor Ascential for £1.2 billion. The goal of this restructuring is to begin 2025 with consistent revenue growth exceeding 5 percent annually while surpassing the £4 billion revenue mark. Under the leadership of CEO Stephen Carter, Informa has transformed into the world's largest business events provider over the past decade by shifting its business model from a high-volume, low-cost conference organizer to a provider of high-quality branded events. This forward-looking strategy is now further advanced by restructuring into three independent event business units. The top events managed by Ascential, including the advertising festival Cannes Lions and the fintech trade show Money20/20, will be held as Informa Festivals, accompanied by other prestigious events such as the cybersecurity conference Black Hat and London Tech Week. Additionally, Informa will establish a digital services unit and plans to combine Informa Tech’s digital operations with Nasdaq-listed TechTarget, with the transaction expected to be completed later this year. While many sectors are experiencing a slowdown post-pandemic boom, the demand for business events remains strong, reinforcing Informa's leadership position in this area. On the occasion of announcing the restructuring, Informa will also report positive figures for the current fiscal year, with significant revenue growth and free cash flow exceeding £740 million. The acquisition of Ascential is expected to yield synergies of approximately £12 million, although some job cuts are anticipated. Despite its international focus, Carter emphasizes the importance of a competitive British stock market and expresses satisfaction with the London listing.