Informa agrees £2.24bn deal for ICE and iGB Live owner

The deal was announced on 6 October. It covers Clarion’s wider events business, including its World Gaming division. We expect the transaction to complete towards the end of 2026 but it will be subject to regulatory approvals.

The immediate question for operators, suppliers and affiliates is what the takeover will mean for exhibition budgets and the events themselves.

What changes for ICE and iGB Live?

The published calendar still places  ICE at Fira Barcelona Gran Via from 18–20 January 2027. Meanwhile, iGB Live is advertising its next London edition for 7–8 July 2027.

Neither schedule indicates a relocation following the acquisition announcement. Informa’s statement also contains no event-specific announcement about stand prices, delegate charges or co-location with its other exhibitions.

Exhibitors therefore have no confirmed basis for assuming that the takeover will change their 2027 bookings. Longer-term commercial plans remain something to watch as integration progresses.

More opportunities beyond the exhibition floor

In its acquisition announcement, Informa identifies international expansion, lead generation, digital services and sponsorship as growth opportunities. It points to its approach with Money20/20 and LIONS as a model for taking acquired brands into new markets.

That suggests exhibitors could eventually be offered more ways to reach customers between annual shows. However, additional products would need to justify their cost through useful contacts and measurable business.

For UK suppliers, the practical consideration is how any expanded offering fits alongside the travel, accommodation and staffing costs already attached to attending overseas events.

What does the price tell us?

Blackstone bought Clarion for a reported £600m in 2017. The new valuation is approximately 3.7 times that figure. However, this is not a calculation of Blackstone’s investment return. Clarion has changed through acquisitions and additional investment during its ownership.

The £2.24bn price covers the whole group. This includes electronics, defence and energy exhibitions. It cannot be treated as a valuation of gambling events alone.

Informa puts the purchase multiple at 11.1 times expected 2027 EBITDA. This falls to around nine times after anticipated cost savings.

Will bigger mean better?

ICE and iGB Live already share an owner. This means that the deal changes their parent company rather than bringing previously competing shows together.

A larger parent could support investment and international reach. Whether that improves the experience for attendees will depend on execution.

For exhibitors, the test remains straightforward: do the events deliver enough relevant meetings, leads and sales to justify the total bill?