UK-listed business information and events group Informa has agreed to acquire Clarion Events for £2.24 billion, in one of its biggest recent deals and a major expansion of its global live-events business.

The acquisition will add more than 100 business-to-business event brands to Informa’s portfolio, covering sectors including electronics, defence and security, gaming, energy and technology.

Informa plans to raise around £940 million through a new equity placing and retail offer to help fund the transaction. The company will also pause its current share buyback programme as it redirects capital towards the acquisition.

The deal is part of a broader strategy to concentrate Informa more heavily on business-to-business markets and live events. The company has also announced plans to separate its academic publishing business, Taylor & Francis, and will review options for its future.

Informa said the Clarion acquisition is expected to deliver mid-single-digit adjusted diluted earnings-per-share growth in 2027, with the company targeting a post-tax return on invested capital of more than 10% by 2029.

The transaction reflects continued corporate demand for international exhibitions, trade shows and face-to-face business events, while giving Informa a larger presence across several specialist global markets.