Informa

1998 to 2013

Informa itself was created in 1998 by the merger of IBC Group plc (formerly International Business Communications) and LLP Group plc (publisher of Lloyd's List).[3]

In 2004, Informa merged with academic publisher Taylor & Francis, followed in 2005 with the acquisition of IIR Holdings.[4][5]

In October 2006, the company was approached by Springer Science and Business Media in a takeover bid,[6] but in early November the Informa board rejected the offer.[7]

In early 2007, chairman Richard Hooper announced his retirement in May and, after consulting with major shareholders, the company moved chief executive Peter Rigby to chairman, and managing director David Gilbertson to Rigby's former post.[8][9]

On 8 June 2008, The Sunday Telegraph revealed that United Business Media (UBM) had proposed a merger with Informa.[10] The talks were confirmed by Informa in a press release that same day, but described as "preliminary".[11][12] On 17 June talks with UBM ended.[13]

In May 2009 the company announced that it would restructure its business to be incorporated in Jersey but tax resident in Switzerland.[14] In 2014, Informa was redomiciled in the UK.[15]

In July 2013, the company announced that Peter Rigby would retire at the end of 2013 to be replaced as CEO by Stephen Carter, who was first appointed a non-executive director in 2010.[16][17] Informa has since acquired other conventions and placed them under the auspices of their Fan Expo HQ brand, including Dallas Comic Con and MegaCon.[18][19][20]

In December 2013, Informa acquired the assets of Elsevier Business Intelligence (EBI) from Reed Elsevier.[21]

2014 to present

In January 2014, Carter became CEO of Informa plc.[22] In September 2017, Informa announced that it would be acquiring Dove Medical Press.[23]

In January 2018, Informa announced its intent to acquire UBM plc as part of its strategy to expand in North America and Asia.[24][25][26] The transaction was completed in June 2018.[27]

In 2019, Informa sold the former UBM Life Sciences to MJH Associates.[28] Later in 2019, Informa traded its Agriculture Intelligence unit to IHS Markit in exchange for most of IHS Markit's Technology, Media and Telecoms division.[29] Also in 2019, Informa sold the former Penton design & engineering, manufacturing, energy, buildings, and commercial vehicle divisions, and the former UBM Automotive, to Endeavor Business Media.[30]

In February 2020, Informa launched Omdia by consolidating its portfolio of market analyst companies, Ovum Ltd, Heavy Reading, Tractica, and the majority of IHS Markit's technology, media and telecommunications research business, into a unified brand. The combined research offering includes more than 400 analysts and consultants covering 150 technology markets. Collectively, Omdia issues over 3,000 research reports annually.[31]

In February 2022, Informa sold its Informa Pharma Intelligence unit to investment fund, Warburg Pincus for $2.6 billion.[32] It also sold Lloyd's List and EPFR to Montagu Private Equity in 2022.[33]

In March 2023, in a cash and shares deal, Informa acquired the Irish Tarsus Group from Charterhouse Capital Partners for a reported GBP 790m.[34][35][36]

In January 2024, Informa announced that it would merge the digital business of Informa Tech with TechTarget. The resulting company would keep the TechTarget name with Informa holding 57% stake and the existing TechTarget shareholders holding 43% stake in the merged TechTarget.[37][38] The merger was completed with the business became Informa TechTarget in December 2024.[39]

In June 2024, Informa closed two UK-based titles: Digital TV Europe and Television Business International.[40]

In July 2024, the company reached a deal to acquire media and events company Ascential for approximately £1.2 billion.[41] The transaction was completed in October 2024.[42]

Informa Connect

• The Bride Show
• Fan Expo
• Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo
• Fan Expo Boston
• Fan Expo Canada
• Toronto Comicon
• Fan Expo Chicago
• Fan Expo Dallas
• Fan Expo Denver
• Fan Expo Vancouver[50]
• MegaCon
• Middle East Film and Comic Con
• Nation's Restaurant News
• Restaurant Business, official magazine of the National Restaurant Association[51]
• VidCon

Informa Festivals

• Black Hat Briefings
• Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
• Game Developers Conference

Informa Markets

• Arab Health
• Aviation Week Network
• Dubai Airshow
• Farm Progress
• Magic
• Monaco Yacht Show
• World of Concrete

Informa TechTarget

• Computer Weekly
• Game Developer
• Industry Dive[52]
• InformationWeek
• Light Reading
• MicroScope
• Ward's

Taylor & Francis

• CRC Press
• Dove Medical Press
• Routledge