Informa’s trading update for the nine months to 30 September, reports continuing strong underlying growth and reaffirms full year guidance for double-digit underlying earnings growth, despite significant disruption in the Middle East and a cut in overall revenue guidance to 3%.
The world’s largest exhibition group reports, 27 October, underlying revenue growth of 6.5% for the period under review, withB2B Live Events underlying growth +8%, reflecting continuing strong demand for high-quality live experiences.
Informa TechTarget underlying revenues were 1.6% lower, reflecting continuing market volatility.
Stephen A. Carter, group chief executive, Informa, said: “Informa continues to deliver strong performance and underlying growth. Strong underlying demand for B2B Live Events, combined with the strength of our brands and operating flexibility, is enabling us to deliver consistent growth and performance, and our international breadth is limiting the impact of specific in-market disruptions.”
The group reported that its IMEA B2B Live Events rescheduling programme (more than 15 so far) had been “effective”, and noted 50+ brands were trading this year, generating revenues of more than $530m.
Recent escalation in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran-aligned Houthis has led to further events being rescheduled in KSA, including the 2026 edition of the Global Health Exhibition in Riyadh moving to a virtual format and Cityscape Global shifting to January 2027.
Yet, despite significant disruption in the Middle East through 2026, the business has continued to track to group guidance on Revenue (6%± underlying growth) and Earnings (double-digit underlying growth).
The group is assuming no further contribution from KSA business in 2026, and says it continues to track to double-digit growth in underlying earnings (excluding the in-year dilution from the share issuance relating to the Clarion acquisition) albeit with group underlying revenue growth now tracking to 3%±.
The Clarion Events acquisition is expected to complete within the first two weeks of December and all regulatory filings have now been submitted. Clarion Events will, thus, be a full part of the Informa Group for 2027, adding 100+ B2B brands to the portfolio, bringing further scale in North America and Asia and significantly strengthening Informa’s European position.
