Informa Plc (LON:INF), the international B2B Live Events, B2B Digital Services and Academic Markets Group, has published a trading update to coincide with its AGM, reporting five-month underlying revenue growth of 6.4%.
Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive, Informa, said:
“The depth and breadth of Informa’s portfolio, both geographically and by market category, continues to deliver growth, international expansion and product and brand innovation.
He added: We have momentum in both our businesses, B2B Live Events and Academic Services, and are reconfirming full year earnings guidance1.”
Highlights
• Growth in 2026… Group underlying revenue growth of 6.4% in the five months to 31 May (excluding non-recurring data access contracts), with continuing strength in both Academic Markets and B2B Live Events:
• Academic Markets: Underlying revenue growth of 5.5% at Taylor & Francis in the first five months (excluding non-recurring data access contracts), with good performances in Subscriptions, Open Research and Advanced Learning. On track for 4% full year underlying growth;
• B2B Live Events (Informa Markets / Connect / Festivals): Underlying revenue growth of 7.6% over first five months:
– Strong B2B growth in The Americas, Greater China, ASEAN, Europe and IMEA pre-conflict (c.90% of B2B Live Events)… Full year underlying revenue growth guidance of 7%+ with more than $1.5bn traded to date. Strong performances in Healthcare (HIMSS, WHX Dubai, WHX Labs), Food (Gulfood, Vitafoods Europe, Natural Products Expo West, National Restaurant Show), Beauty & Aesthetics (Anti-Aging World Congress, Cosmoprof Miami) and Finance (SuperReturn International, Money 20/20 Europe, Finovate), alongside targeted investment in Gaming to reposition the leading brand GDC and launch the KSA brand Kingdom of Gaming;
– Returning B2B growth in markets directly impacted by conflict (c.10% of B2B Live Events still to run)… We will update the market further on 30 July (Interim Results), which will be five weeks ahead of the first major 2026 re-scheduled Brands, LEAP in Riyadh and Middle East Energy in Dubai. 15+ Brands have been rescheduled within 2026 and we have actively deferred to 2027 a number of new event launches, including Food (Vitafoods Dubai), Interior Security (Fortis), and some smaller pre-existing Brands, Health Tech (WHX Tech) and Manufacturing (Gulf Print & Paper);
• Full year visibility… Group revenues of $4bn+ traded, booked or visible for the full year via subscriptions, recurring revenues and forward booked contracts;
• Earnings guidance reaffirmed… We remain committed to full year Group earnings guidance (double-digit underlying growth in adjusted EPS1);
• Stronger growth in 2027… Further strong growth in adjusted EPS:
• Full Brand schedule in 2027… Strong forward visibility and a full year of annual and biennial B2B brands, as well as the restaging of deferred launches and Brands;
• H1 visibility in 2027… Forward revenues for H1 of $0.6bn+ booked or confirmed to date, with annual and biennial B2B Brands pacing to deliver strong growth;
• 2025-2028 One Informa… Four-year programme to maximise Informa’s B2B growth platform building momentum, focused on Data-led Marketing, Customer Experience, the group-wide deployment of AI technology and driving efficiency, productivity and product innovation;
• Balance sheet strength… Significantly over-subscribed Û500m 6-year Eurobond, extending weighted average debt maturity to 4.3 years and providing long-term financing flexibility; and
• Shareholder Returns… £250m Share Buyback Programme ongoing.
1Constant currency EPS, adjusted for biennial phasing and non-recurring data contracts
