International B2B Events, B2B Digital Services and Academic Markets Group Informa’s latest trading update, has confirmed double-digit growth.
Stephen A. Carter (pictured), group chief executive, said: “Informa continues to deliver a strong performance in 2024, with forward bookings providing momentum into 2025.
“This year sees us complete our four-year GAP2 programme, where our performance has demonstrated the structural growth in our chosen markets, our geographic strength in the US and IMEA in particular, and the power of our market-leading specialist B2B Brands and proprietary first party data.”
Key highlights of the 2024 trading report include:
- Further double-digit underlying revenue growth, at Group level (+10.7%) and within B2B markets (+11.1%) and Academic Markets (+10%);
- Reconfirmation of market guidance of c.£3.5bn+ Group Revenue and Adjusted Operating Profit of £975m+;
- Creation of Informa Festivals, the experience-led Live Events business on track for launch from January 2025;
- Creation of Informa TechTarget scheduled for early December, with shareholder vote completing on 26 November;
- Divestment of minority holding in Maritime Intelligence, bolstering free cash flow strength;
- Forward bookings across our Live B2B Events portfolio for 2025 on track, with Informa Markets major event revenues in Q1, the largest trading quarter, more than 5%+ ahead year-on-year.
The Group noted momentum particularly in in FinTech, with recent Money20/20 US delivering to plan and Money20/20 Middle East confirmed for Riyadh in 2025.
The Group also announced the appointment of Catherine Levene as a non-executive director, bringing further US public and private market experience, as well as extensive expertise in digital media.
Over the next four years, the Group said its focus will be on maximising its platform by aligning its businesses more closely in Operations, Brand, Technology, Marketing and Data Analytics. From 2025, this will include operating three Live B2B Events businesses (Informa Markets, Informa Connect, Informa Festivals) as one, alongside Informa TechTarget and the Academic Markets division.
