Informa and UBM in Merger Discussions

The Boards of business information firm Informa and events group UBM have confirmed that they are in discussions regarding a potential combination of the two companies.

Informa operates in four areas: academic publishing, global exhibitions, knowledge and networking, and business intelligence. The last of these offers specialist data-driven intelligence and insight to companies in the agribusiness, finance, industry and infrastructure, pharmaceutical, telecoms, media and technology, and transportation sectors. Last year, the company launched Informa Engage, which provides insights on niche B2B audiences through a global database of more than 30 million business decision makers and 1,000 plus data segments. In addition, its subsidiary Agribusiness intelligence launched an agricultural insight platform, IEG Vu, focused on the processed food and soft commodity markets.

Should the deal go ahead, Informa will be merged with one-time NOP owner UBM, which now focuses on B2B events, organising more than 300 every year. The merger would be achieved through an acquisition of the entire issued and to-be-issued share capital of UBM by Informa, for shares and cash consideration. Informa has until 13th February 2018 to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for UBM, or announce that it does not intend to.

In a statement, Informa noted: 'There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made or as to the terms on which any offer might be made. Informa reserves the right to introduce other forms of consideration and / or vary the mix or composition of consideration of any offer. Shareholders will be kept updated as appropriate'.

Web sites: www.informa.com and www.ubm.com .