LONDON — Informa, the largest owner/operator of business-to-business events, announced exclusivity to acquire HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition, the leading international trade show for healthcare technology and information management systems, within its healthcare technology offerings, and acquired Canalys within its specialist tech research business.
This comes only four months after Informa acquired Tarsus that owned and operated a portfolio of more than 160 live and on-demand business-to-business event brands and Winsight in May that significantly expanded its position in the business-to-business foodservice market with shows like the National Restaurant Association Show and Hotel-Motel Show.
According to Informa’s 2023 Half Year Results, the company reported underlying revenue growth of 31.9% and an underlying adjusted operating profit of 65.5%. Through volume and value growth due to recent acquisitions and the company’s strong performance, the company will deliver at the top end of its 2023 market guidance range for group adjusted operating profit and reported group revenue.
Related. Informa to Outpace 2019 Levels of Revenue in 2023
HIMSS Deal
Informa has exclusivity to acquire HIMSS, which next takes place in March of 2024 and attracts more than 35,000 healthcare professionals from more than 90 countries. The longstanding Trade Show Executive (TSE) Gold 100 show attracts more than 1,200 exhibitors and offers more than 200 educational sessions that cover insights into innovations and trends in the healthcare information and technology industry.
HIMSS has ranked in TSE’s Gold 100 15 times, every edition of the Gold 100, and four times in the Fastest 50 for show years 2015, 2014, 2012 and 2011.
The 2021 edition of HIMSS ranked in the Gold 100 with 320,496 net square feet, 693 exhibitors and 25,034 total attendees. HIMSS is also a Gold 100 honoree for the 2022 edition.
HIMSS has won three Gold 100 Grand Awards:
2021 Show: The Stickiest Show Floor
2014 Show: Most Innovative Show
2010 Show: Most Innovative Show
Canalys Acquisition
The Canalys deal results in Informa Tech becoming the world’s largest channel research and consulting group with a global view of the mobility market. Canalys is a global channel and mobility technology market research and events firm.
“Channel and mobility are two incredibly exciting areas for our industry, where technology, supply chains and ways of going to market are ever evolving. Over 70% of all business technology is sold via the channel and this is why it is of huge importance to our customers,” Gary Nugent, CEO of Informa Tech, said. “Our mission with our research group Omdia is to connect the dots for our customers across the technology landscape and Canalys brings leading insight into channel and mobility markets on a global scale while enabling us to strengthen our presence in Asia. We also have the opportunity to accelerate global networking opportunities for our customers in channel by combining Canalys events with our leading events brand channel partners.”
Middle East Expansion
There will be accelerated expansion in the Middle East as Informa has also announced that Events Investment Fund has acquired a stake in Tahaluf, the joint venture between Informa and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP).
Events Investment Fund, part of Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund, said it purchased the stake in Tahaluf to develop “sustainable infrastructure for the culture, tourism, entertainment and sports sectors” in the country.
The joint venture between the SAFCSP and Informa supports the Saudi Arabian government’s “Vision 2030” plan to diversify its economy.
Tahaluf’s inaugural event, LEAP, was the largest tech event launch ever. Tahaluf has since brought established brands in cybersecurity including Black Hat and in real estate construction with Cityscape Global.
To say Informa is a trade show powerhouse is an understatement with shows including World of Concrete, Natural Products Expo West, Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West, The International Surface Expo (TISE), WWETT – Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show, SupplySide West and Food ingredients North America, WasteExpo, ISSA Show North America, AVIATION WEEK Network MRO Americas Conference & Exhibition, Natural Products Expo East/BIOFACH America, International Roofing Expo, and International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, co-located with Deck Expo.
Informa Markets Fashion includes MAGIC Las Vegas in August, MAGIC Las Vegas in February, and COTERIE New York in February. Its Premiere Show Group includes Premier Orlando and USA Beauty includes Cosmoprof North America, owned by Informa Markets as part of a joint venture.
