Blackstone initiates sale of ICE organiser Clarion Events
Private equity firm Blackstone is reported to be in the process of selling Clarion Events, the international trade show organiser behind ICE.
Blackstone acquired Clarion, which runs shows in electronics, gaming, energy, security and defence, for £600 million (US$805 million)1 GBP = 1.3418 USD
2025-05-22Powered by CMG CurrenShift in 2017.
In 2020/21 the company saw revenue and earnings stall due to the covid pandemic. ICE was postponed twice in 2021 before being cancelled altogether.
Clarion’s revenue is reported to have risen from £257 million (US$345 million)1 GBP = 1.3418 USD
2025-05-22Powered by CMG CurrenShift to £432.9 million (US$581 million)1 GBP = 1.3418 USD
2025-05-22Powered by CMG CurrenShift in the 12 months through January 2024, as the industry returned to normal in China and Hong Kong.
According to Reuters, the company may be worth approximately £2 billion (US$2.68 billion)1 GBP = 1.3418 USD
2025-05-22Powered by CMG CurrenShift, on the expectation that it would fetch around 12 times earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.
Reuters reported that Blackstone has received interest from several funds, including CVC, KKR, PAI Partners and Ardian, as well as Asian private equity firm Hillhouse Investment, which hosts trade shows in China under the brand Global Sources.
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