Informa, an international academic markets, B2B markets and digital services group, has acquired Tarsus Group, the organiser of Labelexpo Global Series shows, for US$940 million to further “enhance its presence in growing regions and markets”.
Founded in 1998, Tarsus has become one of the most respected names in the B2B events industry, operating a portfolio of over 160 live and on-demand events. Businesses worldwide rely on its events and media to launch products, build supply chains and brand awareness.
Charterhouse Capital Partners has owned Tarsus since 2019. In 2021, it reported statutory revenue of US$106 million, statutory loss before tax of US$92 million and gross assets of US$1.037 billion.
”We are proud to have supported Tarsus’ development since 2019 and are confident that Informa is exceptionally well placed to deliver the next stage of the company’s growth strategy. We look forward to becoming a shareholder,” Charterhouse partner Robert Leeming said.
Informa said the combination is both commercially and financially compelling, with strong portfolio alignment that will deliver enhanced customer value, additional opportunities for colleagues and attractive returns for shareholders.
The Informa and Tarsus portfolios are complementary geographically and by market category, strengthening Informa’s position across several verticals.
”We have long admired the Tarsus business, which, like Informa, has been built around significant brands in attractive, specialist B2B markets in the growing regions of Asia, China, the Middle East and the Americas,” Informa group chief executive Stephen A. Carter said.
Informa’s Mark Temple-Smith, current markets chief operating officer and former CEO of Asia for Tarsus, will step in as executive chair of Tarsus from completion to the end of the combination programme in January 2024.
Douglas Emslie, the current chief executive of Tarsus, will become a senior advisor to the Informa Group through the combination programme, guiding talent, brands and partnerships.
”I am extremely proud of the Tarsus business, our people and our customers. I could not think of a better partner than Informa to lead our brands and colleagues through the next phase of growth and expansion,” Emslie said.
The combination of Tarsus with Informa is expected to generate approximately US$20 million annualised operating synergies by 2025 through efficiencies in procurement, real estate, technology, event contracts and other areas.
The combination is also expected to deliver incremental revenue benefits through the cross-marketing of brands, digital expansion and new event launches, as well as harvesting first-party data from Tarsus into IIRIS.
In February, Tarsus Group appointed Nick Davison as managing director of the Tarsus labels division, the organiser of the Labelexpo Global Series of exhibitions and publisher of Labels & Labeling magazine. Davidson, who joined from Hyve Group, took over from Lisa Milburn, who was promoted to group director and joined the main Tarsus board.
