Representing creative excellence and specialism of the industry, the Cannes Lions festival is a mainstay of the advertising industry. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Kritchanon
British exhibitions group Informa has reached a 1.2 billion pounds
(US$1.6 billion) deal to to buy Ascential, a UK-based events company
that owns industry-leading conferences Cannes Lions and Money 20/20.
This significant move comes on the heels of Informa's acquisition of Tarsus in March 2023, further consolidating its position in the global events industry.
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a prestigious five-day festival featuring awards for the
advertising industry, with the most recent edition held from 17-21 June
2024 in Cannes, France. Money20/20, a series of global events for the
financial services sector, has upcoming editions in Las Vegas (27-30
October 27-30 2024), following recent events in Bangkok and Amsterdam.
Stephen A. Carter, chief executive of Informa, commented on the
acquisition: "Informa is in the business of creating, nurturing and
growing world-class B2B brands. Lions and Money20/20 are outstanding
examples of such brands. Combined, we can expand them into more sectors,
accelerate growth and take advantage of new opportunities."
Going forward, Informa will be looking to expand both the Cannes
Lions and Money20/20 events, bolstered by the company’s data platform
and understanding of both the marketing and fintech sectors.
Philip Thomas, chief executive of Ascential, added: “This offer will
not only deliver substantial value for our shareholders but also,
together with Informa's international footprint and extensive
capabilities in data and analytics, will unlock further growth
opportunities for our brands and our people."