6th Oct 2026 07:49
(Alliance News) - Informa has announced a more than GBP2 billion acquisition, part-funded by a placing, and it has also set out an aim to separate a unit. Clarkson says it has traded strongly in recent months, while Kenmare reveals it received takeover interest.
Here is what you need to know before the London market open:
----------
MARKETS
----------
FTSE 100: called up 0.6% at 10,561.04
GBP: lower at USD1.3208 (USD1.3218 at previous London equities close)
----------
BROKER RATINGS
----------
RBC raises Rio Tinto to 'sector perform' (underperform) - price target 6,500 (6,600) pence
----------
COMPANIES - FTSE 100
----------
Informa says it will acquire Clarion Events for GBP2.24 billion, and it sets out a plan to separate its academic markets business. The London-based business information and exhibitions group will part-fund the Clarion buy through a placing, it adds. Clarion has an enterprise value of GBP2.24 billion and the deal is to be sealed "towards the end" of the fourth quarter. It plans to raise GBP940 million to part-fund the deal. A placing will be conducted through an accelerated bookbuild. The price per share and final number of shares to be placed will be decided at bookbuild close. It also announces a plan for a retail offer. "Informa will pause its current share buyback programme in order to redirect capital to fund the transaction, whilst maintaining balance sheet flexibility," it adds. The Clarion buy will "reinforce Informa's leading position in B2B live events, adding world class brands in attractive growth categories". "The complementary portfolios and benefits of combining Clarion's brands into Informa's growth platform will create significant opportunities for incremental revenues, establishing the enlarged B2B Live Events business as a 7%+ underlying growth operator," Informa says. Informa notes that over GBP50 million worth of annual run-rate operating synergies have been identified so far. In addition, it says it plans to separate Taylor & Francis, its academic markets arm. It has "formally launched a separation process to review all options". "The outcomes of this review will be provided alongside Informa's 2026 full year results in March 2027," it says. Chief Executive Stephen Carter says: "The planned separation of Taylor & Francis coincides with further expansion in B2B through the GBP2.24 billion acquisition of Clarion, the UK-based owner of more than 100 B2B live event brands. The combination will underscore Informa as the UK-listed, international leader in B2B live events, with annual group revenues exceeding USD6 billion." Informa adds that "current trading remains on track for full year expectations". Clarion's flagship event is DSEI UK, a defence and security equipment conference held in London.
----------
COMPANIES - FTSE 250
----------
Telecom Plus has backed annual guidance, and it has seen "encouraging progress" since setting out a five-year plan back in June. The London-based provider of bundled household utility services said in a trading statement for the first half ended September 30 that multiservice organic customer numbers increased at an annualised rate of over 11% to around 526,000. This is ahead of its 10% target for the full year. It reiterates its expectation of an annual adjusted pretax profit between GBP80 million and GBP90 million. It issues half-year results on November 24. "Our first half performance builds on the encouraging start to FY27 that we reported at our AGM in August, with growing momentum across all aspects of the business. Multiservice customer growth has been strong, and well ahead of the level we delivered in FY26, driven by the investment we are making in our customer proposition and underpinned by record levels of activity across our partner network," CEO Stuart Burnett says. Burnett says the company welcomes BT Group's buy of PlatformX Communications, part of TalkTalk. "We welcome the recent announcement that BT Group has acquired PlatformX Communications, through which we connect our broadband services to BT Openreach and CityFibre, and the security, continuity and stability this brings," the CEO adds. BT on Monday announced a deal to rescue TalkTalk Telecommunications and PlatformX Communications out of administration. PlatformX is a wholesale provider, supplying other telecom providers with internet connectivity services. It was formed from the combination of Virtual1 and TalkTalk's wholesale services and national network business. BT's Openreach is a network infrastructure supplier of TalkTalk.
----------
Shipping services provider Clarkson says trading in August and September was "very strong". Geopolitical worries have created "further volatility across commodity and freight markets", so some areas of its business have seen record freight rates. "The Broking division has delivered revenues significantly ahead of previous expectations, while also adding to the forward order book. Alongside this, the Financial division has executed a number of transactions, resulting in performance also being significantly up on expectations," Clarkson says. As a result, it now expects 2026 underlying pretax profit of no less than GBP135 million.
----------
OTHER COMPANIES
----------
Kenmare Resources says it has received a cash takeover proposal from Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holdings RSC. The mining company, which operates the Moma titanium minerals mine in Mozambique, says talks with IRH are ongoing and there is no certainty that a firm offer will be made. IRH has until November 17 to announce whether or not it plans to make a formal offer.
----------
By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
Comments and questions to [email protected]
Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
Rio TintoInformaTelecom PlusClarksonKenmare ResourcesBT