Informa delivers strong 2025, unveils major new UAE partnership

(Sharecast News) - Publishing and events group Informa on Tuesday confirmed double-digit growth in revenues and profits over 2025 on the back of strong trading in the fourth quarter, as it launched a £200m share buyback plan and announced a major new B2B events partnership in Dubai. Group revenues are expected to be at least £4.0bn for 2025, representing year-on-year growth of 12.5% and underlying growth of 6.25%, while adjusted earnings per share are tipped to rise 10.5-11% to at least 55.5p

Informa said the outcome, driven by a strong showing in the live B2B events division, means full-year results will be "in line with or ahead of market guidance".

"Across the world, the Power of Live is driving strong demand for our B2B brands, whilst ongoing growth in specialist research is underpinning the strength of our academic business," said chief executive Stephen Carter.

For 2026, Informa is targeting at least 6% underlying revenue growth, ahead of its most recent guidance for 5% growth over the next three years, with trading early in the year supporting these targets, it said.

Meanwhile, following the £350m share buyback programme completed in December, the company said it is immediately launching a new repurchase plan with an initial minimum investment of £200m, with scope for further buybacks throughout the year.

In a separate statement, Informa announced it has partnered with Dubai World Trade Centre to launch a new joint venture called inD, combining DWTC's B2B live events arm with Informa's B2B live events business across the United Arab Emirates and wider IMEA region.

The deal will bring together around 1,000 employees, operating more than 40 B2B brands covering a range of industries, including healthcare, energy, aviation and technology. The combined businesses are expected to grow underlying revenues by 20% or more in 2026 to at least $650m.

It will be Informa's largest partnership business globally, and coincides with the planned expansion of Dubai's second major exhibition venue, The Dubai Exhibition Centre, taking Dubai's total capacity to more than 300,000 gross square metres by 2031.

"The creation of inD deepens our partnership with DWTC at a time of structural growth for our industry, strong economic growth across the region, and dynamic market growth in the UAE in particular, as the supply of high quality venue space increases to meet growing demand for B2B live events," Carter said.

The stock was up 2.1% at 890.6p by 0907 GMT.