Penton’s Electrical Group Acquired by Informa

Informa (LSE: INF.L), an international giant in the business intelligence, exhibition & events and academic publishing markets, has completed the £1.2 billion (roughly $1.48 billion) acquisition of Penton Information Services. Penton is the parent company of Electrical Marketing, Electrical Wholesaling, Electrical Construction & Maintenance (EC&M) and Transmission & Distribution World magazines in the electrical and utility markets.

An Informa press release announcing the closing of the deal said, “The board of Informa believes the combination with Penton is commercially and financially compelling, with a strong portfolio fit that significantly strengthens the Global Exhibitions and Business Intelligence Divisions and improves the Group’s long-term growth prospects.”

The release said the Penton acquisition will add 30 exhibitions to Informa’s Global Exhibitions unit and that Penton’s publishing operations will add more than 20 digital subscription data brands and a portfolio of 100-plus print and digital B2B insight products to its Business Intelligence unit, which to date had focused on the pharmaceutical & health care, finance, telcom, media & technology, maritime & law, and agribusiness & commodities industries.