Finance
UK's informa posts 15% jump in annual profit
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Informa reported a 15% increase in annual adjusted operating profit, driven by strength in its live B2B events division, while noting travel disruptions in Middle East markets affected by military activity. The firm continues to benefit from strong regional growth, particularly in IMEA.
UK's Informa commits to Middle East growth despite ongoing war
Informa's Strategic Expansion in the IMEA Region
Commitment to Growth Amidst Regional Challenges
March 12 (Reuters) - Britain's Informa said it remains committed to growth targets in its India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) division despite travel disruptions due to the Iran war, as the world's largest exhibitions group posted a 15% jump in annual profit.
Revenue Security and Future Events
The company, which generates roughly a quarter of its revenue from IMEA, said about 40% of the region's revenue for 2026 was already secured, with the rest of its brands either scheduled to run or holding confirmed options for events later in the year.
IMEA as a Key Growth Market
The IMEA region is a key growth market for Informa as fast-growing economies increasingly use large-scale conferences and exhibitions to develop industries and attract foreign investment, the company said.
Operational Adjustments and Event Planning
Impact of Ramadan and Regional Conflict
Informa had previously told Reuters that no events in the affected Middle Eastern countries were scheduled to run in March due to Ramadan, and that preparations for events running in the second quarter were continuing, subject to review with relevant authorities.
Expansion Initiatives in the Middle East
Launch of inD Joint Venture
Informa has been expanding in the Middle East and launched inD, a joint venture with the Dubai World Trade Centre, in January to bring together more than 40 major business-to-business (B2B) event brands to grow large‑scale exhibitions across high‑growth sectors in the UAE and the wider region.
Financial Performance and Outlook
Share Buyback and Profit Growth
It raised its share buyback to 250 million pounds from its previous 200 million pound commitment and said adjusted operating profit rose to 1.14 billion pounds ($1.53 billion) in 2025, compared to the 995 million pounds posted a year ago.
Currency Exchange Rate
($1 = 0.7472 pounds)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Simone Lobo and Yamini Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Kevin Liffey)
Key Takeaways
- •Adjusted operating profit surged ~15%, powered by robust demand in live business events, especially in the Middle East and Africa. (informa.com)
- •Despite operational strength, Informa flagged travel disruptions in Middle East markets—such as Dubai and Doha—as a risk due to ongoing military tensions. (insurancejournal.com)
- •In 2024, the IMEA region grew over 30%, and marquee events like WHX and Cityscape grew 20%+, underscoring regional resilience and continued growth momentum. (informa.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about UK's Informa posts 15% jump in annual profit
1What was Informa's annual profit increase?
Informa reported a 15% rise in its annual adjusted operating profit.
2What drove Informa's profit growth?
Strong performance in the company's live business events business drove the profit increase.
3What regions are affected by travel disruption for Informa?
There is travel disruption in locations directly impacted by military activities in the Middle East.
4On which date did Informa announce its annual profit results?
Informa announced its annual profit results on March 12.
