LONDON — Informa Markets has acquired Tarsus Group from private equity firm Charterhouse Capital Partners for $940 million.
In a statement, Stephen Carter, CEO of Informa Group, said: “We have long admired the Tarsus business which, like Informa, has been built around leading brands in attractive, niche B2B markets in the growth regions of Asia, China, the Middle East and the Americas.”
The acquisition was financed with cash and Informa shares for $210 million. Tarsus Group was a London Stock Exchange listed company before being acquired by Charterhouse in 2019.
Douglas Emslie, CEO of Tarsus Group, will become a senior advisor to Informa Group on the Combination programme, guiding talent, brands and partnerships.
Informa says the joint merger program will have three key objectives by January 2024:
Deliver: Maximize 2023 performance, minimizing disruption and distraction in what is a key year of return, growth and acceleration for live B2B events;
Discover: Make decisions focused on the growth of people, brands and business combinations;
Combine: Ensure that the portfolios enter 2024 successfully, operating as one company under the Informa brand.
Mark Temple-Smith, Informa’s Chief Operating Officer, will serve as Tarsus’ Executive Chairman until the completion of the combination program in January 2024. Temple-Smith has served as Tarsus’ CEO for Asia.
“Tarsus is a fantastic company with exceptional people, strong customer relationships and market-leading brands,” said Temple-Smith. “It is a company that will always have a place in my heart since I was CEO of Tarsus Asia. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with the team to successfully merge with Informa. This merger brings many opportunities for both companies, from cross-marketing to digital expansion and new product launches. Together, we look forward to delivering added value to customers.”
In 2023, Tarsus’ annual turnover is estimated at over £175 million (US$208,526,500). Completion is scheduled for 1 July 2023.