LONDON, March 9, 2026, 23:30 GMT
Informa (INF.L) disclosed on Monday it repurchased 1.363 million shares for cancellation last week through March 6, continuing its 2026 buyback program with at least 200 million pounds committed, just ahead of its annual results. After settlement, the B2B events and publishing company’s outstanding shares are set to drop to 1,279,627,119. According to its website, Informa plans to report full-year 2025 results this Thursday.
Timing is key here. Buybacks cut the share count, boosting earnings per share—a basic profit gauge—and often hint at management’s confidence. Back in January, Informa projected 2025 revenue above 4.0 billion pounds, pegged adjusted EPS around 55.5 pence, and put adjusted free cash flow north of 860 million pounds. That’s the target set for Thursday.
Chief Executive Stephen Carter described 2025 as a “strong year” in the update, pointing to “the Power of Live” as the force behind demand for Informa’s B2B brands. The company set its sights on around 6% underlying growth in 2026—excluding certain one-offs—and reported about 1.5 billion pounds in revenue already booked or committed for the year. Informa
Spotlight on Informa’s outlook has intensified after the company ramped up its efforts in the Gulf. As Reuters reported last March, the firm struck a partnership with Dubai World Trade Centre, targeting over $700 million in revenue. The plan: focus on sectors like healthcare, energy, aviation, food, and tech, banking on a comeback for in-person conferences post-pandemic.
Last week, Reuters said Informa is weighing a sale of a stake in its Monaco-based luxury events, such as the Monaco Yacht Show and Top Marques Monaco. The business brings in roughly $200 million a year, and offloading a portion could fetch a similar amount, according to one source. Informa wouldn’t comment.
Regional conditions remain challenging. Last week, JPMorgan dialed back its 2026 non-oil growth projections for Gulf economies following the escalation of the Iran conflict, citing heightened risks. On Monday, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva added that the fighting could stoke global inflation.
Live events still sit at the heart of Informa’s business, despite its reach across Taylor & Francis, Informa Markets, Informa Connect, Informa Festivals, and Informa TechTarget. That focus leaves Informa vulnerable if travel demand weakens, exhibitor spending pulls back, or sentiment in the Gulf falters—any of which could ripple into its core live-show revenues.
Even so, Monday’s filing puts the spotlight back on shareholder returns. Back in January, Informa pointed out that the 2026 program would follow a £350 million buyback wrapped up in 2025, leaving the door open for more share repurchases throughout the year. For investors, the bigger question now is less about the buyback calculus and more about whether Thursday’s outlook can stand up.
