Takeover frenzy sweeps through London again as yacht show events giant strikes £2.2bn deal and miner becomes a target for Abu Dhabi

Updated: 10:29 EDT, 6 October 2026 A fresh wave of takeover activity has swept through the City as events firm Informa announces plans to buy its rival Clarion, while another London-listed firm is targeted by a foreign rival.Informa, which runs events including the Monaco Yacht Show, announced plans to buy Clarion Events from Blackstone for £2.24billion as it expands its fast-growing live events business.The blue-chip firm will tap shareholders for £940million to finance the acquisition of Clarion, which will bring 100 more live events under the Informa brand, including DSEI, London’s defence conference.Chief executive Stephen Carter said the takeover ‘will underscore Informa as the UK-listed, international leader in B2B live events’, bringing in £4.2billion in annual revenue. Informa announced plans to buy B2B live events business Clarion for £2.24bnThe events firm also plans to spin off its academic publishing firm, Taylor & Francis, as it approaches $1billion in revenue. Informa said it would look at all options for the division before making a formal decision next year. ‘We believe it will now benefit from greater flexibility and freedom through the next phase of its development,’ said Carter. Shares in Informa rose 2.65 per cent in early trading. Monaco Yacht Show host Informa has launched a big bid for an events rivalMining firm receives bid from foreign rival Meanwhile, Kenmare Resources confirmed it had received a takeover offer from International Resources Holdings (IRH), an Abu Dhabi mining firm run by the brother of the UAE President.‘Discussions with IRH are ongoing and there can be no certainty that a firm offer will be made, or as to the terms of any such offer, should one be made. A further statement will be made as and when appropriate,’ it told investors.IRH has until 5pm on November 17 to declare a firm intention to make a formal offer for Kenmare or walk away.Shares in Kenmare jumped 28.17 per cent to 232.5p in early trading.The mining firm, which has a secondary listing in Dublin, has seen its share price languish in recent years amid falling prices for titanium minerals and protracted talks over a new royalties agreement for its Moma mine in Mozambique.In August, Kenmare said it had faced ‘weak market conditions’ for its product but outlook had ‘slightly improved’.IRH’s approach follows a failed bid for Kenmare in June 2025 from Oryx Global Partners, an Abu Dhabi private equity firm, and former managing director Michael Carvill after failing to agree on a valuation.Should Kenmare accept IRH’s proposal, it would bring its nearly four decades on the London Stock Exchange to an end, dealing a fresh blow to the City.This year, a string of London-listed firms has fallen victim to foreign predators, including City behemoth Schroders and Lloyd's of London insurer Beazley.DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you