Private equity giant Blackstone is reportedly putting Clarion Events, organizer of the world’s largest annual gaming industry trade show – ICE Barcelona – up for sale.
According to Reuters, the company could fetch as much as GBP2 billion after Blackstone paid GBP600 million for it in 2017. Clarion runs international trade shows across multiple industries such as electronics, energy, security and defence.
The Reuters report, which cites a number of unnamed sources, says the potential sale of Clarion comes after Blackstone last year began looking into options for the business – a process that was more recently delayed due to uncertainty around the global economic outlook and specifically concerns around the US tariff situation.
Funds including CVC, KKR, PAI Partners, Ardian and Asian private equity firm Hillhouse are said to have expressed interest in Clarion, which saw revenue grow from GBP257 million in 2023 to GBP433 million last year.
The company’s long-running International Casino Expo (ICE) made the move earlier this year from its long-time home in London to Barcelona after inking a five-year deal with the Spanish city.
