Inside Self-Storage parent company VIRGO, an information-distribution company focused on business-to-business markets, has been acquired by Informa PLC, subject to receipt of U.S. anti-trust clearance, and will be part of Informa's Global Exhibitions Group.

July 29, 2014

3 Min Read
Inside Self-Storage Parent Company VIRGO Acquired by Informa PLC

Inside Self-Storage parent company VIRGO, an information-distribution company focused on business-to-business markets, has been acquired by global information provider Informa PLC, subject to receipt of U.S. antitrust clearance, and will be part of Informa’s Global Exhibitions Group. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed, but the acquisition is expected to enhance group earnings in its first full year post acquisition.

The purchase will provide the Global Exhibitions Group with a similar platform for expansion of its exhibition activities in the United States. Until now, Informa’s U.S. activity has been predominantly focused on conferences and learning.

VIRGO has a portfolio of six major tradeshows and conferences, including the Inside Self-Storage World Expo, designed for the self-storage industry, and SupplySide West, a leading U.S. tradeshow in the health and nutrition market. SupplySide will complement Vitafoods, Informa’s leading exhibition brand within the health and nutrition sector in Asia, Europe and Latin America.

The companies expect there will be some attractive synergies by bringing their health and nutrition assets into the same portfolio and creating a global brand proposition, according to a press release.

“We continue to expand organically and by acquisition. Today’s announcement of the purchase of a U.S. exhibition business complements our existing position in the health and nutrition market sector through Vitafoods, creating a strong, global brand proposition in this attractive vertical,” said Stephen A. Carter, Informa’s group chief executive, in a release summarizing the company’s half-year results for the six months ended June 30. “It also provides us with an established base on which to build our presence in the important U.S. exhibitions sector. The strong performance of our Global Exhibitions business in the first half further confirms the growth potential of this market.”

“The opportunity to align VIRGO’s events, Web and media programming within the Informa business offers an incredible amount of scale to everything the company has accomplished. At the same time, the ability to lever VIRGO’s position and infrastructure in the United States to bring Informa’s global exhibitions to the U.S. will be a game-changer in the market,” said VIRGO CEO John Siefert.

Founded in 1986 and based in Phoenix, VIRGO produces six tradeshows and conferences, publishes nine national trade websites with six affiliate magazines, offers online training and accreditation programs, and operates three branded online stores that offer paid content. The company leverages its events, publications, digital and other media to provide integrated solutions for professionals in industries including self-storage, healthcare, natural products and telecommunications.

Headquartered in London, Informa creates and delivers specialized information through publishing, events, training, market intelligence and expertise, providing knowledge to individuals, businesses and organizations worldwide. With more than 6,000 employees in more than 100 offices in 25 countries, the company has three divisions: Academic Publishing, which produces books and journals with more than 55,000 titles; Business Intelligence, which offers structured databases, subscription-based services, real-time news, research and business-critical information; and Global Events, the world’s largest publicly owned organizer of exhibitions and training.

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