Informa’s acquisition of US business Industry Dive, which focuses on specialist content and audience development, alongside Informa’s first party data platform IIRIS, which they began building in the summer of 2020, and NetLine a content syndication and lead generation tool added to their portfolio in December 2021, expands their range of B2B digital services.
Industry Dive’s platform for delivering specialist B2B content and B2B audiences and data, has delivered consistent double-digit growth in revenue and EBITDA over the preceding three years, with the potential for further acceleration when combined with Informa’s portfolio of B2B brands and audiences, says the publisher.
According to Informa, Industry Dive currently serves 24 specialist B2B markets via 27 specialist content Dives, including BioPharma Dive, Construction Dive, Cybersecurity Dive, Food Dive, Healthcare Dive, MedTech Dive, Waste Dive. The business has more than 2.5m active subscribers and a total engaged audience of c.13m. This audience is monetised through specialist content marketing and targeted lead generation services for B2B brands looking to reach specified buyers.
Informa say that they see significant opportunities for revenue synergies by combining Industry Dive’s platform, specialist content and B2B data with their own portfolio of B2B Brands. This includes the accelerated roll out of new Dives, increased engagement with Informa’s existing live events customers through content, the cross-selling of specialist content marketing and lead generation services, and the roll out of new live & on demand events to established Dive communities.
In June, Informa raised full year expectations for the Informa Group to the upper end of the guidance range they provided at the 2021 full year Results in March (Revenue of £2,150m-£2,250m and adjusted operating profit of £470m-£490m). The publisher says that they have re-confirmed this guidance, excluding any benefit from the acquisition of Industry Dive.
Stephen A. Carter, Informa group chief executive said: “Informa has delivered strong first-half revenues and growing profitability as we continue to deliver on our GAP II programme. Our improving performance enables us to embark on further market and geographic expansion, including the acquisition today of Industry Dive which further enhances our B2B Digital Services portfolio.
“Industry Dive, which like Informa, Champions the Specialist, has repurposed the traditional B2B publishing model for specialist markets in the digital age. It provides high quality digital content and business journalism to 13 million decision makers through its 27 specialist Dives.”
