• Blackstone is looking to potentially sell Clarion Events, Reuters says
• The private equity firm is looking to fetch ￡2bn on the deal
• Blackstone bought Clarion for ￡600m in 2017, and under its stewardship, the company has soared

Blackstone, the private equity group that bailed out Crown Resorts, and has been on the offensive, acquiring one gaming industry asset after another may be giving up on Clarion Events, one of the leading events organizes in a deal that could hit ￡2bn, Reuters has reported, citing various sources close to the matter.

Blackstone is looking to more than triple the return on its investment

Clarion Events is the powerhouse behind the ICE Barcelona, one of the best-known shows in the gaming industry, and further hosts iGB LIVE and iGB Affiliate, alongside other seminal events that have come to shape the industry by providing a platform for discussion, networking, and forging new alliances.

Blackstone could look to significantly increase its return on investment through a potential deal, as the company acquired Clarion Events for ￡600m in 2017, and has more than tripled its value over the past eight years.

Blackstone has been on the lookout for a potential buyer for a while now, Reuters explained, with the media citing sources that said that the equity giant had started the process in 2024, but did not clarify if the company was closer to striking an actual deal.

However, Clarion Events’ potential sale has not been ignored, Reuters said, adding that CVC, KKR, PAI Partners, Ardian and Hillhouse are all said to have expressed interest in a potential purchase of the company.

Clarion Events was able to generate ￡433m in revenue in 2024 alone, with the company significantly improving on its 2023 results, when it brought in ￡257m. The company employs 2,000 people worldwide and has 12 offices across the world.

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