ICE Barcelona Organizer Could Be Sold for Over $2.7 Billion

^{Pictured: ICE Barcelona 2025}

Private equity firm Blackstone is reportedly looking to sell Clarion Events, the organizer of the world’s largest annual gaming trade show, ICE Barcelona, according to Inside Asian Gaming.

Blackstone acquired Clarion Events back in 2017 for approximately £600 million (around $813 million). The private equity giant could now offload the asset for roughly £2 billion (approximately $2.71 billion), media reports suggest.

Clarion Events stages international trade shows across diverse sectors including energy, electronics, defense, and security. As noted, the company is behind the prominent ICE gaming expo, which recently relocated from London to Barcelona.

Reasons cited for Blackstone’s consideration to sell Clarion Events include uncertainty surrounding global economic prospects. Specifically, concerns over ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and other nations are reportedly a factor.

Despite these considerations, potential suitors for Clarion Events have reportedly emerged. These include private equity funds CVC, KKR, PAI Partners, and Ardian, along with Asian investment firm Hillhouse.