Informa Tech Signs Deal to Acquire Research and Events Firm Canalys

Informa Tech, owner of the Channel Futures and Channel Partners Conference & Expo media and event brands, announced today its intent to acquire Canalys, the tech industry’s largest provider of global channel research and consulting services. Informa, which expects the purchase to close in the third quarter, did not disclose financial terms of the deal.   

The combination of Informa Tech Channels and Canalys will create the largest provider of research and insight, events and media focused on the future of the entire information and communications technology channel. The marriage will help to elevate the voices of the Canalys analyst team which focuses on channel analysis, ecosystems, managed services analysis, partner program analysis and vendor benchmarking, among other services.   

Canalys, with 100 research, event, sales and marketing professionals, focuses not only on channel but enterprise and consumer technology along with a burgeoning practice in smart automotive markets. The Singapore-based company with offices around the world has become a global leader in market intelligence, research analysis, events and consulting services. Informa Tech, which operates a leading technology research group under the Omdia brand, sees huge potential in the combination, the company stated.  

The blockbuster channel merger creates a new future-focused force in the IT and communications channel aimed at helping channel partners, vendors, distributors, service providers, cloud providers and technology suppliers understand the key trends shaping the channel. The combined channel organization will provide actionable insight that business technology leaders in the channel can use to advance their organizations. Founded in 1998 by CEO Steve Brazier, Canalys has long been viewed as a thought leader, analyzing the transformation of what was once viewed as a sales channel into the primary go-to-market route for nearly every single technology supplier, ISV, cloud and communications provider. Canalys’ channel work spans the entire technology and communications industries, including ecosystems, alliances and partner networks.    

Informa Tech’s Gary Nugent

“Channel is an ever-changing area for our industry as new technologies and new ways of working are introduced to a complex partnership landscape. Over 70% of all business technology is sold via the channel, and this is why it is of huge importance to our customers,” said Gary Nugent, CEO of Informa Tech. “Our mission with our research group, Omdia, is to connect the dots for our customers across the technology landscape. With the acquisition of Canalys, we will be providing the data, insights and global networking opportunities customers need to fully understand the channel, make the necessary connections and develop successful go-to-market strategies,” Nugent stated.

Informa Tech to Welcome Esteemed Canalys Channel Analysts

Channels vice president Alex Smith leads Canalys’ channels research department, managing a team of analysts and consultants, including chief analyst Jay McBain, who are responsible for a comprehensive portfolio of advisory services. Other chief analysts at Canalys include Alastair Edwards and Matthew Ball, as well as Chris Jones, one of Canalys’ three founders, who focuses his work on the intelligent vehicle services industry. Jones will retire upon the sale of Canalys. Canalys is home to 42 analysts, according to its web page, who represent some of the most respected, recognized and followed names in technology, channel and other markets served by the company. 

Informa Tech’s Kelly Danziger

“This merger represents the culmination of a plan Informa has had in place for the past few years to increase its investment in research, consulting, media and events in the entire channel. Given the growing importance of the channel to thousands of vendors, and the reliance customers have on their partners, the time was right to bring these two organizations together,” said Kelly Danziger, general manager of Informa Tech Channels. “The acquisition allows us to address the global needs of our customers and connect the entire channel partner ecosystem,” she added.  

The combination of Canalys and Informa Tech will provide a one-stop shop for technology and communication providers looking to accelerate their growth rates, reach high-growth markets and bring to light innovative ideas to advance their overall businesses. The move, once finalized, will expand the Informa Tech channel portfolio, with the most widely attended and powerful analyst-led, hosted conferences in North America, EMEA and APAC.  

Operated under the Canalys Forums brands, the events are the largest independent pan-region gatherings for channel partners, distributors and senior vendor management. The North American event is scheduled to debut in Palm Springs, California, Nov. 13-15, with a strong line up of sponsors, speakers and partner attendees. Each Canalys Forum is a gathering of the brightest minds in the IT channel coming together to discuss the industry’s latest news, forecasts and strategy, with opportunities for top partners and vendors to meet in a single location, to educate each other to build their business futures together. 

Informa Tech-CanalysTeam-Up a ‘Landmark Day’

Canalys’ Rita Chaher

“Informa Tech’s announcement that it has signed an agreement to acquire Canalys is a landmark day for the future of channel research and events. Our dedication to delivering deep, actionable insights across the channel and mobility sectors is unwavering. We are particularly excited to join forces for our EMEA and APAC Canalys Forums, as well as our inaugural Palm Springs, U.S., event in November, where we will bring the most senior and prestigious members of the channel community together,” said Rita Chaher, COO, Canalys. “Informa Tech and Canalys collectively are in an even stronger position to fulfill this mission on a truly global scale by helping to broaden the reach of Omdia’s research into the channel space.” 

The events pair well with the Channel Partners Conference & Expo and Channel Futures Leadership Summit – including the MSP Summit – which collectively bring together several thousand channel professionals across the entire tech and communications spectrum in an expo format and conference setting. These combined events will collectively provide the biggest stage for suppliers and partners to meet in vendor- and platform-neutral settings designed to accelerate strategic partnerships. 

Canalys’ Steve Brazier

“We are excited to join forces with Informa Tech and its leading research, events and media portfolio,” said Canalys CEO Steve Brazier. “At Canalys we have lived and breathed channel for 25 years, and now, by combining with Informa Tech, and specifically leading brands Omdia, Channel Partners and Channel Futures, we have the platform to offer our clients even greater breadth and depth of expertise on a global scale. We are looking forward to working together to shape the future of technology research in the channel.” 

Once the deal closes, the Canalys brand and business will continue to operate as normal while the two companies establish ways to work more closely together in 2024, Informa stated.