London, UK—In a deal worth about $1.56 billion, Informa Exhibitions has purchased Penton from private equity firms MidOcean Partners and Wasserstein & Co., according toReuters.

The move strengthens the British company's reach into the natural products industry in the process of creating one of the largest tradeshow and media companies in the United States. Informa Exhibitionspurchased Virgoin 2014, bringing several industry tradeshows (such as SupplySide West and Ingredient Marketplace) and trade publications (like Natural Products Insider) under its umbrella.

Now with the acquisition of Penton, Informa is the proud new owner of New Hope Network of Boulder, CO, which manages Natural Products Expo West, Natural Products Expo East and Engredea. New Hope also publishes Natural Foods Merchandising, Delicious Living and others.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine Online, 9/15/16