Reed Exhibition Companies (REC) has bought Miller Freeman Europe for £360million (US$510 million), making it the world's largest exhibition organiser.
The acquisition will add more than 100 events to Reed's portfolio, including 44 in France, ten in Italy, 18 in Germany, 12 in Spain and 22 in Scandinavia.
"Opportunities to buy a quality exhibition organisation like this are rare, particularly in Europe," REC chairman Mr Mike Rusbridge said.
"Europe had been a region where we didn't have a critical market mass. We couldn't have guessed 12 months ago that Miller Freeman would sell this branch of its business."
Miller Freeman group public affairs director Mr Nigel Main attributed the sale to the streamlining of the company's business.
"Miller Freeman had been an extremely complicated business, covering 59 sectors in 27 countries," he said.
"We had to look at the best way to invest. It was a straightforward decision and we will concentrate on those sectors that bring in the highest profit.
"The sectors we sold out of were profit-making, you only have to look at the amount we sold Miller Freeman Europe for to see that."
Mr Rusbridge admitted that acquisitions are a strong part of REC's overall strategy.
"We've been busy in the US for the past couple of years and now we are looking to grow more in Asia, although there are few sell-offs in the region," he added.
The move follows REC's joint venture in July with Messe Berlin to develop new trade fairs. Miller Freeman sold its US business to VNU earlier this year for US$650million.
