Apax Partners completed the acquisition of WGSN from Ascential for $848m.

Apax Partners, a British private equity firm, completed the acquisition of WGSN, a trend forecasting company, from Ascential, a British business-to-business media business specialising in exhibitions & festivals and information services, for $848m. "We are delighted that our colleagues and friends at WGSN can now take an important step under new ownership and embark on the next chapter of their growth. The sale of WGSN completes the execution of the Strategic Review announced in 2023 and highlights our ongoing commitment to deliver value for shareholders. Ascential is now a focussed events-led business, with two of the world's leading event brands supporting our customers to lead their industries and achieve growth. We are more excited than ever about our prospects and confident in our credentials as a high quality, independent UK-listed business," Philip Thomas, Ascential Chief Executive.