By Ali Lyon UK events group Informa has snapped up London-listed rival Ascential in a bid that valued the owner of the Cannes Lions festivals and Money 20/20 at approximately £1.2bn. The deal, which valued each Ascential share at 568p, a premium of roughly 53 per cent to the closing price on Monday, is yet another sign of the events industry’s enduring after years of disruption during the pandemic. It is also more evidence of Informa’s acquisitive direction under new CEO Stephen Carter, having signed a near $1bn (£721m) deal on the events company Tarsus in March last year. The recommended offe…