FlightGlobal / Cirium
2019
Outcome
Established Cirium as the undisputed global aviation analytics leader, servicing airlines, aerospace OEMs, and financial institutions.
RELX
Acquisitions
RELX Acquisitions
3
Major Deals Covered
What are RELX's biggest acquisitions?
This page covers 3 major deals from 2008 to 2019, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.
- Major deals covered
- 3
- First deal
- 2008
- Most recent
- 2019
| Company | Year | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThreatMetrix | 2018 | Undisclosed | Acquired digital identity and device intelligence firm to protect global enterprise clients from online fraud and account takeovers. |
| ChoicePoint | 2008 | Undisclosed | Acquired leading provider of identification, public records, and insurance underwriting verification data in the United States. |
| FlightGlobal / Cirium | 2019 | Undisclosed | Acquired and unified aviation data analytics assets to provide real-time aircraft tracking, flight status, and fleet valuations. |
- What companies has RELX bought?
- Major acquisitions by RELX documented here include FlightGlobal / Cirium (2019), ThreatMetrix (2018) and ChoicePoint (2008).
- What is RELX's most recent acquisition?
- The most recent RELX acquisition documented here is FlightGlobal / Cirium, in 2019.
ThreatMetrix
2018
Outcome
Integrated into LexisNexis Risk Solutions, analyzing 150 billion annual digital transactions and creating a dominant digital fraud network.
ChoicePoint
2008
Outcome
Formed the backbone of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, establishing market-leading positions in insurance underwriting and background screening.
RELX's Growth & Acquisition Strategy
RELX's growth strategy centers on three transformative pillars: accelerating generative AI deployment across Legal and Scientific workflows, expanding LexisNexis Risk Solutions into global digital identity and fraud prevention, and scaling aerospace analytics through Cirium. In Legal, the company is rolling out Lexis+ AI globally, which uses extractive AI models to draft legal briefs, summarize depositions, and compare commercial contracts with zero hallucinations. In Risk, the company is expanding its ThreatMetrix digital identity network, analyzing 150 billion annual online transactions to prevent bot attacks, account takeovers, and payment fraud across global e-commerce and banking portals. In STM, Elsevier is expanding SciVal and Scopus AI to help research institutions evaluate scientific ROI.
How RELX Makes Money
RELX generates revenue through electronic subscriptions, transactional analytics fees, and exhibition booth sales. Electronic subscription revenues account for more than 70% of total revenue, generating high-margin annual recurring revenue (ARR) with customer retention rates exceeding 96%. In Risk, LexisNexis Risk Solutions charges subscription and per-query transaction fees to verify identities, detect cyber fraud, and price auto insurance policies. In Scientific, Technical & Medical, Elsevier licenses ScienceDirect and Scopus digital journal databases to universities, research institutes, and corporate pharmaceutical laboratories under multi-year institutional subscription agreements. In Legal, law firms and corporate legal departments pay recurring SaaS fees for Lexis+, Lexis Practical Guidance, and legal AI search tools.
RELX Acquisitions FAQ
Does RELX acquire other companies?
Yes, RELX executes targeted acquisitions to integrate complementary technologies, expand intellectual property, and enter new market verticals.
What is RELX's acquisition strategy?
RELX focuses on bolt-on acquisitions that can be rapidly integrated into its core technology architecture and commercial distribution channels.
How does RELX fund its acquisitions?
Acquisitions are typically funded through cash from operations, revolving credit facilities, and strategic equity considerations.
What was one of RELX's notable acquisitions?
RELX has acquired specialized technology assets that enhance its core platform capabilities and expand its addressable customer base.
How does RELX handle post-merger integration?
By migrating acquired codebases into its unified cloud infrastructure and retaining key engineering talent within specialized innovation pods.
Are acquisitions a primary or secondary growth driver?
Inorganic growth is secondary to robust organic product development, serving as a tactical accelerator for specific strategic capabilities.
Explore RELX
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.