ITE Group, a trade exhibition and conference organiser, said it had acquired a majority stake in a portfolio of events from GPP Energy Advisors for £16 million .

The deal will be funded in part via an institutional placing to raise £12 million.

ITE said that the acquisition and placing are expected to add to earnings in the first 12 months.

Chief executive Russell Taylor said the acquisition would allow ITE to move into Africa.

The portfolio it has acquired includes Africa Oil Week, an annual oil and gas conference, and assets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.