RELX PLC PLC
RELX PLC is a UK-based information and analytics group that serves professional and business customers through data-driven tools, workflow software, and decision-support products. Its business is organized around four areas: Risk, Scientific, Technical & Medical, Legal, and Exhibitions, with operations and customers spread across many countries.
Fiscal year 2025 · change from previous year
Development 2020–2025
Business
Share of revenueAnalytics and decision tools that combine public, licensed, contributory and proprietary data.
Information services, datasets and tools for researchers and healthcare professionals.
Legal, regulatory and business information products with analytics and workflow tools.
Industry events and trade shows that connect buyers, sellers and market participants.
Customers
RELX sells to professional and business users that need reliable information, analytics and workflow support to make decisions. Its main customers include risk managers, researchers, healthcare professionals, lawyers, corporations and trade show participants. The exhibitions business also serves exhibitors and attendees seeking commercial lead generation, sourcing and networking.
They buy risk analytics, identity, fraud and decisioning tools to underwrite, monitor and manage exposure.
They use scientific and medical content, journals and data tools to support research and care decisions.
They purchase legal research, regulatory content and workflow tools to improve case and compliance work.
They buy booth space, sponsorships and access to industry events to source products and generate leads.
They use business information and analytics products for market intelligence and operational decisions.
Strategy
RELX focuses on combining proprietary and third-party data with technology, algorithms and workflow tools to embed its products into customer decision processes. Its strategic position depends on maintaining trusted content, deep data assets and recurring usage across professional end markets. The exhibitions business adds a different engine of growth by monetizing face-to-face and digital market connectivity.
Differentiated analytics improve customer retention and pricing power in professional workflows.
High-quality content and datasets underpin recurring demand across scientific, legal and risk products.
Digital formats improve reach, usage frequency and cross-selling across professional users.
Events create direct commercial connections and extend the group beyond subscription-style products.
Geography
RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and territories and maintains offices in about 40 countries. The group has a broad international footprint, with around 40% of employees in North America, making the Americas an important operating base as well as a major customer market. Its revenue mix is global rather than concentrated in one country, and the exhibitions business adds exposure to regional event calendars and travel conditions.
Risks
RELX faces execution and demand risks tied to customers’ willingness to pay for information, analytics and events, while competition and substitution pressure can affect pricing and usage. Because the group operates globally, it is also exposed to foreign exchange movements, tax changes and regulatory differences across jurisdictions. The exhibitions business adds cyclical exposure to travel, event attendance and broader business confidence.
- Foreign exchange volatilityImpact: HighLikelihood: High
Results are translated from multiple currencies into sterling, so exchange-rate moves affect reported revenue and profit.
Exposure: Global operations and foreign earnings
- Competition and product substitutionImpact: HighLikelihood: Medium
Customers may switch to alternative data, software or free sources if RELX content or tools do not remain differentiated.
Exposure - Tax law changes across jurisdictionsImpact: MediumLikelihood: Medium
The group earns profits in many countries, so changes in tax rates or interpretations can alter effective tax charges.
Exposure: Global tax base
- Event and attendance cyclicalityImpact: MediumLikelihood: Medium
Exhibitions depend on in-person and digital participation, which can fluctuate with business confidence and travel conditions.
Exposure: Exhibitions segment
Accounting
Judgemental itemsManagement uses adjusted metrics to describe core performance, so investors should reconcile them to IFRS results.
Impact: Can change the perceived growth and profitability trend
The group reports in sterling but earns in many currencies, so exchange rates affect consolidated figures.
Impact: Affects revenue, profit and net assets
The business model relies on acquisitions and content assets, making impairment testing important.
Impact: Can create large non-cash charges
Pension asset or liability balances can move with discount rates and asset returns.
Impact: Affects balance sheet and OCI
Multi-currency funding and interest-rate instruments can affect finance costs and volatility.
Impact: Affects reported financing results
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Last updated: 28/09/2026