B2B publisher Informa now has received a fresh takeover approach - from a second private equity consortium - after an initial offer from United Business Media (LSE: UBM) paved the way for an earlier offer from a trio of PE groups.

FT.com says the Dubai World Trade Center fund has joined Blackstone and others for the new approach, but Hellman & Friedman has reportedly pulled out of the earlier approach, which it made with Providence and Carlyle. Due diligence has already begun on the new offer under Morgan Stanley’s advice, the report says, with Dubai World Trade Center set to buy Informa’s IIR events business, which has a significant Mid East operation, leaving the PE groups with enough funds to buy the rest.

• Earnings: Informa Still Talking With Suitors, Profit Up, Outlook ‘Strong’
• Informa Confirms Tentative Bid From 3 PE Players; Values Company At $6.8 Billion
• Informa Ends Merger Talks With UBM; Gets Another Approach