Apollo Acquires Emerald and Questex to Form B2B Events Leader
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 51 minutes ago
0mins
Should l Buy EEX?
Source: Globenewswire
- Acquisition Overview: Apollo-managed funds have entered into agreements to acquire Emerald Holding and Questex, intending to combine them into a leading North American B2B experiential events and media platform, encompassing approximately 160 events and expected to drive organic growth while becoming a strategic partner in the industry.
- Shareholder Value Enhancement: Under the agreement, Emerald shareholders will receive $5.03 per share in cash, representing a 42.1% premium to the unaffected share price, implying an estimated enterprise value of around $1.5 billion, reflecting Apollo's confidence in Emerald's growth potential.
- Market Integration Advantage: The combined platform will leverage Emerald's leading exhibitions and Questex's differentiated events portfolio, utilizing a 365-day digital engagement model to enhance customer relationships and strengthen market competitiveness, addressing the industry's demand for in-person interactions.
- Strategic Growth Outlook: The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, with unanimous approval from Emerald's board and support from Onex, indicating both parties' confidence in future growth and their ability to capitalize on market opportunities.
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Analyst Views on EEX
Wall Street analysts forecast EEX stock price to rise
2 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 4.800
Low
7.70
Averages
7.85
High
8.00
Current: 4.800
Low
7.70
Averages
7.85
High
8.00
About EEX
Emerald Holding, Inc. is a business-to-business (B2B) event organizer principally in the United States. The Company integrates live events, media content, industry insights, digital tools, data-focused solutions, and e-commerce platforms into three complementary business lines: Connections, Content and Commerce. The Connections division consists of a collection of B2B events spanning trade shows, conferences, B2C showcases and a scaled hosted buyer platform. The Content division consists of B2B print publications and digital media products that complement its existing trade show properties. The Commerce division offers B2B e-commerce and digital merchandising solutions, serving the needs of manufacturers and retailers through its Elastic Suite and Bulletin platforms, which create a digital year-round transactional platform for use by its customers, regardless of location. It also operates content and content-marketing websites, related digital products, and produces publications.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Apollo Acquires Emerald and Questex to Form B2B Events Leader
- Acquisition Overview: Apollo-managed funds have entered into agreements to acquire Emerald Holding and Questex, intending to combine them into a leading North American B2B experiential events and media platform, encompassing approximately 160 events and expected to drive organic growth while becoming a strategic partner in the industry.
- Shareholder Value Enhancement: Under the agreement, Emerald shareholders will receive $5.03 per share in cash, representing a 42.1% premium to the unaffected share price, implying an estimated enterprise value of around $1.5 billion, reflecting Apollo's confidence in Emerald's growth potential.
- Market Integration Advantage: The combined platform will leverage Emerald's leading exhibitions and Questex's differentiated events portfolio, utilizing a 365-day digital engagement model to enhance customer relationships and strengthen market competitiveness, addressing the industry's demand for in-person interactions.
- Strategic Growth Outlook: The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, with unanimous approval from Emerald's board and support from Onex, indicating both parties' confidence in future growth and their ability to capitalize on market opportunities.
See More
Apollo Acquires Emerald and Questex to Form B2B Events Leader
- Transaction Overview: Apollo-managed funds have entered into agreements to acquire Emerald and Questex, intending to merge them into a North American B2B experiential events and media platform with approximately 160 events, which is expected to drive organic growth and become a strategic partner in the industry.
- Shareholder Returns: Under the agreement, Emerald shareholders will receive $5.03 per share in cash, representing a 42.1% premium to the unaffected share price, implying an estimated enterprise value of approximately $1.5 billion, showcasing Apollo's strong acquisition intent.
- Market Positioning: The combined platform will leverage Emerald's leading exhibitions and Questex's differentiated events portfolio, utilizing a 365-day digital engagement model to enhance customer relationships and strengthen market competitiveness, addressing the growing demand for in-person interactions.
- Future Outlook: The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, with Emerald's Board unanimously approving the deal, indicating confidence in Apollo as a partner, which is anticipated to provide strategic support and resources for Emerald's long-term growth.
See More
Emerald Holding to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results and Host Conference Call
- Earnings Release Schedule: Emerald Holding will announce its Q1 2026 financial results before market open on May 11, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET on the same day, accessible by dialing 1-800-715-9871 (domestic) or 1-646-307-1963 (international), enhancing investor engagement.
- Replay Service: A telephonic replay will be available starting at 11:30 AM ET, allowing investors to dial 1-800-770-2030 (domestic) or 1-609-800-9909 (international) to access the call, ensuring that those unable to attend live can still receive the information until May 18.
- Webcast Access: Investors can access the live conference call via the Investors section of Emerald's website, further improving information accessibility and transparency for stakeholders.
See More
Emerald Holding Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Growth
- Significant Revenue Growth: Emerald Holding reported Q4 revenue of $132.7 million, up 24.3% from $106.8 million in the prior year, with full-year revenue reaching $463.4 million, reflecting a 16.2% year-over-year increase, indicating strong performance in high-growth sectors.
- Adjusted EBITDA Improvement: The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $36.3 million in Q4, a 9.7% increase from $33.1 million in the previous year, with full-year adjusted EBITDA at $127.1 million, up 25%, showcasing ongoing profitability enhancements.
- Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns: Although Q4 free cash flow decreased to $10.1 million, with a full-year total of $34.3 million, the company repurchased 282,386 shares at an average price of $4.56 per share in Q4, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company projects 2026 revenue between $490 million and $495 million, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $137.5 million and $142.5 million, reflecting management's confidence in future growth driven by AI implementation and strategic acquisitions.
See More
Emerald Holding, Inc. Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings and 2026 Guidance
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q4 2025, Emerald Holding reported revenue of $132.7 million, a 24.3% increase from $106.8 million in the same quarter last year, primarily driven by acquisitions and organic expansion, indicating strong market performance and growth potential.
- Strong EBITDA Performance: The adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $36.3 million, reflecting a 25% year-over-year increase, showcasing the company's successful integration of acquired businesses and ongoing improvement in profitability.
- Optimistic 2026 Outlook: Management projects 2026 revenue between $490 million and $495 million, with adjusted EBITDA ranging from $137.5 million to $142.5 million, representing approximately 6% and 10% year-over-year growth, demonstrating confidence in future growth prospects.
- Continued Strategic Acquisitions: The company plans to pursue “tuck-in and bolt-on acquisitions” to strengthen its portfolio, aiming to expand its presence in attractive markets and drive long-term value, reflecting its proactive positioning in the industry.
See More
Emerald Holding Reports Q4 Net Loss Amid Higher Expenses
- Financial Decline: Emerald Holding reported a net loss of $30.2 million in Q4, contrasting sharply with a net income of $5.1 million a year ago, primarily due to increased non-recurring expenses related to contingent consideration remeasurement adjustments.
- Widening Loss Per Share: The loss per share was $0.15 compared to a profit of $0.03 last year, indicating challenges in cost management that could potentially undermine investor confidence.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: Despite the net loss, adjusted EBITDA rose to $36.3 million from $33.1 million last year, suggesting improvements in operational efficiency that may help stabilize the company’s financial outlook.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company anticipates generating revenue between $490 million and $495 million and adjusted EBITDA between $137.5 million and $142.5 million in 2026, reflecting management's confidence in future growth prospects.
See More
Apollo Acquires Emerald and Questex to Form B2B Events Leader
- Acquisition Overview: Apollo-managed funds have entered into agreements to acquire Emerald Holding and Questex, intending to combine them into a leading North American B2B experiential events and media platform, encompassing approximately 160 events and expected to drive organic growth while becoming a strategic partner in the industry.
- Shareholder Value Enhancement: Under the agreement, Emerald shareholders will receive $5.03 per share in cash, representing a 42.1% premium to the unaffected share price, implying an estimated enterprise value of around $1.5 billion, reflecting Apollo's confidence in Emerald's growth potential.
- Market Integration Advantage: The combined platform will leverage Emerald's leading exhibitions and Questex's differentiated events portfolio, utilizing a 365-day digital engagement model to enhance customer relationships and strengthen market competitiveness, addressing the industry's demand for in-person interactions.
- Strategic Growth Outlook: The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, with unanimous approval from Emerald's board and support from Onex, indicating both parties' confidence in future growth and their ability to capitalize on market opportunities.
See More
Apollo Acquires Emerald and Questex to Form B2B Events Leader
- Transaction Overview: Apollo-managed funds have entered into agreements to acquire Emerald and Questex, intending to merge them into a North American B2B experiential events and media platform with approximately 160 events, which is expected to drive organic growth and become a strategic partner in the industry.
- Shareholder Returns: Under the agreement, Emerald shareholders will receive $5.03 per share in cash, representing a 42.1% premium to the unaffected share price, implying an estimated enterprise value of approximately $1.5 billion, showcasing Apollo's strong acquisition intent.
- Market Positioning: The combined platform will leverage Emerald's leading exhibitions and Questex's differentiated events portfolio, utilizing a 365-day digital engagement model to enhance customer relationships and strengthen market competitiveness, addressing the growing demand for in-person interactions.
- Future Outlook: The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, with Emerald's Board unanimously approving the deal, indicating confidence in Apollo as a partner, which is anticipated to provide strategic support and resources for Emerald's long-term growth.
See More
Emerald Holding to Release Q1 2026 Financial Results and Host Conference Call
- Earnings Release Schedule: Emerald Holding will announce its Q1 2026 financial results before market open on May 11, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to transparency and investor communication.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 8:30 AM ET on the same day, accessible by dialing 1-800-715-9871 (domestic) or 1-646-307-1963 (international), enhancing investor engagement.
- Replay Service: A telephonic replay will be available starting at 11:30 AM ET, allowing investors to dial 1-800-770-2030 (domestic) or 1-609-800-9909 (international) to access the call, ensuring that those unable to attend live can still receive the information until May 18.
- Webcast Access: Investors can access the live conference call via the Investors section of Emerald's website, further improving information accessibility and transparency for stakeholders.
See More
Emerald Holding Reports Strong Q4 Earnings Growth
- Significant Revenue Growth: Emerald Holding reported Q4 revenue of $132.7 million, up 24.3% from $106.8 million in the prior year, with full-year revenue reaching $463.4 million, reflecting a 16.2% year-over-year increase, indicating strong performance in high-growth sectors.
- Adjusted EBITDA Improvement: The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA of $36.3 million in Q4, a 9.7% increase from $33.1 million in the previous year, with full-year adjusted EBITDA at $127.1 million, up 25%, showcasing ongoing profitability enhancements.
- Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns: Although Q4 free cash flow decreased to $10.1 million, with a full-year total of $34.3 million, the company repurchased 282,386 shares at an average price of $4.56 per share in Q4, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company projects 2026 revenue between $490 million and $495 million, with adjusted EBITDA expected to be between $137.5 million and $142.5 million, reflecting management's confidence in future growth driven by AI implementation and strategic acquisitions.
See More
Emerald Holding, Inc. Reports Strong Q4 2025 Earnings and 2026 Guidance
- Significant Revenue Growth: In Q4 2025, Emerald Holding reported revenue of $132.7 million, a 24.3% increase from $106.8 million in the same quarter last year, primarily driven by acquisitions and organic expansion, indicating strong market performance and growth potential.
- Strong EBITDA Performance: The adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was $36.3 million, reflecting a 25% year-over-year increase, showcasing the company's successful integration of acquired businesses and ongoing improvement in profitability.
- Optimistic 2026 Outlook: Management projects 2026 revenue between $490 million and $495 million, with adjusted EBITDA ranging from $137.5 million to $142.5 million, representing approximately 6% and 10% year-over-year growth, demonstrating confidence in future growth prospects.
- Continued Strategic Acquisitions: The company plans to pursue “tuck-in and bolt-on acquisitions” to strengthen its portfolio, aiming to expand its presence in attractive markets and drive long-term value, reflecting its proactive positioning in the industry.
See More
Emerald Holding Reports Q4 Net Loss Amid Higher Expenses
- Financial Decline: Emerald Holding reported a net loss of $30.2 million in Q4, contrasting sharply with a net income of $5.1 million a year ago, primarily due to increased non-recurring expenses related to contingent consideration remeasurement adjustments.
- Widening Loss Per Share: The loss per share was $0.15 compared to a profit of $0.03 last year, indicating challenges in cost management that could potentially undermine investor confidence.
- Adjusted EBITDA Growth: Despite the net loss, adjusted EBITDA rose to $36.3 million from $33.1 million last year, suggesting improvements in operational efficiency that may help stabilize the company’s financial outlook.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company anticipates generating revenue between $490 million and $495 million and adjusted EBITDA between $137.5 million and $142.5 million in 2026, reflecting management's confidence in future growth prospects.
See More
