MergerMay 11, 2026, 06:56 AM
Emerald to be Acquired by Apollo Funds for $5.03/Share, Valued at $1.5B
AI Summary
Emerald Holding, Inc. announced it will be acquired by Apollo-managed funds for $5.03 per share in cash, valuing the company at approximately $1.5 billion. This represents a 42.1% premium to Emerald's unaffected share price. Apollo plans to combine Emerald with Questex, LLC to create a leading North American B2B events and media platform with around 160 events. The transaction, unanimously approved by Emerald's Board and supported by majority shareholder Onex, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, after which Emerald will become a private company. Additionally, Emerald declared a quarterly dividend of $0.015 per share and cancelled its Q1 2026 earnings call.
Key Highlights
- Emerald to be acquired by Apollo-managed funds for $5.03 per share in cash.
- Acquisition price represents a 42.1% premium to Emerald's unaffected share price.
- Estimated closing enterprise value of Emerald is approximately $1.5 billion.
- Apollo plans to combine Emerald with Questex, LLC to form a leading B2B events platform.
- The combined business is expected to have approximately 160 events across complementary end markets.
- Emerald's Board unanimously approved the transaction, supported by Onex (over 90% shareholder).
- Transaction expected to close in H2 2026, after which Emerald will become a private company.
- Emerald declared a quarterly dividend of $0.015 per share and cancelled its Q1 2026 earnings call.