Apollo has completed the acquisitions of Emerald Holding and Questex through Apollo-managed funds, combining the two businesses into a single scaled B2B experiential events and media platform. Emerald stockholders received $5.03 per share in cash. Emerald’s common stock has ceased trading and been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. Financial terms of the Questex acquisition were not disclosed.
Paul Miller has assumed the role of CEO of the combined company. Former Emerald CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to a senior advisor role. The combined company has also named a full executive leadership team: Vince DiMaggio as CFO, Issa Jouaneh as COO, Kate Spellman as Chief Commercial Officer, Kurt Nelson as Chief Talent Officer, and Sara Altschul as Chief Legal Officer and Company Secretary. Full integration of the two businesses is expected over the coming months.
Emerald is a leading U.S.-based B2B event organizer operating a portfolio of trade shows, conferences, B2C showcases, and an executive peer networking platform, serving thousands of customers — predominantly small and medium-sized businesses — across multiple industries. Questex operates live events alongside year-round digital communities and data-driven tools designed to connect buyers and sellers in its target verticals. Together, the two companies bring complementary capabilities across in-person events, digital media, content, and commerce-driven solutions.
Goldman Sachs acted as exclusive financial advisor and Fried Frank as legal counsel to Emerald. Gibson Dunn acted as legal counsel to Questex. RBC Capital Markets and RAN Advisory served as lead financial advisors, with PJT Partners as additional financial advisor, and Akin Gump as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds. Apollo manages approximately $1.03 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026.
KEY QUOTES:
“This transaction combines two market leaders with iconic brands, deep customer relationships, and differentiated capabilities, to create a scaled platform positioned to accelerate organic growth, invest in innovation, and deliver even greater value for customers, employees and other stakeholders. We look forward to supporting and working closely with the leadership team as they build a leading B2B events and media business.”
Shahid Bosan, Managing Director, Apollo
“Today marks an exciting milestone as we embark on a new chapter as one company. By bringing together the best of Emerald and Questex, we are creating a stronger, differentiated platform with the scale, offerings, and talent to better serve our customers and partners. With Apollo’s support and a strong leadership team in place, we are well-positioned to execute against our strategy, expand our portfolio, and capitalize on the significant opportunities ahead.”
Paul Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Emerald and Questex Combined Company
