Emerald Expositions Acquires Leading Technology Brands Serving the Residential, Commercial and Security Integrator Markets

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.--()--Emerald Expositions Events, Inc. (NYSE:EEX) (“Emerald”), a leading U.S. business-to-business trade show, event and conference producer, today announced the acquisition of a leading technology event and a group of complementary technology intelligence brands from EH Media for approximately $28 million in cash.

The acquired brands have delivered impressive organic growth in recent years, driven by increases in digital revenues, now representing approximately half of total revenues, as well as solid event revenue growth. These brands are strategically aligned with Emerald’s CEDIA Expo and Connecting Point Marketing Group (CPMG) businesses, and include:

  • Total Tech Summit: a premier hosted-buyer event serving the residential, commercial and security integrator markets;
  • CEPro: a leading media brand for custom technology integrators in the residential market and the media partner of Emerald’s CEDIA Expo trade show;
  • Commercial Integrator: a top information source for commercial technology integrators serving small and midsize businesses;
  • Security Sales & Integration: a leading media brand for residential and commercial security installation contractors; and
  • Campus Safety: a leading media brand serving security professionals responsible for schools and academic campuses with several events and intelligence products.

David Loechner, Emerald’s President and CEO, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome the EH Media team and their highly valuable brands and assets to Emerald. Ken Moyes has built an impressive group of interconnected, technology-oriented brands that are focused on the integration of audio, video, communications, IT, security and energy management products into buildings of all types. This secular trend has been underway for several years and is only accelerating, which bodes well for the future. In fact, we see a tremendous opportunity to deliver continued strong organic growth in these businesses while also achieving synergies as we integrate these brands and assets into Emerald. We believe that this acquisition, once fully integrated, will not only strengthen our existing trade shows but also expand both their relevance and growth profile in several of our key end markets.”

Members of the EH Media team, largely based in Framingham, MA, will join Emerald and report to Brian Pagel, Senior Vice President. Mr. Pagel is also responsible for overseeing CEDIA Expo, Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, Kitchen & Bath Business, and National Pavement Expo.

Commenting on the acquisition, Mr. Pagel added, “I am excited to welcome this experienced, industry-recognized, and entrepreneurial team to Emerald, where we can add momentum to the existing growth in their various events and leverage their content, digital capabilities and market positions to strengthen and expand Emerald’s portfolio of building and design-focused shows, particularly CEDIA Expo. We look forward to creating new events and revenue opportunities together across both portfolios.”

Emerald is acquiring a great team and a well-positioned portfolio of events and brands that overlaps nicely with their current portfolio and also provides exposure to attractive adjacent markets,” said Ken Moyes, EH Media’s Founder, President and CEO. “While it is tough to part with people and brands that have been such an integral part of one’s life for decades, the business and cultural fit with Emerald is very strong and they have the people, resources and market positions to take these brands to the next level.”

Berkery Noyes, an independent mid-market investment bank, was the exclusive financial advisor to EH Media in this transaction.

About Emerald Expositions

Emerald is the largest operator of business-to-business trade shows in the United States by net square feet (“NSF”), with most of our trade shows dating back several decades. Emerald currently operates more than 55 trade shows, as well as numerous other events. In 2017, Emerald’s events connected over 500,000 global attendees and exhibitors and occupied over 6.9 million NSF of exhibition space.

For more information on Emerald, please visit www.emeraldexpositions.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including assumptions about future industry trends and Emerald’s ability to execute its acquisition strategy to accelerate growth. These statements are based on management’s expectations as well as estimates and assumptions prepared by management that, although they believe to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of Emerald’s control that may cause its business, industry, strategy, financing activities or actual results to differ materially. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Emerald’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Emerald undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Emerald Expositions:
Philip Evans, 1-866-339-4688 (866EEXINVT)
Chief Financial Officer
Investor.relations@emeraldexpo.com

Contacts

Emerald Expositions:
Philip Evans, 1-866-339-4688 (866EEXINVT)
Chief Financial Officer
Investor.relations@emeraldexpo.com