Apollo buys Emerald Holding and Questex to build live-events platform

6 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 11

Emerald shareholders are set to receive $5.03 a share in cash, valuing the New York-based organiser at about $1 billion, with largest shareholder Onex backing the deal.
Apollo will also acquire Questex from MidOcean Partners for an undisclosed, smaller all-cash price and combine the businesses, with the transactions expected to be announced later Monday.
The move gives Apollo its first entry into live events as it targets further acquisitions in a fragmented B2B sector that rebounded after the pandemic and is seen as gaining value alongside AI-driven online change.

Will Apollo's event consolidation lead to richer experiences for attendees or just higher prices and less choice?

Can Apollo's new platform deliver authentic human connection at scale in a world dominated by artificial intelligence?