Deal Tracker: Emerald, Questex, Hyve, CloserStill, Marketplace Events, and THM Media Make AcquisitionsDeal Tracker: Emerald, Questex, Hyve, CloserStill, Marketplace Events, and THM Media Make Acquisitions
With five deals in six weeks, trade show M&A is heating up like the summer temperatures.
July 28, 2025
Dealmaking in the last quarter delivered positive gains for big banks like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, according to their latest earnings calls. As the Wall Street Journal reported on July 17, “bankers cited an improvement in CEO confidence since the beginning of the quarter and said that corporate clients are feeling more comfortable about pursuing mergers and initial public offerings.”
That certainly appears to be the case in the trade show industry, which has seen five deals in the last six weeks—despite an evolving policy environment. Here’s a closer look at the buyers and sellers who have closed deals in recent weeks.
NYSE Company Emerald Looks to Canada for Growth
On July 9, Emerald Holding Inc., producer of North America’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), acquired the Kitchen & Bath Canada (KBC) Expo from THE EXPO HUT INC., the Mississauga, Ontario-based independent show organizer that launched the trade show in 2021.
Context: Emerald, a public company on the New York Stock Exchange, connects more than 1.9 million customers across 142 events and 16 media properties each year, according to its website. In addition to KBIS, other flagship events produced by Emerald include Surf Expo, NY Now, and MJBizCon—to name a few.
Emerald, producer of North America’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS), acquired the Kitchen & Bath Canada (KBC) Expo.
In partnership with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Emerald will relaunch KBC Expo.
Backstory: In 2024, the KBC Expo drew more than 83 exhibitors and more than 1,891 attendees to the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, when it was held Oct. 22-24. The expo—whose attendees include Canadian architects, designers, builders, and remodelers—was co-located with StoneTech Canada and Illuminate Canada.
Zooming in: In partnership with the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Emerald will relaunch KBC Expo, bringing the best of KBIS to Canada with curated programming for the Canadian market, according to a press release.
What they’re saying: “The demand for a nationally focused, high-quality kitchen and bath experience in Canada is undeniable,” Emerald Executive Vice President Brian Pagel. “In partnership with NKBA, we’re creating a powerful new opportunity for Canadian professionals to connect, learn, and grow—right here at home.”
Why it matters: “Emerald’s deep expertise in event production combined with the power of NKBA is the perfect combination to bring world-class quality to the Canadian market,” said Bill Darcy, global president and CEO of NKBA | KBIS, the not-for-profit trade association that owns KBIS. “We have more than 50,000 members across North America focused on all segments of the kitchen and bath industry, and we are excited to support this event for our Canadian members”.
Looking ahead: KBC Expo will return for its 5th edition Nov. 5-6 at the Toronto Congress Centre.
Questex acquired two events AHF Live (pictured)and Multifamily Executive Conference. Photo: Questex
Paul Miller, CEO of Questex
Questex Adds to Its Real Estate Portfolio
On July 8, Questex, a B2B information and events company owned by private equity firm MidOcean Partners, acquired the event and media assets of Affordable Housing Finance and Multifamily Executive from Zonda Media.
The deal includes two events: AHF Live and Multifamily Executive Conference. The acquisition expands Questex’s real estate portfolio, which includes events like the International Hospitality Investment Forum in the U.S., EMEA, and Asia, the Annual Hotel Conference in the UK, and the Resort & Residential Hospitality Forum in Europe.
Context: Questex produces 12 trade shows, more than 100 in-person and digital conferences, and 130 websites, according to its website. The company’s flagship events include Bar & Restaurant Expo, The Hospitality Show, International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference (IECSC), and Live Design International (LDI).
Why it matters: “The affordable housing and multi-family markets are experiencing rapid growth amid increasing urbanization and rising global demand for accessible housing,” said Paul Miller, CEO of Questex. In fact, there is a “severe shortage” of affordable housing in the U.S., according to a 2025 report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
What the buyer is saying: “This acquisition enables us to bring our proven expertise in high-impact events, data-driven digital platforms, and actionable insights to these expanding sectors,” said Miller. “It reflects our commitment to helping people live better and longer by investing in industries that shape how we live, work, and experience the world.”
Looking ahead: “This addition reinforces our leadership in real estate and aligns with our broader strategy of serving global and scaled sectors that are reshaping the built environment and the experience economy,” said Alexi Khajavi, group president, hospitality & operational real estate, a newly created group comprised of living and lodging real estate media and event assets at Questex.
Deeper dive: The first acquisition by Questex in 2025 builds on its strategic initiatives in the real estate sector, including the acquisition of the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) in 2023, the 2024 launch of IHIF Asia, and the debut of BxR, the first U.S. event dedicated to branded residences, in 2025. Questex will use its expanded real estate position as a launch pad for additional organic launches in underserved areas of the market, according to a press release.
What’s next: AHF Live will be held Nov. 17-19 in Chicago, and the Multifamily Executive Conference is scheduled for Nov. 4-6 in Newport Beach, Calif.
Hyve Makes 4th Acquisition in 12 Months
B2B event producer Hyve Group acquired Behavioral Health Tech (BHT), marking its fourth acquisition in the past year and its entry into the behavioral health sector that was valued at $127.20 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow $172.61 billion by 2034—a compounded annual growth rate of 3.1% from 2025 to 2034, according to Statifacts. The acquisition strengthens Hyve's position in healthcare events, complementing its existing portfolio that includes HLTH US, HLTH Europe, and ViVE.
Back story: Founded in 2020 by Solome Tibebu, the BHT Conference attracted more than 2,000 delegates in 2024 with an expected 25% growth this year, according to a Hyve press release. The content program included celebrity names like Paris Hilton headlining in 2024, and industry titans, such as Amazon’s director of health benefits, are confirmed to speak at the next event. In addition to its flagship event held annually in San Diego, the platform includes year-round education, community engagement, and consulting services, reaching more 20,000 leaders from payors, providers, non-profits, startups, and investment firms.
B2B event producer Hyve Group acquired Behavioral Health Tech (BHT), marking its fourth acquisition in the past year. Photo: BHT
"What's exciting about this event is the founder energy behind it—that hunger, vision, and drive you only get from something built from the ground up," said Mark Shashoua, CEO of Hyve.
Founded in 2020 by Solome Tibebu, the BHT Conference attracted more than 2,000 delegates in 2024. Tibebu will continue to lead BHT. Photo: Hyve
What the buyer is saying: "What's exciting about this event is the founder energy behind it—that hunger, vision, and drive you only get from something built from the ground up," said Mark Shashoua, CEO of Hyve. “I’m delighted that Solome has chosen Hyve as the right partner to support Behavioral Health Tech with its exciting next phase of growth. BHT is a perfect fit for Hyve as we continue to scale with purpose, expanding our strong Healthcare portfolio at a pivotal moment, when one in every five dollars in the U.S. is spent on healthcare.”
What the seller is saying: “Creating Behavioral Health Tech is deeply personal for me, having spent my entire career focused on improving mental health access and innovation,” said Tibebu. “What started as a virtual gathering has grown into a powerful community—and now, with Hyve’s support and proven track record in relentless innovation and scaling events, we can expand its reach while staying true to its core—uniting the community of organizations and individuals transforming behavioral health for the better.”
What’s next: Tibebu will continue to lead BHT, which joins Hyve's global brands portfolio alongside Shoptalk, Groceryshop, Fintech Meetup, POSSIBLE, and Manifest.
Looking ahead: The next BHT conference is scheduled for Nov. 11-13 in San Diego.
MPE Picks Up Two More Consumer Shows in Colorado
On June 27, Cleveland-based Marketplace Events (MPE), an independent trade and consumer show producer that was acquired by private equity firm Clarion Capital Partners in January, expanded its Colorado business with the acquisition of the Colorado Garden & Home Show and the Fall Home Show, which both run at the Colorado Convention Center, from the nonprofit Colorado Garden Foundation.
Backstory: The 67-year-old Colorado Garden and Home Show attracts more than 500 exhibitors and more than 40,000 annual attendees to its spring edition, while the smaller fall edition, launched in 2009, attracts 200 exhibitors and 3,000-5,000 attendees each year, according to a press release.
Context: MPE, producers of more than 110 trade and consumer shows in 54 markets in the U.S. and Canada, operates the Denver Home Show, which will be held March 20-22, 2026, at the National Western Complex, as well as the Denver Christmas and Colorado Springs Christmas shows, which are both held in November.
The 67-year-old Colorado Garden and Home Show attracts more than 500 exhibitors and more than 40,000 annual attendees to its spring edition. Photo: Colorado Garden & Home Show
"With this acquisition, Marketplace Events now owns the top show in all 51 markets in which we operate," said Mark White, CEO of Marketplace Events.
What the buyer is saying: “The deal in Denver is one we have anticipated for decades and to finally see it come together is incredibly rewarding," said Mark White, CEO of Marketplace Events. "There are very few large 9-day shows with this history and reputation remaining in the U.S., and we are thrilled to add it to our ever-expanding Marketplace Events portfolio."
What the seller is saying: "For more than 65 years, the shows have allowed us to give back more than $13 million through horticultural grants and scholarships that touch lives all across Colorado, from healing gardens and greenhouses to scholarships that launch careers in horticulture and sustainability,” said Jim Fricke, executive director of the Colorado Garden Foundation. “Selling to Marketplace Events will allow the foundation to further build on that legacy while maintaining the shows' excellence we have all come to rely on."
Deeper dive: “For years, we have had to say that Denver was the only market in which we did not own the No. 1 home show since the Colorado Garden Show was larger and better attended," said White. "With this acquisition, Marketplace Events now owns the top show in all 51 markets in which we operate. We have seen much success operating multiple shows annually in our best markets like Denver and look forward to continue growing the exhibit base and attendance at all five of our shows in the Colorado market."
Looking ahead: The Denver shows will be operated under MPE Regional Vice President Dave Maughan who oversees 13 shows in Denver, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Houston, and San Antonio. Lupe Merino, a veteran show manager who joined MPE in 2013, will serve as the show manager. Taylor Boerstler, a long-time exhibit sales consultant on the Denver shows, has joined MPE to continue her role on these shows, and Fricke will remain as a consultant through the first MPE-produced show in February 2026.
THM Media Acquires Six Hosted Buyer Events
On July 21, THM Media, a privately owned media company that operates across 70 markets spanning 30 states, acquired six hosted buyer events for the multi-family and single-family construction marketplace from Naylor Exchange Events, a division of Naylor Association Solutions, a RLJ Equity Partners portfolio company.
Context: The six hosted-buyer events, which are held in resort destinations during the spring and fall, provide marketing solutions to building industry suppliers by attracting qualified builders, architects, general contractors, remodelers, custom builders, and developers.
Looking ahead: In 2025, the Single Family Build Exchange will be held Oct. 13-15 at the Sheraton Wild Horse in Phoenix and Nov. 12-14 at the Four Seasons in New Orleans, while the Multifamily Exchange will be held Sept. 16-18 at the Loews Ventana in Tuscon, Ariz., and Nov. 10-12 at the Four Seasons in New Orleans.
THM Media, a privately owned media company that operates across 70 markets spanning 30 states, acquired six hosted buyer events for the multi-family and single-family construction marketplace from Naylor Exchange Events.
In 2025, the Single Family Build Exchange will be held Oct. 13-15 at the Sheraton Wild Horse in Phoenix. Photo: Sheraton
CloserStill Media Expands Its U.S. Event Portfolio
On June 20, CloserStill Media, an independent trade show and event organizer that’s owned by Providence Equity Partners, acquired PARCEL Forum, an independent parcel fulfilment event in the U.S. Founded in 2003, PARCEL Forum was launched by EventEvolution Management Inc., a private company led by President Joel Dunkel.
Context: PARCEL Forum joins CloserStill’s North American portfolio, which includes more than 25 events. Globally, the CloserStill group also own and operates events aligned with PARCEL Forum’s focus on supply chain optimization and technology-driven logistics. These events include Parcel+Post Expo in Amsterdam and eCommerce events, such as CommerceNext’s Growth Show in New York City and eCommerce Expo in London.
Backstory: PARCEL Forum is a three-day conference and exposition dedicated to serving the needs of small-package fulfillment industry. The 2025 event, which rotates annually between major U.S. cities, boasts a sold-out exhibit floor, featuring 135 companies, and is expected to attract 2,000 small-package supply chain professionals from around the country.
PARCEL Forum is a three-day conference and exposition dedicated to serving the needs of small-package fulfillment industry. Photo: PARCEL Forum
“For us, this acquisition is a strategic move as we grow our presence in North America and invest further in specialist, high-growth markets,” said CloserStill President, North America, Yancy Weinrich.
What the buyer is saying: “For us, this acquisition is a strategic move as we grow our presence in North America and invest further in specialist, high-growth markets,” said CloserStill President, North America, Yancy Weinrich. “With our proven record of scaling content-rich, community-first events, we’re excited to support PARCEL Forum’s next phase – working alongside the existing team and opening new opportunities through our wider global network.”
What the seller is saying: “For the past 23 years, we have built an incredible event focused on bringing together the package fulfillment industry to network, learn, and meet with leading companies who can help attendees apply best practices into their package fulfillment supply chains,” Dunkel said. “This partnership with CloserStill will provide us with the resources, bandwidth, and expertise to continue to build on the PARCEL Forum legacy long into the future.”
Looking ahead: This year’s edition will take place Sept. 8-10 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Chicago.
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