Emerald Expositions acquiring GLM in $335M deal

New York--Emerald Expositions, the parent company of National Jeweler, JA New York and Couture, announced Friday that it has agreed to acquire George Little Management LLC (GLM) from Providence Equity Partners for $335 million.

The transaction is expected to close in January, subject to regulatory approvals. It will be funded with approximately $200 million of debt and a $140 million equity investment from Onex Partners III. Onex is the private equity firm that bought the trade shows and related publications once owned by Nielsen in June 2013, creating Emerald Expositions.  

GLM organizes more than 20 annual trade shows, including four of the largest 100 trade shows in the United States, with markets presented in five sectors: Design & Home Lifestyle, Sports & Active Lifestyle, E-commerce, Product Development & Sourcing and Luxury Lifestyle.

Included in the trade show company’s portfolio are a few antique jewelry shows, including the New York Antique Jewelry & Watch Show and the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show.

GLM has 130 employees. It’s headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., with additional offices in Ft. Collins, Colo.; Naples, Fla.; Atlanta; New York, N.Y.; and Chicago.

There currently are no plans to move or close offices.

“GLM is a truly outstanding trade show company with an exciting portfolio and an experienced and talented workforce. This acquisition expands upon our position as a leading tradeshow organizer in the United States,” said Emerald Expositions CEO David Loechner. “I am excited about the opportunities for customers and employees of both companies that will result from bringing these two high-quality portfolios together.”

San Juan Capistrano, Calif.-based Emerald is a leading operator of large business-to-business tradeshows in the United States, producing more than 65 trade shows and conference events per year, connecting more 335,000 buyers and sellers across nine diversified end-markets, including jewelry, general merchandise, sports, hospitality and retail design, photography, decorated apparel, building, healthcare and military.