Note 9. Fair Value Measurements

As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the table below:

 

 

December 31, 2025

 

(in millions)

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

96.8

 

 

$

96.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Money market mutual funds(a)

 

 

4.1

 

 

 

4.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

 

$

100.9

 

 

$

100.9

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market-based share awards liability(b)

 

$

0.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

0.5

 

Contingent consideration(b)

 

 

75.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

75.1

 

Total liabilities at fair value

 

$

75.6

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

75.6

 

(a)
The Company’s money market mutual funds of $4.1 million as of December 31, 2025 are included within cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated balance sheets. The money market mutual funds are traded in active markets and quoted in broker or dealer quotations and are classified as Level 1 assets. The fair value of the Company’s money market mutual funds are based on unadjusted quoted prices on the reporting date.
(b)
The market-based share awards liability of $0.5 million as of December 31, 2025 is included within other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s market-based share awards and contingent consideration are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable, including the Company’s own assumptions. Contingent consideration of $12.2 million as of December 31, 2025 is included within contingent consideration in the consolidated balance sheets and contingent consideration of $62.9 million is included within other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the table below:

 

 

December 31, 2024

 

(in millions)

 

Total

 

 

Level 1

 

 

Level 2

 

 

Level 3

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

31.1

 

 

$

31.1

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Money market mutual funds(a)

 

 

163.7

 

 

 

163.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets at fair value

 

$

194.8

 

 

$

194.8

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Market-based share awards liability(b)

 

$

0.5

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

0.5

 

Contingent consideration(b)

 

 

10.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.7

 

Total liabilities at fair value

 

$

11.2

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

11.2

 

(a)
The Company’s money market mutual funds are based on the closing price of these assets as of the reporting date. The fair value of the Company’s money market mutual funds are based on unadjusted quoted prices on the reporting date. The Company’s money market mutual funds are quoted in an active market and classified as Level 1 assets.
(b)
Included within other noncurrent liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the Company’s market-based share awards and contingent consideration are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable, including the Company’s own assumptions.

The Company’s contingent consideration payments are based on the achievement of various revenue or EBITDA growth metrics. The contingent consideration liability of $75.1 million as of December 31, 2025 consists of liabilities of $11.5 million, $8.4 million and $52.9 million that are expected to be settled in 2026, 2027 and 2028, respectively. Additionally, contingent consideration liabilities of $2.3 million related to tax benefits connected to future tax return filings from This is Beyond are expected to be settled between 2026 through 2028. The Company paid $3.4 million in contingent consideration during the year ended December 31, 2025 in relation to the Company’s acquisitions of AV-iQ, Glamping Americas and Insurtech.

The Company’s contingent consideration liabilities are re-measured based on the methodologies described above at the end of each reporting period. As a result of these remeasurements, during 2025, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded an increase of $45.8 million and decreases of $1.2 million and $2.4 million, respectively, in the fair value of its contingent consideration liabilities, which is included in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of (loss) income. The determination of the fair value of the contingent consideration liabilities could change in future periods. Any such changes in fair value will be reported in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of (loss) income.

The table below summarizes the changes in fair value of the Company’s contingent consideration liabilities during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023:

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

2025

 

 

2024

 

 

2023

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

10.7

 

 

$

6.9

 

 

$

12.3

 

Payment of contingent consideration

 

 

(3.4

)

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(3.7

)

Fair value remeasurement adjustments

 

 

45.8

 

 

 

(1.2

)

 

 

(2.4

)

Business acquisition

 

 

21.6

 

 

 

5.2

 

 

 

0.7

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

 

0.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at end of period

 

$

75.1

 

 

$

10.7

 

 

$

6.9

 

The market-based share award liability was $0.5 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024. Changes in the fair value of the market-based share award liability is included in selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of (loss) income. The determination of the fair value of the market-based share award liability could change in future periods. See Note 12, Stock-Based Compensation, for additional information with respect to the market-based share awards.

Free Sentinel

Want the next Emerald Holding, Inc. fair value disclosure the moment it drops?

Set a Sentinel and we'll alert you the moment Emerald Holding, Inc.'s next filing hits EDGAR. No credit card, your email never gets sold.

Track for free

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2025Mar 13, 2026Showing above
2024Mar 14, 2025
2023Mar 5, 2024
2022Mar 15, 2023
2021Feb 24, 2022
2020Feb 23, 2021
2019Feb 14, 2020
2018Feb 19, 2019
2017Feb 22, 2018

About Fair Value Disclosures

Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.

Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.