Emerald Holding, Inc. Revenue Disclosure

Note 3. Revenues

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue

Revenue is recognized as the customer receives the benefit of the promised services and performance obligations are satisfied. Revenue is recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for those services. Customers generally receive the benefit of the Company’s services upon the staging of each trade show or conference event and over the subscription period for access to the Company’s subscription software and services. Fees are typically invoiced and collected in-full prior to the trade show or event.

A significant portion of the Company’s annual revenue is generated from the Connections segment primarily related to the production of trade shows and conference events (collectively, “trade shows”), including booth space sales, registration fees and sponsorship fees. The Company recognizes revenue in the period the trade show occurs.

Content revenues primarily consist of advertising sales for digital products and industry publications that complement the event properties, custom content agency revenues and subscription fees for educational and e-learning services. Advertising sales and custom content revenues are recognized in the period in which the custom content and digital products are provided or publications are issued. Subscription fees for educational and e-learning services are billed and collected at the subscription date. Typically, the fees charged are collected after the custom content and digital products are delivered or publications are issued.

Commerce revenues primarily consist of software-as-a-service subscription revenue, implementation fees and professional services. Fees associated with implementation are deferred and recognized over the expected customer life, which is four years. Subscription revenue is generally recognized over the term of the contract. Payment terms and conditions vary by contract type, although terms generally include a requirement of payment within 30 to 60 days.

Deferred revenues generally consist of booth space sales, registration fees and sponsorship fees that are invoiced prior to a trade show, as well as upfront payments for software subscription fees, professional services and implementation fees for the Company’s subscription software and services. Current deferred revenues are reported as deferred revenues on the consolidated balance sheets and were $190.5 million and $174.3 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Long-term deferred revenues as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, and are reported as other noncurrent liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Total deferred revenues, including the current and noncurrent portions, were $190.7 million and $175.2 million, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The accounts receivable and deferred revenue balances related to cancelled events have been reclassified to cancelled event liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets as the total amount represents balances which are expected to be refunded to customers. As of December 31, 2024, cancelled event liabilities of $1.2 million represents $0.1 million of deferred revenues for cancelled trade shows and $1.1 million of related accounts receivable credits reclassified to cancelled event liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2023, cancelled event liabilities of $0.6 million represents $0.5 million of deferred revenues for cancelled trade shows and $0.1 million of related accounts receivable credits reclassified to cancelled event liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Performance Obligations

For the Company’s trade shows and other events, sales are deferred and recognized when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with the Company’s customers are satisfied, which is typically at the completion of a show or event. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company earns upon completion of its performance obligations.

For the Company’s subscription software and services, the Company may enter into contracts with customers that include multiple performance obligations, which are generally capable of being distinct. Fees associated with implementation and related professional services are deferred and recognized over the expected customer life, which is four years. Subscription revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. The Company’s contracts associated with the subscription software and services are generally three-year terms with one-year renewals following the initial three-year term.

For the Company’s other marketing services, revenues are deferred and recognized when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with the Company’s customers are satisfied. This generally occurs in the period in which the publications are issued. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company earns upon completion of its performance obligations.

The Company applies a practical expedient which allows the exclusion of disclosure information regarding remaining performance obligations if the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an expected duration of one year or less. The Company’s performance obligations greater than one year were $0.2 million as of December 31, 2024.

Disaggregation of Revenue

Contract Balances

The Company’s contract assets are primarily sales commissions incurred in connection with the Company’s subscription software and services, which are expensed over the expected customer relationship period. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company does not have material contract assets.

Contract liabilities generally consist of booth space sales, registration fees, sponsorship fees that are collected prior to the trade show or other event and subscription revenue, implementation fees and professional services associated with the Company’s subscription software and services. Contract liabilities less than one year from the date of the performance obligation are reported on the consolidated balance sheets as deferred revenues. Contract liabilities greater than one year from the date of the performance obligation are reported on the consolidated balance sheets in other noncurrent liabilities.

The Company’s sales commission costs incurred in connection with sales of booth space, registration fees and sponsorship fees at the Company’s trade shows and other events and with sales of advertising for industry publications are generally short term, as sales typically begin up to one year prior to the date of the trade shows and other events. The Company expects the period benefited by each commission to be less than one year, and as a result, the Company expenses sales commissions associated with trade shows, other events and other marketing services as incurred. Sales commissions are reported on the consolidated statements of (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income as selling, general and administrative expense.

Accounts Receivable

The Company monitors collections and payments from its customers and maintains an allowance based upon applying an expected credit loss rate to receivables based on the historical loss rate from similar higher risk customers adjusted for current conditions, including any specific customer collection issues identified, and forecasts of economic conditions. Delinquent account balances are written off after management has determined that the likelihood of collection is remote. The activities in this account, including write-offs and the current-period provision for expected credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The activities in this account for the year ended December 31, 2022 were not material.

Contract Estimates and Judgments

The Company’s trade show, other event and other marketing sales revenue contracts do not require significant estimates or judgments based on the nature of the Company’s contracts. The sales price in the Company’s contracts are fixed and stated on the face of the contract. All consideration from contracts is included in the transaction price. The Company’s contracts with multiple performance obligations are considered to be fulfilled upon the completion of each trade show, publication issuance or as advertising services are provided, as applicable. The Company’s contracts consist of subscription revenue, implementation fees and professional services. Fees associated with implementation and professional services are deferred and recognized over the expected customer life, which is four years. Subscription revenue is recognized over the term of the contract. The Company’s contracts associated with the subscription software and services are generally three-year terms with one-year renewals. The Company’s contracts do not include material variable consideration.