NEWTON, MA--(Marketwired - Jul 11, 2016) - Questex, a leading global business information and events company, today announced it has acquired ExL Events Inc., expanding its presence in the global pharmaceutical, life-science and health-care markets.

ExL Events, founded in 2004 as ExL Pharma, is the industry leader in developing innovative, educational conferences that serve the pharmaceutical, life-science and health-care communities. Kerry Gumas, Questex president and chief executive officer, said ExL will complement the services currently provided to those markets by Questex's Fierce Life Science & Healthcare group of digital media titles and events.

The founders of ExL Events, Bryon Main, president & chief executive officer, and Ethan Denkensohn, chief financial & operating officer, will continue to lead the organization and retain their existing staff. ExL Events, which will continue to operate from its New York headquarters, produces more than 70 annual events in the United States, Europe and Asia for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics and contract-research organizations, hospitals and physicians, among others.

"We are pleased to welcome Bryon, Ethan and the entire ExL Events team to the company," said Gumas. "They have done an excellent job in building ExL Events into a high-service, high-value producer of events, which we believe will be well complemented by our industry-leading portfolio of digital media titles serving the industry.

"ExL has consistently grown its revenue and EBITDA at double-digit rates over the last five years, and we've seen the business continue to scale well due to the strong competencies of the team and systems they have put in place."

Financial terms of the agreement were not released.

"For the last 12 years, ExL Events has served the informational and networking needs of the dynamic and rapidly evolving global health-care and pharmaceutical sectors through high-quality conferences that deliver important topical information and interactive networking opportunities," said Main. "Having Questex's many resources at our fingertips will fuel investment and global expansion opportunities for ExL Events. We look forward to working together to drive growth and innovation for the business and our customers."

Denkensohn said ExL Events would truly benefit from the agreement given Questex's scale and reach. "Questex has a strong leadership team, a global footprint across complementary markets and a similar commitment to helping customers achieve their business and professional objectives through world class conferences," he said. "We look forward to joining the Questex family and continuing our mission to bring allied industries together to strategize on key issues and challenges that drive research, solutions and strategies."

About Questex

Questex is a leading global business information and events company serving corporate and government clients and industries that are driving economic growth and business innovation around the world.

The company drives business investment, innovation and demand-creation in the markets it serves by bringing together investors, buyers, sellers and professionals through its over 100 trade shows, conferences and other business events, informing them through more than 100 business media and information products and supporting clients with a comprehensive platform of marketing solutions. Questex's industry-focused business units include Life Sciences & Healthcare, Hospitality & Travel, Beauty & Wellness, Technology & Telecom groups.

Questex is headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts. The company employs over 350 dedicated professional staff members, who are located in offices throughout the United States, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

About ExL Events

ExL Events develops engaging, content-driven conferences and partnered events for dynamic industry audiences including: pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostic, contract-research organizations, hospital networks, physicians, communications and others. Behind its diverse event portfolio, ExL's experienced team conducts extensive market research and targeted outreach. The results translate into innovative, high-quality events that facilitate the exchange of critical information between industry professionals and suppliers who support shared goals. For more information, visit www.exlevents.com.