AEE Parent Files for Bankruptcy

NEWTON, Mass. — The parent company of the Adult Entertainment Expo filed for bankruptcy Oct. 5 in order to restructure its ballooning debt. In its Chapter 11 filing Questex listed assets of $299 million against liabilities of $321 million.

Questex acquired AEE when it purchased various divisions of Advanstar for $185 million in 2005, of which Home Entertainment Events — managers of the show — was a part of.

According to the company, January’s AEE show will take place as planned.

Questex said that it plans to sell the company to the holders of its debt. The B2B trade company is experiencing a “severe contraction in liquidity” and is leaving its assets to existing lenders.

Questex finds itself in a deep hole after it went on a spending spree acquiring other B2B trade companies since its inception in 2005. It is carrying $186 million in first-lien debt and $56 million in second-lien debt. It also owes $18.5 million to the principals of previously acquired companies.

The company’s largest creditor is Wilmington Trust to which it owes $56.6 million in bank debt.

Company officials are projecting a 50 percent earnings drop this year.

A call seeking comment from AEE show director Deborah Brown went unreturned at post time.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

'Groove Thing' Sets Kickstarter Funding Record for Insertable Pleasure Product

Groove Thing, an insertable pleasure product that plays audio, has set a funding record on Kickstarter.

Nalpac/Entrenue, Ohdoki Sign Distro Deal for 'The Handy'

Nalpac/Entrenue has inked an exclusive U.S. distribution deal with Ohdoki Products for The Handy.

Roxie Rae Relaunches Site Through XSiteAbility

Roxie Rae has relaunched her site through XSiteAbility.

Onahole Debuts New 'Miss Boss Cup' Stroker

Pleasure brand Onahole has introduced its new Miss Boss Cup stroker.

Nicole Nixon Stars in Latest From Immoral

Nicole Nixon stars with Matt Bird, Dean Van Damme, and "Porno Dan" Leal in a new three-part release from Immoral Productions.

ProDx Health Introduces 'Trust 1' HPV Test

ProDx Health has introduced its new Trust 1 Home Collection Kit for HPV testing.

Kiki Cali Toplines 'Pleasure Vixens 4' From BAM Visions

Kiki Cali headlines the fourth volume of "Pleasure Vixens," co-directed by multi-XMAs winner Mick Blue and Maestro Claudio, aka BAM Visions, from Evil Angel.

Brianna Coppage Makes Her WIFEY Debut

Creator Brianna Coppage stars with her husband Phillip and Jax Slayher in the latest release from Vixen Media Group studio imprint WIFEY.

Eye of Love Debuts 'Pheromone Roll-On Duo' From Bloom Line

Eye of Love has introduced the Pheromone Roll-On Duo fragrance set from its Bloom collection.

Show More