Blackstone-backed event services provider Encore files for an estimated $500 million IPO
IPO Overview
Encore, which provides audiovisual and other production and venue services for B2B live events, filed on Friday with the SEC to raise up to an estimated $500 million in an initial public offering.
The company was previously known as PSAV, and attempted an IPO in 2016 before postponing the deal; Blackstone later acquired the business in 2018 and rebranded it as Encore in 2021.
Encore is a leading B2B live event production and venue services company that provides end-to-end support for corporate meetings, conferences, trade shows, and other in-person events. Its services span event planning, creative direction, audiovisual systems, lighting, rigging, power distribution, internet services, live streaming, and on-site execution, supported by long-term venue partnerships with hotels, convention centers, stadiums, and corporate campuses globally. The company primarily operates as the preferred on-site event technology and production partner across a large network of contracted venues.
The Schiller Park, IL-based company was formed in 2013 but traces its roots to 1937. During the 12 months ended December 31, 2025, the company booked $3.4 billion in revenue. It plans to list on the NYSE under the symbol ECR. Encore filed confidentially on October 15, 2025. BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Evercore ISI, J.P. Morgan, Jefferies, RBC Capital Markets, UBS Investment Bank, Rothschild, Stifel, William Blair, Nomura Securities, WR Securities, LionTree, and Raine Securities are the joint bookrunners on the deal.
About the Company
As the world’s leading business-to-business （“B2B”） live events company based on annual revenue and number of events serviced, Encore fulfills a purpose to connect and inspire people through the transformative power of events. We believe authentic, in-person engagement is more important than ever in today’s rapidly digitizing world. Our mission is to be an invaluable partner on our customers’ journeys, combining the power of our technical team members, innovative production services, and differentiated global footprint to create impactful events. Encore is the global leader in B2B live event production based on annual revenue and number of events serviced. We sit at the intersection of in-person experiences, the need for technology to create immersive experiences, and the importance of the venues where these events take place. We are active in 23 countries and serve under a preferred contract designation for on-site event production services across approximately 2,200 venues globally as of December 31, 2025. Our more than 13,000 talented team members operate as an embedded partner throughout the hospitality and corporate events ecosystem. Our platform combines scale, technical depth, and operational integration, which has allowed us to deliver more than 400,000 events annually over each of the last four years to a diverse customer base.