Exclusive: Organizer of largest U.S. fashion trade show explores sale – sources

By Liana B. Baker NEW YORK (Reuters) – Privately held U.S. event marketing company Advanstar, which puts on trade shows in industries such as fashion and healthcare, is exploring a sale that could fetch more than $900 million, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Advanstar is working with investment banks Goldman Sachs Group and Moelis & Co to assist with efforts to find a buyer, the people said, asking not to be named because the matter is not public. The company is best known for putting on twice a year in Las Vegas the Magic fashion trade show, the largest U.S. fashion convention. Advanstar is controlled by hedge fund Anchorage Capital Group and private equity firms Ares Management LP and Veronis Suhler Stevenson.