Acquisition. Image: Shutterstock/macgyverhh
Technology publishing giant International Data Group (IDG) is currently the subject of $1bn interest from a Chinese investor group.
Owners of technology magazine PC World and market research giant IDC, IDG’s portfolio has proven quite attractive. So much so, that a Chinese investor group – headed up by IDG’s own Greater China chairman, Hugo Shong – wants it all to itself.
Reuters broke the story, saying that the identity of the other investors in the group is unclear, however, between $500m and $1bn is the estimated valuation of the company.
IDC’s role in the tech industry is pretty significant; its research into things like device sales and product trends is very valuable to speculators, investors and journalists alike.
IDG Direct, a subsidiary of the group, has offices in Ireland, the UK and US, previously announcing a serious influx of roles in 2012.
Founded 52 years ago, IDG is currently one of the largest global trade publishers, with hundreds of tech-focused websites and magazines. Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to “explore strategic options”.
Those options presented themselves pretty close to home, it seems, and Chinese investments have proved interesting of late.
Wanda’s $1bn acquisition of Dick Clark Productions this month, for example, was another media-based move, with J.D. Power and Associates, a data provider, also falling into Chinese hands this year.
Elsewhere, cross-border venture capital player GGV raised $1.2bn in a collection of funds earlier this year, which includes $250m pegged for seeding start-ups in China.
