Blackstone buys International Data Group from China Oceanwide

It comes four years after Oceanwide acquired a 90% stake in the business, including operating assets such as Computerworld and PCWorld, and a suite of market intelligence and advisory services. At the time, IDG was estimated to be worth about $1 billion.

That transaction also saw China-focused IDG Capital, which was seeded by IDG in 1992, acquire the remaining 10% stake in its former parent. IDG Capital also assumed ownership of IDG Ventures, a global network of venture capital funds. It later sold down $600 million worth of LP positions in these funds to a consortium of secondary buyers led by HarbourVest Partners.

Oceanwide said in a statement that IDG grew and evolved rapidly during its holding period, having “significantly expanded its coverage scope.” Some of the most recent progress was inorganic, including the acquisitions of US-based operators Triblio and Metri. The former expanded IDG’s software-as-a-service and marketing support capacities, while the latter helped build out the offering around IT budget and operations benchmarking.

Blackstone described its investment as part of an effort to meet rising demand for market intelligence among both established and disruptive technology companies. The new ownership is expected to allow IDG to invest in its technology and product portfolio, as well as to pursue more strategic acquisitions. 

Founded in 1964, US-based IDG is recognized as one of the leading IT market intelligence providers globally. Its core businesses include IDC, or International Data Corporation, a research, data, advisory, and events unit with a team of more than 1,000 analysts in 110 countries. Meanwhile, IDG Communications focuses on media and marketing services for the technology industry.

The company’s most visible and direct impact on Asia has arguably been in its venture capital interests. IDG Ventures was set up in 1997 with a view to being an independent partnership that could leverage its parent’s global network. By the time it was acquired by IDG Capital, it had about $3 billion in assets under management globally with country-focused franchisees in China, Korea, Vietnam, and India. IDG Capital was by far the largest member.

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• Topics
• North America
• Greater China
• Buyouts
• Exits
• Trade sale
• Technology
• Support services
• USA
• China
• The Blackstone Group
• IDG Capital Partners
• enterprise software
• professional services