Match.com Continues Global Expansion in 2007
DALLAS, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Match.com, an operating business of IAC
(Nasdaq: IACI) announced today the successful completion of its acquisition
of eDodo in China and Netclub in France. These two acquisitions are
consistent with the continued aggressive global expansion plans for
Match.com in 2007.
Match.com is coming off a record year, with revenue of $311.2 million,
a 25% increase from 2005. An increase in international paid subscribers and
continued development of global markets contributed greatly to the
Company's success in 2006, with the most notable development in the United
Kingdom and Scandinavia. Match.com currently operates more than 35 local
country sites in 15 languages, and the company's reach spans six
continents.
"Match.com is a global company but our focus is on leadership through
local relevance," said Jim Safka, CEO of Match.com. "We don't operate the
American version of the Match.com site in various markets; rather we invest
time and resources in the local knowledge and local companies to create a
successful experience for people in countries around the world then connect
them to our worldwide database."
In 2006, Match.com launched a new site experience and brand campaign in
France. Since the launch, the campaign has driven daily Match.com
subscriptions up by 66%.
With the acquisition of Netclub, the third-largest French online dating
site, Match.com once again makes clear its intention to be the undisputed
leader in European online dating sites. According to JupiterResearch,
European online dating sites continue to attract new users and in 2007 the
category is expected to grow 30%.
The eDodo acquisition in China moves Match.com into an emerging online
personals market with unparalleled opportunity for growth. There are more
than 64 million online singles in China, and the iResearch.com market
forecast projects that the online dating category will nearly double in
2007. With eDodo, Match.com has acquired one of the fastest growing social
networking sites in China. eDodo has more than 180,000 paid members and
nearly 3,000 new paid subscribers each day.
"We recognize there is enormous room for growth in our international
markets, and for Match.com it is the perfect time to seek out the companies
that will further the Match.com mission of creating couples all over the
world," said Safka. "These two acquisitions in France and China are just
the beginning of finding these world-class companies and accelerating their
growth with our Match.com resources."
About Edodo
http://www.edodo.net/love/
About Netclub
Founded in 1997 and born from the merger between Netclub.fr and
Webseduction.com, Netclub is a leader in dating services promoting serious
and long-term relationships. Offering a range of interaction-driven online
personals and dating services in both France and Canada such as GOlive, the
only instant messaging service dedicated to singles, Netclub has over 4
million French-speaking members and is the third largest player in France.
About Match.com
Match.com pioneered online personals when it launched on the Web in
1995 and continues to lead this exciting and evolving category after more
than a decade. Throughout its 12-year history, Match.com has redefined the
way people meet and fall in love and is credited with more marriages than
any other site. Today, more than 15 million people around the world
participate in the Match.com community, providing a rich tapestry of
ethnicities, interests, goals, ambitions, quirks, looks and personalities
from which to choose. Match.com operates leading subscription-based online
dating sites in 35 countries, in 15 languages and spanning six continents.
Match.com also powers online dating on MSN across Europe, Asia, the United
States and Latin America and is the premier provider of personals for
Love@AOL. Match.com is an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI).
SOURCE Match.com
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.match.com
http://www.edodo.net/love
CONTACT:
Liz Entwistle Edelbrock of Match.com,
+1-214-576-9321, or liz.edelbrock@match.com
|
