IAC Match Group dating sites, apps plans to go public with IPO
1. IAC Match Group dating sites, apps plans to go public with
IPO
nn n nMedia mogul Barry Diller is planning an IPO with the websites in his Match Group, which
includes Match, Tinder, OkCupid and OurTime. While CBS News financial contributor Mellody
Hobson said online dating is now "mainstream," she was shocked by the company's worth.nn"I
mean these numbers, I have to say, they blew me away. I had no idea this business was this
valuable," Hobson said Friday on "CBS This Morning."nnMatch Group, with its 4 million paid
subscribers, is worth about $5 billion.nn"They're going to make $900 million in revenues this year.
Approximately just shy of $300 million will be profit," she said.nnAccording to Hobson, dating sites
in the U.S. are expected to bring in $1.17 billion in 2015. Dating apps alone could bring in $628.8
million. That's an increase from $1.08 billion and $572 million, respectively.nnOne reason the
http://www.agame.com/games/dating company is planning to go public now, Hobson said, is because
"the market http://www.zimbio.com/dating is red hot."nn"We're at all-time high," she
said.nnThe pool of online dating users is also continuing to grow.nnThe Pew Research Center
found that 1 in 5 adults between 25 and 34 years old has used online dating and it's hugely popular
with older online dating singles too. A dater aged 45 to 54 is just as likely to date online as someone
aged 18 to 34.nnOne of their hottest brands is Tinder, an app popular with younger users that
Hobson said is "growing by leaps and bounds."nn"Tinder supposedly, the company will not
confirm this, has 50 million monthly users but only 300,000 monthly subscriber," Hobson
said.nnFollowing the IPO, Hobson expects Match Group to focus heavily on Tinder and other
mobile apps.nnBut Match Group isn't alone. Hobson said there are 500 different dating apps
available on the Apple App store.nn"I think the competition will continue to heat up," Hobson
said. "You'll probably see competitors also think about going public."nn nn h 2015 CBS
Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. n n