The acquisition of the Irish Internet Show by US giant Mecklermedia will bring a number of large US companies to Ireland to feature in this year's show. Active Data, owned by brothers Eugene and Sean Barry Bortolozzo sold a 51 per cent stake in its subsidiary company to Mecklermedia for an undisclosed sum of about $1 million (£719,000). Mecklermedia is a publicly quoted US Internet publisher and exhibition organiser with a market value of about $300 million. It has 30 Internet World trade shows in 25 countries, and will re-brand the exhibition as Internet World Ireland. Under the agreement, Mr Eugene Bortolozzo will continue to run the Irish operation. New technology and equipment has already been purchased in preparation for Internet World Ireland which takes place in Dublin from October 17th to 22nd.

Mecklermedia retains an option to buy the remaining 49 per cent of the company.