PopCap listing could be as early as November

PopCap CEO David Roberts has told press that the company is in the process of preparing its initial public offering, and could be publicly listed as early as this November.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Roberts said that the company has no plans to change the direction of its software development, and will be sticking to the relatively simplistic casual games which have served it so well.

"We are very much in the process of preparing a listing. We expect to be ready to be listed as early as November this year," Roberts told press. "Whether we go, will depend on the market...we don't want to rush into it."

The announcement, which moves the previous estimation of a listing date forward by some distance, came at the same time as the company revealed a strategic partnership with Chinese company Renren, which operates a Chinese social networking site. Renren will carry PopCap's games to China's 477 million internet users.

Also looking at an imminent IPO are Zynga and business network LinkedIn, reports Reuters, with LinkedIn raising its expectations of funds to be raised by thirty per cent.