New York—Chinese language conglomerate Fosun Worldwide Ltd. is contemplating promoting its stake within the Worldwide Gemological Institute. 

Bloomberg first reported the information final Thursday and IGI CEO Roland Lorie confirmed the report back to Nationwide Jeweler by way of electronic mail on Friday, stating that information of the potential sale is proof of the lab’s energy. 

“IGI’s main purpose is to offer correct info and schooling to the general public and we’re completely happy to see many potential traders are sharing this view,” Lorie wrote. 

 “After a number of fruitful years of development and excellence alongside the diamond business, the shareholders consider IGI is to enter a brand new development part and are at present reviewing candidate traders to additional develop the corporate imaginative and prescient.” 

He added IGI “is and stays” an “impartial experience firm” headed by himself and the lab’s managers worldwide. 

Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg mentioned the deal valued the Antwerp-based grading lab at about 200 million Euros ($215 million). 

Its potential sale is a part of a broader effort by Fosun to strengthen its stability sheet by offloading as a lot as $11 billion in property within the coming 12 months, the media outlet reported. 

The Lorie household, which based the lab, retained the remaining 20 %, with Roland staying on as CEO. Brauner and his eldest son, Youry Brauner, resigned on the time of the acquisition. 

Fosun is working with Deutsche Financial institution AG on the potential sale of the lab, in keeping with Bloomberg.

Information of the potential sale of IGI comes on the heels of two different main developments regarding the business’s grading labs.