Publishing giant News Corp has announced it will sell its majority shareholding in digital real estate marketing business DIAKRIT.

The business will now be owned by its three founders, Fredrik Bergman (CEO), Dick Karlsson (managing director of residential) and Martin Fritze (chief technology officer) together with Pontus Lindholm (director of sales, Nordic).

The move returns DIAKRIT to its independent, entrepreneurial roots and comes after a number of years of private equity, venture capital and bank ownership.

News Corp Australia became a majority shareholder of DIAKRIT in February 2016. Since then, the marketing business has utilised News Corp’s strategic support in terms of market reach, digital assets and advertising expertise to further develop growth in new markets like Australia and New Zealand.

DIAKRIT creates a suite of visualisation tools and digital content including photography, high-end 3D visualisations, interactive furnish and decorating solutions, 360-degree VR tours, HD video and drone, all designed to cut sales time, reduce uncertainty and enhance the experience of buying, selling and renting real estate.

Headquartered in Bangkok, and with offices in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, DIAKRIT has over 500 employees and more than 2000 major real estate clients worldwide.

News Corp Australasia executive chairman Michael Miller said: “We are confident that DIAKRIT will continue to develop and deliver entrepreneurial real estate solutions under the leadership of the founders and the management team.”

Bergman said: “It was an honour to complete this transaction with News Corp Australia. DIAKRIT will continue to develop its world-class, industry first innovative technology solutions.

“As a fully independent company, we now have the flexibility to take our business to the next level and take advantage of the significant opportunities that lie ahead.