Mobile ad company AppLovin is in talks with an unnamed Chinese buyer about a possible buyout worth around $1.5 billion, reported TechCrunch.

The US-based start-up, which operates a personalised advertising platform, was founded in 2012 by CEO Adam Foroughi (pictured), along with two co-founders, and generated $234 million revenue last year.

TechCrunch said it had not identified the acquirer, but the move could see a Chinese company expand into both the US and Europe.

There has also been some notable activity in ad tech in China in particular over the past year. Cheetah Mobile acquired ad company MobPartner in March last year, while a group of Chinese internet companies tried to buy Opera, including its ad platform, before settling on buying its browser business alone.

Foroughi spoke to Mobile World Live at the end of last year as the company launched its first advertising SDK for Apple’s tvOS platform, which was designed to give publishers and advertisers a “new way to monetise and grow their business in the new app ecosystem”.

TechCrunch added that AppLovin is projecting $500 million in ad spend on the platform this year.

The publication did not reveal a source, and said details of the deal may change.