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(Yicai Global) Oct. 17 -- Baidu Inc. [NASDAQ:BIDU] has responded to reports that it will shut down its research and development center in Fuzhou in Fujian province, saying that it will gradually move relevant activities to Beijing.
The Fuzhou facility will shut down on Oct. 28 and all employees will receive pink slips and get severance, reports indicated, citing an internal notice from the R&D center.
This marks the end of Netdragon Websoft Holdings Ltd.'s [HK:0777] 91 Wireless business, which Baidu acquired for USD1.9 billion four years ago, DoNews reported.
Baidu said that because of its business plan and operational needs, the company will relocate pertinent R&D operations from Fuzhou to Beijing and the group will provide jobs of same level in Beijing to those workers involved.
As the 91 team merged into Baidu, the internet giant established its Fuzhou R&D hub in 2013. Baidu then hived off 91 Assistant, 91 Wireless Games, 91 Desktop and other 91 Wireless services and sold them.
The relocation of Baidu's Fuzhou R&D center marks the end of 91 Wireless.