Airbnb raises $1 billion in new financing

[nitpicker]

http://www.dw.com/en/airbnb-raises-1-billion-in-new-financing/a-37879157

10.03.2017
Airbnb raises $1 billion in new financing

The home-sharing site says two rounds of fresh funding over the last six months will give it "operational flexibility." The peer-to-peer start-up is now valued at $31 billion (29 billion euros). Airbnb Inc said it has added $447 million (421 million euros) to the $555 million it took in funding in September last year, according to a filing with the US Security and Exchange Commission. The $1 billion in new investment helps value the online room renter at $31 billion.

Airbnb, which operates in more than 65,000 cities, has enjoyed tremendous growth as it pushes ahead with its plans of global expansion. The home-sharing site became profitable in the second half of last year before accounting for interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, according to a company source.

The source told the Agence France-Presse news agency the new funding will give the start-up "operational flexibility." The source added said Airbnb has no plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) "any time soon."

One of the most prominent members of the so-called "sharing economy," Airbnb has raised more than $3 billion since being founded in 2008. But it's yet to reach even half the market value of the ridesharing giant Uber, which is estimated to be worth $68 billion.
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