Google Ventures Buys A Stake In HomeAway

Friday, 29 October 2010 18:20

Google Ventures Buys A Stake In HomeAway

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Google Ventures has snapped up a stake in vacation rental marketplace, HomeAway for an undisclosed amount. The deal was an opportunity for investors to take money off the table.

According to HomeAway’s Director of PR, Eileen Buesing m, the startup— which has already raised $470 million in five years—

sold stock from current shareholders to Google Ventures.

Given Homeaway’s trajectory, Google may get its own cash out very soon.

As we previously reported, the company is potentially eying a 2011 IPO. After its last major round of funding (a $250 million round led by Technology Crossover Ventures in late 2008) the startup was valued at approximately $1.4 billion. That number is expected to be larger now, given the ongoing growth in revenues and its large portfolio of sites.

The company has made more than a dozen acquisitions under its belt with two recent additions in October alone— vacation rental software firms Escapia and Instant Software.