BYJU'S likely to raise over $500M at $23B valuation
BYJU'S is reportedly in talks with Abu Dhabi's Sovereign Wealth Fund and Qatar Investment Authority to raise $500 million to fuel its US expansion plans.
Edtech major is likely to raise over $500 million (about Rs 3,900 crore) at a valuation of around $23 billion in about a week, sources privy to the development said.
The company is planning to use the funding for acquisition in the US, they added.
The company is in discussion with Abu Dhabi's Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) and Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) for raising in the range of $400-500 million and $250-350 million, respectively, according to the sources.
"BYJU'S is in an advanced stage of discussion with some investors. The company is likely to raise over $500 million in about a week. The transaction is expected to be closed at a valuation of around $23 billion," one of the sources told PTI, who did not wish to be named.
BYJU'S declined to comment on the development.
According to the source, the funding is part of the company's plan to use the fund for inorganic expansion, especially in the US. BYJU'S has already acquired US-based reading platform Epic for $500 million and coding site Tynker for $200 million.
Its other overseas acquisitions include Singapore-based Great Learning for around $200 million and Austria's mathematics operator GeoGebdra for approximately $100 million.
BYJU'S is learnt to be in active discussion with US-based edtech firm 2U, which runs platforms—like edX—that offer online courses created by Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Boston University, etc.
The edtech firm was also mulling acquiring Chegg. However, according to a company insider, there is no active discussion going on with Chegg.
The fresh fundraise for BYJU'S comes at a time when the company is yet to get $250 million committed by Sumeru Ventures and Oxshott as part of the $800 million round of funding announced in March at a valuation of $22 billion.
The sources said the company has maintained growth momentum and the inorganic expansion, specially Aakash and Great Learning have been fueling its consolidated business.
"BYJU'S Great Learning has achieved over 200% growth in international learner base in 2021. Great Learning has crossed the revenue run rate of $100 million in the financial year (FY) 2021. The company concluded FY20 with booked revenue of Rs 325 crores, which is a growth of close to 150% from FY19. The company's user base has also grown ten-fold in FY21," they added.
BYJU'S, which has a presence in 120 countries, claims to have 7.5 million paid users on its platform and maintains an average retention or renewal rate of 86% annually.