Airbnb confirms massive $1.5bn funding round in SEC filing
Airbnb made its $1.5bn funding round official in an SEC document yesterday. The Wall Street Journal first reported news of the equity offering back in June, writing that it set the company’s value at more than $25bn. The round makes Airbnb the third-most valuable privately held tech company in the world, after Uber (worth $62.5bn) and the Chinese phone maker Xiaomi (valued at around $45bn). Airbnb’s lead investors in this round were reportedly General Atlantic, Hillhouse Capital Group and Tiger Global Management, which together composed a third of the Airbnb shares sold. The funds are said to be earmarked for continuing growth in emerging markets around the world, especially China.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. Fortune Global Forum

Home-rental site Airbnb filed a Form D with the SEC on Monday, confirming that the startup closed a$1.5 billion round in July.

The new round reportedly raises the startup's valuation to $25.5 billion.

The news was first reported in June by The Wall Street Journal.

General Atlantic Inc., Chinese firm Hillhouse Capital Group and Tiger Global Management lead the round, according to the Journal. Also involved in the round are public funds like Wellington Management and Baillie Gifford, which invest in private companies ahead of IPOs.

An investor slide deck viewed by The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler said the company had bookings of $2.2 billion, double the level one year ago. The company also generated $340 million in revenue in the third quarter, according to the Journal.

The home rental company last raised money in April 2014 at a $10 billion valuation. This round makes it the third-highest valued startup out there, after Uber and Xiaomi.