Gilt Groupe Valued At $1 Billion

* Values the company at $1 billion- source

* Softbank funded $62.5 mil, starts JV for Japan

* Goldman Sachs, DFJ, among new investors

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Gilt Groupe Inc, the online shopping website known for its flash deals, raised $138 million in new funding giving it a valuation of over $1 billion, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.

The company it plans to use the new money for acquisitions, new product launches, and the acceleration of growth in its existing categories.

Softbank Group invested $62.5 million. In addition, Softbank is funding a 50-50 joint venture for Gilt Groupe Japan for an undisclosed sum.

Other investors in this round provided $75.5 million for Gilt's U.S. operations, including General Atlantic and Matrix Partners, which provided prior funding. Goldman Sachs, New Enterprise Associates, Draper Fisher Jurvetson Growth, Pinnacle Ventures, TriplePoint Capital and Eastward Capital, represent new investors.

Founded in November 2007, Gilt Groupe has secured over $240 million in total financing.

Gilt Groupe has about 3.5 million members and 1 million monthly shoppers.

(Reporting by Jennifer Saba; Editing by Derek Caney)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[DrucillaBee]

01:23 PM on 05/11/2011

Say what!?? Now that's WINNING! lol

[frank day]

10:32 AM on 05/10/2011

Looks like an all new round of tech bubbles.

[Red45]

07:55 PM on 05/10/2011

You're right. kind of spooky.

[planetjeffy]

12:58 AM on 05/11/2011

not really
I've been shopping on Gilt for 2 years. They developed and lead a unique niche - heavily discounted designer goods and they always sell out.

The late 90's - 2000's tech bubble was a bet on a dream - these are real cash generating companies.