Germany-based insurer Allianz and US-based bank Jefferies have helped France-based social network Viadeo raise $32m.
The series D round was also backed by French Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Fonds Strategique d’Investissement and venture firm Idinvest and Ventech as well as private funds from the Middle East.
Jefferies acted as exclusive financial advisor to Viadeo, while US-based law firm Paul Hastings advised Viadeo and De Gaulle Fleurance advised the FSI.
Viadeo has more than 45 million member and is growing at 1 million members a month, Viadeo said. It hit profitability in September 2009. The company’s China-based social network Tianji is growing at half a million new users per month with 10 million members in China.
In 2009 the company was backed with €5m ($6.6m) by AGF, part of Allianz, and the Mulliez family, which founded Groupe Auchan, according to news provider TechCrunch. TechCrunch said that round took the total money it had raised since 2006 to $23m.