India-based travel agent MakeMyTrip has acquired a 19.9% stake in India-based travel aggregator Ixigo.com as part of an $18.5m private equity deal.
MakeMyTrip was joined in the deal by Saif Partners, which has acquired a 56.7% stake in Ixigo.com. The money invested will be used as a capital injection into the company and to purchase shares from existing undisclosed shareholders.
Deep Kalra, executive chairman of MakeMyTrip, said: "There are synergies in the two business models and both the consumers and the travel industry in India have a lot to benefit from this partnership."
The company was founded in June 2007 and raised seed investment from BAF Spectrum, Singapore, in 2008.