Exhilway Private Equity Estimates WhatsApp Valuation at US $11 Billion, Intends To Pick Stake

NEW YORK, November 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Exhilway Global (EG), the world's biggest emerging markets private equity (PE) fund has valued WhatsApp instant messaging service at US $11 billion, just few days after Twitter has seen its first trade on the bourses. Twitter which globally possesses more than 500 million active users is valued at little less than US $20 billion.

WhatsApp which is being seen as the king of instant messaging on the mobile phones serves over 350 million active users worldwide. According to the media reports, the company plans to monetize its vast user base by introducing games and other exciting features on its platform.

EG plans to launch a US $10 billion information technology fund which will invest in the companies who has garnered success in the market and is on the verge of becoming listed entities. EG which will launch its US $2 billion first hybrid emerging markets PE fund called Exhilway Global Opportunities (EGO) Fund next month focusing on US, Asia and Africa is bullish on the information technology companies as well.

The fund also plans to foray into the healthcare, pharma, infra and money market funds where both developed and developing economies will be an investment priority. The fund plans to raise close to US $100 billion under several innovative PE funds. Exhilway has also planned a new alternative trading platform called Exhilway Link for connecting emerging companies and investors and is bullish on US JOBS Act 2.0.

In a recent report, WhatsApp is seen building interest amongst youngsters who are ready to skip Facebook and Twitter to stay connected without shelling out much on data and privacy. Facebook which has some 1.1 billion users worldwide is currently valued at US $113 billion.

Line, another instant voice and messaging app is seen as the closest competitor to WhatsApp in the emerging markets like India. Line which is spending heavily on marketing has seen 48% growth in the user base.

"Exhilway plans to cautiously invest in the information technology companies. We have seen Warren Buffett warning of a bubble in Facebook, the crash too happened but investors are now again coming back. The interest of the investors is changing; the new entrants now have a different taste. Our idea is to create value," said Rahul Kumar, President, Exhilway Global.

SOURCE Exhilway Global