Private carrier Flexjet valued at $4 billion in latest funding round, Financial Times reports

July 21 (Reuters) - U.S. private jet operator Flexjet raised $800 million in a funding round led by LVMH-backed LVMH.PA private equity firm L Catterton, valuing the company at about $4 billion, Financial Times reported on Monday.

The funding comes as Flexjet looks to expand its fleet to meet rising demand from technology and cryptocurrency entrepreneurs, the report said.

"We have a tremendous amount of different types of entrepreneurs this year. . . in the tech space but also Bitcoin, they become so speculative and so there is rapid wealth in that industry," Flexjet Chair Kenn Ricci told the newspaper.

Flexjet did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Earlier in February, Brazilian planemaker Embraer EMBR3.SA signed a purchase deal worth up to $7 billion with Flexjet for a fleet of Phenom and Praetor executive jets, including firm orders for 182 aircraft and options for another 30.

Analysts at JPMorgan expect the deal to increase Embraer's total backlog by about 26% to $28.7 billion, forecasting deliveries over the next five years, as Flexjet plans to double its fleet during the period.