# San Vicente Acquisition > Source: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/companies/san-vicente-acquisition | Publisher: Dating Industry Insights (High Intent Media Inc) | Last checked: 2026-11-06 **In short:** San Vicente Acquisition LLC is the US investor group and acquisition vehicle that bought Grindr from China's Beijing Kunlun Tech in June 2020 for about $608 million, after a US national security review. Backed by Raymond Zage and James Lu, it led to Grindr's 2022 listing and today's controlling shareholder group. ## Key facts - Type: Investment vehicle / acquirer - Headquarters: United States - Founded: 2020 - Status: Acquisition vehicle used for the 2020 purchase of Grindr; its holdings are linked to Grindr's controlling shareholders - Role: Acquirer of Grindr from Beijing Kunlun Tech; agreed to buy a 98.59% stake for about $608.5 million (2020-03-06) [source](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/06/grindrs-chinese-owner-says-to-sell-social-media-app-for-608-million.html) - Regulatory context: US national security panel (CFIUS) approved the sale to San Vicente Acquisition LLC; Reuters gave the value as $620 million (2020-05-29) [source](https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/chinas-kunlun-says-u-approves-173309173.html) - Deal completion: Acquisition of about 98.6% of Grindr's predecessor completed on 10 June 2020, through SV Acquisition LLC, an entity of San Vicente Holdings LLC (2020-06-10) [source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1820144/000114036122045395/ny20005860x3_s1.htm) - Founders / backers: Set up by Raymond Zage, James Lu and J. Michael Gearon Jr.; Zage's Tiga Investments owned 54% of the joint venture (2025-10-14) [source](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanburgos/2025/10/14/grindrs-billionaire-shareholder-explores-taking-dating-app-private-in-3-billion-deal/) - Location: Described as US-based (2025-10-13) [source](https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/10/13/grindr-stock-surges-10-as-company-reportedly-may-go-private/) - Later history: Grindr merged with Tiga Acquisition in a deal valued at $2.1 billion and listed on the NYSE in November 2022 (2022-11) [source](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanburgos/2025/10/14/grindrs-billionaire-shareholder-explores-taking-dating-app-private-in-3-billion-deal/) - Go-private interest: Grindr confirmed its board received a letter from shareholders Ray Zage and James Lu about taking the company private; a special committee was formed (2025-10-14) [source](https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L3N3VV1P8:0-dating-app-grindr-confirms-receiving-go-private-interest-from-shareholders/) ## About San Vicente Acquisition LLC is the investor group and acquisition vehicle that bought Grindr, the LGBTQ dating app, in 2020. In March 2020 Beijing Kunlun Tech said it had agreed to sell its 98.59% stake in Grindr to the company, for about $608.5 million. The sale followed a US government panel, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, setting a June 2020 deadline for Kunlun to sell. The deal closed on 10 June 2020, according to Grindr's SEC filings, which describe the buyer as San Vicente Holdings LLC acting through SV Acquisition LLC. Forbes reports that Raymond Zage, James Lu and J. Michael Gearon Jr. set up San Vicente Acquisition to buy Grindr, with Zage's firm Tiga Investments owning 54% of the joint venture. Reuters said at the time that Kunlun had not named the investors behind it. Forbes describes it as US-based. The partners later merged Grindr with Zage's blank cheque company Tiga Acquisition in a deal valued at $2.1 billion, and Grindr listed on the New York Stock Exchange in November 2022. The vehicle matters to the dating industry because it moved one of the largest LGBTQ dating apps from Chinese to US ownership, and its backers still hold a majority of Grindr. In October 2025 Zage and Lu told Grindr's board they were interested in taking the company private, and the board formed a special committee to consider any firm proposal. Reports differ on the lender involved in the share seizures that preceded it, so this profile does not name one. ## Questions **What is San Vicente Acquisition LLC?** It is the investor group and acquisition vehicle that bought Grindr from Beijing Kunlun Tech in June 2020. **How much did it pay for Grindr?** CNBC reported about $608.5 million for Kunlun's 98.59% stake. Reuters gave $620 million when the US review was cleared. **Who is behind San Vicente Acquisition?** Forbes reports it was set up by Raymond Zage, James Lu and J. Michael Gearon Jr. Kunlun did not name the investors at the time of the sale. **Why did Kunlun sell Grindr?** The US Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States set a June 2020 deadline for the sale, according to CNBC. **What does San Vicente Acquisition do?** San Vicente Acquisition LLC is the US investor group and acquisition vehicle that bought Grindr from China's Beijing Kunlun Tech in June 2020 for about $608 million, after a US national security review. Backed by Raymond Zage and James Lu, it led to Grindr's 2022 listing and today's controlling shareholder group. **Where is San Vicente Acquisition based?** San Vicente Acquisition is based in United States. **When was San Vicente Acquisition founded?** San Vicente Acquisition was founded in 2020. --- Canonical: https://www.datingindustryinsights.com/companies/san-vicente-acquisition