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US private equity firm Thoma Bravo has agreed to take UK cyber security company Darktrace private in a transaction valuing the company at $5bn.
The offer, which values the shares at $7.75 or 620p each, represents a 20 per cent premium on Thursday’s closing share price. The announcement sent Darktrace’s shares up 19 per cent in early trading in London.
The offer comes less than two years after the technology investor previously held talks about buying the company but ultimately decided against bidding.
Darktrace floated in April 2021 at 250p per share.
If a deal goes through, it would mark the latest high-profile take-private of a UK-listed company by an overseas private equity group.
Last year, a number of UK companies including veterinary pharmaceuticals company Dechra and the restaurant group behind Japanese chain Wagamama were acquired by buyout firms.
This is a developing story
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