In this photo illustration a DarkTrace logo is displayed on a smartphone with stock market percentages in the background.
Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images
LONDON — British cybersecurity firm Darktrace on Friday announced it had agreed a sale to U.S. private equity giant Thoma Bravo, for an all-cash offer of $5.315 million.
Darktrace shares were 17.% higher at 10:26 a.m. London time.
Investors are set to receive $7.75 in cash for each share held, under the terms recommended by the board.
The move will be seen as a major blow to the London Stock Exchange, where it listed in 2021. The company was seen as a welcome dynamic addition to a market often characterized as less appealing to technology firms than those in the U.S. or Asia, and stacked with “old economy” players, such as miners and oil and gas companies.
Darktrace specifically referenced its belief that it is undervalued in the U.K. as a reason for the sale. In a statement, it said its board believes the firm’s operational and financial “achievements” are not reflected in its valuation and that shares are trading “at a significant discount to its global peer group.”
Darktrace specializes in artificial intelligence-based cybersecurity for large companies and events. It has roughly 2,300 employees based worldwide.
Thoma Bravo said the company would increase its exposure to the large and growing cybersecurity market, and that this investment would help scale the business globally.
The deal represents a 44.3% premium to the average volume-weighted Darktrace share price in the three months to April 25, according to the release.