Zendesk closes $10.2 billion deal with buyout firms

Zendesk has agreed to be acquired by a group of buyout firms for $10.2 billion, reviving a deal that would mark one of the largest private equity buyouts of the year.

The deal, with a group led by Hellman & Friedman LLC and Permira, values ​​the software company at $77.50 per share, Zendesk said Friday. While that’s a premium of about 34% to Thursday’s close, it’s a sharp drop from an offer of about $17 billion from a similar group of buyout firms that the company rejected in February.