Squarespace could be about to go private as a looming Permira deal could see the acquisition of the website builder platform become better aligned to take on industry giants GoDaddy and Wix.
The British investment firm has agreed to increase its offer in a nod to its confidence in the company – the deal could be worth $7.2 billion.
Permira’s revised deal sees it offering $46.50 per share in cash to Squarespace stockholders, up from the $44 offered in May 2024, equating to a deal that would have been worth $6.9 billion.
Squarespace offered $0.3 billion in added valuation
Permira’s revised offer comes in response to advice taken by Squarespace investors not to accept the proposed deal. Proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services suggested the sale process would not offer the best value to shareholders in light of the company’s strong performance.
In its most recent quarter, Squarespace grew revenue by a staggering 20% to $296.8 million. Prior to that, quarterly growth stood at an equally strong 19%.
Michael Fleisher, Chairman of the Special Committee of the Squarespace Board of Directors, commented on the deal: "Our core focus has been maximizing value and certainty for the unaffiliated stockholders. This transaction is the result of a deliberate and thoughtful process and ultimately represents a great outcome that is in the best interest of Squarespace and all of its stockholders.”
Permira Partner David Erlong added: “This best and final offer allows Squarespace stockholders to capture immediate and certain value for their investment.”
By going private as part of the deal, Squarespace hopes to access more resources and flexibility to enhance its portfolio, which could help continue its positive growth trajectory.
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