MUNICH/LONDON (dpa-AFX) - The software investor Thoma Bravo wants to buy the investor relations service provider and software company EQS Group. Both parties have signed an agreement to this effect, as the companies announced on Thursday. The US investment company is offering EUR 40 in cash for each of the outstanding shares. This corresponds to a premium of 53 percent on the closing price on Wednesday (November 15). The offer implies a market capitalization of around EUR 400 million. The Management Board and Supervisory Board of EQS support the offer, as was also reported. The acquisition is expected to be completed in January or February 2024.

The news created a positive mood on the stock exchange, with EQS shares rising by more than half and trading at just under the offer price at midday.

Thoma Bravo has reportedly already secured around 60 percent of all outstanding EQS shares through irrevocable tender agreements with the main shareholders. These include EQS CEO Achim Weick. He will reinvest part of his stake in the new holding structure. The Americans also intend to subscribe to a cash capital increase of ten percent of EQS shares after the offer has been completed.

EQS is a provider of software and services in the field of compliance and investor relations management and, among other things, distributes mandatory announcements of listed companies. Its customers include the 40 DAX companies.

As a software investor, Thoma Bravo reportedly manages assets of around 130 billion US dollars (approx. 120 billion euros). The transaction is Thoma Bravo's first platform investment in Germany. The US-Americans are financing the transaction entirely with equity./lfi/tav/mis