Eventbrite to be Acquired by Tech Conglomerate Bending Spoons for $500 Million

Eventbrite, a major ticketing and event service, has confirmed it will be acquired by Bending Spoons, a diversified technology conglomerate based in Italy. Bending Spoons will make the purchase with $500 million in cash, which will disperse $4.50 for every share of Eventbrite stock to their respective owners.

The deal:

• The deal is currently in a phase called “definitive agreement.”

• The agreement is still subject to regulatory approvals and approvals by Eventbrite’s stockholders.

• Other Bending Spoons acquisitions include AOL, Vimeo, WeTransfer, and Meetup.

• The value of $4.50 per share is 82% of Eventbrite’s weighted average share price over the 60-day period ending December 1 market close.

• Eventbrite’s board of directors unanimously approved the sale.

• Eventbrite will be converted to a privately held company once the sale is complete.

• Bending Spoons has never sold an acquired business.

What they said:

• Luca Ferrari, Bending Spoons CEO and Co-Founder: “For two decades, Eventbrite has stood at the forefront of the experience economy, helping tens of millions to create, discover, and attend unforgettable events. Joining forces with Bending Spoons will accelerate innovation and strengthen Eventbrite’s tools and resources to bring even more people together through shared live experiences for many years to come. As longstanding fans, we’ve identified a few opportunities that we’re excited about exploring with the Eventbrite team after closing the transaction. These include building a dedicated messaging feature, introducing AI for easier event creation, improving searchability, and creating a system for the secondary ticket market.”

• Julia Hartz, Eventbrite Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Chair: “Eventbrite helped unlock something profoundly human: the need to gather, to connect, and to build community around the passions we share. What began as an unmet need - to empower local creators and community leaders to bring people together - has grown into a global movement that has shaped millions of meaningful experiences and helped event-goers find their people in moments that matter most. There has never been a more important time to bring the world together in real life. As we look ahead, I’m energized by the speed, resources, and innovative power of Bending Spoons to propel Eventbrite into its next chapter."