Bumble Agrees to a $1.3 Billion Take-Private Deal

Keypoints:

• Ithaca Holdings will acquire Bumble for $6.05 per share in cash, valuing it at $1.3 billion
• The price is a 138% premium to the 9 October closing price
• Bumble shares jumped about 56% on 13 October
• Blackstone affiliates and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd already provided the required shareholder approval
• Bumble was valued at about $14 billion when it went public in 2021

Bumble announced on 13 October that it will be taken private by Ithaca Holdings. Shareholders receive $6.05 per share in cash. That is a 138% premium to the 9 October close and 119% above the 30-day average price. Shares rose about 56% on the news. Rival Match Group moved up only 1% to 2%.

The fall in value tells the story. Bumble was worth about $14 billion at its 2021 debut. Its market capitalization had shrunk to about $582 million at Monday's close. Reuters first reported the company was exploring a sale on 25 June, and the offer is 122.4% above the 24 June close.

The business has struggled with shifting Gen Z dating habits and declining paying users. Wolfe Herd returned as chief executive in March 2025 after stepping down in 2023. She pushed a turnaround built on AI-powered features, group dating and a redesigned member experience. She also rolled back the women-first matching feature this year to improve retention.

Approval was quick. The board voted unanimously, with Wolfe Herd recused from deliberations and the vote. Blackstone affiliates and Wolfe Herd then approved the deal by written consent. That removes the usual suspense over a shareholder vote. The outcome now rests mainly on closing conditions.

Ithaca is a technology holding company led by co-founders Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman. They will become Bumble's co-chief executives after closing. Wolfe Herd will stay actively involved. Bumble will remain based in Austin, with large offices in London and New York.