TaskUs will become a private company after its co-founders and a Blackstone affiliate purchase the outstanding shares

TaskUs, Inc. (NASDAQ: TASK), a global provider of outsourced digital services and customer experience support, announced Monday that it will be taken private in an all-cash transaction led by its co-founders and an affiliate of private equity giant Blackstone. The deal, valued at approximately $2 billion, will mark the end of TaskUs’s nearly four-year run as a public company.

Under the terms of the agreement, TaskUs co-founders Bryce Maddock (CEO) and Jaspar Weir (President), together with Blackstone’s Core Private Equity Group — which already holds a controlling interest — will acquire all outstanding publicly traded shares at $15.75 per share. That price represents a 27% premium over the company’s 30-day volume-weighted average as of Friday.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, including approval by a majority of TaskUs shareholders not affiliated with Blackstone or the management team.

TaskUs, founded in 2008, went public in June 2021 during the height of investor enthusiasm for tech-enabled outsourcing firms. Initially valued at nearly $3 billion, the company saw its shares climb as high as $33 before declining amid broader tech-sector volatility and cost-cutting across digital-first businesses.

The move to go private, according to executives, will provide TaskUs with greater flexibility to execute its long-term strategy without the short-term pressure of quarterly earnings expectations.

“Taking TaskUs private will allow us to reinvest in our people, technology, and global operations with a focus on long-term innovation,” said Maddock in a press release. “We believe this transaction is the best path forward for all stakeholders — our employees, clients, and investors.”

Blackstone, which first invested in TaskUs in 2018, will increase its ownership through this buyout via its Core Private Equity platform, which focuses on long-duration investments in market-leading businesses. TaskUs was among the first digital outsourcing companies in Blackstone’s portfolio and is seen as a strategic fit within its growing services and technology verticals.

“TaskUs operates at the intersection of AI-enabled services and digital transformation,” said Sachin Bavishi, Managing Director at Blackstone. “We remain confident in the long-term trajectory of the company and are excited to deepen our partnership.”

Industry analysts say the transaction reflects a broader trend of private equity firms doubling down on tech-adjacent assets amid rising interest in AI, automation, and scalable offshore labor models.

TaskUs has built a reputation for supporting high-growth technology companies with digital customer experience, content moderation, and back-office support, with key delivery centers in the Philippines, India, and Latin America.

The company reported $920 million in revenue in 2024, up 7% year-over-year, though margins have come under pressure due to wage inflation and client budget reductions. Adjusted EBITDA stood at $165 million last year, reflecting a 17.9% margin.

Shares of TaskUs jumped more than 25% in premarket trading Monday on news of the deal, bringing its year-to-date gains to 32%.

As part of the transaction, TaskUs’s board formed a special committee of independent directors to evaluate the offer. The committee unanimously approved the transaction, with legal advisers provided by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and financial guidance from Centerview Partners.

The Future: AI + Human Support

Analysts expect the company to continue investing in automation-enhanced customer support, a fast-growing niche where artificial intelligence augments human workers rather than replacing them.

“TaskUs has proven it can help some of the most innovative companies scale with quality support,” said Rana Ghosh, an enterprise services analyst at Raymond James. “As AI transforms the customer experience landscape, the ability to combine human empathy with intelligent automation will be critical — and TaskUs is well-positioned in that space.”

Though the company has faced criticism in the past related to content moderation practices and employee wellness in high-pressure environments, it has also been praised for its investments in mental health resources and global training initiatives.

Deal Highlights:

• Buyer: TaskUs co-founders Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir, alongside Blackstone Core Equity
• Valuation: ~$2 billion
• Price Per Share: $15.75 (27% premium to 30-day average)
• Transaction Type: All-cash
• Expected Close: H2 2025
• Legal Advisors: Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (to special committee), Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (to Blackstone)
• Financial Advisors: Centerview Partners (to special committee), Morgan Stanley (to Blackstone)