Thrive Holdings agrees to buy ADT for $15.3 billion and take the security firm private
Thrive Holdings agreed on 29 October 2026 to buy ADT for $10 a share in cash, about $7.6 billion in equity and $15.3 billion including debt, and take it private.
By Berkant A.Published
Tech AI LatestThrive Holdings, the holding company TechCrunch describes as backed by OpenAI, agreed on 29 October 2026 to acquire ADT for $10.00 per share in cash. The deal values the US security company at about $7.6 billion in equity and $15.3 billion in enterprise value, a 45.6% premium. Apollo-managed funds provide the financing. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2027, after which ADT leaves the NYSE.
Key facts
- Announced: 29 October 2026 (ADT press release, filed with the SEC as Exhibit 99.1 to a Form 8-K)
- Price: $10.00 per share in cash, a 45.6% premium to the $6.87 unaffected close on 27 October 2026
- Value: about $7.6 billion equity value and $15.3 billion enterprise value
- Financing: funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management; no financing condition
- Timing: expected close in Q1 2027, subject to stockholder and US antitrust approval; 30-day go-shop to 28 November 2026
- Specific AI products planned for ADT: not stated in the announcement
What ADT and Thrive Holdings announced
ADT and Thrive Holdings announced on 29 October 2026 a definitive agreement under which Thrive Holdings will buy ADT in an all-cash deal. ADT stockholders get $10.00 per share, which the companies say is a 45.6% premium to the unaffected close of $6.87 on 27 October and 52.1% above the 30-day volume-weighted average. The deal values ADT at about $7.6 billion in equity and $15.3 billion including debt. ADT's board approved it unanimously.
Financing commitments come solely from funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, and the deal has no financing condition. ADT expects to close in the first quarter of 2027, subject to stockholder approval and US antitrust clearance. Until 11:59 p.m. New York time on 28 November 2026, ADT may solicit rival offers in a go-shop period, with a possible 10-day extension for some bidders.
Where AI comes in
The release describes Thrive Holdings as a permanent capital holding company that owns more than 75 businesses in accounting, IT services and the built environment, and whose engineers build technology products inside them. It says those engineering teams will work with ADT staff to find where technology can improve its products and help teams serve customers, and that ADT will become the base of a Thrive smart home security business.
The release does not mention OpenAI or name any AI product. TechCrunch reports that OpenAI is a partner of and investor in Thrive Holdings and supplies models and forward-deployed engineers to its companies. Thrive partner Kareem Zaki says the goal is to help ADT's teams serve customers better and give more actionable information for the professionals who respond to alarms.
Why it matters
Most AI deals covered in AI Business buy software startups. This one buys a company with more than 12,000 employees and a national field service network, on the bet that adding engineering talent to an established business pays more than building a new one. Because home security runs on customer data, Thrive promises that ADT's privacy policies stay unchanged and that no new data sharing happens without customer permission.
What to watch next
Watch whether the go-shop produces a higher bid before 28 November, the stockholder vote and the antitrust review. ADT reports third-quarter results on 3 November 2026 and will not take questions on the call. The first concrete AI features, and whether OpenAI models are used in them, are not stated in the announcement.
What changed
| Before | ADT was an independent NYSE-listed security company trading at $6.87 on 27 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| After | ADT has agreed to be bought by Thrive Holdings for $10.00 a share and to go private after a Q1 2027 close |
| Who it affects | ADT stockholders, employees and residential and small business customers in the US |
Questions people ask
- How much is Thrive Holdings paying for ADT?
- $10.00 per share in cash, about $7.6 billion in equity value and $15.3 billion in enterprise value, according to ADT's 29 October 2026 release.
- Is OpenAI buying ADT?
- No. The buyer is Thrive Holdings. TechCrunch reports OpenAI is a partner of and investor in Thrive Holdings, but the ADT release does not mention OpenAI.
- When does the ADT deal close?
- ADT expects the first quarter of 2027, subject to stockholder approval and US antitrust clearance. ADT stock will then stop trading on the NYSE.
Sources
- ADT to be Acquired by Thrive Holdings in $15.3 Billion Transaction (Exhibit 99.1, Form 8-K) (ADT Inc. via SEC EDGAR, 29 Oct 2026)
- ADT to be Acquired by Thrive Holdings in $15.3 Billion Transaction (ADT Investor Relations, 29 Oct 2026)
- OpenAI-backed Thrive Holdings acquires ADT (TechCrunch, 29 Oct 2026)
Reference pages
- Thrive Holdings company
- ADT company
- OpenAI company
Spotted an error? See the corrections policy and tell the editor. Facts in this story come from the sources listed above; vendor claims are attributed.
Comments
Loading comments.
