The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Softchoice has become the latest in a slew of TSX-listed tech companies to go private after agreeing to a $1.8-billion takeover by World Wide Technology Holding Co. LLC. The Globe's Pippa Norman writes that the St. Louis, Mo., acquisitor said Tuesday that it would pay $24.50 a share, a 14-per-cent premium to Softchoice's Monday closing price on the Toronto Stock Exchange, as part of an effort to expand its presence in Canada. With the deal, Softchoice, an IT services firm, is set to become the 11th of 20 tech companies to exit public markets after being listed on the TSX during the mid-2020 to late-2021 pandemic bubble. Unlike most other reprivatizations, Softchoice is going out above its issue price, with an increase of 22.5 per cent from the company's initial public offering of $20 a share. John Ruffolo at Maverix Private Equity, said there are two fundamental reasons driving the trend that Softchoice has just joined, the first being its exclusive listing on the TSX. "When you're just listed in Toronto, you don't get the clear pricing of what a company is worth because there's not enough liquidity on the Toronto Stock Exchange." A cheap loonie also helps.