Thoma Bravo, pension fund to pay $3.6 billion for computer equipment maker Riverbed Technology

Private equity firm Thoma Bravo and a Canadian teacher pension say they will pay about $3.6 billion to take Riverbed Technology private a couple months after the computer networking equipment maker promised a thorough review of its business.

The San Francisco company says its stockholders will receive $21 in cash for each share from Thoma Bravo and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. That represents a 12 percent premium to the stock's Friday closing price.

Riverbed Technology Inc. said in October that its board would review ways to enhance shareholder value, and it planned to cut costs by up to $25 million.

Riverbed shareholders and government regulators still need to approve the deal, which is expected to close in the first half of next year.

Its shares climbed 9 percent in morning trading Monday.