:Software company Zendesk Inc, which has a market value of over $7 billion, is close to a deal with a group of buyout firms that includes Hellman & Friedman LLC and Permira, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. A deal could be struck in the coming days, they said. Zendesk's shares rose 41.5 per cent to $81.98 after the bell. The San Francisco-based firm, which has been under pressure from activist investor Jana Partners, said earlier this month it would continue as an independent public company after completing a review of its business.