Tragic news has emerged from Sicily, Italy. Reports confirm that Mike Lynch, the esteemed U.K. investor and founder of IT company Autonomy, is among the two bodies recovered from the sinking yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily early Monday. The other body identified is Lynch’s daughter, Hannah.
The devastating incident unfolded early Monday when the yacht, owned by Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, succumbed to a tornado-like water column. Bacares was among the fortunate 15 survivors, while the bodies of Lynch and his daughter have been found. The search is still on for four missing individuals, including the international chairman of Morgan Stanley and his wife.
The ill-fated voyage of the Bayesian was intended to mark Lynch’s acquittal in a U.S. fraud trial earlier this year. The trial, which also involved Stephen Chamberlain, tragically concluded with Chamberlain’s passing after a car accident last Saturday.
Lynch, renowned as the “Bill Gates of U.K. tech,” led Autonomy to a landmark acquisition by HP in 2011. However, the ensuing legal battle between HP, Lynch, and Chamberlain over alleged financial misrepresentation marred the success of the deal.
After a protracted legal battle and Lynch’s extradition to the U.S., he and Chamberlain finally secured an acquittal earlier this year. Lynch then established himself as a prominent investor, notably through Invoke Capital and investments in cybersecurity firms like Darktrace.
In his post-acquittal statement, Lynch expressed gratitude for the verdict and his eagerness to return to his family and innovation in the tech industry. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Lynch’s and Chamberlain’s loved ones, and we await further updates on this tragic event.
