Update: Authorities are still unable to access the interior of the sunken yacht, and the whereabouts of Mike Lynch remain unknown. Several notable details have emerged in the aftermath of the incident.
The tragic accident seems to have been triggered by a severe storm and a subsequent tornado-like water column that engulfed and caused damage to the yacht. Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer are among the six individuals who are still missing. The voyage was meant to celebrate Lynch’s acquittal of criminal charges in the U.S., and several members of his legal team were also on board. (The yacht was registered under Lynch’s wife’s name, who is one of the survivors.) In a cruel twist of fate, the only other person acquitted in Lynch’s trial, Autonomy’s finance head Stephen Chamberlain, had tragically passed away the week prior after being struck by a car while on a jog. Original article continues below.
Renowned investor and founder of U.K. tech firm Autonomy, Mike Lynch, has been reported missing at sea following the capsizing of the Bayesian yacht during a storm off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning.
A reliable source close to the rescue operation confirmed to TechCrunch that Lynch is among the six missing individuals from the vessel. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, is one of the 15 survivors. Tragically, one body has been recovered.
This news marks a shocking and sorrowful turn of events for one of the most prominent and sometimes controversial figures in the U.K. technology scene.
Autonomy, Lynch’s enterprise technology company, was acquired by HP for $11 billion in 2011, heralding a significant milestone for U.K. technology. However, the deal soured quickly, leading HP to sue Lynch and other company executives, alleging deception during the transaction.
The legal battle spanned over a decade, involving various complex episodes including Lynch’s extradition to the U.S. and substantial negative publicity surrounding Lynch himself. It culminated in a second civil case in the U.K. in 2022, in which Lynch was found to be at fault.
After facing a criminal trial in San Francisco earlier this year on 15 counts of fraud and conspiracy, Lynch was finally acquitted in June, bringing an end to years of legal turmoil.
During this time, Lynch established a prominent presence in the U.K. investment landscape, notably through his founding of Invoke Capital. The venture capital firm played a major role in supporting cybersecurity company Darktrace, though not without its own controversies. It also backed companies like Sophia Genetics, Featurespace, and Luminance, indicating Lynch’s planned trajectory in the industry.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Lynch’s loved ones and associates. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
