Vista Equity Partners and Blackstone are nearing a deal to acquire Smartsheet, a collaboration-software maker, for approximately $56 per share or nearly $8 billion. The buyout firms are in advanced negotiations to finalize the acquisition, according to sources familiar with the matter. The transaction would value Smartsheet at close to $8 billion, reflecting the companies' confidence in the growth potential of the collaboration software industry. The ticker symbol for Smartsheet is $SMAR.