A hedge fund that owns a big stake in
Tribune Publishing Co.
TPCO 0.31{a3b37e57a53f84d6443a5356ab02984f87900b4dee9193a01d6bf48d204ad87c}
is seeking to buy the newspaper chain behind titles including the Chicago Tribune and New York Daily News, according to people familiar with the matter.
Alden Global Capital LLC, which is already Tribune’s largest shareholder with a 32{a3b37e57a53f84d6443a5356ab02984f87900b4dee9193a01d6bf48d204ad87c} stake, could disclose an offer for the company as soon as Thursday, the people said. Details of the potential bid couldn’t be learned.
Tribune has a market value of roughly $470 million after a yearslong slide as the prospects for local newspapers dim. Its shares are little changed this year and closed Wednesday at $12.79.
A deal would have far-reaching implications for an industry beset by sharp declines in revenue over the past 20 years that have led to a wave of consolidation and cost cuts. Between 2008 and 2019, the industry shed 51{a3b37e57a53f84d6443a5356ab02984f87900b4dee9193a01d6bf48d204ad87c} of its newsroom jobs,