"Twitter is taking a fresh look at the offer and is
more likely than before to seek to negotiate," the business daily
reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Tesla CEO Musk said Thursday he had secured close to $46.5
billion to finance the transaction, but also that he planned to appeal directly
the company's shareholders as he looks to take over the social media platform.
The Twitter board of directors had been opposed to the
proposal, lining up a "poison pill" clause that would make it harder
for Musk to acquire more than 15 percent of the company via the market. He
currently owns 9.2 percent of shares.
"The potential turnabout on Twitter's part comes after
Mr. Musk met privately Friday with several shareholders of the company,"
the Journal reported.
Musk "pledged to solve the free-speech issues he sees
as plaguing the platform and the country more broadly, whether his bid succeeds
or not," the sources added, according to the Journal.
Musk has previously cited concerns over freedom of speech as
motivation for buying the platform, though free-speech experts have pointed to
Musk's unpredictable statements and history of bullying critics as
contradictory to his stated aims.
He "made his pitch to select shareholders in a series
of video calls, with a focus on actively managed funds... in hopes that they
could sway the company's decision," the sources told the Journal.
The polarising billionaire said last week he was considering
bypassing Twitter's board of directors in his takeover bid by purchasing shares
directly from existing shareholders, "but has not determined whether to do
so at this time," according to a securities filing released Thursday.
The Journal said Twitter could make an announcement on the
matter by Thursday or even before, according to these sources.
Musk has apparently recently told Twitter chairman Bret
Taylor his original April 14 offer of $54.20 per share has not changed, the
daily added.
Twitter had previously invited Musk to join its board of
directors, but the SpaceX head declined.
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