Alternative bidders emerge for Tribune

A group of alternative bidders is emerging for newspaper chain Tribune Publishing, which had agreed to a $630 million acquisition by hedge fund Alden Global Capital.

Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that a billionaire who lives in Wyoming, Hansjorg Wyss, was joining a bid for Tribune with Maryland hotel mogul Stewart Bainum. The Times reported that both would commit up to $100 million to the $650 million bid. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Mason Slaine, a Tribune investor who has previously said he wanted to buy the Tribune’s Florida papers, is also willing to commit $100 million in financing. In an email, Slaine confirmed his interest in owning the papers but said it depended on “diligence and terms.”

The Tribune board has endorsed Alden’s offer, but allowed Bainum to pursue financing for his bid.

Alden, which owns one of the country’s largest newspaper chains including the Boston Herald, the Denver Post and the San Jose Mercury News, became Tribune Publishing’s largest shareholder in 2019 and now holds a 32 percent stake.

Tribune journalists have decried the Alden deal. The hedge fund is known for shrinking newsrooms at the newspapers it acquires in order to squeeze out profits, notable moves even in an industry characterized by cost cuts and layoffs. The unions at Tribune papers have pushed for alternative buyers.

Bainum, the chairman of Choice Hotels International, initially had a nonbinding agreement to form a nonprofit to buy Baltimore Sun Media for $65 million as part of Alden’s deal for Tribune. But negotiations over the terms faltered and he made his own offer for the whole company.