NEW YORK, April 25 (Reuters) – Elon Musk clinched a deal to buy Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) for $44 billion cash on Monday in a transaction that will shift control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the world’s richest person.
It is a seminal moment for the 16-year-old company that emerged as one of the world’s most influential public squares and now faces a string of challenges.
Discussions over the deal, which last week appeared uncertain, accelerated over the weekend after Musk wooed Twitter shareholders with financing details of his offer.
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Under pressure, Twitter started negotiating with Musk to buy the company at the proposed $54.20 per share price. read more
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated,” Musk said in a statement.
Twitter’s shares were up about 6% following the news.
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Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York, additional reporting by Krystal Hu;
Editing by Mark Potter and Matthew Lewis
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