Stock Markets February 9, 2026

Clear Channel to Go Private in $6.2 Billion Buyout; Shares Jump After Deal

Mubadala Capital and TWG Global to pay $2.43 per share; financing commitments and a 45-day go-shop period included

By Priya Menon CCO
Clear Channel to Go Private in $6.2 Billion Buyout; Shares Jump After Deal
CCO

Clear Channel Outdoor agreed to be acquired for $6.2 billion in cash by Mubadala Capital and TWG Global. Shareholders will receive $2.43 per share, a 71% premium to the unaffected price of $1.42 on October 16, 2025. The deal, approved unanimously by the company's board, is expected to close by the end of Q3 2026 and will take the company private.

Key Points

  • Clear Channel agreed to a $6.2 billion all-cash acquisition by Mubadala Capital and TWG Global; shareholders to receive $2.43 per share, a 71% premium to the unaffected $1.42 price on Oct. 16, 2025.
  • Deal is unanimously approved by Clear Channel’s board, includes a 45-day go-shop period, and is expected to close by the end of Q3 2026; Mubadala and TWG are committing roughly $3 billion in equity.
  • Financing involves Apollo-managed preferred equity and debt led by JPMorgan Chase Bank and Apollo Funds; Wade Davis is expected to become Executive Chairman and the company will remain headquartered in San Antonio.

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings said Monday that it has reached an agreement to be acquired in an all-cash transaction valuing the out-of-home advertising company at $6.2 billion. The announcement triggered a 6.4% rise in CCO shares in after-hours trading.

Under the terms of the agreement, Clear Channel shareholders will receive $2.43 in cash per share. That consideration represents a 71% premium to the company’s unaffected share price of $1.42 on October 16, 2025. The transaction received unanimous approval from Clear Channel’s Board of Directors and is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026.


The acquisition will move Clear Channel from public ownership to private, with Mubadala Capital and TWG Global leading the buyout. The two investors have committed roughly $3 billion of equity capital to the deal. Media and technology executive Wade Davis is expected to join Clear Channel’s leadership team as Executive Chairman once the transaction is completed.

Commenting on the deal, Clear Channel’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Wells said,

"We believe this transaction delivers compelling value to our shareholders, strengthens our financial flexibility by reducing debt and increasing cash flow to invest in the business, and positions Clear Channel for its next phase of long-term growth."

Several financing elements accompany the acquisition agreement. Apollo-managed funds have committed to provide preferred equity for the transaction. Debt financing will be arranged by a syndicate led by JPMorgan Chase Bank alongside Apollo Funds, according to the announcement. The company said it will remain headquartered in San Antonio, Texas after the close.

The agreement includes a 45-day go-shop period, during which Clear Channel may solicit alternative proposals from other potential buyers. Shareholders representing about 48% of the company’s outstanding shares have already committed to support the transaction.

Clear Channel also confirmed it will release its fourth-quarter 2025 financial results on February 26, 2026, as previously scheduled, but it will not host a conference call to discuss the results because of the acquisition announcement.

The timeline, financing commitments and partial shareholder support outlined in the deal set the path toward privatization while leaving room for competing bids during the go-shop window. The company and its new investors have set a target to complete the transaction by the end of the third quarter of 2026.

Risks

  • A 45-day go-shop period allows Clear Channel to solicit alternative offers, so the current agreement could be supplanted by a competing bid - this affects potential buyers and shareholders in the media and investment sectors.
  • Financing is contingent on committed preferred equity from Apollo-managed funds and debt financing led by JPMorgan Chase Bank and Apollo Funds; successful closing depends on these funding arrangements being completed - this impacts financial institutions and credit markets.
  • Only about 48% of outstanding shares have agreed to support the transaction so far, meaning additional shareholder approval may be required and the degree of investor backing could change before closing - this has implications for investors and the company’s capital structure.

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