Tribune Co. confirmed Wednesday that chairman and CEO Dennis FitzSimons, a 25-year veteran of the newspaper and television station company, will step down once its planned sale is complete.
The sale of Tribune to real estate mogul Sam Zell could close as early as today, though a report surfaced Wednesday in the firm's flagship newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, that some of the financiers were having second thoughts.
Investors, once skeptical -- even after government regulators and company shareholders signed off on the plan -- have gained confidence that the $8.2 billion deal will happen. Shares in the past month have drifted steadily higher, closing Wednesday at $33.07, not far from the $34 sale price.
On Tuesday, though, Deutsche Bank Securities analyst Paul Ginocchio downgraded Tribune stock to "hold" and said that, on the remote chance the deal does not get done, shares could drop to as little as $15.
Assuming the transaction happens, FitzSimons will leave the company within the next two weeks and Zell will become chairman. Some speculate Zell also will assume the CEO post.