Musk to explore potential tender offer for Twitter, has $46.5B in committed financing for deal – CNBC

Elon Musk is exploring whether to commence a tender offer for Twitter, according to a new securities filing.

In an updated filing published on Thursday, Musk said that given the lack of response from Twitter’s board, he is now exploring a tender offer to purchase some or all shares of the company directly from its shareholders.

The filing says Musk has received commitments for $46.5 billion to help finance the potential deal. Musk has secured about $25.5 in debt financing through Morgan Stanley Senior funding and other firms, and Musk said he has committed about $21 billion in equity financing. The other participating firms include Bank of America, Barclays, MUFG, Societe Generale, Mizuho Bank and BNP Paribas.

Musk has not yet determined he will make a tender offer for Twitter or whether he will take other steps to further the proposal, the filing states.

Representatives from Twitter didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Last week, Musk offered to buy Twitter for $54.20 a share, or about $43 billion. On Friday, Twitter adopted a limited duration shareholder rights plan, often referred to as a “poison pill,” in an effort to fend off a potential hostile takeover.

Musk, who’s CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, in recent weeks has amassed a more than 9% stake in the company. Twitter then extended an offer to Musk to join the board, but on the condition that Musk couldn’t buy more than 14.9% of the firm. Musk reversed course and instead made a bid to take Twitter private.

CNBC’s David Faber explained on “Squawk on the Street” that Musk will be unable to finalize a tender offer for Twitter with the poison pill defense in place.

“You have to have a negotiation with the board,” Faber said. “That is yet to happen.”

Musk first teased a tender offer on Monday, when he posted a cryptic tweet that said “Love Me Tender.”

WATCH: Twitter is ready for a shake-up, says former director Ryan Sarver