Arlington-based digital news company Axios Media Inc. is in discussions to merge with San Francisco-based sports media firm the Athletic, according to The Wall Street Journal, with the two companies potentially going public through a merger with a blank check company.
According to the article, negotiations are in early stages after the Athletic’s chief executive, Alex Mather, proposed the merger to Axios CEO Jim VandeHei last week. Options on the table include the two companies merging and going public through a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, the Journal reports. The two media outlets would continue operating independently under a combined corporate leadership, though it’s unclear which executive would take the lead role, according to the report.
