Musk, Twitter could reach deal to end court battle, close buyout soon: source

AFP

Elon Musk and Twitter Inc may reach an agreement to end their litigation in the coming days, clearing the way for the world's richest person to close his US$44 billion deal for the social media firm, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Musk, who is also the chief executive officer of electric carmaker Tesla Inc, proposed to Twitter late on Monday he would change course and abide by his April agreement to buy the company for US$54.20 per share, if Twitter dropped its litigation against him.

The two sides had been expected to reach a deal as early as Wednesday, but negotiations are continuing with a resolution expected to take more time, the source said.

Twitter's legal team, however, has yet to accept the agreement and Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick, the judge on Delaware's Court of Chancery, said she was preparing for the looming trial.

"The parties have not filed a stipulation to stay this action, nor has any party moved for a stay. I, therefore, continue to press on toward our trial set to begin on October 17, 2022," McCormick wrote in a Wednesday court filing.

Musk's proposal on Monday included a condition that the deal closing was pending the receipt of debt financing. The potential agreement would likely remove that condition, said the source, who requested anonymity as the discussions are confidential.

Twitter's legal team and lawyers for Musk updated the judge on Tuesday with their attempts to overcome mutual distrust and find a process for closing the deal.

Two firms that were interested in partly financing the deal, Apollo Global Management Inc and Sixth Street Partners, had ended talks to provide up to a combined US$1 billion, two sources told Reuters.

An attorney representing a proposed class action against Musk on behalf of Twitter shareholders said in a letter to McCormick that Musk should be required to make a "substantial deposit" in case he again reneges on his commitment to close. He should also be liable for interest delaying the closing of the deal, said the letter from attorney Michael Hanrahan.

It is not clear what led the Musk legal team to offer to settle, but Musk is scheduled to be deposed on Thursday in Austin, Texas. Questioning is expected to be tough, which provides Twitter leverage in talks to close the deal.

Shares of Twitter closed 1.3 percent lower at US$51.30 on Wednesday. The stock on Tuesday hit its highest level since Musk and Twitter agreed in April that he would buy the company for US$54.20 per share.

A distraction

Tesla stock ended down 3.5 percent on Wednesday as investors worry that Musk may have to sell more shares in the electric carmaker to fund the Twitter deal and that Twitter could be a distraction for the entrepreneur.

Musk sold US$15.4 billion worth of Tesla stock this year, but analysts said he may have to raise an additional US$2 billion to US$3 billion provided that the rest of his financing remains unchanged.