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Elon Musk says he may take Tesla private for $85 billion

Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata

Tesla founder and CEO, Elon Musk. Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images

Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk tweeted Tuesday that he may acquire the electric car company for more than $85 billion (including debt).

Timing: The tweet came just after the Financial Times reported that a Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund had acquired around a $2 billion stake in Tesla. Musk has not yet provided any additional information, such as the identities of his financing partners, nor has Tesla itself made a comment.

  • Shares spiked from $355 to $370 on Musk's tweet, but they have since fallen back a bit. Shortly after 2pm they were halted.
  • Musk currently holds around 19.87% of Tesla's outstanding stock.

The big question: It is unclear how the SEC will view Musk's tweet. It does allow companies to disseminate material information via social media, but this isn't really an official company communication nor a formal takeover offer. And it certainly is impacting the stock price.

The smaller question: $420 per share makes sense as a typical take-private premium, as it would be around 22% higher than where Tesla shares opened this morning. But "420" is also slang for consuming cannabis, prompting some on Twitter to wonder if Musk is doing a bit of trolling.

Update: More tweeting from Musk:

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Axios
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NRA files for bankruptcy, says it will reincorporate in Texas

Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association (NRA) speaks during CPAC in 2016. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

The National Rifle Association said Friday it has filed for voluntary bankruptcy as part of a restructuring plan.

Driving the news: The gun rights group said it would reincorporate in Texas, calling New York, where it is currently registered, a "toxic political environment." Last year, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit to dissolve the NRA, alleging the group committed fraud by diverting roughly $64 million in charitable donations over three years to support reckless spending by its executives.

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42 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Biden: "We will manage the hell out of" vaccine distribution

Joe Biden. Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

President-elect Joe Biden promised to invoke the Defense Production Act to increase vaccine manufacturing, as he outlined a five-point plan to administer 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations in the first months of his presidency.

Why it matters: With the Center for Disease Control and Prevention warning of a more contagious variant of the coronavirus, Biden is trying to establish how he’ll approach the pandemic differently than President Trump.

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Ursula Perano
1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

A new Washington

Photo: Stefani Reynolds/Getty Image

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Friday that the city should expect a "new normal" for security — even after President-elect Biden's inauguration.

The state of play: Inaugurations are usually a point of celebration in D.C., but over 20,000 troops are now patrolling Washington streets in an unprecedented preparation for Biden's swearing-in on Jan. 20.

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