Elon Emails

Musk's $420 take-private offer to Tesla's board

From:
Elon Musk
Date:
August 2, 2018 (Exhibit header: sent 8/2/2018 3:26:59 PM)
To:
Tesla Board of Directors; Todd Maron; Deepak Ahuja
Subject:
Offer to Take Tesla Private at $420
It is my firm belief that Tesla can operate more effectively as a private company for the next several years. In the future, once Tesla enters a phase of slower, more predictable growth, it will likely make sense to return to the public markets. However, being public during this period of rapid and often unpredictable growth: 1. Subjects Tesla to constant defamatory attacks by the short-selling community, resulting in great harm to our valuable brand. 2. Puts great pressure on Tesla to make decisions for a given quarter that are suboptimal for long-term shareholder value creation. 3. Causes wild swings in our share price, which are a constant distraction to Tesla employees, all of whom are shareholders, making it harder to focus on useful work. The difference in operational efficiency between Tesla and SpaceX, the latter being privately held, is dramatic. Unless another bidder comes forward with a better offer, I would ask that this matter be put to a shareholder vote at the earliest opportunity. This offer expires in 30 days. Please note that I fully support any shareholders who wish to remain shareholders of Tesla as a private company retaining their shares. This offer is just for those who do not wish to remain shareholders of Tesla as a private company. Regards, Elon Musk Chairman & CEO Tesla, Inc.

About this email

Five days before the 'funding secured' tweet, Musk formally tells the board he believes Tesla should be private, cites short-seller attacks, quarterly pressure and stock swings, and asks for a shareholder vote on a $420 offer that expires in 30 days.

Notes

Sent from erm@tesla.com. Transcribed from the court's PDF exhibit; two exhibits (81 and 802) carry identical text.

Where it came from

Court record; attribution confirmed.

Tesla, board, investors & advisers. Tags: take-private, funding-secured, board, short-sellers, 420