Historic Agreement: JPMorgan and Tesla Resolve Long-Standing Legal Dispute
JPMorgan Chase and Tesla have announced the resolution of a three-year legal battle in which the bank sought $162 million based on stock warrant transactions between the two parties. The announcement came through a joint legal filing confirming the dismissal of all mutual claims without revealing details of the settlement. This marks the end of one of the most prominent legal disputes in the financial sector.
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Case Background
The case began in 2021 when JPMorgan filed a lawsuit against the electric car manufacturer led by billionaire Elon Musk.
The bank’s claim was based on a 2014 agreement requiring Tesla to pay a specified amount in cash or stock if its share price exceeded a predetermined value.
The agreement aimed to protect Tesla from the risk of declining share value, particularly following the issuance of convertible bonds,
while also providing the company with tax advantages.
The Role of Musk’s Tweet
In August 2018, Elon Musk posted a controversial tweet stating he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share,
adding that he had “secured funding.”
JPMorgan relied on this tweet to adjust the exercise price of the stock warrants,
citing Tesla’s stock price volatility as justification for the adjustment.
In response, Tesla filed a countersuit accusing the bank of unfairly exploiting the tweet to modify the exercise price,
aiming for significant profits. The company described the bank’s actions as a “bad-faith breach” of their agreement.
Court Decisions
In September, Federal Judge Paul Gardephe denied JPMorgan’s request for a summary judgment in its favor,
clearing the way for a trial. However, both parties opted to settle the dispute before proceeding with legal proceedings.
According to the legal filing submitted on Friday, the parties agreed to dismiss the lawsuits permanently with no possibility of reopening the case. Neither side responded to requests for comment regarding the settlement terms.
Conclusion
This settlement concludes a complex legal dispute between two of the most prominent names in the financial and tech industries.
While the settlement details remain undisclosed, the resolution reflects both parties’ desire to focus on their future priorities,
leaving legal battles behind.
Historic Agreement: JPMorgan and Tesla Resolve Long-Standing Legal Dispute