Tesla boss Musk weighs go-private deal for electric car maker

[NEW YORK] Controversial Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said Tuesday he was considering taking the company private, sending shares sharply higher in anticipation of a big premium.

Going private would take the electric car maker out of the quarterly reporting cycle making it "free from as much distraction and short-term thinking as possible," Mr Musk said in a blog post.

Mr Musk, who has depicted the quest to build up electric cars as a crucial environmental and economic objective, said he viewed going public as "the best past forward," but that a final decision had not been made and that decision ultimately depended on shareholder support.

Shares surged 11 per cent to US$379.57 at the closing bell after being suspended for about 90 minutes following a series of Musk statements on Twitter in which he initially floated the idea of going private.

Mr Musk's first tweet said funding was "secured" for a transaction could value the company at US$420 a share.

Tuesday's gains following the tweet added to upward movement on the stock after The Financial Times reported earlier Tuesday that a Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund had built a stake of between three and five percent in the company.

Mr Musk's tweet comes as Tesla faces continued pressure to ramp up output of the Model 3 sedan, its first effort at the middle market.

The billionaire Musk, who owns about 20 per cent of the company, said a transaction would not "substantially" alter his stake and that he expected to continue to lead the company if it occurred.

POLARISING FIGURE

Mr Musk has previously discussed possibly going private as a means to realize long-term growth and accomplish a goal that some Tesla acolytes embrace with near-messianic passion.

Supporters of Mr Musk and the company view him as a visionary akin to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, while critics have likened him to a "Wizard of Oz" like figure who has yet to turn a profit.

But the South African-born Tesla chief has courted plenty of controversy.

Mr Musk last month apologized for calling British caver Vernon Unsworth, who helped rescue 12 Thai boys from a cave, a "pedo," short for pedophile, after Mr Unsworth spoke dismissively of the Tesla chief's proposal for bringing the boys to safety.

He has also had a prickly relationship with Wall Street, apologising last week to equity analysts after refusing to answer questions on a May investor call.

Mr Musk's approach to a possible go-private transaction also went against the grain of many companies that release major news in non-trading hours.

By contrast, Mr Musk made the initial comment on Twitter and then embellished on the remarks in a series of responses to users on the platform.

In its August 1 earnings release, Tesla confirmed output was on track after missing earlier benchmarks as it reported a bigger-than-expected loss but said it was on track to become profitable later this year.

Shares have rallied strongly since those earnings but Mr Musk has continued to show a short fuse towards critics, lambasting "short" sellers of Tesla shares - those who take bets that the stock will fall in value.

Following the company's surge after last week's earnings, Mr Musk took aim again at a short-seller in a reported short YouTube video that likened these investors to Hitler's last days.

Mr Musk amplified this point Tuesday, saying on Twitter that going private "will be way smoother," end "negative propaganda from shorts" and benefit shareholders.

"Am super appreciative of Tesla shareholders," Mr Musk said. "Will ensure their prosperity in any scenario."

AFP