Elon Musk Accuses Twitter of 'Actively Resisting' and 'Thwarting' His Attempts to Buy the Company Now, it remains to be seen if Musk will in fact move forward with the deal.

By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas

Elon Musk got one step closer to finalizing his $44 billion Twitter acquisition on Friday, with the official expiration of the regulatory waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, Fox Business reports, but whether or not the billionaire will proceed with the buyout remains increasingly contentious and unclear.

Not only does the purchase's finalization still rely on customary closing conditions, including shareholder and remaining regulatory approvals, but it also requires the answer to a difficult question posed by the billionaire: How many fake and spam accounts exist on Twitter?

Related: Elon Musk Offers to Buy Twitter for $43 Billion: 'It's a High Price and Your Shareholders Will Love It'

Twitter's monetizable active user (mDAU) base clocked in at 229 million in the first quarter of 2022 — a nearly 16% increase year over year. According to the social media giant, spam and fake accounts make up less than 5% of its users, but Musk believes that at least 20% of Twitter's users are spam or fake accounts — and that he should get a better deal if that's the case.

But Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal has made it clear that coming up with an accurate estimate would be complicated, as such calculations require the "critical need to use both public and private information."

According to an amended securities filing on Monday, Musk believes the social media platform is "actively resisting" and "thwarting his information rights" by refusing to disclose that information, Bloomberg reports. Musk says Twitter's lack of disclosure is a "clear material breach of Twitter's obligations under the merger agreement and Mr. Musk reserves all rights resulting therefrom, including his right not to consummate the transaction and his right to terminate the merger agreement."

But ending the deal would mean a staggering $1 billion termination fee for both Musk and Twitter — and the social media giant intends to make the billionaire see the merger through, claiming that it's in the best interest of shareholders.

Related: Report: Elon Musk Aims to Make Twitter Public Again 'In a Few Years'

Twitter was down nearly 23% month over month as of Monday morning.

Amanda Breen

BIZ Experiences Staff

Senior Features Writer

Amanda Breen is a senior features writer at BIZ Experiences.com. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received an MFA in writing at Columbia University, where she was a news fellow for the School of the Arts.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.