Gene Munster's first research note on Tesla this week appeared after CEO Elon Musk tried to clear up the questions on his plan to take electric car company Tesla private that he first revealed last week on Twitter.
Munster wrote that Musk, with his blog post, "fills in the blanks" from that original cryptic assertion on Twitter that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share.
But to me, that blog post on the Tesla website seemed to have as many blanks as a page out of a Mad Libs story. And who announces a deal on Twitter, anyway?
After talking to Munster, it's clear he's remaining as professional as possible when sharing his thoughts on a potential transaction that was disclosed in the wackiest possible way.
Munster clearly knows it could be months before funding is secured to take Tesla private, if it ever is. Yet he appreciates the rationale for taking Tesla out of the public market. He gives the prospect better than 50 percent chance of closing. And he appreciates, even with his obvious flat spots, the entrepreneurial gifts of Elon Musk.
Given his star status in technology, you think you'd be calling up a flamboyant personality, but on the phone Munster comes across pretty much as he does on TV — measured, serious and Midwestern friendly.
Munster is a venture capitalist in Minneapolis and a high-profile technology analyst. He's frequently on TV talking Tesla and other prominent companies. He is best known for making an early and savvy call at Piper Jaffray & Co. to buy Apple stock, hanging on for the very long ride up.
Munster and colleagues formed Loup Ventures at the start of 2017 with an unusual business model for venture capital. They wanted to keep writing research on new technologies and technology companies, in part to attract the attention of high-potential entrepreneurs who need venture money.