Theranos investors who pledge not to sue get Elizabeth Holmes’ shares for free

Enlarge / Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos CEO. (credit: Getty | CNBC)

Theranos CEO and founder Elizabeth Holmes is planning to give up some of her personal shares to investors who pledge not to sue the disgraced blood-testing company, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The deals would only involve investors from the last round of funding, which ended in 2015 and brought in more than $600 million. These investors include the family of US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, the family behind Walmart stores, and John Elkann, who controls Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Investors could get about two free shares of the company for every share they bought.

The deals would also mean that Holmes could lose her majority stake in Theranos.