my opinion is that NOT Michael wanted to settle this time.... but the Prince.
We all know that Mike preffers to settle, he is too much of a nice guy... it might have been the case with this trial before starting up, maybe Michael affered to pay them half or less of what they requestted and Prince arrogant and full of confidence might very well refused it... we don't know this but it's possible.
After Friday it become clear that the Prince case went nowhere, a whole weak mess... the presss went quiet... how to criticise and mock a Prince so well viewed in London? So they went quiet like cowards.
I think this time, Prince was offering a settlement, to avoid the shame of being defeated openlly to court. Remember Michael was on HIS WAY to London, when he got a phone saying that the case will not continue, that a settlement was reached.
That means Mike got his own settlement terms all the time as an offer, the Prince refusing it, up to the point where he saw he got absolutelly not a chance against Michael. Senses came into his head and proposed a settlement to meat first request of Michael's team, or even less....
Michael is free of that conttract is certain. He might have to pay 2-3 milions the most... those money that he used during the trial and for Neverland........ His trip there at Prince's invitation was totally a gift, that company didn't exist, never was built, money never put into it, ao alll dropped.