A dispute involving the family of the founder of JCB and his secretary lover has been settled.
Conflict over the future of the Staffordshire firm arose after Joe Bamford died in 2001. Mr Bamford met Jayne Ellis when she worked in the typing pool at the JCB plant in Rocester.
He spent the last years of his life living with her in Switzerland and upon his death bequeathed her his 50 per cent interest in the firm through a series of off-shore trusts.
But his will was disputed by family members, led by the company's chairman Sir Anthony Bamford.
They launched a legal battle to annul the will, claiming Mr Bamford had reneged on his pledge that the company would "remain entirely under the control of the Bamford family".
Sir Anthony said: "Any differences over the will were resolved some time ago.
"The company continues in the exclusive ownership of the Bamford family."
It is believed the family reached an out-of-court settlement with Mrs Ellis, who was 20-years younger than Mr Bamford when they met.
Upon his death, Mr Bamford's former lover also received ownership of his lakeside home in Switzerland, a villa in Majorca, and an estimated £50 million stake in a Jersey company.
The original terms of the will saw Sir Anthony and his brother receive an income from half of the business which was put into trusts while their father was alive.
Ms Ellis received an estimated £200 million in addition to the income from the share ownership.
The family was reported to be upset because Mr Bamford did not provide for his widow Marjorie, who was said to be shocked when her husband left her.
When Mr Bamford died in March 2001, aged 84, his will stated that shares in two companies, Global NV and Castor NV, which own half of the JCB Group, be transferred to a Bermuda trust and all income paid to Ms Ellis.
