Icahn Writes Another Letter to Yahoo
Carl C. Icahn
ICAHN CAPITAL LP
June 9, 2008
Roy Bostock
Chairman
Yahoo! Inc.
Dear Roy:
After reading Yahoo!’s press release put out on Friday in response to
my letter of that morning, I cannot help but wonder if you even read my letter.
Again, Yahoo! keeps repeating misstatements in the hope it will
convince its shareholders that these misstatements are valid. I cannot
understand why the Yahoo! board feels so strongly about its “poison pill”
severance plan and why it continues to refuse to rescind it. How can you
continue to repeat that your severance plan is in the best interests of
shareholders and employees? Indeed, Yahoo!’s own compensation advisor called
the severance plan “nuts.” Is it not true, as the shareholder complaint stated
that Microsoft’s CEO earmarked $1.5 billion for employee retention (a benefit
you neglected to tell your employees about)? Is it not better to incentivize
employees to stay in their jobs than to quit? Instead of just continuing to
repeat the mantra that we have made an inaccurate interpretation of your
severance plan, why do you refuse to go into detail as to why our
interpretation is incorrect? Additionally, a
In your press release from Friday, you stated again that I do not have
a credible plan for Yahoo! Did you even bother to read my letter, which went
into great detail on what measures I would ask the new board to take?
Ironically, while you keep inquiring about my plans, it is interesting to note
that Yahoo!’s board has been busy reaping great compensation benefits. Indeed,
you made approximately $10,000 per week last year — not bad for a board member.
I believe most of your shareholders would be interested in seeing your time
sheets — especially in light of the fact that, in my estimation, most of your
so-called “plans” over the last few years have been failures. Remember the old
adage — those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Perhaps most
importantly, under my plan, I would ask the Board to bring in a talented and
experienced CEO to replace Jerry Yang and return Jerry to his role as “Chief
Yahoo!” It is extremely important to note that Google hired a great operator as
a CEO who helped to transform the Company into a giant at the expense of Yahoo!
According to publicly available financial information, while Google’s income
from operations grew 59% per year over the last two years, Yahoo!’s income from
operations shrank 21%. What was the board doing over this period? Where was
their great “plan”? I believe a new CEO with operating experience might well
have had and might still have a very salutary impact on Yahoo! I ask again what
your great “plan” has been over the last few years. Why did you permit Google
to leave you in the dust?
I outlined a number of questions in Friday’s letter. Why don’t you do
me the courtesy of answering my questions as I have answered yours?
Sincerely yours,
CARL C. ICAHN
(Note: Opinions expressed in this article and its replies are the opinions of their respective authors and not those of DZone, Inc.)






