Alright, another election controversy.
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Hewlett-Packard Proxy Ballots May Confuse, Washington Post Says
By Bill Murray
Cupertino, California, March 19 (Bloomberg) -- Hewlett- Packard Co. shareholders may be confused by proxy ballots received from supporters and opponents of the company's proposed $25 billion bid to buy Compaq Computer Corp., the Washington Post reported.
Shareholders have received many solicitations containing green and white ballot cards, and may vote more than once, the paper said. The ballot that counts -- giving the mailing party the power to make decisions on the voter's behalf -- is the one that is mailed last, the newspaper said.
The white cards are mailed back to Georgeson Shareholder Communications Inc. or Innisfree M&A Inc., firms that work for Hewlett-Packard; the green cards go back to the offices of MacKenzie Partners Inc., which was hired by Walter Hewlett, a company director and son of one of the founders, who opposes the transaction, the newspaper said.
Figuring out which is each shareholder's official ballot is the job of the independent company -- IVS Associates -- that will declare whether shareholders approve or reject the transaction, the newspaper reported. A preliminary count may be announced today and a final decision isn't likely for several weeks, the Post said.
(WPST 3/19 E1) For the Web site of the Washington Post, click {WPST } |
