Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Novell (NOVL) dirt cheap, good buy? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jim McCormack who wrote (21246)	3/19/1998 1:53:00 PM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 42771

Seems that Noorda's comments fully support the lawsuit, with the exception of Mr Young. >>''Our hope is to remove those individuals who, in our opinion, have been destructive, unresponsive, and/or have participated in making poor decisions that have damaged the value of the company,'' the statement says. ''. . . Their removal is overdue.''<< In that I cannot trust Mr Young, I can't help but wonder if this was partially engineered to help remove the legal spotlight from Mr Young. How they can justify not removing the man who was in charge throughout the lawsuit time period is beyond me. Throughout my years in management, I always believed that when a problem developed, the person ultimately responsible was the person in charge. In any case, great development for Novell, but in that one of the companies largest shareholders seems to support the lawsuit, I would guess that it will have significant impact before it's done and over. With any luck, the BOD members will resign, cause based on last year, it'll take a lot more than Noorda's vote. There will be a time to buy this stock. sf

To: Jim McCormack who wrote (21246)	3/19/1998 2:08:00 PM
From: Don Earl	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42771

Hi Jim, In the nature of wild speculation, my guess would be that Schmidt approached Noorda to get this thing rolling. Schmidt has made a number of statements in the last 6 months of near future strategies that were not implemented. If the board has been shooting him down when he tries to do something that needs to be done, getting rid of the board is the best solution. A board that takes a stock from 35 to 7 in three years in not a winning team. Even though Young is not a favorite on the thread, he does have the right kind of back ground and only counts as one vote. If it works, don't fix it. If it doesn't work, change it. I really don't see how getting rid of half the board could make things any worse than they already are. Regards, Don

To: Jim McCormack who wrote (21246)	3/19/1998 2:34:00 PM
From: Steve Fancy	Respond to of 42771

Jim, how about Apple. Look at what just the suggestion of a board change did for the stock. I don't like Steve Jobs after the arrogant way he walked out on a CNBC interview, but these guys have revived the stock...at least for now. sf

To: Jim McCormack who wrote (21246)	3/19/1998 3:02:00 PM
From: dwight vickers	Respond to of 42771

Board members who would support Schmidt need not lead to a change in strategy. Just give him a free hand to implement it. Young? That's a hard one to understand. A board that doesn't know the business hardly seems likely to be outvoting Schmidt AND Young and what they wanted to do. Gotta think Young would be behind that. Dwight

To: Jim McCormack who wrote (21246)	3/19/1998 3:55:00 PM
From: Paul Fiondella	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 42771

Specifically we don't want chaos, that's why we want a BOD change Emotional needs are not part of the picture. Its a question of (1) the ability of the BOD to provide backup and support for the CEO (2) the ability of the BOD to facilitate relationships within the industry (3) the ability of the BOD to understand what is in the company's best interests (4) the history of this BOD in failing repeatedly to do what was best for Novell and the shareholders. The reasons are all outlined in the Noorda letter and in out White Paper. Novell has an ineffectual, passive, and uninvolved BOD. If this BOD doesn't remake itself and the company suffers further reversals that's when you get a shareholder revolt and chaos. Noorda is acting very responsibly in trying to give them a wake-up call now. Incidentally any change in this BOD to put any industry player on the BOD, such as a Jim Clark, would cause this stock to take off. Rather than weaken the company it would strengthen both the CEO and the company and signify a real commitment to a real turnaround.