Third Point Calls For Immediate Termination Of Yahoo CEO Thompson

First Published Friday, 4th May 2012 05:26 pm - © 2012 Dow Jones


Dow Jones NEWSWIRES

Hedge fund Third Point LLC continued its attack against Yahoo Inc.'s (YHOO) management, calling for the immediate termination of Chief Executive Scott Thompson amid admitted inaccuracies in his academic credentials.

Third Point, which owns about 5% of Yahoo, on Thursday questioned the accuracy of filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that said Thompson holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and computer science from Stonehill College. The fund, run by activist investor Dan Loeb, also questioned filings describing Yahoo director Patti Hart as holding a degree in marketing and economics from Illinois State University.

Yahoo subsequently said Thompson's degree from Stonehill College was just in accounting, and not in accounting and computer science, while Hart holds a business administration degree with specialities in marketing and economics.

Third Point on Friday said Yahoo's board should also accept the resignation of Hart for similar reasons.

A representative for Yahoo wasn't immediately available for comment.

"Finally, we urge the board to stop wasting valuable company resources and drop its resistance to placing the Third Point nominees on the Board," said Third Point CEO Loeb in the statement.

The accusation and response indicate the rising tension in the ongoing proxy fight between Yahoo and Third Point, which has been agitating for an overhaul of the company's board. Yahoo, meanwhile, is in the midst of a turnaround effort under Thompson, who was appointed in January, and joined the company from eBay Inc. (EBAY).

-By Melodie Warner, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2283; melodie.warner@dowjones.com

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