Steve Jobs to forego annual shareholders' meeting
updated 03:15 pm EST, Mon February 23, 2009
Jobs to skip ASM
Steve Jobs will not be appearing at Apple's annual shareholders' meeting this year, Bloomberg reports. The meeting is scheduled for February 25th, only a day after Jobs' 54 birthday, and will mark the first time the CEO has not attended an Apple ASM since his return to the company in 1996. No audio or video will be broadcast, according to Apple spokesman Steve Dowling, and it is also said that no transcript will be available, in keeping with recent years.
Journalists will be allowed to watch a video feed from a separate room however, and Dowling acknowledges that the reason for Jobs' absence is his formal medical leave, which is set to stretch through June. The absence may be particularly ill-timed, as shareholders are set to vote on whether to re-elect the current board. Jobs will also be unable to defend the company against anticipated accusations, suggesting it has deliberately withheld information on his condition.
"The company has a responsibility to let public shareholders know that the organizational structure will be sound if Steve Jobs has to leave for any reason," says Ryan Jacob, the head of the Jacob Internet Fund, which holds Apple stock as its third-largest holding. Information on Jobs' condition and the potential impact has been "poor at best," claims Jacob.
Concern about Jobs' health is such that an SEC investigation has been launched, expected to cope with the timeframe between Jobs' confession of a "hormonal imbalance" and the announcement of the six-month leave, made only nine days later. Something unusual must have been discovered to justify a second announcement, observers have noted.
worrywarts
02/23, 03:27pm reply
the company is making plenty of money... what do they want to do, bring in some people who have no connection with reality? Apple is the difference between standard PCs and the REAL world.
To me MacNN is trying to drum op "news."
Bobfozz
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Joined: Jul 2008
Shocked!
02/23, 03:33pm reply
And to think that most people would've assumed that when he said "I'm basically taking a six-month leave of absence".
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
voting
02/23, 03:36pm (2 replies) reply
Oh, like somehow this is going to affect board voting. Please... If we couldn't get Bill Campbell kicked off the board any of the last 72 years, Jobs not being there isn't going to change anything (unless, of course, he's the mastermind behind fixing the votes).
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
Be well Mr. Jobs
02/23, 03:55pm reply
I hope he recovers soon from being ill.
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
Guilty as SIN
02/23, 04:47pm reply
Apple has deceived the shareholders and general public about Job's condition. Whatever fines the SEC decides to dish out won't be nearly enough punishment for them.
Ona lighter note, with Jobs gone we've got a better chance of seeing a Mac Mini and Mac Pro refresh, since its clear that Jobs hates them and only cares about the iPhone
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
Excuse me?
02/23, 05:10pm reply
Why is this news? Do you guys even know what 'leave of absence' means? Talk about FUD.
GORDYmac
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Dec 1999
uh
02/23, 05:18pm reply
"Apple has deceived the shareholders and general public about Job's condition."
you my friend are guilty as sin. you present this as a "fact" when it's nothing but your opinion. which, by the way, means absolutely nothing.
nat
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Oh please
02/23, 05:36pm reply
If the shareholders don't like the way Jobs or the board runs Apple, sell the stock. Owning Apple shares is not compulsory.
Guest
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Joined: Nov 1999
re: guilty as sin
02/23, 07:08pm reply
Aren't you glad you can post such moronic comments anonymously on the internet? What did you do before there was an internet? Oh, you're probably 14 years old, so there was nothing before the internet for you.
elroth
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Joined: Jul 2006
It's not easy...
02/23, 07:15pm reply
to get up from one's deathbed to attend a shareholders meeting. I'm sure the media will have a field day with this one. I've already seen some of the rumors questioning his health again. Before the shareholder's meeting announcement, Steve Jobs health hasn't been an issue for the news media for a few weeks.
Obviously, the media doesn't know the meaning of taking a leave of absence. Since he hasn't been to his workplace, I guess they figured he might have the strength to make it to the shareholders' meeting just to show how fit he is.
Constable Odo
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