Thursday, April 19, 2012

Buffett-linked fund nixes Goldman Exec


From Businessweek: James A. Johnson, the longest- serving member of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) (GS)’s board, is being opposed for re-election by a fund management company that boasts long-time links with billionaire Warren Buffett.

Ruane, Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc., the New York firm that helps oversee $15 billion, including the $5.7 billion Sequoia Fund Inc., criticized Johnson’s role in “egregious corporate governance debacles” in a letter on its website yesterday and said it would also oppose Johnson if he stands for re-election to the board of Target Inc. The Financial Times reported on the letter’s contents earlier today.

“We believe that Mr. Johnson’s history should disqualify him for service on the board of any public company,” Chief Executive Officer Robert D. Goldfarb and President David M. Poppe, co-managers of the Sequoia Fund, wrote in the letter to clients. “We respectfully ask that you vote your Goldman Sachs proxy against him.”

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