For "Capitalism Meets Populism" drama you can hardly beat the extraordinary shareholder meeting. And when it is an "end of an era" meeting, sounding the funeral bells of a venerable company with near triple digit age counters, the extremes on both ends turn out. So it was with Merrill's "final meeting" today.
Bank of America shareholders voiced their approval in Charlotte in what was likely a less dramatic event, and, equally likely, the die had already been cast before the Merrill meeting today, as most shareholders had already submitted ballots.
Of course, you had to know that the event would be used to sharpen disemboweling cutlasses with Stanley O'Neal's name on them, and perhaps the tongue of shareholder meeting frequent flier Evelyn "Where Is The Accountability, Sonny?" Davis.
For those not in the know, the Dutch Holocaust survivor has sounded the populist shareholder call for four decades, taunting tall-standing, dais mounted CEOs from her 5'1" frame with a thick accent and thicker calls for accountability. Her usual antics absent this time. No hospital scrubs or bathing suits for this meeting. But there wasn't much to say this time either. A widow's black and veil might have suited well, in place of Chanel suit. As if to highlight the powerlessness of those present even more, this time Evelyn was quickly shushed by Thain while trying with her usual spunk to interrupt the keynote. "Now Evelyn, you have to give other people time to speak." This silenced her. And that in itself is frightening.
There isn't a CEO alive who can shush Evelyn Davis, but the power that silenced the Dutch Duchess of Ruckus wasn't intrinsic to Thain. Rather it was channeled from the circumstances though the otherwise hollow, if expensive, suit. The untimely death of Merrill was fait accompli and more potent than any of the attendees.
No, today wasn't for the Evelyn's, whose utility shines when there is actually something in the balance. Today was for the anonymous shareholder's testy, if pointless, recriminations. "We only need one pallbearer for this funeral, and that's Stan O'Neal," was one such. He won't be voting for the merger under any circumstances, you understand.
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 2:48PM
Is that a picture of wideclops?
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 2:55PM
I hear that the intellect level at BAC is embarrassingly low. Is there any chance that they wont completely kill off ML's name?
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:03PM
"I hear that the intellect level at BAC is embarrassingly low." Probably, but you should be beaten with your own polo mallet just for taking the time to write that.
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:20PM
I cannot believe she is still alive. I remember going to a shareholder meeting right out of school, in 1989, and she was haranguing management. She looked old THEN.
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:26PM
get focused...this was today's real story...
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Sean John Fragrances; Sean 'Diddy' Combs Reveals New 'I Am King' Fragrance Image on Times Square Billboard
769 words
11 December 2008
Women's Health Weekly
451
English
(c) Copyright 2008 Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com
2008 DEC 11 - (NewsRx.com) -- Sean John Fragrances, creator of Unforgivable, the top selling men's and women's scent, today unveiled the campaign image of Sean "Diddy" Combs' newest men's fragrance, I Am King, on what continues to be the largest billboard ever to hang in Times Square, The new campaign will also appear on Los Angeles' prestigious Sunset Boulevard, as well as other marquis billboard locations in New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. The billboard portrays Sean "Diddy" Combs dressed in a sleek, white tuxedo, with an image of his new men's fragrance, I Am King. Impeccably put together, he is the ultimate man of power. He is daring and mysterious, refined and sexy. The new fragrance advertisement will replace what has become one of the most well known images in New York City, where Combs holds his fist triumphantly in the air.
Located at Broadway and 47th Street, the billboard is front lit, screened vinyl canvas measuring 172 X 54 feet and can be viewed while heading downtown.
Sean "Diddy" Combs said, "I am really proud of the new billboard and of the message that it conveys to everyone who gets to see it. I Am King is not just about me, but every man. We are all descendants of kings. And if all men believe in that, we can accomplish anything. This image pays tribute to that belief, that ideal."
Only Sean "Diddy" Combs could debut I Am King, a scent designed to inspire those who dream big and aspire for greatness. I Am King makes the ultimate statement for today's ambitious go-getter: Here I am, in all my glory. Smell the power. Feel the success. It represents a lifestyle everyone desires to live: exclusive, it's about greatness, being at the top of one's game. It's for the achiever, the inspirer, the visionary. I Am King is about a man's strength and style, his passion and taste for life. A hunger for the extraordinary - to believe in a dream.
I Am King empowers the modern man to take on the soul of a king and conquer his biggest dreams. It is only fitting for this image of empowerment to be displayed in the most sought after site in the world, Times Square New York. The billboard image and location reflect the true power and prestige of the fragrance, the man behind it and the men who will wear it.
An untraditional fresh fruity woody scent, I Am King combines clean notes with sensual fruits and warm skin nuances. Impossible to ignore, I Am King subtly surrounds the wearer in fresh comfort and attracts women to encounter its power. The bottle, shrouded with a chrome cap, incorporates sleek edges with a hint of classic style. It is pure luxury encased. I Am King embodies the Sean John lifestyle.
Sean John Fragrances will debut the power scent in December 2008 for the holiday season exclusively at Macy's nationwide, before rolling out to department stores in February 2009. I Am King suggested retail price is $57 USD for 1.7 oz EDT and $74 USD for 3.4 oz EDT. I Am King aftershave balm suggested retail price is $54 USD for 3.4 oz and will be on counter in February 2009 for Valentine's Day; I Am King shower gel suggested retail price is $25 USD for 6.7 oz and the deodorant suggested retail price is $18 USD for 2.5 oz; both items on counter in May 2009 (pre-cursor to Father's Day). Additionally, I Am King Limited Edition, a 3.4 oz EDT with storybook featuring I Am King visuals and housed in a signed lucite case, will be also available exclusively at Macy's for $100 USD.
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The Company's products are sold in over 135 countries and territories under well-recognized brand names, including Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series Skincare for Men, Origins, M*A*C, Bobbi Brown, Tommy Hilfiger, Kiton, La Mer, Donna Karan, Aveda, Jo Malone, Bumble and bumble, Darphin, Michael Kors, American Beauty, Flirt!, Good Skin(TM), Grassroots, Sean John, Missoni, Daisy Fuentes, Tom Ford Beauty, Mustang, Coach and Ojon.
This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com.
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:27PM
Is the Money Honey a "mommie in waiting"? She sure as hell looks pregnant.
Posted by bank_teller , Dec 05, 2008 3:29PM
Evelyn used to come to GS shareholder meetings and continuously call Hank Paulson by his real name, Henry. He hated that.
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:29PM
@6: I've been saying this for a while. I bet after all these years of marriage, when the Todd T. rumors started, Jonathan Steinberg was like "put up or shut up" on the baby front. It's a "Hail Mary" to save the marriage.
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:40PM
"Dutch Duchess of Ruckus"
brilliant
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:42PM
just for the record, Wachovia christmas "party" is ON. It will be at a nice little venue called Cans. Infer from this what you want...
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:46PM
@5 - Diddiocracy?
Posted by GinNTonic , Dec 05, 2008 3:47PM
10, you either have that or the Nascar Hall of Fame as your only Christmas Party venues in Charlotte
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 3:48PM
Anatomy of a Dealbreaker Post/Comment Thread:
Interesting post goes up.
Comments 1-3: FIRST
Comments 4-30: Relevant, post-related comments
Comment 31: you are a pussy/back-office geek/homosexual:
Comments 32-?: No I'm not, you are! No I'm not, YOU are! Get me my coffee/go suck someone's dick/go back to Yahoo Finance
REPEAT
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 4:03PM
evelyn's got a great tombstone (gotta love the third divorce):
http://lezbang.com/images/image/evelynmiddle.jpg
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 4:12PM
@10 It's an ops party. probably cash bar
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 4:23PM
@14, Highlights and Lowlights = bookrunner, third divorce = co-manager
Posted by guest , Dec 05, 2008 4:39PM
@6 I think it is the cheeseburgers and french fries. The bloom is off that rose...
Posted by guest , Dec 10, 2008 2:53AM
That is one hell of a concise observation! (ex. I'm a back office geek and find comment 15 "ops party cash bar" a jaded and sycophantic comment). Please post more like this.