Last week Harvest Capital Strategies manager Andrew Kaplan tried to attend an analyst meeting for First Solar, which he says he was invited to. Upon arriving at the Westin in New York, where the event was taking place, Kaplan received a badge, grabbed himself a Diet Coke, and waited for the conference to begin. Unfortunately, Andy never got to find out what the company had to say for itself, because he was approached by an IR person who informed him he need to leaving the building ASAP. First Solar claims Kaplan, who is short the stock, was never invited. He begs to differ, and doesn’t understand why there’d be any reason to throw him out, since a) he was asked to come b) it’s not like he looked like some hobo off the street. But whatever! He’s not going to raise too big a stink about the whole thing. He just wants his damn money. The money it cost him to get himself back to the office after being asked to get off the property.

“Andrew Kaplan was not invited to the live event, which had space limitations on attendance, but he managed to RSVP via e-mail and we did not catch the error in advance,” Bernheimer said. “We regret any embarrassment or awkwardness caused by issuing him an admittance badge and then taking it back.”
Kaplan e-mailed First Solar officials to ask why he was barred and request that the company pay his $9 taxi fare from the hotel back to his office on Park Avenue, where he listened to the analyst conference on the Internet. Kaplan said he runs one of five funds at Harvest Capital. First Solar is the world’s largest maker of thin-film solar-power modules.

“While, I suppose, you have the right to refuse admission to your event to anyone whom you have reason to believe might be disruptive, I find it hard to see how I might fit into that category,” Kaplan wrote in his e-mail to First Solar on Dec. 17. “I was dressed nicely. My hair was combed. I have always conducted myself with decorum at other events, and my questions to management members have always been pertinent and respectful.”

First Solar Bear Says He’s Owed Cab Fare After Missing Meeting [Bloomberg]

Comments (38)

  1. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 1:53 PM

    awesome

  2. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    Get your own schtick, you fucking small-time schmuck.
    - DL

  3. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 3:45 PM

    aka Biff Basness

  4. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 3:48 PM

    @2 how is this ripping off DL's schtick? someone fill me in.

  5. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 6:15 PM

    @4 diet coke?

  6. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    awesome

  7. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    awesome

  8. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    awesome

  9. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 10:53 PM

    awesome

  10. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 5:53 PM

    awesome

  11. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM

    Get your own schtick, you fucking small-time schmuck.
    - DL

  12. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM

    Get your own schtick, you fucking small-time schmuck.
    - DL

  13. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM

    Get your own schtick, you fucking small-time schmuck.
    - DL

  14. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:44 AM

    Get your own schtick, you fucking small-time schmuck.
    - DL

  15. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:45 AM

    aka Biff Basness

  16. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:45 AM

    aka Biff Basness

  17. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:45 AM

    aka Biff Basness

  18. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:45 AM

    aka Biff Basness

  19. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 7:45 PM

    aka Biff Basness

  20. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM

    @2 how is this ripping off DL’s schtick? someone fill me in.

  21. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM

    @2 how is this ripping off DL’s schtick? someone fill me in.

  22. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM

    @2 how is this ripping off DL’s schtick? someone fill me in.

  23. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:48 AM

    @2 how is this ripping off DL’s schtick? someone fill me in.

  24. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 3:15 AM

    @4 diet coke?

  25. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 3:15 AM

    @4 diet coke?

  26. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 3:15 AM

    @4 diet coke?

  27. Posted by guest | December 21, 2009 at 10:15 PM

    @4 diet coke?

  28. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 8:39 AM

    No no no. This is more Ackman than Loeb.

  29. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    No no no. This is more Ackman than Loeb.

  30. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    No no no. This is more Ackman than Loeb.

  31. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    No no no. This is more Ackman than Loeb.

  32. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 5:39 PM

    No no no. This is more Ackman than Loeb.

  33. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 12:39 PM

    No no no. This is more Ackman than Loeb.

  34. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 3:08 PM

    My hair was fucking combed man.

  35. Posted by guest | December 23, 2009 at 12:08 AM

    My hair was fucking combed man.

  36. Posted by guest | December 23, 2009 at 12:08 AM

    My hair was fucking combed man.

  37. Posted by guest | December 23, 2009 at 12:08 AM

    My hair was fucking combed man.

  38. Posted by guest | December 22, 2009 at 7:08 PM

    My hair was fucking combed man.

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