Illumina issues letter to shareholders regarding board nomination vote

Illumina issued a letter which, among other things, states the following: it urges shareholders to vote in favor of Illumina’s slate of director nominees. Its Annual Meeting will be held virtually on May 25. Illumina’s board also urged shareholders to reject all three of Carl Icahn’s nominees by voting the White proxy card today "for" all nine of the company’s Board of Directors. All nine members are independent with the exception of CEO Francis deSouza. Carl Icahn seeks to replace Thompson, deSouza, and Epstein with his nominees. The Board does not endorse Carl Icahn or his nominees. Carl Icahn, whose firm owns less than 1.5% of Illumina’s outstanding common shares, has made it clear that his three director nominees would represent Icahn’s interests on the Board of Illumina and answer to Carl Icahn, not the shareholders of Illumina.