icahn letter to apple

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CARL ICAHN ISSUES OPEN LETTER TO TIM COOK May 18, 2015 by Carl Icahn FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact : Icahn Capital LP Susan Gordon (212) 7024309 CARL ICAHN ISSUES OPEN LETTER TO TIM COOK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF APPLE New York, New York, May 18, 2015 – Today Carl Icahn released the attached open letter to Tim Cook, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc. For more information on this and other topics, follow Carl Icahn on Twitter at: @Carl_C_Icahn https://twitter.com/Carl_C_Icahn ALL RECIPIENTS ARE ADVISED TO READ “IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE INFORMATION AT THE END OF THE ATTACHED LETTER

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Carl Icahn's open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

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  • CARLICAHNISSUESOPENLETTERTOTIMCOOKMay18,2015

    byCarlIcahn

    FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

    Contact:

    IcahnCapitalLP

    SusanGordon

    (212)7024309

    CARLICAHNISSUESOPENLETTERTO

    TIMCOOK,CHIEFEXECUTIVEOFFICEROFAPPLE

    NewYork,NewYork,May18,2015TodayCarlIcahnreleasedtheattachedopenlettertoTim

    Cook,theChiefExecutiveOfficerofAppleInc.

    Formoreinformationonthisandothertopics,followCarlIcahnonTwitterat:

    @Carl_C_Icahn

    https://twitter.com/Carl_C_Icahn

    ALLRECIPIENTSAREADVISEDTOREAD

    IMPORTANTDISCLOSUREINFORMATION

    ATTHEENDOFTHEATTACHEDLETTER

  • CarlC.Icahn

    767FifthAvenue,47thFloor

    NewYork,NewYork10153

    May18,2015

    DearTim:

    WeagainapplaudyouandtherestofmanagementforApplesimpressiveoperational

    performanceandgrowth.Itistrulyimpressivethat,despitesevereforeignexchangeheadwinds

    andmassivegrowthininvestment(inbothR&DandSG&A),thecompanywillstillgrow

    earningsby40%thisyear,accordingtoourforecast.AfterreflectinguponApplestremendous

    success,wenowbelieveApplesharesareworth$240today.Appleispoisedtoenterandinour

    viewdominatetwonewcategories(thetelevisionnextyearandtheautomobileby2020)witha

    combinedaddressablemarketof$2.2trillion,aviewinvestorsdontappeartofactorintotheir

    valuationatall.Webelievethismayleadtoadefactoshortsqueeze,asunderweightactively

    managedmutualfundsandhedgefundscorrecttheirmisguidedpositions.Toarriveatthevalue

    of$240pershare,weforecastFY2016EPSof$12.00(excludingnetinterestincome),applya

    P/Emultipleof18x,andthenadd$24.44ofnetcashpershare.Consideringourforecastfor30%

    EPSgrowthinFY2017andourbeliefApplewillsoonentertwonewmarkets(Televisionand

    theAutomobile)withacombinedaddressablemarketsizeof$2.2trillion,wethinkamultipleof

    18xisaveryconservativepremiumtothatoftheoverallmarket.Consideringthemassivescope

    ofitsgrowthopportunitiesandtrackrecordofdominatingnewcategories,weactuallythink18x

    willultimatelyprovetobetooconservative,especiallysinceweviewthemarketingeneralas

    havingmuchlowergrowthprospects.

    WearepleasedthatApplehasdirectionallyfollowedouradviceandrepurchased$80billionof

    itsshares(yieldingthecompanysshareholdersanexcellentreturn),butthecompanys

  • enormousnetcashpositioncontinuestogrowwhilethecompanyssharesarestilldramatically

    undervalued.WithApplessharestradingforjust$128.77pershareversusourvaluationof$240

    pershare,nowisthetimeforamuchlargerbuyback.WeappreciatethattheBoardjust

    increasedthesharerepurchaseauthorizationby$50billion,andthatitcontinuestoprioritize

    sharerepurchasesoverdividends(asitshould).Weagainsimplyaskyoutohelpusconvincethe

    boardofhowthesetwounderlyingissues(inefficientnetcashgrowthandshareundervaluation)

    persistandcombinetoenhancetheopportunityforacceleratedsharerepurchasesingreater

    magnitude.Wealsoaskyoutohelpusconvincetheboardthatthisisnotachoicebetween

    investingingrowthandsharerepurchases.Asourmodelforecasts,despitemorethan30%

    growthinR&DannuallythroughFY2017to$13.5billion(upfrom$1.8billioninFY2010)and

    yourupdatedcapitalreturnprogram,Applesnetcashposition(currentlythelargestofany

    companyinhistory)willcontinuetobuildonthebalancesheet.

    Itisourbeliefthatlargeinstitutionalinvestors,WallStreetanalystsandthenewsmediaalike

    continuetomisunderstandAppleandgenerallyfailtovalueApplesnetcashseparatelyfromits

    business,failtoadjustearningstoreflectApplesrealcashtaxrate,failtorecognizethegrowth

    prospectsofAppleenteringnewcategories,andfailtorecognizethatApplewillmaintain

    pricingandmargins,despitesignificantevidencetothecontrary.Collectively,thesefailures

    havecausedApplesearningsmultipletostayirrationallydiscounted,inourview.

    WhenwecompareApplesP/EratiotothatoftheS&P500index,wefindthatthemarket

    continuestovalueAppleatasignificantlydiscountedmultipleofonly10.9x,comparedto17.4x

    fortheS&P500,awardingtheS&P500witha60%premiumvaluationtoApple:

    Importantly,aswehavenotedpreviously,weassumea20%taxrateforthepurposeof

    forecastingApplesrealcashearnings,notthe26.2%effectivetaxrateusedbyApple,and

  • viewthisasanecessaryadjustment,oftenoverlookedbybothanalystsandinvestors.Formore

    detailonourmethodologyforthisadjustment,pleasereviewourlettertitledCarlIcahnIssues

    LettertoTwitterFollowersRegardingApplepublishedFebruary11th,2015,whichyoucanfind

    here:http://www.shareholderssquaretable.com/lettertotwitterfollowersregardingapple/

    ByapplyingthisadjustmenttothecurrentconsensusFY2015EPSof$8.96(amongthe45

    analystswhohaveupdatedtheirEPStargetssinceApril22nd),theadjustedresultis$9.71.

    Notably,whilepreviouslycriticizedbysomeoftheseanalystsasbeingtooaggressive,this

    consensusEPSforecast,whichincludesinterestincome,isnowlargelyinlinewithourown

    forecastof$9.60,whichdoesnotincludeinterestincome.And,onceagain,weexcludeinterest

    incomefromourEPSforecastbecausewevalueApplesenormousnetcashbalanceseparately

    fromtheenterprise,unlikemostanalysts.

    WhileourforecastforFY2016EPSissignificantlyaboveWallStreetconsensustoday,in

    October2014sowasouroriginalforecastforFY2015EPS,whichisnowinlinewiththeWall

    Streetconsensus.Weareoptimisticthatecosystemimprovements(AppleWatch,ApplePay,

    HomekitandHealthkitinparticular)willdrivemodestgrowthiniPhonerevenuesnextyear,

    despitethedifficultcomparisonthatwillresultfromiPhonestremendousperformancethisyear.

    WithanewiPhoneexpectedinSeptember2016,ApplestandstobenefitasiPhonecontinuesto

    takepremiummarketshare(switchersfromcompetitors),asthemiddleclasscontinuestogrow

    inemergingmarkets,andasthemodestlevelofupgrades(only20%todate)indicatespulling

    demandforwardfromFY2016toFY2015maynotbeassevereassomehavehighlighted.

    AlongwithamoredramaticpushintotheTVmarket,increasingtractionwithAppleWatch,and

    theintroductionofalargerscreeniPad,wehaveconfidenceinourforecastforFY2016.

    WebelieveAppleWatch,ApplePay,Homekit,Healthkit,BeatsMusic,andfurtherinnovationin

    existingproductlinescollectivelyrepresentatremendousopportunitythatontheirownjustifya

    valuationthat,attheveryleast,reflectsamarketmultiple.Thatbeingsaid,weshareyour

    excitementthatourbestdaysareaheadofusandthatApplehasnoshortageofgrowth

    opportunitiestopursue.ThecompanysdramaticincreaseinR&Dspendingshouldsignalto

  • investorsthatAppleplanstoaggressivelypursuethesegrowthopportunities.Itmaybedifficult

    forsometofathom(onlybecauseAppleisalreadythelargestcompanyintheworld),butApple

    isverymuchalongtermgrowthstoryfromourperspective,whichisexactlywhywebelievethe

    companyssharesshouldtradeatapremiummultipletotheS&P500,asopposedtotheS&P

    500tradingata60%premiumtoApple.WhilewerespectandadmireApplespredilectionfor

    secrecy,thecompanysaggressiveincreasesinR&Dspending(andsomeofthemore

    wellsupportedrumors)havebolsteredourconfidencethatApplewillentertwonewproduct

    categories:televisionandcars.Combined,thesetwonewmarketsrepresent$2.2trillion,three

    timesthesizeofApplesexistingmarkets(ifweexcludeAppleWatch).

    Excludingadvertising,theaddressablemarketfortelevisionisapproximately$575billion,

    whichislargerthanthesmartphonemarket.Also,giventhatpeoplespendanaverageof12%of

    thedaywatchingTV(equatingto25%oftheirfreetime),weviewtelevisionsroleintheliving

    roomasastrategicallycompellingboltontotheAppleecosystem.InadditiontoanUltraHigh

    Definitiontelevisionset,weexpectAppletolauncharelatedsuiteoftieredproductsand

    services,includingaskinnybundleofpaytvchannels(partneredwithvariousmedia

    companies)andanupdatedAppleTVmicroconsole(whichwillcontinuetoservicethemassive

    installbaseoftelevisionsofferedbyotherOEMs).ThiswillenableAppletopursuetheentire

    marketbyofferingmultipleproductsatvariouspricepointsacrossthedemographicspectrum.

    Netflixoffersasimilartieredapproachtopricingtodaybychargingahigherpriceforthose

    seekingtheabilitytoreceiveultrahighdefinitioncontent.

    WebelievethismoveintoTVwillalsobenefitalltheotherdevicesandservicesintheApple

    ecosystem.Asjustoneofmanypossibleexamplesofthis,theAppleWatchcouldperhapsbe

    usedasaremotecontrol.Similarly,asweexpectAppletolaunchalarger12.9iPad,itwould

    offeranenhancedviewingexperienceforanApplepaytvservice,oractanimprovedsecond

    screentoanAppleUltraHDtelevision.

    At$1.6trillion,theenormousaddressablemarketfornewcarsisapproximatelyfourtimesthe

    sizeofthesmartphonemarket.Itsestimatedthatpeoplespendanaverageof1houreveryday

  • traveling,mostlyincars,butnoteveryonedrives,implyingthattheaveragetimethatdaily

    commutersspendinacarismuchhigher.WebelievetherumorsthatApplewillintroducean

    Applebrandedcarby2020,andwebelieveitisnocoincidencethatmanybelievevisibilityon

    autonomousdrivingwillgainmaterialtractionbythen.

    Asautonomousdrivingwouldreleasedriversattentionfromtheactivityofdrivingand

    navigating,andperhapsevenincreasethetimepeopleactuallywanttospendinsideacar,both

    anautomobileandtheservicesprovidedthereinbecomeevenmorestrategicallycompelling.

    WhileApplecurrentlyaddressesthismarketwithCarPlay,itseemslogicalthatApplewould

    viewthecaritselfasatheultimatemobiledevicetowhichitcouldbringitspeerlesstrackrecord

    ofmarryingsuperiorindustrialdesignwithsoftwareandservices,alongwithitsglobally

    admiredbrand,andofferconsumersanoverallautomobileexperiencethatnotonlychangesthe

    worldbutalsoaddsarobustverticaltotheAppleecosystem.AndforApple,thecarmarketis

    morethanbigenoughtomovetheneedlesignificantly,evenastheworldslargestcompany.

    Therisingcostofoil,itsimpactonglobalwarming,thegeopoliticalrisksassociatedwithoil

    dependency(especiallyasfuelforautomobiles),followedmorerecentlybytheriseofcost

    effectivealternativespresentsachangetheworldopportunityforApple.Itiswidelybelieved

    thattheelectricbatterywillplayakeyroleinthistransition.Thelithiumionbatteryalready

    representsacriticalcomponentacrossmanyofApplesexistingproducts(iPhone,iPad,Apple

    Watch,MacBook,Beats)andanyfurtherinnovationcouldbeagamechangerintermsofboth

    batterylifeandformfactoracrossApplesentireecosystem.Sincelithiumionbatteries

    representalargepercentageofthecostoftodayselectricvehicle,webelieveAppleshouldbe

    wellpositionedtoleverageitsexistingknowledgedomainandmorerobustR&Dspendingin

    thisarea,andinturnapplyanyenergydensity/batterylifeimprovementsforacaracrossallthe

    otherproductsinitsecosystemthatwillsharethebenefitfromsuchbatteryinnovation(iPhone,

    iPad,AppleWatch,MacBook,Beats).

  • Asamobiledevicethatisdifferentiatedbydesign,brand,andconsumerexperiencewhere

    softwareandservicesareincreasinglycritical,anApplecarwouldseemtobeuniquely

    positioned.

    Whilethetelevisionandthecaroffertremendousgrowthopportunities,Applescoreecosystem

    continuestoimproveandgrow,nowsometimesreferredtoasamegaecosystem,atermwe

    findincreasinglyappropriate,aswelookatthebreadthofitscomponents,whichnowinclude

    existingproducts(iPhone,AppleWatch,Mac,iPad,Beats,AppleTV),software/services(Apple

    Pay,Homekit,Healthkit,Carplay,iCloud,iTunes,andrumoredBeatsMusic,payTVservice),as

    wellaspossiblenewproductsinnewcategories(aCar,aTVset).Furthermore,ongoing

    innovationsandenhancementstoalloftheabovewilldriveevenmorepremiummarketshare

    gainsforiPhone,whichsitsattheepicenterofthismegaecosystem.

    Applehasclearlydemonstratedatrackrecordofexcellenceandsuccesswhenenteringnew

    categories.WeexpectthistocontinuewiththeAppleWatch,thetelevision,andthecar,andthe

    worldwilllookbackontodaysundervaluationasafascinatingexampleofmarketinefficiency

    (andlikewiseonourvaluationat18xearningspershareasconservative).Becauseofthis,we

    encouragebothacceleratedandlargermagnitudesharerepurchasesasyouconsiderhowto

    allocatecapitalgoingforward.Asyoucontinuetoevaluatethisopportunity,andconsiderthe

    rightpricesatwhichtoopportunisticallyrepurchaseshares,wehopeyougivecredencetoour

    adviceinlightofourinvestmentrecord.Unlikethemanyactivelymanagedmutualfundsand

    hedgefundsthatareunderweightAppleandhaveunderperformedtheS&P500,wehave

    exhibitedstrongoutperformance,thanksinparttoourlargepositioninApple.TheSargon

    Portfolio(adesignatedportfolioofassetscomanagedbyBrettIcahnandDavidSchechter

    withintheprivateinvestmentfundscomprisingIcahnEnterprisesInvestmentsegmentandHigh

    RiverLimitedPartnership,subjecttothesupervisionandcontrolofCarlIcahn)hasgenerated

    annualizedgrossreturnsof36.9%sinceitsformationonApril1,2010throughApril30,2015

    with$8billionofassetsundermanagementasofApril30,2015.

  • Ifyouchoosenottopursuesomeofthenewcategorieswehighlighted,oryoufindourgrowth

    forecaststooaggressiveforanyonenewcategoryinparticular,wellbethefirsttoadmitthat

    youaremoreknowledgeableintheseareasthanweare.Butwebelieve,thatunderany

    circumstances,youwouldagreethatintheaggregate,allthesenewcategoriestakentogether

    (alongwiththoseofwhichwemaybeunaware)representoneofthegreatestgrowthstoriesin

    corporatehistory,aswellasoneofthegreatestopportunitieseverforacompanytoinvestin

    itselfbyrepurchasingitsshares.

    Sincerely,

    CarlC.Icahn

    BrettIcahn

    DavidSchechter

    KeyAssumptions

    iPhoneafterourestimateof43%revenuegrowthinFY2015,weforecastmodestrevenuegrowthinFY2016ofjust2.3%,followedbymoderaterevenuegrowthof6.7%inFY2017,alldrivenbyvolumegrowthamidstflataveragesellingpricesoverthethreeyearperiodpacedbyswitchers,newmiddleclassusers,ecosystemstrength,andinnovation

    iPadafterdisappointingrevenuegrowthofnegative21.5%inFY2015ascannibalizationfromthelargerscreeniPhoneandcustomersutilizingexistingoldermodelsforlongerthanweexpectedimpactedresults,weforecastAppleisataninflectionpointandexpecttheintroductionofanewlargerscreeniPadinconjunctionwithitspushintotelevision,penetrationintotheenterprise,maturationofthereplacementcycle,newmiddleclassusers,ecosystemstrength,andinnovationtodrivestrongperformancewithrevenuegrowthof27.7%inFY2016and14.2%inFY2017.

    MacinadecliningPCindustry,weexpectMactocontinueitsmarketsharegainandsupportourforecastforitsstrongperformanceof7.3%revenuegrowthinFY2015,followedby3.6%inFY2016,and4.6%inFY2017onflataveragesellingpricesoverthethreeyearperiodof$1,230.

    AppleWatchaftertherecentreleaseinthe2ndhalfofFY2015,weexpecttheAppleWatchtogaintractionandbeasuccessinthemarketleadingourforecastsof10millionunitsduringthe2ndhalfofFY2015at$600averagesellingpricesincludingtheextra

  • bandsmanyconsumerswillorder.ThroughoutFY2016weexpecttheAppleWatchtogainfurthertractionandasecondgenerationAppleWatchtobereleasedsometimein2ndhalfofFY2016.WeexpectimprovementsinboththenumberandqualityofAppsalongwithaddingsensorsandfunctionalityinlatergenerationsoftheAppleWatchtoevolvetheAppleWatchintoamusthaveaccessoryovertimeforiPhoneowners.Weforecastrevenuesof$6billioninFY2015,$22.5billioninFY2016,and$45billioninFY2017.

    AppleTelevisionSetaftermanyyearsofrumorsaspartofApplespushintotelevisionandaswereferencedpreviously,weexpectinFY2016Applewillsell55and65ultrahighdefinitiontelevisionsets.Weforecastrevenuesof$15billioninFY2016and$37.5billioninFY2017on10millionand25millionunitsrespectivelywithaveragesellingpricesof$1,500.

    iTunes,Software,&ServicesaspartofApplesmoveintotelevision,weexpecttheintroductionofaskinnybundleofpaytvchannels(partneredwithvariousmediacompanies)andvideocontentsoldthroughiTunes,alongwithaBeatsMusicsubscriptionserviceandAppStoresalesgiveuscomfortinourforecastsofgrowthoverthenextthreeyearsof6%inFY2015,10%inFY2016,and15%inFY2017.NottomentionHomeKitandHealthKitwhichfornowweexpecttonotbemonetizedbutsimplyenhancetheoverallecosystem.

    AccessoriesandiPodaspartofApplesmoveintotelevision,weexpecttheintroductionofanupdatedAppleTVmicroconsole(whichwillcontinuetoservicethemassiveinstallbaseoftelevisionsofferedbyotherOEMs),alongwithimprovementstoBeatsheadphonestodrivegrowthfarinexcessofthedeclineiniPodwhichatourforecast$1.1billionofrevenuesinFY2015islargelyirrelevanttoApplefinancially

    ApplePayafteraninsignificantfinancialcontributioninFY2015weexpectApplePaytogainacceptanceatmoreretailersandforAppletoexpandtheserviceinternationally.Ourforecastsforrevenues(alsoequivalenttogrossmarginsasthevariablecostsaredeminimis)are$263millioninFY2015,$1.2billioninFY2016,and$3.3billioninFY2017.

    GrossMarginsweforecastflatgrossmarginsof40.0%fromFY2015throughFY2017.

    ResearchandDevelopmentR&DweforecastrobustgrowthinR&DasApplerampsitsinvestmentsininnovationatabreathtakingpacewithgrowthof32.4%,30%,and30%overthenextthreeyearsto$13.5billioninFY2017(upfrom$1.8billionspentinFY2010).

    Selling,General,&AdministrativeSG&AweforecastheavyinvestmentinSG&A,asitrisesby19%,13.5%,and10%overthenextthreefiscalyearsto$17.8billioninFY2017.

  • InterestIncomewithregardstointerestincome,sincewevaluethenetcashseparatelyfromthebusiness,weassumenointerestincomefromApplesnetcashof$149.7billiononMarch28,2015.

    EffectiveTaxRateimportantlyforthecompanysincometaxrate,weconsider20%amoreappropriatetaxrateforthepurposesofforecastingrealearnings,notthe26%effectivetaxrateAppleusesintheirincomestatement.MostcompaniesintheS&P500statethattheyplantopermanentlyreinvesttheirinternationalearningsandthereforedonothavetoaccrueforanincometaxonunremittedearningsandthusshowalowertaxrate.Googleisagoodexampleofthis,asitseffectivetaxrateis20%.Apple,unlikeGoogleandmostcompaniesintheS&P500haschosentoaccrueincometaxesonsomeofitsunremittedinternationalearningsandaccordinghasaneffectivetaxrateof26%.Therefore,whenassessingthemultipleofearningsatwhichAppleshouldtrade,webelieveitisappropriatetousea20%taxrateforAppleinordertomakesuchcomparisonsApplestoApples,nopunintended.

    ShareRepurchasesweassumesharerepurchasesof$37.5billion,$31.25billion,and$37.5billionoverthenextthreeyearforourforecastandnotthemoreaggressivepacewehopetheBoardwillundertake

    CashFlowforsimplicitypurposes,weassumenetincomeequalscashflowotherthandividendsandsharerepurchases

    Valuationwithregardstovaluationofthecompanyat$240pershare,thisincludesvaluingthebusinessat$216pershare(at18xourFY2016earningsestimateof$12pershare)plusnetcashpershareof$24($150billionofnetcashlessthetaxeffectoninternationalcashforrepatriation,whichweestimatetoultimatelybe6%,andforsimplicitypurposes,applytoallcashonbalancesheetratherthanjusttheinternationalcash).

  • ImportantDisclosureInformation

    SPECIALNOTEREGARDINGTHISLETTER

  • THISLETTERCONTAINSOURCURRENTVIEWSONTHEVALUEOFAPPLE

    SECURITIESANDACTIONTHATAPPLESBOARDMAYTAKETOENHANCETHE

    VALUEOFITSSECURITIES.OURVIEWSAREBASEDONOURANALYSISOF

    PUBLICLYAVAILABLEINFORMATIONANDASSUMPTIONSWEBELIEVETOBE

    REASONABLE.THERECANBENOASSURANCETHATTHEINFORMATIONWE

    CONSIDEREDISACCURATEORCOMPLETE,NORCANTHEREBEANYASSURANCE

    THATOURASSUMPTIONSARECORRECT.APPLESACTUALPERFORMANCEAND

    RESULTSMAYDIFFERMATERIALLYFROMOURASSUMPTIONSANDANALYSIS.

    WEHAVENOTSOUGHT,NORHAVEWERECEIVED,PERMISSIONFROMANY

    THIRDPARTYTOINCLUDETHEIRINFORMATIONINTHISLETTER.ANYSUCH

    INFORMATIONSHOULDNOTBEVIEWEDASINDICATINGTHESUPPORTOFSUCH

    THIRDPARTYFORTHEVIEWSEXPRESSEDHEREIN.WEDONOTRECOMMENDOR

    ADVISE,NORDOWEINTENDTORECOMMENDORADVISE,ANYPERSONTO

    PURCHASEORSELLSECURITIESANDNOONESHOULDRELYONTHISLETTEROR

    ANYASPECTOFTHISLETTERTOPURCHASEORSELLSECURITIESORCONSIDER

    PURCHASINGORSELLINGSECURITIES.ALTHOUGHWESTATEINTHISLETTER

    WHATWEBELIEVESHOULDBETHEVALUEOFAPPLESSECURITIES,THIS

    LETTERDOESNOTPURPORTTOBE,NORSHOULDITBEREAD,ASAN

    EXPRESSIONOFANYOPINIONORPREDICTIONASTOTHEPRICEATWHICH

    APPLESSECURITIESMAYTRADEATANYTIME.ASNOTED,THISLETTER

    EXPRESSESOURCURRENTVIEWSONAPPLE.ITALSODISCLOSESOURCURRENT

    HOLDINGSOFAPPLESECURITIES.OURVIEWSANDOURHOLDINGSCOULD

    CHANGEATANYTIME.WEMAYSELLANYORALLOFOURHOLDINGSOR

    INCREASEOURHOLDINGSBYPURCHASINGADDITIONALSECURITIES.WEMAY

    TAKEANYOFTHESEOROTHERACTIONSREGARDINGAPPLEWITHOUT

    UPDATINGTHISLETTERORPROVIDINGANYNOTICEWHATSOEVEROFANY

    SUCHCHANGES,EXEPTASNOTEDWITHRESPECTTOTHEAPPLETENDEROFFER

  • WEAREASKINGTHEAPPLEBOARDTOAUTHORIZE.INVESTORSSHOULDMAKE

    THEIROWNDECISIONSREGARDINGAPPLEANDITSPROSPECTSWITHOUT

    RELYINGON,OREVENCONSIDERING,ANYOFTHEINFORMATIONCONTAINEDIN

    THISLETTER.

    FORWARDLOOKINGSTATEMENTS

    Certainstatementscontainedinthisletterareforwardlookingstatementsincluding,butnot

    limitedto,statementsthatarepredicationsoforindicatefutureevents,trends,plansor

    objectives.Unduerelianceshouldnotbeplacedonsuchstatementsbecause,bytheirnature,they

    aresubjecttoknownandunknownrisksanduncertainties.Forwardlookingstatementsarenot

    guaranteesoffutureperformanceoractivitiesandaresubjecttomanyrisksanduncertainties.

    Duetosuchrisksanduncertainties,actualeventsorresultsoractualperformancemaydiffer

    materiallyfromthosereflectedorcontemplatedinsuchforwardlookingstatements.

    Forwardlookingstatementscanbeidentifiedbytheuseofthefuturetenseorother

    forwardlookingwordssuchasbelieve,expect,anticipate,intend,plan,estimate,

    should,may,will,objective,projection,forecast,managementbelieves,

    continue,strategy,positionorthenegativeofthosetermsorothervariationsofthemorby

    comparableterminology.

    Importantfactorsthatcouldcauseactualresultstodiffermateriallyfromtheexpectationsset

    forthinthisletterinclude,amongotherthings,thefactorsidentifiedunderthesectionentitled

    RiskFactorsinApplesAnnualReportonForm10KfortheyearendedSeptember27,2014.

    Suchforwardlookingstatementsshouldthereforebeconstruedinlightofsuchfactors,and

    Icahnisundernoobligation,andexpresslydisclaimsanyintentionorobligation,toupdateor

    reviseanyforwardlookingstatements,whetherasaresultofnewinformation,futureeventsor

    otherwise,exceptasrequiredbylaw.