Nokia shareholders plan opposition to Microsoft deal
![zd-defaultauthor-sam-diaz.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/9f4a6924336160d99f56819272b4624a15380cef/2014/12/04/58676caf-7b70-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57/zd-defaultauthor-sam-diaz.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
An unnamed group nine young Nokia shareholders who have also been employees have released an open letter to the company's other shareholders and institutional investors saying the Microsoft deal is a bad one for Nokia and chief executive Stephen Elop should be replaced.
![Nokia shareholders open letter](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/2014/10/02/ebabedc8-4a0c-11e4-b6a0-d4ae52e95e57/elop-ballmer-sm-meyer.jpg)
A group of Nokia shareholders oppose the Nokia-Microsoft partnership. Photo credit: David Meyer
In the letter, the group said it plans to challenge the Nokia-Microsoft partnership and strategy at the company's Annual General Meeting for Shareholders on 3 May. It said it has also developed a 'Plan B' approach that involves not only replacing Elop, but also looks to revamp the company's hiring strategy and eliminate "outdated and bureaucratic R&D practices".
These shareholders said they want to avoid, at all costs, "becoming a poorly differentiated OEM [original equipment manufacturer] with only low margin, commodity products that is unable to attract top software talent and cannot create shareholder value though innovation".
Update on 17 February: The 'Plan B' revolt is a hoax, according to Dow Jones and a post on Twitter. The Twitter message reads: "there are no 'nine young investors', just one very bored engineer who really likes his iPhone."
For more on this ZDNet UK-selected story, see Nokia's Microsoft deal leads to shareholder revolt, call for a "Plan B" on ZDNet.com.
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