Flash: Etrade May Be For Sale

E*TRADE Financial responds to Citadel letter (15.64 +0.20)
The Board of Directors of E*TRADE Financial (ETFC) on July 20, 2011 received a letter from Citadel LLC (“Citadel”) requesting a special shareholder meeting to vote on a number of proposals including: the appointment of a special committee to hire an investment banker that has not previously advised the Co or the Board to review E*TRADE’s strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company; the declassification of E*TRADE’s Board of Directors so that all members are elected annually; and the removal of two independent Directors. E*TRADE believes that it has already addressed the substance of Citadel’s proposals and that it is not in the best interests of shareholders to call a special meeting at this time