On May 14, 2014, Starboard Value LP announced it has delivered a letter to Darden's Board of Directors following statements made last week by Matthew Stroud, Darden's VP, Investor Relations, to a group of shareholders, that the Company is on a timetable to complete a sale or spin-off of Red Lobster in June or July. Starboard expressed its view that it would be a huge mistake for the Board to rush an irreversible and potentially value-destructive Red Lobster sale at this time, and is urging the Board to either immediately call the Special Meeting or agree to make any Red Lobster transaction subject to shareholder approval.