Carl Icahn wants to have more control over Herbalife — now that the Federal Trade Commission has launched an investigation into the company.
Herbalife said Thursday it has pushed back its annual meeting five days — until April 29 — so it can “continue its discussions” with Icahn about adding more of his nominees to its board.
The FTC probe was announced Wednesday, and the normally loquacious Icahn has yet to comment on it.
Icahn didn’t return calls for comment on Thursday.
But on Monday, Icahn was on CNBC promoting the company and bashing his nemesis, Bill Ackman, and the hedgie’s $1 billion short on Herbalife, saying Ackman’s actions almost border “on the insane.”
In a public presentation Tuesday, Ackman didn’t mention Icahn but said he had written two letters to Herbalife board members warning them of their “enormous personal liability” if the company is found to be a pyramid scheme.
Icahn owns about 17 percent of Herbalife. He put two people on the now 13-person board last year.
Shares in the Los Angeles company fell 5.4 percent Thursday, to close at $57.31 — and are off 27 percent this year.