July 22 (Reuters) - Occidental Petroleum Corp onMonday criticized activist investor Carl Icahn's efforts to oustand replace four of its directors, saying his slate of nomineeswere inadequate for the post.
Icahn, who owns 4.4% stake in the Houston-based oil and gasproducer, launched a proxy fight last week, arguing that thecompany overpaid for Anadarko Petroleum and failed togive shareholders a say in the proposed $38 billion deal.
The proxy fight is unlikely to stop the Anadarko deal, butwould influence the pace and direction of billions of dollars ofasset sales that will result after the acquisition closes.
In a letter to shareholders, Occidental Chief ExecutiveOfficer Vicki Hollub and Chairman Eugene Batchelder said Icahn'sslate of nominees lacked "skills, experience or expertise thatare addititive or superior to our existing directors."
Icahn's nominees are John Hofmeister, former president ofShell Oil Co, Alan LeFevre, former finance chief of consumergoods firm Jarden Corp, and Nicholas Graziano and AndrewLangham, executives with Icahn's investment company.
Occidental also called on shareholders to reject the consentsolicitation put forward by Icahn to get a vote on his nominees.
An Icahn Group executive did not immediately reply torequests for comment.(Reporting by Arundhati Sarkar in Bengaluru; Editing by ArunKoyyur)
