It is believed that Ned's departure is closely related to tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars in losses from "sloppy" crude oil purchases. Ned was in charge.

OCAW has communicated regularly with institutional investors about deeply rooted management troubles at Crown. Ned, along with his brother, was the focus of shareholder resolutions - which called attention to the Rosenberg's family control of Crown, a publicly held company, and who would succeed Henry. Ned was the heir apparent.

When top executives leave, this is a clear signal a company is in trouble. In Ned's case, shareholders must have been happy, judging by the jump in Crown's stock price - the first significant movement in months. Now the stock, instead of having lost 60 percent of its value this year, has lost only 50 percent. Imagine what might happen if Henry resigns!!!

Crown Boycott News, October-November 1998