Research Report on IBM as Sell Distributed by Intellivest Securities Research, Inc.

ATLANTA, March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellivest Securities Research, Inc., a Georgia Registered Investment Advisor, issued a research report today on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: IBM) with the recommendation to sell IBM's common stock.  The report said that the recommendation was due to expected imminent negative pressure on both IBM's products and its shares due to IBM's leadership failure to properly respond to discriminatory practices against women at Augusta National. 

IBM is one of three major sponsors of the Masters Golf Tournament held there.  IBM recently selected its first female CEO, Virginia Rometty.  The Report said that failure to strongly denounce Augusta National's policy of excluding female members is at odds with IBM's recent two initiatives based on IBM's "deep commitment to building a smarter planet"  targeted at governments and businesses.  Failure to speak out against bigotry in any form may also negatively impact IBM's efforts to grow its market in Africa, claims the Report.  The Report says that institutional and other holders of  IBM's shares will be under pressure from those opposed to discrimination to liquidate their position in IBM thereby increasing pressure on stock prices.  IBM may also face boycotts of their products and services from those who oppose bigotry.  The Report's legal analysis says failure to take a strong stand against Augusta National's discrimination could make IBM more vulnerable to various discrimination suits and government regulatory enforcement action based on a legal theory that inaction in the face of discrimination at Augusta National may be tantamount to condoning a climate of discrimination in the IBM workplace.

The report says that except for the current IBM leadership vacuum surrounding the Augusta National controversy, IBM's fundamentals are sound.

The author of the Research Report is Daniel H. Kolber, Series 87, 27, and 24 licensed and member of the Georgia, Florida, New York, and Virginia Bars.   Intellivest Securities Research, Inc. publishes a Daily Blog on the Dow Jones 30 component companies  at www.DowJonesMonitor.com.  Please read the Report for all disclaimers.

SOURCE Intellivest Securities Research, Inc.