In Its 2001 Annual Report to Shareholders, Maytag Corporation Included

In its 2001 annual report to shareholders, Maytag Corporation included the following disclosures in its income statement and related footnotes:
Special Charges and Loss on Securities
During the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company recorded special charges and loss on securities totaling $17.0 million, or $13.5 million after-tax. Special charges of $9.8 million, or $6.2 million after-tax, were associated with a salaried workforce reduction of approximately 250 employees. Cash expenditures for 2001 related to this charge were $3.7 million. Loss on securities of $7.2 million resulted from the write-down of the remaining investment in a privately held Internet-related company.
During the fourth quarter of 2000, the Company recorded special charges and loss on securities totaling $57.5 million, or $36.5 million after-tax. Special charges of $39.9 million, or $25.3 million after-tax, were associated with terminated product initiatives, asset write-downs and executive severance costs related to management changes. Loss on securities of $17.6 million, or $11.2 million after-tax, resulted from a lower market valuation of securities of TurboChef Technologies, Inc. and investments in privately held Internet-related Companies .. The loss on securities charge of $17.6 million was non-cash.
Required:
Discuss the possible rationale behind the losses on securities reported by Maytag in 2000 and 2001.