Hedge Fund and Insider Trading News: Carl Icahn, Keith Meister, Dan Loeb, Elliot Management, Entercom Communications Corp. (ETM), United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL), and More

Corvex and Icahn to Mull Making a Bid for Energen (Reuters)
BOSTON (Reuters) – Activist investor Keith Meister on Monday reunited with billionaire investor Carl Icahn and said in a regulatory filing that they may try to buy oil and gas producer Energen Corp. (EGN.N). The announcement comes roughly two months after the Birmingham, Alabama-based company settled a long-simmering fight with Meister’s New York-based hedge fund Corvex Management by agreeing to review its businesses and adding two members to the board. Now Meister and Icahn have laid out a path where they might step into the strategic review process and prepare to take over the company themselves.

Why This Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager Wants to Break Up United Technologies (The Motley Fool)
In his letter to investors, Activist investor Dan Loeb‘s said that his hedge fund Third Point initiated a “significant stake” in United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX) in the fourth quarter of 2017, and said, “Third Point did not invest in UTC for what it is today, but for what it could become.” In a nutshell, Loeb’s investment is based on a sum-of-the-parts analysis of the company that yields a valuation of around $190 to $210 per share, compared to the current price of $124. Loeb’s view is that the best way to release the intrinsic value in the company is by breaking it up. Let’s take a look at his arguments and judge whether they are valid or not.

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Hitachi Ready to Buy Elliott’s Stake in Ansaldo STS (Reuters)
MILAN (Reuters) – Japan’s Hitachi is ready to buy U.S. fund Elliott’s stake in Ansaldo STS (STS.MI) to take full control of the Italian rail-signalling company, the head of Hitachi Rail (6501.T) said on Monday. Hitachi and investment funds led by Elliot have been feuding since the Japanese company took a majority stake in Ansaldo STS, with the funds complaining about the price paid in the public offer by Hitachi, as well as Ansaldo’s strategy and governance. Elliott is the second largest shareholder in Ansaldo with a potential interest of just over 31 percent. Hitachi holds a 50.77 percent stake in the group. “We are ready to buy Elliott’s shares in Ansaldo STS, but at a fair price. Our target remains to reach a 100 percent stake,” Hitachi Rail CEO and Ansaldo Chairman Alistair Dormer told Corriere’s L’Economia, in comments confirmed by a spokesman.

GE’s $11.1 Billion Deal With Wabtec Should Have Warren Buffett Feeling Very Sad (TheStreet)
Let the great General Electric (GE) unwinding begin. GE and Wabtec agreed on Monday to a $11.1 billion deal that will merge the transport operations of the two companies. GE shares popped 2.9% on the news. It’s hard not to view the deal as a win for GE — the company will unload a capital intensive business, get to participate in its upside (GE shareholders will hold about 50.1% of the combined group) and receive $2.9 billion in cash. GE shares traded up 2.5% in early trading. If GE CEO John Flannery has more clever deals like this up his sleeve this year, then Warren Buffett will be kicking himself for not buying at the March 2018 lows. Buffett said at Berkshire Hathaway‘s (BRK.A) (BRK.B) recent annual meeting he wasn’t looking at buying part, or all, of the struggling GE. Whoops.

Insider Buying: Entercom Communications (ETM) Chairman Purchases $390,500.00 in Stock (TheEnterpriseLeader.com)
Entercom Communications Corp. (NYSE:ETM) Chairman Joseph M. Field purchased 50,000 shares of Entercom Communications stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $7.81 per share, with a total value of $390,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chairman now owns 6,327,381 shares in the company, valued at $49,416,845.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Insider Buying: United Continental Holdings (NYSE:UAL) Director Purchases 50,000 Shares of Stock (MaconDaily.com)
United Continental Holdings Inc (NYSE:UAL) Director Edward Shapiro purchased 50,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $65.86 per share, for a total transaction of $3,293,000.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 77,707 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,117,783.02. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Insider Buying: Coty (COTY) Insider Buys $669,678.00 in Stock (LedgerGazette.com)
Coty Inc (NYSE:COTY) insider Daniel E. Ramos acquired 46,700 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $14.34 per share, with a total value of $669,678.00. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 89,815 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,287,947.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Insider Buying: Hanesbrands (HBI) Director Acquires $553,395.60 in Stock (WeekHerald)
Hanesbrands Inc. (NYSE:HBI) Director David V. Singer purchased 31,230 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $17.72 per share, with a total value of $553,395.60. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 26,880 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $476,313.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC.

Insider Buying: Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (CLNE) SVP Buys $35,400.00 in Stock (TheEnterpriseLeader.com)
Clean Energy Fuels Corp (NASDAQ:CLNE) SVP Barclay Corbus acquired 15,000 shares of Clean Energy Fuels stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 18th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $2.36 per share, for a total transaction of $35,400.00. Following the purchase, the senior vice president now directly owns 549,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,295,906.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Insider Selling: TechTarget (TTGT) Director Sells 40,000 Shares of Stock (LedgerGazette.com)
TechTarget Inc (NASDAQ:TTGT) Director Roger M. Marino sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.66, for a total transaction of $906,400.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.