Activist Investors See Opportunity in Rocky Markets (The New York Times)
Turbulent periods for the markets aren’t usually regarded as the best times for activist investors, the hedge funds that buy stakes in companies with the aim of forcing changes in corporate strategy, like selling businesses or doing stock buybacks. But based on the packed crowd at the 13D Monitor Active-Passive Investor Summit in New York City on Tuesday — where the lines for coffee and macarons were scores deep with hedge fund executives, investment bankers and corporate lawyers — the business of activism is hotter than it has been in years, reports the DealBook newsletter.
Portfolio Allocation in Alternatives: Real Estate (Preqin)
Portfolio managers have many complex decisions to make to balance their funds to reduce risk and enhance returns. Since the Global Financial Crisis, investors have sought assets that produce high-risk adjusted returns, prompting them to consider new allocations to diversify portfolios. To help you visualize the different scenarios and decide which asset classes to include in your portfolios, we have created the Preqin Portfolio Allocation in Alternatives series.
UK Fund Managers Suffer Asset Declines on Shaky Markets (International Business Times)
A quartet of British fund managers said assets under management (AUM) dropped by $9.8 billion in aggregate in the three months to end-September, after a sharp sell-off in UK stocks and bonds in recent weeks compounded longer-held worries about a global slowdown. Britain’s largest listed hedge fund firm Man Group said its AUM dropped by 2.7%, while rivals Quilter, Rathbones and Liontrust Asset Management booked falls of 2%, 1.7% and 7.3%, their respective statements showed.
Hedge Funds Are Betting U.K.’s Most Battered Assets Will Rebound (FA-Mag.com)
A number of hedge funds are starting to come around to the idea that it may be time to buy the beaten-up pound and gilts. Others say investors should remain cautious. Great Hill Capital in New York sees opportunities to go long sterling after the currency’s recent wild ride. Blue Edge Advisors Pte sees positives in longer-maturity gilts as global growth slows. “I would buy it here and suck up any short-term volatility,” said Thomas Hayes, chairman and managing member at Great Hill. “I cannot tell you what will happen to the pound in the next days, weeks or months, but over the next one-to-three years the pound will be meaningfully higher against the dollar.”
London Hedge Fund VR Capital Blocks Naftogaz Restructuring – FT (Reuters)
London-based hedge fund VR Capital is resisting efforts by Ukraine’s state-owned gas company Naftogaz to restructure its debt, the Financial times reported on Wednesday. VR Capital is one of the lead investors involved in a stand-off between Naftogaz and its bondholders, FT reported, citing sources.
Wednesday 10/19 Insider Buying Report: CABA, OMI (Nasdaq.com)
On Tuesday, Cabaletta Bio’s Chief Financial Officer, Anup Marda, made a $49,620 purchase of CABA, buying 50,000 shares at a cost of $0.99 a piece. Marda was up about 24.9% on the buy at the high point of today’s trading session, with CABA trading as high as $1.24 at last check today. Cabaletta Bio is trading up about 17.5% on the day Wednesday. This purchase marks the first one filed by Marda in the past year. And at Owens & Minor, there was insider buying on Monday, by Director Robert J. Henkel who bought 1,000 shares at a cost of $15.68 each, for a total investment of $15,680. Before this latest buy, Henkel made one other purchase in the past twelve months, buying $31,760 shares for a cost of $31.76 a piece. Owens & Minor, is trading down about 0.1% on the day Wednesday. Henkel was up about 7.5% on the purchase at the high point of today’s trading session, with OMI trading as high as $16.85 at last check today.
JPMorgan And 2 Other Stocks Insiders Are Selling (Benzinga)
JPMorgan Chase: The Trade: JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) CEO Asset & Wealth Management Mary Erdoes sold a total of 33,515 shares at an average price of $115.77. The insider received around $3.88 million from selling those shares. Cigna: The Trade: Cigna Corporation (CI) President & CEO, Evernorth Eric Palmer sold a total of 4,000 shares at an average price of $300. The insider received around $1.2 million as a result of the transaction.
