Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Summer Sale: 50% Off The Wall Street Journal For a Limited Time

From time to time we like to highlight relevant financial deals we come across.  It looks like The Wall Street Journal is now having a summer sale with a 50% discount.

The sale applies to all versions: print, digital, or both.  The offer expires on August 7th so definitely take advantage of the savings and lock-in low prices while you can.

Here's the link to the offer: 50% off The Wall Street Journal

Enjoy!


NYU Stern Evaluation Investment Newsletter: Latest Issue

NYU Stern's student-run investment newsletter eVALUATION is out with their latest issue. 

In it, they interview Ron Cordes of AssetMark, Peter Grubstein of NGEN Partners, Rekha Unnithan of TIAA Global Asset Management, Professor Steve Godeke, David Levine of Odin River, and Sebastian Vanderzeil of Cornerstone Capital Group.

The issue also features investment pitches from students, including: long Harman International (HAR) and long Terraform Global (GLBL). 

Embedded below is the latest issue of NYU Stern's eVALUATION newsletter:



For more like this, check out NYU Stern's interview with Marc Lasry as well as their issue on private market investing.


12 West Capital Discloses Ari Network Services Stake

Joel Ramin's hedge fund firm 12 West Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Ari Network Services (ARIS).  Per the filing, 12 West now owns 5.9% of the company with 1,020,010 shares.

This is a newly disclosed equity stake for the firm and the filing was made due to activity on July 1st.

Per Google Finance, Ari Network Services is "creates software-as-a-service (SaaS) and data-as-a-service (DaaS) solutions that help equipment manufacturers, distributors and dealers in selected vertical markets Sell More Stuff!- online and in-store. The Company’s solutions include Web Platform Solutions, eCatalog Platform Solutions and Lead Management Product. The Company’s SaaS and DaaS solutions include eCommerce-enabled websites, which provide a Web presence for dealers and serve as a platform for driving leads and eCommerce sales; eCatalogs, which drive sales of inventory and PG&A both online and within the dealership; and lead management software designed to increase sales for dealers through management and closure of leads."


Monday, July 11, 2016

Coatue Management Files 13G on Twilio

Philippe Laffont's hedge fund firm Coatue Management has just filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Twilio (TWLO).  Per the filing, they now own 6.25% of the company with 625,000 shares.

Twilio recently went public in late June.  However, Coatue previously invested when Twilio was still private.  The company's blog notes that Coatue participated in its Series E round back in July 2015.

Per Google Finance, Twilio "offers Cloud Communications Platforms. The Company enables developers to build, scale and operate real-time communications within software applications. It Programmable Communications Cloud software enables developers to embed voice, messaging, video and authentication capabilities into their applications via its Application Programming Interfaces. The Super Network is its software layer that allows its customers' software to communicate with connected devices globally. It interconnects with communications networks around the world and continually analyzes data to optimize the quality and cost of communications that flow through its platform. The Programmable Communications Cloud consists of software products that can be used individually or in combination to build rich contextual communications within applications. The Programmable Communications Cloud includes Programmable Voice; Programmable Messaging; Programmable Video; Use Case APIs, and Add-on Marketplace."


ValueAct Capital Files 13D on Alliance Data Systems

Jeff Ubben's activist investment firm ValueAct Capital has filed a 13D with the SEC regarding their stake in Alliance Data Systems (ADS).  Per the filing, ValueAct now owns 6.8% of the company with 4 million shares.

The filing indicates ValueAct was buying in mid-to-late June and early July at prices from $186.66 to $200.99.  ADS currently trades around $211.

This is up a sizeable amount from the 541,115 ADS shares they owned at the end of the first quarter.  Our Hedge Fund Wisdom newsletter flagged ValueAct's new purchase back in May.

The 13D notes that ValueAct intends to have discussions with management and the board about ways to enhance shareholder value.

Per Google Finance, Alliance Data Systems is "a provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving consumer-based businesses in a range of industries. The Company offers a portfolio of integrated outsourced marketing solutions, including customer loyalty programs, database marketing services, end-to-end marketing services, analytics and creative services, direct marketing services, and private label and co-brand retail credit card programs. The Company operates through three segments: LoyaltyOne, which provides coalition and short-term loyalty programs through the Company's Canadian AIR MILES Reward Program and BrandLoyalty; Epsilon, which provides end-to-end, integrated marketing solutions, and Card Services, which provides risk management solutions, account origination, funding, transaction processing, customer care, collections and marketing services for the Company's private label and co-brand retail credit card programs."


Tiger Management Increases T2 Biosystems Stake, Reduces Enzymotec Stake

Julian Robertson's hedge fund firm Tiger Management has recently submitted two filings to the SEC.


Tiger Files 13G on T2 Biosystems

First, Tiger Management has filed a 13G on T2 Biosystems (TTOO).  Per the filing, Tiger now owns 5.17% of the company with over 1.25 million shares.

This is up from the 552,255 shares they owned at the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on June 29th.

To see the rest of Tiger Management's portfolio, head to the latest issue of our Hedge Fund Wisdom newsletter.

Per Google FInance, T2 Biosystems is an "in vitro diagnostics company engaged in developing a technology platform offering an alternative to diagnostic methodologies. The Company's T2 Magnetic Resonance platform (T2MR) enables detection of pathogens, biomarkers and other abnormalities in a range of unpurified patient sample types, including whole blood, plasma, serum, saliva, sputum and urine, and can detect cellular targets at limits of detection as one colony forming unit per milliliter (CFU/mL). The Company's initial development efforts target sepsis, hemostasis and Lyme disease. T2MR is a miniaturized, magnetic resonance-based approach that measures how water molecules react in the presence of magnetic fields. Its platform detects a range of targets, including molecular targets, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), immunodiagnostics, such as proteins, and a range of hemostasis measurements. The Company offers T2Dx Instrument (T2Dx) and the T2Candida Panel."


Tiger Reduces Enzymotec Position

Secondly, in a separate 13G filed with the SEC, the hedge fund firm also shows a 2.5% stake in Enzymotec (ENZY) with 577,407 shares. 

This is down from the 1.14 million shares they owned at the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 1st.

Per Google Finance, Enzymotec is "a nutritional ingredients and medical foods company. The Company's technologies, research expertise and clinical validation process enables it to develop solutions across a range of products. The Company operates in two segments: Nutrition segment and VAYA Pharma segment. Both of the Company's segments offer a range of products that leverage its lipid-related offerings. Its product suite addresses the entire human life-cycle, from infancy to old age, and comprises ingredients in products ranging from infant formula to nutritional supplements, as well as branded medical foods, sold only under a doctor's supervision. It markets its product portfolio to established global consumer companies and physicians and target large and growing consumer health and wellness markets. The Company's clinically-validated products include bio-functional lipid-based compounds designed to address dietary needs, medical disorders and common diseases."


Pershing Square Updates Zoetis Position

Bill Ackman's hedge fund firm Pershing Square Capital has filed a 13D with the SEC regarding its position in Zoetis (ZTS).  Previously, we highlighted that Pershing was offering ZTS shares for sale.  Now, we get a sense as to how much of their position they've offloaded.

The 13D indicates Pershing now owns 3.8% of the company with 18.89 million shares.  This means they've sold 22.93 million ZTS shares since the end of the first quarter.

They were out selling Zoetis shares throughout June and into early July at prices $45.57 and $48.18.  ZTS currently trades around $48.47.

We've also highlighted some other recent Pershing Square portfolio moves.

Per Google Finance, Zoetis is "in the discovery, development, manufacture and commercialization of animal health medicines and vaccines, with a focus on both livestock and companion animals. The Company has a diversified business, marketing products across over eight core species: cattle, swine, poultry, sheep and fish (collectively, livestock), and dogs, cats and horses (collectively, companion animals), and within over five product categories: anti-infectives, vaccines, parasiticides, medicated feed additives and other pharmaceuticals. It operates through two segments: the United States and International. Within each of these segments, it offers a diversified product portfolio for both livestock and companion animal customers. In addition, its Client Supply Services (CSS) organization provides contract manufacturing services to third parties. It also offers other product categories, such as nutritionals and agribusiness."