Citadel Discloses New Stake in Blackhawk Network

Ken Griffin's Citadel has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Blackhawk Network (HAWK).  Per the filing, Citadel now owns 5.2% of the company with 653,618 shares. 

This is a brand new position for them and the filing was made due to activity on July 22nd.  HAWK completed its spinoff from Safeway (SWY) earlier this year.

You can view more recent portfolio activity from Citadel here.

Per Google Finance, Blackhawk Network is "a prepaid payment network utilizing technology to offer a range of gift cards, other prepaid products and payment services in the United States and 18 other countries. Its product offerings include gift cards, prepaid telecom products and prepaid financial services products (including general purpose reloadable (GPR), cards and its reload network). In addition, it sells physical and electronic gift cards to consumers through both online distributors and its Website, GiftCardMall.com. It offers gift cards from consumer brands, such as Amazon.com, Applebee’s, iTunes, Lowe’s, Macy’s and Starbucks and from payment networks, such as American Express, MasterCard and Visa."

Mark Rachesky's MHR Fund Management Goes Activist on Seahawk Drilling (HAWK)

Mark Rachesky's MHR Fund Management has filed an activist 13D with the SEC regarding shares of Seahawk Drilling (HAWKQ). The filing, reflecting portfolio activity on February 16th, indicates MHR has disclosed a 9.8% ownership stake in HAWKQ with 1,173,513 shares. This is not a new position as MHR held the same amount of shares at 2010 year-end.

HAWKQ Selling Assets to Hercules Offshore (HERO)

Rachesky's firm seems to take issue with the debtors of HAWKQ who have fast-tracked a proposed sale transaction with Hercules Offshore (HERO). The proposed sale would result in the debtors receiving $25 million in cash and 22.3 million shares of Hercules common stock in exchange for the sale of substantially all of its assets.

Going Activist: Formation of Equity Committee

MHR has filed in conjunction with Andalusian Capital Partners, FISBC Global Asset Management, and Mercer Park. We'd also point out that Kyle Bass' Hayman Capital disclosed a 8.4% stake in HAWK in a separate and unrelated filing.

Per various exhibits filed with MHR's 13D, we see that they've been granted appointment of an equity committee to secure independent representation for public shareholders "at this crucial stage of these Chapter 11 proceedings, while the Debtors are attempting to fast-track a DIP motion and prearranged sale that equity has not had adequate time to review."

Fund Manager Background

So, we'll have to see what Rachesky has up his sleeve in this regard since his committee formation was granted. Rachesky, prior to founding MHR was a senior investment officer and managing director for Carl Icahn. Needless to say, he's got plenty of experience in the activist realm.

Rachesky earned his B.S. in molecular aspects of cancer from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine. Additionally, he earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business; the man is a degree-earning machine.

Per Google Finance, Seahawk Drilling was spun-off from Pride International and "operates a jackup rig business that provides contract drilling services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in the Gulf of Mexico."

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Kyle Bass Buys Seahawk Drilling (HAWK)

Kyle Bass' hedge fund firm Hayman Capital has disclosed an 8.4% ownership stake in Seahawk Drilling (HAWK) with 1,000,000 shares. Hayman filed this information via a 13G with the SEC per portfolio activity on February 15th, 2011. This is a new equity position as they did not own equity as of December 31st, 2010.

We've covered Bass on the site before, but if you're unfamiliar with him, he has gained notoriety over the years due to his prediction of not one, but two 'bubbles.' First, he predicted and profited from the subprime crisis. Second, he was one of the first to call for sovereign defaults and that thesis has gained steam over the past year. For our prior coverage on this hedge fund manager, check out Bass' presentation at the Value Investing Congress.

His position in HAWK is intriguing because the company just agreed to an asset purchase with Hercules Offshore (HERO). HERO is buying 20 jackup rigs and related assets from HAWK for $25 million and 22.3 million shares of HERO. This cash infusion will be used to pay HAWK's debtor-in-possession (DIP) loan which the company secured in connection with its bankruptcy. You can head to the Special Situations Monitor for an analytical look at the situation here.

Also, Hercules Offshore is up big today after receiving an upgrade from Credit Suisse. They highlight that HERO is just around the corner from covenant relief.

Per Google Finance, Seahawk Drilling "operates a jackup rig business that provides contract drilling services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry in the Gulf of Mexico."