Eminence Capital Starts World Wrestling Entertainment Stake

Ricky Sandler's hedge fund Eminence Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC revealing a brand new position in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Per the filing, Eminence now owns 9.6% of the company with over 3.17 million shares.  The filing was made due to activity on July 31st.

WWE shares have been on a rollercoaster thus far this year.  They started the year around $16, skyrocketed up to $31, and have recently settled down just under $14.  A lot of this volatility can be attributed to the hype and results surrounding the launch of the company's new network.

Per Google Finance, World Wrestling Entertainment is "an integrated media and entertainment company. The Company develops content via television, online and at its live events. The Company's operations are centered around four business segments: Live and Televised Entertainment, Consumer Products, Digital Media and WWE Studios. Live and Televised Entertainment segment's revenues consist principally of ticket sales to live events, sales of merchandise at these live events, television rights fees, integrated sponsorships fees, and fees for viewing the Company's pay-per-view and video-on-demand programming."

You can view additional recent portfolio activity from Eminence Capital here.

Glenview Capital Discloses Group 1 Automotive Stake

Larry Robbins' hedge fund firm Glenview Capital has just filed a 13G with the SEC.  They've disclosed that they now own 6.24% of Group 1 Automotive (GPI) with over 1.5 million shares.

This is a newly revealed stake and the filing was made due to activity on July 31st.

For more from this hedge fund, check out Larry Robbins at the Delivering Alpha conference.

Per Google Finance, Group 1 Automotive is "an operator in the automotive retailing industry. Through its operating subsidiaries, it markets and sells a range of automotive products and services, including new and used cars and light trucks; arrange related vehicle financing; service and insurance contracts; provide automotive maintenance and repair services, and sell vehicle part."

Eton Park Capital Starts Armstrong World Industries Position

Eric Mindich's hedge fund firm Eton Park Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Armstrong World Industries (AWI).  Per the filing, Eton Park now owns 6.69% of the company with over 3.66 million shares.

This is a newly disclosed equity position for the hedge fund and the filing was made due to activity on August 1st.

Eton Park is now the second major hedge fund to recently reveal a stake in the company as Jeff Ubben's ValueAct Capital took an AWI stake as well.

Per Google Finance, Armstrong World Industries is "a global producer of flooring products and ceiling systems for use in the construction and renovation of residential, commercial and institutional buildings. The Company designs, manufactures and sells flooring products (resilient and wood) and ceiling systems (mineral fiber, fiberglass and metal) globally. The Company segments includes: Building Products, Resilient Flooring and Wood Flooring. The Company’s Building Products, Resilient Flooring, Wood Flooring and Cabinets segments sell products for use in the home. Its products are used in new home construction and existing home renovation work. Its products, primarily ceilings and Resilient Flooring, are used in commercial and institutional buildings."

Paulson & Co Boosts NovaCopper & Cobalt International Energy Stakes

John Paulson's hedge fund firm Paulson & Co has filed two 13G's with the SEC.

NovaCopper (NCQ)

First, Paulson's amended 13G on Novacopper (NCQ) indicates that they now own 18.3% of the company with over 11.5 million shares. 

This marks an increase of over 5.59 million shares since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 31st.

Per Google Finance, Novacopper is "a base metals exploration company. The Company is engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties, including the Arctic and Bornite Projects located in Northwest Alaska in the United States of America. Its exploration activities are focused on two deposits in the Ambler district: the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit."


Cobalt International Energy (CIE)

Second, Paulson & Co has filed a 13G regarding shares of Cobalt International Energy (CIE).  Per the filing, the hedge fund firm now owns 10.1% of the company with over 41.8 million shares.

This is an increase of over 14.6 million shares since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to portfolio movement on July 31st.

Per Google Finance, Cobalt International Energy is "oil-focused exploration and production company with a salt prospect inventory in the deepwater of the United States Gulf of Mexico and offshore Angola and Gabon in West Africa. The Company operates its business in two geographic segments: the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and West Africa. The Company’s oil-focused exploration efforts target subsalt Miocene and Inboard Lower Tertiary horizons in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico."

You can view additional recent portfolio activity from Paulson & Co here.

Larry Robbins Focusing on Companies Deploying Capital

Institutional Investor has released an excerpt of their interview with Glenview Capital's Larry Robbins from the Delivering Alpha Conference.  In it, Robbins talks about how the market will react to the Fed releasing the 'training wheels.'

He says Glenview has been actively focusing on companies actively deploying capital, taking advantage of cheap interest rates, etc.  He likes companies that are "flush with cash, that have significant debt capacity, that are defensive and growing and that are trading at cheap valuations (maybe not as cheap as 2 years ago)."

For more from him, we've posted Robbins' 6 best ideas at the Delivering Alpha conference.

Embedded below is the video of Larry Robbins' interview:



For more from this conference, we've also posted an interview with Maverick Capital's Lee Ainslie.

Lee Ainslie on M&A Boom, Cybersecurity & the VIX

Institutional Investor just released an excerpt from an interview with Maverick Capital's Lee Ainslie from the Delivering Alpha Conference.  In it, Ainslie touches on the M&A boom, cybersecurity, and the low volatility index readings (VIX).

Ainslie says that there could be a bigger level of mergers and acquisitions than in 2007 thanks to large corporate cash balances and the fear that interest rates will increase or the tax inversion loophole will close. 

He also likes to look for secular trends from the top down and then identify specific companies that will benefit from those trends.  One of the biggest trends he's seeing now is network security / cybersecurity, though he doesn't mention any specific names.

Lastly, Ainslie points out that the VIX has seen spikes on a more frequent basis as the years go by.  He argues that the there's a contrast between the threats in the world and the low levels the VIX has been sitting at, which he thinks is not being priced appropriately. 

Embedded below is Institutional Investor's interview with Lee Ainslie:



You can view some of Maverick Capital's portfolio activity here.

Baupost Group Starts Veritiv Position

Seth Klarman's hedge fund firm Baupost Group has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Veritiv (VRTV).  Per the filing, Baupost now owns 14.06% of the company with 2,249,601 shares.

The filing was made due to activity on July 31st.  Veritiv shares just recently started trading in June.

You can view additional recent portfolio activity from Baupost Group here. 

Per the company's website, Veritiv is "a North American leader in business-to-business distribution solutions."

12 West Capital Discloses Diana Containerships Position

Joel Ramin's hedge fund firm 12 West Capital has filed 13D with the SEC regarding shares of Diana Containerships (DCIX).  Per the filing, the hedge fund now owns 22.4% of the company with over 16.4 million shares.

This is a newly disclosed position for 12 West and the filing was made due to activity on July 29th. 

The 13D breaks down some of 12 West's recent purchases in the open market in late June at around $2.52 per share and then via a private placement purchase at the end of July at $2.51.

12 West also has previously disclosed a stake in Euroseas.  You can view additional portfolio activity from 12 West Capital here.

ValueAct Capital Takes 21st Century Fox Stake

CNBC's David Faber this morning reported that Jeff Ubben's activist firm ValueAct Capital has taken a stake in 21st Century Fox (FOXA).

Faber reports they have a $1 billion stake in the company and built the position while FOX had submitted a bid for Time Warner (TWX).  During that time, FOX shares noticeably declined.

He also reports that Ubben likes the company's standalone plan as they decided to walk away from the deal, though sees the logical advantages of a tie-up should that happen in the future.  Ubben thinks FOX can earn $2.50 per share in 2016.

Embedded below is the video of Faber's report with the details:

Video Embed Size:   530 X 298   640 X 360

For more on this firm, head to some of ValueAct's recent portfolio activity here.

What We're Reading ~ Hedge Fund Links 8/8/14

Marcato adds to pressure on InterContinental Hotels [Dealbook]

Soros no longer holds shares of SodaStream [Bloomberg]

Loeb sees decisive economic data spurring Fed action [Bloomberg]

Miura Global closes to new investors [II Alpha]

Once flashy, hedge funds now seen as staid but consistent [Dealbook]

Summertime loving isn't easy for macro funds [WSJ]

Dan Och's hedge fund is getting really big [Forbes]

Hedge funds amass short positions in private equity-backed IPOs [FT]

Building a sustainable hedge fund model [CSen]

Renaissance drops with Paulson in July [Bloomberg]

Obama versus hedge funds - a real fight or professional wrestling? [Forbes]

Viking Global Reveals Newfield Exploration Position

Andreas Halvorsen's hedge fund firm Viking Global has filed a 13G on shares of Newfield Exploration (NFX).  The hedge fund now owns 5.7% of the company with over 7.78 million shares.

This is a brand new position for Viking and the filing was required due to activity on July 28th.

Per Google Finance, Newfield Exploration is "an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Company’s domestic areas of operation include the Mid-Continent, the Rocky Mountains and onshore Texas. Internationally, it focuses on offshore oil developments in Malaysia and China."

What We're Reading ~ Analytical Links 8/7/14

The World's 99 Greatest Investors: The Secret of Success [Magnus Angenfelt]

Interview with Michael Mauboussin [Bloomberg]

On finding large gaps between price and value [Base Hit Investing]

In search of the world's best investment advice [AFR]

A look at Lancashire Holdings [WertArt Capital]

Is TJ Maxx the best retail store in the land? [Fortune]

Shoppers are fleeing physical stores for the web [WSJ]

Does Valeant's cost cutting go too far? [Pro Publica]

How AMC Networks could benefit from the urge to merge in TV [QZ]

Sprint drops bid to buy T-Mobile after regulatory resistance [Reuters]

Dish chairman says bid for T-Mobile possible now that Sprint backs off [Reuters]

ValueAct Capital Discloses Armstrong World Industries Position

Jeff Ubben's hedge fund firm ValueAct Capital has filed a Form 4 with the SEC regarding shares of Armstrong World Industries (AWI).  Per the filing, ValueAct has revealed they own 9,2000,000 shares of AWI.

The filing indicates that between July 29th and July 31st, ValueAct bought cumulatively 1 million shares at prices ranging from $48.73 to $49.28.  Shares of AWI were not listed on ValueAct's last 13F filing which detailed holdings as of the first quarter of 2014.  As such, it appears this is a newly disclosed position.

ValueAct is now one of the largest holders of AWI shares.  For more from this hedge fund, head to Jeff Ubben on activist investing.

Per Google Finance, Armstrong World Industries is "a global producer of flooring products and ceiling systems for use in the construction and renovation of residential, commercial and institutional buildings. The Company designs, manufactures and sells flooring products (resilient and wood) and ceiling systems (mineral fiber, fiberglass and metal) globally. The Company segments includes: Building Products, Resilient Flooring and Wood Flooring. The Company’s Building Products, Resilient Flooring, Wood Flooring and Cabinets segments sell products for use in the home. Its products are used in new home construction and existing home renovation work. Its products, primarily ceilings and Resilient Flooring, are used in commercial and institutional buildings."

Paulson & Co Boosts Mallinckrodt Stake Again

John Paulson's hedge fund firm Paulson & Co has filed a Form 4 with the SEC regarding their stake in Mallinckrodt (MNK).  Per the filing, Paulson bought 200,000 MNK shares at $69.6507 on July 31st and 75,000 shares at $69.4541 on August 1st.

After these buys, Paulson & Co now owns 6,999,800 shares of Mallinckrodt. As we've detailed previously, Paulson has been buying MNK repeatedly after they received an option to increase their stake to 20% of the company.

Mallinckrodt has announced an agreement to acquire the controversial Questcor Pharma (QCOR), which has been a favorite short play of many hedge funds.  While Barry Rosenstein's JANA Partners has owned MNK as well, David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital recently revealed in their Q2 letter that they would like to be short the combined entity, primarily due to QCOR.

Per Google Finance, Mallinckrodt is "a global specialty pharmaceuticals company. The Company develops, manufactures, markets and distributes both branded and generic specialty pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and diagnostic imaging agents. The Company uses its API products in the manufacture of its generic pharmaceuticals and also sells them to other pharmaceutical companies. The Company operates through two segments: Specialty Pharmaceuticals and Global Medical Imaging."

Second Curve Capital Raises Regional Management Stake

Tom Brown's hedge fund firm Second Curve Capital has filed an amended 13G with the SEC regarding their position in Regional Management (RM).  Per the filing, Second Curve now owns 10% of the company with 1,273,960 shares.

This marks an increase of 188,000 shares since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 7th.

Per Google Finance, Regional Management is "a diversified specialty consumer finance company providing a range of loan products primarily to customers with limited access to consumer credit from banks, thrifts, credit card companies and other traditional lenders. The Company has a branch network throughout the Southeast and Southwestern United States. Each of its loan products is secured, structured on a fixed rate, fixed term basis with fully amortizing equal monthly installment payments and is repayable at any time without penalty. Regional’s loans are sourced through its multiple channel platform, including in its branches, through direct mail campaigns, independent and franchise automobile dealerships, online credit application networks, furniture and appliance retailers and its consumer Website."

Berkshire Hathaway Increases Verisign Position

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has filed an amended 13G with the SEC.  Per the filing, Berkshire Hathaway no owns 10.4% of the company with 12,985,000 shares.

This marks an increase of over 1.29 million shares since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 31st.

This investment was likely originally made by Buffett's newest portfolio managers: Todd Combs and Ted Weschler.  Since they've joined, Berkshire has accumulated shares.  Thus far this year, VRSN has slipped from $62.95 down to a low of $46.45 before rebounding slightly to current levels of $54.84.

Verisign has been hit with a bit of uncertainty as news came out earlier in the year that the US Department of Commerce will relinquish control of ICANN.

Per Google Finance, Verisign "is a provider of Internet infrastructure services. The Company provides network confidence and availability for mission-critical Internet services, such as domain name registry services and infrastructure assurance services. Its service capabilities enable real-time name resolution for a number of global top level domains (TLDs), enable domain name registration through registrars, and provide security intelligence and cloud-based network availability services to enterprise customers. It has one reportable segment is Naming Services, which consists of Registry Services and Network Intelligence and Availability (NIA) Services. It has operations inside as well as outside the United States (U.S.). Registry Services operates the authoritative directory of all .com, .net, .cc, .tv, and .name domain names and the back-end systems for all .gov, .jobs and .edu domain names."

For more, check out notes from Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting as well as Warren Buffett's annual letter.

Bridger Capital Discloses ChannelAdvisor Stake

Roberto Mignone's hedge fund Bridger Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of ChannelAdvisor (ECOM). Per the filing, Bridger has disclosed they own 6.8% of the company with 1,670,993 shares.

This is a newly disclosed equity stake and the filing was made due to activity on July 22nd.  You can view other portfolio activity from Bridger this year here.

Per Google Finance, ChannelAdvisor is "a provider of software-as-a-service, or SaaS, solutions that enables retailers and manufacturer customers to integrate, manage and optimize their merchandise sales across hundreds of online channels. Through the Company’s platform, the Company enables its customers to connect with new and existing sources of demand for their products, including e-commerce marketplaces, such as eBay, Amazon and Newegg, search engines and comparison shopping websites, such as Google, Microsoft’s Bing, and Nextag, and emerging channels, such as Facebook and Groupon."

JANA Partners Again Calls For PetSmart To Explore A Sale

Barry Rosenstein's hedge fund JANA Partners has filed an amended 13D with the SEC regarding their activist position in PetSmart (PETM).  Per the filing, JANA has sent an additional letter to the board, urging them to explore a sale of the company.  You can view the first letter JANA sent here. 

Below is the second letter Rosenstein has sent:

"August 4, 2014  
Board of Directors
PetSmart, Inc.
19601 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
Attention: David K. Lenhardt, President and Chief Executive Officer  

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

As you know, JANA Partners LLC (“we” or “us”) and other shareholders have called upon PetSmart, Inc. (“PetSmart” or the “Company”) to conduct a review of all strategic alternatives including a sale of the Company. Given PetSmart’s chronic operational underperformance and failure to generate shareholder value, and given significant interest in an acquisition of the Company, it is very likely that such a sale offers the best risk-adjusted return for shareholders. It is becoming clear, however, that rather than fully exploring all potential opportunities, the board of directors (the “Board”) is attempting to prejudice the ultimate outcome of any such strategic review by steering it away from the most likely path to maximum value creation for shareholders.  

First, it appears that PetSmart has sought to create the patently false impression that there is a shortage of interested acquirers. In fact, we are aware that there are multiple interested potential acquirers, all of whom could pay shareholders a meaningful premium. This interest is not surprising given the highly attractive fundamentals of the pet store industry, the turnaround opportunity for skilled operators, the robust financing market available to acquirers, and the successful acquisition of Petco Animal Supplies Inc., whose private equity owners have already earned back more than 1.5x their original investment through dividend recapitalizations and seen the value of their investment climb as Petco continues to take share from PetSmart.  

Second, we have learned that the Board continues to float new proposals for alternate transactions, despite publicly conceding last week that it has not yet engaged with potential acquirers. As shareholders have made quite clear, given the magnitude and certainty of value creation that a sale likely offers, any standalone path must be measured against a potential sale, which the Board cannot do without first fully engaging with potential buyers. Should the Board need any reminders of the risks for an underperforming company that turns a blind eye to interested buyers, it need only look at the example of Borders Book Group, which was the subject of acquisition interest during current PetSmart Board Chairman Gregory P. Josefowicz’s tenure as its Chairman and CEO, yet pursued an ultimately value-destroying standalone path instead.            

In short, we warn the Board not to compound the damage that has resulted from years of underperformance by now ruling out the path that likely represents its single highest and most certain value maximization opportunity. We can assure you that shareholders will hold each and every director responsible, including supporting significant change at the next annual meeting, should the Board conduct anything less than a fulsome review of all options including a sale. Should you wish to discuss this matter further, you may reach us at (212) 455-0900.  

Sincerely,  

/s/ Barry Rosenstein  
Barry Rosenstein
Managing Partner
JANA Partners LLC"

What We're Reading ~ Hedge Fund Links 8/1/14

Lone Pine tells clients loss stemmed from sins of omission [II Alpha]

Profits soaring after disgrace at Cohen's hedge fund [Dealbook]

Politically connected hedge funds earn higher profits [ValueWalk]

Hedge funds bet big on overseas tax deals [WSJ]

On the Buffett versus hedge funds bet [FT Alphaville]

Manager says this 'mania' health stock will fall 90% [CNBC]

Private equity's most consistent performers [aiCIO]

East Coast Asset Management on An Ownership Mindset: Q2 Letter

Christopher Begg's East Coast Asset Management is out with its Q2 letter.  In it, Begg outlines the "value of an ownership mindset and how it plays an integral part in a compounding triumvirate with a good business and an effective operator."

Comparing investing to horse racing, he highlights how it's important to ask certain questions:

"If we bought this business in its entirety, could we put blinders on for five or ten years and feel secure in our investment?  Our level of comfort is simplified by the three key factors of business (horse), operational excellence (jockey), and the timelessness of an owner mindset (owner/trainer)."


Embedded below is East Coast's full Q2 letter:



For more from this firm, check out their previous letter on understanding the mispricing of an investment.

Corsair Capital's Thesis on SeaWorld: Q2 Letter

Jay Petschek and Steven Major's hedge fund firm recently sent out their second quarter letter and in it they include a pitch on SeaWorld (SEAS). 

They see the investment as one with limited downside and an upside of at least $40 per share over the next year.  Corsair feels the company has a great expansion opportunity ahead of it.  They also feel that Blackstone will eventually sell its remaining 20% ownership stake which will remove an overhang on the stock.

You can read Corsair's full investment thesis on SeaWorld embedded below:



For more recent hedge fund letters we've also posted up Greenlight Capital's letter and Third Point's Q2 letter.

Stan Druckenmiller's Presentation at Delivering Alpha Conference

A few weeks ago, we highlighted Stan Druckenmiller's comments at the Delivering Alpha Conference.  Now, CNBC has released the full video of his talk which is worth viewing.

Embedded below is Stan Druckenmiller's presentation at the Delivering Alpha conference:



For more from that event, be sure to also check out Lee Cooperman's stock picks and Larry Robbins' best ideas.

What We're Reading ~ Analytical Links 7/30/14

Bill Gates calls this "the best business book I've ever read" [John Brooks]

6 signs of a good investment process [Clear Eyes Investing]

Rethinking buybacks [CFO]

On Demand Media and Rightside [Buyside Notes]

Why media mergers limit more than competition [NYTimes]

Interview with Liberty Global's Mike Fries & John Malone [WSJ]

On the Liberty Broadband spinoff [Glenn Chan]

Online corporate finance and valuation classes [Aswath Damodaran]

Presentation on Visa: great company at fair price [ValueWalk]

A pitch on Future Bright Holdings [Red Corner]

Investors rush into student loans [CNN Money]

JANA Partners' Letter to PetSmart's Board

Barry Rosenstein's activist hedge fund firm JANA Partners has filed an amended 13D with the SEC regarding their position in PetSmart (PETM).  They currently own 9.8% of the company and are the largest shareholder.

Rosenstein's letter to the board indicates they want the company to begin a "full strategic review which includes engaging with potential buyers."  And if the company doesn't do so, JANA will seek to change up the board at the next annual meeting.

Embedded below is JANA's letter to PetSmart's board:



For more from this fund, head to Barry Rosenstein's thoughts on activist investing.

12 West Capital Discloses NutriSystem Stake

Joel Ramin's hedge fund firm 12 West Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of NutriSystem (NTRI).  Per the filing, the hedge fund now owns 5.3% of the company with over 1.5 million shares.

This is a newly disclosed equity stake for the firm and the filing was made due to activity in July 16th. 

You can view other recent portfolio activity from 12 West here.

Per Google Finance, NutriSystem is "a provider of a weight management system. The Company’s customers purchase monthly food packages containing a 28-day supply of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and desserts, which they supplement with dairy, fruit, salad, vegetables and low-glycemic carbohydrate items. Its customers order on an auto-delivery basis (Auto-Delivery), in which it sends a month’s food supply on an ongoing basis until notified by the customer to stop its shipments. Its product offerings also include a combination of its ready-to-go food and its fresh-frozen line of menu items. It sells its weight management program through a direct-to-consumer sales and distribution approach using the Internet and telephone."

Balyasny Asset Management Boosts NuStar Energy Stake

Dmitry Balyasny's hedge fund firm Balyasny Asset Management has filed a 13G with the SEC on NuStar Energy (NS).  Per the filing, Balyasny now owns 5.07% of the company with over 3.95 million shares.

This means their equity stake has increased by over 1.64 million shares since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 21st.

Per Google Finance, NuStar Energy is "engaged in the terminalling and storage of petroleum products, the transportation of petroleum products and anhydrous ammonia, and petroleum refining and marketing. NuStar Energy operates in three business segments: storage, transportation, and asphalt and fuels marketing. In February 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the transaction with an affiliate of Lindsay Goldberg LLC, a private investment firm, to divest all of its 50% voting interest in an asphalt joint venture that owns a refinery located in Paulsboro, New Jersey."

Greenlight Capital Q2 Letter: Einhorn Reveals Lam Research Stake

David Einhorn's hedge fund Greenlight Capital was up 7.9% net in the second quarter and is up 6.4% for the year.  In their Q2 letter, Greenlight reveals a new position in Lam Research (LRCX).

They see the company as a beneficiary as the process of converting semiconductor designs into chips becomes harder to do.

Greenlight also bought a stake in Mallinckrodt (MNK) but reversed course and sold the stake due to their negative stance on Questcor (QCOR), a company MNK has agreed to purchase.  Greenlight thinks the combined company "is setting itself up to be a very attractive short sale candidate if the merger is completed."  The letter notes that Greenlight was short QCOR.

During the quarter, the hedge fund also sold out of its longs in Aspen Insurance (AHL) and Rite Aid (RAD) at nice gains.

At the end of Q2, Greenlight's largest positions (in alphabetical order) were: Apple (AAPL), gold, Marvell Technology (MRVL), Micron Technology (MU), Resona Holdings (TYO:8308) and SunEdison (SUNE).

Embedded below is Greenlight's Q2 letter with commentary on more of their positions:

What We're Reading ~ Hedge Fund Links 7/25/14

Glenview keeps the gains going [II Alpha]

Tales of the death of hedge funds have been greatly exaggerated [Ritholtz]

JANA takes new position in Apache [ValueWalk]

Hedge funds, Google and the "right to be forgotten" [HF Intelligence]

The big money still loves hedge funds [CNBC]

Elliott pushes EMC to split off VMware [WSJ]

The solution to the Senate's report on hedge funds tax dodging [Forbes]

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."

Odey Reveals Tungsten Corporation Stake

Crispin Odey's Odey Asset Management has disclosed a new position in London listed Tungsten Corporation (LON: TUNG).  Due to trading on July 21st, Odey hold 5.21% of Tungsten's voting rights.

Other large investors in Tungsten include Wellington Management with 5% and GLG Partners with 3.63%.  Tungsten is a relatively young business which floated on AIM back in October 2013.

Per Google Finance, Tungsten "is the holding company of OB10 Limited and its subsidiaries. The Company together with its subsidiaries is engaged in the provision of electronic invoice delivery (e-invoicing) to suppliers and buyers. OB10 Limited provides services, such as e-invoicing, where suppliers can send electronic invoices to their customers, eliminating the need for paper documentation; purchase order services, where buyers can send purchase orders to their suppliers; invoice status services, where suppliers can establish the approval and payment status of the invoices they have sent to their customers, and payment services, which includes solutions to enable supply chain financing. The Company operates in European Union, America and Asia."

What We're Reading ~ Analytical Links 7/23/14

In the Plex: How Google Thinks, Works & Shapes Our Lives [Steven Levy]

Importance of ROIC: compounding and reinvestment [Base Hit Investing]

Some thoughts on Twitter [Dan Benton]

LUMA Partners on the future of TV [BusinessInsider]

An old interview with Peter Lynch [PBS]

On the boom in subprime used auto lending [Dealbook]

It's time to split up Microsoft [Stratechery]

Why HBO is such an attractive asset [Quartz]

Sprint planning for lengthy review of T-Mobile deal [Bloomberg]

GMO Q2 Letter: Jeremy Grantham Says Bigger M&A Frenzy Coming

Jeremy Grantham is out with GMO's Q2 letter.  In it, Grantham talks about how he sees a frenzy in mergers and acquisitions coming (on top of the already large number we've seen).

He writes,

"If I were a potential deal maker I would be licking my lips at an economy that seems to have enough slack to keep going for a few years.  Also, individuals and institutions did feel chastened by the crash of 2009 and many are just now picking up their courage.  And as they look around they see dismayingly little in the way of attractive investments or yields.  So, the returns promised from deal making are likely to appear, relatively at least, exceptional.  I think it is likely (better than 50/50) that all previous deal records will be broken in the next year or two.  This of course will help push the market up to true bubble levels, where it will once again become very dangerous indeed."

Grantham feels the M&A boom will continue mainly due to low interest rates, but also because the economy has the 'early-cycle look' that could see a few more years of recovery.  Profit margins are higher this time around and there is room for increased capital spending as well.

All of these things combined create the perfect storm for "a veritable explosion, to levels never seen before."

Embedded below is GMO's Q2 letter:

Maverick Capital Starts Countrywide Plc Stake

Lee Ainslie's hedge fund firm Maverick Capital has disclosed a new position in London listed residential estate agent, Countrywide Plc (LON:CWD).  Due to trading on July 14th, Maverick now hold the equivalent of 3.04% of Countrywide's voting rights, all via total return swap.

Countrywide Plc is the UK's largest estate agency group.  In 2007, the company was taken private by Apollo Management.  In March 2013, it was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange.  Currently, the largest shareholder is Howard Marks' Oaktree Capital with 27.59% of the voting rights.

For more on Maverick, check out an in-depth interview with Lee Ainslie here.

Per Google Finance, Countrywide Plc is "an integrated residential estate agency and property services group in the United Kingdom. The Company offers estate agency and lettings services, together with a range of complementary services. The Company operates in five businesses: residential property sales; residential property lettings and property management; arranging mortgages, insurance and related financial products (provided by third parties) for participants in residential property transactions; surveying and valuation services for mortgage lenders and prospective homebuyers, and residential property conveyance services. Countrywide Holdings, Ltd. is the holding company of the Company."

Alpha Hedge West Conference: 10% Discount

Information Management Network (IMN) is proud to announce that the 20th annual Alpha Hedge West Conference will take place September 21-23, 2014 in San Francisco, California.  The event covers a wide variety of investment management topics and is much broader than other events as it includes speakers from top hedge funds, private equity firms, family offices, capital allocators and more.

Market Folly readers can receive 10% off admission by registering via this link and using the discount code: Folly10


Speakers List

John Burbank, Passport Capital
Ronnie Jaber, Carlyle Group
Kurt Billick, Bocage Capital
Gareth Henry, Fortress Investment Group
John Rohal, Man Group
Christopher Cole, Artemis Capital Management
Brian McQuade, CALPERS Investments
Justin Sheperd, Aurora Investment Management
Rajesh Agarwal, Napier Park Global Capital
Christopher Teets, Red Mountain Capital
Matthew Hepler, Relational Investors
Ken Shubin Stein, Spencer Capital
...and a ton of other speakers too (full list here)


Panel Topics

- State of the Hedge Fund Union
- Adding Value as a Fund of Hedge Funds
- Due Diligence and Monitoring of Hedge Fund Service Providers
- How Are Institutions Using 40 Act as Part of Their Portfolio?
- How To Invest in a Rising Interest Rate Environment
- Activist Strategies
- Under the Radar: Incubators and Investing in Emerging Managers
- Examining the Convergence of the Private Equity and Hedge Fund Business
... and many more (full schedule here)


Discount Code

Remember, to receive 10% off, be sure to click here to register and enter the discount code: Folly10

It should be a fantastic event covering a myriad of topics across the capital allocation spectrum.

Third Point's Q2 Letter on Royal DSM & International Holdings

Dan Loeb's hedge fund Third Point is out with its Q2 letter which focuses on some of their international positions.

They continue to feel that change is coming in Japan and are finding compelling individual investments there (especially with event-driven components).

The letter also details Third Point's investment in Kroton Educacional SA in Brazil, Fibra Uno in Mexico, and Argentinian oil company YPF.

Dan Loeb's fund also writes an in-depth thesis on Royal DSM, a global health company.

Embedded below is Third Point's Q2 letter:


You can download a .pdf copy here.

For more on this hedge fund, you can also view Third Point's Q1 letter.

What We're Reading ~ Hedge Fund Links 7/18/14

Profile of Lee Cooperman [CNBC]

Excerpts from Paulson & Co's latest letter [ValueWalk]

Investors increasingly looking to make hedge fund allocations [COO Connect]

Viking Global preps illiquid investments fund [CNBC]

The top hedge fund in a post financial crisis world is... [II Alpha]

Profile of RenTec's Jim Simons [NYTimes]

KKR doubles down on hedge funds [WSJ]

Tiger Global Exits Tuniu (TOUR) Position

Chase Coleman and Feroz Dewan's hedge fund Tiger Global has filed an amended 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Tuniu (TOUR).  Per the filing, Tiger Global no longer owns an equity stake in the company.

The filing was made due to activity on July 15th.  We previously disclosed Tiger Global's new Tuniu stake back in May as the company completed its IPO then.  But now they've exited that position.

For more recent activity from this hedge fund, check out Tiger Global's moves here.

Per Google Finance, Tuniu is "an online leisure travel company. The Company offers a selection of packaged tours, including organized tours and self-guided tours, as well as travel-related services for leisure travelers. It offers packaged tours sourced from over 3,000 travel suppliers, covering over 70 countries, as well as all popular tourist attractions in China. The Company’s product portfolio consists of over 100,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) of organized tours, over 100,000 SKUs of self-guided tours, and tickets for over 1,000 domestic and overseas tourist attractions. Its online platform, which consists of its tuniu.com Website and mobile platform, provides comprehensive product and travel information through user-friendly interfaces to enable leisure travelers to plan their travels and search for itineraries. Its online platform contains photos, information and recommendations for all destinations it covers."

What We're Reading ~ Analytical Links 7/17/14

Serengeti Asset Management's thesis on Energy XXI [Harvest]

Investing Psychology: The Effects of Behavioral Finance on Investment Choice [Tim Richards]

Analyzing the impact of Fed rate hikes on markets & economy [Advisor Perspectives]

More notes from the Delivering Alpha conference: Paulson, Peltz & Icahn [Reformed Broker]

HBO said valued at $20 billion by Fox seeking Netflix killer [Bloomberg]

Most important investing trait? Patience [Alpha Baskets]

US stands to lose billions from corporate tax inversions [WSJ]

Glenview Capital Boosts Carter's Position

Larry Robbins' hedge fund firm Glenview Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Carter's (CRI).  Per the filing, Glenview now owns 6.84% of the company with over 3.67 million shares.

This marks an increase of over 2.1 million shares in their position size since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 10th.

Glenview isn't the only hedge fund that's been out buying CRI shares, either.  We recently highlighted that Hound Partners added to their Carter's stake too.

Per Google Finance, Carter's is "a branded marketer of apparel for babies and young children in the United States. The Company owns two brand names in the children’s apparel industry, Carter’s and OshKosh. Its Carter’s brand provides apparel for children sizes ranging from newborn to seven. OshKosh brand provides its line of apparel for children sizes newborn to 12. Its Carter’s, OshKosh, and related brands are sold to national department stores, chain and specialty stores and discount retailers."

Stan Druckenmiller's Thoughts at Delivering Alpha Conference

At CNBC and Institutional Investor's Delivering Alpha conference today, legendary investor Stan Druckenmiller shared his latest thoughts.

At the event, Druckenmiller said he can't bet as big as he used to these days.  He also noted that other investors like David Tepper and George Soros have the biggest (you know what) on Wall Street these days.

Also, he knocked IBM as a company that's spending all of its money on share buybacks instead of on innovating and this could come back to haunt them as they get passed by modern technology companies.

Regarding the latest slew of IPO's, Druckenmiller pointed out that 80% of those companies don't really have earnings.

Turning to the Fed, he also argued that the consequences of monetary policy will be a lot worse than they think and said their policy is baffling.

He thinks we have to keep dancing until the music stops, but the problem is most people won't be able to exit fast enough once it happens.

Lee Cooperman's Favorite Stock Picks at Delivering Alpha Conference

At CNBC and Institutional Investor's Delivering Alpha conference today, Omega Advisors' Lee Cooperman shared his favorite stock picks.

He likes Actavis (ACT), a tax inversion play, Citigroup (C), a good buy he says because the economy is healing with loan demand and one that could narrow the discount to book value over time, as well as Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI) and Nordic American Offshore (NAO).

Other plays he likes include: QEP Resources (QEP), Supervalu (SVU), Louis XIII (577 HK), and Monitise (MONI.LN), the mobile payments play he's pitched before.

Lastly, he also mentioned Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO), KKR (KKR) and Sandridge Energy (SD).

Cooperman also noted that the last time the Fed raised rates was in 2006 and around 25% of fund managers weren't really around to experience that.

He also joked that the last time he was bearish was during his Bar Mitzvah.

One quote that stood out from him was that, "if you buy something that's out of favor, things seem to happen to make you right."


Lee Cooperman will be presenting new investment ideas at the upcoming Value Investing Congress in a few months and readers can receive a discount to the event by registering here and using discount code: MARKETFOLLY

Larry Robbins' 6 Best Ideas at Delivering Alpha Conference

At CNBC and Institutional Investor's Delivering Alpha conference today, Glenview Capital's Larry Robbins highlighted his six best ideas.

His stock picks were: Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO) which has been his largest holding, Monsanto (MON) which he previously pitched here, as well as HCA (HCA), Hertz (HTZ), National Oilwell Varco (NOV) and Flextronics (FLEX), a position he added to in May.

He likes that all of these can raise money on the cheap and then buyback shares.  So basically, his favorite investment idea is a theme of companies levering up.

Also, today we highlighted that Robbins has been buying Carter's (CRI) shares recently too.

Lone Pine Capital Starts Spirit Airlines Stake

Steve Mandel's hedge fund firm Lone Pine Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC on shares of Spirit Airlines (SAVE).  Per the filing, Lone Pine now owns 6% of the company with over 4.3 million shares.

This is a brand new position for the hedge fund as they did not own any shares at the end of Q1.  The filing was made due to activity on July 2nd.

You can view additional portfolio activity from Lone Pine here.

Citadel Ups Position in PHH Corp

Ken Griffin's Citadel has filed an amended 13G with the SEC regarding shares of PHH (PHH).  Per the filing, Citadel now owns 9.6% of the company with over 5.5 million shares.

This marks an increase of over 3.9 million shares in their position size since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on July 8th.  PHH recently said they would repurchase around 35% of shares.

Per Google Finance, PHH is "an outsource provider of mortgage and fleet management services. PHH operates in three segments: Mortgage Production, Mortgage Servicing and Fleet Management Services. The Company provides mortgage banking services to a range of clients, including financial institutions and real estate brokers, throughout the United States. The Company’s mortgage banking activities include originating, purchasing, selling and servicing mortgage loans through its wholly owned subsidiary, PHH Mortgage Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively PHH Mortgage). It provides commercial fleet management services to corporate clients and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada through its wholly owned subsidiary. In July 2014, PHH sold its Fleet Management Services business, doing business as PHH Arval, to Element Financial Corporation."

Paulson & Co Updates CNO Financial Group Position

John Paulson's hedge fund firm Paulson & Co has filed an amended 13D with the SEC regarding shares of CNO Financial Group (CNO).  Per the filing, Paulson now owns 4.7% of the company with just over 10.55 million shares.

This marks a slight decrease of 1.9 million shares in their aggregate common stock exposure since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on June 26th.  Their position includes 5 million shares issuable upon exercise of Warrants.

We covered Paulson's original 13D on CNO in 2009.

Per Google Finance, CNO Financial Group is "a holding company for a group of insurance companies operating throughout the United States, which develops, markets and administers health insurance, annuity, individual life insurance and other insurance products. The Company sells its products through three distribution channels: career agents, independent producers (some of whom sell one or more of its product lines exclusively) and direct marketing. The Company’s operating segments include Bankers Life, Washington National and Colonial Penn, which are defined on the basis of product distribution; Other CNO Business, and corporate operations, consisted of holding company activities and noninsurance company businesses."

You can view additional recent portfolio activity from Paulson here.

What We're Reading ~ Hedge Fund Links 7/11/14

Baupost takes stake in Banco Espirito [ValueWalk]

Carl Icahn says time to be cautious about US markets [CNBC]

Steve Eisman shuts Emrys Partners, says fundamental analysis no longer viable [FINalt]

Paul Singer stands to make over 1,600% return [Here in the City]

Blackstone readies big bet hedge fund [WSJ]

Paulson credit fund gains from Lehman, Rescap and Dex Media [ValueWalk]

Viking Global reshuffles top ranks [HedgeWorld]

Update on Bridgewater's performance [Bloomberg]

Why some family offices are deciding to become hedge funds [GuruFocus]

How to successfully start a hedge fund [eFinancialNews]

What We're Reading ~ Analytical Links 7/9/14

The Education of a Value Investor [Guy Spier]

Short selling drops to lowest level since Lehman [FT]

Everything wrong with investor behavior in one article [Reformed Broker]

Another sign the bull market is nearing its end [Marketwatch]

The differences between a portfolio manager and analyst [CFA]

Goodbye malls of America [Bloomberg View]

A look at Western Union [ValueLine]

Profile of mutual fund king Bill Miller [WSJ]

Carlos Slim bows to Mexico telecom reform [Reuters]

15 facts about Dubai [Business Insider]

Hound Partners Increases Carter's Stake

Johnathan Auerbach's hedge fund firm Hound Partners filed an amended 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Carter's (CRI).  Per the filing, Hound now owns 6.92% of the company with over 3.7 million shares.

This means they've boosted the number of shares they own by around 10% since the end of the first quarter.  The filing was made due to activity on June 12th.  Conversely, we pointed out a few months ago that Tiger Global had exited its CRI stake.

We've highlighted other recent portfolio activity from Hound here.

Per Google Finance, Carter's is "a branded marketer of apparel for babies and young children in the United States. The Company owns two brand names in the children’s apparel industry, Carter’s and OshKosh. Its Carter’s brand provides apparel for children sizes ranging from newborn to seven. OshKosh brand provides its line of apparel for children sizes newborn to 12. Its Carter’s, OshKosh, and related brands are sold to national department stores, chain and specialty stores and discount retailers."

Michael Mauboussin on Skill Versus Luck and Developing an Investment Process

Michael Mauboussin, head of global financial strategies at Credit Suisse, sat down with Motley Fool earlier this year to talk about investing.

In it, he touches on skill versus luck and notes how investors need to have a process.  He says this is comprised of 3 things:

1.  An analytical component (financial statement analysis, etc)
2.  A behavioral component (patterns of mistakes and learning from them)
3.  An organizational component (what's going on in your environment that allows you to be more successful)
 
He admits that evaluating your process is a difficult thing to do, but recommends utilizing an investing journal.  Mauboussin says doing this can fight hindsight bias and creeping determinism.

He touches on numerous other topics and embedded below is the full interview with Mauboussin:



For more from Mauboussin, be sure to read his books, The Success Equation: Untangling Skill and Luck in Business, Sports, and Investing as well as Think Twice: Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition.

Jeff Saut Predicts Pullback Within Secular Bull Market

It's been quite a while since we checked in on market strategist Jeff Saut's latest commentary, so we figured it's time to see what he's thinking.  This week, Saut's investment strategy piece is entitled, "Making a Market Call." In it, he predicts that the market will see the "first decent pullback of the year" in mid-July or early August.

He arrives at this prediction based on various readings and he's advising raising cash levels, comparing it to the summer of 2011 when the market dipped 18%.  But taking a step back to the bigger picture, he also believes we're still in the midst of a secular bull market that has years left to run.

Embedded below is Jeff Saut's latest investment strategy piece:



You can download a .pdf copy here.

Hoplite Capital Discloses Sinclair Broadcast Group Stake

John Lykouretzos' hedge fund Hoplite Capital has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBGI).  Per the filing, Hoplite now owns 5.2% of the company with over 6 million shares.

This is a newly disclosed equity position for the hedge fund and the filing was made due to activity on June 25th.  You can view other portfolio activity from Hoplite here.

Per Google Finance, Sinclair Broadcast Group is a "diversified television broadcasting company. The Company owns or provides certain programming, operating or sales services to more television stations."

JANA Partners Goes Activist on PetSmart

Barry Rosenstein's activist hedge fund JANA Partners has filed a 13D with the SEC regarding shares of PetSmart (PETM).  Per the filing, JANA now owns 9.9% of the company and is the company's largest shareholder with over 9.8 million shares.  This is a brand new position for them.

The filing notes that JANA expects to meet with management to discuss "strategic alternatives' including a sale of a company, the company's capital structure (and return of capital to shareholders), board composition and other items. 

The 13D was filed due to activity on June 23rd.  The hedge fund was out buying PETM shares at prices around $57.80 in early June.

For more on this investor, check out Barry Rosenstein at the activist investing panel at the Milken Institute.

Per Google Finance, PetSmart "supplies products, services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. The Company operates a website for pet supplies, foods and different animal needs. The Company's stores also feature pet styling salons that offer pet grooming services, from full-service styling to baths, toenail trimming and teeth cleaning."

What We're Reading ~ Analytical Links 7/2/14

Spy the Lie: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Detect Deception [Philip Houston]

On curating your investment resources [Washington Post]

The Buffett valuation indicator: some interesting odds and ends [Advisor Perspectives]

The unpopularity of patience [Clear Eyes Investing]

A look at TIVO [Micro Fundy]

How to win by doing less [Morgan Housel]

Shinzo Abe's bid to shake up corporate Japan [NYTimes]

Cash no longer king as stock, asset swaps drive takeovers [Bloomberg]

Lessons from John Malone [Simoleon Sense]

Target's leadership lost its way long before data breach [WSJ]

The US consumer is on a tear [Business Insider]

Household net worth hits record high [Business Insider]

Embrace stock market investing as a lifestyle [Montreal Gazette]

Investors seek new hedges in unnatural market calm [Reuters]

Peltz's Trian Discloses New Stake in Bank of New York Mellon

Nelson Peltz's activist investment firm Trian Partners has filed an amended 13F with the SEC.  Per the filing, they've disclosed a new position in Bank of New York Mellon (BK).  This amendment was made to their first quarter 2014 13F filing.

This means that they owned 9,330,230 shares as of March 31st, 2014.  In their original Q1 13F, Trian had filed for confidential treatment of their position with the SEC.

For more on this firm, we've posted some of Trian's Q1 letter.

Per Google Finance, Bank of New York Mellon is "a global financial services company. The Company divides its businesses into two principal segments: Investment Management and Investment Services. It has an Other segment, which includes credit-related activities, the lease financing portfolio, corporate treasury activities (including its investment securities portfolio), its equity investments in Wing Hang Bank Limited and ConvergEx Group, business exits and corporate overhead. Its two banks are The Bank of New York Mellon, which houses its institutional businesses, including asset servicing, issuer services, treasury services, broker-dealer and advisor services and the bank-advised business of asset management, and BNY Mellon, National Association (BNY Mellon, N.A.), which houses its wealth management business. In May 2014, the Company acquired HedgeMark International, LLC, a provider of hedge fund managed account and risk analytic services."

Soros Fund Seeks Sale of Penn Virginia

George Soros' family office Soros Fund Management has filed an amended 13D with the SEC on shares of Penn Virginia (PVA).  Per the filing, Soros' Chief Investment Officer Scott Bessent has sent a letter that pushes for a sale of the company. 


Soros Fund's Letter to Penn Virginia

The letter reads:

"June 25, 2014  
Board of Directors
Penn Virginia Corporation
4 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 200
Radnor, PA 19087  

Gentlemen and Lady:  

We are extremely disappointed that, as indicated in the letter we received from Mr. Cloues dated June 18, 2014, Penn Virginia Corporation ("Penn Virginia" or the "Company") has rejected our suggestions to provide additional financial incentives to its management team in the event of a sale. We made those suggestions to further align management's interests with the best interests of shareholders, as we have previously communicated to you our belief that you should explore strategic alternatives as a means to maximize shareholder value. We believe that the optimal means to maximize value is for the Company to be sold. By reasserting in the letter your belief in your operating strategy, it appears to us that you are not going to undertake a formal evaluation of Penn Virginia's strategic alternatives.  

As the largest shareholder of Penn Virginia, we are deeply concerned by the Company's recent missteps. Management's presentations at several recent conferences have been underwhelming, culminating in a wholly avoidable revision of its investor presentation type-curve disclosure.1 We believe that these investor relations disasters are the reason why the Company’s stock dropped 14.4% from $16.48 on May 29, 2014 to $14.11 on June 10, 2014, underperforming its peer companies by 15% over that period.2  

In light of this poor stretch of share price performance, which we believe was driven almost entirely by the Company’s disappointing investor-relations effort, we were then astounded by the timing of the June 10, 2014 press release announcing Penn Virginia's proposed private offering of convertible preferred stock. The issuance of this convertible preferred stock was at a significant discount to inherent value and diluted existing equity holders by approximately 21%.3  While the timing of this transaction was particularly egregious, the strategic rationale  

__________________________   1 In presentations, the Company revised down its reported type-curves, showing third-party numbers without explaining to investors the reason behind the decrease. It is common in the E&P industry for third-party type-curve estimates to be lower than company estimates. However, without proper disclosure, this revision was taken by investors as a signal that the Company’s wells had started to deteriorate – which we believe is very much not the case. 2 The SIG Oil Exploration & Production Index (“EPX”) rose 0.6% from 537.04 to 540.00 in the same period. 3 $325mm converts at $18.34/share = 17.72mm shares, versus previous fully diluted share-count of 85.7mm shares.      

was not much better. The Company's intended use for the proceeds of this offering is to finance the acceleration of its development program and increase its lease acquisition effort in the Eagle Ford Shale. Based on management’s own estimates for the present value created by this accelerated drilling program, however, it is clear this decision has destroyed shareholder value.  

We believe that the shares of the Company are fundamentally undervalued, and that issuing equity or equity-linked securities at these prices to accelerate drilling in the manner contemplated fails to optimize per-share value. Other potential owners of this asset have a lower cost of capital and better scale in the Eagle Ford Shale and are clearly its optimal owners. Regrettably, the board’s decision to grow in this dilutive manner indicates to us that it is more interested in “empire building” than maximizing shareholder value.  

The board apparently views this decision as one targeted at building the Company for the long run. But we note that this board of directors has presided over a long period of decline at Penn Virginia, which has resulted in a current stock price that is lower than the stock price ten years ago.4 This record of failure to create value over the long term is not a track record that justifies making dilutive transactions today in the hopes that someday in the future the enhanced scale will somehow benefit shareholders more than a sale today would.  

Again, we believe that the Company should promptly pursue a sale in order to maximize shareholder value. We believe there are numerous potential acquirers who would be interested in acquiring the Company at a material premium to its current trading price, as demonstrated by any number of precedent transactions in the industry. Decisions about the future direction of your development program should be left to the buyers, who enjoy a considerably lower cost of capital and can therefore accelerate drilling in a more accretive manner.  

The time has come for the Company to put itself up for sale as the surest path to maximize shareholder value. Should you fail to start exploring sale alternatives, we reserve the right to take any and all actions we believe necessary to ensure that shareholder value is not further eroded.  

Very truly yours,  

/s/ Scott Bessent
Scott Bessent
Chief Investment Officer"

Capitalize For Kids Investment Idea Contest

Just a head's up for readers that in conjunction with the upcoming Capitalize For Kids conference, they are also running an Investment Idea Contest we thought many of you would be interested in with the opportunity to allocate some of the winnings to the Hospital for Sick Children.  Here are the details:

Prizes:

Winner gets $20,000, complimentary admission to the conference, and a 1-year subscription to Impact Research

2nd place gets $5,000, complimentary admission to the conference, and a 1-year subscription to Actionable Alpha

3rd place gets complimentary admission to the conference  and a 1-year subscription to Actionable Alpha


Eligibility:  You must be employed full-time in the institutional investment industry and have permission from your employer to compete.  MBA students are also welcome to enter.

Deadline:  Ideas must be submitted by July 31st, 2014

Apply: You can view more details and apply for the contest via this link.


Embedded below is the flyer for Capitalize For Kids' Intelligent Investing Challenge:



Good luck!

What We're Reading ~ Hedge Fund Links 6/27/14

Hedge funds are now a $3 trillion industry [Barrons]

Inside the mind of Fairholme's Bruce Berkowitz [Institutional Investor]

How to craft the world's worst pitchbook [HF Intelligence]

Cybersecurity firm says large hedge fund attacked [CNBC]

Omega Advisors' Einhorn says bull market not over [Reuters]

Paulson & Co amasses large stake in Allergan [Reuters]

Relational said to plan activist campaign against Manitowoc [Dealbook]

Jeff Ubben has new target: his hedge fund peers [WSJ]

Former ESL pros open activist operation [HF Alert]

Hedge fund investors are fussy about fees [Funds Europe]

Hedge funds face higher prime broker charges under Basel III [Risk.net]

Saba, Brevan Howard struggle as volatility disappears [BusinessWeek]

Investors adopting partnership-driven approach to hedge funds [COO Connect]

HF analyst: the things I know for sure [Wall Street Oasis]

Jeff Ubben & Barry Rosenstein on Activist Investing at Milken Institute

At the Milken Institute Global Conference, prominent hedge fund managers gathered on a panel about activist investors and the search for alpha.  The panel consisted of:

- Jeff Ubben, ValueAct Capital
- Barry Rosenstein, JANA Partners
- Clifton Robbins, Blue Harbour Group
- Chris Teets, Red Mountain Capital

In it, the fund managers talked about the different styles of activist investing.

Rosenstein said that, "I'm happy to be friendly as long as the company does what I want them to do."

Robbins contributed, "I think that there's been a palpable change in the last four or five years generally in the attitudes of boards and CEOS in their willingness to listen to large stockholders."

Ubben took issue with activist investing being 'daytrader fodder' and labeled it as 'bad.'  Ubben revealed he had built an eBay stake at $50 and wanted to buy more but Icahn's involvement pushed shares higher.  He says Carl's a great stockpicker, but the activist situation there was a non-event.

Ubben later noted that he thinks activist investing is too short-term these days rather than building a company over the long-term.  Robbins agreed with him.  However, Rosenstein took the other side of the argument.

Embedded below is the full activist investing panel from the Milken Institute Global Conference:



For more on the subject, head to Mason Morfit's lectures on activist investing (he's part of ValueAct with Ubben).

Tiger Global Discloses Zhaopin Position

Chase Coleman and Feroz Dewan's hedge fund Tiger Global has filed a 13G with the SEC regarding shares of Zhaopin (ZPIN).  Per the filing, Tiger Global now owns 18.6% of the company with over 2.49 million shares (represented by over 1.24 million ADR shares).

The filing was made due to activity on June 12th as the company has just completed its initial public offering (IPO).

You can view other recent portfolio activity from Tiger Global here.

Per Google Finance, Zhaopin is "a career platform in China, focusing on connecting users with relevant job opportunities throughout their career lifecycle. The Company’s zhaopin.com Website is a career-focused Website in China. The Company provides a range of services, including online recruitment, campus recruitment, assessment and other human resources related services. Through its zhaopin Websites and mobile applications, it provides classified job postings and display advertisements, resume access services and other online services. The Company provides campus recruitment services primarily to customers seeking to recruit college and university students. These services include selecting campuses, organizing recruiting events, collecting and managing resumes and conducting interviews and assessment tests with candidates."

Valinor Management & Lee Cooperman Update dELiA's Stakes

David Gallo's hedge fund firm Valinor Management has filed an amended 13D and form 4 with the SEC regarding their stake in dELiA's (DLIA).  Per the filing, Valinor now owns 27.9% of the company with aggregate exposure to 24.8 million shares.

This marks an increase of over 18.2 million shares of common stock since the end of the first quarter.  Valinor automatically converted their Secured Convertible Notes into shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.  The filing was made due to activity on June 17th.

The 13D notes that Valinor has nominated Seth Cohen to dELiA's board and he is now a director.  The hedge fund also has the right to nominate another individual to the board, but that person cannot be an employee of the fund.

Valinor originally started its dELiAs stake in October of 2013. 


Lee Cooperman Updates Stake Too

Omega Advisors' Lee Cooperman has also filed an amended 13G with the SEC regarding dELiA's too.  Lee has revealed he owns 11.42% of the company with over 8.5 million shares.

His stake is comprised of 3.75 million shares of common stock (issuable upon conversion of 30,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock).

A few months ago, we also highlighted that Tiger Global raised its dELiA's stake.

Per Google Finance, dELiAs is "a retail company comprised of two lifestyle brands primarily targeting teenage girls and young women. The Company generates revenue by selling predominantly to teenage consumers through direct mail catalogs, Websites and retail stores. It operates in dELiA*s brand. Through its e-commerce Webpages, catalogs and retail stores, dELiA*s (the brand) offers a variety of product categories to teenage girls to cater to an entire lifestyle. Through its catalogs and the e-commerce Webpages, it sells many name brand products along with its own brand products in key teenage spending categories. These products include apparel and accessories. Its mall-based dELiA*s specialty retail stores derive revenue primarily from the sale of apparel and accessories and, to a lesser extent, branded apparel to teenage girls. It operates in two segments: direct marketing and retail stores."

Our 50% Discount to the Value Investing Congress Expires in 2 Days: Only 123 Seats Left

Just a reminder for readers that our 50% discount to the Value Investing Congress in New York City expires in just 2 days!  Click here to register and use discount code: MARKETFOLLY


*** Please note that this venue is much smaller than previous years and there are now only 123 seats left. ***


Event Details

Date: September 8 & 9, 2014
Location: Florence Gould Hall in New York City near Central Park
Hotel: Discounted group rate at the Loews Regency Hotel


Hedge Fund Speakers

Lee Cooperman, Omega Advisors
Jeff Smith, Starboard Value
Alex Roepers, Atlantic Investment Management
Carson Block, Muddy Waters Research
Sahm Adrangi, Kerrisdale Capital
Guy Gottfried, Rational Investment Group
David Hurwitz, SC Fundamental
Michael Kao, Akanthos Capital
Whitney Tilson, Kase Capital
John Lewis, Osmium Partners
Tim Eriksen, Eriksen Capital Management
Cliff Remily, Northwest Priority Capital


50% Discount Expires on June 24th

Again, there are only 123 seats left and Market Folly's 50% discount expires in just 2 days.  You can grab one of the last few seats by registering here.  Your price is cut in half by using our discount code: MARKETFOLLY