Author Archives: db

Transocean Has Nothing Good To Say About Icahn Nominees

Posted on April 26, 2013 by db

Transocean explodes with a gusher of crude quotes in a press release responding to ISS’ assessment of Carl Icahn’s nominees. Carl Icahn is looking for some representation on the board of directors of Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG), and ISS agrees … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist Investor, Carl Icahn, Shareholder Meeting, Shareholder Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kik Kicks It Up a Notch, Raising Almost $20 Million For Its Messaging App

Posted on April 23, 2013 by db

I guess it is VC week, as we report on more private company financing. This time it is the mobile messaging space. Mobile is where things are heading, as we have discussed in depth here and in our PRO Reports. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Strategy, Private Placement, Venture Capital | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

U.S. Economy Magically Expands Due To Statistical Manipulation

Posted on April 22, 2013 by db

It is amazing how much the economy improves when you make stuff up. A change in the way the government accounts for the size of the U.S. economy will result in a 3% increase.  Did the economy expand?  Are more … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Leave a comment

No IPO No Problem As Later Stage Companies Attract Private Funding

Posted on April 22, 2013 by db

Eventbrite raises $60 million and puts off IPO for a while. Despite hiring a seasoned public company CFO, Eventbrite will probably not go public before the end of 2013.  Getting a $60 million infusion from the likes of T. Rowe … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Strategy, IPO, Private Equity, Private Placement, Public Offering, Venture Capital | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Proxy Battle for The Timken Company In Full Effect. Timken Sends Letter to Shareholders Criticizing Proposal from Relational Investors and CalSTRS

Posted on April 16, 2013 by db

Timken warns shareholders not to be fooled by misleading dissident campaign. We have been following the Timken/Relational-CalSTRS saga for a while now. It is now in full proxy fight mode.  The latest is Timken’s launch against the dissidents with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist Investor, Business Strategy, Hedge Funds, Opps, Relational Investors, Spinoff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s Play ‘Spot the Questionable, Small-Time Financial Structure’

Posted on April 15, 2013 by db

Can you guess? I bet you can. Lets see . . . Colorado corporation organized for a completely different business?  Check. Ridiculous capital structure with enormous number of outstanding shares?  Check. Grandiose name?  Check. Lack of assets and revenues?  Check. … Continue reading →

Posted in Business Strategy, Late Filing, M&A, Reverse Merger | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Stillwater Runs Shallow As Clinton Group Continues Proxy Fight For Stillwater Mining Company

Posted on April 10, 2013 by db

Activist Investor cites poor strategy and performance in bid to replace board. Clinton Group, Inc., a stockholder of Stillwater Mining Company (NYSE: SWC), launched a proxy fight to replace the new board of directors for Stillwater. Clinton claims that “on … Continue reading →

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Emulex Corporation and Elliott Associates Enter Into Agreement For Standstill, Board Seats

Posted on April 9, 2013 by db

Hedge Fund gets closer to the driver’s seat with Emulex. We’ve been following the Emulex/Elliott saga for a while now and watched as one of our favorite hedge funds was working from the outside to create some value at Emulex, … Continue reading →

Posted in Activist Investor, Elliott Associates, Hedge Funds, Opps, Shareholder Rights, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Get $1.2 Billion of Goldman Sachs Shares Without Really Trying (err, Paying)

Posted on April 8, 2013 by db

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Goldman Sachs revise terms of warrants to provide for cashless exercise. When everyone thought the financial world was crumbling and threatening to suck Goldman Sachs down along with it, Warren Buffett stepped up to the … Continue reading →

Posted in By the Numbers, Venture Capital, Vulture Capital | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can You Hear Me Now?* Paulson Joins Schoenfeld In Opposing MetroPCS/T-Mobile Deal

Posted on March 1, 2013 by db

*Yes, I know that is for Verizon, but neither company has such a snappy catchphrase. Paulson & Co., of multibillion dollar mortgage short fame, owns about 9.9% of the MetroPCS outstanding stock, making it the largest shareholder. Paulson sent some static … Continue reading →

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