Large Investors Get Bargains

Fund clients that invest a lot of money always get good deals. Nowadays, with raising capital tougher than it used to be before the crisis, big investors are getting even better terms.

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Charitable Gifts Take Diverse Forms

Chidem Kurdas

Managers have been known to donate shares of their hedge fund to their favorite cause. Another option is to give a life insurance policy or an insurance-wrapped investment portfolio.

Peltz Stays with Financials

Apparently Nelson Peltz likes banks and asset managers. Legg Mason, the fund management company, is one of the three big stakes he continues to hold and he’s bought other  financial services businesses as well.

Blenheim Goes for Industrial Metals

Chidem Kurdas

Willem Kooyker’s commodity trading firm, Blenheim Capital Management, has bought the shares of a number of industrial metal producers.  Blenheim is one of the largest futures trading managers.

Blackstone 130/30 Credit Strategy

A new fund managed by Blackstone Group’s credit specialist GSO Capital is to use an approach that is more common in equity investments. The fund will borrow and sell debt securities, then use the proceeds from the sale to buy other loans and bonds.

Soros in Platinum: Will Gold Dim?

Many hedge funds have tracked the dizzying rise in gold and silver, but that is probably old hat. Too many traders are already there and these commodities are expensive. There may be greater room for gain in platinum and palladium.

Pay-to-Play Shadows Political Donations

The New York state pension kickback case may be winding down, but its effect is expected to last. Pay-to-play investigations are low hanging fruit for prosecutors, says Christopher Coniff of law firm Ropes & Gray LLP.

Pensions Buy Managers’ Public Shares

One way to get a piece of hedge fund and private equity returns is to hold common stock in certain publicly traded asset management companies. Public pensions do this with a few names, in particular Affiliated Managers Group.