Outline of Selected SEC Enforcement Actions, Division of Enforcement (October 2016)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Outline of Selected SEC Enforcement Actions, Division of Enforcement (October 2016) © Practising Law Institute CORPORATE LAW AND PRACTICE Course Handbook Series Number B-2303 The SEC Speaks in 2017 Co-Chairs David W. Grim Marc Wyatt To order this book, call (800) 260-4PLI or fax us at (800) 321-0093. Ask our Customer Service Department for PLI Order Number 186008, Dept. BAV5. Practising Law Institute 1177 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 © Practising Law Institute Enforcement Panel and Workshop 41 © Practising Law Institute 42 © Practising Law Institute 3 Outline of Selected SEC Enforcement Actions, Division of Enforcement (October 2016) Prepared by: Sherry A. Peyton Research Specialist Seth Groveunder Intern The SEC (SEC), as a matter of policy, disclaims responsibility for any private publication or statement by any of its employees. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SEC or of the authors’ colleagues upon the staff of the SEC. Parts of this outline have been used in other publications. If you find this article helpful, you can learn more about the subject by going to www.pli.edu to view the on demand program or segment for which it was written. 43 © Practising Law Institute 44 © Practising Law Institute Table of Contents ACTIONS INVOLVING BROKER-DEALERS, INVESTMENT ADVISERS AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES AND OTHER REGULATED ENTITIES ......................................................................... 9 In the Matter of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ........................................................................................ 11 In the Matter of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Professional Clearing Corp. ........................................... 13 In the Matter of William Tirrell ............................................................. 15 SEC v. Ash Narayan, et al. ................................................................. 19 In the Matter of Apex Fund Services (US), Inc. - ClearPath ............... 21 In the Matter of Apex Fund Services (US), Inc. – EquityStar and Steven Zoernack ........................................................ 23 In the Matter of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC ........................... 25 In the Matter of Galen J. Marsh .......................................................... 27 SEC v. Richard W. Davis, Jr., et al. .................................................... 29 In the Matter of Albert Fried & Company, LLC .................................... 31 In the Matter of Blackstreet Capital Management, LLC and Murry N. Gunty .................................................................................... 33 SEC v. Hope Advisors, LLC, et al. ...................................................... 35 In the Matter of Central States Capital Markets, LLC, et al. ............... 37 In the Matter of Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., et al. ........................ 39 In the Matter of Charles P. Grom ........................................................ 41 In the Matter of E.S. Financial Services, Inc. n/k/a/ Brickell Global Markets, Inc. ............................................................... 43 In the Matter of Goldman, Sachs & Co. .............................................. 45 In the Matter of Steven A. Cohen ........................................................ 47 In the Matter of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC ....................................... 49 In the Matter of Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. and Sheila Huang ................................................... 51 In the Matter of SG Americas Securities, LLC and Yimin Ge ............. 53 SEC v. Martin Shkreli, et al. ................................................................ 55 In the Matter of Owen Li and Canarsie Capital, LLC .......................... 57 In the Matter of Marwood Group Research, LLC ................................ 59 In the Matter of JH Partners, LLC ....................................................... 61 In the Matter of Virtus Investment Advisers, Inc. ................................ 69 In the Matter of Cherokee Investment Partners, LLC and Cherokee Advisers, LLC ..................................................................... 71 In the Matter of Fenway Partners, LLC, et al. ..................................... 77 In the Matter of DBRS, Inc. ................................................................. 79 In the Matter of UBS AG ..................................................................... 81 In the Matter of Blackstone Management Partners L.L.C., et al. .......................................................................... 83 5 45 © Practising Law Institute ACTIONS INVOLVING THE FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT ............. 85 In the Matter of Analogic Corporation and Lars Frost ......................... 87 SEC and Akamai Technologies, Inc. .................................................. 89 SEC and Nortek, Inc. .......................................................................... 91 In the Matter of Las Vegas Sands Corp. ............................................. 93 In the Matter of Novartis AG ............................................................... 95 In the Matter of Qualcomm Incorporated ............................................ 97 SEC v. VimpelCom, Ltd. ..................................................................... 99 In the Matter of PTC, Inc. .................................................................. 101 In the Matter of Yu Kai Yuan ............................................................. 103 In the Matter of SciClone Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ............................... 105 ACTIONS INVOLVING PUBLIC FINANCE ABUSE ........................................ 106 SEC v. Juan Rafael Rangel .............................................................. 107 In the Matter of Keygent LLC, Anthony Hsieh, and Chet Wang ....... 109 In the Matter of School Business Consulting, Inc. and Terrance Bradley ................................................................. 111 SEC v. Eric J. Kellogg ....................................................................... 113 SEC v. Town of Ramapo, et al. ......................................................... 115 In the Matter of Central States Capital Markets, LLC, et al. ............. 119 In the Matter of Westlands Water District, et al. ............................... 121 SEC v. Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, et al. ........................ 123 In the Matter of First Southwest Company, LLC ............................... 125 Municipalities Continuing Disclosure Cooperation Initiative (22 Underwriting Firms) ...................................................... 127 In the Matter of State Street Bank and Trust Company .................... 129 In the Matter of Vincent J. DeBaggis ................................................ 131 SEC v. Robert B. Crowe ................................................................... 133 ACTIONS INVOLVING VIOLATIONS OF INSIDER TRADING ....................... 134 SEC v. Sanjay Valvani and Gordon Johnston .................................. 135 SEC v. Christopher Plaford ............................................................... 137 SEC v. Stefan Lumiere ...................................................................... 139 SEC v. Peter D. Nunan ..................................................................... 141 SEC v. Steven V. McClatchey and Gary J. Pusey ............................ 143 SEC v. William T. Walters and Thomas C. Davis ............................. 145 SEC v. Jay Y. Fung ........................................................................... 149 SEC v. Daryl M. Payton, et al. .......................................................... 151 SEC v. Bonan Huang, et al. .............................................................. 153 SEC v. Dennis Wayne Hamilton ....................................................... 155 SEC v. Yue Han and Wei Han .......................................................... 157 ACTIONS INVOLVING ISSUER FRAUD, DISCLOSURE AND REPORTING ........................................................................................... 159 In the Matter of IEC Electronics Corp., et al. ..................................... 161 SEC v. First Mortgage Corporation, Inc., et al. ................................. 163 In the Matter of Logitech International, S.A., et al. ............................ 165 SEC v. Erik K. Bardman and Jennifer F. Wolf .................................. 167 6 46 © Practising Law Institute In the Matter of Ener1, Inc., et al. ...................................................... 169 In the Matter of Robert D. Hesselgesser, CPA ................................. 171 In the Matter of Navistar International Corporation ........................... 173 SEC v. Daniel C. Ustian .................................................................... 175 SEC v. Reed J. Killion, et al. ............................................................. 177 SEC v. Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. ............................................... 179 In the Matter of Donald J. Glidewell, CPA ......................................... 181 In the Matter of Julieta Favela Barcenas .......................................... 183 SEC v. Hector M. Absi, Jr. ................................................................ 185 In the Matter of Barclays Capital, Inc. ............................................... 187 In the Matter of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC ........................ 189 In the Matter of Ocwen Financial Corp. ...........................................
Recommended publications
  • A Look at the Legality Behind Daraprim's Price Spike Law360, New York (September 30, 2015, 12:15 PM ET)
    Portfolio Media. Inc. | 860 Broadway, 6th Floor | New York, NY 10003 | www.law360.com Phone: +1 646 783 7100 | Fax: +1 646 783 7161 | [email protected] A Look At The Legality Behind Daraprim's Price Spike Law360, New York (September 30, 2015, 12:15 PM ET) -- Turing Pharmaceuticals AG and its controversial CEO Martin Shkreli recently made headlines when Turing raised the price of its antiprotozal drug Daraprim (pyrimethamine) from $13.50 to $750 per tablet.[1] The price increase received significant media attention. Here, we evaluate Turing’s Daraprim price hike from a legal perspective, including an analysis of the mechanisms used to balance innovation and drug pricing in the U.S., and their degree of application, if any, to the drug’s recent price hike. Balancing Drug Prices and Innovation The United States has traditionally incentivized drug development innovation. Charles J. Andres Patents and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulatory exclusivities allow an innovator to enjoy a protected U.S. market for a finite period of time. The market protection provided by these exclusivities helps innovators to recoup their research costs and make profits which, in part, are used to fund new research. Conversely, after the expiration of patents and market exclusivities, generic drugs can enter the marketplace. Generic drugs can ultimately cost 80 percent less than the branded drug.[2] Accordingly, U.S. laws (e.g., the Hatch-Waxman Act and Biologic Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009) attempt to strike a balance by providing market incentives to innovators to bring new medicines to market in exchange for making generic drugs available to patients at a greatly reduced cost.
    [Show full text]
  • Notorious Turing CEO Martin Shkreli Arrested for Securities Fraud Like Share Tweet Share
    Job Seeker: Login Sign Up Employer: Login Post Jobs HOME NEWS JOBS CAREER RESOURCES HOTBEDS CAREER FAIRS EVENTS COMPANY PROFILES INVESTORS Search Life Sciences Jobs Job Title, Keyword or Company Name City, State, or Postal Code FIND JOBS > News | News By Subject | News by Disease | News By Date | Search News Get Our FREE Industry eNewsletter email: Notorious Turing CEO Martin Shkreli Arrested for Securities Fraud Like Share Tweet Share 12/17/2015 6:20:27 AM December 17, 2015 By Alex Keown, BioSpace.com Breaking News Staff NEW YORK – Martin Shkreli, the pharmaceutical industry’s so-called “bad boy,” has been arrested on charges of securities fraud related to his tenure as chief executive officer of Retrophin Inc. (RTRX) Shkreli, who became something of an industry pariah after increasing the price of a 65-year-old drug 5,000 percent, then lamenting the fact that he didn’t raise it even higher in order to increase profit, was arrested at his home this morning, Bloomberg reported. Shkreli is being charged with a misuse of company funds when he was CEO of that company. Prosecutors allege that Shkreli took company stock and used it to pay off personal debts. Additionally, Shkreli is charged with playing shell games with his former hedge fund, MSMB Capital Management, which lost millions of investor’s dollars, Bloomberg said. In January, Shkreli came under investigation by U.S. prosecutors for possible securities violations and from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the distribution of stock without letting shareholders know. An internal probe conducted by Retrophin and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Feb.
    [Show full text]
  • Attorney General Herring Files Suit Against Martin
    SSearch Search ... Commonwealth of Virginia Office of the Attorney General Mark Herring 202 North Ninth Street Attorney General Richmond, Virginia 23219 For media inquiries only, contact: Charlotte Gomer, Press Secretary Phone: (804)786-1022 Mobile: (804) 512-2552 Email: [email protected] ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING FILES SUIT AGAINST MARTIN SHKRELI AND VYERA PHARMACEUTICALS ~ Lawsuit seeks repayment of illegally obtained profits, lifetime ban on Shkreli working in pharmaceutical industry ~ RICHMOND (April 14, 2020) – Attorney General Mark R. Herring today joined a multistate lawsuit filed earlier this year against Vyera Pharmaceuticals, previously Turing Pharmaceuticals, and two of its former CEOs, including Martin Shkreli, for stifling competition to protect the exorbitant, monopolistic pricing of the drug Daraprim. Daraprim (pyrimethamine) is used to treat the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis, and despite Vyera Pharmaceuticals being the only FDA-approved source of the medication, Shkreli and Vyera raised the price of the drug by more than 4,000 percent overnight to $750 per pill, after purchasing the rights to Daraprim in August 2015. “Vyera Pharmaceuticals and Martin Shkreli made unconscionable decisions to maintain their monopoly on Daraprim and make as much money as possible,” said Attorney General Herring. “Because of their greed, Americans who couldn’t afford the exorbitant price of this drug were forced to make difficult, potentially life- threatening treatment decisions. Drug companies and their executives must be held accountable when they place profits over human lives.” Attorney General Herrring is one of six attorneys general today joining the lawsuit against Vyera and Shkreli that was originally filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in January.
    [Show full text]
  • Media Physicians Public
    TOP MOST-SHARED U.S. ARTICLES ON DRUG PRICING VIA TWITTER, AUG ‘15 – AUG ‘16 MEDIA PHYSICIANS PUBLIC 1. WSJ: “Why The U.S. 1. NYT: “Valeant’s Drug Price 1. NBC News: “EpiPen Price Pays More Than Other Strategy Enriches It, But Hike Has Parents Of Kids Countries For Drugs” Infuriates Patients And With Allergies Scrambling (12/1/15) Lawmakers” (10/4/15) Ahead Of School Year” (8/17/16) 2. WSJ: “How Pfizer Set The 2. NBC News: “EpiPen Price Cost Of Its New Drug At Hike Has Parents Of Kids 2. NYT: “Drug Goes From $9,850 A Month” (12/9/15) With Allergies Scrambling $13.50 A Tablet To $750, Ahead Of School Year” Overnight” (9/20/15) 3. NYT: “Valeant’s Drug Price (8/17/16) Strategy Enriches It, But 3. AP: “Breakthrough Infuriates Patients And 3. NYT: “Martin Shkreli’s Cholesterol Drugs Fizzle Lawmakers” (10/4/15) Latest Plan To Sharply Amid Price Pushback” Raise Drug Price Prompts (4/20/16) 4. WSJ:: “For Prescription Outcry” (12/11/15) Drug Makers, Price 4. USAT: “Company Hikes Increases Drive Revenue” 4. WaPo: “This Drug Is Price 5,000% For Drug (10/5/15) Defying A Rare Form Of That Fights Complication Leukemia — And It Keeps Of AIDS, Cancer” (9/18/15) 5. NYT: “Martin Shkreli’s Getting Pricier” (3/9/16) Latest Plan To Sharply 5. CBS: “Rising Cost Of Raise Drug Price Prompts 5. WSJ: “Why The U.S. Potentially Life-Saving Outcry” (12/11/15) Pays More Than Other EpiPen Puts Pinch On Countries For Drugs” Families” (8/16/16) 6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Next President Can Lower Drug Prices with the Stroke of a Pen
    Why Chinese Universities Suck WINTERSPRING BOOKS ISSUE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 $5.95 U.S./$6.95 CAN PLUS: How to make conservatism great again America’s best police chief Just the Medicine How the next president can lower drug prices with the stroke of a pen. By Alicia Mundy t’s hard to watch television or read a newspaper These are not isolated incidents. List prices for drugs in these days without seeing stories about outrageous general rose 12 percent last year, on top of similar increases I prescription drug price increases. This past summer, over the previous five years. Drug prices are now on track the company Mylan was in the spotlight for hiking the to account for more than 15 percent of health care costs in price of its EpiPen, an injector containing cheap but life- America, up from less than 10 percent in 2014. That increase saving allergy medicine, from $94 for a two-pack in 2007 is helping to drive up health insurance premiums and pa- to over $600 today. Last fall, Martin Shkreli, CEO of Tur- tient deductibles. According to an August 2015 report by Kai- ing Pharmaceuticals, became the face of greed when his ser Health News, 24 percent of Americans taking prescrip- company purchased the AIDS drug Daraprim and prompt- tion drugs reported being unable to afford a prescription ly raised its price from $13.50 to $750 per pill—an increase from their doctors in 2015 over the previous year. of some 5,000 percent. Prior to that, Valeant Pharma- The only thing more depressing than these out-of-con- ceuticals drew widespread scorn for jacking up the prices trol drug prices is the seeming inability of politicians to do of two heart medications, Nitropress and Isuprel, by 212 anything about the problem.
    [Show full text]
  • Imbeaumbsthesis.Pdf (2.574Mb)
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Title Page Cooperation in Competitive Miniatures Games: An examination of coopetitive behaviour A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Management at Massey University Auckland, New Zealand Jean-Sebastien Imbeau 2019 1 Abstract The following study uses competitive miniatures board games as a novel research environment to examine how, when and why individuals choose between cooperative and competitive strategies to advance their interests, both within the game match itself and within the broader community of gamers, and what factors affect these decisions. Drawing on literature from the study fields of coopetition (a situation of simultaneous cooperation and competition) and decision making, the study focuses on environmental factors and systemic features of the games and game cultures, and how these impact player decisions and perspectives on the competitive/cooperative paradox. Findings supported value creation as a key motivator in player behaviour. Participants overall expressed a non zero-sum understanding of the coopetitive environment. The existence of a coopetitive tension within competitive miniatures games was acknowledged across the board, although its severity was perceived differently across participants. Participants also identified a number of key strategies and tools used to mitigate or navigate this tension. These included reciprocity, communicating intent, following the principles of clean play, and adhering to a set of unwritten rules and norms around sportsmanship and fairness.
    [Show full text]
  • Complaint: Martin Shkreli, Evan Greebel, MSMB Capital
    Andrew M. Calamari Sanjay Wadhwa Gerald A. Gross Paul G. Gizzi Eric M. Schmidt Attorneys for Plaintiff SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION New York Regional Office 200 Vesey Street, Suite 400 New York, NY 10281-1022 (212) 336-0150 (Schmidt) Email: [email protected] UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, Plaintiff, ECFCASE -against- COMPLAINT AND MARTIN SHKRELI, JURY DEMAND EVAN GREEBEL, MSMB CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, and MSMB HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT LLC, Defendants. Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), for its Complaint against Defendants Martin Shkreli ("Shkreli"), Evan Greebel ("Greebel"), MSMB Capital Management LLC ("MSMB Adviser") and MSMB Healthcare Management LLC ("MSMB Healthcare Adviser"), alleges as follows: SUMMARY 1. This case involves widespread fraudulent conduct orchestrated by Shkreli from at least October 2009 through March 2014. Some of this fraudulent conduct was aided and abetted by Shkreli's lawyer, Greebel. 2. Shkreli was the founder and portfolio manager ofMSMB Capital Management LP ("MSMB") and MSMB Healthcare LP ("MSMB Healthcare"), a pair of hedge funds. He was also the managing member of defendants MSMB Adviser and MSMB Healthcare Adviser, the investment advisers to MSMB and MSMB Healthcare, respectively. Shkreli made material misrepresentations and omissions to investors and prospective investors in MSMB; lied to one of MSMB's executing brokers about MSMB's ability to settle short sales Shkreli had made in MSMB's account; and misappropriated funds from MSMB and MSMB Healthcare. Later, after Shkreli had founded and taken public a pharmaceutical company, Retrophin, Inc. ("Retrophin"), Shkreli, aided and abetted by Greebel, fraudulently induced Retrophin to fund settlements with persons who had claims against Shkreli arising out of their investments in Shkreli' s hedge funds.
    [Show full text]
  • Mlex Op-Ed: Wilson Says Pandemic Underscores Need to Establish
    Downloaded on 22 May 2020 by Mlex Editorial Redistribution authorized in accordance with User Terms in the MLex General Terms of Business. Copyright © 2020 MLex Market Insight. Wilson says pandemic underscores need to establish privacy rules for 'Big Tech' Official Statement | 18 May 20 | 20:50 GMT In Brief MLex Summary: Christine Wilson, a Republican member of the US Federal Trade Commission said in the full text of a media opinion piece shared with MLex that the Covid-19 pandemic underscores the need for comprehensive federal privacy legislation. "Covid-19 presents new and complex choices about tech companies’ collection, dissemination and application of users’ data. Rather than take chances on companies’ ability to intuit the appropriate course, Congress should provide the guardrails. The health, privacy, and Fourth Amendment rights of Americans are at stake," Wilson wrote. Text of Wilson op-ed follows in full: Covid-19 Underscores Need for Comprehensive Privacy Legislation By Christine Wilson After years of vilifying pharmaceutical and technology companies, the pandemic-stricken globe now looks to them with hope. The role of Big Pharma is obvious: find treatments, cures and vaccines. The role of Big Tech is less clear – and requires guidance from Congress. Many view technology, in the form of comprehensive contact tracing, as key to safely reopening our economy and recovering a sense of normality in our social interactions. But the pandemic has not erased concerns about tech companies’ handling of consumer privacy. Indeed, it heightens those concerns, as government omnipotence combines with private sector omniscience. As a Commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission, I am familiar with Big Tech and Big Pharma.
    [Show full text]
  • Seven Commandments of Esports Communications
    WHI THE TESTORY PAMOB P E R The Story Mob is the world’s it comes to effective communica- first communications consultan- tions. Unlike baseball or basket- cy focused solely on esports. We ball, we haven’t had over a hun- came together to form The Story dred years to refine our practices Mob because we believe that and get this right. On the flip side, esports fans are the most we have the ability to reinvent valuable fans in the world, how we employ communications, and there is only one way to reach what channels we use, and how them: through authentic, transpa- best we speak to this new audien- rent, and timely communication. ce. The Story Mob wants to be at We also saw a genuine gap in the the forefront of that journey and market for brands, teams, and to help esports gain its own voice companies who wanted to effecti- - a more connected and vely reach esports fans, but co- authentic voice than any uldn’t quite speak their language. other sport in history. We believe that our esports eco- system has a long way to go when 02 COMMANDMENTS OF ESPORTS COMMUNICATIONS This whitepaper is designed to we must adapt our best practices give a fan-focused view of com- to fit an audience that’s more munications - applicable for teams connected, more demanding, 7and brands alike. We’re not here and more intolerant of bullshit to point fingers or to call out than any that’s come before it. examples of terrible communica- tion in our industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Shkreli, Martin
    / IIARDCOPY UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Beforethe RECEIVED SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FEB 12 2018 ADMINISTRATIVEPROCEEDING File No. 3-18127 OFFICE OF THE secRETARY In the Matter of DIVISION OF ENFORCEMENT'S MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF MARTIN SHKRELI, DECISION ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY DISPOSITION AGAINST Respondent. RESPONDENT MARTIN SHKRELI The Division of Enforcementrespectfully requests that the Courtreconsider its decision, entered on November 17, 2017, to the extent it denied in partthe Division's motion for summary disposition pursuant to Rule 250 of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Rules of Practice [ 17 C.F.R. § 201.250]. In support of this Motion, the Division relies upon the accompanying memorandum of law and the Declaration of Eric M. Schmidt. The Division respectfully requeststhat the Court grant this motion. Dated: New York, New York February 9, 2018 Respectfully submitted, Isl Paul G. Gizzi Isl Eric M Schmidt Paul G. Gizzi ([email protected]) Eric M. Schmidt ([email protected]) Counsel for the Division of Enforcement 200 Vesey Street, Suite 400 New York, NY 10281 (212) 336-1100 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certifythat on February 9, 2018, I caused the original and three copies of the foregoing motion forsummary disposition and accompanying papers to be filed: Brent J. Fields Secretary Securities and Exchange Commission I 00 F Street NE, Mail Stop I 090 Washington, DC 20549 I furthercertify that I caused to be served a copy of the foregoing via email upon: MartinShkreli c/o Andrea Zellan, Esq. Brafinan& Associates, P.C. 767 Third A venue, 26th Floor New York, NY 10017 I furthercertify that I caused a courtesy copy of the foregoingto be provided by email to: The Honorable James Grimes Administrative Law Judge Securities and Exchange Commission I 00 F Street NE, Mail Stop 2582 Washington, DC 20549 Isl Eric M Schmidt Eric M.
    [Show full text]
  • Bloomberg Brief: Hedge Funds ACTIVIST
    Tuesday July 19, 2016 www.bloombergbriefs.com Context Looks to Hedge Fund Managers Post-Brexit NUMBER OF THE WEEK BY MELISSA KARSH $101.8 Billion — Amount funds of Context Asset Management is looking to add three hedge fund managers in the next hedge funds lost in the 12 months 12 to 18 months to its liquid alternative mutual fund platform because alternatives may through March because of outflows and see increased demand following the U.K.’s decision to exit the European Union, poor performance, according to a report according to President and Chief Investment Officer John Culbertson. from eVestment. The Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania-based firm plans to create three liquid alternative mutual funds and hire the hedge fund managers to serve as subadvisers, said Ron INSIDE Biscardi, CEO of its parent company, Context Capital Partners. Context Capital Partners, which has previously seeded five hedge funds, will help seed the new funds, Incline Investment's Tahoe Fund rose with initial investments typically ranging from $20 million to $30 million, Biscardi said. more than 9 percent in June: Returns "Brexit is confirming our bias toward those strategies that we really like," including systematic quants, hedged equity, quant equity and volatility strategies, Culbertson said SoMa Equity Partners is said to close in a telephone interview last month. "What we’re not doing is going back toward early the founder's class of its flagship fund on business-cycle strategies, which are pro-growth, high-beta strategies." Sept. 1: Milestones The firm, which currently runs one liquid alternative mutual fund — the $93.5 million Context Macro Opportunities Fund — is now "more aggressively" looking to partner with Tremblant hires former FrontPoint managers that offer a low correlation to risk assets, provide high efficiency ratios and executive Daniel Waters as co- asymmetric returns, Culberston said.
    [Show full text]
  • Hedge Papers, Trump's Wealthcare Plan
    HEDGE PAPERS NO.51 Trump’s Wealthcare Plan: Helping Hedge Funds Profit From Soaring Drug Prices 1 INTRODUCTION Trump, Hedge Funds, & the Pharmaceutical Industry In recent weeks, some opponents of the widely criticized Republican healthcare plan have started rebranding it wealthcare, given the mounting evidence that the plan would clearly benefit the wealthiest Americans and given them massive tax cuts. What has been overlooked is the way Trump has already been implementing his own massive wealthcare plan for Wall Street. Indeed, he’s been helping hedge funds profit from higher drug prices and tax dodging at the expense of ordinary Ameri- cans, including those who rely on the quality, affordable healthcare that Republicans will take away if their current bill passes. As a presidential candidate, Trump blasted the pharmaceutical and hedge fund in- dustries, vowing to negotiate lower drug prices for consumers, while declaring that hedge funds were getting away with murder. Yet as President, Trump has increasingly opened his administration to executives from both industries, seeking their advice on special panels and has all but dropped any mention of the vigorous criticisms he levied during his campaign. This report analyzes the outsized influence hedge funds have amassed in the phar- maceutical industry, looking closely at patterns of price gouging and tax dodging at 2 pharmaceutical firms with hedge fund backing, and examining the industry’s close ties to the Trump administration. Indeed, the pharmaceutical industry, and the hedge funds backing it, appear to have identified an opportunity for even greater profit in the Donald Trump presidency. After giving only tepid support during Trump’s campaign, big pharma went all in to court Trump, donating generously to his inauguration and throwing lavish parties in his honor.
    [Show full text]