BusinessWeek – The market for exotic securities hasn’t entirely gone away. It’s just gone underground—-six feet under, to be precise.

Hedge fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management is plunging into life settlements—a market in which speculators buy-up unwanted life insurance policies from wealthy individuals looking to score some quick cash. The $10 billion New York-based fund is planning on selling so-called “death bonds” to overseas investors, as part of a plan to potentially raise cash to finance its life settlements acquisition business.

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New York (HedgeCo.Net) – Hedge Fund Davidson Kempner Capital Management has declared a proxy victory after replacing all but one of the board members of the Sun-Times Media Group.

Davidson Kempner, who owns a 6% share in the parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times, expressed its discontent with the current board, blaming them for the financial woes of the company. 

Hedge funds are no strangers to shaking up boards of companies in which they invest, many times in order to gain a strategic position where they can be involved in management and the decision making process in hopes of garnering higher returns for shareholders.

"Through the provision of these consents, the stockholders have made clear their desire and support for a board of directors that is made up of professionals experienced in publishing and restructuring," said Davidson Kempner. "Given the operating and financial challenges before Sun-Times, we believe that the reconstituted board has the better potential to guide and lead Sun-Times."

The new slate includes Jeremy Halbreich, former General Manager for the Dallas Morning News and executives Michael Katzenstein and Robert Schmitz.   Robert Poole, who holds an 11% stake in the company, will remain on the board.  The hedge fund has also vocalized their desire to dump current CEO Cyrus Freidheim.

Julie Scuderi
Senior Editor for HedgeCo.Net
Email: julie@hedgeco.net

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West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.net) – Independent alternative asset and hedge fund management group, Gottex Fund Management Holdings Limited, announced the opening of an office in Dubai to capitalise on the growth opportunities in the region. 

In addition, Gottex appointed Wassim Nasrallah as Managing Director responsible for sales and marketing in the Middle Eastern region. With significant business lines already in the Middle East, Gottex says the region is one of its core growth areas over the coming years. The region and office will be managed by Hashem Arouzi, Managing Director and a founding partner of Gottex.  Wassim Nasrallah, who recently joined Gottex from Lehman Brothers, will work alongside Hashem Arouzi in Dubai and co-manage the region. 

"We are very pleased to announce the opening of our new Dubai office which will enable us to better service and expand our Middle Eastern customer base," Joachim Gottschalk, Chairman and CEO of Gottex, said, "Similarly, we welcome Wassim to Gottex, who, with his extensive experience in the Gulf region, will be essential to our growth plans in the Middle East."

Before joining Gottex, Wassim Nasrallah worked for Lehman Brothers International, where he was Head of Generalist Sales in Dubai for Capital Markets and Investment Management products.  While at Lehman he was involved in Private Investment Management in Boston, New York and Dubai. 

Incorporated in Guernsey, Gottex provides investment management services to a diversified range of hedge funds and funds of hedge funds. The Gottex group also structures and manages specialised fund of hedge funds, managed accounts, real asset funds and provides related investment advisory services. As of 30 September 2008, Gottex had $13.5 billion in assets under management (AUM).

Christian Johnson
Staff Writer for HedgeCo.Net

HedgeCo.Net is a premier hedge fund database and community for qualified and accredited investors only. Membership on www.hedgeco.net is FREE and EASY. We also offer FREE LISTINGS for Hedge Funds!

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