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☆ Xpeng’s Didi deal is smart shortcut to growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An Xpeng P5 electric vehicle (EV) is seen displayed during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. It’s buying compatriot Didi’s smart EV unit and paying $744 million, or 3.25% of its own stock. For its part, Didi seems to have given up its ambition to break into capital-intensive EV manufacturing, and that’s probably a smart move for a company stuck in listing limbo. It’s unclear if the deal with Didi will dilute VW’s shareholding but Xpeng’s worth is at least rising. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Aly, Didi, that’s, Li Auto, BYD, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, HK, Volkswagen, EV maker’s, X, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China

☆ White House inflicts Big Pharma ills
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

If just one or two big medications were going to be renegotiated, the industry could shoulder the change. The IRA, signed into law last year, allows Medicare to negotiate prices for some of its most costly drugs. Though specificities are unclear, a quick look at one of the biggest sellers under the program, blood thinner Eliquis, suggests Big Pharma could shoulder a discount. At 11 times earnings over the next 12 months, that’s less than 10% of the firm’s $205 billion market capitalization. Put this on the same multiple of 11 times, and it would be a $275 billion hit to the industry.

Persons: George Frey, Biden, Robert Cyran, Xpeng’s Didi, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, REUTERS, Reuters, Big, Medicare, Pfizer, Bristol, Myers Squibb, Congressional, Office, X, Thomson Locations: Provo , Utah, U.S

The development comes days after SoftBank Group-backed (9984.T) chip designer Arm Holdings made public its IPO filing. Instacart said its revenue had surged to $1.48 billion in the six months ended June 30, compared with $1.13 billion in the same period last year. Net income was $242 million during the six-month period, compared to a $74 million loss a year earlier, Instacart said. Customers can order through the Instacart app, and an Instacart "shopper" delivers the product in as little as 30 minutes. Unlike in an IPO, no shares are sold in advance in a direct listing and investors can sell their shares directly to the public.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mark Schwartz, Mike Bellin, Instacart, Goldman Sachs, Fidji Simo, Frank Slootman, Niket, Savyata Mishra, Shilpi Majumdar, Shinjini, Maju Samuel Organizations: REUTERS, SoftBank, Arm Holdings, PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S, San, underwriters, Nasdaq, Facebook, Canada, CVS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, United States, Snowflake, Bengaluru

The company hit the headlines in December 2021 after it laid off 900 employees via Zoom, and has since seen its profit dented by high mortgage rates that have dampened demand for home loans. "Here is an example of the exact wrong company at the wrong time - SPACs are hated and anything related to mortgage lending is hated at the moment," said Thomas Hayes, chairman at Great Hill Capital. U.S. mortgage rates have extended their surge as government bond yields rally. The popular 30-year fixed rate hit its highest level since 2000 last week, causing mortgage applications to hit a 28-year low. Amid ultra-low interest rates, the SPAC market exploded in 2021, but has since sputtered amid rising interest rates, high redemption rates and increased regulatory scrutiny.

Persons: SoftBank, Vishal Garg, Thomas Hayes, Bansari Mayur, Hannah Lang, Sriraj Kalluvila, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Home, Finance, Aurora, Corp, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Great, Thomson Locations: Great Hill, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ SPACs can't be killed
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chamath Palihapitiya, Founder and CEO of Social Capital, presents during the 2018 Sohn Investment Conference in New York City, U.S., April 23, 2018. Although SPACs raised just $13 billion last year, this week produced a deal that looks like it could have happened during the heyday. From U.S. presidential hopefuls’ forays to a continued SPAC king’s virality, SPACs’ reach is a reminder that they are hard to kill. This week, one of those SPACs bought Better.com, a mortgage lender led by Vishal Garg and backed by SoftBank Group (9984.T). They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Chamath Palihapitiya, Brendan McDermid, SPACs, Vishal Garg, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, lister Chamath Palihapitiya, Anita Ramaswamy, Lauren Silva Laughlin, Sharon Lam Organizations: Social Capital, Investment, REUTERS, Reuters, SoftBank Group, Securities and Exchange Commission, X, KKR, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S

☆ The CEO who brutally fired hundreds of the people on Zoom is taking his startup public in a move that could make or break him
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Vishal Garg is taking Better, a mortgage startup, public through a long-delayed SPAC deal. Read what he said about making strategic acquisitions and the millions in company loans that stand to be forgiven. But CEO Vishal Garg, known for brutally laying off hundreds of employees via Zoom, insists he has a plan. One former employee told Insider that the move seems like a "Hail Mary," both for Garg personally and for the business more broadly. Here is what Garg said about his vision for the company and how he will spend the money Better receives from the IPO.

Persons: Vishal Garg, Garg, SPACs, Mary, refinancings, it's, SoftBank, indemnifying, —, It'll Organizations: & Finance, Aurora Acquisition Corp, Nasdaq, World Trade Center, Federal Reserve, Silicon, Better, Mortgage, SEC, Scotsman, Aurora, Insider Locations: Garg, refinancings, Queens , NY

☆ Legendary investor Jeremy Grantham sees shades of the dot-com bubble in markets - and predicts stocks will slump and recession will strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Jeremy Grantham compared the post-pandemic boom in stocks to the dot-com bubble. The GMO cofounder doubts AI buzz can offset the impact of higher interest rates and tech woes. The buying frenzy was fueled by rock-bottom interest rates, stimulus checks, federal grants and loans, lockdown boredom, and other factors. The resulting surge in stocks was "in many ways about equal to the 2000 tech bubble," the veteran investor and GMO cofounder added. Grantham added that a recession could still hit this year, and forecasted moderately higher inflation and interest rates in the years to come versus the last decade.

Persons: Jeremy Grantham, Grantham, David Rubenstein, It's Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Federal Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Automakers are finally embracing lidar sensors. A few startups look like market-share winners
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( John Rosevear | In Jrosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

In this article INVZLAZROUSTINVZLAZROUST Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTA Hesai lidar sensor on top of a vehicle in Shenzhen, China, July 10, 2022. Jade Gao | AFP | Getty ImagesFor investors in lidar startups, this has been a long time coming. After years of talk — and a SPAC boom in the sensor sector — automakers have finally started incorporating lidar units into their vehicles. Lidar, short for light detection and ranging, is a sensor technology that uses invisible lasers to create a detailed 3D map of the sensor's surroundings. Playing into investors' intense interest in self-driving technology, many lidar startups went public via mergers with special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, over the last few years.

Persons: LAZR, INVZ LAZR, Jade Gao, They're, Luminar, —, Omer Keilaf, Keilaf, Innoviz, Austin Russell, Russell, we'll, Tom Fennimore Organizations: AFP, Getty, BMW, Volkswagen, Refinitiv, Volvo, Polestar, Benz, Luminar Technologies, Bloomberg Locations: Shenzhen, China, Germany, U.S, SPACs, Orlando , Florida

A few hours before its Nasdaq debut, VinFast more than doubled its value in premarket trading involving less than 4% of its shares. Nikola now commands a market value of $1.4 billion, versus $13.9 billion before listing while Lucid has a current market value of $15.5 billion, versus $24 billion during its 2021 SPAC deal. It is still unclear how many of the company shares will trade on Tuesday and at what price. VinFast's founder, Vietnam's richest man Pham Nhat Vuong, pledged $2.5 billion in April to bolster the EV maker, including $1 billion from his personal fortune. He is the beneficial owner of 99% of the ordinary shares of the EV maker after the merger.

Persons: Mike Blake, Black Spade, Nikola Corp, Nikola, Lucid, Rivian, Pham Nhat Vuong, VinFast, Phuong Nguyen, Yantoultra, Jaiveer Singh, Francesco Guarascio Organizations: Los Angeles Auto, REUTERS, Nasdaq, Nikola, Tesla Inc, Rivian Automotive Inc, VinFast, P Global Mobility, Investors, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, HANOI, Dealogic, North Carolina, Vietnam, United States

☆ Vietnamese EV maker VinFast to begin trading on the Nasdaq Tuesday after completing SPAC merger
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A VinFast VF7 electric vehicle is seen during the 2023 Canadian International AutoShow in Toronto, Canada on Feb. 17, 2023. Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast is expected to list on the tech-focused Nasdaq on Tuesday morning in New York, following completion of its merger with the U.S.-listed special purpose acquisition company Black Spade Acquisition . On Monday, VinFast said in a joint statement with Black Spade Acquisition that it would commence trading on Aug. 15. The deal values VinFast at approximately $23 billion, according to a June filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Following the merger, Black Spade became a wholly owned subsidiary of VinFast and is expected to delist from the New York Stock Exchange, said the joint statement.

Persons: VinFast, Black Spade, Le Organizations: U.S, Spade, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, New York Stock Exchange, Thuy, CNBC Locations: Toronto, Canada, New York, VinFast

☆ Baupost's Seth Klarman builds new stake in Amazon, adds a discount retailer to his portfolio
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Baupost Group's Seth Klarman picked up a few stocks last quarter during the market rally, including tech giant Amazon and discount retailer Dollar General . The billionaire hedge fund manager bought $125 million worth of Amazon shares in the second quarter when the e-commerce juggernaut rallied more than 26%. Klarman has traded in and out of Amazon in the past year. He also bought $41 million worth of Dollar General , as well as $36 million of Union Pacific shares last quarter. Shares of the retailer fell nearly 20% in the second quarter as it slashed its full year outlook after missing Wall Street's estimates for quarterly earnings.

Persons: Baupost, Seth Klarman, Klarman, Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham's, Klarman hasn't Organizations: Union Pacific, Oracle, Boston, Liberty Global, ViaSat, Liberty Media, CNBC Locations: Union, Baupost

Immersed will merge with Maquia Capital Acquisition Corp (MAQC.O), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), in a deal that values the Austin, Texas-based firm at about $150 million, the sources said. As part of the deal, Immersed is raising bridge financing through convertible notes from investors including Intel Corp (INTC.O) Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger, former football player Tim Tebow, and All Blue Capital. Immersed expects to have access to the proceeds raised by the SPAC, barring redemptions, the sources said. Founded in 2017 by software engineer Renji Bijoy, Immersed develops spatial computing software that enables remote working for employees. After the deal closes, Immersed will be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker "AIMR", the sources said.

Persons: Pat Gelsinger, Tim Tebow, Renji Bijoy, Milana Vinn, Robert Birsel Organizations: Maquia, Corp, Intel Corp, Blue Capital, redemptions, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: Austin , Texas, New York

☆ Klein's UK SPAC deal is more swan song than encore
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The northern English county is the home of serial acquirer CorpAcq, led by the brother of “Take That” singer Jason Orange, which Klein’s Churchill Capital Corp VII (CVII.N) special-purpose acquisition company vehicle now hopes to buy. The deal, which values the investor in plumbing to fork-lift leasing groups at $1.6 billion including debt, may struggle to relight the fire of the depressed SPAC sector. Klein’s planned deal comes amid a growing lack of patience by SPAC investors. CorpAcq could yet be magic for SPAC investors. Churchill’s sponsors, including Klein, will waive most of their founder shares, which typically vest when a deal is done.

Persons: Peter Rawlinson, Michael Klein, acquirer, “, Jason Orange, Klein’s, SPACs, Klein, Simon Orange’s, Pamela Barbaglia, Aston Martin, Neil Unmack, Streisand Neto Organizations: Lucid, Churchill Capital Corp, Nasdaq, Lucid Motors, Reuters, Blank, Cotton Traders, Twitter, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Cheshire, Stockholm, Brexit, Japan

☆ Palantir stock up 10% as company rides A.I. craze
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Palantir, a data analytics company best known for its work with the U.S. government's defense and intelligence agencies, offers a number of AI-powered services for organizations across public and private sectors. Shares of Palantir popped 10% Monday as the company continues to capitalize on investors' hopes for its artificial intelligence software ahead of its earnings report next week. In an interview with CNBC's "The Exchange" Friday, Dan Ives, managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, described Palantir as "the [Lionel] Messi of AI," referencing the pro soccer player. Ives said there is a "golden path" for the company to monetize, adding in a note that Palantir has built "an AI fortress that is unmatched." "This is an arms race of a different kind, and it has begun," Karp wrote.

Persons: Alex Karp, CNBC's, Dan Ives, Lionel, Messi, Ives, Palantir, Karp, William Blair, SPACs Organizations: Palantir Technologies Inc, P Global, U.S, Wedbush Securities, New York Times, Palantir Locations: Houston , Texas, A.I, U.S

☆ 'Oracle of Boston' Seth Klarman's value investing principles have stood the test of time
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Baupost Group's Seth Klarman, nicknamed "the Oracle of Boston," is revered in value investing circles for his disciplined investment philosophy, maybe because his style has stood the test of time. The billionaire hedge fund manager has been an almost religious follower of Benjamin Graham's investing style, buying out-of-favor and undervalued assets to ensure a margin of safety. Klarman has drawn comparisons to Warren Buffett — Buffett being a student of Graham's at Columbia University — for his patient, disciplined investment style. The 66-year-old Harvard and Cornell grad published his investment book, "Margin of Safety," in 1991. The hedge fund manager posted a mid-single digit decline last year, beating the S & P 500 which fell nearly 20%, the Financial Times reported.

Persons: Baupost, Seth Klarman, Benjamin Graham's, Klarman, Warren Buffett — Buffett, Columbia University —, Benjamin Graham, David Dodd, Klarman hasn't Organizations: Oracle, Boston, Columbia University, Harvard, Cornell grad, CNBC, Financial Times Locations: Baupost

☆ Vietnam EV maker VinFast plans US listing in August after regulator nod
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Phuong Nguyen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The EV maker had filed for an initial public offering in the U.S. to list on the Nasdaq in December last year, but in May it announced plans to list through a merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Black Spade Acquisition Co (BSAQ.A). VinFast and Black Spade aim to complete the merger by August, subject to shareholder approvals and other customary closing conditions, they said in a joint statement on Friday. "The declaration of the SEC effectiveness is a significant step towards the successful completion of the business combination between Black Spade and VinFast," Dennis Tam, Chairman and Co-CEO of Black Spade Acquisition Co said. Black Spade is set to hold an extraordinary shareholder meeting to approve the proposed business combination with VinFast on August 10, the joint statement said. The new merged entity was estimated by VinFast and Black Spade to have a potential equity value of $23 billion, according to their statement.

Persons: Black Spade, Dennis Tam, VinFast's, Nikola Corp, VinFast, Phuong Nguyen, Louise Heavens, Jane Merriman Organizations: Securities and Exchange Commission, Nasdaq, Spade, SEC, Faraday, Nikola, VinFast, Thomson Locations: HANOI, United States, U.S, North Carolina

☆ Here's what the bears are missing, and why there's still money to be made in this bull market
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

We know there are so many reasons why this bull market has eluded so many. It's sudden broadening into health care, transports and financials just when we were told the bull was slain by its lack of breadth. I hope readers here know that I felt that only by tuning out the Fed could you make maximum money in the market. You simply had to ignore the verbiage, block out the gasbags who simply failed to see the two-staged bull market right in front of them. Needless to say, if you needed any evidence that we are in a bull market, the rally in that dog may be enough to make the prosecution rest.

Persons: Jerome Powell's, Powell, It's, Joe Biden's, Powell's, that's, Larry Fink, DR Horton, Powell didn't, IPOs, David Solomon's, Goldman Sachs, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Steve Squeri, Squeri, Jeff Marks, Jeff, Johnson, Elliott Management's, Lauder, Jackson, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Victor J Organizations: Federal, Dow, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, AS, Blackrock, DR, Western Alliance, FTC, Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department, Club, Microsoft, Activision, American Express, DuPont, Constellation Brands, Disney, Fed, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Visitors, New York Stock Exchange, Blue, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: Washington, IPOs, Cava, Wyoming

☆ Trump Media merger partner DWAC soars 50% after SEC fraud settlement
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The social media app will be developed by Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG). DWAC is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that announced plans to merge with Truth Social parent company Trump Media & Technology Group in October 2021. DWAC's SEC settlement dictates that the company must pay an $18 million civil penalty fee if it merges with TMTG and takes the company public. But if the merger does not occur before the Jan. 1, 2025, deadline, and if DWAC returns investors' money, the SEC has agreed to waive the penalty. It is illegal for SPACS to solicit specific merger targets ahead of an actual initial public offering filing.

Persons: Donald Trump's, DWAC, Trump Organizations: Trump Media, Technology, Securities and Exchange Commission, Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, SEC, SPACS, Florida, White House, Republican Locations: DWAC, New York, Georgia

☆ Trump Media merger partner DWAC settles with SEC over fraud charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 7, 2023. WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that it had settled fraud charges with Digital World Acquisition Corp ., the company that is seeking to take former President Donald Trump's social media venture public. As part of the settlement, DWAC was ordered to pay an $18 million civil penalty fee in the event that it executes a final merger and takes Trump Media and Technology Group public. Shares of DWAC rose 30% in extended trading following the SEC announcement. The fraud charges stem in part from what the SEC says were DWAC's "extensive SPAC merger discussions" with Trump's media company several months before filing paperwork to go public in Sept. 2021.

Persons: Donald Trump, Donald Trump's, DWAC, Patrick Orlando, Trump Organizations: U.S, Republican, WASHINGTON — The Securities, Exchange Commission, Trump Media, Technology Group, SEC, White House Locations: Bluffs , Iowa, Florida, DWAC, New York, Georgia

☆ SPAC seeking to merge with Trump's media company settles with the SEC
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Thursday that it settled with the blank-check company seeking to merge with former President Donald Trump’s media company. Nearly two years ago, TMTG announced that it would merge with Digital World, which is a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. A SPAC, also known as a blank-check company, is a shell company that debuts on the public market with the stated intent to acquire an existing private company. The SEC said it also found that Digital World failed to disclose that its CEO had a potential conflict of interest with TMTG based on a previous agreement he signed with the company. Last month, federal prosecutors arrested three investors on insider trading charges related to Digital World’s deal with Trump’s media company.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, TMTG, DWAC, “, ”, Gurbir, Grewal Organizations: CNN, Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Acquisition, Trump Media & Technology Locations: SEC’s

☆ SPAC Tied to Trump’s Media Business Says It Has a Deal With Regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Digital World said that under the tentative settlement with the S.E.C. Federal authorities had been trying to determine if Digital World’s talks with Trump Media before its initial public offering in September 2021 were substantive enough that they should have been disclosed before the SPAC sold shares to the public. In its I.P.O., Digital World raised $300 million from investors. But the long delay in completing the merger prompted a number of hedge funds to pull out of that financing deal. As part of the tentative settlement, which requires approval by S.E.C.

Organizations: Trump Media, Federal

☆ Tech IPO drought reaches 18 months despite Nasdaq's sharp rebound in first half of 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ari Levy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

Despite a bloated pipeline of companies waiting to go public and a rebound in tech stocks that pushed the Nasdaq up 30% in the first half of 2023, the IPO drought continues. Last Friday, Israeli beauty and tech company Oddity, which runs the Il Makiage and Spoiled Child brands, filed to go public on the Nasdaq. "You can make 15%-20% in the stock market but lose 15%-20%." "I think that’s done some harm to the traditional IPO market." With the public market still pretty closed, they're asking for alternatives."

Persons: Karl, Josef Hildenbrand, Turo, Reddit, hasn't, aren't, Lise Buyer, Buyer, Goldman Sachs, May, Shannon Stapleton, Jake Dollarhide, Dollarhide, Airbnb, they've, Instacart, Byron Deeter, Deeter, Larry Aschebrook, Aschebrook Organizations: AFP, Getty, Nasdaq, V, New York Stock Exchange, Apple, Nvidia, Coinbase Global Inc, Reuters Bankers, CNBC, Federal Reserve, Longbow Asset Management, Facebook, Clover Health, Venture, Companies, Bessemer Venture Partners, doesn't, Employees, Spotify Locations: U.S, Portola Valley , California, Cava, New York, Pinterest

☆ Biotech firm Tevogen Bio enters $1.2 bln SPAC deal for US listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 29 (Reuters) - Biotech firm Tevogen Bio will go public in the United States through a blank-check merger that values the combined entity at about $1.2 billion, the companies said on Thursday. The deal with Semper Paratus Acquisition (LGST.O) will help Tevogen speed up the development of its COVID-19 therapy, TVGN 489. A special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC), also known as a "blank-check firm," is a listed entity that merges with a private firm to take it public. Such shell companies help private firms avoid the longer route of an initial public offering for going public. Reporting by Manya Saini and and Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: SPACs, Manya Saini, Pritam Biswas, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: Biotech, Semper, Holdings, New York Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: United States, Bengaluru

New York CNN —Federal prosecutors arrested three investors on Thursday on insider trading charges related to a deal to take former President Donald Trump’s media business public. The value of the securities they purchased went up sharply once the Trump deal was announced, prosecutors say. After signing non-disclosure agreements, prosecutors say they were provided confidential information that Trump Media was a potential target of the SPACs. Prosecutors say Garelick provided to his co-conspirators what he described as “intelligence” about the Trump merger negotiations and the timing of a public merger announcement. Digital World shares skyrocketed following the Trump Media merger news as investors saw it as a way to bet on the fortunes of the former president.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Trump, Michael Shvartsman, Gerald Shvartsman, Bruce Garelick, Donald Trump, hadn’t, Garelick Organizations: New, New York CNN, Corporation, Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, Digital, The Securities, Exchange Commission, Nasdaq, Trump Media, Prosecutors, Trump Locations: New York, Miami

☆ Seth Klarman says investors face the challenge of an 'everything bubble'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

When billionaire hedge fund manager Seth Klarman looks at the investing world today, he sees asset bubbles pretty much everywhere. Historically low interest rates, even zero rates, have precipitated that bubble." With the investing world now ruled by trendy bubble-like investments such as Bitcoin and meme stocks, Klarman said the need for a sound, practical approach to investing is vital. In a letter to clients at the end of 2022, he accused the U.S. central bank of constructing a "financial fantasyland" of artificially low interest rates and liquidity pumping. In the current environment, investors face challenges relating to economic uncertainty and a central bank holding interest rates high to battle inflation.

Persons: Seth Klarman, we've, Klarman, Benjamin Graham, David Dodd, You've, Warren Buffett — Buffett, Columbia University —, Graham, Dodd Organizations: CNBC, Cornell, Columbia University, Buffett, Liberty, Federal Reserve Locations: Boston, U.S

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