Editor’s Note: Related Ticker: Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF)
Hedge Funders Pick Their New York Mayoral Candidates (FINalternatives)
The hedge fund industry’s political power players are taking sides in the New York City’s mayoral race. Most notably this week, billionaire George Soros—one of the most well-heeled of liberal donors—threw his support behind Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who is seen as the most left-leaning of the Democratic candidates but whose campaign has won little traction in the race to succeed the term-limited Michael Bloomberg. “He has the talent, vision and ability to lead New York City,” Soros wrote in his endorsement, citing de Blasio’s pledge to stop the New York City Police Department’s controversial “stop-and-frisk” policy as well as his education and campaign finance policies.
Mega-investor George Soros and a group of international investors are investing in a new telecommunications firm in Brazil, as they seek to tap into pent-up demand for high-speed Internet services. Soros, via Soros Funds Management LLC, together with businessmen Zaki Rakib and Fares Nasser, are planning to invest as much as 500 million Brazilian real ($218 million) in a start-up telecommunications company firm providing high-speed wireless Internet access. The firm, operating under the brand name On Telecom, will be going up against Brazil’s telecommunications giants, including Telefônica Brasil SA, Oi SA , TIM Participações SA and mobile phone firm Claro, of Mexico’s América Móvil SAB.
Short sellers remain sceptical of Herbalife success (securities lending times)
Billionaire investor George Soros recently took a large stake in Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF)—the weight management and nutritional supplement firm—but short sellers aren’t buying into the rising share prices, said SunGard. The firm released its top ten hottest stocks from a securities lending perspective, the first of which was Herbalife. The company has recently been in the press, with George Soros facing allegations that his fund management firm engaged in insider trading before purchasing a stake in Herbalife Ltd. (NYSE:HLF).
Watchdog Group: Soros Funding Conflict in Israel (Arutz Sheva)
Billionaire George Soros’ philanthropy is bad news for Israel, according to an in-depth report from the NGO-Monitor watchdog group. The report listed the many causes in Israel, or pertaining to Israel, that are funded by Soros’ Open Society Foundations. Among the top beneficiaries of OSF funding is Human Rights Watch, which has been criticized for targeting, and falsely libeling, the state of Israel. Another is J Street, which describes itself as “pro-Israel” but has been termed anti-Israel by others for, among other things, welcoming proponents of a boycott on Israel at its national conference and honoring IDF soldiers who refused orders.
George Soros to invest $150m in 4G in Brazil (ZDNet)
George Soros will inject R$500mi ($150mi) into the development of the 4G market in Brazil. The announcement was made this week, as his company On Telecom began offering internet access packages in São Paulo. On Telecom’s president and majority shareholder, Zaki Rakib, told journalists during a press conference that the total amount invested by Soros in the company will be R$500mi ($150mi) in the next three years and that a part of the capital has already been spent. Rakib has been quoted as saying that the Hungarian multimillionaire believes in the growth of the Brazilian 4G market and that his firm and Soros have long-term investment plans for the country.
