Dem Mega-Donor Maxes Out to ‘Independent’ Kansas Senate Hopeful (FreeBeacon)
Greg Orman is still being coy about his partisan allegiances, but more high-dollar Democratic donors are lining up behind his independent U.S. Senate run in Kansas. The latest Democratic heavyweight to back his campaign is hedge fund billionaire Jim Simons, who gave the $2,600 maximum to Orman’s campaign this month, according to Federal Election Commission records. Simons has poured money into Democratic campaigns and outside spending groups during the 2014 cycle, including $2 million to Senate Majority PAC, the well-funded Super PAC looking to keep Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) in control of Congress’ upper chamber.
Eddie Lampert Gives Sears Another Cash Infusion (JewishBusinessNews)
An iconic brand that seems like it is on its last legs is going to get a cash infusion by its CEO Eddie Lampert to raise liquidity ahead of the holiday season, as reported by CFO. Lampert’s hedge fund ESL Investments has a 48% stake in Sears, and is going to pump $303 million into the company with a goal to raise $625 million through an offering of senior notes and warrants. Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) management stated in a blog post, “This rights offering provides Sears Holdings with an additional long-term flexibility, and we expect it will provide confidence to our vendors and other constituents that we will continue to generate liquidity needed to support our business.”
Brevan Taps Fortress Vet Schaumann For Risk (Finalternatives)
Brevan Howard Asset Management has turned to a former Fortress Investment Group executive to lead its risk business. The New York Post reports that Hilmar Schaumann was named head of risk at Brevan on Oct. 1. Prior to his time at Fortress, which he joined in 2010, Schaumann—a Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) veteran—ran his own hedge fund, Deister Capital.
Boone Pickens Tells Oil Companies to Stop Drilling (WSJ)
T. Boone Pickens has seen plummeting oil prices before and says he knows what the problem is. Energy companies are pumping too much oil and none of them wants to be the first to stop, Mr. Pickens said Wednesday in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. The result—plunging crude prices that aren’t going to rebound until oil companies do what “a five-year old could’ve figured out” he said. Stop drilling. The legendary oilman said energy companies are optimists. “They keep thinking the price is going to go back up,” the 86-year-old said…
Hedge Fund Giants Join Up To Raise $6 Million For Charity (HedgeCo)
Hedge fund sponsored event, Robin Hood, yesterday concluded its 2nd annual Investors Conference, raising $6 million to support hundreds of the most effective job-training programs, schools, soup kitchens, shelters and other poverty-fighting programs throughout New York City. “All of us at Robin Hood are extremely grateful for the generosity shown by our sponsors, which is what enables us to contribute 100% of the money raised through Conference ticket sales to hundreds of the best programs throughout the five boroughs that work to help improve the lives of the 1.8 million New Yorkers living in poverty,” said David Saltzman, executive director of Robin Hood.
