According To Sources

Wall Street just experienced its worst selloff since 2008. In this week's podcast I sort through the wreckage and examine what I believe are the best opportunities in both merger-arbitrage and deal speculation. In addition, I delve into how I'm adjusting my portfolio to market conditions.

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice and should not be treated so. The contents of the podcast are the opinions of Michael Samuels, Broome Street Capital, and According to Sources

Inspired by Kate Welling & Mario Gabelli's new book "Merger Masters," the According to Sources Podcast is interviewing each participant from the book, starting with Karen Finerman of Metropolitan Capital. In this incredibly honest and candid interview, we discuss why Karen has in recent years AVOIDED the merger-arb world, despite beginning her career there. She discusses the future of women in finance, and recounts with vivid detail the painful collapse of the UAL buyout in 1989, and what lessons were learned from it.

Sujeet Indap, journalist at the FT wrote the following in July, 2018

" Apollo’s life insurance affiliate Athene Holding (ATH) and Caldera are battling each other for control of American Equity Investment Life (AEL), an Iowa retirement annuities specialist that said in May it had put itself up for sale and has attracted a number of bidders. Athene is also a defendant in the suit.
Caldera accused the defendants of “disparaging Caldera in the marketplace, issuing commercial and legal threats to those doing or considering business with Caldera and filing sham litigation in domestic and foreign fora”. Caldera is asking for at least $1.5bn in damages.

Sujeet joined me last week to update and discuss this ongoing dispute in what I regard as one of Wall St. most under-the-radar dramas...

Paul Singer, Michael Price and John Paulson are just a few of the great merger-arb investors and corporate titans of industry that are interviewed by Kate Welling in the new book "Merger Masters." With contributions by Mario Gabelli, the book examines the founding fathers of this industry, infamous deals gone both right and wrong, and revisits the effect Ivan Boesky had on the industry.

Following his success at CSX, press is reporting that Paul Hilal and his fund Mantle Ridge are now contemplating a move at food service/uniform giant Aramark. I'm joined by Nomura analyst Dan Dolev to discuss the possible outcomes. Later I interview Cowen's John Kernan regarding the Jana stake in ELY.
Other companies mentioned include RRGB, QURE, CIR and BKS