MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal reported that after years of rapid grows, many hedge funds are shutting their doors or merging with others, as expansion has dramatically slowed. As a result, the industry is being dominated mostly by big firms, such as Och-Ziff Capital Management Group LLC (NYSE: OZM), D.E. Shaw & Co., and Paulson and Co.
• Shares of Ctrip.com International Ltd (NASDAQ: CTRP), China's major Internet travel booker with about 58% of the country's online travel business, have dropped about 30% in the last six weeks alone creating a possible buying opportunity, according to the Wall Street Journal's "Heard in Asia". Travel in China is expected to grow solidly in the long-term and Ctrip.com said it expects revenue to grow 30% for the three months ending June 30 from a year earlier.
• In a move that could potentially usher in a new phase in the credit crunch, the Financial Times reported that The Goldman Sachs Group Inc (NYSE: GS) is said to be close to finalizing a plan to restructure a $7B investment vehicle formerly run by Cheyne Capital, a London-based hedge fund.

• The Washington Post reported the proposed merger between XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: XMSR) and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc (NASDAQ: SIRI) was under fire yesterday by senior members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who said the deal does not provide enough opportunities for minority-owned programming.

Newspaper wrap-up: Hedge fund industry dominated by big firms originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Insurance holding company James River Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: JRVR) will be acquired by a member of the D.E. Shaw Group, based in Bermuda. The acquisition should be finalized by the end of December 2007. James River Group is not seeking a buyer because it is in financial trouble. Far from it. The company posted good numbers in its recent 3Q 2007 earnings release. Underwriting profit for the quarter increased 10% to $11 million, not including $1 million spent in acquisition costs. Net income increased to just over $10 million, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) up 9% to $0.63. Excluding year-to-date (YTD) acquisition costs of $3 million, YTD EPS of $1.82 represents a 20% increase.

James River's Workers' Compensation unit posted significantly higher profit margins, due both to lower losses and better management of expenses. Net investment income increased $1 million to $6.3 million, a 20% gain. Buried in the earnings release, however, is the fact that the company holds $4.3 million worth of sub-prime mortgages in its investment portfolio. This may be a problem down to road for the new owners. James River Group is currently rated A- by A.M. Best Company.

Given the company's impending acquisition, CEO J. Adam Abram offered no guidance for 4Q 2007, nor held a conference call to discuss 3Q 2007 numbers.

James River Group to be acquired by D.E. Shaw Group originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.