Managers turn up the heat
From The Wall Street Journal
Mutual fund companies are increasingly using their substantial leverage to agitate for change at troubled companies. As opposed to simply selling the stock of companies with internal problems, managers are more and more speaking their minds and making sure that the companies they own are performing up to snuff. One recent example is Oakmark's vociferous displeasure at the poor performance of Dun & Bradstreet, which eventually led to the departure of the firm's CEO.

Sleeping with the enemy
From The Wall Street Journal
Charles Schwab, TD Waterhouse, and Ameritrade are making nice and holding hands for once with a new online banking venture. The three brokerages have announced plans to form an online investment bank in order to get greater share of the lucrative IPO market. Three VC firms, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, will also become partners in the new venture. Heading up the company will be Scott Ryles, the ex-chief of technology banking for Merrill Lynch.

Farrell urges Janus masses to voice opinions
From CBS MarketWatch
Paul Farrell at MarketWatch continues to agitate for change at Kansas City Southern (KSS), with regard to the spin-off of its mutual funds business. Especially, and exclusively about Janus. Never one to mince words, Farrell calls the proposed brand name of Stilwell a "wasted opportunity" to leverage the Janus name and bemoans the lack of power of Janus' three million shareholders. He also includes both email and phone numbers for KSS' corporate offices and its chief executive, just in case Janus shareholders want to voice an opinion ...

Renaissance IPO fund warns of ever-narrowing market
From CBS MarketWatch
No surprise to the many IPO watchers in the market, investors are putting money into fewer new offerings, and continuing to have unrealistic expectations about the returns on those investments. Marla Brill profiles Renaissance Capital's hot IPO Plus Aftermarket fund. 

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