By Pete Gallo
New York-based Satellite Asset Management, the multibillion-dollar distressed-and-credit shop started by former Soros star Lief Rosenblatt, is on a SPAC buying spree.
Special purpose acquisition companies, also known as “blank check” companies, are essentially publicly listed shell corporations created with the sole purpose of buying up distressed or emerging companies. The American Stock Exchange is heavy with SPACs these days. A third of all of the initial public offerings listed so far in 2007 fall into this category, according to Dealogic. And a notable number are winding up in Satellite Asset Management’s portfolio.
Other hedge funds, such as Prentice Capital Management, Magnetar Capital Partners, Sowood Capital Management, DKR Capital Partners, Steel Partners II and SAC Capital Advisors, have also been on a SPAC spree.
But Satellite has been far more aggressive, investing in 18 SPACs, six of...