Third Point's Loeb trades digs for diplomacy in Japan

He is just a vulture who wants lots of money. Pathological. That is the meaning of his life. When the great recession hit Japan, was the government bailing out auto companies etc? No, because Japanese companies have lots of money for protection against this type of scenario. It is a good and solid business practice. Bue he doesn't care. He just wants the money. Did I say money?

“Sometimes there are opportunities for us to help the process along a little bit, like we did with Sony and Fanuc.”

Sometimes our bullying works.

It's funny. Some people hate corporations, but when some guy takes a stake and tells them to return some of the capital they aren't using, they hate that guy even more.

But with that freed up capital, investors could take risks on new business ventures and create new jobs... why would anyone be against that?

Mr Loeb is a good man.

I retract my comment above. I just found out that Loeb is a major supporter of LGBT rights by supporting the Human Rights Campaign. Totally gay gokai hopes he makes a lot of money.

Hmmmm.. So because he "supports" LGBT he is suddenly a good man? also, what does "former surfer" mean? was he pro? or just went waving?

As I read this article and contemplated Loeb and other "activist" investors like him, I am reminded of that famous quote:

“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies and cuts through to the essence of the evolutionary spirit.”

For many, this statement rings true. When you are motivated by your own self-interest and your own self-interest is making money and being rich, you will focus on this with passion and zeal. And ruthlessness.

There is no doubt that Loeb wants to make a lot of money and will work very hard to that end. That, in and of itself, does not mean that what he is trying to do is wrong; however, it does mean that his goals and strategy should be closely examined to see if his goal of returns for his investors puts the long-term health and well-being of his portfolio companies at risk.

An interesting and very colourful individual. And I don't think he is a "former" surfer, as he still surfs. In fact, his firm/fund name is surfing inspired.

Hedge funds are slowly but surely getting the cold shoulder in US. They're largely unregulated and most likely are tax evaders. It'll be interesting to see how the next president will tighten the leash on the likes of Third Point.