market folly

Jeff Ubben's activist investment firm ValueAct Capital has filed two separate Form 4's with the SEC regarding their recent activity.

ValueAct Reduces Microsoft Stake

First, Ubben's firm has reduced its position in Microsoft (MSFT).  Per the filing, ValueAct sold 11 million shares between February 1st through 3rd at prices of $63.72, $63.12, and $63.33.

After these transactions, they're left owning over 27.62 million MSFT shares. This was their top holding at the end of the third quarter

Per Google Finance, Microsoft "develops, licenses, and supports a range of software products, services and devices. The Company's segments include Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud and More Personal Computing. The Company's products include operating systems; cross-device productivity applications; server applications; business solution applications; desktop and server management tools; software development tools; video games, and training and certification of computer system integrators and developers. It also designs, manufactures, and sells devices, including personal computers (PCs), tablets, gaming and entertainment consoles, phones, other intelligent devices, and related accessories, that integrate with its cloud-based offerings. It offers an array of services, including cloud-based solutions that provide customers with software, services, platforms, and content, and it provides solution support and consulting services."


Ubben's Firm Adds To Alliance Data Systems

Second, ValueAct has also filed a Form 4 with the SEC regarding their Alliance Data Systems (ADS) stake.  Per this filing, they bought 57,400 shares on January 26th at varying prices (the bulk at $217.57 and $219.18).

After these buys, they now own over 5.87 million shares of ADS. 

Per Google Finance, Alliance Data Systems is "a provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving consumer-based businesses in a range of industries. The Company offers a portfolio of integrated outsourced marketing solutions, including customer loyalty programs, database marketing services, end-to-end marketing services, analytics and creative services, direct marketing services, and private label and co-brand retail credit card programs. The Company operates through three segments: LoyaltyOne, which provides coalition and short-term loyalty programs through the Company's Canadian AIR MILES Reward Program and BrandLoyalty; Epsilon, which provides end-to-end, integrated marketing solutions, and Card Services, which provides risk management solutions, account origination, funding, transaction processing, customer care, collections and marketing services for the Company's private label and co-brand retail credit card programs."