Big Billy Gates Loves Trash (RSG)

Recent filings showed Microsoft founder Bill Gates, through his Cascade Investment fund, has been aggressively building his stake in waste management company Republic Services Inc. (NYSE: RSG).

A recent Form 4 filing showed Gates bought another 500,000 shares on 2/2 which brings his stake to 44,894,569 shares. Gates has bought over 10 million shares of Republic Services since September 30, 2008.

One service you can't cutback on is waste removal.

Billy may finally have a winner here.

Track Bill Gates news here - or - Cascade Investment news here.

Amylin (AMLN) Shareholders Want Change - NOW!

Amylin Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AMLN) has investors all fired-up and not in a good way. Just a few days after 8.3% shareholder Carl Icahn announced that he is nominating a slate of 5 Directors, 12.5% holder Eastbourne Capital is introducing their own, separate slate of 5 Directors.

To make matters worse for Amylin management, Eastbourne acknowledged Icahn's slate, but said it does not believe that these separate efforts to bring change to Amylin are in competition with each other. In other words, vote for ours or vote for theirs, either way we want change - NOW!

Our own Lon Juricic commented on the Icahn news for Barrons.com tonight. Lon said that Ichan's involvement with Amylin looks poised to be a repeat of his success at ImClone, which was sold to Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) for $70 per share, after a bidding war with Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). Lon told Barron's, "Icahn kept building his position and eventually became chairman of the board, where he could push his agenda and positioned ImClone for a graceful sale... I could see this as the same situation playing out"

Ultimately, the shareholder activism at Amylin should be good news for investors.

Welcoming David Einhorn To The "Gold Bug" Club

Our own Lon Juricic is personally welcoming Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn to the "Gold Bug" Club. Recently we learned that Mr. Einhorn started taking the advice of his Grandpa Ben and bought gold for the first time. Lon has been long gold, though the ETF SPDR Gold Shares SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE: GLD), since the fall of 2008, when gold was in the mid-$700 range. Gold has since run to about $900.

Einhorn is buying gold and call options on gold and Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX), which is an exchange-traded fund which seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index. Top holdings of the index include Barrick Gold (NYSE: ABX), Goldcorp (NYSE: GG, Newmont Mining (NYSE: NEM), Kinross Gold (NYSE: KGC), and Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY).

While Lon is a solid gold bull, he still has some reservations about the precious metal. You can read about those concerns and more on Einhorn here.

Icahn Boosts Stake In Amylin (AMLN), Look For a Future Sale

It's been a while since we posted here. Due to the credit crisis we've been super busy at the main StreetInsider.com site. In addition, there haven't been too many 13Ds worth mentioning. We are going to start posting frequently again.

Today, there was an interesting filing from one of our favorites Carl Icahn on Amylin Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: AMLN). He's been a holder there for a long time, but now he is seeking to get a slate of 5 on the Board of Directors. We have a great article over at StreetInsider.com for premium members, discussing how "Like ImClone, Ichan Will Get Amylin Sold."

Bill Gates' Cascade Investment Gets Active With Strategic Hotels & Resorts (BEE) Investment

In a 13D filing on Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE), Bill Gates' Cascade Investment disclosed a 5.63% stake (4,190,000 shares) in the company and changed their filing status from 13G (passive) to 13D (active). The firm changed their status due to recent market declines and will may now engance in discussions with the board of directors and management concerning the business and strategic direction.

Gates' Cascade Investment showed a 5.23% stake (3,890,000 shares) in the August 13G filing.

From the Filing:"As a result of recent declines in the market value of the Issuer’s Common Stock, the Reporting Persons expect to consider and evaluate on an ongoing basis all of their alternatives with respect to their investment in, and intentions with respect to, the Issuer. The Reporting Persons may engage in discussions with the Issuer’s board of directors and management concerning the business and strategic direction of the Issuer. The Reporting Persons also may engage in discussions with other shareholders of the Issuer to discuss matters of mutual interest, which may include discussions regarding the strategic direction of the Issuer and opportunities to enhance shareholder value."

Rosenstein's JANA Partners Shows New Stakes in Century Aluminum (CENX) and Thinkorswim (SWIM), Boosts AK Steel (AKS) Stake

Barry Rosenstein's JANA Partners released its 13F for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 the other day. Below are some notable moves:

- New 1,204,656 share stake in Century Aluminum (Nasdaq: CENX)

- New 1,012,800 shares stake in Genentech (NYSE: DNA)

- New 8,714,300 share stake in Talisman Energy (NYSE: TLM)

- New 2,344,493 share stake in Thinkorswim Group (Nasdaq: SWIM)

- Raised stake in AK Steel (NYSE: AKS) from 806,261 shares to 4,132,661 shares

- Raised stake in Commercial Metals (NYSE: CMC) from 2,890,314 shares to 4,511,248 shares

- Sold their entire 2,086,000 share stake in Wyeth (NYSE: WYE)

JANA Partners LLC is New York based hedge fund with about $8 billion in assets. The fund launched in April 2001 and is managed by founder Barry Rosenstein. The company primarily invests in the United States public equity markets and uses activist strategies, a market neutral strategy, a long/short equity strategy, and a risk arbitrage strategy while making investments.

Read the Full 13-F Summary Here

Elliott Associates Accumulates 9.9% Stake in Epicor Software (EPIC), Discloses Talks

In a 13D filing on Epicor Software (Nasdaq: EPIC), Elliott Associates disclosed a 9.9% stake (5,978,483 shares) in the company. Elliott disclosed that they have made inquiries of the company as to whether they have considered exploring strategic alternatives. They also reserve the right to hold further talks with management, the Board of Directors or others.

Epicor Software Corporation designs, develops, markets, and supports enterprise application software solutions and services.

Elliott Associates is a $9.8 billion New York-based hedge fund founded by Paul Singer. The fund has beaten the S&P 500 for 30 years. According to Bloomberg, sinces its launch in 1977, the fund has returned 14.7% a year after fees.

Breeden Capital Boosts Stake in Hill-Rom Holdings (HRC) to 5.25% - 13D

In a 13D filing on Hill-Rom Holdings (NYSE: HRC), Richard Breeden's Breeden Capital disclosed a 5.25% stake (3,278,409 shares) in the company. Which is up from the 2,478,618 share stake held at the quarter ended 6/30/08. A 13D indicates a possible activist investment.

In a pretty standard disclosure, Breeden didn't make any direct requests on the company, but said they will monitor the investment and may be in contact with members of management or the board or others about the investment.

Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. provides medical technologies and related services for the health care industry.

Breeden Capital is a Greenwich, CT-based hedge fund founded by Richard Breeden, a former SEC chief turned activist investor. Richard Breeden was elected as Chairman of H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) after successfully pushing for changes at the embattled tax preparer.

Peltz's Trian Fund Shows Stakes in Hansen (HANS), P F Changs (PFCB); Says Goodbye to Starbucks (SBUX)

Nelson Peltz's Trian Partners General Partner released its 13F for the quarter ended June 30, 2008. Below are some notable moves:

- Showed a new 1,292,166 share stake in Hansen (Nasdaq: HANS).

- Showed a new 1,060,875 share stake in P F Changs Chinese Bistro (Nasdaq: PFCB)

- Showed a new 350,903 share stake in Philip Morris Intl (NYSE: PM)

- Lowered his stake in Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) from 842,070 to 0

Peltz also lifted his stake in Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) to 31 milion shares and maintained his large 10 million share position in Tiffany & Co (NYSE: TIF).

Read the Full 13-F Summary Here