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Trade Like This Super-Secret Hedge Fund

Stockpickr Staff

The Children's Investment Fund takes its security to the next level. The elusive hedge fund has no Web site. And don't let the kindly "Children's Investment Fund" name fool you; this London-based fund is known for aggressive shareholder activism. TCI, which has about $7 billion under management, was launched in January 2004 by Christopher Hohn. The value-oriented fund's name reflects the money it donates to children's charities.

In 2005, via its large share of Deutsche Boerse, TCI forced the resignation of the exchange's CEO after he refused to abandon his plan to take over the London Stock Exchange. In 2006 the firm had a large position in the European Euronext exchange, but was reported to sell a large chunk of its position due to rumors that Euronext was pursuing a merger with the NYSE, as opposed to Deutsche Boerse.

At Stockpickr, we track the fund's portfolio with The Children's Investment Fund.

TCI's core position is CSX(CSX Quote), which provides railroad services in the eastern U.S. It also provides coast-to-coast intermodal transportation services linking customers to railroads, through trucks and terminals.

Currently though, there is a battle going between TCI and CSX management. TCI feels that CSX has incompetent management that has worked against shareholder value. TCI has written numerous letters to the board of CSX suggesting that CSX CEO Michael Ward be fired.

While TCI doesn't even have a Web site of its own, the 4.1% CSX shareholder recently created a Web site for other CSX shareholders.

CSX generates about $10 billion in annual revenue and $5.5 billion in gross profit. Just recently, the board approved another $2 billion share-buyback to be completed by the end of 2008. By then, 15% of the company's outstanding shares will be off the market -- this reduced dilution will be huge for shareholders. Atticus Capital also owns a stake in CSX.

Another interesting name that TCI owns is TransAlta(TAC Quote). Calgary-based TransAlta produces and sells electric energy in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and Australia. It also operates coal, gas, hydro and other alternative plants. With gross profit of $1.3 billion and EBITDA of $965.98 million, TransAlta seems like an interesting hedge on international demand for alternative sources of energy.

TCI also owns a position in Norfolk Southern(NSC Quote) and recently sold out of Cemex(CX Quote). To see the entire profile, check out The Children's Investment Fund at Stockpickr.com.