David Rocker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

David A. Rocker (born 1943)[1] [2] is the founder of the hedge fund Rocker Partners, LP (now known as Copper River Management, LLC), and former columnist for TheStreet.com. After founding Rocker Partners in 1985, Rocker built the firm into one of the largest hedge funds specializing in short selling.[3]

Rocker holds a magna cum laude bachelor's from Harvard College and a master's of business administration from Harvard Business School.[4] Rocker and his wife, Marian, reside in Short Hills, NJ, and Key Biscayne, FL.[5] He has two sons: Daniel is a trader at hedge fund Zimmer Lucas Partners, Joshua is an emergency room pediatrician.[6]


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[edit] Early life and career

Rocker's grandparents were Austrian and Russian immigrants. His father was an accountant in West Orange, NJ, where Rocker was raised and married his high school sweetheart, Marian. After graduating from Harvard College and before getting his MBA from Harvard Business School, Rocker served for two years as as an officer in the US Navy.[7]

In 1969, Rocker joined Mitchell Hutchins, Inc., where he was a research analyst and investment banker. In 1972 when he hired on at Steinhardt, Fine, Berkowitz & Co., a pioneering hedge fund, and was a general partner there from 1973 to 1981.

Rocker joined Century Capital Associates, an investment adviser firm, in 1981. At Century, he was an analyst and portfolio manager for institutional clients. Rocker managed over $600 million in assets while at Century. [8]

[edit] Rocker Partners LP

Rocker left Century Capital Associates after it was acquired and formed Rocker Partners in 1985, based in Millburn, NJ. During his time at Rocker Partners, he was an online contributor on RealMoneyPro.com [9] and quoted in Business Week for his opinions on stocks.[10] In 2002, he appeared with Jim Cramer on CNBC's Kudlow and Cramer.[11]

As part of Rocker Partners, Rocker opened a British Virgin Islands fund, Compass Holdings Ltd, as well as Helmsman Holdings, which was later folded into Compass. He also founded Contra Strategic Short Fund LP, based in the United States.[12]

In 2003, Rocker testified on the industry before the House Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises.[13] During 2005-2006, Rocker was named as a defendant in a lawsuit from Overstock.com which is in the early stages of litigation. [14]

In 2004, Rocker funds were down to less than $400 million in assets, down by half of its previous high figure. However, in 2005, Rocker Partners netted 46%, and total assets rose to $1.3 billion. Annualized returns since inception was about 11% at the end of 2005, when it had 12 employees.[15]

Rocker Partners is now incorporated as Copper River Management, LLC. Rocker's former co-manager at the firm, Marc Cohodes, fully assumed managerial duties after Rocker's retirement in early 2007. [16]

[edit] Philanthropy and Patronage

Rocker was a sponsor of the 2007 New Jersey Jewish Film Festival[17], and is also a patron of artists such as Ina Golub.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Profile os a Short Seller", The New York Times, April 2006
  2. ^ Overstock.com May Seek $1 Billion From Rocker Partners - May 12, 2006 - The New York Sun
  3. ^ "Short-seller David Rocker to Retire", Alistair Barr, Marketwatch, April 4, 2006
  4. ^ Rocker's The Street.com Biography
  5. ^ Seven-figure donation fuels emergency campaign
  6. ^ "Profile of a Short Seller", The New York Times, April 2006
  7. ^ Weekend Reading: Profile of a Short Seller - Mergers, Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Hedge Funds - DealBook - New York Times
  8. ^ Rocker's The Street.com Biography
  9. ^ Rocker calls PrePaid Legal a pyramid scheme
  10. ^ Business Week quote
  11. ^ New York Magazine, James Cramer, June 2002
  12. ^ "Rocker: As Easy-Money Days End, Shorts Find Opportunities", Christopher Faille, Lipper Hedge World, August 2004
  13. ^ "Short-seller David Rocker to Retire", Alistair Barr, Marketwatch, April 4, 2006
  14. ^ "2 Firms Claim Conspiracy", The Washington Post, April 2006
  15. ^ "Profile of a Short Seller", Michelle Celarier, The New York Times, April 14, 2006
  16. ^ Pensions & Investments newsletter
  17. ^ New Jersey Film Festival

[edit] External links