Episode 5 - Soren Aandahl

In this episode, Dan and The Pack visit with a friend of the show
- Soren Aandahl from Blue Orca Capital.


Soren goes in depth about his family history, their missionary
work in Asia, and how that experience contributed to his success
as a short activist overseas. Soren talks about how his time at
Harvard Law School led to an apprenticeship where he witnessed
the Enron bankruptcy first-hand.


Soren tells us about his transition from law to finance, the
origin story of Glaucus Research Group, and the move to his
current firm, Blue Orca Capital. Finally, the former Kirkland
& Ellis attorney shares some valuable lessons on contract
negotiation.


Sit back, have a drink, and enjoy a conversation with Dan and The
Pack as they go inside the world of the seldom interviewed short
activist, Soren Aandahl.


4:08 - Soren’s global upbringing, his time in Canada, the U.S.,
and his deep familial connection with Asia.


15:45 - Soren talks about his time at Harvard Law School and how
an apprenticeship got him a front-row seat to the legal aftermath
of Enron's collapse.


33:40 - Getting the “last job on Wall St.” before the financial
crisis and working insane hours during in his first year at
Kirkland & Ellis.


50:50 – Soren's transition from law to finance, without any
previous finance experience.


56:20 – Starting Glaucus Research Group and the story behind the
name.


1:02:35 – Shorting China-based U.S listed companies and the legal
“gray areas” that exist between the U.S. and China.


1:23:30 - Common misconceptions about short sellers, the grueling
due diligence process Dan and Soren go through to protect
investors, and the flaws of sell-side analysts and auditors.


1:47:30 - Who the top writers in the activist short space are and
what differentiates their work from others.


1:52:40 - Dan and Soren’s tips for highly sensitive contract
negotiations.