BRKA

IP on June 18th, 2010

Warren Buffett’s article at Fortune, but most importantly his, Bill & Melinda Gates’ challenge to billionaires to give away 50% of their wealth have people all over the world discussing philanthropy. We already liked his approach to giving – since he didn’t know how to do it, he trusted his buddy Bill Gates’s foundation with the money – but now it’s WOW all over again.

Read more about Buffett’s pledge

IP on March 24th, 2010

A Moody’s study shows that bank Boards have seen some shuffling and that more “financial expertise” was added. The FT argues that some banks with the “worst” boards in terms of financial experience actually did pretty well, and notes other apparently strange occurrences – for instance, Goldman Sachs has a CEO who’s also chairman and yet the bank has done pretty well in the crisis… We’ll never get tired of saying this: dump the checklist approach to CG. Actually, dump the checklist approach to anything.

Read more about Checklist governance

IP on March 19th, 2010

OK, funny things first: Buffett playing Axl Rose is awesome. Less impressive is him playing a hip-hop artist, but it’s alright (both videos embedded inside). Viral videos can be a smart marketing tool, and these work. Back to seriousness: Business Week had a cover article by Alice “Snowball” Schroeder interviewing CEOs who have had Buffett in their boards. Interesting read.

Read more about Buffett CEOs (and Axl Rose)

IP on February 2nd, 2010

Buffett was particularly expansive regarding his processes and methods, and this alone makes this video worth the time (some 90 minutes). The fact that it was October 1998, a pivotal time in the dot-com boom and just after the LTCM imbroglio makes it even more interesting.

Read more about Buffett pearl: 1998 speech

IP on December 30th, 2009

We’ve recently had the opportunity to do research on Buffett’s letters to shareholders beginning in 1959 (when Buffett managed Partnerships and Berkshire Hathaway was not even in his sights). His consistency and transparency are always impressive – especially in times like these and since we’re talking about more than 50 years of Buffett clearly practicing what he preaches.

Read more about Walking the talk

IP on December 8th, 2009

There is an increasing amount of BRK shares sold short and people seem quick enough to point to the Burlington deal as the culprit, for many reasons (listed inside). They may be missing the number one reason, and it’s one that merits attention.

Read more about Buffett on sale?

IP on November 13th, 2009

They took questions from Columbia grad students and the event was broadcast live by CNBC. It has an eerie feel to it – with the whole “must keep spirits high” approach. That said, both men think in the long term (15+ years) and it’s always interesting to be reminded of some basic concepts.

Read more about Buffett and Gates at Columbia University

IP on October 31st, 2009

This BBC special on Buffett has good and bad moments, but the Don Graham interview is a must-see. This is a man who has been around Buffett for decades. His description of how (and why) Berkshire is so different from the “average American business” is one of the best compliments Mr. Buffett could get. Not a bad goal at all for any business owner or manager.

Read more about BBC’s special about Warren Buffett

IP on October 28th, 2009

Dave Sokol of Bekshire Hathaway’s subsidiary MidAmerican has been taking on additional responsibilities (NetJets), but most tellingly, he’s getting more and more media exposure as well. Looking more and more like the CEO successor to Warren Buffett.

Read more about Dave Sokol’s air time

Quick look at the business and links for follow-up study on Verisk Analytics, a recently-IPO’d insurance data provider owned in part by Berkshire Hathaway.

Read more about Buffett’s newest “purchase”: Verisk Analytics

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