BRKA
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.
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading about Buffett and Gates at Columbia University
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.
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.
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.
Continue reading about Buffett’s newest “purchase”: Verisk Analytics
Some of us attended the 2009 Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. It has become a “curiosity show”; questions from the audience (selected by draws) are generally off-topic and the best one was by an 11 year old boy (this has become a family event).
During the meeting, we decided to experiment with live meeting “tweets”, so to [...]
Continue reading about Berkshire Hathaway 2009 meeting – “tweets”