Inelegant Investor is a collection of real-world investing observations, focused on the edge cases that don’t show up in textbooks — restructurings, CVRs, spinoffs, and the strange outcomes that accumulate in actual portfolios. And whatever else interests me about investing. Investing isn't always pretty, it's usually quite inelegant.
Recent Series: The Portfolio Graveyard
Image via Wikipedia Consolidated Tomoka(CTO) was the first stock we discussed at Inelegant Investor back in 2006. The price was higher back then, not surprising given the company’s primary asset is Florida real estate. That said we think it’s very cheap currently and have bought more in the past six months. Chris at Navigating Markets agrees, and has,… Read More »
First Marblehead(FMD), which we wrote about several years ago when securitizations were still possible and the stock price was far higher, has muddled its way through the financial crisis. Cash-rich, but still without any significant traction in its core business, the company announced it will be buying the tuition management systems business of KeyBank, for $47,250,000 in cash.… Read More »
Image via Wikipedia Li Lu, thought by many to be Warren Buffett’s successor as investment manager at Berkshire Hathaway has decided to stay at his own hedge fund, Buffett said. In the wake of today’s surprise announcement that Todd Combs would be joining Berkshire as investment manager, New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin spoke to Buffett: One person… Read More »
In a move that is sure to stun even the most ardent Warren Buffett watchers, Berkshire Hathaway(BRKA,BRKB) announced today that they have hired Todd Combs to “handle a significant portion of Berkshire’s investment portfolio” as an investment manager. Mr. Combs, who has heretofore been largely unknown, has been managing a hedge fund for Castle Point Capital for the… Read More »
Fremont Michigan Insuracorp(FMMH) issued a terse statement today acknowledging receipt of a letter from Sardar Biglari, CEO of Biglari Holdings(BH) earlier this week, proposing to buy all shares of Fremont that Biglari Holdings does not own for $29 per share. Fremont stated that it has asked a Special Committee of the Board to evaluate the offer, and that… Read More »
Last year, before engaging in a prolonged exercise(still not complete) in executive compensation, Bilgari Holdings(BH) made a $24.50 cash and stock bid for Fremont Michigan(FMMH). The bid was almost immediately rejected by Fremont, which then lobbied successfully to have a Michigan law passed making a transaction far more difficult. After many months of silence, Biglari Holdings made public… Read More »
From the just-filed 13D The original purpose of the purchases of the Shares, all of which occurred more than 30 years ago, was to increase the ultimate control by Blue Chip of Wesco. On August 25, 2010, Berkshire’s management determined to propose to Wesco a cash-stock election transaction in which it would acquire the remaining 19.9% of the shares… Read More »
Image via Wikipedia Federal Reserve Board Statement from February 7,1929, as quoted by Galbraith in The Great Crash 1929 When [the Board] funds that conditions are arising which obstruct the Federal reserve banks in the effective discharge of their functions of so managing the credit facilities of the Federal reserve system as to accommodate commerce and business, it… Read More »
Image via Wikipedia It’s 2AM. Your stubble-covered face glows in dim light of the casino floor. Lights flash, bells ring. You’re about to get lucky. And you run out of cash. Enter Global Cash Access(GCA). GCA has contracts with many of the nation’s largest casinos to provide ATM services on their floors. GCA provides other cash services as… Read More »
We at Inelegant Investor are pleased to announce the initial launch of stockspinoffs.com. Stock Spinoffs will be a clearinghouse for information on upcoming and proposed stock spinoffs, featuring a calendar of upcoming events, as well as news and analysis of each spinoff. We have chosen to launch this after being asked several times where this information could be… Read More »