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Markel’s Hip Capitalism…

Tomorrow, Markel Corp. will be hosting their 2022 Annual General Meeting at:

The Richmond Raceway Complex
900 E Laburnum Ave (Gate 4)
Richmond, VA 23222, USA

As with the Berkshire Hathaway AGM, Markel management places a premium on relationships and personal attendance. I haven’t found anything that suggests the meeting and/or panel discussions will be webcast. I will post links if I do.

I’ve been a Markel shareholder and a Tom Gayner for years, but have yet to make the trek to Richmond, VA. My planned trip in Spring 2020 was cancelled due to COVID.

In the meantime, readers might benefit from reading Tom’s 2022 Letter to Shareholders.

Wishing all hosts and attendees a festive and productive meeting and safe travels from to and from your places of origin. Hope to join you next year!

Markel – Selected News Releases

Further Reference…

The Evolution of a Value InvestorTalks at Google – June 22, 2015. Tom Gayner is the CIO of Markel Corp, where he manages the company’s investment portfolio. He talks about his journey as an individual and value investor. A recent Wall Street Journal feature on Mr Gayner’s investing style mentions: ‘He has an outstanding investing record. He works only for Markel and doesn’t take outside clients, but every investor can learn from him.’ You never woul’ know any of this [extraordinary success] from listening to Mr. Gayner. After a good year, most portfolio managers beat their chests even harder than they beat the market; Mr. Gayner’s 2014 report merely said, “our overall equity portfolio earned 18.6%,” without even mentioning that the S&P 500 was up 13.7%. Instead of trying to mimic the inimitable brilliance of Mr. Buffett, maybe more investors should emulate the common sense and patience of Mr. Gayner.

Ritholtz, BarryBarry Ritholtz Interviews Tom Gayner.” – Masters in Business podcast transcript – from November 21, 2021.

Brodersen, Stig Long Term Investing with Tom Gayner”The Investor’s Podcast Network – posted on You-Tube about a year ago.

Morgenson, Gretchen, “Managers and Investors, Well Met New York Times, May 13, 2007.

McGough, Robert Markel Insures the Unusual and Makes Money in the Process” Wall Street Journal, July 16, 1999.

Markel Corporation: Everything You Need to Know Insurance Business Magazine https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/

Books Recommended by Tom GaynerMcKinsey & Co.Business Leaders Reading

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Woodstock for Capitalists ’22

We are now less than 48 hours away from the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting, aka “the Woodstock for Capitalists.” The meeting begins Saturday morning at 6:45 am (pacific) 8:45 (central) and it can be viewed by clicking this link: https://www.cnbc.com/brklive22/

I regret I won’t be traveling to Omaha this year. I’ve been to several meetings since 2001 and the Berkshire AGM is always a fun event. In addition to hearing Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger live, there are countless events happening around town (Nebraska Furniture Mart Bar-B-Cue), the Friday night Borsheim’s reception, etc.

Then, there are the “Berkshire company” displays and booths in the exhibit hall offering shareholders tremendous value on everything from boxer shorts (Fruit of the Loom) to gourmet chocolates (See’s Candies), kitchen utensils (Pampered Chef), air compressors (Campbell Hausfield), car insurance (GEICO), Buffett Books (the Book Worm), cowboy boots (Justin Brands) and luxury manufactured homes (Clayton homes). It’s festive and the booths are staffed by midwestern sales staff who know their craft.

You never know who you’re going to see. “That’s Bill Gates eating a Dilly Bar.” “That’s Susan Lucci buying jewelry at Borsheim’s.” “That’s Bill Ackman at the microphone.” “That’s Lou Simpson…” RIP

There are receptions hosted by other reputable investors and Berkshire disciples including the Markel brunch reception at the Marriott on Sunday morning. See: https://youtu.be/F_OnccXU8ZU  One of these years I will have the pleasure of meeting Tom Gayner – the Markel sage from Richmond, VA.

Whitney Tilson will host his annual cocktail reception on Friday night https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whitney-tilsons-cocktail-party-before-the-berkshire-hathaway-annual-mtg-tickets-308282921517  

This AGM will be the first since 2019. The COVID pandemic prevented a live event in 2020 and 2021. I suspect regular attendees will be happy to see everyone again.

If you’re not able to attend, you can still get yourself out of bed this Saturday morning and hear two of the world’s brightest investment minds.     

More information, visit the Berkshire https://www.berkshirehathaway.com/news/apr2622.pdf