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Investing
in good businesses, with good management, purchased at attractive
prices.
We define good businesses as those that have the ability to
generate
1) predictable, 2) growing, 3) excess cash flow over a reasonable
period of time. The production of free cash flow is the quantitative
signpost or indicator of value creation for business owners. We spend
a great deal of time trying to understand the qualitative source of
consistent cash production. The source and nature of a company’s
competitive advantage, preferably one that is durable and sustainable,
is equally important as the financial performance.
We view good management as equally important to any investment
thesis. Talented, fair-minded, capable people must be present to
deliver the potential of a business as actual results for its
shareholder owners. Good management in our view is therefore
shareholder-oriented, has demonstrated the ability to competently
manage the business, and can effectively allocate the excess cash
flows generated to other high return investments. Our focus on this
final characteristic, capital allocation, is one of the most important
components of our evaluation of company managements.
Attractive prices refer to our focus on the relationship
between the intrinsic value (range) of a business and the price at
which we would invest in that business. It is our view that in order
for an acquisition price to be "attractive," it must
represent a significant discount to intrinsic value. This aspect
provides both a margin of safety to the investor and the opportunity
for price appreciation. Margin of safety is a key component to this
philosophy because it allows us as investors to protect against the
inevitable vagaries of the market.
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