On May 15, Overstock (OSTK) filed a Form 4 with the SEC. The filing disclosed that Patrick Byrne, Overstock's CEO and Chairman, had sold 500,000 shares of common stock in the open market. That revelation sent Overstock down about 15% on the day. For me, going long Overstock has been a humbling experience. The thesis … Continue reading Overstock | Retail Value and Risk Factors
Stock Exchanges | Beautiful Business Models
Stock exchanges are beautiful business models with very strong two-sided economics. In fact, you could say that they are multi-sided economics. Exchanges serve companies in need of efficiently racing capital through Initial Public Offerings, as well as serving sellers and buyers of risk capital by making the secondary market for those assets more efficient. Demutualization … Continue reading Stock Exchanges | Beautiful Business Models
Renn Fund | Enter Horizon Kinetics
On June 13, 2016, Steven Stein, the President of Etude Capital, LLC sent an open letter to the Board of Directors of the Renn Fund. At the time, Etude Capital and its affiliates held 12.4% of the outstanding shares of the Renn Fund (NYSE MKT:RCG). Two months earlier, a shareholder meeting had voted in favour of a … Continue reading Renn Fund | Enter Horizon Kinetics
EXOR | FCA Monetization and Share Repurchases
On November 14, EXOR N.V. issued a press release whereby the company announced a €300 million share repurchase plan. Less than six months earlier, at the Exor annual meeting of shareholders, the board of directors had approved a share repurchase plan of €500 million, valid for the following 18 months. The additional repurchase plan comes … Continue reading EXOR | FCA Monetization and Share Repurchases
Overstock | A Special Situation
Overstock (OSTK) currently presents a Special Situation Investment Opportunity. As Overstock's founder has turned his focus on blockchain investments, the sale of the company's eCommerce operations is imminent. A review of recent M&A multiples in the eCommerce space suggests that at its current price, shares of Overstock are significantly undervalued. Overstock Decides to Sell Itself In 2014, … Continue reading Overstock | A Special Situation
Should Liberty Expedia Holdings Even Exist?
Liberty Expedia Holdings (LEXEA and LEXEB) is a holding company that was spun out of Liberty Interactive in 2016. The company owns two main assets, a controlling stake in Expedia Group and its wholly owned subsidiary Bodybuiding.com. A Classic John Malone Spin-off You might ask yourself why does Liberty Expedia Holdings even exist? The company … Continue reading Should Liberty Expedia Holdings Even Exist?
Dundee Corporation | A Race to the Bottom
Dundee Corporation (TSE: DC.A) is a Toronto based diversified holding company with investments in wealth management, resources, agriculture and real estate. Dundee Corporation is a public Canadian independent holding company, listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol DC.A. Under the leadership of its founder, Ned Goodman, Dundee Corporation had enjoyed an illustrious history of … Continue reading Dundee Corporation | A Race to the Bottom
TCI and the Becoming of the Cable Cowboy
The story of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) is one of the most fascinating tales of shareholder wealth creation that you'll hear. It is also the story of the rise of one of the most renowned owner-operators, John C. Malone. Books Featuring John Malone: Cable Cowboy: John Malone and the Rise of the Modern Cable BusinessThe Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs … Continue reading TCI and the Becoming of the Cable Cowboy
Hauppauge Digital: Gone Dark but is there Value?
On February 24, 2014, the Nasdaq Stock Exchange made public its decision to delist the common shares of Hauppauge Digital (HAUP) from its exchange as it no longer met the qualification criteria. On July 28, 2014, the SEC accepted Hauppauge Digital's application to go dark, as the company had less than 300 shareholders. Hauppauge Digital last … Continue reading Hauppauge Digital: Gone Dark but is there Value?
Origo Nears Sale of Tempo Share to HPE Growth Partners
On August 14th, Origo (formerly Nýherji) announced that the company had entered into exclusive negotiations with the Dutch investment firm HPE Growth Partners for the sale of 33% of the equity of its wholly owned subsidiary, Tempo Software. The announcement brings more clarity to the actual market value of Tempo Software but Origio first announced its … Continue reading Origo Nears Sale of Tempo Share to HPE Growth Partners