No. of Recommendations: 22
Gayner would be a good addition to Berkshire BOD as well.
Probably the worst thing he has going for him is that he associates with Coke's board : )
I'll try to be an optimist: Maybe he'll vote against the executive pay package!
The top three executives are getting about $40m/year total, and this for a firm that is not doing well at all.
5-year-average real EPS figure is 20% lower than the 5-year-average was a decade ago.
The rising dividends have kept up the appearance of success, but that likely won't last forever. Debt has doubled, and the payout ratio is up from 50% to 75-80%.
I would volunteer to run a firm that badly for a considerably lower fee.
Jim
No. of Recommendations: 1
I am hoping Markel may ultimately find a home within and be even more profitable within BRK. Lots of overlap- BRK & MKL own each others shares, Markel brunch meetings and dinners hosted Omaha, Tom Gayner & Chris Davis are pals and both on Graham Holdings BOD, Coke BOD connection, Larry Cunningham on Markel BOD, recent Alleghany precedent, lots of cash available, very good company & management with similar culture.
Regardless of what happens, congrats to Tom and Coke!
