John Hjorth

Personally, I think this message from SharperDingaan is to a wide extent true. We have discussed it at length earlier in respect of possible & potential acquisition targets for Berkshire in Europe, including Germany, actually. This applies to some extent to Scandinavian investments, too. Always to take a look at "the superstructure above the investment" [please read: controlling foundations and families etc.], and try to make an assessment about how it works - through thick and thin - may serve you well.

rb, I respectfully disagree. Please look up the SSW topic with regard to scrubbers on ships. It evolves - gradually - into "green transportation" becoming a competitive parameter/pitch. Ships and airplanes are major pollution sinners. Political systems don't give a damn about the concept of "impossible". Please take a look at what happened in Germany post the Tepco accident with regard to nuclear power.

Thanks for your post, rb, I get what you say here. And I actually concur - in some way - with your reply. Actually, my question was not - far from - phrased with the precision intendended for my part. My question was actually addressed to the regulatory environment with regard to pollution [, however I failed miserably of making that a clear point of my post]. Isen't there a political risk here of regulatory matters & decisions deteriorating the value of productive assets [airplanes]?

What's the perception among fellow board members with regard to the pollution footprint of this industry going forward? [The same issue with regard to shipping is already actively discussed here on CoBF in the SSW topic recently.]

You're welcome, Per, The European value investing community valueDACH [covering Germany, Austria & Switzerland] also has a webpage with links to screeners and a toolbox webpage. Our fellow board member ebdem is an active member of valueDACH.

Hi Per, Welcome to CoBF! [ : - ) ] From my recollection, I think you're the first active Norwegian board member [, however I may be wrong about that, though]. Personally, when I have "entered a new country" [about a potential investment not already covered here on CoBF] I have found value in reading the country reports from IMF. To me, they provide a fast overview of "the temp." of that particular country, and economic situations vary among European countries. Then there is the possibility of starting a topic on a particular investment in the Investment Ideas forum for discussion - like you have already done with Covestro AG. There is a minority of European board members here on CoBF - the majority of the members are North American, but some of them actually have interest in European stocks, and also actively share their thoughts here CoBF on European investments.

Let's make it 10, 15 or even 20 years, ref. Pete. One has to make a personal judgement, as always - forward looking is the real point here, I think.

It could be one or several separate battery wagons electrical and pullingwise connected to the pulling [electrical] locomotive. Somewhat like in the first days of the NA railroad, where the first wagon after the steam driven locomotive was a wagon containing and carrying the "fuel" [coal]. Instead of doing a recharging stop somewhere, you "swap batteries" at a charging station, thereby time saved. I remember somebody here on CoBF years ago called Berkshire "old economy", but innovation sure isen't dead at Berkshire.

Cigarbutt, Thank you for the reference to Mr. Volcker's book soon to be released [October 30th 2018, I think it is]. I'll buy it also - for pushback. Supplementary question here [and then back on topic again]: Is Mr. Volcker ill? - Or do you use the word "dying" in the meaning that he is approaching his [unknown?] expiry date for every day that goes, the same way all mortals do every day? Personally, I think there is a lot of truth in Cardboard's last post. And yes, SharperDingaan, with regard to taking responsibility for own actions [, as an alternative to blame others, society, lenders, Wall Street, government, or whoever]. Even if one has screwed up, one can decide consciously to change behavior, to get it right. Here, we call it to take the spoon in the other hand. Where there is will there is a way.

lol, ref. "Lethargy bordering on sloth remains the cornerstone of our investment style."

What does the market price of Fairfax really matter to you, if you're a real long term owner of a part of the business? - To me, Fairfax hasen't looked better than it does now for years.

Again, we are mentally in synch here, alwaysinvert. I suppose that some staff member regularly provides him the numbers, or per specific & ad hoc request.

Pete, you can't hide your nationality! [ : - ) ]

Sometimes, you're just such a jerk, because of where you live. [11o C here.] Please kiss your mom! - Twice! - From me and you!

I look forward to read about you being in action here, SharperDingaan. [ : - ) ] Edit: I still think, after perhaps a couple of years, perhaps more, that your former avatar fit you better here on CoBF. [ : - ) ]

I'm kicking in a tiny footnote here. I'm not finished with the book yet. It's tough on me, so it takes time, and I'm getting diverted by outside paint jobs in the beautiful autumn weather, juicy European banking scandals and such. I will post about the book in the book topic when done, also as per request from Cardboard. - - - o 0 o - - - Please continue the topic.

alpha, Are you sure your melt down diagnosis is correct? Your post reads like it could be cerebral hemorrhage too. Both can cause funny talk. [ : - ) ]

One World Trader, Ben Comston's Seeking Alpha article of August 9th 2018 is a good place to start, as it describes FFH and its prospects quite well in my opinion. You'll find the article mentioned in the "Fairfax 2018" topic.

How is it, that I'm not surprised to see SharperDingaan catching at least some interest here? [ : - ) ] - - - o 0 o - - - Danmarks Radio - News - Money [index page][today] <- It's just all over the page today! Especially this one is entertaining: The bloodsucking Australian vampire-kangaroo is already known for its unfinished business with the Danish IRS. Background information: Macquarie took TDC A/S private together with three Danish pension funds earlier this year. [Name change from Macquarie to BAVK soon?][<- I coulden't help it here.] Now TDC board members from the pension funds are asking questions about if there are dirty money in TDC. Leftist Danish MPs are now yelling on Twitter that they want a Danish state bank. lol. - - - o 0 o - - - Earlier this week Mr. Browder reported Nordea Bank AB to the Danish and Swedish police, because he has found evidence that some of the money related to the Magnitsky case has been funneled through Nordea, too. - - - o 0 o - - - Poor all those Danish semi-lazy business reporters doing overtime for once sake - up to a weekend - to keep up.

It actually is overhyped. Somehow, it's lobbyism and populism amalgated - coordinated by 18 European news media - perhaps creating opportunities for bank investors. kab60 is also right - some of it is actually old stuff. Switzerland: Republik [October 18th 2018] : Das müssen Sie zu den Cum-Ex-Files wissen [outlined]. Germany: Handelsblatt [October 18th 2018] : Special - Wie banken in die steuerkasse griffen. Süddeutsche Zeitung : Cum-Ex-Aktiengeschäfte - Dividendenstripping. Zeit [October 18th 2018] : Thema - Cum-Ex. Tagesschau [October 18th 2018] : CUM-EX - NACHRICHTEN UND THEMEN.MEN

Danmarks Radio: The men who robbed Europe. [46 minutes] It's a pre-release documentary from DR, to be transmitted coming monday evening. [i've never seen such a "pre-release" from DR before, by the way.] The speaking voice and text is Danish, so unfortunately & most likely only my Scandinavian fellow board will be able to understand the whole transmission, but there are interviews in both German and English language contained in the transmission, so it may certainly be worth your time to watch anyway. To me, this is a frontal attack on many major European banks, involving some banks outside Europe, too. I wonder if it's a time coordinated initiative, so there will be similar releases in the other involved European countries today, too. I've never seen anything like this. The whole thing appears surrealistic, based on that all those banks consider themselves the pillars of the societies, serving their communities, and now appear to be caught in stealing from them. [<- I thought I was fully past naivity with banks by now, but I still thought it was the privilege of the customers of the banks to have that role! [ : - ) ]] Most likely there will be lots of cheap European bank stocks for you to pick in the near future, Spekulatius. Think of all the institutional money invested in those banks, that now start yelling and rushing for the door.

rb, you should let Sanjeev know about it then.

OK, rb - point taken. I must say - like Jurgis - that I have taken notice of this happening also. My personal perception and conclusion has every time been - based on my inbox content - that the poster regretted the post - for a reason.

I personally agree with you on your comments about that particular SA article, alwaysinvert.

rb, If you have email notifications at replies enabled, just grab it in you inbox as a quote in you own post and reply. [ : - D]