berkshiremystery

Fairfax Financial first to win approval to buy majority stake in Indian bank. Cheers! ----- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/fairfax-gains-approval-to-buy-51-stake-in-indian-lender/article33453235/ http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/fairfax-financial-first-to-win-approval-to-buy-majority-stake-in-indian-bank http://www.financialexpress.com/industry/banking-finance/rbi-lets-watsas-fairfax-to-buy-51-in-catholic-syrian-bank/491664/ http://www.nasdaq.com/article/fairfax-financial-holdings-to-acquire-51-stake-in-catholic-syrian-bank-20161230-00059

Hey,... Gary,... if you are in the Merry Christmas singing mood, you might want to watch some funny Christmas Parody.... Beware!!! It might be too naughty to watch,... ::)

Some unusual new Christmas Gift from Fairfax,... Fairfax Africa Holdings Corp. - Preliminary Prospectus / IPO Cheers!! ----- http://www.fairfax.ca/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2016/Fairfax-Africa-Holdings-Corporation-Files-Preliminary-Prospectus-for-Initial-Public-Offering-of-Subordinate-Voting-Shares/default.aspx http://s1.q4cdn.com/579586326/files/doc_news/2016/December/PRFFH-December-23-2016-Fairfax-Africa-Holdings-Corporation-IPO-SVS.pdf https://mobile.twitter.com/FFH_TO/ ----- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/streetwise/fairfax-financial-plans-ipo-for-company-focused-on-african-investments-sources/article33415475/ http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-globe-and-mail-ottawaquebec-edition/20161223/281754153977995 ----- https://cancompany.org/co/fairfax-africa-holdings-corporation

To me it seems like a reasonable purchase price,... seems they are paying 10x for 2014 earnings, 12x for 2013 earnings.

Nope,.. very simple,... only as secretary of "Department of Housing and Urban Development" (HUD), an unconventional choice that underscores Trump’s willingness to forgo traditional policy expertise. Ben Carson has some remarkable personal life biography, pulling himself out of a bad childhood and improving himself to some decent and humble human being. I give him credit for this. You might want to peak into Ben Carson's books. ~~~~ Ben Carson grew up in the inner cities of Boston and Detroit with his mother and brother. When his father deserted the family, Ben’s mother worked several jobs to support her boys yet worked even harder to encourage them to get an education and follow their dreams. Ben’s dreams nearly ended when his anger at being poor and the ridicule of a school mate caused him to snap; he lunged at the boy and cut him with a knife. That brush with attempted murder caused Carson to break down and ask God to turn him around. And turn him around he did. A poor student, Carson under the guidance of his mother and brother became the best student in his class, his school, and ultimately earned a scholarship to Yale. The next time he used a knife was as a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he pioneered surgery techniques that not only saved lives but miraculously gave countless children an amazing quality of life. My Life: Based on the Book Gifted Hands https://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Based-Gifted-Hands/dp/0310344514/ One Nation: What We Can All Do to Save America's Future https://www.amazon.com/One-Nation-What-Americas-Future/dp/1595231226 A More Perfect Union: What We the People Can Do to Reclaim Our Constitutional Liberties https://www.amazon.com/More-Perfect-Union-Constitutional-Liberties/dp/1591848040/

Finally,... Dr. Ben Carson joins Trump as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). I was waiting to see Ben Carson to get a possition in the new administration. Cheeers! ~~~~~ Trump Nominates Ben Carson to Head HUD FOX News (Dec. 5th, 2016) http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/12/05/trump-nominates-ben-carson-to-head-hud.html Donald Trump names Ben Carson for housing and urban development secretary CBS News http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-names-ben-carson-for-housing-and-urban-development-secretary/ ----- Dr. Ben Carson | Full Speech | 2016 Republican National Convention @YouTube (7:47 min) ----- Donald Trump visits Ben Carson's childhood home CNN@YouTube (2:21 min) ----- Trump Visits Ben Carson's Detroit Neighborhome AP@YouTube (1:53 min)

Here's the full interview with Mohnish Pabrai @YouTube: Punita Kumar Sinha In Conversation With Mohnish Pabrai | Global Insights Published on Nov 17, 2016Not a fan of candidate Trump, but a fan of President-elect Trump; Trump win is the best possible medicine for US economy, says Mohnish Pabrai - Managing Partner Pabrai Investment Funds in an exclusive conversation with Punita Kumar Sinha of Pacific Paradigm Advisors in this edition of Global Insights on ET NOW. Listen in.

Some unconventional surprise and endorsement, Mohnish Pabrai likes "President elect" Trump !!! Like it or don't like it,... but I sense Mohnish's courageous thoughts are well reasoned. Cheers!!! ~~~ Trump may be the very best thing that happened to the US and the world: Mohnish Pabrai, Investor & Philanthropist --> Mohnish says President-Elect Trump understands quite a bit about the way business and the economy works. He is definitely better than presidents who have never run a lemonade stand in their lives. --> I was not much of a fan of candidate Trump, I am a bigger fan of president-elect Trump. This is a global phenomenon. --> Though I did not vote for him, as I analyse the way info is unfolding, I believe Trump election may be the very best thing that happened to the US and the world Full Article ==>> http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/expert-view/trump-election-may-be-the-very-best-thing-that-happened-to-the-us-and-the-world-mohnish-pabrai-investor-philanthropist/articleshow/55471612.cms http://www.know72.com

Trump nixes Presidential salary from $400,000 to symbolic $1. Cheers! Trump nixes presidential salary, may spend time in New York, Florida http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/14/trump-nixes-presidential-salary-may-spend-time-in-new-york-florida.html

Some news about Eurolife.... Ο κ.Mr . V. Prem Watsa to new offices Eurolife ERB group v. Prem Watsa στα νέα γραφεία του ομίλου Eurolife ERB http://www.sofokleousin.gr/archives/280647.html You have to run the page through Google Translate....

Hey, Sanjeev: Is that a typo you had there, free refreshments for everyone? ;D Soon it will be free parking once we have $2,000 per share! LOL :) Yeah, it's just water, soft drinks and glasses full of ice. Just so people can mingle and relax between George's conference and our dinner. Feel free to donate to CCC if you would like, but I am covering this cost. Cheers! Buffett_groupie,... where have you been at Mungers meeting. I had expected our No. 1 groupie there. ;D I'm currently at Yong Street,... having a coffee. :)

I'm not fully sure,... but Spiers might finally come to the Fairfax events this year in Toronto. I remember him saying something at the DJCO AGM last Wednesday, after the AGM was over and he walked out of the building. Anyway,... I'm not fully positive, so I let myself get surprised, if he shows up in Toronto. Cheers!

The yearly results are looking decently good,... anyway,... the first 3 quarters were already known,... Cheers! ;D

Fairfax Eastern Europe buys Czech, Hungarian & Slovakian Insurers. The operations generated over US$40 million in profitable gross written premiums in a range of general insurance classes, including property, travel, general liability and product protection. http://www.fairfax.ca/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2014/Fairfax-Agrees-to-Acquire-Czech-Hungarian-and-Slovakian-Insurers/default.aspx

I might bump up an old thread from last year about EL Financial. Cheers! http://www.cornerofberkshireandfairfax.ca/forum/investment-ideas/elf-to-e-l-financial-corp-ltd-(-the-jackman's)/

Gio,... we might recognize you better, if you come with a giant Italian flag. ;D Ahhh,... a small one attached to you might also do it. But beware someone might ask you where you left the pepperoni pizza,... ;)

Hey Sanjeev, I was just wondering what time the dinner starts? It doesn't seem to be indicated in the above but I remember 6:30 pm from some thread somewhere. Does it start at 6:30? Mungerville,... You might want to look at this message thread: 2014 Fairfax Financial Shareholder’s Dinner http://www.cornerofberkshireandfairfax.ca/forum/events/2014-fairfax-financial-shareholder's-dinner-9626/msg155480/#msg155480 the shareholders dinner starts at something around ~6:30pm ====>>>> Either is fine with me of course, but if you donate directly to the CCFC (www.ccfc.ca), you will get a nice tax receipt! Yes, events are pretty much set: Monday, April 7th 6pm or so - Ben Graham Dinner - Location to be announced Tuesday, April 8th 9am - 4pm - Ben Graham School Value Investing Conference - Fairmont Royal York 3pm - 6pm - Norm's Pre-Dinner Mix - Fairmont Royal York Railcar Bar 6:30pm - 11pm - Fairfax Financial Shareholder's Dinner - Fairmont Royal York Upper Canada Room Wednesday, April 9th 9am - 1pm - Fairfax Financial Annual General Meeting - Roy Thomson Hall 1:30pm - 5pm - MPIC Funds Annual General Meeting - Roy Thomson Hall Pickering/Green Rooms Cheers!

DCG,... to put it politely,... Marlin is one of the leading secret gang members of the original BRK'ers. Buffett knows him. http://futile.free.fr/Yellow/ http://vimeo.com/18251136 http://s11.postimg.org/cl2id3xsz/image.jpg http://s27.postimg.org/4f2pjn377/image.jpg http://s9.postimg.org/lvc1unnqn/image.jpg

I'm still well & alive,... just lurking :) Here are some introduction videos from Mohnish about Dhandho Hldgs! http://vimeo.com/user17730987

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it should be usually the first Wednesday in February.

Just be yourself,... it's nice to be important,... but it's more important to be nice. ...and ignore the crowd,... in the restaurant. :)

I just have to gawk at some opinions. It might not make sense for shareholders/owners that are concerned about dilution percentage wise relative to their stakes in FFH. BUT Fairfax sells their newly issued shares extremely above book value, and THIS is what's counts, so mathematically it makes pure sense. It's the real thing. Like it or don't like it, but it makes pure logical sense to me if someone thinks about this non-linear on different scales. ;D +1

Some updates about SAC... $ 5 Billion Protective Order http://origin-www.bloomberglaw.com/iframe/document/X1Q6MPGNHO82/download?doc_container=content_document&imagename=9-1.pdf&root_url=http%3A%2F%2Forigin-www.bloomberglaw.com%2F&disposition=attachment DOJ’S PURSUIT OF HEDGE FUND SAC RAISES INTERESTING LEGAL ISSUES, EXPERT SAYS http://about.bloomberglaw.com/law-reports/dojs-pursuit-of-hedge-fund-sac-raises-interesting-legal-issues-expert-says/ SAN FRANCISCO–The Department of Justice’s recent indictment of SAC Capital Advisors LP and its separate action seeking civil forfeiture are based on “very unusual facts,” and raise interesting legal questions, Stanford law professor Joseph Grundfest said Aug. 11. POTENTIAL SETTLEMENT TERMS The $5 billion amount is a “public disclosure” of what the government wants in this case, Grundfest said. “You can smell the dimensions” of a potential settlement from the protective order: forfeiture in an amount less than $5 billion, an agreement from SAC to put a monitor in place, and perhaps negotiation on whether to limit SAC founder Steven Cohen’s participation in the securities industry, he said. “You can see the parameters of how this case might settle.” ----- Facing Loss of Capital, SAC Is Said to Talk of Layoffs 2013-08-09 NYTimes http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/sac-to-keep-managing-money-while-facing-indictment/ For now, SAC can continue operating under the terms of the deal struck this week with prosecutors. Called a protective order, the deal says that SAC must maintain a certain percentage of its assets across its various funds, an amount that equals about $5 billion, according to a person briefed on the case. If assets fall below that threshold, SAC must replenish them by the next month. Judge Richard J. Sullivan of Federal District Court in Manhattan signed off on the order, which was intensely negotiated by SAC’s legal team and government lawyers since the indictment. ----- SAC Capital Closes a Trading Unit as It Starts to Retrench 2013-08-12 NYTimes http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/sac-capital-closes-a-trading-unit/ ----- SAC Shrinks U.S. Stock Holdings by $2 Billion Amid Probe 2013-08-15 Bloomberg http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-15/sac-shrinks-u-s-stock-holdings-by-2-billion-amid-probe.html

Fair enough, I appreciate the insights. "Canada is a very small place" - also had a little chuckle at this! ;D That is what I would call a modest answer,... ::) They have a decent population number with some very huge land mass... LOL ;D

>:( Indy,... I wish that this wouldn't hear too many people. ::) Sanj,... Marvelous new homepage,... specially the new introduction of the history of the board. So newbies aren't confused or scared of these fanatics here,... LOL : ;D