Buffeteer

When 70% of the volume comes from the OTC market, its near impossible to figure out where it came from. When there was rumors that Taleb's company had been involved and was pummelled by its stop-losses it was truly the definition of irony that he would be hammered by 'black swan' event!

They probably just bought a large block for themselves/larges institutional investors. Why anyone would listen to what Goldman says as opposed to does is beyond me.

Credit default swaps on marriages as the costs per family and dowry costs are outrageous!

An Arab Buffett? C'mon. Its Saudi Oil money he was given and made a few good concentrated bets, but got burned trying the same moves again.

What was the premium? I wonder what France's odd were!

There are always ways to game the system and it would be obvious if he did so. I do think after reviewing the plan that the $1 million salary should be a bucket that once filled he gets the overflow. I think the hurdle rate is low, but he did give up his hedge fund that probably had some value as its been run for 10 years ( with 13.6% avg return as per Tim Erikson's post though I thought it was higher ). The effective hurdle is probably higher, though i'm not aware of the size of the hedge fund. The guy has to buy BH stock with the cash recieved anyway so its equivalent to gifting stock to him. He will undoubtedly own a significant percentage of the outstanding shares over time if this passes, but will have a huge carrot in front of him to increase shareholder value. Its a rich agreement, but as are most CEO's nowadays. I don't own any and don't think its optimal, but its way better than most. I just think this idea of comparing him to Buffet's current salary etc. is silly. I think anyone investing in BH is investing in a public hedge fund and basing their investment on Steak n Shake but more on his ability to allocate money.

You really are beating that Straw man down. If you dont understand what the board is turned off about by now, then I dont think you ever will (Tip - Its not about $900k or $100k, Also Kobe doesnt get 25% of all future growth of the Laker franchise. There is a different between owner and employee - both are the later). I think Jordan would have deserved a percentage of profits, especially if he could play for decades and the team was re-named the Chicago Air Jordans! I think that new dynamic models of compensation tying long-term compensation with shareholder value are needed. It may not be the most efficient method but its more on par than typical salary + bonus + stock options. If the guy creates a little value then he'll make less than the average CEO and if he creates a lot of value he'll make more, but so will shareholders! How many CEO's have walked away with millions while creating no real value?

If the guy makes money and allocates capital well, then the stock should appreciate. If one believes it is over valued then they should sell. I don't own any but would at the right price. The guy is an amazing investor and you have to pay for talent. Kobe isn't taking the mid level exception! I didn't think 900k was bad as he doesn't get stock options or anything like that, but did anyone here really expect him to work for $100,000 a year? WEB didn't get rich that way either.

The bigger question is why would you want sell-side research? What i've viewed from most firms over the last 20 years has been some of the worst, most slanted recommendations around. They make too much money in M&A. Read about John Olson and Enron and what Merrill did to the guy!

How funny thinking of Hank Paulson and the rest begging to get 5 billion dollar firms excluded from the Net Capital Rule. Leverage ratios which were limited to 10 to 1 shot up to 33 to 1 (Lehman) and 40 to 1 (Bear) though Fannie/Freddie were probably rolling around 50-60 to 1 as well. People must be knowledgable and know whether they're giving an Investment Bank (Errrrr Hedge fund) capital or a true bank/investment advisory firm. They should require higher interest on capital allocated to aggressive firms that trade on their own account. Now FDIC is backing up creditors to Goldman and Morgan. What a shame! Moral Hazard galore...

Its funny as now the 'investment banks' are bank holding companies in which FDIC provides them security to their creditors. They've been trading for decades, but it only blew up when leverage ratios skyrocketed. Bring back the Net Capital Rule and forget all the silly over regulation. The markets have already taken care of the rest.

Noble Gesture by them. They will change the world with those funds. I don't however think he is really as humble as he sells himself to be. But it keeps people thinking he's this nice old man investing in dilly bars and Coca Cola.