Donald Zilkha, founder of Zilkha Investments joins Other People’s Money to discuss how his deep-rooted DNA in banking and deal making has evolved into an investment strategy focused on deep research and engagement with management to affect change without upsetting the apple cart. He discusses how this strategy has evolved from single name SPVs to the commingled strategy he has today, case studies like Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, and why this classical style resonates with investors.
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:34 The Birth of Modern Banking in the Middle East
10:27 Evolution from Venture, to SPVs, to Drawdown, to Vanilla Equity
19:09 Engagement vs. Activism
27:17 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs Case Study
33:05 Take Private Opportunities
35:55 Investing in a "Classical" Style
38:43 Talking About Process Instead of Positions
45:02 Value Investing in Tech and Old-Line Businesses
50:05 Team Continuity & Incentives
54:18 Marketing After 10+ Years
