Mansour Dia, an investor at Langdon Equity Partners and former M&A analyst at Constellation Software, discusses the intricacies of software acquisitions and the opportunities within European small-cap tech stocks. He emphasizes the importance of cash flow over earnings and the value of personal relationships in investments. Mansour shares insights on the growth potential of firms like Topicus and Hypoport, and highlights how extensive travel aids in understanding local markets, ultimately leading to informed investment decisions.
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Initial Surprise at Constellation
Mansour Dia was surprised by the high multiples Constellation Software paid for companies.
He learned to prioritize real-world business decisions over just numbers.
insights INSIGHT
Constellation's Acquisition Strategy
Constellation Software excels at structuring deals to mitigate risks like customer concentration or code language limitations.
They also emphasize relationship-building, spending 25% of their time connecting with software executives.
insights INSIGHT
Team Structure and Focus
Constellation Software's teams experiment with different structures, handling business development, M&A, and integration.
Mansour Dia's team initially focused on auto aftermarket software but broadened their scope due to high valuations.
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In 'Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits', Philip A. Fisher outlines his investment philosophy, which focuses on identifying and investing in high-quality growth companies. The book is renowned for Fisher's '15 points to look for in a common stock', which include evaluating a company's products, management, sales organization, research capabilities, and long-term growth prospects. Fisher advocates for a qualitative approach to investing, emphasizing the importance of understanding the business and its management rather than relying solely on quantitative metrics. The book also discusses when to buy and sell stocks, the role of dividends, and the pitfalls of short-term thinking in investing.
The intelligent investor
Jason Zweig
Benjamin Graham
Written by Benjamin Graham, 'The Intelligent Investor' is a seminal work on value investing that has inspired millions since its original publication in 1949. The book emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between investing and speculation, calculating the intrinsic value of companies, and maintaining a margin of safety. The revised edition includes updated commentary by Jason Zweig, who provides modern examples and insights to help readers apply Graham's principles in today's market. Warren Buffett, a disciple of Graham, has praised the book as 'the best book about investing ever written'.
In this conversation, Mansour Dia shares his journey from Constellation Software to Langdon Equity Partners, discussing the intricacies of software acquisitions, the importance of building relationships in the investment world, and the unique opportunities present in the European small cap tech landscape. He emphasizes the significance of cash flow over accounting earnings and the value of extensive travel for gaining insights into local markets. Mansour also introduces Chapters Group, a new venture focused on vertical software.
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