Talking Billions with Bogumil Baranowski

Michael Gielkens: The Culture of Permanence: How European Family Holdings Survive Crises and Compound for Centuries

Oct 13, 2025

Michael Gielkens, partner at Tresor Capital, shares insights from his Dutch-American financial upbringing and the unique characteristics of family holding companies. He emphasizes the importance of having 'skin in the game,' ensuring alignment between investors and portfolio managers. Gielkens discusses the long-term orientation of family holdings, their ability to avoid short-term pressures, and how serial acquirers excel in capital allocation. He also highlights lessons learned from investment mistakes and defines success in terms of relationships and lifelong learning.

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INSIGHT

Alignment As The Primary Filter

Tresor Capital insists on skin in the game at every level, including portfolio managers investing alongside clients.
Alignment of incentives is the core filter for selecting investments and managers.

INSIGHT

Family Owners Change Capital Decisions

Family-controlled holdings behave like listed long-term stewards and often avoid quarterly-driven short-termism.
That stewardship changes capital allocation choices and preserves multigenerational value.

INSIGHT

Serial Acquirers As Reinvestment Engines

Serial acquirers solve the reinvestment problem by using free cash flow to buy businesses that earn high returns.
Decentralized management and shared best practices let these groups compound capital efficiently.

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Long-Term Stewardship, the Lindy Effect, and Why Alignment Matters More Than Valuation

Find me on Substack: https://bogumilbaranowski.substack.com/

Michael Gielkens is a partner and co-founder of Tresor Capital, a Netherlands-based independent investment boutique specializing in actively managing wealth through family holding companies and serial acquirers, with deep expertise in capital allocation and owner-operator alignment.

EPISODE NOTES

3:00 - Discussion of Omaha Berkshire meeting as unique phenomenon bringing global investors together; Michael’s Dutch-American background and financial upbringing with CFO father teaching value of money

6:00 - Netherlands as birthplace of shareholder concept and securities trading; connection between Dutch Republic’s innovation and modern capital markets; family ownership enabling multi-generational wealth preservation

12:00 - Core investment philosophy: skin in the game as non-negotiable prerequisite; alignment of interests at every level including portfolio managers investing alongside clients

15:00 - Family holding companies explained: listed family offices with long-term orientation, no quarterly guidance pressure, avoiding short-term thinking that plagues typical public companies

21:00 - Serial acquirers as superior capital allocators; decentralized decision-making allowing continuous reinvestment at high returns; Swedish companies as breeding ground for this model

28:00 - Return on incremental invested capital as key metric; Munger principle that long-term returns match business returns on capital; importance of reinvestment runway

34:00 - Quality over value traps: companies at small discounts with proven track records versus deep discounts hiding mismanagement; French holding company cautionary tale of nepotism and value destruction

42:00 - Learning from mistakes: avoiding cheap stocks requiring constant attention; importance of doing your own homework rather than blindly cloning positions

46:00 - Market volatility response: having valuations ready, buying quality companies at 45-50% discounts during external shocks when they normally trade at 20% discount

51:00 - Success defined by relationships and fulfillment, not financial metrics; open collaboration and transparency building compounding relationships; Munger’s funeral test

Podcast Program – Disclosure Statement

Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC is a registered investment adviser and the opinions expressed by the Firm’s employees and podcast guests on this show are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Blue Infinitas Capital, LLC. All statements and opinions expressed are based upon information considered reliable although it should not be relied upon as such. Any statements or opinions are subject to change without notice.

Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. Investments involve risk and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed.

Information expressed does not take into account your specific situation or objectives, and is not intended as recommendations appropriate for any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.