Capital Return

Part I Investment Philosophy

1 Capital Cycle Revolution 25

1.1 Evolution of cooperation (February 2004) 25

1.2 Cod philosophy (August 2004) 28

1.3 This time’s no different (May 2006) 31

1.4 Supercycle woes (May 2011) 33

1.5 No small beer (February 2010) 37

1.6 Oil peak (February 2012) 40

1.7 Major concerns (March 2014) 43

1.8 A capital cycle revolution (March 2014) 45

1.9 Growth paradox (September 2014) 48

2 Value in Growth 52

2.1 Warning labels (September 2002) 53

2.2 Long game (March 2003) 55

2.3 Double agents (June 2004) 58

2.4 Digital moats (August 2007) 60

2.5 Quality time (August 2011) 62

2.6 Escaping the semis’ cycle (February 2013) 65

2.7 Value in growth (August 2013) 68

2.8 Quality control (May 2014) 70

2.9 Under the radar (February 2015) 73

3 Management Matters 76

3.1 Food for thought (September 2003) 76

3.2 Cyclical missteps (August 2010) 80

3.3 A capital allocator (September 2010) 82

3.4 Northern stars (March 2011) 85

3.5 Say on pay (February 2012) 88

3.6 Happy families (March 2012) 91

3.7 The wit and wisdom of Johann Rupert (June 2013) 95

3.8 A meeting of minds (June 2014) 99

3.9 Culture vulture (February 2015) 102

Part II Boom, Bust, Boom

4 Accidents in Waiting 107

4.1 Accidents in waiting: meetings with Anglo Irish

Bank (2002–06) 109

4.2 The builders’ bank (May 2004) 117

4.3 Insecuritization (November 2002) 120

4.4 Carry on private equity (December 2004) 122

4.5 Blowing bubbles (May 2006) 126

4.6 Pass the parcel (February 2007) 130

4.7 Property fiesta (February 2007) 132

4.8 Conduit Street (August 2007) 135

4.9 On the rocks (September 2007) 138

4.10 Seven deadly sins (November 2009) 141

5 The Living Dead 145

5.1 Right to buy (November 2008) 146

5.2 Spanish deconstruction (November 2010) 148

5.3 PIIGS can fly (November 2011) 151

5.4 Broken banks (September 2012) 154

5.5 Twilight zone (November 2012) 156

5.6 Capital punishment (March 2013) 158

5.7 Living dead (November 2013) 160

5.8 Relax, Mr. Piketty (August 2014) 163

6 China Syndrome 167

6.1 Oriental tricks (February 2003) 168

6.2 Dressed to impress (November 2003) 171

6.3 Game of loans (March 2005) 173

6.4 What lies beneath (February 2014) 176

6.5 Value traps (September 2014) 179

6.6 Devil take the hindmost (May 2015) 181

7 Inside the Mind of Wall Street 184

7.1 A complaint (December 2003) 185

7.2 Private party (December 2005) 189

7.3 Christmas cheer (December 2008) 192

7.4 Former Greedspin boss flees China (December 2010) 195

7.5 Occupy Bundestag (December 2011) 197

7.6 Season’s greetings (December 2012) 200

7.7 Lunch with the GIR (December 2013) 203

Index