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Strategies & Market Trends : Value Investing -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Paul Senior who wrote (52084)	8/12/2013 5:32:26 PM
From: IndependentValue	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 78644

I've looked at ORCL a number of times over the last while - on most metrics it looks like an excellent business, but I just can't help shake a potential concern over Larry Ellison - he has built a great company, but with him owning c. 24% of the stock, and a c. $4 billion credit secured against that, I would question whether his interests are aligned with ordinary shareholders. I get a sense that ORCL is like his personal fiefdom. I thought I had read somewhere that he owns a different class of stock to ordinary shareholders, which gives him greater control ( a bit like Brin and Page at Google) - haven't been able to dig up further info on this - can anyone shed any light on this? (I could be wrong on this point BTW).

To: Paul Senior who wrote (52084)	8/12/2013 7:05:29 PM
From: Wallace Rivers	Respond to of 78644

Nothing too exciting about my purchase to replace some of the ORCL proceeds. I bought PPT, a CEF trading at a steep discount to NAV, Price has dropped substantially, even though NAV has actually risen the past 12 mos. Yield 5.85%. It is unleveraged. cefconnect.com This may not work, if that is the case, and you are so inclined, just go to cefconnect.com and input PPT for the price vs. NAV chart. May pick up up some more tax free munis from my state of residence, as those have been hammered, as well.

To: Paul Senior who wrote (52084)	8/12/2013 8:50:16 PM
From: Spekulatius	Respond to of 78644

Re ORCL - I read the article in Seekingalpha as well. At first, it seems well reasoned, but once you get to the comment section it is clear that the authors logic can be challenged. seekingalpha.com As for employee departures, poster " Diane" noted that Keith Block was actually fired from Oracle (for inappropriate IM's). I also commented my self, that there is non evidence, that Hurd is chainsawing to begin with; for R&D is up during the last couple of years, as %of revenues. I do agree that ORCL revenue misses are concerning however.