Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA

???Reflecting on an Inspiring Evening of Value Investing & Finance with Legendary Investor Josh Tarasoff?at the University of Virginia?? ? This past week, we were grateful to collaborate with the CIFM to co-host a speaker event with?Josh Tarasoff, Founder & General Partner of Greenlea Lane Capital Management, LLC. Since starting Greenlea Lane Capital in 2006 with $2.3 million, Mr. Tarasoff has grown the fund to an incredible $450 million—a testament to his dedication and expertise in long-term value investing. ? This event was co-hosted by?the UVA McIntire School of Commerce's Centers for Investors & Financial Markets (CIFM)?and the?Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA. We are immensely grateful to Mr. Josh Tarasoff, Professor Mike Gallmeyer,?Mr. Thomas Gayner & Ms. Susan Gayner, and the entire?Markel Group/UVA team?for making this incredible opportunity possible. ? Here are some key takeaways from Mr. Tarasoff’s insightful talk: ???Self-driving portfolios: We explored the concept of investing with an?infinite holding period, emphasizing the power of extremely long-term thinking. ???Rationality during uncertainty: In times of market turbulence, staying rational and grounded is crucial for successful investing. ???Tailored investment strategies: Your approach to investing should align with your unique personality and circumstances. Mr. Tarasoff shared how rationality & pragmatism—strengthened by practices like meditation—plays a critical role in decision-making. ???Inevitable endgames and feedback loops: We discussed the enduring nature of quality businesses, the compounding effects of positive feedback loops, and the importance of keeping end goals in mind. ? ???If you’re passionate about learning from legendary investors and immersing yourself in the world of value investing, we encourage you to join our community. Let’s continue exploring, questioning, and growing together! *CREDIT: We are grateful to Keely Ledford for capturing these incredible moments* ? #ValueInvesting #Finance #UVA #JoshTarasoff #LongTermInvesting #SustainableInvesting

??Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA - Fall 2024 Executive Challenge Team Highlight ?? Jerry Zhou and Sameer Shafqat presented real estate firm Simon Property Group ($SPG) in the GFSIF Fall 2024 Executive Challenge at the University of Virginia. Simon Property Group (SPG) is one of the largest real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the United States, specializing in the ownership, development, and management of premier retail properties. The SPG ??? team highlighted the company’s diverse portfolio of shopping centers, malls, and outlet centers across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company is known for its high-quality assets, including flagship properties like The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in New York ?? . The SPG team highlighted the company as a leader in adapting its properties to evolving retail trends, integrating experiences, dining, and entertainment into its malls to stay competitive in an increasingly digital retail landscape. In addition, the team highlighted SPG’s continued dominance owning higher-end properties, citing statistics that revealed only mid and lower tier malls suffering amid the rise of e-commerce.

???Key Lessons from an Evening with Mike Beall??? The?Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA?had the privilege of hosting?Mike Beall, Executive Vice President at Davenport & Co., for an engaging discussion on value investing and long-term financial strategies. As the co-manager of the?Balanced Fund and Value & Income Fund, Mr. Beall brought a wealth of knowledge to our conversation. ? Here are some key takeaways from his insights: ???Megatrends matter?– Factors like?aging populations and deglobalization?will shape industries for decades to come. ???Enduring market leaders are rare?– Only a small handful of companies sustain dominance for multiple decades, reinforcing the importance of investing in?high-quality businesses. ???The power of Other People’s Money (OPM)?– The best business models leverage OPM through?asset management fees, network fees, franchise fees, and commissions, creating sustainable revenue streams. ? A huge thank you to?Mike Beall, Davenport & Company LLC, Markel Group, and UVA McIntire School of Commerce who made this event possible! These insights push us to think more critically about long-term investing and the structural advantages that define great businesses. ? ???Interested in learning directly from industry leaders? Join us as we continue exploring the world of value investing! #ValueInvesting #Finance #UVA #MikeBeall #Davenport #Megatrends #SustainableInvesting #BusinessModels

??Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA - Fall 2024 Executive Challenge Team Highlight ?? Mehervan Chadha competed in the GFSIF Fall 2024 Executive Challenge and presented apparel firm ?? Nike ($NKE). Nike, Inc. ($NKE) is a global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, renowned for its innovation, design, and marketing. Founded in 1964, Nike operates globally, offering a wide range of sports-related products and services across various categories, including running, basketball, soccer, and training. ?? The Nike team highlighted how high-profile endorsements and sponsorships drive the company’s strong brand presence, as it continues to shape the sports and fashion industries through its commitment to performance, sustainability, and cutting-edge technology. The Nike team stressed the brand recognition of the firm, emphasizing collaborations with the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and Epic Games. In addition, the team highlighted the continued innovation of its shoe wear with high-performing brands like Jordan’s. ??

?? GFSIF Fall 2024 Semester Report ??? ? Our team is thrilled share our Fall 2024 Semester Report! We extend our gratitude to all donors, guest speakers, members, and community supporters of the club. Your generosity makes it possible for UVA students to engage in hands-on investment learning, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunities created. ?? ? We have several exciting milestones and goals from Fall 2024: ???? Expansion into Social Media & Offline Promotion:?After updating our?website,?we expanded our outreach to three social media platforms, gaining 376 followers on?LinkedIn, 110 members on GroupMe, and over 100 followers on?Instagram. In addition, our team heavily focused on in-person promotion, hosting a booth at?University of Virginia's annual Club Fair that garnered 60 student signups. ???? Gratitude to Guest Speakers:?This semester, we had the privilege of learning from distinguished guest speakers—including Mr.?Richard Wegener, Mr.?Adam Seessel, Ms. Prabha Carpenter, Ms.?Nancy Floyd Prue, and Mr.?Tom Saberhagen—who shared their invaluable insights into the investing landscape. ???? Launch of Cross-Club Collaborations:?We expanded our presence within the UVA community by collaborating with various investing-related clubs, such as?Smart Women Securities?and the Women Business Forum @ McIntire. In the future, we are excited to partner with clubs and organizations at?UVA McIntire School of Commerce, notably the?Center for Investors & Financial Markets (CIFM). ???? Fall 2024 Executive Challenge & Analyst Class:?We welcomed a new analyst class of 20 students and concluded the semester with our stock pitch competition, providing them with hands-on investment experience. ? For this upcoming semester, we are excited to continue expanding and retaining membership while furthering our mission of promoting ultra long-term investing within the student community. ? Thank you for making this journey possible for UVA students—we deeply appreciate your support and look forward to another impactful semester. ???

?? The Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA is thrilled to highlight our Fall 2024 Executive Challenge from December! This End-Of-Semester stock pitch competition featured several students who pitched companies from various industries, such as apparel, real estate, and healthcare.??? This Executive Challenge was the culmination of our semester events, where members applied the knowledge and lessons from speaker events in crafting their pitch. After hosting four speaker events and a stock pitch workshop, the GFSIF would like to highlight several teams who participated in the challenge. Alexander Smith and Kaleb Cooper pitched Latin America e-commerce giant, ??Mercado Libre (#MELI)??. Mercado Libre (#MELI) is the leading e-commerce platform in Latin America, offering a wide range of services including online retail, digital payments through Mercado Pago ?? , and logistics solutions via Mercado Envios. Founded in 1999 in Argentina, the company operates across 18 countries ?? , including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, making it the largest e-commerce and fintech ecosystem in the region. Mercado Libre’s platform allows businesses and individuals to buy and sell products, access financial services, and manage payments. The MELI team described the company’s innovative approach to e-commerce and financial technology, as it has become a key player in Latin America’s digital transformation. The MELI team pitched the company’s entrenched competitive position within Latin America, which provides barriers to entry against competitors like Amazon. In addition, the team stressed the success of its e-commerce platform, enabling individual sellers and buyers in Latin America to be connected. #GFSIF #ExecutiveChallenge #Investing

???Reflecting on an Inspiring Evening of Value Investing & Finance with Legendary Investor Josh Tarasoff?at the University of Virginia?? ? This past week, we were grateful to collaborate with the CIFM to co-host a speaker event with?Josh Tarasoff, Founder & General Partner of Greenlea Lane Capital Management, LLC. Since starting Greenlea Lane Capital in 2006 with $2.3 million, Mr. Tarasoff has grown the fund to an incredible $450 million—a testament to his dedication and expertise in long-term value investing. ? This event was co-hosted by?the UVA McIntire School of Commerce's Centers for Investors & Financial Markets (CIFM)?and the?Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA. We are immensely grateful to Mr. Josh Tarasoff, Professor Mike Gallmeyer,?Mr. Thomas Gayner & Ms. Susan Gayner, and the entire?Markel Group/UVA team?for making this incredible opportunity possible. ? Here are some key takeaways from Mr. Tarasoff’s insightful talk: ???Self-driving portfolios: We explored the concept of investing with an?infinite holding period, emphasizing the power of extremely long-term thinking. ???Rationality during uncertainty: In times of market turbulence, staying rational and grounded is crucial for successful investing. ???Tailored investment strategies: Your approach to investing should align with your unique personality and circumstances. Mr. Tarasoff shared how rationality & pragmatism—strengthened by practices like meditation—plays a critical role in decision-making. ???Inevitable endgames and feedback loops: We discussed the enduring nature of quality businesses, the compounding effects of positive feedback loops, and the importance of keeping end goals in mind. ? ???If you’re passionate about learning from legendary investors and immersing yourself in the world of value investing, we encourage you to join our community. Let’s continue exploring, questioning, and growing together! *CREDIT: We are grateful to Keely Ledford for capturing these incredible moments* ? #ValueInvesting #Finance #UVA #JoshTarasoff #LongTermInvesting #SustainableInvesting

???GFSIF SPEAKER SERIES?? On November 13, the Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA was thrilled to welcome Adam Seessel—renowned investor, author, and founder of Gravity Capital Management—to our club's speaker series at the UVA McIntire School of Commerce! ? As the author of?Where the Money Is: Value Investing in the Digital Age, Mr. Seessel shared fascinating insights into Value 2.0 investing. Mr. Seessel highlighted examples of technology under the 2nd derivative framework, such as Domino’s tech integration and Progressive’s low-cost strategy. His breakdown of Amazon’s powerful advertising business and reflections on scale players like OpenAI offered invaluable perspective, especially as we considered Bing’s recent market share shifts post-AI integration. ? The UVA community and Markel team are grateful to Mr. Seessel for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion. Please join us for more of these exciting events!

Thank you so much Joseph Blanton for the shoutout! The team at the Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA is grateful for the support of Tom & Susan Gayner, Tyler Brown, the Markel team, and the student community! ??Please join us on our mission to fund student scholarships for a brighter future! ??

?? Exciting Opportunity for ALL University of Virginia Students! ?? We’re thrilled to invite you to an insightful speaker series featuring Adam Seessel, renowned investor, author, and founder of Gravity Capital Management! ?? Known for his expertise in value investing and as the author of “Where the Money Is: Value Investing in the Digital Age,” Adam will share his perspectives on navigating today’s complex financial landscape. ?? Date & Time: ?? Wednesday, November 13 ?? 6:30PM – 7:30PM ?? RRH 254, University of Virginia This event, hosted by the Gayner Family Sustainable Investment Fund @ UVA—UVA’s premier youth-led investment fund—is open to all UVA students. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights from a leader in sustainable investing while also supporting a fund dedicated to financial literacy and scholarships. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable evening of learning and inspiration! ????