Deep Engagement: A Banking Approach to Classical Value Investing | Donald Zilkha of Zilkha Investments

Donald Zilkha, founder of Zilkha Investments joins Other People’s Money to discuss how his deep-rooted DNA in banking and deal making has evolved into an investment strategy focused on deep research and engagement with management to affect change without upsetting the apple cart. He discusses how this strategy has evolved from single name SPVs to the commingled strategy he has today, case studies like Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, and why this classical style resonates with investors. Follow Max on X: https://x.com/maxwiethe Follow Other People’s Money on: Apple Podcast https://bit.ly/4e7QJ1M Spotify https://bit.ly/3Yhaazi YouTube https://bit.ly/3C63VXR X https://x.com/opmpod Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:34 The Birth of Modern Banking in the Middle East 10:27 Evolution from Venture, to SPVs, to Drawdown, to Vanilla Equity 19:09 Engagement vs. Activism 27:17 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs Case Study 33:05 Take Private Opportunities 35:55 Investing in a "Classical" Style 38:43 Talking About Process Instead of Positions 45:02 Value Investing in Tech and Old-Line Businesses 50:05 Team Continuity & Incentives 54:18 Marketing After 10+ Years