The Rules of Investing: How Alex Waislitz uncovers hidden gems

In the ‘go-go 80s’, a young Alex Waislitz worked for the legendary Australian entrepreneur, Robert Holmes á Court. Holmes á Court was Australia’s first billionaire, though he lost much of his fortune in the ’87 crash – a valuable lesson for the young Waislitz. Some 30 years later, Waislitz has built a fortune of his own, primarily through investing well. In an exclusive interview with Livewire, Waislitz explains one of the key lessons he learned working for Holmes á Court.

"I learned from him to look for hidden value that others may have overlooked. Often, on a company's balance sheet was written down land values that may have been bought many years ago, it could be industrial land from a manufacturing operation. Or it could be a brand that was underexploited but was fully owned by the company. He was a master at identifying value that others seemed to disregard. I'm always looking for the jewels - what is there in the company that hasn't been noticed."

In our latest podcast, we take a dive into the process that’s allowed him to achieve outstanding returns, including his top reasons to walk away from a potential investment.  

Six reasons to walk away from a potential investment:

1. Run by the wrong people
2. Management focused on promotion, not operation
3. The financial metrics don’t stack up
4. A ‘hockey stick’ earnings profile
5. A lack of uniqueness
6. The competitive landscape in their industry too strong.

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