Thanks to the generous support of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, the Ivey Business School has established the Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing (henceforth, the Centre) - one of only two in the world. Ivey's Centre is led by the holder of the Ben Graham Chair in Value Investing, Professor George Athanassakos, Founder and Managing Director of the Centre.
The Centre, which was formally founded in 2006, focuses on researching and educating future business leaders and investors in the investment style made popular by Benjamin Graham in the early 1930's, referred to as Value Investing. The Centre serves a critical role in coordinating applied research at the University and in linking the activities of faculty and students with practitioners, primarily in the financial services sector, but also in other industries and in undertaking activities which are mutually beneficial to the University, the Industry and investors in general. Finally, the Centre preserves the thoughts, ideas and investing philosophies of Value Investors, especially those of investment icons such as Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, Irving Kahn, Walter Schloss, Mario Gabelli, Glenn Greenberg, Robert Heilbrum, Seth Klarman, Michael Price, Paul Sonkin, Charles Brandes, and others.
The vision of the Centre is three pronged:
- First, the development of future business leaders. This not only includes the offering of electives in the degree programs (HBA and MBA), but also includes executive education and executive development programs. It also includes cases, books and readings, a library with videos of Value Investor lectures and practitioner visits and a number of databases ranging from Canadian Value Investing funds to bond and equity screeners and company financials and financial market statistics.
- Second, the development of intellectual capital. This includes academic and practitioner research papers both published and at the working paper stage, as well as a list of all those carrying out research in the field. It will also eventually grow to include a PhD program and PhD students.
- Third, spreading the word about Value Investing to the broader community that includes both academics and practitioners. This includes seminars, conferences, symposiums and competitions. The Centre also supports a student driven Value Fund run with real money which was raised via donations. When it is completed, the Centre will also support a discussion board system where one can ask questions and discuss issues or help others solve Value Investing problems.
Ivey's Ben Graham Centre for Value Investing is known as the repository of information on Value Investing, where Value Investors' thoughts, teachings, writings, investing styles and research are preserved. We accomplish this by having built a virtual library on value investing, thanks to the support of Burgundy Asset Management. This resource is unique and is one of the differentiating aspects of the Value Investing program offered at Ivey vis-à-vis other schools. Current, past and future students and investors worldwide are the beneficiaries of this rich information resource.
Message from the Centre Managing Director
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We would like to thank Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited and its Chairman Mr. Prem Watsa for their generous support that allowed for the establishment of the Ben Graham Center for Value Investing at Ivey Business School.