TransDigm: Redeeming the Most Painful Loss with Rob Small [50X, EP.2]

This is our second episode in a series of four on TransDigm, an aerospace components manufacturer that has returned over 1,750X since its inception nearly three decades earlier. If you haven’t listened to the first episode with TransDigm’s founder Nick Howley, we recommend starting there.

Today, we are joined by Rob Small. Rob is a Managing Director at Berkshire Partners and has led Stockbridge, Berkshire’s public equities business, since its inception in 2007. Rob conducted diligence on TransDigm in its 2003 auction before investing personally following the IPO, building an anchor position with Stockbridge in 2007, and joining the Board of Directors in 2010.

In this discussion, we cover the core elements composing TransDigm’s business quality, Berkshire’s and Stockbridge’s initial investments, and the trajectory of Rob’s conviction.

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.

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This episode is brought to you by Tegus. The team at Tegus has built a full company intelligence platform aimed at streamlining the investment research process. In preparation for the 50X series, we actively used Tegus to gain qualitative insights beyond traditional reported data. To learn more and enjoy a free trial, visit tegus.co/50x.

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50X is a podcast that dissects the anatomy of extraordinary long-term investments. The show is hosted by Will Thorndike and the team at Compounding Labs, and brought to you in partnership with Colossus.

In each episode of 50X, we look in detail at an investment that has appreciated at least 50-fold. From the seat of the professional investor and occasionally the CEO, we explore its origins, evolution, and eventual outcome, studying key themes around long-term value creation ranging from operations, capital allocation, and culture to pivotal buy and sell decisions. To enhance the quality and depth of our interviews, we rigorously study each asset in advance, diving into all available public and private resources.

Learn more and dive into our research at 50xpodcast.com

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Show Notes

[00:00:00] – 50X Introduction

[00:01:51] – Sponsorship: Tegus

[00:07:19] – Introduction to the Episode and Rob Small

[00:08:57] – Berkshire Partners’ Initial Exposure to TransDigm

[00:10:57] – Auction in 2003 by Odyssey Investment Partners

[00:14:35] – Contrast TransDigm with Hexcel

[00:15:55] – Re-engaging with TransDigm post-IPO

[00:18:33] – Origins of Stockbridge

[00:24:53] – Core Elements of TransDigm’s Business Quality

[00:29:52] – Investment Trajectory for Stockbridge and Berkshire Partners

[00:33:31] – Rob’s Appointment to TransDigm’s Board of Directors

[00:36:42] – Rob’s Trajectory of Conviction

[00:42:59] – Translating Conviction to Position Size

[00:43:50] – Persistent Undervaluation: Acquisition Pace and Exit Multiples