We also eliminated the remainder of our investment in TI (TI) as the final tranche of shares went long term. TI offers another example of a management team that we believe puts its shareholders first in a situation where many do not. Since its acquisition of National Semiconductor in 2011, TI has been generously returning excess capital to shareholders while maintaining a prudent, but not lazy, balance sheet. This likely contributed to their shares approaching our estimate of fair value. Many large technology companies today simply grow their already immense cash positions and offer little insight into their plans for distributing that excess capital. We believe TI set a terrific example for other companies in the technology sector. Finally, we also sold Newfield Exploration after we came to believe that its effort to transition the company to liquids was a low-return proposition that would limit its ability to grow per-share value.
From Bill Nygren (Trades, Portfolio)'s Oakmark Select Fund first quarter 2014 investor letter.
