The Wall Street Journal

Berkshire Hathaway Raises Stakes in Japanese Trading Houses

Warren Buffett said last month that it received the companies’ blessing to increase its stake beyond 9.9%

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, has praised the five major Japanese trading houses for their use of capital, their management and their attitude toward shareholders.
Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, has praised the five major Japanese trading houses for their use of capital, their management and their attitude toward shareholders. Photo: rick wilking/Reuters

Berkshire Hathaway said it raised its holdings in five major Japanese trading houses, just weeks after Warren Buffett said the company’s stakes in them would likely increase somewhat over time.

National Indemnity, a wholly owned unit of Berkshire Hathaway, said in regulatory filings on Monday that it increased its stakes in the five trading houses by between 1.0% and 1.7%. It now holds a stake of between 8.5% and 9.8% in the five companies: Itochu Corp., Sumitomo Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsui & Co.

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