Berkshire to Keep Japanese Trader Shares after Buffet’s Exit

New York, Dec. 27 (Jiji Press)–U.S. investment company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. plans to keep its shares in five major Japanese trading houses over the long term, even after the exit of CEO Warren Buffett on Wednesday. The five are Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corp., Marubeni Corp. and Itochu Corp. Buffett, a prominent investor, has hailed the traders’ strategies of running a wide range of operations, including food and energy, describing them as highly diversified. Greg Abel, involved in the investment in the five companies as Berkshire’s vice chairman, will maintain Buffett’s long-term investment policy for the traders after taking over the post of chief executive. In 2020, Berkshire announced its acquisitions of shares in the five traders. It has since bought additional shares gradually, boosting its stakes to over 10 pct for Mitsubishi and Mitsui, over 9 pct for Sumitomo and Marubeni, and over 8 pct for Itochu. In a letter to Berkshire shareholders in 2025, Buffett stated that the five companies had agreed to moderately relax the initially set ownership ceiling of 9.9 pct. “Over time, you will likely see Berkshire’s ownership of all five increase somewhat,” he also said. At the company’s annual general meeting of shareholders in March 2025, Abel said, “we really envision holding the investment (in the five traders) for 50 years or forever.” The five companies’ share prices surged in recent years following Berkshire’s acquisitions. This investment is viewed as a successful example of Buffett’s strategy of buying shares at affordable prices and waiting for their value to increase. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]