Month: May 2022

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Receives Approval for Major Transmission Line

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 31, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s PacifiCorp has received final approval from the Bureau of Land Management for the construction of the 416-mile Energy Gateway South Transmission line.

The Notice to Proceed, issued by the BLM Wyoming State Office in partnership with the agency’s Colorado and Utah State Offices, authorizes PacifiCorp to begin construction of the 500-kilovolt transmission line, which will run from the Aeolus Substation near Medicine Bow, Wyoming, through Colorado, and ends at the Clover Substation near Mona, Utah.

The project is part of PacifiCorp’s larger Energy Gateway Transmission Expansion, a multi-year plan to add approximately 2,000 miles of new transmission lines across the western United States.

The BLM worked with PacifiCorp, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, federal partners, and the states of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah to establish an innovative and collaborative approach to mitigating impacts to be caused by the construction of the line. This approach will fund and establish processes for selecting mitigation projects to offset impacts to Greater Sage-Grouse, lands with wilderness characteristics, and other natural resource values across Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah.

“BLM-managed public lands will continue to serve an important role in modernizing the nation’s infrastructure as we advance President Biden’s goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2050,” said Tracy Stone-Manning, Director of the Bureau of Land Management. “As we build toward a clean energy future, we must make sure we do so responsibly. Approving large-scale transmission projects like this are key to bringing renewable energy online, while creating good-paying union jobs and helping bolster community resilience against the climate crisis.”

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Tags Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Cash is Like Oxygen

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 29, 2022

Investing is about putting your money to work earning more money, but as Warren Buffett notes, there are times when liquidity is paramount and at those moments cash becomes all important.

“There have been a few times in history, and there will be more times in history, where if you don’t have it, you know, you don’t get to play the next day,” Warren Buffett said at the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “I mean, it’s like oxygen, you know? It’s there all the time, but if it disappears for a few minutes, it’s all over.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Tags Value Investing

Lubrizol

Lubrizol Life Science Health Announces Apisolex

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 27, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Lubrizol Life Science Health has launched Apisolex, a novel solubility-enhancing excipient for use in parenteral drug products.

This technology overcomes solubility hurdles that cannot be resolved by existing excipients or manufacturing techniques.

At present, 60-90% of potential new active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in development pipelines, and more than 40% of those in reformulation, are poorly water soluble. As solubility impacts bioavailability and efficacy, tackling the growing number of poorly soluble APIs is critical to secure the route to market for promising therapeutics.

With the ability to improve solubility by up to 50,000-fold and support high drug loading, Apisolex technology provides access to new and improved parenteral drug products. This is especially relevant in the oncology field, as direct injection of drugs into the bloodstream ensures higher bioavailability and lower patient variability, compared to oral delivery.

Understanding the need of the industry, Apisolex polymer is designed to work with the simplest formulation techniques to streamline manufacturing and minimize API loss with high encapsulation rate. Comprised of biocompatible, biodegradable building blocks, Apisolex is a non-toxic, non-immunogenic alternative to PEG or surfactants.

“Apisolex is the first solubility-enhancing excipient for parenteral use introduced in more than 20 years,” says Rob Lee, President of the CDMO Division of LLS Health. “With its toxicity profile and simple processing techniques, Apisolex polymer can both improve existing drugs and enable some important new molecules.”

Apisolex excipient’s robust patent protection enables both the formulation of new chemical entities and the reformulation of existing APIs to enhance their therapeutic effect and deliver improved patient outcomes via the FDA’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway.

LLS Health already has a portfolio of differentiated excipients to help drug developers transform drug products which include the original Carbopol®, Pemulen™ TR-2 NF, and Noveon® AA-1 excipients. Solubility enhancing Apinovex™ polymer, used to maximize API concentration and stability in oral amorphous solid dispersion drug formulations, was introduced last year.

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Has Further Expansion Throughout Georgia

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 26, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has announced its further expansion in the state of Georgia with the addition of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Magnolia Realty. This addition marks the brand’s continued growth in the South region and its 33rd franchise company.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Magnolia Realty is Co-Founded by industry trailblazers, Cal Knecht and Crystal Rush. Known as the top two agents in Georgia, Phenix City and the Alabama area, the duo will serve the luxury, residential and commercial real estate markets.

“The luxury residential real estate market in Columbus, Georgia continues to thrive and we are excited to align with one of the best brand names in real estate to bring our clients an optimal experience from start to finish when buying a home,” said Cal Knecht, Co-Founder, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Magnolia Realty.

“We pride ourselves in offering the best experience for clients when it comes to real estate,” said Crystal Rush, Co-Founder, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Magnolia Realty. “The Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand is the pinnacle in the real estate industry and now that we are aligned with impeccable global leadership and more than 50,000 real estate professionals around the globe, we can now provide even further quality to our team to continue to uphold the standard of excellence.”

By joining the network, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Magnolia Realty agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks, and its “FOREVER Cloud” technology suite, a powerful source for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more.

The brand also provides an exclusive Luxury Collection marketing program for premier listings. Its Prestige Magazine showcases network members’ premium listings with a strong lineup of feature stories covering topics that appeal to high-end real estate clients.

“Cal and Crystal bring more than 17 years of market experience and we are pleased to welcome such a dynamic group of agents to our global brand,” said Christy Budnick, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “With their powerful leadership and the successful team they have built, their legacy is only beginning.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Magnolia Realty has plans for continued growth within the area over the next few years and is actively involved with the Columbus and East Alabama Board of Realtors, Lee Country Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors.

Tags Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics Named Distributor of the Year by Hirose Electric USA

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 24, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Mouser Electronics, Inc. has been named the 2021 Distributor of the Year by Hirose Electric USA, a leader in the design and manufacture of innovative connector solutions.

Hirose Distribution Manager, Adrian Orat, presented the award to the Mouser team at EDS 2022 in Las Vegas.

The Distributor of the Year award recognizes sales and growth, as well as customer service and satisfaction.

“Each year, Hirose recognizes our top performing distribution partner in appreciation of their commitment and value to our shared goals. Mouser has once again achieved impressive sales growth with Hirose in 2021,” said Mark Kojak, CMO and Senior VP of Sales and Operations for Hirose Electric USA. “Mouser is a valued partner that continues to play a critical role in helping Hirose’s customers solve dynamic challenges in a wide range of markets and applications. We are pleased to recognize Mouser with this award for the second year in a row.”

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which recognizes our mutual success through the hard work and ingenuity of both companies,” said Krystal Jackson, Mouser’s Vice President of Supplier Management. “Our long-lasting partnership has delivered exceptional performance for both companies, and we are thankful to be named Distributor of the Year.”

Tags Mouser Electronics

Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Berkshire Hathaway Gets Approval for Natural Gas Pipeline

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 23, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Kern River Gas Transmission Company has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its proposed 36 miles of 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline.

The pipeline will run from Wyoming to Utah to the Intermountain Power Project.

Run by the Intermountain Power Agency, and located in the Great Basin region of western Utah, the IPP currently generates an average of more than 13 million megawatt hours of energy each year from its two coal-fired units. The energy is delivered over the project’s AC and DC transmission systems to 35 participants in the project that principally serve Utah and Southern California.

The new Kern River pipeline will enable the IPP to convert the coal-fired units to cleaner natural gas.

Kern River’s Mike Loeffler noted that the pipeline “will provide needed energy with reduced greenhouse gas emissions to communities in both Utah and California.”

Tags Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: The Magic of Stock Buybacks

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 21, 2022

American Express, Apple, Coca-Cola, what do they all have in common? They are among the myriad companies that regularly buy back their own stock. For example, Apple bought back $81 billion of its share in 2021 alone. Warren Buffet is quick to point out the incredible advantages of stock buybacks (as long as the company repurchasing its shares is doing so at a price below their intrinsic value). It’s the easiest investing there is. As a shareholder, you are gaining an ever larger stake in a company, tax free, all without doing a thing.

“We owned 150 million shares of American Express. I think we bought our last share in 1998, or something like that, and we then owned 11.2% of the American Express company. And since then, they’ve sent us a check every quarter as a dividend. And so, we’ve taken some cash a little bit as they’ve gone along. And now we own 20% of American Express. Now, that’s what’s happened because they repurchased shares,” Warren Buffett said at the 2022 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “And like I say, we’ve gone from 11.2% to 20%. And if you’re using your American [Express] card, or whatever it may be, 20% of whatever earnings contribute a little to our interest that used to be 11.2%, and we’ve done it without putting up any money. Now, imagine if you owned a farm, and you had 640 acres, and you farmed it every year, and you made a little money on it, and you enjoyed farming, and somehow, twenty or so years later, it had turned into 1,100 or 1,200 acres. . . . If you do it at the right price, there’s nothing better than buying in your own business. . . . It is the simplest thing in the world, and then I read all this stuff. It is unbelievable how people can’t figure out something that, you know, if they owned a farm and the guy next to them had a farm and somehow you were getting more of his farm all the time without putting up any money, while you farmed your own farm . . . you’d feel very good about it.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is

Tags Value Investing

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Expands in Wisconsin

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 20, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has announced its further expansion in the state of Wisconsin with the addition of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Matson Real Estate. The growth comes on the heels of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network’s growth in Massachusetts and Florida.

With over 45 years of industry experience, President Thomas W. Matson will lead the brokerage. On joining the brand Thomas said, “Having the opportunity to align with one of the country’s largest names in real estate and brand recognition, paired with our firm’s wealth of experience is a winning combination. We share the same values of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. This is an affiliation that will help us to provide an even more stellar experience to our clients from start to finish.”

By joining the network, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Matson Real Estate agents gain access to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ active referral and relocation networks, and its “FOREVER Cloud” technology suite, a powerful source for lead generation, marketing support, social media, video production/distribution and more.

“We are thrilled to align with such a remarkable group of professionals to grow our presence in Wisconsin further,” said Christy Budnick, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “The leadership, agents and teams joining the brand are known for their work ethic, professionalism and dedication to client services. We are excited to bring the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Forever Agent℠ story to the clients in Stoughton, Wisconsin and beyond.”

Tags Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Adds Homegenius Technology

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 17, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is adding homegenius, a full-service ecosystem of real estate services leveraging advanced technology and the latest developments in data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), for its 50,418 U.S. based agents.

Through this agreement with homegenius Inc., a subsidiary of Radian Group Inc., homegenius will enable Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ network agents, brokers and owners to access homegenius’s geniusprice property intelligence engine. geniusprice technology gives brokers and agents access to next-level analytics and insights in an interface that’s easy to use and takes home price estimates to a new level.

“By leveraging powerful computer vision technology, homegenius’ revolutionary property intelligence engine has made the traditional Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report obsolete by marrying advanced valuation automation with local property data in an entirely new way. With the opportunities provided by this relationship, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ network agents can save time, streamline their workflow, deepen their market analyses, and build their pipelines of qualified leads, while offering a truly personalized search for homes that meet a buyers’ specific requirements,” added Jose Perez, Senior Vice President, Business Development.

Tags Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Link Transit Purchases 8 More BYD Battery-Electric Buses

Post author By David Mazor
Post date May 16, 2022

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD has announced that Wenatchee, Washington-based Link Transit has purchased eight additional 30-foot American-made BYD battery-electric buses, building on Link’s long commitment to energy-saving, zero-emission transit technology.

The eight new BYD buses will complement Link’s growing all-electric fleet of 12 30- and 35-foot vehicles, with three additional 35-foot buses on order. Once the new vehicles are delivered, nearly half of Link’s total heavy-duty fleet of 48 vehicles will be all electric.

“We’re thankful for our partnership with Link Transit and to have the opportunity to provide their community with state-of-the-art clean-technology vehicles that are redefining public transportation,” said Patrick Duan, BYD’s Senior Vice President of Operations.

The eight new buses are being built by BYD at its Lancaster, California, Coach & Bus Manufacturing facility.
Every American-built, zero-emission BYD bus eliminates approximately 1,690 tons of carbon dioxide over its 12-year lifespan, according to the U.S. Transportation Department. This is equivalent to taking 27 cars off the road. Each bus also eliminates 10 tons of nitrogen oxides and 350 pounds of diesel particulate matter, improving air quality in the communities that they serve.

“These vehicles have been a tremendous success for us. Without opportunity charging, we’re seeing a range of 190 usable miles. With our Momentum Dynamics wireless opportunity chargers, we are extending this range to over 300 miles per day by charging the vehicles for 5 to 7 minutes 4 – 5 times per day while the vehicle is in the terminal on its hourly end of run lay-over. We have succeeded in replacing our diesel buses with our BYD buses on a one-to-one basis. We use these vehicles for all of our urban routes, in everyday use, with significantly lower operating costs. BYD has been great to work with,” said Richard DeRock, General Manager of Link Transit.

The Link Transit battery-electric fleet in 2022, averages 44 cents a mile in total operating costs, versus 88 cents a mile for its diesel vehicles. (With the recent run-up of diesel prices, the cost per mile has increased to 92 cents).

DeRock noted that the battery-electric buses have been particularly effective in navigating the extreme climate conditions within Link Transit’s service area. “It’s a very challenging operating environment – our winters are cold, and we can see 100 degrees in the summer. Finding vehicles that can maintain their effective range under these conditions is critically important,” he said.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares for $232 million. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $232 million had grown in value to $7.69 billion as of December 31, 2021.

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway and BYD, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Tags BYD Co