Category: Minority Stock Positions

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD to Bring Pure Electric Refuse Trucks to Seattle

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Refuse removal helps keep your home clean, but it is one of the more polluting environmental hazards when it comes to the diesel emissions from refuse trucks. Fortunately, that’s changing thanks to China’s BYD.

BYD has announced that the first electric refuse trucks to operate in the city of Seattle, and the entire Pacific Northwest region, are ordered and will soon be helping to deliver on a cleaner environment.

Two of BYD’s 8R Class-8 battery-electric refuse trucks, fitted with New Way Viper Rear Loader refuse bodies, will be delivered to Recology in Seattle for use in residential solid waste pick up.

BYD’s zero-emission battery-electric Class-8 truck chassis boasts optimal efficiency with regenerative braking and best-in-class power and torque. In addition to the environmental and financial benefits of zero-emissions and reduced operating costs, BYD’s electric trucks are quiet and clean, which has an immediate impact on quality of life for the communities they serve.

“We are excited to be the first to deploy electric refuse trucks to the Pacific Northwest region, demonstrating that clean, zero-emissions technology is the smart, sustainable choice for heavy industry,” said BYD Motors President, Stella Li.

New Way, a family-owned business since 1971, manufactures a complete line of refuse equipment including the Viper mid-compaction Rear Loader bodies in Scranton, IA. With outside cylinders and operating valve, New Way’s streamlined Viper design offers increased efficiency, safety and value.

“By combining the innovative design of our Viper Rear Loader body with BYD’s zero-emissions battery-electric technology, we can produce the most efficient and sustainable refuse truck available on the market today,” said Don Ross, New Way Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

Recology, an employee-owned company with more than 100 years’ experience in the waste industry, provides service to communities up and down the West Coast. The Recology mission represents a fundamental shift from traditional waste management to resource recovery. The vision at Recology is to create a world without waste by developing and discovering sustainable resource recovery practices that can be implemented globally.

Recology’s electric trucks will serve customers in the City of Seattle and mark an important step in realizing climate impacts that address the region’s growing need to prioritize resiliency. Especially for collection services that require heavy-duty trucks to frequent roads in these communities on a daily basis, electric trucks present a sustainable solution that both Recology and its customers can feel good about.

“Together with our industry partners, BYD and New Way, we can be a catalyst to affect positive, sustainable change, setting the stage for what a 21st century refuse truck should look like,” said Derek Ruckman, Vice President and Group Manager in the Pacific Northwest at Recology.

The electric refuse trucks are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2019.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

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Lubrizol Minority Stock Positions

Lubrizol Takes Stake in One Ocean Beauty

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Lubrizol has acquired a minority stake in One Ocean Beauty, a New York-based cosmetics company that uses kelp and algae in its products.

The company says that the microorganisms living in extreme ocean environments develop unique survival properties to protect themselves against UV radiation, pollution and physical damage.

“This investment represents our commitment to nurturing the next generation of beauty brands. As more customers turn to clean beauty and socially-committed companies, we see this as a compelling opportunity in this space,” Brandon Ford, Chief Accelerator Director of Lubrizol Skin Essentials, said.

One Ocean Beauty was founded by industry veteran Marcella Cacci. Cacci has a track record in both beauty and luxury and was part of the Burberry repositioning team that took Burberry public in 2002. She established Burberry Beauty driving retail sales to over $500M. Known for her innovative and strategic thinking, Cacci has developed a 360 degree, socially-aware concept that is completely in tune with the zeitgeist. Select key advisors for One Ocean Beauty include Fabien Baron (Baron & Baron) for creative advisory, and Oz Garcia for nutricosmetic development.

“The partnership with Lubrizol is a significant step in developing our unique product offering and remaining on the cutting edge of technology – the team at Lubrizol shares our vision for clean beauty and conscious consumerism. We are excited to launch a new business model that is in tune with changing customer behaviors,” Marcella Cacci, Founder and CEO of One Ocean Beauty, said.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Pure Electric Buses Rolling on Martha’s Vineyard

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

China’s BYD is the Vineyard Transit Authority’s (VTA) answer to soot emitting diesel buses on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts.

VTA is putting BYD battery-electric buses on the island’s routes right in time for the heart of tourist season.

BYD has delivered five buses and a sixth will be in service by the end of July.

The six-bus order includes four BYD K9S 35-foot models and two K7 30-foot models.

VTA’s plan to convert its entire fleet to pure electric. The VTA has announced it will purchase an additional four BYD buses.

“We are excited to begin transforming our fleet with these six BYD electric buses,” said Angie Grant, Administrator of Vineyard Transit Authority. “VTA is the first transit agency in Massachusetts to commit to going all-electric. This delivery is a milestone for both VTA and our state to begin the shift of electrification.”

According to VTA, it selected BYD for irs first set of electric buses based on BYD’s battery warranty, mile range and selection of sizes and models, which accommodate Martha’s Vineyard’s road network.

“We are thrilled to partner with VTA in helping to create a more sustainable world. Many agencies look to VTA for its industry-leading practices and consciousness. They service an area that is in high demand year after year and they set the bar for forward thinking,” stated Bobby Hill, senior vice president of BYD.

The proprietary BYD Iron-Phosphate batteries that power the K7 and K9S are manufactured in Lancaster, California.

The company’s revolutionary battery is nontoxic, 100% recyclable, fire-safe and incredibly long-cycled. BYD is the first and only electric bus manufacturer in the world to offer a 12-year warranty on its batteries.

The K7 electric bus has a capacity of 22 passengers, while the K9S features a capacity of up to 32 passengers, depending on the precise configuration. The new buses will produce no emissions, make oil changes a thing of the past and offer dramatically lower maintenance costs.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Creates Joint Venture to Manufacture & Recycle EV Batteries

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

China’s BYD has formed a strategic cooperation agreement with Changan Automobile to produce batteries for electric vehicles.

The companies will manufacture up to 10 GWh of batteries, and have also announced that they will research autonomous driving and various new energy vehicle technologies.

BYD and Changan plan for the total battery production capacity of 10GWh to be reached in two stages. The first will reach 5-6GWh and the second stage 4-5GWh.

They will also work together to recycle EV batteries.

Changan, headquartered in Chongqing, China, is a state-owned enterprise that manufactures passenger cars, microvans, commercial vans and light trucks.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Oslo Goes Big for BYD’s Articulated Buses

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

The streets of Oslo, Norway will soon have a large fleet of BYD’s 18-meter pure electric articulated buses running high traffic routes.

Nobina AB, the largest bus transport group in the Nordic region, has ordered 42 buses from BYD with scheduled delivery in the second quarter of 2019.

Two of BYD’s articulated buses have already been in service on route 31 and 31E, which are Norway’s heaviest duty routes, carrying roughly 50,000 passengers a day.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD opens World’s Largest Battery Factory

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

New energy company BYD has announced the opening of what it bills as the world’s largest battery manufacturing plant. The plant is located in the western province of Qinghai.

The facility has commenced manufacturing batteries, but the entire facility will not be fully completed until the end of 2019.

The plant is designed to keep up with the demands of a company that has become the world leader in battery powered cars.

The new plant has a capacity of 24 GWh, as BYD aims to increase its total manufacturing capacity to 60 GWh by 2020.

This is BYD’s third battery factory in China, with factories already in Shenzhen and Huizhou.

“Electrification is a done deal as several countries have announced a deadline for the sale of internal combustion engine cars to end. Electric vehicles are on the cusp of another boom,” said BYD President and Chairman Wang Chuanfu.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Brazil Latest Country for BYD’s SkyRail

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BYD has signed an agreement to construct its SkyRail monorail in the Brazilian city of Salvador. the project will be the first of its kind for BYD in Latin America.

The 20 kilometers seaside route will be partially built above the sea to connect to an offshore island, with another portion traversing above a 19th century railway track that is set to be converted into a pedestrian zone.

Construction for the 2.5 billion Brazilian real (689 million US dollars) project will be divided into two phases, and is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2018 and be operational in 2021.

BYD’s monorail project will connect with the existing subway, providing seamless transportation for the city of 3.8 million residents.

“Air pollution and traffic congestion are the twin evils of urban living. The SkyRail will provide the residents of Salvador with a low-carbon and more convenient way of travelling,” said BYD senior vice president Stella Li. “This project is an important milestone in our global revolution. BYD is willing to work together with our partners to electrify transport and make it smarter.”

Among the features highlighted for SkyRail are its strong climbing capacity makes the vehicle capable of negotiating the difficult local terrain where a distance of 400 meters requires an increase of 80 meters. In addition, the SkyRail is quiet and carbon-free. Its elevated construction does not affect normal pedestrian and traffic flow, providing a non-disruptive addition to Salvador’s urban landscape.

The local government has plans to boost tourism in the area where the SkyRail will be constructed with the help of domestic companies.

SkyRail was first launched in October 2016 after five years of research and development worth 5 billion RMB. It is currently operational in the western Chinese city of Yinchuan. Outside of China, BYD has won strategic partnerships with countries such as the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco and Cambodia.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

2018 David Mazor

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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio Warren Buffett

Berkshire Finally Cashes Out of USG

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

After 17 years riding USG’s stock up and down, Warren Buffett is finally going to cash out with a profit.

Gebr. Knauf KG and USG Corporation have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Knauf will acquire all of the outstanding shares of USG in a transaction valued at approximately $7.0 billion.

Under the terms of the agreement, USG shareholders will receive $44.00 per share, which consists of $43.50 per share in cash payable upon closing of the transaction and a $0.50 per share special dividend that would be paid following shareholder approval of the transaction.

The price represents a premium of 31% to USG’s unaffected closing price of $33.51 and a 36% premium to the $32.36 average closing price for the preceding 12-month period, both as of March 23, 2018, and a multiple of approximately 11.6x USG’s adjusted EBITDA for the 12 months ended March 31, 2018.

The transaction was unanimously approved by USG’s Board of Directors.

Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to vote its shares in favor of the transaction. As of June 11, 2018, Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries owns approximately 31% of the issued and outstanding shares of USG.

While Berkshire will exit its position with a profit, Warren Buffett had previously expressed his disappointment with the fortunes of the company.

“So just put that one down as not one of our brilliant ideas,” Buffett said. “Not a disaster,” he added.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD’s Electric Buses No Longer a Rarity

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

It wasn’t that long ago that the idea of an electric bus was a novelty. Questions about range, cold weather operation, and charging time still had to be answered.

Today, China’s BYD is the clear world leader in the electric bus market, with more than 35,000 of the company’s pure electric buses in service across the globe at the end of 2017.

The environmental benefits are already substantial and growing.

Worldwide, 279,000 barrels a day less of fossil fuel are consumed because of zero emission buses, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. They also note that in China 9,500 new electric buses are going into service every five weeks.

In the U.S., regional transportation systems are increasingly going electric, with BYD signing a contract at the end of May with the University of Georgia to provide 21 pure electric buses.

BYD has sold more than 700 battery-electric buses and trucks to customers in the U.S. and Canada, which is more than any other manufacturer.

Replacing smelly diesel buses is a priority for cities as studies have linked asthma and other lung ailments to diesel exhaust.

The Union for Concerned Scientists note that, “Diesel-powered vehicles and equipment account for nearly half of all nitrogen oxides (NOx) and more than two-thirds of all particulate matter (PM) emissions from US transportation sources.”

In addition to the important benefits in helping to create a cleaner environment, BYD’s growing impact as an employer is also drawing attention.

BYD’s Stella Li, president of BYD Motors, notes the company just received the inaugural Select LA Foreign Direct Investment Award, recognizing its impact on the regional economy and jobs in Southern California.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Debuts Short-Haul Truck at Port of Oakland

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle company, has delivered the first battery-electric 8TT truck to the Port of Oakland.

The Class 8 truck was grant-funded by CARB and will be part of a three-year feasibility study to determine whether zero-emission trucks could replace diesel trucks.

The truck will be tested for short-haul operations by major California trucking operator, GSC Logistics, and used to shuttle cargo containers between their depot and Oakland marine terminals. As the largest motor carrier at the port, GSC hauls 120,000 containers of cargo across Northern California and Nevada annually. GSC manages 200 owner-operated trucks each day and currently operate five short-haul company trucks.

“BYD is proud to celebrate the deployment of our 8TT truck in partnership with CARB and GSC Logistics to prove that clean battery-electric transportation is reliable, sustainable and readily available for the drayage industry,” said BYD Motors President Stella Li.

By utilizing battery-electric trucks, companies like GSC can lower operating costs while significantly improving air quality through the elimination of pollution caused by diesel trucks. In addition to the cost savings andenvironmental and health benefits that come from converting to clean battery-electric technology, there are a number of other benefits such as reduced noise levels along busy trucking routes.

“We are eager to put this truck to the test and be part of an initiative that will not only help us save money, but positively impact the environment and change the future of transportation for years to come,” Said Brandon Taylor, Director of Transportation at GSC Logistics.

The Port of Oakland has already significantly reduced diesel pollution through clean truck programs. As they update their Maritime Air Quality Improvement Plan, zero-emissions technology will be emphasized.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2018 David Mazor

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.