Categories
Johns Manville

Johns Manville to Build Polyiso Production Plant in Texas

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Johns Manville, a global building and specialty products manufacturer that is a Berkshire Hathaway company, plans to build a polyiso production plant in Hillsboro, Texas.

“We take great pride in creating and delivering the best products for our customers,” said Mary Rhinehart, President and CEO of Johns Manville. “This expansion south of Dallas/Fort Worth, in an area where construction is surging, will increase availability of our premium products to customers throughout the region.”

JM will begin construction on the new production facility later this year, pending various government approvals, and anticipates the completion in mid-2021. When complete, JM will employ more than 50 people at the new facility.

“There are tremendous growth opportunities in the Southwest for polyiso products,” said Joe Smith, President of JM’s Roofing Systems business. “Three of the 10 largest cities in the country are a short drive from Hillsboro, and some of our largest roofing contractors are located within the service area.”

The Hillsboro plant will manufacture polyiso products including ENRGY 3® roof insulation, ProtectoR® HD high density cover board, AP® Foil Faced Foam sheathing and GoBoard® tile backer. These polyiso products are preferred in the market due to their high R-value per inch and the lightweight strength and durability they offer for several building applications.

The Hillsboro facility will also include a JM roofing distribution center. The warehouse will stock many JM products, including TPO and TPO accessories, to help JM meet local demand.

“We are excited to build in an area close to our customers and where we can hire good people into the JM family to help our customers be successful,” said Matt Sayer, Polyiso and Boards Product Manager for JM. “Johns Manville will be well-positioned with this expansion to increase product supply to meet the growing demand from our customers.”
Local officials welcomed JM’s decision to expand in Hillsboro.

“Johns Manville is an important addition to the manufacturing and industrial base in Hillsboro,” said Hillsboro City Manager Frank Johnson. “Johns Manville has a long-term, stable national and international presence and is known to be a good corporate citizen. We are excited to have them become part of our community.”

© 2020 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
Marmon Group

Berkshire Hathaway’s Harbour Industries Approved for F-35 Fighter Program

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Harbour Industries is now an approved manufacturer for a number of low-loss coax and high-speed data cables used on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lighting II 5th generation fighter aircraft.

Based in Shelburne, Vermont, Harbour Industries is owned by Berkshire Hathaway through its conglomerate, Marmon Holdings. The company is a premier manufacturer of Data; RF; and Mil-spec wire and cable.

Since 1965, Harbour Industries has been manufacturing high temperature and high performance cable for the military, commercial, and industrial markets. The Shelburne facility manufactures a wide range of wire and cable products utilizing numerous conductors, insulating compounds, braid wire, and jacketing materials.

Robert Canny, President said, “We look forward to supporting the 2020 F-35 Sustainment Contract just released by the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin. Harbour has a long reputation of providing timely products to our business partners to support their ramp to full production.” Declared “combat ready” by the commander of the US Air Combat Command, this next generation aircraft provides capabilities needed on the modern battlefield. The F-35 provides air superiority, interdiction, suppression of enemy air defenses and close air support with unprecedented situational awareness of the battle space that will be more extensive than any single-seat platform in existence.

Harbour’s data and coaxial cables were chosen based on the use of a composite fluoropolymer insulation ensuring light-weight and high-speed transmission. Harbour is known as a supplier that has product and process engineering expertise that ensures the highest quality cables will be manufactured in exact accordance with Lockheed’s demanding physical and electrical requirements.

As the F-35 moves toward full rate production, Harbour is ready for the challenge to supply increased volume on-time with unmatched quality.

© 2020 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
Clayton Homes

Clayton Goes Solar to Power Texas Facility

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Clayton, a Tennessee-based home builder of site-built and off-site built homes, has installed its first 200 kilowatt solar carport system at its Clayton Sulphur Springs home building facility in Texas.

The system was installed by Solar One, and will allow the company to offset 30 to 40 percent of the facility’s on-demand electricity use with renewable energy, while providing shade for its team members’ vehicles.

“Our new solar carport system not only serves as a cost savings tool but also as a pivotal example of Clayton’s commitment to sustainable building and innovation,” said Gavin Mabe, director of engineering and technology at Clayton. “Our team is very proud to further promote our national green building initiative by creating clean renewable energy that our facility will use to build hundreds of homes every year.”

The new solar power system has the potential to help Clayton Sulphur Springs’ team save just over $24,000 per year in energy costs. To enhance the company’s team member experience, the solar panels were installed in the parking lot to provide shade for team member vehicles and ensure a safer ground location for long-term maintenance of the solar carport system.

“We hope this new solar panel system will serve as a test for further renewable energy enhancements across Clayton,” said Don McCann, general manager of Clayton Sulphur Springs. “Our company is dedicated to tapping smarter, sustainable energy sources and innovative technology to create a cleaner building process for our Clayton Built® homes.”

The solar carport installation is part of ongoing efforts to utilize sustainable building and innovation practices at Clayton. The Clayton Sulphur Springs facility, along with all 40 Clayton off-site home building facilities around the nation, have earned ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 14001 registration for their sustainable building practices. This highly regarded registration helps ensure that sustainable building guidelines are implemented to promote green practices that increase recycling, reduce energy use and decrease landfill waste.

© 2020 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
HomeServices of America Real Estate

Intero Promotes Renee Kunz and Adds Chris Moles

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Intero has promoted Renee Kunz to Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. In addition, the company is also excited to introduce Chris Moles as Managing Officer of the Silver Creek office, located in San Jose, California.

Intero, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America Inc., serves Northern California with 18 offices throughout the greater Silicon Valley. The Intero Franchise network is comprised of 55 affiliates located in Alabama, California, Nevada, Tennessee and Texas. The company is headquartered in California’s Silicon Valley.

Renee Kunz is a seasoned real estate professional that has been with Intero since the foundation in 2002 running Intero’s Hollister office. This office under Kunz’s leadership has maintained #1 market share for many years and was recognized as the best real estate office by Best of San Benito County in 2019. She is a third-generation REALTOR® and was inspired by her mother, Marilyn Ferreira, a real estate icon in San Benito County, who has been practicing real estate for almost 50 years.

In this new role, Kunz will be leading the charge with all of Intero’s strategic partners. The current partners include Prosperity Mortgage and Orange Coast Title. This role will continue to evolve as Intero adds additional ancillary services in the future.

“I am so excited about this new opportunity with Intero,” said Renee Kunz, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. “Having been a licensed broker for more than 30 years and using my knowledge gained from leadership roles from the past and with Intero, I feel I can bring a unique perspective to help elevate our strategic partnerships to new heights.”

“Renee is smart, creative and most of all, she’s a team player,” said Brian Crane, Chief Executive Officer of Intero. “She has consistently demonstrated her ability to collaborate with our existing strategic partners to help grow our capture rates. I look forward to her helping assist our leadership team to deepen our relationships with existing, as well as future partners.”

A real estate industry veteran, Chris Moles has been with Intero for more than 10 years in the role of General Counsel. His counterpart, Heather Wang, will remain at the Cupertino Headquarters in her current role as Corporate Counsel.

Moles brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and pedigree to this new role. In addition to his extensive real estate legal background, Moles has the industry in his blood. His father, Bob Moles, had an illustrious regional and national real estate career and was a co-owner of Intero and his late uncle, Kevin Moles, was one of the founding members of Intero, opening the first Intero office in Morgan Hill, California.

“I was seeking a more active role on the sales side of the real estate business,” said Chris Moles, Intero Managing Officer. “I am so excited by this new opportunity and can’t wait to jump in with both feet to help our Silver Creek agents become the best in the business.”

“Chris has been a huge asset to Intero and Intero agents over the years as our General Counsel,” said Brian Crane, Chief Executive Officer of Intero. “Chris is the ideal person to help our REALTORS® in Silver Creek grow and build successful careers.”

© 2020 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
Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies using AI Technology

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, a group of six insurance carriers that are part of the Berkshire Hathaway insurance group, has selected CLARA analytics, the leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the commercial insurance industry, in order to advance its workers’ compensation claims operations.

BHHC will integrate the full suite of CLARA products, including CLARA providers, CLARA litigation and CLARA claims as well as its popular Medicare Set-Aside solution.

“AI offers an unprecedented opportunity to improve the entire claims process by analyzing millions of data points — making connections, spotting trends, and developing meaningful insights in a matter of seconds,” said Russ Selinger, Senior Vice President of Claims at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.

CLARA products utilize AI and advanced machine learning to deliver key insights that help commercial insurance organizations increase efficiency and make data-driven decisions that substantially improve operations as well as client service. This comprehensive product suite empowers teams to reduce loss costs incurred in claims handling by keeping claims on track throughout their life cycle.

“BHHC is one of the most respected companies in the insurance landscape, always focused on providing compassionate care to recovering workers and superior service to its customers,” said Gary Hagmueller, CEO of CLARA analytics. “CLARA will help BHHC further differentiate itself by facilitating and informing the claims process in incredible new ways. Our platform will deliver powerful insights to claims representatives, turning them into instant experts who can handle each claim with precision, respect and empathy at scale.”

© 2020 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
Pilot Flying J

Pilot Flying J Adds Fee-Based Reserved Parking for Truckers

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Pilot Flying J, the 14th largest private company in America, has added fee-based, reserved parking for truckers.

Noting that professional drivers deserve the comfort and convenience of knowing when and where they are able to park, Pilot Flying J is helping to ease the stress and concern of parking by offering Prime Parking at more than 390 locations nationwide, allowing their guests to reserve one of a limited number of parking spaces.

The cost for Prime Parking ranges from $12-$18 depending on the location.

In 2017, Berkshire Hathaway made a $2.76 billion investment in Pilot Travel Centers.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Haslam family will continue to own a majority of Pilot Flying J and Jimmy Haslam will remain as chief executive officer. Pilot Flying J President Ken Parent and the Company’s management team will also remain in place. The Company will continue to be headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Berkshire will become the majority owner in two more years.

© 2020 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
Acquisitions Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate Acquires Dooley and Mason Realty Group

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate has announced the acquisition of Dooley and Mason Realty Group, a local real estate firm that has served the region north of Boston for more than 11 years.

Dooley and Mason was launched in February 2008 by realtors Judy Mason and Lisa Dooley, both of whom had more than ten years’ experience before starting their company. For over 11 years, their agency covered not only the North Reading market but more than 25 surrounding towns and cities including Amesbury, Andover, Bedford, Beverly, Billerica, Boxford, Burlington, Chelmsford, Danvers, Dracut, Everett, Georgetown, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Somerville, Medford, Malden Manchester, Marblehead, Methuen, Middleton, North Andover, Peabody, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Stoneham, Salem, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Wakefield, Wilmington, Woburn, Swampscott and Winchester.
The agency closed nearly 500 transactions and achieved more than $200 million in sales volume.

“As the industry shifted, we realized we needed more to continue to deliver the quality service we were famous for,” said Dooley. “After a thorough search of our options, it became clear that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate was a perfect fit.

“It’s a big company with the small company feel, where everyone pitches in to help. We are so excited to become part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices family. By joining Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate, we gain global recognition with a brand that has all the modern tools, technology and resources that we can implement on day one to help grow our business and better serve our customers and clients.”

The two principals and their team will join the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate family at their Reading office located at 360 North Main St. Their team will be known within Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate as The Dooley and Mason Realtor Group.

“We’re excited to go forward with the newest members of our growing brokerage,” said George Patsio, founding partner. “Judy and Lisa have done a phenomenal job of building their brand on the North Shore. We are confident that the combination of The Dooley and Mason Realtor Group and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth Real Estate will be a major force throughout the region.”

© 2020 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 Delivers 100th Battery-Electric Truck in U.S.

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BYD has delivered its 100th battery-electric truck in the United States.

World-wide, BYD has delivered more than 12,000 zero-emission electric trucks across all classes.

BYD’s 100th U.S. truck is a second generation BYD 8TT Class 8 Electric Semi that is part of a larger deployment for Anheuser-Busch’s Oakland, CA distribution operations.

“This is a great milestone for BYD, and it is just the beginning,” said Aaron Gillmore, BYD’s Vice President of Truck Business. “Our trucks are hard at work every day proving that electric is the new standard. 2020 will be a fantastic year for battery-electric trucks.”

The 100th truck will go to work delivering beverages for Anheuser-Busch around the San Francisco Bay area to retail accounts such as grocery and convenience stores on a daily basis. The trucks will charge at the Anheuser-Busch Oakland facility overnight. The project was grant funded by CARB.

Through its 2025 U.S. Sustainability Goals, Anheuser-Busch has committed to reducing carbon emissions by 25% across its entire value chain by 2025.The Oakland deployment builds on the brewer’s existing partnership with BYD including 21 additional BYD battery electric trucks at four of their distribution facilities across southern California: Sylmar, Riverside, Pomona, and Carson.

“We are proud to continue to build on our commitment to sustainable logistics through our partnership with BYD in California,” said Joaquin Schlottmann, Vice President of Tier 2 Logistics at Anheuser-Busch. “By integrating zero-emission vehicles into our distribution fleet, we are taking another step towards reaching our sustainability goals and helping ensure our beers are delivered in the most sustainable way possible.”

Anheuser-Busch put the BYD 8TT through extensive testing on range, acceleration, gradeability, charging speed, and more. The BYD 8TT exceeds the performance requirements of Anheuser-Busch and is receiving very positive feedback from drivers.

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.

© 2020 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
NetJets

NetJets Accepts Delivery of New Super-Midsize Business Jet

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets accepted its first delivery of the new Cessna Citation Longitude super-midsize business jet on Dec. 31, 2019.

This delivery represents a significant milestone for both NetJets and Textron Aviation as they bring this revolutionary aircraft to passengers. NetJets anticipates that its Longitude will enter service for NetJets Owners in early 2020.

“We are pleased to have the new Citation Longitude enter the NetJets fleet and continue to strengthen a relationship that goes back decades,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “The Longitude, with class-leading performance, efficiency and an unrivaled cabin experience, is already redefining its category and will join the Citation Latitude as fleet favorites for NetJets Owners.”

“No matter the reason for being on board, from takeoff to landing, the innovations of the Citation Longitude make it the most enjoyable flight imaginable,” said Adam Johnson, Chairman & CEO, NetJets.

The new Citation Longitude incorporates the latest technologies throughout the aircraft like integrated autopilot and autothrottle systems with emergency descent mode (EDM). The aircraft is equally designed around the pilot experience, passenger comfort and overall performance, delivering an aircraft that lives up to its designation as the flagship of the Citation family of business jets. The Citation Longitude gained FAA certification in September 2019 and Textron Aviation began customer deliveries soon after.

NetJets has operated a fleet of nearly 500 Cessna Citations since 1984. In addition to the Citation Longitude aircraft order, NetJets has taken delivery of more than 100 Cessna Citation Latitude aircraft. Owner demand has ranked the Latitude as the best-selling aircraft in the NetJets portfolio, further establishing the aircraft as Textron Aviation’s best-selling mid-size jet, outselling its nearest competitor 4:1.

With a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 kilometers) and full fuel payload of 1,600 pounds (726 kilograms), Textron Aviation designed the Citation Longitude to elevate passenger expectations in the super-midsize class by delivering cabin sound levels that are nearly twice as quiet as the nearest competitor, a low cabin altitude (5,950 feet/1,814 meters), more standard features and an elegant yet comfortable, bespoke interior, fully meeting the NetJets standard for customer satisfaction.

NetJets’ Longitude features a standard double-club configuration of eight fully berthable seats, delivering the most legroom in the super-midsize class. A stand-up, 6-foot (1.83 meters) tall flat-floor cabin and an available streamlined divan enable easy transit along the cabin passageway while a class-leading walk-in baggage compartment accessible throughout the entire flight ensures passengers experience unparalleled convenience. State-of-the-art cabin technology empowers passengers to manage their environment and entertainment from any mobile device, while in-flight internet maximizes productivity.

© 2020 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

Long Beach Transit Doubles E-Fleet With BYD Zero-Emission Bus Order

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Long Beach Transit in Long Beach, California, is purchasing 14 additional BYD zero-emission K9M 40-foot buses.

The order more than doubles the number of BYD buses in its fleet.

LBT joins Los Angeles Department of Transportation, Anaheim Resort Transportation, and numerous other agencies as repeat customers of BYD’s battery-electric buses.

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.

© 2020 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.