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Duracell

Duracell Believes in the Alkaline Battery

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

While lithium batteries are always in the news, Duracell, which is the king of the alkaline battery, believes that the alkaline battery will continue to be relevant and can even increase its share of the battery market.

That’s good news for Berkshire Hathaway, which purchased the venerable brand from Proctor and Gamble in 2016.

The key Duracell believes are the many performance benefits of the alkaline battery. The alkaline battery is safe, it doesn’t get hot, and it has a long shelf-life. Duracell offers its batteries with a 10-year guarantee in storage. It also has a level of availability and ease of use that can’t be beat.

Just a few decades ago, flashlights and toys were the primary uses of disposable batteries, but today, alkaline batteries are used in a host of applications, including everything from wireless mice to medical devices.

Sales of household batteries are still growing and will reach $4,750 million by the year 2020, up from $4,125 million in 2015, according to Research and Markets’ report, “Household Batteries: Consumer Market Trends in the U.S.”

According to the report, the compound annual growth rate for the period is projected to be 2.9%.

Under Berkshire, Duracell’s in a new position as its own company rather than as a division of P&G (and before that Gillette). With Warren Buffett’s legendarily hands-off management style, which lets his CEOs chart their own course, Duracell’s in position for the first time to have total control over the direction of its brand.

For Berkshire, Duracell looks to be a brand that can continue to shine brightly.

© 2017 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 Unveils Pure Electric Refuse Truck for North American Market

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Noisy, smelly diesel-powered refuse trucks are about to be replaced by a zero- emission pure electric refuse truck by Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD that is now available for purchase and deployment in North America.

BYD, which has become the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, debuted its class 8 battery-electric refuse truck at the 2017 ACT Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center.

BYD’s truck is the first heavy-duty refuse truck designed and built by an original equipment manufacturer and is 100 percent battery electric. Manufactured in Lancaster, California, the BYD refuse truck is compliant with FMVSS and CMVSS regulations

“BYD continues to lead the heavy-duty electric vehicle market with our advanced battery technology, and this new refuse truck is just the latest example of our vehicle solutions that can save fleet customers tens of thousands of dollars annually,” said Stella Li, President of BYD Motors. “BYD’s medium- and heavy-duty battery electric vehicles have a lower total cost of ownership and can be a one-for-one replacement with fossil fueled vehicles in fleet operations.”

BYD’s 10-ton payload refuse truck provides 76 miles of range with minimal battery degradation. The truck is a cab and chassis platform, which includes the batteries, high voltage control system, all-electric propulsion system, and electric power take off for powering the hydraulic system to operate the refuse truck bodies. This platform is designed to integrate with all of the major refuse truck body builders in North America, and can be configured as a side loader, automated side loader, front loader, rear loader, or roll off.

As the refuse truck was built by BYD in its entirety, as opposed to as a retrofit of a CNG or diesel truck, the entire system was designed with electric propulsion in mind. For operators, that translates to optimized efficiency, maintenance, and usability throughout its life.

BYD says that fleet managers can expect more than $13,000 of operational cost savings annually based on service routes of 60 miles per day/five days a week.

The savings are due to high-efficiency electric motors and motor controls, as well as lower maintenance on propulsion systems, fewer fluids to change, less brake wear due to cutting-edge regenerative braking technology, and fewer moving parts.

The BYD battery-electric refuse truck can charge at 40 kW, 80 kW, 100 kW, or 200 kW rates, requiring between one and five hours to charge depending on the power interface used. BYD’s refuse truck battery technology allows for a projected 80 percent capacity after 5,000 cycles or 14 years, if charged every day.

BYD designs their vehicles to fit in seamlessly to any fleet with an advanced vehicle-to-grid system allowing the vehicle to deliver power back to the grid, to a load, or to another vehicle without any disruptions.

BYD employs more than 600 skilled workers at its manufacturing facility in Lancaster.

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 is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

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

© 2017 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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MiTek

MiTek Wins Multiple Awards from the North American Retail Hardware Association

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Berkshire Hathaway’s MiTek® USA has announced that its MiTek Builder Products division has won multiple awards from the North American Retail Hardware Association (NRHA) as part of its 2017 Packaging and Merchandising Awards Program. MiTek has been awarded a Gold Award for its “Bin Display.”

• MiTek has been awarded a Gold Award for its “Bin Display.”
• MiTek has been awarded a Silver Award for its “Carton Display.”
• MiTek has been awarded an Honorable Mention for its “Packaging.”

The judges’ criteria for the award included: Overall Shelf and Sales Appeal, Graphic Design, Innovation, Packaging Efficiency, Shelf Life, and Selling Feature. The awards will be given at the All-Industry Conference and National Hardware Show, May 9-11 in Las Vegas.

“It has always been evident to our MiTek associates and our customers that we take enormous pride in enabling strong sales for their businesses,” said Maged Diab, President of MiTek USA. “These NRHA national awards are indeed an honor, doubly so because they bring recognition to the efforts we have made to drive the success of our retailers and their customers.”

© 2017 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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Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Berkshire Provides Financing for Texas Wind Farm

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Berkshire Hathaway’s MidAmerican Wind Tax Equity will provide some of the financing for the Rattlesnake wind project in McCulloch County, Texas. Also providing financing is Citi.

The wind farm project is being built by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) and Chicago-based Goldwind Americas, a subsidiary of China’s Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology.

The project will consist of 64 Goldwind 2.5MW Permanent Magnet Direct-Drive (PMDD) 109m turbines, and will be the largest U.S. wind project that Goldwind has outfitted to date.

Goldwind is aggressively building wind projects around the world, and in May announced it will begin construction of a 149 wind turbine, 530MW wind farm to be called the Stockyard Hill Wind Farm in Australia.

RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company with a 12 GW portfolio of wind and solar energy projects.

© 2017 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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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Insurance

Berkshire Launches Public and Products Liability Insurance in the UK, Ireland and Southern Europe

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is introducing Public and Products Liability Insurance in the UK, Ireland and Southern Europe, and Employer’s Liability Insurance in the UK and Ireland.

The company also named Martin Leeks, Senior Vice President, Casualty, UK and Southern Europe.

“Under Martin’s leadership, we look forward to building out our casualty team in the region and bringing to market creative solutions with the financial strength and long-term underwriting focus of BHSI,” said Tom Bolt, President, BHSI, UK and Southern Europe. “Martin’s wealth of casualty underwriting expertise, coupled with our broad appetite and stable capacity, will translate to solutions that serve customers well for years to come.”

Along with local casualty coverage in the UK and Southern Europe, BHSI will provide multinational programs and underwrite certain targeted trades via Coverholders.

Martin comes to BHSI with 26 years of casualty underwriting experience, most recently at Mitsui Sumitomo at Lloyd’s. Before that, he was Senior Underwriter at Chartis (AIG) Cat Excess and held casualty underwriting roles at ACE Europe and Zurich. He began his career handling international claims.

© 2017 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 60-Foot Articulated Battery-Electric Bus Rolls in North America

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD has delivered the longest pure electric bus in North America. The 60-foot articulated battery-electric transit bus will go in service for the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) in Los Angeles County, California.

The bus, part of AVTA’s award-winning campaign to fully electrify its fleet by 2018, was also built with local labor in BYD’s factory in Lancaster, just miles from the AVTA office. It is the first delivery from AVTA’s order of thirteen 60-foot BYD buses.

“The Antelope Valley Transit Authority is leading the North American transit market with its electrification commitment, and so it’s only fitting that they should have the first bus of its kind in North America,” said Macy Neshati, Senior Vice President of BYD Heavy Industries. “This bus runs longer and holds more passengers than any other commercially available battery-electric bus, and I know it will serve the people of the Antelope Valley well.”

Len Engel, Executive Director of the Antelope Valley Transit Authority, added, “We’ve been proud to be at the forefront of the smart business of electrification, protecting our air, saving money, and creating local jobs here in the Antelope Valley. Having the first 60-foot articulated electric transit bus on the continent is a feather in the cap of the people of Lancaster, Palmdale, and the other communities we serve.”

The 60-foot BYD bus seats up to 60 people and provides a range of 200 miles on a single charge with full charging completed in two to three hours. It will join the rest of the AVTA fleet in serving the half million residents of northern Los Angeles County.

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 is now worth roughly $1.8 billion.

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

© 2017 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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Insurance

Gen Re to Offer Reinsurance in India

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Berkshire Hathaway’s Gen Re has received approval from the Insurance Regulation and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to open a branch in Mumbai (R3 license).

The new branch structure will now allow Gen Re to deliver underwriting and risk management expertise locally rather than cross-border. It will facilitate an optimal business model, both efficient in process and highly beneficial to clients. Gen Re has already been committed to the Indian market for the past 15 years through various channels, most recently through a local support services company in Mumbai. The focus was primarily on the Life and Health sector. Gen Re will continue contributing and expanding in this segment while simultaneously exploring opportunities to grow its presence in the Property/Casualty reinsurance market.

Venkatesh N. Chakravarty will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer and lead the branch. Bringing almost three decades of re/insurance experience to the role, he has held senior positions with both an international and domestic focus. Venkatesh will also hold operational responsibility for the Life/Health business. The Property/Casualty business will be headed by Nighat Khan.

Speaking recently, Winfried Heinen, Chairman of the Executive Board of Directors of General Reinsurance AG, said, “We are delighted about the opening of the Indian market. Establishing a reinsurance branch is an important milestone for us. We firmly believe in the great potential of the Indian market, especially for life and health insurance products. With Venkatesh as our local head we have an extraordinarily professional and capable team in place to lead this important move. I am excited about the opportunities on the horizon.”

“The new structure will enable us to provide technical and risk management services locally. Beyond classic reinsurance of traditional lines of business, the development of innovative life and health insurance products with and for our clients is at the core of our value proposition. We are now ideally positioned to meet the demands and challenges of the market,” added Venkatesh Chakravarty.

© 2017 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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Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore Becomes Innovation Partner with American Institute of Architects

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Berkshire Hathaway’s wholly-owned Benjamin Moore has become an Innovation Partner of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The new relationship will leverage Benjamin Moore’s thought leadership in the design and architecture market through content and education programs, while also providing support to students of architecture who are on the path to licensure.

Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through nearly 300 state and local chapters, the AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. The AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation and world.

“We are delighted to have the support of Benjamin Moore as an Innovation Partner of the AIA,” noted Robert Ivy, FAIA, EVP/Chief Executive Officer of the AIA. “Their knowledge and expertise in paints and stains can help us serve architects and advance good design in the built environment.”

“Benjamin Moore is proud to partner with the AIA on their efforts to offer continuing education and ongoing support for the architectural community,” said Veronica Connallon Arcaroli, Director, Architect and Designer Segment at Benjamin Moore.

“We are committed to providing resources and opportunities that help architects and other trade professionals enhance their development and growth within the industry.”

© 2017 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

Holland The Latest Country Ordering BYD Pure Electric Buses

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Holland is the latest country to order BYD’s pure electric buses, as the company continues to make inroads in selling its vehicles around the world.

BYD achieved a record five billion RMB profit in 2016.

Syntus, a Keolis Group company, has confirmed orders for a total of nine BYD pure electric 12m single deck ebuses for service in two Dutch cities, Amersfoort and Almere.

The Amersfoort order calls for six-year service agreement while in Almere there is a 10-year service agreement. In Almere two BYD demonstrator vehicles will provide service from April until the new buses are delivered.

Cees Anker, the Syntus General Manager who signed the contract with BYD, commented:

“We consider it as our responsibility to reduce the environmental impact and we are proud that we will operate these buses in Amersfoort and Almere. The deployment of these electric buses fits with the strategy of Syntus as a subsidiary of Keolis on sustainable mobility.”

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 is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

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

© 2017 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 Energy

Salt River Project to Join Western Energy Imbalance Market

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Another utility is joining the western Energy Imbalance Market (EIM) that has been saving two Berkshire Hathaway utilities, PacifiCorp and NV Energy, millions of dollars a year.

The Salt River Project (SRP) signed an agreement for the Phoenix-based municipal utility to participate in the EIM beginning in April 2020.

“The EIM produces efficient use of resources and lower costs of energy for participating utilities,” said Steve Berberich, ISO President and CEO. “We welcome Salt River Project to the western EIM and look forward to working with the utility for a seamless entry in 2020.”

SRP is a community-based, not-for-profit public power utility and the largest provider of electricity in the greater Phoenix area. It serves more than 1 million customers and is the metropolitan area’s largest supplier of water.

It is estimated that SRP, which has been serving central Arizona since 1903, can save up to $4.5 million annually by participating in the EIM.

“The EIM can help save money for SRP and its customers by providing real-time access to the lowest cost resources across a significant portion of the Western grid,” said John Coggins, Senior Director of Power Delivery. “It will complement SRP owned generating resources and energy purchases from the wholesale market.”

The western EIM’s advanced market systems automatically find the lowest-cost energy to serve real-time consumer demands of participating utilities. This market enables utilities to buy and sell power more efficiently in the hour before the energy is needed, with five-minute plant dispatching, which result in improved efficiencies and cost savings.

Current western EIM participants, which include the two Berkshire Hathaway Energy companies, have realized savings totaling nearly $142 million since the wholesale market was launched in November 2014.

Utilities now active in the western EIM include Oregon-based PacifiCorp; NV Energy of Las Vegas, NV; Puget Sound Energy of Washington state; and Arizona Public Service of Phoenix, Ariz.

Other utilities that have formally agreed to join the EIM include Portland General Electric on October 1, 2017, Idaho Power on April 1, 2018, and Seattle City Light and Balancing Area of Northern California/Sacramento Municipal Utility District on April 1, 2019.

The western EIM serves utility consumers in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

© 2017 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.