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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD UK and ADL Receive 195 Bus Order For London

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD’s subsidiary BYD UK and their joint venture partner Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) will deliver the UK’s largest ever electric bus order. The order has been placed by RATP Dev London, one of Transport for London (TfL)’s principal bus operators, for a total of 195 single and double deck vehicles.

With this order, RATP Dev London confirms its commitment to supporting TfL’s electrification plan for London’s bus network, a key objective of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for 2018, under which all TfL buses will be zero emissions by 2037, with all of London’s transport becoming emissions free by 2037.

Deliveries of RATP Dev London’s latest BYD ADL fleet will begin in the summer. 68 BYD ADL Enviro200EV single decks – including 21 compact 33-foot models – and 127 BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decks will be based at RATP Dev London’s Fulwell, Harrow and Shepherd’s Bush depots to serve routes in the west of the capital. The buses will join 36 existing BYD ADL single decks in service since 2018 and 29 BYD ADL double decks delivered last year. Feedback from RATP Dev London on these in-service vehicles has been very positive, with the double deck BYD ADL Enviro400EV in particular delivering exceptional reliability on 24-hour route operations.

BYD is a global leader in batteries, energy management and electric mobility. ADL is a subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI).

Catherine Chardon, Managing Director of RATP Dev London, said, “Electrification is a critical part of our business and partnership with Transport for London (TfL). We launched our two first 100% electric routes less than two years ago, as well as London’s first fully electric 24-hour double-decker bus route last year. By the beginning of 2022, we will operate 15 zero emission routes and have five of our garages converted to electric. This agreement will help RATP Dev London position itself as the leading electric bus services provider in the city. We are proud to work hand in hand with TfL to help London achieve its sustainability goals.”

BYD UK Managing Director, Frank Thorpe, said, “Naturally, this is a hugely significant moment in the development of the BYD brand in the UK. Public transport in the capital often provides the blueprint for other towns and cities and the fact that a major operator like RATP Dev is making such a substantial commitment to eMobility will, I believe, resonate with Local Authorities across the UK. The increasing electrification of routes by TfL operators is delivering long-term productivity to their fleets and real environmental benefits for Londoners.”

Paul Davies, ADL President & Managing Director, said: “RATP Dev London’s record order is a resounding vote of confidence in our British-built electric buses and ADL’s proven ability to tailor these to authorities and operators’ requirements. These buses will build on our pioneering work in support of Transport for London’s Bus Safety Standard with a focus on safety for drivers, passengers and other road users.”

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 $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

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.

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Acquisitions Berkshire Hathaway Energy HomeServices of America

Berkshire’s HomeServices of America Acquires Americana Holdings

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s HomeServices of America, Inc. has acquired Americana Holdings, one of the largest independently owned and operated Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchisees. With the acquisition, HomeServices of America adds nearly 3,000 sales associates in 32 offices in communities throughout Arizona, Southern Nevada, and Orange County.

Americana Holdings operates across three states as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties.

The acquisition also includes Americana Holdings’ interests in the following title and escrow companies: Legendary Title Agency (Arizona), Legendary Escrow Services (California), and Equity Title (Nevada).

With this transaction, HomeServices has nearly 46,250 real estate professionals operating in more than 900 offices across 32 states.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Americana Holdings joined the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network as an independent franchisee in 2014 and with this transaction, now joins the HomeServices’ family of wholly-owned companies.

In 2018, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties entered the Inc 5000 Hall of Fame after being named as one of the country’s fastest-growing private companies for five years. In 2018, it also was ranked No. 32 on the Swanepoel Mega 1000, a list of the largest real estate brokerages in the U.S. by sales volume.

Mark Stark, the company’s chief executive officer, has nearly 40 years of real estate experience and is among real estate’s most recognized and influential leaders. In 2020, Stark was named among the “Most Powerful People in Real Estate” in the Swanepoel Power 200. Stark, together with president and chief operating officer Gordon Miles, will continue to lead Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona, California, and Nevada Properties’ strategic planning and growth initiatives as well as manage the company’s day-to-day operations.

“Mark and Gordon, together with their team of extraordinary sales managers and agents, have built an exceptional organization and demonstrate a level of expertise and leadership that is second-to-none in the real estate business today,” said Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices of America and chair of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

“HomeServices is an outstanding organization,” said Stark. “When you combine the incredible strength of our people and the history of our success with Gino’s unsurpassed leadership and the spirit of innovation and the financial strength of HomeServices, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.”

“We are committed to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona, California, and Nevada Properties’ continued growth and success,” concluded Blefari. “We look forward to working with Mark and his team and are very proud to welcome them to the HomeServices family.”

The acquisition extends HomeServices’ national footprint to Nevada and further expands its presence in both Arizona and California. Now serving these areas from the HomeServices family of companies are Tucson-based Long Realty, a HomeServices company since 1999; San Diego-based Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (2002); Fresno-based Guarantee Real Estate (2013); and Silicon Valley-based Intero Real Estate (2014).

HomeServices is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

© 2021 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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Brooks

Brooks Running Sets Net Zero Target

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Brooks Running announced its new 2030 planet strategy, a science-backed approach that will take responsibility for the impact the brand has on the environment.

“At Brooks, we think that climate change demands urgent and universal action,” said David Kemp, Senior Manager of Corporate Responsibility at Brooks Running. “Because more than 150 million people worldwide run outside, it’s critical that we take responsibility for our impact on the planet.”

While the brand’s sustainability efforts span over a decade, this initiative will accelerate commitments, with a focus on climate action and sustainable consumption.

Brooks’ commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040 will be achieved by first reducing emissions in line with climate science, with Brooks’ Science Based Targets to reduce carbon emissions recently validated by the Science Based Target initiative. Brooks has developed a robust climate roadmap on how they will achieve these emissions reductions with key strategies to decarbonize including converting factories to renewable electricity, converting textile yarns to low impact dyeing processes and sourcing materials with recycled content.

In partnership with ClimateCare, Brooks will purchase high-quality carbon credits from projects that avoid or reduce carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. The portfolio of projects includes projects from the U.S., where Brooks is headquartered and a majority of product is sold, and international countries where Brooks employees are located and some of the brands product and materials are manufactured. In addition to meeting strict criteria for selecting carbon offsets projects, each of the projects provides additional environmental and social benefits – including a focus on improving air quality and advancing health and well-being.

The brand will make an immediate impact by offsetting emissions from its highest-volume style, the Ghost. The Ghost 14, launching July 1st, is Brooks’ first carbon neutral product. In addition to reducing the product’s environmental impact by incorporating recycled materials, Brooks will purchase carbon offsets from projects that meet strict criteria for making a meaningful difference in addressing climate change.

Brooks plans to reduce its usage of non-renewable resources by incorporating more sustainable materials into products while minimizing the waste associated within the manufacturing process.

In 2022, the brand will launch a take-back program, which will lay the groundwork for a fully circular shoe in the years to come. By 2023, Brooks will move to 100% recycled polyester in footwear and new apparel materials and is committed to zero footwear manufacturing waste to landfill, incineration, and the environment by 2025.

“We believe that the run can change everything: your day, your life and even the world. But to make those benefits available to all, we need to participate on a global scale,” Kemp said. “We’ve charted our program to support United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and joined The Climate Pledge, because partnerships will be critical to achieving our ambitious goals.”

© 2021 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 Hathaway Specialty Insurance Offers Directors & Officers Liability and Professional Indemnity Policies in Ireland

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has added to its customized suite of Directors & Officers (D&O) Liability and Professional Indemnity policies, for customers in Ireland.

The company has launched a new suite of Professional First coverages that includes Architects, Engineers & Consultants Professional Indemnity and Project Specific Professional Indemnity, Design & Construct Liability and Miscellaneous Professional Indemnity Insurance.

These new products expand BHSI’s capabilities in Ireland by offering primary solutions to customers in the Commercial Professional Indemnity space. In Ireland, BHSI already provides primary solutions via its Executive First Directors & Officers Liability Insurance for commercial customers and Professional First Asset Management Liability and Financial Institutions Civil Liability for financial institutions.

“Companies in the Irish market face growing and evolving management and professional indemnity exposures at the same time they are navigating challenging and uncertain insurance market conditions,” said Caoimhe Gormley, Executive & Professional Lines, Ireland. “BHSI is pleased to provide companies across Ireland with a wide range of new Executive & Professional Lines options backed by the certainty of stellar financial strength, our long-view underwriting, and the excellent service that comes with our CLAIMS IS OUR PRODUCT® philosophy.”

© 2021 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

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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: When Diversification Makes Very Little Sense

Diversify your portfolio. It is a bedrock tenet that gets preached over and over. However, to Buffett, if you know what you are doing, that doesn’t make sense. Why? Because there are only a limited number of great companies that are worth owning. So, why do people do it? “Diversification is a protection against ignorance,” Warren Buffett says. However, he notes that its not the secret to great wealth. As he points out, “If you look at how the fortunes were built in this country, they weren’t built out of a portfolio of fifty companies.”

“We think diversification is, as practiced generally, makes very little sense for anyone that knows what they’re doing,” Warren Buffett said at the 1996 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “I mean, if you want to make sure that nothing bad happens to you relative to the market, you own everything. There’s nothing wrong with that. I mean, that is a perfectly sound approach for somebody who does not feel they know how to analyze businesses. If you know how to analyze businesses and value businesses, it’s crazy to own fifty stocks or forty stocks or thirty stocks, probably, because there aren’t that many wonderful businesses that are understandable to a single human being, in all likelihood. And to have some super-wonderful business and then put money in number thirty or thirty-five on your list of attractiveness and forego putting more money into number one, just strikes Charlie and me as madness.”

Buffett’s full explanation on diversification

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2021 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 eBus Bridges the Danube With Pollution-Free Public Transport

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD, the world’s leading electric bus manufacturer, is uniting the people of Slovakia and Hungary with the delivery of its best-selling 40-foot eBus to Volánbusz Zrt. — one of Hungary’s largest public transport operators.

Volanbusz Zrt. will offer daily electric bus services across the Danube river to the cities of Komarom, Hungry on the south bank of the river, and Karmano, Slovakia on the north bank.

Now citizens on both sides of the river can travel between the two countries on board an electric bus for the first time.

Volánbusz’s latest low-floor BYD vehicle delivers a 180-mile single-charge range from its 348kWh battery capacity. The two-door model will also provide class-leading safety and high levels of comfort for passengers. BYD’s 40-foot eBus remains the company’s, and the European market’s, best-selling electric bus.

Volánbusz plans to buy additional electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

In 2017, BYD opened its first European bus factory in Komárom, Hungary. The factory produces roughly 400 buses annually, and employs over 300 people.

“This is an historic day for the people of Komárom and Komárno,” said Yongping Chen, Managing Director, BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary. “Passengers can travel across the Danube on board a pure-electric BYD eBus in safety, comfort and, above all, help promote a cleaner, more sustainable future for the two cities.

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 $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

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.

Categories
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Insurance

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Expands Casualty Capabilities to Energy & Technical Lines in the UK

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has launched Energy and Technical Lines Casualty products in the UK and established a dedicated London-based Energy & Technical Lines underwriting team.

The company’s UK Casualty Energy & Technical Lines team includes:

• Oliver Brown, Manager, Energy Casualty. He comes to BHSI with 20 years of experience in technical energy risks. He most recently spent 10 years at AXA XL as Class Underwriter, Energy Casualty.

• Penny Wang, Senior Energy Casualty Underwriter. She joins BHSI with 16 years of energy casualty experience, most recently as Senior Casualty Underwriter at Starr Companies.

• James Emson, who has been promoted to Casualty Manager, Technical Casualty, UK. He was previously Senior Casualty Underwriter, UK.

• Jack Erritt, Technical Casualty Underwriter, UK. He was most recently Energy Casualty Underwriter at AIG.

“We are pleased to expand our casualty capabilities with the deep technical risk expertise of our new team,” said Hilary Browne, Head of Casualty, UK & Europe. “Now BHSI can provide both technical Casualty and Property solutions, backed by stellar financial strength and service, to energy operations and other technical risks across the U.K.”

© 2021 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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Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics Gets E-Catalog Distributor of the Year Award from Omron Electronic Components

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Mouser Electronics, Inc., the industry’s leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components, is proud to announce that it has been named 2020 E-Catalog Distributor of the Year by Omron Electronic Components.

“We are extremely honored to be recognized by Omron for outstanding performance in the digital space,” said Tom Busher, Mouser Vice President of Supplier Management. “Omron is a valued manufacturer partner and we thank them for this important recognition and charity donation.”

“Omron Electronic Components is incredibly proud of Mouser Electronics’ performance in Fiscal Year 2020. Mouser set a high bar with best-in-class POS growth and strong global customer count growth,” said Caroline Wells, Distribution Sales Manager, Omron Electronic Components — Americas.

“Mouser partnered strongly with Omron on creative marketing activities to promote our newest products and technologies,” said Kris Whitehouse, Vice President of Sales, Omron Electronic Components — Americas.

Mouser received the top award for high performance in criteria that include point-of-sale and point-of-purchase growth, customer count growth, and cooperative marketing engagement. As part of the award, Omron is making a generous donation in Mouser’s name to the Mansfield Independent School District Education Foundation to support local teachers and students in Mouser’s hometown. Mouser regularly supports the MISD Education Foundation with technology grants to enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and engaging opportunities for students.

© 2021 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
Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Shorting Stocks, It Just Takes One to Kill You

Warren Buffett is no fan of shorting stocks. His aversion goes back to what he called a “particularly harrowing experience” shorting in 1954 when he found “my net worth was evaporating and my liquid assets were getting less liquid.”

“It just takes one to kill you,” Warren Buffett warned at the 2002 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “And you need more and more money as the stock goes up. You don’t need more and more money when a stock goes down, if you paid for it originally and didn’t buy it on margin. You just sit and find out whether you were right or not. But you can’t necessarily sit and find out whether you’re right on being short a stock.”

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2021 David Mazor

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Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

Berkshire Hathaway-Backed BYD Up 57% Since May

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD’s stock (BYDDF) has been on a tear recently with a 57 percent rise in just under five weeks. The stock hit a low of $18 on May 10, 2021 and has since reached $28.19 on June 14, 2021.

BYD shares had been on a dramatic run in 2020 since rising from only $4.52 on March 20, 2020 to a peak of $35.94 on January 24, 2021. The stock then fell almost 50 percent to its May low.

Now, the stock has regained its momentum at an exciting time for the company.

In May, the one-millionth car, the Han EV, rolled off its production line at BYD’s headquarters and manufacturing facility in Shenzhen, China. And the company recently announced the delivery of the first 100 European-specification BYD Tang SUVs for customers in Norway, which is part of a larger 1,500 cars slated for Norway.

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 has grown in value to $5.897 billion as of December 31, 2020.

© 2021 David Mazor

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.