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Stock Portfolio

BYD UK & Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) Deliver 1,000th Electric Bus

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway-backed BYD UK and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and has delivered its 1,000th zero-emission bus.

The BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker was part-funded by the Scottish Government and handed over to Stagecoach Bluebird in Aberdeen during Scottish Bus Week in the presence of the Scottish Government’s Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work.

Working in partnership since 2015, ADL is a subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI), and BYD is a global leader in batteries, energy management and electric mobility.

Sales of the market-leading, British-built BYD ADL Enviro200EV single decker and BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker have accelerated rapidly as the transition to zero-emission mobility gathers pace in the United Kingdom. While it took five years to reach the 500th BYD ADL electric bus, the partnership has now delivered its 1,000th vehicle just one year later.

This bus is the last of a fleet of 22 BYD ADL Enviro400EV double deckers which Stagecoach ordered they have since confirmed an order for an additional 13 electric buses of the same type for Aberdeen following the award of funding through the Scottish Government’s follow-on scheme, the Zero-Emission Bus Challenge Fund.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

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

© 2022 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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Berkshire Hathaway Energy

BHE Canada’s Rattlesnake Ridge Wind Farm Now Operational

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s BHE Canada announced that the Rattlesnake Ridge Wind Farm is now commercially operational and supplying low-cost, renewable energy to Alberta’s grid.

The 26-turbine wind farm is located southwest of Medicine Hat. It is the company’s first wind farm in Canada and will provide Alberta consumers with 130 megawatts of energy, enough to power the equivalent of 78,000 homes.

The wind farm is privately financed by BHE Canada through a combination of equity and debt, requiring no government subsidies or tax incentives to support its operation.

“This is an exciting milestone for us, and for Alberta’s energy industry, with new grid-scale wind generation constructed and operating without government subsidies,” said Ed Rihn, President and CEO of BHE Canada. “We’re proud to facilitate a more sustainable energy future for Albertans and look forward to more investment opportunities in Alberta and across Canada.”

BHE Canada signed power purchase agreements with four Canadian corporate partners, providing them with environmental attributes to meet their environmental targets and offset existing carbon production.

Construction began in 2020 with Renewable Energy Systems (RES) providing construction services. RES has extensive experience in building large-scale renewable energy projects around the world. An estimated 150 jobs were provided to local Alberta contractors and suppliers during peak construction.

“The Rattlesnake Wind project is our 20th major renewable construction project in Canada, and we are pleased to see this project achieve commercial operation,” said Liam Duffy, RES General Manager of Construction, Canada. “The addition of this facility showcases our commitment to the construction of wind energy and brings RES closer to fulfilling our vision of a future where everyone has access to affordable zero carbon energy.”

To celebrate the milestone, a ribbon-cutting event was held at the Rattlesnake project site just outside of Medicine Hat. Representatives from BHE Canada and RES were joined by Mr. Grant Hunter, MLA Taber-Warner, and Craig Widmer, Reeve of County of Forty Mile, to help mark the occasion.

“Southern Alberta is home to some of the best supply of wind energy in the world. It is with pleasure that I congratulate BHE Canada on developing the Rattlesnake Ridge Wind Power Project,” said Grant Hunter, MLA Taber-Warner. “The County of Forty Mile will greatly benefit from this renewable wind project, and so will 78,000 homes in Alberta. Rattlesnake stands on its own without any government funding, as Albertans would expect.”

“With southern Alberta being the sunniest and relatively breezy at times, our area provides an exceptional opportunity for renewable energy companies to capture these resources and provide the province with clean renewable energy,” said Craig Widmer, Reeve of County of Forty Mile.

© 2022 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 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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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: You don’t Know Who is Swimming Naked Until…

Risk is not something that is always immediately apparent. In fact, it is not until markets plunge, a company goes belly up, or a catastrophic event happens that causes insurers to pay large claims, that the degree of risk truly becomes clear.

“You don’t find out who’s been swimming naked until the tide goes out,” Warren Buffett said at the 1994 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. “You don’t, you really don’t find out who’s been swimming naked until the wind blows at them.”

Buffett pointed out that the adage applies as much to bonds and reinsurance as it does to the stock market. Investors that chase return through low-rated bonds, or insurance companies that write risky policies, can look like geniuses until circumstances turn against them and expose their true risk, often with catastrophic results.

“Reinsurance business, by its nature, will be a business in which some very stupid things are done en masse periodically,” Buffett noted. “I mean, you can be doing dumb things and not know it in reinsurance, and then all of a sudden wake up and find out, you know, the money is gone.”

Buffett’s full explanation


See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2022 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

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Opens Office in Lyon, France

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance has further expanded its presence in Europe with the establishment of an office in Lyon, France.

“As we continue to grow steadily across Europe, the time is right to expand with an office and expanded team in Lyon,” said François-Xavier d’Huart, Country Manager, France. “Complementing our office in Paris, our team in Lyon will provide our full line of property, casualty and specialty insurance as well as claims and engineering services locally to customers in southeast France.”

BHSI teams in both Paris and Lyon bring BHSI’s multinational capabilities, which span 170 countries, to local companies in France.

© 2022 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 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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Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics Named e-Commerce Distributor of the Year by Bourns

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s Mouser Electronics has been named 2021 e-Commerce Distributor of the Year by Bourns Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of electronic components.

Bourns awarded Mouser for achieving exceptional sales success and growth through the design fulfillment distributor’s best-in-class internet marketing programs.

“We are honored to receive this major award, which celebrates the strong partnership between Mouser and Bourns,” said Jeff Newell, Senior Vice President of Products at Mouser Electronics. “Together, we share the highest standards for quality and customer service, which has benefited both companies and our customers for over 20 years.”

“Mouser is continually a major contributor in helping us meet Bourns’ sales and growth goals. Their professionalism and breakthrough programs delivered stellar performance again in 2021,” said James Harrington, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales at Bourns. “On behalf of the whole Bourns organization, I am thrilled to recognize Mouser’s achievements in inspiring innovation and their excellent e-commerce representation of Bourns’ products.”

Mouser is an authorized distributor for Bourns and continues to be a leading partner in offering Bourns’ newest products. Mouser stocks an impressive array of Bourns circuit protectors, sensors, controls, and resistive components. Bourns is known for their innovative development of new technologies and the ability to consistently expand manufacturing capabilities to meet their customers’ changing global needs.

Mouser has received multiple top awards in recent years from Bourns, including e Commerce Distributor of the Year award for 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014 and 2012, as well as 2016 Distributor of the Year (Catalog Partner) in EMEA, 2012 European Distributor of the Year POS Growth Award and the 2012 Asia Distributor of the Year POS Growth Award.

© 2022 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 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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Berkshire Hathaway Energy

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Receives Approval for Major Transmission Line

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

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

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

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

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

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

© 2022 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 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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Lessons From Warren Buffett

Lessons From Warren Buffett: Cash is Like Oxygen

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

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

Hear Buffett’s full explanation

See the complete Lessons From Warren Buffett series

© 2022 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

Lubrizol Life Science Health Announces Apisolex

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© 2022 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 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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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Has Further Expansion Throughout Georgia

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

© 2022 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 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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Mouser Electronics

Mouser Electronics Named Distributor of the Year by Hirose Electric USA

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

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

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

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

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

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

© 2022 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 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.