Buffett/Berkshire - general news

[Blugolds]

Notice how Mr Buffett is incredibly generous and quick to offer praise to those who deserve it, and to those who dont, a polite smile and chuckle. 

 

"With nothing nice to say, say nothing at all"

 

He gets his point across, without saying a word. 

[Xerxes]

I am guessing this is the documentary on Prime

For those who like me cannot see the YouTube Video

 

Prime Video: Becoming Katharine Graham

 

Warren Buffett on legendary Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham - CBS News

Edited March 3 by Xerxes

[Munger_Disciple]

BRK director Witmer's husband sold two A shares in his IRA on March 3rd:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1067983/000091957425001778/xslF345X05/ownership.xml

 

And Meryl Witmer, BRK director, donated 1,000 B shares to a charitable foundation  on 2/24/25:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1067983/000091957425001652/xslF345X05/ownership.xml

Edited March 6 by Munger_Disciple

[Ulti]

On 3/3/2025 at 5:46 PM, Xerxes said:

I am guessing this is the documentary on Prime

For those who like me cannot see the YouTube Video

 

Prime Video: Becoming Katharine Graham

 

Warren Buffett on legendary Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham - CBS News

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/george-teddy-kunhardt-on-becoming-katharine-graham/id1234429850?i=1000697505919
 

fantastic interview with the filmmakers and , in different spots, discuss Mr B

[Xerxes]

1 hour ago, Ulti said:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/george-teddy-kunhardt-on-becoming-katharine-graham/id1234429850?i=1000697505919
 

fantastic interview with the filmmakers and , in different spots, discuss Mr B

think you Ulti

[Ulti]

https://bilello.blog/2025/the-week-in-charts-2-28-25
 

section 4 has a good chart of  Brk cash as % of assets over the years and current and historical cash levels of money managers ( boa survey)

[gfp]

I got a request for these National Indemnity and General Reinsurance NAIC filings for year-end 2024 so I'm going to post them here so anyone can download them.  Nat Ind INV 20087.2024.P.AN.PI.O.M.4871081.pdfGenRe with Investments 22039.2024.P.AN.PI.O.M.4882999.pdfNat Ind non-Investments 20087.2024.P.AN.PO.O.M.4871083.pdfGenRe non-Inv 22039.2024.P.AN.PO.O.M.4883001.pdf

 

 

(the first two files are the ones that list investments)

Edited Monday at 10:35 PM by gfp

[gfp]

You've gotta love the investing press...

 

 

.....to...

 

[crs223]

1 hour ago, gfp said:

You've gotta love the investing press...

 

 

 

I appreciate the headlines… reminds me when to buy more!

[Hektor]

https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/compass-in-talks-to-buy-warren-buffetts-real-estate-brokerage-unit-5eab82e5

 

Compass in Talks to Buy Warren Buffett’s Real-Estate Brokerage Unit

A sale by Berkshire Hathaway would be the latest sign of consolidation in the residential brokerage business amid slow home sales

 

Key Points

• Compass is in talks to acquire Warren Buffett's real-estate brokerage business, HomeServices of America.
• The deal would combine the biggest and fourth-biggest U.S. brokerages by volume, according to RealTrends.
• HomeServices had about 820 brokerage offices, 270 franchisees, and 5,400 employees in 2024.

 

[gfp]

It will be interesting if one of the big changes in the Greg Abel era is Berkshire selling some companies.  So far they have sold Applied Underwriters (likely an Ajit decision) and maybe possibly HomeServices (likely a Greg decision).  I would be surprised if any deal allowed the brokerages to continue using the Berkshire Hathaway brand name.  Also rare to have a potential Berkshire deal leak to the press before being announced.

[jbwent63]

6 minutes ago, gfp said:

It will be interesting if one of the big changes in the Greg Abel era is Berkshire selling some companies.  So far they have sold Applied Underwriters (likely an Ajit decision) and maybe possibly HomeServices (likely a Greg decision).  I would be surprised if any deal allowed the brokerages to continue using the Berkshire Hathaway brand name.  Also rare to have a potential Berkshire deal leak to the press before being announced.

Is that (the leak) possibly due to the change from Munger, Tolles to another law firm (whose name escapes me at this time), assuming Munger, Tolles isnt acting for BHHS (BHE) on this deal?

[rogermunibond]

https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/compass-in-talks-to-buy-warren-buffetts-real-estate-brokerage-unit-5eab82e5?st=JqkZ5b&reflink=article_copyURL_share

[gfp]

5 minutes ago, jbwent63 said:

Is that (the leak) possibly due to the change from Munger, Tolles to another law firm (whose name escapes me at this time), assuming Munger, Tolles isnt acting for BHHS (BHE) on this deal?

 

Who knows but I doubt that it has anything to do with that team from MTO that went over to Baker McKenzie.  If the story is true, the subsidiary was probably shopped with an investment bank and a bunch of people aware of the process.  Just not a usual position for Berkshire to be the seller shopping a company for sale.  At least there isn't a security to go nuts and mess with the deal.

 

** plus everyone in Des Moines knows that Greg talks in his sleep when he nods off at hockey games

Edited 16 hours ago by gfp

[Hektor]

1 hour ago, gfp said:

It will be interesting if one of the big changes in the Greg Abel era is Berkshire selling some companies.  So far they have sold Applied Underwriters (likely an Ajit decision) and maybe possibly HomeServices (likely a Greg decision).  I would be surprised if any deal allowed the brokerages to continue using the Berkshire Hathaway brand name.  Also rare to have a potential Berkshire deal leak to the press before being announced.

I wonder what is included in the sale? Are they bundling other things from the empire? Any + and/or - to HomeServices. 

 

I also wonder if this is in part driven by the legal/regulatory climate BHE has faced in the recent past.

[gfp]

1 hour ago, Hektor said:

I wonder what is included in the sale? Are they bundling other things from the empire? Any + and/or - to HomeServices. 

 

I also wonder if this is in part driven by the legal/regulatory climate BHE has faced in the recent past.

 

Not really the legal regulatory climate BHE has faced but the legal / regulatory climate the realtors have faced.  It's been the realtor business's version of wild fire liability.

 

Start on page 103 ->

https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001081316/000108131625000004/bhe-20241231.htm

[gfp]

Apparently these people knew about deal rumors and put it online back on March 3rd -

https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/03/03/lonely-hearts-club/

 

[DooDiligence]

Realtors. Good riddance.