Buffett spoke at Berkshire’s annual shareholder assembly in Omaha, Nebraska, 1-1/2 months after Berkshire mentioned it raised its stakes in Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi , Mitsui and Sumitomo to as excessive as 9.8%.
Berkshire’s investments within the firms had totaled $23.5 billion on the finish of 2024.
“Within the subsequent 50 years, we can’t give a thought to promoting these,” Buffett mentioned. “We now have been handled extraordinarily effectively by the 5 firms…. Our primary exercise is simply to cheer and clap.”
Greg Abel, a Berkshire vice chairman who is predicted to succeed Buffett as chief govt, added that he envisioned Berkshire proudly owning the buying and selling homes for 50 years “or endlessly.”
“We’re constructing relationships,” he mentioned, “and we actually hope to do massive issues with them.” Often called “sogo shosha,” Japanese buying and selling homes commerce in a wide range of supplies, merchandise and meals, typically serving as intermediaries, and supply logistical help. They’re additionally deeply concerned in the true financial system in such areas as commodities, transport and metal.
Berkshire started investing within the buying and selling homes in 2019, and revealed 5% possession stakes on Buffett’s ninetieth birthday the next August.
Buffett prefers to keep away from companies he says he doesn’t perceive, and has likened the buying and selling homes to his personal conglomerate.
