Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has lifted its shareholdings in Japan’s five biggest trading houses after negotiating to remove a 10 per cent ceiling for its investment in businesses known for trading everything from noodles to natural resources.
The US investment conglomerate raised its stake in Mitsubishi Corporation from 8.31 per cent to 9.67 per cent, and in Mitsui from 8.09 per cent to 9.82 per cent, according to filings with Japan’s securities regulator published on Monday. It also lifted its stake in Itochu, Marubeni and Sumitomo Corporation by about a percentage point.
None of the Berkshire holdings have hit the 10 per cent cap that the company agreed with the trading houses last month to “moderately relax”.