Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Warren Buffett's Berkshire to buy railroad  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Warren Buffett's Berkshire to buy railroad
 
 
  
 
 AFP - Wednesday, November  4
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Billionaire investor Warren Buffett, pictured in 2008, said Tuesday his Berkshire Hathaway company will purchase Burlington Northern railway for 44 billion dollars, calling the move a "huge bet" on the American rail system.
 
 
 
 
 
 
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Warren Buffett unveiled Tuesday a deal to take over Burlington Northern Santa Fe, one of the largest rail operators in North America, calling it a huge bet on the future of the US economy.
 
The billionaire investor's Berkshire Hathaway holding group said it would purchase the 77.4 percent of Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) that it does not currently own for 100 dollars per share in cash and stock.
 
The offer values the rail operator at 44 billion dollars, including 10 billion dollars in debt. Buffett will invest some 26.3 billion dollars for the new stake.
 
"It's an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States. I love these bets," said Buffett, known in financial circles as the "Oracle of Omaha," for his investing acumen.
 
The takeover bid represents a 31 percent premium over BNSF's closing share price Monday.
 
"Our country's future prosperity depends on its having an efficient and well-maintained rail system," said Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway's chairman and chief executive, adding that the deal was the biggest ever for his storied investment fund.
 
"America must grow and prosper for railroads to do well," Buffett said, adding that "the investment in BNSF is a huge bet on that company... and the railroad industry."
 
Burlington Northern president, chairman and CEO Matthew Rose said the company welcomed deal.
 
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to become a part of the Berkshire Hathaway family," said Rose.
 
"We admire Warren's leadership philosophy supporting long-term investment that will allow BNSF to focus on future needs of our railroad, our customers and the US transportation infrastructure," Rose added.
 
"This transaction offers compelling value to our shareholders and is in the best interests of all of our constituents including our customers and employees."
 
The deal requires approval by holders of two-thirds of the railway's shares not already held by Berkshire Hathaway and Department of Justice review.
 
The transaction is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.
 
Burlington Northern, a 150-year-old firm, operates some 51,000 kilometers (32,000 route miles) in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. It is a major transporter of grain, coal and other freight.
 
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, it has 40,000 employees and 6,700 locomotives. It earned a profit last year of 3.9 billion dollars on 18 billion in revenues.
 
Buffett, one of the world's richest individuals, was ranked number two this year by Forbes magazine behind Microsoft founder Bill Gates among the wealthiest billionaires.
 
The 79-year-old Buffett, who at various times has been ranked as the world's richest person, has an estimated net worth of 37 billion dollars, according to Forbes.
 
But he has not been immune from the global financial crisis.
 
Berkshire Hathaway lost 1.5 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2009 amid market turmoil and the value of its assets fell by 6.1 billion dollars.
 
Berkshire set aside a reserve for potential losses from its insurance firms that offer credit default swaps, which insure against a default of bonds or other investments.
 
The company has big stakes in General Re, a reinsurance firm, as well as US insurer GEICO.
 
It also has stakes in the energy sector and The Washington Post newspaper.
 
In the past year, it acquired stakes in investment bank Goldman Sachs and conglomerate General Electric as well as gum maker Wrigley and the insurer Swiss Re.
 
The firm posted a net profit of 4.99 billion dollars for 2008, despite a deepening US recession and a global economic and financial crisis.
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
Fed to keep rates near zero to nurture recovery
US envoys to meet Myanmar PM
GM to cancel sale, keep European unit Opel
French thinker Levi-Strauss dead at 100
EU hikes growth forecasts, warns on jobs
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
French thinker Levi-Strauss dead at 100
 
Polanski sex case appeal set for December 10
 
Ship forged with 9/11 steel sails into New York
 
UBS piles up losses, clients withdraw assets
 
Britain breaks up RBS, Lloyds in big bang for banking
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
Somali centenarian weds 17-year-old
 
Mobile phone giant Nokia sues Apple over patents
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Wednesday,  4 November 2009 Jewish settlers evict Arab east Jerusalem family  
French anthropologist Levi-Strauss dead at 100  
Apple, Orange drop exclusive iPhone sales: regulator  
Warren Buffett's Berkshire to buy railroad  
Iran warns opposition before anti-US rally  
Four years in US prison for BetOnSports founder  
EU hikes growth forecasts, warns on jobs  
Hamas improved rocket abilities since war  
Experts to hash out global data privacy rules in Spain  
Gorbachev 'proud' of role in fall of Berlin Wall  
First malaria vaccine 'ready in 3-5 years'  
Exiled group says Iranian nuclear site needs check  
Sarah Jessica Parker, Forest Whitaker, Edward Norton And Others Appointed As Members Of Obama's Committee On The Arts And Humanities  
Eurozone unemployment to hit 10.7% in 2010: EU  
Selena Gomez Returning To Hometown To Appear In Children's Parade  
Robots primed for 'are you being served' role  
Czech president becomes last EU leader to sign treaty  
Best Buy plans movie download service with Sonic  
Israel: Gaza rockets can reach metro Tel Aviv  
Italy's crucifixes in classrooms 'violate rights'  
Ian Brown Arrested For Allegedly Assaulting His Wife  
EU to choose leaders after reform treaty ratified
| International
|  
Rihanna Finally Speaks Out About The Night Chris Brown Assaulted Her  
Italy, Vatican in uproar over court crucifix ruling
| International
|  
Sony Ericsson unveils first Android phone  
Monitors worried about Sudan election, freedoms
| International
|  
Moscow could have started WW3 over Berlin Wall: Gorbachev
| International
|  
Calif. man indicted in 4 Va. bludgeoning deaths  
Phone texting reveals sensitive new metrotextual
| Technology
|  
House GOP pens 230-page health bill draft  
Correction: Attorney General Scandal story  
LG Electronics investing heavily in smartphones
| Technology
|  
BetOnSports founder gets 51 months in U.S. prison
| Technology
|  
Merkel calls for strong deal on climate change  
Fiji expels New Zealand, Australian envoys  
Low cholesterol may prevent some prostate cancers  
NKorea claims to expand arsenal of atomic bombs  
Mayor chooses deputy chief to head LA police  
Philippines frees officers cleared over coup: military  
US 'indispensable' in Asia: Singapore PM  
Indonesia court hears phone tapes in graft case  
GOP senators absent at start of climate debate  
China envoy in talks in Taiwan: official  
Karzai promises reform _ but without specifics  
Neighbors griped about odor at Ohio home for years  
Python hunters bag 37 in Florida hunting season  
Chinese official: Syphilis boom driven by economy  
$1 million bail offered in Chicago terrorism case  
Thais make third arrest over king's health rumors  
George W. Bush throws out first pitch in Japan  
Carrey's Scrooge rings in Hollywood holiday spirit  
India still likes dollars despite buying gold: minister  
Carrefour breaks Indonesian antitrust law: watchdog  
Obama enlists Hollywood names for arts committee  
Pakistani stocks end higher; rupee weakens  
Dubai to appoint female muftis in 2010: report  
China experiments with molecular cuisine  
Kate Winslet wins damages over exercise libel  
A Christmas Carol gets thrill ride movie treatment
| Entertainment
|  
World Cup to boost South Africa tourism, organisers say  
Rihanna humiliated by leaked photo after attack
| Entertainment
|  
China regulator rejects World of Warcraft game: official  
Conchords star Clement says HBO show may end
| Entertainment
|  
Three-star chefs cook up a treat in Paris subway  
Obama enlists Hollywood names for arts committee  
Kate Winslet wins damages over exercise libel
| Entertainment
|  
Car Of Slain New Mexico Nun Found In Undisclosed Location  
Adam Arkin relishes new `Sons of Anarchy' role  
J&J To Cut 8,200 Jobs To Save More Than $1 Billion  
E! to launch Asian version of flagship news show  
Chirac's memoirs show restraint on Sarkozy  
Democrats Proceed With Committee Debate On Climate Bill Despite GOP Boycott  
Mexico Deploys 577 Heavily Armed Police To U.S. Border Town Of Juarez, To Quell Violence  
Ex Stone Roses singer held for wife assault
| Entertainment
|  
Update: Merkel Renews U.S. Ties, Asks For Stronger Partnership Against Climate Change  
A Key Healthcare Vote, Lieberman Denies Report On His Support For Public Option  
Manufacturing Orders Rise For Fifth Month In Six  
Philadelphia Bus, Subway Service At A Standstill As Workers Strike  
Voting Underway For New York's Mayoral, 23rd Congressional Races  
New Jersey, Virginia Hold Gubernatorial Elections Tuesday  
Earthquake injures 270 in southern Iran  
Huge fire breaks out in Saint Petersburg: reports  
US-TECH Summary  
Fed to keep rates near zero to nurture recovery  
Czech president signs EU reform treaty  
Nokia unveils 5 new low-end phone models  
UN to urge credible probe of alleged Gaza war crimes  
UN envoy warns Karzai of losing world support  
Uproar in Italy after Euro court rejects school crucifixes  
Khamenei says US 'hiding a dagger' in talks with Iran  
US envoys to meet Myanmar PM  
Flu pandemic closes schools
| International
|  
PayPal courts outside developers  
EU officially starts search for first president  
Egypt-Israel frictions complicate US peace efforts  
GM to cancel sale, keep European unit Opel  
Yahoo teams with OneRiot on real-time search  
Barnes & Noble sued by eReader maker Spring Design  
French thinker Levi-Strauss dead at 100  
Storm kills 42 in Vietnam, several missing
| International
|  
AT&T sues Verizon Wireless over 3G ads  
Honduran lawmakers put off vote on Zelaya's return
| International
|  
U.S. delegation in Myanmar for rare talks with junta
| International
|  
Touchscreen smartphones being snatched up in US  
Cisco-EMC-VMware alliance in 350-bln-dollar market  
US company offers Twitter-dedicated mobile device  
Warren Buffett's Berkshire to buy railroad  
LG Electronics investing heavily in smartphones  
Nokia unveils 5 new low-end phone models  
LG Electronics investing heavily in smartphones  
Pacific diplomatic row deepens  
Yahoo teams with OneRiot on real-time search
| Technology
|  
Dutch rafter killed in accident in Nepal  
AT&T sues Verizon Wireless over 3G ads
| Technology
|  
Tokyo train stations use lights to stem suicides  
Iran 'must choose' its future path: Obama  
Nokia unveils 5 new low-end phone models
| Technology
|  
Obama notes anniversary of Iran embassy takeover  
China sex-expert to help Taiwan pandas to breed  
US Republicans score big in off-year elections  
Today in History  
Ten bodies found at rapist's Ohio home: report  
Barnes & Noble sued by eReader maker Spring Design
| Technology
|  
Mobile phones ring death knell for Bangladesh postmen  
Italian judge to reach verdict in CIA kidnap trial  
Police: 3 ND college students found dead in pond  
Obama faces setback after Republicans win  
Vietnam storm death toll rises to 57  
CA teen charged with murder in death of 4-year-old  
China's military making strides in space: US general  
Voters in NC's largest city elect Democratic mayor  
India's pot-bellied males hit gym for Bollywood buff look  
World Bank boosts China growth forecast to 8.4 pct  
Disney says China approved Shanghai theme park  
SKorea's SK Engineering wins UAE oil contract  
China OKs Disney theme park in Shanghai: official  
Korea Hot Stocks  
China agrees Disney theme park in Shanghai: Disney  
S.Korean bonds edge down as Fed rate vote looms  
Seoul shares rebound: KEB, brokerage stocks rally  
Seoul shares gain; banks up after strong Q3 results  
S.Korea mortgage lending growth slows in Oct-report  
Hollywood stars light up London for Christmas  
Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin to host Oscars
| Entertainment
|  
Stephen Colbert, fans sponsor U.S. speedskaters
| Entertainment
|  
Kirstie Alley takes weight-loss battle back to TV
| Entertainment
|  
Berenstain Bears to make big-screen debut
| Entertainment
|  
Jaglom's homage to theater has wide appeal
| Entertainment
|  
Accused Seacrest stalker ordered to stay away
| Entertainment
|  
50 Cent recruits Kelly Rowland for video
| Entertainment
|  
Berenstain Bears to make big-screen debut  
Box office boost shows 3D is here to stay  
Rihanna: Brown's assault, aftermath 'humiliating'  
Sarah Palin promises more cities on book tour  
Kirstie Alley takes weight-loss battle back to TV  
Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin to host Oscars  
Stephen Colbert, fans sponsor U.S. speedskaters  
"Looking for Palladin" suffers from major flaw  
Hollywood stars light up London for Christmas  
Terminator movie franchise may go on auction block  
German Court Denies Buddhist Bank Robber's Request To Visit With Cat  
Newly Discovered Notes May Contain Secret 150-Year-Old Worcestershire Sauce Recipe  
Prison Ombudsman Pushes For More Humane Treatment Of Canadian Inmates Without Compromising Security  
Queen Elizabeth's Servant Crowned British Wrestling Champ  
Mariah Carey Says Even Her Dogs Have An Entourage, But She's No Diva  
Survey Finds Bad Behavior Is Pervasive Among Medical Personnel  
BetOnSports founder gets 51 months in U.S. prison  
Phone texting reveals sensitive new "metrotextual"  
'Rogue' Afghan policeman kills five British troops  
British mercenary leaves E.Guinea  
Mousavi supporters clash with police in Tehran
| International
|  
Chinese giant set to buy US oil assets: company  
Afghan policeman kills five British soldiers
| International
|  
Police to quiz mercenary over EGuinea plot: reports  
Yemen rebels say they seize Saudi border site  
Witness: The news conference that toppled the Wall
| International
|  
Microsoft to set up cloud research center in Taiwan  
Five British soldiers killed in Afghanistan  
Abdullah rules out joining new Afghan government
| International
|  
Playfish sees social games as industry driver  
Israeli navy intercepts arms ship: military
| International
|  
Abdullah slams 'illegal' Karzai re-election  
Pakistan troops, Taliban fight street battle: army
| International
|  
Yemen rebels kill Saudi in cross-border raid
| International
|  
Sri Lanka's top general leaves U.S. unquestioned
| International
|  
Quake hits south Iran, 269 injured  
Quake hits south Iran, injuring 269 people: agency
| International
|  
Clashes with police in Tehran on anniversary  
Tight security in Iran ahead of anti-U.S. rally  
5 British soldiers killed in south Afghanistan  
Search ends for Russians buried in China avalanche  
US officials meet Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi  
Malaysia's opposition alliance puts house in order  
Vietnam storm death toll rises to 87  
Prominent SKorean businessman commits suicide: police  
US officials meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar  
Nepal puts security forces on high alert  
Playfish sees social games as industry driver
| Technology
|  
Microsoft to set up cloud research center in Taiwan
| Technology
|  
San Francisco voters defeat sign district plan  
Angry Philippines rebels deny abducting Irish priest  
AP NewsAlert  
China bureaucratic war over online Warcraft heats up
| Technology
|  
NM calf fitted with prosthetic legs  
Farmland released from conservation program  
3 million acres taken out of conservation program  
Dejection fills Maine ballroom after marriage vote  
Obama coaxes states to change with school dollars  
Nissan returns to profit in latest quarter  
Microsoft to set up cloud research centre in Taiwan  
Toyota joins F1 exodus  
Nissan Motor interim net profit down 92.9 pct  
S.Korea 2010 house prices seen up 4 pct -research  
Yamaha Motor posts 1.8 bln dollar nine-month loss  
MARKETS-KOREA-STOCKS/ (UPDATE 2)=2  
World Bank boosts China 2009 growth forecast  
Brad Pitt looking for new motorbike after LA crash  
'Archaeologist of erotica' revives world of brothels  
Russian leech grower taps into rising demand  
Disney says China approved Shanghai theme park  
London's Savile Row tailors roll up sleeves for battle  
Founder of Catholic Opus Dei group focus of movie
| Entertainment
|  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights