DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Charlie Munger praises Warren Buffett’s big bets on Japan on Acquired podcast
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“It was awfully easy money,” Charlie Munger, Buffett’s longtime lieutenant and vice chair of Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA), said in an interview with the Acquired podcast released this week. The firms backed by Berkshire — Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co., and Sumitomo — are known as “sogo shosha” or general trading companies in Japan. “These trading companies were really entrenched, old companies, and they had all these cheap copper mines and rubber plantations, and so you could borrow [easily],” Munger added. Buffett’s decision to invest in Japan has buoyed optimism about prospects in the world’s third largest economy. The legendary investor has previously cheered “the future of Japan,” casting more attention to the country from other foreign backers.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Warren, Charlie Munger, Buffett’s, Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire —, Munger, Warren Buffett, ”, ” Munger, “, Wang Chuanfu, Omaha ”, China’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Japan’s Nikkei, Berkshire, Berkshire — Itochu, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo, BYD, Hyundai, Apple Locations: Hong Kong, Japan, Berkshire, United States, “, Munger, Asia, South, TSMC, Omaha, Taiwan, China

[1/2] Union workers of Sogo & Seibu hold banners which read 'on strike' in front of the company's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2023. In a statement, Fortress said it would work with Seven & i to support Sogo & Seibu's management to maintain its workforce "to the extent possible." It plans to invest more than 20 billion yen with partner Yodobashi to renovate Sogo & Seibu's stores, it said. Sogo & Seibu's workers had the support of labour groups from rival department stores including Takashimaya and Isetan Mitsukoshi (3099.T). The Seibu Ikebukuro store is Japan's third-largest department store by sales, according to media reports, but its owner Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years.

Persons: Irene Wang, Fortress, Yodobashi, it's, Yasuhiro Teraoka, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Wakana Shuto, Stephen Givens, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Union, Sogo, Seibu, company's, REUTERS, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Rikkyo, Japan Inc, Thomson, & & ' Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo, Seibu Ikebukuro

[1/2] Union workers of Sogo & Seibu hold banners which read 'on strike' in front of the company's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2023. Some 900 workers at the flagship Seibu store in the bustling district of Ikebukuro are protesting the sale of Sogo & Seibu, a unit of retail giant Seven & i (3382.T), to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group. This one-day strike - the first at a major Japanese department store in 61 years - followed months of negotiations between Sogo & Seibu management and the workers' union, and comes amid a labour shortage in Japan. Other Seibu and Sogo department stores were open for business as usual. The Seibu Ikebukuro store is Japan's third-largest department store by sales, according to media reports, but its owner Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years.

Persons: Irene Wang, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Wakana Shuto, Stephen Givens, it's, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Union, Sogo, Seibu, company's, REUTERS, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Rikkyo, Japan Inc, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo, Seibu Ikebukuro

☆ Japan sees rare strike as workers at landmark department store protest sale
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Mariko Katsumura 清水律子 | Mariko Katsumura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The slogan on the banner in the centre reads, 'Sogo & Seibu, strike solidarity'. This one-day strike - the first at a major Japanese department store in 61 years - followed months of negotiations between Sogo & Seibu management and the workers' union. Other Seibu and Sogo department stores were open for business as usual. "Considering the industry's difficulties, the conditions at Sogo & Seibu are not unique." Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years and has some 300 billion yen in debt.

Persons: Satomi Saito, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Daimaru, Wakana Shuto, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Sogo, Seibu, company's, Kyodo, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Yodobashi, Hankyu Hanshin, Rikkyo, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo

☆ Sogo & Seibu sale to go ahead, triggering rare workers' strike in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Seven & I Holdings is seen at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 6, 2017. The union intends to carry out its threat for a strike at the flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo on Thursday, according to a union member. A person with direct knowledge of Seven & i's plan said its board would meet on Thursday to officially decide on the sale. The union received no reply and would therefore carry out the strike on Thursday at the flagship store, where about 900 union members are employed, he said. Fortress had initially planned to spend around 250 billion yen ($1.71 billion) on the acquisition but is likely to have lowered that price to about 220 billion yen, the source said.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Fortress, Ritsuko Shimizu, Kantaro, Chang, Ran Kim, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Holdings, REUTERS, Seibu, Fortress Investment, Labour, UA, Sogo's, Sogo, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S

☆ Seven & i department store unit union to announce strike - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The logo of Seven & I Holdings is seen at its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 6, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - A labour union of Seven & i Holdings (3382.T) department store subsidiary Sogo & Seibu will notify management that it plans to strike in opposition to a planned sale of the unit, public broadcaster NHK reported on Monday. Japan-based Seven & i, operator of the world's largest convenience store chain, agreed last year to sell Sogo & Seibu to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group. But the deal has been delayed amid opposition from workers, and company management cancelled a meeting for Friday last week where it was to decide on the sale, Kyodo had reported. Reporting by Rocky Swift Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: Holdings, REUTERS, Rights, Seibu, NHK, Fortress Investment, Kyodo, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S

☆ Chamath Palihapitiya calls Warren Buffett the 'GOAT' after figuring out his Japanese bet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Prominent tech investor Chamath Palihapitiya expressed his admiration towards Warren Buffett, calling the "Oracle of Omaha" the greatest of all time after analyzing his latest bet on Japan. The 92-year-old Buffett recently hiked his stakes in five Japanese trading houses — Itochu , Marubeni , Mitsubishi , Mitsui and Sumitomo — to more than 8.5%. These companies, which are roughly akin to a conglomerate structure just like Berkshire, make good investments because they are stable dividend payers and earning growers, Palihapitiya said. The 92-year-old Buffett paid a visit to Japan and met with the heads at these Japanese firms earlier this year. Similar to Berkshire, the Japanese trading firms, also known as sogo shosha, are conglomerates involved in a wide range of products and services, including energy, machinery, chemicals, food, finance and banking.

Persons: Chamath Palihapitiya, Warren Buffett, Palihapitiya, Capital's Palihapitiya, Buffett, What's, he's Organizations: Buffett, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Tokyo Stock Exchange Locations: Omaha, Japan, Berkshire

☆ Berkshire Hathaway's holdings in five Japanese companies could go beyond 10%, Jefferies says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway once again increased its stakes in five Japanese trading houses, and Jefferies said watch out for more such buying from the "Oracle of Omaha." Thanh Ha Pham, equity analyst at Jefferies, said Berkshire's holdings in these companies could go even beyond 10% in the future, and collaboration with Berkshire's businesses is another avenue to explore. The 92-year-old Buffett paid a visit to Japan and met with the heads at these Japanese firms earlier this year. Like Berkshire, the Japanese trading firms, also known as sogo shosha, are conglomerates that are involved in a wide range of products and services, including energy, machinery, chemicals, food, finance and banking. "By investing in trading houses, investors obtain a well-diversified business portfolio that is not exposed to any single industry or geography," Pham said.

Persons: Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, Jefferies, Thanh Ha Pham, Warren Buffett, Pham, Buffett Organizations: National Indemnity Company, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Jefferies, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Itochu Locations: Omaha, Itochu, Berkshire, Japan

☆ Berkshire Hathaway adds to Japan trading company holdings
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] The logo of Marubeni Corp is seen at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, May 10, 2016. Berkshire said its ownership now averages more than 8.5% at the companies and the aggregate value of the investments is the largest of any Berkshire-held public stocks outside the U.S. Known as "sogo shosha," Japanese trading houses trade in a variety of materials, products and food, often serving as intermediaries, and provide logistical support. Nikkei futures slightly pared some losses after the Berkshire announcement. Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru and Tom Westbrook in Singapore; Editing by Kim Coghill and Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Lavanya, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Marubeni, REUTERS, Berkshire, Nikkei, Billionaire, Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Itochu, Berkshire, Bengaluru, Singapore

Berkshire Hathaway on Monday said its wholly-owned subsidiary National Indemnity Company has increased its stake in five Japanese trading firms to average more than 8.5%. Berkshire Hathaway said it intends to hold its Japanese investments for the long term, with CEO Warren Buffett pledging the company will only purchase up to 9.9% of any of the five firms. Buffett visited Japan in April to announce that Berkshire Hathaway would boost its investment in the various Japanese trading houses to 7.4%, after identifying the five businesses as comparable entities to his Omaha-based conglomerate. The five firms are the largest of Japan's so-called sogo-shosha, or general trading companies, and focus on diversified long-term investments that prioritize value and cash flow. Berkshire Hathaway owns no other investments in Japan.

Persons: Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett, Buffett Organizations: National Indemnity Company, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Berkshire Locations: Berkshire, U.S, Japan, Omaha

☆ Warren Buffett pours more money into Japan’s stock market
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA) has added to its holdings in Japan’s five biggest trading houses, likely underpinning strong momentum propelling the nation’s stock market to multi-year highs. Berkshire said Monday its stakes in Itochu (ITOCF), Marubeni (MARUY), Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui & Co (MITSY), and Sumitomo now average more than 8.5%. “The tailwinds for Japanese equities continue to multiply,” said Charu Chanana, market strategist at broker Saxo Markets in Singapore. Known as “sogo shosha,” Japanese trading houses deal in a variety of materials, products and food, often serving as intermediaries, and provide logistical support. The trading firms’ regulatory filings of June 12 showed Berkshire holding 7.4% of Itochu’s stock, 8.3% of Marubeni and Mitsubishi’s stock, 8.1% of Mitsui’s stock and 8.2% of Sumitomo’s stock.

Persons: Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, Monday’s, ”, Charu Organizations: Berkshire, Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui & Co, Sumitomo, Nikkei, Saxo Markets, America Berkshire Locations: Singapore, Berkshire, United States

☆ Japan optimism has been fueled by 'game-changing' reforms and Warren Buffett: Here's what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The Tokyo Exchange Group recently finalized its market restructuring rules. Warren Buffett's bullish calls on Japanese equities has also helped boost confidence among foreign investors. It could in turn lead to a domino effect among other Japanese companies once the big players start to make changes. Corporate governance is the "third arrow" of the three core tenets of Abenomics — monetary easing and fiscal stimulus are the other two. Buffett's May disclosures helped spur 10 straight weeks of net foreign purchases of Japanese equities.

Persons: Richard A, Brooks, Oliver Lee, Warren Buffett's bullish, —, Yunosuke Ikeda, Nomura's Ikeda, Shinzo Abe, Warren, Berkshire, Asli, Shuntaro Takeuchi, Matthews Asia, Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, that's, Matthews Asia's Takeuchi, We're, Oliver Lee Eastspring, Eastspring's Lee Organizations: Afp, Getty, Nikkei, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Tokyo Exchange Group, CNBC, Tokyo bourse, Berkshire Hathaway, Kyoto, Investing, Buffett, Foreigners, Japan Ministry of Finance, Kyoto University's Graduate School of Management, Graduate School of Economics, Mitsui & Co, Hitachi Locations: Japan, Tokyo, Singapore, Abenomics, San Francisco

☆ Why Warren Buffett is so keen on Japan's versions of Berkshire Hathaway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Tim Hornyak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

But Warren Buffett added a spark in April when he visited Japan to announce that Berkshire Hathaway boosted its investment in Japanese trading houses to 7.4%. Buffett said the five — Itochu Corp., Marubeni Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui, and Sumitomo Corp. — are comparable to Berkshire itself. Samurai roots for Buffett's Japanese stocks The five trading firms that Berkshire has invested in are the biggest of Japan's so-called sogo-shosha, or general trading companies. Today, Japan's trading companies derive most of their revenue from non-trade activities. Shosha: The Big Five Mitsubishi The largest of Japan's trading companies is Mitsubishi Corp. , set up in 1954.

☆ Warren Buffett's trip to Tokyo is seen as a 'stamp of approval' for investing in Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Berkshire Hathaway's stakes in all five trading houses is now 7.4%. Buffett's trip is a "stamp of approval" — especially for domestic investors in Japan, according to Monex Group's Jesper Koll. He emphasized Buffett's trip has the potential to boost confidence among Japanese investors as the nation continues to grapple with low consumption. "The real focus is confidence for Japanese investors, and that's where Warren Buffett's visit was very, very important," Koll said. The trading houses have helped grow the Japanese economy and contributed to the globalization of its business.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has boosted its bets on 5 Japanese titans - plus it wants to raise its stakes more and join forces on big deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Warren Buffett has boosted his Japan bets and wants to buy more shares and partner on big deals. Berkshire Hathaway owns about 7.4% of Japan's five largest trading houses, Buffett told Nikkei. Berkshire originally spent about $6 billion to establish 5% stakes in each of the companies. The famed investor's conglomerate now owns about 7.4% of Itochu, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, and Sumitomo, Buffett told the newspaper. "We're very proud of that," Buffett told Nikkei about the investments.

☆ Why Warren Buffett is investing in Japan and how to know if you should too
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Warren Buffett has grown even fonder of his favorite Japanese trading houses, hiking his already-large investments and teasing of more to come. Berkshire Hathaway raised its stakes in five Japanese trading houses — Mitsubishi Corp. , Mitsui & Co ., Itochu Corp. , Marubeni and Sumitomo — all to 7.4%. Buffett will appear live from Japan on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. The five trading houses — roughly akin to a conglomerate structure, just like Berkshire— seem to check every box of Buffett's stock-picking criteria. In light of expectations for tighter policy, BlackRock , the world's largest asset manager, last month cut Japanese stocks to "underweight."

☆ Warren Buffett's energy bets in Japanese companies are turning out to be huge winners, with some up 100% since his initial investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Warren Buffett's investments in five Japanese companies are emerging as winners in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio. A Bloomberg analysis points out that share prices in Mitsubishi and Mitsui have respectively climbed 100% and 130% since Buffett's initial investments in 2020. Buffett is the third-largest shareholder in Mitsui & Co. and a leading investor in Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu Corp., Sumitomo Corp., and Marubeni Corp. Meanwhile, share prices of Mitsubishi and Mitsui – the two most profitable sogo shosha – have climbed 100% and 130%, respectively, since Buffett's initial investment in 2020. Buffett's investment company, Berkshire Hathaway, made its first disclosure of the investment in the sogo shosha in August 2020, with 5% stakes in each then worth a total of $6 billion, said Bloomberg.

☆ Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway hikes stakes in Japan's five leading trading houses to over 6%
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has raised its stakes in Japan's five leading trading houses by at least 1 percentage point to more than 6%, regulatory filings showed on Monday. The conglomerate's stakes rose to 6.6% from 5% in Mitsubishi Corp. , to 6.6% from 5% in Mitsui & Co ., to 6.2% from 5% in Itochu Corp ., to 6.8% from 5.1% in Marubeni Corp. and to 6.6% from 5% in Sumitomo Corp ., filings showed. Marubeni and Mitsubishi shares jumped more than 2% after the news on Monday. Sumitomo and Itochu shares rose about 1%. Shares of Mitsui have climbed more than 40% this year, while Sumitomo and Marubeni have both risen about 30%.

☆ Japan's Seven & i to sell Sogo & Seibu unit to U.S. fund Fortress
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Japan's Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd (3382.T) said on Friday it will sell its Sogo & Seibu department store unit to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group. The transfer price will be based on 250 billion yen ($1.77 billion) in enterprise value for Sogo & Seibu, adjusted by net debt and working capital, Seven & i said in a release. Electronics retailer Yodobashi Holdings will be a partner in the deal with Fortress, which is controlled by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T). Yodobashi is expected to set up outlets within Sogo & Seibu locations, the Nikkei newspaper reported earlier this week. Seven & i shares rose 0.3% in Tokyo trading compared with a 3% jump in the benchmark Nikkei (.N225) index.

☆ Japan's Seven & i Holdings to sell Sogo & Seibu unit to Fortress -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Japan's Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd (3382.T) has decided to sell its Sogo & Seibu department store unit to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group, people familiar with the matter said on Friday. Seven & i held an extraordinary board meeting on Friday to decide on the sale to the SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T) controlled fund, the people said. Reporting by Mariko Katsumura, Ritsuko Shimizu and Rocky Swift; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Search resuls for: "Sogo"

20 mentions found