Berkshire Hathaway Raises $580 Million via Yen Bonds, Targeting Japanese Investments

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has issued six new yen-denominated bonds worth 90 billion yen ($580 million) in a move aimed at deepening its stake in Japan’s major trading houses. This follows the company’s strategic increase of holdings in five key firms – Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corp., Marubeni, Sumitomo Corp., and Itochu – which began in 2020, with Buffett recently achieving his target of nearly 10% stake in each firm. The issuance underscores Berkshire’s continued interest in Japanese equities, especially given the favorable valuations and high dividend yields available compared to subdued interest rates in Japan.