DealBook Briefing: Berkshire Hathaway Seeks ‘Huge Acquisitions’<br />That attitude is already baked into the Buffett view, Mr. Foley writes, “But notions of what’s now referred to as ESG — environmental, social<br />and governance factors — are otherwise fuzzy in Berkshire’s universe.”<br />Other highlights from the letter<br />• Berkshire’s windfall of $29.6 billion from the U. S. tax overhaul was only slightly offset by $1.4 billion of tax payments on repatriated earnings.<br />In his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway’s shareholders, Mr. Buffett said:<br />Berkshire’s goal is to substantially increase the earnings of its non-insurance group.<br />He may need to pay more than he wants to, but what’s a little extra to Berkshire in the long run?”<br />• Mr. Buffett is on the wrong side of a generational shift, writes John Foley in Breakingviews.<br />In last year’s annual report, Mr. Buffett criticized companies that publish adjusted earnings that leave out costs like stock awards to executives.<br />The plan could also exacerbate a tense relationship between Beijing<br />and Washington, which is preparing plans to impose tariffs on Chinese imports and to limit Chinese investments in the U. S.<br />• Christopher Beddor of Breakingviews: “Opaque as it is, international companies<br />and investment firms had grown accustomed to the rules of the Chinese political game as it has been played for two decades.
