Berkshire is seeking to sell its 28% stake in the packaged foods company. — Reuters
NEW YORK: It took just three weeks for Berkshire Hathaway’s Greg Abel to cut the final tether to one of Warren Buffett’s rare mistakes: The decade-long underperformance of Kraft Heinz Co.
Berkshire is seeking to sell its 28% stake in the packaged foods company, according to a filing, the final step in a separation months in the making.
Last May, it ceded its seats on the Kraft Heinz’s board. In August, it took a US$3.8bil impairment charge on its stake to reflect the stock’s steady declines.
The next month, Kraft Heinz announced plans to separate, essentially undoing the US$46bil mega merger that Buffett championed and helped to finance a decade ago.
While the initial investment is still in the black, Kraft Heinz shares have fallen more than 70% since the end of 2017.
While the move to exit Kraft Heinz wasn’t unexpected, it comes just 21 days into Abel’s tenure at the top of Berkshire.
He’s already shaken up the management team, adding a general counsel for the first time in years and said goodbye to two important executives.
He is also sitting on US$382bil in cash, renewing investor calls for a dividend – historically anathema to Buffett.
Berkshire and Kraft Heinz did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Despite the months of run-up, investors were disappointed by the news, sending Kraft Heinz shares down 5.6% at in New York trading on Wednesday.
The stock declined 21% last year versus a 16% advance for the S&P 500 Index.
Mizuho analyst John Baumgartner, who has a “neutral” rating on Kraft Heinz shares, wrote that the news reinforced Buffett’s “disappointment” in the decision to break up the company while adding to “scepticism that a split can enhance growth.”
Following the breakup, one company will sell its famed Heinz ketchup, other condiments and boxed foods that comprise the fastest-growing global brands with US$15.4bil in annual sales.
The other entity will include slower-growing grocery products, such as Oscar Mayer hot dogs and Lunchables, which currently generate revenue of US$10.4bil.
The split is expected to be completed in the second half this year.
Kraft Heinz also replaced its chief executive officer at the start of this month. — Bloomberg
