Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway won’t issue additional stock when it joins S&P stock indexes

Berkshire won’t issue stock when joining S&P 500

OMAHA, Neb. — Berkshire Hathaway Inc. won’t issue additional stock when it joins the S&P 500 and S&P 100 stock indexes.

Warren Buffett’s company said Thursday the only shares it plans to issue in the near future are the ones required as part of Berkshire’s $26.3 billion acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.

Buffett’s Omaha, Neb.-based company says it’s received several inquiries about whether it will issue stock since Standard & Poor’s announced plans Tuesday for Berkshire to replace BNSF in its indexes.

All the investment funds that mirror the S&P 500 will buy Berkshire stock after it joins the index, so there will be demand. Buffett has said he expects those investment funds to buy about 6 percent of Berkshire’s stock.

On the Net:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.: www.berkshirehathaway.com