Kraft Heinz(US:KHC) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-08-03 08:38Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway has disclosed a significant impairment of $3.8 billion on its investment in Kraft Heinz, reducing its book value to $8.4 billion, a substantial drop from over $17 billion at the end of 2017, indicating a rare setback in Warren Buffett's investment career [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Impairment - Berkshire's second-quarter report revealed a $5 billion pre-tax impairment loss on Kraft Heinz, reflecting a non-temporary decline in the investment's book value compared to its fair value [2]. - The impairment was partly due to the ongoing decline in Kraft Heinz's fair value and limited access to timely financial information, as Berkshire's board representative resigned [2][8]. - As of June 30, 2025, the book value of Berkshire's investment in Kraft Heinz fell below the equity share calculated based on its ownership percentage [2]. Group 2: Strategic Changes at Kraft Heinz - Kraft Heinz is considering a major split or sale of its grocery brands, potentially creating a separate publicly traded entity valued at around $20 billion, which could be one of the largest transactions in the consumer goods sector this year [6][7]. - The planned divestiture includes iconic brands such as Oscar Mayer, Velveeta, and Jell-O, while the remaining company will focus on high-growth and premium product lines [7]. - This strategic move aligns with industry trends where traditional giants are narrowing their focus to develop globally appealing, high-margin brands [7]. Group 3: Berkshire's Financial Performance - In the second quarter of 2025, Berkshire reported revenues of $92.515 billion, a slight decrease from $93.653 billion in the same period last year, with net earnings dropping 59% to $12.370 billion [9][11]. - The company's operating profit fell by 4% year-on-year to $11.16 billion, primarily due to a decline in insurance underwriting performance, although profits in other sectors like railroads and energy showed growth [11]. - Berkshire's cash reserves decreased from $347 billion at the end of March to $344.1 billion, marking the first decline in three years [12].