Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway, led by Warren Buffett, announced a $9.7 billion cash acquisition of Occidental Petroleum's chemical subsidiary, OxyChem, expected to close in Q4 2023 [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - OxyChem is one of North America's largest producers of chlor-alkali and polyvinyl chloride, with projected earnings of $1.1 billion and sales of $4.9 billion in 2024 [1] - Berkshire has been a significant investor in Occidental Petroleum since 2019, currently holding approximately 28% of its shares, making it the largest shareholder [1] Group 2: Financial Implications - Occidental Petroleum plans to use $6.5 billion from the transaction to reduce its debt, aiming to lower its debt to below $15 billion [1] - As of the end of 2024, Occidental is projected to have approximately $24 billion in debt and has announced a nearly $4 billion asset divestiture plan for the first half of 2025 [1] Group 3: Strategic Moves - This acquisition marks Buffett's second significant investment in the chemical sector, following a nearly $10 billion acquisition of specialty chemicals producer Lubrizol in 2011 [1]