Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway is preparing for a leadership transition as it modifies its bylaws to separate the roles of Chairman and CEO, paving the way for Greg Abel to become CEO in January 2026 [2][4][6] Group 1: Leadership Transition - The board of Berkshire Hathaway voted on September 30 to officially separate the roles of Chairman and CEO, facilitating Greg Abel's future appointment as CEO [2] - Warren Buffett has led Berkshire since 1965, holding both positions, but will continue as Chairman after Abel takes over as CEO [4] - Abel has been with Berkshire since 1999 and has served as Vice Chairman of non-insurance operations since 2018, overseeing various business sectors [5] Group 2: Recent Acquisition - Berkshire Hathaway announced a $9.7 billion acquisition of Occidental Petroleum's chemical subsidiary, OxyChem, marking its largest deal in three years [7] - The announcement of the acquisition was made by Abel, indicating a shift in leadership responsibilities [8] - Berkshire is currently the largest shareholder of Occidental Petroleum, holding approximately 28% of its shares and over $8 billion in preferred stock [8] Group 3: Market Reaction - Following the acquisition announcement, Occidental Petroleum's stock price initially dropped by 8.1% but later closed with a 5.5% decline [10] - Occidental's CEO stated that $6.5 billion of the acquisition price would be used to reduce debt and repurchase shares, aiming to enhance the company's balance sheet [8][10]