Core Viewpoint - Berkshire Hathaway is set to acquire Occidental Petroleum's Chemicals unit for approximately $9.7 billion in an all-cash transaction, marking its largest acquisition in three years [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition price of $9.7 billion allows Occidental to reduce its leverage, which is notably high compared to its peers [2] - Berkshire Hathaway already holds a significant stake in Occidental, owning about $11 billion worth of Oxy stock, which indicates a strong interest in the parent company [2] Group 2: Industry Context - The deal reflects a broader trend in the heavy industry sector, where companies are focusing on debt reduction and divesting parts of their business [3] - Occidental's high leverage was partly due to previous acquisitions, which limited its financial flexibility, necessitating this transaction [4] - The chemical industry is currently experiencing trough cycle earnings, presenting both challenges for Occidental and opportunities for Berkshire [4][5]

Berkshire Hathaway Buys Occidental’s OxyChem For $9.7 Billion—Buffett’s Largest Deal In Yearshttps://t.co/zc2PxjWfWT https://t.co/ZJmYiwfkVg ...

Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation MISSISSAUGA, ON, Oct. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Cymat Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: CYM) (OTCQB: CYMHF) (the "Company" or "Cymat"). Today Cymat announced that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of equity Units (the "Offering"), generating gross proceeds of $1,499,500. Each Unit was priced at $0.13 with one Unit consisting of one (1) Common Share and one (1) Common Share Purchase Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price o ...

About this content About Ian Lyall Ian Lyall, a seasoned journalist and editor, brings over three decades of experience to his role as Managing Editor at Proactive. Overseeing Proactive's editorial and broadcast operations across six offices on three continents, Ian is responsible for quality control, editorial policy, and content production. He directs the creation of 50,000 pieces of real-time news, feature articles, and filmed interviews annually. Prior to Proactive, Ian helped lead the business outpu ...

Deal Overview - Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring Occidental's chemical business, OxyChem [1] - The transaction is an all-cash deal valued at $97 billion [1] Occidental's Financial Strategy - Occidental aims to reduce its debt [1] - The company's current debt load is approximately $22 billion [2] - Occidental targets to lower its debt to $15 billion [2] Market Reaction - Occidental's shares are up by just under 1% following the announcement [3] - Share prices had already increased in anticipation of the deal [3] Key Players - Berkshire Hathaway is the largest shareholder in Occidental [2] - Occidental's president and CEO, Vicky Halib, will be providing live commentary [3]

Group 1 - Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring Occidental Petroleum's chemical division, OxyChem, for $9.7 billion, marking a significant transaction for the company [1] - The acquisition utilizes less than 3% of Berkshire's cash reserves, which exceed $344 billion, and is not expected to significantly impact the conglomerate's financial performance [5][4] - OxyChem produces various chemicals, including chlorine for water treatment and vinyl chloride for plastics, complementing Berkshire's existing portfolio, particularly Lubrizol [6] Group 2 - Warren Buffett's involvement in the deal is implied, despite his absence in the official announcement, indicating a potential transition of leadership to Vice Chair Greg Abel [2][3] - Analysts are observing how Abel's leadership style and deal-making approach may differ from Buffett's as he prepares to take over as CEO [7][8] - The market reaction to the acquisition was lukewarm, with Berkshire's shares slightly declining and Occidental's shares dropping over 7% following the announcement [5]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to acquire Occidental Petroleum's OxyChem segment for $9.7 billion, with the transaction expected to close in Q4 2025 [1][5]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - OxyChem produces standardized chemicals used in various applications, including water treatment, pharmaceuticals, and construction [2]. - The chemicals manufactured by OxyChem include chlorine, caustic soda, polyvinyl chloride, and ethylene [2]. - Occidental's other subsidiary will retain OxyChem's legacy environmental liabilities, while Glenn Springs Holdings will manage existing remedial projects [3]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The acquisition enhances Occidental Petroleum's financial position, allowing the company to concentrate on its core oil and gas business and pursue further development and acquisitions [5]. - OxyChem has been recognized as a well-managed business with skilled employees, and there is confidence in its continued success under Berkshire Hathaway's ownership [6]. Group 3: Operational Footprint - OxyChem operates manufacturing plants at 21 domestic sites across various states in the U.S. and at two international locations in Canada and Chile [6].

Group 1 - Berkshire will acquire the chemical business in an all-cash transaction [1]

Core Viewpoint - A former Societe Generale banker and a group of traders are facing a criminal trial in France for allegedly profiting approximately €18 million ($21.1 million) from insider information related to a US stock about a decade ago [1]. Group 1: Individuals Involved - The trial will involve former SocGen managing director Stéphane Fima and traders Lucien Selce and Alexis Kuperfis, with court hearings tentatively scheduled to begin in February [2]. - Fima is accused of using a burner phone to share confidential information regarding Air Liquide SA's acquisition of Airgas Inc., with Selce allegedly making €9.9 million and Kuperfis about €4.4 million from the insider information [3]. Group 2: Legal Context and Implications - This trial marks the first significant insider trading case in France, part of a broader effort to combat insider trading alongside US and UK authorities [4]. - The case presents an opportunity for the Parquet National Financier to establish a precedent in a country that has not seen major insider trading convictions in years [4]. Group 3: Evidence and Investigation - Investigators conducted surprise inspections across France and relied on wiretaps of Fima's burner phone conversations as critical evidence, despite challenges to the wiretap's validity [6]. - French authorities utilized phone records to track the suspects' movements and uncover their use of disposable prepaid phones to evade detection [7]. Group 4: Additional Accusations - Other individuals, including Seligman, Mareuse, and Van Houtte de la Chaise, are also accused of profiting from the insider information, with respective gains of €3.3 million and €225,000 [8]. - Fima, Selce, and Seligman are involved in a separate criminal case concerning suspicious transactions related to CGG SA amid a takeover attempt by Technip SA [9].

Core Viewpoint - Tronox Holdings plc is facing a class action securities lawsuit due to alleged securities fraud that negatively impacted investors between February 12, 2025, and July 30, 2025 [1][2] Company Performance - The lawsuit claims that Tronox provided overly positive statements while concealing material adverse facts about its commercial division and demand forecasting for its pigment and zircon products [2] - Following a significant reduction in TiO2 sales reported on July 30, 2025, Tronox lowered its full-year revenue guidance and reduced its dividend by 60% [2] - The company's stock price plummeted from $5.14 per share on July 30, 2025, to $3.19 per share on July 31, 2025, marking a decline of approximately 38% in one day [2] Legal Proceedings - Investors who suffered losses during the specified timeframe have until November 3, 2025, to request appointment as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit [3] - Class members may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket costs or fees [3] Firm Background - Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has a strong track record in securities litigation, having secured hundreds of millions of dollars for shareholders over the past 20 years [4] - The firm has been recognized in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report for seven consecutive years as one of the leading securities litigation firms in the U.S. [4]