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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Buffett's Heinz deal points to rebounding U.S. M&A business, (NYSE: BRK-A), (NYSE: BRK-B), (NYSE: TRI), (TSE: TRI.TO)

U.S. merger and acquisitions activity has surged in the first two months of the year, as strong equity markets and cheap debt financing give chief executives renewed confidence to pursue large takeovers that they had shunned in past years. An announcement Thursday that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway would purchase ketchup maker H.J. Heinz Co was perhaps one of the most attention grabbing of $158.5 billion of deals in the United States so far in 2013.That is more than double the activity in the same period last year and accounting for 57 percent of global deal volumes, according to Thomson Reuters Deals Intelligence.The strong showing in U.S. dealmaking contributed to a 16.5 percent rise in worldwide M&A volumes to $276.0 billion compared to the same period a year ago. That marks the highest level since the 2007 dealmaking heyday when global deal volumes totaled $407.5 billion.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities. Shares of BRK-A traded higher by 1.06% or $1560.0312/share to $149310.03. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $117000.00 and as high as $148562.00. On average, 73650 shares of BRK-A exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 497.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities. Shares of BRK-B traded higher by 1.27% or $1.24/share to $99.21. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $77.98 and as high as $99.00. On average, 4489370 shares of BRK-B exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 4836574.

Thomson Reuters Corporation (Thomson Reuters) is a provider of information for the world?s businesses and professionals. Shares of TRI traded higher by 0.93% or $0.2795/share to $30.24. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $26.20 and as high as $31.18. On average, 784348 shares of TRI exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1286045.

Thomson Reuters Corporation (Thomson Reuters) is a provider of information for the world?s businesses and professionals. Shares of TRI traded higher by 0.7% or $0.21/share to $30.23. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $26.65 and as high as $31.22. On average, 854046 shares of TRI.TO exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 1382935.



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