Questions around this news
What change in shareholding did Mitsui announce?
Mitsui said Berkshire Hathaway informed it that, following an additional share purchase, it held at least 10% of the voting rights in Mitsui. Mitsui confirmed Berkshire Hathaway had become a major shareholder. The release says the shares had previously been acquired through National Indemnity Company, a wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary.
Why did Mitsui not report the shareholder’s exact voting-rights percentage?
The release says Mitsui did not have information about the exact proportion of voting rights held by National Indemnity Company at the time of publication. It said it would make another announcement after it could verify shareholding figures and their percentage of all shareholders’ voting rights, using amended large shareholding reports or other disclosures.
What are voting rights in a company?
Voting rights allow a shareholder to cast votes on matters put to the company’s shareholders, subject to the relevant share class and applicable rules. These matters can include director appointments or other corporate decisions. The number of votes attached to a holding may differ depending on the shares owned and their voting terms.
What is a wholly owned subsidiary?
A wholly owned subsidiary is a company whose entire ownership is held by another company, directly or through an ownership chain. The parent generally controls the subsidiary, but the subsidiary remains a separate legal entity. In corporate disclosures, identifying a subsidiary can clarify which entity holds shares or carries out a transaction.
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui”, head office: Tokyo, President and CEO: Kenichi Hori) announces that there was a change regarding a major shareholder.
October 3, 2025 -- 1. Background to the change
On September 21, 2025, Mitsui was informed by US-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc. that they now hold 10% or more of the voting rights in Mitsui as a result of an additional acquisition of our shares, and we have confirmed that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has become a major shareholder.
Prior to this additional acquisition, Mitsui confirmed that the acquisition of its shares had been conducted through a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., National Indemnity Company.
As of today, we do not have information on the exact ratio of voting rights held by National Indemnity Company. However, once we are able to confirm the number of voting rights (number of shares held) before and after the change and the percentage relative to the total voting rights of all shareholders through amendments to large shareholding reports or other disclosures, we will make a separate announcement.
2. Overview of the shareholder related to the change
3. Outlook
This change is based on information Mitsui received from Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and there are no specific facts available regarding the outlook. Prior to the additional acquisition, Mitsui confirmed that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. plans to hold Mitsui’s shares for a long period of time and intends to consider acquiring further shares in the future.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Mitsui's current assumptions, expectations and beliefs in light of the information currently possessed by it and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause Mitsui's actual results, financial position or cash flows to be materially different from any future results, financial position or cash flows expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to above include, but are not limited to, those contained in Mitsui's latest Annual Securities Report and Semi-annual Securities Report, and Mitsui undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
This announcement is published in order to publicly announce specific facts stated above, and does not constitute a solicitation of investments or any similar act inside or outside of Japan, regarding the shares, bonds or other securities issued by us.
The information contained in this release is true and accurate at the time of publication; however, it may be subject to change without prior notice.
For inquiries on this matter, please contact
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Investor Relations Division
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Division
Telephone: +81-80-5912-0321
Facsimile: +81-3-3285-9819
If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
In brief
Mitsui & Co. says it confirmed that Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has become a major shareholder after acquiring additional shares that brought its voting rights in Mitsui to 10% or more. Mitsui said Berkshire informed it of the change on September 21, 2025. Before the latest acquisition, Mitsui had confirmed that shares were acquired through Berkshire’s wholly owned subsidiary, National Indemnity Company, but it does not yet know that subsidiary’s exact voting-rights percentage. The company said it will provide a separate announcement after it can confirm the shareholding figures and percentages through updated large-shareholding reports or other disclosures. Mitsui reported no specific information about the outlook. It had previously confirmed that Berkshire intended to hold the shares long term and consider further purchases.
Key takeaways
- Mitsui confirmed Berkshire Hathaway became a major shareholder after its voting rights reached 10% or more.
- Berkshire informed Mitsui of the change on September 21, 2025.
- Mitsui does not yet have the exact voting-rights ratio held by National Indemnity Company.
- Mitsui expects to announce confirmed shareholding figures separately when they become available.
