A rookie Brazilian-born reporter for Forbes has picked up a short piece in a Brazilian
paper, saying that Berkshire executives were down that way a month or so back. The article hints at possible links with the world's biggest soy producers, Maggi. http://portalexame.abril.com.br/negocios/noticias/warren-buf...
Who knows.
Meanwhile, this summer Howard Buffett awarded a Brazilian couple a National Geographic award that he sponsors, for their work establishing a 5,000 acre rain forest preserve.
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2...
"They will receive their U.S.$25,000 prizes at a ceremony at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 9. Established through a gift from Howard http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2...
http://boards.fool.com/ok-im-not-suggesting-that-i-know-anything-about-28740092.aspx?sort=username
"This doesn't sound like WEB"
**************************
I take it you don't think Buffett would chase a bubble, such as the one in Brazil's 'frontier land' (as the article puts it)? Or invest in a business that is front-and-center engaging in practices his son has come out against? Or try to do a clever do an end-run around the president of a foreign country who holds all the cards? Someone in Brazil is fanning this flame. Wouldn't be those constructing these offerings, would it?
------------
http://www.agrimoney.com/news/buffetts-land-tie-up-may-avoid...
"Warren Buffett's tie-up with sugar magnate Rubens Ometto Silveira Mello over alleged plans for a farmland buying spree in Brazil may avoid the US tycoon falling foul of a drive to keep out foreign investors.
"Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has put the brakes on a wave of foreign investment in the country's farmland... by approving a rule that restricts the ownership by foreigners.
"Considerable uncertainty surrounds the force of the new rule and how it may be applied," Stephen Johnston, a Canada-based farmland investor, said.
"While some observers have dismissed the move as pre-election posturing, others "believe there is a possibility that all farmland acquisitions since 1988 could be made null and void".
"The clampdown comes amid reports that Mr Buffett is planning to join in the foreign buying splurge which has helped drive Brazilian farmland prices up to R$50,000 ($28,600) a hectare for good quality land in areas with good transport links.
"AgraFNP, the Sao Paolo-based farm consultancy, has estimated the jump in farmland prices in frontier areas of the north east over the last three years at 54-70%.
"However, Mr Buffett's tie up with Mr Mello and oilseed magnate Blairo Maggi...may allow him to sidestep Lula's restrictions...
"Mr Buffett...is proposing to invest $400m as a minority partner in the venture, Rio de Janeiro-based newsletter Relatorio Reservado said...."Brazilian land must stay in the hands of Brazilians," Guilherme Cassel, Lula's agrarian development minister said.
paper, saying that Berkshire executives were down that way a month or so back. The article hints at possible links with the world's biggest soy producers, Maggi. http://portalexame.abril.com.br/negocios/noticias/warren-buf...
Who knows.
Meanwhile, this summer Howard Buffett awarded a Brazilian couple a National Geographic award that he sponsors, for their work establishing a 5,000 acre rain forest preserve.
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2...
"They will receive their U.S.$25,000 prizes at a ceremony at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 9. Established through a gift from Howard http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2...
http://boards.fool.com/ok-im-not-suggesting-that-i-know-anything-about-28740092.aspx?sort=username
"This doesn't sound like WEB"
**************************
I take it you don't think Buffett would chase a bubble, such as the one in Brazil's 'frontier land' (as the article puts it)? Or invest in a business that is front-and-center engaging in practices his son has come out against? Or try to do a clever do an end-run around the president of a foreign country who holds all the cards? Someone in Brazil is fanning this flame. Wouldn't be those constructing these offerings, would it?
------------
http://www.agrimoney.com/news/buffetts-land-tie-up-may-avoid...
"Warren Buffett's tie-up with sugar magnate Rubens Ometto Silveira Mello over alleged plans for a farmland buying spree in Brazil may avoid the US tycoon falling foul of a drive to keep out foreign investors.
"Brazil's president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has put the brakes on a wave of foreign investment in the country's farmland... by approving a rule that restricts the ownership by foreigners.
"Considerable uncertainty surrounds the force of the new rule and how it may be applied," Stephen Johnston, a Canada-based farmland investor, said.
"While some observers have dismissed the move as pre-election posturing, others "believe there is a possibility that all farmland acquisitions since 1988 could be made null and void".
"The clampdown comes amid reports that Mr Buffett is planning to join in the foreign buying splurge which has helped drive Brazilian farmland prices up to R$50,000 ($28,600) a hectare for good quality land in areas with good transport links.
"AgraFNP, the Sao Paolo-based farm consultancy, has estimated the jump in farmland prices in frontier areas of the north east over the last three years at 54-70%.
"However, Mr Buffett's tie up with Mr Mello and oilseed magnate Blairo Maggi...may allow him to sidestep Lula's restrictions...
"Mr Buffett...is proposing to invest $400m as a minority partner in the venture, Rio de Janeiro-based newsletter Relatorio Reservado said...."Brazilian land must stay in the hands of Brazilians," Guilherme Cassel, Lula's agrarian development minister said.
