Breaking: Berksire(BRKB) offers to buy remaining 19.9% of Wesco

By | August 26, 2010

From the just-filed 13D

The original purpose of the purchases of the Shares, all of which occurred more than 30 years ago, was to increase the ultimate control by Blue Chip of Wesco. On August 25, 2010, Berkshire’s management determined to propose to Wesco a cash-stock election transaction in which it would acquire the remaining 19.9% of the shares of Wesco that it does not presently own in exchange for Berkshire Class B shares and/or cash valued at the book value per share of Wesco as of a time reasonably contemporaneous with the closing of such a transaction. Berkshire would intend to structure such a transaction so as to be tax-free to Wesco shareholders electing stock, subject to applicable limitations. Berkshire expects to discuss such a transaction with the independent directors of Wesco. Berkshire would only proceed with such a transaction if it is approved by the Board of Directors of Berkshire and the Board of Directors of Wesco (including a majority of the independent directors of Wesco), as well as by a majority of the shares of Wesco not owned by Berkshire voted at any meeting that may be called to consider such a transaction. Berkshire does not know whether any of these approvals will be obtained. If no transaction is agreed upon and approved, Wesco will continue to operate as it does presently as an 80.1%-owned subsidiary of Berkshire.

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