Berkshire Hathaway's $1.7 Billion Yen Bond Sale leverages a track record to overcome market volatility

Investors participated in the $1.7 billion yen-denominated bond sale by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. despite rising volatility in Japanese government bonds. The company sold ¥272.3 billion across six tranches with maturities ranging from three to 30 years. The 10-year notes carried a coupon of 3.084%, an increase from the 2.422% coupon on 10-year notes sold in November 2025. This deal marks the company's first yen bond offering since Warren Buffett stepped down as chief executive officer. The sale was the company's third-largest yen deal on record, following a ¥430 billion debut in 2019 and a ¥281.8 billion sale in October 2024. According to Shunsuke Oshida, managing director at Manulife Investment Management (Japan) Ltd., issuers with a track record and exposure to Japan offer reassurance to investors in volatile environments where lesser-known issuers struggle to come to market.