Eric Platt

One of the biggest obstacles to taking a long-term view of any business – listed or unlisted – anywhere in the world is that the shelf life of CEOs of large firms tends to be short. Whilst a typical American CEO lasts only 4-5 years, even in India successful CEOs rarely get more than a decade in the top job. So, if we want to value a firm's cashflows beyond those 10 years, we have to have a view on the quality of the CEO's successor. Unfortunately, for companies (and therefore for investors) it is very hard to get succession planning right. This story in the FT is about what must be the toughest succession planning challenge ever – succeeding Warren Buffett. As the FT explains, even with an unlimited budget, with best talent in America at its disposal and with more than a decade to plan for the event, Berkshire Hathaway is having a tough time finding a successor for the legendary investor.

Deal would feed growing appetite for credit as bidders expand beyond their private equity roots

Since his first investment in 1962, Buffet has steered the company’s market capitalisation into a club dominated by tech giants such as Apple and Microsoft

GTCR and Golden Gate Capital’s potential sale of Antylia comes as the sector bucks a frustrating market for sponsors

Handful of secretive businesses including Jane Street and Citadel Securities have seized market share from the old guard

After years of preparation, the pioneering alternatives firm is on the verge of a deal or IPO

Financial Times: Berkshire’s stock-selling spree extends for eighth quarter.

Some brands had abandoned the site over moderation concerns

Lack of moderation, spike in racist content had led to an exodus by brands.