DEALTALK-Buffett may eye stake sales after rail deal
(For more Reuters DEALTALKS, click [DEALTALK/])
* Buffett may sell securities to replenish cash
* Portfolio company divestments unlikely
* Cash may build up quickly again
By Lilla Zuill and Paritosh Bansal
NEW YORK, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett's latest deal -- huge even by the billionaire investor's own standards -- could put the Oracle of Omaha in the mood to sell some of his massive portfolio of stakes in marquee U.S. companies.
Before embarking on any more big takeovers, Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc (BRKa.N)(BRKb.N) could focus on replenishing its coffers by selling some securities' holdings from the 80-odd companies within the conglomerate, some Buffett watchers said.
Berkshire's $26 billion deal to take over Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp (BNI.N) comes on top of a roughly $11 billion spending spree to make a slew of major, high-yielding investments, including in Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) and General Electric (GE.N).
The Burlington Northern deal will deplete Berkshire's cash closer to the minimum $10 billion that Buffett likes to hold. The conglomerate will also take on about $8 billion in additional debt, something that Buffett is typically wary to do. Continued...




