About This Deal

Berkshire Hathaway acquired Marmon Holdings, Inc. for $4.5 billion for the initial ~60% interest (remaining minority interests acquired 2010-2014), a transaction completed in March 2008, structured as all cash (staged).

Marmon Holdings, Inc. operates in Diversified manufacturing / industrial, is based in Chicago, Illinois. Berkshire acquired about 60% of Marmon Holdings, a Chicago-based private industrial group owned by trusts for the Pritzker family, for $4.5 billion on March 18, 2008, and it agreed to buy the remaining minority interests over 2011-2014 at prices tied to Marmon's earnings. By the end of 2013 Berkshire owned substantially all of Marmon, a collection of roughly 160 independent manufacturing and service businesses.

Broad, cash-generative portfolio of niche industrial businesses with autonomous management.

Deal Terms

Acquirer
Berkshire Hathaway
Target
Marmon Holdings, Inc.
Value
$4.5 billion for the initial ~60% interest (remaining minority interests acquired 2010-2014)
Date
March 2008
Type
Full acquisition
Status
Ready

Transaction Details

Target HQ
Chicago, Illinois
Segment
Diversified manufacturing / industrial
Structure
All cash (staged)
Announced
December 25, 2007
Closed
March 18, 2008

In Their Words

On March 18, 2008, Berkshire acquired 60% of Marmon Holdings, Inc., a private company owned by trusts for the benefit of members of the Pritzker Family of Chicago for $4.5 billion.Berkshire Hathaway FY2008 10-K, Business Acquisitions note

Advisors

Advisory firms were not disclosed for this transaction.

Related Deals & Entities

Sources: Press release ↗ · Last updated July 14, 2026

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