In the deal, it looks like $300 million are being sold to WarrenBuffett’s Berkshire and $100 million to Fairfax FinancialHoldings Limited.  This is not a new investment for Buffett.  BerkshireHathaway already holds the largest independent share of this stock.

• Full Buffett Holdings

The notes will bare a rate of 10% initially. USG will also seekshareholder approval to allow conversion of the notes into shares ofUSG common stock and if approved these will come at a conversion priceof $11.40 per share.

Here is where this deal gets interesting.  If shareholder approval isnot obtained prior to the 135th day after closing of the sale of thenotes, the notes will come to 20% per year until after shareholderapproval is obtained.

This shareholder approval should be easy to get considering thatBerkshire owns a significant chunk of it already.  Berkshire Hathawayand Fairfax have agreed to vote all shares in favor of the proposal topermit conversion of the notes.

This is really bolstering the value of the stock this morning at USG.  Shares closed yesterday at $5.66, making Buffett’s stake worth only around $100 million.  Considering that this stock has sold off 90%, that is a substantial blow without this new investment.  Shares are trading up 37% at $7.66 this morning before the open.

Jon C. Ogg
November 21, 2008

JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM) $49.63
Day’s Range:    46.30 – 50.00;   52wk Range:    29.24 – 49.95
Comment: The last stable man standing in the banking companies didn’tclose on its high but broke above it briefly.  Jamie Dimon gets to ownwhichever troubled financial institution the FDIC says he can have theassets for a song, while the acquired companies die.

Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) $40.15
Day’s Range:    38.11 – 40.85;   52wk Range:    30.19 – 40.05
Comment: After having just gone through Hurricane Ike and with Gustavhaving hit right before, Campbell Soup was the staple for millions ofpeople. I know from first hand experience. 

Commerce Bancshares Inc. (CBSH) $53.97 
Day’s Range:    45.16 – 55.50;   52wk Range:    36.50 – 52.99
Comment: Middle America must not be as buried as the rest of us.

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. (FFH) $336.30
Day’s Range:    318.46 – 355.62;   52wk Range:    208.15 – 343.00
Comment: Fairfax didn’t close on its high but hit it intraday.  This is amazing for this P&C insurer in this climate.

Treehouse Foods Inc. (THS) $30.30
Day’s Range:    29.38 – 30.45;   52wk Range:    19.24 – 30.29
Comment: As a non-perishable food player, it must love hurricanes hitting major population centers too.

Jon C. Ogg
October 1, 2008