Buffett hints at Indian successor

Admits to 'dumb' decisions.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett has blamed himself for making certain “dumb” investment decisions last year and has hinted at India-born Ajit Jain becoming the possible successor for his businesses.

Warning that the downturn could well continue for a longer time, Buffett, in his annual letter to shareholders, has said the economy would be in shambles through 2009.

“During 2008, I did some dumb things in investments. I made at least one major mistake of commission and several lesser ones that also hurt.

“Furthermore, I made some errors of omission, sucking my thumb when new facts came in that should have caused me to re-examine my thinking and promptly take action,” the much revered investor wrote in his annual letter to the shareholders.

Showering praise on Jain, who handles the reinsurance division, Buffett noted that there is no one like him.

“Ajit came to Berkshire in 1986. Very quickly, I realised that we had acquired an extraordinary talent. So, I did the logical thing: I wrote his parents in New Delhi and asked if they had another one like him at home.”

“Of course, I knew the answer before writing. There isn't anyone like Ajit,” Buffett said.

A former McKinsey executive, Jain is looking after the reinsurance division, “headquartered in Stamford and staffed by only 31 employees”.

Noting that this business may be one of the most remarkable in the world, the billionaire investor said that it is hard to characterise but easy to admire.

“From year to year, Ajit’s business is never the same. It features very large transactions, incredible speed of execution and a willingness to quote on policies that leave others scratching their heads. When there is a huge and unusual risk to be insured, Ajit is almost certain to be called,” Buffett pointed out.

In a sign of the financial meltdown even hitting Buffett badly, Berkshire Hathaway, his holding company, which manages diverse businesses, saw the entity’s net worth decline as much as $11.5 billion in 2008.

Buffett noted a major mistake was buying ConocoPhillips shares when oil and gas prices were near their peak.

According to him, “other already-recognisable errors” committed include buying shares of two Irish banks.

“During 2008, I spent 244 million dollars for shares of two Irish banks that appeared cheap to me.”

“At year-end, we wrote these holdings down to market: $27 million, or an 89 per cent loss. Since then, the two stocks have fallen even further. The tennis crowd would call my mistakes unforced errors,” Buffett said.