businessman-Sokolof spent Millions to discourage people from eating fatty foods

[Guest guest]

like Burger King's hamburgers. (I think he should

work for PETA or give some money to PETA)

-

 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2002-11-27-buffett-burger-king_x.h\

tm

 

Buffett denies interest in buying Burger King

 

OMAHA (AP) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett said

Wednesday that he is not interested in buying

fast-food giant Burger King despite speculation that

he was exploring such a deal.

 

Buffett instead accused investment bankers of

spreading false reports.

 

" Obviously there are people, sometimes, who have a

financial interest in spreading rumors and in our

supposed interest in a business or security when no

such interest exists, " Buffett said in a statement

released through his assistant Wednesday.

 

Berkshire Hathaway, the Omaha-based company headed by

Buffett, had been mentioned as being among possible

bidders for the Miami-based Burger King chain of

restaurants.

 

The chain is being sold by its parent company, Diageo

of London, which wants to concentrate on its beverage

business.

 

Buffett and other Berkshire officials in recent weeks

have refused to comment on what they described as

" only speculation. "

 

Buffett said in the statement he was forced to comment

on the Burger King reports after cholesterol fighter

Phil Sokolof ran an ad in the Omaha World-Herald on

Tuesday asking Buffett not purchase to restaurant

chain. An Omaha businessman, Sokolof has spent

millions of dollars urging people to stay away from

fatty food.

 

" We never confirm nor deny such rumors. In this case,

we made an exception because of Phil Sokolof's ad, "

Buffett said. " This should emphasize the need for

readers of rumors to be suspicious and for the press

to properly label rumors as rumors. "

 

Buffett's assistant Debbie Bosanek said Buffett would

not comment beyond his prepared statements.

 

Sokolof said Tuesday that he had been considering

running his ad in other publications if Buffett

pursued buying Burger King. In the ad, Sokolof said

that buying Burger King would compromise Buffett's

integrity and soil the image of Berkshire Hathaway.

 

Sokolof did not immediately return a telephone call

seeking comment Wednesday.

 

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway already has invested in

the fast-food industry. The company owns Dairy Queen

and holds some shares in rival McDonald's.

 

 

 

 

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