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HAL Trust is an international investment company with a diversified portfolio, primarily focused on acquiring significant equity stakes in both publicly traded and private companies across various industries. Headquartered in the Netherlands, HAL Trust manages investments through subsidiaries involved in optical retail, technology, media, and other sectors. Its most notable businesses include GrandVision, a global optical retailer, and unlisted companies in fields such as audio-visual communications and healthcare. HAL Trust has a strategic focus on long-term value creation, utilizing a decentralized management model to leverage local expertise in its investments. The trust's historical roots trace back to 1873 with the founding of the Holland America Line, though its current investment orientation reflects a shift initiated in the mid-20th century toward diverse asset management.

Berkshire Hathaway is a holding company with a wide array of subsidiaries engaged in diverse activities. The firm's core business segment is insurance, run primarily through Geico, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, and Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. Berkshire has used the excess cash thrown off from its operations to acquire Burlington Northern Santa Fe (railroad), Berkshire Hathaway Energy (utilities and energy distributors), and the companies that make up its manufacturing, service, and retailing operations (which include Precision Castparts, Lubrizol, Clayton Homes, Marmon, and IMC/ISCAR). The conglomerate is unique in that it is run on a completely decentralized basis.