Berkshire Proceeds With Yen Bond Sale as Japan Firms Pull Deals

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is going ahead with the marketing of yen bonds, even as at least four Japanese companies canceled or delayed debt deals in their home currency due to sharp volatility in markets.

Warren Buffett’s company marketed seven tranches of Japanese-currency notes on Tuesday, but with higher yield premiums for all of the planned bonds compared with levels last week when underwriters sounded out investor demand.

On 10-year bonds, for instance, a range of 80 to 85 basis points over swap rates was touted on April 3, but the proposed spread has increased to 95 to 105 basis points ...