Gates Touts Vaccines Ahead of Filing Deadline (MSFT, CAT, KO, MCD, FDX, BRK-A, BRK-B)

Microsoft (MSFT) founder and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates is set to pump $10 billion of his foundation’s capital into the development and delivery of vaccines to the world’s poorest countries. In an attempt to rally support from governments and the private sector, Gates explained, “We must make this the decade of vaccines.” To date, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, which has a more than $30 billion endowment, has committed $4.5 billion to the research and development of life-saving vaccines.

The endowment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, closely watched because of its value focus and close association with Warren Buffett, was incrementally adding to positions in its portfolio during the third quarter of 2009. With the deadline for 13F filings around the corner, investors will be watching closely to see where the foundation’s top positions lie.

During the third quarter, Gates was adding to blue chips Caterpillar (CAT), Coca Cola (KO), McDonalds (MCD), and FedEx (FDX), as well as Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK-A, BRK-B). While investment officer Michael Larson holds the reins, Gates’ association with Buffett leads many to believe that he may be privy to the thinking of the world’s most famous investor.

While future beneficiaries of Gates’ vaccine push remain unknown, select components of the Biotechnology Stocks Index are engaged in the development of vaccines and related technologies.

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Tags: BRK-A, BRK-B, CAT, FDX, KO, MCD, MSFT