Berkshire Hathaway to remain "attractive" after Buffett departure

Warren Buffett's eventual departure from investment conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway will not damage the company's propsects, and it will still remain "attractive" for investors, according to Morningstar Institutional Equity Research.

Senior stock analyst Greggory Warren said in a recent research report that the transition should be a smooth one.

"We think that the groundwork for a successful transition has already been in the works for the past 15 years," Warren wrote.

He said that the analysis is based on "Berkshire dedicating more and more capital to companies that could absorb the cash flow thrown off by its disparate operations, either through capital expenditures or bolt-on acquisitions."

Chairman and CEO Buffett (86) and vice chairman Charlie Munger (92) are both expected to hand over responsibility of the company in the near future, with Berkshire's Reinsurance Group head Ajit Jain touted as the new CEO.

"Berkshire will survive the departure of Buffett and Munger," Warren writes. "New management will, however, have to prove itself. We believe Jain is the first name on the board of directors' list for the position."

Buffett is one of the world's most successful investors and regularly ranks high on the Forbes' billionaire list. He had a health scare in 2012 when he was treated for prostate cancer, but made a full recovery.