Duracell, a battery manufacturer owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, is facing a lawsuit from BASF for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to the German chemical company's lithium ion battery technology. BASF claimed in a complaint filed in a Delaware federal court that Duracell misappropriated secrets during a collaboration agreement and shared confidential information with a third party. BASF invested significant resources in developing a proprietary process for producing high-performance cathode material essential for batteries. The lawsuit alleges that Duracell's actions caused substantial harm and sought damages. BASF plans to separate its battery chemicals business into autonomous units to increase earnings. Berkshire acquired Duracell from Procter & Gamble for around $2.9 billion in 2016.