Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. didnt break promises on retirement benefits to employees of a brick-making business it acquired in 2000, the company said in a challenge to a lawsuit filed last month.

Warren Buffett, the second-richest man in the U.S., said his eventual successor as chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. should be the companys sole manager getting stock options as compensation.

The billionaire investor says public pension plans threaten the financial health of U.S. cities and states more than taxpayers realize.