a6492698.htm
 
   
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
 
OR
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from                      to                     
 
Commission file number 001-14905
 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
47-0813844
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
3555 Farnam Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131
(Address of principal executive office)
(Zip Code)
 
(402) 346-1400
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes  x    No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer  x
Accelerated filer  ¨
Non-accelerated filer  ¨
Smaller reporting company  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).     Yes  ¨    No  x
 
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of October 29, 2010:
 
  Class A —           956,153
  Class B —  1,037,798,904
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
 
 
Page No.
 
     
 
 
            2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
5
 
6-20
21-34
34
34
   
 
     
35
35
35
35
35
35
36
   
36
 
 
1

 
Part I Financial Information
 
Item 1. Financial Statements
 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions)

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Insurance and Other:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 30,772     $ 28,223  
Investments:
               
Fixed maturity securities
    35,160       35,729  
Equity securities
    55,320       56,562  
Other
    22,351       29,440  
Receivables
    18,079       14,792  
Inventories
    6,924       6,147  
Property, plant and equipment
    15,396       15,720  
Goodwill
    28,069       27,614  
Other
    13,020       13,070  
      225,091       227,297  
                 
Railroad, Utilities and Energy:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    2,646       429  
Property, plant and equipment
    76,628       30,936  
Goodwill
    20,096       5,334  
Other
    14,109       8,072  
      113,479       44,771  
                 
Finance and Financial Products:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
    1,043       1,906  
Investments in fixed maturity securities
    1,193       1,402  
Other investments
    3,053       3,160  
Loans and finance receivables
    15,406       13,989  
Goodwill
    1,031       1,024  
Other
    3,683       3,570  
      25,409       25,051  
    $ 363,979     $ 297,119  
                 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Insurance and Other:
               
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
  $ 61,173     $ 59,416  
Unearned premiums
    9,063       7,925  
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits
    7,460       5,228  
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
    15,798       15,530  
Notes payable and other borrowings
    12,151       4,561  
      105,645       92,660  
                 
Railroad, Utilities and Energy:
               
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
    12,446       5,895  
Notes payable and other borrowings
    31,965       19,579  
      44,411       25,474  
                 
Finance and Financial Products:
               
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
    1,121       937  
Derivative contract liabilities
    11,052       9,269  
Notes payable and other borrowings
    14,547       13,769  
      26,720       23,975  
Income taxes, principally deferred
    32,606       19,225  
Total liabilities
    209,382       161,334  
                 
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Common stock
    8       8  
Capital in excess of par value
    38,123       27,074  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    16,723       17,793  
Retained earnings
    94,817       86,227  
Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ equity
    149,671       131,102  
Noncontrolling interests
    4,926       4,683  
Total shareholders’ equity
    154,597       135,785  
    $ 363,979     $ 297,119  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
2

 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(dollars in millions except per share amounts)
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
 
Revenues:
                       
Insurance and Other:
                       
Insurance premiums earned
  $ 9,054     $ 6,595     $ 23,344     $ 21,263  
Sales and service revenues
    17,408       16,178       50,149       46,075  
Interest, dividend and other investment income
    1,239       1,425       4,048       4,313  
Investment gains/losses
    473       123       2,169       (214 )
Other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments
    (15 )     (25 )     (15 )     (3,151 )
      28,159       24,296       79,695       68,286  
                                 
Railroad, Utilities and Energy:
                               
Operating revenues
    7,155       2,741       18,889       8,212  
Other
    60       71       142       204  
      7,215       2,812       19,031       8,416  
                                 
Finance and Financial Products:
                               
Interest, dividend and other investment income
    395       356       1,197       1,077  
Investment gains/losses
          (13 )     5       (43 )
Derivative gains/losses
    (146 )     1,732       (1,911 )     2,572  
Other
    651       721       2,003       1,987  
      900       2,796       1,294       5,593  
      36,274       29,904       100,020       82,295  
                                 
Costs and expenses:
                               
Insurance and Other:
                               
Insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses
    6,254       4,125       14,357       14,211  
Life, annuity and health insurance benefits
    861       461       3,240       1,399  
Insurance underwriting expenses
    1,634       1,475       4,381       4,708  
Cost of sales and services
    14,439       13,614       41,537       38,700  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    1,896       2,015       5,650       6,051  
Interest expense
    71       44       206       144  
      25,155       21,734       69,371       65,213  
                                 
Railroad, Utilities and Energy:
                               
Cost of sales and operating expenses
    5,251       2,080       14,143       6,390  
Interest expense
    421       291       1,162       880  
      5,672       2,371       15,305       7,270  
                                 
Finance and Financial Products:
                               
Interest expense
    176       159       530       468  
Other
    737       801       2,244       2,257  
      913       960       2,774       2,725  
      31,740       25,065       87,450       75,208  
                                 
Earnings before income taxes and equity method earnings
    4,534       4,839       12,570       7,087  
Income tax expense
    1,415       1,601       3,599       2,107  
Earnings from equity method investments
          111       50       307  
Net earnings
    3,119       3,349       9,021       5,287  
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests
    130       111       431       288  
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway
  $ 2,989     $ 3,238     $ 8,590     $ 4,999  
Average common shares outstanding *
    1,647,593       1,551,727       1,631,489       1,550,986  
Net earnings per share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders *
  $ 1,814     $ 2,087     $ 5,265     $ 3,223  
 

*
Average shares outstanding include average Class A common shares and average Class B common shares determined on an equivalent Class A common stock basis. Net earnings per common share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shown above represents net earnings per equivalent Class A common share. Net earnings per Class B common share is equal to one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of such amount.
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
3

 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
 
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net earnings
  $ 9,021     $ 5,287  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows:
               
Investment (gains) losses and other-than-temporary impairment losses
    (2,159 )     3,408  
Depreciation
    3,109       2,315  
Other
    203       (101 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities before business acquisitions:
               
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    1,974       2,244  
Deferred charges reinsurance assumed
    150       (8 )
Unearned premiums
    1,168       802  
Receivables and originated loans
    (3,295 )     (252 )
Derivative contract assets and liabilities
    1,732       (4,315 )
Income taxes
    757       693  
Other assets and liabilities
    1,171       1,953  
Net cash flows from operating activities
    13,831       12,026  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of fixed maturity securities
    (7,039 )     (8,939 )
Purchases of equity securities
    (3,893 )     (3,204 )
Purchases of other investments
          (6,068 )
Sales of fixed maturity securities
    3,646       3,222  
Redemptions and maturities of fixed maturity securities
    4,882       4,003  
Sales of equity securities
    4,532       2,126  
Purchases of loans and finance receivables
    (2,063 )     (227 )
Principal collections on loans and finance receivables
    2,255       618  
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
    (15,376 )     (75 )
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (4,291 )     (3,803 )
Other
    (803 )     1,218  
Net cash flows from investing activities
    (18,150 )     (11,129 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Proceeds from borrowings of insurance and other businesses
    8,164       79  
Proceeds from borrowings of railroad, utilities and energy businesses
    1,731       1,241  
Proceeds from borrowings of finance businesses
    1,039       1,550  
Repayments of borrowings of insurance and other businesses
    (380 )     (680 )
Repayments of borrowings of railroad, utilities and energy businesses
    (382 )     (383 )
Repayments of borrowings of finance businesses
    (1,823 )     (322 )
Change in short term borrowings, net
    (59 )     (721 )
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests and other
    (49 )     (377 )
Net cash flows from financing activities
    8,241       387  
Effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes
    (19 )     96  
Increase/decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    3,903       1,380  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year *
    30,558       25,539  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of first nine months *
  $ 34,461     $ 26,919  
                 
* Cash and cash equivalents are comprised of the following:
               
Beginning of year—
               
Insurance and Other
  $ 28,223     $ 24,356  
Railroad, Utilities and Energy
    429       280  
Finance and Financial Products
    1,906       903  
    $ 30,558     $ 25,539  
End of first nine months—
               
Insurance and Other
  $ 30,772     $ 23,956  
Railroad, Utilities and Energy
    2,646       744  
Finance and Financial Products
    1,043       2,219  
    $ 34,461     $ 26,919  
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
4

 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(dollars in millions)
 
   
Berkshire Hathaway shareholders’ equity
       
   
Common stock
and capital in
excess of par
value
   
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
   
Retained
earnings
   
Total
   
Non-
controlling
interests
 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 27,141     $ 3,954     $ 78,172     $ 109,267     $ 4,440  
Net earnings
                4,999       4,999       288  
Other comprehensive income, net
          11,753             11,753       183  
Issuance of common stock and other transactions
    172                   172        
Changes in noncontrolling interests:
                                       
Interests acquired and other transactions
    (227 )     109             (118 )     (302 )
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 27,086     $ 15,816     $ 83,171     $ 126,073     $ 4,609  
                                         
                                         
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 27,082     $ 17,793     $ 86,227     $ 131,102     $ 4,683  
Net earnings
                8,590       8,590       431  
Other comprehensive income, net
          (1,070 )           (1,070 )     (17 )
Issuance of common stock and other transactions
    11,067                   11,067        
Changes in noncontrolling interests:
                                       
Interests acquired and other transactions
    (18 )                 (18 )     (171 )
Balance at September 30, 2010
  $ 38,131     $ 16,723     $ 94,817     $ 149,671     $ 4,926  
                                         

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
(dollars in millions)

   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire:
                       
Net earnings
  $ 2,989     $ 3,238     $ 8,590     $ 4,999  
Other comprehensive income:
                               
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments
    5,422       12,821       (480 )     13,954  
Applicable income taxes
    (1,901 )     (4,568 )     168       (4,971 )
Reclassification of investment appreciation in earnings
    (441 )     (98 )     (1,152 )     3,329  
Applicable income taxes
    154       34       403       (1,165 )
Foreign currency translation
    726       294       (175 )     871  
Applicable income taxes
    (30 )     (78 )     (6 )     (18 )
Prior service cost and actuarial gains/losses of defined benefit plans
    (22 )     30       41       (135 )
Applicable income taxes
    1       (10 )     (13 )     11  
Other, net
    (35 )     (114 )     144       (123 )
Other comprehensive income, net
    3,874       8,311       (1,070 )     11,753  
Comprehensive income attributable to Berkshire
  $ 6,863     $ 11,549     $ 7,520     $ 16,752  
Comprehensive income of noncontrolling interests
  $ 170     $ 272     $ 414     $ 471  
 
 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
5

 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
and Subsidiaries
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2010
 
Note 1.    General
 
The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire” or “Company”) consolidated with the accounts of all its subsidiaries and affiliates in which Berkshire holds controlling financial interests as of the financial statement date. In these notes the terms “us,” “we,” or “our” refer to Berkshire and its consolidated subsidiaries.  Reference is made to Berkshire’s most recently issued Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) that included information necessary or useful to understanding Berkshire’s businesses and financial statement presentations. Our significant accounting policies and practices were presented as Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Annual Report. Certain immaterial amounts in 2009 have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. Financial information in this Report reflects any adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to a fair statement of results for the interim periods in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
 
For a number of reasons, our results for interim periods are not normally indicative of results to be expected for the year. The timing and magnitude of catastrophe losses incurred by insurance subsidiaries and the estimation error inherent to the process of determining liabilities for unpaid losses of insurance subsidiaries can be relatively more significant to results of interim periods than to results for a full year. Variations in the amounts and timing of investment gains/losses and other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments can cause significant variations in periodic net earnings. Investment gains/losses are recorded when investments are sold or in instances when investments are required to be marked-to-market. In addition, changes in the fair value of derivative assets/liabilities associated with derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment can cause significant variations in periodic net earnings.
 
Note 2.    New accounting pronouncements
 
We adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-16 and ASU 2009-17 as of January 1, 2010. ASU 2009-16 eliminated the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (“QSPE”) and the exemption of QSPEs from previous consolidation guidance and also modified the criteria for derecognizing financial assets by transferors. ASU 2009-17 amended the standards related to consolidation of variable interest entities. ASU 2009-17 included new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities and increased the frequency in which reassessments must be made to determine the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities. See Note 14 for a description of the effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements from adopting this guidance.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurements.” ASU 2010-06 requires the separate disclosure of significant transfers into and out of the Level 1 and Level 2 categories; requires fair value measurement disclosures for each class of assets and liabilities; and requires disclosures about valuation techniques and inputs used in Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. These disclosure requirements became effective at the beginning of 2010. In addition, effective in fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2010, ASU 2010-06 also requires Level 3 disclosures of activity on a gross rather than a net basis. We do not anticipate that the remaining disclosures under ASU 2010-06 will have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-20, “Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses.”  ASU 2010-20 requires increased disclosures about the credit quality of financing receivables and allowances for credit losses, including disclosure about credit quality indicators, past due information and modifications of finance receivables.  The guidance is generally effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2010.  We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2010-20 will have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
In October 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-26, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts.”  ASU 2010-26 modifies the types of costs incurred by insurance entities that are deferred in the acquiring or renewing of insurance contracts.  ASU 2010-26 requires that only direct incremental costs related to successful efforts are capitalized. Capitalized  costs may include certain advertising costs which are allowed to be capitalized if the primary purpose of the advertising is to elicit sales to customers proven to have responded directly to the advertising and the probable future revenues generated from the advertising are proven to be in excess of expected future costs to be incurred in realizing those revenues.  ASU 2010-26 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and may be applied on a prospective or retrospective basis.  We are evaluating the effect of ASU 2010-26 on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
6

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 3.    Acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
 
Our long-held acquisition strategy is to purchase businesses with consistent earnings power, good returns on equity and able and honest management at sensible prices.
 
On February 12, 2010, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation that we did not already own (about 264.5 million shares or 77.5%) for aggregate consideration of $26.5 billion that consisted of cash of approximately $15.9 billion with the remainder in Berkshire common stock (80,931 Class A shares and 20,976,621 Class B shares). Approximately 50% of the cash component was funded with existing cash balances and the remaining 50% was funded with proceeds from debt issued by Berkshire. The acquisition was completed through the merger of a wholly-owned merger subsidiary (a Delaware limited liability company) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation. The merger subsidiary was the surviving entity and was renamed Burlington Northern Santa Fe, LLC (“BNSF”). BNSF is based in Fort Worth, Texas, and through BNSF Railway Company operates one of the largest railroad systems in North America with approximately 32,000 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces.
 
Prior to February 12, 2010, we owned 76.8 million shares of BNSF (22.5% of the outstanding shares), which were acquired between August 2006 and January 2009. We accounted for those shares pursuant to the equity method and as of February 12, 2010, our investment had a carrying value of $6.6 billion. We are accounting for the acquisition of BNSF pursuant to the acquisition method under Accounting Standards Codification Section 805 Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Upon completion of the acquisition of the remaining BNSF shares, we were required under ASC 805 to re-measure our previously owned investment in BNSF at fair value as of the acquisition date. In the first quarter of 2010, we recognized a one-time holding gain of approximately $1.0 billion for the difference between the fair value of the BNSF shares and our carrying value under the equity method.
 
The purchase price allocation at September 30, 2010 is substantially complete; however, additional analysis could result in a change in the total amount of goodwill.  The allocation of the aggregate $34.5 billion purchase price (including the fair value of the previously owned shares of BNSF and the value of certain BNSF outstanding equity awards that were converted into Berkshire Class B equity awards on the acquisition date) to BNSF’s assets and liabilities is summarized below (in millions):

Assets:
     
Liabilities and Net assets acquired:
     
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 971  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
  $ 6,623  
Property, plant and equipment
    43,987  
Notes payable and other borrowings
    11,142  
Goodwill
    14,803  
Income taxes, principally deferred
    13,203  
Other
    5,702         30,968  
    $ 65,463  
Net assets acquired
    34,495  
              $ 65,463  
 
BNSF’s financial statements are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning as of February 12, 2010. The following table sets forth certain unaudited pro forma consolidated earnings data for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, as if the BNSF acquisition was consummated on the same terms at the beginning of 2010 and 2009. Amounts are in millions, except earnings per share.

   
2010
   
2009
 
Total revenues
  $ 101,838     $ 92,807  
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders
    8,836       6,021  
Earnings per equivalent Class A common share attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders
    5,367       3,658  

 
7

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 4.    Investments in fixed maturity securities
 
Investments in securities with fixed maturities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized below (in millions).
 
   
Amortized
Cost
   
Unrealized
Gains
   
Unrealized
Losses *
   
Fair
Value
 
September 30, 2010
                       
U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies
  $ 2,182     $ 68     $     $ 2,250  
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
    3,440       263             3,703  
Foreign governments
    11,705       349       (29 )     12,025  
Corporate bonds
    13,146       2,587       (813 )     14,920  
Mortgage-backed securities
    3,104       365       (14 )     3,455  
    $ 33,577     $ 3,632     $ (856 )   $ 36,353  
                                 
Insurance and other
  $ 32,505     $ 3,511     $ (856 )   $ 35,160  
Finance and financial products
    1,072       121             1,193  
    $ 33,577     $ 3,632     $ (856 )   $ 36,353  
                                 
December 31, 2009
                               
U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies
  $ 2,362     $ 46     $ (1 )   $ 2,407  
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
    3,689       275       (1 )     3,963  
Foreign governments
    11,518       368       (42 )     11,844  
Corporate bonds
    13,094       2,080       (502 )     14,672  
Mortgage-backed securities
    3,961       310       (26 )     4,245  
    $ 34,624     $ 3,079     $ (572 )   $ 37,131  
                                 
Insurance and other
  $ 33,317     $ 2,984     $ (572 )   $ 35,729  
Finance and financial products
    1,307       95             1,402  
    $ 34,624     $ 3,079     $ (572 )   $ 37,131  

*
Includes $774 million at September 30, 2010 and $471 million at December 31, 2009, related to securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more.
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities with fixed maturities at September 30, 2010 are summarized below by contractual maturity dates. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers of certain of the securities retain early call or prepayment rights. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Due in one
year or less
   
Due after one
year through
five years
   
Due after five
years through
ten years
   
Due after
ten years
   
Mortgage-backed
securities
   
Total
 
Amortized cost
  $ 7,067     $ 14,310     $ 6,126     $ 2,970     $ 3,104     $ 33,577  
Fair value
    7,249       15,875       6,141       3,633       3,455       36,353  
 
 
8

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 5.    Investments in equity securities
 
Investments in equity securities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized below (in millions).
 
   
Cost Basis
   
Unrealized
Gains
   
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
September 30, 2010
                       
American Express Company
  $ 1,287     $ 5,085     $     $ 6,372  
The Coca-Cola Company
    1,299       10,405             11,704  
The Procter & Gamble Company
    4,321       20             4,341  
Wells Fargo & Company
    7,856       2,487       (1,484 )     8,859  
Other
    22,293       6,025       (2,000 )     26,318  
    $ 37,056     $ 24,022     $ (3,484 )   $ 57,594  
                                 
Insurance and other
  $ 36,387     $ 22,412     $ (3,479 )   $ 55,320  
Railroad, utilities and energy *
    232       1,576             1,808  
Finance and financial products *
    437       34       (5 )     466  
    $ 37,056     $ 24,022     $ (3,484 )   $ 57,594  
                                 
December 31, 2009
                               
American Express Company
  $ 1,287     $ 4,856     $     $ 6,143  
The Coca-Cola Company
    1,299       10,101             11,400  
The Procter & Gamble Company
    4,962       78             5,040  
Wells Fargo & Company
    7,394       2,721       (1,094 )     9,021  
Other
    22,265       7,118       (1,953 )     27,430  
    $ 37,207     $ 24,874     $ (3,047 )   $ 59,034  
                                 
Insurance and other
  $ 36,538     $ 23,070     $ (3,046 )   $ 56,562  
Railroad, utilities and energy *
    232       1,754             1,986  
Finance and financial products *
    437       50       (1 )     486  
    $ 37,207     $ 24,874     $ (3,047 )   $ 59,034  

*
Included in Other assets.
 
Unrealized losses of other equity investments at September 30, 2010 included $1,587 million related to securities that have been in an unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. Approximately 97% of these losses at September 30, 2010 were concentrated in four issuers. In addition, although our investment in Wells Fargo & Company is in a net unrealized gain position of $1,003 million, certain of the shares with aggregate unrealized losses of $920 million have been in an unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months. We use no bright-line test in determining whether impairments are temporary or other than temporary. We consider several factors in determining other-than-temporary impairment losses including the current and expected long-term business prospects of the issuer, the length of time and relative magnitude of the price decline and our ability and intent to hold the investment until the price recovers. In our judgment, the future earnings potential and underlying business economics of these companies are favorable and we possess the ability and intent to hold these securities until their prices recover. Changes in market conditions and other facts and circumstances may change the business prospects of these issuers as well as our ability and intent to hold these securities until the prices recover.
 
 
9

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 6.    Other Investments
 
A summary of other investments follows (in millions).
 
   
Cost
   
Unrealized
Gains
   
Fair
Value
   
Carrying
Value
 
September 30, 2010
                       
Fixed maturity securities
  $ 5,400     $ 1,230     $ 6,630     $ 5,400  
Equity securities
    15,689       4,315       20,004       20,004  
    $ 21,089     $ 5,545     $ 26,634     $ 25,404  
                                 
Insurance and other
  $ 18,347     $ 5,220     $ 23,567     $ 22,351  
Finance and financial products
    2,742       325       3,067       3,053  
    $ 21,089     $ 5,545     $ 26,634     $ 25,404  
                                 
December 31, 2009
                               
Fixed maturity and equity securities
  $ 21,089     $ 5,879     $ 26,968     $ 26,014  
Equity method
    5,851       1,721       7,572       6,586  
    $ 26,940     $ 7,600     $ 34,540     $ 32,600  
                                 
Insurance and other
  $ 24,198     $ 7,172     $ 31,370     $ 29,440  
Finance and financial products
    2,742       428       3,170       3,160  
    $ 26,940     $ 7,600     $ 34,540     $ 32,600  
 
Fixed maturity and equity investments in the preceding table include our investments in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (“GS”) and The General Electric Company (“GE”) that we made in 2008 and investments in Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd. (“Swiss Re”) and The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) that we made in 2009. In addition, fixed maturity and equity investments include investments in Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (“Wrigley”) that we made in both 2008 and 2009. Additional information regarding these investments follows.
 
We own 50,000 shares of 10% Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock of GS (“GS Preferred”) and Warrants to purchase 43,478,260 shares of common stock of GS (“GS Warrants”) which were acquired for a combined cost of $5 billion. The GS Preferred may be redeemed at any time by GS at a price of $110,000 per share ($5.5 billion in aggregate). The GS Warrants expire in 2013 and can be exercised for an additional aggregate cost of $5 billion ($115/share). We also own 30,000 shares of 10% Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock of GE (“GE Preferred”) and Warrants to purchase 134,831,460 shares of common stock of GE (“GE Warrants”) which were acquired for a combined cost of $3 billion. The GE Preferred may be redeemed by GE beginning in October 2011 at a price of $110,000 per share ($3.3 billion in aggregate). The GE Warrants expire in 2013 and can be exercised for an additional aggregate cost of $3 billion ($22.25/share).
 
We own $4.4 billion par amount of 11.45% subordinated notes due in 2018 of Wrigley and $2.1 billion of 5% preferred stock of Wrigley that we acquired in 2008. During 2009, we also acquired $1.0 billion par amount of Wrigley senior notes due in 2013 and 2014. The Wrigley subordinated and senior notes are classified as held-to-maturity and accordingly we are carrying these investments at cost.
 
In 2009, we acquired a 12% convertible perpetual capital instrument issued by Swiss Re at a cost of $2.7 billion. The instrument has a face amount of 3 billion Swiss Francs (“CHF”) and has no maturity or mandatory redemption date but can be redeemed under certain conditions at the option of Swiss Re at 140% of the face amount until March 23, 2011 and thereafter at 120% of the face amount. The instrument possesses no voting rights and is subordinated to senior securities of Swiss Re as defined in the agreement. Beginning on March 23, 2012, the instrument can be converted at our option into 120,000,000 common shares of Swiss Re (a rate of 25 CHF per share of Swiss Re common stock). On November 3, 2010, we entered into an agreement with Swiss Re providing for the redemption of the capital instrument in exchange for aggregate consideration of approximately 3.9 billion CHF to be paid in installments of 180 million CHF on November 25, 2010 and approximately 3.7 billion CHF on January 10, 2011.
 
 
10

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 6.    Other Investments (Continued)
 
In 2009, we acquired 3,000,000 shares of Series A Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of Dow (“Dow Preferred”) for a cost of $3 billion.  Under certain conditions, each share of the Dow Preferred is convertible into 24.201 shares of Dow common stock. Beginning in April 2014, if Dow’s common stock price exceeds $53.72 per share for any 20 trading days in a consecutive 30-day window, Dow, at its option, at any time, in whole or in part, may convert the Dow Preferred into Dow common stock at the then applicable conversion rate. The Dow Preferred is entitled to dividends at a rate of 8.5% per annum.
 
As of December 31, 2009, we owned 22.5% of BNSF’s outstanding common stock. As of December 31, 2009, our equity in net assets of BNSF was $2,884 million and the excess of our carrying value over our equity in net assets of BNSF was $3,702 million. Prior to February 12, 2010, we accounted for our investment in BNSF pursuant to the equity method.  Upon completion of the acquisition of the remaining outstanding shares of BNSF, we discontinued the use of the equity method.  See Note 3.
 
Note 7.    Investment gains/losses
 
Investment gains/losses are summarized below (in millions).
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Fixed maturity securities —
                       
Gross gains from sales and other disposals
  $ 19     $ 44     $ 587     $ 216  
Gross losses from sales and other disposals
    (9 )     (8 )     (12 )     (17 )
Equity securities —
                               
Gross gains from sales and other disposals
    522       94       857       189  
Gross losses from sales
    (76 )     (7 )     (265 )     (566 )
Other *
    17       (13 )     1,007       (79 )
    $ 473     $ 110     $ 2,174     $ (257 )
 
Net investment gains/losses are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings as follows.
 
Insurance and other *
  $ 473     $ 123     $ 2,169     $ (214 )
Finance and financial products
          (13 )     5       (43 )
    $ 473     $ 110     $ 2,174     $ (257 )

*
The first nine months of 2010 includes a one-time holding gain of $979 million related to the BNSF acquisition.  See Note 3.
 
Note 8.    Receivables
 
Receivables of insurance and other businesses are comprised of the following (in millions).
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Insurance premiums receivable
  $ 6,953     $ 5,295  
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses
    2,974       2,922  
Trade and other receivables
    8,559       6,977  
Allowances for uncollectible accounts
    (407 )     (402 )
    $ 18,079     $ 14,792  
 
Loans and finance receivables of finance and financial products businesses are comprised of the following (in millions).
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Consumer installment loans and finance receivables
  $ 14,141     $ 12,779  
Commercial loans and finance receivables
    1,635       1,558  
Allowances for uncollectible loans
    (370 )     (348 )
    $ 15,406     $ 13,989  
 
 
11

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 9.    Inventories
 
Inventories are comprised of the following (in millions).
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Raw materials
  $ 1,043     $ 924  
Work in process and other
    518       438  
Finished manufactured goods
    2,099       1,959  
Purchased goods
    3,264       2,826  
    $ 6,924     $ 6,147  
                 
Note 10.    Goodwill
 
A reconciliation of the change in the carrying value of goodwill is as follows (in millions).
             
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Balance at beginning of year
  $ 33,972     $ 33,781  
Acquisition of BNSF
    14,803        
Other 
    421       191  
Ending balance
  $ 49,196     $ 33,972  
 
Note 11.    Property, plant and equipment
 
Property, plant and equipment of insurance and other businesses is comprised of the following (in millions).
 
   
Ranges of
estimated useful life
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Land
      $ 751     $ 740  
Buildings and improvements
 
3 – 40  years
      4,704       4,606  
Machinery and equipment
 
3 – 25  years
      11,105       10,845  
Furniture, fixtures and other
 
3 – 20  years
      1,625       1,595  
Assets held for lease
 
12 – 30  years
      5,772       5,706  
              23,957       23,492  
Accumulated depreciation
            (8,561 )     (7,772 )
            $ 15,396     $ 15,720  
 
Depreciation expense of insurance and other businesses for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 was $1,145 million and $1,218 million, respectively.
 
Property, plant and equipment of railroad, utilities and energy businesses is comprised of the following (in millions).
 
   
Ranges of
estimated useful life
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Railroad:
                 
Land
      $ 5,901     $  
Track structure and other roadway
 
5 – 100  years
      35,113        
Locomotives, freight cars and other equipment
 
1 – 37  years
      4,090        
Construction in progress
        631        
                         
Utilities and Energy:
                       
Utility generation, distribution and transmission system
 
5 – 85 years
      36,322       35,616  
Interstate pipeline assets
 
3 – 67 years
      5,880       5,809  
Independent power plants and other assets
 
3 – 30 years
      1,095       1,157  
Construction in progress
        2,233       2,152  
              91,265       44,734  
Accumulated depreciation
            (14,637 )     (13,798 )
            $ 76,628     $ 30,936  
 
 
12

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 11.    Property, plant and equipment (Continued)
 
Railroad property, plant and equipment includes the land, other roadway, track structure and rolling stock (primarily locomotives and freight cars) of BNSF, which we acquired on February 12, 2010. See Note 3. The cost of these assets includes the fair value adjustments made through the application of ASC 805 as of the acquisition date. Through BNSF Railway Company, BNSF operates one of the largest railroad systems in North America with approximately 32,000 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces.
 
Railroad property, plant and equipment is depreciated and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives. Depreciation is determined under the group method in which a single depreciation rate is applied to the gross investment in a particular class of property. BNSF conducts studies of depreciation rates and the required accumulated depreciation balance as required by the Surface Transportation Board, which is generally every three years for equipment property and every six years for track structure and other roadway property. The effect of changes in the estimated service lives of these assets is recorded on a prospective basis. Upon normal sale or retirement of most depreciable railroad property, no gain or loss is recognized. The disposals of land and non-rail property as well as significant premature retirements are recorded as gains or losses at the time of their occurrence.
 
The utility generation, distribution and transmission system and interstate pipeline assets are the regulated assets of public utility and natural gas pipeline subsidiaries. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, accumulated depreciation and amortization related to regulated assets was approximately $13.6 billion and $13.3 billion, respectively. Substantially all of the construction in progress at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 related to the construction of regulated assets.
 
Depreciation expense of the railroad, utilities and energy businesses for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 was $1,810 million and $925 million, respectively.
 
Note 12.    Derivative contracts
 
Derivative contracts are used primarily by our finance and financial products businesses and our railroad, utilities and energy businesses. As of September 30, 2010, substantially all of the derivative contracts in-force of our finance and financial products businesses are not designated as hedges for financial reporting purposes. These contracts were initially entered into with the expectation that the premiums received would exceed the amounts ultimately paid to counterparties. Changes in the fair values of such contracts are reported in earnings as derivative gains/losses. A summary of derivative contracts of our finance and financial products businesses follows (in millions).
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Assets  (3)
   
Liabilities
   
Notional
Value
   
Assets (3)
   
Liabilities
   
Notional
Value
 
Equity index put options
  $     $ 9,628     $ 38,211 (1)   $     $ 7,309     $ 37,990 (1)
Credit default obligations:
                                               
High yield indexes
          317       4,985 (2)           781       5,533 (2)
States/municipalities
          820       16,042 (2)           853       16,042 (2)
Individual corporate
    72             3,565 (2)     81             3,565 (2)
Other
    345       325               378       360          
Counterparty netting and funds held as collateral
    (102 )     (38 )             (193 )     (34 )        
    $ 315     $ 11,052             $ 266     $ 9,269          

(1)
Represents the aggregate undiscounted amount payable at the contract expiration dates assuming that the value of each index is zero at the contract expiration date. Variations in notional value during 2010 are attributable to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. There were no new contracts written in 2010.
 
(2)
Represents the maximum undiscounted future value of losses payable under the contracts. The number of losses required to exhaust contract limits under substantially all of the contracts is dependent on the loss recovery rate related to the specific obligor at the time of a default.
 
(3)
Included in Other assets of finance and financial products businesses.
 
 
13

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 12.    Derivative contracts (Continued)
 
A summary of derivative gains/losses of our finance and financial products businesses included in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings are as follows (in millions).
 
    Third Quarter     First Nine Months  
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Equity index put options
  $ (700 )   $ 220     $ (2,319 )   $ 2,010  
Credit default obligations
    519       1,443       407       483  
Other
    35       69       1       79  
    $ (146 )   $ 1,732     $ (1,911 )   $ 2,572  
 
The equity index put option contracts are European style options written on four major equity indexes. Future payments, if any, under these contracts will be required if the underlying index value is below the strike price at the contract expiration dates which occur between June 2018 and January 2028. We received the premiums on these contracts in full at the contract inception dates and therefore we have no counterparty credit risk.
 
At September 30, 2010, the aggregate intrinsic value (the undiscounted liability assuming the contracts are settled on their future expiration dates based on the September 30, 2010 index values and foreign currency exchange rates) was approximately $5.8 billion. However, these contracts may not be terminated or fully settled before the expiration dates and therefore the ultimate amount of cash basis gains or losses on these contracts will not be determined for many years. The remaining weighted average life of all contracts was approximately 10.7 years at September 30, 2010.
 
Our credit default contracts pertain to various indexes of non-investment grade (or “high yield”) corporate issuers, state/municipal debt issuers and individual corporate issuers. These contracts cover the loss in value of specified debt obligations of the issuers arising from default events, which are usually for non-payment or bankruptcy. Loss amounts are subject to contract limits.
 
The high yield index contracts are comprised of specified North American corporate issuers (usually 100 in number at inception) whose obligations are rated below investment grade. High yield contracts remaining in-force at September 30, 2010 expire from 2010 through 2013. State and municipality contracts are comprised of over 500 state and municipality issuers and had a weighted average contract life at September 30, 2010 of approximately 10.3 years. Potential obligations related to approximately 50% of the notional value of the state and municipality contracts cannot be settled before the maturity dates of the underlying obligations, which range from 2019 to 2054.
 
Premiums on the high yield index and state/municipality contracts are received in full at the inception dates of the contracts and, as a result, we have no counterparty credit risk. Our payment obligations under certain of these contracts are on a first loss basis. Losses under other contracts are subject to aggregate deductibles that must be satisfied before we have any payment obligations.
 
Individual corporate credit default contracts primarily relate to issuers of investment grade obligations. In most instances, premiums are due from counterparties on a quarterly basis over the terms of the contracts. As of September 30, 2010, all of the remaining in-force individual corporate issuer contracts expire in 2013.
 
With limited exceptions, our equity index put option and credit default contracts contain no collateral posting requirements with respect to changes in either the fair value or intrinsic value of the contracts and/or a downgrade of Berkshire’s credit ratings. As of September 30, 2010, our collateral posting requirement under contracts with collateral provisions was $69 million compared to about $35 million at December 31, 2009. As of September 30, 2010, had Berkshire’s credit ratings (currently AA+ from Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 from Moody’s) been downgraded below either A- by Standard & Poor’s or A3 by Moody’s an additional $1.1 billion would have been required to be posted as collateral.
 
Our railroad and regulated utility subsidiaries are exposed to variations in the market prices in the purchases and sales of natural gas and electricity and in commodity fuel costs. Derivative instruments, including forward purchases and sales, futures, swaps and options, are used to manage these price risks. Unrealized gains and losses under these contracts that are probable of recovery through rates are recorded as a regulatory net asset or liability. Unrealized gains or losses on contracts accounted for as cash flow or fair value hedges are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or in net earnings, as appropriate. Derivative contract assets included in other assets of railroad, utilities and energy businesses were $250 million and $188 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Derivative contract liabilities included in accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities of railroad, utilities and energy businesses were $694 million as of September 30, 2010 and $581 million as of December 31, 2009.
 
 
14

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 13.    Supplemental cash flow information
 
A summary of supplemental cash flow information for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 is presented in the following table (in millions).
 
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash paid during the period for:
           
Income taxes
  $ 3,030     $ 1,861  
Interest of insurance and other businesses
    146       106  
Interest of railroad, utilities and energy businesses
    1,255       850  
Interest of finance and financial products businesses
    543       462  
                 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Liabilities assumed in connection with acquisition of BNSF
    30,968        
Common stock issued in connection with acquisition of BNSF
    10,577        
 
Note 14.    Notes payable and other borrowings
 
Notes payable and other borrowings are summarized below (in millions). The average interest rates shown in the following tables are the weighted average interest rates on outstanding debt as of September 30, 2010.
 
   
Average
Interest Rate
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Insurance and other:
                 
Issued by Berkshire parent company due 2010-2047
  1.5%     $ 8,353     $ 340  
Short-term subsidiary borrowings
  0.3%       1,364       1,607  
Other subsidiary borrowings due 2010-2036
  5.2%       2,434       2,614  
          $ 12,151     $ 4,561  
 
In February 2010, Berkshire issued $8.0 billion aggregate par amount of senior unsecured notes consisting of $2.0 billion par amount of floating rate notes due in 2011; $1.1 billion par amount of floating rate notes due in 2012; $1.2 billion par amount of floating rate notes due in 2013; $600 million par amount of 1.4% notes due in 2012; $1.4 billion par amount of 2.125% notes due in 2013; and $1.7 billion par amount of 3.2% notes due in 2015. These notes were issued in connection with the BNSF acquisition.
 
   
Average
Interest Rate
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Railroad, utilities and energy:
                 
Issued by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (“MidAmerican”) and its subsidiaries:
                 
MidAmerican senior unsecured debt due 2012-2037
  6.1%     $ 5,371     $ 5,371  
Subsidiary and other debt due 2010-2039
  5.9%       14,211       14,208  
Issued by BNSF due 2010-2097
  6.0%       12,383        
          $ 31,965     $ 19,579  
 
Berkshire does not guarantee any debt or other borrowings of BNSF, MidAmerican or their subsidiaries. Subsidiary debt represents amounts issued by subsidiaries of MidAmerican pursuant to separate financing agreements. All or substantially all of the assets of certain MidAmerican subsidiaries are or may be pledged or encumbered to support or otherwise secure the debt. These borrowing arrangements generally contain various covenants including, but not limited to, leverage ratios, interest coverage ratios and debt service coverage ratios. As of September 30, 2010, MidAmerican and its subsidiaries were in compliance with all applicable covenants.
 
As of the February 12, 2010 acquisition date, BNSF’s outstanding debt was approximately $11.1 billion.  In May 2010, BNSF issued $750 million of 5.75% debentures due in 2040.  In September 2010, BNSF issued $250 million of 3.60% debentures due in 2020 and $500 million of 5.05% debentures due in 2041.  Principal payments expected during the next five years with respect to BNSF’s borrowings as of September 30, 2010 are as follows (in millions):  2010 - $380; 2011 - $695; 2012 - $521; 2013 - $453; and 2014 - $646.
 
   
Average
Interest Rate
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Finance and financial products:
                 
Issued by Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (“BHFC”)
  4.2%     $ 11,538     $ 12,051  
Issued by other subsidiaries due 2010-2036
  5.3%       3,009       1,718  
          $ 14,547     $ 13,769  
 
 
15

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 14.    Notes payable and other borrowings (Continued)
 
BHFC is a 100% owned finance subsidiary of Berkshire, which has fully and unconditionally guaranteed its securities. Debt issued by BHFC matures between 2010 and 2040. In January 2010, BHFC issued $1 billion par amount of senior notes consisting of $750 million par of 5.75% notes due in 2040 and $250 million par of floating rate notes due in 2012. In January 2010, $1.5 billion par amount of BHFC senior notes matured and were repaid.
 
Prior to our acquisition of Clayton Homes in 2003, certain of its subsidiaries regularly originated and acquired installment loans and sold those loans to QSPEs. The transferred loans were then securitized and sold to third party investors. We continue to service the installment loans and retain residual interests in the securitized loans. Upon adoption of ASU 2009-17 we reevaluated the QSPEs and determined that the QSPEs were variable interest entities that should be consolidated, primarily because we are the servicer of the loans and hold the residual interests. Consequently, as of January 1, 2010, we increased other borrowings of finance and financial products by approximately $1.5 billion with a corresponding increase in consumer installment loans receivable. The QSPEs continue to be distinct, bankruptcy remote entities that hold the interests in the related installment loans. The cash flows received from the collection of the installment loans continue to be pledged to satisfy the principal and interest due on the related debt now recorded in our Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Our subsidiaries have approximately $6.4 billion of available unused lines of credit and commercial paper capacity in the aggregate at September 30, 2010, to support our short-term borrowing programs and provide additional liquidity. Generally, Berkshire’s guarantee of a subsidiary’s debt obligation is an absolute, unconditional and irrevocable guarantee for the full and prompt payment when due of all present and future payment obligations.
 
Note 15.    Fair value measurements
 
The estimated fair values of our financial instruments are shown in the following table (in millions). The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities are deemed to be reasonable estimates of their fair values.
 
   
Carrying Value
   
Fair Value
 
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
   
September 30,
2010
   
December 31,
2009
 
Investments in fixed maturity securities
  $ 36,353     $ 37,131     $ 36,353     $ 37,131  
Investments in equity securities
    57,594       59,034       57,594       59,034  
Other investments
    25,404       32,600       26,634       34,540  
Loans and finance receivables
    15,406       13,989       14,196       12,415  
Derivative contract assets (1)
    565       454       565       454  
                                 
Notes payable and other borrowings:
                               
Insurance and other
    12,151       4,561       12,543       4,669  
Railroad, utilities and energy
    31,965       19,579       35,538       20,868  
Finance and financial products
    14,547       13,769       15,535       14,355  
                                 
Derivative contract liabilities:
                               
Railroad, utilities and energy (2)
    694       581       694       581  
Finance and financial products
    11,052       9,269       11,052       9,269  

(1)
Included in Other assets
 
(2)
Included in Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
 
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants as of the measurement date. Fair value measurements assume the asset or liability is exchanged in an orderly manner; the exchange is in the principal market for that asset or liability (or in the most advantageous market when no principal market exists); and the market participants are independent, knowledgeable, able and willing to transact an exchange.
 
Fair values for substantially all of our financial instruments were measured using market or income approaches. Considerable judgment may be required in interpreting market data used to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in an actual current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value.
 
The hierarchy for measuring fair value consists of Levels 1 through 3.
 
Level 1 – Inputs represent unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities exchanged in active markets. Substantially all of our equity investments are traded on an exchange in active markets and fair values are based on the closing prices as of the balance sheet date.
 
 
16

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 15.    Fair value measurements (Continued)
 
Level 2 – Inputs include directly or indirectly observable inputs (other than Level 1 inputs) such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities exchanged in active or inactive markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities exchanged in inactive markets; other inputs that may be considered in fair value determinations of the assets or liabilities, such as interest rates and yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means. Fair values for our investments in fixed maturity securities are primarily based on price evaluations which incorporate market prices for identical instruments in inactive markets and market data available for instruments with similar characteristics. Pricing evaluations generally reflect discounted expected future cash flows, which incorporate yield curves for instruments with similar characteristics, such as credit rating, estimated duration, and yields for other instruments of the issuer or entities in the same industry sector.
 
Level 3 – Inputs include unobservable inputs used in the measurement of assets and liabilities. Management is required to use its own assumptions regarding unobservable inputs because there is little, if any, market activity in the assets or liabilities or related observable inputs that can be corroborated at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs require management to make certain projections and assumptions about the information that would be used by market participants in pricing assets or liabilities. Measurements of non-exchange traded derivative contracts and certain other investments carried at fair value are based primarily on valuation models, discounted cash flow models or other valuation techniques that are believed to be used by market participants. We value equity index put option contracts based on the Black-Scholes option valuation model which we believe is widely used by market participants. Inputs to this model include current index price, expected volatility, dividend and interest rates and contract duration. Credit default contracts are primarily valued based on indications of bid or offer data as of the balance sheet date. These contracts are not exchange traded and certain of the terms of our contracts are not standard in derivatives markets. For example, we are not required to post collateral under most of our contracts. For these reasons, we classified these contracts as Level 3.
 
Financial assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis in our financial statements are summarized according to the hierarchy previously described as follows (in millions).
 
   
Total
Fair Value
   
Quoted
Prices
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs (Level 3)
 
September 30, 2010
                       
Investments in fixed maturity securities:
                       
U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies
  $ 2,250     $ 549     $ 1,697     $ 4  
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
    3,703             3,702       1  
Foreign governments
    12,025       5,864       6,057       104  
Corporate bonds
    14,920             14,223       697  
Mortgage-backed securities
    3,455             3,454       1  
Investments in equity securities
    57,594       57,483       90       21  
Other investments
    17,952                   17,952  
                                 
Net derivative contract (assets)/liabilities:
                               
Railroad, utilities and energy
    444       15       102       327  
Finance and financial products:
                               
Equity index put options
    9,628                   9,628  
Credit default obligations
    1,065                   1,065  
Other
    44             52       (8 )
                                 
December 31, 2009
                               
Investments in fixed maturity securities
  $ 37,131     $ 5,407     $ 30,806     $ 918  
Investments in equity securities
    59,034       58,640       90       304  
Other investments
    18,562                   18,562  
                                 
Net derivative contract (assets)/liabilities:
                               
Railroad, utilities and energy
    393       (1 )     35       359  
Finance and financial products
    9,003             166       8,837  
 
 
17

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 15.    Fair value measurements (Continued)
 
Reconciliations of assets and liabilities measured and carried at fair value on a recurring basis with the use of significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 follow (in millions).
 
   
Investments
in fixed
maturity
securities
   
Investments
in equity
securities
   
Other
investments
   
Net
derivative
contract
liabilities
 
Balance at December 31, 2009
  $ 918     $ 304     $ 18,562     $ (9,196 )
Gains (losses) included in:
                               
Earnings *
                      (1,914 )
Other comprehensive income
    30       (22 )     (610 )      
Regulatory assets and liabilities
                      (35 )
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements
    (1 )     (1 )           130  
Transfers into (out of) Level 3
    (140 )     (260 )           3  
Balance at September 30, 2010
  $ 807     $ 21     $ 17,952     $ (11,012 )
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 639     $ 328     $ 8,223     $ (14,519 )
Gains (losses) included in:
                               
Earnings *
    1                   2,584  
Other comprehensive income
    54       15       5,139       (1 )
Regulatory assets and liabilities
                      67  
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements
    291       (1 )     5,637       1,677  
Transfers into (out of) Level 3
          (1 )           (23 )
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 985     $ 341     $ 18,999     $ (10,215 )

*
Gains and losses related to changes in valuations are included in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings as components of investment gains/losses, derivative gains/losses or other revenues as appropriate. Substantially all of the gains and losses included in earnings were related to derivative contract liabilities.
 
Note 16.    Common stock
 
On January 20, 2010, our shareholders approved proposals to increase the authorized number of Class B common shares from 55,000,000 to 3,225,000,000 and to effect a 50-for-1 split of the Class B common stock which became effective on January 21, 2010. The Class A common stock was not split. Thereafter, each share of Class A common stock became convertible, at the option of the holder, into 1,500 shares of Class B common stock. Class B common stock is not convertible into Class A common stock. The Class B share data in the following table and the related disclosures regarding Class B shares are presented on a post-split basis.
 
Changes in issued and outstanding Berkshire common stock during the first nine months of 2010 are shown in the table below.
 
   
Class A, $5 Par Value
   
Class B, $0.0033 Par Value
 
   
(1,650,000 shares authorized)
Shares Issued and Outstanding
   
(3,225,000,000 shares authorized)
Shares Issued and Outstanding
 
Balance December 31, 2009
    1,055,281          744,701,300    
Shares issued in the acquisition of BNSF (See Note 3)
     80,931          20,976,621    
Conversions of Class A common stock to Class B common stock and other issuance of Class B common stock
     (174,684 )        263,951,401    
Balance September 30, 2010
     961,528          1,029,629,322    
 
Class B common stock possesses dividend and distribution rights equal to one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of such rights of Class A common stock. Each Class A common share is entitled to one vote per share. Each Class B common share possesses voting rights equivalent to one-ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of the voting rights of a Class A share. Unless otherwise required under Delaware General Corporation Law, Class A and Class B common shares vote as a single class.
 
On an equivalent Class A common stock basis, there were 1,647,948 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2010 and 1,551,749 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2009. The Class B stock split had no effect on the number of equivalent Class A common shares outstanding. In addition to our common stock, 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock are authorized, but none are issued and outstanding.
 
 
18

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 17.    Business segment data
 
Revenues by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 and 2009 were as follows (in millions).
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating Businesses:
                       
Insurance group:
                       
Premiums earned:
                       
GEICO
  $ 3,606     $ 3,448     $ 10,614     $ 10,103  
General Re
    1,396       1,476       4,209       4,281  
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group
    3,618       1,229       7,271       5,526  
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group
    434       442       1,250       1,353  
Investment income
    1,226       1,426       4,028       4,289  
Total insurance group
    10,280       8,021       27,372       25,552  
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
    4,391             10,558      
Finance and financial products
    1,051       1,079       3,177       3,071  
Marmon
    1,525       1,306       4,484       3,846  
McLane Company
    8,611       8,170       24,334       23,027  
MidAmerican
    2,824       2,812       8,473       8,416  
Other businesses
    7,122       6,479       20,833       18,510  
      35,804       27,867       99,231       82,422  
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
                               
Investment and derivative gains/losses
    312       1,817       248       (836 )
Eliminations and other
    158       220       541       709  
    $ 36,274     $ 29,904     $ 100,020     $ 82,295  

Earnings before income taxes and equity method earnings for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 and 2009 by segment follows (in millions).
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Operating Businesses:
                       
Insurance group:
                       
Underwriting:
                       
GEICO
  $ 289     $ 200     $ 917     $ 459  
General Re
    201       186       384       446  
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group
    (237 )     141       (68 )      
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group
    52       7       133       40  
Net investment income
    1,218       1,412       3,995       4,248  
Total insurance group
    1,523       1,946       5,361       5,193  
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
    1,127             2,577 *      
Finance and financial products
    140       119       406       346  
Marmon
    212       194       621       526  
McLane Company
    89       64       278       273  
MidAmerican
    416       441       1,149       1,146  
Other businesses
    844       350       2,287       757  
      4,351       3,114       12,679       8,241  
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
                               
Investment and derivative gains/losses
    312       1,817       248       (836 )
Interest expense, excluding interest allocated to operating businesses
    (53 )     (26 )     (155 )     (77 )
Eliminations and other
    (76 )     (66 )     (202 )     (241 )
    $ 4,534     $ 4,839     $ 12,570     $ 7,087  

*
Includes revenues and earnings from acquisition date of February 12, 2010.
 
 
19

 
Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
 
Note 18.    Contingencies and Commitments
 
We are parties in a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. In particular, such legal actions affect our insurance and reinsurance businesses. Such litigation generally seeks to establish liability directly through insurance contracts or indirectly through reinsurance contracts issued by Berkshire subsidiaries. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. We do not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Berkshire and certain of its subsidiaries are also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines and penalties in substantial amounts.
 
 
a)
Governmental Investigations
 
On January 19, 2010, General Re Corporation (“General Re”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire”), entered into settlements with the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) related to the investigations of non-traditional products previously disclosed by Berkshire. Berkshire, General Re and certain of Berkshire’s insurance subsidiaries had been fully cooperating in these investigations since General Re originally received subpoenas in January 2005.
 
As part of the settlements, General Re entered into a non-prosecution agreement (the “Non-Prosecution Agreement”) with the DOJ. Under the terms of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, among other things, the DOJ agreed not to prosecute General Re for any crimes committed by General Re relating to General Re’s previously disclosed transaction with American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) initially effected in 2000 (the “AIG Transaction”), and General Re paid $19.5 million to the United States. The Non-Prosecution Agreement provides that General Re’s agreement to pay $60.5 million, exclusive of attorneys’ fees and expenses, through a pending civil class action settlement with AIG shareholders, when combined with the amounts to be paid by AIG and the other defendants, satisfies restitution with regard to the AIG Transaction. General Re also agreed to continue to cooperate fully with the DOJ and the SEC in any ongoing investigations of individuals who may have been involved with the AIG Transaction. The Non-Prosecution Agreement acknowledges that General Re instituted a number of internal corporate remediation measures applicable to itself and its subsidiaries and, under the terms of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, General Re agreed to maintain such remediation measures at least during the three-year term thereof. General Re also agreed to toll the statute of limitations for the term of the Non-Prosecution Agreement on crimes related to the AIG Transaction, and that neither it nor its directors, executive officers or representatives will make, cause others to make or acknowledge as true any statements inconsistent with the agreed statement of facts in the Non-Prosecution Agreement. The Non-Prosecution Agreement provides that if the DOJ determines that General Re or any of its employees, officers or directors have failed to comply with or knowingly violated any of the provisions of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, have provided deliberately false, incomplete or misleading information thereunder, or have violated any provision of the federal securities laws during the term of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, General Re shall thereafter be subject to prosecution for crimes committed by and through its employees related to the AIG Transaction. The Non-Prosecution Agreement is also applicable to, and binding upon, certain subsidiaries of General Re.
 
In connection with the SEC settlement, which concerns the AIG Transaction, as well as a separate series of interrelated transactions with Prudential Financial, Inc. during the period 1997 through 2002, General Re is permanently enjoined from aiding and abetting any violations of the books and records and internal controls provisions of Sections 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and paid $12.2 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest (the “SEC Amount”) to the SEC. General Re also agreed not to take any action or make or permit any public statement denying any allegations in the SEC’s complaint or creating the impression that the complaint is without factual basis, although this obligation does not affect General Re’s testimonial obligations or right to take legal or factual positions in litigation or other legal proceedings in which the SEC is not a party. If General Re breaches this agreement, the SEC may petition to vacate the General Re judgment and restore its action against General Re. On February 12, 2010, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty Mutual”), which previously acquired Prudential Financial’s property and casualty business and claims to be entitled to the SEC Amount as a result of its own alleged damages, filed a motion seeking to intervene in this matter and requiring the SEC to hold the SEC Amount separate pending a resolution. The court has not yet ruled on that motion.  On April 2, 2010, Liberty Mutual informed the court that, as a result of successful mediation, Liberty Mutual’s pending motion to intervene was moot, and that after a written settlement agreement was executed, the parties would submit to the court an appropriate stipulation to withdraw with prejudice Liberty Mutual’s motion to intervene, and to request the court release the SEC from any further obligation to segregate the amount paid by General Re. On May 26, 2010, the court entered an Order indicating that its Final Judgment dated January 26, 2010 shall remain unchanged and that Liberty Mutual’s motion to intervene is withdrawn with prejudice.
 
The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement in Ireland, which had conducted a preliminary evaluation in relation to Cologne Reinsurance Company (Dublin) Limited (“CRD”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Re, concerning, in particular, transactions between CRD and AIG, has informed CRD that it has concluded and closed its investigation.
 
We are not aware of any remaining governmental investigations of any of our subsidiaries involving non-traditional products or related transactions.
 
 
b)
Civil Litigation
 
Reference is made to Note 21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, for detailed discussion of such actions.  There have been no material developments related to such actions since December 31, 2009.
 
 
20

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
Results of Operations
 
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire are disaggregated in the table that follows. Amounts are after deducting income taxes and exclude earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests. Amounts are in millions.
 
    Third Quarter     First Nine Months  
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Insurance – underwriting
  $ 199     $ 346     $ 887     $ 614  
Insurance – investment income
    873       1,018       2,949       3,285  
Railroad
    706             1,591 *      
Utilities and energy
    331       346       787       802  
Manufacturing, service and retailing
    645       336       1,793       833  
Finance and financial products
    84       77       250       214  
Other
    (51 )     (68 )     (174 )     (208 )
Investment and derivative gains/losses
    202       1,183       507       (541 )
Net earnings attributable to Berkshire
  $ 2,989     $ 3,238     $ 8,590     $ 4,999  

*
Earnings are for the period between February 12 and September 30, 2010.
 
Our operating businesses are managed on an unusually decentralized basis. There are essentially no centralized or integrated business functions (such as sales, marketing, purchasing, legal or human resources) and there is minimal involvement by our corporate headquarters in the day-to-day business activities of the operating businesses. Our corporate senior management team participates in and is ultimately responsible for significant capital allocation decisions, investment activities and the selection of the Chief Executive to head each of the operating businesses. The business segment data (Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) should be read in conjunction with this discussion.
 
On February 12, 2010, we completed the acquisition of the 77.5% of BNSF common stock that we did not already own. Beginning as of that date, BNSF’s results and net earnings are included fully in our consolidated results and net earnings. In 2009 and until February 12, 2010, our share of net earnings related to our previously held investments in BNSF as determined under the equity method is included as a component of insurance investment income in the preceding table.
 
Over the last half of 2008 and throughout 2009, operating results of many of our businesses were adversely impacted by the world-wide economic recession. While our two largest business segments, which in 2009 were insurance and utilities, remained strong and operating results were not negatively impacted in any significant way by the recession, earnings throughout 2009 for most of our diverse group of manufacturing, service and retailing businesses declined. The effects from the economic recession resulted in lower sales volume and profit margins as consumers significantly curtailed spending, particularly for discretionary items. In 2010, operating results for many of our manufacturing, service and retailing businesses improved versus 2009 reflecting some stabilization of economic conditions.
 
Our after-tax investment and derivative gains for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 were $202 million and $507 million, respectively.  In the first quarter of 2010, we recognized a one-time holding gain of $979 million related to our acquisition of BNSF.  In the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, we incurred losses from increases in the estimated liabilities of our equity index put option contracts and realized gains from the decreases in estimated liabilities of our credit default contracts and the dispositions of equity and fixed maturity investments. In 2009, we realized after-tax investment and derivative gains of $1,183 million in the third quarter and losses of $541 million in the first nine months. The gains and losses primarily derived from credit default contracts, dispositions of equity securities, non-cash other-than-temporary impairment charges with respect to equity securities and changes in estimated fair values of long duration equity index put option contracts. Changes in the equity and credit markets from period to period can and have caused significant volatility in periodic earnings.
 
In response to the crises in the financial markets and the global recession, the U.S. government and governments around the world are taking measures to regulate financial institutions, stabilize financial markets (including over-the-counter derivatives markets) and stimulate economic activity. In the United States, regulatory reform legislation known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was signed into law on July 21, 2010.  While we believe that general economic conditions will improve over time, the ultimate impact these governmental actions will have on us is not entirely certain at this time. Our operating companies have taken and will continue to take actions as necessary to manage through the current economic situation and to improve our operations for the long-term. We continue to believe that the economic franchises of our operating businesses remain intact. We are hopeful that recent economic improvements will continue over the remainder of 2010 and beyond.
 
 
21

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Insurance—Underwriting
 
We engage in both primary insurance and reinsurance of property and casualty risks. In primary insurance activities, we assume defined portions of the risks of loss from persons or organizations that are directly subject to the risks. In reinsurance activities, we assume defined portions of similar or dissimilar risks that other insurers or reinsurers have subjected themselves to in their own insuring activities. Our insurance and reinsurance businesses are: (1) GEICO, (2) General Re, (3) Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (“BHRG”) and (4) Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. Through General Re and BHRG, we also reinsure life and health risks.
 
Our management views insurance businesses as possessing two distinct operations – underwriting and investing. Underwriting decisions are the responsibility of the unit managers; investing is the primary responsibility of Berkshire’s Chairman and CEO, Warren E. Buffett. Accordingly, we evaluate performance of underwriting operations without any allocation of investment income.
 
Our periodic underwriting results can be affected significantly by changes in estimates for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, including amounts established for occurrences in prior years. In addition, the timing and amount of catastrophe losses can produce significant volatility in our periodic underwriting results. Our underwriting results also include significant unrealized foreign currency transaction gains and losses arising from the periodic revaluation of certain non-U.S. Dollar denominated reinsurance liabilities into U.S. Dollars as a result of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
 
A key marketing strategy followed by all of our insurance businesses is the maintenance of extraordinary capital strength. Statutory surplus of our insurance businesses was approximately $64 billion at December 31, 2009. This superior capital strength creates opportunities, especially with respect to reinsurance activities, to negotiate and enter into insurance and reinsurance contracts specially designed to meet the unique needs of insurance and reinsurance buyers.
 
Underwriting results from our insurance businesses are summarized below. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
Underwriting gain (loss) attributable to:
 
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
GEICO
  $ 289     $ 200     $ 917     $ 459  
General Re
    201       186       384       446  
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group
    (237 )     141       (68 )      
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group
    52       7       133       40  
Pre-tax underwriting gain
    305       534       1,366       945  
Income taxes and noncontrolling interests
    106       188       479       331  
Net underwriting gain
  $ 199     $ 346     $ 887     $ 614  
 
GEICO
 
Through GEICO, we primarily write private passenger automobile insurance, offering coverages to insureds in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. GEICO’s policies are marketed mainly by direct response methods in which customers apply for coverage directly to the company via the Internet or over the telephone. This is a significant element in our strategy to be a low-cost auto insurer. In addition, we strive to provide excellent service to customers, with the goal of establishing long-term customer relationships. GEICO’s underwriting results are summarized below. Dollars are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
Amount
   
%
   
Amount
   
%
   
Amount
   
%
   
Amount
   
%
 
Premiums earned
  $ 3,606       100.0     $ 3,448       100.0     $ 10,614       100.0     $ 10,103       100.0  
Losses and loss adjustment expenses
    2,685       74.5       2,636       76.5       7,821       73.7       7,798       77.2  
Underwriting expenses
    632       17.5       612       17.7       1,876       17.7       1,846       18.3  
Total losses and expenses
    3,317       92.0       3,248       94.2       9,697       91.4       9,644       95.5  
Pre-tax underwriting gain
  $ 289             $ 200             $ 917             $ 459          
 
Premiums earned in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased $158 million (4.6%) and $511 million (5.1%), respectively, over the corresponding 2009 periods. The growth in premiums earned for voluntary auto was 5.1% for the first nine months of 2010, reflecting a 4.4% increase in policies-in-force over the past year. Premiums earned in 2010 also reflected a slight increase in average premiums per policy compared to 2009. Voluntary auto new business sales in the first nine months of 2010 declined 8.4% from the very high levels during the first nine months of 2009 when new business sales increased 18.2%. Voluntary auto policies-in-force at September 30, 2010 were 398,000 greater than at December 31, 2009. During October 2010, an additional 75,000 voluntary auto policies-in-force were added as compared to about 30,000 in October 2009.
 
 
22

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Insurance —Underwriting (Continued)
 
GEICO (Continued)
 
Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased slightly over amounts incurred in the corresponding 2009 periods. The loss ratio was 73.7% in the first nine months of 2010 compared to 77.2% in 2009. The lower loss ratio in 2010 reflected the impact of increased premium volume and changes in claim frequencies and severities. Claims frequencies in 2010 for property damage and collision coverages increased in the one to two percent range versus 2009 while frequencies for comprehensive coverages rose in the five to seven percent range over 2009 due to higher numbers of glass claims. Injury claims frequencies increased in the two to four percent range versus 2009.  Claim severities in 2010 for physical damage coverages rose in the one to three percent range over 2009, while injury severities increased in the three to six percent range.  Incurred losses from catastrophe events in the first nine months of 2010 were $79 million compared to $73 million in the first nine months of 2009.  Underwriting expenses incurred in the first nine months of 2010 were relatively unchanged versus 2009.
 
General Re
 
Through General Re, we conduct a reinsurance business offering property and casualty and life and health coverages to clients worldwide. We write property and casualty reinsurance in North America on a direct basis through General Reinsurance Corporation and internationally through Germany-based General Reinsurance AG (formerly named Cologne Re) and other wholly-owned affiliates. Property and casualty reinsurance is also written through brokers with respect to Faraday in London. Life and health reinsurance is written in North America through General Re Life Corporation and internationally through General Reinsurance AG. General Re strives to generate underwriting profits in essentially all of its product lines, without consideration of investment income. Our management does not evaluate underwriting performance based upon market share and our underwriters are instructed to reject inadequately priced risks. General Re’s underwriting results are summarized in the following table. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Premiums earned
   
Pre-tax underwriting gain
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Property/casualty
  $ 748     $ 820     $ 2,194     $ 2,397     $ 119     $ 107     $ 222     $ 298  
Life/health
    648       656       2,015       1,884       82       79       162       148  
    $ 1,396     $ 1,476     $ 4,209     $ 4,281     $ 201     $ 186     $ 384     $ 446  
 
Property/casualty
 
Property/casualty premiums earned in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 declined $72 million (8.8%) and $203 million (8.5%), respectively, versus the corresponding 2009 periods. Excluding the effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes, premiums earned in the first nine months of 2010 declined $177 million (7.4%), due to decreased volume in all regions but primarily in broker market property business and European treaty business. Price competition in most property and casualty lines has led to decreases in premium volume, as underwriters maintain discipline by rejecting inadequately priced offerings. Increased price competition and capacity within the industry could continue to constrain premium volume during the remainder of 2010 and in 2011.
 
Underwriting gains were $119 million in the third quarter and $222 million for the first nine months of 2010. For the first nine months of 2010, our casualty/workers’ compensation business generated gains of $138 million, while our property business produced gains of $84 million. The underwriting gains from the casualty/workers’ compensation business reflected overall reductions in prior years’ loss reserve estimates. The property results in 2010 included $304 million of catastrophe losses primarily from the Chilean and New Zealand earthquakes and storm or weather-related losses in Europe, Australia and New England.  The timing and magnitude of catastrophe and large individual losses produces significant volatility in periodic underwriting results.
 
Underwriting gains were $107 million in the third quarter and $298 million for the first nine months of 2009.  Underwriting gains for the first nine months of 2009 included gains of $260 million from our property business and $38 million from casualty/workers’ compensation business.  The property results in 2009 included $80 million of losses from catastrophes, including winter storm Klaus in Europe, the Victoria bushfires in Australia and an earthquake in Italy. The underwriting gains from casualty/workers’ compensation businesses reflected the overall reductions in estimated prior years’ loss reserves.
 
Life/health
 
Premiums earned in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2010 were $648 million and $2,015 million, respectively, a decrease of $8 million (1.2%) and an increase of $131 million (7.0%) from the 2009 corresponding periods.  Adjusting for the effects of foreign currency exchange rate changes, premiums earned for the first nine months of 2010 increased $143 million (7.6%) over 2009, primarily due to increased life business in regions outside of the United States. Underwriting results for life/health operations produced underwriting gains of $82 million in the third quarter and $162 million for the first nine months of 2010.  The life/health operations generated underwriting gains of $79 million in the third quarter and $148 million for the first nine months of 2009.  The underwriting gains in 2010 and 2009 are principally due to favorable mortality experience across almost all regions in our international life business.
 
 
23

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Insurance —Underwriting (Continued)
 
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group
 
Through the Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, we underwrite excess-of-loss reinsurance and quota-share coverages on property and casualty risks for insurers and reinsurers worldwide. BHRG’s business includes catastrophe excess-of-loss reinsurance and excess primary and facultative reinsurance for large or otherwise unusual discrete property risks referred to as individual risk. BHRG also writes retroactive reinsurance, which provides indemnification of losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to past loss events. Other multi-line business refers to other property and casualty business written on both a quota-share and excess basis. Beginning in 2010, BHRG’s underwriting activities include life reinsurance as well as a life annuity business, which in previous years was included in the finance and financial products segment. Amounts for 2009 periods have been reclassified to conform to current year presentations. BHRG’s underwriting results are summarized in the table below. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Premiums earned
   
Pre-tax underwriting gain/loss
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Catastrophe and individual risk
  $ 151     $ 197     $ 477     $ 692     $ 63     $ 271     $ 290     $ 593  
Retroactive reinsurance
    2,258             2,610       1,886       (84 )     (137 )     (313 )     (339 )
Other multi-line
    791       1,032       2,462       2,948       (182 )     33       118       (175 )
Life and annuity
    418             1,722             (34 )     (26 )     (163 )     (79 )
    $ 3,618     $ 1,229     $ 7,271     $ 5,526     $ (237 )   $ 141     $ (68 )   $  
 
Premiums earned in the first nine months of 2010 from catastrophe and individual risk contracts declined $215 million (31%) versus the first nine months of 2009. The level of business that we write in a given period will vary significantly due to changes in market conditions and our management’s assessment of the adequacy of premium rates. We have constrained the volume of business written in 2010 as premium rates have not been attractive enough to warrant increasing volume.  However, we have the capacity and willingness to write substantially more business when appropriate pricing can be obtained.  Catastrophe and individual risk underwriting results for the first nine months of 2010 included estimated losses of $158 million, which were primarily from the Chilean earthquake in February and the Gulf of Mexico BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in April. There were no significant losses from catastrophe events in the first nine months of 2009.  In addition, underwriting results for the third quarter of 2009 included reductions in estimated loss reserves as a result of lowering estimates of ultimate losses from hurricanes that occurred in 2004 and 2005.
 
Retroactive reinsurance policies generally provide very large, but limited, indemnification of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to past loss events that are generally expected to be paid over long periods of time. Premiums earned in the third quarter of 2010 included approximately $2.25 billion from a contract with Continental Casualty Company, a subsidiary of CNA Financial Corporation, and several of its other insurance subsidiaries (collectively the “CNA Companies”). Under the terms of the reinsurance agreement, BHRG assumed certain asbestos and environmental pollution liabilities of the CNA Companies subject to an aggregate limit of indemnification of $4 billion of covered losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses. The premiums earned related to this contract were offset by a corresponding amount of losses incurred (comprised of estimated loss reserves of approximately $2.45 billion less a deferred charge asset of approximately $200 million), thus resulting in no immediate impact on pre-tax underwriting results. Premiums earned from retroactive reinsurance in 2009 included 2 billion Swiss Francs (approximately $1.7 billion) from an adverse loss development contract with Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd. and its affiliates (“Swiss Re”) covering substantially all of Swiss Re’s non-life insurance losses and allocated loss adjustment expenses for loss events occurring prior to January 1, 2009. At September 30, 2010, unamortized deferred charges for all of BHRG’s retroactive contracts were approximately $3.65 billion and gross unpaid losses were approximately $19.7 billion. Deferred charges are amortized over the expected loss settlement periods.
 
Premiums earned in the first nine months of 2010 from our other multi-line business were $2,462 million, a decrease of $486 million (16%) versus 2009. Premiums earned during the first nine months of 2010 and 2009 included $1,726 million and $2,034 million, respectively, from a five-year 20% quota-share contract with Swiss Re covering substantially all of Swiss Re’s property/casualty risks incepting from January 1, 2008. Excluding the Swiss Re quota-share contract, other multi-line business premiums earned during the first nine months of 2010 declined $178 million (19%) versus 2009. Other multi-line business produced underwriting gains in the first nine months of $118 million in 2010 and underwriting losses of $175 million in 2009. Underwriting results in 2010 included estimated catastrophe losses of approximately $257 million, primarily from the Chilean earthquake and the Gulf of Mexico BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. There were no significant catastrophe losses in the first nine months of 2009. Underwriting results from other multi-line business in 2010 included foreign currency transaction losses of $181 million in the third quarter and $4 million in the first nine months.  In 2009, underwriting results included foreign currency transaction gains of $60 million in the third quarter and losses of $305 million in the first nine months.  These non-cash gains and losses arise from the conversion of certain reinsurance loss reserves and other liabilities denominated in foreign currencies into U.S. Dollars as of the balance sheet dates.  The periodic gains and losses primarily reflect the relative strengthening (gains) and weakening (losses) of the U.S. Dollar versus the U.K. Pound Sterling, the Euro and the Australian Dollar.
 
 
24

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Insurance —Underwriting (Continued)
 
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (Continued)
 
In January 2010, BHRG entered in to a life reinsurance contract with Swiss Re Life & Health America Inc. (“SRLHA”). Under the agreement, BHRG assumed the liabilities and subsequent renewal premiums associated with a closed block of yearly renewable term reinsurance business reinsuring permanent and term products and universal life products written, assumed or subsequently acquired by SRLHA. BHRG assumes the mortality risk on the underlying lives with respect to the SRLHA business effective as of October 1, 2009, until the underlying yearly renewable term reinsured policy non-renews or the insurer ceding the business to SRLHA recaptures the business.  Substantially all of the life and annuity premiums earned in the first nine months of 2010 were from this contract. The agreement is expected to remain in-force for several decades and, over time, is expected to result in substantial premiums earned and life benefits incurred.  Underwriting results in the first nine months of 2010 included losses of $79 million from this contract.  The underwriting results in 2010 and 2009 of the life and annuity business also included periodic interest charges arising from accretion of discounted annuity reserves. At September 30, 2010, the net reserves for life and annuity benefits were approximately $2.3 billion.
 
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group
 
Premiums earned in the first nine months by our various primary insurers were $1,250 million in 2010 and $1,353 million in 2009. Premium volume of our primary insurers, in general, has been and continues to be constrained by soft market conditions and as a result, we are accepting less business. For the first nine months of 2010 and 2009, our primary insurers produced underwriting gains of $133 million and $40 million, respectively. The improvement in underwriting results was primarily due to reductions in estimated prior years’ loss reserves in the medical malpractice business and lower loss ratios of the Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.
 
Insurance—Investment Income
 
A summary of net investment income of our insurance operations follows. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Investment income before taxes, noncontrolling interests and equity method earnings
  $ 1,218     $ 1,412     $ 3,995     $ 4,248  
Income taxes and noncontrolling interests
    345       505       1,096       1,270  
Net investment income before equity method earnings
    873       907       2,899       2,978  
Equity method earnings
          111       50       307  
Net investment income
  $ 873     $ 1,018     $ 2,949     $ 3,285  
 
Investment income consists of interest and dividends earned on cash and cash equivalents and investments attributable to our insurance businesses. Net investment income before equity method earnings in 2010 declined $34 million for the third quarter and $79 million for the first nine months, respectively, compared with the corresponding 2009 periods.  For the first nine months of 2010, the comparative increases in investment income attributable to the investments in the 12% Swiss Re capital instrument acquired in March 2009 and the 8.5% Dow Preferred stock acquired in April 2009 were more than offset by lower dividends earned from our investments in Wells Fargo common stock, the impact of a gain in 2009 of about $100 million from a short-term currency transaction made in anticipation of the Swiss Re capital instrument investment and a decline in interest earned. On November 3, 2010, an agreement was entered into with Swiss Re providing for the redemption of the capital instrument for aggregate consideration of approximately 3.9 billion CHF. In addition, our investment in 10% GS Preferred may be redeemed at the option of Goldman Sachs at any time and our investment in 10% GE Preferred may be redeemed at the option of General Electric beginning in October 2011. Based on current market conditions, reinvestment of any redemption proceeds would likely generate significantly lower investment income in the future.
 
Insurance investment income also includes earnings from equity method investments (BNSF and Moody’s). Equity method earnings represented our proportionate share of the net earnings of these companies. As a result of a reduction of our ownership of Moody’s in July of 2009, we discontinued the use of the equity method for our investment in Moody’s as of the beginning of the third quarter of 2009. As a result of our acquisition of the remaining outstanding stock of BNSF on February 12, 2010, we discontinued the use of the equity method and BNSF’s accounts are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning as of that date. Dividends received on equity method investments are not reflected in our earnings.
 
In 2010, insurance investment income, invested assets and policyholder float include amounts related to our life annuity business. In prior years, this business and its results were included in the finance and financial products segment. Amounts for 2009 periods have been reclassified to conform to current year presentations.
 
Invested assets derive from shareholder capital and reinvested earnings as well as net liabilities under insurance contracts or “float.” The major components of float are unpaid losses, life, annuity and health benefit liabilities, unearned premiums and other liabilities to policyholders less premiums and reinsurance receivables, deferred charges assumed under retroactive reinsurance contracts and deferred policy acquisition costs. Float approximated $66 billion and $63 billion at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The cost of float, as represented by the ratio of underwriting gain or loss to average float, was negative in 2010 and 2009, as our insurance business generated underwriting gains in each period.
 
 
25

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Insurance—Investment Income (Continued)
 
A summary of cash and investments held in our insurance businesses follows. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 23,629     $ 18,655  
Equity securities
    55,050       56,289  
Fixed maturity securities
    34,382       35,537  
Other *
    22,151       29,240  
    $ 135,212     $ 139,721  

*
Other investments include the investments in Wrigley, Goldman Sachs, General Electric, Swiss Re and Dow. At December 31, 2009, other investments also included our 22.5% interest in BNSF which was then accounted for under the equity method.
 
Fixed maturity investments as of September 30, 2010 were as follows. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Amortized
cost
   
Unrealized
gains/losses
   
Fair
value
 
U.S. Treasury, U.S. government corporations and agencies
  $ 2,182     $ 68     $ 2,250  
States, municipalities and political subdivisions
    3,440       263       3,703  
Foreign governments
    11,038       323       11,361  
Corporate bonds, investment grade
    5,683       881       6,564  
Corporate bonds, non-investment grade
    6,740       809       7,549  
Mortgage-backed securities
    2,653       302       2,955  
    $ 31,736     $ 2,646     $ 34,382  
 
As of September 30, 2010, all U.S. government obligations were rated AAA by the major rating agencies and approximately 86% of all state, municipal and political subdivisions, foreign government obligations and mortgage-backed securities were rated AA or higher. Non-investment grade securities represent securities that are rated below BBB- or Baa3.
 
Railroad (“Burlington Northern Santa Fe”)
 
We acquired control of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (“BNSF”) on February 12, 2010. BNSF’s revenues and operating results are included in our consolidated results beginning as of that date. In 2009 and for the period between January 1, 2010 and February 12, 2010, we accounted for our interest in BNSF pursuant to the equity method. Our share of BNSF’s earnings for those periods is included in net investment income of our insurance group.  Earnings of BNSF for the period between February 12, 2010 and September 30, 2010 are summarized below (in millions).
 
   
Third quarter 2010
   
Feb. 12, 2010 to
September 30, 2010
 
Revenues
  $  4,391       $  10,558    
Operating expenses
     3,132          7,676    
Interest expense
     132          305    
       3,264          7,981    
Pre-tax earnings
     1,127          2,577    
Income taxes
     421          986    
Net earnings
  $  706       $  1,591    
 
BNSF operates one of the largest railroad systems in North America with approximately 32,000 route miles of track in 28 states and two Canadian provinces. BNSF’s major business groups are classified by product shipped and include consumer products, coal, industrial products and agricultural products. The discussion that follows compares BNSF’s results for the three months and nine months ending September 30, 2010 to the same periods in 2009.
 
Revenues during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 were $4,391 million and $12,349 million, respectively, representing increases of $796 million (22%) and $2,014 million (19%), respectively, over 2009. The increases in revenues were primarily due to increased industrial products, agricultural and consumer products freight volume.  The increases in freight revenues also reflected overall increased yields (revenue per car/unit) as well as comparative increases in fuel surcharges of $211 million in the third quarter and $563 million for the first nine months. Coal freight revenues in the first nine months of 2010 increased due to higher yields, partially offset by lower unit volumes.
 
 
26

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Railroad (“Burlington Northern Santa Fe”) (Continued)
 
Operating expenses in 2010 were $3,132 million for the third quarter and $9,018 million for the first nine months, representing increases of $437 million (16%) and $1,045 million (13%), respectively, over 2009. Fuel costs increased $142 million in the third quarter and $440 million in the first nine months primarily due to higher prices. Compensation and benefits expense increased $147 million in the third quarter and $400 million in the first nine months. The increases were primarily due to increased accruals reflecting improved performance against targets related to incentive compensation and profit sharing, as well as revaluation adjustments related to certain equity awards outstanding as of the acquisition date, increased health and welfare expenses and wage increases.  Operating expenses in 2010 also reflected increased depreciation and amortization expense versus 2009.
 
Utilities and Energy (“MidAmerican”)
 
Revenues and earnings from MidAmerican are summarized below. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
   
Revenues
    Earnings  
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
PacifiCorp
  $ 1,187     $ 1,171     $ 217     $ 231     $ 3,389     $ 3,343     $ 614     $ 575  
MidAmerican Energy Company
    938       818       105       81       2,907       2,724       233       229  
Natural gas pipelines
    210       210       59       67       697       770       252       337  
U.K. utilities
    186       216       102       72       584       608       243       202  
Real estate brokerage
    260       323       9       29       811       791       38       42  
Other
    43       74       8       40       85       180       12       (1 )
    $ 2,824     $ 2,812                     $ 8,473     $ 8,416                  
Earnings before corporate interest and income taxes
                    500       520                       1,392       1,384  
Corporate interest
                    (84 )     (79 )                     (243 )     (238 )
Interest on Berkshire junior debt
                    (7 )     (13 )                     (25 )     (47 )
Income taxes and noncontrolling interests
                    (45 )     (52 )                     (265 )     (235 )
Net earnings
                  $ 364     $ 376                     $ 859     $ 864  
Earnings attributable to Berkshire *
                  $ 331     $ 346                     $ 787     $ 802  
Debt owed to others at September 30
                                                  $ 19,582     $ 19,564  
Debt owed to Berkshire at September 30
                                                  $ 186     $ 420  

*
Net of noncontrolling interests and includes interest earned by Berkshire (net of related income taxes).
 
We hold an 89.8% ownership interest in MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (“MidAmerican”), which operates an international energy business. MidAmerican’s domestic regulated energy interests are comprised of two regulated utility companies and two interstate natural gas pipeline companies. In the United Kingdom, MidAmerican operates two electricity distribution businesses. The rates that our utility and natural gas pipeline companies charge customers for energy and other services are generally subject to regulatory approval. Rates are based in large part on the costs of business operations, including a return on capital. To the extent these operations are not allowed to include such costs in the approved rates, operating results will be adversely affected. In addition, MidAmerican’s other businesses include a diversified portfolio of independent power projects and the second-largest residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States.
 
PacifiCorp’s revenues in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased $16 million (1%) and $46 million (1%), respectively, over the same periods in 2009.  Revenue increases in 2010 reflected higher retail revenues and sales of renewable energy credits offset by lower wholesale revenues.  Earnings before corporate interest and taxes (“EBIT”) in 2010 declined $14 million (6%) in the third quarter and increased $39 million (7%) in the first nine months compared to the corresponding periods in 2009.  Despite the increase in revenues in the third quarter, EBIT declined as a result of higher energy costs. The comparative increase in EBIT during the first nine months reflected increased margins resulting from the revenue increases and lower energy costs (due to declines in the cost and amount of purchased electricity) and higher capitalized interest on equity and borrowed funds.
 
MidAmerican Energy Company’s (“MEC”) revenues in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased $120 million (15%) and $183 million (7%), respectively, compared to 2009. The comparative increases were principally attributable to higher retail electricity revenues as a result of increased electricity demand primarily due to favorable weather conditions and customer growth. EBIT of MEC in the third quarter of 2010 increased $24 million (30%) compared to 2009 and was primarily due to higher electric margins. For the first nine months of 2010, EBIT was relatively unchanged from 2009. Comparatively higher energy costs and lower wholesale electricity prices, as well as maintenance costs incurred to repair storm damage and higher depreciation expense during the first six months of 2010 substantially offset the third quarter increase in EBIT.
 
 
27

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Utilities and Energy (“MidAmerican”) (Continued)
 
Natural gas pipelines revenues and EBIT in the first nine months of 2010 declined $73 million (9%) and $85 million (25%), respectively, from the first nine months of 2009. These declines were due to unfavorable market conditions, particularly over the first half of the year, which led to lower volumes and decreased transportation and storage revenues.  Revenues of U.K. utilities decreased in 2010 periods primarily as a result of lower contracting revenues and foreign currency exchange rate changes. EBIT of U.K. utilities in 2010 includes a $45 million gain from the disposition of an Australian affiliate in the third quarter.
 
Real estate brokerage revenues in the third quarter of 2010 decreased $63 million (20%) versus 2009, due to a 27% comparative decline in closed transactions as the home buyer tax credit expired in the second quarter of 2010. The decline in brokerage revenues was the primary driver in the $20 million decline in EBIT for the third quarter of 2010 versus 2009.  For the first nine months of 2010 real estate brokerage revenues increased $20 million (3%), while EBIT declined $4 million (10%).
 
Other EBIT in the first nine months of 2009 included a gain of $37 million associated with the Constellation Energy common stock investment and also included $125 million in stock-based compensation expense as a result of the exercise of the last remaining stock options that had been granted to certain members of management at the time of our acquisition of MidAmerican in 2000. Income taxes and noncontrolling interests in the first nine months of 2010 included an after-tax charge of $59 million for an unfavorable verdict in connection with litigation associated with the noncontrolling ownership interest of a hydroelectric project in the Philippines.  The verdict is subject to motions for appeal.
 
Manufacturing, Service and Retailing
 
A summary of revenues and earnings of our manufacturing, service and retailing businesses follows. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Marmon
  $ 1,525     $ 1,306     $ 212     $ 194     $ 4,484     $ 3,846     $ 621     $ 526  
McLane Company
    8,611       8,170       89       64       24,334       23,027       278       273  
Other manufacturing
    4,659       4,300       585       344       13,368       11,939       1,462       776  
Other service
    1,811       1,538       244       (5 )     5,456       4,616       750       (67 )
Retailing
    652       641       15       11       2,009       1,955       75       48  
    $ 17,258     $ 15,955                     $ 49,651     $ 45,383                  
Pre-tax earnings
                  $ 1,145     $ 608                     $ 3,186     $ 1,556  
Income taxes and noncontrolling interests
                    500       272                       1,393       723  
                    $ 645     $ 336                     $ 1,793     $ 833  
 
Marmon
 
Through Marmon, we operate approximately 130 manufacturing and service businesses that operate independently within eleven diverse business sectors. Marmon’s revenues for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 were $1,525 million and $4,484 million, respectively, which represented increases of approximately 17% over the revenues in 2009 periods. About one-half of the third quarter revenue increase was the result of increased copper prices, the cost of which is passed to customers with no margin.  The balance of the revenue increase in 2010 was associated with a gradual rebound in other sectors as Marmon’s end markets improved from 2009’s low levels.
 
Earnings for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased $18 million (9%) and $95 million (18%), respectively, over the corresponding 2009 periods. With the exception of Distribution Services, all sectors had improvement in earnings for the first nine months of 2010.  Earnings as a percent of revenues in the third quarter of 2010 decreased from 14.9% of revenues in the third quarter of 2009 to 13.9%, while the first nine months of 2010 saw an increase to 13.8% from 13.7% in 2009.  Earnings as a percentage of revenues in the third quarter of 2010 was significantly impacted by the increase in copper prices.  The Transportation Services and Engineered Products sector and Building Wire sector had the largest increases in earnings in the first nine months of 2010 compared to 2009.  Earnings in 2010 periods also benefitted from reduced interest expense.
 
McLane Company
 
Through McLane, we operate a wholesale distribution business that provides grocery and non-food products to retailers, convenience stores and restaurants. On April 23, 2010, McLane acquired Kahn Ventures, parent company of Empire Distributors and Empire Distributors of North Carolina.  Kahn Ventures and its subsidiaries are wholesale distributors of distilled spirits, wine and beer. McLane’s revenues for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 were $8.6 billion and $24.3 billion, respectively, representing increases of $441 million (5%) and $1,307 million (6%), respectively, over revenues in comparable 2009 periods. Pre-tax earnings in the third quarter of 2010 increased $25 million (39%) over 2009, while pre-tax earnings for the first nine months of 2010 were relatively unchanged from 2009.  Earnings for the first nine months of 2009 included the impact of a substantial inventory price change gain associated with an increase in federal excise taxes on cigarettes. Many tobacco manufacturers raised prices in anticipation of the tax increase, which allowed McLane to generate a one-time price change gain. The one-time inventory price change gain was partially offset by a federally mandated one-time floor stock tax on related inventory held.
 
 
28

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Manufacturing, Service and Retailing (Continued)
 
McLane Company (Continued)
 
McLane’s business is marked by high sales volume and very low profit margins. Its business has been subject to considerable price competition, which keeps constant downward pressure on margins. We anticipate that strong price competition will continue in the future. The gross margin rate was 5.69% in the first nine months of 2010 compared to 5.81% in 2009. Approximately one-third of McLane’s annual revenues are from Wal-Mart. A curtailment of purchasing by Wal-Mart could have a material adverse impact on the earnings of McLane.
 
Other manufacturing
 
Our other manufacturing businesses include a wide array of businesses. Included in this group are several manufacturers of building products (Acme Building Brands, Benjamin Moore, Johns Manville, Shaw and MiTek) and apparel (led by Fruit of the Loom which includes the Russell athletic apparel and sporting goods business and the Vanity Fair Brands women’s intimate apparel business). Among other businesses also included in this group are Forest River, a leading manufacturer of leisure vehicles, ISCAR Metalworking Companies (“IMC”), an industry leader in the metal cutting tools business with operations worldwide and CTB International (“CTB”), a manufacturer of equipment for the livestock and agricultural industry.
 
Revenues from our other manufacturing activities for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 were $4,659 million and $13,368 million, respectively, representing increases of $359 million (8%) and $1,429 million (12%), respectively, over revenues in the corresponding 2009 periods. The increases in revenues for the first nine months of 2010 were primarily due to volume driven revenue increases of Forest River (75%), IMC (43%), CTB (25%) and Johns Manville (13%). These operations rebounded in 2010 from generally very slow business activity over the first nine months of 2009. Despite an increase in revenues of Johns Manville in the first nine months of 2010, our building products operations continue to be adversely affected by overall soft residential and commercial real estate conditions.
 
Pre-tax earnings of our other manufacturing businesses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased $241 million (70%) and $686 million (88%), respectively, compared with earnings in the corresponding 2009 periods. The improvements in earnings in 2010 versus 2009 were driven by significant earnings increases at Fruit of the Loom (due primarily to improved manufacturing efficiencies and cost management efforts), IMC and Forest River as well as improved comparative earnings of the building products group. Our manufacturing businesses benefitted in 2010 from higher customer demand and the effects of cost containment efforts over the past two years, which has helped improve profit margins.
 
Other service
 
Our other service businesses include NetJets, the world’s leading provider of fractional ownership programs for general aviation aircraft and FlightSafety, a provider of high technology training to operators of aircraft. Among the other businesses also included in this group are: TTI, a leading electronic components distributor; Business Wire, a leading distributor of corporate news, multimedia and regulatory filings; The Pampered Chef, a direct seller of high quality kitchen tools; International Dairy Queen, a licensor and service provider to about 5,800 stores that offer prepared dairy treats and food; The Buffalo News, a publisher of a daily and Sunday newspaper; and businesses that provide management and other services to insurance companies.
 
In 2010, revenues of our other service businesses were $1,811 million in the third quarter and $5,456 million in the first nine months, increases of $273 million (18%) and $840 million (18%), respectively, compared to 2009. Pre-tax earnings in the third quarter of 2010 increased $249 million over 2009 and in the first nine months of 2010 increased $817 million compared with 2009. The increases in revenues and earnings were driven by significantly improved operating results of NetJets and TTI.
 
For the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, NetJets’ revenues increased 17% over each of the comparable 2009 periods. These increases were due to an increase in worldwide flight revenue hours and increased fuel cost recoveries, partially offset by lower management fees due to fewer aircraft in the NetJets program. NetJets generated pre-tax earnings of $158 million in the first nine months of 2010 compared to a pre-tax loss of $531 million in 2009, which included $436 million of asset writedowns and other downsizing costs, including $181 million in the third quarter. Such costs in the first nine months of 2010 were relatively minor. On January 1, 2010, Berkshire began charging NetJets a guarantee fee related to the level of its outstanding commercial paper and other borrowings.  For the first nine months of 2010, the guarantee fee was $27 million and was charged against NetJets’ earnings.  A corresponding credit was included as a component of “Other” earnings in the table on page 21.  Had a similar fee been charged in 2009, NetJets’ pre-tax loss of $531 million would have increased by $58 million. The improvement in earnings was due to the increase in revenues and to an overall reduction in flight operations and administrative costs, partially offset by higher fuel costs. NetJets continues to own more aircraft than is required for present operations and we expect to continue to dispose selected aircraft over time. NetJets’ operating cost structure has been reduced to better match customer demand, and we believe that NetJets will continue to operate profitably in the future.
 
For the first nine months of 2010, revenues of TTI increased by approximately 50% over 2009 which was driven by very strong worldwide demand. We primarily attribute the revenue increase to recovering consumer demand for electronic products, as well as to manufacturers replenishing depleted raw material inventories. We believe that the current strong market conditions will eventually slow to more normalized levels. As a result of the increase in revenues, pre-tax earnings of TTI were significantly higher in 2010 compared to 2009.
 
 
29

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Manufacturing, Service and Retailing (Continued)
 
Retailing
 
Our retailing operations consist of four home furnishings businesses (Nebraska Furniture Mart, R.C. Willey, Star Furniture and Jordan’s), three jewelry businesses (Borsheims, Helzberg and Ben Bridge) and See’s Candies. In 2010, revenues were $652 million in the third quarter and $2,009 million in the first nine months, representing increases of $11 million (2%) and $54 million (3%), respectively, compared to 2009. In 2010, pre-tax earnings for the third quarter and first nine months increased $4 million (36%) and $27 million (56%), respectively, over earnings in 2009. The increases in earnings in 2010 were primarily attributable to our home furnishings businesses, which benefitted from a relatively modest increase in sales and ongoing cost containment efforts.
 
Finance and Financial Products
 
A summary of revenues and earnings from our finance and financial products businesses follows. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
   
Revenues
   
Earnings
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Manufactured housing and finance
  $ 816     $ 872     $ 39     $ 53     $ 2,505     $ 2,420     $ 129     $ 142  
Furniture/transportation equipment leasing
    174       164       20       5       486       504       35       10  
Other
    61       43       81       61       186       147       242       194  
    $ 1,051     $ 1,079                     $ 3,177     $ 3,071                  
Pre-tax earnings
                  $ 140     $ 119                     $ 406     $ 346  
Income taxes and noncontrolling interests
                    56       42                       156       132  
                    $ 84     $ 77                     $ 250     $ 214  
 
Revenues in 2010 from our manufactured housing and finance business (Clayton Homes) decreased $56 million (6%) in the third quarter and increased $85 million (4%) for the first nine months compared with revenues in the corresponding 2009 periods. The comparative decline in third quarter revenues was primarily due to a decline in the number of homes sold and product mix changes to smaller homes. The comparative increase for the first nine months of 2010 was due to a 14% increase in units sold year-to-date offset somewhat by a decline in average sales prices, primarily due to product mix changes. Unit sales in 2010 benefitted from the home buyer tax credit, which expired in the second quarter.
 
Pre-tax earnings of Clayton Homes in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 decreased $14 million (26%) and $13 million (9%) versus the corresponding 2009 periods. The impact of the adoption of ASU 2009-17 (see Notes 2 and 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements) on earnings was not significant as the incremental interest income was largely offset by interest expense. Operating results in the third quarter of 2010 were negatively impacted by lower sales which reduced operating efficiencies, partially offset by a decrease in loan loss provisions.
 
Revenues from our furniture and transportation equipment leasing activities in the third quarter of 2010 increased $10 million (6%) over 2009 while revenues in the first nine months of 2010 declined $18 million (4%) compared to 2009. The increase in third quarter revenues primarily reflected higher rental income by our transportation equipment business due to relatively higher utilization rates. Pre-tax earnings in the first nine months of 2010 were $35 million, a $25 million increase over 2009.  The earnings increase in 2010 was primarily attributable to cost containment efforts.
 
Revenues and operating results of Clayton Homes and the leasing businesses have been negatively affected by the economic recession as well as the credit crisis. In addition, our manufactured housing programs have been at a competitive disadvantage compared to traditional single family housing markets, which have been receiving significant interest rate subsidies from the U.S. government through government agency insured mortgages. For the most part, these subsidies are not available to factory built homes. As a result, manufactured housing construction, sales and related lending activities have been negatively impacted. Nevertheless, we believe that Clayton Homes will continue to operate profitably, even under the current conditions.
 
Earnings from our other finance business activities consists primarily of investment income from a portfolio of fixed maturity and equity investments and from a small portfolio of long-held commercial real estate loans. In addition, other activities include earnings from interest rate spreads on Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation’s (“BHFC”) borrowings ($11.5 billion as of September 30, 2010), which are used in connection with Clayton Homes’ installment lending activities. A corresponding charge is reflected in Clayton Homes’ earnings.
 
 
30

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Investment and Derivative Gains/Losses
 
A summary of investment and derivative gains and losses and other-than-temporary impairment losses on investments follows. Amounts are in millions.
 
   
Third Quarter
   
First Nine Months
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Investment gains/losses
  $ 473     $ 110     $ 2,174     $ (257 )
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments
    (15 )     (25 )     (15 )     (3,151 )
Derivative gains/losses
    (146 )     1,732       (1,911 )     2,572  
Gains/losses before income taxes and noncontrolling interests
    312       1,817       248       (836 )
Income taxes and noncontrolling interests
    110       634       (259 )     (295 )
Net gains/losses
  $ 202     $ 1,183     $ 507     $ (541 )
 
Investment gains or losses are recognized upon the sales of investments or as otherwise required under GAAP. The timing of realized gains or losses from sales can have a material effect on periodic earnings. However, such gains or losses usually have little, if any, impact on total shareholders’ equity because most equity and fixed maturity investments are carried at fair value with any unrealized gains or losses included as components of accumulated other comprehensive income. Investment gains/losses for the first nine months of 2010 included a one-time holding gain of $979 million in connection with our acquisition of BNSF.  See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Other-than-temporary impairments of investments in the first nine months of 2009 predominantly related to a charge with respect to our investment in ConocoPhillips common stock. Beginning in the first quarter of 2009, we sold shares of ConocoPhillips. Sales in 2009 were in anticipation of other investment opportunities, to increase overall liquidity and to realize capital losses that can be carried back to prior years for income tax purposes. Since a significant portion of the decline in the market value of our investment in ConocoPhillips occurred during 2008, a significant portion of the other-than-temporary impairment losses recorded in earnings in 2009 was recognized in other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2008.
 
The recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment loss results in a reduction in the cost basis of the investment, but not its fair value. Although we have recorded other-than-temporary impairment losses in earnings, we may continue to hold positions in these securities. The recognition of such losses does not necessarily indicate that sales are imminent or planned and sales ultimately may not occur. We use no bright-line tests in determining whether impairments are temporary or other than temporary. We consider several factors in determining impairment losses including the current and expected long-term business prospects of the issuer, the length of time and relative magnitude of the price decline and our ability and intent to hold the investment until the price recovers.
 
With respect to equity securities with gross unrealized losses at September 30, 2010, and where other-than-temporary impairments have not been recorded, approximately 88% of the losses were concentrated in five issuers (including Wells Fargo & Company which is in a net unrealized gain position of approximately $1.0 billion). Unrealized losses were no greater than 36% of cost. In our judgment, the future earnings potential and underlying business economics of these companies are favorable and as of September 30, 2010, we possessed the ability and intent to hold these securities until their prices recover. Changing market conditions and other facts and circumstances may change the business prospects of these issuers as well as our ability and intent to hold these securities until their prices recover.
 
Derivative gains/losses primarily represent the changes in fair values of our credit default and equity index put option contracts. Changes in the fair values of these contracts are reflected in earnings and can be significant, reflecting the volatility of equity and credit markets. We have not actively traded into and out of credit default and equity index put option contracts. Under many of the contracts, no settlements will occur until the contract expiration dates many years from now.
 
The changes in fair values of our credit default contracts are reflected in periodic earnings and are impacted by changes in credit default spreads, which are subject to volatility. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, our credit default contracts generated pre-tax gains of $519 million and $407 million, respectively. In 2010, we also paid $132 million to settle certain 2009 loss events. In 2009, we realized pre-tax gains of $1,443 million in the third quarter and $483 million in the first nine months. In the first nine months of 2009, we also paid approximately $1.9 billion to counterparties in connection with a number of credit loss events in 2009.
 
During the third quarter of 2010, the values of our equity index put option contracts were negatively impacted by lower interest rate assumptions and a weaker U.S. Dollar which adversely impacted our non-U.S. contracts. These factors more than offset the favorable impact of increases in three of the four major equity index values. As a result, the estimated values of the liabilities associated with these contracts increased by $700 million to $9.6 billion, although the intrinsic values of the contracts decreased $605 million to approximately $5.8 billion. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, gains from equity index put option contracts were $220 million and $2,010 million, respectively. The gains in the third quarter of 2009 reflected increases in the equity indexes partially offset by the impact of a weaker U.S. Dollar on non-U.S. contracts and lower interest rate assumptions. There have been no loss payments to date. Our ultimate payment obligations, if any, under equity index put option contracts will be determined when the contracts expire, beginning in 2018.
 
 
31

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Financial Condition
 
Our balance sheet continues to reflect significant liquidity and a strong capital base. Our consolidated shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2010 was $149.7 billion, an increase of $18.6 billion from December 31, 2009. The increase in our shareholders’ equity included approximately $10.6 billion related to the issuance of Berkshire common stock in connection with the BNSF acquisition.
 
Consolidated cash and investments of insurance and other businesses approximated $143.6 billion at September 30, 2010, a decrease of about $6.4 billion from December 31, 2009.  Cash and cash equivalents of insurance and other businesses were $30.8 billion as of September 30, 2010. Investments are held predominantly in our insurance businesses.
 
In February 2010, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of BNSF common stock that we did not already own for aggregate consideration of approximately $26.5 billion. The consideration paid to BNSF shareholders consisted of $15.9 billion in cash consisting of $8.0 billion in proceeds from newly issued parent company debt (which includes $2.0 billion that matures in February 2011) and $7.9 billion of cash on hand, plus Berkshire Class A and B common stock with an aggregate value of approximately $10.6 billion.
 
Our railroad, utilities and energy businesses conducted by MidAmerican and BNSF maintain very large investments in property, plant and equipment and will regularly make significant capital expenditures in the normal course of business.  Capital expenditures of MidAmerican for the first nine months of 2010 were approximately $1.9 billion. For the period between February 12, 2010 and September 30, 2010, BNSF’s capital expenditures were approximately $1.7 billion. Forecasted capital expenditures for the remainder of 2010 for these two operations are currently estimated at $1.5 billion. Future capital expenditures are expected to be funded from cash flows from operations and debt proceeds. Aggregate borrowings of the railroad, utilities and energy businesses were about $32.0 billion as of September 30, 2010, including $12.4 billion of borrowings of BNSF. BNSF debt and capital lease maturities over the remainder of 2010 are about $380 million. MidAmerican and its operating subsidiaries currently have no significant debt maturities until 2011, when about $1.1 billion matures. Berkshire has committed until February 28, 2011 to provide up to $3.5 billion of additional capital to MidAmerican to permit the repayment of its debt obligations or to fund its regulated utility subsidiaries. In the first quarter of 2010, the commitment was amended to extend the term of the commitment to February 28, 2014 and as of March 1, 2011, to reduce the amount to $2 billion. Berkshire does not intend to guarantee the repayment of debt by BNSF, MidAmerican or any of their subsidiaries.
 
Assets of the finance and financial products businesses, which consisted primarily of loans and finance receivables, fixed maturity securities, other investments and cash and cash equivalents, were approximately $25.4 billion as of September 30, 2010 and $25.1 billion at December 31, 2009. Liabilities were $26.7 billion as of September 30, 2010 and $24.0 billion at December 31, 2009. As of September 30, 2010, notes payable and other borrowings of $14.5 billion included approximately $11.5 billion par amount of notes issued by BHFC. In January 2010, BHFC issued $750 million of 5.75% notes due in 2040 and $250 million of floating rate notes due in 2012 and repaid $1.5 billion of maturing notes. The BHFC notes are unsecured and mature at various dates, including $500 million maturing in December 2010 and $1.5 billion maturing in January 2011. The proceeds from the BHFC notes were used to finance originated and acquired loans of Clayton Homes. The full and timely payment of principal and interest on the notes is guaranteed by Berkshire. Other debt increased in the first nine months of 2010 by approximately $1.3 billion to $3.0 billion primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2009-17. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
During 2008 and continuing into the first part of 2009, access to credit markets became limited as a consequence of the ongoing worldwide credit crisis.  However, management believes that the credit crisis has abated and as a result, interest rates for investment grade issuers relative to government obligations have declined. Nevertheless, restricted access to credit markets at affordable rates in the future could have a significant negative impact on operations, particularly the railroad, utilities and energy and the finance and financial products operations.
 
On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law financial regulatory reform legislation, known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Reform Act”). The Reform Act reshapes financial regulations in the United States by creating new regulators, regulating new markets and firms, and providing new enforcement powers to regulators. Virtually all major areas of the Reform Act will be subject to regulatory interpretation and implementation rules requiring rulemaking that may take several years to complete.
 
We are party to derivatives contracts as further described in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. With limited exception, our equity index put option and credit default contracts contain no collateral posting requirements under any circumstances, including changes in either the fair value or intrinsic value of the contracts’ liabilities or a downgrade in Berkshire’s credit ratings. Substantially all of these contracts were entered into prior to December 31, 2008. At September 30, 2010, the net liabilities recorded for such contracts were approximately $10.7 billion and our collateral posting requirements were $69 million.  With respect to such collateral requirements, we receive the income attributable to such collateral or, in certain instances, interest credit from the counterparty.  Although the ultimate outcome of the regulatory rulemaking proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not believe that the provisions of the Reform Act that concern collateral requirements apply to derivatives contracts that were entered into prior to the enactment of the Reform Act, as ours were.  As such, although the Reform Act may affect some of our business activities, it is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial results or financial condition.
 
 
32

 
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Contractual Obligations
 
We are party to contracts associated with ongoing business and financing activities, which will result in cash payments to counterparties in future periods. Certain obligations reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, such as notes payable, require future payments on contractually specified dates and in fixed and determinable amounts. The timing and/or amount of the payments of other obligations, such as unpaid property and casualty loss reserves and credit default and equity index put option contracts, are contingent upon the outcome of future events. Actual payments will likely vary, perhaps significantly, from estimates. Other obligations pertain to the acquisition of goods or services in the future, which are not currently reflected in the financial statements, such as minimum rentals under operating leases. Except as described below, our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2010 were not materially different from those disclosed in “Contractual Obligations,” included in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in Berkshire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
On February 12, 2010, we completed the acquisition of BNSF.  BNSF’s contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009 were approximately $43 billion. As of September 30, 2010, BNSF’s contractual obligations were not materially different from December 31, 2009. A summary of BNSF’s contractual obligations reported as of December 31, 2009, together with the obligations associated with Berkshire’s $8.0 billion debt issuance in connection with the BNSF acquisition follows (in millions).
 
   
Estimated payments due by period
 
   
Total
   
2010
      2011-2012       2013-2014    
After 2014
 
Notes payable and other borrowings *
  $ 27,438     $ 1,329     $ 6,228     $ 4,814     $ 15,067  
Operating leases
    6,325       613       1,143       1,016       3,553  
Purchase obligations
    16,945       3,847       4,786       2,506       5,806  
Other
    843       86       334       318       105  
Total
  $ 51,551     $ 5,875     $ 12,491     $ 8,654     $ 24,531  

*    Includes interest.
 
In 2010, BHRG entered into two new reinsurance agreements with CNA Companies and SRLHA that will result in future contractual payments that are contingent as to timing and amount and, therefore, are subject to estimation error. Based on our initial estimates at the inception of each contract, we believe our future net payments (undiscounted losses and benefits less future premiums) will approximate $6.5 billion.  Over 90% of such amounts are expected to be paid after 2015.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Certain accounting policies require us to make estimates and judgments regarding transactions that have occurred and ultimately will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized in the financial statements from such estimates are necessarily based on assumptions about numerous factors involving varying, and possibly significant, degrees of judgment and uncertainty. Accordingly, the amounts currently recorded in the financial statements may prove, with the benefit of hindsight, to be inaccurate. Reference is made to “Critical Accounting Policies” discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in Berkshire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for additional discussion regarding these estimates.
 
Our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010 includes estimated liabilities for unpaid losses from property and casualty insurance and reinsurance contracts of $61.2 billion. Due to the inherent uncertainties in the process of establishing loss reserve amounts, the actual ultimate claim amounts will likely differ from the currently recorded amounts. A very small percentage change in estimates of this magnitude will result in a material effect on reported earnings. The effects from changes in these estimates are recorded as a component of losses incurred in the period of the change.
 
Our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2010 includes goodwill of acquired businesses of $49.2 billion, which includes $14.8 billion arising from our acquisition of BNSF in February 2010. A significant amount of judgment is required in performing goodwill impairment tests. Such tests include periodically determining or reviewing the estimated fair value of our reporting units. There are several methods of estimating a reporting unit’s fair value, including market quotations, if available, asset and liability fair values and other valuation techniques, such as discounted projected future net earnings or cash flows and multiples of earnings. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, then individual assets, including identifiable intangible assets, and liabilities of the reporting unit are estimated at fair value. The excess of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit over the estimated fair value of net assets would establish the implied value of goodwill. The excess of the recorded amount of goodwill over the implied value is then charged to earnings as an impairment loss. We perform an annual evaluation of goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter.
 
 
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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Continued)
 
Critical Accounting Policies (Continued)
 
Our consolidated financial position reflects very significant amounts of invested assets and derivative contract liabilities that are measured at fair value. A substantial portion of invested assets are carried at fair value based upon current market quotations and other observable market inputs. In instances when market prices are not available, values may be based upon fair value pricing matrices or models. These models may incorporate observable inputs as well as unobservable inputs, which require judgments by management. Derivative contract values reflect estimates of the amounts at which the contracts could be exchanged based upon varying levels of observable market information as well as other assumptions by management. Certain of our fixed maturity securities are not actively traded in the securities markets, and loans and finance receivables of our finance businesses are not traded at all. Considerable judgment may be required in determining the assumptions used in certain valuation models, including interest rate, loan prepayment speed, credit risk and liquidity risk assumptions. Changes in these assumptions may produce a significant effect on values. Furthermore, accounting and reporting standards are continually and rapidly changing in the area of financial instruments, which may impact the values recorded in the financial statements in future periods.
 
Information concerning new accounting pronouncements is included in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this document as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Berkshire officials during presentations about Berkshire or its subsidiaries are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Forward-looking statements include statements which are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects and possible future Berkshire actions, which may be provided by management, are also forward-looking statements as defined by the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Berkshire and its subsidiaries, economic and market factors and the industries in which we do business, among other things. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and we have no specific intention to update these statements.
 
Actual events and results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. The principal important risk factors that could cause our actual performance and future events and actions to differ materially from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in market prices of our investments in fixed maturity and equity securities, losses realized from derivative contracts, the occurrence of one or more catastrophic events, such as an earthquake, hurricane or act of terrorism that causes losses insured by our insurance subsidiaries, changes in laws or regulations affecting our insurance, railroad, utilities, energy and finance subsidiaries, changes in federal income tax laws, and changes in general economic and market factors that affect the prices of securities or the industries in which we do business.
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Reference is made to Berkshire’s most recently issued Annual Report and in particular the “Market Risk Disclosures” included in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” As of September 30, 2010, there are no material changes in the market risks described in Berkshire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Corporation carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Corporation’s management, including the Chairman (Chief Executive Officer) and the Senior Vice President-Treasurer (Chief Financial Officer), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Chairman (Chief Executive Officer) and the Senior Vice President-Treasurer (Chief Financial Officer) concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Corporation (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Corporation’s periodic SEC filings. During the quarter, there have been no significant changes in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
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Part II Other Information
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
We are party in a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. In particular, such legal actions affect our insurance and reinsurance businesses. Such litigation generally seeks to establish liability directly through insurance contracts or indirectly through reinsurance contracts issued by Berkshire subsidiaries. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. We do not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Berkshire and certain of its subsidiaries are also involved in other kinds of legal actions, some of which assert or may assert claims or seek to impose fines and penalties in substantial amounts. Reference is made to Note 21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 and Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I of this Form 10-Q for detailed discussion of such actions.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
Our significant business risks are described in Item 1A to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 to which reference is made herein.
 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
None
 
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None
 
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)
 
Not applicable.
 
Item 5. Other Information
 
Coal Mine Safety Disclosures Required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
 
The operation of PacifiCorp’s coal mines and coal processing facilities is regulated by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (“Mine Safety Act”). MSHA inspects PacifiCorp’s coal mines and coal processing facilities on a regular basis and may issue citations, notices, orders, or any combination thereof, when it believes a violation has occurred under the Mine Safety Act. For citations, monetary penalties are assessed by MSHA. Citations, notices and orders can be contested and appealed and the severity and assessment of penalties may be reduced or, in some cases, dismissed through the appeal process.
 
The table below summarizes the total number of citations, notices and orders issued and penalties assessed by MSHA for each coal mine or coal processing facility operated by PacifiCorp under the indicated provisions of the Mine Safety Act during the three-month period ended September 30, 2010. Closed or idled mines have been excluded from the table below as no citations, orders or notices were issued for such mines during the three-month period ended September 30, 2010. In addition, there were no fatalities at PacifiCorp’s coal mines or coal processing facilities during the three-month period ended September 30, 2010.

   
Mine Safety Act
       
                                       
Total
       
    Section                      
Section
         
Value of
       
   
104(a)
         
Section
          107(a)          
Proposed
       
   
Significant &
   
Section
    104(d)    
Section
   
Imminent
   
Section
   
MSHA
   
Legal
 
   
Substantial
    104(b)    
Citations &
    110(b)(2)    
Danger
    104(e)    
Assessments
   
Actions
 
Coal Mine or Coal Processing Facility
 
Citations
   
Orders
   
Orders
   
Citations
   
Orders
   
Notice
   
(in thousands)
   
Pending
 
Deer Creek
    10             1                       $ 40       15  
Bridger (surface)
    2                                     4       6  
Bridger (underground)
    9                         1             42       17  
Cottonwood Preparatory Plant
                                               
Wyodak Coal Crushing Facility
                                               
 
 
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Item 6. Exhibits
 
 
a.
Exhibits
 
 
31.1
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
 
31.2
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications
 
32.1
Section 1350 Certifications
 
32.2
Section 1350 Certifications
 
101
The following financial information from Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, (ii) the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, and (v) the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged in summary and detail.

SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
   
 
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC.
 
(Registrant)
   
Date: November 5, 2010
/S/    MARC D. HAMBURG
 
(Signature)
 
Marc D. Hamburg,
Senior Vice President and
Principal Financial Officer
 
 
 
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