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Berkshire Hathaway Inc – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/10 – ‘XML.R27’

On: Monday, 2/28/11, at 10:20am ET · For: 12/31/10 · Accession #: 1193125-11-48914 · File #: 1-14905

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 2/28/11  Berkshire Hathaway Inc            10-K       12/31/10  103:31M                                    Donnelley … Solutions/FA

Annual Report — Form 10-K — Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                       HTML   1.69M 
 3: EX-21       Subsidiaries List                                   HTML     65K 
 4: EX-23       Consent of Experts or Counsel                       HTML     28K 
 2: EX-12       Statement re: Computation of Ratios                 HTML     44K 
 5: EX-31.1     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     33K 
 6: EX-31.2     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     33K 
 7: EX-32.1     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     27K 
 8: EX-32.2     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     27K 
78: XML         IDEA XML File -- Definitions and References          XML    367K 
92: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    355K 
87: XML.R1      Document and Entity Information                      XML    307K 
88: XML.R2      Consolidated Balance Sheets                          XML    758K 
48: XML.R3      Consolidated Statements of Earnings                  XML    855K 
56: XML.R4      Consolidated Statements of Earnings                  XML    260K 
                (Parenthetical)                                                  
76: XML.R5      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows                XML    792K 
73: XML.R6      Consolidated Statements of Changes in                XML    474K 
                Shareholders' Equity                                             
98: XML.R7      Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income      XML    226K 
26: XML.R8      Significant accounting policies and practices        XML    119K 
72: XML.R9      Significant business acquisitions                    XML     89K 
22: XML.R10     Investments in fixed maturity securities             XML    185K 
21: XML.R11     Investments in equity securities                     XML    172K 
47: XML.R12     Other investments                                    XML    116K 
82: XML.R13     Investment gains and losses                          XML    100K 
49: XML.R14     Receivables                                          XML     85K 
52: XML.R15     Inventories                                          XML     68K 
67: XML.R16     Goodwill and other intangible assets                 XML    123K 
103: XML.R17     Property, plant and equipment                        XML    135K  
41: XML.R18     Derivative contracts                                 XML    143K 
15: XML.R19     Supplemental cash flow information                   XML     86K 
55: XML.R20     Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses           XML    129K 
81: XML.R21     Notes payable and other borrowings                   XML    162K 
33: XML.R22     Income taxes                                         XML    188K 
77: XML.R23     Dividend restrictions - Insurance subsidiaries       XML     52K 
53: XML.R24     Fair value measurements                              XML    282K 
97: XML.R25     Common stock                                         XML     82K 
84: XML.R26     Pension plans                                        XML    252K 
59: XML.R27     Contingencies and Commitments                        XML     86K 
68: XML.R28     Business segment data                                XML    504K 
20: XML.R29     Quarterly Data                                       XML    106K 
24: XML.R30     Condensed Financial Information                      XML    245K 
35: XML.R31     Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)           XML    267K 
43: XML.R32     Significant Business Acquisitions (Table)            XML     90K 
66: XML.R33     Investments in fixed maturity securities (Table)     XML    188K 
83: XML.R34     Investments in equity securities (Table)             XML    168K 
18: XML.R35     Other investments (Table)                            XML    110K 
27: XML.R36     Investment gains and losses (Table)                  XML     97K 
89: XML.R37     Receivables (Table)                                  XML     87K 
96: XML.R38     Inventories (Table)                                  XML     66K 
60: XML.R39     Goodwill and other intangible assets (Table)         XML    127K 
100: XML.R40     Property, plant and equipment (Table)                XML    173K  
28: XML.R41     Derivative contracts (Table)                         XML    142K 
102: XML.R42     Supplemental cash flow information (Table)           XML     84K  
37: XML.R43     Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses (Table)   XML    122K 
16: XML.R44     Notes payable and other borrowings (Table)           XML    235K 
36: XML.R45     Income taxes (Table)                                 XML    203K 
80: XML.R46     Fair value measurements (Table)                      XML    282K 
95: XML.R47     Common stock (Table)                                 XML     77K 
50: XML.R48     Pension plans (Table)                                XML    286K 
39: XML.R49     Business segment data (Table)                        XML    497K 
65: XML.R50     Quarterly data (Table)                               XML    104K 
19: XML.R51     Significant Accounting Policies (Detail)             XML    246K 
70: XML.R52     Significant Business Acquisitions (Detail)           XML    933K 
40: XML.R53     Investments in fixed maturity securities -           XML    603K 
                Investments in securities with fixed maturities                  
                (Detail)                                                         
25: XML.R54     Investments in fixed maturity securities -           XML    205K 
                Amortized cost and estimated fair value of                       
                securities with fixed maturities (Detail)                        
94: XML.R55     Investments in equity securities (Detail)            XML    770K 
91: XML.R56     Other investments (Detail)                           XML    449K 
46: XML.R57     Other Investments Narrative (Detail)                 XML   1.05M 
32: XML.R58     Investment gains and losses (Detail)                 XML    400K 
85: XML.R59     Receivables (Detail)                                 XML    767K 
23: XML.R60     Inventories (Detail)                                 XML    139K 
74: XML.R61     Goodwill and other intangible assets (Detail)        XML     88K 
71: XML.R62     Goodwill and other intangible assets - Intangible    XML    532K 
                assets (Detail)                                                  
90: XML.R63     Property, plant and equipment (Detail)               XML   1.07M 
86: XML.R64     Derivative contracts (Detail)                        XML    601K 
99: XML.R65     Derivative contracts - gains and losses (Detail)     XML    366K 
30: XML.R66     Supplemental cash flow information (Detail)          XML    370K 
45: XML.R67     Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses           XML    350K 
                (Detail)                                                         
63: XML.R68     Notes payable and other borrowings (Detail)          XML    625K 
54: XML.R69     Notes payable and other borrowings - Narrative       XML   1.05M 
                (Detail)                                                         
64: XML.R70     Income taxes (Detail)                                XML    547K 
101: XML.R71     Dividend restrictions - Insurance subsidiaries       XML     99K  
                (Detail)                                                         
31: XML.R72     Fair value measurements - Financial Instruments      XML    774K 
                (Detail)                                                         
38: XML.R73     Fair value measurements - Financial assets and       XML   1.28M 
                liabilities measured and carried at fair value on                
                a recurring basis (Detail)                                       
34: XML.R74     Fair value measurements - Significant unobservable   XML    425K 
                inputs (Detail)                                                  
61: XML.R75     Common stock (Detail)                                XML    290K 
69: XML.R76     Common stock - roll-forward (Detail)                 XML    251K 
58: XML.R77     Pension plans (Detail)                               XML    728K 
51: XML.R78     Pension plans - fair value (Details)                 XML   1.24M 
29: XML.R79     Contingencies and Commitments (Detail)               XML    695K 
17: XML.R80     Business segment data (Detail)                       XML   5.75M 
62: XML.R81     Quarterly data (Detail)                              XML    391K 
44: XML.R82     Condensed Financial Information - Balance Sheets     XML    386K 
                (Detail)                                                         
57: XML.R83     Condensed Financial Information - Statements of      XML    708K 
                Earnings (Detail)                                                
79: XML.R84     Condensed Financial Information - Statements of      XML    571K 
                Cash Flows (Detail)                                              
75: XML.R85     Notes to Condensed Financial Information (Detail)    XML   1.18M 
93: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports (.xls)            XLS   5.94M 
 9: EX-101.INS  XBRL Instance -- brka-20101231                       XML   6.08M 
11: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- brka-20101231_cal               XML    276K 
12: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- brka-20101231_def                XML   1.42M 
13: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- brka-20101231_lab                     XML   2.17M 
14: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- brka-20101231_pre              XML   1.59M 
10: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- brka-20101231                         XSD    393K 
42: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0001193125-11-048914-xbrl      Zip    385K

‘XML.R27’ — Contingencies and Commitments

This Financial Report is an XBRL XML File.

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> <div> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td align="left" width="3%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">(20)</font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="75%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <a name="xbrlnote20"><b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Contingencies and Commitments</font></b></a> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">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 its 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.</font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td align="left" width="3%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="3%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">a)</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="72%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <i><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-STYLE: italic">Civil Litigation</font></i> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 27pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <i><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Litigation Related to ROA</font></i> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">General Reinsurance Corporation (“General Reinsurance”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire, and several current and former employees, along with numerous other defendants, have been sued in fourteen federal lawsuits involving Reciprocal of America (“ROA”) and related entities. ROA was a Virginia-based reciprocal insurer and reinsurer of physician, hospital and lawyer professional liability risks. Ten are putative class actions initiated by doctors, hospitals and lawyers that purchased insurance through ROA or certain of its Tennessee-based risk retention groups. These complaints seek compensatory, treble, and punitive damages in an amount plaintiffs contend is just and reasonable. The most recently filed action was filed in April 2010 by the same attorneys representing the same hospitals as in three of the other putative class actions pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The allegations are virtually identical to the previously filed hospital policyholder actions.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">General Reinsurance is also subject to actions brought by the Virginia Commissioner of Insurance, as Deputy Receiver of ROA, the Tennessee Commissioner of Insurance, as Receiver for purposes of liquidating three Tennessee risk retention groups, a state lawsuit filed by a Missouri-based hospital group that was removed to federal court and another state lawsuit filed by an Alabama doctor that was also removed to federal court. The first of these actions was filed in March 2003 and additional actions were filed in April 2003 through June 2006. Twelve of these cases are collectively assigned to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee for pretrial proceedings.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">General Reinsurance has settled with both the Virginia and Tennessee Receivers, whose respective claims against General Reinsurance and its current and former employees have been dismissed with prejudice. The Missouri-based hospital group has also agreed to dismiss its claims against General Reinsurance.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 27pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <i><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Actions related to AIG</font></i> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">General Reinsurance is a defendant in In re American International Group Securities Litigation, Case No. 04-CV-8141-(LTS), United States District Court, Southern District of New York, a putative class action (the “AIG Securities Litigation”)</font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">asserted on behalf of investors who purchased publicly-traded securities of AIG between October 1999 and March 2005. The complaint, originally filed in April 2005, asserts various claims against AIG and certain of its officers, directors, investment banks and other parties, including former employees of General Reinsurance (whom the Complaint defines, together with General Reinsurance, as the “General Re Defendants”). The Complaint alleges that the General Re Defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 in connection with General Reinsurance’s transaction with AIG initially effected in 2000 (“the AIG Transaction”). The Complaint seeks damages and other relief in unspecified amounts. General Reinsurance has answered the Complaint, denying liability and asserting various affirmative defenses. Lead plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification on February 20, 2008. Various defendants, including General Reinsurance, have filed oppositions to class certification. The lead plaintiffs and General Reinsurance previously reached agreement concerning the terms of a settlement that would resolve all claims against the General Re Defendants in exchange for a payment by General Reinsurance of $72 million, out of which the court may award plaintiffs’ counsel no more than $11.5 million in fees and reimbursement of costs, with the remaining amount of at least $60.5 million to be distributed to purchasers of AIG securities. There was no court decision specifically approving or disapproving this settlement but rather, on February 22, 2010, the court granted class certification with respect to claims against AIG, and denied class certification with respect to claims against General Reinsurance. On September 23, 2010, the court entered a final judgment dismissing the General Re Defendants from the case. On October 21, 2010, the lead plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and the putative class, filed a notice of appeal of that final judgment, and also appealed from the court’s February 22, 2010 order (granting in part and denying in part the lead plaintiffs’ motion to certify the class, but only to the extent the order denied class certification as against the General Re Defendants), and the court’s March 4, 2010 order denying as moot the lead plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary court approval of the class action settlement with General Re.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">A member of the putative class in the litigation described in the preceding paragraph has asserted similar claims against General Reinsurance and a former officer of General Reinsurance in a separate complaint, Florida State Board of Administration v. General Re Corporation, et al., Case No. 06-CV-3967, United States District Court, Southern District of New York. The parties have settled this matter, the terms of which will require dismissal of this action with prejudice.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On July 27, 2005, General Reinsurance received a Summons and a Verified and Amended Shareholder Derivative Complaint in In re American International Group, Inc. Derivative Litigation, Case No. 04-CV-08406, United States District Court, Southern District of New York. The complaint, brought by several alleged shareholders of AIG, seeks damages, injunctive and declaratory relief against various officers and directors of AIG as well as a variety of individuals and entities with whom AIG did business, relating to a wide variety of allegedly wrongful practices by AIG. Plaintiffs have petitioned the court to dismiss the action with prejudice as to all defendants.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In August 2005, General Reinsurance received a Summons and First Amended Consolidated Shareholders’ Derivative Complaint in In re American International Group, Inc. Consolidated Derivative Litigation, Case No. 769-N, Delaware Chancery Court. On September 28, 2007, AIG and the shareholder plaintiffs filed a Second Combined Amended Complaint, in which AIG asserted claims against certain of its former officers and the shareholder plaintiffs asserted claims against a number of other defendants, including General Reinsurance. On July 13, 2009, the Delaware Chancery Court entered judgment dismissing with prejudice the claims asserted against General Reinsurance and certain other defendants in the matter. By Order dated December 29, 2010, the Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the Chancery Court dismissal of the claims against General Reinsurance and certain other defendants.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 27pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <i><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">FAI/HIH Matter</font></i> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In December 2003, the Liquidators of both FAI Insurance Limited (“FAI”) and HIH Insurance Limited (“HIH”) advised indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Berkshire (General Reinsurance Australia Limited (“GRA”) and Kölnische Rückversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG (“Cologne Re”)) that they intended to assert claims arising from insurance transactions GRA entered into with FAI in May and June 1998. In August 2004, the Liquidators filed claims in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in order to avoid the expiration of a statute of limitations for certain plaintiffs. The focus of the Liquidators’ allegations against GRA and Cologne Re are the 1998 transactions GRA entered into with FAI (which was acquired by HIH in 1999). The Liquidators contend, among other things, that GRA and Cologne Re engaged in deceptive conduct that assisted FAI in improperly accounting for such transactions as reinsurance, and that such deception led to HIH’s acquisition of FAI and caused various losses to FAI and HIH. The Liquidator of HIH served its Complaint on GRA and Cologne Re in June 2006 and</font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">discovery has been ongoing. The FAI Liquidator previously dismissed his complaint against GRA and Cologne Re. GRA and Cologne Re have finalized their settlement with the HIH Liquidator and as a result on March 24, 2010 court orders were entered dismissing the HIH Liquidators action in its entirety.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We have established reserves for certain of the legal proceedings discussed above where we have concluded that the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. We believe that any liability that may arise as a result of current pending civil litigation, including the matters discussed above, will not have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.</font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td align="left" width="3%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="3%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">b)</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="72%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <i><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">Commitments</font></i> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We lease certain manufacturing, warehouse, retail and office facilities as well as certain equipment. Rent expense for all operating leases was $1,204 million in 2010, $701 million in 2009 and $725 million in 2008. The increase in 2010 was due to the BNSF acquisition. Minimum rental payments for operating leases having initial or remaining non-cancelable terms in excess of one year are as follows. Amounts are in millions.</font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> <div> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> <tr> <td width="5%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="4%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="4%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="4%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="4%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="4%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="4%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td width="1%" valign="middle"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <div style="display: block; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> 2011 </font></b> </div> <div style="display: block; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td colspan="2" width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> 2012 </font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td colspan="2" width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> 2013 </font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td colspan="2" width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> 2014 </font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td colspan="2" width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> 2015 </font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td colspan="2" width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">After</font></b> </div> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> 2015 </font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td colspan="2" width="5%" valign="bottom" style="border-bottom: black 2px solid"> <div align="center" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <b><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> Total </font></b> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#cceeff"> <td align="left" width="5%" valign="top"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$1,156</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font> </div> </td> <td align="right" width="4%" valign="bottom"> <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">1,043</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font> </div> </td> <td align="right" width="4%" valign="bottom"> <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">910</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font> </div> </td> <td align="right" width="4%" valign="bottom"> <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">816</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font> </div> </td> <td align="right" width="4%" valign="bottom"> <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">740</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font> </div> </td> <td align="right" width="4%" valign="bottom"> <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">4,456</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="6%" valign="bottom"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">$</font> </div> </td> <td align="right" width="4%" valign="bottom"> <div align="right" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman">9,121</font> </div> </td> <td align="left" width="1%" valign="bottom"> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman"> </font> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Several of our subsidiaries have made commitments in the ordinary course of business to purchase goods and services used in their businesses. The most significant of these relate to our railroad, utilities and energy businesses. As of December 31, 2010, commitments under all such subsidiary arrangements were approximately $9.8 billion in 2011, $4.4 billion in 2012, $4.3 billion in 2013, $3.1 billion in 2014, $2.5 billion in 2015 and $10.8 billion after 2015.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">In the first quarter of 2011, we are acquiring an additional 16.6% of the outstanding common stock of Marmon, thus increasing our total ownership interest to 80.2%. We currently estimate the cost of this additional share purchase to be approximately $1.5 billion. The purchase of these shares is being accounted for as an acquisition of noncontrolling interest. Accordingly, the difference of approximately $600 million between the consideration expected to be paid and the prior carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest being acquired has been recorded as a reduction to Berkshire’s shareholders’ equity. Berkshire will acquire substantially all of the remaining equity interests in Marmon in 2013 or 2014. However, the consideration ultimately payable is contingent upon future operating results of Marmon and the per-share cost could be greater than or less than the price in 2011.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">We currently own 80.1% of the outstanding common stock of Wesco Financial Corporation (“Wesco”) and on February 4, 2011, we entered into an agreement to acquire the 19.9% noncontrolling interests in Wesco that we did not already own for a price that is based on Wesco’s estimated shareholders’ equity per share at the time the acquisition closes. Based on Wesco’s shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2010, the cost to acquire these shares would be approximately $550 million, payable at the election of the Wesco shareholders in either cash or Berkshire Class B common stock. The acquisition is subject to customary prior approvals including the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of Wesco’s outstanding shares not owned by Berkshire.</font> </div> <div align="justify" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 27pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant to the terms of shareholder agreements with noncontrolling shareholders in certain of our other less than wholly-owned subsidiaries, we may be obligated to acquire their equity ownership interests. The consideration payable for such interests is generally based on the fair value. If we acquired all such outstanding noncontrolling interests as of December 31, 2010, the cost would have been approximately $2.9 billion. However, the timing and the amount of any such future payments that might be required are contingent on future actions of the noncontrolling owners and future operating results of the related subsidiaries.</font> </div> <div align="left" style="margin-left: 0pt; display: block; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt; text-indent: 0pt"> <font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font> </div> </div>

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2 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 5/10/11  SEC                               UPLOAD¶    10/16/17    1:45K  Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
 5/10/11  SEC                               UPLOAD¶    10/16/17    1:55K  Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

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Filing Submission 0001193125-11-048914 – Alternative Formats (Word / Rich Text, HTML, Plain Text, et al.)

Berkshire Hathaway Inc – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/10 – ‘XML.R27’

On: Monday, 2/28/11, at 10:20am ET · For: 12/31/10 · Accession #: 1193125-11-48914 · File #: 1-14905

Previous ‘10-K’: ‘10-K’ on 3/1/10 for 12/31/09 · Next: ‘10-K’ on 2/27/12 for 12/31/11 · Latest: ‘10-K’ on 2/26/24 for 12/31/23 · 2 References: By: SEC – ‘UPLOAD’ on 5/10/11 By: SEC – ‘UPLOAD’ on 5/10/11

Annual Report — Form 10-K — Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34Filing Table of Contents

‘XML.R27’ — Contingencies and Commitments

This Financial Report is an XBRL XML File.

2 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

Previous ‘10-K’: ‘10-K’ on 3/1/10 for 12/31/09 · Next: ‘10-K’ on 2/27/12 for 12/31/11 · Latest: ‘10-K’ on 2/26/24 for 12/31/23 · 2 References:

Annual Report — Form 10-K — Sect. 13 / 15(d) – SEA’34
Filing Table of Contents