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| <NonNumbericText> <table cellpadding="0" style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td valign="top" align="left" width="4%"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"><b>(3)</b></font></td> <td valign="top" align="left"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2"><b>Acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation </b></font></td></tr></table> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 6px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-INDENT: 4%"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">On February 12, 2010, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (“BNSF”) that we did not already own (about 264.5 million shares or 77.5%) for a combination of cash and Berkshire stock consideration of $100 per BNSF share. On that date, BNSF became a wholly-owned subsidiary. BNSF is based in Fort Worth, Texas and 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. The aggregate consideration paid of $26.5 billion consisted of cash of approximately $15.9 billion with the remainder in Berkshire Class A and B stock (about 95,000 shares on an equivalent Class A basis). Approximately 50% of the cash component was funded with existing cash balances and the remaining 50% was funded with the proceeds from newly issued debt. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 12px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-INDENT: 4%"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">At December 31, 2009, we already owned 76.8 million shares of BNSF (22.5% of the outstanding shares), which were acquired over time beginning in 2006, and we accounted for those shares pursuant to the equity method. See Note 6. As of December 31, 2009, our investment in BNSF had a carrying value of $6.6 billion. Upon completion of the acquisition of the remaining BNSF shares, as required under ASC 805 Business Combinations, we will re-measure our previously owned investment in BNSF at fair value (approximately $7.7 billion based upon the market price of the BNSF stock at the acquisition date). In the first quarter of 2010, we will record a one-time holding gain of approximately $1.1 billion for the difference between the fair value and our carrying value immediately prior to the acquisition date. </font></p> <p style="MARGIN-TOP: 12px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; TEXT-INDENT: 4%"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman" size="2">We will account for the BNSF transaction pursuant to the acquisition method. Due to the relatively short period of time between the BNSF acquisition date and the date our Consolidated Financial Statements were issued, and given that our evaluations of the fair values of certain significant assets and liabilities of BNSF as of the acquisition date are not sufficiently completed, it is impracticable for us to disclose the allocation of the aggregate purchase price to the assets and liabilities of BNSF at this time. Since the pro forma statement of earnings data is dependent on the purchase price allocation, we are also unable to provide pro forma information for the year ending December 31, 2009 at this time. We expect to include these disclosures in our interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ending March 31, 2010. </font></p> </NonNumbericText> |
| <NonNumericTextHeader> (3) Acquisition of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation On February 12, 2010, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of the Burlington </NonNumericTextHeader> |
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