Berkshire Hathaway 2009 Annual Report Download - page 2

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Business Activities
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries that engage in a number of diverse
business activities including property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, freight rail
transportation, finance, manufacturing, services and retailing. Included in the group of subsidiaries that
underwrite property and casualty insurance and reinsurance is GEICO, the third largest private passenger auto
insurer in the United States and two of the largest reinsurers in the world, General Re and the Berkshire
Hathaway Reinsurance Group. Other subsidiaries that underwrite property and casualty insurance include
National Indemnity Company and affiliated insurance entities, Medical Protective Company, Applied
Underwriters, U.S. Liability Insurance Company, Central States Indemnity Company, Kansas Bankers Surety,
Cypress Insurance Company, BoatU.S. and several other subsidiaries referred to as the “Homestate Companies.”
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (“MidAmerican”) is an international energy holding company
owning a wide variety of operating companies engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy.
Among MidAmerican’s operating energy companies are Northern Electric and Yorkshire Electricity;
MidAmerican Energy Company; Pacific Power and Rocky Mountain Power; and Kern River Gas Transmission
Company and Northern Natural Gas. In addition, MidAmerican owns HomeServices of America, a real estate
brokerage firm. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (“BNSF”), acquired by Berkshire on February 12,
2010, operates one of the largest railroad systems in North America. In serving the Midwest, Pacific Northwest
and the Western, Southwestern and Southeastern regions and ports of the U.S., BNSF transports a range of
products and commodities derived from manufacturing, agricultural and natural resource industries.
Berkshire’s finance and financial products businesses primarily engage in proprietary investing strategies
(BH Finance), commercial and consumer lending (Berkshire Hathaway Credit Corporation and Clayton Homes)
and transportation equipment and furniture leasing (XTRA and CORT). McLane Company is a wholesale
distributor of groceries and nonfood items to discount retailers, convenience stores, quick service restaurants and
others. The Marmon Group is an international association of approximately 130 manufacturing and service
businesses that operate independently within diverse business sectors. Shaw Industries is the world’s largest
manufacturer of tufted broadloom carpet.
Numerous business activities are conducted through Berkshire’s other manufacturing, services and retailing
subsidiaries. Benjamin Moore is a formulator, manufacturer and retailer of architectural and industrial coatings.
Johns Manville is a leading manufacturer of insulation and building products. Acme Building Brands is a
manufacturer of face brick and concrete masonry products. MiTek Inc. produces steel connector products and
engineering software for the building components market. Fruit of the Loom, Russell, Vanity Fair, Garan,
Fechheimer, H.H. Brown Shoe Group and Justin Brands manufacture, license and distribute apparel and
footwear under a variety of brand names. FlightSafety International provides training to aircraft operators.
NetJets provides fractional ownership programs for general aviation aircraft. Nebraska Furniture Mart, R.C.
Willey Home Furnishings, Star Furniture and Jordan’s Furniture are retailers of home furnishings. Borsheims,
Helzberg Diamond Shops and Ben Bridge Jeweler are retailers of fine jewelry.
In addition, other manufacturing, service and retail businesses include: The Buffalo News, a publisher of a
daily and Sunday newspaper; See’s Candies, a manufacturer and seller of boxed chocolates and other
confectionery products; Scott Fetzer, a diversified manufacturer and distributor of commercial and industrial
products; Albecca, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of high-quality picture framing products; CTB
International, a manufacturer of equipment for the livestock and agricultural industries; International Dairy
Queen, a licensor and service provider to about 5,800 stores that offer prepared dairy treats and food; The
Pampered Chef, the premier direct seller of kitchen tools in the U.S.; Forest River, a leading manufacturer of
leisure vehicles in the U.S.; Business Wire, the leading global distributor of corporate news, multimedia and
regulatory filings; Iscar Metalworking Companies, an industry leader in the metal cutting tools business; TTI,
Inc., a leading distributor of electronic components and Richline Group, a leading jewelry manufacturer.
Operating decisions for the various Berkshire businesses are made by managers of the business units.
Investment decisions and all other capital allocation decisions are made for Berkshire and its subsidiaries by
Warren E. Buffett, in consultation with Charles T. Munger. Mr. Buffett is Chairman and Mr. Munger is Vice
Chairman of Berkshire’s Board of Directors.
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