Berkshire Hathaway 2011 Annual Report Download - page 2

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, freight rail transportation, utilities
and energy, 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 “Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies.”
Burlington Northern Santa Fe (“BNSF”) 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. 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 Powergrid;
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.
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 140 manufacturing and service
businesses that operate independently within diverse business sectors.
Numerous business activities are conducted through Berkshire’s other manufacturing, services and retailing
subsidiaries. Shaw Industries is the world’s largest manufacturer of tufted broadloom carpet. 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, Justin Brands and Brooks Athletic 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 and The Omaha
World-Herald (acquired by Berkshire on December 23, 2011), publishers of daily and Sunday newspapers; 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; Larson-Juhl, 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 6,100 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. The Lubrizol Corporation, acquired by
Berkshire on September 16, 2011, is a specialty chemical company that produces and supplies chemical products
for transportation, industrial and consumer markets.
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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