Berkshire Hathaway 2013 Annual Report Download - page 90

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Management’s Discussion (Continued)
Financial Condition
Our balance sheet continues to reflect significant liquidity and a strong capital base. Our consolidated shareholders’ equity
at December 31, 2013 was $221.9 billion, an increase of $34.24 billion since the beginning of the year. Our consolidated
shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2013 is net of a reduction of approximately $1.8 billion as a result of acquisitions of
noncontrolling interests as discussed below and in Note 22 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
Consolidated cash and investments of our insurance and other businesses approximated $199.2 billion (excludes our
investments in H.J. Heinz Holding Corporation) at December 31, 2013, including cash and cash equivalents of $42.6 billion. As
of December 31, 2013, our insurance subsidiaries held approximately $186.8 billion in cash and investments.
In 2013, we used cash of approximately $15 billion in the aggregate to fund Berkshire’s investments in H.J. Heinz Holding
Corporation (“Heinz Holding”) and to acquire certain noncontrolling interests in our subsidiaries. On June 7, 2013, we invested
$12.25 billion in Heinz Holding which acquired H.J. Heinz Company. Our investments in Heinz Holding consist of common
stock, common stock warrants and preferred stock. Berkshire currently holds 50% of the voting interests in Heinz Holding.
During 2013, Berkshire acquired noncontrolling interests of Marmon and International Metalworking Companies B.V., the
parent company of Iscar. Cash paid in 2013 in connection with these acquisitions was approximately $2.9 billion and an
additional $1.2 billion is payable in March 2014.
On October 1, 2013, we received cash of approximately $5.1 billion in connection with Mars/Wrigley’s repurchase of our
investment in Wrigley subordinated notes. In January 2013, Berkshire issued $2.6 billion of parent company senior unsecured
notes with maturities ranging from 2016 to 2043. The proceeds were used to fund the repayment of $2.6 billion of notes that
matured in February 2013. On January 1, 2014, Marmon completed its acquisition of the beverage dispensing and
merchandising operations of British engineering company IMI plc for approximately $1.1 billion. The acquisition was funded
with existing cash balances.
Berkshire’s Board of Directors has authorized Berkshire to repurchase its Class A and Class B common shares at prices no
higher than a 20% premium over the book value of the shares. Berkshire may repurchase shares at management’s discretion.
The repurchase program is expected to continue indefinitely, but does not obligate Berkshire to repurchase any dollar amount or
number of Class A or Class B common shares. Repurchases will not be made if they would reduce Berkshire’s consolidated
cash and cash equivalent holdings below $20 billion. Financial strength and redundant liquidity will always be of paramount
importance at Berkshire. There were no share repurchases during 2013. In December 2012, Berkshire acquired 9,475 Class A
shares and 606,499 Class B shares for approximately $1.3 billion.
On December 19, 2013, MidAmerican completed its acquisition of NV Energy, Inc. (“NV Energy”), an energy holding
company serving electric and natural gas customers in Nevada. MidAmerican purchased all outstanding shares of NV Energy’s
common stock for cash of approximately $5.6 billion. The acquisition was funded through a combination of cash provided by
MidAmerican’s shareholders of $3.6 billion (including approximately $3.5 billion provided by Berkshire) and the issuance by
MidAmerican of $2.0 billion of senior unsecured debt.
Our railroad, utilities and energy businesses (conducted by BNSF and MidAmerican) maintain very large investments in
capital assets (property, plant and equipment) and will regularly make capital expenditures in the normal course of business. In
2013, aggregate capital expenditures of these businesses were $8.2 billion, including $4.3 billion by MidAmerican and $3.9
billion by BNSF. BNSF and MidAmerican have forecasted aggregate capital expenditures in 2014 of approximately $11.1
billion. Future capital expenditures are expected to be funded by cash flows from operations and debt issuances. In 2013, BNSF
issued $3.0 billion in new debentures consisting of $1.5 billion of debentures due in 2023 and $1.5 billion of debentures due in
2043. BNSF’s outstanding debt was approximately $17.0 billion as of December 31, 2013. In 2013, MidAmerican and its
subsidiaries issued new term debt of approximately $4.5 billion, including the new senior unsecured debt issued in funding the
NV Energy acquisition, and repaid borrowings of approximately $2.0 billion. MidAmerican’s aggregate outstanding borrowings
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