Table of Contents

Part I

Item 1. Business

     Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire,” “Company” or “Registrant”) is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities. The most important of these are insurance businesses conducted on both a primary basis and a reinsurance basis. Berkshire also owns and operates a number of other businesses engaged in a variety of activities, as identified herein. Berkshire’s corporate headquarters are located in Omaha, Nebraska.

     Operating decisions for the various Berkshire businesses are made by managers of the business units. Investment decisions with limited exception, and all major capital allocation decisions are made 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.

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses

     Berkshire’s insurance and reinsurance business activities are conducted through more than 50 domestic and foreign-based insurance companies. Berkshire’s insurance businesses provide insurance and reinsurance of property and casualty risks primarily in the United States. In addition, as a result of the General Re acquisition in December 1998, Berkshire’s insurance businesses also include worldwide life, accident and health reinsurers, as well as internationally-based property and casualty reinsurers.

     In primary (or direct) insurance activities, the insurer assumes the risk of loss from persons or organizations that are directly subject to the risks. Such risks may relate to property, casualty (or liability), life, accident, health, financial or other perils that may arise from an insurable event. In reinsurance activities, the reinsurer assumes defined portions of risks that other primary insurers or reinsurers have assumed in their own insuring activities.

     Reinsurance contracts are normally classified as treaty or facultative contracts. Treaty reinsurance refers to automatic reinsurance coverage for all or a portion of a specified class of risks ceded by the primary insurer, while facultative reinsurance involves coverage of specific individual risks. Coverage of risks assumed under reinsurance contracts may be classified as quota-share or excess. Under quota-share (proportional or pro-rata) reinsurance, the reinsurer shares proportionally in the original premiums, losses, and expenses of the primary insurer or reinsurer. Excess (or non-proportional) reinsurance provides for the indemnification of the primary insurer or reinsurer for all or a portion of the loss in excess of an agreed upon amount or “retention.” Both quota-share and excess reinsurance may provide for aggregate limits of indemnification.

     Except for regulatory considerations, there are virtually no barriers to entry into the insurance and reinsurance industry. Competitors may be domestic or foreign, as well as licensed or unlicensed. The number of competitors within the industry is not known. Insurers and reinsurers compete on the basis of reliability, financial strength and stability, ratings, underwriting consistency, service, business ethics, price, performance, capacity, policy terms and coverage conditions.

     Insurers and reinsurers based in the United States are subject to regulation by their states of domicile and by those states in which they are licensed. The primary focus of regulation is to assure that insurers are financially solvent and that policyholder interests are otherwise protected. States establish minimum capital levels for insurance companies and establish guidelines for permissible business and investment activities. States have the authority to suspend or revoke a company’s authority to do business, as conditions warrant. States regulate the payment of dividends by insurance companies to their shareholders. Dividends of extraordinary amounts are subject to prior regulatory approval.

     Insurers may market, sell and service insurance policies in the states that they are licensed. These insurers are referred to as admitted insurers. Admitted insurers are, among other things, generally required to obtain regulatory approval of policy forms issued and premium rates charged. Non-admitted insurance markets have developed to provide insurance that is otherwise unavailable from the admitted insurance markets for a state. Non-admitted insurance, often referred to as “excess and surplus” lines, is procured by state-licensed surplus lines brokers who place risks with insurers not licensed in that state. Non-admitted insurance is subject to considerably less regulation with respect to policy rates and forms. Reinsurers are normally not required to obtain approval of premium rates and policy forms.

     The insurance regulators of every state participate in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). The NAIC adopts forms, instructions and accounting procedures for use by U.S. insurers and reinsurers in preparing and filing annual statutory financial statements. However, an insurer’s state of domicile has ultimate authority over these matters.

1

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

     Effective January 1, 2001, several new Statutory Accounting Principles (“SAP”) were adopted in connection with the NAIC codification project, which was intended to bring greater uniformity in accounting practices throughout the United States. The amount of Berkshire’s aggregate reported regulatory capital, also known as statutory surplus, declined due to the new requirement under SAP to record deferred income taxes, including tax liabilities on unrealized appreciation of common stock investments. Previously, such liabilities were not recognized under SAP. As a result of the adoption of the new statutory accounting principles, the aggregate statutory surplus declined by about $8.0 billion.

     Berkshire’s insurance companies maintain capital strength at exceptionally high levels. This strength differentiates Berkshire’s insurance companies from their competitors. Collectively, the aggregate statutory surplus of Berkshire’s U.S. based insurers was approximately $40.7 billion at December 31, 2003. All of Berkshire’s major insurance subsidiaries are rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s Corporation, the highest Financial Strength Rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s, and are rated A++ (superior) by A.M. Best with respect to their financial condition and operating performance.

     In addition to its activities relating to the annual statement and SAP, the NAIC develops or adopts model laws, regulations and programs for use by its members. Such matters deal with regulatory oversight of solvency, compliance with financial regulation standards, and risk-based capital reporting requirements.

     The insurance industry experienced severe losses from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack. On November 26, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (commonly referred to as “TRIA”), which established within the Department of the Treasury a Terrorism Insurance Program (“Program”) for commercial property and casualty insurers by providing Federal reinsurance of insured terrorism losses. Under TRIA, the Department of the Treasury is charged with certifying “acts of terrorism” as having been a terrorist act undertaken on behalf of a foreign person or interest which resulted in an insured loss in excess of $5 million. To be eligible for Federal reinsurance, insurers must make available insurance coverage for acts of terrorism, by providing policyholders with clear and conspicuous notice of the amount of premium that will be charged for this coverage and of the Federal share of any insured losses resulting from any act of terrorism. Assumed reinsurance is specifically excluded from TRIA participation. Thus, terrorism exclusions that were contained within reinsurance contracts remained in effect. Reinsurers are not required to offer terrorism coverage and are not eligible for Federal reinsurance of terrorism losses.

     In the event of a certified act of terrorism, the Federal government will reimburse insurers (conditioned on their satisfaction of policyholder notification requirements) for 90% of their insured losses in excess of a company deductible. The company’s deductible is calculated based on the direct earned premium for relevant commercial lines written by the insurer’s entire insurance group. For 2003, the company deductible was 7% of the insurance group earned premium, which rises to 10% in 2004 and then to 15% in 2005, assuming the Program is extended to a third year by the Treasury Secretary. Berkshire’s deductible for 2004 is expected to approximate $200 million. There is also an annual cap on the Federal share in the amount of $100 billion for each Program year, and insurers are free to exclude their liability for terrorism losses in excess of this amount.

     For many years, the insurance industry has been subject to claims arising from the manufacture of asbestos in products. The magnitude of such losses has caused many manufacturers to file for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In recent years, increasing numbers of claims have been filed against users of such products, including claims based upon exposure to asbestos, even though no related illness has been identified. Consequently, the U.S. Congress has introduced legislation to assure that resources are available to indemnify claimants suffering from asbestos-related illnesses and to manage the overall cost of those claims. To date, no legislation has passed. It is highly uncertain as to whether or not any Federal legislation will be enacted and, if enacted, how the provisions of such laws will affect Berkshire.

     In general, regulation of the insurance industry outside of the United States is subject to the differing laws and regulations of each country in which the reinsurer has operations or writes premiums. Some jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, impose complex regulatory requirements on insurance businesses, while other jurisdictions, such as Germany, impose fewer requirements. Local reinsurance business conducted by General Re’s subsidiaries in some countries requires licenses issued by governmental authorities. These licenses may be subject to modification, suspension or revocation dependent on such factors as amount and types of reserves and minimum capital and solvency tests. The violation of regulatory requirements may result in fines, censures and/or criminal sanctions in various jurisdictions. Berkshire subsidiaries also provide insuring capacity to several syndicates at Lloyd’s of London. Such capacity entitles Berkshire a share of the risks and rewards of the activities of the syndicate in proportion to the amount of capacity provided. This business is referred to as London-market business

2

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

or Lloyd’s business. Lloyd’s markets are subject to regulation by the UK Financial Services Authority, which maintains comprehensive rules and regulations covering the legal, financial and operating activities of managing agents and syndicates (capital providers).

     Insurance underwriting operations are comprised of the following sub-groups: (1) GEICO and its subsidiaries, (2) General Re and its subsidiaries, (3) Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, and (4) Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. Except for certain reinsurance products that generate a significant amount of up-front premiums along with claims to be paid over very long periods of time, each of Berkshire’s underwriting units strive to achieve a net underwriting profit over time and to reject inadequately priced risks. Additional information related to each of these four underwriting units follows.

     GEICO — Berkshire acquired GEICO in January 1996. GEICO is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland and its principal insurance subsidiaries include: Government Employees Insurance Company, GEICO General Insurance Company, GEICO Indemnity Company, and GEICO Casualty Company. Over the past five years, these companies have offered primarily private passenger automobile insurance to individuals in 48 states and the District of Columbia. The subsidiaries market their policies primarily through direct response methods, in which applications for insurance are submitted directly to the companies by telephone, through the mail, or via the Internet.

     GEICO competes for private passenger auto insurance customers with other companies that sell directly to the customer, as well as with companies that use a traditional agency sales force. Private passenger automobile insurance business is highly competitive in the areas of price and service. Some insurance companies exacerbate price competition by selling their products for a period of time at less than adequate rates, because they underestimate ultimate claim costs and/or overestimate the amount of investment income expected to be earned from the cash flow generated as a result of premiums being received before claims are paid. GEICO will not knowingly follow that strategy.

     For several years through 2000, premium volume grew as a result of significantly higher advertising expenditures and competitive premium rates. In response to underwriting losses in 2000, GEICO increased premium rates and tightened underwriting standards. In addition, GEICO reduced advertising expenditures in 2001 as such expenditures were not effectively producing in-force policy growth. Consequently, new business sales declined significantly and policies-in-force declined slightly in 2001. In 2002, aided by rate increases taken by competitors, new business sales and policies-in-force increased over the prior year. Advertising expenditures, new business sales and voluntary policies-in-force increased further in 2003. Voluntary policies-in-force have increased a total of about 50% over the past five years. GEICO is currently the fifth largest auto insurer, in terms of premium volume, in the United States.

     Seasonal variations in GEICO’s insurance business are not significant. However, extraordinary weather conditions or other factors may have a significant effect upon the frequency or severity of automobile claims.

     Private passenger auto insurance is stringently regulated by state insurance departments. As a result, it is difficult for insurance companies to differentiate their products to consumers. Competition for preferred-risk private passenger automobile insurance, which is substantial, tends to focus on price and level of customer service provided, whereas price tends to be the primary focus for other risks. GEICO places great emphasis on customer satisfaction. GEICO’s cost efficient direct response marketing methods and emphasis on customer satisfaction enable it to offer competitive rates and value to customers.

     Management believes that the name and reputation of GEICO is a material asset and protects its name and other service marks through appropriate registrations.

     General Re — Berkshire acquired General Re on December 21, 1998. General Re was established in 1980 to serve as the holding company of General Reinsurance Corporation (“GRC”) and its affiliates. General Re affiliates include Kölnische Rückversicherungs – Gesellschaft AG (“Cologne Re”), a major international reinsurer based in Germany. General Re held an 89% direct interest in Cologne Re as of December 31, 2003. General Re subsidiaries currently conduct global reinsurance business in approximately 72 cities and provide reinsurance coverage worldwide. General Re operates four principal reinsurance businesses: North American property/casualty, international property/casualty, which principally consists of reinsurance business written through Cologne Re, the London-market Faraday operations, and global life/health. General Re’s reinsurance operations are primarily based in Stamford, Connecticut and Cologne, Germany. General Re is one of the largest reinsurers in the world based on net premiums written and capital.

North American Property/Casualty Reinsurance

     General Re’s North American property/casualty business is primarily treaty and facultative reinsurance that is marketed directly to clients located throughout the United States and Canada without involving a broker or intermediary. The North American property/casualty businesses underwrite predominantly excess coverages. The

3

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

General Re (Continued)

North American Property/Casualty Reinsurance (continued)

operations are headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, and are also conducted through 18 branch offices. The businesses are domiciled in Delaware and licensed in the District of Columbia and all states but Hawaii, where they are accredited reinsurers.

     Casualty reinsurance represented approximately 54% of North American property/casualty net premiums written in 2003 and property reinsurance represented approximately 33%. North American property/casualty business also includes a few smaller specialty insurers. These businesses, domiciled in Connecticut, North Dakota and Ohio, underwrite primarily liability and workers’ compensation coverages on an excess and surplus basis. Also, they underwrite excess insurance for self-insured programs. These businesses together represented approximately 13% of General Re’s North American property/casualty net premiums written in 2003.

International Property/Casualty Reinsurance

     General Re’s international property/casualty reinsurance business operations are conducted through Cologne Re as well as several other General Re subsidiaries in 27 countries and provide multiple-lines of property and casualty reinsurance coverage worldwide. Principal markets are in Europe and the United Kingdom. Coverages are written on both a quota-share and excess basis. In 2003, the international property/casualty operations principally wrote direct reinsurance in the form of treaties with lesser amounts written on a facultative basis.

Faraday (London market)

     At the end of 1998, General Re acquired Faraday Holdings Limited (“Faraday”, formerly D.P. Mann Holdings Limited). International London-market business is primarily written through Faraday, which owns the managing agent of Syndicate 435 at Lloyd’s of London and provides capacity and participates in the results of Syndicate 435. Through Faraday, General Re participated in 100% of the results of Syndicate 435 in 2003. Faraday writes property, casualty and aviation business on risks worldwide.

Global Life/Health Reinsurance

     This business includes the North American and international life/health operations of Cologne Re. In 2003, approximately 56% of life/health net premiums were written in the United States, 16% were written in Western Europe, and the remaining 28% were written throughout the rest of the world. The life/health operations provide individual life, group life, group health, long-term care, individual health and finite risk reinsurance. Most of the life reinsurance is written on a proportional treaty basis, with smaller amounts written on a facultative basis, while health business is predominantly written on an excess treaty basis. The life/health business is marketed primarily on a direct basis with the exception of group health, which is marketed primarily through brokers.

     Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group — The Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (“BHRG”) operates from offices located in Stamford, Connecticut. BHRG provides principally excess and quota-share reinsurance to other property and casualty insurers and reinsurers. The level of BHRG’s underwriting activities often fluctuates significantly from year to year depending on the perceived level of price adequacy in specific insurance and reinsurance markets. Also, BHRG’s mix of business tends to change rapidly as a result of quickly entering or exiting markets when pricing is deemed adequate or inadequate.

     For many years BHRG has written a considerable number of catastrophe excess reinsurance contracts. In 2002 and 2003 BHRG also wrote individual policies for primarily excess property risks on both a primary and facultative reinsurance basis, referred to as “individual risk.” A catastrophe excess policy provides protection to the counterparty from the accumulation of primarily property losses arising from a single loss event or series of events. Catastrophe and individual risk policies may provide significant amounts of indemnification per contract and a single loss event may produce losses under a number of contracts.

     BHRG does not generally cede any of the risks assumed under catastrophe excess reinsurance contracts or individual risk contracts, due to perceived uncertainties in recovering amounts from other reinsurers that are financially weaker. As a result, the catastrophe excess reinsurance business can produce extreme volatility in periodic underwriting results. Accounting consequences, however, do not influence decisions of Berkshire’s management with respect to this or any other business. This factor along with the extraordinary financial strength of BHRG, are believed to be the primary reasons why BHRG has become a major provider of such coverages.

     For several years prior to the second half of 2001, the amount of capital (i.e. capacity) devoted to the catastrophe excess reinsurance business by the industry had increased as a result of additional capital raised by

4

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (Continued)

newly-formed entities and the introduction in the financial markets of new types of catastrophe risk management products. The effect of such increased insuring capacity had been a reduction in opportunities to write this business at acceptable prices. In the latter part of 2001, the prices for property coverages increased. In addition, many primary insurers within the industry reduced coverage for losses caused by terrorist activity. As a result, BHRG has since written a significant amount of excess catastrophe reinsurance, and primary insurance and facultative reinsurance of large individual property risks, including numerous policies covering terrorism and aviation risks.

     As overall pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets improved during 2002 and 2003 and industry insuring capacity in certain markets became scarce, BHRG wrote a number of quota-share contracts covering property and casualty risks of U.S. insurers as well as several quota-share arrangements for Lloyd’s syndicates. Despite the increased level of new business written in 2002, the level of future rate adequacy and industry capacity subsequent to December 31, 2003 in certain markets is uncertain, thus the level of business written in the future is uncertain.

     BHRG has entered into several retroactive reinsurance contracts over the past five years. Coverage under such contracts is usually provided on an excess basis and amounts of indemnification are subject to a large aggregate limit of indemnification. Retroactive reinsurance contracts afford protection to ceding companies against the adverse development of claims arising under policies issued in prior years. Significant amounts of environmental and latent injury claims may arise under the contracts.

     In BHRG’s retroactive reinsurance business, the concept of time-value-of-money is often an important element in establishing prices and contract terms, since the payment of losses under the insurance contracts are often expected to occur over lengthy periods of time. Losses payable under the contracts are normally expected to exceed premiums and therefore, produce underwriting losses. This business is accepted, in part, because of the large amounts of policyholder funds (“float”) generated for investment, the economic benefit of which will be reflected through investment income in future periods.

     Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group — The Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group is a collection of primary insurance operations that provide a wide variety of insurance coverages to insureds located principally in the United States. National Indemnity Company and certain affiliates underwrite motor vehicle and general liability insurance to commercial enterprises. This business is written nationwide primarily through insurance agents and brokers and is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

     In 2000, Berkshire acquired U.S. Investment Corporation (“USIC”). USIC, through its three subsidiaries, is a specialty insurer that underwrites commercial, professional and personal lines of insurance on an admitted and excess and surplus basis. Policies are marketed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia through wholesale insurance agents. USIC companies currently underwrite and market over 50 distinct specialty property and casualty insurance products.

     Other insurance operations include several companies referred to as the “Homestate Companies,” based in Colorado and Nebraska and with branch offices in several other states, which market various commercial coverages for standard risks to insureds in their state of domicile and an increasing number of other states. Also included is Central States Indemnity Company of Omaha located in Omaha, Nebraska, which provides credit and income protection insurance marketed primarily through credit card issuers and utility providers nationwide. Kansas Bankers Surety (“KBS”) Company is an insurer of primarily crime, fidelity, errors and omissions, officers’ and directors’ liability and related insurance coverages directed toward small and medium-sized banks throughout the Midwest United States.

Property and casualty loss reserves

     Berkshire’s property and casualty insurance companies establish reserves for the estimated unpaid losses and loss expenses with respect to claims occurring on or before the balance sheet date. Such estimates include provisions for reported claims, or case estimates, provisions for incurred-but-not-reported (“IBNR”) claims and legal and administrative costs to settle claims.

     The estimates of unpaid losses and amounts recoverable under reinsurance are established and continually reviewed by each Berkshire insurance/reinsurance business using a variety of statistical and analytical techniques.

     Reserve estimates reflect past claims experience, currently known factors and trends and estimates of future claim trends. Implicit in the factors considered in establishing ultimate claim amounts are the effects of including social, legal and economic inflation. Irrespective of the techniques used, estimation error is inherent in the process

5

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

Property and casualty loss reserves (Continued)

of establishing unpaid loss reserves as of any given date. Uncertainties in projecting ultimate claim amounts are enhanced by the time lag between when a claim actually occurs and when it becomes reported and settled. This time lag is referred to as the “claim-tail.”

     The claim-tail for most property coverages is normally short. The claim-tail for liability coverages, such as product liability and workers’ compensation, can be especially long as claims are often reported many years after the occurrence. The claim-tail for reinsurers is further extended because claims are first reported through one or more intermediary primary insurers or reinsurers. Liabilities assumed under retroactive reinsurance contracts are often expected to have an especially long-tail, as a significant portion of the claims are expected to derive from asbestos, environmental and other latent injury perils. These policies contain aggregate limits of indemnification, so the risks of additional claims under the contracts are limited.

     Berkshire attempts to be reasonably conservative in establishing claim reserves. However, for the reasons previously discussed, the amounts of the reserves established as of a given balance sheet date and the subsequent actual losses and loss expenses paid will likely differ, perhaps by a material amount. There is no guaranty that the recorded reserves will prove to be adequate. Changes in unpaid loss estimates arising from the review process are charged or credited, as applicable, to earnings in the period of the change.

     Through 1998, Berkshire’s insurers ceded relatively minor amounts of risk to other reinsurers. As a result of Berkshire’s acquisition of General Re at the end of 1998, larger amounts of risk were ceded to other reinsurers. Reinsurance does not relieve the ceding company of its obligation to indemnify policyholders for claims arising under its policies. In more recent years, General Re has diminished the amount reinsurance ceded to others.

     Certain North American workers’ compensation loss reserves of General Re are being discounted for both statutory and GAAP reporting purposes at an interest rate of 4.5 percent per annum for claims occurring before 2003 and at 1 percent per annum for claims occurring after 2002. Such discount rates have been approved by the insurance department of General Re’s domiciliary state. The amortization of the discount is included as a component of insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses in periodic operating results.

     In addition, incurred losses from property and casualty reinsurance include amortization of deferred charges established on retroactive reinsurance contracts. At inception of these contracts, unpaid losses are recorded at the estimated ultimate payment amount. However, a deferred charge asset is also recorded at the inception of the contract. The liabilities, net of deferred charges established, are recorded as losses incurred. The deferred charges are subsequently amortized over the expected claim payment period, with such charges recorded as a component of insurance losses and loss adjustment expenses.

     The following table presents the development of Berkshire’s consolidated net unpaid losses for property/casualty contracts from 1993 through 2003. Data in the table related to acquired businesses is included from the acquisition date forward. Most significantly, GEICO (acquired January 2, 1996) is included as of December 31, 1995 and General Re (acquired December 21, 1998) is included as of December 31, 1998.

     The first section of the table reconciles the estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. The net liability represents the estimated amount of claims and claim expenses, including IBNR, outstanding as of the balance sheet date, reduced by estimates of amounts recoverable under ceded reinsurance, deferred charges on retroactive reinsurance contracts, and reserve discounts.

     The next section of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded net liability based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as losses are paid and more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of unpaid claims. The line labeled “cumulative deficiency (redundancy)” represents the aggregate change in the initial estimates from the original balance sheet date through December 31, 2003. These amounts have been reported in earnings over time as a component of losses and loss adjustment expenses. The redundancies or deficiencies shown in each column should be viewed independently of the other columns, because such adjustments made in earlier years may also be included as a component of the adjustments in the more recent years. To avoid misstating the cumulative redundancies or deficiencies, liabilities assumed under retroactive reinsurance contracts are treated as occurrences in the year the transaction was entered into, as opposed to when the underlying losses actually occurred, which is, by definition, generally prior to the contract date. Due to the significance of the deferred charges and reserve discounts, the cumulative changes in such balances, which are included in the cumulative deficiency/redundancy amounts, are also provided.

6

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

Property and casualty loss reserves (Continued)

     The bottom part of the table shows the cumulative amount of net losses and loss adjustment expenses paid with respect to recorded net liabilities as of the end of each succeeding year. While the information in the table provides a historical perspective on the adequacy of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses established in previous years, readers are cautioned against extrapolating redundancies or deficiencies of the past on current unpaid loss balances. Berkshire management believes that the reserves established as of the end of 2003 are adequate. However, due to the inherent uncertainties in the reserving process, it cannot be assured that such balances will ultimately prove to be adequate. Dollar amounts are in millions.

     *Beginning in 1998, unpaid losses include amounts related to the international property and casualty business of General Re. The amount of re-estimated liabilities in the table above related to these operations reflect the exchange rates as of the end of the re-estimation period. The cumulative foreign exchange effect represents the cumulative effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the original balance sheet date to the end of the re-estimation period.

7

Item 1. Business

Insurance and Reinsurance Businesses (Continued)

     Investments — Investments associated with insurance activities derive from shareholder capital, including amounts acquired in business acquisitions, as well as funds provided from policyholders through insurance and reinsurance business (“float”). The levels of reinsurance assumed business in recent years, plus the acquisitions of GEICO and General Re, have produced an exceptional increase in the amount of “float” held by Berkshire’s insurance businesses. Float is an approximation of the amount of net policyholder funds available for investment. That term denotes the sum of unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, unearned premiums and other policyholder liabilities, less the aggregate amount of premium balances receivable, losses recoverable from reinsurance ceded, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred charges on reinsurance contracts, and related deferred income taxes. The amount of float has grown from about $3.8 billion at the end of 1995 to about $44.2 billion at the end of 2003, through internal growth as well as the acquisition of General Re in 1998. Equally important as the size of the float balance is its cost which is represented by the periodic net underwriting gain or loss of the business. The increases in the amounts of float plus the substantial amounts of shareholder capital devoted to insurance and reinsurance activities have generated meaningful increases in the levels of investments and investment income over the past five years.

     Investment portfolios of insurance subsidiaries include equity ownership percentages of other publicly traded companies, which are primarily concentrated in relatively few companies. Investment portfolios of Berkshire’s insurance businesses also include large amounts of fixed income securities, which consist of obligations of the U.S. Government, U.S. states and municipalities, mortgage-backed securities issued primarily by the three major U.S. Government and Government-sponsored agencies, as well as obligations of foreign governments and corporate obligations. Investment portfolios are primarily managed by Berkshire’s corporate office. Generally, there are no targeted investment allocation rates established by management with respect to investment activities. Rather, management will increase or decrease investments in response to perceived changes in opportunities of income or capital growth relative to risks associated with the issuers of the securities.

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire

     The Registrant’s numerous and diverse non-insurance businesses are described below.

     Apparel — Berkshire’s apparel businesses include manufacturers and distributors of a variety of clothing and footwear. Businesses engaged in the manufacture and distribution of clothing include Fruit of the Loom (“FOL”), Garan and Fechheimer Brothers. Berkshire’s footwear businesses include H.H. Brown Shoe Group and Justin Brands.

     In April of 2002 Berkshire acquired FOL’s basic apparel businesses, which prior to the acquisition date operated as debtors-in-possession pursuant to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Berkshire did not acquire FOL’s ultimate parent as well as certain other entities in the FOL group or assume any liabilities of the entities not acquired. FOL, headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is a vertically integrated manufacturer and distributor of basic apparel products sold principally under the Fruit of the Loom® and BVD® labels. FOL is a market leader in the mass merchandise segment of the men’s and boys’ underwear market, and is one of the branded market leaders in the women’s and girls’ underwear market. In addition FOL produces and sells undecorated T-shirts and fleecewear under its own labels in a variety of colors and styles. Products are distributed from FOL’s distribution centers to retailers and wholesalers in both North America and Europe.

     As a vertically integrated manufacturer, FOL performs most of its own spinning, knitting, cloth finishing, cutting, sewing and packaging. For the North American market, which comprised more than 80% of FOL’s 2003 consolidated net sales, the majority of capital-intensive spinning and cloth manufacturing operations are located in highly automated facilities in the United States with a portion of cloth manufacturing performed offshore. Labor-intensive sewing and finishing operations are located in lower labor cost facilities in Central America and the Caribbean. For the European market, capital-intensive manufacturing operations are performed in Ireland and Northern Ireland and sewing is performed in Morocco.

     Berkshire acquired Garan in September of 2002. Garan, based in New York City, designs, manufactures, and sells apparel primarily for children and to a lesser degree for men and women. Products are sold under private labels of its customers as well as its own trademarks, including Garanimals®. During 2003, Garan completed the transition of all production activities from facilities in the United States to facilities primarily located in Central America. Substantially all of Garan’s products are sold through its distribution centers in the U.S. to major national chain stores, department stores, and specialty stores. In 2003, over 90% of Garan’s sales were to Wal-Mart.

     FOL’s and Garan’s markets are highly competitive, consisting of many domestic and foreign manufacturers and distributors. Competition is generally based upon price, product style, quality and customer service.

     Fechheimer Brothers manufactures, distributes, and sells uniforms, principally for the public service and safety markets, including police, fire, postal and military markets. Fechheimer was acquired by Berkshire in 1986 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

8

Item 1. Business

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire (Continued)

     Apparel (Continued)

     Justin Brands was acquired in August 2000 and H.H. Brown Shoe Group has been owned by Berkshire for more than the past five years. Collectively, Berkshire’s footwear businesses purchase or manufacture and distribute work, rugged outdoor and casual shoes (H.H. Brown Shoe Group) and western-style footwear (Justin Brands) under a number of brand names. A significant portion of the shoes produced by Berkshire’s shoe businesses is manufactured or purchased from sources outside the United States. Over the past three years, a number of manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada have been closed. Products are principally sold in the United States through a variety of channels including major retailers and department stores, footwear chains, specialty stores, catalogs and the Internet, as well as through company-owned retail stores.

     Building Products — In August 2000, Berkshire entered the building products business with the acquisition of Acme Brick Company (“Acme”). Acme, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, manufactures and distributes clay bricks (Acme Brick), concrete block (Featherlite) and cut limestone (Texas Quarries). In addition, Acme distributes a number of other building products of other manufacturers, including glass block, brick, floor and wall tile and other masonry products. Acme also sells ceramic floor and wall tile, as well as marble, granite and other stones through its subsidiary, American Tile. Products are sold primarily in the Southwest United States through company-operated sales offices. Acme distributes products primarily to homebuilders and masonry and general contractors.

     Acme operates 24 clay brick manufacturing facilities located in seven states, seven concrete block facilities in Texas, and one stone quarry fabrication facility in Texas. The demand for Acme’s products is seasonal, with higher sales in the warmer weather months, and is subject to the level of construction, which can be cyclical. Acme also owns and leases properties and mineral rights that supply raw materials used in many of its manufactured products.

     Berkshire acquired Benjamin Moore & Co. (“Benjamin Moore”) in December of 2000. Benjamin Moore, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is a leading formulator, manufacturer and retailer of a broad range of primarily architectural coatings, available principally in the United States and Canada. Products include water-thinnable and solvent-thinnable general purpose coatings (paints, stains and clear finishes) for use by the general public, contractors and industrial and commercial users. Products are marketed under various registered brand names, including Regal®, Superspec®, Superhide® and Moorgard®.

     Benjamin Moore relies primarily on an independent dealer network for the distribution of its products. The network consists of over 3,200 retailers with over 4,200 storefronts in the United States and Canada. Benjamin Moore also owns and manages several multiple-outlet dealerships and stand-alone stores in various parts of the United States and Canada serving primarily contractors and general consumers. Included in the 4,200 storefronts at December 31, 2003 were 168 Benjamin Moore majority-owned stores positioned in the market as independent retailers that offer a broad array of products including Benjamin Moore® brands and other competitor coatings, wallcoverings, window treatments and sundries.

     The architectural coatings industry is highly competitive and has historically been subject to intense price competition. It is estimated that there are approximately 500 coatings manufacturers in the United States, many of which are small companies, that compete regionally and locally. The top three companies in the industry, including Benjamin Moore positioned third, comprise about 50% of the total market.

     Berkshire acquired Johns Manville (“JM”) in February of 2001. JM has been serving the building products industry for over 150 years and is a leading manufacturer of fiber glass wool insulation products for walls, attics and floors in homes and commercial buildings, as well as pipe, duct and equipment insulation products. JM is also the leading full-line supplier of roofing systems and components for low-slope commercial and industrial roofs in North America. In addition, JM manufactures nonwoven mats, fabrics and fibers used as reinforcements in building and industrial applications, and high efficiency air filtration media. Fiber glass is the basic material in a majority of JM’s products, although JM also manufactures a significant portion of its products with other materials to satisfy the broader needs of its customers. JM is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and operates 46 manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and China.

     JM sells its products through a wide variety of channels including contractors, distributors, retailers, manufacturers and fabricators. JM’s results of operations are affected by the levels of new and repair/remodel commercial and residential construction and are moderately seasonal due to increases in construction activity that typically occur in the second and third quarters of the calendar year.

9

Item 1. Business

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire (Continued)

Building Products (Continued)

     JM has leading market positions in each of its businesses and typically competes with a few large national competitors and several smaller, regional competitors. JM’s products compete primarily on the basis of value, product differentiation and customization and breadth of product line.

     Berkshire acquired a 90% equity interest in MiTek Inc. (“MiTek”) in July of 2001. MiTek is headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri and is a leading provider of engineered connector products, engineering software and services, and manufacturing machinery to the truss fabrication segment of the building components industry. Primary customers are truss fabricators who manufacture pre-fabricated roof and floor trusses and wall panels for the residential building market as well as the light commercial and institutional construction industry. MiTek also participates in the light-guage steel framing market under the Ultra-Span® name.

     MiTek operates 16 manufacturing facilities located in 10 countries and 29 sales/engineering offices located in 19 countries. Products are sold to customers in approximately 80 countries, and MiTek’s business is subject to seasonal and cyclical changes in the overall housing industry.

     Finance and Financial Products — Berkshire’s finance and financial products businesses engage in a variety of finance related activities. BH Finance invests in fixed-income financial instruments, often on a leveraged basis, pursuant to proprietary strategies with the objective of earning above average returns. Management recognizes and accepts that losses may occur due to the nature of the investments acquired as well as the markets in general. In addition the level of investments held will vary over time depending on the magnitude and number of strategies employed. This business is conducted from Berkshire’s corporate headquarters.

     On August 7, 2003, Berkshire acquired Clayton Homes, Inc. (“Clayton”). Clayton, headquartered near Knoxville, Tennessee, is a vertically integrated manufactured housing company with 20 manufacturing plants in 6 states. Clayton’s homes are marketed in 32 states through a network of 841 retailers, 306 of which are company-owned sales centers. Installment financing is offered to purchasers of Clayton’s manufactured homes as well as those purchasing homes from selected independent retailers. Such financing is provided through its wholly owned finance subsidiary, Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. (“VMF” or “Vanderbilt”). Clayton also develops, owns, and manages 89 manufactured housing communities located in 13 states.

     Clayton competes at the manufacturing, retail, and finance levels on the basis of price, service, delivery capabilities and product performance, and considers the ability to make financing available to retail purchasers a major factor affecting the market acceptance of its product. Retail sales are facilitated by Clayton’s offering of various finance and insurance programs. Finance programs include VMF’s origination of installment contract receivables at both company owned sales centers and at select independent retailers, and also include the bulk purchase of manufactured housing contracts from banks and other lenders. VMF also performs, on behalf of other institutions, servicing of manufactured housing contracts that were not purchased or originated by VMF. These purchases and servicing arrangements may relate to the portfolios of other lenders or finance companies, governmental agencies, or other entities that purchase and hold manufactured housing contracts. Clayton also acts as agent on physical damage insurance policies, family protection insurance policies, home buyer protection plan policies, and other programs. Insurance programs offered by Clayton are reinsured through various wholly owned and majority owned subsidiaries of Clayton.

     Prior to Berkshire’s acquisition, most of Vanderbilt’s primary source of permanent funding for its lending activities was in the form of asset-backed securities issued through a special purpose entity. Berkshire intends to provide permanent funding to Vanderbilt with loans from its wholly owned subsidiary Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (“BHFC”).

     BHFC was formed during 2003 and through December 31, 2003 issued $2 billion of medium term notes with maturities of between 5 and 10 years. The proceeds from these borrowings were lent to Vanderbilt to support Vanderbilt’s current lending activities.

     Berkshire acquired XTRA in September 2001. XTRA, operationally based in St. Louis, Missouri and headquartered in Westport, Connecticut, is a leading transportation equipment lessor. XTRA manages a diverse fleet of approximately 220,000 units, constituting a net investment of approximately $1.2 billion. The fleet includes over-the-road trailers, intermodal chassis and piggyback trailers, and domestic and marine shipping containers. Management estimates that XTRA is one of the two largest lessors (in terms of units available) of over-the-road trailers in North America.

10

Item 1. Business

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire (Continued)

Finance and Financial Products (Continued)

     Transportation equipment customers lease equipment to cover cyclical, seasonal and geographic needs and as a substitute for purchasing. In addition, capital and capacity constrained transportation providers often use leasing to maximize their asset utilization and reduce capital expenditures. By maintaining a large and diversified fleet, XTRA is able to provide customers with a broad selection of equipment and quick response times.

     CORT Business Services Corporation was acquired in 2000 by an 80.1% owned subsidiary of Berkshire and is the leading national provider of rental furniture, accessories and related services in the “rent-to-rent” segment of the furniture rental industry.

     General Re Securities and affiliates (“GRS”) was acquired by Berkshire as part of the 1998 acquisition of General Re. GRS has been a dealer in derivative products for over the past five years, offering a full line of interest rate, currency, and equity swap and option products, as well as structured finance products. In January 2002, a decision was made to commence a long-term run-off of GRS. The run-off is expected to occur over a period of several years, during which GRS will limit its new business to certain risk management transactions and will unwind its existing asset and liability positions in an orderly manner.

     Berkshire’s other finance businesses include Berkshire Hathaway Credit Corporation (commercial real estate financing), Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance (sales of annuity contracts), Scott Fetzer Financial Group, Inc. (consumer receivable financing primarily in connection with sales of Kirby products).

     Flight Services — In 1996, Berkshire acquired FlightSafety International Inc. (“FSI”). FSI’s corporate headquarters is located at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, New York. FSI engages primarily in the business of providing high technology training to operators of aircraft and ships. FSI’s training activities include: advanced pilot training in the operation of aircraft and air traffic control procedures; aircrew training for military and other government personnel; aircraft maintenance technician training; ab-initio (primary) pilot training to qualify individuals for private and commercial pilots’ licenses; and ship handling and related training services. FSI also develops classroom instructional systems and materials for use in its training business and for sale to others.

     A significant part of FSI’s training programs derives from the use of simulators, which incorporate computer-based technology to replicate the operation of particular aircraft or ocean-going vessels. Simulators reproduce, with a high degree of accuracy, certain sights, movements, and aircraft or vessel control responses experienced by the operator of the aircraft or ship. FSI utilizes approximately 275 training devices, including 231 civil aviation simulators. FSI’s training businesses are conducted primarily in the United States, with facilities located in 21 states. FSI also operates training facilities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. During 1997, FSI and The Boeing Company, a leading airplane manufacturer, established a joint venture to provide pilot and aircrew training for airline customers around the world. In October 2002, FSI’s ownership interest in the joint venture was redeemed by the joint venture.

     FSI also designs and manufactures full motion flight simulators, visual displays, and other training equipment for use in its training business and for sale to others. Manufacturing facilities are located in Oklahoma and Missouri.

     Berkshire acquired NetJets Inc. (“NJ”), in 1998. NJ is the world’s leading provider of fractional ownership programs for general aviation aircraft. In 1986, NJ created the fractional ownership of aircraft concept and introduced its NetJets® program in the United States with one aircraft type. In 2003 the NetJets® program operated 13 aircraft types, including the Boeing Business Jet. In late 1996, NJ expanded its fractional ownership programs to Europe via a joint venture arrangement which is now 100% owned by NJ. The fractional ownership of aircraft concept permits customers to acquire a specific percentage of a certain aircraft type and allows them to utilize the aircraft for a specified number of flight hours per annum. In addition, NJ provides management, ground support and flight operation services to customers after the sale. NJ’s revenues derive from both the sale of fractional interests as well as management and usage fees charged to clients in connection with flight operations.

     The fractional ownership concept is designed to meet the needs of customers who cannot justify the purchase of an entire aircraft based upon expected usage. In addition, fractional ownership programs are available for corporate flight departments seeking to outsource their general aviation needs or looking for additional capacity for peak periods and for others that previously chartered aircraft. NJ places great emphasis on safety and customer service. Its programs are designed to offer customers guaranteed availability of aircraft, lower and predictable operating costs and increased liquidity.

11

Item 1. Business

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire (Continued)

Flight Services (Continued)

     NJ is currently believed to be the world’s largest purchaser of general aviation aircraft. The company maintained over 400 aircraft in its fleet as of December 31, 2003. NJ management believes that the market for fractional ownership of aircraft programs is large and growing and will contribute to NJ’s continued growth over the foreseeable future. NJ’s executive offices are located in New Jersey, while most of its logistical and flight operations are based at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. NJ’s European operations are based in Lisbon, Portugal.

     McLane Company – Berkshire acquired McLane Company, Inc. (“McLane”) in May 2003 from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (“Wal-Mart”). McLane provides wholesale distribution and logistics services in all 50 states and internationally in Brazil to customers that include discount retailers, convenience stores, quick service restaurants, drug stores and movie theatre complexes. Since 1990 McLane was an integral part of the Wal-Mart distribution network, and under Berkshire ownership continues to provide wholesale distribution services to Wal-Mart, which accounted for approximately 35% of McLane’s revenues during the period from May until December 2003. McLane’s business model is based on a high volume of sales, rapid inventory turnover and tight expense control, with operations divided into two units: grocery distribution and foodservice operations.

     McLane’s grocery distribution unit, based in Temple, Texas, enjoys the dominant market share within the convenience store industry and serves most of the national convenience store chains and major oil company retail outlets. Grocery operations provide products to more than 38,300 retail locations nationwide. McLane’s grocery distribution unit operates 18 facilities in 16 states, which average approximately 350,000 square feet per facility.

     McLane’s foodservice operations, based in Carrollton, Texas, focus on serving the quick service restaurant industry with high quality, timely-delivered products. Operations are conducted through 18 distribution centers in 16 states, which average approximately 160,000 square feet per facility. The foodservice distribution unit is considered the second largest restaurant systems supplier in the United States, servicing more than 17,400 chain restaurants nationwide. Also included in McLane’s foodservice operations are third party logistics services provided from four distribution centers in Brazil that average approximately 375,000 square feet per facility.

     Retail Businesses – Berkshire’s retail businesses consist of several independently managed home furnishings and jewelry retail operations. Information regarding each of these operations follows.

     The retail furniture businesses are the Nebraska Furniture Mart (“NFM”), R.C. Willey Home Furnishings (“R.C. Willey”), Star Furniture Company (“Star”), and Jordan’s Furniture, Inc. (“Jordan’s”). NFM is 80% owned by Berkshire, whereas R.C. Willey, Star and Jordan’s are 100% owned by Berkshire. Berkshire has owned its interest in NFM since 1983, acquired R.C. Willey in 1995, Star in 1997 and Jordan’s was acquired in 1999.

     NFM, R.C. Willey, Star and Jordan’s each offer a wide selection of furniture, bedding and accessories. In addition, NFM and R.C. Willey sell a full line of major household appliances, electronics, computers and other home furnishings. NFM, R.C. Willey, Star and Jordan’s also offer customer financing to complement their retail operations. An important feature of each of these businesses is their ability to control costs and to produce high business volume from offering significant value to their customers.

     NFM operates its business from a very large retail complex and sizable warehouse and administrative facilities in Omaha, Nebraska, which includes approximately 535,000 square feet of retail space. NFM’s customers are drawn from a radius around Omaha of approximately 300 miles and it is the largest furniture retailer in the area. In 2000, NFM acquired Homemakers Furniture located in Des Moines, Iowa. Homemakers has two facilities that include approximately 225,000 square feet of retail space. In August 2003, NFM opened a new store in Kansas City, Kansas. This store, which anchors a new retail and entertainment district, includes approximately 445,000 square feet of retail space.

     R.C. Willey, based in Salt Lake City, is the dominant home furnishings retailer in the Intermountain West region of the United States. R.C. Willey operates nine full retail stores, three retail clearance facilities and two distribution centers. These facilities — which include approximately one million square feet of retail space —include nine stores strategically located throughout northern Utah, one store in Meridian, Idaho, and two stores in the Las Vegas, Nevada region.

     Star’s retail facilities include about 694,000 square feet of retail space in ten locations. All of Star’s retail facilities are located in Texas, with seven in Houston. Star is believed to be the largest furniture retailer, as measured by sales, in each of its markets. Jordan’s operates a furniture retail business from four locations with approximately 325,000 square feet of retail space in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Jordan’s is believed to be the largest furniture retailer, as measured by sales, in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire areas. Jordan’s is well known in its markets for its unique store arrangements and advertising campaigns.

12

Item 1. Business

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire (Continued)

     Retail Businesses (Continued)

     Since 1989, Berkshire has owned an interest (currently 88%) in Borsheim Jewelry Company, Inc. (“Borsheim’s”). From its single store located in Omaha, Nebraska, Borsheim’s is a high volume retailer of fine jewelry, watches, crystal, china, stemware, flatware, gifts and collectibles. In 1995, Berkshire acquired Helzberg’s Diamond Shops, Inc. (“Helzberg’s”). Helzberg’s, based in North Kansas City, Missouri, operates a chain of 251 retail jewelry stores in 35 states. Most of Helzberg’s stores are located in malls or power strip centers, and all stores operate under the name Helzberg Diamonds. In July 2000, Berkshire acquired The Ben Bridge Corporation (“Ben Bridge Jeweler”). Ben Bridge Jeweler, based in Seattle, Washington, operates a chain of 72 upscale retail jewelry stores in 11 states, primarily in the Western United States. Ben Bridge Jeweler stores are located primarily in major shopping malls. Berkshire’s retail jewelry operations are subject to seasonality with approximately 40% of annual revenues being earned in the fourth quarter.

     Shaw Industries — Berkshire acquired Shaw Industries, Inc. (“Shaw”) in January 2001. Shaw, headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, is the world’s largest carpet manufacturer based on both revenue and volume of production. Shaw designs and manufactures over 2,000 styles of tufted and woven carpet and laminate flooring for residential and commercial use under about 30 brand and trade names and under certain private labels. Shaw’s manufacturing operations are fully integrated from the processing of fiber through the finishing of carpet. Shaw’s carpet and laminate are sold in a broad range of prices, patterns, colors and textures.

     Shaw sells its wholesale products to over 50,000 retailers, distributors and commercial users throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico; through its own residential and commercial contract distribution channels to various residential and commercial end-users in the United States; and to a lesser degree, exports to additional overseas markets. Shaw also provides installation services and sells ceramic tile and hardwood flooring.

     Substantially all carpet manufactured by Shaw is tufted carpet made from nylon, polypropylene, polyester and wool. In the tufting process, yarn is inserted by multiple needles into a synthetic backing, forming loops which may be cut or left uncut, depending on the desired texture or construction. During 2003 Shaw processed approximately 97% of its requirements for carpet yarn in its own yarn processing facilities.

     Shaw’s wholesale products are marketed domestically by over 1,700 salaried and commissioned sales personnel directly to retailers and distributors and to large national accounts. Shaw’s eight full-service distribution facilities and 20 redistribution centers, along with centralized management information systems, enable it to provide prompt delivery of its products to both its retail customers and wholesale distributors.

     The floor covering industry is highly competitive with more than 200 companies engaged in the manufacture and sale of carpet in the United States and numerous manufacturers engaged in hard surface floor covering production and sales. According to industry estimates, carpet accounts for approximately 60% of the total United States production of all flooring types. The principal competitive measures within the floor covering industry are quality, style, price and service.

     Other Non-Insurance Businesses — Berkshire’s other non-insurance businesses consist of a wide array of businesses that engage in a variety of business activities. Additional information related to these businesses is as follows.

     Scott Fetzer Companies — The Scott Fetzer Companies are a diversified group of 21 businesses that manufacture and distribute a wide variety of products for residential, industrial and institutional use. The two most significant of these businesses are Kirby home cleaning systems and Campbell Hausfeld products.

     The Buffalo News publishes a Sunday edition and eight editions each weekday from its headquarters in Buffalo, New York.

     See’s Candies produces boxed chocolates and other confectionery products with an emphasis on quality and distinctiveness in two large kitchens in California. See’s revenues are highly seasonal with approximately 50% of total annual revenues being earned in the months of November and December.

     International Dairy Queen services a system of over 6,000 stores operating under the names Dairy Queen, Orange Julius and Karmelkorn that offer various dairy desserts, beverages, prepared foods, blended fruit drinks, popcorn and other snack foods.

     In February 2002, Berkshire acquired Albecca Inc. (“Albecca”). Albecca is headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, and primarily does business under the Larson-Juhl name. Albecca designs, manufactures and distributes a complete line of high quality, branded custom framing products, including wood and metal moulding, matboard, foamboard, glass, equipment and other framing supplies.

13

Item 1. Business

Non-Insurance Businesses of Berkshire (Continued)

     Berkshire acquired CTB International Corp. (“CTB”) in October 2002. CTB, headquartered in Milford, Indiana, is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of systems used in the grain industry and in the production of poultry, hogs, and eggs. Products are produced in the United States and Europe and are sold primarily through a global network of independent dealers and distributors, with peak sales occurring in the second and third quarters.

     In October 2002 Berkshire acquired The Pampered Chef, LTD (“TPC”), the largest direct seller of high quality kitchen tools in the United States. Products are researched, designed and tested by TPC, and manufactured by third party suppliers. From its Addison, Illinois headquarters, TPC utilizes a network of more than 69,000 independent sales representatives to sell its products through home-based demonstrations, principally in the United States.

     Berkshire currently holds securities possessing 9.9% of the voting interest and an 83.7% (80.5% on a fully-diluted basis) economic interest in MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (“MidAmerican”). Berkshire’s investments in MidAmerican are accounted for pursuant to the equity method. Additional information concerning Berkshire’s investments in MidAmerican is provided in Note 3 to the Registrant’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

     MidAmerican is a U.S. based global energy company that generates, distributes and supplies energy to utilities, government entities, retail customers and other customers located throughout the world. MidAmerican’s businesses include MidAmerican Energy Company (“MidAmerican Energy”), a regulated public utility principally engaged in the business of generating, transmitting, distributing and selling electric energy and distributing, selling and transporting natural gas at the retail level in Iowa, Illinois, South Dakota and Nebraska. In addition to retail sales, MidAmerican Energy delivers electric energy to other utilities, marketers and municipalities, who distribute it to end-use customers.

     Through its various subsidiaries, MidAmerican also distributes electricity and engages in other auxiliary businesses in the United Kingdom, operates geothermal power plants in the Philippine Islands, and has interests in other power generating facilities in the United States. MidAmerican owns and operates two interstate natural gas pipeline systems which transport natural gas to customers in the Southwest and Upper Midwest regions of the United States. The systems include about 18,200 miles of pipeline in operation and capacity to deliver about 6.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day. MidAmerican also owns HomeServices, which is the second largest full service residential real estate brokerage firm in the United States.

     Berkshire Hathaway Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates, employed approximately 172,700 persons at December 31, 2003.

Additional information with respect to Berkshire’s businesses

     The amounts of revenue, earnings before taxes and identifiable assets attributable to the aforementioned business segments are included in Note 20 to Registrant’s Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. Additional information regarding Registrant’s investments in fixed maturity and marketable equity securities is included in Notes 4 and 5 to Registrant’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

     Berkshire’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, which include Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Form 8-K and amendments thereto, may be accessed by the public free of charge from the SEC and through Berkshire. Electronic copies of these reports can be accessed at the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) and indirectly through Berkshire’s website (http://www.berkshirehathaway.com). Copies of these reports may also be obtained, free of charge, upon written request to: Berkshire Hathaway Inc., 1440 Kiewit Plaza, Omaha, NE 68131, Attn. Corporate Secretary. The public may read or obtain copies of these reports from the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 (1-800-SEC-0330).

14

Item 2. Description of Properties

          The physical properties used by the Registrant and its significant business segments are summarized below:

15

16

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

          GEICO is a defendant in a number of class action lawsuits related to the use of replacement repair parts not produced by the original auto manufacturer, the calculation of “total loss” value and whether to pay diminished value as part of the settlement of certain claims. Management intends to vigorously defend GEICO’s position on these claim settlement procedures. However, these lawsuits are in various stages of development and the ultimate outcome cannot be reasonably determined.

          Berkshire and its subsidiaries are parties in a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. In particular, such legal actions affect Berkshire’s 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. Berkshire does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

          Otherwise, litigation pending against the Company and its subsidiaries is not considered material or is ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None

Executive Officers of the Registrant

          Following is a list of the Registrant’s executive officers:

          Each executive officer serves, in accordance with the by-laws of the Registrant, until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his respective successor is chosen and qualified or until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified. Mr. Buffett and Mr. Munger also serve as directors of the Registrant.

Part II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters

Market Information

          Berkshire’s Class A and Class B Common Stock are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, trading symbol: BRK.A and BRK.B. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite List during the periods indicated:

Shareholders

          Berkshire had approximately 7,200 record holders of its Class A Common Stock and 14,500 record holders of its Class B Common Stock at March 3, 2004. Record owners included nominees holding at least 450,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and 7,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock on behalf of beneficial-but-not-of-record owners.

Dividends

          Berkshire has not declared a cash dividend since 1967.

17

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Stock and Related Security Holder Matters

Securities authorized for issuance under equity plans

          In connection with certain business acquisitions, Berkshire has issued Class B common stock options to replace outstanding options held by employees of the acquired entity. The terms of the Berkshire stock options are essentially equivalent to the terms of the options of the acquired entity, except that exercise prices were adjusted to give effect to the common stock exchange rate applicable to each acquisition. No additional stock options have been granted. A summary of the Registrant’s equity compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance as of December 31, 2003 follows:

18

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Selected Financial Data for the Past Five Years

(dollars in millions except per share data)

(1)

The amount of realized investment gains and losses for any given period has no predictive value, and variations in amount from period to period have no practical analytical value, particularly in view of the unrealized appreciation now existing in Berkshire’s consolidated investment portfolio. After-tax realized investment gains were $2,729 million in 2003, $566 million in 2002, $923 million in 2001, $2,746 million in 2000 and $809 million in 1999.

(2)

Net earnings for the year ending December 31, 2001 includes pre-tax underwriting losses of $2.4 billion in connection with the September 11th terrorist attack. Such loss reduced net earnings by approximately $1.5 billion and earnings per share by $982.

(3)

Effective January 1, 2002, Berkshire adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” SFAS No. 142 changed the accounting for goodwill from a model that required amortization of goodwill, supplemented by impairment tests, to an accounting model that is based solely upon impairment tests.

A reconciliation of Berkshire’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings for each of the five years ending December 31, 2003 from amounts reported to amounts exclusive of goodwill amortization is shown below. Goodwill amortization for the years ending December 31, 2001 and 2000 includes $78 million and $65 million, respectively, related to Berkshire’s equity method investment in MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Results of Operations

          Net earnings for each of the past three years are disaggregated in the table that follows. Amounts are after deducting income taxes and minority interest. Dollars are in millions.

          The business segment data (Note 20 to Consolidated Financial Statements) should be read in conjunction with this discussion.

     Insurance — Underwriting

          A summary follows of underwriting results from Berkshire’s insurance businesses for the past three years. Dollars are in millions.

          Berkshire engages in both primary insurance and reinsurance of property and casualty risks. Through General Re, Berkshire also reinsures life and health risks. In primary insurance activities, Berkshire subsidiaries assume defined portions of the risks of loss from persons or organizations that are directly subject to the risks. In reinsurance activities, Berkshire subsidiaries assume defined portions of similar or dissimilar risks that other insurers or reinsurers have subjected themselves to in their own insuring activities. Berkshire’s principal insurance businesses are: (1) GEICO, the fifth largest auto insurer in the U.S., (2) General Re, one of the four largest reinsurers in the world, (3) Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (“BHRG”) and (4) Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. Berkshire’s management views insurance businesses as possessing two distinct operations – underwriting and investing. Accordingly, Berkshire evaluates performance of underwriting operations without any allocation of investment income.

          A significant marketing strategy followed by all these businesses is the maintenance of extraordinary capital strength. Statutory surplus of Berkshire’s insurance businesses totaled approximately $40.7 billion at December 31, 2003. This superior capital strength creates opportunities, especially with respect to reinsurance activities, to negotiate and enter into insurance and reinsurance contracts specially designed to meet unique needs of sophisticated insurance and reinsurance buyers. Additional information regarding Berkshire’s insurance and reinsurance operations follows.

          GEICO

          GEICO provides primarily private passenger automobile coverages to insureds in 48 states and the District of Columbia. GEICO policies are marketed mainly by direct response methods in which customers apply for coverage directly to the company over the telephone, through the mail or via the Internet. This is a significant

20

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

          Insurance — Underwriting (Continued)

          GEICO (Continued)

          element in GEICO’s strategy to be a low cost insurer. In addition, GEICO strives to provide excellent service to customers, with the goal of establishing long-term customer relationships.

          GEICO’s underwriting results for the past three years are summarized below. Dollars are in millions.

          Premiums earned in 2003 were $7,784 million, an increase of 16.7% over 2002, following an increase of 10.1% in 2002 over 2001. The growth in premiums earned in 2003 reflects a 10.9% increase in voluntary auto policies-in-force during the past year and average premium rate increases of about two percent. During 2003, policies-in-force increased 8.2% in the preferred risk auto line and 21.4% in the standard and nonstandard auto lines. Voluntary auto new business sales in 2003 increased 20.3% compared to 2002. Voluntary auto policies-in-force at December 31, 2003 were 531,000 higher than at December 31, 2002 and reflect strong growth in the standard and nonstandard lines during the last twelve months.

          Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred increased 15.9% to $5,955 million in 2003, following an increase of 6.1% in 2002 over 2001. The loss ratio for property and casualty insurance, which measures the portion of premiums earned that is paid or reserved for losses and related claims handling expenses, was 76.5% in 2003 compared to 77.0% in 2002 and 79.9% in 2001. Claims frequencies in 2003 for physical damage and bodily injury coverages have decreased in the two to five percent range from 2002 despite more weather related losses in 2003 resulting from winter snowstorms, spring hailstorms and Hurricane Isabel. Bodily injury severity has increased in the six to eight percent range over 2002 while physical damage severity has increased in the two to three percent range. Incurred losses from catastrophe events for 2003 totaled approximately $57 million compared to $20 million in 2002 and $47 million in 2001.

          Underwriting expenses increased 23.3% to $1,377 million in 2003 over 2002, which follows an increase of 12.0% in 2002 over 2001. Policy acquisition expenses increased 18.7% in 2003 to $731 million reflecting increased advertising and increased staffing to handle the growth in policies-in-force. Other operating expenses were $646 million in 2003, up from $501 million in 2002 and reflect higher salary, profit sharing and other employee benefit expenses.

General Re

          General Re conducts a reinsurance business, which offers reinsurance coverage of essentially all types of property, casualty, life and health risks in the United States and worldwide. General Re’s principal reinsurance operations are internally comprised of: (1) North American property/casualty, (2) international property/casualty, which principally consists of business written through 89% owned Cologne Re, (3) London-market property/casualty through the Faraday operations, and (4) global life/health.

          General Re’s pre-tax underwriting results for the past three years are summarized below. Dollars are in millions.

21

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

          Insurance — Underwriting (Continued)

          General Re (Continued)

          General Re’s consolidated underwriting results in 2003 reflect significant improvements over the past two years and are attributed to rate increases, better coverage terms and the absence of large property losses, partially offset by increases in prior accident years’ loss estimates. Underwriting results in both 2002 and 2001 included significant charges from increases in loss reserve estimates established for claims occurring in prior years. Additionally, underwriting results for 2001 were severely impacted by losses from the September 11th terrorist attack. General Re strives to generate long-term pre-tax underwriting gains in essentially all of its product lines. Underwriting performance is not evaluated based upon market share and underwriters are instructed to reject inadequately priced risks. Over the past three years, General Re has taken significant underwriting actions to better align premium rates with coverage terms. Information with respect to each of General Re’s underwriting units is presented below.

North American property/casualty

          General Re’s North American property/casualty operations underwrite predominantly excess reinsurance across essentially all lines of property and casualty business. Excess reinsurance provides indemnification of losses above a stated retention on either an individual claim basis or in the aggregate across all claims in a portfolio. Reinsurance contracts are written on both a treaty (group of risks) and facultative (individual risk) basis.

          Premiums earned in 2003 declined from 2002 premium levels by $416 million (10.5%). The decline in premiums earned reflects a net reduction from cancellations/non-renewals in excess of new contracts (estimated at $761 million), partially offset by rate increases across all lines of business (estimated at $345 million). Premiums earned in 2002 were essentially unchanged compared to 2001 as rate increases (approximately $800 million) across most lines of business were offset by reductions from cancellations in excess of new business. Premiums earned in 2001 included $400 million from one retroactive reinsurance contract and a large quota share agreement. No such contracts were written in 2002 or 2003.

          The North American property/casualty business produced a pre-tax underwriting gain of $67 million in 2003, compared with losses of $1,019 million and $2,843 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The 2003 underwriting gain consisted of $200 million in current accident year gains, partially offset by $133 million in prior accident year losses. The favorable effects of re-pricing efforts and improved contract terms and conditions implemented over the past three years contributed to the net gain. In addition, underwriting results for 2003 were favorably impacted by the absence of major catastrophes and other large individual property losses ($20 million or greater), a condition that is unusual and should not be expected to occur regularly in the future.

          The prior accident years’ losses of $133 million recorded in 2003 included $99 million related to discount accretion on workers’ compensation reserves and deferred charge amortization on retroactive reinsurance contracts, reserve increases of $153 million for casualty claims, (primarily in the workers’ compensation, directors and officers, and errors and omissions lines), and reserve decreases of $119 million for property claims.

          For statutory and GAAP reporting purposes workers’ compensation loss reserves are discounted at 1.0% per annum for claims occurring after 2002 and at 4.5% for claims occurring before 2003. The lower discount rate for 2003 claims was approved by General Re’s state insurance regulators and reflects the lower interest rate environment that now exists. The lower discount rate effectively reduced 2003 underwriting gains by approximately $74 million.

          Underwriting results for 2002 included $1,085 million in prior year loss reserve adjustments, offset by net gains of $66 million with respect to the 2002 accident year. Results for 2002 included $990 million in increased loss estimates related to casualty lines of business (general liability, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, auto liability and professional liability coverages), principally related to the 1997 through 2000 accident years. The 2002 prior years’ loss reserve adjustment was net of a $115 million reduction in reserves established in connection with the September 11th terrorist attack, primarily due to decreased loss estimates for certain claims. The underwriting loss in 2001 included $923 million in prior years’ loss reserve adjustments, approximately $1.54 billion of net losses from the September 11th terrorist attack, as well as $87 million of losses from other catastrophes (principally Tropical Storm Allison) and other large individual property losses.

22

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

          Insurance — Underwriting (Continued)

          General Re (Continued)

          Management believes the revised estimates in 2003 on prior years’ casualty loss reserves were primarily due to escalating medical inflation and utilization that adversely affect workers’ compensation and other casualty lines; and an increased frequency in corporate bankruptcies, scandals and accounting restatements which increased losses under errors and omissions and directors and officers coverages. Otherwise, reported casualty losses for prior years were generally consistent with management estimates. In addition to the above listed factors, revised estimates in 2002 and 2001 for prior years’ loss reserves were due to (1) an increase in claim severity, which has a leveraged effect on excess of loss coverages provided by General Re by producing a disproportionate increase in claims exceeding General Re’s attachment point; (2) broadened coverage terms under General Re’s reinsurance contracts during 1997 through 2000; (3) increased ceding companies’ reserve inadequacies, likely arising from broadened terms and conditions, as well as previously unrecognized premium inadequacies; and (4) increased primary company insolvencies, which changed historical claim reporting patterns. See the discussion regarding “Critical Accounting Policies” for information about the processes used in estimating loss reserves.

          In addition, General Re continuously estimates its liabilities and related reinsurance recoverables for environmental and asbestos claims and claim expenses. Most liabilities for such claims arise from exposures in North America. Environmental and asbestos exposures do not lend themselves to traditional methods of loss development determination and therefore reserves related to these exposures may be considered less reliable than reserves for standard lines of business (e.g., automobile). The estimate for environmental and asbestos losses is composed of four parts: known claims, development on known claims, incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) losses and direct excess coverage litigation expenses. At December 31, 2003, environmental and asbestos loss reserves for North America were $1,050 million ($890 million net of reinsurance). As of December 31, 2002 such amounts totaled $1,161 million ($1,008 million net of reinsurance). The changing legal environment concerning asbestos and environmental claims has made quantification of potential exposures very difficult. Future changes to the legal environment may precipitate significant changes in reserves.

          Due to the long-tail nature of casualty business, a very high degree of estimation is involved in establishing loss reserves for current accident year casualty occurrences. Thus, the ultimate level of underwriting gain or loss with respect to the 2003 accident year will not be fully known for many years. North American property/casualty loss reserves were $15.5 billion ($14.3 billion net of reinsurance) at December 31, 2003 and $16.2 billion ($14.9 billion net of reinsurance) at December 31, 2002. About 52% of this amount at December 31, 2003 represents estimates of IBNR losses.

          Although loss reserve levels are now believed to be adequate, there can be no guarantees. A relatively small change in the estimate of net reserves can produce large changes in annual underwriting results. For instance, a one percentage point change in net loss reserves at year end 2003 would produce a pre-tax underwriting gain or loss of $143 million, or roughly 4% of premiums earned in 2003. In addition, the timing and magnitude of catastrophe and large individual property losses are expected to continue to contribute to volatile periodic underwriting results in the future.

International property/casualty

          The international property/casualty operations write quota-share and excess reinsurance on risks around the world, with its largest markets in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom. International property/casualty business is written on a direct reinsurance basis primarily through Cologne Re.

          Premiums earned in 2003 increased $105 million (5.9%) from 2002 amounts, reflecting the increase in values of most foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. In local currencies, premiums earned declined 8.1% in 2003 versus 2002. The decrease in premiums earned was primarily due to the non-renewal of unprofitable business in Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Latin America and Australia. In local currencies, premiums earned in 2002 declined 2.1% from 2001, primarily due to a substantial decline in premiums in Argentina, the non-renewal of under-performing business in Continental Europe and parts of Asia, partially offset by increases in the United Kingdom and Australia.

          The international property/casualty operations produced a pre-tax underwriting gain of $38 million during 2003, compared with pre-tax underwriting losses of $315 million and $568 million for 2002 and 2001, respectively. The net underwriting gain for 2003 included $69 million of gains in the current underwriting year, which reflected rate increases and the absence of large property losses, and losses of $31 million from increases to reserves for prior years’ loss occurrences. Results for 2002 included $240 million of net increases to prior years’ loss reserves, and approximately $107 million in catastrophe and other large individual property losses, principally European flood

23

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

          Insurance — Underwriting (Continued)

          General Re (Continued)

          losses in August and European storm Jeanette in October. The underwriting loss of $568 million in 2001 included $247 million of net losses related to the September 11th terrorist attack and $143 million resulting from other large individual property losses.

          At December 31, 2003, the international property/casualty operations had gross loss reserves of $6.4 billion, ($6.0 billion net of reinsurance) compared to $5.4 billion in gross loss reserves at December 31, 2002 ($5.1 billion net of reinsurance). The increase in reserves during 2003 was primarily due to changes in foreign currency rates. The overall economic effect of foreign currency changes were mitigated because foreign denominated liabilities are largely offset by assets denominated in those currencies.

Faraday (London-market)

          London-market business is written through Faraday Holdings Limited (“Faraday”). Faraday owns the managing agent of Syndicate 435 at Lloyd’s of London and provides capacity and participates in the results of Syndicate 435. Through Faraday, General Re’s participation in Syndicate 435 was 100% in 2003. Also included in the London-market segment are Cologne Re’s UK and Continental Europe broker-market subsidiaries.

          Premiums earned in the London-market operations increased $95 million (11.1%) in 2003 as compared to 2002. Premiums earned in 2002 increased $280 million (48.7%) over 2001 amounts. In local currencies, premiums earned in 2003 were unchanged from 2002 and increased 41.9% in 2002 over 2001. In 2003, premiums earned from Cologne Re’s Continental Europe broker-market subsidiary, which was placed in run-off, declined but were offset by increases in earned premiums in Faraday Syndicate 435. Premiums earned in 2002 increased primarily due to the increased participation in Faraday Syndicate 435 from 60.6% in 2001 to 96.7% in 2002.

          London-market operations produced a pre-tax underwriting loss of $18 million in 2003, compared with pre-tax underwriting losses of $4 million and $178 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The underwriting loss in 2003 included $73 million of reserve increases related to prior years’ loss events. These losses occurred primarily in casualty lines. In 2003, underwriting gains were earned in property and aviation lines, reflecting more selective underwriting and a lack of catastrophes and other large losses. Underwriting results in 2002 were adversely impacted by $80 million of increases in prior years’ casualty loss reserve estimates and $17 million of European flood losses. Offsetting these amounts were gains in property business. The London-market underwriting loss in 2001 included $66 million of losses from the September 11th terrorist attack as well as relatively high property losses.

          At December 31, 2003, the Faraday operations had gross loss reserves of $1.9 billion, ($1.7 billion net of reinsurance) compared to $1.7 billion in gross reserves at December 31, 2002 ($1.3 billion net of reinsurance). The increase in reserves during 2003 was primarily due to changes in foreign currency rates.

Global life/health

          General Re’s global life/health affiliates reinsure such risks worldwide. Premiums earned in 2003 decreased by $39 million (2.1%) compared with 2002. Premiums earned in 2002 for the global life/health operations declined $102 million (5.1%) from 2001. Adjusting for the effects of foreign currency exchange, premiums earned declined 9.6% in 2003, and 6.7% in 2002. The decline in 2003 was primarily due to decreases in the group and individual health businesses in the U.S. life/health operations.

          Underwriting results for the global life/health operations produced a pre-tax underwriting gain of $58 million in 2003, compared with underwriting losses of $55 million and $82 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively. While both the U.S. and international life/health segments were profitable in 2003, most of the gains were earned in the international life segment. The underwriting losses for 2002 and 2001 were principally due to increased reserves on run-off business in the U.S. life/health operations. Underwriting results for 2001 also include $19 million of net losses related to the September 11th terrorist attack.

24

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Insurance — Underwriting (Continued)

     Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group

     The Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (“BHRG”) underwrites excess-of-loss and quota-share reinsurance coverages for insurers and reinsurers around the world. BHRG is believed to be one of the leaders in providing catastrophe excess-of-loss reinsurance and writing coverages for large or otherwise unusual discrete commercial property risks on a direct and facultative reinsurance basis, referred to as individual risk business. BHRG’s underwriting results are summarized in the table below.

     During the second half of 2001, opportunities for BHRG to write catastrophe and individual risk business increased significantly, particularly subsequent to September 11^th. Contracts written may provide exceptionally large limits of indemnification, often several hundred million dollars and occasionally in excess of $1 billion, and may cover catastrophe risks (such as hurricanes, earthquakes or other natural disasters) or other property risks (such as aviation and aerospace, commercial multi-peril or terrorism). Catastrophe and individual business written totaled about $1.2 billion in 2003 and $1.5 billion in 2002. The level of business written in future periods will vary, perhaps materially, based upon market conditions and management’s assessment of the adequacy of premium rates.

     The catastrophe and individual risk business produced substantial underwriting gains in 2003 and 2002 due to the lack of catastrophic or otherwise large loss events. The net underwriting loss in 2001 included about $410 million from the September 11^th terrorist attack. Losses related to the September 11th terrorist attack were reduced by about $85 million in 2002, as payments to settle claims under certain policies were below original estimates. Although very large underwriting gains were achieved in 2003 and 2002, a single loss event could have easily eliminated those gains. The pre-tax maximum probable loss from a single event at December 31, 2003 is estimated to be approximately $6.7 billion resulting from potential risk of loss from a major earthquake in California.

     BHRG, as a matter of general practice, does not cede catastrophe and individual risks to other reinsurers due to the uncertainty of collecting recoverable losses ceded to financially weaker companies if a natural or financial mega-catastrophe should occur. Underwriting results of this business will remain subject to extreme volatility. Nevertheless, Berkshire’s management remains willing to accept such volatility provided there is a reasonable prospect of long-term underwriting profitability.

     Retroactive reinsurance contracts indemnify ceding companies for losses arising under insurance or reinsurance contracts written in the past, usually many years ago. While contract terms vary, losses under the contracts are subject to a very large aggregate dollar limit, occasionally exceeding $1 billion under a single contract. Generally, it is also anticipated, although not assured, that claims under retroactive contracts will be paid over long time periods. These contracts do not produce an immediate underwriting loss for financial reporting purposes. The excess of the estimated ultimate claims payable over the premiums received is established as a deferred charge which is subsequently amortized over the expected claim settlement periods. Such amortization is included as a component of losses incurred and essentially represents the net underwriting losses from this business in each of the past three years. In addition, underwriting results in 2003 included a net gain of $41 million from the commutation of contracts written in prior years in exchange for commutation payments of $710 million.

     Retroactive reinsurance contracts are expected to generate significant underwriting losses over time due to the amortization of deferred charges. This business is accepted due to the exceptionally large amounts of float generated, which totaled about $7.7 billion at December 31, 2003. Unamortized deferred charges under BHRG retroactive reinsurance contracts were $2.8 billion at December 31, 2003 and $3.2 billion as of December 31, 2002.

     During the last two years, BHRG wrote a significant amount of business under traditional multi-line contracts. Such contracts included several quota-share participations in, and contracts with, Lloyd’s syndicates and a quota-share contract written in 2002 with a major U.S. based insurer, which was cancelled in 2003. These contracts and participations generated written premiums of about $1.6 billion in 2003 and $2.0 billion in 2002. In a quota-

25

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Insurance — Underwriting (Continued)

     Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (Continued)

share arrangement, BHRG essentially participates proportionately in the premiums and claims of the business written by the ceding company. BHRG was willing to enter into these new contracts because it believed the level of rate adequacy in certain property/casualty markets was much improved in relation to past years. BHRG’s participation in the Lloyd’s business declined in 2003 as the availability of other sources of capacity for Lloyd’s syndicates increased.

     Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group

     Berkshire’s primary insurance group consists of a wide variety of smaller insurance businesses that principally write liability coverages for commercial accounts. These businesses include: National Indemnity Company’s primary group operation (“NICO Primary Group”), a writer of motor vehicle and general liability coverages; U.S. Investment Corporation (“USIC”), whose subsidiaries underwrite specialty insurance coverages; a group of companies referred to internally as “Homestate” operations, providers of standard multi-line insurance; and Central States Indemnity Company, a provider of credit and disability insurance to individuals nationwide through financial institutions.

     Collectively, Berkshire’s other primary insurance businesses produced earned premiums of $1,034 million in 2003, $712 million in 2002, and $501 million in 2001. The increases in premiums earned during the past two years were largely attributed to increased volume at USIC and the NICO Primary Group. Net underwriting gains of Berkshire’s other primary insurance businesses totaled $74 million in 2003, $32 million in 2002, and $30 million in 2001. The improvement in year-to-year comparative underwriting results was due to the aforementioned increases in premiums and reasonably good claim experience.

     Insurance — Investment Income

     Following is a summary of the net investment income of Berkshire’s insurance operations for the past three years. Dollars are in millions.

     Investment income from insurance operations in 2003 of $3,223 million increased 5.7% over 2002, which exceeded 2001 by 8.0%. The increase in 2003 investment income was due primarily to higher amounts of interest earned from high-yield corporate obligations, partially offset by the effects of lower interest rates for other fixed maturity obligations. Berkshire’s investments in high-yield corporate bonds were approximately $8 billion (at original cost) as of December 31, 2002. As of December 31, 2003 the cost of such investments declined about $1.5 billion, as a result of sales and prepayments by issuers.

     The high-yield investments were primarily acquired at distressed prices. The credit risk associated with such investments is much greater than with other fixed maturity investments typically acquired by Berkshire, which are generally U.S. Government, municipal and mortgage-backed securities and short-term cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2003, approximately 65% of Berkshire’s high-yield investments were issued by companies in the energy industry. While the market prices of such investments increased significantly for all major positions during 2003, Berkshire management does not believe that the credit risks associated with the issuers of these instruments has correspondingly declined. Credit losses may eventually occur with respect to some of these investments. However, management also believes that over time these investments will produce reasonable returns in relation to credit risk.

     Invested assets of insurance businesses increased during 2003 by $14.5 billion to $93.5 billion at December 31, 2003 following an increase of $7 billion during 2002. The increase in invested assets during 2003 was primarily the result of the market price appreciation of Berkshire’s major equity investments and high-yield fixed maturity investments, as well as strong operating cash flow.

     Float represents an estimate of the amount of funds ultimately payable to policyholders that is available for investment. Total float at December 31, 2003 was approximately $44.2 billion compared to $41.2 billion at December 31, 2002 and about $35.5 billion at December 31, 2001. The cost of float, represented by the ratio of the pre-tax underwriting gain or loss over average float, was negative for 2003 due to $1.7 billion of pre-tax net underwriting gains. The cost of float in 2002 was about 1.1% as compared to 12.8% for 2001.

26

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Non-Insurance Businesses

     Since December 31, 2000, Berkshire’s numerous non-insurance business activities have increased significantly through several business acquisitions. Additional information regarding these acquisitions is contained in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

     A summary follows of results from Berkshire’s non-insurance businesses for the past three years. Dollars are in millions.

     A comparison of revenues and pre-tax earnings between 2003, 2002 and 2001 for the non-insurance businesses follows. Dollars are in millions.

     Apparel

     Berkshire’s apparel manufacturing and distribution businesses have grown significantly during the last two years as a result of the acquisitions of Fruit of the Loom on April 30, 2002 and Garan on September 4, 2002. During 2003 these two businesses generated combined revenues of $1,459 million and pre-tax earnings of $260 million. From their respective acquisition dates, these two businesses generated combined revenues of $957 million and pre-tax earnings of $190 million in 2002. On a comparative full year basis, total apparel group revenues in 2003 declined 5% from 2002 and pre-tax earnings in 2003 declined 11% as compared to 2002. Pre-tax losses in 2001 from the apparel businesses included operating losses and a restructuring charge at Dexter.

     Building products

     Each of Berkshire’s building products businesses manufactures and distributes products and services for the residential and commercial construction and home improvement markets. Revenues of the building products group totaled $3,846 million in 2003 compared to $3,702 million in 2002. Each of the building products businesses generated higher revenues in 2003 as compared to 2002 and benefited from the strong housing market and relatively low interest rates. Pre-tax earnings of the building products businesses in 2003 were $559 million compared to $516 million in 2002.

     Finance and financial products

     A variety of finance and financial products businesses are included in this segment. These businesses invest in various types of fixed-income securities (BH Finance), make commercial loans (Berkshire Hathaway Credit Corporation and Berkadia LLC), issue and service installment loan contracts with respect to manufactured housing (Clayton Homes, through its subsidiary Vanderbilt Mortgage, acquired August 7, 2003), lease trailers and shipping containers used in product transportation and lease furniture (XTRA and CORT) and offer for sale annuities and similar type products (Berkshire Hathaway Life). This group also includes General Re Securities (“GRS”), a dealer in derivative contracts. These businesses generally issue debt or interest bearing obligations to finance asset acquisitions.

27

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Non-Insurance Businesses (Continued)

     Finance and financial products (Continued)

     Revenues of the finance group consist of interest, rentals, and sales of manufactured homes, transportation equipment and furniture. Revenues in 2003 totaled $3,073 million, an increase of 37.6% over 2002. The increase in 2003 was primarily due to the inclusion of Clayton (approximately $500 million), revenues from the issuance of annuity products of approximately $700 million versus none in 2002 and was partially offset by lower interest income.

     Pre-tax earnings of the finance group in 2003, which exclude realized investment gains, declined $107 million (14.7%) from 2002. Much of the comparative decline in pre-tax earnings was due to lower net interest earned by BH Finance. BH Finance’s fixed maturity investment portfolio declined about $6 billion during 2003 as a result of sales and prepayments and was offset by corresponding declines in repurchase agreement obligations.

     During 2003, pre-tax earnings included about $101 million from Berkadia as compared to $115 million in 2002. Earnings of Berkadia are directly correlated with the outstanding amount of a term loan to FINOVA, which totaled $525 million at December 31, 2003 compared to $2.175 billion at December 31, 2002 and $4.9 billion at December 31, 2001. Most of Berkadia’s pre-tax earnings in 2003 were represented by the accelerated recognition in earnings of fees received in 2001 from FINOVA in connection with origination of the loan as a result of loan repayments being at a much faster rate than originally anticipated. In February 2004, the FINOVA loan was repaid in full. Thus, earnings from Berkadia in 2004 will be nominal.

     GRS had a pre-tax loss in 2003 of $99 million versus a loss of $173 million in 2002. GRS’s operation has been in run-off since January 2002. During the run-off period, GRS has limited new business to certain risk management transactions and is unwinding existing asset and liability positions in an orderly manner. Since the run-off commenced, approximately two-thirds of GRS’s open trades have been terminated. It is expected that the run-off will take at least several more years to complete. The pre-tax losses in the last two years reflect related run-off costs as well as net transaction and position losses. Additional losses will almost certainly be incurred over time in connection with the run-off. The timing and amounts of such losses is uncertain.

     Flight services

     This segment includes FlightSafety, a leading provider of high technology training to operators of aircraft and ships and NetJets, the world’s leading provider of fractional ownership programs for general aviation aircraft. FlightSafety’s worldwide clients include corporations, regional airlines, the military and government agencies. The decline in revenues was split between FlightSafety (about $96 million) and NetJets (about $310 million). A decline in FlightSafety training revenues accounted for most of that businesses revenue decline. The decline in training revenues was due to a decline in regional airline training somewhat offset by increased U.S. Government training revenues. The decline in revenues at NetJets was due to a reduction of revenues from sales of aircraft of $514 million partially offset by increased flight services and other revenues of about $204 million. Pre-tax earnings from these businesses was $72 million in 2003 as compared to $225 million in 2002. The results for 2002 include a gain of $60 million from the sale of a partnership interest to Boeing and the results for 2003 include the recognition of pre-tax charges of $69 million related to write downs of certain simulators and aircraft inventory. Excluding the aforementioned gain and write downs, “normal earnings” from these businesses were $141 million in 2003 versus $165 million in 2002. The reduction in combined “normal” pre-tax earnings from these businesses is due to reduced “normal” pre-tax earnings at FlightSafety of $34 million somewhat offset by improved results at NetJets where its pre-tax loss before write downs was $9 million in 2003 versus about $19 million in 2002. The corporate aviation business has slowed significantly in the past few years which has hurt FlightSafety’s results. NetJets continues to be the leader in the fractional ownership field.

     McLane

     On May 23, 2003, Berkshire acquired McLane Company, Inc. from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Results of McLane’s business operations are included in Berkshire’s consolidated results beginning on that date. McLane’s revenues were $13,743 million and pre-tax earnings totaled $150 million for the period from May 23 to December 31. Approximately 35% of McLane’s revenues derived from sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. McLane’s business is marked by high sales volume and low profit margins. For its most recently completed fiscal year prior to the acquisition, McLane’s sales and pre-tax earnings totaled approximately $21.9 billion and $220 million, respectively. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the acquisition and McLane’s business.

28

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Non-Insurance Businesses (Continued)

     Retail

     Berkshire’s retailing businesses consist of four independently managed retailers of home furnishings (Nebraska Furniture Mart and its subsidiaries (“NFM”), R.C. Willey Home Furnishings (“R.C. Willey”), Star Furniture (“Star”) and Jordan’s Furniture) and three independently managed retailers of fine jewelry (Borsheim’s Jewelry, Helzberg’s Diamond Shops (“Helzberg”), and Ben Bridge Jeweler). Revenues of the retail businesses in 2003 increased $208 million (9.9%) as compared to 2002, and 2002 revenues increased 5.3% over 2001. The increase in revenues in 2003 was primarily attributed to Nebraska Furniture Mart’s new store in Kansas City, Kansas, which opened in August 2003 and R.C. Willey’s second Nevada location, which opened in May 2003. Comparative pre-tax earnings of the retail group in 2003 were relatively unchanged from 2002. Higher earnings associated with the new R.C. Willey store were offset by start-up and depreciation costs incurred in connection with NFM’s new store.

     Shaw Industries

     Shaw is a leading manufacturer and distributor of carpet and rugs for residential and commercial use. Shaw also provides installation services and offers hardwood floor and other floor coverings. Berkshire acquired 87.3% of the common stock of Shaw in January 2001 and the remainder of the outstanding stock in January 2002. Shaw’s revenues in 2003 of $4,660 million increased by $326 million (7.5%) over 2002, and 2002 revenues increased 8.0% over 2001. The increase in 2003 revenues reflects a 6.1% increase in carpet sales revenues as well as increased sales of hard floor surfaces. Shaw’s revenues in 2003 also include the results from Dixie Group, a carpet and rug manufacturer acquired in November. In 2003, Shaw’s pre-tax earnings totaled $436 million, an increase of $12 million (2.8%) over 2002. Shaw’s operating results in 2003 benefited from increased sales and lower borrowing costs.

     Other businesses

     Revenues in 2003 from Berkshire’s other businesses as compared to 2002 increased $665 million to $3,040 million and pre-tax earnings increased $105 million to $486 million. Berkshire’s other non-insurance businesses consist of the results of numerous smaller businesses. The increase in revenues and pre-tax earnings of other businesses in 2003 was primarily due to the inclusion of the results of businesses acquired in 2002 from their respective acquisition dates (Larson-Juhl—February 8, 2002, The Pampered Chef and CTB International—both October 31, 2002).

     Equity in earnings of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company

     Earnings from MidAmerican represent Berkshire’s share of MidAmerican’s net earnings, as determined under the equity method. Earnings from MidAmerican totaled $429 million in 2003, $359 million in 2002 and $134 million in 2001. MidAmerican’s earnings increased in 2003 due to improved results in its utility businesses, the effects of the acquisition during 2002 and the subsequent expansion during 2003 of two natural gas pipelines and increased earnings from its real estate brokerage business due to acquisitions and increased transaction volume. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding Berkshire’s investments in MidAmerican.

     Purchase-Accounting Adjustments

     Purchase-accounting adjustments reflect the after-tax effect on net earnings with respect to the amortization of fair value adjustments to certain assets and liabilities recorded at various business acquisition dates. Prior to 2002, this amount also included goodwill amortization. Effective January 1, 2002, Berkshire ceased amortizing goodwill of previously acquired businesses in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142.

     Realized Investment Gains

     Realized investment gains and losses have been a recurring element in Berkshire’s net earnings for many years. Such amounts are recorded when investments are: (1) sold or disposed; (2) impaired; or (3) marked-to-market with a corresponding gain or loss included in earnings. Such amounts also include realized and unrealized gains or losses associated with certain derivatives contracts. Realized investment gains may fluctuate significantly from period to period, resulting in a meaningful effect on reported net earnings. However, the amount of realized gains in a given period has no practical analytical value, given the magnitude of unrealized gains existing in Berkshire’s consolidated investment portfolio.

29

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     Realized Investment Gains (Continued)

     The Consolidated Statements of Earnings include after-tax realized investment gains of $2,729 million in 2003, $566 million in 2002 and $923 million in 2001. These gains were net of after-tax losses of $188 million in 2003, $373 million in 2002 and $161 million in 2001 related to “other-than-temporary” impairments. Management evaluates investments for impairment as of each balance sheet date. Factors considered in determining whether an impairment charge is warranted include the length of time the unrealized loss has existed, the financial condition of the investee, future business prospects and creditworthiness of the investee, and Berkshire’s ability and intent to hold the investment until the value recovers. When an impairment charge is recorded, the cost of the investment is written down to fair value through a charge to earnings. Consequently, impairment charges from essentially all of Berkshire’s “other-than-temporarily” impaired investments produced little effect on total shareholders’ equity because these investments were already carried at fair value with the difference between fair value and cost included in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

     After-tax realized gains also included $536 million in 2003 and $193 million in 2002 of realized and unrealized gains on foreign currency forward contracts entered into during the last two years. After-tax unrealized gains included in earnings with respect to open contracts totaled $414 million as of December 31, 2003 and $193 million at December 31, 2002. The gains in each year were due primarily to the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies.

Financial Condition

     Berkshire’s balance sheet continues to reflect significant liquidity and a strong capital base. Consolidated shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2003 totaled $77.6 billion. Consolidated cash and invested assets, excluding assets of finance and financial products businesses, totaled approximately $95.6 billion at December 31, 2003, (including $31.3 billion in cash and cash equivalents) and totaled $80.5 billion at December 31, 2002. During 2003, the market prices of Berkshire’s holdings in equity and fixed maturity securities increased significantly and cash flow generated from operations was about $8.2 billion. During 2003, Berkshire deployed about $3.2 billion in internally generated cash for business acquisitions and during the preceding two years, cash of $7.3 billion was utilized in business acquisitions, and $1.7 billion was utilized for additional investments in MidAmerican.

     Berkshire’s consolidated notes payable and other borrowings, excluding borrowings of finance businesses, totaled $4.2 billion at December 31, 2003 and $4.8 billion at December 31, 2002. During 2003, commercial paper and short-term borrowings of subsidiaries declined $642 million from prepayments arising from strong operating cash flow at Shaw and utilization of excess cash by General Re. Other borrowings consist primarily of debt of subsidiaries and investment contracts issued by Berkshire.

     In May 2002, Berkshire issued the SQUARZ securities, which consist of $400 million par amount of senior notes due in November 2007 together with warrants to purchase 4,464 Class A equivalent shares of Berkshire common stock, which expire in May 2007. A warrant premium is payable to Berkshire at an annual rate of 3.75% and interest is payable to note holders at a rate of 3.00%. Each warrant provides the holder the right to purchase either 0.1116 shares of Class A or 3.348 shares of Class B stock for $10,000. In addition, holders of the senior notes have the option to require Berkshire to repurchase the senior notes at par annually each May 15 from 2004 through 2006, provided that the holders also surrender a corresponding amount of warrants for cancellation. All warrants and senior notes were outstanding as of December 31, 2003.

     Assets of the finance and financial products businesses totaled $28.3 billion at December 31, 2003 and $34.1 billion at December 31, 2002. The overall decline reflects a $6 billion decline in assets of BH Finance as a result of the liquidation of certain fixed income investments, FINOVA loan prepayments totaling $1.65 billion and a decline in assets of GRS, which is in run-off. The outstanding loan to FINOVA as of December 31, 2003 and corresponding borrowing from Fleet (each $525 million) were fully repaid in February 2004.

     As of December 31, 2003, finance assets included approximately $3.8 billion in assets of Clayton, which was acquired by Berkshire in August 2003. Clayton is a leading builder of manufactured housing, provides financing and services loans to customers, and acquires other installment loan portfolios. Prior to its acquisition, Clayton securitized and sold a significant portion of its installment loans through special purpose entities. In early 2003, Clayton discontinued loan securitizations and sales. Since being acquired by Berkshire, Clayton retained loan portfolios have increased by about $1.3 billion. Loan portfolios are expected to continue to grow over time.

     Notes payable and other borrowings of Berkshire’s finance and financial products businesses totaled $4.9 billion at December 31, 2003 and $4.5 billion at December 31, 2002. During the last four months of 2003, Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation issued a total of $2.0 billion par amount of medium term notes due from

30

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Financial Condition (Continued)

2008 through 2013. The proceeds of these issues were used to finance new and existing loans of Clayton. The medium term notes are guaranteed by Berkshire. Additional borrowings are expected in the future as retained loan portfolios continue to increase.

     Berkshire believes that it currently maintains sufficient liquidity to cover its existing requirements and provide for contingent liquidity.

Contractual Obligations

     Berkshire and its subsidiaries have contractual obligations associated with ongoing business and financing activities, which will result in cash payments in future periods. Certain of those obligations, such as notes payable and other borrowings and related interest payments, are reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, Berkshire and subsidiaries have entered into long-term contracts to acquire goods or services in the future, which are not currently reflected in the financial statements and will be reflected in future periods as the goods are delivered or services provided. A summary of contractual obligations follows. Amounts are in millions.

(1)		Includes interest
(2)		Principally relates to NetJets aircraft purchases
(3)		Principally employee benefits and deferred compensation

Critical Accounting Policies

     In applying certain accounting policies, Berkshire’s management is required to make estimates and judgments regarding transactions that have occurred and ultimately will be settled several years in the future. Amounts recognized in the financial statements from such estimates are necessarily based on assumptions about numerous factors involving varying, and possibly significant, degrees of judgment and uncertainty. Accordingly, the amounts currently recorded in the financial statements may prove, with the benefit of hindsight, to be inaccurate. The balance sheet items most significantly affected by these estimates are property and casualty insurance and reinsurance related liabilities.

     Berkshire records liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses under property and casualty insurance and reinsurance contracts based upon estimates of the ultimate amounts payable under the contracts related to losses occurring on or before the balance sheet date. Berkshire uses a variety of techniques to establish and review the liabilities for unpaid losses recorded as of the balance sheet date. While techniques may vary, significant judgments and assumptions are necessary in projecting the ultimate amount payable in the future with respect to loss events that have occurred as of the balance sheet date.

     Reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses are established by policy type (or line) or individual coverage within the policy type. Reserves may consist of individual case estimates, supplemental case estimates, development estimates and incurred-but-not-reported (“IBNR”) claim estimates. Once reported, certain casualty claims may take years to settle, especially if legal action is involved. Liabilities may also reflect implicit or explicit assumptions regarding the potential effects of future economic and social inflation, judicial decisions, law changes, and recent trends in such factors.

     Berkshire uses a variety of techniques as tools in establishing and evaluating aggregate reserve amounts. Techniques used vary within each business depending upon the availability of reliable information. Statistical techniques may include detailed analysis of historical amounts of losses incurred or paid, claim frequency and severity data, average paid or incurred loss data, closed claim data, paid or incurred loss ratios or other measurements. Statistical techniques are more reliable when a sufficient volume of historical loss information exists. Significant changes to policy terms or coverages or in volumes of business written (and, therefore, loss exposures), or changes in the insurance laws or legal environment can cause historical statistical data to be less reliable in projecting the ultimate amount of losses as of the balance sheet date. Statistical analysis may be based

31

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Critical Accounting Policies (Continued)

upon internally developed loss experience, the experience of individual clients or groups of clients, or overall industry-wide experience. Reserving techniques are based more upon informed judgment when statistical data is insufficient or unavailable. Management must make judgments regardless of the techniques used.

     As of any balance sheet date, all claims that have occurred have not yet been reported to Berkshire, and if reported may not have been settled. The time period between the occurrence of a loss and the time it is settled by the insurer or reinsurer is referred to as the “claim-tail.” Property claims usually have a fairly short claim-tail and, absent claim litigation, are reported and settled within no more than a few years of the balance sheet date. Casualty losses, on the other hand, can have a very long claim-tail, occasionally extending for decades. In addition, casualty claims are more susceptible to litigation and can be significantly affected by changing contract interpretations and to the legal environment, which contributes to the extended claim-tail. The claim-tail for reinsurers is further extended due to delayed reporting by ceding insurers or reinsurers due to contractual provisions or reporting practices.

     The process of establishing reserves for losses assumed under reinsurance contracts requires additional estimation and judgments by management. Loss reserve estimates are based primarily on claims reported by ceding companies (such amounts generally exclude IBNR claim estimates), analysis of historical claim reporting patterns of ceding companies, and estimates of expected overall loss amounts. Techniques for estimating facultative (or individual) reinsurance losses can be similar to those techniques used by primary insurers and subject to the same caveats. In estimating losses assumed under treaty reinsurance (groups of losses), claim frequency or count analyses may not be used because such data is either not provided by ceding companies or otherwise not timely or reliable. Loss reserves established by line of business and type of coverage are regularly re-evaluated with appropriate adjustments being made to bring reserves in line with the revised estimates.

     IBNR reserves are largely comprised of casualty exposures, which include workers’ compensation losses. These claims tend to be reported by and settled with ceding companies over long time periods. Therefore, such claims are subject to a higher degree of estimation error as a result of changes in the legal environment, jury awards, medical cost trends and general cost inflation. Based upon statistical analysis of past reporting trends, Berkshire estimates how much IBNR is required to cover claims that will be reported by ceding companies in future years. Subsequently, as claims are reported, amounts are measured against previous expectations, with variances (positive or negative) recognized in earnings as a component of losses and loss adjustment expenses. Significant variances between expected claims and reported claims are analyzed and considered when revising estimates for remaining IBNR reserve levels.

     Due to the inherent uncertainties in the processes and judgments used in establishing reserves, and because expected losses are an input in establishing premium rates for new policies, Berkshire’s management believes it is appropriate to establish reserve levels using a reasonable level of caution, especially with respect to casualty claims.

     Receivables recorded with respect to insurance losses ceded to other reinsurers under reinsurance contracts are estimated in a manner similar to liabilities for insurance losses and, therefore, are also subject to estimation error. In addition to the factors cited above, reinsurance recoverables may ultimately prove to be uncollectible if the reinsurer is unable to perform under the contract. Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the ceding company of its obligations to indemnify its own policyholders.

     A summary of Berkshire’s consolidated liabilities for unpaid property and casualty losses are in the table below. The amount of losses recorded in each of the past two years relating to prior years’ loss occurrences is expressed as a percentage of total net premiums earned as well as a percentage of the net reserve balance established as of the beginning of the year. Dollars are in millions.