Fitch Rates Berkshire Hathaway Corp's Senior Debt Issue 'A+'

Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'A+' rating to the $2.6 billion of senior unsecured notes issued by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK).

The issuance consists of the following: $300 million of 0.8% notes maturing in 2016, $800 million of 1.55% notes maturing in 2018, $500 million of 3% notes maturing in 2022 and $1 billion of 4.5% notes maturing in 2043. Proceeds from the senior notes are to be used to redeem $2.6 billion in senior unsecured notes maturing on Feb. 11, 2013, and consequently financial leverage ratios will not change.

Fitch's ratings on BRK are supported by extremely strong capitalization and market position of its insurance subsidiaries, solid operating performance with good diversification across business lines and excellent financial flexibility and liquidity.

Also considered in the ratings are material risk exposures related to an above-average investment allocation to common stocks, a substantial position in equity derivatives, insured natural catastrophe exposures, and various issues associated with the company's acquisition strategy and succession planning.

Fitch's assessment of the organization's financial leverage includes debt issued by the organization's ultimate holding company, debt issued by insurance holding company subsidiaries, and debt issued by the company's finance segment subsidiaries that is guaranteed by BRK. Following this approach, debt-to-total capital and debt-to-tangible capital ratios were moderate at 19% and 25%, respectively, at Sept. 30, 2012. Debt from BRK's utilities and railroad operations are expected to be self-funding and are excluded from the calculation. On a consolidated basis, debt-to-total capital was 25% as of Sept. 30, 2012.

Consolidated operating interest coverage for the first nine months of 2012 was greater than 8x, which is more consistent with companies in the next lower rating category. Fitch's expectations for companies at BRK's rating level include median interest coverage of 12x. Somewhat offsetting this is approximately $42 billion of cash and equivalents at the holding company and insurance operating companies at Sept. 30, 2012. Debt in BRK's capital structure funds widely different activities, and it is this blended picture that is below Fitch's expectations relative to insurance company peers.

SENSITIVITY/RATING DRIVERS

Key rating triggers that could lead to a future downgrade include:

--Deterioration in the credit quality of key insurance subsidiaries (National Indemnity, GenRe, and GEICO) that is no longer consistent with the current 'AA+' rating. Measures of credit quality include Fitch's judgment of capitalization, a total financing and commitments ratio greater than 1.5x, net leverage (excluding affiliated investments) over 3.5x or a sharp and persistent reduction in underwriting profits;

--A run-rate debt-to-tangible capital ratio from the holding company, insurance and finance operations (including debt issued or guaranteed by the holding company) that exceeds 30%;

--Material increases in leveraged equity market exposure such as its equity index put derivative portfolio;

--Acquisitions or other actions that reduce outstanding cash below $10 billion or approximately 5x consolidated interest expense.

Key rating triggers that could lead to an upgrade include:

--A commitment to lower debt-to-tangible capital ratios attributed to the holding company, insurance and finance operations. Fitch believes that this would likely require the scaling back of the finance operations.

Fitch has assigned the following ratings:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

--$300 million 0.8% senior notes due May 2016 'A+';

--$800 million 1.55% senior notes due May 2018 'A+';

--$500 million 3.0% senior notes due May 2023 'A+';

--$1 billion 4.5% senior notes due May 2043 'A+'.

Fitch took no action on the following ratings:

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

--Issuer Default Rating (IDR) 'AA-'.

--$1.2 billion floating rate senior notes due Feb. 2013 'A+';

--$1.4 billion 2.125% senior notes due Feb. 2013 'A+';

--$750 million floating rate senior notes due Aug. 2014 'A+';

--$1.7 billion 3.20% senior notes Feb. 2015 'A+';

--$750 million 2.20% senior notes due Aug. 2016 'A+';

--$1.1 billion 1.9% senior notes due Jan. 2017 'A+';

--$500 million 3.75% senior notes due Aug. 2021 'A+';

--$600 million 3.40% senior notes due Jan. 2022 'A+'.

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (BHFC)

--IDR 'AA-';

--$1 billion 4.6% notes due May 2013 'A+';

--$1 billion 5.0% notes due Aug. 2013 'A+';

--$950 million 4.625% notes due Oct. 2013 'A+';

--$375 million floating rate senior notes due Jan. 2014 'A+'

--$375 million 1.50% senior notes due Jan. 2014 'A+';

--$400 million 5.1% notes due July 2014 'A+';

--$1 billion 4.85% notes due Jan. 2015 'A+';

--$500 million 2.45% senior notes due Dec. 2015 'A+';

--$1,350 million 1.6% senior notes due May 2017 'A+';

--$1.25 billion 5.4% notes due May 2018 'A+';

--$750 million 4.25% senior notes due Jan. 2021 'A+';

--$775 million 3.0% senior notes due May 2022 'A+';

--$750 million 5.750% senior notes due Jan. 2040 'A+'

--$500 million 4.4% senior notes due May 2042 at 'A+'.

GEICO Corporation

--IDR 'AA-';

--$150 million 7.4% senior notes due July 15, 2023 'A+'.

General Re Corporation

--IDR 'AA-'.

--$500 million commercial paper program 'F1+';

--Short-term IDR 'F1+'.

Fitch did not take a rating action on the following insurance subsidiaries that currently carry an 'AA+' Insurer Financial Strength:

--Government Employers Insurance Company;

--General Reinsurance Corporation;

--General Star Indemnity Company;

--General Star National Insurance Company;

--Genesis Insurance Company;

--National Indemnity Company;

--Columbia Insurance Company;

--National Fire and Marine Insurance Company;

--National Liability and Fire Insurance Company;

--National Indemnity Company of the South;

--National Indemnity Company of Mid-America;

--Wesco Financial Insurance Company.

Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'. Although BRK's General Reinsurance Corp. subsidiary participated directly in the rating process, BRK did not participate other than through the medium of its public disclosure. The ratings above were unsolicited and have been provided by Fitch as a service to investors.

Applicable Criteria & Related Research:

--'Insurance Rating Methodology' (Oct. 18, 2012).

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Insurance Rating Methodology - Amended

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=698731

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