BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC. 

NEWS RELEASE 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  May 23, 2005 

 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Commences Registered Exchange Offers 

 

Business Editors 

 

OMAHA, NE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2005—Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire”) and 

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (“BHFC”) today announced that they have commenced 

three separate registered exchange offers.  The first is an offer to exchange up to $1,250,000,000 of 

BHFC’s newly registered Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2008 (the “2008 Exchange Notes”), for 

an equal amount of its privately placed Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2008 (the “2008 Original 

Notes”).  The second is an offer to exchange up to $1,500,000,000 of BHFC’s newly registered 

4.125% Senior Notes due 2010 (the “2010 Exchange Notes”), for an equal amount of its privately 

placed 4.125% Senior Notes due 2010 (the “2010 Original Notes”).  The third is an offer to 

exchange up to $1,000,000,000 of BHFC’s newly registered 4.85% Senior Notes due 2015 (the 

“2015 Exchange Notes” and together with the 2008 Exchange Notes and the 2010 Exchange Notes, 

the “Exchange Notes”), for an equal amount of its privately placed 4.85% Senior Notes due 2015 

(the “2015 Original Notes” and together with the 2008 Original Notes and the 2010 Original Notes, 

the “Original Notes”).  The Exchange Notes are substantially identical to the Original Notes, except 

that the Exchange Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and 

will not bear any legend restricting their transfer. 

 

Berkshire and BHFC will accept for exchange any and all Original Notes validly tendered and not 

withdrawn prior to the expiration of the exchange offers at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on June 

20, 2005, unless extended. 

 

The terms of the exchange offers and other information relating to Berkshire and BHFC are set 

forth in prospectuses dated May 23, 2005.  Copies of the prospectuses and the related letters of 

transmittal may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, which is 

serving as the exchange agent for each of the exchange offers.  J.P. Morgan Trust Company, 

National Association’s address, telephone and facsimile number are as follows: 

 

J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association 

Institutional Trust Services 

Attn: Frank Ivins 

2001 Bryan Street 

9th Floor 

Dallas, TX 75201 

Investor Relations: 1-800-275-2048 

Fax Confirmation: 214-468-6494 

 

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange the 

Exchange Notes or the Original Notes.  The exchange offers are made solely pursuant to the 

prospectuses dated May 23, 2005, including any supplements thereto. 

 

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