Berkshire Hathaway Inc. News Release.OMAHA Omaha, city, United States Omaha (ō`məhä, –hô), city (1990 pop. 335,795), seat of Douglas co., E Nebr., on the west bank of the Missouri River; inc. 1857. , Neb. -- (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :BRK BRK Break BRK Broken (meteorological, cloud cover) BRK Bayerisches Rotes Kreuz (Bavarian Red Cross) BRK Berkshire Hathaway (stock symbol) BRK Brick .A)(NYSE:BRK.B)- Berkshire's operating results for the first quarter of 2007 are summarized in the following paragraphs. However, we urge investors and reporters to read our 10-Q, which has been posted at www.berkshirehathaway.com. The limited information that follows in this press release is not adequate for making an informed investment judgment. Earnings of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries for the first quarters ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 are summarized below. Earnings are stated on an after-tax basis After-tax basis The comparison basis used to analyze the net after-tax returns on a corporate taxable bond and a municipal tax-free bond. . (Dollar amounts are in millions, except for per share amounts). [TABLE OMITTED] In our earnings summary, we distinguish between what we call "operating earnings Operating Earnings Profits after subtracting expenses such as marketing, cost of goods sold, administration and general operating costs from revenue. Notes: Tax and interest expenses are not subtracted - operating earnings are synonymous with EBIT (earnings before " and investment and derivative gains/losses. Berkshire possesses a huge reservoir (about $32.9 billion on March 31, 2007) of pre-tax unrealized investment gains. The cashing of these in any given quarter (or the realization of losses, for that matter) can materially distort net income figures as well as comparisons between periods. We do not wish investors to mistakenly focus on a bottom-line number affected by large investment gains that do not stem from economic accomplishments during the reporting period and that have no concurrent impact on the intrinsic value of the company. Both trends in our operating businesses and their health are best judged by income before investment gains or losses. Berkshire Hathaway and its subsidiaries engage in diverse business activities including property and casualty insurance and reinsurance The contract made between an insurance company and a third party to protect the insurance company from losses. The contract provides for the third party to pay for the loss sustained by the insurance company when the company makes a payment on the original contract. , utilities and energy, finance, manufacturing, retailing and services. Common stock of the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) World's largest marketplace for securities. The exchange began as an informal meeting of 24 men in 1792 on what is now Wall Street in New York City. , trading symbols BRK.A and BRK.B. Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those forecasted. Comment on Regulation G This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliations of such measures to the most comparable GAAP GAAP See: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles GAAP See generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). figures in accordance with Regulation G are included herein. Berkshire presents its results in the way it believes will be most meaningful and useful, as well as most transparent, to the investing public and others who use Berkshire's financial information. That presentation includes the use of certain non-GAAP financial measures. In addition to the GAAP presentations of net earnings, Berkshire shows operating earnings defined as net earnings exclusive of investment and derivative gains/losses. Although the investment of insurance and reinsurance premiums to generate investment income and investment gains or losses is an integral part of Berkshire's operations, the generation of investment gains or losses is independent of the insurance underwriting process. Moreover, under applicable GAAP accounting requirements, losses can be created as the result of other-than-temporary declines in value without actual realization or when certain types of investments are marked-to-market through earnings. In sum, investment and derivative gains/losses for any particular period are not indicative of quarterly business performance. |
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