Note 16. Common stock

Changes in issued and outstanding Berkshire common stock during the first six months of 2011 are shown in the table below.

	Class A, $5 Par Value		Class B, $0.0033 Par Value
	(1,650,000 shares authorized) Shares Issued and Outstanding		(3,225,000,000 shares authorized) Shares Issued and Outstanding
Balance at December 31, 2010	947,460		1,050,990,468
Shares issued to acquire noncontrolling interests of Wesco Financial Corporation	—		3,253,472
Conversions of Class A common stock to Class B common stock and exercises of replacement stock options issued in the BNSF acquisition	(6,698	)	11,522,505
Balance at June 30, 2011	940,762		1,065,766,445

Class B common stock possesses dividend and distribution rights equal to one-fifteen-hundredth (1/1,500) of such rights of Class A common stock. Each Class A common share is entitled to one vote per share. Each Class B common share possesses voting rights equivalent to one-ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of the voting rights of a Class A share. Unless otherwise required under Delaware General Corporation Law, Class A and Class B common shares vote as a single class. Each share of Class A common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into 1,500 shares of Class B common stock. Class B common stock is not convertible into Class A common stock.

On an equivalent Class A common stock basis, there were 1,651,273 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2011 and 1,648,120 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2010. In addition to our common stock, 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock are authorized, but none of which are issued and outstanding.