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Notes payable and other borrowings
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
Notes payable and other borrowings

Note 16. Notes payable and other borrowings

Notes payable and other borrowings are summarized below (in millions). The weighted average interest rates and maturity date ranges shown in the following tables are based on borrowings as of September 30, 2016.

 

     Weighted
Average
 Interest Rate 
     September 30, 
2016
      December 31, 
2015
 

Insurance and other:

    

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (“Berkshire”) due 2016-2047

     2.2%       $ 18,108              $ 9,799       

Short-term subsidiary borrowings

     2.2%        2,019               1,989       

Other subsidiary borrowings due 2016-2044

     4.0%        7,387               2,811       
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 27,514              $ 14,599       
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

On January 8, 2016, Berkshire entered into a $10 billion 364-day revolving credit agreement. In connection with the PCC acquisition, Berkshire borrowed $10 billion under the credit agreement. In March 2016, Berkshire issued €2.75 billion in senior unsecured notes consisting of €1.0 billion of 0.50% notes due in 2020, €1.0 billion of 1.30% notes due in 2024 and €750 million of 2.15% notes due in 2028. Berkshire also issued $5.5 billion in senior unsecured notes consisting of $1.0 billion of 2.20% notes due in 2021, $2.0 billion of 2.75% notes due in 2023 and $2.5 billion of 3.125% notes due in 2026. The proceeds from these debt issues were used in the repayment of all outstanding borrowings under the aforementioned credit agreement. In June 2016, the revolving credit agreement was terminated. In August 2016, Berkshire issued $750 million in senior unsecured notes consisting of $500 million of 1.15% notes due in 2018 and $250 million of floating rate notes due in 2018, to replace $750 million of maturing debt. Other subsidiary borrowings at September 30, 2016 included $4.7 billion attributable to PCC.

 

     Weighted
Average
  Interest Rate  
     September 30, 
2016
      December 31, 
2015
 

Railroad, utilities and energy:

    

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Company (“BHE”) and its subsidiaries:

    

BHE senior unsecured debt due 2017-2045

     5.1%       $ 7,817              $ 7,814       

Subsidiary and other debt due 2016-2064

     4.7%        28,828               28,188       

Burlington Northern Santa Fe (“BNSF”) due 2016-2097

     4.8%        22,166               21,737       
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 58,811              $ 57,739       
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

BHE subsidiary debt represents amounts issued pursuant to separate financing agreements. Substantially all of the assets of certain BHE subsidiaries are, or may be, pledged or encumbered to support or otherwise secure debt. These borrowing arrangements generally contain various covenants including, but not limited to, leverage ratios, interest coverage ratios and debt service coverage ratios. BNSF’s borrowings are primarily senior unsecured debentures. In May 2016, BNSF issued $750 million of 3.9% debentures due in 2046. As of September 30, 2016, BNSF and BHE and their subsidiaries were in compliance with all applicable debt covenants. Berkshire does not guarantee any debt, borrowings or lines of credit of BNSF, BHE or their subsidiaries.

 

     Weighted
Average
 Interest Rate 
   September 30, 
2016
      December 31, 
2015
 

Finance and financial products:

    

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corporation (“BHFC”) due 2017-2043

   2.5%    $ 14,421             $ 10,679       

Other subsidiary borrowings due 2016-2036

   5.0%     1,052              1,272       
    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 15,473             $ 11,951       
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In March 2016, BHFC issued $3.5 billion of senior notes consisting of $750 million of 1.45% notes due in 2018, $1.0 billion of floating rate notes due in 2018, $1.25 billion of 1.70% notes due in 2019 and $500 million of floating rate notes due in 2019. In August 2016, BHFC issued $1.25 billion of senior notes consisting of $1 billion of 1.30% notes due in 2019 and $250 million of floating rate notes due in 2019, primarily to replace $1 billion of maturing debt. The borrowings of BHFC, a wholly owned finance subsidiary of Berkshire, are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Berkshire.

As of September 30, 2016, our subsidiaries also had unused lines of credit and commercial paper capacity aggregating approximately $8.2 billion to support short-term borrowing programs and provide additional liquidity. Such unused lines of credit included about $4.0 billion related to BHE and its subsidiaries. In addition to BHFC’s borrowings, Berkshire guarantees certain other subsidiary borrowings, which aggregated approximately $3.2 billion at September 30, 2016. Generally, Berkshire’s guarantee of a subsidiary’s debt obligation is an absolute, unconditional and irrevocable guarantee for the full and prompt payment when due of all present and future payment obligations.