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Investments in equity securities
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]  
Investments in equity securities

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(4)

Investments in equity securities

Investments in equity securities as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are summarized based on the primary industry of the investee in the table below (in millions).

 

 

 

Cost

Basis

 

 

Net

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Fair

Value

 

December 31, 2020 *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banks, insurance and finance

 

$

26,312

 

 

$

40,167

 

 

$

66,479

 

Consumer products

 

 

34,747

 

 

 

111,583

 

 

 

146,330

 

Commercial, industrial and other

 

 

47,561

 

 

 

20,800

 

 

 

68,361

 

 

 

$

108,620

 

 

$

172,550

 

 

$

281,170

 

 

*

Approximately 68% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in four companies (American Express Company – $18.3 billion; Apple Inc. – $120.4 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $31.3 billion and The Coca-Cola Company – $21.9 billion).

 

 

 

Cost

Basis

 

 

Net

Unrealized

Gains

 

 

Fair

Value

 

December 31, 2019 *

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Banks, insurance and finance

 

$

40,419

 

 

$

61,976

 

 

$

102,395

 

Consumer products

 

 

38,887

 

 

 

60,747

 

 

 

99,634

 

Commercial, industrial and other

 

 

31,034

 

 

 

14,964

 

 

 

45,998

 

 

 

$

110,340

 

 

$

137,687

 

 

$

248,027

 

 

*

Approximately 60% of the aggregate fair value was concentrated in four companies (American Express Company – $18.9 billion; Apple Inc. – $73.7 billion; Bank of America Corporation – $33.4 billion and The Coca-Cola Company – $22.1 billion).

On August 8, 2019, Berkshire invested a total of $10 billion in Occidental Corporation (“Occidental”) newly issued Occidental Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock with an aggregate liquidation value of $10 billion and warrants to purchase up to 80 million shares of Occidental common stock at an exercise price of $62.50 per share. In accordance with the terms of the warrants, on August 3, 2020, the number of shares of common stock that can be purchased was increased to 83.86 million shares and the exercise price was reduced to $59.62 per share. The preferred stock accrues dividends at 8% per annum and is redeemable at the option of Occidental commencing in 2029 at a redemption price equal to 105% of the liquidation preference plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends, or is mandatorily redeemable under certain specified capital return events. Dividends on the preferred stock may be paid in cash or, at Occidental’s option, in shares of Occidental common stock. The warrants are exercisable in whole or in part until one year after the redemption of the preferred stock. Our investments in Occidental are included in the commercial, industrial and other category in the preceding tables.