Business Combination Disclosure Business Combination Disclosure (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Business Acquisition

BHE GT&S Acquisition

Transaction Description

On November 1, 2020, BHE completed its acquisition of substantially all of the natural gas transmission and storage business of Dominion Energy, Inc. ("DEI") and Dominion Energy Questar Corporation ("Dominion Questar"), exclusive of Dominion Energy Questar Pipeline, LLC and related entities (the "Questar Pipeline Group") (the "GT&S Transaction"). Under the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated July 3, 2020 (the "GT&S Purchase Agreement"), BHE paid approximately $2.5 billion in cash, after post-closing adjustments (the "GT&S Cash Consideration"), and assumed approximately $5.6 billion of existing indebtedness for borrowed money, including fair value adjustments, for 100% of the equity interests of Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage, Inc. ("EGTS") (formerly known as Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc.) and Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC (formerly known as Dominion Energy Carolina Gas Transmission, LLC); 50% of the equity interests of Iroquois Gas Transmission System L.P. ("Iroquois"); and a 25% economic interest in Cove Point LNG, LP ("Cove Point") (formerly known as Dominion Energy Cove Point LNG, LP), consisting of 100% of the general partnership interest and 25% of the total limited partnership interests. BHE became the operator of Cove Point after the GT&S Transaction. The GT&S Transaction received clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended ("HSR Approval") in October 2020, and approval by the Department of Energy with respect to a change in control of Cove Point and the Federal Communications Commission with respect to the transfer of certain licenses earlier in 2020.

On October 5, 2020, DEI and Dominion Questar, as permitted under the terms of the GT&S Purchase Agreement, delivered notice to BHE of their election to terminate the GT&S Transaction with respect to the Questar Pipeline Group and, in connection with the execution of the Q-Pipe Purchase Agreement referenced below, to waive the related termination fee under the GT&S Purchase Agreement. Also on October 5, 2020, BHE entered into a second Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Q-Pipe Purchase Agreement") with Dominion Questar providing for BHE's purchase of the Questar Pipeline Group from Dominion Questar (the "Q-Pipe Transaction") after receipt of HSR Approval, which is currently anticipated in the first half of 2021, for a cash purchase price of approximately $1.3 billion (the "Q-Pipe Cash Consideration"), subject to adjustment for cash and indebtedness as of the closing, and the assumption of approximately $430 million of existing indebtedness for borrowed money. DEI is also a party to the Q-Pipe Purchase Agreement, as guarantor for certain provisions regarding the Purchase Price Repayment Amount (as defined below) and other matters.

Under the Q-Pipe Purchase Agreement, BHE delivered the Q-Pipe Cash Consideration of approximately $1.3 billion, which is included in other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, to Dominion Questar on November 2, 2020. If the Q-Pipe Transaction does not close, Dominion Questar has agreed to repay all or (depending on the repayment date) substantially all of the Q-Pipe Cash Consideration (the "Purchase Price Repayment Amount") to BHE on or prior to December 31, 2021. If HSR Approval has not been obtained by June 30, 2021, upon BHE's written request, Dominion Questar will seek alternative buyers for all or a material portion of the Questar Pipeline Group (an "Alternative Transaction"). The Purchase Price Repayment Amount may be paid in cash or in shares of common stock, no par value, of DEI, or a combination thereof, subject to certain limitations as to stock repayments set forth in the Q-Pipe Purchase Agreement; provided any payment on or after December 15, 2021 must be paid in cash only.

The assets acquired in the GT&S Transaction include (i) approximately 5,400 miles of operated natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipelines with approximately 12.5 billion cubic feet ("Bcf") per day of design capacity; (ii) 420 Bcf of operated natural gas storage design capacity, of which 306 Bcf is owned by BHE GT&S; and (iii) an LNG export, import and storage facility with LNG storage capacity of approximately 14.6 billions of cubic feet equivalent.

On October 29, 2020, BHE issued $3.75 billion of its 4.00% Perpetual Preferred Stock to certain subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in order to fund the GT&S Cash Consideration and the Q-Pipe Cash Consideration.

Included in BHE's Consolidated Statement of Operations within the BHE Pipeline Group reportable segment for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021, is operating revenue and net income attributable to BHE shareholders of $559 million and $107 million, respectively, as a result of including BHE GT&S from November 1, 2020.

Preliminary Allocation of Purchase Price

BHE GT&S' assets acquired and liabilities assumed were measured at estimated fair value at closing. The majority of BHE GT&S' operations are subject to the rate-setting authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") and are accounted for pursuant to GAAP, including the authoritative guidance for regulated operations. The rate-setting and cost-recovery provisions provide for revenues derived from costs, including a return on investment of assets and liabilities included in rate base. As such, the fair value of BHE GT&S' assets acquired and liabilities assumed subject to these rate-setting provisions are assumed to approximate their carrying values and, therefore, no fair value adjustments have been reflected related to these amounts.

The fair value of BHE GT&S' assets acquired and liabilities assumed not subject to the rate-setting provisions discussed above was determined using an income and cost approach. The income approach is based on significant estimates and assumptions, including Level 3 inputs, which are judgmental in nature. The estimates and assumptions include the projected timing and amount of future cash flows, discount rates reflecting the risk inherent in the future cash flows and future market prices. Additionally, the fair value of long-term debt assumed was determined based on quoted market prices, which is considered a Level 2 fair value measurement.

The fair value of certain contracts and property, plant and equipment related to non-regulated operations, certain regulatory assets and other items included in rate base, an equity method investment and deferred income tax amounts are provisional and are subject to revision for up to 12 months following the acquisition date until the related valuations are completed. These items may be adjusted through regulatory assets or liabilities, to the extent recoverable in rates, or goodwill provided additional information is obtained about the facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date. Such information includes, but is not limited to, the receipt of further information regarding the fair value of the contracts and property, plant and equipment related to non-regulated operations, the equity method investment and any associated deferred income tax amounts as well as the evolution of the rate-making process for regulated operations.

The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date (in millions):


	Fair Value

Current assets, including cash and cash equivalents of $104	$	569
Property, plant and equipment	9,254
Goodwill	1,732
Regulatory assets	108
Deferred income taxes	275
Other long-term assets	1,424
Total assets	13,362

Current liabilities, including current portion of long-term debt of $1,200	1,567
Long-term debt, less current portion	4,415
Regulatory liabilities	661
Other long-term liabilities	289
Total liabilities	6,932
Noncontrolling interest	3,916
Net assets acquired	$	2,514

Goodwill

The excess of the purchase price paid over the estimated fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed totaled $1.7 billion and is reflected as goodwill in the BHE Pipeline Group reportable segment. The goodwill reflects the value paid primarily for the long-term opportunity to improve operating results through the efficient management of operating expenses and the deployment of capital. Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist. For income tax purposes, the GT&S Acquisition is treated as a deemed asset acquisition resulting from tax elections being made, therefore all tax goodwill is deductible. Due to book and tax basis differences of certain items, book and tax goodwill will differ. The amount of tax goodwill is approximately $0.9 billion and will be amortized over 15 years.

Pro Forma Financial Information

The following unaudited pro forma financial information reflects the consolidated results of operations of BHE and the amortization of the purchase price adjustments assuming the acquisition had taken place on January 1, 2019, excluding non-recurring transaction costs incurred by BHE during 2020 (in millions):


	Three-Month Period
	Ended March 31, 2020

Operating revenue	$	5,056

Net income attributable to BHE shareholders	$	773