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Significant business acquisitions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Business Combinations [Abstract] |
Significant business acquisitions | (2) Significant business acquisitions Our long-held acquisition strategy is to acquire businesses that have consistent earning power, good returns on equity and able and honest management. Financial results attributable to business acquisitions are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements beginning on their respective acquisition dates. On January 31, 2023, we acquired an additional 41.4% interest in Pilot Travel Centers, LLC (“PTC”) for approximately $8.2 billion. The acquisition increased our interest to 80%, representing a controlling interest in PTC for financial reporting purposes as of that date. We began consolidating PTC’s financial statements in our Consolidated Financial Statements on February 1, 2023. Since PTC’s most significant business activities involve purchasing and selling fuel (energy) on a wholesale and retail basis, and other energy-related businesses, we include PTC within the railroad, utilities and energy sections of our Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Earnings beginning February 1, 2023. We previously owned a 38.6% interest in PTC, which we accounted for under the equity method through the end of January 2023. PTC operates more than 650 travel center and 75 fuel-only locations across 44 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces, primarily under the names Pilot or Flying J, as well as large wholesale fuel and fuel marketing businesses in the U.S. PTC also sells diesel fuel at other locations in the U.S. and Canada through various arrangements with third party travel centers and operates a water disposal business in the oil fields sector. PTC’s revenues and net earnings attributable to Berkshire shareholders for the eleven months ending December 31, 2023 were $51.7 billion and $603 million, respectively. In applying the acquisition method of accounting, we remeasured our previously held 38.6% investment in PTC to fair value and recognized a one-time, non-cash remeasurement gain of approximately $3.0 billion, representing the excess of the fair value of that interest over the carrying value under the equity method. In addition, we valued the noncontrolling interests at fair value as of January 31, 2023. Pilot Corporation, the holder of the remaining noncontrolling interests in PTC, had an annual option to require us to redeem for cash all or a portion of its interests beginning in 2024. The redemption price was to be based on a multiple of PTC’s earnings for the preceding year, with specified other adjustments, including the amount of PTC’s net debt. Pilot Corporation filed a lawsuit against Berkshire during the fourth quarter of 2023 concerning the application of certain terms underlying the formula for calculating the purchase price to be paid upon exercise of the option. Subsequently, Berkshire filed a counterclaim against Pilot Corporation. All litigation between Pilot Corporation and Berkshire was settled in January 2024, and we acquired Pilot Corporation’s noncontrolling interest in PTC for $2.6 billion, increasing our interest in PTC to 100%. A summary of the values of PTC’s assets acquired, liabilities assumed and redeemable noncontrolling interests as of January 31, 2023 are summarized as follows (in millions). Goodwill from this acquisition is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
Assets acquired |  |  | Liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests |
Property, plant and equipment | $ | 8,015 |  | Notes payable | $ | 5,876 |
Goodwill |  | 6,605 |  | Other liabilities |  | 4,918 |
Other intangible assets |  | 6,853 |  |  |  |
Other assets |  | 7,047 |  | Liabilities assumed |  | 10,794 |
|  |  | Noncontrolling interests, predominantly redeemable |  | 3,361 |
Assets acquired | $ | 28,520 |  | Liabilities assumed and noncontrolling interests | $ | 14,155 |
Net assets | $ | 14,365 |  |  |  |
On October 19, 2022, Berkshire acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Alleghany Corporation (“Alleghany”) for $11.5 billion. Alleghany operates property and casualty reinsurance and insurance businesses and owns several non-financial businesses. Goodwill arising from Berkshire’s acquisition is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. A summary of the values of the Alleghany assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of October 19, 2022 follows (in millions).
Assets acquired |  |  | Liabilities assumed |
Cash, cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury Bills | $ | 3,762 |  | Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses | $ | 15,080 |
Investments in fixed maturity and equity securities |  | 15,982 |  | Unearned premiums |  | 3,536 |
Loans, receivables and other assets |  | 9,287 |  | Notes payable |  | 2,169 |
Goodwill |  | 3,900 |  | Other liabilities |  | 3,300 |
Other intangible assets |  | 2,659 |  |  |  |
Assets acquired | $ | 35,590 |  | Liabilities assumed | $ | 24,085 |
Net assets | $ | 11,505 |  |  |  |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (2) Significant business acquisitions Certain unaudited pro forma revenue and consolidated earnings (loss) data for the year ended December 31, 2022 as if the Alleghany and PTC acquisitions were completed on the same terms at the beginning of 2022 follows (in millions, except per share amounts).
| 2022 |
Revenues | $ | 383,115 |
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders |  | (23,947 | )
Net earnings (loss) per equivalent Class A common share |  | (16,303 | )
On September 1, 2023, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy (“BHE”) subsidiary acquired an additional 50% limited partner interest in Cove Point LNG, LP (“Cove Point”) for $3.3 billion, which increased our economic interest from 25% to 75%. Prior to the transaction, we also owned 100% of the general partner interests. We previously treated Cove Point as a consolidated subsidiary for financial reporting purposes because we concluded we have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect Cove Point, as well as the obligation to absorb losses and benefits that could be significant to Cove Point. Accordingly, the interest acquired in the third quarter was an acquisition of a noncontrolling interest. We recorded a ch arge based on Berkshire’s ownership percentage of BHE of $667 million to capital in excess of par for the excess of the consideration paid over the carrying value of the noncontrolling interest acquired and deferred income tax assets arising from the transaction.

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