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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)
(1) Significant accounting policies and practices (Continued)
(n) Insurance policy acquisition costs
With regards to insurance policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2012, incremental costs that are directly
related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal of insurance contracts are capitalized, subject to ultimate
recoverability, and are subsequently amortized to underwriting expenses as the related premiums are earned. Direct
incremental acquisition costs include commissions, premium taxes, and certain other costs associated with successful
efforts. All other underwriting costs are expensed as incurred. Prior to January 1, 2012, in addition to these direct
incremental costs, capitalized costs also included certain advertising and other costs that are no longer eligible to be
capitalized. The recoverability of capitalized insurance policy acquisition costs generally reflects anticipation of
investment income. The unamortized balances are included in other assets and were $1,601 million and $1,682 million
at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(p) Regulated utilities and energy businesses
Certain domestic energy subsidiaries prepare their financial statements in accordance with authoritative guidance for
regulated operations, reflecting the economic effects of regulation from the ability to recover certain costs from
customers and the requirement to return revenues to customers in the future through the regulated rate-setting process.
Accordingly, certain costs are deferred as regulatory assets and obligations are accrued as regulatory liabilities. These
assets and liabilities will be amortized into operating expenses and revenues over various future periods. At
December 31, 2013, our Consolidated Balance Sheet includes $3,515 million in regulatory assets and $2,665 million in
regulatory liabilities. At December 31, 2012, our Consolidated Balance Sheet includes $2,909 million in regulatory
assets and $1,813 million in regulatory liabilities. Regulatory assets and liabilities are components of other assets and
other liabilities of utilities and energy businesses.
Regulatory assets and liabilities are continually assessed for probable future inclusion in regulatory rates by considering
factors such as applicable regulatory or legislative changes and recent rate orders received by other regulated entities. If
future inclusion in regulatory rates ceases to be probable, the amount no longer probable of inclusion in regulatory rates is
charged or credited to earnings (or other comprehensive income, if applicable) or returned to customers.
(q) Life, annuity and health insurance benefits
The liability for insurance benefits under life contracts has been computed based upon estimated future investment
yields, expected mortality, morbidity, and lapse or withdrawal rates and reflects estimates for future premiums and
expenses under the contracts. These assumptions, as applicable, also include a margin for adverse deviation and may
vary with the characteristics of the reinsurance contract’s date of issuance, policy duration and country of risk. The
interest rate assumptions used may vary by reinsurance contract or jurisdiction and generally range from approximately
3% to 7%. Annuity contracts are discounted based on the implicit rate of return as of the inception of the contracts and
such interest rates range from approximately 1% to 7%.
(r) Foreign currency
The accounts of our non-U.S. based subsidiaries are measured in most instances using the local currency of the
subsidiary as the functional currency. Revenues and expenses of these businesses are generally translated into U.S.
Dollars at the average exchange rate for the period. Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate as of the
end of the reporting period. Gains or losses from translating the financial statements of foreign-based operations are
included in shareholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Gains and losses arising
from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the reporting entity are included in
earnings.
(s) Income taxes
Berkshire files a consolidated federal income tax return in the United States, which includes our eligible subsidiaries.
In addition, we file income tax returns in state, local and foreign jurisdictions as applicable. Provisions for current
income tax liabilities are calculated and accrued on income and expense amounts expected to be included in the income
tax returns for the current year. Income taxes reported in earnings also include deferred income tax provisions.
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