Overview
Stock Information
EQ Shareowner Services (“EQ”), a division of Equiniti Trust Company., P. O. Box 64854, St. Paul, MN 55164-0854 serves as Transfer Agent and Registrar for Berkshire’s common stock.Â
Berkshire has two classes of common stock designated Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Each share of Class A common stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into 1,500 shares of Class B common stock. Shares of Class B common stock are not convertible into shares of Class A common stock.Â
Registered owner’s holding Berkshire stock in certificate form or through EQ’s direct registration system, may contact EQ directly for instructions regarding changes in registration, including shareowner’s mailing address or conversion of Class A shares to Class B shares. Correspondence may be directed to EQ at the address indicated above or at www.shareowneronline.com. Telephone inquiries should be directed to the Shareowner Relations Department at 1-877-602- 7411 between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. Central Time. Certificates for re-issue or transfer should be directed to the Transfer Department at the address indicated above. Shareowners can also view account information at the EQ website www.shareowneronline.com.Â
If a shareowner has lost or misplaced stock certificates, he or she should contact EQ to arrange for replacements. Transfer agent’s, including EQ, will require the shareowner to provide an indemnification bond based on the value of the share certificate being replaced. Shareholders are encouraged to contact EQ periodically to verify the mailing address of record to assure that Company communications are delivered. We encourage you to vote on shareholder proposals contained in our annual proxy solicitation. Contact with EQ is established automatically through the voting process.Â
Shareholders of record with EQ, who wish to convert Class A common stock into Class B common stock may contact EQ in writing. Along with the underlying stock certificate, shareholders should provide EQ with specific written instructions regarding the number of shares to be converted and the manner in which the Class B shares are to be registered. We recommend that you use certified or registered mail to EQ Shareowner Services, 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101, Mendota Heights, MN 55120 when delivering the stock certificates and written instructions.Â
Owners holding Berkshire common stock in street name (in a bank, broker or other nominee account) should contact the bank, broker or nominee for changes in registration. If Class A shares are held in “street name,” shareholders wishing to convert all or a portion of their holding to Class B should contact their broker or bank nominee. It will be necessary for the nominee to make the request for conversion.
Comparative Rights and Relative Prices
From: Warren Buffett
Subject: Comparative Rights and Relative Prices of Berkshire Class A and Class B Stock
Date: February 2, 1999, Updated July 3, 2003, and on January 20, 2010
Comparison of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Class A and Class B Common Stock
Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has two classes of common stock designated Class A and Class B. A share of Class B common stock has the rights of 1/1,500th of a share of Class A common stock except that a Class B share has 1/10,000th of the voting rights of a Class A share (rather than 1/1,500th of the vote). Each share of a Class A common stock is convertible at any time, at the holder’s option, into 1,500 shares of Class B common stock. This conversion privilege does not extend in the opposite direction. That is, holders of Class B shares are not able to convert them into Class A shares. Both Class A & B shareholders are entitled to attend the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting which is held on the first Saturday in May.Â
The Relative Prices of Berkshire Class A and Class B Stock
Class B can never sell for anything more than a tiny fraction above 1/1,500th of the price of A. When it rises above 1/1,500th, arbitrage takes place in which someone — perhaps the NYSE specialist — buys the A and converts it into B. This pushes the prices back into a 1:1,500 ratio.Â
On the other hand, the B can sell for less than 1/1,500th the price of the A since conversion doesn’t go in the reverse direction. All of this was spelled out in the prospectus that accompanied the issuance of the Class B.Â
When there is more demand for the B (relative to supply) than for the A, the B will sell at roughly 1/1,500th of the price of A. When there’s a lesser demand, it will fall to a discount.Â
In my opinion, most of the time, the demand for the B will be such that it will trade at about 1/1,500th of the price of the A. However, from time to time, a different supply-demand situation will prevail and the B will sell at some discount. In my opinion, again, when the B is at a discount of more than say, 1%, it offers a better buy than the A. When the two are at parity, however, anyone wishing to buy 1,500 or more B should consider buying A instead.