BRK.A Berkshire Hathaway Inc

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 11-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission file number 001-14905

A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

THE LUBRIZOL CORPORATION AGE-WEIGHTED DEFINED

CONTRIBUTION PLAN

29400 Lakeland Boulevard

Wickliffe, Ohio 44092-2298

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

3555 Farnam Street

Omaha, Nebraska 68131

THE LUBRIZOL CORPORATION AGE-WEIGHTED

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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THE LUBRIZOL CORPORATION AGE-WEIGHTED

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN

The following table shows the percentage of compensation the Company will contribute to a participant’s account.

* Except that the contribution percentage for a Plan Year for a participant who is an employee of Chemtool Incorporated as of the last day of the Plan Year is 1.00%, regardless of the participant’s age on the last day of the Plan Year.

The Plan does not accept rollover contributions, including Roth rollover contributions or transferred contributions from other tax-qualified plans.

Participant Accounts—Each participant’s account is credited with an allocation of the Company Contribution, income from investments, gains or losses on sales of investments, appreciation or depreciation in the market value of investments and expenses, if any. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.

Investment of Contributions—Participants elect investment of the Company Contribution in one or more of the Plan’s investment funds in 1% increments. A participant may elect to change his or her investment elections as to future Company Contributions and may also elect to reallocate once daily a portion or all of past Company Contributions among the available investment funds in increments of 1% of the total amount to be reallocated. Participants may also elect to invest Company Contributions, up to 50% of their vested account balance, in one or more mutual funds through a self-directed brokerage account.

If an employee does not make an investment election, the Company Contribution will be deposited in the applicable State Street Target Retirement Fund, based on the employee’s date of hire or rehire, with the date that most closely matches a retirement age of 65, which meets the Department of Labor’s definition as a “qualified default investment alternative.”

Vesting and Distributions— Active participants vest in the Company Contribution at a rate of 34% after one year of eligible service, 67% after two years of eligible service and 100% after three years. Participants also will become 100% vested if their participation in the Plan ends due to retirement on or after age 55, total and permanent disability, or death.

Participants may request an in-service distribution upon attainment of age 59-1/2. Upon attainment of age 55, vested active participants may request an in-service distribution. If a distribution is made prior to age 59-1/2, it must be in the form of monthly, quarterly or annual installments over a fixed period of time not to exceed the lifetime of the participant. These installments may be adjusted in the year a participant reaches age 59-1/2 or becomes disabled. Hardship withdrawals are not allowed under the Plan.

In response to the pandemic (see note 10), the Plan permitted Coronavirus Related Distributions, pursuant to the CARES Act.

When a participant’s employment terminates, the participant’s vested account balance may be distributed in a single lump sum. Participants may also elect installment distribution payments or partial withdrawals of their vested account balance. Amounts distributed from the Berkshire Hathaway Class B Stock Fund are paid in the form of Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway or their cash equivalent at the participant’s election.

Forfeited Accounts—Forfeited nonvested accounts may be used to reduce future Company contributions. In 2020 and 2019, the forfeiture balance at year end totaled $83,202 and $106,149, respectively. Subsequent to year end 2020

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and 2019, $96,410 and $131,337 of the current forfeiture balance, respectively, was used to reduce Company contributions and is netted with the respective year’s contribution receivable balance.

Basis of Accounting—Each fund of the Plan is accounted for separately. The accounts of these funds are maintained, and the accompanying financial statements have been prepared, on the accrual basis of accounting.

Investments held by a defined contribution plan are required to be reported at fair value, except for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts. Contract value is the relevant measure for the portion of the net assets available for benefits of a defined contribution plan attributable to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts because contract value is the amount participants normally would receive if they were to initiate permitted transactions under the terms of the Plan.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Valuation of Investments—Investments are reported at fair value other than the guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) included in the Stable Value Fund. GICs are stated at contract value, which is equivalent to cost plus reinvested interest. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is generally recorded on an accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net investment gain (loss) includes gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held, during the year.

The value of all funds and the interests of participants under each fund are calculated on a daily basis based on the best information available, which may include estimated values. See Note 5 for discussion of fair value measurements.

Expenses—Other than as described below, no fees are charged to participants for Plan administrative and operating expenses. Plan administrative and operating expenses are paid directly by the Company or through revenue-sharing by the Plan’s investment funds. The Company monitors the payments received by the Plan service providers to ensure that they are used properly for qualifying plan administrative and operating expenses. The Company reserves the right to initiate charges to participants for Plan administrative and operating costs in the future.

If expedited mailing of a distribution check is requested, a $50.00 fee is charged to the participant’s account.

A participant who invests in the self-directed brokerage account is charged a $50.00 annual fee which is deducted quarterly ($12.50 per quarter) from the participant’s account. In addition, any mutual fund investment purchased or sold through the self-directed brokerage account may carry with it additional fees. The TD Ameritrade Fee Schedule provided to participants details such fees including a redemption fee of $49.99 for almost any mutual fund investment that is not held for at least 90 days.

Payment of Benefits—Payments are recorded when paid.

The Plan offers various investment alternatives, maintains separate accounts for each participant, and invests contributions and earnings, as required by the Plan or as directed by each participant, in one or more of the following funds:

The Stable Value Fund invests in stable value investment contracts, issued by banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions and a diversified portfolio of fixed income instruments including U.S. Government and agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, corporate bonds, interest rate futures and options. Goldman Sachs Asset Management manages the investment of the fund.

The Core Fixed Income Fund invests in a mutual fund, the Baird Aggregate Bond Fund. The fund invests in fixed income instruments including U.S. Government and corporate bond securities, mortgage and asset-backed securities, and U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities of non-U.S. issuers.

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The Target Retirement Income Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 65% fixed income and 35% in equities, real estate and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk for a retired participant or a participant who anticipates retiring in the near-term.

The Target Retirement 2020 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 55% fixed income and 45% in equities, real estate and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2020.

The Target Retirement 2025 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 43% fixed income and 57% in equities, real estate and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2025.

The Target Retirement 2030 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 32% fixed income and 68% equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2030.

The Target Retirement 2035 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 25% fixed income and 75% in equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2035.

The Target Retirement 2040 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 18% fixed income and 82% equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2040.

The Target Retirement 2045 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 13% fixed income and 87% in equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2045.

The Target Retirement 2050 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 10% fixed income and 90% equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2050.

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The Target Retirement 2055 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 10% fixed income and 90% in equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2055.

The Target Retirement 2060 Fund is an actively managed collective trust fund by State Street Global Advisors and invests in a combination of U.S. and international equity securities, fixed income securities, alternative investments such as real estate securities index funds and commodity index funds and cash with a current target asset allocation of 10% fixed income and 90% equities and commodities. The fund’s objective is to allocate its assets across multiple asset classes while seeking to achieve the appropriate level of risk given a participant’s anticipated retirement date in or within a few years of 2060.

The Large Cap Core Equity Passive Fund invests in a collective trust fund, the State Street S&P 500 Index Fund maintained by State Street Global Advisors, which invests in the common stocks included in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, futures contracts and other derivative securities. The fund’s objective is to closely replicate the performance of the common stocks included in the Standard & Poor’s Composite Stock Price Index.

The Large Cap Value Equity Passive Fund invests in a collective trust fund, the State Street Russell Large Cap Value Index Fund maintained by State Street Global Advisors, which invests in the common stocks included in the FTSE Russell 1000 Value Index, futures contracts and other derivative securities. The fund’s objective is to closely replicate the performance of the FTSE Russell 1000 Value Index.

The Large Cap Growth Equity Passive Fund invests in a collective trust fund, the State Street Russell Large Cap Growth Index Fund maintained by State Street Global Advisors, which invests in the common stocks included in the FTSE Russell 1000 Growth Index, futures contracts and other derivative securities. The fund’s objective is to closely replicate the performance of the FTSE Russell 1000 Growth Index.

The Small Mid Cap Growth Equity Passive Fund invests in a collective trust fund, the State Street Russell Small Mid Cap Index Fund maintained by State Street Global Advisors, which invests in the common stocks included in the FTSE Russell 3000 Index, futures contracts and other derivative securities. The fund’s objective is to closely replicate the performance of the FTSE Russell Small Cap Completeness Index.

The Mid Cap Value Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the American Century Mid Cap Value fund, which invests primarily in a portfolio of common stocks of mid capitalization companies that are believed to have high financial strength and are attractively priced relative to their intrinsic value.

The Mid Cap Growth Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the MassMutual Select Mid Cap Growth Equity Fund, which invests primarily in securities of mid capitalization companies that are believed to have above-average earnings growth potential.

The Small Cap Value Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the Delaware Small Cap Value Fund. The fund invests primarily in a portfolio of common stocks of small capitalization companies that are believed to be undervalued versus their peer group and have the greatest potential for significant appreciation.

The Small Cap Growth Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the Hartford Small Cap Growth HLS Fund, which invests primarily in a portfolio of common stocks of small market capitalization companies that are believed to have superior growth potential.

The International Core Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the Fidelity Advisors Diversified International Fund Z, which invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks and other equity-like securities of issuers domiciled outside the United States.

The International Small Cap Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the Vanguard International Explorer Fund. The fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities with small market capitalizations that are traded principally in markets outside the United States.

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The Emerging Markets Equity Fund invests in a mutual fund, the DFA Emerging Markets Core Equity Fund, which invests in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of issuers domiciled in the Emerging Markets.

The Berkshire Hathaway Class B Stock Fund consists of Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway and temporary investments in the State Street Government Short Term Fund.

The self-directed brokerage account is a brokerage account offered in the Plan and provided through TD Ameritrade. It gives participants access to thousands of mutual funds. Unlike the Plan’s current investment options, transaction fees and operating expense fees generally apply to the mutual funds available through the self-directed brokerage account.

Participants may invest up to 50% of their total vested Plan account balance through the self-directed brokerage account. The minimum initial transfer into the self-directed brokerage account must be $1,000 per account.    The mutual fund participant’s selection may also require a minimum investment. An investment in the self-directed brokerage account must come from a current Plan balance through a funds transfer; participants cannot elect to directly invest future contributions into the self-directed brokerage account.

No more than 50% of a participant’s future investment elections may be invested in the Berkshire Hathaway Class B Stock Fund.

The Plan has an investment contract with Goldman Sachs Asset Management through which both traditional and synthetic GICs can be held in the Plan’s Stable Value Fund. Traditional GICs are unsecured, general account obligations of insurance companies. The obligation is backed by the general account assets of the insurance company that writes the investment contract. The crediting rate on this product is typically fixed for the life of the investment. A separate account GIC is similar to a traditional GIC except investments are segregated in separate accounts maintained by an insurance company for the benefit of the investors. The total return of the segregated account assets supports the separate account GIC’s return. The crediting rate on this product will reset periodically but will not have an interest rate of less than 0%.

General fixed maturity synthetic GICs consist of an asset or collection of assets that are owned by the fund and a benefit-responsive, book value wrap contract purchased for the portfolio. The wrap contract provides book value accounting for the asset and assures that book value, benefit-responsive payments will be made for participant-directed withdrawals from the Stable Value Fund. The crediting rate of the contract is set at the start of the contract and typically resets monthly. The initial crediting rate is established based on the market interest rates at the time the initial asset is purchased but will not be less than 0%.

Constant duration synthetic GICs consist of a portfolio of securities owned by the fund and a benefit-responsive, book value wrap contract purchased for the portfolio. The wrap contract amortizes gains and losses of the underlying securities over the portfolio duration, and assures that book value, benefit-responsive payments will be made for participant-directed withdrawals from the Stable Value Fund. The crediting rate on a constant duration synthetic GIC resets every month based on the book value of the contract and the market yield, market value and average duration of the underlying assets. The crediting rate aims at converging the book value of the contract and the market value of the underlying portfolio over the duration of the contract and therefore will be affected by movements in interest rates and/or changes in the market value of the underlying portfolio. The initial crediting rate is established based on the market interest rates at the time the underlying portfolio is first put together but will not be less than 0%.

Withdrawals and transfers resulting from certain events, including employer initiated events and changes in the qualification of the Plan, may limit the ability of the Stable Value Fund to transact at book or contract value. These events may cause liquidation of all or a portion of a contract at market value. The Plan administrator does not believe that the occurrence of any event that would limit the Plan’s ability to transact at book or contract value is probable. All contracts are fully benefit-responsive.

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The Plan’s investments are held in a Master Trust for the investment of assets of the Plan and the Savings Plan. The value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust is based on the beginning of year value of the Plan’s interest in the Master Trust plus actual contributions and allocated investment income less actual distributions and allocated expenses. Investment income and expenses within the Master Trust are allocated to the individual plans based on the underlying individual participants’ activity and account balances.

The Plan estimates the fair value of investments in the Master Trust using available market information and generally accepted valuation methodologies. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or would be paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The inputs used to measure fair value are classified into three levels: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets of the Master Trust measured at fair value:

The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. There have been no changes in the methodologies used from 2019 to 2020. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.

The following tables set forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the investments of the Plan reported at fair value held in the Master Trust as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

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Total investments of the Master Trust as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

Activity of the Master Trust for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

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The Plan, through the Master Trust, holds various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

The Plan, through the Master Trust, invests in Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway within the Berkshire Hathaway Class B stock fund. The following activity is presented at the Master Trust level: during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, 64,603 and 27,765 Class B shares, respectively, of Berkshire Hathaway at a cost of $12,604,948 and $5,604,251 respectively, were purchased within the fund. All purchased shares were acquired at the then current market value on the open market. In addition, during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the fund sold or distributed to participants 94,317 and 97,870 Class B shares, respectively, of Berkshire Hathaway and received proceeds of $19,329,580 and $20,377,139, respectively. The realized gains on these sales were $4,169,251 and $5,206,235 for 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Plan obtained its latest determination letter dated September 28, 2017, in which the Internal Revenue Service stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan has been amended since receiving this determination letter. However, the Company believes that the Plan currently is designed and is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

The Plan administrator has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan and has concluded that, as of December 31, 2020, there are no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require such recognition or disclosure in the financial statements.

The Plan was adopted with the expectation that it will continue indefinitely. The Company may, however, terminate the Plan at any time. In addition, the management of any subsidiary may withdraw such subsidiary from the Plan at any time. In the event of termination of the Plan, all participants immediately will become fully vested in the value of their account balances.

Physical and economic conditions worldwide have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. There are uncertainties surrounding COVID-19’s impact on the economy as a whole, on businesses, and on the investment market. There is also uncertainty regarding the positive impact of any federal government relief efforts through the date of this report. Accordingly, the impact of the global pandemic on the current and future operations of the Company or Plan is unknown.

All investments of the Plan are held by Voya Institutional Trust Company in participant-directed investment funds and the Plan’s recordkeeper is Voya Institutional Plan Services. All investments were transferred in-kind to Great-West Trust Company, LLC and Empower Retirement, LLC who became the new trustee and recordkeeper, respectively, effective January 4, 2021.

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The following plan design changes are effective after December 31, 2020:

The Company amended the Plan to provide for the automatic distribution of Plan balances of a Separated Participant (or a Participant’s Beneficiary, in the event of the Participant’s death) of $5,000 or less, and, if the Participant does not otherwise elect to receive such distribution as a payment or as direct rollover to another plan, to provide for the rollover of such balance to an individual retirement account established for the Participant.

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