Release of an announcement according to Section 25, para. 1 of the WpHG

WKN 843002
ISIN DE0008430026

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Omaha, USA, informed us in accordance with Section 25, para. 1 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG) that on 22 January 2010 it directly or indirectly held financial instruments that granted it the right to subscribe to shares in our company which bear 1.945% of the voting rights (3,840,000 voting rights). Furthermore, it informs us that in addition it holds directly or indirectly 3.278% (6,471,300 voting rights) pursuant to Section 21 para. 1 in connection with Section 22 para. 1 sentence 1 item 1 of the WpHG. Therefore, by way of aggregation it would have held 5.224% of the voting rights (10,311,300 voting rights). As per this date, it would have thus exceeded the threshold of 5% of the voting rights in our company. The exercise date of the financial instruments is: 11 March 2010. Financial instruments that it held indirectly were held via the following companies which are controlled by it: OBH Inc., National Indemnity Co.

At the same, time OBH Inc., Omaha, USA, informed us in accordance with Section 25, para. 1 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG) that on 22 January 2010 it directly or indirectly held financial instruments that granted it the right to subscribe to shares in our company which bear 1.945% of the voting rights (3,840,000 voting rights). Furthermore, it informs us that in addition it holds directly or indirectly 3.278% (6,471,300 voting rights) pursuant to Section 21 para. 1 in connection with Section 22 para. 1 sentence 1 item 1 of the WpHG. Therefore, by way of aggregation it would have held 5.224% of the voting rights (10,311,300 voting rights). As per this date, it would have thus exceeded the threshold of 5% of the voting rights in our company. The exercise date of the financial instruments is: 11 March 2010. Financial instruments that it held indirectly were held via the following company which is controlled by it: National Indemnity Co.

Munich, 1 Feburary 2010

The Board of Management