discontinue such market-making activities at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the maintenance of the trading market for, or the liquidity of, the Senior Notes.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters, or any of their respective affiliates, may purchase and sell the Senior Notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment includes syndicate sales of Senior Notes in excess of the principal amount of the Senior Notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the Senior Notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of the Senior Notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Senior Notes while the offering is in progress.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim an initial dealers’ concession from a syndicate member when such underwriters, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing purchases, repurchase the Senior Notes originally sold by that syndicate member.
Any of these activities may cause the price of the Senior Notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We estimate that our expenses in connection with the sale of the Senior Notes, other than underwriting discounts, will be approximately $2,200,000. This estimate includes expenses relating to printing, rating agency fees, trustee’s fees and legal fees, among other expenses. The underwriters have agreed to make a payment to us in an amount equal to $1,475,000 in respect of expenses incurred by us in connection with the offering.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
Conflicts of Interest
We are an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BHE, and BHE is a consolidated subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which owns approximately 10% of the outstanding common stock of Bank of America Corporation, the parent company of BofA Securities, Inc. Therefore, BofA Securities, Inc. is deemed to have a conflict of interest under Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering will be conducted in compliance with Rule 5121. The appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not required in connection with this offering as the notes will be rated by one or more of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations in one of the four highest generic rating categories. Pursuant to Rule 5121, BofA Securities, Inc. will not confirm any sales to any account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the specific written approval of the account holder.
Other Relationships
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking, corporate trust and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities
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