Omaha, Nebraska (September 6, 2000) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A, BRK.B) today announced that it has offered to purchase between 80.1% and 86% of the outstanding shares of Shaw Industries, Inc. (NYSE:SHX) for $19 per share in cash, subject to approval of Shaw’s Board of Directors. The offer is not subject to any financing contingencies.

The offer is contingent upon Robert E. Shaw, the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, and Julian D. Saul, the President of Shaw Industries, together with members of their immediate families, each retaining a minimum of 5% ownership interest. Other shares not purchased by Berkshire Hathaway would be owned by other members of management of Shaw Industries and members of the Shaw and Saul families not included in the 5% ownership requirement. Shaw Industries would continue to be operated under its current management with the corporate headquarters remaining in Dalton, Georgia.

Up to 10% of the shares held by each of the Shaw and Saul family members would, at their option, be purchased by Berkshire Hathaway each year beginning March 31, 2002, at a price equal to $19 per share plus the increase in book value per share over the book value per share as of December 31, 2000. Up to one-third of the shares held by other members of management and the Shaw and Saul family members not included in the 5% ownership requirement would, at the option of those shareholders, be purchased each year beginning March 31, 2002, at the same pricing formula.

Shaw Industries, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of tufted broadloom carpet. Headquartered in Dalton, Georgia, Shaw sells carpeting and rugs for residential and commercial applications throughout the United States and exports to most markets worldwide. Shaw markets its residential products under such brand names and trademarks as Cabin Crafts, Couture by Sutton, Cumberland, Expressive Designs, Home Foundations, Philadelphia, Queen, ShawMark, Sutton, TrustMark, Evans & Black, Salem, Tuftex, and Shaw Rugs. Shaw markets its commercial products under the names Shaw Contract, Designweave, Patcraft, and Queen Commercial. Through its network of commercial dealers known as Shaw Contract Flooring Services, Shaw also sells commercial flooring products directly and provides installation and project management services. Shaw also offers laminate flooring through the Decades brand and ceramic tile through Shaw Ceramics, and hardwood flooring through Shaw Hardwoods.

Berkshire Hathaway is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities. The most important of these is the property and casualty insurance business conducted on both a direct and reinsurance basis through a number of subsidiaries.

Contact: Marc D. Hamburg of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., telephone 402-346-1400.