Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance expands into Canada

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance announced this week it is “expanding into the Canadian marketplace,” where it is currently licensed to conduct business.

In Canada, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty “underwrites on the paper of National Liability & Fire Insurance Company,” the Boston-based firm said in a press release Wednesday.

National Liability is a member of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s National Indemnity group of insurance companies.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty “concentrates on providing large scale insurance solutions for commercial property and casualty risks,” stated Berkshire Hathaway – the Omaha, Neb.-based firm led by Warren Buffett – in an earlier filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty’s coverages include commercial property, casualty, healthcare professional liability, executive and professional lines, surety, travel, programs and homeowners insurance.

“We currently are licensed to conduct business in Canada and we have secured office space in Toronto,” a Berkshire Hathaway Specialty spokesperson told Canadian Underwriter.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty was formed in the second quarter of 2013.

The firm stated in a Jan. 28 press release that it has appointed Scott Miller, Darryl DeSouza and Michael Densham – to lead its property, casualty and executive and professional lines operations respectively – in Canada.

Miller previously worked at General Reinsurance Corp,, a reinsurer also owned by Berkshire Hathaway Group. Miller also worked at Aon Reed Stenhouse.

DeSouza previously worked at AIG, Swiss Re and General Accident Assurance Company.

Densham was previously vice president and Canadian zone manager for Chubb.

Berkshire Hathaway’s other insurance operations include Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group, among others.