Categories
Berkshire Hathaway Energy

NV Energy Agrees to Price Reduction for Northern Nevada Electric and Gas Customers

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway’s utility, NV Energy, has reached a settlement agreement with the Regulatory Operations Staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Northern Nevada Industrial Electric Users, Northern Nevada Utility Customers, a coalition of local governmental entities, Nevadans for Clean Affordable Reliable Energy and Vote Solar, to lower prices for customers in northern Nevada starting January 1, 2017.

The agreement follows the June 2016 filing of NV Energy’s required triennial general rate case and is subject to Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approval. The amount of money needed from customers to fund the company’s core electric operations will be reduced by $2.93 million or 0.44 percent, and by $2.40 million or 2.16 percent for its natural gas operations.

“I sincerely appreciate the willingness of all parties to reach a compromise that allows us to reduce prices for our customers and would like to highlight efforts of the Bureau of Consumer Protection and PUCN Regulatory Operations Staff,” said Paul Caudill, president and CEO of NV Energy. “This result is also due to the hard work of my colleagues at NV Energy, who have embraced the challenge of improving operations and our focus on customers, all while reducing our costs to serve.”

PUCN is expected to vote on the agreement later in the year. If the agreement is accepted, new general rates will become effective on January 1, 2017 and remain in place for three years.

NV Energy’s northern operations revenue requirement will be lower at the end of 2019 than they were in 2008, providing more than a decade of stability and predictability.

“As we negotiated the agreement, it became clear to us that our goal – that all customers be treated fairly and to obtain certainty – aligned with the goals of the Regulatory Operations Staff, the Bureau of Consumer Protection, and the other parties,” said Shawn Elicegui, senior vice president of regulatory and strategic planning for NV Energy. “This settlement provides certainty that our customers will enjoy fair and reasonable rates for the foreseeable future.”

Residential customers’ monthly bills are on average lower today than they were in 2008. A report issued last month from the Energy Information Administration in the U.S. Department of Energy showed that Nevada now is also the lowest of all the Intermountain West states for residential and commercial customers.

“As we look toward our mandated rate filing for southern Nevada customers in 2017, we are targeting a very similar result,” said Caudill.

The PUCN will still review separately two other areas of the original general rate case filing. These include the appropriate value of excess energy credits provided to private rooftop solar customers and approval of new optional time of use rates. A decision on the general rate case proceeding in its entirety is expected in December.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Duracell

Duracell Powers Star Wars Franchise

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Duracell will continue to benefit from the success of the revived Star Wars film series, as the official battery power for the Star Wars franchise and its new release, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Berkshire Hathaway acquired Duracell from Procter & Gamble just as Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit a record-breaking $936,662,225 at the U.S. box office.

In conjunction with its campaign tied to the latest Star Wars film, Duracell is supporting the healing power of imaginative play with a donation of one million batteries to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide. To launch its new holiday campaign, Duracell released an all-new 60-second commercial, “How the Rebels Saved Christmas,” featuring young patients forging an epic Star Wars duel while delivering a battery-powered toy to another patient’s hospital room.

“Tapping into our imaginations during the healing and recovery process reduces stress, pain and anxiety,” said Dr. Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D., an internationally recognized child educational psychologist, former UCLA associate clinical professor of psychology, and author of the Los Angeles Times best-selling book, “The Power of Your Child’s Imagination.” “I’m delighted that Duracell has embraced the fact that letting kids be kids through imaginative play is healthy – mentally, emotionally and physically.”

Duracell’s donation of 1 million batteries will power toys at 147 Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals nationwide. The batteries will ship in early November and will arrive by the holidays.

“After visiting the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, we saw first-hand the impact that the power of imaginative play has on children and we were instantly inspired to support their mission,” said Ramon Velutini, Marketing Director of Duracell. “Imaginative play truly is the best medicine – that’s why this holiday season Duracell is on a mission to power long-lasting play for those who need it most.”

“There is no better way to do this than by partnering with Star Wars,” said Velutini. “The sheer power of this story has ignited imaginations for decades, and Duracell is excited to continue working with Star Wars to power the imaginations of the next generation.”

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD’s SkyRail Monorail Debuts in Shenzhen

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BYD Company has debuted its “SkyRail” monorail system in Shenzhen, China. The monorail was developed out of BYD’s five-year RMB 5 billion R&D project.

SkyRail marks the company’s entry into the multi-trillion yuan mass transit market.

SkyRail is billed as a strategic solution introduced by BYD to counter traffic congestion in cities around the world while also offering more convenient mobility to urban residents.

BYD’s 4.4 kilometer monorail line, which runs to its Shenzhen Headquarters, alleviates the traffic problems of 50,000 factory and management employees.

As a transportation solution, BYD’s SkyRail is designed to complement existing metro and bus systems to help create a layered transport network consisting of underground, roadway and elevated elements. It will become an integral part of optimized urban transport.

“Mass transit systems are an indispensable solution to alleviate traffic congestion in cities,” said BYD President and Chairman Wang Chuanfu at the launch ceremony. “As a rail transport option with relatively smaller passenger capacity, ‘SkyRail’ can complement existing public transport systems to create a layered transport system encompassing underground, roadway and elevated elements. At the same time, SkyRail provides urban residents with safe, comfortable and fast mobility while making a real difference to alleviate traffic congestion. BYD is the first privately run Chinese company to enter the mass transit market.”

SkyRail represents another strategic expansion of BYD, a pioneer in the field of integrated new energy solutions, building on its core industry expertise in battery, automobile and ECU. Today, BYD spans the IT, automobile, new energy and mass transit sectors and has developed a green portfolio encompassing solar, energy storage, EV and rail transit. BYD is well positioned to improve the daily lives of people through its innovations and technologies.

Named one of “China’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune China in 2016, BYD has been committed to driving forward green mobility to help address the mega challenge and public concern of traffic congestion.

In 2010, the company announced its “electric public transport” strategy for green mobility, focusing on low-carbon electric vehicles as a prioritized public transport option to reduce traffic-related emissions in cities. This has now become a national strategy of China. At present, BYD’s electric vehicles are on the road in more than 200 cities in 48 countries and regions around the world.

To help address the challenges of urban transport, BYD set up a large R&D team consisting of more than 1,000 people. As the result of a RMB 5 billion (around 757 million USD) investment over the past five years, BYD successfully developed SkyRail, in an effort to provide a new solution to alleviating traffic congestion in cities and empowering layered mobility.

Traffic congestion is a major global issue. Urban residents in countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Brazil are increasingly concerned about congestion despite an increase in roads. There is high demand around the world for congestion alleviation solutions. To address this challenge, it is essential to relieve pressure on the road by moving some of the traffic to underground and elevated spaces. Therefore, it is inevitable that the development of layered rail transport is essential to transforming “cities on wheels” to “cities on rails.”

As a mass transit alternative with relatively smaller passenger capacity, BYD’s SkyRail delivers numerous benefits, including: capital expenditure 80% lower than metro, construction period two-thirds shorter than metro, excellent topographic adaptability due to higher climbing ability and smaller turning radius, reduced noise to allow travel through architectural complexes, visual integration into the cityscape thanks to transparent bridges and independent right of way, flexible management to allow for capacity between 10,000 to 30,000 passengers an hour (each way) and a high speed of up to 80km/h. It is very applicable to small and medium sized cities, heavy traffic routes, CBD’s and routes connecting tourist attractions in large cities.

Dramatic Cost Savings Compared to Subways

The electric monorail is a kind of traffic network which interconnects multiple transit backbones in the city at one sixth of the cost of a subway system.

According to BYD, the total market for monorails just in China is in the range of 3 trillion yuan ($450 billion).

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Berkshire Hathaway Energy

CENACE Considers Joining Western Energy Imbalance Market

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Energy may soon be joined by Mexico grid operator CENACE in the western Energy Imbalance Market. CENACE has decided to explore EIM participation for Baja California Norte FOLSOM, California.

CENACE, a public agency, controls Mexico’s electric system and manages the wholesale electricity market as it transitions to a fully competitive market. The grid operator dispatched 68,044 megawatts of electricity in 2015 using more than 33,000 miles of high-voltage power transmission lines. Mexico energy policies mandate a renewables portfolio goal, including hydroelectricity, of 25 percent in 2018, 30 percent in 2021, and 35 percent by 2024.

As the western Energy Imbalance Market continues to yield proven benefits, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) and El Centro Nacional de Control de Energía (CENACE) announced that the Mexican electric system operator has agreed to explore participation of its Baja California Norte grid in the real-time market. CENACE and the ISO will begin a benefits assessment as well as enter into a cooperation agreement to support CENACE’s market implementation as directed by the clean energy memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Energy of the United Mexican States and the State of California.

The MOU was signed by the Mexican Secretary General of Energy Pedro J. Coldwell and California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in July 2014. The Baja California Norte region has two California grid connections — Otay Mesa and Imperial Valley (both also known as Path 45), but it is not connected to Baja California Sur or the Mexico mainland grid.

“CENACE’s Baja California Norte participation in the western EIM will enable it to benefit from the savings that a large geographic region can offer,” said Steve Berberich, ISO President and CEO. “Like our current EIM participants, we recognize that a successful energy future relies on regional collaboration to best plan and optimize resources, especially renewable power. We welcome CENACE’s interest and agreement to explore participating in the western EIM.”

CENACE General Director Eduardo Meraz agreed that participation in the western real-time market and the benefits realized so far by other participants is worthy of serious consideration. “Mexico has had a long, productive relationship with the ISO as we coordinate the management of our interconnected electricity grids,” Meraz said. “It is only logical for CENACE to carefully consider Baja California Norte’s participation in the western EIM, with its promises of lower-cost electricity and increased renewable integration.”

The ISO uses state-of-the-art technology to automatically match lower cost energy supply from across the West with demand every five minutes. This flexibility enables ISO grid operators to more efficiently use wind and solar resources from a wide geographic area where power output can change rapidly depending on wind speeds and cloud cover. The resource optimization occurs across the entire EIM footprint giving utilities new access to low cost generation. The cost and environmental benefits produced by the EIM to date have been positive.

Since it began operation with Berkshire Hathaway’s Oregon-based PacifiCorp in November 2014, the western EIM has realized more than $88 million in cost benefits. The real-time energy market also saved over 126,000 metric tons of carbon emissions by using excess renewable energy to offset fossil fuel generation that would have been needed to meet regional demand that otherwise would have been turned off to protect grid reliability.

The EIM currently operates in eight western U.S. states, including California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona and Nevada.

Another Berkshire Hathaway utility, NV Energy of Las Vegas, entered the market in December 2015, while Arizona Public Service, based in Phoenix, and Puget Sound Energy of Washington began EIM participation on October 1.

Portland General Electric in Oregon is scheduled to enter in October 2017 followed by Idaho Power in April 2018.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
McLane

McLane Company Launches Center for Category Innovation

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

McLane Company Inc., Berkshire Hathaway’s wholly-owned supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions, has launched the McLane Center for Category Innovation (CCI).

Formerly known as the Lab Store, McLane rebranded this exclusive value-add service as the Center for Category Innovation to reflect not only the facility’s physical presence as a hands-on retail store where customers can explore innovative new products, but to recognize the service’s in-depth data analytics, industry-leading category development expertise, dedicated manufacturer expertise and unbiased guidance focused on helping customers design a product mix and planograms to achieve overall category excellence and increase profits.

CCI has proven extremely beneficial for many McLane customers, more than 70 of which visit at least once annually, keeping the facility booked upwards of 250 days a year.

“McLane’s Center for Category Innovation sessions allow category-leading manufacturers, McLane and the retailer to collaborate and create a geographically relevant assortment that meets the needs of the consumer,” said Alan Tobin, senior manager for category strategy and insights at The Hershey Company. “By utilizing a combination of shopper insights, industry trends and market and retailer data, the very best planogram is built.”

CCI Senior Category Development Analyst Jennifer Hutto said having the right participants in the room serves as a check and balance between multiple data sources. Additionally, the collective breadth of industry experience is one of the leading reasons why the CCI has been so successful in helping customers increase sales. She added, “We discuss overall performance of the categories, contributing factors that are affecting success, where the category is headed and how we hope to help drive future success with our customers.”

Tom Thumb Food Stores was in the midst of a major rebranding effort focused on delivering “Fast, Fresh and Friendly” service and renovating their stores with new products and flavor profiles to improve profitability. Through CCI, the collaboration of Tom Thumb Food Stores, McLane’s category managers, supplier partners, IRI and exclusive analytical resources from McLane’s extensive data warehouse, the chain was able to customize unique planograms tailored specifically to each store’s zip code, offering them in-depth knowledge of what would sell to their unique consumer demographics. As result, total purchases have increased over a three-year period with double-digit sales growth in their snacks, grocery and HBW categories. Tom Thumb Food Stores now visits CCI on an annual basis.

Hutto concluded, “Another key advantage of working with McLane and the CCI is the depth of information resources. With one of the industry’s most robust data warehouses, the CCI utilizes an aggregated class of trade-specific data and compares these findings with multiple syndicated data sources so that customers can make data-driven decisions on product assortment.”

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Minority Stock Positions Stock Portfolio

BYD Announces Plant in Hungary to Build Pure Electric Buses and Trucks

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

BYD, the fast growing supplier of pure electric buses to cities across Europe, has announced a €20 million investment in a bus assembly plant in the northern Hungarian city of Komárom.

The plant which will eventually employ up to 300 people and be capable of assembling up to 400 vehicles a year on two shifts. Initial output will be BYD’s world beating range of emissions free electric buses and fork lift trucks but the Hungarian subsidiary’s name – BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary Kft – hints at other ambitions.

The Hungarian plant will begin production in the first quarter of 2017. It will have its own R&D center and battery test facility.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest, Isbrand Ho, BYD Europe’s Managing Director, said: “Today’s announcement reinforces our company’s commitment to the European market. This is our first manufacturing facility but it won’t be our last – we are actively looking for other locations”.

He added: “We chose Hungary both because of its central location in Europe and its long tradition of engineering excellence and indeed bus making, as well as the very friendly welcome we have received from the authorities here”.

Mr. Peter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary welcomed BYD and pointed out Komárom is the only manufacturing plant outside China besides California and Brazil. He highlighted the fact that BYD was not just building a manufacturing plant but also opening a battery testing unit and R&D center.

BYD and Berkshire Hathaway

In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million is now worth roughly $1.77 billion.

For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Insurance

Credit Ratings Upgraded for Berkshire Hathaway’s Insurance Companies

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

A.M. Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A++ (Superior) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to aa+ from a- of Mount Vernon Specialty Insurance Company and Radnor Specialty Insurance Company (both domiciled in Omaha, NE), strategic affiliates of United States Liability Insurance Company (USLI) (Wayne, PA) that are branded as Devon Park Specialty.

Concurrently, A.M. Best has affirmed the FSR of A++ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa+” of USLI and its subsidiaries: Mount Vernon Fire Insurance Company (MVF) (Wayne, PA) and U.S. Underwriters Insurance Company (USU) (Bismarck, ND). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

According to A.M. Best, the ratings of the insurance operating companies reflect their superior risk-adjusted capital position, extended trends of underwriting and operating profitability, very strong market presence and conservative reserve positions. Additional favorable factors include a proactive claims management philosophy, exceptional diversification in their book of business as it regards limiting concentrations, commitment to customer service, and extensive employee training and retention programs that translate into a culture of success.

Furthermore, these ratings continue to benefit from implicit and explicit support provided to USLI and its subsidiaries by their ultimate parent, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

This support, for some of the operating companies, is in the form of significant reinsurance treaties with National Indemnity Company, a Berkshire subsidiary. In addition to this agreement, Berkshire has established an extended track record of supporting its member companies.

These positive rating factors are partially offset by the above average investment leverage recorded by the group. A.M. Best also continues to monitor the organizational structure and market changes implemented at USLI as it regards the Devon Park Specialty branded companies.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Insurance

Analysts Predict 5% Annual Growth Rate for Catastrophe Insurance Market

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Looking for a robust growth industry? Try catastrophe insurance.

Analysts at Technavio are forecasting that the global catastrophe insurance market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 5% through 2020, according to their latest report.

Key companies in the catastrophe insurance market includes leaders such as Berkshire Hathaway, AIG, Allianz, and Lloyds.

In their newly released report, Technavio’s analysts highlighted the following three factors that are contributing to the growth of the global catastrophe insurance market:

• Catastrophe bond pricing and valuation strategies
• Regulatory support for public-private cooperation on building resilient infrastructure and better risk governance
• Climatic changes

Catastrophe bond pricing and valuation strategies

The insurance industry is considered a cyclical industry. Therefore, insurers are formulating different strategies to earn positive yields and generate cash flows during the forecast period. Such strategies should bring in stable earnings year-over-year for players in the insurance industry. Catastrophe bonds help the investors to earn good returns that are uncorrelated with the broader financial markets. It helps the portfolio managers in making more informed decisions in allocating the capital and by understanding the attributes of the pricing trends. The insurance company makes use of catastrophe bonds so that it can transfer insurance risk to the capital markets.

Amit Sharma, a lead research analyst at Technavio, says, “In the present market scenario, catastrophe bonds have evolved into valuable risk management and investment tools where there is incorporation of different elements from both the debt capital and reinsurance markets. Catastrophe bonds provide alternative means to capitalize reinsurance transactions.”

Regulatory support for public-private cooperation on building resilient infrastructure and better risk governance

Globally huge losses are incurred due to damages caused due to natural disasters. The role of government plays a very important role wherein it requires the government to develop a comprehensive disaster management framework. One of the popular disaster management frameworks is public-private partnership (PPP) model that has become a popular way for governments to engage private sector players in strengthening infrastructure (thereby increasing the quality and providing better value for money). PPP is considered as a strategic approach to minimize the negative impacts of disasters, particularly in the developing countries.

“Top insurance firms are expected to invest more in innovative products, distribution, and service strategies. The growing size and complexity of the economy have triggered an increase in the demand for insurance against various risks. This has deepened market penetration of insurance products and may boost demand for insurance products during the forecast period,” adds Amit.

Climatic changes

Climatic changes have occurred due to the various natural and manmade disasters. Therefore, the insurance company requires not only to focus on the historical data but also to have forward projections. Climate change has brought in extreme weather events, and therefore insurance companies need to understand the change in the frequency of the extreme weather condition. Therefore, the insurance companies, reinsurance companies, capital markets, and governments are making use of various catastrophe modeling technologies.

This helps them in understanding the risk selection process, underwriting the process, risk mitigation strategies, portfolio optimization, risk transfer mechanisms, reinsurance decision-making, portfolio pricing, reserving and rate making, capital setting and exposure and aggregate management.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Berkadia

Berkadia Facilitates $78.5 Million Sale of Southern California Multifamily Property

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkadia has announced the recent sale of Oak Springs Ranch, a 312-unit multifamily property in Wildomar, California. Managing Directors Ed Rosen and John Chu and Directors Kyle Pinkalla and Erin Dammen of the San Diego team completed the $78.5 million sale, which closed on September 30.

The seller was Oak Springs Ranch, LLC, comprised of developer GLJ Partners and affiliates of Dallas-based Sarofim Realty Advisors. Oak Springs Ranch drew attention from both institutional and private capital, and was ultimately purchased by San Diego-based R&V Management Corporation.

“Oak Springs Ranch presented a great investment opportunity in a thriving market that has attracted a lot of attention over the past year due to strong job growth,” Rosen said. “In fact, the Inland Empire has hit its lowest unemployment rate since before the recession.”

The property, built in 2014, offers one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Unit amenities include kitchens with quartz countertops and white European cabinetry, wood-style flooring, soaking tubs and walk-in showers, full-size washer and dryer units and central air and heat. Select units offer balconies and patios, gas fireplaces and garages. The community’s residents enjoy access to a fitness center, lounge, pools and spas, outdoor grilling and picnic areas and a 14-acre open space with a walking trail. Oak Springs Ranch also hosts a variety of community events throughout the year.

Located at 24055 Clinton Keith Road, Oak Springs Ranch provides quick access to major employment areas across the Inland Empire as well as Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. The expanding job market and sustained apartment demand fueled a 6 percent annual increase in rents in the third quarter of 2015, making the Riverside metro area one of the top ten in the United States for rent growth.

About Berkadia

Founded in 2009 as a 50/50 joint venture between Berkshire Hathaway and Leucadia National Corporation, Berkadia is a third-party commercial mortgage servicer, as well as an approved lender for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and HUD/FHA. The company was among the top Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae multifamily lenders for 2013.

Berkadia owes its origins to GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation, which was acquired in 2009 by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Five Mile Capital Partners LLC, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. Christened Capmark Financial, the company had $10 billion of originations in 2008 and a servicing portfolio of more than $360 billion before running into bankruptcy in October 2009.

In a deal approved by the bankruptcy court, Capmark sold its mortgage loan and servicing to the newly formed Berkadia in a deal worth $515 million.
The deal brought Berkshire into the heart of the commercial loan serving business, and the company has one of the largest commercial real estate servicing portfolios.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Categories
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Insurance

Macau Latest Expansion for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

(BRK.A), (BRK.B)

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) has received a license to provide insurance and reinsurance in Macau, and has filled key positions in its newly established Macau office.

“It is a very interesting time in Macau, with continued diversification of the territory’s economic profile,” said Marc Breuil, President, Asia, BHSI. “We are pleased to expand our Asian footprint and bring to Macau local knowledge and expertise along with BHSI’s unique balance sheet and financial strength.”

Beginning immediately, BHSI Macau will be providing commercial property, energy, construction, terrorism, casualty, executive and professional lines, surety, accident and health, and marine insurance.

The addition of the Macau office expands BHSI’s regional presence in Asia, which already includes the insurance hubs in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The company named Yasmin Chan as Branch Manager, and Ivory Chong as Underwriting Manager, in Macau. Yasmin comes to BHSI with 20 years of experience in the Macau insurance and reinsurance market. She holds a Bachelor in Business Administration degree from the University of Macau.

Ivory joins BHSI with more than 15 years of industry experience, including more than a decade in the Macau market. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economic Law from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

© 2016 David Mazor

Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.