Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway acquires Hartford UK variable annuity business

Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway firm, has purchased Hartford Life International Limited (HLIL) in a transaction valued at approximately $285m.

Property and casualty insurance provider Hartford originally signed an agreement with Columbia Insurance in June this year, to divest its UK variable annuity business, as part of its strategy to streamline its operations.

HLIL's sole asset is its subsidiary, Hartford Life Limited (HLL), a Dublin-based company that sold variable annuities in the UK from 2005 to 2009. As of 30 November 2013, HLL had $1.7bn in assets under management.