Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a holding company owning subsidiaries engaged in a number of diverse business activities, the most important of which are insurance businesses conducted on both a primary basis and a reinsurance basis. Berkshires principal insurance businesses are GEICO, General Re, Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group and Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. Berkshire also owns and operates a number of other businesses that offer apparel, building products, finance and financial products and flight services. In addition, the Company operates retail businesses consisting of several independently managed home furnishings and jewelry retail operations.