W. R. Berkley Corporation Reports First Quarter Results

First Quarter Gross Premiums Written Grew 11.4% and Return on Equity of 14.5%

W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today reported its first quarter 2021 results.

(1) Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses) and related expenses.

(2) Return on equity represents net income (loss) expressed on an annualized basis as a percentage of beginning of year common stockholders’ equity.

First quarter highlights included:

• Return on equity of 14.5%.
• Gross and net premiums written increased 11.4% and 11.1%, respectively.
• The reported combined ratio was 90.1%. The accident year combined ratio before catastrophe losses was 88.4%.
• Record quarterly underwriting income of $182.6 million.
• Current accident year catastrophes added 1.9 loss ratio points to the reported combined ratio.
• Average rate increases excluding workers' compensation were approximately 12.8%.
• Total capital returned to shareholders was $51 million, including $30 million of share repurchases at an average price per share of $63.82 and $21 million of dividends.

The Company commented:

The Company began the year with a very strong quarter. Premium growth exceeded 11% and we reported a combined ratio of 90.1%, contributing to a 14.5% annualized return on beginning year common stockholders’ equity.

Rate increases continued into 2021 and we expect them to extend for the foreseeable future in light of persistent social inflation and above-average industry catastrophe losses in this and recent quarters. Our combined ratio improved, and we expect it will further improve as compounding rate increases in excess of loss cost trends are fully reflected in underwriting profits.

Our alternative investment portfolio delivered strong performance, driven by our investment funds, arbitrage trading account, and approximately $76 million of realized gains on investments. We began reinvesting a modest portion of our cash as interest rates rose, yet maintain a defensive position in our fixed-maturity securities, with a higher allocation to short-term assets. We remain committed to a total return investment strategy and anticipate that it will continue to generate attractive returns for shareholders.

Our Company’s decentralized model is built to excel in transitioning markets such as this one. Our agility and product focus allow us to quickly emphasize market sectors that offer the best risk-adjusted returns. This competitive advantage uniquely positions us to outperform in the current environment and as the economy expands. We expect to greatly benefit from this opportunity, which should lead to exceptional results.

Webcast Conference Call

The Company will hold its quarterly conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its earnings and other information on April 20, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. eastern time. The conference call will be webcast live on the Company's website at https://ir.berkley.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations/default.aspx. Please log on at least ten minutes early to register and download and install any necessary software. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website approximately two hours after the end of the conference call. Additional financial information can be found on the Company's website at https://ir.berkley.com/investor-relations/financial-information/annual-reports/default.aspx.

About W. R. Berkley Corporation

Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess.

Forward Looking Information

This is a “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including statements related to our outlook for the industry and for our performance for the year 2021 and beyond, are based upon the Company’s historical performance and on current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future plans, estimates or expectations contemplated by us will be achieved. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the cyclical nature of the property casualty industry; the impact of significant competition, including new alternative entrants to the industry; the long-tail and potentially volatile nature of the insurance and reinsurance business; product demand and pricing; claims development and the process of estimating reserves; investment risks, including those of our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and investments in equity securities, including investments in financial institutions, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed securities, loans receivable, investment funds, including real estate, merger arbitrage, energy related and private equity investments; the effects of emerging claim and coverage issues; the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts, including claims for cybersecurity-related risks; natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities; the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of climate change, which may alter the frequency and increase the severity of catastrophe events; general economic and market activities, including inflation, interest rates, and volatility in the credit and capital markets; the impact of the conditions in the financial markets and the global economy, and the potential effect of legislative, regulatory, accounting or other initiatives taken in response, on our results and financial condition; foreign currency and political risks (including those associated with the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union, or "Brexit") relating to our international operations; our ability to attract and retain key personnel and qualified employees; continued availability of capital and financing; the success of our new ventures or acquisitions and the availability of other opportunities; the availability of reinsurance; our retention under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019; the ability or willingness of our reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us; other legislative and regulatory developments, including those related to business practices in the insurance industry; credit risk related to our policyholders, independent agents and brokers; changes in the ratings assigned to us or our insurance company subsidiaries by rating agencies; the availability of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries; potential difficulties with technology and/or cyber security issues; the effectiveness of our controls to ensure compliance with guidelines, policies and legal and regulatory standards; and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results for the year 2021 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement we make. Any projections of growth in our revenues would not necessarily result in commensurate levels of earnings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

(1) Basic shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (including shares held in a grantor trust). Diluted shares outstanding consist of the weighted average number of basic and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period.

(2) During 2020, diluted shares have been reduced by 2.0 million to reflect the anti-dilutive effect of common equivalent shares.

(1) Loss ratio is losses and loss expenses incurred expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. Expense ratio is underwriting expenses expressed as a percentage of premiums earned. GAAP combined ratio is the sum of the loss ratio and the expense ratio.

(1) Short-tail lines include commercial multi-peril (non-liability), inland marine, accident and health, fidelity and surety, boiler and machinery and other lines.

(2) Core portfolio includes fixed maturity securities, equity securities, cash and cash equivalents, real estate and loans receivable.

(3) Operating income is a non-GAAP financial measure defined by the Company as net income excluding after-tax net investment gains (losses). Net investment gains (losses) are computed net of related expenses, including performance-based compensatory costs associated with realized investment gains. Management believes this measurement provides a useful indicator of trends in the Company’s underlying operations.

(1) Net invested assets include investments, cash and cash equivalents, trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases, net of related liabilities.

(2) As of March 31, 2021, reflected in common stockholders' equity are after-tax unrealized investment gains of $200 million and unrealized currency translation losses of $348 million. As of December 31, 2020, after-tax unrealized investment gains were $290 million and unrealized currency translation losses were $352 million.

(3) During the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company repurchased 465,063 shares of its common stock for $30 million. The number of shares of common stock outstanding excludes shares held in a grantor trust.

(4) Book value per share is total common stockholders’ equity divided by the number of common shares outstanding. Tangible book value per share is total common stockholders’ equity excluding the after-tax value of goodwill and other intangible assets divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

(1) Total fixed maturity securities had an average rating of AA- and an average duration of 2.4 years, including cash and cash equivalents.

(2) Cash and cash equivalents includes trading accounts receivable from brokers and clearing organizations, trading account securities sold but not yet purchased and unsettled purchases.

(3) Investment funds are net of related liabilities of $0.8 million.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210420006086/en/