Earnings Labs

W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB)

Q3 2010 Earnings Call· Tue, Oct 26, 2010

$66.76

+0.85%

Key Takeaways · AI generated
AI summary not yet generated for this transcript. Generation in progress for older transcripts; check back soon, or browse the full transcript below.

Same-Day

-0.12%

1 Week

-0.12%

1 Month

-1.96%

vs S&P

-2.03%

Transcript

Operator

Operator

William R Berkley

Management

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Gene Ballard

Management

William R Berkley

Management

So with that I’m happy to take any questions, and we are all sitting here and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions. So with that I’m happy to take any questions, and we are all sitting here and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions. So with that I’m happy to take any questions, and we are all sitting here and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions. So with that I’m happy to take any questions, and we are all sitting here and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions. So with that I’m happy to take any questions, and we are all sitting here and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions. So with that I’m happy to take any questions, and we are all sitting here and we’ll be pleased to answer any of your questions.

Operator

Operator

Kevin Walsh – Citi:

Gene Ballard

Management

Yeah, it’s around $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion each year, in 2011 and ‘12, that would be rolling off and maturing.

William R Berkley

Management

Kevin Walsh – Citi: And roughly what’s the gap between the portfolio yield and the new money rate today that you’re seeing?

William R Berkley

Management

I would guess that we’re probably talking about 0.5%, maybe 0.75%. Kevin Walsh – Citi: Kevin Walsh – Citi:

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Kevin Walsh – Citi: Okay, thank you very much.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Josh Shanker from Deutsche Bank. Josh Shanker – Deutsche Bank:

William R Berkley

Management

Josh Shanker – Deutsche Bank: In terms of equilibrium, what would be causing admitted carriers to be behaving more responsibly if they haven’t yet seen losses?

William R Berkley

Management

Rob Berkley

Management

I think you covered it unless Josh had a further question. Josh Shanker – Deutsche Bank: The only thing, is there any rule of thumb we can use to think about pricing between business – how it’s priced in the admitted market versus how it’s priced in the ENS market?

Rob Berkley

Management

Well clearly historically the non-admitted market or the ENS market has had more robust rates and perhaps as if not more important, their terms and conditions are such that it translates into perhaps a better all-in effective rate. Josh Shanker – Deutsche Bank: It’s difficult to quantify.

Rob Berkley

Management

Josh Shanker – Deutsche Bank: Yep, alright.

William R Berkley

Management

Josh Shanker – Deutsche Bank:

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Vinay Misquith from Credit Suisse. Vinay Misquith – Credit Suisse:

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Vinay Misquith – Credit Suisse: And then the new business that you’re getting, would it be fair to say some of it is coming from the old companies that are staying with and some of it is coming from the new companies?

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Vinay Misquith – Credit Suisse:

William R Berkley

Management

Vinay Misquith – Credit Suisse: Okay, thank you.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Ken Billingsley with BGB Securities. Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities:

William R Berkley

Management

Can you speak a little louder, Ken? Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities: Yes, can you hear me okay now?

William R Berkley

Management

Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities:

Gene Ballard

Management

Yeah, $51 million. Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities:

Gene Ballard

Management

Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities:

William R Berkley

Management

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities:

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities:

William R Berkley

Management

Ken Billingsley – BGB Securities: Great, congratulations on the quarter. William R Berkley – Thank you.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Doug McGregor of RBC Capital Markets. Doug McGregor – RBC Capital Markets:

Rob Berkley

Management

Doug McGregor – RBC Capital Markets:

Rob Berkley

Management

William R Berkley

Management

Doug McGregor – RBC Capital Markets:

William R Berkley

Management

Doug McGregor – RBC Capital Markets:

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Greg Locraft with Morgan Stanley. Greg Locraft – Morgan Stanley:

William R Berkley

Management

Greg Locraft – Morgan Stanley:

William R Berkley

Management

Well since you’ve already decided what it is you’ve answered your question for yourself, there’s no sense in me responding. Greg Locraft – Morgan Stanley:

Rob Berkley

Management

Yeah, 11% is not anywhere near a high for that. Greg Locraft – Morgan Stanley:

William R Berkley

Management

Greg Locraft – Morgan Stanley:

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Jay Cohen from Bank of America. Jay Cohen – Bank of America:

William R Berkley

Management

Yes. Jay Cohen – Bank of America: Okay.

William R Berkley

Management

And it also says that probably one would think that any takedowns probably are somewhat offset by caution in the current years. Jay Cohen – Bank of America: I guess you also have the other issue of prices that have been going down, so that would obviously put some upward pressure on that pick, too.

William R Berkley

Management

Jay Cohen – Bank of America:

William R Berkley

Management

Jay Cohen – Bank of America: Any exposure to the New Zealand earthquake?

William R Berkley

Management

Nothing of any consequence. Jay Cohen – Bank of America:

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Meyer Shields with Stifel Nicolaus. Meyer Shields – Stifel Nicolaus:

William R Berkley

Management

Meyer Shields – Stifel Nicolaus:

William R Berkley

Management

Meyer Shields – Stifel Nicolaus:

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Bob Farnum at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. Bob Farnum – Keefe, Bruyette & Woods:

William R Berkley

Management

Yes, sir. Bob Farnum – Keefe, Bruyette & Woods:

William R Berkley

Management

Bob Farnum – Keefe, Bruyette & Woods:

William R Berkley

Management

I won’t say we’ll be a very different company but it’s certainly an issue that I take seriously and we will have to give consideration to that, because yes – I believe ultimately the cost of capital is a long-term driver of companies’ abilities to survive. Bob Farnum – Keefe, Bruyette & Woods:

William R Berkley

Management

Bob Farnum – Keefe, Bruyette & Woods: So not much different than your current, your domestic book.

William R Berkley

Management

Bob Farnum – Keefe, Bruyette & Woods:

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Larry Greenberg with Langen McAlenney. Larry Greenberg – Langen McAlenney:

William R Berkley

Management

Larry Greenberg – Langen McAlenney: Interesting, thank you.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from Connie Deboever at The Boston Company. Connie Deboever – The Boston Company:

William R Berkley

Management

Connie Deboever – The Boston Company: Understood, thank you.

Operator

Operator

And sir, I’m showing no further questions in the queue.

William R Berkley

Management

Operator

Operator

You may quote up to 400 words of any transcript on the condition that you attribute the transcript to Seeking Alpha and either link to the original transcript or to www.SeekingAlpha.com. All other use is prohibited.

Management

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE IS A TEXTUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE APPLICABLE COMPANY’S CONFERENCE CALL, CONFERENCE PRESENTATION OR OTHER AUDIO PRESENTATION, AND WHILE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO PROVIDE AN ACCURATE TRANSCRIPTION, THERE MAY BE MATERIAL ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR INACCURACIES IN THE REPORTING OF THE SUBSTANCE OF THE AUDIO PRESENTATIONS. IN NO WAY DOES SEEKING ALPHA ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS MADE BASED UPON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEB SITE OR IN ANY TRANSCRIPT. USERS ARE ADVISED TO REVIEW THE APPLICABLE COMPANY’S AUDIO PRESENTATION ITSELF AND THE APPLICABLE COMPANY’S SEC FILINGS BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISIONS. If you have any additional questions about our online transcripts, please contact us at: transcripts@seekingalpha.com. Thank you!