Operator
Operator
W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB)
Q3 2010 Earnings Call· Tue, Oct 26, 2010
$66.76
+0.85%
Same-Day
-0.12%
1 Week
-0.12%
1 Month
-1.96%
vs S&P
-2.03%
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
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Management
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