Annual Statements Open main menu

BERKLEY W R CORP - Quarter Report: 2023 March (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q
(Mark one)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2023
or
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the Transition Period from                      to                     .
Commission File Number
1-15202

W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware22-1867895
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
  
475 Steamboat RoadGreenwichConnecticut06830
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(203)629-3000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
None
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title Trading SymbolName
 
Common Stock, par value $.20 per shareWRBNew York Stock Exchange
5.700% Subordinated Debentures due 2058WRB-PENew York Stock Exchange
5.100% Subordinated Debentures due 2059WRB-PFNew York Stock Exchange
4.250% Subordinated Debentures due 2060WRB-PGNew York Stock Exchange
4.125% Subordinated Debentures due 2061WRB-PHNew York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes      No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes      No
1


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filerSmaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes     No
Number of shares of common stock, $.20 par value, outstanding as of April 27, 2023: 260,774,686
2


TABLE OF CONTENTS
EX-101 INSTANCE DOCUMENT
EX-101 SCHEMA DOCUMENT
EX-101 CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 LABELS LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
EX-101 DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
3


Part I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.     Financial Statements
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
March 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
(Unaudited)(Audited)
Assets  
Investments:  
Fixed maturity securities (amortized cost of $18,988,459 and $18,715,483; allowance for expected credit losses of $37,249 and $37,466 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
$18,091,113 $17,587,349 
Investment funds1,601,567 1,608,548 
Real estate1,338,504 1,340,622 
Equity securities1,279,955 1,185,894 
Arbitrage trading account609,001 944,230 
Loans receivable (net of allowance for expected credit losses of $1,609 and $1,791 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
194,944 193,002 
Total investments23,115,084 22,859,645 
Cash and cash equivalents1,242,357 1,449,346 
Premiums and fees receivable (net of allowance for expected credit losses of $32,353 and $30,660 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
2,814,504 2,779,244 
Due from reinsurers (net of allowance for expected credit losses of $8,703 and $8,064 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
3,282,288 3,187,730 
Deferred policy acquisition costs786,502 763,486 
Prepaid reinsurance premiums701,295 696,468 
Trading account receivables from brokers and clearing organizations583,970 233,863 
Property, furniture and equipment421,102 423,232 
Goodwill185,509 185,509 
Accrued investment income181,342 166,784 
Current and deferred federal and foreign income taxes205,291 333,774 
Other assets776,820 736,022 
Total assets$34,296,064 $33,815,103 
Liabilities and Equity  
Liabilities:  
Reserves for losses and loss expenses$17,431,635 $17,011,223 
Unearned premiums5,385,886 5,297,654 
Due to reinsurers539,333 523,131 
Other liabilities1,137,055 1,377,740 
Senior notes and other debt1,827,981 1,828,823 
Subordinated debentures1,008,551 1,008,371 
Total liabilities27,330,441 27,046,942 
Equity:  
Preferred stock, par value $0.10 per share:
  
Authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - none
— — 
Common stock, par value $0.20 per share:
  
Authorized 1,250,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, net of treasury shares, 262,536,530 and 264,546,100 shares, respectively
105,803 105,803 
Additional paid-in capital1,008,128 997,534 
Retained earnings10,296,539 10,161,005 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(1,078,917)(1,264,581)
Treasury stock, at cost, 266,478,098 and 264,468,528 shares, respectively
(3,387,538)(3,251,429)
Total stockholders’ equity6,944,015 6,748,332 
Noncontrolling interests21,608 19,829 
Total equity6,965,623 6,768,161 
Total liabilities and equity$34,296,064 $33,815,103 
See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
1


W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
20232022
REVENUES:
Net premiums written$2,574,824 $2,413,254 
Change in net unearned premiums(83,392)(164,167)
Net premiums earned2,491,432 2,249,087 
Net investment income223,398 173,512 
Net investment gains:
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments22,611 369,882 
Change in allowance for expected credit losses on investments399 (3,617)
Net investment gains 23,010 366,265 
Revenues from non-insurance businesses124,200 97,776 
Insurance service fees32,857 27,951 
Other income107 818 
Total revenues2,895,004 2,915,409 
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Losses and loss expenses1,538,755 1,339,252 
Other operating costs and expenses825,575 713,899 
Expenses from non-insurance businesses122,767 94,855 
Interest expense31,836 34,970 
Total operating costs and expenses2,518,933 2,182,976 
Income before income taxes376,071 732,433 
Income tax expense(80,342)(139,403)
Net income before noncontrolling interests295,729 593,030 
Noncontrolling interests(1,603)(2,392)
Net income to common stockholders$294,126 $590,638 
NET INCOME PER SHARE:
Basic$1.07 $2.13 
Diluted$1.06 $2.12 

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.






2


W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
20232022
Net income before noncontrolling interests$295,729 $593,030 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Change in unrealized currency translation adjustments4,866 56,272 
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses), net of taxes180,799 (423,545)
Other comprehensive income (loss)185,665 (367,273)
Comprehensive income481,394 225,757 
Noncontrolling interests(1,602)(2,391)
Comprehensive income to common stockholders$479,792 $223,366 

See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
3


W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except per share data)
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
20232022
COMMON STOCK:
Beginning and end of period$105,803 $105,803 
ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL:
Beginning of period$997,534 $981,104 
Restricted stock units issued(1,200)(530)
Restricted stock units expensed11,794 11,438 
End of period$1,008,128 $992,012 
RETAINED EARNINGS:
Beginning of period$10,161,005 $9,015,135 
Net income to common stockholders294,126 590,638 
Dividends ($0.60 and $0.09 per share, respectively)
(158,592)(22,983)
End of period$10,296,539 $9,582,790 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:
Unrealized investment (loss) gain:
Beginning of period$(892,905)$90,900 
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities without an allowance for expected credit losses177,342 (423,839)
Change in unrealized gains on securities with an allowance for expected credit losses3,456 293 
End of period(712,107)(332,646)
Currency translation adjustments:
Beginning of period(371,676)(372,855)
Net change in period4,866 56,272 
End of period(366,810)(316,583)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss$(1,078,917)$(649,229)
TREASURY STOCK:
Beginning of period$(3,251,429)$(3,167,076)
Stock exercised/vested395 203 
Stock repurchased(135,152)— 
Other(1,352)— 
End of period$(3,387,538)$(3,166,873)
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS:
Beginning of period$19,829 $14,719 
Contributions177 6,186 
Net income1,603 2,392 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax(1)(1)
End of period$21,608 $23,296 
See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
4


W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
 20232022
CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:  
Net income to common stockholders$294,126 $590,638 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:  
Net investment gains(23,010)(366,265)
Depreciation and amortization9,737 24,631 
Noncontrolling interests1,603 2,392 
Investment funds(2,180)(52,012)
Stock incentive plans11,793 11,438 
Change in:
Arbitrage trading account(14,879)(7,215)
Premiums and fees receivable(33,460)(69,704)
Reinsurance accounts(84,746)(2,643)
Deferred policy acquisition costs(23,727)(39,220)
Income taxes76,933 123,763 
Reserves for losses and loss expenses424,149 316,065 
Unearned premiums87,991 167,522 
Other(279,007)(221,708)
Net cash from operating activities445,323 477,682 
CASH (USED IN) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:  
Proceeds from sale of fixed maturity securities429,400 408,221 
Proceeds from sale of equity securities9,933 9,227 
Distributions from (contributions to) investment funds7,518 (13,423)
Proceeds from maturities and prepayments of fixed maturity securities956,308 1,440,457 
Purchase of fixed maturity securities(1,686,107)(2,200,214)
Purchase of equity securities(59,529)(100,356)
Real estate sold 7,472 28,141 
Change in loans receivable612 332 
Net purchases of property, furniture and equipment(11,532)(9,114)
Change in balances due to security brokers(13,598)98,058 
Cash received in connection with business disposition— 906,789 
Payment for business purchased net of cash acquired— (49,572)
Other93 17 
Net cash (used in) from investing activities(359,430)518,563 
CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES:  
Repayment of senior notes and other debt— (426,503)
Net payments for stock options exercised(806)(327)
Net proceeds from issuance of debt(868)1,186 
Cash dividends to common stockholders(158,592)(22,983)
Purchase of common treasury shares(135,152)— 
Other, net(308)(2,703)
Net cash used in financing activities(295,726)(451,330)
Net impact on cash due to change in foreign exchange rates2,844 1,083 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents(206,989)545,998 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period1,449,346 1,568,843 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$1,242,357 $2,114,841 
See accompanying notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
5



W. R. Berkley Corporation and Subsidiaries
NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(1) General
    The unaudited consolidated financial statements, which include the accounts of W. R. Berkley Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), have been prepared on the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for annual financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, which are necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position and results of operations on a basis consistent with the prior audited consolidated financial statements. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. For the quarter ended March 31, 2022, the Company did not correct the proceeds from sale of fixed maturity securities and purchase of fixed maturity securities lines within the consolidated statements of cash flows for an incremental inter-company elimination as the effects were not material and had no impact on the total amount of investing activities.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the revenues and expenses reflected during the reporting period. For further information related to areas of judgment and estimates and other information necessary to understand the Company’s financial position and results of operations, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The income tax provision has been computed based on the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate. The effective income tax rate differs from the federal income tax rate of 21% primarily due to state and foreign income taxes, which was partially offset by tax-exempt investment income.


(2) Per Share Data
    The Company presents both basic and diluted net income per share (“EPS”) amounts. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period (including 11,416,856 and 11,592,699 common shares held in a grantor trust as of March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively). The common shares held in the grantor trust are for delivery upon settlement of vested but mandatorily deferred restricted stock units ("RSUs"). Shares held by the grantor trust do not affect diluted shares outstanding since the shares deliverable under vested RSUs were already included in diluted shares outstanding. Diluted EPS is based upon the weighted average number of basic and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period and is calculated using the treasury stock method for stock incentive plans. Common equivalent shares are excluded from the computation in periods in which they have an anti-dilutive effect.
    The weighted average number of common shares used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share was as follows:
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Basic274,977 276,772 
Diluted277,339 279,157 


(3) Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Accounting Policies
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements:
    All accounting and reporting standards that became effective in 2023 were either not applicable to the Company or their adoption did not have a material impact on the Company.
Accounting and reporting standards that are not yet effective:
    All recently issued but not yet effective accounting and reporting standards are either not applicable to the Company or are not expected to have a material impact on the Company.
6


(4) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

    The following table presents the components of the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"):
(In thousands)Unrealized Investment (Losses) GainsCurrency Translation AdjustmentsAccumulated Other Comprehensive
(Loss) Income
As of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023
Changes in AOCI
Beginning of period$(892,905)$(371,676)$(1,264,581)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications155,215 4,866 160,081 
Amounts reclassified from AOCI25,584 — 25,584 
Other comprehensive income180,799 4,866 185,665 
Unrealized investment loss related to noncontrolling interest(1)— (1)
End of period$(712,107)$(366,810)$(1,078,917)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
Pre-tax$32,385 (1)$— $32,385 
Tax effect (6,801)(2)— (6,801)
After-tax amounts reclassified$25,584 $— $25,584 
Other comprehensive income
Pre-tax$232,021 $4,866 $236,887 
Tax effect(51,222)— (51,222)
Other comprehensive income$180,799 $4,866 $185,665 
As of and for the three months ended March 31, 2022
Changes in AOCI
Beginning of period$90,900 $(372,855)$(281,955)
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications(433,136)56,272 (376,864)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI9,591 — 9,591 
Other comprehensive (loss) income(423,545)56,272 (367,273)
Unrealized investment loss related to noncontrolling interest(1)— (1)
Ending balance$(332,646)$(316,583)$(649,229)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI
Pre-tax$12,141 (1)$— $12,141 
Tax effect (2,550)(2)— (2,550)
After-tax amounts reclassified$9,591 $— $9,591 
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Pre-tax$(539,449)$56,272 $(483,177)
Tax effect115,904 — 115,904 
Other comprehensive (loss) income$(423,545)$56,272 $(367,273)

____________
(1) Net investment gains in the consolidated statements of income.
(2) Income tax expense in the consolidated statements of income.



(5) Statements of Cash Flows
    Interest payments were $41,150,000 and $52,899,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no income taxes paid for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
7


(6) Investments in Fixed Maturity Securities
    At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, investments in fixed maturity securities were as follows:
 
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit Losses (1)Gross UnrealizedFair
Value
Carrying
Value
GainsLosses
March 31, 2023
Held to maturity:
State and municipal$48,474 $(107)$3,902 $— $52,269 $48,367 
Residential mortgage-backed3,399 — 53 — 3,452 3,399 
Total held to maturity51,873 (107)3,955 — 55,721 51,766 
Available for sale:
U.S. government and government agency1,100,204 — 3,728 (54,665)1,049,267 1,049,267 
State and municipal:
Special revenue1,759,098 — 5,429 (90,044)1,674,483 1,674,483 
State general obligation386,952 — 4,090 (16,577)374,465 374,465 
Pre-refunded105,812 — 3,351 (248)108,915 108,915 
Corporate backed204,773 — 491 (8,447)196,817 196,817 
Local general obligation442,571 — 4,212 (12,104)434,679 434,679 
Total state and municipal2,899,206 — 17,573 (127,420)2,789,359 2,789,359 
Mortgage-backed:
Residential1,464,856 (23)2,298 (153,147)1,313,984 1,313,984 
Commercial595,818 — 1,220 (13,293)583,745 583,745 
Total mortgage-backed2,060,674 (23)3,518 (166,440)1,897,729 1,897,729 
Asset-backed3,960,140 — 3,166 (117,853)3,845,453 3,845,453 
Corporate:
Industrial3,563,744 (66)9,599 (187,833)3,385,444 3,385,444 
Financial2,737,880 (3,729)7,421 (115,268)2,626,304 2,626,304 
Utilities650,151 — 5,117 (27,941)627,327 627,327 
Other495,850 — 122 (9,398)486,574 486,574 
Total corporate7,447,625 (3,795)22,259 (340,440)7,125,649 7,125,649 
Foreign government1,468,737 (33,324)6,312 (109,835)1,331,890 1,331,890 
Total available for sale18,936,586 (37,142)56,556 (916,653)18,039,347 18,039,347 
Total investments in fixed maturity securities$18,988,459 $(37,249)$60,511 $(916,653)$18,095,068 $18,091,113 
____________
(1) Represents the amount of impairment that has resulted from credit-related factors. The change in the allowance for expected credit losses is recognized in the consolidated statements of income. Amount excludes unrealized losses relating to non-credit factors.
8


(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Expected Credit Losses (1)Gross UnrealizedFair
Value
Carrying
Value
GainsLosses
December 31, 2022
Held to maturity:
State and municipal$47,802 $(114)$4,239 $— $51,927 $47,688 
Residential mortgage-backed3,608 — 38 — 3,646 3,608 
Total held to maturity51,410 (114)4,277 — 55,573 51,296 
Available for sale:
U.S. government and government agency960,479 — 937 (69,158)892,258 892,258 
State and municipal:
Special revenue1,837,309 — 3,662 (119,474)1,721,497 1,721,497 
State general obligation387,709 — 2,651 (21,335)369,025 369,025 
Pre-refunded156,106 — 2,741 (7)158,840 158,840 
Corporate backed210,228 — 334 (10,923)199,639 199,639 
Local general obligation454,983 — 2,967 (16,853)441,097 441,097 
Total state and municipal3,046,335 — 12,355 (168,592)2,890,098 2,890,098 
Mortgage-backed:
Residential 1,308,019 (18)395 (171,595)1,136,801 1,136,801 
Commercial547,757 — 215 (19,363)528,609 528,609 
Total mortgage-backed securities1,855,776 (18)610 (190,958)1,665,410 1,665,428 
Asset-backed4,132,365 — 2,730 (152,322)3,982,773 3,982,773 
Corporate:
Industrial3,491,645 (1,704)4,439 (241,381)3,252,999 3,252,999 
Financial2,585,247 (2,997)5,505 (117,383)2,470,372 2,470,372 
Utilities586,066 — 1,307 (36,325)551,048 551,048 
Other441,230 — — (11,657)429,573 429,573 
Total corporate7,104,188 (4,701)11,251 (406,746)6,703,992 6,703,992 
Foreign government1,564,930 (32,633)4,283 (135,058)1,401,522 1,401,522 
Total available for sale18,664,073 (37,352)32,166 (1,122,834)17,536,053 17,536,053 
Total investments in fixed maturity securities$18,715,483 $(37,466)$36,443 $(1,122,834)$17,591,626 $17,587,349 
____________
(1) Represents the amount of impairment that has resulted from credit-related factors. The change in the allowance for expected credit losses is recognized in the consolidated statements of income. Amount excludes unrealized losses relating to non-credit factors.
The following table presents the rollforward of the allowance for expected credit losses for held to maturity securities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
(In thousands)20232022
Allowance for expected credit losses, beginning of period$114 $387 
Provision for expected credit losses(7)(9)
Allowance for expected credit losses, end of period$107 $378 





9


The following table presents the rollforward of the allowance for expected credit losses for available for sale securities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
20232022
(In thousands)Foreign GovernmentCorporateMortgage-backedTotalForeign GovernmentCorporateTotal
Allowance for expected credit losses, beginning of period$32,633 $4,701 $18 $37,352 $22,222 $16 $22,238 
Expected credit losses on securities for which credit losses were not previously recorded— 186 — 186 484 — 484 
Expected credit losses (gains) on securities for which credit losses were previously recorded691 (1,087)(391)3,447 (16)3,431 
Reduction due to disposals— (5)— (5)— — — 
Allowance for expected credit losses, end of period$33,324 $3,795 $23 $37,142 $26,153 $— $26,153 

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company decreased the allowance for expected credit losses for available for sale securities utilizing its credit loss assessment process and inputs used in its credit loss model due to a decrease in unrealized losses primarily associated with corporate securities offset by foreign government securities. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company increased the allowance for expected credit losses for available for sale securities utilizing its credit loss assessment process and inputs used in its credit loss model, primarily due to foreign government securities.
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2023, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.  
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost (1)
Fair
Value
Due in one year or less$1,568,436 $1,528,990 
Due after one year through five years8,864,666 8,503,127 
Due after five years through ten years4,287,881 4,084,883 
Due after ten years2,203,296 2,076,887 
Mortgage-backed securities2,064,073 1,901,181 
Total$18,988,352 $18,095,068 
________________
(1) Amortized cost is reduced by the allowance for expected credit losses of $107 thousand related to held to maturity securities.    
At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no investments that exceeded 10% of common stockholders' equity, other than investments in United States government and government agency securities.


10


(7) Investments in Equity Securities
    At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, investments in equity securities were as follows:
 
(In thousands)CostGross UnrealizedFair
Value
Carrying
Value
GainsLosses
March 31, 2023
Common stocks$883,234 $227,947 $(53,582)$1,057,599 $1,057,599 
Preferred stocks282,750 1,526 (61,920)222,356 222,356 
Total$1,165,984 $229,473 $(115,502)$1,279,955 $1,279,955 
December 31, 2022
Common stocks$855,987 $192,165 $(65,401)$982,751 $982,751 
Preferred stocks259,341 1,053 (57,251)203,143 203,143 
Total$1,115,328 $193,218 $(122,652)$1,185,894 $1,185,894 




(8) Arbitrage Trading Account
    At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the fair and carrying values of the arbitrage trading account were $609 million and $944 million, respectively. The primary focus of the trading account is merger arbitrage. Merger arbitrage is the business of investing in the securities of publicly held companies which are the targets in announced tender offers and mergers. Arbitrage investing differs from other types of investing in its focus on transactions and events believed likely to bring about a change in value over a relatively short time period (usually four months or less).
    The Company uses put options and call options in order to mitigate the impact of potential changes in market conditions on the merger arbitrage trading account. These options are reported at fair value. As of March 31, 2023, the fair value of long option contracts outstanding was $5 thousand (notional amount of $2 million). Other than with respect to the use of these trading account securities, the Company does not make use of derivatives.


(9) Net Investment Income
    Net investment income consisted of the following: 
 For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Investment income (loss) earned on:
Fixed maturity securities, including cash and cash equivalents and loans receivable$195,642 $101,284 
Arbitrage trading account18,256 9,187 
Equity securities13,746 10,856 
Investment funds2,180 52,012 
Real estate(3,711)2,146 
Gross investment income226,113 175,485 
Investment expense(2,715)(1,973)
Net investment income$223,398 $173,512 


11


(10) Investment Funds
    The Company evaluates whether it is an investor in a variable interest entity ("VIE"). Such entities do not have sufficient equity at risk to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support, or the equity investors, as a group, do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest (primary beneficiary). The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of an entity subject to consolidation based on a qualitative assessment of the VIE's capital structure, contractual terms, nature of the VIE's operations and purpose, and the Company's relative exposure to the related risks of the VIE on the date it becomes initially involved in the VIE and on an ongoing basis. The Company is not the primary beneficiary in any of its investment funds, and accordingly, carries its interests in investment funds under the equity method of accounting.    
    The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to these investments is limited to the carrying amount reported on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet and its unfunded commitments, which were $408 million as of March 31, 2023.
    Investment funds consisted of the following:
Carrying Value as of Income (Loss) from
Investment Funds
March 31,December 31,For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
(In thousands)2023202220232022
Financial services$444,645 $465,683 $(13,047)$25,932 
Transportation336,808 336,753 11,788 11,179 
Real Estate216,871 204,644 956 16,364 
Infrastructure119,042 115,428 3,355 841 
Energy117,461 116,432 3,439 (892)
Other funds366,740 369,608 (4,311)(1,412)
Total$1,601,567 $1,608,548 $2,180 $52,012 
    The Company's share of the earnings or losses from investment funds is generally reported on a one-quarter lag in order to facilitate the timely completion of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
Financial services investment funds include the minority investment in Lifson Re, a Bermuda reinsurance company. Effective January 1, 2021, Lifson Re participated on a fully collateralized basis in a majority of the Company’s reinsurance placements for a 22.5% share of placed amounts. The percentage increased from 22.5% to 30.0% effective July 1, 2022. This pertains to all traditional reinsurance/retrocessional placements for both property and casualty business where there is more than one open market reinsurer participating. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company ceded approximately $107 million and $89 million, respectively, of written premiums to Lifson Re.
Other funds include deferred compensation trust assets of $34 million and $30 million as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. These assets support other liabilities reflected in the balance sheet of an equal amount for employees who have elected to defer a portion of their compensation. The change in the net asset value of the trust is recorded in other funds within net investment income with an offsetting equal amount within corporate expenses.

(11) Real Estate
    Investment in real estate represents directly owned property held for investment, as follows:
Carrying Value
March 31,December 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Properties in operation$1,111,713 $1,114,167 
Properties under development226,791 226,455 
Total$1,338,504 $1,340,622 

    As of March 31, 2023, properties in operation included a long-term ground lease in Washington, D.C., an office complex in New York City and the completed portion of a mixed-use project in Washington D.C. Properties in operation are net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $30,180,000 and $33,206,000 as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Related depreciation expense was $2,281,000 and $4,788,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023
12


and 2022, respectively. Future minimum rental income expected on operating leases relating to properties in operation is $24,345,984 in 2023, $34,786,393 in 2024, $32,070,092 in 2025, $29,483,276 in 2026, $28,567,112 in 2027, $28,906,220 in 2028 and $482,081,845 thereafter.
During the first quarter of 2022, the Company sold a real estate investment in London (proceeds from the real estate and related entity is presented on the business disposition line within the consolidated statements of cash flows).
    A mixed-use project in Washington, D.C. had been under development in 2023 and 2022, with the completed portion reported in properties in operation as of March 31, 2023.

(12) Loans Receivable

At March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, loans receivable were as follows:
(In thousands)March 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
Amortized cost (net of allowance for expected credit losses):
Real estate loans$175,745 $173,616 
Commercial loans19,199 19,386 
Total$194,944 $193,002 
Fair value:
Real estate loans$168,256 $168,595 
Commercial loans19,199 19,386 
Total$187,455 $187,981 
The real estate loans are secured by commercial and residential real estate primarily located in London and New York. These loans generally earn interest at fixed or stepped interest rates and have maturities through 2026. The commercial loans are with small business owners who have secured the related financing with the assets of the business. Commercial loans primarily earn interest on a fixed basis and have varying maturities generally not exceeding 10 years.
Loans receivable in non-accrual status were none as of both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
The following table presents the rollforward of the allowance for expected credit losses for loans receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
20232022
(In thousands)Real Estate LoansCommercial LoansTotalReal Estate LoansCommercial LoansTotal
Allowance for expected credit losses, beginning of period$1,100 $691 $1,791 $1,362 $356 $1,718 
Change in expected credit losses(61)(121)(182)(67)(222)(289)
Allowance for expected credit losses, end of period$1,039 $570 $1,609 $1,295 $134 $1,429 
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company decreased the allowance primarily due to a decrease in the weighted average life of the loans receivable portfolio. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company reduced the allowance primarily due to the decrease in the duration of the loan portfolio.
The Company monitors the performance of its loans receivable and assesses the ability of the borrower to pay principal and interest based upon loan structure, underlying property values, cash flow and related financial and operating performance of the property and market conditions.
    In evaluating the real estate loans, the Company considers their credit quality indicators, including loan to value ratios, which compare the outstanding loan amount to the estimated value of the property, the borrower’s financial condition and performance with respect to loan terms, the position in the capital structure, the overall leverage in the capital structure and other market conditions.

13


(13) Net Investment Gains
     Net investment gains (losses) were as follows:
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Net investment gains (losses):
Fixed maturity securities:
Gains$943 $1,705 
Losses(18,130)(2,984)
Equity securities (1):
Net realized gains on investment sales1,060 905 
Change in unrealized gains43,404 93,213 
Investment funds10 (2,162)
Real estate (2)10,739 286,192 
Loans receivable— (32)
Other(15,415)(6,955)
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments in earnings before allowance for expected credit losses22,611 369,882 
Change in allowance for expected credit losses on investments:
Fixed maturity securities217 (3,906)
Loans receivable182 289 
Change in allowance for expected credit losses on investments399 (3,617)
Net investment gains 23,010 366,265 
Income tax expense(4,850)(78,442)
After-tax net investment gains $18,160 $287,823 
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses) on available for sale securities:
Fixed maturity securities without allowance for expected credit losses$227,116 $(540,263)
Fixed maturity securities with allowance for expected credit losses3,456 293 
Investment funds1,936 469 
Other(487)52 
Total change in unrealized investment gains (losses)232,021 (539,449)
Income tax (expense) benefit(51,222)115,904 
Noncontrolling interests(1)(1)
After-tax change in unrealized investment gains (losses) of available for sale securities$180,798 $(423,546)
______________________
(1) The net realized gains or losses on investment sales represent the total gains or losses from the purchase dates of the equity securities. The change in unrealized (losses) gains consists of two components: (i) the reversal of the gain or loss recognized in previous periods on equity securities sold and (ii) the change in unrealized gain or loss resulting from mark-to-market adjustments on equity securities still held.

(2) During March 2022, the Company realized a gain on the sale of a real estate investment in London, U.K. of $251 million, net of transaction expenses and the foreign currency impact, including the reversal of the currency translation adjustment.

14


(14) Fixed Maturity Securities in an Unrealized Loss Position
    The following tables summarize all fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 by the length of time those securities have been continuously in an unrealized loss position:
  Less Than 12 Months12 Months or GreaterTotal
(In thousands)Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized Losses
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized Losses
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized Losses
March 31, 2023
U.S. government and government agency$213,369 $4,312 $527,765 $50,353 $741,134 $54,665 
State and municipal1,070,807 30,908 1,008,985 96,512 2,079,792 127,420 
Mortgage-backed765,967 17,720 866,618 148,720 1,632,585 166,440 
Asset-backed916,431 13,102 2,490,520 104,751 3,406,951 117,853 
Corporate2,694,062 75,595 3,175,233 264,845 5,869,295 340,440 
Foreign government239,947 26,248 786,359 83,587 1,026,306 109,835 
Fixed maturity securities$5,900,583 $167,885 $8,855,480 $748,768 $14,756,063 $916,653 
December 31, 2022
U.S. government and government agency$285,391 $10,219 $453,520 $58,939 $738,911 $69,158 
State and municipal1,720,443 89,272 598,797 79,320 2,319,240 168,592 
Mortgage-backed1,099,549 75,430 473,318 115,528 1,572,867 190,958 
Asset-backed1,569,647 48,390 2,176,638 103,932 3,746,285 152,322 
Corporate3,690,856 150,115 2,349,281 256,631 6,040,137 406,746 
Foreign government477,672 29,815 711,786 105,243 1,189,458 135,058 
Fixed maturity securities$8,843,558 $403,241 $6,763,340 $719,593 $15,606,898 $1,122,834 
    Substantially all of the securities in an unrealized loss position are rated investment grade, except for the securities in the foreign government classification. A significant amount of the unrealized loss on foreign government securities is the result of changes in currency exchange rates. 
    A summary of the Company’s non-investment grade fixed maturity securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2023 is presented in the table below:
($ in thousands)Number of
Securities
Aggregate
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized Loss
Foreign government33 $105,347 $64,516 
Corporate16 45,507 3,789 
State and municipal12,066 2,936 
Mortgage-backed14 4,202 199 
Asset-backed
Total65 $167,130 $71,448 
    For fixed maturity securities that management does not intend to sell or to be required to sell, the portion of the decline in value that is considered to be due to credit factors is recognized in earnings, and the portion of the decline in value that is considered to be due to non-credit factors is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).
     The Company has evaluated its fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position and believes the unrealized losses are due primarily to temporary market and sector-related factors rather than to issuer-specific factors. None of these securities are delinquent or in default under financial covenants. Based on its assessment of these issuers, the Company expects them to continue to meet their contractual payment obligations as they become due.

15


(15) Fair Value Measurements
    The Company’s fixed maturity available for sale securities, equity securities and its arbitrage trading account securities are carried at fair value. Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” The Company utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels, as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or valuations based on inputs that are observable.
Level 3 - Estimates of fair value based on internal pricing methodologies using unobservable inputs. Unobservable inputs are only used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available.
    Substantially all of the Company’s fixed maturity securities were priced by independent pricing services. The prices provided by the independent pricing services are estimated based on observable market data in active markets utilizing pricing models and processes, which may include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, sector groupings, matrix pricing and reference data. The pricing services may prioritize inputs differently on any given day for any security based on market conditions, and not all inputs are available for each security evaluation on any given day. The pricing services used by the Company have indicated that they will only produce an estimate of fair value if objectively verifiable information is available. The determination of whether markets are active or inactive is based upon the volume and level of activity for a particular asset class. The Company reviews the prices provided by pricing services for reasonableness and periodically performs independent price tests of a sample of securities to ensure proper valuation.
    If prices from independent pricing services are not available for fixed maturity securities, the Company estimates the fair value. For Level 2 securities, the Company utilizes pricing models and processes which may include benchmark yields, sector groupings, matrix pricing, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, bids, offers and reference data. Where broker quotes are used, the Company generally requests two or more quotes and sets a price within the range of quotes received based on its assessment of the credibility of the quote and its own evaluation of the security. The Company generally does not adjust quotes received from brokers. For securities traded only in private negotiations, the Company determines fair value based primarily on the cost of such securities, which is adjusted to reflect prices of recent placements of securities of the same issuer, financial projections, credit quality and business developments of the issuer and other relevant information.
    For Level 3 securities, the Company generally uses a discounted cash flow model to estimate the fair value of fixed maturity securities. The cash flow models are based upon assumptions as to prevailing credit spreads, interest rate and interest rate volatility, time to maturity and subordination levels. Projected cash flows are discounted at rates that are adjusted to reflect illiquidity, where appropriate.
    
16


    The following tables present the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 by level:
(In thousands)TotalLevel 1Level 2Level 3
March 31, 2023
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale:
U.S. government and government agency$1,049,267 $— $1,049,267 $— 
State and municipal2,789,359 — 2,789,359 — 
Mortgage-backed1,897,729 — 1,897,729 — 
Asset-backed3,845,453 — 3,845,453 — 
Corporate7,125,649 — 7,125,649 — 
Foreign government1,331,890 — 1,331,890 — 
Total fixed maturity securities available for sale18,039,347 — 18,039,347 — 
Equity securities:
Common stocks1,057,599 1,054,268 1,162 2,169 
Preferred stocks222,356 — 211,057 11,299 
Total equity securities1,279,955 1,054,268 212,219 13,468 
Arbitrage trading account609,001 574,096 31,251 3,654 
Total$19,928,303 $1,628,364 $18,282,817 $17,122 
December 31, 2022
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities available for sale:
U.S. government and government agency$892,258 $— $892,258 $— 
State and municipal2,890,098 — 2,890,098 — 
Mortgage-backed1,665,410 — 1,665,410 — 
Asset-backed3,982,773 — 3,982,773 — 
Corporate6,703,992 — 6,703,992 — 
Foreign government1,401,522 — 1,401,522 — 
Total fixed maturity securities available for sale17,536,053 — 17,536,053 — 
Equity securities:
Common stocks982,751 978,991 1,161 2,599 
Preferred stocks203,143 — 191,844 11,299 
Total equity securities1,185,894 978,991 193,005 13,898 
Arbitrage trading account944,230 822,192 118,448 3,590 
Total$19,666,177 $1,801,183 $17,847,506 $17,488 

17


    The following tables summarize changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022:
Gains (Losses) Included In:
(In thousands)Beginning
Balance
Earnings (Losses)Other
Comprehensive
Income (Losses)
ImpairmentsPurchasesSalesPaydowns / MaturitiesTransfers In / (Out)Ending
Balance
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Assets:
Equity securities:
Common stocks$2,599 $(430)$— $— $— $— $— $— $2,169 
Preferred stocks11,299 — — — — — — — 11,299 
Total13,898 (430)— — — — — — 13,468 
Arbitrage trading account3,590 64 — — — — — — 3,654 
Total$17,488 $(366)$— $— $— $— $— $— $17,122 
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
Assets:
Equity securities:
Common stocks$9,294 $(6,695)$— $— $— $— $— $— $2,599 
Preferred stocks11,296 — — 925 (925)— — 11,299 
Total20,590 (6,692)— — 925 (925)— — 13,898 
Arbitrage trading account— (179)— — 4,685 (917)— 3,590 
Total$20,590 $(6,871)$— $— $5,610 $(1,842)$— $$17,488 
    For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, there were no securities transferred into or out of Level 3.

18


(16) Reserves for Loss and Loss Expenses
    The Company's reserves for losses and loss expenses are comprised of case reserves and incurred but not reported liabilities ("IBNR"). When a claim is reported, a case reserve is established for the estimated ultimate payment based upon known information about the claim. As more information about the claim becomes available over time, case reserves are adjusted up or down as appropriate. Reserves are also established on an aggregate basis to provide for IBNR liabilities and expected loss reserve development on reported claims.
    Loss reserves included in the Company’s financial statements represent management’s best estimates based upon an actuarially derived point estimate and other considerations. The Company uses a variety of actuarial techniques and methods to derive an actuarial point estimate for each operating unit. These methods include paid loss development, incurred loss development, paid and incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods and frequency and severity methods. In circumstances where one actuarial method is considered more credible than the others, that method is used to set the point estimate. The actuarial point estimate may also be based on a judgmental weighting of estimates produced from each of the methods considered. Industry loss experience is used to supplement the Company’s own data in selecting “tail factors” in areas where the Company’s own data is limited. The actuarial data is analyzed by line of business, coverage and accident or policy year, as appropriate, for each operating unit.
    The establishment of the actuarially derived loss reserve point estimate also includes consideration of qualitative factors that may affect the ultimate losses. These qualitative considerations include, among others, the impact of re-underwriting initiatives, changes in the mix of business, changes in distribution sources and changes in policy terms and conditions.
    The key assumptions used to arrive at the best estimate of loss reserves are the expected loss ratios, rate of loss cost inflation, and reported and paid loss emergence patterns. Expected loss ratios represent management’s expectation of losses at the time the business is priced and written, before any actual claims experience has emerged. This expectation is a significant determinant of the estimate of loss reserves for recently written business where there is little paid or incurred loss data to consider. Expected loss ratios are generally derived from historical loss ratios adjusted for the impact of rate changes, loss cost trends and known changes in the type of risks underwritten. Expected loss ratios are estimated for each key line of business within each operating unit. Expected loss cost inflation is particularly important for the long-tail lines, such as excess casualty, and claims with a high medical component, such as workers’ compensation. Reported and paid loss emergence patterns are used to project current reported or paid loss amounts to their ultimate settlement value. Loss development factors are based on the historical emergence patterns of paid and incurred losses, and are derived from the Company’s own experience and industry data. The paid loss emergence pattern is also significant to excess and assumed workers’ compensation reserves because those reserves are discounted to their estimated present value based upon such estimated payout patterns.
    Loss frequency and severity are measures of loss activity that are considered in determining the key assumptions described in our discussion of loss and loss expense reserves, including expected loss ratios, rate of loss cost inflation and reported and paid loss emergence patterns. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Factors affecting loss frequency include the effectiveness of loss controls and safety programs and changes in economic activity or weather patterns. Factors affecting loss severity include changes in policy limits, retentions, rate of inflation and judicial interpretations.
    Another factor affecting estimates of loss frequency and severity is the loss reporting lag, which is the period of time between the occurrence of a loss and the date the loss is reported to the Company. The length of the loss reporting lag affects our ability to accurately predict loss frequency (loss frequencies are more predictable for lines with short reporting lags) as well as the amount of reserves needed for incurred but not reported losses (less IBNR is required for lines with short reporting lags). As a result, loss reserves for lines with short reporting lags are likely to have less variation from initial loss estimates. For lines with short reporting lags, which include commercial automobile, primary workers’ compensation, other liability (claims-made) and property business, the key assumption is the loss emergence pattern used to project ultimate loss estimates from known losses paid or reported to date. For lines of business with long reporting lags, which include other liability (occurrence), products liability, excess workers’ compensation and liability reinsurance, the key assumption is the expected loss ratio since there is often little paid or incurred loss data to consider. Historically, the Company has experienced less variation from its initial loss estimates for lines of businesses with short reporting lags than for lines of business with long reporting lags.
    The key assumptions used in calculating the most recent estimate of the loss reserves are reviewed each quarter and adjusted, to the extent necessary, to reflect the latest reported loss data, current trends and other factors observed.
19


    The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending reserve balances:
March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Net reserves at beginning of period$14,248,879 $12,848,362 
Net provision for losses and loss expenses:
Claims occurring during the current year (1)1,502,817 1,327,695 
Increase in estimates for claims occurring in prior years (2) (3)28,205 3,761 
Loss reserve discount accretion 7,733 7,796 
Total1,538,755 1,339,252 
Net payments for claims:  
Current year110,274 84,598 
Prior years1,106,481 933,656 
Total1,216,755 1,018,254 
Foreign currency translation1,154 9,983 
Net reserves at end of period14,572,033 13,179,343 
Ceded reserves at end of period2,859,602 2,543,546 
Gross reserves at end of period$17,431,635 $15,722,889 
_______________________________________
(1) Claims occurring during the current year are net of loss reserve discounts of $11 million and $7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2) The change in estimates for claims occurring in prior years is net of loss reserve discount. On an undiscounted basis, the estimates for claims occurring in prior years increased by $19 million and decreased by $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(3) For certain retrospectively rated insurance policies and reinsurance agreements, reserve development is offset by additional or return premiums. Adverse development, net of additional and return premiums, was $24 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, and favorable development was $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, respectively.
The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted, and may further impact, the Company’s results through its effect on claim frequency and severity. Loss cost trends have been impacted and may be further impacted by COVID-19-related claims in certain lines of business. Losses incurred from COVID-19-related claims have been offset, to a certain extent, by lower claim frequency in certain lines of our businesses; however, as the economy and legal systems have reopened, the benefit of lower claim frequency has partially abated. The ultimate net impact of COVID-19 on the Company remains uncertain. New variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to create risks with respect to loss costs and the potential for renewed impact of the other effects of COVID-19 associated with economic conditions, inflation, and social distancing and work from home rules.
Most of the COVID-19-related claims reported to the Company to date involve certain short-tailed lines of business, including contingency and event cancellation, business interruption, and film production delay. The Company has also received COVID-19-related claims for longer-tailed casualty lines of business such as workers’ compensation and other liability; however, the estimated incurred loss impact for these reported claims are not material at this time. Given the continuing uncertainty regarding the pandemic's pervasiveness, the future impact that the pandemic may have on claim frequency and severity remains uncertain at this time.
The Company has estimated the potential COVID-19 impact to its contingency and event cancellation, workers’ compensation, and other lines of business under a number of possible scenarios; however, due to COVID-19’s continued evolving impact, there remains uncertainty around the Company’s COVID-19 reserves. In addition, should the pandemic continue or worsen as a result of new COVID-19 variants or otherwise, governments in the jurisdictions where we operate may impose restrictions, including lockdowns, as well as renew their efforts to expand policy coverage terms beyond the policy’s intended coverage. Accordingly, losses arising from these actions, and the other factors described above, could exceed the Company’s reserves established for those related policies.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had recognized losses for COVID-19-related claims activity, net of reinsurance, of approximately $344 million, of which $291 million relates to the Insurance segment and $53 million relates to the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment. Such $344 million of COVID-19-related losses included $339 million of reported losses and $5 million of IBNR. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized current accident year losses for COVID-19-related claims activity, net of reinsurance, of approximately $43 thousand, all of which relates to the Insurance segment.
20


During the three months ended March 31, 2023, adverse prior year development (net of additional and return premiums) of $24 million included $17 million for the Insurance segment and $7 million for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment.
This overall adverse development for both segments was primarily attributed to property catastrophe losses related to 2022 events which were still being adjusted and settled during the first quarter of 2023. In particular, losses related to U.S. winter storms which occurred during the month of December were a significant driver of the development, as information gathering and evaluation of many of these losses were still ongoing into the new year.
In addition to the property prior year adverse development discussed above, during the first quarter of 2023, the Insurance segment experienced adverse prior year development on casualty lines for the 2016 through 2019 accident years, which was offset by favorable prior year development on casualty lines for the 2022 accident year. The adverse development on the 2016 through 2019 accident years was concentrated in the other liability line of business, and to a lesser degree, professional liability, including medical professional. The development, which particularly impacted business attaching excess of primary policy limits, was driven by a larger than expected number of large losses reported. The Company believes social inflation is contributing to an increase in the frequency of large losses for these accident years. Social inflation can include higher settlement demands from plaintiffs, use of tactics such as litigation funding by the plaintiffs’ bar, negative public sentiment towards large businesses and corporations, and erosion of tort reforms, among others.
The favorable prior year development on casualty lines for the 2022 accident year in the Insurance segment was concentrated in the other liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation lines of business. Due to uncertainty regarding incurred loss frequency and severity in light of ongoing social inflation and the emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company set its initial loss ratios for the 2022 accident year prudently, and largely maintained these estimates through the end of 2022. The reported loss experience to date for these lines of business for the 2022 accident year has been significantly better than was expected, and the Company has begun to react to this favorable emergence in the first quarter of 2023 for these lines.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, favorable prior year development (net of additional and return premiums) of $1 million included $6 million of favorable development for the Insurance segment, largely offset by $5 million of adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment.
The overall favorable development for the Insurance segment was primarily attributable to favorable development on the 2021 accident year, largely offset by adverse development on the 2015 through 2019 accident years. The favorable development on the 2021 accident year was concentrated in the commercial auto liability, other liability and accident and health (employer stop loss) lines of business. The Company continued to experience lower reported claim frequency in commercial auto and other liability in 2021 relative to historical averages, and lower reported incurred losses relative to our expectations. These trends began in 2020, and were likely caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, for example, lockdowns, reduced driving/traffic, significant work from home, court closures, and similar reduced activities and travel. While reported claim frequency in these lines increased in 2021 relative to 2020, it remained below the historical levels pre- the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ultimate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on accident year 2021 incurred losses, the Company remains cautious in factoring in these trends in setting its initial loss ratio picks for this year. As accident year 2021 has begun to mature, we have recognized some of the favorable reported experience in our ultimate loss picks made as of March 31, 2022. The adverse development on the 2015 through 2019 accident years is concentrated in the other liability line of business, and to a lesser degree professional liability and commercial auto liability. The development is driven by a larger than expected number of large losses reported. The large losses particularly impacted the excess and surplus lines casualty classes of business.
The overall adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment was driven mainly by adverse development in the non-proportional reinsurance assumed liability and professional liability lines of business, largely offset by favorable development in excess workers' compensation. Both the adverse and favorable development was spread across many prior accident years. The adverse development was associated primarily with our U.S. assumed reinsurance business, and related to accounts insuring construction projects and professional liability exposures. The favorable excess workers' compensation development was driven by continued lower claim frequency and reported losses relative to our expectations and to favorable claim settlements.


21


(17) Fair Value of Financial Instruments
    The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments:
  March 31, 2023December 31, 2022
(In thousands)Carrying ValueFair ValueCarrying ValueFair Value
Assets:
Fixed maturity securities$18,091,113 $18,095,068 $17,587,349 $17,591,626 
Equity securities1,279,955 1,279,955 1,185,894 1,185,894 
Arbitrage trading account609,001 609,001 944,230 944,230 
Loans receivable194,944 187,455 193,002 187,981 
Cash and cash equivalents1,242,357 1,242,357 1,449,346 1,449,346 
Trading account receivables from brokers and clearing organizations583,970 583,970 233,863 233,863 
     Due from broker17,207 17,207 3,609 3,609 
Liabilities:
Senior notes and other debt1,827,981 1,501,671 1,828,823 1,439,188 
Subordinated debentures1,008,551 836,796 1,008,371 805,600 
    The estimated fair values of the Company’s fixed maturity securities, equity securities and arbitrage trading account securities are based on various valuation techniques that rely on fair value measurements as described in Note 15. The fair value of loans receivable are estimated by using current institutional purchaser yield requirements for loans with similar credit characteristics, which is considered a Level 2 input. The fair value of the senior notes and other debt and the subordinated debentures is based on spreads for similar securities, which is considered a Level 2 input.


(18) Premiums and Reinsurance Related Information
The following is a summary of insurance and reinsurance financial information:
For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Written premiums:
Direct$2,738,754 $2,542,336 
Assumed310,563 317,500 
Ceded(474,493)(446,582)
Total net premiums written$2,574,824 $2,413,254 
Earned premiums:
Direct$2,667,063 $2,404,597 
Assumed295,230 292,373 
Ceded(470,861)(447,883)
Total net premiums earned$2,491,432 $2,249,087 
Ceded losses and loss expenses incurred$315,476 $243,294 
Ceded commissions earned$118,418 $117,445 
    The following table presents the rollforward of the allowance for expected credit losses for premiums and fees receivable for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
(In thousands)20232022
Allowance for expected credit losses, beginning of period$30,660 $25,218 
Change in expected credit losses1,693 3,018 
Allowance for expected credit losses, end of period$32,353 $28,236 
22


The Company reinsures a portion of its insurance exposures in order to reduce its net liability on individual risks and catastrophe losses. The Company also cedes premiums to state assigned risk plans and captive insurance companies. Estimated amounts due from reinsurers are reported net of an allowance for expected credit losses.
The following table presents the rollforward of the allowance for expected credit losses associated with due from reinsurers for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
(In thousands)20232022
Allowance for expected credit losses, beginning of period$8,064 $7,713 
Change in expected credit losses639 (58)
Allowance for expected credit losses, end of period$8,703 $7,655 

(19) Restricted Stock Units
    Pursuant to its stock incentive plan, the Company may issue restricted stock units ("RSUs") to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The RSUs generally vest three to five years from the award date and are subject to other vesting and forfeiture provisions contained in the award agreement. RSUs are expensed pro-ratably over the vesting period. RSU expenses were $12 million and $11 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. A summary of RSUs issued in the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 follows:
($ in thousands)
UnitsFair Value
2023— $— 
20221,660 $150 


(20) Litigation and Contingent Liabilities
    In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to disputes, litigation and arbitration arising from its insurance and reinsurance businesses. These matters are generally related to insurance and reinsurance claims and are considered in the establishment of loss and loss expense reserves. In addition, the Company may also become involved in legal actions which seek extra-contractual damages, punitive damages or penalties, including claims alleging bad faith in handling of insurance claims. The Company expects its ultimate liability with respect to such matters will not be material to its financial condition. However, adverse outcomes on such matters are possible, from time to time, and could be material to the Company’s results of operations in any particular financial reporting period.

(21) Leases
    Lessees are required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for leases with terms of more than 12 months on the balance sheet. All leases disclosed within this footnote are classified as operating leases. Recognized right-of-use asset and lease liability are reported within other assets and other liabilities, respectively, in the consolidated balance sheet. Lease expense is reported in other operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statement of income and accounted for on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
    To determine the discount rate used to calculate present value of future minimum lease payments, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate during the lease commencement period in line with the respective lease duration. In certain cases, the Company has the option to renew the lease. Lease renewal future payments are included in the present value of the future minimum lease payments when the Company determines it is reasonably certain to renew.
The main leases entered into by the Company are for office space used by the Company’s operating units across the world. Additionally, the Company, to a lesser extent, has equipment leases mainly for office equipment. Further information relating to operating lease expense and other operating lease information are as follows:


23


 For the Three Months Ended
March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Leases:
Lease cost$10,188 $10,198 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities reported in operating cash flows$10,563 $10,993 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities$5,313 $17,269 
As of March 31,
($ in thousands)20232022
Right-of-use assets$164,547$180,424
Lease liabilities$199,225$217,086
Weighted-average remaining lease term7.1 years7.3 years
Weighted-average discount rate4.49 %4.58 %

Contractual maturities of the Company’s future minimum lease payments are as follows:
(In thousands)March 31, 2023
Contractual Maturities:
2023$36,209 
202442,330 
202534,121 
202627,166 
202717,585 
Thereafter72,767 
Total undiscounted future minimum lease payments230,178 
Less: Discount impact30,953 
Total lease liability$199,225 
24


(22) Business Segments
    The Company’s reportable segments include the following two business segments, plus a corporate segment:
Insurance - predominantly commercial insurance business, including excess and surplus lines, admitted lines and specialty personal lines throughout the United States, as well as insurance business in Asia, Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, Mexico, Scandinavia, South America and the United Kingdom
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess - reinsurance business on a facultative and treaty basis, primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, the Asia-Pacific Region and South Africa, as well as operations that solely retain risk on an excess basis.
    The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Income tax expense and benefits are calculated based upon the Company's overall effective tax rate.
    Summary financial information about the Company's reporting segments is presented in the following tables. Income (loss) before income taxes by segment includes allocated investment income. Identifiable assets by segment are those assets used in or allocated to the operation of each segment.
  Revenues  
(In thousands)Earned
Premiums (1)
Investment
Income 
OtherTotal (2)Pre-Tax Income (Loss)Net Income (Loss) to Common Stockholders
Three months ended March 31, 2023
Insurance$2,181,876 $166,086 $9,577 $2,357,539 $352,199 $273,904 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess309,556 52,055 — 361,611 101,712 82,561 
Corporate, other and eliminations (3)— 5,257 147,587 152,844 (100,850)(80,499)
Net investment gains— — 23,010 23,010 23,010 18,160 
Total$2,491,432 $223,398 $180,174 $2,895,004 $376,071 $294,126 
Three months ended March 31, 2022
Insurance$1,962,835 $137,654 $8,676 $2,109,165 $382,412 $315,552 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess286,252 27,423 — 313,675 57,628 47,080 
Corporate, other and eliminations (3)— 8,435 117,869 126,304 (73,872)(59,817)
Net investment gains— — 366,265 366,265 366,265 287,823 
Total$2,249,087 $173,512 $492,810 $2,915,409 $732,433 $590,638 
_________________
(1) Certain amounts included in earned premiums of each segment are related to inter-segment transactions.
(2) Revenues for Insurance from foreign operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $274 million and $235 million, respectively. Revenues for Reinsurance & Monoline Excess from foreign operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $106 million and $96 million, respectively.
(3) Corporate, other and eliminations represent corporate revenues and expenses that are not allocated to business segments.

Identifiable Assets
(In thousands)March 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
Insurance$27,062,484 $27,012,479 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess5,191,920 5,195,752 
Corporate, other and eliminations2,041,660 1,606,872 
Consolidated$34,296,064 $33,815,103 


25


    Net premiums earned by major line of business are as follows:
 For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
(In thousands)20232022
Insurance:
Other liability$857,149 $749,391 
Short-tail lines (1)430,503 375,212 
Commercial automobile311,422 282,234 
Workers' compensation305,561 285,423 
Professional liability277,241 270,575 
Total Insurance2,181,876 1,962,835 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess:
Casualty reinsurance193,730 184,122 
Monoline excess (2)58,644 51,896 
Property reinsurance57,182 50,234 
Total Reinsurance & Monoline Excess309,556 286,252 
Total$2,491,432 $2,249,087 
______________
(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) Monoline excess includes operations that solely retain risk on an excess basis.



26


SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
    
    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 2023 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 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, changing 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 2023 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. Our future financial performance is dependent upon factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and our other SEC filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except to the extent required by applicable laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

27


Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview
    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 and casualty business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess. Our decentralized structure provides us with the flexibility to respond quickly and efficiently to local or specific market conditions and to pursue specialty business niches. It also allows us to be closer to our customers in order to better understand their individual needs and risk characteristics. While providing our business units with certain operating autonomy, our structure allows us to capitalize on the benefits of economies of scale through centralized capital, investment, reinsurance, enterprise risk management, and actuarial, financial and corporate legal staff support. The Company’s primary sources of revenues and earnings are its insurance operations and its investments.
    An important part of our strategy is to form new operating units to capitalize on various business opportunities. Over the years, the Company has formed numerous operating units that are focused on important parts of the economy in the U.S., including healthcare, cyber security, energy and agriculture, and on growing international markets, including the Asia-Pacific region, South America and Mexico.
    The profitability of the Company’s insurance business is affected primarily by the adequacy of premium rates. The ultimate adequacy of premium rates is not known with certainty at the time an insurance policy is issued because premiums are determined before claims are reported. The ultimate adequacy of premium rates is affected mainly by the severity and frequency of claims, which are influenced by many factors, including natural and other disasters, regulatory measures and court decisions that define and change the extent of coverage and the effects of economic inflation on the amount of compensation for injuries or losses. General insurance prices are also influenced by available insurance capacity, i.e., the level of capital employed in the industry, and the industry’s willingness to deploy that capital.
    The Company’s profitability is also affected by its investment income and investment gains. The Company’s invested assets are invested principally in fixed maturity securities. The return on fixed maturity securities is affected primarily by general interest rates, as well as the credit quality and duration of the securities.
    The Company also invests in equity securities, merger arbitrage securities, investment funds, private equity, loans and real estate related assets. The Company's investments in investment funds and its other alternative investments have experienced, and the Company expects to continue to experience, greater fluctuations in investment income. The Company's share of the earnings or losses from investment funds is generally reported on a one-quarter lag in order to facilitate the timely completion of the Company's consolidated financial statements.
On March 7, 2022, the Company sold a real estate investment consisting of an office building located in London for £718 million. The Company realized a pretax gain of $317 million in the first quarter of 2022, before transaction expenses and the impact of foreign currency, including the reversal of the currency translation adjustment. The gain was $251 million after such adjustments.
The COVID-19 pandemic, including the related impact on the U.S. and global economies, continued to affect our results of operations. At the same time, COVID-19 has led to reduced loss frequency in certain lines of business (which partially returned to pre-pandemic levels as many economies and legal systems have reopened). The ultimate impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the Company’s results of operations, financial position and liquidity is not within the Company’s control and remains unclear due to, among other factors, its ongoing impact and uncertainty in connection with its claims, reserves and reinsurance recoverables.


Critical Accounting Estimates
    The following presents a discussion of accounting policies and estimates relating to reserves for losses and loss expenses, assumed premiums and allowance for expected credit losses on investments. Management believes these policies and estimates are the most critical to its operations and require the most difficult, subjective and complex judgments.
    Reserves for Losses and Loss Expenses. To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses, either known or unknown, insurers establish reserves, which is a balance sheet account representing estimates of future amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses with respect to insured events which have occurred. Estimates and assumptions relating to reserves for losses and loss expenses are based on complex and subjective judgments, often including the interplay of specific uncertainties with related accounting and actuarial measurements. Such estimates are also susceptible to change as significant periods of time may
28


elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the report of the loss to the insurer, the ultimate determination of the cost of the loss and the insurer’s payment of that loss.
    In general, when a claim is reported, claims personnel establish a “case reserve” for the estimated amount of the ultimate payment based upon known information about the claim at that time. The estimate represents an informed judgment based on general reserving practices and reflects the experience and knowledge of the claims personnel regarding the nature and value of the specific type of claim. Reserves are also established on an aggregate basis to provide for losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) to the insurer, potential inadequacy of case reserves and the estimated expenses of settling claims, including legal and other fees and general expenses of administrating the claims adjustment process. Reserves are established based upon the then current legal interpretation of coverage provided.
    In examining reserve adequacy, several factors are considered in estimating the ultimate economic value of losses. These factors include, among other things, historical data, legal developments, changes in social attitudes and economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. The actuarial process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted judgmentally for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes. Reserve amounts are based on management’s informed estimates and judgments using currently available data. As additional experience and other data become available and are reviewed, these estimates and judgments may be revised. This may result in reserve increases or decreases that would be reflected in our results in periods in which such estimates and assumptions are changed.
    Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent an estimate of what management expects the ultimate settlement and claim administration will cost. While the methods for establishing reserves are well tested over time, some of the major assumptions about anticipated loss emergence patterns are subject to uncertainty. These estimates, which generally involve actuarial projections, are based on management’s assessment of facts and circumstances then known, as well as estimates of trends in claims severity and frequency, judicial theories of liability and other factors, including the actions of third parties which are beyond the Company’s control. These variables are affected by external and internal events, such as inflation and economic volatility, judicial and litigation trends, reinsurance coverage, legislative changes and claim handling and reserving practices, which make it more difficult to accurately predict claim costs. The inherent uncertainties of estimating reserves are greater for certain types of liabilities where long periods of time elapse before a definitive determination of liability is made. Because setting reserves is inherently uncertain, the Company cannot provide assurance that its current reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent events.
    Loss reserves included in the Company’s financial statements represent management’s best estimates based upon an actuarially derived point estimate and other considerations. The Company uses a variety of actuarial techniques and methods to derive an actuarial point estimate for each operating unit. These methods include paid loss development, incurred loss development, paid and incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson methods and frequency and severity methods. In circumstances where one actuarial method is considered more credible than the others, that method is used to set the point estimate. For example, the paid loss and incurred loss development methods rely on historical paid and incurred loss data. For new lines of business, where there is insufficient history of paid and incurred claims data, or in circumstances where there have been significant changes in claim practices, the paid and incurred loss development methods would be less credible than other actuarial methods. The actuarial point estimate may also be based on a judgmental weighting of estimates produced from each of the methods considered. Industry loss experience is used to supplement the Company’s own data in selecting “tail factors” and in areas where the Company’s own data is limited. The actuarial data is analyzed by line of business, coverage and accident or policy year, as appropriate, for each operating unit.
    The establishment of the actuarially derived loss reserve point estimate also includes consideration of qualitative factors that may affect the ultimate losses. These qualitative considerations include, among others, the impact of re-underwriting initiatives, changes in the mix of business, changes in distribution sources and changes in policy terms and conditions. Examples of changes in terms and conditions that can have a significant impact on reserve levels are the use of aggregate policy limits, the expansion of coverage exclusions, whether or not defense costs are within policy limits, and changes in deductibles and attachment points.
    The key assumptions used to arrive at the best estimate of loss reserves are the expected loss ratios, rate of loss cost inflation, and reported and paid loss emergence patterns. Expected loss ratios represent management’s expectation of losses at the time the business is written, before any actual claims experience has emerged. This expectation is a significant determinant of the estimate of loss reserves for recently written business where there is little paid or incurred loss data to consider. Expected loss ratios are generally derived from historical loss ratios adjusted for the impact of rate changes, loss cost trends and known changes in the type of risks underwritten. Expected loss ratios are estimated for each key line of business within each operating unit. Expected loss cost inflation is particularly important for the long-tail lines, such as excess casualty, and claims with a high medical component, such as workers’ compensation. Reported and paid loss emergence patterns are used to project current
29


reported or paid loss amounts to their ultimate settlement value. Loss development factors are based on the historical emergence patterns of paid and incurred losses, and are derived from the Company’s own experience and industry data. The paid loss emergence pattern is also significant to excess and assumed workers’ compensation reserves because those reserves are discounted to their estimated present value based upon such estimated payout patterns. Management believes the estimates and assumptions it makes in the reserving process provide the best estimate of the ultimate cost of settling claims and related expenses with respect to insured events which have occurred; however, different assumptions and variables could lead to significantly different reserve estimates.
    Loss frequency and severity are measures of loss activity that are considered in determining the key assumptions described in our discussion of loss and loss expense reserves, including expected loss ratios, rate of loss cost inflation and reported and paid loss emergence patterns. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Factors affecting loss frequency include the effectiveness of loss controls and safety programs and changes in economic activity or weather patterns. Factors affecting loss severity include changes in policy limits, retentions, rate of inflation and judicial interpretations.
    Another factor affecting estimates of loss frequency and severity is the loss reporting lag, which is the period of time between the occurrence of a loss and the date the loss is reported to the Company. The length of the loss reporting lag affects our ability to accurately predict loss frequency (loss frequencies are more predictable for lines with short reporting lags) as well as the amount of reserves needed for incurred but not reported losses (less IBNR is required for lines with short reporting lags). As a result, loss reserves for lines with short reporting lags are likely to have less variation from initial loss estimates. For lines with short reporting lags, which include commercial automobile, primary workers’ compensation, other liability (claims-made) and property business, the key assumption is the loss emergence pattern used to project ultimate loss estimates from known losses paid or reported to date. For lines of business with long reporting lags, which include other liability (occurrence), products liability, excess workers’ compensation and liability reinsurance, the key assumption is the expected loss ratio since there is often little paid or incurred loss data to consider. Historically, the Company has experienced less variation from its initial loss estimates for lines of businesses with short reporting lags than for lines of business with long reporting lags.
    The key assumptions used in calculating the most recent estimate of the loss reserves are reviewed each quarter and adjusted, to the extent necessary, to reflect the latest reported loss data, current trends and other factors observed. If the actual level of loss frequency and severity are higher or lower than expected, the ultimate losses will be different than management’s estimate. The following table reflects the impact of changes (which could be favorable or unfavorable) in frequency and severity, relative to our assumptions, on our loss estimate for claims occurring in 2022:
(In thousands)Frequency (+/-)
Severity (+/-)1%5%10%
1%$116,072 $349,370 $640,993 
5%349,370 591,908 895,081 
10%640,993 895,081 1,212,690 
    Our net reserves for losses and loss expenses of approximately $14.6 billion as of March 31, 2023 relate to multiple accident years. Therefore, the impact of changes in frequency or severity for more than one accident year could be higher or lower than the amounts reflected above. The impact of such changes would likely be manifested gradually over the course of many years, as the magnitude of the changes became evident.
    Approximately $3.0 billion, or 21%, of the Company’s net loss reserves as of March 31, 2023 relate to the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment. There is a higher degree of uncertainty and greater variability regarding estimates of excess workers' compensation and assumed reinsurance loss reserves. In the case of excess workers’ compensation, our policies generally attach at $1 million or higher. The claims which reach our layer therefore tend to involve the most serious injuries and many remain open for the lifetime of the claimant, which extends the claim settlement tail. These claims also occur less frequently but tend to be larger than primary claims, which increases claim variability. In the case of assumed reinsurance our loss reserve estimates are based, in part, upon information received from ceding companies. If information received from ceding companies is not timely or correct, the Company’s estimate of ultimate losses may not be accurate. Furthermore, due to delayed reporting of claim information by ceding companies, the claim settlement tail for assumed reinsurance is also extended. Management considers the impact of delayed reporting and the extended tail in its selection of loss development factors for these lines of business.
    Information received from ceding companies is used to set initial expected loss ratios, to establish case reserves and to estimate reserves for incurred but not reported losses on assumed reinsurance business. This information, which is generally provided through reinsurance intermediaries, is gathered through the underwriting process and from periodic claim reports and other correspondence with ceding companies. The Company performs underwriting and claim audits of selected ceding
30


companies to determine the accuracy and completeness of information provided to the Company. The information received from the ceding companies is supplemented by the Company’s own loss development experience with similar lines of business as well as industry loss trends and loss development benchmarks.
    Following is a summary of the Company’s reserves for losses and loss expenses by business segment:
(In thousands)March 31,
2023
December 31,
2022
Insurance$11,524,946 $11,233,924 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess3,047,087 3,014,955 
Net reserves for losses and loss expenses14,572,033 14,248,879 
Ceded reserves for losses and loss expenses2,859,602 2,762,344 
Gross reserves for losses and loss expenses$17,431,635 $17,011,223 

    Following is a summary of the Company’s net reserves for losses and loss expenses by major line of business:
(In thousands)Reported Case
Reserves
Incurred But
Not Reported
Total
March 31, 2023
Other liability$1,819,236 $4,009,866 $5,829,102 
Workers’ compensation (1)1,022,327 878,769 1,901,096 
Professional liability495,427 1,326,097 1,821,524 
Commercial automobile624,234 561,947 1,186,181 
Short-tail lines (2)391,540 395,503 787,043 
Total Insurance4,352,764 7,172,182 11,524,946 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess (1) (3)1,531,257 1,515,830 3,047,087 
Total$5,884,021 $8,688,012 $14,572,033 
December 31, 2022
Other liability$1,808,700 $3,826,444 $5,635,144 
Workers’ compensation (1)1,023,961 899,215 1,923,176 
Professional liability501,572 1,243,604 1,745,176 
Commercial automobile629,149 528,398 1,157,547 
Short-tail lines (2)403,974 368,907 772,881 
Total Insurance4,367,356 6,866,568 11,233,924 
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess (1) (3)1,551,687 1,463,268 3,014,955 
Total$5,919,043 $8,329,836 $14,248,879 
___________
(1) Reserves for workers’ compensation and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess are net of an aggregate net discount of $411 million and $416 million as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
(2) Short-tail lines include commercial multi-peril (non-liability), inland marine, accident and health, fidelity and surety, boiler and machinery and other lines.
(3) Reinsurance & Monoline Excess includes property and casualty reinsurance, as well as operations that solely retain risk on an excess basis.
    The Company evaluates reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses on a quarterly basis. Changes in estimates of prior year losses are reported when such changes are made. The changes in prior year loss reserve estimates are generally the result of ongoing analysis of recent loss development trends. Original estimates are increased or decreased as additional information becomes known regarding individual claims and aggregate claim trends.
    Certain of the Company's insurance and reinsurance contracts are retrospectively rated, whereby the Company collects more or less premiums based on the level of loss activity. For those contracts, changes in loss and loss adjustment expenses for prior years may be fully or partially offset by additional or return premiums.
31


    Net prior year development (i.e., the sum of prior year reserve changes and prior year earned premiums changes) for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
(In thousands)20232022
Increase in prior year loss reserves$(28,205)$(3,761)
Increase in prior year earned premiums4,313 4,407 
Net (unfavorable) favorable prior year development$(23,892)$646 
The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted, and may further impact, the Company’s results through its effect on claim frequency and severity. Loss cost trends have been impacted and may be further impacted by COVID-19-related claims in certain lines of business. Losses incurred from COVID-19-related claims have been offset, to a certain extent, by lower claim frequency in certain lines of our businesses; however, as the economy and legal systems have reopened, the benefit of lower claim frequency has partially abated. The ultimate net impact of COVID-19 on the Company remains uncertain. New variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to create risks with respect to loss costs and the potential for renewed impact of the other effects of COVID-19 associated with economic conditions, inflation, and social distancing and work from home rules.
Most of the COVID-19-related claims reported to the Company to date involve certain short-tailed lines of business, including contingency and event cancellation, business interruption, and film production delay. The Company has also received COVID-19-related claims for longer-tailed casualty lines of business such as workers’ compensation and other liability; however, the estimated incurred loss impact for these reported claims are not material at this time. Given the continuing uncertainty regarding the pandemic's pervasiveness, the future impact that the pandemic may have on claim frequency and severity remains uncertain at this time.
The Company has estimated the potential COVID-19 impact to its contingency and event cancellation, workers’ compensation, and other lines of business under a number of possible scenarios; however, due to COVID-19’s continued evolving impact, there remains uncertainty around the Company’s COVID-19 reserves. In addition, should the pandemic continue or worsen as a result of new COVID-19 variants or otherwise, governments in the jurisdictions where we operate may impose restrictions, including lockdowns, as well as renew their efforts to expand policy coverage terms beyond the policy’s intended coverage. Accordingly, losses arising from these actions, and the other factors described above, could exceed the Company’s reserves established for those related policies.
As of March 31, 2023, the Company had recognized losses for COVID-19-related claims activity, net of reinsurance, of approximately $344 million, of which $291 million relates to the Insurance segment and $53 million relates to the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment. Such $344 million of COVID-19-related losses included $339 million of reported losses and $5 million of IBNR. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recognized current accident year losses for COVID-19-related claims activity, net of reinsurance, of approximately $43 thousand, all of which relates to the Insurance segment.
During the three months ended March 31, 2023, adverse prior year development (net of additional and return premiums) of $24 million included $17 million for the Insurance segment and $7 million for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment.
This overall adverse development for both segments was primarily attributed to property catastrophe losses related to 2022 events which were still being adjusted and settled during the first quarter of 2023. In particular, losses related to U.S. winter storms which occurred during the month of December were a significant driver of the development, as information gathering and evaluation of many of these losses were still ongoing into the new year.
In addition to the property prior year adverse development discussed above, during the first quarter of 2023, the Insurance segment experienced adverse prior year development on casualty lines for the 2016 through 2019 accident years, which was offset by favorable prior year development on casualty lines for the 2022 accident year. The adverse development on the 2016 through 2019 accident years was concentrated in the other liability line of business, and to a lesser degree, professional liability, including medical professional. The development, which particularly impacted business attaching excess of primary policy limits, was driven by a larger than expected number of large losses reported. The Company believes social inflation is contributing to an increase in the frequency of large losses for these accident years. Social inflation can include higher settlement demands from plaintiffs, use of tactics such as litigation funding by the plaintiffs’ bar, negative public sentiment towards large businesses and corporations, and erosion of tort reforms, among others.
The favorable prior year development on casualty lines for the 2022 accident year in the Insurance segment was concentrated in the other liability, professional liability, and workers’ compensation lines of business. Due to uncertainty regarding incurred loss frequency and severity in light of ongoing social inflation and the emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company set its initial loss ratios for the 2022 accident year prudently, and largely maintained these estimates through the end of 2022. The reported loss experience to date for these lines of business for the 2022 accident year has been
32


significantly better than was expected, and the Company has begun to react to this favorable emergence in the first quarter of 2023 for these lines.
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, favorable prior year development (net of additional and return premiums) of $1 million included $6 million of favorable development for the Insurance segment, largely offset by $5 million of adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment.
The overall favorable development for the Insurance segment was primarily attributable to favorable development on the 2021 accident year, largely offset by adverse development on the 2015 through 2019 accident years. The favorable development on the 2021 accident year was concentrated in the commercial auto liability, other liability and accident and health (employer stop loss) lines of business. The Company continued to experience lower reported claim frequency in commercial auto and other liability in 2021 relative to historical averages, and lower reported incurred losses relative to our expectations. These trends began in 2020, and were likely caused by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, for example, lockdowns, reduced driving/traffic, significant work from home, court closures, and similar reduced activities and travel. While reported claim frequency in these lines increased in 2021 relative to 2020, it remained below the historical levels pre- the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ultimate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on accident year 2021 incurred losses, the Company remains cautious in factoring in these trends in setting its initial loss ratio picks for this year. As accident year 2021 has begun to mature, we have recognized some of the favorable reported experience in our ultimate loss picks made as of March 31, 2022. The adverse development on the 2015 through 2019 accident years is concentrated in the other liability line of business, and to a lesser degree professional liability and commercial auto liability. The development is driven by a larger than expected number of large losses reported. The large losses particularly impacted the excess and surplus lines casualty classes of business.
The overall adverse development for the Reinsurance & Monoline Excess segment was driven mainly by adverse development in the non-proportional reinsurance assumed liability and professional liability lines of business, largely offset by favorable development in excess workers' compensation. Both the adverse and favorable development was spread across many prior accident years. The adverse development was associated primarily with our U.S. assumed reinsurance business, and related to accounts insuring construction projects and professional liability exposures. The favorable excess workers' compensation development was driven by continued lower claim frequency and reported losses relative to our expectations and to favorable claim settlements.
Reserve Discount. The Company discounts its liabilities for certain workers’ compensation reserves. The amount of workers’ compensation reserves that were discounted was $1,448 million and $1,464 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The aggregate net discount for those reserves, after reflecting the effects of ceded reinsurance, was $411 million and $416 million at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. At March 31, 2023, discount rates by year ranged from 0.7% to 6.5%, with a weighted average discount rate of 3.4%.
    Substantially all of the workers’ compensation discount (97% of total discounted reserves at March 31, 2023) relates to excess workers’ compensation reserves. In order to properly match loss expenses with income earned on investment securities supporting the liabilities, reserves for excess workers’ compensation business are discounted using risk-free discount rates determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve. These rates are determined annually based on the weighted average rate for the period. Once established, no adjustments are made to the discount rate for that period, and any increases or decreases in loss reserves in subsequent years are discounted at the same rate, without regard to when any such adjustments are recognized. The expected loss and loss expense payout patterns subject to discounting are derived from the Company’s loss payout experience.
    The Company also discounts reserves for certain other long-duration workers’ compensation reserves (representing approximately 3% of total discounted reserves at March 31, 2023), including reserves for quota share reinsurance and reserves related to losses regarding occupational lung disease. These reserves are discounted at statutory rates permitted by the Department of Insurance of the State of Delaware.
    Assumed Reinsurance Premiums. The Company estimates the amount of assumed reinsurance premiums that it will receive under treaty reinsurance agreements at the inception of the contracts. These premium estimates are revised as the actual amount of assumed premiums is reported to the Company by the ceding companies. As estimates of assumed premiums are made or revised, the related amount of earned premiums, commissions and incurred losses associated with those premiums are recorded. Estimated assumed premiums receivable were approximately $61 million at March 31, 2023 and $60 million at December 31, 2022. The assumed premium estimates are based upon terms set forth in reinsurance agreements, information received from ceding companies during the underwriting and negotiation of agreements, reports received from ceding companies and discussions and correspondence with reinsurance intermediaries. The Company also considers its own view of market conditions, economic trends and experience with similar lines of business. These premium estimates represent management’s best estimate of the ultimate amount of premiums to be received under its assumed reinsurance agreements.
33



    Allowance for Expected Credit Losses on Investments.
    Fixed Maturity Securities – For fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position where the Company intends to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery in value, the amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through net investment gains (losses). For fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position where the Company does not intend to sell, or it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell the security before recovery in value, the Company evaluates whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or all other factors (non-credit factors). In making this assessment, the Company considers the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, changes to the rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. If this assessment indicates that a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, an allowance for expected credit losses is recorded for the credit loss through net investment gains (losses), limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost basis. The allowance is adjusted for any change in expected credit losses and subsequent recoveries through net investment gains (losses). The impairment related to non-credit factors is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).
    The Company’s credit assessment of allowance for expected credit losses uses a third party model for available for sale and held to maturity securities, as well as loans receivable. The allowance for expected credit losses is generally based on the performance of the underlying collateral under various economic and default scenarios that involve subjective judgments and estimates by management. Modeling these securities involves various factors, such as projected default rates, the nature and realizable value of the collateral, if any, the ability of the issuer to make scheduled payments, historical performance and other relevant economic and performance factors. A discounted cash flow analysis is used to ascertain the amount of the allowance for expected credit losses, if any. In general, the model reverts to the rating-level long-term average marginal default rates based on 10 years of historical data, beyond the forecast period. For other inputs, the model in most cases reverts to the baseline long-term assumptions linearly over 5 years beyond the forecast period. The long-term assumptions are based on the historical averages.
    The Company classifies its fixed maturity securities by credit rating, primarily based on ratings assigned by credit rating agencies. For purposes of classifying securities with different ratings, the Company uses the average of the credit ratings assigned, unless in limited situations the Company’s own analysis indicates an internal rating is more appropriate. Securities that are not rated by a rating agency are evaluated and classified by the Company on a case-by-case basis.
    A summary of the Company’s non-investment grade fixed maturity securities that were in an unrealized loss position at March 31, 2023 is presented in the table below:
($ in thousands)Number of
Securities
Aggregate
Fair Value
 Gross Unrealized Loss
Foreign government33 $105,347 $64,516 
Corporate16 45,507 3,789 
State and municipal12,066 2,936 
Mortgage-backed14 4,202 199 
Asset-backed
Total65 $167,130 $71,448 
    As of March 31, 2023, the Company has recorded an allowance for expected credit losses on fixed maturity securities of $37 million. The Company has evaluated the remaining fixed maturity securities in an unrealized loss position and believes the unrealized losses are due primarily to temporary market and sector-related factors rather than to issuer-specific factors. None of these securities are delinquent or in default under financial covenants. Based on its assessment of these issuers, the Company expects them to continue to meet their contractual payment obligations as they become due.
Loans Receivable – For loans receivable, the Company estimates an allowance for expected credit losses based on relevant information about past events, including historical loss experience, current conditions and forecasts that affect the expected collectability of the amortized cost of the financial asset. The allowance for expected credit losses is presented as a reduction to amortized cost of the financial asset in the consolidated balance sheet and changes to the estimate for expected credit losses are recognized through net investment gains (losses). Loans receivable are reported net of an allowance for expected credit losses of $2 million as of both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
    Fair Value Measurements. The Company’s fixed maturity available for sale securities, equity securities, and its arbitrage trading account securities are carried at fair value. Fair value is defined as “the price that would be received to sell an
34


asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.” The Company utilizes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for similar assets in active markets. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. Unobservable inputs may only be used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available. The fair value of the vast majority of the Company’s portfolio is based on observable data (other than quoted prices) and, accordingly, is classified as Level 2.
    In classifying particular financial securities in the fair value hierarchy, the Company uses its judgment to determine whether the market for a security is active and whether significant pricing inputs are observable. The Company determines the existence of an active market by assessing whether transactions occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide reliable pricing information. The Company determines whether inputs are observable based on the use of such information by pricing services and external investment managers, the uninterrupted availability of such inputs, the need to make significant adjustments to such inputs and the volatility of such inputs over time. If the market for a security is determined to be inactive or if significant inputs used to price a security are determined to be unobservable, the security is categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
    Because many fixed maturity securities do not trade on a daily basis, the Company utilizes pricing models and processes which may include benchmark curves, benchmarking of like securities, sector groupings and matrix pricing. Market inputs used to evaluate securities include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers and reference data. Quoted prices are often unavailable for recently issued securities that are infrequently traded or securities that are only traded in private transactions. For publicly traded securities for which quoted prices are unavailable, the Company determines fair value based on independent broker quotations and other observable market data. For securities traded only in private negotiations, the Company determines fair value based primarily on the cost of such securities, which is adjusted to reflect prices of recent placements of securities of the same issuer, financial data, projections and business developments of the issuer and other relevant information.
    The following is a summary of pricing sources for the Company's fixed maturity securities available for sale as of March 31, 2023:
($ in thousands)Carrying
Value
Percent
of Total
Pricing source:
Independent pricing services$17,555,166 97.3 %
Syndicate manager67,780 0.4 
Directly by the Company based on:
Observable data416,401 2.3 
Total$18,039,347 100.0 %
    Independent pricing services – Substantially all of the Company’s fixed maturity securities available for sale were priced by independent pricing services (generally one U.S. pricing service plus additional pricing services with respect to a limited number of foreign securities held by the Company). The prices provided by the independent pricing services are generally based on observable market data in active markets (e.g., broker quotes and prices observed for comparable securities). The determination of whether markets are active or inactive is based upon the volume and level of activity for a particular asset class. The Company reviews the prices provided by pricing services for reasonableness based upon current trading levels for similar securities. If the prices appear unusual to the Company, they are re-examined and the value is either confirmed or revised. In addition, the Company periodically performs independent price tests of a sample of securities to ensure proper valuation and to verify our understanding of how securities are priced. As of March 31, 2023, the Company did not make any adjustments to the prices provided by the pricing services. Based upon the Company’s review of the methodologies used by the independent pricing services, these securities were classified as Level 2.
    Syndicate manager – The Company has a 15% participation in a Lloyd’s syndicate, and the Company’s share of the securities owned by the syndicate is priced by the syndicate’s manager. The majority of the securities are liquid, short duration fixed maturity securities. The Company reviews the syndicate manager’s pricing methodology and audited financial statements and holds discussions with the syndicate manager as necessary to confirm its understanding and agreement with security prices. Based upon the Company’s review of the methodologies used by the syndicate manager, these securities were classified as Level 2.
35


    Observable data – If independent pricing is not available, the Company prices the securities directly. Prices are based on observable market data where available, including current trading levels for similar securities and non-binding quotations from brokers. The Company generally requests two or more quotes. If more than one quote is received, the Company sets a price within the range of quotes received based on its assessment of the credibility of the quote and its own evaluation of the security. The Company generally does not adjust quotes obtained from brokers. Since these securities were priced based on observable data, they were classified as Level 2.
    Cash flow model – If the above methodologies are not available, the Company prices securities using a discounted cash flow model based upon assumptions as to prevailing credit spreads, interest rates and interest rate volatility, time to maturity and subordination levels. Discount rates are adjusted to reflect illiquidity where appropriate. These securities were classified as Level 3.

36


Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 and 2022
Business Segment Results

Following is a summary of gross and net premiums written, net premiums earned, loss ratios (losses and loss expenses incurred expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned), expense ratios (underwriting expenses expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned) and GAAP combined ratios (sum of loss ratio and expense ratio) for each of our business segments for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022. The GAAP combined ratio represents a measure of underwriting profitability, excluding investment income. A GAAP combined ratio in excess of 100 indicates an underwriting loss; a number below 100 indicates an underwriting profit.
($ in thousands)20232022
Insurance:
Gross premiums written$2,652,234 $2,484,799 
Net premiums written2,210,834 2,073,291 
Net premiums earned2,181,876 1,962,835 
Loss ratio62.8 %59.5 %
Expense ratio28.7 %28.1 %
GAAP combined ratio91.5 %87.6 %
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess:
Gross premiums written$397,083 $375,038 
Net premiums written363,990 339,963 
Net premiums earned309,556 286,252 
Loss ratio54.5 %59.9 %
Expense ratio29.5 %29.5 %
GAAP combined ratio84.0 %89.4 %
Consolidated:
Gross premiums written$3,049,317 $2,859,837 
Net premiums written2,574,824 2,413,254 
Net premiums earned2,491,432 2,249,087 
Loss ratio61.8 %59.5 %
Expense ratio28.8 %28.3 %
GAAP combined ratio90.6 %87.8 %
    Net Income to Common Stockholders. The following table presents the Company’s net income to common stockholders and net income per diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
(In thousands, except per share data)20232022
Net income to common stockholders$294,126 $590,638 
Weighted average diluted shares277,339 279,157 
Net income per diluted share$1.06 $2.12 
    The Company reported net income to common stockholders of $294 million in 2023 compared to $591 million in 2022. The $297 million decrease in net income was primarily due to an after-tax reduction in net investment gains of $270 million due to the sale of a real estate investment in 2022 and the reduced gain from change in market value on equity securities, an after-tax reduction in underwriting income of $31 million primarily due to increased storm and property losses, an increase of $17 million in tax expense due to a change in the effective tax rate, an after-tax increase in foreign currency losses of $11 million mainly due to the weakening of the U.S. dollar against U.K. sterling and Euro in 2023, an after-tax increase in corporate expenses of $10 million due to increased performance-based compensation costs and an after-tax decrease in profits from non-insurance businesses of $1 million, partially offset by an after-tax increase in net investment income of $39 million primarily due to rising interest rates and a larger investment portfolio related to fixed maturity securities, an after-tax reduction in interest expense of $2 million due to debt repayments in 2022 and an after-tax increase in insurance service income of $2 million. The number of weighted average diluted shares decreased by 1.8 million for 2023 compared to 2022, mainly reflecting shares repurchased in the the first quarter of 2023.
    Premiums. Gross premiums written were $3,049 million in 2023, an increase of 7% from $2,860 million in 2022. The increase was due to a $167 million increase in the Insurance segment and a $22 million increase in the Reinsurance & Monoline
37


Excess segment. Approximately 79% of premiums expiring in 2023 were renewed, and 82% of premiums expiring in 2022 were renewed.
    Average renewal premium rates for insurance and facultative reinsurance increased 7.2% in 2023 when adjusted for changes in exposures, and increased 8.3% excluding workers' compensation.
    A summary of gross premiums written in 2023 compared with 2022 by line of business within each business segment follows:
Insurance - gross premiums increased 7% to $2,652 million in 2023 from $2,485 million in 2022. Gross premiums increased $94 million (10%) for other liability, $80 million (14%) for short-tail lines, $21 million (7%) for commercial auto and $8 million (3%) for workers' compensation, partially offset by a reduction of $36 million (9%) for professional liability.
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess - gross premiums increased 6% to $397 million in 2023 from $375 million in 2022. Gross premiums increased $12 million (12%) for monoline excess, $6 million (9%) for property reinsurance and $4 million (2%) for casualty reinsurance.
    Net premiums written were $2,575 million in 2023, an increase of 7% from $2,413 million in 2022. Ceded reinsurance premiums as a percentage of gross written premiums were 16% in both 2023 and 2022.
    Premiums earned increased 11% to $2,491 million in 2023 from $2,249 million in 2022. Insurance premiums (including the impact of rate changes) are generally earned evenly over the policy term, and accordingly, recent rate increases will be earned over the upcoming quarters. Premiums earned in 2023 are related to business written during both 2023 and 2022. Audit premiums were $91 million in 2023 compared with $70 million in 2022 due to an increase in exposures.
    Net Investment Income. Following is a summary of net investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
AmountAverage Annualized
Yield
($ in thousands)2023202220232022
Fixed maturity securities, including cash and cash equivalents and loans receivable$195,642 $101,284 3.8 %2.2 %
Arbitrage trading account18,256 9,187 9.4 3.1 
Equity securities13,746 10,856 4.8 4.7 
Investment funds2,180 52,012 0.5 13.7 
Real estate(3,711)2,146 (1.1)0.5 
Gross investment income226,113 175,485 3.5 3.0 
Investment expenses(2,715)(1,973)— — 
Total$223,398 $173,512 3.5 %2.9 %
    Net investment income increased 29% to $223 million in 2023 from $174 million in 2022 due primarily to a $94 million increase in income from fixed maturity securities mainly driven by rising interest rates and a larger investment portfolio, a $9 million increase from the arbitrage trading account and a $3 million increase from equity securities, partially offset by a $50 million decrease in income from investment funds primarily due to financial service and consumer goods funds, a $6 million decrease in real estate and a $1 million increase in investment expenses. The Company maintained the shortened duration of its fixed maturity security portfolio, thereby reducing the potential impact of mark-to-market on the portfolio and positioning the Company to react quickly to changes in the current interest rate environment. Average invested assets, at cost (including cash and cash equivalents), were $25.7 billion in 2023 up 8.3% from $23.7 billion in 2022.
    Insurance Service Fees. The Company earns fees from an insurance distribution business, a third-party administrator and as a servicing carrier of workers' compensation assigned risk plans for certain states. Insurance service fees increased to $33 million in 2023 from $28 million in 2022, mainly due to organic growth within the business.
    Net Realized and Unrealized Gains on Investments. The Company buys and sells securities and other investment assets on a regular basis in order to maximize its total return on investments. Decisions to sell securities and other investment assets are based on management’s view of the underlying fundamentals of specific investments as well as management’s expectations regarding interest rates, credit spreads, currency values and general economic conditions. Net realized and unrealized gains on investments were $23 million in 2023 compared with $370 million in 2022. The gains of $23 million in 2023 reflected an
38


increase in unrealized gains on equity securities of $43 million partially offset by net realized losses on investments of $20 million. The gains of $370 million in 2022 reflected net realized gains on investments of $277 million (primarily a $251 million net gain from the sale of a real estate investment in London after transaction expenses and the foreign currency impact, including the reversal of the currency translation adjustment), and an increase in unrealized gains on equity securities of $93 million.
Change in Allowance for Expected Credit Losses on Investments. Based on credit factors, the allowance for expected credit losses is increased or decreased depending on the percentage of unrealized loss relative to amortized cost by security, changes in rating of the security by a rating agency, and adverse conditions specifically related to the security, among other factors. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the pre-tax change in allowance for expected credit losses on investments decreased by $399 thousand ($315 thousand after-tax), which is reflected in net investment gains, primarily due to change in estimate. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the pre-tax change in allowance for expected credit losses on investments increased by $4 million ($3 million after-tax), which is reflected in net investment gains, primarily due to change in estimate.
Revenues from Non-Insurance Businesses. Revenues from non-insurance businesses were derived from businesses engaged in the distribution of promotional merchandise, world-wide textile solutions and aviation-related businesses that provide services to aviation markets, including (i) the distribution, manufacturing, repair and overhaul of aircraft parts and components, (ii) the sale of new and used aircraft, and (iii) avionics, fuel, maintenance, storage and charter services. Revenues from non-insurance businesses were $124 million in 2023 and $98 million in 2022. The increase mainly relates to aviation-related business and the commercial and residential textile business, which we acquired in 2022, partially offset by the decrease of promotional merchandise and existing textile business.
    Losses and Loss Expenses. Losses and loss expenses increased to $1,539 million in 2023 from $1,339 million in 2022. The consolidated loss ratio was 61.8% in 2023 and 59.5% in 2022. Catastrophe losses, net of reinsurance recoveries, were $48 million (including current accident year losses of approximately $43 thousand related to COVID-19) in 2023 and $29 million (including losses of approximately $1 million related to COVID-19) in 2022. Adverse prior year reserve development (net of premium offsets) was $24 million in 2023 and favorable prior year reserve development was $1 million in 2022. The loss ratio excluding catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development increased 0.6 points to 58.9% in 2023 from 58.3% in 2022.
    A summary of loss ratios in 2023 compared with 2022 by business segment follows:
Insurance - The loss ratio was 62.8% in 2023 and 59.5% in 2022. Catastrophe losses were $45 million in 2023 compared with $11 million in 2022. Adverse prior year reserve development was $17 million in 2023, principally from property catastrophe losses, and favorable prior year reserve development was $6 million in 2022. The loss ratio excluding catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development increased 0.6 points to 59.9% in 2023 from 59.3% in 2022.
Reinsurance & Monoline Excess - The loss ratio was 54.5% in 2023 and 59.9% in 2022. Catastrophe losses were $3 million in 2023 compared with $18 million in 2022. Adverse prior year reserve development was $7 million in 2023 and $5 million in 2022. The loss ratio excluding catastrophe losses and prior year reserve development decreased 0.2 points to 51.5% in 2023 from 51.7% in 2022.
Other Operating Costs and Expenses. Following is a summary of other operating costs and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022:
($ in thousands)20232022
Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses$718,276 $635,453 
Insurance service expenses25,180 22,466 
Net foreign currency losses (gains)9,495 (4,168)
Other costs and expenses72,624 60,148 
Total$825,575 $713,899 
    Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses are comprised of commissions paid to agents and brokers, premium taxes and other assessments and internal underwriting costs. Policy acquisition and insurance operating expenses increased 13% and net premiums earned increased 11% from 2022. The expense ratio (underwriting expenses expressed as a percentage of net premiums earned) increased by 0.5 points to 28.8% in 2023 from 28.3% in 2022 mainly due to lower ceding commissions, increased compensation costs and new start-up operating unit expenses.
    Service expenses, which represent the costs associated with the fee-based businesses, were $25 million in 2023 and $22 million in 2022.
39


    Net foreign currency gains result from transactions denominated in a currency other than a company's operating functional currency. Net foreign currency losses was $9 million in 2023 compared to gains of $4 million in 2022, primarily related to the strengthening of the U.K. sterling and Euro against the U.S. dollar in 2023.
    Other costs and expenses represent general and administrative expenses of the parent company and other expenses not allocated to business segments, including the cost of certain long-term incentive plans and new business ventures. Other costs and expenses increased to $73 million in 2023 from $60 million in 2022, primarily due to the increase in compensation related costs in 2023.
    Expenses from Non-Insurance Businesses. Expenses from non-insurance businesses represent costs associated with businesses engaged in the distribution of promotional merchandise, world-wide textile solutions and aviation-related businesses that include (i) cost of goods sold related to aircraft and products sold and services provided, and (ii) general and administrative expenses. Expenses from non-insurance businesses were $123 million in 2023 compared to $95 million in 2022. The increase mainly relates to the aviation-related business and the residential and commercial textile business, which we acquired in 2022, partially offset by the decrease of promotional merchandise and existing textile business.
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $32 million in 2023 and $35 million in 2022. In the first quarter of 2022, the Company repaid at maturity its $77 million aggregate principal amount of 8.7% senior notes in January and its $350 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes in March.
Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate was 21.4% and 19.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The higher effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023, as compared to the earlier period, was primarily due to a net reduction to the Company’s valuation allowance against foreign tax credits and foreign net operating losses.
    The Company has not provided U.S. deferred income taxes on the undistributed earnings of approximately $173 million of its non-U.S. subsidiaries since these earnings are intended to be permanently reinvested in the non-U.S. subsidiaries. In the future, if such earnings were distributed, the Company projects that the incremental tax, if any, will be immaterial.





40


Investments
    As part of its investment strategy, the Company establishes a level of cash and highly liquid short-term and intermediate-term securities that, combined with expected cash flow, it believes is adequate to meet its payment obligations. In addition to fixed maturity securities, the Company invests in equity securities, merger arbitrage securities, investment funds, private equity, loans and real estate related assets. The Company's investments in investment funds and its other alternative investments have experienced, and the Company expects to continue to experience, greater fluctuations in investment income.
    The Company also attempts to maintain an appropriate relationship between the average duration of the investment portfolio and the approximate duration of its liabilities (i.e., policy claims and debt obligations). The average duration of the fixed maturity portfolio, including cash and cash equivalents, were 2.4 years at both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The Company’s fixed maturity investment portfolio and investment-related assets as of March 31, 2023 were as follows:
($ in thousands)Carrying
Value
Percent
of Total
Fixed maturity securities:
U.S. government and government agencies$1,049,267 4.2 %
State and municipal:
Special revenue1,674,483 6.7 
Local general obligation434,679 1.7 
State general obligation422,832 1.7 
Corporate backed196,817 0.8 
Pre-refunded (1)108,915 0.4 
Total state and municipal2,837,726 11.3 
Mortgage-backed:
Agency1,081,356 4.4 
Commercial583,745 2.3 
Residential-Prime232,602 0.9 
Residential-Alt A3,425 — 
Total mortgage-backed1,901,128 7.6 
Asset-backed3,845,453 15.4 
Corporate:
Industrial3,385,444 13.6 
Financial2,626,304 10.5 
Utilities627,327 2.5 
Other486,574 1.9 
Total corporate7,125,649 28.5 
Foreign government and foreign government agencies1,331,890 5.4 
Total fixed maturity securities18,091,113 72.4 
Equity securities:
Common stocks1,057,599 4.2 
Preferred stocks222,356 0.9 
Total equity securities1,279,955 5.1 
Cash and cash equivalents (2)1,843,534 7.4 
Investment funds1,601,567 6.5 
Real estate1,338,504 5.4 
Arbitrage trading account609,001 2.4 
Loans receivable194,944 0.8 
Total investments$24,958,618 100.0 %
____________________
(1) Pre-refunded securities are securities for which an escrow account has been established to fund the remaining payments of principal and interest through maturity. Such escrow accounts are funded almost exclusively with U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities.
(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.
41


Fixed Maturity Securities. The Company’s investment policy with respect to fixed maturity securities is generally to purchase instruments with the expectation of holding them to their maturity. However, management of the available for sale portfolio is considered necessary to maintain an approximate matching of assets and liabilities as well as to adjust the portfolio as a result of changes in financial market conditions and tax considerations.
The Company’s philosophy related to holding or selling fixed maturity securities is based on its objective of maximizing total return. The key factors that management considers in its investment decisions as to whether to hold or sell fixed maturity securities are its view of the underlying fundamentals of specific securities as well as its expectations regarding interest rates, credit spreads and currency values. In a period in which management expects interest rates to rise, the Company may sell longer duration securities in order to mitigate the impact of an interest rate rise on the fair value of the portfolio. Similarly, in a period in which management expects credit spreads to widen, the Company may sell lower quality securities, and in a period in which management expects certain foreign currencies to decline in value, the Company may sell securities denominated in those foreign currencies. The sale of fixed maturity securities in order to achieve the objective of maximizing total return may result in realized gains or losses; however, there is no reason to expect these gains or losses to continue in future periods.
Equity Securities. Equity securities primarily represent investments in common and preferred stocks in companies with potential growth opportunities in different sectors, mainly in the financial institutions and energy sectors.
Investment Funds. At March 31, 2023, the carrying value of investment funds was $1,602 million, including investments in financial services funds of $445 million, other funds of $367 million (which includes a deferred compensation trust asset of $34 million), transportation funds of $337 million, real estate funds of $217 million, infrastructure funds of $119 million and energy funds of $117 million. Investment funds are generally reported on a one-quarter lag.
Real Estate. Real estate is directly owned property held for investment. At March 31, 2023, real estate properties in operation included a long-term ground lease in Washington D.C., an office complex in New York City and the completed portion of a mixed-use project in Washington D.C. In addition, part of the previously mentioned mixed-use project in Washington D.C. is under development. The Company expects to fund further development costs for the project with a combination of its own funds and external financing. During the first quarter of 2022, the Company sold an office building in London.
Arbitrage Trading Account. The arbitrage trading account is comprised of direct investments in arbitrage securities. Merger arbitrage is the business of investing in the securities of publicly held companies that are the targets in announced tender offers and mergers.
Loans Receivable. Loans receivable, which are carried at amortized cost (net of allowance for expected credit losses), had an amortized cost of $195 million and an aggregate fair value of $187 million at March 31, 2023. The amortized cost of loans receivable is net of an allowance for expected credit losses of $2 million as of March 31, 2023. Loans receivable include real estate loans of $176 million that are secured by commercial and residential real estate located primarily in London and
New York. Real estate loans generally earn interest at fixed or stepped interest rates and have maturities through 2026. Loans receivable include commercial loans of $19 million that are secured by business assets and have fixed interest rates with varying maturities not exceeding 10 years.
Market Risk. The fair value of the Company’s investments is subject to risks of fluctuations in credit quality and interest rates. The Company uses various models and stress test scenarios to monitor and manage interest rate risk. The Company attempts to manage its interest rate risk by maintaining an appropriate relationship between the effective duration of the investment portfolio and the approximate duration of its liabilities (i.e., policy claims and debt obligations). The effective duration for the fixed maturity portfolio (including cash and cash equivalents) was 2.4 years at both March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
In addition, the fair value of the Company’s international investments is subject to currency risk. The Company attempts to manage its currency risk by matching its foreign currency assets and liabilities where considered appropriate.

42


Liquidity and Capital Resources
    Cash Flow. Cash flow provided from operating activities decreased to $445 million in the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $478 million in the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to increased loss and loss expense payments partially offset by an increase in premium receipts.
    The Company's insurance subsidiaries' principal sources of cash are premiums, investment income, service fees and proceeds from sales and maturities of portfolio investments. The principal uses of cash are payments for claims, taxes, operating expenses and dividends. The Company expects its insurance subsidiaries to fund the payment of losses with cash received from premiums, investment income and fees. The Company generally targets an average duration for its investment portfolio that is within 1.5 years of the average duration of its liabilities so that portions of its investment portfolio mature throughout the claim cycle and are available for the payment of claims if necessary. In the event operating cash flow and proceeds from maturities and prepayments of fixed income securities are not sufficient to fund claim payments and other cash requirements, the remainder of the Company's cash and investments is available to pay claims and other obligations as they become due. The Company's investment portfolio is highly liquid, with approximately 79% invested in cash, cash equivalents and marketable fixed maturity securities as of March 31, 2023. If the sale of fixed maturity securities were to become necessary, a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the cost and sales price of securities sold would be recognized.
    Debt. At March 31, 2023, the Company had senior notes, subordinated debentures and other debt outstanding with a carrying value of $2,837 million and a face amount of $2,865 million. In the first quarter of 2022, the Company repaid at maturity its $77 million aggregate principal amount of 8.7% senior notes in January and its $350 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes in March. The maturities of the outstanding debt are $5 million in 2024, $5 million in 2025, $250 million in 2037, $350 million in 2044, $470 million in 2050, $400 million in 2052, $185 million in 2058, $300 million in 2059, $250 million in 2060, and $650 million in 2061.
On April 1, 2022, the Company entered into a senior unsecured revolving credit facility that provides for revolving, unsecured borrowings up to an aggregate of $300 million with a $50 million sublimit for letters of credit. The Company may increase the amount available under the facility to a maximum of $500 million subject to obtaining lender commitments for the increase and other customary conditions. Borrowings under the facility may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. All borrowings under the facility must be repaid by April 1, 2027, except that letters of credit outstanding on that date may remain outstanding until April 1, 2028 (or such later date approved by all lenders). Our ability to utilize the facility is conditioned on the satisfaction of representations, warranties and covenants that are customary for facilities of this type. As of March 31, 2023, there were no borrowings outstanding under the facility.
    Equity. At March 31, 2023, total common stockholders’ equity was $6.9 billion, common shares outstanding were 262,536,530 and stockholders’ equity per outstanding share was $26.45. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 2,038,391 shares of its common stock for $135.2 million. In the first quarter of 2023, the board of directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.50 per share. The number of common shares outstanding excludes shares held in a grantor trust established by the Company for delivery upon settlement of vested but mandatorily deferred RSUs.
    Total Capital. Total capitalization (equity, debt and subordinated debentures) was $9.8 billion at March 31, 2023. The percentage of the Company’s capital attributable to senior notes, subordinated debentures and other debt was 29% at March 31, 2023 and 30% at December 31, 2022.

43


Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
    Reference is made to the information under “Investments - Market Risk” under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Form 10-Q.

Item 4.     Controls and Procedures
    Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company has in place effective controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
    Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. During the quarter ended March 31, 2023, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
    Please see Note 20 to the notes to the interim consolidated financial statements.

Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.


Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    
    Set forth below is a summary of the shares repurchased by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2023, and the number of shares remaining authorized for purchase by the Company:

Total number
of shares purchased
Average price
paid per share
Total number of shares purchased
as part of publicly announced plans or programs
Maximum number of
shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
January 2023729,600 $69.09 729,600 12,900,006 
February 2023644,965 $67.06 644,965 12,255,041 
March 2023663,826 $62.50 663,826 11,591,215 
44


Item 6. Exhibits
Number 
Form of 2023 Performance Unit Award Agreement under the W. R. Berkley Corporation 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/ 15d-14(a).
  
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/ 15d-14(a).
  
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
45


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


 
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION



Date:May 4, 2023/s/ W. Robert Berkley, Jr.
 W. Robert Berkley, Jr.
 President and Chief Executive Officer 
  
Date:May 4, 2023/s/ Richard M. Baio
 Richard M. Baio
 Executive Vice President -
Chief Financial Officer
46