{"id":26743,"date":"2026-06-26T03:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T01:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stocks-future.com\/?guid=80d9e3da35833f6d6460152bf0da1fc9"},"modified":"2026-06-26T03:05:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T01:05:00","slug":"am-best-upgrades-issuer-credit-ratings-of-w-r-berkley-corporation-and-its-subsidiaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stocks-future.com\/?p=26743","title":{"rendered":"AM Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Ratings of W. R. Berkley Corporation and Its Subsidiaries"},"content":{"rendered":"

OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#insurance<\/a>--AM Best <\/b>has upgraded the Long-Term Issuer Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to \u201ca\u201d (Excellent) from \u201ca-\u201d (Excellent), all associated Long-Term Issue Ratings (Long-Term IR) and indicative Long-Term IRs for securities issued by W. R. Berkley Corporation (W. R. Berkley) (Greenwich, CT) [NYSE: WRB]. At the same time, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term ICR to \u201caa\u201d (Superior) from \u201caa-\u201d (Superior) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A+ (Superior) of Berkley Insurance Company (Wilmington, DE) and its reinsured subsidiaries and affiliates, collectively referred to as W. R. Berkley Insurance Group (Berkley Group). AM Best also has upgraded the Long-Term ICR to \u201caa\u201d (Superior) from \u201caa-\u201d (Superior) and affirmed the FSR of A+ (Superior) of Berkley Life and Health Insurance Company (Berkley Life and Health) (Urbandale, IA). The outlook of the Long-Term ICRs has been revised to stable from positive, while the outlook of the FSRs is stable. (See below for a detailed list of the companies and ratings.)<\/p><\/a><\/a>

\nThe Credit Ratings (ratings) of the Berkley Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).<\/p>

\nThe upgrading of the Long-Term ICRs reflects the Berkley Group\u2019s improved balance sheet strength fundamentals, driven by strong underwriting results and a robust investment portfolio that are driving consistently strong returns, consistent organic surplus growth over the most recent 10-year period and its strong debt leverage.<\/p>

\nThe Berkley Group\u2019s balance sheet strength assessment is anchored by its strongest risk-adjusted capitalization as measured by Best\u2019s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Debt leverage has been consistently trending downward over the last five years and was 22.6, unadjusted as of year-end 2025. Interest coverage and liquidity metrics remain strong. The Berkley Group maintains a well-diversified investment portfolio to support its liabilities and is focused on creating the most favorable return, while maintaining its risk tolerance levels.<\/p>

\nThe Berkley Group maintains a favorable market share in its core lines of business, as well as continuing to grow organically through new businesses and opportunities. The group\u2019s strong operating results and profitability metrics point to agile underwriting and pricing discipline, as well as effective risk management expertise. The Berkley Group reported net premium growth across most of its core business in first-quarter 2026, with a GAAP return-on-equity (ROE) ratio of 22.1% and GAAP return-on-revenue of 16.5%. Berkley Group\u2019s effective ERM practices and risk-modeling capabilities are supportive of its current investment and operational risks as demonstrated by its lack of volatility in its financial results and the enterprise\u2019s overall capitalization.<\/p>

\nThe stable outlooks of the FSRs reflect AM Best\u2019s expectation that the group will maintain its balance sheet assessment in the strongest range over the intermediate term with strong operating results contributing to surplus growth.<\/p>

\nThe ratings of Berkley Life and Health reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. The ratings also reflect the financial and operational support of the parent company.<\/p>

\nThe upgrading of the Long-Term ICR reflects Berkley Life and Health\u2019s improved operating performance fundamentals over the last five years, driven by steady organic premium revenue growth, consistent underwriting income, and strong return on equity and return on revenue.<\/p>

\nBerkley Life and Health\u2019s balance sheet strength assessment is supported by its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization as measured by BCAR. The company maintained a BCAR in the strongest category while reporting favorable liquidity ratios and positive cash flow at year-end 2025. The company continues to hold a conservative, high-quality investment portfolio consisting of fixed-income securities and cash & short-term investments.<\/p>

\nBerkley Life and Health has grown net premiums written annually at an above average 14.1% compound annual growth rate over the last five years owing to new and renewal sales of its core medical stop-loss and group captive products. The company has reported sizable annual net underwriting income, which has trended upward during this period and has maintained a strong five-year average ROE and return-on-revenue above 18% at year-end 2025.<\/p>

\nBerkley Life and Health is a leader in the group captive market and maintains a niche in the small group medical stop-loss space. However, the medical stop-loss market remains highly competitive and is dominated by larger national carriers. Berkley Life and Health continues to benefit from explicit and implicit support provided by W. R. Berkley, and is fully integrated into the parent organization\u2019s operations, strategic plans and ERM program.<\/p>

\nThe Long-Term ICRs have been upgraded to \u201caa\u201d (Superior) from \u201caa-\u201d (Superior) while the FSR of A+ (Superior) has been affirmed, with the Long-Term ICR outlooks revised to stable from positive and the FSR outlook at stable for the following members of W. R. Berkley Insurance Group:<\/p>