Berkley Corporation
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
W. R. Berkley Corporation is a commercial P&C holding company with underwriting handled through numerous specialized member companies. There is no single, unified public appetite guide; underwriting authority, target classes, and submission rules are set at the operating-company level. Agents should use the Berkley "Locator"/business listing and each member company’s site for product‑specific appetites and submission instructions. GENERAL POSITIONING & GEOGRAPHY - Broad U.S. commercial focus with multiple niche carriers and some international platforms (Canada, Europe, Australia, etc.). Most small/middle‑market products are written on admitted paper via regional or niche companies; some higher‑hazard or CAT‑exposed property is written in E&S entities. ([berkley.com](https://www.berkley.com/?utm_source=openai)) - Many businesses write nationwide; others are regional (e.g., Acadia in the Northeast, Berkley North Pacific in Pacific Northwest/Northern Rockies). Check each operating company’s licensing/territory page before quoting. ([berkley.com](https://www.berkley.com/?utm_source=openai)) WORKERS COMP (PRIMARY & EXCESS) - Primary mono‑line workers comp is provided by several Berkley units (e.g., BerkleyNet and other workers comp‑focused companies). Appetite is generally small to middle‑market commercial accounts with established operations and verifiable payroll and loss history. ([berkley.com](https://www.berkley.com/business-insurance/reinsurance?utm_source=openai)) - Example: Berkley Risk’s workers compensation guidelines illustrate typical expectations: minimum targeted premium around $50,000, five years of loss history, current experience mod worksheet, and focus on guaranteed‑cost programs. Target sectors include healthcare, senior living, manufacturing, child‑care centers, social services/group homes, and PEO groups with these exposures. ([berkleyrisk.com](https://www.berkleyrisk.com/work-comp/?utm_source=openai)) - Restricted/declined (indicative across comp units): new ventures with no experience in higher‑hazard classes, poor loss experience or unmanaged frequency/severity, unsupported multi‑state exposures, and risks lacking safety/risk‑control engagement. Exact class and state restrictions vary by the writing company. - Submission expectations (indicative): completed ACORD workers comp app, 5‑year currently valued loss runs, current and prior experience mods, detailed description of operations and safety programs, state/FEIN schedule, and payroll by class and state. Direct submissions are usually only accepted from appointed producers of the specific Berkley comp platform. COMMERCIAL PROPERTY / PACKAGE - Property and package are written both on admitted platforms (regional/middle‑market carriers) and on E&S platforms (e.g., Berkley Specialty Property). - Berkley Specialty Property’s published appetite focuses on U.S. nationwide accounts (single location through large schedules), including catastrophe‑exposed risks for insureds with mature risk management and willingness to participate in shared/layered excess programs. Target client groups include municipalities, real estate schedules, and manufacturing/industrial occupancies. ([berkleyspecialtyproperty.com](https://berkleyspecialtyproperty.com/?utm_source=openai)) - Property units emphasize engineered accounts, adequate COPE data, modern construction, and strong risk‑control engagement. Habitational, older frame construction, unprotected frame, and highly CAT‑exposed schedules may be restricted or moved to E&S programs, subject to capacity and pricing. - Many Berkley inland marine and cargo units (e.g., Berkley Fire & Marine, Berkley Offshore/StarNet paper) support property and transit‑related schedules. Appetite guides show focus on builders risk, installation floaters, contractors’ equipment, warehouse legal, motor truck cargo, shippers interest, scheduled property floaters, and related inland marine classes. ([berkleymarine.com](https://www.berkleymarine.com/products/riggers-liability/?utm_source=openai)) - Marine cargo appetite emphasizes manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers/retailers, importers/exporters, with strong interest in non‑hazardous general merchandise, machinery, building materials, and similar goods; higher‑hazard cargos (perishables, hazardous chemicals, certain metals) are accepted only with restrictions or may be declined. ([berkleyoffshore.com](https://www.berkleyoffshore.com/berkley-core/core-content/wp-content/core-media/2022/11/Marine-Cargo-Appetite-Guide.pdf?utm_source=openai)) COMMERCIAL UMBRELLA / EXCESS LIABILITY - Umbrella and excess liability are offered through several regional, specialty and monoline excess units. Example: Berkley North Pacific provides commercial umbrella for its regional commercial book. ([berkleynpac.com](https://www.berkleynpac.com/industries-products/products/umbrella/?utm_source=openai)) - Common parameters: attachment over supported primary GL/auto/employers liability with reputable carriers (often requiring Berkley primary on smaller risks), adequate underlying limits (typically at least $1M occurrence/$2M aggregate GL and $1M CSL auto), and acceptable loss history. - Preferred: well‑managed small and middle‑market commercial risks in construction, manufacturing, retail/wholesale, real estate, and services with stable operations, good controls, and no severe loss patterns. - Frequently restricted/declined: high‑hazard contractors (e.g., heavy structural, roofing over certain heights), habitational with poor maintenance/security, trucking/fleet with unsafe driving metrics, exposures with significant products or liquor severity, or risks with open or high‑severity claims. Coverage for excess over non‑standard or fronted programs is typically placed through specialized monoline excess units on a case‑by‑case basis. BOAT / WATERCRAFT AND MARINE‑RELATED QUOTES - Berkley’s marine‑oriented units (e.g., Berkley Fire & Marine and offshore/marine cargo divisions) focus on commercial and cargo/transit exposures rather than personal watercraft; boat/watercraft placements are usually embedded in commercial marine, hull, P&I, or marina programs. ([berkleymarine.com](https://www.berkleymarine.com/products/riggers-liability/?utm_source=openai)) - Targeted risks include marine contractors, cargo interests, logistics firms, and related commercial operations that may schedule vessels or equipment as part of broader marine or cargo accounts. Stand‑alone personal boat cover is not a typical appetite; such inquiries should be routed to a retail personal lines market rather than Berkley. BROKER / PRODUCER NOTES & SUBMISSION PRACTICE - Berkley distributes exclusively through appointed agents and brokers; producers must identify and work directly with the relevant operating company for each line and territory (e.g., Acadia, Berkley North Pacific, BerkleyNet, specialty property or marine units). ([berkley.com](https://www.berkley.com/?utm_source=openai)) - The published Berkley Guidebook and online locator are meant to help agents match accounts to the right Berkley business by industry, product line, and geography. These tools do not replace company‑specific underwriting guides but indicate which unit to approach. ([berkley.com](https://berkley.com/sites/g/files/xkzibx106/files/2025-09/berkley_guidebook_9-15-25.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Standard submission requirements across Berkley units generally include: fully completed ACORDs and applicable supplemental apps; 3–5 years of currently valued loss runs; complete exposure bases (sales, payroll, units, building values, vehicle schedules); detailed operational descriptions; and evidence of risk‑management practices where relevant (e.g., safety programs, maintenance, driver screening). - Many appetite guides explicitly note that appetites and class lists may change; brokers are directed to check back periodically and contact underwriters with borderline classes or exposures. ([berkleymarine.com](https://www.berkleymarine.com/products/riggers-liability/?utm_source=openai)) OPERATIONAL TAKEAWAYS - Treat W. R. Berkley as an umbrella brand, not a single market: route each submission to the correct Berkley company based on class, line, and geography. - For workers comp and commercial packages, expect a strong preference for established, well‑managed small/middle‑market risks with good loss experience and complete data; new ventures and distressed accounts are difficult. - For property, especially CAT‑exposed or higher‑hazard occupancies, use specialty/E&S Berkley units and be prepared with robust COPE details and risk‑management narratives. - For umbrella, confirm acceptable underlying limits, carriers, and loss history; many units prefer to write umbrella over their own primary. - Always verify current appetite and forms on the specific Berkley operating company’s website, as there is no master W. R. Berkley appetite manual and appetites can change by state and class.