0000899140-01-500268.txt : 20011008
0000899140-01-500268.hdr.sgml : 20011008
ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000899140-01-500268
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20010914
ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits
ITEM INFORMATION:
FILED AS OF DATE: 20010917
FILER:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BERKLEY W R CORP
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000011544
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
IRS NUMBER: 221867895
STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE
FISCAL YEAR END: 1231
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: 8-K
SEC ACT: 1934 Act
SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-15202
FILM NUMBER: 1738164
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 165 MASON ST
STREET 2: P O BOX 2518
CITY: GREENWICH
STATE: CT
ZIP: 06836-2518
BUSINESS PHONE: 2036293000
MAIL ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 165 MASON ST
STREET 2: PO BOX 2518
CITY: GREENWICH
STATE: CT
ZIP: 06836-2518
8-K
1
bco891355b.txt
CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 17, 2001
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 14, 2001
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-7849 22-1867895
-------- ------ ----------
(State or other (Commission File (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518, Greenwich, CT 06836-2518
---------------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 629-3000
--------------
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired:
None.
(b) Pro forma financial information:
None.
(c) Exhibits:
99.1 Press Release dated September 14, 2001
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure
Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the
"Company") relating to the Company's estimated losses resulting from the
September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. The press release was
issued on September 14, 2001. A copy of the press release is attached to this
Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Eugene G. Ballard
------------------------------
Name: Eugene G. Ballard
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
Date: September 17, 2001
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit:
--------
99.1 Press Release dated September 14, 2001
EX-99.1
4
bco891355c.txt
PRESS RELEASE
W. R. Berkley Corporation 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT 99.1
W. R. Berkley Corporation 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
W. R. Berkley Corporation NEWS
165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518 RELEASE
Greenwich, Connecticut 06836-2518
(203) 629-3000
----------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Eugene G. Ballard
Senior Vice President -
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
203-629-3000
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION ISSUES STATEMENT
ON WORLD TRADE CENTER TRAGEDY
Company Estimates Potential Pre-Tax Losses
GREENWICH, CT., September 14, 2001 - W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: BER)
Chairman William R. Berkley issued the following statement today, "The events of
the past several days have created much sadness in America as well as a sense of
deep personal concern within our organization. This has not altered our
confidence in our institutions or the importance of individual freedom. We have
many friends who lost their lives in this abominable terrorist act and to all
the families that suffered we offer our condolences."
In addressing the business issue, Mr. Berkley commented, "Although it is
too early to make a precise assessment of the financial impact to the company of
these events, based on our preliminary analysis and our examination of all known
exposures, we do not expect our pre-tax losses to exceed $10 million. In the
unlikely event all reinsurance retentions are exhausted, our company's net
pre-tax losses would be less than $25 million. We do not currently believe that
we have any significant liability exposures."
Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company,
which operates in five segments of the property casualty insurance business:
specialty insurance, alternative markets, reinsurance, regional property
casualty insurance and international.
*******
This is a "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein, including
those related to the Company's performance for the year 2001 and beyond, are
based upon the Company's historical performance and on current plans, estimates
and expectations. They are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including
but not limited to, the cyclical nature of the property casualty industry, the
long-tail and potentially volatile nature of the reinsurance business, the
impact of competition, product demand and pricing, claims development and the
process of estimating reserves, catastrophe and storm losses, the preliminary
nature of the World Trade Center related losses and the complexity involved,
legislative and regulatory developments, investment results, availability and
use of reinsurance, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks could cause the
Company's actual results for the year 2001 and beyond to differ materially from
those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the
Company. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are
made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future
developments or otherwise.