-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, BDBTJn7wefGw9lnqHmNLIektmExwA6YuUHdHFEGMLxrWW3UxTxmnxkylkR35wccE gsH1JUdlPBCgX5YdDLI+vw== 0000899140-02-000068.txt : 20020414 0000899140-02-000068.hdr.sgml : 20020414 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000899140-02-000068 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20020206 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20020207 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: 02529834 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 wrb1003960.txt CURRENT REPORT As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2002 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): February 6, 2002 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 5. Other Events Reference is made to the press release of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the "Company") relating to the naming of Tom N. Kellogg chairman of Signet Star Holdings, Inc. and the formation of Berkley Capital Underwriters, LLC. The press release was issued on February 6, 2002. A copy of the press release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. 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 February 6, 2002 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: February 7, 2002 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit: - ------- 99.1 Press Release dated February 6, 2002 EX-99.1 4 wrb1003960a.txt PRESS RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1 - -------------------------------------- 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 NAMES TOM N. KELLOGG CHAIRMAN OF SIGNET STAR HOLDINGS, INC. Announces the Formation of Berkley Capital Underwriters, A New Specialty Reinsurance Underwriting Management Company Greenwich, CT, February 6, 2002 -- W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: BER) has named Tom N. Kellogg chairman of its subsidiary, Signet Star Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Berkley Insurance Company, W. R. Berkley Corporation's lead reinsurance company. In a related development, the company also announced the formation of Berkley Capital Underwriters, LLC, naming Mr. Kellogg to the position of president. Based in Greenwich, Connecticut, Berkley Capital Underwriters will market through reinsurance intermediaries and underwrite, on behalf of Berkley Insurance Company, a proportional form of reinsurance, with a strong emphasis on commercial and specialty casualty lines of insurance. Berkley Capital Underwriters will offer tailored reinsurance solutions that combine risk transfer, premium capacity management, and capital platform development in a way that better serves the needs of its insurance company clients. This operation will complement Berkley Insurance Company's existing treaty operation, Signet Star Re, LLC, which primarily offers excess of loss treaty protection through intermediaries. Mr. Kellogg previously served as president and chief operating officer of General Re Corporation's principal operating subsidiary, General Reinsurance Company (now known as GeneralCologne Re). He retired last year. Mr. Kellogg had served earlier as an executive vice president and executive committee member of General Re. Commenting on this new venture, Mr. Kellogg said, "We believe we can offer some valuable alternatives that will enable insurers to build a stronger financial platform for their future. We intend to provide solutions that will help our clients to better manage periods of transition associated with business expansion and premium growth, while at the same time managing the leverage against their capital base." William R. Berkley, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said, "Tom's expertise and Berkley Insurance Company's strong capital base will position us to provide valuable reinsurance to a segment of the marketplace that is currently underserved. Berkley Capital Underwriter's experienced management team has the knowledge and ability to provide their clients with reinsurance solutions tailored to their needs." 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 statements related to our outlook for the industry and for our performance for the year 2001 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 long-tail and potentially volatile nature of the reinsurance business, product demand and pricing, claims development and the process of estimating reserves, the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts and the development of additional facts related to the attacks of September 11, 2001, the increased level of our retention, natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities, the impact of competition, the availability of reinsurance, the ability of our reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us, investment results, exchange rate and political risks, legislative and regulatory developments, changes in the ratings assigned to us by ratings agencies, the effects of the refocusing of our business, including our withdrawal from the personal lines business, uncertainty as to reinsurance coverage for terrorist acts, the availability of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries, our successful integration of acquired companies or investment in new insurance ventures, our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks could cause actual results of the industry or our 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. # # # -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----