BERKLEY W R CORP
8-K, 1998-11-16
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Previous: BERKLEY W R CORP, 8-K, 1998-11-16
Next: BIG V SUPERMARKETS INC, 8-K, 1998-11-16



<PAGE>   1
                       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: November 16, 1998

                            W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

      Delaware                            0-7849          22-1867895
(State or Other Jurisdiction of    (Commission File No.)  (IRS Employer
Incorporation)                                            Identification Number)

165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518, Greenwich, CT         06830-2518
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)

                                 Not Applicable
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<PAGE>   2
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

         Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on
November 6, 1998, which contains information meeting the requirements of this
Item 5, and which is incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of the press
release is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1
<PAGE>   3
                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and 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
                                   (Registrant)

November 16, 1998                  By:  /s/ WILLIAM R. BERKLEY
- -----------------                       -------------------------------
                                        William R. Berkley,
Date                                    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>   4
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits:

99.1     Press Release dated November 6, 1998

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1


[W.R. BERKLEY LOGO]
W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
165 MASON STREET
P.O. BOX 2518
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT  06836-2518
(203) 629-2880

NEWS
RELEASE

                                    CONTACT:    Art Gormley
                                                The Dilenschneider Group
                                                212-922-0900

                 W.R. BERKLEY RETAINS MORGAN STANLEY TO EXPLORE
            STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS REGIONAL INSURANCE GROUP

         GREENWICH, CT., Nov. 6 - W.R. Berkley Corporation (NASDAQ:BKLY), today
announced that it had retained Morgan Stanley & Company to explore strategic
opportunities for its group of regional insurance companies. The company said
Morgan Stanley is expected to complete its assignment before the end of calendar
1998.

         W.R. Berkley Corporation is a holding company which, through its
subsidiaries, does business in all segments of the property casualty insurance
business. The operating units are grouped for management purposes in five
segments according to market served: Regional Property Casualty Insurance,
Reinsurance, Specialty Insurance, Alternative Markets and International.

                                      ####

November 6, 1998


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission