W. R. Berkley (WRB) 10-K 2007 FY Annual report

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)
þ	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
OR
o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the transition period from          to          .

Commission file number 1-15202

W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	22-1867895
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT (Address of principal executive offices)	06830 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:(203) 629-3000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, par value $.20 per share	New York Stock Exchange
Rights to purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock	New York Stock Exchange
6.75% Trust Originated Preferred Securities	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o     Noþ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 ofRegulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report onForm 10-K or any amendment to this Annual Report onForm 10-K.  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” inRule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filerþ        Accelerated filero Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined inRule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o     Noþ

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates (computed by reference to the price at which the common stock was last sold) as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was $5,476,577,114.

Number of shares of common stock, $.20 par value, outstanding as of February 20, 2008: 176,918,107.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Company’s 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2007 are incorporated herein by reference in Part II, and portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, are incorporated herein by reference in Part III.

W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION

ANNUAL REPORT ONFORM 10-K

December 31, 2007

			Page
		SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
PART I
	ITEM 1.	BUSINESS		4
	ITEM 1A.	RISK FACTORS		22
	ITEM 1B.	UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS		28
	ITEM 2.	PROPERTIES		28
	ITEM 3.	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS		28
	ITEM 4.	SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS		28
PART II
	ITEM 5.	MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES		29
	ITEM 6.	SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA		30
	ITEM 7.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS		30
	ITEM 7A	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK		30
	ITEM 8.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA		31
	ITEM 9.	CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE		31
	ITEM 9A.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES		31
	ITEM 9B.	OTHER INFORMATION		31
PART III
	ITEM 10.	DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE		31
	ITEM 11.	EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION		31
	ITEM 12.	SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS		31
	ITEM 13.	CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE		32
	ITEM 14.	PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES		32
PART IV
	ITEM 15.	EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES		32
EX-13: PORTIONS OF THE 2007 ANNUAL REPORT
EX-23: CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
EX-31.1: CERTIFICATION
EX-31.2: CERTIFICATION
EX-32.1: CERTIFICATION

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SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES
LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

This is a “Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This document may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continued,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. Any forward-looking statements contained herein including statements related to our outlook for the industry and for our performance for the year 2008 and beyond, are based upon our 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 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 insurance and reinsurance business;

•  product demand and pricing;

•  claims development and the process of estimating reserves;

•  the uncertain nature of damage theories and loss amounts;

•  natural and man-made catastrophic losses, including as a result of terrorist activities;

•  the impact of significant and increasing competition;

•  the success of our new ventures or acquisitions and the availability of other opportunities;

•  the availability of reinsurance;

•  exposure as to coverage for terrorist acts and our retention under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Programs Reauthorization Act of 2007 (“TRIPRA”)

•  the ability of our reinsurers to pay reinsurance recoverables owed to us;

•  investment risks, including those of our portfolio of fixed income securities and investments in equity securities, including merger arbitrage investments;

•  exchange rate and political risks relating to our international operations;

•  legislative and regulatory developments, including those related to alleged anti-competitive or other improper business practices in the insurance industry;

•  changes in the ratings assigned to us by rating agencies;

•  availability of dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries;

•  our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; and

•  other risks detailed from time to time in thisForm 10-K and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

We describe these risks and uncertainties in greater detail in Item 1A, Risk Factors. These risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results for the year 2008 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement we make. Any projections of growth in our net premiums written and management fees would not necessarily result in commensurate levels of underwriting and operating profits. Our future financial performance is dependent upon factors discussed elsewhere in thisForm 10-K and our other SEC filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.

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PART I

ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Delaware corporation, is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates in five segments of the property casualty insurance business:

•  Specialty lines of insurance, including excess and surplus lines, premises operations, professional liability and commercial automobile

•  Regional commercial property casualty insurance

•  Alternative markets, including workers’ compensation and the management of self-insurance programs

•  Reinsurance, including treaty, facultative and Lloyd’s business

•  International

Our holding company structure provides us with the flexibility to respond to local or specific market conditions and to pursue specialty business niches. It also allows us to be closer to our customers in order to better understand their individual needs and risk characteristics. Our structure allows us to capitalize on the benefits of economies of scale through centralized capital, investment and reinsurance management, and actuarial, financial and corporate legal staff support.

Unless otherwise indicated, all references in thisForm 10-K to “W. R. Berkley,” “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or similar terms refer to W. R. Berkley Corporation together with its subsidiaries.

Our specialty insurance and reinsurance operations are conducted nationwide. Regional insurance operations are conducted primarily in the Midwest, Northeast, Southern (excluding Florida and Louisiana) and Mid Atlantic regions of the United States. Alternative markets operations are conducted throughout the United States. Our international operations are conducted in Australia, Hong Kong, South America, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.

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Net premiums written, as reported based on United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), for each of the past five years were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
				(Amounts in thousands)
Net premiums written:
Specialty	$	1,704,880		$	1,814,479		$	1,827,865		$	1,497,567		$	1,258,273
Regional		1,267,451			1,235,302			1,196,487			1,128,800			963,988
Alternative markets		656,369			651,255			669,774			640,491			505,830
Reinsurance		682,241			892,769			719,540			823,772			832,634
International		265,048			225,188			190,908			175,731			109,790
Total	$	4,575,989		$	4,818,993		$	4,604,574		$	4,266,361		$	3,670,515
Percentage of net premiums written:
Specialty		37.3	%		37.7	%		39.8	%		35.1	%		34.2	%
Regional		27.7			25.6			26.0			26.5			26.3
Alternative markets		14.3			13.5			14.5			15.0			13.8
Reinsurance		14.9			18.5			15.6			19.3			22.7
International		5.8			4.7			4.1			4.1			3.0
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

The following sections describe our insurance segments and their operating units. These operating units underwrite on behalf of one or more affiliated insurance companies within the group pursuant to underwriting management agreements. Certain operating units are identified by us for descriptive purposes only and are not legal entities.

Twenty of our twenty-three insurance company subsidiaries have A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) ratings of “A+ (Superior)” which is A.M. Best’s second highest rating out of 15 possible ratings by A.M. Best. Carolina Casualty Insurance Company and W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited have A.M. Best ratings of “A (Excellent)” which is A.M. Best’s third highest rating. Investors Guaranty Life Insurance Company, which the Company purchased in 2007, does not have an A.M. Best rating. A.M. Best’s ratings are based upon factors of concern to policyholders, insurance agents and brokers and are not directed toward the protection of investors. A.M. Best states: “While Best’s Financial Strength Ratings reflect [its] opinion as to a company’s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing obligations to policyholders, they are not a warranty, nor are they a recommendation of a specific policy form, contract, rate or claim practice.” A.M. Best reviews its ratings on a periodic basis, and ratings of the Company’s subsidiaries are therefore subject to change.

SPECIALTY

Our specialty segment underwrites complex and sophisticated third-party liability risks, principally within excess and surplus lines. Excess and surplus lines differ from standard market lines in that excess and surplus lines are generally free of rate and form regulation and provide coverage for more complex and hard-to-place risks. The primary specialty lines of business are premises and completed operations liability, professional liability, commercial automobile, property and products liability lines. The specialty business is conducted through nine operating units. The specialty units deliver their products through a variety of distribution channels depending on the customer base and particular risks insured. The customers in this segment are highly diverse.

Admiral Insurance Company (“Admiral”) provides excess and surplus lines coverage that generally involves a moderate to high degree of hazard due to the nature of the class of coverage or type of business insured. Admiral concentrates on general liability, professional liability, property, and excess and umbrella liability lines of business.

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Admiral products are distributed by wholesale brokers. The average annual premium per policy was approximately $29,000 in 2007.

Nautilus Insurance Company (“Nautilus”) insures excess and surplus risks for small to medium-sized commercial risks with low to moderate susceptibility to loss. Admitted business is also written through an affiliate, Great Divide Insurance Company. A substantial portion of Nautilus’ business is written on a binding authority basis, subject to certain contractual limitations. The average annual premium per policy was approximately $3,000 in 2007.

Carolina Casualty Insurance Company (“Carolina”) provides commercial insurance products and services to the transportation industry with an emphasis on intermediate and long-haul trucking and various classes of business and public auto. Carolina operates as an admitted carrier in all states.

Vela Insurance Services, LLC (“Vela”) underwrites excess and surplus lines casualty business with a primary focus on contractors along with a portfolio of miscellaneous professional liability. Vela underwrites a variety of classes nationwide through a network of appointed excess and surplus lines brokers. Vela also underwriteswrap-up policies for large residential projects, primarily in California, through a managing general agency. The average annual premium per policy was approximately $45,000 in 2007.

Berkley Specialty Underwriting Managers LLC (“Berkley Specialty”) has three underwriting divisions. The specialty casualty division underwrites excess and surplus lines general liability coverage with an emphasis on products liability. The entertainment and sports division underwrites property casualty insurance products, both on an admitted and non-admitted basis, for the entertainment industry and sports-related organizations. The environmental division underwrites specialty insurance products to environmental customers such as contractors, consultants and owners of sites and facilities.

Monitor Liability Managers, Inc.  (“Monitor”) specializes in professional liability insurance, including directors’ and officers’ liability, employment practices liability, lawyers’ professional liability, management liability, non-profit directors’ and officers’ liability and accountants’ preferred liability.

Berkley Underwriting Partners, LLC (“Berkley Underwriting Partners”) underwrites specialty insurance products through program administrators and managing general underwriters. Berkley Underwriting Partners underwrites business nationwide on an admitted and non-admitted basis.

Clermont Specialty Managers, Ltd.  (“Clermont”) underwrites package insurance programs, including workers’ compensation, for luxury condominium, cooperative and rental apartment buildings and restaurants in the New York City and Chicago metropolitan areas.

Berkley Aviation, LLC (“Aviation”) underwrites general and specialty aviation insurance. It underwrites coverage for airlines, helicopters, miscellaneous general aviation operations, non-owned aircraft, fixed-base operations, control towers, airports and related businesses.

Select Specialty Managers, LLC (“Select”), which began operations in May 2007, specializes in underwriting professional liability insurance with a particular emphasis on lawyers, accountants, medical facilities and miscellaneous E&O exposures. Select’s products are distributed through a select number of brokers.

American Mining Insurance Company (“American Mining”), which was acquired in October 2007, specializes in writing workers’ compensation insurance for the mining industry.

Berkley Life Sciences, LLC (“Berkley Life Science”), which began operations in May 2007, underwrites casualty products to the life science marketplace, including medical devices, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

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The following table sets forth the percentage of gross premiums written by specialty unit:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Admiral		28.2	%		28.5	%		27.8	%		32.2	%		33.3	%
Nautilus		18.2			17.3			17.1			18.7			18.3
Carolina		14.9			14.3			13.6			16.0			14.8
Vela		7.9			11.9			14.1			9.6			10.0
Berkley Specialty		9.2			9.0			8.6			3.3			—
Monitor		7.4			7.1			8.0			11.1			13.2
Berkley Underwriting Partners		6.3			6.2			7.9			5.9			5.8
Clermont		3.4			3.0			2.8			3.2			3.4
Aviation		3.3			2.7			0.1			—			—
Select		0.8			—			—			—			—
American Mining		0.4			—			—			—			—
Berkley Life Science		0.0			—			—			—			—
Surety(1)		—			—			—			—			1.2
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

(1) Surety was transferred to the regional segment in 2004.

The following table sets forth the percentages of gross premiums written, by line, by our specialty insurance operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Premises operations		38.0	%		42.2	%		43.7	%		40.2	%		40.4	%
Commercial automobile		15.8			15.0			15.0			17.0			17.3
Property		14.4			12.2			9.1			9.5			10.1
Products liability		12.0			13.1			13.8			14.0			9.1
Professional liability		9.9			8.9			9.9			12.9			15.1
Other		9.9			8.6			8.5			6.4			8.0
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

REGIONAL

Our regional companies provide commercial insurance products to customers primarily in 42 states and the District of Columbia. Key clients of this segment are small-to-mid-sized businesses and state and local governmental entities. The regional business is sold through a network of non-exclusive independent agents who are compensated on a commission basis. The regional companies are organized geographically in order to provide them with the flexibility to adapt quickly to local market conditions.

Continental Western Group (“Continental Western Group”) is based in Des Moines, Iowa and operates in 18 states in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

Acadia Insurance Company (“Acadia”) is based in Westbrook, Maine and operates in 8 states in the Northeast.

Union Standard Insurance Group (“Union Standard”) is based in Irving, Texas and operates in 9 states in southern states other than Florida and Louisiana.

Berkley Mid Atlantic Group is based in Glen Allen, Virginia and operates in 7 states in the Mid Atlantic region and District of Columbia.

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Berkley Surety Group, Inc.  (“Berkley Surety”) offers surety bonds on a nationwide basis through a network of thirteen regional and branch offices.

Berkley Regional Specialty Insurance Company (“BRSIC”) offers excess and surplus lines products through independent agents in our regional territories.

The following table sets forth the percentage of gross premiums written by each region:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Continental Western Group		33.2	%		33.1	%		34.3	%		35.2	%		36.3	%
Acadia		24.3			25.1			25.7			26.4			27.1
Union Standard		17.0			16.6			15.2			15.0			15.1
Berkley Mid Atlantic Group		15.6			15.5			14.6			13.8			12.8
Berkley Surety		2.7			2.0			2.0			2.2			—
BRSIC		1.1			0.5			—			—			—
Assigned risk plans(1)		6.1			7.2			8.2			7.4			8.7
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

(1) Assigned risk premiums are written on behalf of assigned risk plans managed by the Company and 100% reinsured by the respective state-sponsored assigned risk pools.

The following table sets forth the percentages of gross premiums written, by line, by our regional insurance operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Commercial Multi-Peril		34.8	%		35.5	%		35.8	%		36.6	%		36.6	%
Automobile		25.8			25.3			25.4			26.0			25.9
Workers’ Compensation		17.8			17.9			17.6			17.1			17.5
Assigned risk plans		6.1			7.2			8.2			7.4			8.7
Other		15.5			14.1			13.0			12.9			11.3
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

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The following table sets forth the percentages of direct premiums written, by state, by our regional insurance operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
State
Massachusetts		7.1	%		7.0	%		7.5	%		7.6	%		7.7	%
Texas		6.4			6.2			6.0			6.1			6.4
Kansas		6.1			6.8			6.7			7.5			7.9
Pennsylvania		5.8			5.6			5.5			5.1			4.2
New Hampshire		5.1			5.3			5.4			5.9			6.2
Maine		4.9			5.1			5.3			5.7			6.2
Iowa		4.2			4.6			4.8			4.7			4.7
Nebraska		3.8			4.0			4.0			4.2			4.5
Colorado		3.7			3.3			3.1			3.0			3.0
North Carolina		3.4			3.2			3.1			3.1			3.2
Vermont		3.3			3.5			3.6			3.6			3.8
Minnesota		3.2			3.4			3.9			4.0			3.8
Washington		3.1			2.3			2.0			1.8			1.7
Missouri		3.0			3.3			3.4			3.6			3.5
Connecticut		2.9			2.9			2.9			2.8			1.7
Mississippi		2.8			2.4			2.0			2.0			2.1
Arkansas		2.5			2.8			2.6			2.4			1.9
Wisconsin		2.5			2.7			2.9			3.1			2.8
Virginia		2.4			2.6			2.8			2.8			2.7
South Dakota		2.2			2.6			3.0			3.3			3.6
Maryland		2.1			2.1			1.7			1.5			1.2
New York		2.1			1.8			1.9			1.7			0.8
Illinois		1.7			2.0			1.8			2.0			2.0
Tennessee		1.6			1.7			1.7			1.8			4.1
Oklahoma		1.6			1.6			1.6			1.5			1.5
Idaho		1.2			1.2			1.2			1.2			1.5
Other		11.3			10.0			9.6			8.0			7.3
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

ALTERNATIVE MARKETS

Our alternative markets operations specialize in insuring, reinsuring and administering self-insurance programs and other alternative risk transfer mechanisms. Our clients include commercial and governmental entities employers, employer groups, insurers, and other groups or entities seeking alternative ways to manage their exposure to risks. Often, this results in our customers choosing to retain more of this risk than they might otherwise retain in the traditional insurance market. In addition to providing insurance products, the alternative markets segment also provides a wide variety of fee-based services, including claims, administrative and consulting services.

Midwest Employers Casualty Company (“MECC”) provides excess workers’ compensation coverage and risk management services to self-insured employers and groups as well as to insurance companies in the workers’ compensation business. Excess workers’ compensation is coverage above an amount retained, or self-insured, by the employer or group and includes large deductible and reinsurance programs.

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Key Risk Insurance Company (“Key Risk”) offers primary workers’ compensation insurance principally in the southeastern United States. Key Risk focuses on middle-market accounts in specialty niches and on larger self-insured entities, with a special emphasis on managed care services. An affiliate, Key Risk Management Services, Inc., provides third party administration of self-insured workers’ compensation programs.

Preferred Employers Insurance Company (“Preferred Employers”) offers workers’ compensation insurance in California with an emphasis on owner-managed small employers.

Berkley Risk Administrators Company, LLC (“BRAC”) underwrites property casualty insurance primarily for human services and not-for profit entities and provides risk management services to business, governmental entities, assigned risk plans, non-profit entities and insurance companies. BRAC’s services include third-party administration, claims administration, risk management, accounting services, loss control and safety consulting, management information systems, regulatory compliance and alternative markets program management.

Berkley Medical Excess Underwriters, LLC (“Medical Excess”) underwrites medical malpractice excess insurance and reinsurance coverage and services to hospitals and hospital associations.

Berkley Net Underwriters, LLC (“Berkley Net”) uses a web-based system to allow producers to quote, bind and service insurance policies. Its initial focus is on the workers’ compensation market.

Berkley Accident and Health, LLC (“Berkley A&H”) underwrites accident and health insurance and reinsurance products.

The following table sets forth the percentages of gross premiums written by each alternative markets unit:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
MECC		45.1	%		44.6	%		41.6	%		36.9	%		37.8	%
Key Risk		17.6			16.8			15.4			13.6			12.9
Preferred Employers		11.3			16.0			20.9			26.4			27.4
BRAC		7.7			7.0			7.6			7.1			8.2
Medical Excess		4.6			5.4			6.2			6.4			8.0
Berkley Net		3.1			0.8			—			—			—
Berkley A&H		2.6			0.4			—			—			—
Assigned risk plans(1)		8.0			9.0			8.3			9.6			5.7
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

(1) Assigned risk premiums are written on behalf of assigned risk plans managed by the Company and 100% reinsured by the respective state-sponsored assigned risk pools.

The following table sets forth services fees for insurance services business conducted by BRAC and Key Risk Management Services, Inc. (amounts in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007		2006		2005		2004		2003
Services fees	$	97,292	$	104,812	$	110,697	$	109,344	$	101,715

REINSURANCE

Our reinsurance operations consist of seven operating units, which specialize in underwriting property casualty reinsurance on both a treaty and a facultative basis on behalf of Berkley Insurance Company. Treaty reinsurance is the reinsurance of all or a specified portion or category of risks underwritten by the ceding company during the term of the agreement. Facultative reinsurance is the reinsurance of individual risks whereby a reinsurer generally has the opportunity to analyze and separately underwrite a risk prior to agreeing to be bound.

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Signet Star Re, LLC (“Treaty”) focuses on underwriting specialty lines of business, including professional liability, umbrella, workers’ compensation, commercial automobile and trucking. Treaty emphasizes casualty excess of loss treaties and seeks significant participations in order to have greater influence over the terms and conditions of coverage. Treaty business is produced through reinsurance brokers or intermediaries as opposed to direct relationships with the ceding companies.

Facultative ReSources, Inc.  (“Fac Re”) specializes in underwriting individual certificate and program facultative business developed through brokers. Its experienced underwriters seek to offset the underwriting and pricing cycles in the underlying insurance business by working closely with ceding company clients to develop appropriate underwriting criteria and through superior risk selection.

Lloyd’s of London (“Lloyd’s”) represents a broad range of mainly short-tail classes of business, which are written through Lloyd’s.

BF Re Underwriters, LLC (“BF Re”) is a direct facultative casualty reinsurance underwriting manager that serves clients through a nationwide network of regional offices. BF Re’s primary lines of business are professional liability, excess and surplus, umbrella and medical malpractice.

Berkley Risk Solutions, Inc.  (“Berkley Risk Solutions”) underwrites insurance and reinsurance-based financial solutions to insurance companies and self-insured entities. It also underwrites traditional treaty reinsurance of domestic medical malpractice insurers.

Watch Hill Fac Management, LLC (“Watch Hill”) underwrites facultative reinsurance business on an excess of loss basis or, in the case of umbrella business, on a contributing excess basis, for most commercial casualty lines of business with an emphasis on general liability, products liability, construction risks, automobile liability and umbrella.

Hong Kong Reinsurance Division (“Hong Kong”), which was formed in 2006, provides most major classes of general insurance business in the Asia Pacific region with an initial focus on property facultative reinsurance.

The following table sets forth the percentages of gross premiums written by each reinsurance unit:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Treaty		39.6	%		36.1	%		42.2	%		38.8	%		37.5	%
Fac Re		17.3			16.2			23.1			27.3			30.4
Lloyd’s		22.6			18.7			21.6			24.4			25.9
BF Re		11.2			9.6			12.3			9.1			6.2
Berkley Risk Solutions		4.6			16.6			0.8			0.4			—
Watch Hill		3.9			2.7			—			—			—
Hong Kong(1)		0.8			0.1			—			—			—
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

(1) The Hong Kong reinsurance division was transferred to the international segment on January 1, 2008.

The following table sets forth the percentages of gross premiums written, by property versus casualty business, by our reinsurance operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Casualty		76.2	%		83.2	%		81.2	%		79.4	%		79.4	%
Property		23.8			16.8			18.8			20.6			20.6
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

11

INTERNATIONAL

Our international segment has operations in Australia, South America, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. The Hong Kong division of the reinsurance segment was transferred to the international segment on January 1, 2008. We apply the same long-term strategies that we use in our domestic operations — decentralized structures with products and services tailored to the local environments.

W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited (“Berkley Europe”) is a London-based specialty casualty insurer that writes professional indemnity, directors’ and officers’ liability, medical malpractice, general liability, construction risks and personal accident and travel business principally in the United Kingdom and through its branch offices in Spain and Australia.

Berkley International Argentina S.A.  (“South America”) provides commercial and personal property casualty insurance primarily in Argentina and surety business through its subsidiary in Brazil.

Berkley Re Australia (“Australia”), which began operations in December 2007, provides property and casualty reinsurance on a treaty and facultative basis in Australia.

The following table sets forth the percentages of direct premiums for our international operations:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Berkley Europe		52.6	%		53.1	%		56.5	%		58.1	%		40.7	%
South America		46.8			42.5			39.5			38.9			54.7
Australia		—			—			—			—			—
Philippines(1)		0.6			4.4			4.0			3.0			4.6
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

(1) The Philippines operation was sold in March 2007.

12

Results by Industry Segment

Summary financial information about our operating segments is presented on a GAAP basis in the following table:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
	(Amounts in thousands)
Specialty
Revenue	$	2,006,027		$	1,952,928		$	1,816,483		$	1,491,104		$	1,204,746
Income before income taxes	$	516,931		$	479,105		$	345,896		$	275,689		$	200,428
Regional
Revenue	$	1,347,800		$	1,289,869		$	1,230,793		$	1,112,801		$	923,965
Income before income taxes	$	215,228		$	201,417		$	216,495		$	184,152		$	153,292
Alternative Markets
Revenue	$	874,899		$	878,531		$	856,792		$	774,397		$	569,463
Income before income taxes	$	248,080		$	291,416		$	238,462		$	133,438		$	88,742
Reinsurance
Revenue	$	893,855		$	993,120		$	849,207		$	915,276		$	763,861
Income before income taxes	$	178,302		$	135,424		$	63,606		$	85,995		$	58,201
International
Revenue	$	284,558		$	248,894		$	208,836		$	167,849		$	85,145
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	44,457		$	34,447		$	20,890		$	18,790		$	3,242
Other(1)
Revenue	$	146,500		$	31,489		$	34,728		$	50,808		$	82,928
Loss before income taxes	$	(145,364	)	$	(153,164	)	$	(114,812	)	$	(59,551	)	$	(14,601	)
Total
Revenue	$	5,553,639		$	5,394,831		$	4,996,839		$	4,512,235		$	3,630,108
Income before income tax	$	1,057,634		$	988,645		$	770,537		$	638,513		$	489,304

(1) Represents corporate revenues, corporate expenses, realized investment gains and losses, and revenues and expenses from investments in wholly-owned, non-insurance subsidiaries that are consolidated for financial reporting purposes.

13

The table below represents summary underwriting ratios, on a GAAP basis for our insurance segments. The combined ratio represents a measure of underwriting profitability, excluding investment income. A number in excess of 100 indicates an underwriting loss; a number below 100 indicates an underwriting profit:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Specialty
Loss ratio		57.3	%		59.1	%		62.4	%		61.7	%		63.3	%
Expense ratio		26.7			25.0			25.1			25.6			25.1
Combined ratio		84.0	%		84.1	%		87.5	%		87.3	%		88.4	%
Regional
Loss ratio		59.1	%		59.7	%		55.8	%		55.7	%		56.3	%
Expense ratio		31.4			30.6			30.6			31.2			31.2
Combined ratio		90.5	%		90.3	%		86.4	%		86.9	%		87.5	%
Alternative Markets
Loss ratio		59.2	%		53.5	%		59.4	%		70.6	%		68.7	%
Expense ratio		23.1			22.1			20.1			21.2			24.2
Combined ratio		82.3	%		75.6	%		79.5	%		91.8	%		92.9	%
Reinsurance
Loss ratio		65.3	%		72.0	%		74.1	%		69.5	%		69.6	%
Expense ratio		31.3			27.8			30.1			29.1			29.4
Combined ratio		96.6	%		99.8	%		104.2	%		98.6	%		99.0	%
International
Loss ratio		62.6	%		64.2	%		66.5	%		61.0	%		58.7	%
Expense ratio		32.4			32.0			29.6			30.0			38.8
Combined ratio		95.0	%		96.2	%		96.1	%		91.0	%		97.5	%
Total
Loss ratio		59.6	%		61.0	%		62.4	%		63.0	%		63.4	%
Expense ratio		28.5			27.0			26.9			27.4			28.0
Combined ratio		88.1	%		88.0	%		89.3	%		90.4	%		91.4	%

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Investments

Investment results, before income taxes, were as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
	(Amounts in thousands)
Average investments, at cost	$	12,560,638		$	11,062,491		$	9,221,710		$	7,176,955		$	5,326,621
Investment income, before expenses	$	684,112		$	593,413		$	409,915		$	293,866		$	244,347
Percent earned on average investments		5.4	%		5.3	%		4.4	%		4.1	%		4.6	%
Realized investment gains	$	14,938		$	9,648		$	17,209		$	48,268		$	81,692
Change in unrealized investment gains (losses)(1)	$	(94,957	)	$	113,539		$	(118,934	)	$	(4,424	)	$	7,493

(1) Represents the change in unrealized investment gains (losses) for available for sale securities and investments in partnerships and affiliates.

For comparison, the following are the coupon returns for selected bond indices and the dividend returns for the S&P 500^® Index:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Bond Index		5.5	%		5.3	%		4.9	%		5.0	%		5.3	%
Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index		4.7	%		4.8	%		4.7	%		4.8	%		4.8	%
S&P 500® Index		2.0	%		2.2	%		1.8	%		1.9	%		2.3	%

The percentages of the fixed maturity portfolio categorized by contractual maturity, based on fair value, on the dates indicated, are set forth below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities because certain issuers may have the right to call or prepay certain obligations.

	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
1 year or less		7.4	%		11.2	%		10.6	%		10.8	%		1.6	%
Over 1 year through 5 years		19.4			17.5			13.1			15.8			21.1
Over 5 years through 10 years		30.2			26.3			26.6			19.0			19.0
Over 10 years		25.1			22.8			32.1			36.4			36.8
Mortgage-backed securities		17.9			22.2			17.6			18.0			21.5
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves

To recognize liabilities for unpaid losses, either known or unknown, insurers establish reserves, which is a balance sheet account representing estimates of future amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses with respect to insured events which have occurred. Estimates and assumptions relating to reserves for losses and loss expenses are based on complex and subjective judgments, often including the interplay of specific uncertainties with related accounting and actuarial measurements. Such estimates are also susceptible to change as significant periods of time may elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the report of the loss to the insurer, the ultimate determination of the cost of the loss and the insurer’s payment of that loss.

In general, when a claim is reported, claims personnel establish a “case reserve” for the estimated amount of the ultimate payment. The estimate represents an informed judgment based on general reserving practices and reflects the experience and knowledge of the claims personnel regarding the nature and value of the specific type of

15

claim. Reserves are also established on an aggregate basis to provide for losses incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) to the insurer, potential inadequacy of case reserves and the estimated expenses of settling claims, including legal and other fees and general expenses of administrating the claims adjustment process. Reserves are established based upon the then current legal interpretation of coverage provided.

In examining reserve adequacy, several factors are considered in addition to the economic value of losses. These factors include historical data, legal developments, changes in social attitudes and economic conditions, including the effects of inflation. The actuarial process relies on the basic assumption that past experience, adjusted judgmentally for the effects of current developments and anticipated trends, is an appropriate basis for predicting future outcomes. Reserve amounts are necessarily based on management’s informed estimates and judgments using currently available data. As additional experience and other data become available and are reviewed, these estimates and judgments may be revised. This may result in reserve increases or decreases that would be reflected in our results in periods in which such estimates and assumptions are changed.

Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent an estimate of what management expects the ultimate settlement and claim administration will cost. While the methods for establishing the reserves are well tested over time, some of the major assumptions about anticipated loss emergence patterns are subject to unanticipated fluctuation. These estimates, which generally involve actuarial projections, are based on management’s assessment of facts and circumstances then known, as well as estimates of future trends in claims severity and frequency, judicial theories of liability and other factors, including the actions of third parties which are beyond the Company’s control. These variables are affected by external and internal events, such as inflation and economic volatility, judicial and litigation trends, reinsurance coverage, legislative changes and claim handling and reserving practices, which make it more difficult to accurately predict claim costs. The inherent uncertainties of estimating reserves are greater for certain types of liabilities where long periods of time elapse before a definitive determination of liability is made. Because setting reserves is inherently uncertain, the Company cannot assure that its current reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent events.

We discount our liabilities for excess workers’ compensation business and the workers’ compensation portion of our reinsurance business because of the long period of time over which losses are paid. Discounting is intended to appropriately match losses and loss expenses to income earned on investment securities supporting the liabilities. The expected losses and loss expense payout pattern subject to discounting was derived from the Company’s loss payout experience. For non-proportional business, reserves for losses and loss expenses have been discounted using risk-free discount rates determined by reference to the U.S. Treasury yield curve. These discount rates range from 3.7% to 6.5% with a weighted average discount rate of 4.9%. For proportional business, reserves for losses and loss expenses have been discounted at the statutory rate permitted by the Department of Insurance of the State of Delaware of 2.6%. The aggregate net discount, after reflecting the effects of ceded reinsurance, is $787,988,000, $699,883,000 and $575,485,000 at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in the aggregate discount from 2006 to 2007 and from 2005 to 2006 resulted from the increase in workers’ compensation gross reserves.

To date, known asbestos and environmental claims at our insurance company subsidiaries have not had a material impact on our operations. These claims have not materially impacted us because these subsidiaries generally did not insure the larger industrial companies which are subject to significant environmental exposures.

Our net reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses relating to asbestos and environmental claims were $41,590,000 and $37,473,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company’s gross reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses relating to asbestos and environmental claims were $60,836,000 and $49,937,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Net incurred losses and loss expenses for reported asbestos and environmental claims were approximately $7,029,000, $3,000,000 and $1,853,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Net paid losses and loss expenses for reported asbestos and environmental claims were approximately $2,912,000, $2,980,000 and $2,658,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The estimation of these liabilities is subject to significantly greater than normal variation and uncertainty because it is difficult to make a reasonable actuarial estimate of these liabilities due to the absence of a generally accepted actuarial methodology for these exposures and the potential affect of significant unresolved legal matters, including coverage issues as well as the cost of litigating the legal issues. Additionally, the determination of ultimate damages and the final allocation of such damages to financially responsible parties are highly uncertain.

16

The table below provides a reconciliation of the beginning of year and end of year property casualty reserves for the indicated years (amounts in thousands):

	2007			2006		2005
Net reserves at beginning of year	$	6,947,597		$	5,867,290	$	4,722,842
Net reserves of company acquired		68,392			—		—
Net provision for losses and loss expenses(a):
Claims occurring during the current year(b)		2,837,647			2,791,500		2,531,655
(Decrease)/Increase in estimates for claims occurring in prior years(c)		(105,879	)		26,663		186,728
Decrease in discount for prior years		46,808			39,507		57,790
		2,778,576			2,857,670		2,776,173
Net payments for claims:
Current year		538,364			456,073		447,018
Prior years		1,433,304			1,321,290		1,184,707
		1,971,668			1,777,363		1,631,725
Net reserves at end of year		7,822,897			6,947,597		5,867,290
Ceded reserves at end of year		855,137			836,672		844,470
Gross reserves at end of year	$	8,678,034		$	7,784,269	$	6,711,760

(a)	Net provision for loss and loss expenses excludes $1,002, $6,828 and $5,629 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, relating to the policyholder benefits incurred on life insurance that are included in the statement of income.
(b)	Claims occurring during the current year are net of discounts of $117,177, $133,965 and $103,558 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
(c)	The increase in estimates for claims occurring in prior years is net of discounts of $17,736, $29,940 and $26,845 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. On an undiscounted basis, the estimates for claims occurring in prior years before decreased by $88,143 in 2007 and increased by $56,603 and $213,573 in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Also, see Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for further information regarding the increase in estimates for claims occurring in prior years.

A reconciliation between the reserves as of December 31, 2007 as reported in the accompanying consolidated GAAP financial statements and those reported on the basis of statutory accounting principles (“SAP”) is as follows (amounts in thousands):

Net reserves reported on a SAP basis	$	7,758,993
Additions (deductions) to statutory reserves:
International property & casualty reserves		308,014
Loss reserve discounting(1)		(244,260	)
Other		150
Net reserves reported on a GAAP basis		7,822,897
Ceded reserves reclassified as assets		855,137
Gross reserves reported on a GAAP basis	$	8,678,034

(1) For statutory purposes, we use a discount rate of 2.6% for non-proportional business as permitted by the Department of Insurance of the State of Delaware.

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The following table presents the development of net reserves for 1997 through 2007. The top line of the table shows the estimated reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years. This represents the estimated amount of losses and loss expenses for claims arising in all prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses that had been incurred but not reported to us. The upper portion of the table shows the re-estimated amount of the previously recorded reserves based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate changes as more information becomes known about the frequency and severity of claims for individual years.

The “cumulative redundancy (deficiency)” represents the aggregate change in the estimates over all prior years. For example, the 1997 reserves have developed a $36 million redundancy over ten years. That amount has been reflected in income over the ten years. The impact on the results of operations of the past three years of changes in reserve estimates is shown in the reconciliation tables above. It should be noted that the table presents a “run off” of balance sheet reserves, rather than accident or policy year loss development. Therefore, each amount in the table includes the effects of changes in reserves for all prior years. For example, assume a claim that occurred in 1997 is reserved for $2,000 as of December 31, 1997. Assuming this claim estimate was changed in 2007 to $2,300, and was settled for $2,300 in 2006, the $300 deficiency would appear as a deficiency in each year from 1997 through 2007.

Year Ended December 31,	1997		1998			1999			2000			2001			2002			2003			2004			2005			2006		2007
	(Amounts in millions)
Net reserves, discounted	$	1,433	$	1,583		$	1,724		$	1,818		$	2,033		$	2,323		$	3,505		$	4,723		$	5,867		$	6,948	$	7,823
Reserve discount		190		187			196			223			243			293			393			503			575			700		788
Net reserves, undiscounted	$	1,623	$	1,770		$	1,920		$	2,041		$	2,276		$	2,616		$	3,898		$	5,226		$	6,442		$	7,648	$	8,611
Net re-estimated as of:
One year later	$	1,580	$	1,798		$	1,934		$	2,252		$	2,450		$	2,889		$	4,220		$	5,440		$	6,499		$	7,560
Two years later		1,566		1,735			2,082			2,397			2,671			3,242			4,552			5,588			6,578
Three years later		1,446		1,805			2,203			2,520			2,932			3,611			4,720			5,763
Four years later		1,463		1,856			2,260			2,634			3,233			3,769			4,949
Five years later		1,494		1,859			2,330			2,841			3,339			3,982
Six years later		1,488		1,886			2,449			2,889			3,534
Seven years later		1,495		1,955			2,460			3,033
Eight years later		1,539		1,958			2,564
Nine years later		1,537		2,024
Ten years later		1,587
Cumulative redundancy (deficiency), undiscounted	$	36	$	(254	)	$	(644	)	$	(992	)	$	(1,258	)	$	(1,366	)	$	(1,051	)	$	(537	)	$	(136	)	$	88
Cumulative amount of net liability paid through:
One year later	$	365	$	496		$	584		$	702		$	794		$	599		$	929		$	1,185		$	1,321		$	1,433
Two years later		574		795			1,011			1,255			1,191			1,216			1,749			2,107			2,342
Three years later		737		1,032			1,426			1,501			1,594			1,792			2,388			2,837
Four years later		852		1,306			1,567			1,722			1,971			2,223			2,900
Five years later		1,033		1,387			1,699			1,964			2,245			2,552
Six years later		1,068		1,448			1,831			2,138			2,467
Seven years later		1,112		1,522			1,934			2,276
Eight years later		1,163		1,583			2,021
Nine years later		1,208		1,632
Ten years later		1,237

18

The following table presents the development of gross reserves for 1997 through 2007.

Year Ended December 31,	1997		1998		1999			2000			2001			2002			2003			2004			2005			2006		2007
	(Amounts in millions)
Net reserves, discounted	$	1,433	$	1,583	$	1,724		$	1,818		$	2,033		$	2,323		$	3,505		$	4,723		$	5,867		$	6,947	$	7,823
Ceded reserves		477		538		617			658			731			845			687			727			845			837		855
Gross reserves, discounted		1,910		2,121		2,341			2,476			2,764			3,168			4,192			5,450			6,712			7,784		8,678
Reserve discount		241		248		250			286			324			384			462			573			654			761		867
Gross reserves, undiscounted	$	2,151	$	2,369	$	2,591		$	2,762		$	3,088		$	3,552		$	4,654		$	6,023		$	7,366		$	8,545	$	9,545
Gross re-estimated as of:
One year later	$	2,132	$	2,390	$	2,653		$	2,827		$	3,153		$	3,957		$	5,030		$	6,241		$	7,406		$	8,509
Two years later		2,096		2,389		2,556			2,730			3,461			4,353			5,380			6,382			7,529
Three years later		2,010		2,218		2,385			2,900			3,777			4,744			5,546			6,600
Four years later		1,871		2,079		2,465			3,054			4,103			4,885			5,807
Five years later		1,787		2,102		2,564			3,267			4,192			5,132
Six years later		1,795		2,139		2,684			3,296			4,428
Seven years later		1,805		2,212		2,682			3,476
Eight years later		1,857		2,198		2,814
Nine years later		1,842		2,283
Ten Years later		1,908
Gross cumulative redundancy (deficiency)	$	243	$	86	$	(223	)	$	(714	)	$	(1,340	)	$	(1,580	)	$	(1,153	)	$	(577	)	$	(163	)	$	36

Reinsurance

We follow a common industry practice of reinsuring a portion of our exposures and paying to reinsurers a part of the premiums received on the policies that we write. Reinsurance is purchased principally to reduce net liability on individual risks and to protect against catastrophic losses. Although reinsurance does not legally discharge an insurer from its primary liability for the full amount of the policies, it does make the assuming reinsurer contractually liable to the insurer to the extent of the reinsurance coverage. We monitor the financial condition of our reinsurers and attempt to place our coverages only with substantial, financially sound carriers. As a result, generally the reinsurers who reinsure our casualty insurance must have an A.M. Best rating of “A (Excellent)” or better with at least $500 million in policyholder surplus and the reinsurers who cover our property insurance must have an A.M. Best rating of “A-(Excellent)” or better with at least $250 million in policyholder surplus.

Regulation

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to varying degrees of regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which they do business, and the Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with such regulations. They are subject to statutes which delegate regulatory, supervisory and administrative powers to state insurance commissioners. This regulation relates to such matters as the standards of solvency which must be met and maintained; the licensing of insurers and their agents; the nature of and limitations on investments; deposits of securities for the benefit of policyholders; approval of certain policy forms and premium rates; periodic examination of the affairs of insurance companies; annual and other reports required to be filed on the financial condition of insurers or for other purposes; establishment and maintenance of reserves for unearned premiums and losses; and requirements regarding numerous other matters. Our property casualty subsidiaries, other than excess and surplus and reinsurance subsidiaries, must generally file all rates with the insurance department of each state in which they operate. Our excess and surplus and reinsurance subsidiaries generally operate free of rate and form regulation.

In addition to regulatory supervision of our insurance subsidiaries, we are subject to state statutes governing insurance holding company systems. Typically, such statutes require that we periodically file information with the appropriate state insurance commissioner, including information concerning our capital structure, ownership, financial condition and general business operations. Under the terms of applicable state statutes, any person or

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entity desiring to purchase more than a specified percentage (commonly 10%) of our outstanding voting securities would be required to obtain regulatory approval of the purchase. Further, state insurance statutes typically place limitations on the amount of dividends or other distributions payable by insurance companies in order to protect their solvency. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Various state and federal organizations, including Congressional committees and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”), have been conducting reviews into various aspects of the insurance business. No assurance can be given that future legislative or regulatory changes resulting from such activity will not adversely affect our insurance subsidiaries.

The NAIC utilizes a Risk Based Capital (“RBC”) formula that is designed to measure the adequacy of an insurer’s statutory surplus in relation to the risks inherent in its business. The RBC formula develops a risk adjusted target level of adjusted statutory capital by applying certain factors to various asset, premium and reserve items. The RBC Model Law provides for four incremental levels of regulatory attention for insurers whose surplus is below the calculated RBC target. These levels of attention range in severity from requiring the insurer to submit a plan for corrective action to actually placing the insurer under regulatory control. The RBC of each of our domestic insurance subsidiaries was above the authorized RBC control level as of December 31, 2007.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, or Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (the “Act”), was enacted in 1999 and significantly affects the financial services industry, including insurance companies, banks and securities firms. The Act modifies federal law to permit the creation of financial holding companies, which, as regulated by the Act, can maintain cross-holdings in insurance companies, banks and securities firms to an extent not previously allowed. The Act also permits or facilitates certain types of combinations or affiliations for financial holding companies. The Act establishes a functional regulatory scheme under which state insurance departments will maintain primary regulation over insurance activities, subject to provisions for certain federal preemptions.

Our insurance company subsidiaries are also subject to assessment by state guaranty funds when an insurer in a particular jurisdiction has been judicially declared insolvent and insufficient funds are available from the liquidated company to pay policyholders and claimants. The protection afforded under a state’s guaranty fund to policyholders of the insolvent insurer varies from state to state. Generally, all licensed property casualty insurers are considered to be members of the fund, and assessments are based upon their pro rata share of direct written premiums. The NAIC Model Post-Assessment Guaranty Fund Act, which many states have adopted, limits assessments to an insurer to 2% of its subject premium and permits recoupment of assessments through rate setting. Likewise, several states (or underwriting organizations of which our insurance subsidiaries are required to be members) have limited assessment authority with regard to deficits in certain lines of business.

We receive funds from our insurance company subsidiaries in the form of dividends and management fees for certain management services. Annual dividends in excess of maximum amounts prescribed by state statutes may not be paid without the approval of the insurance commissioner of the state in which an insurance subsidiary is domiciled.

The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 became effective November 26, 2002, was amended on December 22, 2005 by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005 and further amended effective December 26, 2007 by the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007(collectively, “TRIA”). TRIA established a Federal program that provides for a system of shared public and private compensation for insured losses resulting from acts of terrorism. The program is effective through December 31, 2014. TRIA is applicable to almost all commercial lines of property and casualty insurance but excludes commercial auto, burglary and theft, surety, professional liability and farm owners’ multi-peril insurance. Insurers with direct commercial property and casualty insurance exposure in the United States are required to participate in the program and make available coverage for certified acts of terrorism. The most recent amendment to TRIA broadened the definition of certified acts to include domestic terrorism. Federal participation will be triggered under TRIA when the Secretary of Treasury certifies an act of terrorism. Under the program, the federal government will pay 85% of an insurer’s covered losses in excess of the insurer’s applicable deductible. The insurer’s deductible is based on 20% percent of earned premium for the prior year for covered lines of commercial property and casualty insurance. Based on our 2007 earned premiums, our deductible under TRIA during 2008 will be approximately $611 million.

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The federal program will not pay losses for certified acts unless such losses exceed $100 million. TRIA limits the federal government’s share of losses at $100 billion for a program year. In addition, an insurer that has satisfied its deductible is not liable for the payment of losses in excess of the $100 billion cap.

The insurance industry has been the subject of increasing scrutiny with respect to insurance broker and agent compensation arrangements and sales practices. The New York State Attorney General and other state and federal regulators have conducted investigations and other proceedings relating to compensation and bidding arrangements between producers and issuers of insurance products, and alleged unsuitable sales practices by producers on behalf of either the issuer or the purchaser. The practices under investigation included, among other things, allegations that so-called contingent commission arrangements may conflict with a broker’s duties to its customers and that certain brokers and insurers may have engaged in anti-competitive practices in connection with insurance premium quotes. The New York State Attorney General has entered into settlement agreements with several large insurance brokers and insurance companies. New investigative proceedings may be commenced in the future. These investigations and proceedings could result in legal precedents and new industry-wide practices or legislation, rules or regulations that could significantly affect the insurance industry and the Company.

Competition

The property casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses are highly competitive, with over 2,000 insurance companies transacting business in the United States. We compete directly with a large number of these companies. Our strategy in this highly fragmented industry is to seek specialized areas or geographic regions where our insurance subsidiaries can gain a competitive advantage by responding quickly to changing market conditions. Our subsidiaries establish their own pricing practices. Such practices are based upon a Company-wide philosophy to price products with the intent of making an underwriting profit. Competition in our industry generally changes with profitability and has increased since 2004. As a result of increased competition, we are experiencing both downward pressure on pricing for many of our insurance lines as well as demands by insureds and cedants for better terms and conditions.

Competition for specialty and alternative markets business comes from other specialty insurers, regional carriers, large national multi-line companies and reinsurers. Recently standard carriers have increasingly competed for excess and surplus business.

Competition for the reinsurance business comes from domestic and foreign reinsurers, which produce their business either on a direct basis or through the broker market. These competitors include Berkshire Hathaway, Swiss Re, Transatlantic Reinsurance and Everest Reinsurance.

The regional property casualty subsidiaries compete with mutual and other regional stock companies as well as national carriers. Direct writers of property casualty insurance compete with the regional subsidiaries by writing insurance through their salaried employees, generally at a lower cost than through independent agents such as those used by the Company.

The international operations compete with native insurance operations both large and small, which may be related to government entities, as well as with branch or local subsidiaries of multinational companies.

Competition from insurers based in Bermuda and other tax advantaged jurisdictions has increased over the last several years, including from domestic based subsidiaries of foreign based entities especially as to excess and surplus lines business.

Employees

As of February 14, 2008, we employed 5,494 individuals. Of this number, our subsidiaries employed 5,413 persons, of whom 3,846 were executive and administrative personnel and 1,559 were clerical personnel. We employed the remaining 81 persons at the parent company and in investment operations, of whom 64 were executive and administrative personnel and 17 were clerical personnel.

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Other Information about the Company’s business

We maintain an interest in the acquisition or start up of complementary businesses and continue to evaluate possible acquisitions and new ventures on an ongoing basis. In addition, our insurance subsidiaries develop new coverages or lines of business to meet the needs of insureds.

Seasonal weather variations and other events affect the severity and frequency of losses sustained by the insurance and reinsurance subsidiaries. Although the effect on our business of catastrophes such as tornadoes, hurricanes, hailstorms, earthquakes and terrorist acts may be mitigated by reinsurance, they nevertheless can have a significant impact on the results of any one or more reporting periods.

We have no customer which accounts for 10 percent or more of our consolidated revenues.

Compliance by W. R. Berkley and its subsidiaries with federal, state and local provisions that have been enacted or adopted regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to protection of the environment has not had a material effect upon our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

The Company’s internet address is www.wrberkley.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report onForm 10-K. The Company’s annual report onForm 10-K, quarterly reports onForm 10-Q, current reports onForm 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act are accessible free of charge through this website as soon as reasonably practicable after they have been electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

CERTAIN FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

Our business faces significant risks. If any of the events or circumstances described as risks below actually occurs, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Our Industry

Our results may fluctuate as a result of many factors, including cyclical changes in the insurance and reinsurance industry.

The results of companies in the property casualty insurance industry historically have been subject to significant fluctuations and uncertainties. The demand for insurance is influenced primarily by general economic conditions, while the supply of insurance is directly related to available capacity. Over the past several years, we have faced increasing competition in our business, resulting in decreased premium rates, primarily as a result of increased competition. The adequacy of premium rates is affected mainly by the severity and frequency of claims, which are influenced by many factors, including natural disasters, regulatory measures and court decisions that define and expand the extent of coverage and the effects of economic inflation on the amount of compensation due for injuries or losses. In addition, investment rates of return may impact policy rates. These factors can have a significant impact on ultimate profitability because a property casualty insurance policy is priced before its costs are known, as premiums usually are determined long before claims are reported. These factors could produce results that would have a negative impact on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our actual claims losses may exceed our reserves for claims, which may require us to establish additional reserves.

Our gross reserves for losses and loss expenses were approximately $8.7 billion as of December 31, 2007. Our loss reserves reflect our best estimates of the cost of settling all claims and related expenses with respect to insured events that have occurred.

Reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Rather, reserves represent an estimate of what management expects the ultimate settlement and claims administration will cost for claims that have occurred, whether known or unknown. The major assumptions about anticipated loss emergence patterns are subject to unanticipated fluctuation. These estimates, which generally involve actuarial projections, are based on

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management’s assessment of facts and circumstances then known, as well as estimates of future trends in claims severity and frequency, inflation, judicial theories of liability, reinsurance coverage, legislative changes and other factors, including the actions of third parties which are beyond our control.

The inherent uncertainties of estimating reserves are greater for certain types of liabilities, where long periods of time elapse before a definitive determination of liability is made and settlement is reached. In periods with increased economic volatility, it becomes more difficult to accurately predict claim costs. Reserve estimates are continually refined in an ongoing process as experience develops and further claims are reported and settled. Adjustments to reserves are reflected in the results of the periods in which such estimates are changed. Because setting reserves is inherently uncertain, we cannot assure that our current reserves will prove adequate in light of subsequent events. Should we need to increase our reserves, our pre-tax income for the period would decrease by a corresponding amount.

We decreased our estimates for claims occurring in prior years by $106 million in 2007, and increased our estimate by $27 million in 2006 and $187 million in 2005. We, along with the property casualty insurance industry in general, have experienced higher than expected losses for certain types of business written from 1998 to 2001. Although our reserves reflect our best estimate of the costs of settling claims, we cannot assure you that our claim estimates will not need to be increased in the future.

We discount our reserves for excess and assumed workers’ compensation business because of the long period of time over which losses are paid. Discounting is intended to appropriately match losses and loss expenses to income earned on investment securities supporting liabilities. The expected loss and loss expense payout pattern subject to discounting is derived from our loss payout experience. Changes in the loss and loss expense payout pattern are recorded in the period they are determined. If the actual loss payout pattern is shorter than anticipated, the discount will be reduced and pre-tax income will decrease by a corresponding amount.

As a property casualty insurer, we face losses from natural and man-made catastrophes.

Property casualty insurers are subject to claims arising out of catastrophes that may have a significant effect on their results of operations, liquidity and financial condition. Catastrophe losses have had a significant impact on our results. In addition, through our recent quota share arrangements with certain Lloyd’s syndicates, we have additional exposure to catastrophic losses. For example, weather-related losses were $34 million in 2007, $39 million in 2006 and $99 million in 2005.

Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including hurricanes, windstorms, earthquakes, hailstorms, explosions, severe winter weather and fires, as well as terrorist activities. The incidence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable but have increased in recent years. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure in the area affected by the event and the severity of the event. Some catastrophes are restricted to small geographic areas; however, hurricanes and earthquakes may produce significant damage in large, heavily populated areas. Catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of our property casualty lines, and most of our past catastrophe-related claims have resulted from severe storms. Seasonal weather variations may affect the severity and frequency of our losses. Insurance companies are not permitted to reserve for a catastrophe until it has occurred. It is therefore possible that a catastrophic event or multiple catastrophic events could produce significant losses and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We face significant and increasing competitive pressures in our businesses, which have reduced premium rates and could harm our ability to maintain or increase our profitability and premium volume.

We compete with a large number of other companies in our selected lines of business. We compete, and will continue to compete, with major U.S. andnon-U.S. insurers and reinsurers, other regional companies, as well as mutual companies, specialty insurance companies, underwriting agencies and diversified financial services companies. Competitiveness in our businesses is based on many factors, including the perceived financial strength of the company, premium charges, other terms and conditions offered, services provided, commissions paid to producers, ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, speed of claims payment and reputation and experience in the lines to be written.

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Some of our competitors, particularly in the reinsurance business, have greater financial and marketing resources than we do. These competitors within the reinsurance segment include Berkshire Hathaway, Swiss Re, Transatlantic Reinsurance and Everest Reinsurance Company. We expect that perceived financial strength, in particular, will become more important as customers seek high quality reinsurers. Certain of our competitors operate from tax advantaged or less regulated jurisdictions that may provide them with additional competitive and pricing advantages.

Over the past several years, we have faced increased competition in our business, particularly in our reinsurance segment, as increased supply has led to reduced prices. We expect to continue to face strong competition in our lines of business, with further reduced pricing and weaker terms and conditions.

This intense competition could cause the supplyand/or demand for insurance or reinsurance to change, which could affect our ability to price our products at attractive rates and retain existing business or write new products at adequate rates. If we are unable to retain existing business or write new business at adequate rates, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We, as a primary insurer, may have significant exposure for terrorist acts.

To the extent an act of terrorism is certified by the Secretary of Treasury, we may be covered under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, as amended on December 22, 2005 and further amended on December 26, 2007 (“TRIA”), for up to 85% of our losses for certain property/casualty lines of insurance. However, any such coverage would be subject to a mandatory deductible based on 20 percent of earned premium for the covered lines of commercial property and casualty insurance. Based on our 2007 earned premiums, our deductible under TRIA during 2008 will be approximately $611 million. TRIA will be in effect through December 31, 2014 unless extended or replaced by a similar program. This coverage provided under TRIA does not apply to reinsurance that we write.

We are subject to extensive governmental regulation, which increases our costs and could restrict the conduct of our business.

We are subject to extensive governmental regulation and supervision. Most insurance regulations are designed to protect the interests of policyholders rather than stockholders and other investors. This system of regulation, generally administered by a department of insurance in each state in which we do business, relates to, among other things:

•  standards of solvency, including risk-based capital measurements;

•  restrictions on the nature, quality and concentration of investments;

•  requiring certain methods of accounting;

•  rate and form regulation pertaining to certain of our insurance businesses; and

•  potential assessments for the provision of funds necessary for the settlement of covered claims under certain policies provided by impaired, insolvent or failed insurance companies.

State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies and require the filing of annual and other reports relating to the financial condition of insurance companies, holding company issues and other matters. Recently adopted federal financial services modernization legislation may lead to additional federal regulation of the insurance industry in the coming years. Also, foreign governments regulate our international operations.

The insurance industry has been the subject of increasing scrutiny with respect to insurance broker and agent compensation arrangements and sales practices. The New York State Attorney General and other state and federal regulators have conducted investigations and other proceedings relating to compensation and bidding arrangements between producers and issuers of insurance products, and alleged unsuitable sales practices by producers on behalf of either the issuer or the purchaser. The practices under investigation included, among other things, allegations that contingent commission arrangements may conflict with a broker’s duties to its customers and that certain brokers and insurers may have engaged in anti-competitive practices in connection with insurance premium quotes. The

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New York State Attorney General has entered into settlement agreements with several large insurance brokers and insurance companies. New investigative proceedings may be commenced in the future. These investigations and proceedings could result in legal precedents and new industry-wide practices or legislation, rules or regulations that could significantly affect the insurance industry and the Company.

We may be unable to maintain all required licenses and approvals and our business may not fully comply with the wide variety of applicable laws and regulations or the relevant authority’s interpretation of the laws and regulations. Also, some regulatory authorities have relatively broad discretion to grant, renew or revoke licenses and approvals. If we do not have the requisite licenses and approvals or do not comply with applicable regulatory requirements, the insurance regulatory authorities could preclude or temporarily suspend us from carrying on some or all of our activities or monetarily penalize us. Also, changes in the level of regulation of the insurance industry, whether federal, state or foreign, or changes in laws or regulations themselves or interpretations by regulatory authorities, restrict the conduct of our business.

In certain of our insurance businesses, the rates we charge our policyholders are subject to regulatory approval. Certain lines of business are subject to a greater degree of regulatory scrutiny then others. For example, the workers’ compensation business is highly regulated. During 2007, approximately 13% of our net premiums written represented primary workers’ compensation business. Of our net premiums written, approximately 2% represented primary workers’ compensation business written in the State of California, where the impact of workers’ compensation reform has recently resulted in significant rate reductions.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We cannot guarantee that our reinsurers will pay in a timely fashion, if at all, and, as a result, we could experience losses.

We purchase reinsurance by transferring part of the risk that we have assumed, known as ceding, to a reinsurance company in exchange for part of the premium we receive in connection with the risk. Although reinsurance makes the reinsurer contractually liable to us to the extent the risk is transferred or ceded to the reinsurer, it does not relieve us, the reinsured, of our liability to our policyholders. Our reinsurers may not pay the reinsurance recoverables that they owe to us or they may not pay such recoverables on a timely basis. Accordingly, we bear credit risk with respect to our reinsurers, and if our reinsurers fail to pay us, our financial results would be adversely affected. Underwriting results and investment returns of some of our reinsurers may affect their future ability to pay claims. As of December 31, 2007, the amount due from our reinsurers was $905 million, including amounts due from state funds and industry pools. Certain of these amounts due from reinsurers are secured by letters of credit or by funds held in trust on our behalf.

We are rated by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, and Moody’s, and a decline in these ratings could affect our standing in the insurance industry and cause our sales and earnings to decrease.

Ratings have become an increasingly important factor in establishing the competitive position of insurance companies. Certain of our insurance company subsidiaries are rated by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Services. While A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s ratings reflect their opinions as to a company’s financial strength, operating performance, strategic position and ability to meet its obligations to policyholders, they are not evaluations directed to investors and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold our securities. Our ratings are subject to periodic review, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to retain those ratings. Twenty of our twenty-three insurance company subsidiaries have A.M. Best Company, Inc. (“A.M. Best”) ratings of “A+ (Superior)” which is A.M. Best’s second highest rating out of 15 possible ratings by A.M. Best. Carolina Casualty Insurance Company and W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited have A.M. Best ratings of “A (Excellent)” which is A.M. Best’s third highest rating. Investors Guaranty Life Insurance Company, which the Company purchased in 2007, does not have an A.M. Best rating. The Standard & Poor’s financial strength rating for our domestic insurance subsidiaries is A+ (the seventh highest rating out of twenty-seven possible ratings). Our Moody’s rating is A2 for Berkley Insurance Company (the sixth highest rating out of twenty-one possible ratings).

If our ratings are reduced from their current levels by A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s, our competitive position in the insurance industry could suffer and it would be more difficult for us to market our

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products. A significant downgrade could result in a substantial loss of business as policyholders move to other companies with higher claims-paying and financial strength ratings.

If market conditions cause reinsurance to be more costly or unavailable, we may be required to bear increased risks or reduce the level of our underwriting commitments.

As part of our overall risk and capacity management strategy, we purchase reinsurance for certain amounts of risk underwritten by our insurance company subsidiaries, especially catastrophe risks. We also purchase reinsurance on risks underwritten by others which we reinsure. Market conditions beyond our control determine the availability and cost of the reinsurance protection we purchase, which may affect the level of our business and profitability. Our reinsurance facilities are generally subject to annual renewal. We may be unable to maintain our current reinsurance facilities or to obtain other reinsurance facilities in adequate amounts and at favorable rates. If we are unable to renew our expiring facilities or to obtain new reinsurance facilities, either our net exposures would increase or, if we are unwilling to bear an increase in net exposures, we would have to reduce the level of our underwriting commitments, especially catastrophe exposed risks.

Our international operations expose us to investment, political and economic risks.

Our international operations expose us to investment, political and economic risks, including foreign currency and credit risk. Changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We may not find suitable acquisition candidates or new insurance ventures and even if we do, we may not successfully integrate any such acquired companies or successfully invest in such ventures.

As part of our present strategy, we continue to evaluate possible acquisition transactions and thestart-up of complementary businesses on an ongoing basis, and at any given time, we may be engaged in discussions with respect to possible acquisitions and new ventures. We cannot assure that we will be able to identify suitable acquisition transactions or insurance ventures, that such transactions will be financed and completed on acceptable terms or that our future acquisitions or ventures will be successful. The process of integrating any companies we do acquire or investing in new ventures may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We may be unable to attract and retain qualified employees.

We depend on our ability to attract and retain experienced underwriting talent and other skilled employees who are knowledgeable about our business. If the quality of our underwriting team and other personnel decreases, we may be unable to maintain our current competitive position in the specialized markets in which we operate, and be unable to expand our operations into new markets.

Risks Relating to Our Investments

A significant amount of our assets is invested in fixed income securities and is subject to market fluctuations.

Our investment portfolio consists substantially of fixed income securities. As of December 31, 2007, our investment in fixed income securities was approximately $9.8 billion, or 74% of our total investment portfolio.

The fair market value of these assets and the investment income from these assets fluctuate depending on general economic and market conditions. The fair market value of fixed income securities generally decreases as interest rates rise. Conversely, if interest rates decline, investment income earned from future investments in fixed income securities will be lower. In addition, some fixed income securities, such as mortgage-backed and otherasset-backed securities, carry prepayment risk as a result of interest rate fluctuations. Based upon the composition and duration of our investment portfolio at December 31, 2007, a 100 basis point increase in interest rates would result in a decrease in the fair value of our investments of approximately $338 million.

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The value of investments in fixed income securities, and particularly our investments in high-yield securities, is subject to impairment as a result of deterioration in the credit worthiness of the issuer or increases in market interest rates. Although we attempt to manage this risk by diversifying our portfolio and emphasizing preservation of principal, our investments are subject to losses as a result of a general decrease in commercial and economic activity for an industry sector in which we invest, as well as risks inherent in particular securities. Investment returns are currently, and could continue to remain, under pressure due to current economic uncertainty and volatility and the shape of the yield curve.

The value of our fixed income portfolio is also subject to the risk that certain investments may become impaired due to a downgrade of the credit ratings of an insurer that guarantees an issuer’s payments of such investments in our portfolio. In addition, defaults by the issuer and, where applicable, its guarantor, of certain investments that result in the failure of such parties to fulfill their obligations with regard to any of these investments could reduce our net investment income and net realized investment gains or result in investment losses.

While we attempt to manage these risks through investment guidelines, collateral requirements and other oversight mechanisms, our efforts may not be successful. To a large degree, the credit risk we face is a function of the economy; accordingly, we face a greater risk in an economic downturn or recession. As a result, our exposure to any of the above credit risks could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.

We invest some of our assets in equity securities, including merger arbitrage investments, private equity and real estate securities, which may decline in value.

We invest a portion of our investment portfolio in equity securities, including merger arbitrage investments, private equity and real estate securities. At December 31, 2007, our investments in equity securities were approximately $1.8 billion, or 15% of our investment portfolio. We reported provisions for other than temporary impairments in the value of our equity securities provisions in the amounts of $2.7 million in 2007, $0.1 million in 2006 and $1.6 million in 2005.

Merger and convertible arbitrage trading securities represented 25% of our equity securities at December 31, 2007. Merger arbitrage is the business of investing in the securities of publicly held companies that are the targets in announced tender offers and mergers. Merger arbitrage differs from other types of investments in its focus on transactions and events believed likely to bring about a change in value over a relatively short time period, usually four months or less. Our merger arbitrage positions are exposed to the risk associated with the completion of announced deals, which are subject to regulatory as well as political and other risks. If there is reduced activity in the merger and acquisitions area, we may not be able achieve the returns that we have enjoyed in the past.

Included in our equity security portfolio are investments in publicly traded real estate investment trusts (“REITs”) and private real estate investment funds, real estate limited partnerships and venture capital investments. At December 31, 2007 our investments in these securities were approximately $504 million, or 29% of our equity portfolio. The values of our real estate investments are subject to fluctuations based on changes in the economy in general and real estate valuations in particular. In addition, the real estate investment funds, limited partnerships, and venture capital investments in which we invest are less liquid than our other investments.

Risks Relating to Purchasing Our Securities

We are an insurance holding company and may not be able to receive dividends in needed amounts.

As an insurance holding company, our principal assets are the shares of capital stock of our insurance company subsidiaries. We have to rely on dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries to meet our obligations for paying principal and interest on outstanding debt obligations and for paying dividends to stockholders and corporate expenses. The payment of dividends by our insurance company subsidiaries is subject to regulatory restrictions and will depend on the surplus and future earnings of these subsidiaries, as well as the regulatory restrictions. During 2008, the maximum amount of dividends that can be paid without regulatory approval is approximately $653 million. As a result, in the future we may not be able to receive dividends from these subsidiaries at times and in amounts necessary to meet our obligations or pay dividends.

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We are subject to certain provisions that may have the effect of hindering, delaying or preventing third party takeovers, which may prevent our shareholders from receiving premium prices for their shares in an unsolicited takeover and make it more difficult for third parties to replace our current management.

Provisions of our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as our rights agreement and state insurance statutes, may hinder, delay or prevent unsolicited acquisitions or changes of our control. These provisions may also have the effect of making it more difficult for third parties to cause the replacement of our current management without the concurrence of our board of directors.

These provisions include:

•  our classified board of directors and the ability of our board to increase its size and to appoint directors to fill newly created directorships;

•  the requirement that 80% of our stockholders must approve mergers and other transactions between us and the holder of 5% or more of our shares, unless the transaction was approved by our board of directors prior to such holder’s acquisition of 5% of our shares;

•  the need for advance notice in order to raise business or make nominations at stockholders’ meetings;

•  our rights agreement which subjects persons (other than William R. Berkley) who acquire beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our common stock without board approval to substantial dilution; and

•  state insurance statutes that restrict the acquisition of control (generally defined as 10% of the outstanding shares) of an insurance company without regulatory approval.

ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

There are no unresolved written comments that were received from the SEC staff 180 days or more before the end of our fiscal year relating to our periodic or current reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES

W. R. Berkley and its subsidiaries own or lease office buildings or office space suitable to conduct their operations. At December 31, 2007, the Company had aggregate office space of 1,640,602 square feet, of which 641,231 were owned and 999,371 were leased.

Rental expense was approximately $21,438,000, $19,348,000 and $17,429,000 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Future minimum lease payments (without provision for sublease income) are $20,889,000 in 2008, $18,570,000 in 2009 and $65,654,000 thereafter.

ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company’s subsidiaries are subject to disputes, including litigation and arbitration, arising in the ordinary course of their insurance and reinsurance businesses. The Company’s estimates of the costs of settling such matters are reflected in its aggregate reserves for losses and loss expenses, and the Company does not believe that the ultimate outcome of such matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

No matters were submitted during the fourth quarter of 2007 to a vote of holders of the Company’s Common Stock.

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PART II

ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The common stock of the Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BER”.

					Common
	Price Range				Dividends Declared
	High		Low		per Share
2007:
Fourth Quarter	$	32.21	$	28.04	$	.05
Third Quarter		32.81		25.20		.05
Second Quarter		33.80		31.89		.05
First Quarter		35.10		31.30		.05
2006:
Fourth Quarter	$	37.72	$	34.34	$	.04
Third Quarter		37.25		32.26		.04
Second Quarter		40.95		30.61		.04
First Quarter		40.15		31.87		.04

The closing price of the Common Stock on February 14, 2008, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, was $28.70 per share. The approximate number of record holders of the Common Stock on February 14, 2008 was 513.

Set forth below is a summary of the shares repurchased by the Company during the fourth quarter of 2007 and the remaining number of shares authorized for purchase by the Company.

					Total Number of		Maximum Number of
					Shares Purchased as		Shares that may yet
					Part of Publicly		be Purchased Under
	Total Number of		Average Price		Announced Plans		the Plans or
	Shares Purchased		Paid per Share		or Programs		Programs(1)
October 2007		188,300	$	29.18		188,300		10,471,088
November 2007		3,013,400		28.91		3,013,400		17,283,500
December 2007		6,686		29.91		None		17,283,500

(1) Remaining shares available for repurchase under the Company’s repurchase authorization of 20,000,000 shares that was approved by the Board of Directors on November 6, 2007.

29

ITEM 6.   SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

	Year Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005			2004			2003
	(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
Premiums written	$	4,575,989		$	4,818,993		$	4,604,574		$	4,266,361		$	3,670,515
Net premiums earned		4,663,701			4,692,622			4,460,935			4,061,092			3,234,610
Net investment income		672,660			586,175			403,962			291,295			210,056
Service fees		97,689			104,812			110,697			109,344			101,715
Realized investment gains		14,938			9,648			17,209			48,268			81,692
Revenues from wholly-owned investees		102,846			—			—			—			—
Total revenues		5,553,639			5,394,831			4,996,839			4,512,235			3,630,108
Interest expense		88,996			92,522			85,926			66,423			54,733
Income before income taxes		1,057,634			988,645			770,537			638,513			489,304
Income tax expense		(310,905	)		(286,398	)		(222,521	)		(196,235	)		(150,626	)
Minority interest		(3,083	)		(2,729	)		(3,124	)		(3,446	)		(1,458	)
Income before change in accounting		743,646			699,518			544,892			438,832			337,220
Cumulative effect of change in accounting		—			—			—			(727	)		—
Net income		743,646			699,518			544,892			438,105			337,220
Data per common share:
Net income per basic share		3.94			3.65			2.86			2.32			1.81
Net income per diluted share		3.78			3.46			2.72			2.21			1.72
Stockholders’ equity		19.80			17.30			13.42			11.13			8.95
Cash dividends declared		.20			.16			.12			.12			.12
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		188,981			191,809			190,533			188,912			187,029
Diluted		196,698			201,961			200,426			198,408			195,893
Investments	$	11,893,522		$	11,114,364		$	9,810,225		$	7,303,889		$	5,068,670
Total assets		16,832,170			15,656,489			13,896,287			11,451,033			9,334,685
Reserves for losses and loss expenses		8,678,034			7,784,269			6,711,760			5,449,611			4,192,091
Junior subordinated debentures		249,375			241,953			450,634			208,286			193,336
Senior notes and other debt		1,121,793			869,187			967,818			808,264			659,208
Stockholders’ equity		3,569,775			3,335,159			2,567,077			2,109,702			1,682,562

ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Reference is made to the information under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” which will be contained in the registrant’s 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached hereto as Exhibit 13), which information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Reference is made to the information under “Market Risk” under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” which will be contained in the registrant’s 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached hereto as Exhibit 13), which information is incorporated herein by reference.

30

ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The consolidated financial statements of the registrant which will be contained in the registrant’s 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached hereto as Exhibit 13) are incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.   CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a)   Evaluation Of Disclosure Controls And Procedures

The Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange ActRule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company has in place effective controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms.

(b)   Management’s Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. See pages 20 and 21 of Exhibit 13 of thisForm 10-K for management’s report and the related attestation by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.

(c)   Change In Internal Control

During the quarter ended December 31, 2007, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10.   DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11.   EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

(a)   Security ownership of certain beneficial owners

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

31

(b)   Security ownership of management

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

(c)   Changes in control

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Reference is made to the registrant’s definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after December 31, 2007, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)   Index to Financial Statements

The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Company’s financial statements, together with the reports on the financial statements, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of KPMG LLP, appear in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders (attached hereto as exhibit 13) and are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report onForm 10-K. With the exception of the aforementioned information, the 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders is not deemed to be filed as part of this report. The schedules to the financial statements listed below should be read in conjunction with the financial statements in such 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders. Financial statement schedules not included in this Annual Report onForm 10-K have been omitted because they are not applicable or required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

Index to Financial Statement Schedules	Page
Independent Registered Public Accountants’ Report on Schedules		38
Schedule II — Condensed Financial Information of Registrant		39
Schedule III — Supplementary Insurance Information		43
Schedule IV — Reinsurance		44
Schedule V — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts		45
Schedule VI — Supplementary Information Concerning Property — Casualty Insurance Operations		46

(b)   Exhibits

The exhibits filed as part of this report are listed on pages 35, 36 and 37 hereof.

32

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities 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

By  /s/  William R. Berkley

William R. Berkley,
Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

February 29, 2008

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/  William R. Berkley William R. Berkley	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal executive officer)	February 29, 2008
/s/  W. Robert Berkley, Jr. W. Robert Berkley, Jr.	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Philip J. Ablove Philip J. Ablove	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Ronald E. Blaylock Ronald E. Blaylock	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Mark E. Brockbank Mark E. Brockbank	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  George G. Daly George G. Daly	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Mary C. Farrell Mary C. Farrell	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Rodney A. Hawes, Jr. Rodney A. Hawes, Jr.	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Jack H. Nusbaum Jack H. Nusbaum	Director	February 29, 2008
/s/  Mark L. Shapiro Mark L. Shapiro	Director	February 29, 2008

33

Signature	Title	Date
/s/  Eugene G. Ballard Eugene G. Ballard	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal accounting officer)	February 29, 2008
/s/  Clement P. Patafio Clement P. Patafio	Vice President, Corporate Controller	February 29, 2008

34

ITEM 15.   (b) EXHIBITS

Number
	(3	.1)	The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended through May 10, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 6, 2003).
	(3	.2)	Amendment, dated May 11, 2004, to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Quarterly report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 5, 2004).
	(3	.3)	Amendment, dated May 16, 2006, to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Current Report onForm 8-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on May 17, 2006).
	(3	.4)	Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) of the Company’s Current Report onForm 8-K (FileNo. 0-7849) filed with the Commission on May 11, 1999).
	(4	.1)	Rights Agreement, dated as of May 11, 1999, between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank N.A. (as successor to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, LLC), as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the Company’s Current Report onForm 8-K (FileNo. 0-7849) filed with the Commission on May 11, 1999).
	(4	.2)	Indenture, dated as of February 14, 2003, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission of March 31, 2003).
	(4	.3)	First Supplemental Indenture, dated February 14, 2003, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustees, relating to $200,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 5.875% Senior Notes due 2013, including form of the Notes as Exhibit A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission of March 31, 2003).
	(4	.4)	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 12, 2003, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to $150,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 5.125% Senior Notes due 2010, including form of the Notes as Exhibit A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on November 14, 2003).
	(4	.5)	Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 24, 2004, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to $150,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 6.150% Senior Notes due 2019, including form of the Notes as Exhibit A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on March 14, 2005).
	(4	.6)	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 9, 2005, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to $200,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 5.60% Senior Notes due 2015, including form of the Notes as Exhibit A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s quarterly report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15200) filed with the Commission on August 2, 2005).
	(4	.7)	Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 9, 2007, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to $250,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 6.25% Senior Notes due 2037, including form of the Notes as Exhibit A (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of the company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on March 1, 2007).
	(4	.8)	Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of W. R. Berkley Capital Trust II, dated as of July 26, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 2, 2005).

35

Number
	(4	.9)	Subordinated Indenture between W. R. Berkley Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, dated as of July 26, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 2, 2005).
	(4	.10)	Supplemental Indenture No. 1 to the Subordinated Indenture between W. R. Berkley Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, dated as of July 26, 2005, relating to 6.750% Subordinated Debentures Due 2045 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 2, 2005).
	(4	.11)	Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement between W. R. Berkley Corporation, as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as Preferred Guarantee Trustee, dated as of July 26, 2005, relating to W. R. Berkley Capital Trust II (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 2, 2005).
	(4	.12)	The instruments defining the rights of holders of the other long term debt securities of the Company are omitted pursuant to Section (b)(4)(iii)(A) of Item 601 ofRegulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally copies of these instruments to the Commission upon request.
	(10	.1)	W. R. Berkley Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex A of the Company’s 2003 Proxy Statement (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on April 14, 2003).
	(10	.2)	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the W. R. Berkley Corporation 2003 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on May 3, 2005).
	(10	.3)	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for grant of April 4, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 6, 2003).
	(10	.4)	W. R. Berkley Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Officers as amended and restated effective December 3, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Current Report onForm 8-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on December 19, 2007).
	(10	.5)	W. R. Berkley Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors as amended and restated effective December 3, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report onForm 8-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on December 19, 2007).
	(10	.6)	W. R. Berkley Corporation 2007 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex A of the Company’s 2006 Proxy Statement (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on April 18, 2006).
	(10	.7)	W. R. Berkley 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex B from the Company’s 2004 Proxy Statement (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on April 12, 2004).
	(10	.8)	Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement under the W. R. Berkley Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on May 3, 2005).
	(10	.9)	W. R. Berkley Corporation 1997 Directors Stock Plan, effective as of May 13, 1997, amended as of May 11, 1999, and amended and restated as of May 3, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report onForm 10-Q (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on August 2, 2005).
	(10	.10)	Supplemental Benefits Agreement between William R. Berkley and the Company as amended and restated as of December 17, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Current Report onForm 8-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on December 19, 2007).
	(13)		Portions of the 2007 Annual Report to Stockholders of W. R. Berkley Corporation that are incorporated by reference in this Report onForm 10-K.
	(14)		Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14 of the Company’s Annual Report onForm 10-K (FileNo. 1-15202) filed with the Commission on March 14, 2005).

36

Number
	(21)	Following is a list of the Company’s significant subsidiaries and other operating entities. Subsidiaries of subsidiaries are indented and the parent of each such corporation owns 100% of the outstanding voting securities of such corporation except as noted below.

			Percentage
	Jurisdiction of		Owned
	Incorporation		by the Company(1)
Berkley International, LLC(2)		New York		100	%
Berkley Surety Group, Inc.		Delaware		100	%
Carolina Casualty Insurance Company		Iowa		100	%
Clermont Specialty Managers, Ltd.		New Jersey		100	%
J/I Holding Corporation:		Delaware		100	%
Admiral Insurance Company:		Delaware		100	%
Admiral Indemnity Company		Delaware		100	%
Berkley London Holdings, Inc.(3)		Delaware		100	%
W. R. Berkley London Finance, Limited		United Kingdom		100	%
W. R. Berkley London Holdings, Limited		United Kingdom		100	%
W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe), Limited		United Kingdom		100	%
Berkley Risk Administrators Company, LLC		Minnesota		100	%
Nautilus Insurance Company:		Arizona		100	%
Great Divide Insurance Company		North Dakota		100	%
Key Risk Management Services, Inc.		North Carolina		100	%
Monitor Liability Managers, Inc.		Delaware		100	%
Signet Star Holdings, Inc.:		Delaware		100	%
Berkley Insurance Company		Delaware		100	%
Berkley Regional Insurance Company		Delaware		100	%
Acadia Insurance Company		New Hampshire		100	%
Berkley Regional Specialty Insurance Company		Delaware		100	%
CGH Insurance Group, Inc		Alabama		100	%
American Mining Insurance Company		Alabama		100	%
Continental Western Insurance Company		Iowa		100	%
Firemen’s Insurance Company of Washington, D.C.		Delaware		100	%
Tri-State Insurance Company of Minnesota		Minnesota		100	%
Union Insurance Company		Iowa		100	%
Union Standard Insurance Company		Oklahoma		100	%
Key Risk Insurance Company		North Carolina		100	%
Midwest Employers Casualty Company:		Delaware		100	%
Preferred Employers Insurance Company		California		100	%
Gemini Insurance Company		Delaware		100	%
Riverport Insurance Company		Minnesota		100	%
StarNet Insurance Company		Delaware		100	%
Facultative ReSources, Inc.		Connecticut		100	%

1)	W. R. Berkley Corporation is the ultimate parent. The subsidiary of a direct parent in indicated by an indentation, and its percentage ownership is as indicated in this column.
2)	Berkley International, LLC is held by W. R. Berkley Corporation and its subsidiaries as follows: W. R. Berkley Corporation (2%), Admiral Insurance Company (35%), Berkley Regional Insurance Company (14%), Nautilus Insurance Company (14%) and Berkley Insurance Company (35%).
3)	Held by Admiral Insurance Company (66.67%) and Berkley Insurance Company (33.33%)
(23)	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
(31.1)	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/ 15d-14(a).
(31.2)	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/ 15d-14(a).
(32.1)	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

37

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

W. R. Berkley Corporation:

Under date of February 29, 2008, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of W. R. Berkley Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, as contained in the 2007 Annual Report to stockholders. These consolidated financial statements and our report thereon are incorporated by reference in the December 31, 2007 Annual Report onForm 10-K for the year 2007. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related consolidated financial statement schedules. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statement schedules based on our audits.

In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

KPMG LLP

New York, New York

February 29, 2008

38

Schedule II

W. R. Berkley Corporation
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant
Balance Sheets (Parent Company)

	December 31,
	2007			2006
	(Amounts in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	131,798		$	84,188
Fixed maturity securities available for sale at fair value (cost $223,242 and $66,280 in 2007 and 2006, respectively)		223,709			66,289
Equity securities available for sale, at fair value (cost $781 and $310)		39,170			32,089
Investment in affiliate		1,972			1,846
Investments in subsidiaries		4,596,445			4,294,197
Deferred Federal income taxes		190,629			145,675
Real estate, furniture & equipment at cost, less accumulated depreciation		6,954			5,866
Other assets		4,472			1,274
	$	5,195,149		$	4,631,424
Liabilities, debt and stockholders’ equity
Liabilities:
Due to Subsidiaries	$	120,638		$	79,800
Other liabilities		156,986			117,067
Junior subordinated debentures		242,163			241,954
Senior notes		1,105,587			857,444
		1,625,374			1,296,265
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		—			—
Common stock		47,024			47,024
Additional paid-in capital		907,016			859,787
Retained earnings (including accumulated undistributed net income of subsidiaries of $2,914,073, and $2,680,731 in 2007 and 2006, respectively)		3,248,762			2,542,744
Accumulated other comprehensive income		53,201			111,613
Treasury stock, at cost		(686,228	)		(226,009	)
		3,569,775			3,335,159
	$	5,195,149		$	4,631,424

See note to condensed financial statements.

39

Schedule II, Continued

W. R. Berkley Corporation

Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

Statements of Income (Parent Company)

	Years Ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2005
	(Amounts in thousands)
Management fees and investment income including dividends from subsidiaries of $616,688, $244,066 and $17,870 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively	$	637,594		$	263,166		$	24,813
Realized investment gains (losses)		(220	)		(3	)		54
Other income		180			186			9,159
Total revenues		637,554			263,349			34,026
Operating costs and expense		98,406			86,986			62,550
Interest expense		87,716			91,498			84,925
Income (loss) before Federal income taxes		451,432			84,865			(113,449	)
Federal income taxes:
Federal income taxes provided by subsidiaries on a separate return Basis		347,018			324,190			181,392
Federal income tax expense on a consolidated return basis		(292,537	)		(276,945	)		(214,214	)
Net benefit (expense)		54,481			47,245			(32,822	)
Income (loss) before undistributed equity in net income of subsidiaries		505,913			132,110			(146,271	)
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries		237,733			567,408			691,163
Net income		743,646			699,518			544,892

See note to condensed financial statements.

40

Schedule II, Continued

W. R. Berkley Corporation
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

Statements of Cash Flows (Parent Company)

		Years Ended December 31,
		2007			2006			2005
		(Amounts in thousands
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities:
Net income		$	743,646		$	699,518		$	544,892
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Realized investment losses (gains)			220			3			(54	)
Depreciation and amortization			2,324			4,804			3,144
Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries			(237,734	)		(567,408	)		(691,163	)
Tax payments received from subsidiaries			349,173			307,677			244,373
Federal income taxes provided by subsidiaries on a separate return basis			(347,017	)		(324,190	)		(181,392	)
Stock Incentive Plans			20,836			17,861			8,852
Change in:
Federal income taxes			14,838			(9,055	)		21,715
Other assets			101			43,008			(104,156	)
Other liabilities			30,884			(24,736	)		122,963
Accrued investment income			(3,299	)		1,400			(1,316	)
Other, net			(126	)		—			952
Net cash from (used in) operating activities			573,846			148,882			(31,190	)
Cash from (used in) investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of fixed maturity securities			86,050			29,997			129,114
Proceeds from maturities and prepayments of fixed maturity securities			35,976			157,802			—
Cost of purchases of fixed maturity securities			(278,986	)		(69,978	)		(246,474	)
Cost of purchases of equity securities			(726	)		—			—
Investments in affiliate			(68,064	)		(1,846	)		—
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries, net			(46,051	)		(25,541	)		(76,145	)
Net additions to real estate, furniture & equipment			(1,927	)		(469	)		(343	)
Other, net			255			—			—
Net cash from (used in) investing activities			(273,473	)		89,965			(193,848	)
Cash from (used in) financing activities
Net proceeds from issuance of junior subordinated debentures			—			—			241,655
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes			246,644			—			198,142
Net proceeds from stock options exercised			25,676			19,405			11,250
Retirement of junior subordinated notes			—			(210,000	)		—
Repayment of senior notes			—			(100,000	)		(40,000	)
Purchase of common treasury shares			(488,794	)		(45,062	)		(636	)
Cash dividends to common stockholders			(36,284	)		(29,430	)		(19,055	)
Other, net			(5	)		—			2
Net cash from (used in) financing activities			(252,763	)		(365,087	)		391,358
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	��		47,610			(126,240	)		166,320
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			84,188			210,428			44,108
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		$	131,798		$	84,188		$	210,428

See note to condensed financial statements.

41

Schedule II, Continued

W. R. Berkley Corporation
Condensed Financial Information of Registrant — (Continued)

December 31, 2007

Note to Condensed Financial Statements (Parent Company)

The accompanying condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to consolidated financial statements included elsewhere herein. Reclassifications have been made in the 2006 and 2005 financial statements as originally reported to conform them to the presentation of the 2007 financial statements.

The Company files a consolidated federal tax return with the results of its domestic insurance subsidiaries included on a statutory basis. Under present Company policy, Federal income taxes payable by subsidiary companies on a separate-return basis are paid to W. R. Berkley Corporation, and the Company pays the tax due on a consolidated return basis.

42

Schedule III

W. R. Berkley Corporation and Subsidiaries

Supplementary Insurance Information
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

													Amortization
	Deferred												of Deferred		Other
	Policy		Reserve for						Net				Policy		Operating		Net
	Acquisition		Losses and		Unearned		Premiums		Investment		Loss and Loss		Acquisition		Cost &		Premiums
	Cost		Loss Expenses		Premiums		Earned		Income		Expenses		Cost		Expenses		Written
			(Amounts in thousands)
December 31, 2007
Specialty	$	165,608	$	3,044,134	$	886,519	$	1,772,547	$	233,080	$	1,015,176	$	361,221	$	112,699	$	1,704,880
Regional		152,063		1,337,611		621,566		1,250,914		96,886		739,667		317,653		75,252		1,267,451
Alternative markets		35,325		1,994,569		315,676		651,909		125,698		385,837		90,096		150,886		656,369
Reinsurance		78,420		1,968,923		302,442		740,439		153,416		483,757		160,522		71,274		682,241
International		23,828		332,797		114,487		247,892		36,666		155,141		72,875		12,085		265,048
Corporate and adjustments		—		—		—		—		26,914		—		—		106,424		—
Total	$	455,244	$	8,678,034	$	2,240,690	$	4,663,701	$	672,660	$	2,779,578	$	1,002,367	$	528,620	$	4,575,989
December 31, 2006
Specialty	$	172,938	$	2,660,880	$	949,545	$	1,752,507	$	200,421	$	1,035,090	$	336,633	$	102,100	$	1,814,479
Regional		145,327		1,350,948		639,163		1,205,912		83,957		719,764		309,356		59,332		1,235,302
Alternative markets		34,277		1,632,120		274,932		658,805		114,914		352,693		91,261		143,161		651,255
Reinsurance		90,780		1,876,712		358,698		859,411		133,709		618,627		185,986		53,083		892,769
International		45,921		263,609		91,944		215,987		32,907		138,324		54,793		21,330		225,188
Corporate and adjustments		—		—		—		—		20,267		—		—		92,131		—
Total	$	489,243	$	7,784,269	$	2,314,282	$	4,692,622	$	586,175	$	2,864,498	$	978,029	$	471,137	$	4,818,993
December 31, 2005
Specialty	$	164,609	$	2,259,162	$	889,265	$	1,682,193	$	134,290	$	1,048,927	$	329,386	$	92,274	$	1,827,865
Regional		140,538		1,160,171		615,141		1,173,174		57,619		655,027		304,537		54,734		1,196,487
Alternative markets		36,161		1,452,578		284,572		663,478		82,617		393,783		86,696		137,851		669,774
Reinsurance		78,285		1,667,475		327,844		754,097		95,110		558,950		182,566		44,085		719,540
International		40,180		172,374		72,179		187,993		20,749		125,115		56,395		6,436		190,908
Corporate and adjustments		—		—		—		—		13,577		—		—		63,614		—
Total	$	459,773	$	6,711,760	$	2,189,001	$	4,460,935	$	403,962	$	2,781,802	$	959,580	$	398,994	$	4,604,574

43

Schedule IV

W. R. Berkley Corporation and Subsidiaries

Reinsurance
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

									Percentage
			Ceded to		Assumed				of Amount
	Direct		Other		from Other		Net		Assumed
	Amount		Companies		Companies		Amount		to Net
			(Amounts in thousands)
Year ended December 31, 2007:
Specialty	$	1,796,620	$	111,847	$	20,107	$	1,704,880		1.2	%
Regional		1,422,015		173,626		19,062		1,267,451		1.5
Alternative markets		645,680		101,916		112,605		656,369		17.2
Reinsurance		4,633		49,992		727,600		682,241		106.6
International		304,908		39,860		—		265,048		—
Total	$	4,173,856	$	477,241	$	879,374	$	4,575,989		19.2	%
Year ended December 31, 2006:
Specialty	$	1,898,741	$	104,042	$	19,780	$	1,814,479		1.1	%
Regional		1,394,526		180,009		20,785		1,235,302		1.7
Alternative markets		657,964		96,425		89,716		651,255		13.8
Reinsurance		3,057		48,028		937,740		892,769		105.0
International		254,605		29,417		—		225,188		—
Total	$	4,208,893	$	457,921	$	1,068,021	$	4,818,993		22.2	%
Year ended December 31, 2005:
Specialty	$	1,911,309	$	104,956	$	21,512	$	1,827,865		1.2	%
Regional		1,358,304		188,087		26,270		1,196,487		2.2
Alternative markets		696,917		111,637		84,494		669,774		12.6
Reinsurance		370		51,241		770,411		719,540		107.1
International		218,396		27,488		—		190,908		—
Total	$	4,185,296	$	483,409	$	902,687	$	4,604,574		19.6	%

44

Schedule V

W. R. Berkley Corporation and Subsidiaries

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

			Additions -		Deduction-
	Opening		Charged to		Amounts			Ending
	Balance		Expense		Written Off			Balance
	(Amounts in thousands)
Year ended December 31, 2007:
Premiums and fees receivable	$	20,458	$	6,176	$	(8,382	)	$	18,252
Due from reinsurers		2,531		328		—			2,859
Deferred federal and foreign income taxes		9,621		—		(8,027	)		1,594
Total	$	32,610	$	6,504	$	(16,409	)	$	22,705
Year ended December 31, 2006:
Premiums and fees received	$	19,460	$	8,756	$	(7,758	)	$	20,458
Due from reinsurers		2,402		402		(273	)		2,531
Deferred federal and foreign income taxes		6,575		3,046		—			9,621
Total	$	28,437	$	12,204	$	(8,031	)	$	32,610
Year ended December 31, 2005:
Premiums and fees received	$	14,687	$	12,684	$	(7,911	)	$	19,460
Due from reinsurers		2,457		48		(103	)		2,402
Deferred federal and foreign income taxes		4,813		1,762		—			6,575
Total	$	21,957	$	14,494	$	(8,014	)	$	28,437

45

Schedule VI

W. R. Berkley Corporation and Subsidiaries

Supplementary Information Concerning Property-Casualty Insurance Operations

December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

	2007			2006		2005
	(Amounts in thousands)
Deferred policy acquisition costs	$	455,244		$	489,243	$	459,773
Reserves for losses and loss expenses		8,678,034			7,784,269		6,711,760
Unearned premium		2,240,690			2,314,282		2,189,001
Premiums earned		4,663,701			4,692,622		4,460,935
Net investment income		672,660			586,175		403,962
Losses and loss expenses incurred:
Current Year		2,837,647			2,791,500		2,531,655
Prior Years		(105,879	)		26,663		186,728
Decrease in discount for prior years		46,808			39,507		57,790
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		1,002,367			978,029		959,580
Paid losses and loss expenses		1,971,668			1,777,363		1,631,725
Net premiums written		4,575,989			4,818,993		4,604,574

46