UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 26, 2018
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| | | | |
| Delaware | | 001-15202 | | 22-1867895 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | | (Commission File Number) | | (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
| | |
| 475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT | | 06830 |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (203)629-3000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934(§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On March 26, 2018, W. R. Berkley Corporation (the “Company”) closed its public offering of $175 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.70% Subordinated Debentures due 2058 (the “Securities”). The terms of the Securities are set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2018 (the “Subordinated Indenture”), as supplemented and amended by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2018 (together with the Subordinated Indenture, the “Indenture”), each between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”). In addition, the underwriters have an option, exercisable until April 18, 2018, to purchase up to an additional $26.25 million aggregate principal amount of the Securities solely to cover overallotments, if any.
The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture and the Securities are qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms of such documents, which are filed hereto as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
On March 26, 2018, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel to the Company, issued an opinion and consent (attached hereto as Exhibits 5.1 and 23.1, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference) as to the validity of the Securities.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
The exhibits to this report are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (No.333-221559) filed by the Company.
(d) Exhibits
| | | | |
| | |
| | 4.1 | | Subordinated Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2018, between the Company and the Trustee. |
| | |
| | 4.2 | | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2018, between the Company and the Trustee, including the form of the Securities attached as Exhibit A thereto. |
| | |
| | 5.1 | | Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP regarding the validity of the Securities. |
| | |
| | 23.1 | | Consent of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit:
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| | |
| W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION |
| |
| By: | | /s/ Richard M. Baio |
| | Name: Richard M. Baio |
| | Title: Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
Date: March 26, 2018
