As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 5, 2001
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 4, 2001
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-7849 22-1867895
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(State or other (Commission File (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518, Greenwich, CT 06836-2518
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 629-3000
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Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events
Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File
No. 333-57546) (the "Registration Statement") filed by W. R. Berkley Corporation
(the "Company"), W. R. Berkley Capital Trust II ("Trust II") and W. R. Berkley
Capital Trust III ("Trust III" and, together with the Company and Trust II, the
"Registrants") with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2001,
relating to the registration of $500,000,000 aggregate amount of securities for
sale by the Registrants in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
The Company is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K to file the opinions
of Prickett, Jones & Elliott, special Delaware counsel to the Registrants,
concerning the legality of the preferred securities that may be issued by Trust
II and Trust III. These opinions are incorporated by reference as Exhibits 5.2
and 5.3, respectively, to the Registration Statement.
ITEM 7. Exhibits
5.2 Opinion of Prickett, Jones & Elliott with respect to W. R. Berkley
Capital Trust II.
5.3 Opinion of Prickett, Jones & Elliott with respect to W. R. Berkley
Capital Trust III.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Eugene G. Ballard
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Name: Eugene G. Ballard
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
Date: April 5, 2001
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit:
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5.2 Opinion of Prickett, Jones & Elliott with respect to W. R. Berkley Capital
Trust II.
5.3 Opinion of Prickett, Jones & Elliott with respect to W. R. Berkley Capital
Trust III.