As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2005
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 21, 2005
W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-15202 22-1867895
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Number) Identification No.)
475 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, CT 06830
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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)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant 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 Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)
|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
|_| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On February 21, 2005, the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the
Board of Directors of W. R. Berkley Corporation (the "Company") approved the
bonus of William R. Berkley, the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, for the year 2004. Mr. Berkley's bonus compensation was
determined to be in the amount of $6,042,000, including $4,887,000 of
performance-based compensation under the Company's Annual Incentive Compensation
Plan and $1,155,000 of discretionary bonus compensation due to his superior
performance.
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: February 25, 2005