W.R. Berkley Corp. Notes Proposed Public Offering

W. R. Berkley Corporation announced it intends to file a preliminary prospectus supplement with respect to a public offering of 4,100,000 shares of its common stock.

Proceeds of the offering will be used to provide additional capital for its insurance subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes. The company also intends to grant the underwriters an option to purchase up to 615,000 additional shares to cover over-allotments.

Merrill Lynch & Co. will be the sole bookrunner on the transaction with Morgan Stanley as a joint lead manager and Salomon Smith Barney as a co-manager.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has become effective.