W. R. Berkley Corporation

{{Infobox company

| name = W. R. Berkley Corporation

| logo = W.R. Berkley logo.png

| image = W. R. Berkley Corporation headquarters 1.jpg

| image_caption = Headquarters in Greenwich, Connecticut

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{ubl|{{NYSE|WRB}}|S&P 500 component}}

| industry = Insurance

| foundation = {{start date and age|1967}}

| founder = William R. Berkley

| location = Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.

| key_people = {{ubl|William R. Berkley (executive chairman) | W. Robert Berkley Jr. (president & CEO)}}

| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|13.6|link=yes}} billion (2024)

| net_income = {{increase}} {{US$|1.76}} billion (2024)

| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|40.6}} billion (2024)

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|8.39}} billion (2024)

| owner = William R. Berkley (20.8%){{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000119312523126981/d459072ddef14a.htm#toc459072_51 |title=2023 Proxy Statement |publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission |access-date=2023-10-15}}

| num_employees = 8,606 (2025)

| website = {{URL|berkley.com}}

| footnotes = {{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000001154425000005/wrb-20241231.htm | title=W. R. Berkley Corporation 2024 Annual Report (Form 10-K) | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date=February 24, 2025 }}

}}

W. R. Berkley Corporation is an American commercial lines property and casualty insurance holding company organized in Delaware and based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

The company operates commercial insurance businesses in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, South America, Canada, Mexico, Scandinavia, Asia and Australia and reinsurance businesses in the United States, United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and South Africa.

The company is ranked 397th on the Fortune 500.{{cite web | url=https://fortune.com/fortune500/2019/w-r-berkley/ | title=W.R. Berkley | publisher=Fortune}}

History

W. R. Berkley Corporation was founded in 1967 by William R. Berkley, who currently serves as Executive Chairman.

In November 1973, the company became a public company via an initial public offering. At that time, the founder owned 23.8% of the company.{{cite web | url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/11544/000119312513211462/d536920ddefa14a.htm | title=W. R. BERKLEY CORPORATION SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION | publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | date=May 9, 2013}}

In 1994, the company acquired Key Risk Management Services Inc.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/10/business/berkley-adds-key-risk.html | title=Berkley Adds Key Risk | agency=Bloomberg News | work=The New York Times | date=November 5, 1994 | url-access=subscription}}

In 1995, the company acquired the remaining 40% interest in Signet Star from Gen Re.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/21/business/company-news-w-r-berkley-to-buy-remaining-stake-in-reinsurer.html | title=COMPANY NEWS; W. R. BERKLEY TO BUY REMAINING STAKE IN REINSURER | agency=Bloomberg News | work=The New York Times | date=July 21, 1995 | url-access=subscription}} The company also acquired MECC for $138 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/15/business/company-news-w-r-berkley-to-acquire-mecc-for-138-million.html | title=COMPANY NEWS; W. R. BERKLEY TO ACQUIRE MECC FOR $138 MILLION | agency=Bloomberg News | work=The New York Times | date=September 15, 1995 | url-access=subscription}}

In August 2006, the company acquired Garnet Captive Services LLC, a San Francisco insurance brokerage and alternative risk consulting firm.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2006/07/31/daily27.html | title=W.R. Berkley buys SF captive insurance specialist | work=American City Business Journals | date=August 1, 2006}}

On October 31, 2015, Mr. Berkley's son, W. Robert Berkley, Jr., became President and CEO.{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150804006506/en/W.-R.-Berkley-Corporation-Continues-Succession-Plan | title=W. R. Berkley Corporation Continues Succession Plan | publisher=Business Wire | date=August 4, 2015}}