W. R. Berkley Corporation Declares Dividend; Increases Share Repurchase Authorization to 10M Shares

W. R. Berkley Corporation

announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of 8 cents per share to be paid on December 22, 2011 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 6, 2011. In addition, the Board of Directors has increased the Company's share repurchase authorization to 10 million shares of common stock. The 10 million share repurchase authorization represents approximately 7 percent of the Company's shares outstanding at September 30, 2011. Repurchases may be made from time to time at prevailing prices in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors.