Form 4: W. R. Berkley Executive Chairman William R. Berkley Receives Equity Award

William R. Berkley, Executive Chairman of W. R. Berkley Corporation, reported the acquisition of 2,776 shares of common stock as an equity award, increasing his beneficial ownership.

Summary

• William R. Berkley, Executive Chairman, Director, and 10% Owner of W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB), acquired 2,776 shares of common stock.
• The acquisition occurred on June 11, 2025, and was an award granted under the W. R. Berkley Corporation 2009 Directors Stock Plan, as amended and restated, with a transaction price of $0.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Berkley's direct beneficial ownership stands at 17,255,693 shares, which includes 7,511,309 shares underlying vested Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) with deferred receipt. This figure does not include unvested performance-based RSUs.
• Additionally, Mr. Berkley holds significant indirect beneficial ownership: 67,069,033 shares through WR Berkley & Others LLC (where he is a majority beneficial owner), 1,350,000 shares through the William R. Berkley 2011 GST Trust, and 204,364 shares through his spouse.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The acquisition of shares by a key executive as an equity award is generally a positive signal, indicating continued alignment of interests and confidence in the company, though the size of the award is relatively small compared to total holdings.

Positives

• The acquisition of 2,776 shares by Executive Chairman William R. Berkley demonstrates continued alignment of management's interests with shareholders.
• The award is part of the company's established 2009 Directors Stock Plan, indicating a structured approach to executive compensation.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• Indirect beneficial ownership includes 67,069,033 shares held by WR Berkley & Others LLC, where Mr. William R. Berkley, Jr. and the reporting person (William R. Berkley) are majority beneficial owners.
• Indirect beneficial ownership includes 1,350,000 shares held by the William R. Berkley 2011 GST Trust.
• Indirect beneficial ownership includes 204,364 shares held by Mr. Berkley's spouse.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The award to a key executive aligns management's interests with shareholders, potentially fostering long-term value creation.
• Employees: While not directly impacting all employees, the use of stock plans for executive compensation can set a precedent for performance-based incentives within the company.

Key Dates

Recommendation

Keywords

W. R. Berkley Corporation, WRB, SEC Form 4, Insider Trading, Equity Award, Stock Plan, Beneficial Ownership, Executive Compensation, William R. Berkley, Insurance Industry