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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899140-96-000618.txt : 19961223
<SEC-HEADER>0000899140-96-000618.hdr.sgml : 19961223
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899140-96-000618
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	19961212
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial statements and exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		19961213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		19961220
SROS:			NYSE

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BERKLEY W R CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000011544
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	6331
		IRS NUMBER:				221867895
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07849
		FILM NUMBER:		96680883

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		165 MASON ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 2518
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06836-2518
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036293000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		165 MASON ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 2518
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06836-2518
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
<TEXT>

<PAGE>1


                       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):
                                December 12, 1996


                            W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


   Delaware                        0-7849                    22-1867895
(State or other                 (Commission                (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                 File Number)              Identification No.)
 incorporation)

     165 Mason Street, P.O. Box 2518
         Greenwich, Connecticut                               06836-2518
(Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)


                                (203) 629-2880
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed from last report)


<PAGE>2


Item 5.  Other Events.

         On December 12, 1996, W.R. Berkley Corporation announced that it
arranged for the sale of $210 million of 8.197% Capital Securities to be issued
by W.R. Berkley Capital Trust, a statutory business trust sponsored by W.R.
Berkley Corporation.

         The Capital Securities will not be registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent
registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits.

         99.1     Press Release issued December 12, 1996.


<PAGE>3


                                   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/ Robert S. Gorin
                                   Robert S. Gorin
                                Senior Vice President,
                                General Counsel and
                                Secretary


Date:  December 12, 1996


<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number            Description
- - -------           -----------


 99.1            Press Release issued December 12, 1996.

<PAGE>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>

<PAGE>


                   [LETTERHEAD OF W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          CONTACT:  Anthony J. DelTufo
                                                         Senior Vice President
                                                         (203) 629-2880

GREENWICH, CT                                            December 12, 1996

             W.R. BERKLEY CORPORATION TO ISSUE CAPITAL SECURITIES

W.R. Berkley Corporation (Nasdaq: BKLY) today announced that it has arranged
for the sale of $210 million of 8.197% Capital Securities to be issued by W.R.
Berkley Capital Trust, a statutory business trust sponsored by W.R. Berkley
Corporation.

The Capital Securities may be redeemed on or after December 15, 2006.  W.R.
Berkley Corporation intends to use substantially all of the net proceeds of the
offering to redeem its outstanding classes of preferred stock.

The Capital Securities will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent
registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

W.R. Berkley Corporation is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries,
does business in all segments of the property casualty insurance business. The
operating units are grouped for management purposes into five segments
according to market served: Regional Property Casualty Insurance, Reinsurance,
Specialty Lines of Insurance, Alternative Markets and International.


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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