WR Berkley (WRB) Falls 14% on Profit-Taking, Investors Digest Mitsui Stake Acquisition

We recently published December Disappointments: 10 Big Names Troubled Early. WR Berkley Corp. (NYSE:WRB) is one of the worst performers of last week.

WR Berkley fell by 14.12 percent in the past five trading days of the month as investors resorted to profit-taking following the week prior’s surge, while in a wait-and-see mode for more catalysts to spark trading.

On Friday alone, WR Berkley Corp. (NYSE:WRB) lost as much as 7.7 percent following announcements that it sold a 12.5 percent stake to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., pursuant to an earlier signed agreement.

Under the terms, Mitsui, as a significant shareholder, will vote pursuant to the recommendations of the Berkley family, except in circumstances where it will vote the same way regular shareholders vote overall.

Additionally, WR Berkley Corp. (NYSE:WRB) underscored that Mitsui’s stake was purchased from the company’s outstanding shares, and not directly from the Berkley Family or the company. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of January 2026.

In other news, WR Berkley Corp. (NYSE:WRB) declared two cash dividends to its common shareholders as of December 15, both payable on December 29.

The dividends would include $1 special cash dividend per share and 9 cents of regular quarterly dividends.