W. R. Berkley (WRB) said Wednesday its board has increased the share repurchase authorization back to its prior level of 25 million shares of common stock.

Repurchases may be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, the company said.

The company declared a special cash dividend on its common stock of $0.50 per share and also increased its regular quarterly dividend to $0.10 from $0.09, both payable July 2 to stockholders of record on June 23.