Markel Corporation is an American holding company for insurance, investment, and venture capital firms. It was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. The company has a diverse range of insurance operations, including specialty insurance lines such as event cancellation, animal mortality, and marine insurance. It also has operations in reinsurance and has a range of investment assets. The company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MKL.
Markel's primary business is insurance, where it offers a variety of products, including commercial insurance, personal insurance, and specialty insurance. Its specialty insurance business includes niche markets such as equine, aviation, and marine, among others. The company also has a reinsurance business, which provides insurance coverage to other insurers. In addition to its insurance operations, Markel also operates an investment segment, which manages a portfolio of equity and fixed income securities.
Markel has a reputation for being a long-term, value-oriented investor. Its investment segment focuses on making long-term investments in a variety of companies, including publicly traded securities, private equity investments, and real estate. The company has made significant investments in companies such as Berkshire Hathaway and Google.
Markel has also expanded into the venture capital space, launching Markel Ventures in 2005. Markel Ventures is a subsidiary of Markel Corporation and invests in companies that are complementary to its existing insurance and investment businesses. Markel Ventures has invested in a variety of companies, including a provider of document management services, a provider of technology services to the insurance industry, and a producer of natural gas.
Markel is known for its conservative underwriting approach and disciplined investment strategy. The company has a strong balance sheet and has historically been very profitable. It has a long-term track record of creating shareholder value and is known for being a good steward of capital.