Markel Ventures

At Markel Ventures they make permanent investments in businesses outside of the specialty insurance marketplace. Their focus is long term...really long term. They do not sell their businesses nor do they use excessive debt. Their principal goal is to build profitable enterprises that will endure as part of the broader Markel Corporation. As a result, their management teams are empowered to make long-term decisions centered on customers and employees, not short-term results. At Markel Ventures their mission is to build a group of durable businesses dedicated to providing high-quality products and services to their customers. They seek to be a market leader in each of their pursuits, and with the support of permanent capital, they are steadfastly committed to the long-term success of their companies, employees, and communities. As part of Markel Corporation, they embrace the Markel Style, recognizing that honesty, fairness, talent, and integrity are the keys to their successes. Their companies provide good work environments where personal safety and professional development are of the highest concern. They promote an atmosphere in which their people are encouraged to utilize self-determination, communication, and teamwork to reach their long-term personal potential. They are privileged to have strong relationships with each of their global and domestic customers. Collectively, they present a unique variety of needs, providing us with the opportunity for innovation and challenging their businesses to improve and grow beyond the competition. Above all, they enjoy what they are doing. They maintain a strong focus on culture which enables us to continue the oldest tradition of Markel…winning. Markel Ventures is a subsidiary of Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL), a diverse financial holding company. Markel’s core business underwrites and markets specialty insurance products across a variety of niche markets. In each of these markets, the Company seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. Markel Ventures extends Markel’s niche focus by acquiring market-leading companies outside the insurance sector. Acquisitions are one of the core strengths of Markel Ventures. Their goal is to “buy, build, and hold.” A subsequent sale or exit is not part of their business' model. Their companies are financed with permanent capital using little or no debt, providing management maximum operating flexibility. They are constantly pursuing new opportunities to grow their business whether through new business platforms or strategic add-ons for their existing companies. In evaluating each of these opportunities, they follow the same four-part checklist that Markel has used for the last two decades, whether investing in privately-held companies or publicly-traded securities.