Markel Corporation operates in the Fire, marine, and casualty insurance sector. Markel Corporation markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs. The Company operates in three segments: the Excess and Surplus Lines, the Specialty Admitted and the London markets. The Company's Excess and Surplus Lines segment writes property and casualty insurance outside of the standard market for hard-to-place risks, including catastrophe-exposed property, professional liability, products liability, general liability, commercial umbrella and other coverages tailored for exposures. Its Specialty Admitted segment writes risks that must remain with an admitted insurance company for marketing and regulatory reasons. The Company's London Insurance Market segment writes specialty property, casualty, professional liability, equine and marine insurance and reinsurance. In October 2011, the Company's subsidiary Markel Ventures, acquired majority interest in WI Holdings Inc. (Weldship). In December 2011, the Company acquired Thompson Insurance Enterprises, LLC. In our complete report available for purchase the company is compared to: Onebeacon Insurance Group Ltd, HCC Insurance Holdings Inc and Validus Holdings, Limited.