Markel UK, the retail division of Markel International, announces today the opening of a new regional underwriting branch in Cambridge. The new office will manage Markel's retail business in the Eastern counties.

The Cambridge branch will service supporting brokers previously managed by the Birmingham and Reigate offices, in the counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Suffolk. Markel UK will write Speciality Commercial risks and Professional and Management risks from the Cambridge office.

The manager of Markel UK's new office will be Joe Considine, who has 25 years insurance experience in organisations such as Lombard General Insurance and MIA General Insurance.

Steve Carroll, Managing Director of Markel UK, commented: "The opening of this new office is an exciting step forward for us, and represents our commitment to growth. The Cambridge branch will help Markel UK continue to provide excellent service to our regional broker network. I believe it will also prove an excellent addition to the Cambridge business community."

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For further information:

Derah McCall 
Markel International
020 7953 6732

Notes to editors:

1.                  Markel International Limited is a specialty property and casualty insurer. Based in London and comprising the international operations of Markel Corporation, it wrote gross premiums in 2004 of $ 746 million. It has five operating divisions writing business either through Markel Syndicate 3000 or through Markel International Insurance Company Limited.

2.                  Markel Corporation markets and underwrites specialty insurance products and programs for 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.  The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value.