Markel And Alterra Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Acquisition

Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL) ("Markel") and Alterra Capital Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: ALTE; BSX: ALTE.BH) (“Alterra”) today announced that their respective shareholders have voted in favor of all proposals necessary for the acquisition of Alterra by Markel. Completion of the transaction remains subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2013.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, each Alterra common share (other than any shares as to which appraisal rights are exercised or restricted shares that do not vest in connection with the transaction) is converted into the right to receive 0.04315 Markel common shares (with cash paid for fractional shares), plus a cash payment of $10.

Additional information about the acquisition, including the December 19, 2012 announcement press release and a related investor presentation, is posted on the websites of Markel and Alterra at www.markelcorp.com and www.alterracap.com, respectively.

About Markel Corporation:

Markel Corporation is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The Company's principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. In each of the Company's businesses, it 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 and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. Visit Markel Corporation on the web at www.markelcorp.com.

About Alterra Capital Holdings Limited:

Alterra Capital Holdings Limited is a global enterprise dedicated to providing diversified specialty insurance and reinsurance products to corporations, public entities, and property and casualty insurers. Visit Alterra on the web at www.alterracap.com.

INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release includes statements about future economic performance, finances, expectations, plans and prospects of Alterra and Markel, both individually and on a combined basis, that are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by such statements. For further information regarding factors affecting future results of Alterra and Markel, please refer to their respective Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by Alterra and Markel since March 1, 2012 with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”). These documents are also available free of charge, in the case of Alterra, by directing a request to Alterra through Joe Roberts, Chief Financial Officer, or Susan Spivak Bernstein, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations, at 441-295-8800 and, in the case of Markel, by directing a request to Bruce Kay, Investor Relations, at 804-747-0136. Neither Alterra nor Markel undertakes any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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