NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) June 27, 2012--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it assigned an unsolicited 'BBB' senior unsecured debt rating to Markel Corp.'s proposed $350 million senior unsecured notes due July 2022. Markel will use the proceeds of the issuance specifically to refinance its upcoming 6.8% $246.7 million senior notes that mature in February 2013, for general corporate purposes, and partially to redeem its 7.5% 2046 senior debentures that are callable by the company at any time. On a first-quarter 2012 pro-forma basis (including the underlying $350 million debt issuance), we expect Markel's debt-to-capital ratio to be 31% and to decline modestly to 30% by Dec. 31, 2012. Based on the pro-forma 12 months ended first-quarter
