As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2024

Registration No. 333-   

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

MARKEL GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Virginia   54-1959284

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6148

(804) 747-0136

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Richard R. Grinnan

Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Markel Group Inc.

4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6148

(804) 747-0136

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement, as determined by the Registrant.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 


PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

MARKEL GROUP INC.

Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units

 

 

From time to time, we may offer and sell:

 

   

common shares;

 

   

preferred shares;

 

   

depositary shares;

 

   

debt securities;

 

   

warrants;

 

   

share purchase contracts; and

 

   

share purchase units.

We will file prospectus supplements and may provide other offering materials that furnish specific terms of the securities to be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the securities will include the initial offering price, aggregate amount of the offering, listing on any securities exchange or quotation system, investment considerations and the agents, dealers or underwriters, if any, to be used in connection with the sale of the securities. You should read this prospectus and any supplement or other offering materials carefully before you invest.

Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MKL.”

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. For a description of these risks, see “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is February 23, 2024.


MARKEL GROUP INC.

General

Markel Group Inc. (Markel Group) is a holding company comprised of a diverse family of businesses and investments. The leadership teams of our businesses operate with a high degree of independence, while at the same time living the values that we call the Markel Style. Our specialty insurance business, Markel, sits at the core of our company. Through decades of sound underwriting, Markel has provided the capital base from which we built a system of businesses and investments that collectively increase Markel Group’s durability and adaptability. We aspire to build one of the world’s great companies by creating win-win-win outcomes for our customers, associates and shareholders. We deploy three financial engines in pursuit of this goal.

Insurance—markets and underwrites specialty insurance products using our underwriting, fronting and insurance-linked securities platforms that enable us to best match risk and capital

Investments—invests premiums received by our underwriting operations and any available earnings provided by our operating businesses in fixed maturity and equity securities

Markel Ventures—owns controlling interests in a diverse portfolio of businesses that operate in a variety of industries

Our three interdependent engines form a system that provides diverse income streams, access to a wide range of investment opportunities and the ability to efficiently move capital to the best ideas across our three engines.

We are a Virginia corporation headquartered at 4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-6148, telephone number (804) 747-0136.

We use the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “Markel Group” to refer to Markel Group Inc. in this prospectus.

Safe Harbor and Cautionary Statements

This prospectus contains or incorporates by reference statements concerning or incorporating our expectations, assumptions, plans, objectives, future financial or operating performance and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “predict,” “project” and similar expressions as they relate to us or our management. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from predicted results in forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ from those predicted will be discussed in our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K incorporated by reference herein and in any prospectus supplement and other offering materials.

By making forward-looking statements, we do not intend to become obligated to publicly update or revise any such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or other changes. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as at their dates.

 

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Risk Factors

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. We have identified a number of these risks under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as in other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. You should carefully consider, among other matters, the discussions of risks that we have incorporated by reference before deciding whether an investment in our securities is suitable for you. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group” and “Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.”

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, repayment of debt, additions to working capital, capital expenditures, investments in subsidiaries and third parties and the repurchase, redemption or retirement of securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a description of our capital stock and related provisions of our articles of incorporation and our bylaws and applicable Virginia law. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and should be read together with, our articles of incorporation, our bylaws and the applicable provisions of Virginia law. Our articles of incorporation and our bylaws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group” and “Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.”

Our authorized capital consists of 50,000,000 common shares, no par value, and 10,000,000 preferred shares, no par value.

Common Shares

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MKL.”

Each holder of our common shares is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders. Cumulative voting in the election of directors is not permitted. As a result, the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares have the power to elect all directors. The quorum required at a shareholders’ meeting for consideration of any matter is a majority of the shares entitled to vote on that matter, represented in person or by proxy. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting on the matter at the meeting generally is required for shareholder approval. However, approval is required by the affirmative vote of more than two-thirds of all shares entitled to vote, whether or not represented at the meeting, in the case of major corporate actions, such as:

 

   

a merger;

 

   

a share exchange;

 

   

the dissolution of Markel Group;

 

   

an amendment to our articles of incorporation; or

 

   

the sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

These provisions, together with our ability to issue preferred shares with disproportionately high voting power could be used in, or have the effect of, preventing or deterring a party from gaining control of Markel Group, whether or not beneficial to public shareholders, and could discourage tactics that involve an actual or threatened change of control of Markel Group.

Subject to the rights of any holders of our preferred shares, the holders of common shares are entitled to receive dividends when, as, and if declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose and, in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Markel Group, to share ratably in all assets remaining after the payment of liabilities. There are no preemptive or other subscription rights, conversion rights, or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to common shares. All common shares outstanding upon the consummation of any offering will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Our transfer agent and registrar for common shares is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

Voting Rights with Respect to Extraordinary Corporate Transactions

Under Virginia law, a corporation may sell, lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of all, or substantially all, of its property, other than in the usual and regular course of business, if the proposed transaction is approved by more than two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on that matter. A merger or share exchange plan must be approved by each voting group entitled to vote separately on

 

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the plan by more than two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the plan by that voting group. The articles of incorporation may provide for a greater or lesser vote, but not less than a majority of all the votes cast on the transaction by each voting group entitled to vote on the transaction. Our articles of incorporation do not provide for a greater or lesser vote.

Anti-takeover Statutes

Virginia law, except as to companies that elect not to be covered, prohibits the following transactions between a Virginia corporation and any “interested shareholder,” as defined below:

 

   

mergers and statutory share exchanges;

 

   

material dispositions of corporate assets not in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

any dissolution of the corporation proposed by or on behalf of an interested shareholder; or

 

   

any reclassification, including a reverse stock split, recapitalization or merger of the corporation with its subsidiaries that increases the percentage of voting shares beneficially owned by an interested shareholder by more than 5%.

An interested shareholder of a corporation is, among others, a person who is, or an affiliate or associate of the corporation who was within three years of the transaction, a beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation unless a majority of disinterested directors approved the acquisition of shares making a person an interested shareholder. Unless the affiliated transaction comes within an applicable exemption, an affiliated transaction in the three years after a person becomes an interested shareholder must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors and by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the voting shares other than shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder. After three years, an affiliated transaction must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the voting shares other than shares beneficially owned by the interested shareholder, unless the affiliated transaction is approved by a majority of the disinterested directors or meets “fair price” criteria. We have not made an election not to be covered by these provisions of the Virginia law.

Under Virginia law, voting rights for “control shares” must be approved by a corporation’s shareholders, not including the shares held by the acquiring person, unless at the time of any control share acquisition the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the corporation provide that this provision does not apply to acquisitions of its shares. “Control shares” are shares whose acquisition entitles the acquiror to between 1/5 and 1/3, between 1/3 and 1/2, or greater than 1/2 of a corporation’s voting power. If a shareholder has acquired control shares with a majority of all voting power and these shares have been given voting rights, all other shareholders have dissenters’ rights. Virginia law exempts from these provisions acquisitions where the corporation is a party to the governing agreement. We have not made any election not to be governed by these provisions of Virginia law. Our board of directors can elect not to be governed by these provisions at any time before four days after receipt of a control share acquisition notice.

Insurance Holding Company Regulations on Change of Control

We are regulated as an insurance holding company and are subject to state and foreign laws that restrict the ability of any person to obtain control of an insurance holding company without prior regulatory approval. Without this approval or an exemption, no person may acquire, or seek to acquire, any voting security of an insurance holding company that controls an insurance subsidiary, or merge with the holding company if, as a result, the person would obtain control of the holding company. “Control” is generally defined as the direct or indirect power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person and is usually presumed to exist if a person directly or indirectly owns or controls 10% or more of the voting securities of another person.

 

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Directors’ Duties

Under Virginia law, directors must discharge their duties in accordance with their good faith business judgment of the best interests of the corporation. Directors may rely on the advice or acts of others, including officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and board committees, if they have a good faith belief in their competence. Directors’ actions are not subject to a reasonable or prudent person standard. Virginia’s federal and state courts have focused on the process involved with directors’ decision-making and are generally supportive of directors if they have based their decision on an informed process. These elements of Virginia law could make it more difficult to take over a Virginia corporation than corporations in other states.

Advance Notice of Shareholder Business and Nominations

Our bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to make a proposal or nominate a director at an annual meeting of shareholders (other than a proposal or nomination of a director to be included in our proxy materials pursuant to our “proxy access” bylaw) must give notice in writing of the proposal or nomination to our Secretary, by registered or certified United States mail, at our principal executive offices, not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, unless the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, in which case notice must be given not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the 10th day following the date on which we first publicly announce the date of such meeting, whichever is later. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements for the notice. These provisions may preclude shareholders from making a proposal or nominating a director at an annual meeting of shareholders.

Proxy Access for Board of Director Nominations

Our bylaws provide shareholders with “proxy access,” which permits a shareholder (or a group of up to 20 shareholders) holding at least 3% of our outstanding common shares continuously for at least three years to nominate and include director nominees (up to the greater of two individuals or 20% of the number of directors in office as of the last day on which notice of such nomination(s) may be given) in our proxy materials. Any eligible shareholder, or group of shareholders, wishing to nominate and include director nominees in our proxy materials must give notice in writing of the proposed nomination(s), along with certain nomination materials, to our Secretary, by registered or certified United States mail, at our principal executive offices, not later than the close of business on 120th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 150th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding mailing date for the notice of annual meeting of shareholders. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements for the notice, nominee(s) and accompanying nomination materials. These provisions may preclude certain shareholders from nominating director nominees, or certain director nominees from being properly nominated, in each case pursuant to our proxy access provisions.

Preferred Shares

Our preferred shares are issuable in one or more series from time to time at the direction of the board of directors. The board of directors is authorized, with respect to each series, to fix its:

 

   

designation;

 

   

relative rights, including voting, dividend, conversion, sinking fund and redemption rights;

 

   

preferences, including with respect to dividends and on liquidation; and

 

   

limitations.

 

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The board of directors, without shareholder approval, can issue preferred shares with voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common shares. This right of issuance could be used as a method of preventing a party from gaining control of us. All preferred shares outstanding upon the consummation of any offering will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

In May 2020, we issued 600,000 6.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Series A preferred shares, with no par value and a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. Certain terms of the Series A preferred shares are described below and the full terms of the Series A preferred shares are set forth in Article IVA of our articles of incorporation.

The Series A preferred shares are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common shares or any other class or series of shares or other securities of Markel Group. The Series A preferred shares have no stated maturity and are not subject to any sinking fund, retirement fund or purchase fund or other obligation of us to redeem, repurchase or retire the Series A preferred shares.

We have the option to redeem the Series A preferred shares: (a) in whole but not in part, at any time, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “rating agency event,” at $1,020 per Series A preferred share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, (b) in whole but not in part, at any time, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “regulatory capital event” at $1,000 per Series A preferred share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends, or (c) in whole or in part, on June 1, 2025, or every fifth anniversary of that date, at $1,000 per Series A preferred share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends. A “rating agency event” means that any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that publishes a rating for Markel Group amends, clarifies or changes the criteria it uses to assign equity credit to securities like the Series A preferred shares, which results in shortening the length of time that the Series A preferred shares are assigned a particular level of equity credit or in the lowering of the equity credit assigned to the preferred shares. A “regulatory capital event” means that we become subject to capital adequacy supervision by a capital regulator and determines that, under such capital adequacy guidelines, the liquidation preference amount of the Series A preferred shares would not qualify as capital.

The Series A preferred shares rank senior to our common shares with respect to the payment of dividends and liquidation rights. Holders of the Series A preferred shares will be entitled to receive non-cumulative cash dividends, when, as and if declared by the board of directors, from the original issue date, semi-annually in arrears on the first day of June and December of each year. We accrue dividends when they are declared by the board of directors. To the extent declared, these dividends will accrue, on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, at a fixed annual rate of 6.00% from the original issue date to June 1, 2025. After June 1, 2025, the dividend rate will reset every five years and accrue at an annual rate equal to the five-year U.S. Treasury Rate as of two business days prior to the reset date, plus 5.662%. Dividends will not be cumulative and will not be mandatory. Accordingly, if dividends are not declared for any dividend period, then dividends for that dividend period will cease to accrue and will not be payable. If any Series A preferred shares remain outstanding for any dividend period, unless the full dividends for the latest completed dividend period on all outstanding Series A preferred shares have been paid, we may not (i) declare or pay a dividend on our common shares or (ii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for consideration any common shares, subject to certain exceptions.

Holders of the Series A preferred shares have no voting rights, except with respect to certain fundamental changes in the terms of the Series A preferred shares, in the case of certain dividend non-payments and as otherwise required by applicable law. If dividends on the Series A preferred shares are not declared and paid for three dividend periods, whether or not for consecutive dividend periods, holders of the outstanding Series A preferred shares will be entitled, subject to certain terms and limitations, to vote for the election of two additional directors.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may offer fractional preferred shares, rather than whole preferred shares. If we do, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred shares. The shares of any series of preferred shares represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us having its principal office in the United States, as preferred shares depositary. The form of deposit agreement, including the form of depositary receipt, will be established at the time of the offering of any depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be subject to all limitations and restrictions on, and entitled to all the rights and preferences of, the underlying preferred share (including, if applicable, dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights) in proportion to the applicable fraction of a preferred share represented by such depositary share. The particular terms of any offered depositary shares will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement related to such offering. If we offer depositary shares, we will file the deposit agreement and depositary receipt relating to the depositary shares as exhibits to, or incorporate them by reference in, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group” and “Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.”

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time. We will file prospectus supplements and may provide other offering materials that will describe the specific terms of offered debt securities.

We may issue debt securities either separately or together with, or upon the conversion of, or in exchange for, other securities. The debt securities are to be either senior obligations of ours issued in one or more series and referred to as “senior debt securities” or subordinated obligations of ours issued in one or more series and referred to as “subordinated debt securities.” The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are collectively referred to as “debt securities.” We will issue our senior debt securities under a senior indenture dated as of June 5, 2001 and our subordinated debt securities under a subordinated indenture to be entered later. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to collectively as the “indentures” and each individually as an “indenture.” Each indenture has been or will be entered into by us and an independent third party, known as a “trustee,” who is or will be legally obligated to carry out the terms of the indenture. The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under our senior indenture and will be the trustee under our subordinated debt indenture. The particular terms of the offered debt securities and the extent to which the general provisions described below may apply to the offered debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

We have summarized certain terms and provisions of the indentures. The summary is not complete. If we refer to particular provisions of the indentures, the provisions, including definitions of certain terms, are incorporated by reference as a part of this summary. The senior indenture and the form of subordinated indenture are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and are incorporated by reference. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group” and “Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.” The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. You should refer to the applicable indenture for the provisions that may be important to you.

The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are substantially identical, except for certain covenants of ours and provisions relating to subordination.

 

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General

The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, our senior debt securities will be our unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities will be our unsecured obligations, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all our senior indebtedness, including the senior debt securities, as described below under “Subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities” and in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including:

 

   

the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations;

 

   

the maturity date or method for determining the maturity date;

 

   

the interest rate, if any, and the method for calculating the interest rate;

 

   

the interest payment dates and the record dates for the interest payments;

 

   

any mandatory or optional redemption terms or prepayment, conversion, sinking fund or exchangeability or convertibility provisions;

 

   

the places where the principal and interest will be payable;

 

   

if other than denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000, the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities, as defined below, or certificates;

 

   

additional provisions, if any, relating to the defeasance and covenant defeasance of the debt securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be issuable in registered form, referred to as “registered securities,” or bearer form, referred to as “bearer securities,” or both and, if bearer securities are issuable, any restrictions applicable to the exchange of one form for another and the offer, sale and delivery of bearer securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if subordinated debt securities, the subordination provisions and the applicable definition of “senior indebtedness”;

 

   

any applicable material federal tax consequences;

 

   

the dates on which premium, if any, will be payable;

 

   

any listing on a securities exchange;

 

   

if convertible into our common shares or preferred shares, the terms on which the debt securities are convertible;

 

   

the terms, if any, of any guarantee of the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on debt securities of the series and any corresponding changes to the provisions of the indenture as currently in effect;

 

   

the terms, if any, of the transfer, mortgage, pledge, or assignment as security for the debt securities of the series of any properties, assets, money, proceeds, securities or other collateral, including whether certain provisions of the Trust Indenture Act are applicable, and any corresponding changes to provisions of the indenture as currently in effect;

 

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the initial public offering price; and

 

   

other specific terms, including covenants and any additions or changes to the events of default provided for with respect to the debt securities.

If the purchase price of any debt securities is payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars or if principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the debt securities is payable in any currency other than U.S. dollars, the specific terms and other information with respect to the debt securities and the foreign currency will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

Debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities, as defined in the indentures, to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Original issue discount securities may include “zero coupon” securities that do not pay any cash interest for the entire term of the securities. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Conditions under which payment of the principal of the subordinated debt securities may be accelerated will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Material federal income tax and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

Under the indentures, the terms of the debt securities of any series may differ and we, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, may reopen a previous series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

Covenants

Under the indentures, we will be required to:

 

   

pay the principal, interest and any premium on the debt securities when due;

 

   

maintain a place of payment;

 

   

deliver an officer’s certificate to the applicable trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year confirming our compliance with our obligations under the applicable indenture; and

 

   

deposit sufficient funds with any paying agent on or before the due date for any principal, interest or premium.

Any additional covenants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, each series of debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. We may also issue debt securities in bearer form only, or in both registered and bearer form. Bearer securities will not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with their original issuance in the United States or to any United States person other than to the offices located outside the United States of some United States financial institutions. Purchasers of bearer securities will be subject to certification procedures and may be affected by limitations under United States tax laws. These procedures and limitations will be described in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to the offering of the bearer securities.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, registered securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof, and bearer securities will be issued in denominations of $5,000.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, of or on the debt securities will be payable, and debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, at an office or agency of the trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, provided that payments of interest with respect to any registered security may be made at our option by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to payment or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses that may be imposed in connection with the exchange or transfer.

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on bearer securities will be made, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office or agency outside the United States as specified in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials and as we may designate from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, payment of interest due on bearer securities on any interest payment date will be made only against surrender of the coupon relating to the interest payment date. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, no payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to any bearer security will be made at any office or agency in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States, except that if amounts owing with respect to any bearer securities will be payable in U.S. dollars, payment may be made at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee or at any office or agency designated by us in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but only if payment of the full amount of the principal, premium or interest at all offices outside of the United States maintained for this purpose by us is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or similar restrictions.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we will not be required to:

 

   

issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of debt securities of that series of like tenor to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of that selection;

 

   

register the transfer of or exchange any registered security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered security being redeemed in part;

 

   

exchange any bearer security called for redemption, except to exchange the bearer security for a registered security of that series and like tenor that is simultaneously surrendered for redemption; or

 

   

issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the holder, except the portion, if any, of the debt security not to be so repaid.

 

11


Ranking of Debt Securities; Holding Company Structure

The senior debt securities will be our unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all our other unsubordinated indebtedness. The subordinated debt securities will be our obligations and will be subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future senior indebtedness, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the subordination provisions and set forth the definition of “senior indebtedness” applicable to the subordinated debt securities, and the approximate amount of the senior indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.

Because we are a holding company that conducts all of our operations through our subsidiaries, our ability to meet our obligations under the debt securities is dependent on the earnings and cash flows of those subsidiaries and the ability of those subsidiaries to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds to us. Payment of dividends or advances from our insurance subsidiaries may require prior regulatory notice or approval. Holders of debt securities will generally have a junior position to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including insureds, trade creditors, debtholders, secured creditors, taxing authorities, guarantee holders and any preferred shareholders.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a “depositary” identified in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to that series. Global debt securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities, a global debt security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

   

by the depositary to a nominee of the depositary;

 

   

by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

 

   

by the depositary or the nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of global debt securities and material limitations and restrictions relating to a series of global bearer securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

Redemption and Repurchase

The debt securities may be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, or may be subject to mandatory redemption through a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the redemption price together with interest as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials on notice given at least 20 days before the date of redemption. Senior and subordinated debt securities may be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders upon the terms, at the times and at the price together with interest set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

We must repay the senior and subordinated debt securities at the option of the holders before the stated maturity date only if specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. Unless otherwise provided, the senior and subordinated debt securities subject to repayment at the option of the holder will be subject to repayment:

 

   

on the specified repayment dates; and

 

   

at a repayment price equal to 100% of the unpaid principal amount to be repaid, together with unpaid interest accrued to the repayment date.

 

12


For any senior or subordinated debt security to be repaid, the trustee must receive, at its office maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York not more than 60 nor less than 30 calendar days before the date of repayment:

 

   

in the case of a certificated senior or subordinated debt security, the certificated senior or subordinated debt security and the form in the senior or subordinated debt security entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Repayment” duly completed; or

 

   

in the case of a book-entry senior or subordinated debt security, instructions to that effect from the beneficial owner to the securities depositary, forwarded by the securities depositary.

Exercise of the repayment option by the holder will be irrevocable.

Only the securities depositary may exercise the repayment option in respect of beneficial interests in book-entry senior or subordinated debt securities. Accordingly, beneficial owners who desire repayment in respect of all or any portion of their beneficial interests must instruct the participants through which they own their interests to direct the securities depositary to exercise the repayment option on their behalf. All instructions given to participants from beneficial owners relating to the option to elect repayment will be irrevocable. In addition, at the time the instructions are given, each beneficial owner will cause the participant through which it owns its interest to transfer its interest in the book-entry senior or subordinated debt securities, or the global certificate representing the related book-entry senior or subordinated debt securities, to the trustee on the securities depositary’s records.

Conversion and Exchange

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will set forth the terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares, preferred shares or other debt securities. The terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holders or at our option.

Absence of Limitation on Indebtedness and Liens; Absence of Event Risk Protection

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will specify any prohibitions on the amount of indebtedness, guarantees or other liabilities that may be incurred by us and any prohibitions on our ability to create or assume liens on our property. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement or other offering materials, the indentures will not require the maintenance of any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity, and will not contain provisions which would give holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their debt securities in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or change in control of Markel Group.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Each indenture generally permits a consolidation or merger, subject to specified limitations and conditions, between us and another corporation. They also permit the sale by us of all or substantially all of our property and assets. If this happens, the remaining or acquiring corporation must assume all of our responsibilities and liabilities under the indentures, including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the covenants in the indentures. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, we must also deliver an opinion of counsel to the applicable trustee affirming our compliance with all conditions in the applicable indenture relating to the transaction. When the conditions are satisfied, the successor will succeed to and be substituted for us under the applicable indenture, and we will be relieved of our obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under it.

 

13


Events of Default

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, an event of default with respect to any debt securities will include:

 

   

default for a period of 60 days in payment of any interest with respect to any debt security of that series;

 

   

default in payment of principal or any premium with respect to any debt security of that series when due upon maturity, redemption, repurchase at the option of the holder or otherwise;

 

   

default in deposit of any sinking fund payment when due with respect to any debt security of that series for a period of 60 days;

 

   

default by us in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant or warranty in the applicable indentures other than a covenant or warranty included solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that particular series, which continues for 90 days after notice to us by the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than a fixed percentage in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all series issued under the applicable indenture;

 

   

specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization on our part; or

 

   

any other event of default that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials, including, but not limited to, an event of default based on other debt being accelerated, or “cross-acceleration.”

An event of default with respect to any particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.

Each indenture provides that if an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities issued under the indenture has occurred and is continuing, either the relevant trustee or the holders of at least a fixed percentage in principal amount of the debt securities of the series then outstanding may declare the principal amount, or if any debt securities of the series are original issue discount securities, a specified lesser amount, of all of the debt securities of the series to be due and payable immediately. However, upon specified conditions, the declaration and its consequences may be rescinded and annulled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under the applicable indenture.

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will provide the terms under which an event of default will result in an acceleration of the payment of principal of subordinated debt securities.

In the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any subordinated debt securities of any series, the applicable trustee, subject to specified limitations and conditions, may institute a judicial proceeding for collection.

No holder of any of debt securities of any series issued under any indenture has any right to institute any proceeding with respect to that indenture or any remedy under that indenture, unless the holders of at least a fixed percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the applicable trustee to institute a proceeding as trustee, the applicable trustee has failed to institute a proceeding within 60 days after receipt of the notice and the applicable trustee has not within the 60-day period received directions inconsistent with the written request by holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series. These limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted

 

14


by a holder of a debt security for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or any accrued and unpaid interest on, the debt security on or after the respective due dates expressed in the debt security.

Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the duties of the applicable trustee, if an event of default occurs and is continuing, the applicable trustee is not under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless those holders have offered to the applicable trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to provisions concerning the rights of the applicable trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust, or power conferred on the applicable trustee with respect to that series.

The applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

We are required to furnish to the trustees annually a statement as to compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indentures.

Modification and Waivers

From time to time, we, when authorized by resolutions of our board of directors, and the applicable trustee, without the consent of the holders of debt securities of any series, may amend, waive or supplement the indentures and the debt securities of the series for specified purposes, including, among other things:

 

   

to cure ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies;

 

   

to provide for the assumption of our obligations to holders of the debt securities of the series in the case of a merger, consolidation, conveyance or transfer;

 

   

to add to our events of default or our covenants or to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the debt securities of that series;

 

   

to add or change any provisions of the indenture to facilitate the issuance of bearer securities;

 

   

to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series and any related coupons;

 

   

to secure the debt securities of that series;

 

   

to maintain the qualification of the indentures under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

   

to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder;

 

   

to appoint a successor trustee; or

 

   

to make provisions with respect to the conversion or exchange rights of holders.

Other amendments and modifications of the indentures or the related debt securities may be made by us and the applicable trustee with the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that would be affected, with each series voting as a separate class; provided that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security that would be affected:

 

   

reduce the principal amount of, or change the stated maturity of the principal of, or reduce the rate or modify the calculation of the rate of interest of the debt securities or any additional amounts, or any premium payable upon the redemption or repayment or otherwise, or change our obligation to pay additional amounts;

 

15


   

reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity, or the amount provable in bankruptcy;

 

   

adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of the debt securities;

 

   

change the place of payment, currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to debt securities are payable;

 

   

impair the right of any holder of the debt securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the debt securities or after the stated maturity, or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder of the debt securities, on or after the repayment date;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver of specified defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in the indentures;

 

   

reduce the requirements of quorum or voting under the indentures;

 

   

make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any of the debt securities for capital stock or other securities in accordance with its terms; or

 

   

modify the above provisions, except as permitted by the applicable indenture.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive compliance by us with specified restrictive provisions of the relevant indenture, including other restrictive covenants, if any, that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of debt securities of that series, waive any past default under the applicable indenture with respect to debt securities of that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any debt securities of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of a larger fixed percentage or by the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected.

Satisfaction; Discharge

Except as described in this section, we may discharge all of our obligations to holders of the debt securities issued under the indentures, which debt securities have not already been delivered to the applicable trustee for cancellation and which either have become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, by depositing with the applicable trustee an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due the principal, interest and premium, if any, on all outstanding debt securities. However, some of our obligations under the indentures will survive, including the following:

 

   

remaining rights to register the transfer, conversion, substitution or exchange of debt securities of the applicable series;

 

   

rights of holders to receive payments of principal of, and any interest on, the debt securities of the applicable series, and other rights, duties and obligations of the holders of debt securities with respect to any amounts deposited with the applicable trustee; and

 

   

the rights, obligations and immunities of the applicable trustee under the applicable indenture.

 

16


Defeasance

We will be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of any series at any time if we deposit with the applicable trustee sufficient cash or government securities or combination of cash and government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the debt securities of the series. If this happens, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable indenture, except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities.

Under federal income tax law as of the date of this prospectus, a discharge may be treated as an exchange of the related debt securities. Each holder might be required to recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the holder’s cost or other tax basis for the debt securities and the value of the holder’s interest in the trust. Holders might be required to include as income a different amount than would be includable without the discharge. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisers as to the consequences of a discharge, including the applicability and effect of tax laws other than the federal income tax law.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Regarding the Trustees

The Trust Indenture Act contains limitations on the rights of a trustee, should it become a creditor of ours, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on some property received by it in respect of those claims, as security or otherwise. Each trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us and our subsidiaries from time to time, provided that if that trustee acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate that conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default under the relevant indenture, or else resign.

The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under our senior indenture and will be the trustee under our subordinated indenture. We and certain of our affiliates maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon and its affiliates. Affiliates of The Bank of New York Mellon have purchased, and may purchase in the future, our securities and securities of our affiliates. The Bank of New York Mellon administers its corporate trust business at The Bank of New York Mellon, 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15262.

Subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities

Each series of subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the applicable indenture, to all senior indebtedness as defined below. If:

 

   

we make a payment or distribution of any of our assets to creditors upon our dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise;

 

   

a default beyond any grace period has occurred and is continuing with respect to the payment of principal, interest or any other monetary amounts due and payable on any senior indebtedness; or

 

   

the maturity of any senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default on that senior indebtedness;

 

 

17


then the holders of senior indebtedness generally will have the right to receive payment, in the case of the first instance, of all amounts due or to become due upon that senior indebtedness, and, in the case of the second and third instances, of all amounts due on that senior indebtedness, or we must make provision for those payments, before the holders of any subordinated debt securities have the right to receive any payments of principal or interest on their subordinated debt securities.

Senior indebtedness means, with respect to any series of subordinated debt securities, the principal, premium, interest and any other payment in respect of any of the following:

 

   

all of our indebtedness for borrowed or purchased money whether or not it is evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other written instruments;

 

   

our obligations for reimbursement under letters of credit, banker’s acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar facilities issued for our account;

 

   

capitalized lease obligations;

 

   

any of our other indebtedness or obligations with respect to derivative contracts, including commodity contracts, interest rate, commodity and currency swap agreements and other similar agreements or arrangements; and

 

   

all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the preceding categories which we have assumed or guaranteed.

Senior indebtedness will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions in the subordinated indenture irrespective of the amendment, modification or waiver of any term of the senior indebtedness. We may not amend the subordinated indenture to change the subordination of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of each holder of senior indebtedness that the amendment would adversely affect.

The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of senior indebtedness that we may issue.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common shares, preferred shares or debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred shares or common shares offered by any prospectus supplement or other offering materials and may be attached to or separate from any of the offered securities. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the number of common shares or preferred shares or principal amount of debt securities, as the case may be, at the exercise price and in the manner specified in the prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to those warrants. Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. If we offer warrants, we will file the warrant agreement relating to the offered warrants as an exhibit to, or incorporate it by reference in, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group” and “Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.” The prospectus supplement or other offering materials relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants.

 

18


DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of common shares at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as share purchase contracts. The price per common share and the number of common shares may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the share purchase contracts. The share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a share purchase contract and beneficial interests in debt securities, preferred shares, depositary shares or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase common shares under the share purchase contracts, which we refer to in this prospectus as share purchase units. The share purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the share purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis. The share purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under those contracts in a specified manner. If we offer share purchase contracts or share purchase units, we will file the agreements relating thereto as exhibits to, or incorporate them by reference in, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group” and “Incorporation of Information We File with the SEC.”

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe the terms of the share purchase contracts or share purchase units, including, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the share purchase contracts or share purchase units.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement and may provide other offering materials that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information About Markel Group.”

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement on Form S-3, including its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are only summaries. If SEC rules require that any agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should refer to that agreement or document for its complete contents. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any other offering materials is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document.

 

19


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MARKEL GROUP

We are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which requires us to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our file number with the SEC is 001-15811. Our SEC filings are available over the internet at the SEC’s home page at www.sec.gov. Our SEC filings are also available on our website, www.mklgroup.com. Our website also includes other information about us. The information available on our website (other than documents expressly incorporated by reference into this prospectus as set forth below) is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered a part of this prospectus.

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information and the information in the prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than any portions of the documents not deemed to be filed):

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023;

 

   

the description of our common shares contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, including any subsequent amendment or any report subsequently filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

   

all documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning Investor Relations, Markel Group Inc., 4521 Highwoods Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060, telephone: (804) 747-0136, or e-mail at IR@markel.com.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be passed on for us by McGuireWoods LLP. Underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, who we will identify in a prospectus supplement and other offering materials, may have their counsel pass upon certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered by this prospectus.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Markel Group Inc. and our subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

20


Part II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by the registrant.

 

Registration fee to the Securities and Exchange Commission

        *  

Printing expenses

        **  

Accounting fees and expenses

        **  

Legal fees and expenses

        **  

Transfer Agent, Registrar, Depositary and Trustee fees

        **  

New York Stock Exchange Listing fees

        **  

Rating Agency fees

        **  

Miscellaneous expenses

        **  
  

 

 

 

Total

        **  

 

*

To be deferred under Rule 456(b) and calculated in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement under Rule 457(r).

**

Because an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are not currently determinable.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Virginia law provides that, unless limited by its articles of incorporation, a corporation must indemnify a director or officer who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which the director or officer was a party because the director or officer is or was a director or officer of the corporation against expenses incurred by the director or officer in connection with the proceeding.

Virginia law permits a corporation to indemnify, after a determination has been made that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because the director has met the following standard of conduct, an individual made a party to a proceeding because the director is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if the director:

 

   

conducted himself or herself in good faith;

 

   

believed in the case of conduct in his or her official capacity with the corporation, that his or her conduct was in its best interests and in all other cases that his or her conduct was at least not opposed to its best interests; and

 

   

in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

A Virginia corporation, however, may not indemnify a director in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation or in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director, whether or not involving action in the director’s official capacity, in which the director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the director.

In addition, Virginia law permits a corporation to make any further indemnity, including indemnity with respect to a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation, and to make additional provision for advances and


reimbursement of expenses, to any director or officer that may be authorized by the articles of incorporation or any bylaw made by the shareholders or any resolution adopted by the shareholders, except an indemnity against the director or officer’s willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the criminal law.

Our articles of incorporation provide mandatory indemnification of directors and officers to the full extent permitted by Virginia law and for permissive indemnification of employees and agents to the same extent.

We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance which may provide indemnification, including indemnification against liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, to our directors and officers in certain circumstances.

Limitations on Director Liability

Virginia law provides that a director is not liable to the corporation, its shareholders, or any person asserting rights on behalf of the corporation or its shareholders for liabilities arising from a breach of, or failure to perform, any duty resulting solely from the director’s status as director, unless the person asserting liability proves that the breach or failure to perform was in violation of the director’s duty to discharge the director’s duties as a director, including the director’s duties as a member of a committee, in accordance with the director’s good faith business judgment of the best interests of the corporation, provided, that the director, unless the director has knowledge or information concerning the matter in question that makes reliance unwarranted, is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by:

 

   

one or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the director believes, in good faith, to be reliable and competent in the matters presented;

 

   

legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters the director believes, in good faith, are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or

 

   

a committee of the board of directors of which the director is not a member if the director believes, in good faith, that the committee merits confidence.

In addition, Virginia law provides that in any proceeding brought by or in the right of a corporation or brought by or on behalf of shareholders of the corporation, the damages assessed against a director or an officer arising out of a single transaction, occurrence or course of conduct shall not exceed the lesser of:

 

   

the monetary amount, including the elimination of liability, specified in the articles of incorporation or, if approved by the shareholders, in the bylaws; or

 

   

the greater of $100,000 or the amount of cash compensation received by the officer or director from the corporation during the twelve months immediately preceding the act or omission for which liability was imposed.

Our articles of incorporation provide for the elimination of liability of directors and officers in every instance permitted under Virginia law. The liability of a director or an officer is not limited if the director or officer engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing violation of the criminal law or of any federal or state securities law, including any claim of unlawful insider trading or manipulation of the market for any security.

 

II-2


Item 16.

Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
 

Description

  1.1   Form of underwriting agreement*
  3.1(a)   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC May 13, 2011)
  3.1(b)   Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC May 27, 2020)
  3.1(c)   Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC May 16, 2023)
  3.2   Bylaws, as amended and restated May  26, 2023 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC August 2, 2023)
  4.1   Indenture dated as of June  5, 2001, between Markel Group Inc. (formerly known as Markel Corporation) and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor to The Chase Manhattan Bank), as Trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2001)
  4.2   Form of Subordinated Indenture (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 in Amendment No.  1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on January 19, 2001 (Registration No. 333-52544))
  4.3   Form of articles of amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation determining the terms, including the preferences, rights and limitations, of preferred shares*
  4.4   Form of deposit agreement*
  4.5   Form of depositary receipt*
  4.6   Form of warrant agreement (including form of warrant certificate)*
  4.7   Form of share purchase contract*
  4.8   Form of share purchase unit*
  5.1   Opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, counsel to the Company with respect to the offered securities, filed herewith
 23.1   Consent of KPMG LLP, filed herewith
 23.2   Consent of McGuireWoods LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
 24.1   Powers of Attorney from directors and officers, filed herewith
 25.1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee for the Indenture dated as of June 5, 2001, filed herewith
 25.2   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon as trustee for the form of subordinated indenture, filed herewith
107   Filing Fee Table, filed herewith

 

*

To be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference from documents filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

II-3


Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

  (iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (A)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (B)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was a part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

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(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

In a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6)

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(8)

To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

II-5


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Markel Group Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the County of Henrico, State of Virginia, on February 23, 2024.

 

MARKEL GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ BRIAN J. COSTANZO

Name:   Brian J. Costanzo
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on February 23, 2024.

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ STEVEN A. MARKEL*

Steven A. Markel

   Chairman of the Board, Director

/s/ THOMAS S. GAYNER

Thomas S. Gayner

   Chief Executive Officer, Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ BRIAN J. COSTANZO

Brian J. Costanzo

   Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ MEADE P. GRANDIS

Meade P. Grandis

   Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ MARK M. BESCA*

Mark M. Besca

   Director

/s/ K. BRUCE CONNELL*

K. Bruce Connell

   Director

/s/ LAWRENCE A. CUNNINGHAM*

Lawrence A. Cunningham

   Director

/s/ GRETA J. HARRIS*

Greta J. Harris

   Director

/s/ MORGAN E. HOUSEL*

Morgan E. Housel

   Director

/s/ DIANE LEOPOLD*

Diane Leopold

   Director

/s/ ANTHONY F. MARKEL*

Anthony F. Markel

   Director

 

II-6


Signature

  

Title

/s/ HAROLD L. MORRISON, JR.*

Harold L. Morrison, Jr.

   Director

/s/ MICHAEL O’REILLY*

Michael O’Reilly

   Director

/s/ A. LYNNE PUCKETT*

A. Lynne Puckett

   Director

 

*By:  

/s/ RICHARD R. GRINNAN

Name:   Richard R. Grinnan
Title:   Attorney-in-Fact

 

II-7

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO      

February 23, 2024

Markel Group Inc.

4521 Highwoods Parkway

Glen Allen, Virginia 23060

Markel Group Inc.

Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Markel Group Inc., a Virginia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) being filed by the Company on the date of this opinion letter with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of an indeterminate amount of (i) the Company’s common shares, no par value per share (“Common Shares”), (ii) the Company’s preferred shares, no par value per share (“Preferred Shares”), (iii) depositary shares representing fractional interests in Preferred Shares (“Depositary Shares”), (iv) the Company’s debt securities (“Debt Securities”), (v) warrants to purchase Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Debt Securities (“Warrants”), (vi) share purchase contracts to purchase Common Shares (“Share Purchase Contracts”) and (vii) units consisting of a Share Purchase Contract and beneficial interests in Debt Securities, Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities (“Share Purchase Units”). The Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Share Purchase Contracts and Share Purchase Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 16 of Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

We understand that the Securities, which are described in the Registration Statement, will be issued as follows:

(a) Any Common Shares will be issued pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and any Preferred Shares will be issued pursuant to one or more Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.

(b) Any Depositary Shares will be issued pursuant to one or more deposit agreements to be entered into between the Company and a depositary to be named therein (each, a “Deposit Agreement”).

 

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(c) Any Debt Securities will be issued, in the case of senior Debt Securities, pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of June 5, 2001 (the “Senior Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to time by supplemental indentures (the “Senior Supplemental Indentures”), each to be entered into between the Company and the Trustee; or, in the case of subordinated Debt Securities, pursuant to an Indenture (the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, the “Base Indentures”) to be entered into at a future date between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, as amended and supplemented from time to time by supplemental indentures (the “Subordinated Supplemental Indentures” and, together with the Senior Supplemental Indentures, the “Supplemental Indentures” and each Base Indenture, as supplemented by any applicable Supplemental Indenture, an “Indenture,” and together, the “Indentures”), each to be entered into between the Company and such trustee.

(d) Any Warrants will be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent to be named therein.

(e) Any Share Purchase Contracts will be issued pursuant to one or more share purchase contract agreements (each, a “Share Purchase Contract Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the purchase contract agent to be named therein.

(f) Any Share Purchase Units will be issued pursuant to one or more unit purchase agreements (each, a “Unit Purchase Agreement”) to be entered into between the Company and the unit agent to be named therein.

As used herein, the Deposit Agreement, the Indentures, the Warrant Agreement, the Share Purchase Contract Agreement and the Unit Purchase Agreement are referred to collectively as the “Subject Documents.”

The Securities are to be issued in one or more series and will be offered and sold on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and any amendments or supplements thereto.

Documents Reviewed

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the following documents:

(a) the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto; and

(b) the Prospectus.

In addition, we have examined and relied upon the following:

(i) a certificate from the Company’s Corporate Secretary certifying as to (A) true and correct copies of the Articles of Incorporation and the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and restated (the “Organizational Documents”), and (B) the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors authorizing, among other things, the filing of the Registration Statement by the Company;

 

2


(ii) a certificate, dated February 23, 2024, issued by the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia (the “SCC”), attesting to the corporate status and good standing of the Company in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and

(iii) originals, or copies identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of such other records, documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion letter.

Applicable Law” means the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the law of the State of New York.

Assumptions Underlying Our Opinions

For all purposes of the opinions expressed herein, we have assumed, without independent investigation, the following:

(a) Factual Matters. To the extent that we have reviewed and relied upon (i) certificates of the Company or authorized representatives thereof, (ii) representations of the Company set forth in the Subject Documents (if any) and (iii) certificates and assurances from public officials, all of such certificates, representations and assurances are accurate with regard to factual matters and all official records (including filings with public authorities) are properly indexed and filed and are accurate and complete.

(b) Authentic and Conforming Documents. All documents submitted to us as originals are authentic, complete and accurate, and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic original documents.

(c) Signatures; Legal Capacity. The signatures of individuals who have signed or will sign the Subject Documents are genuine. All individuals who have signed or will sign the Subject Documents have the legal capacity to execute such Subject Documents.

(d) Organizational Status, Power and Authority of Certain Parties. All parties to the Subject Documents (other than any individual) (i) were or will be, as of the date the Subject Documents are executed and delivered, validly existing and in good standing in their respective jurisdictions of formation, except that no such assumption is made as to the Company as of the date hereof, and (ii) had or will have, as of the date the Subject Documents are executed and delivered, the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Subject Documents and the documents required or permitted to be delivered and performed thereunder, except that no such assumption is made as to the Company as of the date hereof.

(e) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of Subject Documents by Certain Parties. The Subject Documents and the documents required or permitted to be delivered thereunder were or will be, as of the date the Subject Documents are executed and delivered, duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company, business trust, partnership or other action on the part of the parties thereto and were or will be, as of the date the Subject Documents are executed and delivered, duly executed and delivered by such parties, except that no such assumptions are made as to the Company as of the date hereof.

 

3


(f) Subject Documents Binding on Certain Parties. The Subject Documents and the documents required or permitted to be delivered thereunder were or will be, as of the date the Subject Documents are executed and delivered, valid and binding obligations enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with their terms, except that no such assumption is made as to the Company as of the date hereof.

(g) Form and Governing Law of Certain Documents. Each Supplemental Indenture will be consistent with the form required by the applicable Base Indenture. Each other Subject Document, the form of which is or will be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, will be consistent with such form. Each Deposit Agreement, Supplemental Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Purchase Contract Agreement and Unit Purchase Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

(h) Noncontravention. Neither the issuance of the Securities by the Company or the execution and delivery of the Subject Documents by any party thereto nor the performance by such party of its obligations thereunder will conflict with or result in a breach of (i) the certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, certificate or articles of organization, operating agreement, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, trust agreement or other similar organizational documents of any such party, except that no such assumption is made as to the Company as to its Organizational Documents as of the date hereof, (ii) any law or regulation of any jurisdiction applicable to any such party, except that no such assumption is made as to the Company as to any Applicable Law as of the date hereof, or (iii) any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality or agency applicable to any such party or any agreement or instrument to which any such party may be a party or by which its properties are subject or bound, except that no such assumption is made as to the Company as to the Subject Documents as of the date hereof.

(i) Governmental Approvals. All consents, approvals and authorizations of, or filings with, all governmental authorities that are required as a condition to the issuance of the Securities by the Company or to the execution and delivery of the Subject Documents by the parties thereto or the performance by such parties of their obligations thereunder will have been obtained or made, except that no such assumption is made with respect to any consent, approval, authorization or filing that is applicable to the Company as of the date hereof.

(j) Registration; Trust Indenture Act. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act upon the filing thereof with the SEC and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded, and the Indentures shall be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

(k) No Mutual Mistake, Amendments, etc. There has not been, and will not be, as of the date the Subject Documents are executed and delivered, any mutual mistake of fact, fraud, duress or undue influence in connection with the issuance of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, Prospectus and any supplements to the Prospectus. There are and will be no oral or written statements or agreements that modify, amend or vary, or purport to modify, amend or vary, any of the terms of the Subject Documents, except for, in the case of the terms of the Base Indentures, any Supplemental Indentures thereto.

 

4


Our Opinions

Based on and subject to the foregoing and the exclusions, qualifications, limitations and other assumptions set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that:

1. Organizational Status. The Company is a validly existing corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and is in good standing under such laws.

2. Power and Authority. The Company has the corporate power and authority to issue the Securities.

3. Common Shares. With respect to any Common Shares, when (a) the Company’s Board of Directors, a duly constituted and acting committee thereof, or duly authorized officers of the Company (such Board of Directors, committee or authorized officers being hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve (“Authorizing Resolutions”) the issuance of the Common Shares from the then authorized number of Common Shares available therefor, (b) the terms for the issuance and sale of the Common Shares have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (c) such Common Shares have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, (e) such consideration per share is not less than the amount specified in the applicable Authorizing Resolutions and (f) certificates in the form required under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia representing such Common Shares are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, if such Common Shares are certificated, or book-entry notations in the form required under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia have been made in the share register of the Company, if such Common Shares are not represented by certificates, such Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

4. Preferred Shares. With respect to any Preferred Shares of any series, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of any series of Preferred Shares from the then authorized number of Preferred Shares available therefor, (b) the terms of such series of Preferred Shares and for their issuance and sale have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (c) such Preferred Shares have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, (e) such consideration per share is not less than the amount specified in the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (f) Articles of Amendment with respect to such series of Preferred Shares have been duly filed with the SCC and the SCC

 

5


has issued a Certificate of Amendment with respect thereto and (g) certificates in the form required under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia representing such Preferred Shares are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, if such Preferred Shares are certificated, or book-entry notations in the form required under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia have been made in the share register of the Company, if such Preferred Shares are not represented by certificates, such Preferred Shares of such series will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

5. Depositary Shares. With respect to any Depositary Shares, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of Depositary Shares from the then authorized number of Preferred Shares available therefor, (b) the terms of such Depositary Shares and for their issuance and sale have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (c) such Depositary Shares have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, (e) such consideration per share is not less than the amount specified in the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, and (f) such Depositary Shares, as evidenced by depositary receipts, have been authenticated or signed and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement against the deposit with the depositary of duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Shares underlying such Depositary Shares, such Depositary Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

6. Debt Securities. With respect to any Debt Securities to be issued by the Company, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of such Debt Securities, (b) the terms of such Debt Securities and for their issuance and sale have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions and the applicable Indenture, (c) such Debt Securities have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and (e) such Debt Securities have been authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture, such Debt Securities will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, under the laws of the State of New York.

7. Warrants. With respect to any Warrants, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Warrants, (b) the terms of such Warrants and for their issuance and sale have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (c) such Warrants have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration

 

6


Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and (e) such Warrants have been authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, under the laws of the State of New York.

8. Share Purchase Contracts. With respect to any Share Purchase Contracts, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Share Purchase Contracts, (b) the terms of such Share Purchase Contracts and for their issuance and sale have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (c) such Share Purchase Contracts have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and (e) such Share Purchase Contracts have been authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the Share Purchase Contract Agreement, such Share Purchase Contracts will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, under the laws of the State of New York.

9. Share Purchase Units. With respect to any Share Purchase Units, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of the Share Purchase Units, (b) the terms of such Share Purchase Units and for their issuance and sale have been established in conformity with the applicable Authorizing Resolutions, (c) such Share Purchase Units have been issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable supplement to such Prospectus, (d) the Company has received the consideration provided for in the applicable supplement to the Prospectus and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and (e) such Share Purchase Units have been authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the Unit Purchase Agreement, such Share Purchase Units will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, under the laws of the State of New York.

 

7


Matters Excluded from Our Opinions

We express no opinion with respect to the following matters:

(a) Indemnification and Change of Control. The enforceability of any agreement relating to (i) indemnification, contribution or exculpation from costs, expenses or other liabilities or (ii) changes in the organizational control or ownership of any party, which agreement (in the case of clause (i) or clause (ii)) is contrary to public policy or Applicable Law.

(b) Jurisdiction, Venue, etc. The enforceability of any agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of any specific federal or state court (other than the enforceability in a court of the State of New York of any such agreement to submit to the jurisdiction of a court of the State of New York, to waive any objection to the laying of the venue, to waive the defense of forum non conveniens in any action or proceeding referred to therein, to waive trial by jury, to effect service of process in any particular manner or to establish evidentiary standards, and any agreement regarding the choice of law governing any Subject Document (other than the enforceability in a court of the State of New York or in a federal court sitting in the State of New York and applying New York law to any such agreement that the laws of the State of New York shall govern)).

(c) Remedies. The enforceability of any provision in any Subject Document to the effect that rights or remedies are not exclusive, that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy, that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others or that failure to exercise or delay in exercising rights or remedies will not operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy.

Qualifications and Limitations Applicable to Our Opinions

The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and limitations:

(a) Applicable Law. Our opinions are limited to the Applicable Law, and we do not express any opinion concerning any other law.

(b) Bankruptcy. Our opinions are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including laws relating to preferences, fraudulent transfers and equitable subordination), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.

(c) Equitable Principles. Our opinions are subject to the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing. In applying such principles, a court, among other things, might limit the availability of specific equitable remedies (such as injunctive relief and the remedy of specific performance), might not allow a creditor to accelerate maturity of debt or exercise other remedies upon the occurrence of a default deemed immaterial or for non-credit reasons or might decline to order a debtor to perform covenants in a Subject Document.

(d) Unenforceability of Certain Provisions. Provisions contained in the Securities or the Subject Documents that require waivers or amendments to be made only in writing may be unenforceable or ineffective, in whole or in part. The inclusion of such provisions, however, does not render any of the Securities or the Subject Documents invalid as a whole.

 

8


(e) Choice of New York Law and Forum. To the extent that any of our opinions relate to the enforceability of the choice of New York law or any choice of New York forum provisions of any Subject Document, our opinion is rendered in reliance upon N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 5-1401 and 5-1402 and N.Y. CPLR 327(b) and is subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be limited by principles of public policy, comity and constitutionality. We express no opinion as to whether a United States federal court would have subject-matter or personal jurisdiction over a controversy arising under the Subject Documents.

(f) Currency Conversion. We advise you that, as of the date of this opinion letter, a judgment for money in an action based on a Debt Security or the Indentures denominated in a currency other than United States dollars in a federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be rendered or enforced in the United States only in United States dollars. The date and method used to determine the rate of conversion of a foreign currency into United States dollars will depend on various factors, including which court renders the judgment. We express no opinion as to whether a court would award a judgment in a currency other than United States dollars or the particular date or rate of exchange that would be used by such court in the entry of a judgment.

Miscellaneous

The foregoing opinions are being furnished only for the purpose referred to in the first paragraph of this opinion letter. Our opinions are based on statutes, regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations that are subject to change. We undertake no responsibility to update or supplement these opinions subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement. Headings in this opinion letter are intended for convenience of reference only and shall not affect its interpretation. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion of counsel into the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ McGuireWoods LLP

 

9

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the use of our reports dated February 23, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Markel Group Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, incorporated herein by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

Richmond, Virginia

February 23, 2024

Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned officers and directors of Markel Group Inc. (the Company) hereby appoint Thomas S. Gayner, Michael R. Heaton, Richard R. Grinnan and Brian J. Costanzo (each with full power to act alone), as their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, and grant unto each of them the authority in their name and on their behalf to execute and file (individually and in the capacity stated below) any documents relating to the registration by the Company of securities of the Company in connection with the Company’s filing of one or more Registration Statements on Form S-3 and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) or supplements thereto, with all exhibits and documents required to be filed in connection therewith. The undersigned further grants unto each of them full power and authority to perform each and every act necessary in order to accomplish the foregoing registration as fully as the undersigned might do.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has signed this power of attorney this 21st day of February, 2024.

 

/s/ Thomas S. Gayner

     

/s/ Greta J. Harris

Thomas S. Gayner, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
      Greta J. Harris, Director

/s/ Brian J. Costanzo

     

/s/ Morgan E. Housel

Brian J. Costanzo, Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

      Morgan E. Housel, Director

/s/ Meade P. Grandis

     

/s/ Diane Leopold

Meade P. Grandis, Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

      Diane Leopold, Director

/s/ Steven A. Markel

     

/s/ Anthony F. Markel

Steven A. Markel, Chairman of the Board and Director       Anthony F. Markel, Director

/s/ Mark M. Besca

     

/s/ Harold L. Morrison

Mark M. Besca, Director       Harold L. Morrison, Jr., Director

/s/ K. Bruce Connell

     

/s/ Michael O’Reilly

K. Bruce Connell, Director       Michael O’Reilly, Director

/s/ Lawrence A. Cunningham

     

/s/ A. Lynne Puckett

Lawrence A. Cunningham, Director       A. Lynne Puckett, Director

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)
240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y.   10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

MARKEL GROUP INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Virginia    54-1959284
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
   (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)

4521 Highwoods Parkway

Glen Allen, Virginia

   23060-6148
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip code)

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1.

General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

 

  (a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York    One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223
Federal Reserve Bank of New York    33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    550 17th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20429
The Clearing House Association L.L.C.    100 Broad Street
New York, N.Y. 10004

 

  (b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”).

 

  1.

A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735).

 

- 2 -


  4.

A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-261533).

 

  6.

The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229519).

 

  7.

A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 20th day of February, 2024.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Francine Kincaid

  Name: Francine Kincaid
  Title: Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2023, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     4,078,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     119,816,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     49,578,000  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     76,492,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     0  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     13,524,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     32,622,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     285,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     32,337,000  

Trading assets

     5,476,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     2,754,000  

Other real estate owned

     2,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     1,560,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     6,934,000  

Other assets

     19,978,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     332,529,000  
  

 

 

 


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     188,830,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     58,891,000  

Interest-bearing

     129,939,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     98,296,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     3,925,000  

Interest-bearing

     94,371,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     3,820,000  

Trading liabilities

     3,653,000  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     1,700,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     8,604,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     304,903,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     12,224,000  

Retained earnings

     17,672,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -3,405,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     27,626,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     27,626,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     332,529,000  
  

 

 

 


I, Dermot McDonogh, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Dermot McDonogh

Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

Robin A. Vince

Jeffrey A. Goldstein

Joseph J. Echevarria

          Directors

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

New York   13-5160382
(Jurisdiction of incorporation
if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)
240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y.   10286
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

MARKEL GROUP INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Virginia    54-1959284
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
   (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)

4521 Highwoods Parkway

Glen Allen, Virginia

   23060-6148
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip code)

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1.

General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

 

  (a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York    One State Street, New York, N.Y. 10004-1417, and Albany, N.Y. 12223
Federal Reserve Bank of New York    33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    550 17th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20429
The Clearing House Association L.L.C.    100 Broad Street
New York, N.Y. 10004

 

  (b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2.

Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16.

List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”).

 

  1.

A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735).

 

- 2 -


  4.

A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-261533).

 

  6.

The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-229519).

 

  7.

A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 20th day of February, 2024.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:  

/s/ Francine Kincaid

  Name: Francine Kincaid
  Title: Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 240 Greenwich Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business December 31, 2023, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     4,078,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     119,816,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     49,578,000  

Available-for-sale debt securities

     76,492,000  

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading

     0  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     13,524,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     32,622,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     285,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     32,337,000  

Trading assets

     5,476,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     2,754,000  

Other real estate owned

     2,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     1,560,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets

     6,934,000  

Other assets

     19,978,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     332,529,000  
  

 

 

 


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     188,830,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     58,891,000  

Interest-bearing

     129,939,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     98,296,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     3,925,000  

Interest-bearing

     94,371,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices

     0  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     3,820,000  

Trading liabilities

     3,653,000  

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     1,700,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0  

Other liabilities

     8,604,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     304,903,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     12,224,000  

Retained earnings

     17,672,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -3,405,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     27,626,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0  

Total equity capital

     27,626,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     332,529,000  
  

 

 

 


I, Dermot McDonogh, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Dermot McDonogh

Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

 

Robin A. Vince
Jeffrey A. Goldstein
Joseph J. Echevarria
          Directors

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-3

(Form Type)

Markel Group Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

                         
     Security
Type
  Security
Class
Title
 

Fee

Calculation

or Carry

Forward

Rule

  Amount
Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Share
  Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price
  Fee
Rate
 

Amount of

Registration
Fee

  Carry
Forward
Form
Type
  Carry
Forward
File
Number
  Carry
Forward
Initial
Effective
Date
  Filing Fee
Previously
Paid In
Connection
with Unsold
Securities to
be Carried
Forward
 
Newly Registered Securities
                         

Fees to Be

Paid

  Equity   Common Shares, no par value per share   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         
    Equity   Preferred Shares, no par value per share   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         
    Equity   Depositary Shares(3)   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         
    Debt   Debt Securities   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         
    Other   Warrants   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         
    Other   Share Purchase Contracts   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         
    Other   Share Purchase Units(4)   456(b) and 457(r)   (1)   (1)   (1)   (2)   (2)          
                         

Fees

Previously

Paid

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A          
 
Carry Forward Securities
                         

Carry

Forward

Securities

  N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A     N/A       N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A
               
Total Offering Amounts    N/A     N/A          
               
Total Fees Previously Paid        N/A          
               
Total Fee Offsets        N/A          
               
Net Fee Due            N/A                

 

(1)

An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices, along with an indeterminate number of securities that may be issued upon exercise, settlement, exchange or conversion of securities offered hereunder. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon exercise, settlement, exchange or conversion of other securities or that are issued in units.

(2)

In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. Any registration fee will be paid subsequently on a pay-as-you-go basis in accordance with Rule 457(r).

(3)

Each depositary share of the Registrant will be issued under a deposit agreement and will represent an interest in a fractional share of preferred stock of the Registrant and will be evidenced by a depositary receipt.

(4)

Each Share Purchase Unit will consist of (a) a Share Purchase Contract, under which the holder, upon settlement, will purchase an indeterminate number of Common Shares and (b) a beneficial interest in Debt Securities, Preferred Shares, Depositary Shares or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, purchased with the proceeds from the sale of the Share Purchase Units. Each beneficial interest will be pledged to secure the obligation of the holder to purchase the Common Shares. No separate consideration will be received for the Share Purchase Contracts or the related beneficial interest.


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