Markel Corporation has completed its acquisition of Alterra Capital Holdings Limited. Alterra, a reinsurer, was backed by Stone Point Capital.

CIVC Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on investments in the financial services and business services sectors, has sold GWC Warranty Corporation to Stone Point Capital. Headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, PA, GWC is a marketer, administrator, and underwriter of vehicle service contracts sold through automobile dealers.

CPPIB Credit Investments Inc., a subsidiary of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, has joined Stone Point Capital and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. as an investor in MerchCap Solutions LLC, the firms announced Thursday. Formed in August of 2012, MerchCap provides principal and agency-based capital markets services to sponsor-backed and corporate mid-market companies. In addition to the $300 million of capital previously committed by Stone Point and KKR, CPPIB Credit will commit an additional $50 million of equity to MCS.

Insurance deals may have provided some welcome M&A relief this year, but the same can’t be said for financial services transactions as a whole. This year, private equity investment in financial services plunged by nearly 47% in terms of deal value.

Markel Corp. said Wednesday that it has agreed to buy Alterra Capital Holdings for about $3.13 billion. Each Alterra common share will be converted into the right to receive 0.04315 Markel common shares plus $10 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2013. Markel will end up owning 69% of the combined company wile Alterra will have about 31%. Alterra, a reinsurer, is backed by Stone Point Capital. Citigroup advised Markel while BofA Merrill Lynch provided financial advice to Alterra.

Alterra Capital Holdings, which is backed by Stone Point Capital, said it has increased the total capital committed to New Point V to $247 million. Previously, Alterra had commited $210 million to the sidecar. New Point V also has funding from Stone Point, the manager of Trident Funds.

It’s been a week since Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast and damages could reach as much as $50 billion, according to the New York Times. Losses due to Sandy are still being worked out. If they are $10 billion or less, primary insurers, like Chubb or Allstate or State Farm, will likely pay the brunt of claims, PE sources say. As damages increase, payment will “disproportionately” fall on reinsurers.

Pierpont Securities Holdings, which is backed by Stone Point Capital and General Atlantic, has closed its buy of Cortview Capital Holdings after receiving FINRA approval. The two companies will continue to operate as separate broker-dealers until first quarter when the two firms will combine into a single entity called Pierpont Securities. Cortview, a Richmond, Va.-based broker-dealer, was launched in 2010 with a $125 million investment from Warburg Pincus.

Stone Point Capital and KKR have formed a partnership to establish a new company, KKR – SPC Merchant Advisors LLC. The newly formed company will provide principal and agency-based capital markets services to mid-market and sponsor-backed companies as well as make certain principal investments to support client needs. PRESS RELEASE Stone Point Capital (“Stone Point”), [...]

Alterra Capital Holdings, which is backed by Stone Point Capital, has formed another sidecar. New Point V, which also has funding from Stone Point, has raised about $210 million to invest in the property catastrophe collateralized reinsurance marketplace. Stone Point is the manager of Trident Funds. PRESS RELEASE Alterra Capital Holdings Limited (“Alterra”) (NASDAQ: ALTE; [...]