Validus DEF 14A Definitive proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )




Filed by the Registrant ý

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:

o		Preliminary Proxy Statement

o		Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

ý		Definitive Proxy Statement

o		Definitive Additional Materials

o		Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12



Validus Holdings, Ltd.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
ý	No fee required.
o	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
	(1)		Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
	(2)		Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
	(3)		Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
	(4)		Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
	(5)		Total fee paid:
o	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
o	Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
	(1	)	Amount Previously Paid:
	(2	)	Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
	(3	)	Filing Party:
	(4	)	Date Filed:

VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.

_______________________________________________________________________________

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES

TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2015

_______________________________________________________________________________

29 Richmond Road

Pembroke, HM 08

Bermuda

March 20, 2015

TO THE HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES OF VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of holders (the "Shareholders") of Common Shares of Validus Holdings, Ltd. (the "Company") will be held at the Company's offices located at 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke HM08, Bermuda, on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. local time for the following purposes:

1. To elect three Class II Directors to hold office until 2018;

2. To approve, by a non-binding advisory vote, the executive compensation payable to the Company's named executive officers;

3. To approve the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. to act as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2015;

4. To approve the amendment and restatement of the Company's 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") in order to make certain amendments to the Plan, including an increase in the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 1,850,000 shares; and

5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.

Only Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 13, 2015, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Annual General Meeting. For instructions on voting, please refer to the instructions on the Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials you received in the mail or, if you requested a hard copy of the Proxy Statement, on your enclosed proxy card.

PLEASE VOTE YOUR PROXY AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING. IF YOU LATER DESIRE TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY FOR ANY REASON, YOU MAY DO SO IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED PROXY STATEMENT. YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE PROXY CARD. IF NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, YOUR SHARES WILL BE VOTED CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTAINED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Lorraine Dean

Secretary

VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.

______________________________

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES

TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2015

______________________________

The accompanying proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Validus Holdings, Ltd. (the "Company") to be voted at the Annual General Meeting of holders (the "Shareholders") of the Company's common and restricted shares (the "Shares") to be held on May 7, 2015 and any adjournments thereof. Pursuant to rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Company has elected to provide access to its proxy materials over the Internet. Accordingly, the Company is mailing a Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") to Shareholders. The Notice, the Proxy Statement, the Notice of Annual General Meeting and the proxy card are first being made available to Shareholders on or about March 20, 2015. The Company has made available with this Proxy Statement the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Annual Report to Shareholders"), although the Annual Report to Shareholders should not be deemed to be part of this Proxy Statement. All Shareholders will have the ability to access the proxy materials on a website referred to in the Notice. Shareholders may also request to receive a printed set of the proxy materials. In addition, Shareholders may specify how they would prefer to receive proxy materials in the future, including receiving proxy materials by e-mail or in hard copy format. Choosing to receive your future proxy materials by e-mail will save the Company the cost of printing and mailing documents to you and will also reduce the impact on the environment. If you choose to receive future proxy materials by e-mail, you will receive an e-mail next year with instructions containing a link to those materials and a link to the proxy voting site. Your election to receive proxy materials by e-mail will remain in effect until you terminate it. Additionally, if you elect to receive future proxy materials in hard copy form by mail, this election will remain in effect until you terminate it.

When such proxy is properly executed and returned, the Shares of the Company it represents will be voted at the Annual General Meeting on the following:

(1) the election of the three nominees for Class II Directors identified herein;

(2) the approval, by a non-binding advisory vote, of the executive compensation payable to the Company's named executive officers as described in the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, summary compensation and other related tables;

(3) the approval of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. (the "Independent Auditor"), to act as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2015; and

(4) the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) in order to make certain amendments to the Plan, including an increase in the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 1,850,000 shares.

Any Shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it prior to its exercise by giving notice of such revocation to the General Counsel of the Company in writing at Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08, Bermuda, by attending and voting in person at the Annual General Meeting or by executing a subsequent proxy, provided that such action is taken in sufficient time to permit the necessary examination and tabulation of the subsequent proxy or revocation before the votes are taken.

Shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 13, 2015 will be entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting. As of March 13, 2015, there were 86,455,761 Shares outstanding. Each Share entitles the holder of record thereof to one vote at the Annual General Meeting; however, if, and for so long as, the Shares of a Shareholder, including any votes conferred by "controlled shares" (as defined below), would otherwise represent more than 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all Shares entitled to vote on a matter, the votes conferred by such Shares will be reduced by whatever amount is necessary such that, after giving effect to any such reduction (and any other reductions in voting power required by our Amended and Restated Bye-laws ("Bye-laws")), the votes conferred by such shares represent 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all Shares entitled to vote on such matter. "Controlled shares" include, among other things, all shares that a person is deemed to own directly, indirectly or constructively (within the meaning of Section 958 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("the Exchange Act")).

Other than the approval of the minutes of the 2014 Annual General Meeting, the Company knows of no specific matter to be brought before the Annual General Meeting that is not referred to in the Notice of Annual General Meeting. If any such

matter comes before the Annual General Meeting, including any Shareholder proposal properly made, the proxy holders will vote proxies in accordance with their judgment.

The election of each nominee for Director requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual General Meeting. The approval of the selection of the Independent Auditor referred to in Item 3 and the approval of the amendment and restatement of the Plan in Item 4 above requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on such proposal at the Annual General Meeting, provided there is a quorum (consisting of two or more Shareholders present in person and representing in person or by proxy in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the total issued Shares of the Company throughout the meeting). Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held by a broker which are represented at the Annual General Meeting but with respect to which such broker does not have discretionary authority to vote on a particular proposal) will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, but will not be considered present and voting with respect to the election of nominees for Director or other matters to be voted upon at the Annual General Meeting. Therefore, abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of the proposals presented at the Annual General Meeting.

Our principal executive offices are located at 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke HM08, Bermuda (telephone number: (441) 278-9000).

OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK BY

MANAGEMENT AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following table sets forth information as of March 13, 2015 regarding the beneficial ownership of our common shares by:


•	each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding common shares;


•	each of our directors;


•	each of our named executive officers; and


•	all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

The information provided in the table below with respect to each principal shareholder has been obtained from that shareholder.



Beneficial owner (1)(11)(15)		Common shares (14)	Shares subject to exercise of Warrants	Unvested restricted shares and shares subject to exercise of options	Total common shares and common share equivalents(10)	Total beneficial ownership (%)(2)		Fully diluted total beneficial ownership (%)(2)
Funds affiliated with or managed by The Vanguard Group	(3)	5,878,015	—	—	5,878,015	7.03	%	6.45	%
Funds affiliated with or managed by Boston Partners	(4)	5,849,346	—	—	5,849,346	7.00	%	6.41	%
Funds affiliated with or managed by LSV Asset Management	(5)	4,651,880	—	—	4,651,880	5.56	%	5.10	%
Edward J. Noonan	(6), (7)	1,254,392	29,039	135,524	1,418,955	1.53	%	1.56	%
Jeffrey D. Sangster	(6)	54,593	—	98,087	152,680	0.07	%	0.17	%
C. N. Rupert Atkin	(6)	388,469	—	107,989	496,458	0.46	%	0.54	%
Kean D. Driscoll	(6)	3,041	—	118,840	121,881	—	%	0.13	%
John J. Hendrickson	(6), (7)	33,993	—	77,559	111,552	0.04	%	0.12	%
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino	(7), (13)	295,805	—	—	295,805	0.35	%	0.32	%
Michael E.A. Carpenter	(7)	303,709	—	670	304,379	0.36	%	0.33	%
Matthew J. Grayson	(7), (12)	7,739	291,151	—	298,890	0.36	%	0.33	%
Jeffrey W. Greenberg	(7), (9)	—	2,766,107	—	2,766,107	3.20	%	3.03	%
Jean-Marie Nessi	(7)	2,691	—	—	2,691	—	%	—	%
Mandakini Puri	(7)	2,691	—	—	2,691	—	%	—	%
Dr. Therese M. Vaughan	(7)	2,691	—	—	2,691	—	%	—	%
Mahmoud Abdallah	(7)	2,691	—	—	2,691	—	%	—	%
Christopher E. Watson	(7), (8)	—	6,026	—	6,026	0.01	%	0.01	%
Directors and Executive Officers as a group (20 persons)		2,463,300	336,234	875,864	3,675,398	3.33	%	4.03	%
Shares held by other persons owning less than 5%		64,776,601	4,053,824	2,313,547	71,143,972	78.51	%	78.01	%
Total		83,619,142	4,390,058	3,189,411	91,198,611	100.00	%	100.00	%

To our knowledge, except as noted above, no person or entity is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the voting power of the Company's stock.

____________________________________


(1)	All holdings in this beneficial ownership table have been rounded to the nearest whole share.

(2)

The percentage of beneficial ownership for all holders has been rounded to the nearest 1/10th of a percentage. Total beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes common shares issuable within 60 days of March 13, 2015 upon the exercise of all options and warrants and other rights beneficially owned by the indicated person on that date. Fully diluted total beneficial ownership is based upon all common shares and all common shares subject to exercise of options and warrants outstanding at March 13, 2015. Under our Bye-laws, if, and for so long as, the common shares of a shareholder, including any votes conferred by "controlled shares" would otherwise represent more than 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all common shares entitled to vote on a matter, including an election of directors, the votes conferred by such shares will be reduced by whatever amount is necessary such that, after giving effect to any such reduction (and any other reductions in voting power required by our Bye-laws), the votes conferred by such shares represent 9.09% of the aggregate voting power of all common shares entitled to vote on such matter.


(3)	As set forth in Form 13G filed on February 11, 2015.


(4)	As set forth in Form 13G filed on February 12, 2015. Effective January 2014, Robeco Investment Management, Inc. adopted Boston Partners as a DBA designation reflecting the former name.


(5)	As set forth in Form 13G filed on February 12, 2015.


(6)	Unvested restricted shares held by our named executive officers accumulate dividends and may be voted. Unvested restricted shares held by our named executive officers are Mr. Noonan (135,524 shares), Mr. Sangster (80,694 shares), Mr. Atkin (107,989 shares), Mr. Driscoll (115,331 shares) and Mr. Hendrickson (77,559 shares).


(7)	See "Election of Directors" for biographies of the directors, including their relationships with certain beneficial owners of common shares listed in this table.


(8)	Does not include 2,756,088 warrants beneficially owned by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC and the funds it manages. Mr. Watson disclaims the existence of a group and beneficial ownership of the warrants owned by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC and the funds it manages.


(9)	Includes 2,756,088 warrants beneficially owned by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC and the funds it manages. Mr. Greenberg disclaims existence of a group and disclaims beneficial ownership of the warrants owned by entities affiliated with or managed by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC. Aquiline Capital Partners LLC has pledged 2,216,939 warrants to a commercial bank as collateral for a credit facility.


(10)	Total common shares and common share equivalents equal the sum of (i) common shares; (ii) unvested restricted shares; (iii) shares subject to the exercise of warrants; and (iv) shares subject to the exercise of options.


(11)	Except as otherwise provided in these footnotes, excludes shares as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed.


(12)	Mr. Grayson has pledged 290,135 warrants to a commercial bank as collateral for a revolving loan.


(13)	Does not include 459,298 shares beneficially owned by American Financial Group, Inc. ("AFG"), of which Mr. Consolino is an executive officer. Mr. Consolino disclaims the existence of a group and beneficial ownership of the warrants owned by AFG.


(14)	Does not include 2,836,619 unvested Restricted Shares.

(15)

The addresses of each beneficial owner are as follows: Funds affiliated with or managed by The Vanguard Group, 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19335; funds affiliated with or managed by Boston Partners, One Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108; and funds affiliated with LSV Asset Management, 155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL, 60606. The address of each other beneficial owner listed is c/o Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke HM08 Bermuda.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Company's Bye-laws provide that the Board of Directors (sometimes referred to herein as the "Board") shall consist of not less than nine nor more than 12 members as determined by resolution of the Board, divided into three classes, designated "Class I," "Class II" and "Class III," with each class consisting as nearly as possible of one-third of the total number of Directors constituting the entire Board of Directors.

The term of office for each Director in Class I expires at the 2017 Annual General Meeting; the term of office for each Director in Class II expires at the 2015 Annual General Meeting; and the term of office for each Director in Class III expires at the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Company. At each Annual General Meeting, the successors of the class of Directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the Annual General Meeting to be held in the third year of their election. In 2014, there were 4 meetings of the Board. All incumbent Directors attended at least 75% of such meetings and of the meetings held by all committees of the Board of which they were a member. All then incumbent directors attended the 2014 Annual General Meeting. The Company expects all of the Directors to attend the 2015 Annual General Meeting.

Board Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight

Edward J. Noonan is the Chairman of the Board and the Company's CEO. The Company believes that this unitary leadership structure provides, among other things, more effective leadership for a growth company. As such, the Company believes that under this structure the CEO is able to respond more quickly to market conditions. The importance of the ability to act swiftly and decisively is apparent in situations such as business development and the addition of business teams and talented professionals where decisions have to be made within a very short period of time. As the Company is still at a growth stage of life, unitary leadership helps to lower the costs of information transfer from the CEO to the Chairman and enhances swift decision making in such a dynamic environment. In addition to his broad experience as both an executive and Director/Chairman in the global insurance and reinsurance industries, the CEO also has specialized knowledge regarding the strategic challenges and opportunities facing the Company that is valuable to the Chairman's job. The Company believes, therefore, that it is appropriate for the CEO, the person most familiar with these challenges and strategies, to lead discussions with the Board. In addition, the Company's experienced outside and independent Board, two of whom represent a significant shareholder, also acts as a counter-balance to any potential over influence that this unitary leadership structure might present.

In order to further counter-balance this leadership structure, in connection with each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, the non-management Directors meet in executive session without any member of management in attendance. The Board considers annually the selection of a non-management Director to serve as presiding Director at executive sessions of non-management Directors. Mr. Greenberg is the non-management Director whom the Board has selected to preside over these sessions. In addition, the independent Directors meet as a group at least annually.

As noted below, the Board has established a separate Risk Committee that is governed by a charter which is updated and reviewed periodically by the Board. The Risk Committee is responsible for, among other things, approving the Company’s Enterprise Risk Management framework (the “Framework”), working with management to ensure ongoing, effective implementation of the Framework and reviewing the Company’s specific risk limits as defined in the Framework, including limits related to major categories of risk. The Company’s Chief Risk Officer prepares a quarterly presentation for the Risk Committee and communicates with the Chairman of the Risk Committee on an informal basis periodically throughout the year.

Independence Determination

The Board has adopted independence standards in accordance with the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act to assist it in making determinations as to whether Directors have any material relationships with the Company for purposes of determining such Directors' independence under the listing standards of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. These standards are available at the Company's website located at www.validusholdings.com. In accordance with these standards, in February of 2015, the Board of Directors determined that six of the eleven directors (Mahmoud Abdallah, Michael E.A. Carpenter, Matthew J. Grayson, Jean-Marie Nessi, Mandakini Puri and Dr. Therese M. Vaughan) are independent. In making such determination, the Board considered the matters described under "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions."

Website Access to Corporate Governance Documents

Copies of the charters for the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Finance Committee and the Risk Committee, as well as the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees, which applies to all of the Company's directors, officers and employees, and Code of Ethics for Senior Officers, which applies to the Company's principal executive officer, principal accounting officer and other persons holding a comparable position, are available free of charge on the

Company's website located at www.validusholdings.com or by writing to Investor Relations, Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08, Bermuda. The Company will post on its website any amendment to or waiver under the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees or the Code of Ethics for Senior Officers granted to any of its Directors or executive officers that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition set forth in Item 406 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Board Committees

The Board has established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, an Executive Committee, a Finance Committee, a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and a Risk Committee. Under the applicable requirements of the NYSE, each of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees consists exclusively of members who qualify as independent directors.

The following table details the composition of our Board committees:

Director Name

Audit

Compensation

Executive

Finance

Governance

Risk

Edward J. Noonan

John J. Hendrickson

Mahmoud Abdallah

Michael E.A. Carpenter

Chair

Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino

Matthew J. Grayson

Chair

Jeffrey W. Greenberg

Jean-Marie Nessi

Chair

Mandakini Puri

Chair

Dr. Therese M. Vaughan

Chair

Christopher E. Watson

Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee is currently composed of Michael E.A. Carpenter, Matthew J. Grayson, Jean-Marie Nessi and Dr. Therese M. Vaughan, and is chaired by Mr. Carpenter. The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the integrity of our financial statements and our system of internal controls, the independent auditors' qualifications, independence and performance, the performance of our internal audit function and our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee also prepares the report required to be included in this annual proxy statement. Each member of the Audit Committee is "independent" within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE. The duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee are set forth in the committee's charter. The Audit Committee met 4 times during 2014. The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act. The Board has determined that Mr. Carpenter is an "Audit Committee financial expert" (as that term is defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K).

Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee is composed of Michael E.A. Carpenter, Matthew J. Grayson and Mandakini Puri, and is chaired by Ms. Puri. The Compensation Committee assists the Board in matters relating to the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, executive officers and other matters of non-executive officer compensation that are subject to Board approval. The Compensation Committee also prepares the report on executive officer compensation required to be included in this annual proxy statement, in accordance with applicable rules and regulations. Each member of the Compensation Committee is "independent" within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE. The duties and responsibilities of the Compensation Committee are set forth in the committee's charter. The Compensation Committee met 4 times during 2014.

The Compensation Committee has evaluated certain risks associated with the Company's compensation policies and has concluded that the existing compensation policies align management with shareholders (i) through the direct relationship of the annual component of compensation to the Company's financial performance and (ii) by providing an incentive for management to consider the consequences of decision making on the long-term value of the Company's stock through long-term restricted shareholdings and performance based restricted share awards. Based on this evaluation, the Compensation Committee has affirmatively determined that the Company's compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is composed of Mahmoud Abdallah, Jean-Marie Nessi, Mandakini Puri and Dr. Therese M. Vaughan, and is chaired by Mr. Nessi. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assists the Board in (i) identifying individuals qualified to become

board members or members of the committees of the Board, and recommending individuals that the Board of Directors selects as director nominees to be considered for election at the next annual general meeting of Shareholders or to fill vacancies; (ii) developing and recommending to the Board appropriate corporate governance guidelines; and (iii) overseeing the evaluation of the Board, management and the Board committees and taking a leadership role in shaping the Company's corporate governance policies. Each member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is "independent" within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE. The duties and responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee are set forth in the committee's charter. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee met 4 times during 2014.

Identifying and Evaluating Nominees. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee is responsible for reviewing with the Board, on an annual basis, the skills and characteristics appropriate for new Board members as well as an assessment of the skills and characteristics of the Board as a whole. While there is no formal policy with respect to diversity of board members, when seeking a new member or evaluating the current membership, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee works with the Board to determine the appropriate characteristics, skills and experiences for the Board as a whole and its individual members. Characteristics expected of all directors include independence, integrity, high personal and professional ethics, sound business judgment, and the ability and willingness to commit sufficient time to the Board. In evaluating the suitability of individual Board members, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee takes into account many factors, including a candidate's experiences in and understanding of, the (re)insurance industry, corporate finance and investments as well as his or her business, educational and professional background. When the Board determines to seek a new member, whether to fill a vacancy or otherwise, the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee may employ third-party search firms and will consider recommendations from Board members, management and others, including Shareholders. The committee has recently undertaken a review of the current composition of the Board with the objective of increasing the percentage of independent directors.

Nominees Recommended by Shareholders. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will consider, for Director nominees, persons recommended by Shareholders, who may submit recommendations to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in care of the General Counsel at Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08, Bermuda. To be considered by the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, such recommendations must be accompanied by a description of the qualifications of the proposed candidate and a written statement from the proposed candidate to the effect that he or she is willing to be nominated and desires to serve if elected. Nominees for Director who are recommended by Shareholders to the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee will be evaluated in the same manner as any other nominee for Director.

Executive Committee. Our Executive Committee is composed of Edward J. Noonan, Matthew J. Grayson, Jeffrey W. Greenberg, and Mandakini Puri, and is chaired by Ms. Puri. The duties and responsibilities of the Executive Committee are set forth in the committee's charter. The Executive Committee exercises the power and authority of the Board when the entire Board is not available to meet. In furtherance of these purposes, the committee provides guidance and advice, as requested, to the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer regarding business strategy and long range business planning. The Executive Committee did not meet during 2014.

Finance Committee. Our Finance Committee is composed of Edward J. Noonan, Mahmoud Abdallah, Michael E.A. Carpenter, Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino and Matthew J. Grayson, and is chaired by Mr. Grayson. The duties and responsibilities of the Finance Committee are set forth in the committee's charter. The Finance Committee oversees the finance function of the Company, including the Company's capital position, the investment of funds and financing facilities. In furtherance of this purpose, the committee approves the appointment of the Company's investment managers, evaluates their performance and fees, and approves the investment policies and guidelines established by the Company. In addition, the committee approves the Company's strategic asset allocation plan, reviews the adequacy of existing financing facilities, monitors compliance with debt facility covenants and monitors the status of rating agency evaluations and discussions. The Finance Committee met 4 times during 2014.

Risk Committee. Our Risk Committee is composed of Edward J. Noonan, John J. Hendrickson, Mahmoud Abdallah, Michael E.A. Carpenter, Matthew J. Grayson, Jean-Marie Nessi, Dr. Therese M. Vaughan and Christopher E. Watson and is chaired by Ms. Vaughan. The duties and responsibilities of the Risk Committee are set forth in the committee's charter. The Risk Committee also oversees the underwriting function of the Company, including all aspects of risk and (re)insurance. The Risk Committee met 4 times during 2014.

Communications with Members of the Board of Directors

Shareholders and other interested parties may communicate directly with one or more Directors (including any presiding director or all non-management Directors as a group) by mail in care of the Company's Corporate Secretary, at Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08, Bermuda and specifying the intended recipient(s). All such

communications will be forwarded to the appropriate Director(s) for review, other than unsolicited commercial solicitations or communications.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the compensation paid by the Company to Directors for services rendered in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014:



Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash			Stock Awards				Total
Edward J. Noonan	$	—	(1)	$	—			$	—
Mahmoud Abdallah	124,000			50,000				174,000
Michael E.A. Carpenter	444,815		(2)	75,000				519,815
Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino	49,558			104,000		(3	)	153,558
Matthew J. Grayson	165,000			50,000				215,000
Jeffrey W. Greenberg	—			—				—
John J. Hendrickson	—		(1)	—				—
Jean-Marie Nessi	126,000			50,000				176,000
Mandakini Puri	138,000			50,000				188,000
Alok Singh	13,770		(4)	—				13,770
Therese M. Vaughan	130,000			50,000				180,000
Christopher E. Watson	—			—				—

____________________________________


(1)	Edward J. Noonan, the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer and John J. Hendrickson, Director of Strategy, Risk Management and Corporate Development, received no separate compensation for their service as Directors. The compensation received by Messrs. Noonan and Hendrickson as officers of the Company is shown in the Summary Compensation Table.


(2)	Mr. Carpenter received $166,534 in fees payable in connection with his service on the Company's Board, $258,447 in fees payable in connection with his service as Chairman of the Talbot board and $19,834 for his service as a director of Validus Risk Services (Ireland) Limited.


(3)	Includes 60% of Mr. Consolino's annual retainer fees paid in the form of shares.


(4)	Mr. Singh resigned from the Board on February 5, 2014.

Cash Compensation Paid to Non-Employee, Non-Founder Related Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2014, Messrs. Abdallah, Carpenter, Consolino, Grayson, and Nessi, Dr. Vaughan and Ms. Puri, our non-employee, non-founder related Directors, each received an annual retainer of $90,000 for serving as a Director and $2,500 for each Board meeting that such Director attended. In addition, such Directors each received a fee of $2,000 for each committee meeting that they attended. Mr. Grayson received additional annual retainer fees of $25,000 for chairing the audit committee during the first half of 2014 and $20,000 for chairing the Finance Committee. Mr. Carpenter received an annual retainer of $25,000 for chairing the Audit Committee during the second half of 2014. Mr. Nessi received an annual retainer of $10,000 for chairing the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Dr. Vaughan received an annual retainer of $10,000 for chairing the Risk Committee during the second half of 2014. Ms. Puri received an annual retainer of $20,000 for chairing the Compensation Committee and $10,000 for chairing the Executive Committee. Pursuant to our Director Stock Compensation Plan, Directors are able to elect to receive their annual retainers in the form of our common shares or to defer their annual retainers into share units (other than in the case where such a deferral would be subject to U.S. income tax). In addition, we reimburse each of our Directors for all reasonable expenses in connection with the attendance of meetings of our Board of Directors and any committees thereof.

Equity Based Compensation Paid to Non-Employee Directors

During the year ended December 31, 2014, each of our non-employee, non-founder related Directors received a fully vested stock award valued at $50,000.

We have a Director Stock Compensation Plan. Our Director Stock Compensation Plan is designed to attract, retain and motivate members and potential members of our Board of Directors. Under this plan, each Director may make an election in writing on or prior to each December 31 to receive his or her annual retainer fees payable in the following plan year in the form of shares instead of cash. The number of shares distributed in case of election under the plan is equal to the amount of the

annual retainer fee otherwise payable on such payment date divided by 100% of the fair market value of a share on such payment date.

This plan further provides that a Director who has elected to receive shares pursuant to the above may make an irrevocable election on or before the December 31 immediately preceding the beginning of a plan year to defer delivery of all or a designated percentage of the shares otherwise payable as his or her annual retainer for service as a Director for the plan year, provided that such deferral is not subject to U.S. income tax. All shares that a Director elects to defer will be credited in the form of share units to a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company in the name of the Director. Each such unit will represent the right to receive one share at the time determined pursuant to the terms of the plan.

During 2014, Mr. Consolino elected to receive 60% of his annual retainer fees in the form of shares instead of cash.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Our Compensation Committee is composed of Michael E.A. Carpenter, Matthew J. Grayson and Mandakini Puri. During the year ended December 31, 2014, none of our executive officers served as a member of the Compensation Committee or as a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on the Compensation Committee or as one of our directors.

During 2014, Mr. Carpenter's son was employed as a junior underwriter by Talbot Underwriting Services, Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company. Total compensation received by Mr. Carpenter's son during 2014 was $186,519.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Our compensation program is designed to motivate executives to maximize the creation of shareholder value, therefore aligning, as much as possible, our named executive officers' rewards with our shareholders' interests. Our compensation program is composed of three principal components:


•	Salary and benefits;


•	Annual incentive compensation (annual incentive award); and


•	Long-term incentive compensation typically in the form of time vested and/or performance based restricted shares.

Our compensation plans are intended to offer opportunities that are competitive with our peer group and consistent with the Company's relative performance over time. In addition, we want our rewards to accommodate the risk and cyclicality of our business. At the time the Company negotiated its employment agreements with the named executive officers, the Company undertook to implement a performance based compensation strategy. To that end, the Company's compensation package includes a fixed component consisting of salary and benefits and two variable components consisting of annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation. To better implement this strategy, a greater emphasis is placed on the variable elements that relate to performance and less of an emphasis is placed on the fixed elements of compensation that do not.

Our Chief Executive Officer makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee with respect to the compensation of our named executive officers other than himself. Our Compensation Committee reviews and, if appropriate, approves the compensation recommendation made for each of our named executive officers and determines the compensation for our Chief Executive Officer. In 2014, the annual incentive compensation for each of our named executive officers was primarily based on the results of the segment in which their respective services were rendered, Validus Re, AlphaCat, Talbot or Corporate. The compensation of the named executive officers is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below and their employment agreements are described under "Employment Agreements."

The Compensation Committee designs the Company's compensation plans to be competitive with its peers in order to attract and retain talented individuals. The Compensation Committee and the Board regularly perform a review of the Company's compensation practices relative to the Company's peer group. In addition, the Compensation Committee has in the past engaged consultants to provide market data and to assist it in determining appropriate types and levels of compensation. The companies included in the Company's current peer group are: Allied World Assurance Company Holdings, Ltd., Arch Capital Group Ltd., Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd., Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, Axis Capital Holdings Limited, Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., Everest Re Group, Ltd., Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd., PartnerRe Ltd., Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. and RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.

The following charts illustrate the fixed and at-risk composition of total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and our other Named Executive Officers for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Fixed Components of Compensation

Salary. Our base salaries reflect each executive's level of experience, responsibilities and expected future contributions to the success of the Company. The salaries of our named executive officers were set initially in their employment agreements, and are reviewed on an annual basis. The Company considers factors such as individual performance, cost of living, the competitive environment and existing cash compensation in determining whether salary adjustments are warranted. There is no specific weighting applied to any one factor. The base salaries of our named executive officers are set forth in the Summary Compensation Table below.

Benefits. The Company seeks to provide benefit plans, such as medical coverage and life and disability insurance, in line with applicable market conditions. These health and welfare plans help ensure that the Company has a productive and focused workforce through reliable and competitive health and other benefits. The named executive officers are eligible for the same benefit plans provided to all other employees. Mr. Atkin participates in Talbot's benefit plans.

The Company provides our named executive officers with other benefits that the Company and the Compensation Committee believe are reasonable and consistent with its overall compensation program to better enable the Company to attract and retain key employees. These benefits are specified in our named executive officers' employment agreements. Many of these benefits relate to those executives who reside and/or work in Bermuda and are typical of such benefits provided to expatriates in Bermuda. Examples of these benefits for Bermuda-based expatriates include housing and housing gross up allowances, car and education allowances, club memberships, tax preparation services and home leave for executives and their families for those executives working outside their home country. These benefits are described under "Summary Compensation Table" and "Employment Agreements" below.

Variable Components of Compensation

Annual Incentive Compensation. The Company has an annual incentive compensation program in which employees of the Validus Re, AlphaCat, Talbot and Corporate segments participate. The Company's 2014 annual incentive program was based 80% on Company financial performance and 20% on the achievement of strategic objectives as evaluated by the Compensation Committee. The strategic objectives for 2014 varied by segment and included: (i) with respect to the Corporate Segment: to continue to grow the Company's diluted book value per share plus dividends; and (ii) with respect to the Validus Re, AlphaCat and Talbot segments: (a) to continue to focus on short-tail and specialty classes of business and (b) to continue to develop a robust enterprise risk management program to comply with corporate objectives and regulatory requirements. As more fully described below, the financial performance-based portion of our annual incentive pool for all participating employees, including our named executive officers, is generated based on financial guidelines for Validus Re, AlphaCat, Talbot and Corporate segment employees approved by the Compensation Committee.

The target aggregate annual incentive bonus pool is determined through the aggregation of annual target bonuses for all of the employees eligible to receive an annual incentive award. Separate annual incentive pools based on cumulative employee target bonus amounts are established for each of our segments: Validus Re, AlphaCat, Talbot and Corporate. For executive officers, target annual incentive bonuses are determined at the time that such executive officers enter into employment agreements and these employment agreements, including target annual incentive bonus amounts, are approved by the Compensation Committee. Factors considered by the Compensation Committee in approving executive target annual incentive bonus amounts at the time that the Compensation Committee approves executive employment agreements include experience, the executive's perceived ability to contribute to growth in the Company's profitability, compensation available to the executive elsewhere in a competitive labor market and the executive's role within the Company. For employees other than executive officers, target annual incentive bonuses are set as a percentage of base salary, and can range from 0% to 150% of base salary. The aggregation of these amounts establishes the respective segment target bonus pools.

The Company's current year annual budget, including the target annual incentive bonus pool, is presented to the Board at the February board of directors meeting. At this time, the Compensation Committee takes no specific action with respect to the target bonus pool within the current year budget, as the primary focus of the Committee is approving the aggregate annual incentive pools for the prior calendar year as described below. After full year results of operations are known for the Company, at the February board of directors meeting following the end of each calendar year, the Compensation Committee approves specific aggregate annual incentive pool amounts to be paid for the most recently completed calendar year. These amounts are determined using the financial scale established at the previous May board of directors meeting (as more fully described below) to evaluate the Company's actual results, including underwriting income (defined as net premiums earned less losses and loss expenses, policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses excluding target annual incentive accrual and share-based compensation expense), combined ratio, net operating income, consolidated operating return on average equity and growth in diluted book value per share plus dividends against the most recently completed year's budget as approved by the Board. After considering the Company's performance relative to budget, management recommends to the Compensation Committee annual incentive pools which can range from a 20% minimum to a 150% maximum of the target annual incentive

pool based solely on the percentage achievement of budget as measured on the financial scale. For example, a hypothetical 85% scaled achievement of budget would result in a management recommendation to the Compensation Committee that the annual incentive pool be set at up to 85% of the target annual incentive pool. In this hypothetical example, the Compensation Committee would consider approving a total aggregate annual incentive bonus pool of up to 85% of the target annual incentive bonus pool, made up of 68% (equal to 80% of 85%) based on financial performance and up to 17% (equal to 20% of 85%) based on assessment of performance against strategic objectives. The Company's Chief Executive Officer reports to the Compensation Committee on his assessment of the contribution of the operating segments to Company-wide objectives and based on this assessment will recommend a bonus pool funding for each segment of between 70% and 100% of the amount otherwise indicated by the financial guidelines approved by the Compensation Committee.

The Company's Chief Executive Officer then presents to the Compensation Committee a schedule of recommendations for actual bonuses to be paid for executive officers that report to the Chief Executive Officer. In preparing these recommendations, the Chief Executive Officer considers: (i) each individual's contribution to the success and growth of his or her department and/or the Company as a whole; and (ii) a subjective assessment of the individual's contributions to the Company's goals, as determined following the end of the calendar year by the Chief Executive Officer. For executive officers, the recommendation made by the Chief Executive Officer can range from 0% to 150% of the executive's target annual incentive bonus. While a named executive officer's target annual incentive percentage is used as a guide, the Chief Executive Officer has the latitude to recommend (for the other named executive officers) and the Compensation Committee has the authority to re-deploy, annual incentive awards by individual based on the views of the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee of the individual's contribution to the success of the Company. The target annual incentive for each of our named executive officers is 150% of base salary, as specified in each named executive officer's employment agreement. For other employees, the recommendation is based on discussions between the Chief Executive Officer and the executive officer managing the applicable employee's department. In each case, the actual percentage funding of the annual incentive bonus pool is an important element of the bonus to be paid.

At the May Board of Directors meeting, the Compensation Committee considers and establishes a financial scale which is used to determine the amount of funding for the then current year annual incentive bonus pool for bonus determinations to be made following the end of that calendar year based on the target annual incentive bonus pool and the Company's budgeted and actual financial results. The financial scale is derived using a hypothetical range of losses and loss expenses, which is the most variable item in the Company's performance. The financial scale is then used to determine the amount of funding for the annual incentive bonus pool. The resulting funding for the annual incentive bonus pool is further subdivided into two components—an 80% portion based on financial performance and a 20% portion based on the achievement of strategic objectives as determined retrospectively by the Compensation Committee. For the 2014 performance year, the primary financial guidelines were underwriting income (defined as net premiums earned less losses and loss expenses, policy acquisition costs and general and administrative expenses excluding target annual incentive accrual and share-based compensation expense), combined ratio, net operating income, consolidated operating return on average equity and growth in diluted book value per share plus dividends. The Compensation Committee reviews the financial guidelines during each year in light of market developments (for example, acquisitions, catastrophes and competitive pricing environment). We expect that the relative weighting of these guidelines will vary depending on market developments. The Compensation Committee has substantial flexibility to adjust the annual incentive compensation program to reflect unforeseen factors.

In February 2014, the Board approved a budget as follows:



($ in 000s) Financial Metric (1)	Validus Re			AlphaCat			Talbot			Consolidated (3)
Underwriting Income	$	201,390		$	43,674		$	65,419		$	233,241
Combined Ratio	78.4		%	64.4		%	92.4		%	87.8		%
Net Operating Income Available to Validus (2)	$	258,668		$	18,855		$	78,769		$	228,182
Operating Return on Average Equity (2), (4)	8.2		%	5.0		%	10.5		%	6.5		%
Growth in Diluted Book Value Per Share Plus Dividends										5.8		%

The Company's actual results for 2014 were as follows:



($ in 000s) Financial Metric (1)	Validus Re			AlphaCat			Talbot			Consolidated (3)
Underwriting Income	$	383,846		$	109,256		$	107,044		$	519,398
Combined Ratio	58.2		%	17.5		%	87.8		%	73.1		%
Net Operating Income Available to Validus (2)	$	452,389		$	38,590		$	125,047		$	475,563
Operating Return on Average Equity (2), (4)	14.0		%	12.4		%	15.9		%	13.4		%
Growth in Diluted Book Value Per Share Plus Dividends										12.8		%

____________________________________


(1)	Certain of these metrics are Non-GAAP financial measures. For reconciliations of these metrics to the most comparable GAAP financial measure, please see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on February 24, 2015.


(2)	Excludes net income attributable to noncontrolling interest.


(3)	Excludes the results of Western World for the year ended December 31, 2014.


(4)	Validus Re, AlphaCat and Talbot segmental average equity are based on allocations of the underlying legal entities equity across the Company.

The Company's underwriting income, excluding the Western World segment, for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $519.4 million compared to $604.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $85.5 million or 14.1%.

The Company's combined ratio, excluding the Western World segment, for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 73.1%, compared to a combined ratio of 71.2% for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Net operating income available to the Company, excluding the Western World segment, for the year ended December 31, 2014 was $475.6 million compared to net operating income of $589.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $113.9 million, or 19.3%.

Operating return on average equity, excluding the Western World segment, was 13.4% for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to 15.5% for the year ended December 31, 2013. The decrease in operating return on average equity was driven primarily by the decrease in net operating income.

Annual incentive awards are made once the financial results for the year are available. Awards paid in excess of a named executive officer's target may, at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer and the Compensation Committee, be based on exceptional performance by the executive, based on a review of the executive's achievements during the year, including strategic, financial and general performance considerations, without regard to the size of the pool and may be paid in the form of restricted stock. Annual incentive awards payable to employees of the Talbot segment are payable 100% in cash, with one-half of the amount payable in the year in which the award is granted and the other half payable the following year, subject to continued employment with the Company.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Compensation Committee considered the Company's financial results and strategic objectives described above and determined that: (i) the Validus Re segment exceeded its budgeted financial guidelines and satisfactorily achieved its strategic objectives; (ii) the AlphaCat segment exceeded its budgeted financial guidelines and satisfactorily achieved its strategic objectives; (iii) the Talbot segment exceeded its budgeted financial guidelines and satisfactorily achieved its strategic objectives; and (iv) the consolidated results of the Company exceeded the budgeted financial guidelines and the Corporate segment satisfactorily achieved its strategic objectives. In making this determination, the Compensation Committee considered each segment's strategic objectives as well as the Company's and the respective segments' financial performance relative to budget. As a result, the annual incentive pools were set at 150% of the target annual incentive pool for the Validus Re and AlphaCat segments, at 150% of target for the Corporate segment and at 150% of target for the Talbot segment. The Compensation Committee determined that these results merited incentive compensation at 150% of target for Mr. Noonan and, based in part on Mr. Noonan's recommendations to the Compensation Committee, at 150% of target for Mr. Sangster, 150% for Mr. Hendrickson, 150% for Mr. Driscoll and 150% for Mr. Atkin. Mr. Atkin's bonus is payable 100% in cash, with 50% of the amount payable in 2015 and the other 50% payable in one year subject to continued employment. The actual annual incentive paid to each of our named executive officers for service in 2014 is set forth in the "Summary Compensation Table" below.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation. The goal of our long-term incentive compensation plan is to align the interests of our executives and shareholders and to attract talented personnel. At the time the Company first negotiated employment agreements with Messrs. Noonan, Sangster, Driscoll and Hendrickson they were each awarded various levels of restricted shares and, in some cases, stock option grants. Since that time, each of our named executive officers has received various

awards of restricted stock. Mr. Atkin also received an initial equity award in connection with his employment agreement and received shares of the Company at the time of the acquisition of Talbot as partial consideration for his Talbot stock. The aforementioned grants and their terms are described under "Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014" and "Restricted Share and Option Agreements" below.

The Compensation Committee has determined that including performance shares as a portion of the long-term incentive compensation grants would most closely align the named executive officers' long-term incentive compensation with results generated for shareholders. In considering the appropriate financial metric for these awards, the Compensation Committee determined that growth in diluted book value per share plus dividends was the most appropriate measure of increase in long-term shareholder value. On April 30, 2014, the Compensation Committee awarded each of the named executive officers long-term incentive awards in the amounts set forth below, effective as of June 1, 2014:



	Time Vested Restricted Shares	Performance Based Restricted Shares	Total Shares (1)	Notional Amount
Name	Time Vested Restricted Shares	Performance Based Restricted Shares	Total Shares (1)	Notional Amount
Edward J. Noonan	32,146	8,036	40,182	$	1,500,000
Jeffrey D. Sangster	20,788	5,197	25,985	970,000
C. N. Rupert Atkin	31,503	7,876	39,379	1,470,000
Kean D. Driscoll	31,503	7,876	39,379	1,470,000
John J. Hendrickson	20,788	5,197	25,985	970,000

____________________________________


(1)	Based on the Company's closing share price on May 30, 2014 of $37.33.

Time vested restricted share awards issued in connection with performance share awards vest ratably over a three year period beginning on June 1, 2015.

Each performance share award represents the right to receive, on the terms and conditions set forth in the award agreement evidencing the award, a specified number of common shares of the Company, par value $0.175 per share. Each performance share award will vest on June 1, 2017 only to the extent that the Company's Dividend Adjusted Performance Period End Diluted Book Value per Share ("DADBVPS") increases relative to peers during the performance period in the percentage amounts described below and certain service requirements are maintained. The grant date Diluted Book Value per Share for these awards is equal to $36.23 and the Performance Period End DADBVPS will be the Company's DADBVPS at December 31, 2016. No performance shares will become eligible for vesting if, at the end of the performance period, the Company's three-year compounded growth in DADBVPS is less than the 25^th percentile relative to the peer group; provided, however, that the Compensation Committee has the discretion to allow up to 25% of the performance shares to vest should the foregoing be the result. If, at the end of the performance period, the Company's three-year compounded growth in DADBVPS is between the 25^th and 49^th percentile relative to the peer group, then the vesting of the performance shares will be scaled such that each percentage point above the 25^th percentile shall increase the amount vesting by 3% resulting in 100% of the performance shares vesting at the 50^th percentile. If, at the end of the performance period, the Company's three-year compounded growth in DADBVPS is between the 50^th and 74^th percentile relative to the peer group, then the vesting of the performance shares will be scaled such that each percentage point above the 50^th percentile shall increase the amount vesting by 3%. If, at the end of the performance period, the Company's three-year compounded growth in DADBVPS is at or above the 75^th percentile relative to the peer group, then each performance share award will vest at the maximum 175% of target. The Company's DADBVPS at December 31, 2014 was $40.86.

The foregoing is illustrated in the table below. The value of these awards to each named executive officer is set forth in the "Summary Compensation Table" below.

In the future, the Compensation Committee may make annual equity grants to our named executive officers, with an objective of the value of each award being between 50-150% of base salary.

Executive Share Ownership - Anti-hedging. The Company's Insider Trading Policy prohibits our employees, including our named executive officers and directors, from using short sales or put and call transactions to hedge their ownership of the Company's securities.

Clawback Policy. On February 5, 2014, the Board approved the establishment of an executive officer incentive compensation clawback policy or “Clawback Policy” to recover certain incentive-based compensation payouts in the event that the Company is required to restate its financial results because of material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under applicable securities law. The Board will review all incentive-based compensation made to current and former officers subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the three-year period immediately preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare the restatement. If any such incentive-based compensation would have been lower as a result of the restated financial results, the Board will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, seek to recover for the benefit of the Company the difference between the amounts awarded or paid and the amounts which would have been awarded or paid based on the restated results. The Clawback Policy supplements the clawback provisions required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which apply to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON THE

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The Compensation Committee reviewed and discussed the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section included in this proxy statement with management. Based on such review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section be included in this proxy statement for filing with the SEC.




		Compensation Committee
		Mandakini Puri (Chairperson) Michael E.A. Carpenter Matthew J. Grayson

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, our next three most highly compensated executive officers:



Name and Principal Position	Year	Salary (1)		Stock Awards (2)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation		All Other Compensation			Total
Edward J. Noonan	2014	$	985,625	$	1,500,000	$	2,217,656	$	793,339	(3)	$	5,496,620
Chairman and Chief	2013	976,719		3,971,000		2,005,057		841,491			7,794,267
Executive Officer	2012	950,000		2,265,009		1,767,285		584,895			5,567,189
Jeffrey D. Sangster	2014	625,000		970,000		1,406,250		282,975		(4)	3,284,225
Chief Financial Officer (8)	2013	606,042		2,250,000		1,250,000		224,536			4,330,578
C. N. Rupert Atkin	2014	870,410		1,470,000		753,500		912,636		(5)	4,006,546
Chief Executive Officer	2013	830,222		2,988,000		887,718		929,032			5,634,972
(Talbot Group) (9)	2012	793,082		1,638,036		902,500		1,106,924			4,440,542
Kean D. Driscoll	2014	625,000		1,470,000		1,406,250		460,233		(6)	3,961,483
Chief Executive Officer	2013	606,250		2,750,000		1,247,813		467,430			5,071,493
(Validus Reinsurance, Ltd.)	2012	522,325		1,415,646		918,060		383,597			3,239,628
John J. Hendrickson	2014	650,000		970,000		1,462,500		124,726		(7)	3,207,226
Director of Strategy &	2013	568,750		2,300,000		1,322,295		77,448			4,268,493
Corp. Development (10)

____________________________________


(1)	The numbers presented represent earned salary for the full years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.


(2)	Amounts reflect the grant date fair value of grants made during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 excluding the effect of forfeitures. See Note 18 in our consolidated financial statements filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 for a discussion of the assumptions used in computing the grant date fair value of stock based compensation awards.

(3)

Includes payments in lieu of defined contribution plan contributions ($98,562), personal use of the Company's corporate aircraft for travel from the U.S. to the Company's headquarters in Bermuda ($87,715), housing allowance ($246,000), housing tax gross up ($178,385), payroll tax benefit ($76,525), car allowance ($10,800), club dues, travel allowance, tax preparation services, internet access and medical, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. The Company calculates its incremental costs for personal use of the corporate aircraft based on variable operating costs, including fuel costs, crew travel, hourly costs, landing fees and other miscellaneous variable costs. Fixed costs that do not change based on usage are not included.


(4)	Includes defined contribution plan contributions and allocations ($62,500), payroll tax benefit ($32,202), school tuition fees ($40,000), club dues ($20,000), and medical, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.


(5)	Includes deferred bonus for 2013 pursuant to employment agreement ($887,718), medical, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.


(6)	Includes defined contribution plan contributions and allocations ($62,500), housing allowance ($216,000), housing tax gross up ($42,000), payroll tax benefit ($50,173), travel allowance ($15,000), club dues, car allowance, tax preparation services, internet access and medical, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.


(7)	Includes defined contribution plan contributions and allocations ($101,292) and medical, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.


(8)	Mr. Sangster was appointed Chief Financial Officer on February 16, 2013.


(9)	Mr. Atkin's base salary includes a pension allowance of $145,068.


(10)	Mr. Hendrickson was hired on February 15, 2013.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014:



		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (1)					Estimated Future Payout Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards (2)

Name	Grant/ Payment Date	Actual			Target		Threshold (# shares)	Target (# shares)	Maximum (# shares)	All Other Stock Awards (# shares)	Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards
Edward J. Noonan	March 13, 2015	$	2,217,656		$	1,478,438
	June 1, 2014						—	8,036	14,063		$	300,000
	June 1, 2014									32,146	1,200,000
Jeffrey D. Sangster	March 13, 2015	1,406,250			937,500
	June 1, 2014						—	5,197	9,095		194,000
	June 1, 2014									20,788	776,000
C. N. Rupert Atkin	March 13, 2015	753,500		(3)	997,223
	June 1, 2014						—	7,876	13,783		294,000
	June 1, 2014									31,503	1,176,000
Kean D. Driscoll	March 13, 2015	1,406,250			937,500
	June 1, 2014						—	7,876	13,783		294,000
	June 1, 2014									31,503	1,176,000
John J. Hendrickson	March 13, 2015	1,462,500			975,000
	June 1, 2014						—	5,197	9,095		194,000
	June 1, 2014									20,788	776,000

____________________________________


(1)	For metrics used in the determination of non-equity compensation, see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Annual Incentive Compensation."


(2)	For a description of the metrics used to determine the minimum, target and maximum shares issuable at the end of the applicable performance period, see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis - Long-Term Incentive Compensation."


(3)	Represents 50% of current year annual bonus pursuant to the terms of Mr. Atkin's employment agreement.

Narrative Description of Summary Compensation Table and Grants of Plan-Based Awards

2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

Our 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") provides for the grant to our employees, consultants and directors of stock options, share appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, performance share units, dividend equivalents, and other share-based awards. Subject to anti-dilution adjustments in the event of certain changes in the Company's capital structure, 903,292 shares remained available for issuance under the Plan as of December 31, 2014. To date, only non-qualified stock options, restricted shares, restricted share units and performance shares have been issued under the Plan.

The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee determines which employees, consultants and directors receive awards, the types of awards to be received and the terms and conditions thereof, including the vesting and exercisability provisions of the awards. However, the exercise price of stock options and SARs may not be less than the fair market value of the shares subject thereto on the date of grant, and their term may not be longer than ten years from the date of grant. Payment with respect to SARs may be made in cash or common shares, as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Awards of restricted shares will be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Compensation Committee may impose. Except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, participants granted restricted shares will have all of the rights of a stockholder, including the right to vote restricted shares and receive cumulative dividends thereon upon vesting. A restricted share unit will entitle the holder thereof to receive common shares or cash at the end of a specified deferral period. Restricted share units will also be subject to such restrictions as the Compensation Committee may impose. Performance shares and performance units will provide for future issuance of shares or payment of cash, respectively, to the participant upon the attainment of performance goals established by the Compensation Committee over specified performance periods. Except as otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee or otherwise provided in an applicable award agreement, all unvested awards will be forfeited upon termination of service.

The Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. However, any amendment for which shareholder approval is required under the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may then be listed or quoted will not be effective until such shareholder approval has been obtained. In addition, no amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of a participant under any outstanding award without the consent of the affected participant.

Under the Plan and the applicable award agreements, certain provisions apply in case of termination and change in control as described below under "Potential Payments in Case of Termination or Change in Control—Restricted Share and Option Agreements." Under the Plan, change in control means consummation of (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to a person who is not either a member of, or an affiliate of a member of, the Initial Investor Group (as defined below); or (ii) a sale by the Company, one or more members of the Initial Investor Group or any of their respective affiliates resulting in more than 50% of the voting stock of the Company ("Voting Shares") being held by a person or group (as such terms are used in the Exchange Act) that does not include any member of the Initial Investor Group or any of their respective affiliates; or (iii) a merger or consolidation of the Company into another person as a result of which a person or group acquires more than 50% of the Voting Shares of the Company that does not include any member of, or an affiliate of a member of, the Initial Investor Group; provided, however, that a change in control shall occur if and only if after any such event listed in (i)-(iii) above, the Initial Investor Group is unable to elect a majority of the board of directors (or other governing body equivalent thereto) of the entity that purchased the assets in the case of an event described in (i) above, the Company in the case of an event described in (ii) above, or the resulting entity in the case of an event described in (iii) above, as the case may be. The "Initial Investor Group" shall mean (i) Aquiline Financial Services Fund L.P., and (ii) the other Investors under subscription agreements with the Company dated December 9, 2005.

Employment Agreements

We have employment agreements with our named executive officers, as described below.

Edward J. Noonan. We have entered into an employment agreement with Edward Noonan to serve as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The employment agreement provides for (i) a specified annual base salary of not less than $985,625 and is subject to annual review and may be increased by the Compensation Committee, (ii) an annual bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee with annual target bonus equal to 150% of his base salary, (iii) reimbursement for reasonable expenses for non-business travel to and from Bermuda for Mr. Noonan, (iv) while Mr. Noonan's place of work is Bermuda, a housing allowance paid on an after-tax basis of $20,500 per month, and an automobile allowance of $900 per month, (v) the right to participate in such other employee or fringe benefit programs for senior executives as are in effect from time to time, (vi) a stock option and restricted stock grant and (vii) initiation fees and annual dues for membership in two clubs in Bermuda. Mr. Noonan has agreed to certain confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.

The employment agreement also provides for indemnification of Mr. Noonan by us to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and our charter documents.

Jeffrey D. Sangster. We have entered into an employment agreement with Jeffrey Sangster to serve as our Chief Financial Officer. The employment agreement provides for (i) a specified annual base salary of not less than $625,000 and is subject to annual review and may be increased by the Compensation Committee, (ii) an annual bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee with annual target bonus equal to 150% of his base salary, (iii) reimbursement for tuition expenses incurred by Mr. Sangster for his children who are attending school in Bermuda, (iv) the right to participate in such other employee or fringe benefit programs for senior executives as are in effect from time to time, and (v) initiation fees and annual dues for membership in two clubs in Bermuda. Mr. Sangster has agreed to certain confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions.

The employment agreement also provides for indemnification of Mr. Sangster by us to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and our charter documents.

C.N. Rupert Atkin. We have entered into an employment agreement with Charles Neville Rupert Atkin, who is serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Talbot Group. The employment agreement provides for (i) a specified annual base salary of £440,275 which is subject to annual review and may be increased by the Compensation Committee, (ii) discretionary bonus at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company, (iii) a restricted share grant, (iv) defined contribution plan benefits, (v) medical and life insurance benefits and (vi) reimbursement for travel and other business expenses. Mr. Atkin has agreed to certain confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.

Kean Driscoll. We have entered into an employment agreement with Kean Driscoll to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Validus Re. The employment agreement provides for (i) a specified annual base salary of not less than $625,000 and is subject to annual review and may be increased by the Compensation Committee, (ii) an annual bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee with annual target bonus equal to 150% of his base salary, (iii) reimbursement for expenses for non-business travel to and from Bermuda for Mr. Driscoll and his family in an annual amount not to exceed $15,000, (iv) while Mr. Driscoll's place of

work is Bermuda, a housing allowance of $18,000 per month, and an automobile allowance of $450 per month, (v) the right to participate in such other employee or fringe benefit programs for senior executives as are in effect from time to time, (vi) initiation fees and annual dues for membership in one club in Bermuda. Mr. Driscoll has agreed to certain confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.

The employment agreement also provides for indemnification of Mr. Driscoll by us to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and our charter documents.

John J. Hendrickson. We have entered into an employment agreement with John Hendrickson to serve as our Director of Strategy, Risk Management and Corporate Development. The employment agreement provides for (i) a specified annual base salary of not less than $650,000 and is subject to annual review and may be increased by the Compensation Committee, (ii) an annual bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee with annual target bonus equal to 150% of his base salary, (iii) reimbursement for reasonable expenses for travel and other business related expenses and (iv) the right to participate in such other employee or fringe benefit programs for senior executives as are in effect from time to time. Mr. Hendrickson has agreed to certain confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions.

The employment agreement also provides for indemnification of Mr. Hendrickson by us to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and our charter documents.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End 2014:



		Option Awards					Stock Awards
Name		Number of Securities Underlying Exercisable Options	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercisable Options	Option Exercise Price		Option Expiration Date	Number of Unvested Restricted Shares	Market Value of Unvested Restricted Shares (7)		Number of Unvested Performance Shares (6)	Market or Payout Value of Unvested Performance Shares (7)
Edward J. Noonan	(1)	782,652	—	$	16.54	November 15, 2015	19,248	$	799,947	7,218	$	299,980
		—	—	—		—	29,540	1,227,682		11,077	460,360
		—	—	—		—	32,146	1,335,988		8,036	333,976
		—	—	—		—	54,590	2,268,760		—	—
Jeffrey D. Sangster	(2)	17,393	—	18.13		October 16, 2016	3,000	124,680		5,539	230,201
		—	—	—		—	7,520	312,531		5,197	215,987
		—	—	—		—	14,770	613,841		—	—
		—	—	—		—	20,788	863,949		—	—
		—	—	—		—	34,616	1,438,641		—	—
C. N. Rupert Atkin	(3)	—	—	—		—	13,920	578,515		5,220	216,943
		—	—	—		—	23,062	958,457		8,648	359,411
		—	—	—		—	31,503	1,309,265		7,876	327,327
		—	—	—		—	39,504	1,641,786		—	—
Kean D. Driscoll	(4)	2,016	—	16.54		November 15, 2015	4,500	187,020		8,308	345,280
		1,493	—	23.48		March 3, 2018	22,557	937,469		7,876	327,327
		—	—	—		—	22,155	920,762		—	—
		—	—	—		—	31,503	1,309,265		—	—
		—	—	—		—	34,616	1,438,641		—	—
John J. Hendrickson	(5)	—	—	—		—	20,770	863,201		5,197	215,987
		—	—	—		—	20,788	863,949		—	—
							36,001	1,496,202

____________________________________

(1)

Unvested Restricted Shares: 19,248 shares will vest on June 1, 2015; 29,540 shares will vest ratably over the next 2 years beginning June 1, 2015; 32,146 shares will vest ratably over the next 3 years beginning June 1, 2015; and 54,590 shares will vest on June 1, 2018. Unvested Performance Shares: 7,218 shares will vest on June 1, 2015; 11,077 shares will vest on June 1, 2016; and 8,036 shares will vest on June 1, 2017.

(2)

Unvested Restricted Shares: 3,000 shares will vest on June 1, 2015; 7,520 shares will vest ratably over the next 2 years beginning June 1, 2015; 14,770 shares will vest ratably over the next 2 years beginning on June 1, 2015; 20,788 shares will vest ratably over the next 3 years beginning on June 1, 2015; and 34,616 shares will vest on June 1, 2018. Unvested Performance Shares: 5,539 shares will vest on June 1, 2016; and 5,197 shares will vest on June 1, 2017.

(3)

Unvested Restricted Shares: 13,920 shares will vest on June 1, 2015; 23,062 shares will vest ratably over the next 2 years beginning June 1, 2015; 31,503 shares will vest ratably over the next 3 years beginning June 1, 2015; and 39,504 shares will vest on June 1, 2018; Unvested Performance Shares: 5,220 shares will vest on June 1, 2015; 8,648 shares will vest on June 1, 2016; and 7,876 shares will vest on June 1, 2017.

(4)

Unvested Restricted Shares: 4,500 shares will vest on June 1, 2015; 22,557 shares will vest ratably over the next 2 years beginning June 1, 2015; 22,155 shares will vest ratably over the next 2 years beginning June 1, 2015; 31,503 shares will vest ratably over the next 3 years beginning June 1, 2015; and 34,616 shares will vest on June 1, 2018. Unvested Performance Shares: 8,308 shares will vest on June 1, 2016; and 7,876 shares will vest on June 1, 2017.


(5)	Unvested Restricted Shares: 20,770 shares will vest ratably over the next 3 years beginning June 1, 2015; 20,788 shares will vest ratable over the next 3 years on June 1, 2015; and 36,001 shares will vest on June 1, 2018. Unvested Performance Shares: 5,197 shares will vest on June 1, 2017.


(6)	These performance-based awards vest upon the achievement of established performance criteria during an applicable three-year period. The amounts shown represent the target performance goals.


(7)	Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2014 of $41.56.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table summarizes information underlying each exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted shares for each named executive officer in 2014:



	Vested Stock Awards				Options Exercised
Name	Vest Date	Number of Vested Stock Awards	Value of Vested Stock Awards (1)		Exercise Date	Number of Options Exercised	Value of Options Exercised
Edward J. Noonan	June 1, 2014	44,868	$	1,674,923	—	—	$	—
Jeffrey D. Sangster	June 1, 2014	17,197	641,963		—	—	—
C. N. Rupert Atkin	June 1, 2014	31,961	1,193,105		—	—	—
Kean D. Driscoll	June 1, 2014	32,525	1,214,158		January 2, 2014	10,953	428,163
					February 3, 2014	10,953	388,984
					March 3, 2014	10,953	401,155
John J. Hendrickson	June 1, 2014	6,923	258,436		—	—	—

____________________________________


(1)	Based on the Company's closing share price on May 30, 2014 of $37.33.

Pension Benefits

The Company does not maintain a defined benefit pension or retirement plan for our named executive officers.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014:



Name	Executive Contributions in Last FY		Registrant Contributions in Last FY (1)			Aggregate Earnings (Losses) in Last FY		Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions		Aggregate Balance at Last FYE (2)
Edward J. Noonan	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Jeffrey D. Sangster	—		—			—		—		—
C. N. Rupert Atkin	—		753,500		(3)	—		—		—
Kean D. Driscoll	—		—			166		—		20,229
John J. Hendrickson	—		36,292			2,411		—		72,791

_____________________________________


(1)	These amounts will be included, when earned, as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table under the "All Other Compensation" column.


(2)	These amounts were previously reported in the Summary Compensation Table.


(3)	Represents 50% of current year annual bonus pursuant to the terms of Mr. Atkin's employment agreement.

The Nonqualified Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan permits certain non-U.S. members of management and highly compensated employees selected by the Company to defer a portion of their salary and/or bonuses. The Company may, at its discretion, make additional contributions to the participant's deferral account, which will vest at the rate of 100% after two years of service (subject to full vesting at age 65, death or disability). The deferred amounts are invested in one or more of the available investment funds as selected by the participant. The participant may at any time change his or her selection of investment funds or make transfers from an investment fund to any of the other available investment funds. Vested deferred amounts, as adjusted for earnings and losses, are paid in a lump sum following retirement, death or other termination of employment. In-service withdrawals are not permitted.

The annual incentive plan for Talbot employees, including Mr. Atkin, provides that one-half of the annual incentive compensation will be payable in one year, subject to continued employment and other conditions as determined by the Compensation Committee.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

The following summaries set forth potential payments payable to our named executive officers upon termination of their employment or a change in control of the Company under their current employment agreements and our 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Employment Agreements

The employment agreement of each named executive officers entitles him to benefits if the Company terminates his employment under a variety of circumstances, as described below.

Edward J. Noonan. Mr. Noonan's term of employment will continue until the Date of Termination, which is the first to occur of the following: (a) the 12-month anniversary of the Company providing notice of termination without cause to Mr. Noonan; (b) immediately upon the Company providing notice of termination for cause to Mr. Noonan; (c) the 12-month anniversary of Mr. Noonan's providing notice of termination to the Company, whether with or without good reason; (d) the fifth day following the Company providing notice of termination to Mr. Noonan as a result of his permanent disability; or (e) the date of Mr. Noonan's death.

The employment agreement provides that if it is terminated as a result of Mr. Noonan's resignation or leaving of his employment, other than for good reason, he shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits through the Date of Termination; (b) receive any unpaid bonus with respect to the year prior to the year in which the notice of termination is provided, payable at the times such bonuses are payable to other employees of the Company; and (c) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by him prior to the Date of Termination. No shares of restricted stock or stock options granted to Mr. Noonan will vest on or following the date he provides notice of termination without good reason.

The employment agreement further provides that in the event of termination of Mr. Noonan's employment by Mr. Noonan for good reason, by the Company with or without cause, as a result of Mr. Noonan's permanent disability or upon his death, Mr. Noonan (or his estate, in the case of death) shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits through the Date of Termination; (b) receive any unpaid bonus with respect to the year prior to the year in which the notice of termination is provided, payable at the times such bonuses are payable to other employees of the Company; (c) vest in any shares of restricted stock of the Company and any Company stock options granted to Mr. Noonan through the Date of Termination; (d) receive reimbursement for

all reimbursable expenses incurred by Mr. Noonan prior to the Date of Termination; (e) in the event the employment period is terminated other than by the Company with cause, receive a bonus for the year notice of termination is given, prorated for the number of full or partial months during which Mr. Noonan provided services to the Company, payable at the time such bonus is payable to other employees of the Company; and (f) in the event the employment period is terminated either by Mr. Noonan for good reason or by the Company without cause and the Company does not elect that Mr. Noonan perform no duties under the agreement after notice of termination, receive an amount equal to a full year bonus (calculated at the target level) for the year prior to the year of termination, payable on the Date of Termination.

If Mr. Noonan’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Noonan for “good reason”, in each case within twenty-four (24) months following a “change in control”, Mr. Noonan will be eligible to: (a) receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of his base salary plus target annual bonus; (b) receive a lump sum payment equal to the value of one year’s worth of certain benefits provided for in his employment agreement; (c) continue to receive the medical benefits set forth in his employment agreement for twenty-four (24) months; (d) receive a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination based on the number of days worked during such year, paid on the normal payment date; and (e) receive payment for any reimbursable expenses incurred prior to the termination date and any unpaid bonus amounts earned for the year prior to the termination date.

Jeffrey D. Sangster. Mr. Sangster's term of employment will continue until the Date of Termination which is the first to occur of the following: (a) the 12-month anniversary of the Company providing notice of termination without cause to Mr. Sangster; (b) immediately upon the Company providing notice of termination for cause to Mr. Sangster; (c) the 12-month anniversary of Mr. Sangster providing notice of termination to the Company whether with or without good reason; (d) the fifth day following the Company providing Notice of Termination to Mr. Sangster as a result of Mr. Sangster's permanent disability; or (e) the date of Mr. Sangster's death.

The employment agreement provides that if it is terminated as a result of Mr. Sangster's resignation or leaving of his employment, other than for good reason, he shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits through the Date of Termination; and (b) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by him prior to the Date of Termination. No shares of restricted stock or stock options granted to Mr. Sangster will vest on or following the date he provides notice of termination without good reason.

The employment agreement further provides that in the event of termination of Mr. Sangster's employment by Mr. Sangster for good reason, by the Company with or without cause, as a result of Mr. Sangster's permanent disability or upon his death, Mr. Sangster (or his estate, in the case of death) shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits (i) in the case of termination by Mr. Sangster for good reason or by the Company with or without cause, through the Date of Termination, and (ii) in the case of termination due to Mr. Sangster's permanent disability or death, through the six-month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (b) vest in any shares of restricted stock of the Company and any Company stock options granted to Mr. Sangster through the Date of Termination; and (c) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by Mr. Sangster prior to the Date of Termination.

If Mr. Sangster’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Sangster for “good reason”, in each case within twenty-four (24) months following a “change in control”, Mr. Sangster will be eligible to: (a) receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of his base salary plus target annual bonus; (b) receive a lump sum payment equal to the value of one year’s worth of certain benefits provided for in his employment agreement; (c) continue to receive certain medical and other benefits provided for in his employment agreement for twenty-four (24) months; (d) receive a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination based on the number of days worked during such year, paid on the normal payment date; and (e) receive payment for any reimbursable expenses incurred prior to the termination date and any unpaid bonus amounts earned for the year prior to the termination date.

C.N. Rupert Atkin. Mr. Atkin's term of employment shall continue until (i) terminated by either party giving the other not less than 12 months written notice or (ii) the date on which Mr. Atkin reaches age 65. During any 12 month notice period, Mr. Atkin will continue to receive base salary and all contractual benefits other than bonus (except for any unpaid amount of his accrued bonus which shall be paid if he is a good leaver, as defined below).

We may, in our sole discretion, terminate Mr. Atkin's employment with immediate effect by paying a sum equal to the base salary he would have been entitled to receive during the 12 month notice period (or, if notice has already been given, during the remainder of the notice period). This payment in lieu of notice does not include any bonus or commission payments (other than accrued bonus if he is a good leaver) or benefits (other than pension benefits) which Mr. Atkin would have been entitled to receive during the notice period. In addition, we may also summarily terminate Mr. Atkin's employment without notice or payment in lieu of notice following certain events specified in the employment agreement.

If Mr. Atkin's employment is terminated (i) by reason of liquidation of Talbot Underwriting Services Ltd. for the purpose of amalgamation or reconstruction or (ii) as part of any arrangement for the amalgamation of the undertaking of Talbot Underwriting Services Ltd. not including liquidation or the transfer of the whole or part of the undertaking of Talbot Underwriting Services Ltd. to any associated company, and Mr. Atkin is offered comparable employment with the amalgamated or reconstructed company on terms no less favorable than those described in his employment agreement, he will have no claim against us under the employment agreement with respect to that termination.

For purposes of Mr. Atkin's employment agreement, Good Leaver means the executive's employment has terminated other than due to one of the following reasons: (i) he has ceased to be an employee in circumstances justifying summary dismissal without notice; (ii) he has been dismissed for material or persistent breaches of his duties as an employee or (iii) he has given notice of termination of his employment except in circumstances where he has been advised by his employer of a materially adverse change to his position in the group or the terms and conditions of his employment.

In addition, under Mr. Atkin's employment agreement, he may be summarily terminated without notice or payment in lieu of notice if the executive: (i) is convicted of any criminal offense (other than a motoring offense for which no custodial sentence is given to him) which in the reasonable opinion of the Company demonstrated unsuitability for further employment with the Company; (ii) shall be or become prohibited by law from being a director (applicable only to directors); (iii) shall be guilty of fraud, dishonesty or serious misconduct (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes any conduct which tends to bring the Company or any associated company into disrepute) or shall commit any serious or persistent breach of any of his obligations (for which warnings have been given to the executive) to the Company or any associated company; or (iv) shall be guilty of fraud or willful default in relation to the warranties (as defined in the employment agreement).

Kean Driscoll. Mr. Driscoll's term of employment will continue until the Date of Termination which is the first to occur of the following: (a) the 12-month anniversary of the Company providing notice of termination without cause to Mr. Driscoll; (b) immediately upon the Company providing notice of termination for cause to Mr. Driscoll; (c) the 12-month anniversary of Mr. Driscoll providing notice of termination to the Company whether with or without good reason; (d) the fifth day following the Company providing Notice of Termination to Mr. Driscoll as a result of Mr. Driscoll's permanent disability; or (e) the date of Mr. Driscoll's death.

The employment agreement provides that if it is terminated as a result of Mr. Driscoll's resignation or leaving of his employment, other than for good reason, he shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits through the Date of Termination; and (b) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by him prior to the Date of Termination. No shares of restricted stock or stock options granted to Mr. Driscoll will vest on or following the date he provides notice of termination without good reason.

The employment agreement further provides that in the event of termination of Mr. Driscoll's employment by Mr. Driscoll for good reason, by the Company with or without cause, as a result of Mr. Driscoll's permanent disability or upon his death, Mr. Driscoll (or his estate, in the case of death) shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits (i) in the case of termination by Mr. Driscoll for good reason or by the Company with or without cause, through the Date of Termination, and (ii) in the case of termination due to Mr. Driscoll's permanent disability or death, through the six-month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (b) vest in any shares of restricted stock of the Company and any Company stock options granted to Mr. Driscoll through the Date of Termination; and (c) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by Mr. Driscoll prior to the Date of Termination.

If Mr. Driscoll’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Driscoll for “good reason”, in each case within twenty-four (24) months following a “change in control”, Mr. Driscoll will be eligible to: (a) receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of his base salary plus target annual bonus; (b) receive a lump sum payment equal to the value of one year’s worth of certain benefits provided for in his employment agreement; (c) continue to receive certain medical and other benefits provided for in his employment agreement for twenty-four (24) months; and (d) receive payment for any reimbursable expenses incurred prior to the termination date.

John J. Hendrickson. Mr. Hendrickson's term of employment will continue until the Date of Termination, which is the first to occur of the following: (a) the six month anniversary of the Company providing notice of termination without cause to Mr. Hendrickson; (b) immediately upon the Company providing notice of termination for cause to Mr. Hendrickson; (c) the six month anniversary of Mr. Hendrickson's providing notice of termination to the Company, whether with or without good reason; (d) the fifth day following the Company providing notice of termination to Mr. Hendrickson as a result of his permanent disability; or (e) the date of Mr. Hendrickson’s death.

The employment agreement provides that if it is terminated as a result of Mr. Hendrickson’s resignation or leaving of his employment, other than for good reason, he shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits through the Date of Termination; (b) receive any unpaid bonus with respect to the year prior to the year in which the notice of termination is provided,

payable at the times such bonuses are payable to other employees of the Company; and (c) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by him prior to the Date of Termination. No shares of restricted stock or stock options granted to Mr. Hendrickson will vest on or following the date he provides notice of termination without good reason.

The employment agreement further provides that in the event of termination of Mr. Hendrickson's employment by Mr. Hendrickson for good reason, by the Company with or without cause, as a result of Mr. Hendrickson's permanent disability or upon his death, Mr. Hendrickson (or his estate, in the case of death) shall continue to: (a) receive base salary and benefits through the Date of Termination (in the case of termination due to Mr. Hendrickson’s permanent disability or death, through the six month anniversary of the date of termination); (b) receive any unpaid bonus with respect to the year prior to the year in which the notice of termination is provided, payable at the times such bonuses are payable to other employees of the Company; (c) vest in any shares of restricted stock of the Company and any Company stock options granted to Mr. Hendrickson through the Date of Termination; (d) receive reimbursement for all reimbursable expenses incurred by Mr. Hendrickson prior to the Date of Termination; and (e) in the event the employment period is terminated other than by the Company with cause, receive a bonus for the year notice of termination is given, prorated for the number of full or partial months during which Mr. Hendrickson provided services to the Company, payable at the time such bonus is payable to other employees of the Company.

If Mr. Hendrickson’s employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or by Mr. Hendrickson for “good reason”, in each case within twenty-four (24) months following a “change in control”, Mr. Hendrickson will be eligible to: (a) receive a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of his base salary plus target annual bonus; (b) continue to receive certain medical and other benefits provided for in his employment agreement for twenty-four (24) months; (c) receive a pro-rated bonus for the year of termination based on the number of days worked during such year, paid on the normal payment date; and (d) receive payment for any reimbursable expenses incurred prior to the termination date and any unpaid bonus amounts earned for the year prior to the termination date.

For each of the employment agreements for Messrs. Noonan, Sangster, Driscoll and Hendrickson, "Cause" means (a) theft or embezzlement by the executive with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (b) malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of the executive's duties; (c) the commission by the executive of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; (d) willful or prolonged absence from work by the executive (other than by reason of disability due to physical or mental illness or at the direction of the Company or its Subsidiaries) or failure, neglect or refusal by the executive to perform his duties and responsibilities without the same being corrected within ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; (e) for Messrs. Noonan and Hendrickson, failure by the executive to substantially perform his duties and responsibilities thereunder without the same being corrected within thirty (30) days after being given written notice thereof, as determined by the Company in good faith, and for Mr. Driscoll, failure by the executive to adequately perform his duties and responsibilities hereunder without the same being corrected within thirty (30) days after being given written notice thereof, as determined by the Company in good faith; (f) continued and habitual use of alcohol by the executive to an extent which materially impairs the executive's performance of his duties without the same being corrected within ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; (g) the executive's use of illegal drugs without the same being corrected within ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; (h) the executive's failure to use his best efforts to obtain, maintain or renew the required work permit in a timely manner, without the same being corrected within ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; or (i) the material breach by the executive of any of the covenants contained in the employment agreement without, in the case of any breach capable of being corrected, the same being corrected within ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof.

Additionally, for each of the employment agreements for Messrs. Noonan, Sangster, Driscoll and Hendrickson, "Good Reason" means, without the executive's written consent, (a) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company; (b) a material reduction in the executive's base salary; or (c) a material and adverse change by the Company in the executive's duties and responsibilities, other than due to the executive's failure to adequately perform such duties and responsibilities as determined by the Board in good faith; provided, however, that, it is a condition precedent to the executive's right to terminate employment for Good Reason that (i) the executive shall first have given the Company written notice that an event or condition constituting Good Reason has occurred within ninety days after such occurrence, and any failure to give such written notice within such period will result in a waiver by the executive of his right to terminate for Good Reason as a result of such event or condition, and (ii) a period of thirty days from and after the giving of such written notice shall have elapsed without the Company having effectively cured or remedied such occurrence during such 30-day period; provided further, however, that the executive's termination of employment due to "Good Reason" must occur not later than one hundred fifty days following the initial existence of the condition giving rise to 'Good Reason.'

Assuming each executive's employment terminated under each of the circumstances described above on December 31, 2014, the payments and benefits due would have an estimated value of:



Event and Executive	Salary		Vesting in stock awards and options (1)		Non-Equity Incentive Plan compensation		All other compensation
Edward J. Noonan
Resignation by the executive with good reason, termination by the Company without cause	$	985,625	$	6,726,693	$	2,217,656	$	600,799
Resignation by the executive without good reason	985,625		—		—		600,799
Termination as a result of permanent disability or upon his death	—		—		2,217,656		—
Termination by the Company with cause	—		—		—		—
Jeffrey D. Sangster
Resignation by the executive with good reason, termination by the Company without cause	625,000		3,799,830		1,406,250		160,153
Resignation by the executive without good reason	625,000		—		—		160,153
Termination as a result of permanent disability or upon his death	312,500		—		1,406,250		80,077
Termination by the Company with cause
C. N. Rupert Atkin
Resignation by the executive for good reason, including death; termination by the Company without cause	870,410		1,711,108		753,500		127,671
Resignation other than for good reason	870,410		—		—		—
Termination as a result of permanent disability	—		—		753,500		—
Termination by the Company with cause	—		—		—		—
Kean D. Driscoll
Resignation by the executive with good reason, termination by the Company without cause	625,000		5,465,763		1,406,250		393,375
Resignation by the executive without good reason	625,000		—		—		393,375
Termination as a result of permanent disability or upon his death	312,500		—		1,406,250		196,688
Termination by the Company with cause	—		—		—		—
John J. Hendrickson
Resignation by the executive with good reason, termination by the Company without cause	650,000		3,439,339		1,462,500		89,142
Resignation by the executive without good reason	650,000		—		—		89,142
Termination as a result of permanent disability or upon his death	325,000		—		1,462,500		44,571
Termination by the Company with cause	—		—		—		—

__________________________________


(1)	Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2014 of $41.56.

Each employment agreement includes an agreement by the executive to certain confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions.

Restricted Share and Option Agreements

Messrs. Noonan, Sangster and Driscoll were granted restricted shares in connection with our IPO and periodically thereafter. Mr. Hendrickson was granted restricted shares on June 1, 2013 and 2014. Each Restricted Share Agreement evidencing such grants provides that in the event the executive's employment is terminated by the Company not for cause or by the executive for good reason, 45% of the grant shall vest upon the delivery of a notice of termination (or at the end of the applicable correction period following delivery of a notice of termination) and the remaining 55% of the grant will vest on their regularly scheduled vesting dates, but only if the executive does not breach the remaining applicable terms of his employment agreement, including

the duties owed during any "garden leave" period and the confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation and assignment of inventions covenants to the extent contained therein. With respect to performance share awards, each award shall vest in the aforementioned percentages at target. In the event of the executive's breach of any of such terms, duties or covenants, any unvested portion of the grant shall be immediately forfeited by the executive. In addition, if the executive's employment is terminated by the Company not for cause or by the executive for good reason within two years following a change in control, the grant shall become immediately vested in full upon such termination of employment. With respect to performance share awards, each award shall immediately vest in full at target.

Mr. Atkin has been granted restricted shares pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement and periodically thereafter. The Restricted Share Agreement evidencing such grant provides that these restricted shares will vest 100% upon termination of service if the executive is a good leaver. If the executive is not a good leaver, any portion of the award not vested at termination of service will be forfeited. In addition, if the executive's employment is terminated by the Company not for cause within two years following a change in control, these restricted shares will vest 100% upon such termination of employment.

Under the terms of Mr. Atkin's employment agreement, an executive is a good leaver if his employment is terminated due to one of the following reasons: (i) agreed termination of employment; (ii) injury, ill-health, disability or redundancy; (iii) death; (iv) wrongful or unfair dismissal by the relevant Validus group company or any of its subsidiaries; (v) the company by which he is employed ceases to be a Validus group company; (vi) the entire or substantially the whole of the business carried on by the executive's employer is transferred to a person other than a Validus group company; or (vii) retirement at normal retirement age or early retirement on the grounds of ill-health or with the consent of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the terms of any pension plan the executive participates in.

For each of the agreements described above, change in control has the meaning set forth in the 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Assuming that at March 13, 2015, each executive's employment terminated not for cause or by the executive for good reason and there has been a change in control, the payments and benefits due would have been:



Name (1)	Salary		Target Bonus		Value of Vested Accelerated Stock Awards (2)		Options Exercisable	Value of Options Exercisable
Edward J. Noonan	$	1,971,250	$	2,956,876	$	6,726,693	—	$	—
Jeffrey D. Sangster	1,250,000		1,875,000		3,799,830		—	—
C. N. Rupert Atkin	—		—		5,391,703		—	—
Kean D. Driscoll	1,250,000		1,875,000		5,465,763		—	—
John J. Hendrickson	1,300,000		1,950,000		3,439,339		—	—

____________________________________


(1)	The date of this table has been adjusted to reflect changes set forth in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2015.


(2)	Based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on December 31, 2014 of $41.56.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist in the Board's oversight of the integrity of the Company's financial statements, including its system of internal controls, the Independent Auditor's qualifications, independence and performance, the performance of the Company's internal audit function and the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the selection (subject to the approval of shareholders), compensation, retention and oversight of the work of the Independent Auditor for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attestation services for the Company. During 2014, Messrs. Carpenter (Chairman), Grayson, Nessi, and Dr. Vaughan served on the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is currently comprised of four Directors and operates under a written charter, which is posted on the Company's website at www.validusholdings.com. It is not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and applicable rules and regulations. The financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. The Independent Auditor is responsible for expressing an opinion on these financial statements based on their audit. It is also not the responsibility of the Audit Committee to assure compliance with laws and regulations, the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees and Code of Ethics for Senior Officers or to set or determine the adequacy of the Company's reserves.

Based on the Audit Committee's review of the audited financial statements, its discussions with management regarding the audited financial statements, its receipt of written disclosures and the letter from the Independent Auditor required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, its discussions with the Independent Auditor regarding such auditor's independence, the audited financial statements, the matters required to be discussed by the Statement on Auditing Standards 16, and other matters the Audit Committee deemed relevant and appropriate, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year.




		Audit Committee
		Michael E.A. Carpenter (Chairman) Matthew J. Grayson Jean-Marie Nessi Dr. Therese M. Vaughan

Principal Auditor Fees and Services

The following table summarizes professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. ("PwC") for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013.



		2014		2013
Audit fees	(1)	$	6,120,834	$	4,941,265
Audit related fees	(2)	318,498		308,393
Tax fees	(3)	131,533		168,906
All other fees	(4)	8,700		7,000
Total		6,579,565		5,425,564

____________________________________

(1)

Such audit fees were for professional services rendered primarily in connection with the audit and quarterly review of the consolidated financial statements and other attestation services that comprised the audits for insurance statutory and regulatory purposes in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates and the provision of certain opinions relating to the Company's filings with the SEC.

(2)

During the year ended December 31, 2014, these fees comprised audit fees in connection with other regulatory initiatives, technical accounting considerations and other related fees which were $23,396, $235,752 and $59,350, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2013, these fees comprised audit fees in connection with other regulatory initiatives, technical accounting considerations and other related fees which were $105,490, $63,385, and $139,518, respectively.


(3)	These fees were related to professional services rendered for various corporate and other taxation issues.


(4)	During the year ended December 31, 2014, other fees for services were provided in connection with international regulatory services. During the year ended December 31, 2013, other fees for services were provided in connection with human resource related services.

General

The Audit Committee has adopted procedures for pre-approving all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the Independent Auditor. The Audit Committee will annually review and pre-approve the audit, review and attestation services to be provided during the next audit cycle by the Independent Auditor and may annually review and pre-approve any permitted non-audit services to be provided during the next audit cycle by the Independent Auditor. To the extent practicable, the Audit Committee will also review and approve a budget for such services. Services proposed to be provided by the Independent Auditor that have not been pre-approved during the annual review and the fees for such proposed services must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or its designated subcommittee. Additionally, fees for previously approved services that are expected to exceed the previously approved budget must also be pre-approved by the Audit Committee or its designated subcommittee. All requests or applications for the Independent Auditor to provide services to the Company are submitted to the Audit Committee or its designated subcommittee. When such a pre-submission is not practicable, the Company receives pre-approval in writing from the Chairman of the Audit Committee and such approval is then ratified by the full Audit Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting of such committee.

The Audit Committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services performed by the Independent Auditor was compatible with maintaining PwC's independence during 2014. The Audit Committee concluded in 2014 that the provision of these services was compatible with the maintenance of PwC's independence in the performance of its auditing functions during 2014.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We have established written procedures for the review of transactions between us and any company affiliated with funds managed by Aquiline or any other company in which our officers or directors have a material interest. We refer to a company in which Aquiline has a material interest as a "portfolio company." Any such transaction must be reviewed and approved by our management or the management of the operating subsidiary entering into the transaction, and the terms of such transaction should be arm's-length or on terms that are otherwise fair to the Company. Any such transaction will also require prior approval of the audit committee, except reinsurance assumed transactions with a portfolio company that senior management has determined are in the ordinary course. Furthermore, the effect, if any, of such a transaction on the independence of any director will be considered.

Pursuant to reinsurance agreements with Syndicate 4020 at Lloyd's, a syndicate managed by Ark Syndicate Management Limited, a subsidiary of Group Ark Insurance Holdings Ltd. ("Group Ark"), the Company has recognized reinsurance premiums ceded of $126,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014, and had reinsurance balances payable of $4,000 at December 31, 2014. In addition, pursuant to reinsurance agreements with a subsidiary of Group Ark, the Company recognized gross premiums written during the year ended December 31, 2014 of $2,073,000, with $335,000 included in premiums receivable at December 31, 2014. The Company also recorded $1,063,000 of loss reserves recoverable as at December 31, 2014 and earned premium adjustments of $1,982,000 were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2014. The contract terms were negotiated on an arms-length basis. Aquiline and its affiliates own a majority of the ordinary shares of, and Mr. Watson serves as a director of, Group Ark.

On November 24, 2009, the Company entered into an Investment Management Agreement with Conning, Inc. ("Conning") to manage a portion of the Company's investment portfolio. Conning is wholly owned by Aquiline. Mr. Greenberg serves as a director of Conning Holdings Corp., the parent company of Conning. Investment management fees of $1,125,000 were incurred under this agreement during the year ended December 31, 2014, with $515,000 included in accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2014.

On December 20, 2011, Validus Re, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into an Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement") with Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "Assignor") and Aquiline Capital Partners II GP (Offshore) Ltd., a Cayman Islands company limited by shares (the "General Partner") pursuant to which Validus Re assumed 100% of the Assignor's interest in Aquiline Financial Services Fund II L.P. ("Aquiline Fund II") representing a total capital commitment of $50,000,000 (the "Commitment"), as a limited partner in Aquiline Fund II (the "Transferred Interest"). On October 2, 2014, the Company assumed an additional investment in Aquiline Fund II as part of the Western World acquisition representing a total capital commitment of $10,000,000. The Transferred Interest is governed by the terms of an Amended and Restated Exempted Limited Partnership Agreement dated as of July 2, 2010 (the "Limited Partnership Agreement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Limited Partnership Agreement, the Commitment will expire on July 2, 2015. The Company's remaining commitment at December 31, 2014 was $7,500,000. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company incurred $342,000 in fees to Aquiline Fund II and made capital contributions of $12,468,000.

On November 7, 2014, Validus Re entered into a Subscription Agreement with Aquiline Capital Partners III GP (Offshore) Ltd., a Cayman Islands company limited by shares, pursuant to which Validus Re committed and agreed to purchase limited partnership or other comparable limited liability equity interests in Aquiline Financial Services Fund III L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership ("Aquiline Fund III"), and/or one or more alternative investment vehicles and intermediate entities with a capital commitment in an amount equal to $100,000,000, as a limited partner in Aquiline Fund III. Validus Re’s remaining commitment at December 31, 2014 was $100,000,000.

The employers of or entities associated with certain directors or their affiliates have purchased or may in the future purchase in the ordinary course of business insurance and/or reinsurance from the Company on terms the Company believes were and will be no more favorable to these insureds than those made available to other customers.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company's Directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities to file with the SEC and the NYSE reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 concerning their ownership of the Shares and other equity securities of the Company.

The Company believes that all of its officers, Directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of its Shares filed all of such reports on a timely basis during the year ended December 31, 2014 except that, due to an administrative error, Kean Driscoll made one late filing on Form 4 relating to 3,276 shares sold on November 15, 2014 pursuant to a 10b5-1 program.

DETAILED BELOW IN ITEMS I THROUGH IV ARE THE MATTERS SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 7, 2015

I. Election of Directors

For purposes of this proposal I, the term "Company" shall mean Validus Holdings, Ltd.

At the Annual General Meeting, three Class II Directors are to be elected to hold office until the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. All of the nominees are currently serving as Directors and were appointed or elected in accordance with the Company's Bye-laws. Unless authority is withheld by the Shareholders, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote for the nominees listed below. All of the nominees have consented to serve if elected, but if any becomes unavailable to serve, the persons named as proxies may exercise their discretion to vote for a substitute nominee. The name, principal occupation and other information concerning each Director are set forth below.

Nominees for Whom Proxies Will Be Voted

Class II Directors whose terms expire in 2015:

Michael E.A. Carpenter, age 65, was appointed as a Director of the Company in August of 2011. Mr. Carpenter joined Talbot in June 2001 as its Chief Executive Officer. Following the sale of Talbot to the Company in the summer of 2007, Mr. Carpenter was appointed as non-executive Chairman of Talbot. Prior to joining Talbot in 2001, Mr. Carpenter served as finance director and managing director of Limit plc, the UK listed Lloyd's group now part of QBE, from 1993 to 2000. Mr. Carpenter is a graduate of Cambridge University, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA). The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Carpenter should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Carpenter has extensive experience in the global financial services industry, a professional background as a chartered accountant and significant expertise in Lloyd's of London.

Therese M. (Terri) Vaughan, age 58, has been a Director of the Company since May 2013. Ms. Vaughan is currently the Dean of the College of Business and Public Administration at Drake University. Ms. Vaughan served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) from 2009 to 2012 where she oversaw operations and navigated the company through a significant period of financial regulatory reform. Previously, Ms. Vaughan served as the Iowa Insurance Commissioner and is a past NAIC President. She has also held academic positions, including the Robb B. Kelley Distinguished Professor of Insurance and Actuarial Science at Drake University, and co-authored two college textbooks on insurance. Ms. Vaughan earned a Ph.D. in risk and insurance at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.B.A. in insurance and economics at the University of Iowa. She is a CPCU, an Associate of the Society of Actuaries, an Associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. She also serves on the Board of Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ: VRSK), a provider of risk-assessment services and decision analytics. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Ms. Vaughan should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Ms. Vaughan has significant experience in the field of insurance regulation. Ms. Vaughan also has extensive risk and insurance related academic credentials including in the field of actuarial science.

Christopher E. Watson, age 64, has been a Director of the Company since its formation. He also serves as a senior principal of Aquiline, which he joined in 2006. Mr. Watson has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. From 1987 to 2004, Mr. Watson served in a variety of executive roles within the property & casualty insurance businesses of Citigroup and its predecessor entities. From 1990 to 2004, Mr. Watson was president and chief executive officer of Gulf Insurance Group, one of the largest surplus lines insurance companies in the world. Mr. Watson served as a senior executive of AIG from 1974 to 1987. Mr. Watson is also a director of Group Ark Insurance Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda-based underwriter of insurance and reinsurance risks in the Lloyd's market, and Beach UK Holding Co., a reinsurance broker in the UK, US, and Canada. In addition, Mr. Watson serves on the Board of Worley Claim Service, LLC., a claim adjusting firm focused on catastrophe events. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Watson should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Watson has extensive experience as an executive in the global (re)insurance industry. Mr. Watson also has applicable experience as an investor in and Director of a Lloyd's of London syndicate.

Your Board of Directors recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the nominees.

Directors Whose Terms of Office Do Not Expire at This Meeting

Class III Directors whose terms expire in 2016:

Edward J. Noonan, age 56, has been Chairman of our Board and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its formation. Mr. Noonan has over 30 years of experience in the insurance and reinsurance industry, serving most recently as the

acting chief executive officer of Global Indemnity Ltd. (Nasdaq: GBLI) from February 2005 through October 2005 and as a member of the board of directors from December 2003 to May 2007. Mr. Noonan served as president and chief executive officer of American Re-Insurance Company from 1997 to 2002, having joined American Re in 1983. Mr. Noonan also served as chairman of Inter-Ocean Reinsurance Holdings of Hamilton, Bermuda from 1997 to 2002. Prior to joining American Re, Mr. Noonan worked at Swiss Reinsurance from 1979 to 1983. Mr. Noonan currently serves as a director of Central Mutual Insurance Company. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Noonan should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Noonan has extensive experience in the global (re)insurance industry. Mr. Noonan has also served as a director of insurance and reinsurance companies, including serving as audit committee chair and board chairperson.

Mahmoud Abdallah, age 66, has served as a Director since May 2, 2012. Mr. Abdallah currently serves as Managing Partner of MMA Global Investments LLC, an investment and advisory firm, a position he had held since July 2012. Mr. Abdallah also served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MISR Insurance Holding Company (MIHC), Cairo Egypt from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Abdallah has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. His experience includes International Reinsurance, Direct Insurance Broking, Mergers and Acquisitions Consulting, Private-Public Globalization Initiatives, and Privatization of Government owned Insurance Operations. He has also twice served as Chairman of the International Insurance Council and currently is a member of the National Council for Arts and Sciences at George Washington University. Mr. Abdallah is also a Board member of Egypt Air, HSBC Egypt and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Abdallah should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Abdallah has extensive experience in the global insurance and reinsurance industry and international finance as well as serving as a director of other financial services companies.

Jeffrey W. Greenberg, age 63, has been a Director of the Company since its formation. He also serves as the managing principal of Aquiline, which he founded in 2005. Mr. Greenberg served as chairman and chief executive officer of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. from 2000 to 2004. From 1996 to 2004, Mr. Greenberg was the chairman of MMC Capital, the manager of the Trident Funds. He previously served as a director of Ace, Inc. Mr. Greenberg has also previously served as a senior executive of AIG, where he was employed from 1978 to 1995. Mr. Greenberg is also Chairman of Conning Holdings Inc. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Greenberg should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Greenberg has extensive executive experience in the global (re)insurance and insurance brokerage businesses. Additionally, Mr. Greenberg has very extensive experience as an investor and director of Bermuda based (re)insurance companies.

John J. Hendrickson, age 54, has been a Director of the Company since its formation. In February 2013 Mr. Hendrickson joined Validus as Director of Strategy, Risk Management and Corporate Development. Prior to this, Mr. Hendrickson was the Founder and Managing Partner of SFRi LLC, an independent investment and advisory firm specializing in the insurance industry. From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Hendrickson held various positions with Swiss Re, including as a Member of the Executive Board, Head of Capital Partners (Swiss Re's Merchant Banking Division), and Managing Partner of Securitas Capital. From 1985 to 1995, Mr. Hendrickson was with Smith Barney, the U.S. investment banking firm. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Hendrickson should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Hendrickson has extensive experience as an investment banker, investor and executive in the global (re)insurance industry. Mr. Hendrickson has also served as a director of insurance and reinsurance companies, including serving as audit committee chair.

Class I Directors whose terms expire in 2017:

Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino, age 48, was appointed to the Board of Directors on October 31, 2012. Before joining the Board of Directors he served as the President of the Company, since November 15, 2010, and as the Company's Chief Financial Officer from March 2006 to February 15, 2013. From its formation in November 2011 until February 2013, Mr. Consolino served as Chief Executive Officer, President and founding Director of PaCRe, Ltd., a Bermuda Class 4 insurance company. Mr. Consolino has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of American Financial Group, Inc. ("AFG") since February 16, 2013 and as a Director of AFG since December 2012. Mr. Consolino has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and prior to joining Validus as a founding member of management served as a managing director in Merrill Lynch's Financial Institutions Group specializing in insurance company advisory and financing transactions. Mr. Consolino also serves as Chairman of the Board of National Interstate Corporation, a property and casualty company based in Ohio and as a Director of AmWINS Group, Inc., a wholesale insurance broker based in North Carolina. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Consolino should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Consolino has broad experience in the financial services industry, the insurance broking industry as well as the global insurance and reinsurance industries.

Matthew J. Grayson, age 53, has been a Director of the Company since its formation. Mr. Grayson currently serves as a director on certain of the Company's affiliated AlphaCat Funds. Since January of 2011, Mr. Grayson has served as a principal of

Welder Asset Management, LLC, an oil and gas asset management firm based in San Antonio, Texas. From 2005 through 2010, Mr. Grayson served as a senior principal of Aquiline. Mr. Grayson has 32 years' experience in the financial services industry. In 1998, following a career in investment banking, corporate finance and capital markets, Mr. Grayson co-founded Venturion Capital, a private equity firm that specialized in global financial services companies. In 2005, Venturion Capital's professionals joined with Jeffrey W. Greenberg, along with others, to form Aquiline. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Grayson should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Grayson has extensive experience as a banker and investor in the global (re)insurance industry. Mr. Grayson is also experienced in investment portfolio oversight and corporate finance.

Jean-Marie Nessi, age 65, has been a Director of the Company since its formation and has 38 years of experience in the reinsurance industry. He has also served as a director of Matmut Enterprises since 2007. Mr. Nessi has also served as the head of Aon Global Risk Consulting at Aon France from October 2008 to January 2009. Mr. Nessi served as Chairman and CEO of NessPa Holding from January 2006 to September 2008 and as the head of the property and casualty business unit for PartnerRe Global, a subsidiary of PartnerRe SA, from February 2003 to February 2006. He was appointed Chairman of PartnerRe SA in June of 2003. Prior to PartnerRe, Mr. Nessi led AXA Corporate Solutions, the successor company to AXA Ré and AXA Global Risk. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Mr. Nessi should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Mr. Nessi has extensive experience in leadership positions in the global (re)insurance industry. Mr. Nessi also has significant expertise in (re)insurance company reserving and financial accounting.

Mandakini Puri, age 55, has been a Director of the Company since its formation. From May of 2011 until May of 2013, Ms. Puri served as a Managing Director of BlackRock Global Private Equity. She also served as a consultant to Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity ("MLGPE") from April 2009 until April 2011. From 1994 through 2009, Ms. Puri served as a senior vice president with MLGPE, where she was the Chief Investment Officer. Ms. Puri had been part of Merrill Lynch's private equity business since 1994, prior to which she was a Director in the High Yield Finance & Restructuring Group at Merrill. Ms. Puri joined Merrill Lynch in 1986. Mr. Puri was a member of the board of directors of PSi Technologies Holdings, Inc. from 1997 until December 2010. The specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led to the conclusion that Ms. Puri should serve as a director, as of the date hereof, are as follows: Ms. Puri has extensive experience as an investor and Director of Bermuda based (re)insurance companies that specialize in catastrophe risk. Ms. Puri also has broad expertise in fixed income investments and corporate finance.

II. Non-binding advisory vote on the executive compensation payable to the Company's Named Executive Officers

Introduction

The core of Validus' executive compensation policies and practices continues to be to pay for performance. The Company's executive officers are compensated in a manner consistent with its strategy, competitive practice, sound corporate governance principles, and shareholder interests and concerns. The Company believes that its compensation program is strongly aligned with the long-term interests of its shareholders. You are encouraged to read the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this proxy statement for additional details on the Company's executive compensation, including its compensation philosophy and objectives and the 2014 compensation of the named executive officers.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, or the Dodd-Frank Act, provides that the Company's Shareholders have the opportunity to vote to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules. As required by these rules, the Company is asking you to vote on the adoption of the following non-binding resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Shareholders of Validus Holdings, Ltd., that the Shareholders approve the compensation of the Company's named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement dated March 20, 2015 pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.

As an advisory vote, this Proposal is non-binding. Although the vote is non-binding, the Board of Directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of the Company's Shareholders, and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

If you own Shares through a bank, broker, or other holder of record, you must instruct your bank, broker, or other holder of record how to vote in order for them to vote your Shares so that your vote can be counted on this proposal.

Your Board of Directors recommends that Shareholders vote to APPROVE the compensation payable to the Company's Named Executive Officers.

III. Approval of Independent Auditor

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is required by law and applicable NYSE rules to be directly responsible for the selection (subject to the approval of shareholders), compensation and retention of the Company's Independent Auditor. The Audit Committee has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. as the Independent Auditor for the year ending December 31, 2015, for approval by the Shareholders. Even if the selection is approved, the Audit Committee in its discretion may direct the selection of a different independent auditor at any time during the fiscal year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company and its Shareholders.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to approve the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. as the Company's Independent Auditor to audit the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2015. The persons designated as proxies will vote FOR the approval of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. as the Company's Independent Auditor, unless otherwise directed. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. are expected to be present at the Annual General Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement should they choose to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to questions, as appropriate.

Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to approve the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda.

IV. Approval of the amendment and restatement of the Company's 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan

As of December 31, 2014, the total number of shares available for issuance under our 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP” or “Plan”) was 903,292 shares. The Board of Directors has approved, subject to shareholder approval, the amendment and restatement of the Plan in order to make certain amendments to the Plan, including an increase in the aggregate number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder by 1,850,000 shares. The closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE was $41.42 on March 19, 2015.

We are asking our Shareholders to consider and vote on the following proposal to amend and restate the Plan and increase the number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance thereunder as we feel that the LTIP is an important factor in attracting, retaining, and motivating employees, consultants and directors in order to achieve the Company’s long-term growth and profitability objectives.

Key Components of the Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan

The follow paragraphs summarize what the Company believes to be key components and metrics of the LTIP.

Purpose of the Plan

The purposes of the Plan are to advance the interests of Validus Holdings, Ltd. and its Shareholders by providing a means to attract, retain, and motivate employees, consultants and directors of Validus Holdings, Ltd., its subsidiaries and affiliates, to provide for competitive compensation opportunities, to encourage long term service, to recognize individual contributions and reward achievement of performance goals, and to promote the creation of long term value for Shareholders by aligning the interests of such persons with those of Shareholders.

Administration

The Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”). The Committee determines which employees, consultants and directors receive awards, the types of awards to be received and the terms and conditions thereof, including the vesting and exercisability provisions of the awards.

Eligible Persons

Any employees, consultants, officers, and directors, including any director who is an employee ("Eligible Persons"), of the Company or the Company’s affiliates and subsidiaries are eligible for participation in the Company’s LTIP. As of December 31, 2014, 241 participants held equity based awards issued as part of the LTIP. Approximately 814 individuals are eligible to participant in the LTIP.

Shares subject to the Plan

Subject to anti-dilution adjustments in the event of certain changes in the Company's capital structure, a total of 2,753,292 Shares will be reserved for issuance in connection with awards on or after the effective date of the amended and restated Plan and a total of 2,000,000 Shares may be issued under incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). If any awards are forfeited, cancelled, terminated, exchanged or surrendered or any such Award is settled in cash or otherwise terminates without a distribution of Shares to the participant, any Shares counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan will, to the extent of any such forfeiture, settlement, termination, cancellation, exchange or surrender, again be available for awards under the Plan. Subject to anti-dilution adjustments, Options and Share Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) may be granted with respect to a maximum of 3,000,000 Shares and Performance Awards (discussed below) may be granted with respect to a maximum of 1,500,000 Shares to any person during a calendar year.

Types of Awards

The Plan provides for the grant to our employees, consultants and directors ("Participants") of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, Dividend Equivalents, and other share-based awards. To date, only Non-Qualified Options ("NQOs"), Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units and Performance Shares have been issued under the Plan.

Stock Options

The Committee is authorized to grant Options, which may be NQOs or ISOs, to Eligible Persons which may be exercised for voting common shares upon vesting. Options have a life of no more than 10 years and vest either pro rata or at the end of the required service period from the date of grant. The fair value of the Option awards at the date of grant is determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that the exercise price per Share shall not be less than the fair market value per Share on the date of grant. Options granted after the effective date of the amended and restated Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents to be paid thereon. To date, the Company has granted 2,987,232 Non-Qualified Options, inclusive of awards forfeited. No Options have been granted since September 4, 2009.

Share Appreciation Rights

The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Eligible Persons. A SAR confers on the Eligible Person to whom it is granted a right to receive with respect to each Share subject thereto, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (1) the fair market value of one Share on the date of exercise over (2) the exercise price per Share of the SAR, as determined by the Committee as of the date of grant of the SAR (which shall not be less than the fair market value per Share on the date of grant). SARs granted after the effective date of the amended and restated Plan may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents to be paid thereon. To date, no SARs have been granted.

Restricted Shares

The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Shares to Eligible Persons. Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including, without limitation, upon achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee), in such installments, or otherwise, as the Committee may determine. Except to the extent restricted under the award agreement relating to the Restricted Shares, an Eligible Person granted Restricted Shares shall have all of the rights of a shareholder including, without limitation, the right to vote and the right to receive dividends thereon.

Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, at the date of grant or thereafter, upon termination of service during any applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares and any accrued but unpaid dividends or dividend equivalents that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Shares may be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination of service resulting from specified causes.

Dividends paid on Restricted Shares shall be either paid at the dividend payment date, or deferred

for payment to such date, and subject to such conditions, as determined by the Committee, in cash or in restricted or unrestricted Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such dividends. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares distributed in connection with a Share split or dividend in Shares, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Shares with respect to which such Shares or other property has been distributed. To date, the Company has granted 8,875,202 Restricted Share awards, inclusive of awards forfeited.

Restricted Share Units

The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Share Units to Eligible Persons. Delivery of Shares or cash, as the case may be, will occur upon expiration of the deferral period specified for Restricted Share Units by the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Eligible Person). In addition, Restricted Share Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose, including, without limitation, the achievement of performance criteria if deemed appropriate by the Committee, at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier or later specified times, separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.

Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter, upon termination of service during the applicable deferral period or portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the award agreement evidencing the Restricted Share Units), or upon failure to satisfy any other conditions precedent to the delivery of Shares or cash to which such Restricted Share Units relate, all Restricted Share Units that are at that time subject to deferral or restriction shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Share Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination of service resulting from specified causes.

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the date of grant, dividend equivalents on the specified number of Shares covered by a Restricted Share Unit shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Restricted Share Unit at the dividend payment date in cash or in restricted or unrestricted Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Restricted Share Unit and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Restricted Share Units or other Awards, as the Committee shall determine or permit the Participant to elect. To date, the Company has granted 182,961 Restricted Share Units, inclusive of 11,463 shares in the form of reinvested dividends and awards forfeited.

Performance Shares and Performance Units

The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Shares or Performance Units or both to Eligible Persons. The Committee shall determine a performance period (the “Performance Period”) of one or more years or other periods and shall determine the performance objectives for grants of Performance Shares and Performance Units. Performance objectives may vary from Eligible Person to Eligible Person and shall be based upon the performance criteria as the Committee may deem appropriate. Each Performance Share award represents the right to receive, on the terms and conditions set forth in the award agreement evidencing the award, a specified number of common shares of the Company, par value $0.175 per share. To date, the Company has granted 178,209 Performance Shares, inclusive of awards forfeited.

Amendments

The Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. However, any amendment

for which shareholder approval is required under the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the

Shares may then be listed or quoted will not be effective until such shareholder approval has been obtained. In addition, no

amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of a Participant under any

outstanding award without the consent of the affected Participant.

Change in Control

Under the Plan and the applicable award agreements, certain provisions apply in case of termination and change in control. Under the Plan, change in control means consummation of (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to a person who is not either a member of, or an affiliate of a member of, the Initial

Investor Group (as defined below); or (ii) a sale by the Company, one or more members of the Initial Investor Group or any of their respective affiliates resulting in more than 50% of the voting stock of the Company ("Voting Shares") being held by a person or group (as such terms are used in the Exchange Act) that does not include any member of the Initial Investor Group or any of their respective affiliates; or (iii) a merger or consolidation of the Company into another person as a result of which a person or group acquires more than 50% of the Voting Shares of the Company that does not include any member of, or an affiliate of a member of, the Initial Investor Group; provided, however, that a change in control shall occur if and only if after any such event listed in (i)-(iii) above, the Initial Investor Group is unable to elect a majority of the board of directors (or other governing body equivalent thereto) of the entity that purchased the assets in the case of an event described in (i) above, the Company in the case of an event described in (ii) above, or the resulting entity in the case of an event described in (iii) above, as the case may be. The "Initial Investor Group" shall mean (i) Aquiline Financial Services Fund L.P., and (ii) the other Investors under subscription agreements with the Company dated December 9, 2005.

Further Amendments to the Plan

Award Vesting/Exercisability/Distribution Limitations. Restricted Shares, dividend equivalents, and other Share-based awards shall become vested over a period of not less than one year following the date the applicable award is granted. Options and SARs shall become exercisable over a period of not less than one year following the date the Option or SAR is granted; Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units shall not provide for distributions over a period of less than one year following the date the applicable award is granted; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to 5% of the Shares available for grants of awards on the effective date of the amended and restated Plan may be granted to Eligible Persons without regard to such minimum vesting, exercisability and distribution provisions.

No Discretionary Acceleration of Vesting. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, except as set forth in the proviso below, the Committee shall not exercise discretion to accelerate vesting of any award granted under the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to provide for accelerated vesting, exercisability and distribution of any awards held by a Participant under the Plan in the event of the Participants’ death or disability or upon or following consummation of a Change in Control.

No Dividend Equivalents on Options/SARs. Options and SARs granted after the effective date may not provide for dividends or dividend equivalents to be paid thereon.

No Dividend Equivalents on Unvested Performance Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, dividend equivalents shall not be paid with respect to Performance Shares, Performance Units or other awards that vest based on achievement of performance objectives prior to the time the applicable performance objectives have been achieved.

Performance Awards

Performance Awards Granted to Covered Employees. If the Committee determines that an award (other than an Option or SAR) to be granted to an Eligible Person should qualify as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, the grant, vesting, exercise and/or settlement of such award (each, a “Performance Award”) shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth below.

Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with the Plan. The performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder (including Treasury Regulation 1.162-27 and successor regulations thereto), including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, vested, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, vesting, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards. Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

Business Criteria. One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for specified Subsidiaries or Affiliates or other business units or lines of business of the Company shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) earnings per share (basic or fully diluted); (2) revenues; (3) earnings, before or after taxes, from operations (generally or specified operations), or before or after interest expense, depreciation, amortization, incentives, or extraordinary or special items; (4) cash flow, free cash flow, operating cash flow, cash flow return on investment (discounted or otherwise), net cash provided by operations, or cash flow in excess of cost of capital;

(5) return on net assets, return on assets, return on investment, return on capital, return on equity; (6) economic value added; (7) operating margin or operating expense; (8) net income or net profit margin; (9) Share price or total stockholder return; (10) book value or growth in book, economic book and/or intrinsic book value; (11) dividend adjusted diluted book value; (12) expense ratio; (13) operating income; (14) comprehensive income or pro forma net income; and (15) strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified market penetration, geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, customer satisfaction, supervision of litigation and information technology, and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures of Subsidiaries, Affiliates or joint ventures. The targeted level or levels of performance with respect to such business criteria may be established at such levels and in such terms as the Committee may determine, in its discretion, including in absolute terms, as a goal relative to performance in prior periods, or as a goal compared to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies.

Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance Goals; Per-Person Limit. Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period, as specified by the Committee. A performance goal shall be established not later than the earlier of (A) 90 days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Award or (B) the time 25% of such performance period has elapsed. In all cases, the maximum Performance Award of any Participant shall be subject to the limitation set forth in the Plan or the Maximum Annual Cash Award section below, as applicable.

Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms. Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Shares, other awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable to the Participant in respect of a Performance Award if the applicable award agreement expressly provides that the award should qualify as “performance‑based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any settlement which changes the form of payment from that originally specified shall be implemented in a manner such that the Performance Award and other related awards do not, solely for that reason, fail to qualify as "performance-based compensation" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee shall specify the circumstances, consistent with the award vesting requirements above and the requirements to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of service of the Participant or other event (including a change in control) prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of such Performance Awards.

Maximum Annual Cash Award. The maximum amount payable upon settlement of a cash-settled Performance Unit (or other cash-settled award) granted under this Plan that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code for any calendar year to any Eligible Person shall not exceed $5,000,000.

Written Determinations. Determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount potentially payable in respect of Performance Awards, the level of actual achievement of the specified performance goals relating to Performance Awards and the amount of any final Performance Award shall be recorded in writing in the case of Performance Awards intended to qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code. Specifically, the Committee shall certify in writing, in a manner conforming to applicable regulations under Section 162(m), prior to settlement of each such award, that the performance objective relating to the Performance Award and other material terms of the award upon which settlement of the award was conditioned have been satisfied.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of the United States federal income tax consequences of the Plan, based upon current provisions of the Code, the treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, and does not address the consequences under any other applicable tax laws. The provisions of the Code, regulations thereunder and related interpretations are complicated and their impact in any one case may depend upon the particular circumstances relating thereto.

Stock Options

In general, the grant of an Option will not be a taxable event to the recipient and it will not result in a deduction to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The tax consequences associated with the exercise of an Option and the subsequent disposition of Shares acquired on exercise depend on whether the Option is a NQO or ISO.

Upon the exercise of a NQO, the recipient will recognize ordinary taxable income equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares received upon exercise over the exercise price. If the recipient is employed by a United

States subsidiary, the subsidiary will generally be able to claim a deduction in an equivalent amount. Any gain or loss upon a subsequent sale or exchange of the Shares will be capital gain or loss. If the holding period for the Shares is not more than one year, the gain or loss will be short-term capital gain or loss. Short-term capital gain is taxable at the same rates as ordinary income. If the holding period is more than one year, the gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss. In general, long-term capital gain is subject to lower maximum federal income tax rates than ordinary income.

Generally, upon the exercise of an ISO, the recipient will not recognize ordinary taxable income and no deduction will be available to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, provided the Option is exercised while the recipient is an employee or within three months following termination of employment (longer, in the case of termination of employment by reason of disability or death). If an ISO is exercised after these periods, the exercise will be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as the exercise of a NQO. Also, an ISO granted under the Plan will be treated as a NQO to the extent it (together with any other ISOs granted under plans of the Company and its subsidiaries) first becomes exercisable in any calendar year for Shares having a fair market value, determined as of the date of grant, in excess of $100,000. Although the exercise of an ISO as described above would not produce ordinary taxable income to the recipient, it would result in an increase in the recipient’s alternative minimum taxable income and may result in an alternative minimum tax liability for the year of exercise.

If Shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO are sold or exchanged more than one year after the date of exercise and more than two years from the date of grant, any gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss. If Shares acquired upon exercise of an ISO are disposed of prior to the expiration of these one-year or two-year holding periods (a "Disqualifying Disposition"), the recipient will recognize ordinary income at the time of disposition, and, if the recipient is employed by a United States subsidiary, the subsidiary will generally be able to claim a deduction, in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Shares at the date of exercise over the exercise price (or, in certain circumstances, the gain on sale, if less). Any additional gain will be treated as capital gain, long-term or short-term, depending on how long the Shares have been held. Where Shares are sold or exchanged in a Disqualifying Disposition (other than certain related party transactions) for an amount less than their fair market value at the date of exercise, any ordinary income recognized in connection with the Disqualifying Disposition will be limited to the amount of gain, if any, recognized in the sale or exchange, and any loss will be a long-term or short-term capital loss, depending on how long the Shares have been held.

Restricted Shares

A recipient who receives Restricted Shares will generally recognize ordinary income at the time they vest. The amount of ordinary income will be the fair market value of the Shares at the time the income is recognized, determined without regard to any restrictions other than restrictions which by their terms will never lapse. If the recipient is employed by a United States subsidiary, this amount will generally be deductible for United States federal income tax purposes by the subsidiary. Dividends paid with respect to Restricted Shares that are not vested will be ordinary compensation income to the recipient (and generally deductible by an employer that is a United States subsidiary). Any gain or loss upon a subsequent sale or exchange of the Shares, measured by the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the date the Restricted Shares vest, will be capital gain or loss, long-term or short-term, depending on the holding period for the Shares. The holding period for this purpose will begin on the date following the date the Shares vest.

In lieu of the treatment described above, a recipient may elect immediate recognition of income under Section 83(b) of the Code. In such event, the recipient will recognize as income the fair market value of the Restricted Shares at the time of grant (determined without regard to any restrictions other than restrictions which by their terms will never lapse), and if the recipient is employed by a United States subsidiary, the subsidiary will generally be entitled to a corresponding deduction. Dividends paid with respect to Restricted Shares as to which a proper Section 83(b) election has been made will not be deductible to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. If a Section 83(b) election is made and the Restricted Shares are subsequently forfeited, the participant will not be entitled to any offsetting tax deduction.

SARs and Other Awards

With respect to SARs, Restricted Share Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, dividend equivalents and other awards under the Plan not described above, generally, when a participant receives payment with respect to the award, the amount of cash and the fair market value of any other property received will be ordinary income to such participant and will be allowed as a deduction for United States federal income tax purposes to an employer that is a United States subsidiary.

Limitation on Deductibility

Section 162(m) of the Code generally limits the deductible amount of annual compensation paid (including, unless an exception applies, compensation otherwise deductible in connection with awards granted under the Plan) by a public company to a “covered employee” (i.e., the chief executive officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company, other than the chief financial officer) to no more than $1,000,000 each. Since the Company will not generally be subject to United States income tax, the limitation on deductibility will not directly apply to it. However, the limitation would apply to a United States subsidiary of the Company if it employs a covered employee. Qualified performance-based compensation will be excluded from the $1,000,000 limitation on deductibility. Our policy is to qualify, to the extent consistent with our compensation goals and programs, our executive officers' compensation for deductibility under applicable tax laws. However, the Committee believes that its primary responsibility is to provide a compensation program that will attract, retain and reward the executive talent necessary to our success. Consequently, the Committee recognizes that the loss of a tax deduction could be necessary in some circumstances due to the restrictions of Section 162(m). The Committee will review tax consequences as well as other relevant considerations in connection with compensation decisions.

Compliance with Sections 409A and 457A

It is intended that the Plan and the awards granted thereunder will either be exempt from or comply with Section 409A and 457A of the Code and any regulations and guidelines issued thereunder, and that the Plan and the awards granted thereunder be interpreted on a basis consistent with such intent.

Awards to be granted in the future under the Plan are not currently determinable and, therefore, a "New Plan Table" has not been included. Please see the "Summary Compensation Table" for awards granted to our named executive officers in the last three years.

The following table displays certain information regarding our equity compensation plans at December 31, 2014:



Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders	Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, and Rights	Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options		Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity compensation plans
2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (1)	4,154,404	$	17.74	903,292
IPC Holdings Ltd. 2007 Incentive Plan (2)	74,217	$	31.88	—
Director Stock Compensation Plan	—			52,104

____________________________________


(1)	The Company’s Amended and Restated LTIP provides for grants to employees of options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance shares, dividend equivalents or other share-based awards. No SARs have been granted to date.


(2)	This plan was acquired in connection with the acquisition of IPC Holdings Ltd. in September 2009.

The following table displays certain information regarding our equity compensation plans at March 13, 2015:



Award Type	Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, and Rights	Weighted-Average Exercise Price / Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted Average Remaining Term
Options	70,865	$	20.13	2.1 years
Restricted Shares	2,836,619	$	35.83	2.6 years
Restricted Share Units	101,341	$	36.51	3.0 years
Performance Shares	106,369	$	36.03	1.9 years
Total 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan	3,115,194
IPC Holdings Ltd. 2007 Incentive Plan	74,217	$	31.88	4.5 years

Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the proposal to approve the proposed amendment and restatement of the 2005 Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Shareholder Proposals for 2016 Annual General Meeting

Shareholder proposals intended for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 2016 Annual General Meeting should be submitted in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act and sent to the General Counsel at Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08 Bermuda. Such proposals must be received by November 27, 2015.

In addition, a Shareholder may present a proposal at the 2016 Annual General Meeting other than pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Any such proposal will not be included in the Proxy Statement for the 2016 Annual General Meeting and must be received by the General Counsel at Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke, HM 08, Bermuda by February 12, 2016. If any such proposal is not so received, such proposal will be deemed untimely and, therefore, the persons appointed by the Board of Directors as its proxies will have the right to exercise discretionary voting authority with respect to such proposal.

Other Matters

While management knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual General Meeting, if any other matters properly come before the meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying proxy form to vote the proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

Proxy Solicitation

The Company will bear the cost of this solicitation of proxies. Proxies may be solicited by Directors, officers and employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, who will not receive additional compensation for such services. Upon request, the Company will also reimburse brokers and others holding Shares in their names, or in the names of nominees, for forwarding proxy materials to their customers.

The Company will furnish, without charge, to any Shareholder a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K that it files with the SEC. A copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 may be obtained upon written request to the Company's Secretary at Validus Holdings, Ltd., 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda.




		As ordered,

		Edward J. Noonan Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

Validus Inactive DEF 14ADefinitive proxy