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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 AK9DXgVajvF+X4GcQFtMIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-013996.txt : 20030703
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-013996.hdr.sgml : 20030703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030703130838
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-013996
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214816
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		106 PITTS BAY ROAD
		CITY:			PEMBROKE
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412962600

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHOEN SCOTT A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027036

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31721
		FILM NUMBER:		03774622

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THOMAS H LEE CO
		STREET 2:		75 STATE ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172271050

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O J W CHILDS ASSOCIATES LP
		STREET 2:		ONE FEDERAL ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>j2811_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="no"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001214816</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS L</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AXS</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
    <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001027036</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHOEN SCOTT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeSecurity>
    <securityTitle>
      <value>Common Stock</value>
    </securityTitle>
    <transactionDate>
      <value>2003-07-01</value>
    </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
      <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
      <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
      <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
    <transactionTimeliness>
      <value/>
    </transactionTimeliness>
    <transactionAmounts>
      <transactionShares>
        <value>1017184</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </transactionShares>
      <transactionValue>
        <value>20.68</value>
      </transactionValue>
      <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        <value>D</value>
      </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
    </transactionAmounts>
    <postTransactionAmounts>
      <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        <value>14707272</value>
      </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
    </postTransactionAmounts>
    <ownershipNature>
      <directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <value>I</value>
      </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      <natureOfOwnership>
        <value>By Partnership</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </natureOfOwnership>
    </ownershipNature>
  </nonDerivativeSecurity>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">On July 1, 2003, Thomas H. Lee (Alternative) Fund V, L.P. ("Fund V"), Thomas H. Lee (Alternative) Parallel Fund V, L.P. ("Parallel Fund"), Thomas H. Lee (Alternative) Cayman Fund V, L.P. ("Cayman Fund"), and Thomas H. Lee Investors Limited Partnership ("Investors" and together with Fund V, Parallel Fund and Cayman Fund, the "Funds") sold, in the aggregate, 1,017,184 shares of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Represents 11,532,213 shares of the Issuer held directly by Fund V, 2,992,145 shares of the Issuer held directly by Parallel Fund, 158,908 shares of the Issuer held directly by Cayman Fund, 22,782 shares of the Issuer held directly by Investors and 1,224 shares of the Issuer held by THL Managers V, LLC.  The Reporting Person may be deemed to be an affiliate of these entities and, as such, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of the Issuer held directly by these entities.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for the purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Scott A. Schoen</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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