8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 8, 2009

VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Bermuda
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 001-33606
(Commission File Number) 98-0501001
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

19 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 11 Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (441) 278-9000

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

þ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EX-99.1

Item 8.01 Other Events.

     On May 8, 2009 Validus Holdings, Ltd. (“Validus”) issued a press release. The press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith:

Exhibit No.		Description
	99.1	Press Release, dated May 8, 2009, entitled “Validus Files Definitive Opposition Proxy Materials.”

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 8, 2009

VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD. (Registrant)
By:	/s/  Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
	Name:	Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino
	Title:	Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

	Validus Holdings, Ltd. Bermuda Commercial Bank Building 19 Par-la-Ville Road Hamilton, HM 11Bermuda
	Mailing Address: Suite 1790 48 Par-la-Ville Road Hamilton, HM 11 Bermuda
	Telephone: (441) 278-9000 Facsimile: (441) 278-9090 Website: www.validusre.bm

VALIDUS FILES DEFINITIVE OPPOSITION PROXY MATERIALS

Asks IPC Shareholders to Vote the GOLD Proxy Card to Reject the Proposed Max Amalgamation and
Preserve the Opportunity to Benefit from the Validus Offer

Hamilton, Bermuda — May 8, 2009 — Validus Holdings, Ltd. (“Validus”) (NYSE: VR) today announced that it has filed its definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is mailing proxy materials to shareholders of IPC Holdings, Ltd. (NASDAQ: IPCR) asking them to vote the GOLD proxy card and reject the proposed amalgamation agreement with Max Capital Group Ltd. (“Max”). Validus asks IPC shareholders to thoroughly read the definitive proxy statement as it contains important information.

Validus reiterated that voting “AGAINST” the proposed Max amalgamation preserves IPC shareholders’ opportunity to benefit from Validus’ offer for a compelling strategic combination with IPC to create a market-leading carrier in Bermuda’s short-tail reinsurance and insurance market (the “Validus Offer”). Under the Validus Offer, each IPC common share would be exchanged for 1.2037 Validus common shares, providing IPC shareholders with an 18% premium based on the closing prices of both companies on March 30, 2009, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Validus Offer. The Validus Offer also would provide IPC shareholders with the opportunity to benefit from stable, profitable diversification into attractive business lines with superior growth opportunities. In addition, the combined company would have a strong balance sheet and minimal exposure to risky asset classes and an experienced, proven and stable management team with substantial expertise operating in IPC’s core lines of business.

Georgeson Inc. is assisting Validus with its efforts to solicit proxies. IPC shareholders who have questions about voting their IPC shares should call Georgeson Inc. toll-free at (888) 274-5119 (banks and brokerage firms should call (212) 440-9800), or email validusIPC@georgeson.com.

About Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Validus Holdings, Ltd. is a provider of reinsurance and insurance, conducting its operations worldwide through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”) and Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”). Validus Re is a Bermuda based reinsurer focused on short-tail lines of reinsurance. Talbot is the Bermuda parent of the specialty insurance group primarily operating within the Lloyd’s insurance market through Syndicate 1183.

Contacts:

Investors:
Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Jon Levenson, Senior Vice President
+1-441-278-9000

or

Media:
Jamie Tully/Jonathan Doorley
Sard Verbinnen & Co
+1-212-687-8080

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include forward-looking statements, both with respect to us and our industry, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “will,” “may” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) uncertainty as to whether Validus will be able to enter into and to consummate the proposed acquisition on the terms set forth in the Validus Offer; 2) uncertainty as to the actual premium that will be realized by IPC shareholders in connection with the proposed acquisition; 3) uncertainty as to the long-term value of Validus common shares; 4) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events; 5) rating agency actions; 6) adequacy of Validus’ or IPC’s risk management and loss limitation methods; 7) cyclicality of demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets; 8) Validus’ limited operating history; 9) Validus’ ability to implement its business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets; 10) adequacy of Validus’ or IPC’s loss reserves; 11) continued availability of capital and financing; 12) retention of key personnel; 13) competition; 14) potential loss of business from one or more major insurance or reinsurance brokers; 15) Validus’ or IPC’s ability to implement, successfully and on a timely basis, complex infrastructure, distribution capabilities, systems, procedures and internal controls, and to develop accurate actuarial data to support the business and regulatory and reporting requirements; 16) general economic and market conditions (including inflation, volatility in the credit and capital markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates); 17) the integration of Talbot or other businesses we may acquire or new business ventures we may start; 18) the effect on Validus’ or IPC’s investment portfolios of changing financial market conditions including inflation, interest rates, liquidity and other factors; 19) acts of terrorism or outbreak of war; 20) availability of reinsurance and retrocessional coverage; 21) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed acquisition, including as a result of failure or delay in integrating the businesses of Validus and IPC; and 22) the outcome of litigation arising from the Validus Offer, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and the risk factors included in IPC’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents of Validus and IPC on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Any forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Validus will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Additional Information about the Proposed Acquisition and Where to Find It:

This press release relates to the offer to be commenced by Validus to exchange each issued and outstanding common share of IPC for 1.2037 common shares of Validus. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to exchange, or a solicitation of an offer to exchange, IPC common shares, nor is it a substitute for the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO or the preliminary Prospectus/Offer to

Exchange to be included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (including the Letter of Transmittal and related documents and as amended from time to time, the “Exchange Offer Documents”) that Validus intends to file with the SEC. The Validus exchange offer will be made only through the Exchange Offer Documents.

This press release is not a substitute for the proxy statements that Validus has filed or may file with the SEC or any other documents which Validus may send to its or IPC’s shareholders in connection with the proposed acquisition. A definitive proxy statement seeking proxies to oppose the issuance of IPC shares in connection with the amalgamation agreement between IPC and Max (the “Opposition Proxy Statement”) is being sent by Validus to IPC shareholders, and Validus has filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC seeking proxies to approve the issuance of Validus shares in connection with the proposed amalgamation between IPC and Validus (the “Validus Share Issuance Proxy Statement”).

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE EXCHANGE OFFER DOCUMENTS, THE OPPOSITION PROXY STATEMENT, THE VALIDUS SHARE ISSUANCE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER PROXY STATEMENTS OR RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT VALIDUS HAS FILED OR MAY FILE WITH THE SEC IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION. All such documents, when filed, are available free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or by directing a request to Validus through Jon Levenson, Senior Vice President, at +1-441-278-9000.

Participants in the Solicitation:

Validus and certain of its executive officers are deemed to be participants in any solicitation of shareholders in connection with the proposed acquisition. Information about Validus’ executive officers is available in Validus’ proxy statement, dated March 25, 2009 for its 2009 annual general meeting of shareholders.

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