-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899140-05-000437.txt : 20050504
<SEC-HEADER>0000899140-05-000437.hdr.sgml : 20050504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050504202225
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899140-05-000437
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050504
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050504

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000913144
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				980138020
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RENAISSANCE HOUSE
		STREET 2:		8-20 EAST BROADWAY
		CITY:			PEMBROKE BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 19
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412954513

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RENAISSANCE HOUSE
		STREET 2:		8-20 EAST BROADWAY
		CITY:			PEMBROKE BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 19

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NICHOLS JOHN DRAKE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001256130

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14428
		FILM NUMBER:		05800919

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD.,
		STREET 2:		RENAISSANCE HOUSE, 8-12 EAST BROADWAY
		CITY:			HAMILTON, BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 19
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412954513
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nichols_renre4-050405ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000913144</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RNR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001256130</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NICHOLS JOHN DRAKE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>RENAISSANCE HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>8-20 EAST BROADWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEMBROKE HM 19, BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Pres., Renaissance Underwritin</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>828</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>44.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25407</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99539</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Partnership</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1137</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents exclusively shares withheld by the Issuer in respect of payment of withholding tax liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities are owned and controlled by a family limited partnership for the benefit of immediate family members of the
reporting person and may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark A. Wilcox, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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