-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Vf+iLfxwwB+Qmaz2jHCSAeKppuB1bvQTRu+Am//Rm2p+n6b+CVGmU3XCGioe2gGd
 KwRtcDLj8YhNSVP8tB7w/w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899140-05-000979.txt : 20051108
<SEC-HEADER>0000899140-05-000979.hdr.sgml : 20051108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051108163136
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899140-05-000979
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051108
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ashley William J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001323407

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14428
		FILM NUMBER:		051186656

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(441) 295-4513

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

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ashley_renre4-110805ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323407</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ashley William J</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>CUO(Gln Grp)Pres&amp;COO(Glen Ins)</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8878</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29918</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>34035</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-11-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>34035</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34035</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen H. Weinstein, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----