-----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,
 V0X9cR0efU7wV7iLxB5EzwDtdbVgIU+lcCr4tjqEJ1zdUPGwL+tMxlOw9kQnU9YT
 9XEK1fUyQJ7Aa5UzHmg9ow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-09-007266.txt : 20090507
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-09-007266.hdr.sgml : 20090507
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090507123128
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-09-007266
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090506
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090507
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090507

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lyons Mark Donald
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001359049

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16209
		FILM NUMBER:		09804373

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE LIBERTY PLAZA, 53RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10006

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000947484
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WESSEX HOUSE
		STREET 2:		45 REID STREET
		CITY:			HAMILTON
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 12
		BUSINESS PHONE:		441-278-9250

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WESSEX HOUSE
		STREET 2:		45 REID STREET
		CITY:			HAMILTON
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 12

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000508

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RISK CAPITAL HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950816

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RISK CAPITAL RE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000947484</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACGL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001359049</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Lyons Mark Donald</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 PLAZA THREE, 3RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JERSEY CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07311</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO Arch Insur Gr</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares, $.01 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68380</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>57.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-05-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares, $.01 par value per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject to the applicable award agreement, represents restricted shares units that vest in three equal annual installments on May 6th in each of 2010, 2011 and 2012; such award will settle in Issuer's common shares upon the termination of the Reporting Person's employment, as specifically provided in the award agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The stock appreciation right will become exercisable in three equal annual installments, with the first installment becoming exercisable on May 6, 2010 and the next two installments on May 6, 2011 and May 6, 2012, subject to the applicable award agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">15,950 of such amount will settle in Issuer's common shares upon the termination of the Reporting Person's employment, as specifically provided in the award agreements.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark D. Lyons</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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