Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
BRAMANTI FRANK J
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC/DE/ [HCC]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Chief Executive Officer
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
C/O HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC., 13403 NORTHWEST FREEWAY
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/17/2009
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77040
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 02/17/2009   A   20,676 (1) A $ 23.94 324,241 D  
Common Stock               2,468 I By Children
Common Stock               1,125 I By Trust

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option to Purchase (2) $ 21.37             12/20/2005 12/20/2009 Common Stock 18,750   18,750 D  
Option to Purchase (3) $ 30.85             01/05/2007 01/05/2011 Common Stock 12,500   12,500 D  
Option to Purchase (2) $ 31.11               (4) 03/02/2012 Common Stock 400,000   400,000 D  
Option to Purchase (3) $ 31.11             03/02/2011 03/02/2012 Common Stock 50,000   50,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
BRAMANTI FRANK J
C/O HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
13403 NORTHWEST FREEWAY
HOUSTON, TX 77040
  X     Chief Executive Officer  

Signatures

 Randy D. Rinicella as Attorney in Fact for Frank J. Bramanti   02/20/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Shares acquired pursuant to a grant under the 2008 Flexible Incentive Plan. This grant is subject to restrictions on transfer or sale under the terms of the 2009 Executive Stock Ownership and Retention Policy.
(2) Option to purchase granted pursuant to the 2004 Flexible Incentive Plan.
(3) Option to purchase granted pursuant to the 2001 Flexible Incentive Plan.
(4) The options vest at 100,000 shares annually beginning 03/02/08.

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