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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 5, 2011.

Registration No. 333        

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

29 Richmond Road,
Pembroke, Bermuda HM 08,
Telephone: (441) 278-9000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant’s principal executive offices)

CT Corporation System
111 Eighth Avenue,
New York, New York 10011
Telephone: (212) 590-9200

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Robert F. Kuzloski, Esq.

Chief Corporate Legal Officer

Validus Holdings, Ltd.

29 Richmond Road

Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda

Telephone: (441) 278-9000

Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale of the Securities to the Public:  From time to time after the filing of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  o

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

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PROSPECTUS

Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Common Shares, Preference Shares, Depositary Shares,

Debt Securities, Warrants to Purchase Common Shares,

Warrants to Purchase Preference Shares,

Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities, Share Purchase Contracts,

Share Purchase Units and Units

We may offer and sell from time to time:

·                    common shares;

·                    preference shares;

·                    depositary shares representing preference shares or common shares;

·                    senior or subordinated debt securities;

·                    warrants to purchase common shares, preference shares or debt securities;

·                    share purchase contracts and share purchase units; and

·                    units which may consist of any combination of the securities listed above.

In addition, selling shareholders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer, from time to time, Validus Holdings, Ltd. common shares. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these securities by any selling shareholders.

Specific terms of these securities and material tax considerations pertaining to an investment in these securities will be provided in one or more supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

Investing in these securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and/or our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, if any.

We and/or any selling shareholders may sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. We and/or any selling shareholders reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. The net proceeds to us from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) under the trading symbol “VR.” Other than for our common shares, there is no market for the other securities we may offer.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission, the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is August 5, 2011.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed by Validus Holdings, Ltd. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and the information to which we have referred you. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus may only be accurate on the date of this document.

Securities may be offered or sold in Bermuda only in compliance with the provisions of the Investment Business Act of 2003 of Bermuda, which regulates the sale of securities in Bermuda. In addition, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (the “BMA”) must approve all issuances and transfers of securities of a Bermuda exempted company. The BMA has issued its permission for the free issuance and transferability of our securities, as long as any of our shares are listed on the NYSE or other appointed stock exchanges, to and among persons who are non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes. The issue and transfer of in excess of 20% of the common shares to and among persons who are residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes requires prior authorization from the BMA. Any other transfers remain subject to approval by the BMA. In addition, at the time of issue of each prospectus supplement, we will deliver to and file a copy of this prospectus and the prospectus supplement with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda in accordance with Bermuda law. The BMA and the Registrar of Companies accept no responsibility for the financial soundness of any proposal or for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement.

As used in this prospectus, references to the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the consolidated operations of Validus Holdings, Ltd. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise.

References in this prospectus to “dollars” or “$” are to the lawful currency of the United States of America, unless otherwise indicated or the context suggests otherwise.

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VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.

Validus Holdings, Ltd. (“Validus” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of Bermuda on October 19, 2005. Our initial investor, which we refer to as our founding investor, is Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, a private equity firm dedicated to investing in financial services companies. Other sponsoring investors included private equity funds managed by Vestar Capital Partners, New Mountain Capital and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity. The Company conducts its operations worldwide through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Validus Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Validus Re”) and Talbot Holdings Ltd. (“Talbot”). The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance coverage in the Property, Marine and Specialty lines markets, effective January 1, 2006, and insurance coverage in the same markets effective July 2, 2007.

We seek to establish ourselves as a leader in the global insurance and reinsurance markets. Our principal operating objective is to use our capital efficiently by underwriting primarily short-tail insurance and reinsurance contracts with superior risk and return characteristics. Our primary underwriting objective is to construct a portfolio of short-tail insurance and reinsurance contracts which maximize our return on equity subject to prudent risk constraints on the amount of capital we expose to any single extreme event. We manage our risks through a variety of means, including contract terms, portfolio selection, diversification criteria, including geographic diversification criteria, and proprietary and commercially available third-party vendor models.

Our principal executive offices are located at 29 Richmond, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda, and our telephone number is (441) 278-9000.

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RISK FACTORS

Our business is subject to significant risks. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described herein, in any prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties described in our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements and the risks and uncertainties described under the caption “Risk Factors” included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other documents we file with the Commission in the future (see “Incorporation by Reference”). If any of the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected in a material way.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements. Any prospectus, prospectus supplement, the Company’s Annual Report to shareholders, any proxy statement, any other Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K of the Company or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company may include forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Such statements include forward-looking statements both with respect to the Company in general, and to the insurance and reinsurance sectors in particular. 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 for purposes of the PSLRA or otherwise. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. 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 statement.

We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

·                 unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events;

·                 our ability to obtain and maintain ratings, which may affect by our ability to raise additional equity or debt financings, as well as other factors described herein;

·                  adequacy of the Company’s risk management and loss limitation methods;

·                  cyclicality of demand and pricing in the insurance and reinsurance markets;

·                  the Company’s ability to implement its business strategy during “soft” as well as “hard” markets;

·                  adequacy of the Company’s loss reserves;

·                  continued availability of capital and financing;

·                  the Company’s ability to identify, hire and retain, on a timely and unimpeded basis and on anticipated economic and other terms, experienced and capable senior management, as well as underwriters, claims professionals and support staff;

·                  acceptance of our business strategy, security and financial condition by rating agencies and regulators, as well as by brokers and (re)insureds;

·                  competition, including increased competition, on the basis of pricing, capacity, coverage terms or other factors;

·                  potential loss of business from one or more major insurance or reinsurance brokers;

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·                  the Company’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;

·                  general economic and market conditions (including inflation, volatility in the credit and capital markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates) and conditions specific to the insurance and reinsurance markets in which we operate;

·                  the integration of businesses we may acquire or new business ventures, including overseas offices, we may start;

·                  accuracy of those estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our financial statements, including those related to revenue recognition, insurance and other reserves, reinsurance recoverables, investment valuations, intangible assets, bad debts, taxes, contingencies, litigation and any determination to use the deposit method of accounting, which, for a relatively new insurance and reinsurance company like our company, are even more difficult to make than those made in a mature company because of limited historical information;

·                  the effect on the Company’s investment portfolio of changing financial market conditions including inflation, interest rates, liquidity and the possible downgrade of U.S. securities by credit rating agencies and the resulting effect on the value of securities in the Company’s investment portfolio, as well as other factors;

·                  acts of terrorism, political unrest, outbreak of war and other hostilities or other non-forecasted and unpredictable events;

·                  availability and cost of reinsurance and retrocession coverage;

·                  the failure of reinsurers, retrocessionaires, producers or others to meet their obligations to us;

·                  the timing of loss payments being faster or the receipt of reinsurance recoverables being slower than anticipated by us;

·                  changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretations;

·                  changes in accounting principles or the application of such principles by regulators;

·                  statutory or regulatory or rating agency developments, including as to tax policy and reinsurance and other regulatory matters such as the adoption of proposed legislation that would affect Bermuda-headquartered companies and/or Bermuda-based insurers or reinsurers; and

·                  the other factors set forth herein under Part I Item 1A “Risk Factors” and under Part II Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as the risk and other factors set forth in the Company’s other filings with the Commission, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors.

In addition, other general factors could affect our results, including: (a) developments in the world’s financial and capital markets and our access to such markets; (b) changes in regulations or tax laws applicable to us, including, without limitation, any such changes resulting from the recent investigations relating to the insurance industry and any attendant litigation; and (c) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities.

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 or elsewhere. Any forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us 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. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding FAL costs are measures of the Company’s ability to cover fixed costs with current period earnings. For purposes of computing the following ratios, earnings consist of net

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income before income tax expense plus fixed charges to the extent that such charges are included in the determination of earnings. Fixed charges consist of interest, amortization of debt issuance costs and credit facility fees and an imputed interest portion on operating leases.

(1)               FAL costs represent both fixed and variable costs paid for financing the Company’s operations at Lloyd’s. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding FAL costs demonstrates the degree to which the ratio changes if FAL costs are treated as variable rather than fixed costs.

(2)               Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. $63,968,000 represents the amount of coverage deficiency.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the common shares, preference shares, depositary shares, debt securities, warrants, share purchase contracts, share purchase units and units described in this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, but the registration statement also contains additional information and exhibits.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other reports with the Commission. You can read and copy the registration statement and the reports that we file with the Commission at the Commission’s public reference rooms at, 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.

Our filings with the Commission are also available from the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Please call the Commission’s toll-free telephone number at 1-800-SEC-0330 if you need further information about the operation of the Commission’s public reference rooms. Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VR” and our reports can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10005.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement contained in a document which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in this prospectus, or information that we later file with the Commission, modifies or replaces this information. All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the initial filing of this registration statement and after the date of this prospectus and until we sell all the securities shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the following previously filed documents:

(1) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, filed on February 18, 2011;

(2) Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on March 23, 2011;

(3) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, filed on May 6, 2011;

(4) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, filed on August 5, 2011;

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(5) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 9, March 17, May 9, May 23, June 1, July13, and August 3, 2011; and

(6) The description of our common shares incorporated by reference in our registration statement filed under the Exchange Act on Form 8-A on July 18, 2007, including any amendment or report for the purpose of updating such description.

To receive a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (other than exhibits) call or write us at the following address: Validus Holdings, Ltd., Attn.: Chief Corporate Legal Officer, 29 Richmond Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda, (441) 278-9000.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters with respect to the securities will be passed upon for us by Robert F. Kuzloski, Esq. Certain legal matters with respect to the securities under the laws of Bermuda will be passed upon for us by Appleby (Bermuda) Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, special Bermuda counsel to the Company.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting), incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER U.S.

FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS AND OTHER MATTERS

Validus is organized under the laws of Bermuda. In addition, some of our directors and officers reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of its assets and their assets are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. Therefore, it may be difficult or impossible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon its non-U.S. directors and officers or to recover against Validus or its non-U.S. directors and officers on judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Further, it may not be possible to bring a claim in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws may have no extraterritorial application under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability, including the possibility of monetary damages, on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law. However, Validus may be served with process in the United States with respect to actions against us arising out of or in connection with violations of U.S. federal securities laws relating to offers and sales of securities made hereby by serving CT Corporation System, our U.S. agent, irrevocably appointed for that purpose.

We have been advised by Appleby (Bermuda) Limited our special Bermuda counsel, that there is doubt as to whether the courts of Bermuda would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our directors and officers, as well as the experts named herein, predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws or whether proceedings could be commenced in the courts of Bermuda against us or such persons predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws. Further, we have been advised by Appleby (Bermuda) Limited that there is no treaty in effect between the United States and Bermuda providing for the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, and there may be grounds upon which Bermuda courts will not enforce judgments of U.S. courts. Some remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including some remedies available under the U.S. federal securities laws, may not be allowed in Bermuda courts as contrary to that jurisdiction’s public policy.

At the time of issue of each prospectus supplement, we will deliver to and file a copy of this prospectus and the prospectus supplement with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda in accordance with Bermuda law. The BMA and the Registrar of Companies accept no responsibility for the financial soundness of any proposal or for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

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PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting compensation, are set forth in the following table. Each amount is estimated.

*                      Fees are being deferred pursuant to Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(1)               Does not include expenses of preparing prospectus supplements and other expenses relating to offerings of securities.

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Validus Holdings, Ltd.

Bye-law 50 of the Company’s Bye-laws provides, among other things, that the Company will, in the case of directors and officers of the Company, and may (in the discretion of the Board of Directors), in the case of employees and agents, indemnify, in accordance with and to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Company), by reason of his acting in such capacity or his acting in any other capacity for, or on behalf of, the Company, against any liability or expense actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect thereof. The Company shall, in the case of directors and officers, and may, in other cases, advance the expenses of defending any such act, suit or proceeding in accordance with and to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by law.

Bye-law 50 of the Company’s Bye-laws also provides that none of the officers or directors of the Company will be personally liable to the Company or its shareholders for any action or failure to act to the full extent that they are indemnified under the Company’s Bye-laws.

Bye-law 50A of the Company’s Bye-laws provides that each shareholder agrees to waive any claim or right of action such shareholder might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any director or officer on account of any action taken by such director or officer, or the failure of such director or officer to take any action in the performance of his duties with or for the Company; provided that such waiver shall not extend to any matter in respect of any fraud or dishonesty which may attach to such director or officer.

Section 98 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to such company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to section 281 of the Companies Act. Section 98 further provides that any provision, whether contained in the bye-laws of a company or in any contract or arrangement between such company and any director exempting or indemnifying him against any liability which would otherwise attach to him in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of which he may be guilty in relation to such company, shall be void.

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Section 98A of the Companies Act permits a Bermuda company to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any officer or director in respect of any loss or liability attaching to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, whether or not such Bermuda company may otherwise indemnify such officer or director.

The Company may purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies. Such insurance would be available to the Company’s directors and officers in accordance with its terms. In addition, certain directors may be covered by directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies purchased by their respective employers.

Any underwriting agreement that Validus may enter into in connection with an offering of securities pursuant to this registration statement may include provisions providing that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify the directors, certain officers and the controlling persons of Validus against certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

Item 16.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Exhibits:

A list of Exhibits filed herewith is contained on the Index to Exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules:

All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission have been omitted because they are not required, amounts which would otherwise be required to be shown regarding any item are not material, are inapplicable, or the required information has already been provided elsewhere or incorporated by reference into the registration statement.

Item 17.  Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made of the securities registered hereby, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrants pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

i)       Each prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

ii)      Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

i)       Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

ii)      Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

iii)     The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

iv)     Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report pursuant to Section 13 (a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by them is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Validus Holdings, Ltd. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pembroke, Bermuda, on this 5th day of August, 2011.

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Noonan and Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino, and each of them, severally, as his or her attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, in his or her name and on his or her behalf, to sign in any and all capacities this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and any and all amendments (including any and all post-effective amendments) and exhibits to this Registration Statement, any subsequent Registration Statement for the same offering which may be filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all amendments (including any and all post-effective amendments) and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications and other documents relating thereto, with the Securities and Exchange Commission and/or the Bermuda Registrar of Companies, with full power and authority to perform and do any and all acts and things whatsoever which any such attorney or substitute may deem necessary or advisable to be performed or done in connection with any or all of the above-described matters, as fully as each of the undersigned could do if personally present and acting, hereby ratifying and approving all acts of any such attorney or substitute.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this on this 5th day of August, 2011.

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

(1)     Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-139989) which was declared effective by the Commission on July 24, 2007.

(2)     Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 26, 2010.

(3)     Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-152856) filed with the Commission on August 7, 2008.

*       To be filed if necessary, by an amendment to this registration statement or incorporated by reference pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K in connection with an offering of securities.

**     Filed herewith.