Restricted Share Agreement

Exhibit 10.9

THIS (this “Agreement”) is made by and between [GRANTEE] (“Grantee”) and Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., an exempted company organized under the laws of Bermuda (the “Company”), as of [DATE].

WHEREAS, Grantee is currently an employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, and the Company desires to increase the incentive of the Grantee to exert his or her utmost efforts to improve the business and increase the assets of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Grantee’s services to the Company and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.Grant of Restricted Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Grantee [NUMBER] shares (the “Restricted Shares”) of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $1.00 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), pursuant to and subject to the terms and provisions of the Company’s 2007 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) and this Agreement.

2.Incorporation by Reference, Etc. The provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and any capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the definitions set forth in the Plan. The Administrator shall have final authority to interpret and construe the Plan and this Agreement and to make any and all determinations thereunder, and its decision shall be binding and conclusive upon the Grantee and his or her legal representative in respect of any questions arising under the Plan or this Agreement. No amendment or termination of the Plan may, without the prior written consent of the Grantee, adversely affect the rights of the Grantee under this Agreement.

3.Escrow of Restricted Shares. To insure the availability for delivery of the Grantee’s Restricted Shares, the Grantee hereby appoints the Secretary of the Company, or any other person designated by the Administrator as escrow agent, as its attorney-in-fact to assign and transfer unto the Company such Restricted Shares, if any, forfeited by the Grantee pursuant to Section 7 below and shall, upon execution of this Agreement, deliver and deposit with the Secretary of the Company, or such other person designated by the Company, the Restricted Shares, together with the stock assignment duly endorsed in blank, attached hereto as Exhibit A, whether the Restricted Shares are held in certificated form or in book entry.

The Restricted Shares and stock assignment shall be held by the Secretary in escrow, pursuant to the Joint Escrow Instructions of the Company and the Grantee attached hereto as Exhibit B, until the Restricted Period (as defined below) has expired with respect to the Restricted Shares, or until such time as this Agreement no longer is in effect. Upon such time as the Restricted Period has expired pursuant to the schedule set forth in Section 4 below and subject to the forfeiture and Restricted Period termination provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 below, the escrow agent shall promptly deliver to the Grantee the Restricted Shares in the escrow agent’s possession belonging to the Grantee in accordance with the terms of the Joint Escrow Instructions, either in certificated or book entry form, and the escrow agent shall be discharged of all further obligations hereunder; provided, however, that the escrow agent shall nevertheless retain such Restricted Shares if so required pursuant to other restrictions imposed pursuant to this Agreement.

4.Restrictions and Restricted Period.

a.Restrictions. Restricted Shares granted hereunder may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of by the Grantee. Restricted Shares granted hereunder shall be subject to a risk of forfeiture as described in Section 7 below until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined below).

b.Restricted Period. Unless the Restricted Period is previously terminated pursuant to Section 6 or the Restricted Shares are previously forfeited in accordance with Section 7, the restrictions set forth above shall expire and the Restricted Shares shall become fully and freely transferable (provided, that such transfer is otherwise in accordance with applicable law) and non-forfeitable on the dates (the “Restricted Period”) and in the amounts as set forth below:

Date of Release Number of Shares Released

March 1, 20XX [NUMBER]

5.Rights of a Shareholder. During the Restricted Period, the Grantee shall have all the rights of a shareholder of the Company with respect to the Restricted Shares, including, but not limited to, the right to receive dividends and the right to vote such Restricted Shares.

6.Early Termination of Restricted Period.

a. Death or Disability. In the event the Grantee’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is terminated as a result of the Grantee’s death or Disability, the Restricted Shares shall vest on such date of death or Disability, any restrictions on the Restricted Shares shall expire and the Restricted Shares shall become fully and freely transferrable (provided, that such transfer is otherwise in accordance with applicable law) and non-forfeitable.

b. Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control and the termination by the Company (or a successor company as a result of the Change in Control) of the Grantee’s employment with the Company, a subsidiary of the Company (or a successor company as a result of the Change in Control) other than for Cause within the Change in Control Period, the Restricted Shares shall vest on such date of termination of employment, any restrictions on the Restricted Shares shall expire and the Restricted Shares shall become fully and freely transferrable (provided, that such transfer is otherwise in accordance with applicable law) and non-forfeitable.

c. Retirement. In the event the Grantee either is eligible for Retirement prior to the date of this Agreement or becomes eligible for Retirement during the Restricted Period, the Restricted Shares shall continue to be the property of the Grantee and the Restricted Shares shall vest in accordance with Section 4 and subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 6, subject to the Grantee’s continued compliance with the Non-Competition Obligation.

7.Forfeiture of Restricted Shares. In the event the Grantee’s employment with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company is terminated, (i) at any time by the Grantee, other than the Grantee’s Retirement, (ii) at any time by the Company for Cause or (iii) outside of a Change in Control Period by the Company for any reason other than the Grantee’s death or Disability, the Restricted Shares that at that time have not been released from the restrictions set forth in Section 4 shall be forfeited to the Company without payment of any consideration by the Company, and neither the Grantee nor any of his or her successors, heirs, assigns, or personal representatives shall thereafter have any further rights or interests in such Restricted Shares.

8.Recoupment Policy. In the event that the Grantee is an Executive Officer, the Grantee hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Restricted Shares (and any Ordinary Shares received upon the vesting of the Restricted Shares) are subject to the Recoupment Policy and the Company’s remedies under the Recoupment Policy include but are not limited to, (i) repayment of the value of previously vested Restricted Shares, (ii) the reduction or elimination of the future vesting of, or payment of dividends on, the Restricted Shares or (iii) the cancellation of the grant of Restricted Shares under this Agreement.

9.Repayment or Forfeiture. In addition to the Recoupment Policy, any benefits the Grantee may receive hereunder may be subject to repayment or forfeiture as may be required in order to comply with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any applicable law, including the requirements of the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or any securities exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are traded, as may be in effect from time to time.

10.Certificates. The Restricted Shares granted herein may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine. If certificates representing the Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Grantee, then the Company shall retain physical possession of the certificate.

11.Legends. All certificates representing any of the Restricted Shares subject to the provisions of this Agreement shall have endorsed thereon the following legend:

“The transferability of this certificate and the ordinary shares represented hereby are subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions (including forfeiture provisions and restrictions against transfer) contained in the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan of Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. and an Agreement entered into between the registered owner of such shares and the Company. Copies of the Plan and Agreement are on file in the office of the Secretary of the Company, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxx Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda.”

12.Tax Withholding. It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to issue Ordinary Shares to the Grantee upon the expiration of restrictions on the Restricted Shares that the Grantee pay to the Company, upon demand (but no later than 10 days following such demand), such amount as may be requested by the Company for the purpose of satisfying any liability to withhold income or other taxes. In the event any such amount so requested is not paid, the Company may refuse to issue Ordinary Shares to Grantee upon the expiration of restrictions on the Restricted Shares. Unless the Administrator shall in its discretion determine otherwise, payment for taxes required to be withheld may be made in cash, or in whole or in part, in accordance with such rules as may be adopted by the Administrator from time to time, (a) by withholding Restricted Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the appropriate tax withholding liability and/or (b) tendering to the Company Ordinary Shares held by the Grantee having a Fair Market Value equal to the appropriate tax withholding liability, in each case as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

i.Section 83(b) Election. The Grantee hereby acknowledges that the Grantee has been informed that, with respect to the grant of Restricted Shares, an election in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C may be filed by the Grantee with the Internal Revenue Service, within 30 calendar days following the date of this Agreement, electing

pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to be taxed currently on the Fair Market Value of the Restricted Shares on the Date of Grant.

The Grantee acknowledges that it is the Grantee’s sole responsibility and not the Company’s to file the election under Section 83(b) of the Code on a timely basis.

By signing this Agreement, the Grantee represents that the Grantee has reviewed with the Grantee’s own tax advisors the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that the Grantee is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents. The Grantee understands and agrees that the Grantee (and not the Company) shall be responsible for any tax liability that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

2. Termination of this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (a) the termination of the Restricted Period with respect to all of the Restricted Shares in accordance with Section 4 or Section 6 of this Agreement, (b) the forfeiture of the Restricted Shares in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement, (c) the termination of this Agreement by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto or (d) as may be required under the Recoupment Policy or applicable law. Upon termination of this Agreement, all rights and obligations of the Grantee and the Company hereunder shall cease.

3. Agreement to Perform Necessary Acts. Each party to this Agreement agrees to perform any further acts and execute and deliver any documents that may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

4. Registration of Shares. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to file and maintain an effective Registration Statement on Form S-8 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Restricted Shares.

5. No Limitation on Rights of the Company. This Agreement shall not in any way affect the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

6. Definitions.

The following definitions shall be applicable within this Agreement.

a. “Cause” means (i) any intentional act of fraud, embezzlement or theft by the Grantee in connection with or in the course of his or her employment with the Company or a Grantee’s admission or conviction of, or plea of nolo contendere to, (x) a felony or (y) any crime involving moral turpitude, fraud, embezzlement, theft or misrepresentation; (ii) any gross negligence or willful misconduct of a Grantee resulting

in a loss to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or (iii) any violation of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

b. “Change in Control Period” means the period commencing three months prior to the date of a Change in Control and ending on the second annual anniversary of the date of a Change in Control

c. “Disability” means any condition that, (i) prevents the Grantee from substantially performing the Grantee’s duties as an employee of the Company for a period of at least 120 consecutive days, or 180 non-consecutive days within any 365-day period, and (ii) causes the Grantee to become eligible for the applicable long-term disability plan of the Company or its subsidiary or affiliate. Any determination of a Disability shall be made by the Company in its reasonable discretion, based upon medical evidence reasonably acceptable to the Company. .

d. “Executive Officer” means any employee of the Company who meets the specifications under Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

e. “Non-Competition Obligation” means either (i) the Grantee’s continued employment with the Company (and compliance with the Conflicts of Interest Section of the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics) or (ii) following the termination of the Grantee’s employment other than for Cause, the Grantee’s not in any manner, directly or indirectly, through any person, firm or corporation, alone or as a member of a partnership or as an officer, director, stockholder, investor, broker, advisor, employee of or consultant to any other corporation or enterprise or otherwise, engaging or being engaged, or assisting any other person, firm, corporation or enterprise in engaging or being engaged, in the brokerage, underwriting, advising or consulting of or with respect to any line of property or casualty insurance or reinsurance underwritten by the Company or any of its divisions, subsidiaries or affiliates as an insurer or reinsurer (the “Business”) during the Grantee’s term of employment with the Company in any geographic area in which the Company or any of its divisions, subsidiaries or affiliates is then conducting the Business, except as (x) a stockholder in a mutual fund or a diversified investment company or (y) an owner of not more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation, any securities of which are publicly traded, so long as the Grantee has no active participation in the business of such corporation.

f. “Recoupment Policy” means the Executive Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy of the Company as it may be amended from time to time.

g. “Retirement” means the termination of a Grantee’s employment with the Company other than for Cause after (i) the Grantee has attained the age of 55, (ii) the Grantee has been employed with the Company for a period greater than two years and (iii) the Grantee’s age plus whole years of employment with the Company is greater than or equal to 65.

h. “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated thereunder.

i. “Section 457A” means Section 457A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any related regulations or other guidance promulgated thereunder.

7. Miscellaneous.

a. Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or sent by certified, registered, or express mail, postage prepaid. Any such notice shall be deemed given when delivered to each party at the following addresses (or to such other address as may be designated in a notice given in accordance with this Section):

(i) if to the Company:

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd.

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx

000 Xxxxx Xxx Road

Pembroke HM 08

Bermuda

Attn: General Counsel

(ii) if to the Grantee, to the most recent primary residence address listed for the Grantee in the employment records of the Company.

b. Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver. The failure of the Company or the Grantee to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

c. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of Bermuda without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof. The Grantee submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Bermuda in respect to matters arising hereunder.

d. Arbitration. All disputes, controversies or claims arising out of, relating to or in connection with this Agreement, the Plan or the Restricted Shares, or the breach, termination or validity thereof, shall be finally settled by arbitration. The

arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, except as same may be modified herein or by mutual agreement of the parties. The seat of the arbitration shall be Bermuda and it shall be conducted in the English language. The arbitration shall be conducted by one arbitrator who shall be selected by the agreement of the Company and the Grantee or, in the event that the Company and the Grantee are unable to agree, by the Appointments Committee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Bermuda Branch. The arbitral award shall be in writing, shall state reasons for the award, and shall be final and binding on the parties. The award may include an award of costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements. Judgment on the award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the parties or their assets.

e. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified at any time by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

f. Investment Intent. The Grantee represents that the Restricted Shares are being acquired by the Grantee for investment and that the Grantee has no present intention to transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Shares, except in compliance with applicable securities laws, and the Company and the Grantee agree that the Restricted Shares are being acquired in accordance with and subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement.

g. Adjustment of Restricted Shares. The Company hereby confirms that (i) in the event the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company shall be changed into an increased number of shares, through a share dividend or a split-up of shares, or into a decreased number of shares, through a combination of shares, then immediately after the record date for such change, the number of Restricted Shares then subject to this Agreement shall be proportionately increased, in case of such stock dividend or split-up of shares, or proportionately decreased, in case of such combination of shares; and (ii) in the event that, as result of a reorganization, sale, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or similar occurrence, there shall be any other change in the Ordinary Shares of the Company, or of any shares or other securities into which such Ordinary Shares shall have been changed, or for which it shall have been exchanged, then equitable adjustments to the Restricted Shares then subject to this Agreement (including, but not limited to, changes in the number or kind of shares then subject to this Agreement) shall be made.

h. Agreement Not a Contract of Employment. This Agreement is not a contract of employment, and the terms of employment of the Grantee or the relationship of the Grantee with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company shall not be affected in any way by this Agreement except as specifically provided herein. The execution of this Agreement shall not be construed as conferring any legal rights upon the Grantee for a continuation of employment or relationship with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, nor shall it interfere with the right of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company to discharge the Grantee and to treat the Grantee without

regard to the effect which that treatment might have upon the Grantee as a holder of the Restricted Shares.

i. Entire Agreement; Plan Controls. This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto) and the Plan contain the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersede all earlier negotiations and understandings, written or oral, between the parties hereto with respect thereto. This Agreement is made under and subject to the provisions of the Plan, and all of the provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and the provisions of the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. By signing this Agreement, the Grantee confirms that the Grantee has received a copy of the Plan and has had an opportunity to review the contents thereof.

j. Captions. The captions and headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are included for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

k. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile or electronic reproduction, each of which when signed by the Company or the Grantee will be deemed an original and all of which together will be deemed the same agreement.

l. Assignment. The Company may assign its rights and delegate its duties under this Agreement. If any such assignment or delegation requires consent of any state securities authorities, the parties hereto agree to cooperate in requesting such consent. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, be binding upon the Grantee, his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

m. Severability. This Agreement will be severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof will not affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there be added as a part of this Agreement a valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.

n. Section 409A and Section 457A Compliance. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the compensation arrangements under this Agreement be in full compliance with Section 409A and Section 457A. This Agreement will be construed in a manner to give effect to such intention. Any references to a “termination of employment” (or similar term) under this Agreement shall mean a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A and Section 457A. Each vesting installment of the Restricted Shares shall be deemed to be a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A and Section 457A. If it is determined that all or a portion of the Restricted Shares constitutes deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A or Section 457A, and if

the Grantee is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A or Section 457A) at the time of the Grantee’s separation from service, then the portion of such Restricted Shares that would otherwise be deliverable during the six-month period immediately following the Grantee’s separation from service shall instead be delivered on the earlier of (i) the first business day of the seventh month following the Grantee’s separation from service or (ii) the Grantee’s death.

o. Compliance with Applicable Laws. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Grantee is employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates and the Grantee is subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside of Bermuda or the United States, the Restricted Shares granted under this Agreement shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:

i. The terms and conditions of this Agreement are deemed modified to the extent necessary or advisable to comply with the applicable laws, regulations, rules and local government regulatory exemptions of such jurisdiction or to facilitate the administration of the Plan or this Agreement under such laws, regulations, rules and local government regulatory exemptions;

ii. If applicable, the effectiveness of the award of Restricted Shares under this Agreement is conditioned upon this Agreement’s compliance with any applicable laws, regulations, rules or local government regulatory exemptions of such jurisdiction and subject to receipt of any required regulatory approvals of such jurisdiction; and

iii. The Administrator may take any other action, before or after an award of Restricted Shares is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local regulatory or governmental exemptions or approvals

p. . Data Privacy and Notice of Consent. The Grantee hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of the Grantee’s personal data by the Company and any subsidiaries and affiliates of the Company for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Grantee’s participation in the Plan pursuant to this Agreement.

The Grantee understands that the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about the Grantee, including, but not limited to, the Grantee’s name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number (to the extent permitted under applicable local law) or other identification number, salary, nationality, job title, residency status, any shares of stock or directorships held in the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, details of all equity compensation or any other entitlement to Restricted Shares or other long or short-term incentives awarded, canceled, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Grantee’s favor, for the purpose of implementing, administering

and managing the Plan (“Data”). The Grantee understands that Data may be transferred to any third parties assisting the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that these recipients may be located in the Grantee’s country or elsewhere, including outside the European Economic Area and that the recipient’s country (e.g., the United States) may have different data privacy laws and protections than the Grantee’s country. The Grantee understands that the Grantee may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting the Grantee’s local human resources representative. The Grantee authorizes the Company and any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company and any other possible recipients which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Grantee’s participation in the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes of implementing, administering and managing the Grantee’s participation in the Plan, including any requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to any other broker, escrow agent or other third party with whom the Restricted Shares may be deposited upon vesting. The Grantee understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage the Grantee’s participation in the Plan. The Grantee understands that the Grantee may, at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing the Grantee’s local human resources representative. The Grantee understands that refusal or withdrawal of consent may affect the Grantee’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of the Grantee’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Grantee understands that the Grantee may contact his or her local human resources representative.

[Execution Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD.

By:

Name:

Title:

The undersigned hereby accepts and agrees to all the terms and provisions of the foregoing Agreement.

___________________________

[GRANTEE]

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Restricted Share Agreement

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