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                                                                   Exhibit 10.13

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

          AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated as of
December 12, 2005 between Validus Holdings, Ltd., a Bermuda corporation (the
"Company"), and Stuart Mercer (the "Executive").

          WHEREAS, the parties hereto wish to amend and restate the employment
agreement dated as of December 12, 2005 between the Company and the Executive as
set forth herein, effective as of December 12, 2005.

          NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE 1
                                   DEFINITIONS

          SECTION 1.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings set forth below:

          "Base Salary" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01.

          "Cause" means (a) theft or embezzlement by the Executive with respect
to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (b) malfeasance or gross negligence in the
performance of the Executive's duties; (c) the commission by the Executive of
any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; (d) willful or prolonged
absence from work by the Executive (other than by reason of disability due to
physical or mental illness or at the direction of the Company or its
Subsidiaries) or failure, neglect or refusal by the Executive to perform his
duties and responsibilities without the same being corrected within ten (10)
days after being given written notice thereof; (e) failure by the Executive to
adequately perform his duties and responsibilities hereunder without the same
being corrected within thirty (30) days after being given written notice
thereof, as determined by the Company in good faith; (f) continued and habitual
use of alcohol by the Executive to an extent which materially impairs the
Executive's performance of his duties without the same being corrected within
ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; (g) the Executive's use
of illegal drugs without the same being corrected within ten (10) days after
being given written notice thereof; (h) the Executive's failure to use his best
efforts to obtain, maintain or renew the work permit described in Section 3.02
below in a timely manner, without the same being corrected within ten (10) days
after being given written notice thereof; or (i) the material breach by the
Executive of any of the covenants contained in this Agreement without, in the
case of any breach capable of being corrected, the same being corrected within
ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof.

          "Confidential Information" means information that is not generally
known to the public and that was or is used, developed or obtained by the
Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with their business. It shall not
include information (a) required to be disclosed by court or administrative
order, (b) lawfully obtainable from other sources or which is in the public
domain

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through no fault of the Executive; or (c) the disclosure of which is consented
to in writing by the Company.

          "Date of Termination" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.

          "Employment Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.

          "Good Reason" means, without the Executive's written consent, (a) a
material breach of this Agreement by the Company without the same being
corrected within ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; (b) a
material reduction, in the aggregate, in the Executive's Base Salary and his
benefits set forth in Section 4.03 (b), (d), (e), (f) and (g) below; or (c) a
material and adverse change by the Company in the Executive's duties and
responsibilities set forth in Section 3.01 hereof, other than due to the
Executive's failure to adequately perform such duties and responsibilities as
determined by the Board in good faith, without the same being corrected within
ten (10) days after being given written notice thereof; provided, however, that,
notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Executive
must give written notice of his intention to terminate his employment for Good
Reason within sixty (60) days after the act or omission which constitutes Good
Reason, and any failure to give such written notice within such period will
result in a waiver by the Executive of his right to terminate for Good Reason as
a result of such act or omission.

          "Intellectual Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.

          "Noncompetition Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.

          "Notice of Termination" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04.

          "Permanent Disability" means those circumstances where the Executive
is unable to continue to perform the usual customary duties of his assigned job
or as otherwise assigned in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement for
a period of six (6) months in any twelve (12) month period because of physical,
mental or emotional incapacity resulting from injury, sickness or disease. Any
questions as to the existence of a Permanent Disability shall be determined by a
qualified, independent physician selected by the Company and approved by the
Executive (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). The determination
of any such physician shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of this
Agreement.

          "Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited
liability company, an association, a joint stock company, an estate, a trust, a
joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

          "Reimbursable Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04.

          "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other
business entity of which (a) if a corporation, twenty (20) percent or more of
the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the
occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or
trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
that Person or


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one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or combination thereof; or
(b) if a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business
entity, twenty (20) percent or more of the partnership or other similar
ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a
combination thereof. For purposes of this definition, a Person or Persons will
be deemed to have a twenty (20) percent or more ownership interest in a
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity if
such Person or Persons are allocated twenty (20) percent or more of partnership,
limited liability company, association or other business entity gains or losses
or control the managing director or member or general partner of such
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                                   EMPLOYMENT

          SECTION 2.01 Employment Period. The Company shall employ the
Executive, and the Executive shall accept employment with the Company, upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the period beginning on the
Closing Date of the Offering (as defined in the Offering Memorandum relating to
Company equity dated October 13, 2005, as supplemented) (the "Start Date") and
ending on the Date of Termination as defined in Section 5.01 below (the
"Employment Period").

                                    ARTICLE 3
                               POSITION AND DUTIES

          SECTION 3.01 Position and Duties. Effective on the later of the Start
Date or the date the work permit described in Section 3.02 is issued to the
Executive, the Executive shall serve as Chief Risk Officer of the Company,
render such underwriting, administrative, financial and other executive and
managerial services to the Company which are consistent with Executive's
position and have such responsibilities, powers and duties as may from time to
time be prescribed by the senior executives of the Company; provided that such
responsibilities, powers and duties are substantially consistent with those
customarily assigned to individuals serving in such position at comparable
companies or as may be reasonably required by the conduct of the business of the
Company. The Company may direct, in its sole and exclusive discretion, that the
Executive perform no duties and exercise no powers or resign from any office
held in connection with his employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries.
During the Employment Period the Executive shall devote substantially all of his
working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. The
Executive shall not directly or indirectly render any services of a business,
commercial or professional nature to any other person or for-profit organization
not related to the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, whether for
compensation or otherwise, without prior written consent of the Company.

          SECTION 3.02 Work Permits. The Executive shall use his best efforts to
assist the Company in obtaining, maintaining and renewing a suitable (for the
purposes of the Executive's contemplated employment by the Company) work permit
by the Bermuda government authorities and any other permits required by any
Bermuda government authority. The Company shall be responsible for permit fees.


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          SECTION 3.03 Work Location. While employed by the Company hereunder,
the Executive shall perform his duties (when not traveling or engaged elsewhere
outside the United States in the performance of his duties) at the offices of
the Company in Bermuda or at such other place in Bermuda as the Company may in
its discretion from time to time direct. The Executive shall travel to such
places outside of Bermuda on the business of the Company in such manner and on
such occasions as the Company may from time to time reasonably require.

          SECTION 3.04 Relocation. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for
all reasonable expenses incurred by him in relocating his household items to
Bermuda, not to exceed an amount to be agreed by the parties hereto, subject to
the Company's requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such
expenses.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                            BASE SALARY AND BENEFITS

          SECTION 4.01 Base Salary. During the Employment Period, the
Executive's base salary will be $500,000 per annum (the "Base Salary"). Within
ten (10) days after the Start Date, Base Salary shall also be paid for the
period from November 15, 2005 to the Start Date. The Base Salary will be payable
monthly on the last working day of each month in arrears in twelve (12) equal
installments. Annually during the Employment Period the Company shall review
with the Executive his job performance and compensation, and if deemed
appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company or its delegate, in its
discretion, the Executive's Base Salary may be increased. Normal hours of
employment are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The Executive's salary
has been computed to reflect that his regular duties are likely, from time to
time, to require more than forty (40) hours per week and the Executive shall not
be entitled to receive any additional remuneration for any such additional
hours.

          SECTION 4.02 Bonuses. In addition to the Base Salary, the Executive
shall be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan on terms set forth from
time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that
the Executive's target annual bonus will be 150% of his Base Salary. The Board
of Directors of the Company may, at any time and from time to time acting in its
sole discretion, pay to the Executive an additional bonus.

          SECTION 4.03 Benefits. In addition to the Base Salary, and any bonuses
payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive shall be
entitled to the following benefits during the Employment Period:

          (a) such major medical, life insurance and disability insurance
     coverage as is, or may during the Employment Period, be provided generally
     for other senior executive officers of the Company as set forth from time
     to time in the applicable plan documents;

          (b) in addition to the public holidays referenced in the Public
     Holidays Act of 1947 and fifteen (15) paid days off for sick leave, a
     maximum of four (4) weeks of paid vacation annually during the term of the
     Employment Period;

          (c) benefits under any plan or arrangement available generally for the
     senior executive officers of the Company, subject to and consistent with
     the terms and conditions


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     and overall administration of such plans as set forth from time to time in
     the applicable plan documents;

          (d) a housing allowance for the period during which the Executive's
     place of work is Bermuda in an amount equal to $18,000 per month, payable
     monthly in advance, and reimbursement for the Executive's Bermuda housing
     deposit (such amount to be repaid by the Executive to the Company within
     thirty (30) days after the earlier of the date the deposit is returned to
     the Executive or the date of any termination of employment of the
     Executive);

          (e) an automobile allowance for the period during which the
     Executive's place of work is Bermuda in an amount equal to $900 per month;

          (f) direct payment or reimbursement of initiation fees (any resulting
     equity interest or redemption right in which shall belong to, be controlled
     by, and be paid to, the Company) for, and the annual dues for membership
     in, two (2) clubs in Bermuda;

          (g) reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive
     for round-trip non-business trips by the Executive and each member of his
     family residing with him to and from Bermuda (the benefit under this
     Section 4.03(g) being in addition to any reimbursement of air fare
     described in Section 4.04, below) in accordance with the Company's policies
     and procedures for such family trips as in effect from time to time; and

          (h) other fringe benefits customarily provided to similarly situated
     senior executives residing in Bermuda.

The amount of reimbursement provided for in Section 4.03(d) above shall be
calculated and paid to the Executive on an after-tax basis to the Executive,
taking into account any deduction, credit or exclusion from income allowable to
the Executive in respect of such amount.

          SECTION 4.04 Expenses. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for
all reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his duties
under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company's policies in effect
from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business
expenses ("Reimbursable Expenses"), subject to the Company's requirements with
respect to reporting and documentation of expenses.

          SECTION 4.05 Stock Options and Restricted Stock. The Company shall
grant to the Executive a number of shares of restricted common stock of the
Company and an option to acquire a number of shares of the Company's common
stock, such that the total number of shares of restricted common stock and
common stock covered by such option, shall total .45% of the outstanding equity
of the Company immediately following completion of the Offering on a fully
diluted basis. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.03 below, the terms of
such restricted common stock and stock option, including terms pertaining to
vesting, exercise and cancellation, shall be as set forth in the equity
incentive plan to be established by the Company (the "Incentive Plan") and the
applicable award agreements. The parties hereto acknowledge that the grants of
shares of restricted common stock of the Company and options to acquire shares
of the Company's common stock provided for in this Section 4.05 have been made
to the Executive.


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                                    ARTICLE 5
                              TERM AND TERMINATION

          SECTION 5.01 Date of Termination. The Employment Period shall end on
the Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, the "Date of
Termination" shall mean the first to occur of the following: (a) the twelve (12)
month anniversary of the Company providing Notice of Termination (as defined
below) without Cause to the Executive; (b) immediately upon the Company
providing Notice of Termination for Cause to the Executive; (c) the twelve (12)
month anniversary of the Executive providing Notice of Termination specifying
his resignation for Good Reason to the Company; (d) the twelve (12) month
anniversary of the Executive providing Notice of Termination by the Executive
without Good Reason to the Company; and (e) the fifth (5th) day following the
Company providing Notice of Termination to the Executive as a result of the
Executive's Permanent Disability; or (f) the date of Executive's death. In the
event that there are circumstances which would give rise to a termination by the
Company for Cause, the Company may, in its sole and exclusive discretion, treat
such termination as a termination without Cause.

          SECTION 5.02 Resignation by the Executive Without Good Reason. If the
Employment Period shall be terminated as a result of the Executive's resignation
or leaving of his employment, other than for Good Reason, Executive shall
continue to: (a) receive Base Salary and benefits set forth in Section 4.03
through the Date of Termination; and (b) receive reimbursement of all
Reimbursable Expenses incurred by the Executive prior to the Date of
Termination. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or any applicable
plan or other agreement to the contrary, no shares of restricted stock of the
Company or stock options of the Company granted to the Executive shall vest on
or following the date the Executive provides Notice of Termination without Good
Reason to the Company. The Executive's entitlements under all other benefit
plans and programs of the Company shall be as determined thereunder.

          SECTION 5.03 Termination for Other Reasons. If the Employment Period
shall be terminated by the Executive for Good Reason, by the Company with or
without Cause, as a result of the Executive's Permanent Disability or upon the
Executive's death, the Executive (or his estate, in the case of death) shall
continue to: (a) receive Base Salary and benefits set forth in Section 4.03
above (i) in the case of termination by the Executive for Good Reason or by the
Company with or without Cause, through the Date of Termination, and (ii) in the
case of termination due to the Executive's Permanent Disability or death,
through the six (6) month anniversary of the Date of Termination; (b) vest in
any shares of restricted stock of the Company and any Company stock options
granted to the Executive through the Date of Termination; and (c) receive
reimbursement for all Reimbursable Expenses incurred by the Executive prior to
the Date of Termination. The Executive's entitlements under all other benefit
plans and programs of the Company shall be as determined thereunder.

          SECTION 5.04 Notice of Termination. Any termination by the Company for
Permanent Disability or Cause or without Cause or by the Executive for Good
Reason or without Good Reason shall be communicated by written Notice of
Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice
of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall indicate the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and, with respect to
termination by the Company for Permanent Disability or Cause or resignation by
the Executive for


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Good Reason, shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
claimed to provide a basis for termination of employment under the provision
indicated.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                            CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

          SECTION 6.01 Nondisclosure and Nonuse of Confidential Information. The
Executive will not disclose or use at any time during or after the Employment
Period any Confidential Information of which the Executive is or becomes aware,
whether or not such information is developed by him, except to the extent that
such disclosure or use is directly related to and required by the Executive's
performance of duties assigned to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.
Under all circumstances and at all times, the Executive will take all
appropriate steps to safeguard Confidential Information in his possession and to
protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss and theft.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                              INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

          SECTION 7.01 Ownership of Intellectual Property. In the event that the
Executive as part of his activities on behalf of the Company generates, authors
or contributes to any invention, design, new development, device, product,
method of process (whether or not patentable or reduced to practice or
comprising Confidential Information), any copyrightable work (whether or not
comprising Confidential Information) or any other form of Confidential
Information relating directly or indirectly to the business of the Company as
now or hereinafter conducted (collectively, "Intellectual Property"), the
Executive acknowledges that such Intellectual Property is the sole and exclusive
property of the Company and hereby assigns all right, title and interest in and
to such Intellectual Property to the Company. Any copyrightable work prepared in
whole or in part by the Executive during the Employment Period will be deemed "a
work made for hire" under Section 201(b) of the Copyright Act of 1976, as
amended, and the Company will own all of the rights comprised in the copyright
therein. The Executive will promptly and fully disclose all Intellectual
Property and will cooperate with the Company to protect the Company's interests
in and rights to such Intellectual Property (including providing reasonable
assistance in securing patent protection and copyright registrations and
executing all documents as reasonably requested by the Company, whether such
requests occur prior to or after termination of Executive's employment
hereunder).

                                    ARTICLE 8
              DELIVERY OF MATERIALS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

          SECTION 8.01 Delivery of Materials upon Termination of Employment. As
requested by the Company, from time to time and upon the termination of the
Executive's employment with the Company for any reason, the Executive will
promptly deliver to the Company all property of the Company or its Subsidiaries,
including, without limitation, all copies and embodiments, in whatever form or
medium, of all Confidential Information or Intellectual Property in the
Executive's possession or within his control (including written records, notes,
photographs, manuals, notebooks, documentation, program listings, flow charts,
magnetic media,


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disks, diskettes, tapes and all other materials containing any Confidential
Information or Intellectual Property) irrespective of the location or form of
such material and, if requested by the Company, will provide the Company with
written confirmation that, to the best of his knowledge, all such materials have
been delivered to the Company.

                                    ARTICLE 9
                       NONCOMPETITION AND NONSOLICITATION

          SECTION 9.01 Noncompetition. The Executive acknowledges that during
his employment with the Company, he will become familiar with trade secrets and
other Confidential Information concerning the Company or its Subsidiaries, and
that his services will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the
Company. In addition, the Executive hereby agrees that at any time during the
Employment Period, and for a period ending one (1) year after the Date of
Termination (the "Noncompetition Period"), he will not directly or indirectly
own, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services for or in
any manner engage in any business competing with the businesses of the Company
or its Subsidiaries as such businesses exist or are in process or being planned
as of the Date of Termination, within any geographical area in which the Company
or its Subsidiaries engage or plan to engage in such businesses; provided,
however, that the portion of the Noncompetition Period following the Date of
Termination shall be reduced by the period of time, if any, between the date of
Notice of Termination is given and the Date of Termination. It shall not be
considered a violation of this Section 9.01 for the Executive to be a passive
owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation
which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation
in the business of such corporation.

          SECTION 9.02 Nonsolicitation of Employees. The Executive hereby agrees
that (a) during the Employment Period and for a period of one (1) year after the
Date of Termination (the "Nonsolicitation Period") the Executive will not,
directly or indirectly through another entity, induce or attempt to induce any
employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company
or its Subsidiaries, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the
Company or its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof or otherwise employ or
receive the services of any individual who was an employee of the Company or its
Subsidiaries at any time during such Nonsolicitation Period or within the
six-month period prior thereto.

          SECTION 9.03 Nonsolicitation of Customers. During the Nonsolicitation
Period, the Executive will not induce or attempt to induce any customer,
supplier, client, insured, reinsured, reinsurer, broker, licensee or other
business relation of the Company or its Subsidiaries to cease doing business
with the Company or its Subsidiaries.

          SECTION 9.04 Enforcement. If, at the enforcement of Sections 9.01,
9.02 or 9.03, a court holds that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated
herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree
that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances
will be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court
will be permitted to revise the restrictions contained in this Section 9 to
cover the maximum duration, scope and area permitted by law.


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                                   ARTICLE 10
                                EQUITABLE RELIEF

          SECTION 10.01 Equitable Relief. The Executive acknowledges that (a)
the covenants contained herein are reasonable, (b) the Executive's services are
unique, and (c) a breach or threatened breach by him of any of his covenants and
agreements with the Company contained in Sections 6.01, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01, 9.02
or 9.03 could cause irreparable harm to the Company for which they would have no
adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, and in addition to any remedies which the
Company may have at law, in the event of an actual or threatened breach by the
Executive of his covenants and agreements contained in Sections 6.01, 7.01,
8.01, 9.01, 9.02 or 9.03, the Company shall have the absolute right to apply to
any court of competent jurisdiction for such injunctive or other equitable
relief as such court may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

                                   ARTICLE 11
                  EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNIFICATION

          SECTION 11.01 Executive Representations. The Executive hereby
represents and warrants to the Company that (a) the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Executive does not and will not conflict
with, breach, violate or cause a default under any contract, agreement,
instrument, order, judgment or decree to which the Executive is a party or by
which he is bound, (b) except for agreements provided to the Company by the
Executive, the Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement,
noncompetition agreement or confidentiality agreement with any other Person, and
(c) upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, this
Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of the Executive, enforceable
in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding Section 11.02 below, in the event
that any action is brought against Executive involving any breach of any
employment agreement, noncompetition agreement or confidentiality agreement with
any other Person, the Executive shall bear his own costs incurred in defending
such action, including but not limited to, court fees, arbitration costs,
mediation costs, attorneys' fees and disbursements.

          SECTION 11.02 General Indemnification. The Company agrees that if the
Executive is made a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(each, a "Proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer or employee of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, member, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including
service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether or not the basis of such
Proceeding is the Executive's alleged action in an official capacity while
serving as a director, officer, member, employee or agent, the Executive shall
be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted
or authorized by applicable law and its organizational documents, against all
cost, expense, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by the
Executive in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to
the Executive even if he has ceased to be a director, member, employee or agent
of the Company or other entity and shall inure to the benefit of the Executive's
heirs, executors and administrators. The Company agrees to maintain a directors'
and officers'


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liability insurance policy covering the Executive to the extent the Company
provides such coverage for its other executive officers.

                                   ARTICLE 12
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

          SECTION 12.01 Rights and Remedies. The Company will be entitled to
enforce its rights and remedies under this Agreement specifically, without
posting a bond or other security, to recover damages by reason of any breach of
any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law.
There are currently no disciplinary or grievance procedures in place, there is
no collective agreement in place, and there is no probationary period.

          SECTION 12.02 Consent to Amendments. The provisions of this Agreement
may be amended or waived only by a written agreement executed and delivered by
the Company and the Executive. No other course of dealing between the parties to
this Agreement or any delay in exercising any rights hereunder will operate as a
waiver of any rights of any such parties.

          SECTION 12.03 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto will
bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the
parties hereto whether so expressed or not, provided that the Executive may not
assign his rights or delegate his obligations under this Agreement without the
written consent of the Company.

          SECTION 12.04 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be ineffective only to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of this Agreement.

          SECTION 12.05 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain
the signatures of more than one party, but all of which counterparts taken
together will constitute one and the same agreement.

          SECTION 12.06 Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this
Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

          SECTION 12.07 Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to
be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement
will be in writing and will be deemed to have been given when delivered
personally to the recipient, two (2) business days after the date when sent to
the recipient by reputable express courier service (charges prepaid) or four (4)
business days after the date when mailed to the recipient by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid. Such notices,
demands and other communications will be sent to the Executive and to the
Company at the addresses set forth below.

     If to the Executive:   To the last address delivered to the Company
                            by the Executive in the


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                            manner set forth herein.

     If to the Company:     Validus Holdings, Ltd.
                            Mintflower Place
                            8 Par-La-Ville Road, Third Floor
                            Hamilton HMO8 Bermuda

                            Attn: General Counsel

     Copies (which shall not constitute notice) of notices to the Company shall
     also be sent to:

                            Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
                            80 Pine Street
                            New York, New York 10005
                            Attn: Glenn J. Waldrip, Jr., Esq

or to such other address or to the attention of such other person as the
recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.

          SECTION 12.08 Withholding. The Company may withhold from any amounts
payable under this Agreement such federal, state, local or foreign taxes as
shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

          SECTION 12.09 No Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement will not
confer any rights or remedies (or any obligations) upon any person other than
the Company, the Executive and their respective heirs, executors, successors and
assigns.

          SECTION 12.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the
documents referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the parties
and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or
among the parties, written or oral, that may have related in any way to the
subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall serve as a written statement of
employment for purposes of Section 6 of the Bermuda Employment Act 2000.

          SECTION 12.11 Construction. The language used in this Agreement will
be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual
intent, and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.
Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law will be
deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless
the context requires otherwise. The use of the word "including" in this
Agreement means "including without limitation" and is intended by the parties to
be by way of example rather than limitation.

          SECTION 12.12 Survival. Sections 6.01, 7.01, 8.01 and Articles 9 and
12 will survive and continue in full force in accordance with their terms
notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period.


                                      -11-

<PAGE>

          SECTION 12.13 GOVERNING LAW. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE
CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE GOVERNED BY
THE INTERNAL LAW OF BERMUDA, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS,
AND THE PARTIES HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT
OF BERMUDA.

          SECTION 12.14 Section 409A. It is intended that this Agreement will
comply with Section 409A of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code") and any regulations and guidelines issued thereunder, to
the extent the Agreement is subject thereto, and the Agreement shall be
interpreted on a basis consistent with such intent. If an amendment of the
Agreement is necessary in order for it to comply with Section 409A of the Code,
the parties hereto will negotiate in good faith to amend the Agreement in a
manner that preserves the original intent of the parties to the extent
reasonably possible. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this
Agreement, if the Executive is deemed to be a "specified employee" within the
meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then with regard
to any payment or the provisions of any benefit that is required to be delayed
pursuant to Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, such payment or benefit shall not
be made or provided prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six
(6)-month period measured from the date of his "separation from service" (as
such term is defined in Treasury Regulations issued under Section 409A), or (ii)
the date of his death (the "Delay Period"). Upon the expiration of the Delay
Period, all payments and benefits delayed pursuant to this Section 12.14
(whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single sum or in
installments in the absence of such delay) shall be paid or reimbursed to the
Executive in a lump sum, and any remaining payments and benefits due under this
Agreement shall be paid or provided in accordance with the normal payment dates
specified for them herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the
foregoing applies to the provision of any ongoing welfare benefits to the
Executive that would not be required to be delayed if the premiums therefor were
paid by the Executive, the Executive shall pay the full costs of premiums for
such welfare benefits during the Delay Period and the Company shall pay the
Executive an amount equal to the amount of such premiums paid by the Executive
during the Delay Period promptly after its conclusion.


                                      -12-

<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
the ___day of February, 2007, to be effective as of the date and year first
above written.

                                        VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.


                                        By:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Printed Name:
                                                          ----------------------
                                            Title:
                                                   -----------------------------

                                        STUART MERCER

                                        ----------------------------------------


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