ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD. Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

Exhibit 10.2

ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, Arch Capital Group Ltd. (the “Company”), a Bermuda company, hereby grants to                      , an employee of the Company on the date hereof (the “Option Holder”), the option to purchase common shares, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Shares”), upon the following terms:

WHEREAS, the Option Holder has been granted the following award under the Company’s [2002/2005] Long Term Incentive and Share Award Plan (the “Plan”);

(a)           Grant.  The Option Holder is hereby granted an option (the “Option”) to purchase                   Shares (the “Option Shares”) pursuant to the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.  The Option is granted as of February 23, 2006 (the “Date of Grant”) and such grant is subject to the terms and conditions herein and the terms and conditions of the applicable provisions of the Plan.  This Option shall not be treated as an incentive stock option as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the Plan shall control.

(b)           Status of Option Shares.  Upon issue, the Option Shares shall rank equally in all respects with the other Shares.

(c)           Option Price.  The purchase price for the Option Shares shall be, except as herein provided, $56.27 per Option Share, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Option Price,” payable immediately in full upon the exercise of the Option.

(d)           Term of Option.  The Option may be exercised only during the period (the “Option Period”) set forth in paragraph (f) below and shall remain exercisable until the tenth anniversary of the Date of Grant.  Thereafter, the Option Holder shall cease to have any rights in respect thereof.  The right to exercise the Option shall be subject to sooner termination as provided in paragraph (j) below.

(e)           No Rights of Shareholder.  The Option Holder shall not, by virtue hereof, be entitled to any rights of a shareholder in the Company, either at law or in equity.

(f)            Exercisability.  Except as otherwise set forth in paragraph (j) below, the Option shall become exercisable in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the Date of Grant, in each case subject to paragraph (j) below.  Subject to paragraph (j) below, the Option may be exercised at any time or from time to time during the Option Period in regard to all or any portion of the Option which is then exercisable, as may be adjusted pursuant to paragraph (g) below.

(g)           Adjustments for Recapitalization and Dividends.  In the event that, prior to the expiration of the Option, any dividend in Shares, recapitalization, Share split, reverse

split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or share exchange, or other such change affects the Shares such that they are increased or decreased or changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares, other securities of the Company or of another corporation or other consideration, then in order to maintain the proportionate interest of the Option Holder and preserve the value of the Option, (i) there shall automatically be substituted for each Share subject to the unexercised Option the number and kind of shares, other securities or other consideration (including cash) into which each outstanding Share shall be changed or for which each such Share shall be exchanged, and (ii) the exercise price shall be increased or decreased proportionately so that the aggregate purchase price for the Shares subject to the unexercised Option shall remain the same as immediately prior to such event.

(h)           Nontransferability.  The Option, or any interest therein, may not be assigned or otherwise transferred, disposed of or encumbered by the Option Holder, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.  During the lifetime of the Option Holder, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Option Holder or by his or her guardian or legal representative.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Option may be transferred by the Option Holder to members of his or her “immediate family “ or to a trust or other entity established for the exclusive benefit of solely one or more members of the Option Holder’s “immediate family.”  Any Option held by the transferee will continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions that were applicable to the Option immediately prior to the transfer, except that the Option will be transferable by the transferee only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  For purposes hereof, “immediate family” means the Option Holder’s children stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouse, siblings (including half brother and sisters), in laws, and relationships arising because of legal adoption.

(i)            Exercise of Option.  In order to exercise the Option, the Option Holder shall submit to the Company an instrument in writing signed by the Option Holder, specifying the whole number of Option Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, accompanied by payment, in a manner acceptable to the Company (which shall include a broker assisted exercise arrangement), of the Option Price for the Option Shares for which the Option is being exercised.  Payment to the Company in cash or Shares already owned by the Option Holder (provided that the Option Holder has owned such Shares for a minimum period of six months or has purchased such Shares on the open market) and having a total Fair Market Value (as defined below) equal to the exercise price, or in a combination of cash and such Shares, shall be deemed acceptable for purposes hereof.  Option Shares will be issued accordingly by the Company, and a share certificate dispatched to the Option Holder within 30 days.

The Company shall not be required to issue fractional Shares upon the exercise of the Option. If any fractional interest in a Share would be deliverable upon the exercise of the Option in whole or in part but for the provisions of this paragraph, the Company, in lieu of delivering any such fractional share therefor, shall pay a cash adjustment therefor in an amount equal to their Fair Market Value (or if any Shares are not publicly traded, an amount equal to the book value per share at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter) multiplied by the fraction of the fractional share which would otherwise have been issued hereunder.  Anything to the contrary herein

2

notwithstanding, the Company shall not be obligated to issue any Option Shares hereunder if the issuance of such Option Shares would violate the provision of any applicable law, in which event the Company shall, as soon as practicable, take whatever action it reasonably can so that such Option Shares may be issued without resulting in such violations of law.  For purposes hereof, Fair Market Value shall mean the mean between the high and low selling prices per Share on the immediately preceding date (or, if the Shares were not traded on that day, the next preceding day that the Shares were traded) on the principal exchange on which the Shares are traded, as such prices are officially quoted on such exchange.

(j)            Termination of Service.

1.             In the event the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company due to his death or Permanent Disability (as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan), the Option, to the extent not already exercisable in full, shall become immediately exercisable in full and shall continue to be exercisable by the Option Holder (or his Beneficiary or estate in the event of his death) for a period of three years following such termination of employment (but not beyond the Option Period).

2.             In the event of termination of employment (other than by the Company for Cause, as such term is defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan) after the attainment of Retirement Age (as defined in the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan), the Option shall continue to become exercisable on the schedule set forth in paragraph (f) above so long as the Option Holder does not engage in any activity in competition with any activity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than serving on the board of directors (or similar governing body) of another company or as a consultant for no more than 26 weeks per calendar year (“Competitive Activity”) and shall continue to be exercisable by the Option Holder (or his Beneficiary or estate in the event of his death) for the remainder of the Option Period.  In the event the Option Holder engages in a Competitive Activity, the Option, to the extent then exercisable, may be exercised for 30 days following the date on which the Option Holder engages in such Competitive Activity (but not beyond the Option Period).

3.             In the event the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company after a Change in Control (as defined below) due to termination (A) by the Company not for Cause or (B) by the Option Holder for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement, dated as of                   , between the Option Holder and                   , in either case, on or before the second anniversary of the occurrence of the Change in Control, the Option, to the extent not already exercisable in full, shall become immediately exercisable in full and shall continue to be exercisable by the Option Holder for a period of 90 days following such termination of employment (but not beyond the Option Period).

4.             In the event that the Option Holder ceases to be an employee of the Company for any other reason, except due to a termination of the Option Holder’s employment by the Company for Cause, the Option, to the extent then exercisable, may be exercised for 90 days following termination of employment (but not beyond the Option

3

Period); provided that, in the event of a Redundancy (as defined below), the Committee, in its sole discretion, may, in accordance with its authority under the Plan, determine that the Option, to the extent not exercisable, shall become exercisable and shall continue to be exercisable by the Option Holder for a period of 90 days following such termination of employment (but not beyond the Option Period).

5.             In the event of a termination of the Option Holder’s employment for Cause, the Option shall immediately cease to be exercisable and shall be immediately forfeited.

6.             To the extent the Option is not exercisable at the time of termination of employment or the time the Option Holder enters into a Competitive Activity, as the case may be, the Option shall be immediately forfeited.

7.             For purposes of this Option, service with any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (as defined in the Plan) shall be considered to be service with the Company.

8.             “Change in Control” shall mean:

(A)            any person (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than a Permitted Person, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Voting Securities representing 50% or more of the total voting power or value of all the then outstanding Voting Securities; or

(B)              the individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) together with those who become directors subsequent to such date and whose recommendation, election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors as of such date or whose recommendation, election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of the Board; or

(C)              the consummation of a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or reorganization of the Company, other than any such transaction which would (x) result in more than 50% of the total voting power and value represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by the former shareholders of the Company and (y) not otherwise be deemed a Change in Control under subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this paragraph.

4

“Permitted Persons” means (A) the Company; (B) any Related Party; (C) Hellman & Friedman or any of its subsidiaries or investment funds managed or controlled by Hellman & Friedman; (D) Warburg Pincus or any of its subsidiaries or any investment funds managed or controlled by Warburg Pincus or any of its subsidiaries; or (E) any group (as defined in Rule 13b-3 under the Exchange Act) comprised of any or all of the foregoing.

“Related Party” means (A) a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company; (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company; or (C) any entity, 50% or more of the voting power of which is owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of Voting Securities immediately prior to the transaction.

“Voting Security” means any security of the Company which carries the right to vote generally in the election of directors.

9.                                       “Redundancy” shall mean termination of employment by the Company due to its need to reduce the size of its workforce, including due to closure of a business or a particular workplace or change in business process.  Whether a termination of employment is due to a “redundancy” shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, such determination being final and binding on all parties hereto and all persons claiming through, in the name of or on behalf of such parties.

(k)           Obligations as to Capital.  The Company agrees that it will at all times maintain authorized and unissued share capital sufficient to fulfill all of its obligations under the Option.

(l)            Transfer of Shares.  The Option, the Option Shares, or any interest in either, may be sold, assigned, pledged, hypothecated, encumbered, or transferred or disposed of in any other manner, in whole or in part, only in compliance with the terms, conditions and restrictions as set forth in the governing instruments of the Company, applicable United States federal and state securities laws and the terms and conditions hereof.

(m)          Expenses of Issuance of Option Shares.  The issuance of stock certificates upon the exercise of the Option in whole or in part, shall be without charge to the Option Holder.  The Company shall pay, and indemnify the Option Holder from and against any issuance, stamp or documentary taxes (other than transfer taxes) or charges imposed by any governmental body, agency or official (other than income taxes) by reason of the exercise of the Option in whole or in part or the resulting issuance of the Option Shares.

5

(n)           Withholding.  No later than the date of exercise of the Option granted hereunder, the Option Holder shall pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld upon the exercise of such Option and the Company shall, to the extent permitted or required by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Option Holder, federal, state and local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld upon the exercise of such Option.

(o)           References.  References herein to rights and obligations of the Option Holder shall apply, where appropriate, to the Option Holder’s legal representative or estate without regard to whether specific reference to such legal representative or estate is contained in a particular provision of this Option.

(p)           Notices.  Any notice required or permitted to be given under this agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered personally or by courier, or sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, duly addressed to the party concerned at the address indicated below or to such changed address as such party may subsequently by similar process give notice of:

If to the Company:

Arch Capital Group Ltd.:

Wessex House
45 Reid Street
Hamilton HM 12 Bermuda
Attn:  Secretary

If to the Option Holder:

The last address delivered to the Company by the Option Holder in the manner set forth herein.

(q)           Governing Law.  This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws thereof.

(r)            Entire Agreement.  This agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and any previous agreement or understanding among the parties with respect thereto is superseded by this agreement and the Plan.

(s)           Counterparts.  This agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each of which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

6

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this agreement as of the Date of Grant.

7