FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * CHARMAN JOHN   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD [AXS] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO & President (Last) (First) (Middle) C/O AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, 106 PITTS BAY ROAD 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/17/2006 (Street) PEMBROKE, D0 HM 08 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Shares 01/17/2006   A   150,000 A (1) 3,124,676 (2) D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Warrant to Urchase Common Shares

$ 11.95

01/17/2005

A

34,032

11/20/2001

11/20/2011

Common Shares

34,032

(3)

1,121,388

I

By Dragon Trust

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock

$ 11.95

01/17/2005

A

11,344

11/20/2001

11/20/2011

Common Shares

11,344

(3)

373,793

I

By JR Charman Children's Settlement

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CHARMAN JOHN C/O AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED 106 PITTS BAY ROAD PEMBROKE, D0 HM 08	X		CEO & President

Signatures

John R. Charman		01/19/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Grant of Restricted Stock.
(2)	Includes 722,064 shares held directly, 1,804,908 shares held by Dragon Holdings Trust and 597,704 shares held by JR Charman Children's Settlement. Mr. Charman disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the trusts.
(3)	Pursuant to anti-dilution provisions in the warrant, the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant automatically increases, and the exercise price automatically decreases, upon the payment of certain dividends by the issuer.

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