8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 1, 2010

HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-13790	76-0336636
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation)		Identification No.)

13403 Northwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77040
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(713) 690-7300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure

     On June 1, 2010, HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) announced in a press release that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $300 million of its common stock.

     The repurchase plan calls for the repurchases to be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Repurchases under the plan will be subject to market and business conditions, as well as the Company’s level of cash generated from operations, cash required for acquisitions, debt covenant compliance, trading price of the stock being at or below the Company’s estimated book value, and other relevant factors. The plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares, has no expiration date, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion.

     A copy of the Company’s press release announcing the approval of the share repurchase plan is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated June 1, 2010.

The information contained in Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or the Securities Act of 1933, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.

Portions of this report may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined by federal law. Although the Company believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the “safe harbor” protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in the Company’s performance is contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
By:	/s/ Randy D. Rinicella
	Randy D. Rinicella
	Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

DATED: June 1, 2010

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

HCC APPROVES NEW
SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

HOUSTON (June 1, 2010) . . .
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HCC) announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $300 million of its common stock.

The repurchase plan calls for the repurchases to be made in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions from time-to-time in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, including Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Repurchases under the plan will be subject to market and business conditions, as well as the Company’s level of cash generated from operations, cash required for acquisitions, debt covenant compliance, trading price of the stock being at or below the Company’s estimated book value, and other relevant factors. The plan does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares, has no expiration date, and may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion.

“HCC’s repurchase plan reflects our confidence in the strength of our financial position, our earnings capacity, and our continued commitment to manage capital efficiently while continuing to seek opportunities for growth,” HCC President and Chief Executive Officer John N. Molbeck, Jr., said.

This authorization replaces an existing program approved by the Board on June 20, 2008 to purchase up to $100 million of the Company’s common stock under which in excess of $99 million has been purchased.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. is a leading international specialty insurance group with offices across the United States and in the United Kingdom, Spain and Ireland. As of March 31, 2010, HCC had assets of $8.9 billion and shareholders’ equity of $3.1 billion. HCC’s major domestic and international insurance companies have a financial strength rating of “AA (Very Strong)” from Standard & Poor’s Corporation. HCC’s major domestic insurance companies have a financial strength rating of “AA (Very Strong)” from Fitch Ratings, “A1 (Good Security)” from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and “A+ (Superior)” by A.M. Best Company, Inc.

For more information about HCC, please visit http://www.hcc.com.

Contact:  Jonathan Lee, HCC Director of Investor Relations
Telephone: (713) 996-1156

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The types of risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company are set forth in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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