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

February 2, 2016

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Waterloo House, 100 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(441) 278-0400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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

On January 27, 2016, Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd., a Bermuda company (the “Company”), entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with John A. Kuhn, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Global Insurance. A copy of the amended and restated employment agreement (the “Amended Employment Agreement”) is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Amended Employment Agreement is substantially the same as the employment agreement it replaces, except for a lengthening of Mr. Kuhn’s notice period for a separation from service by the executive without good reason (and an elimination of post-employment compensation and non-competition obligations under such circumstances), an update to the financial planning reimbursement and housing allowance benefits, additional provisions regarding the interpretation of the Amended Employment Agreement under Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and updates to Mr. Kuhn’s base salary, target annual incentive compensation opportunity and long-term incentive compensation opportunity.

The Amended Employment Agreement is for a one year term, followed by automatic one-year renewals unless three months’ notice is provided by the Company or twelve months’ notice is provided by Mr. Kuhn. Termination by the Company of the Amended Employment Agreement constitutes separation from service by the Company without cause. The Amended Employment Agreement specifies for Mr. Kuhn an annual base salary of $800,000, subject to increase at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Amended Employment Agreement also provides Mr. Kuhn with the opportunity to earn annual incentive compensation and long-term incentive compensation, each payable at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company. The target annual incentive opportunity specified in the Amended Employment Agreement is 120% of base salary and the long-term incentive opportunity specified in the Amended Employment Agreement is 180% of base salary. The Amended Employment Agreement provides for reimbursement for housing and travel expenses, as well as a gross-up on U.S. taxes arising from certain of the housing and travel expense reimbursements.

Under the Amended Employment Agreement, the Company may separate Mr. Kuhn’s service from the Company as a result of disability, for cause or without cause. Mr. Kuhn may separate his service from the Company at any time, with or without good reason. Mr. Kuhn’s service with the Company will automatically be severed upon the executive’s death.

Under the Amended Employment Agreement, in the event of separation of Mr. Kuhn’s service from the Company, Mr. Kuhn will be entitled to severance dependent upon the circumstances of Mr. Kuhn’s separation.

To receive the severance described above, Mr. Kuhn is required to execute a general release of claims against the Company. Mr. Kuhn’s severance may be delayed for six months following his separation from service with the Company if such delay in payments is necessary to comply with U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. In addition, Mr. Kuhn’s severance may be reduced to the extent such severance is subject to any excise tax imposed under Internal Revenue Code Section 4999 as a result of the application of Internal Revenue Code Section 280G.

Under the Amended Employment Agreement, Mr. Kuhn is subject to non-competition and non-solicitation provisions during Mr. Kuhn’s notice period and for a period of six months after separation from service (other than as a result of Mr. Kuhn’s death or Mr. Kuhn’s separation from service without good reason) and ongoing confidentiality, intellectual property and non-disparagement requirements.

Concurrent with the execution of the Amended Employment Agreement, the Company entered into an amended indemnification agreement with Mr. Kuhn. A copy of the amended form of indemnification agreement (the “Amended Indemnification Agreement”) is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference. The Amended Indemnification Agreement is substantially the same as the indemnification agreement it replaces.

The Amended Indemnification Agreement provides that the Company will indemnify Mr. Kuhn to the full extent permitted by applicable law. In addition, the Amended Indemnification Agreement provides for the reimbursement by the Company of Mr. Kuhn’s expenses related to the defense of claims arising from Mr. Kuhn’s services as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company. In the event indemnification is unavailable to Mr. Kuhn, the

Amended Indemnification Agreement specifies contribution. Under the Amended Indemnification Agreement, Mr. Kuhn’s right to indemnification is terminated in the event the claim arises from Mr. Kuhn’s fraud or dishonesty in relation to the Company. In addition, Mr. Kuhn’s right of indemnification is limited where payment is to be made from another source, where indemnification is prohibited by law or where the claim arises as a result of liability under Section 16(b) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Amended Indemnification Agreement also specifies the minimum levels of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to be purchased by the Company, the procedure for the determination of Mr. Kuhn’s entitlement to indemnification by the Company and the procedures to be followed in connection with the defense of third party claims subject to indemnification.

The foregoing summaries of the Amended Employment Agreement and the Amended Indemnification Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Amended Employment Agreement and Amended Indemnification Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2, respectively.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) The description of the Amended Employment Agreement and Amended Indemnification Agreement set forth in Item 1.01 of this report is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Exhibits

SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: February 2, 2016

Exhibit Index