Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

             AMENDMENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF NET PREMIUM RECEIVABLES

         This Amendment (the "Amendment") to the Assignment of Net Premium
Receivables dated as of July 1, 2003 (the "Assignment Agreement") is entered
into as of September 2, 2003 (the "Amendment Effective Date") by and among Royal
Indemnity Company, a Delaware property and casualty insurance company ("RIC"),
Royal Surplus Lines Insurance Company, a Delaware property and casualty
insurance company ("RSLIC"), Landmark American Insurance Company, an Oklahoma
property and casualty insurance company ("Landmark"), and LaSalle Bank National
Association, a national banking association (hereinafter referred to as
"Trustee"). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have
the meanings set forth in the Assignment Agreement.

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, RIC, RSLIC, Landmark and the Trustee desire that, as of the
Amendment Effective Date, Landmark shall no longer be a party to the Assignment
Agreement.

         NOW THEREFORE, RIC, RSLIC, Landmark and the Trustee, in consideration
of the mutual covenants contained herein and for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and
upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows:

SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

         (i)      As of the Amendment Effective Date, Landmark shall no longer
be a party to the Assignment Agreement.

SECTION 2. MISCELLANEOUS

         (i)      Full Force and Effect. Except as expressly set forth herein,
this Amendment does not constitute a waiver or modifications of any provision of
the Assignment Agreement. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Assignment
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the
provisions thereof on the date hereof. As used in the Assignment Agreement, the
terms "Assignment Agreement," "herein," "hereof," "hereinafter," "hereto" and
words of similar import shall, unless the context otherwise requires, mean the
Assignment Agreement as amended by the Amendment.

         (ii)     Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall constitute an
original and all together shall constitute one agreement.

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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed and
delivered by the duly authorized officers of ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY, ROYAL
SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY, LANDMARK AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY, and
LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as of the date first above written.

                                       ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY

                                       By:    /s/ Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                              ---------------------------
                                       Name:  Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       ROYAL SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY

                                       By:    /s/ Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                              ---------------------------
                                       Name:  Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                       Title: Vice President

                                       LANDMARK AMERICAN
                                       INSURANCE COMPANY

                                       By:    /s/ David E. Leonard
                                              ---------------------------
                                       Name:  David E. Leonard
                                       Title: Executive Vice President

                                       LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                       By:    /s/ James M. Feldman
                                              ---------------------------
                                       Name:  James M. Feldman
                                       Title: GSVP

                                       2<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

             AMENDMENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF REINSURANCE RECOVERABLES

         This Amendment (the "Amendment") to the Assignment of Reinsurance
Recoverables dated as of July 1, 2003 (the "Assignment Agreement") is entered
into as of September 2, 2003 (the "Amendment Effective Date") by and among Royal
Indemnity Company, a Delaware property and casualty insurance company ("RIC"),
Royal Surplus Lines Insurance Company, a Delaware property and casualty
insurance company ("RSLIC"), Landmark American Insurance Company, an Oklahoma
property and casualty insurance company ("Landmark"), RSUI Indemnity Company,
f/k/a Underwriters Reinsurance Company, a property and casualty insurance
company organized under the laws of New Hampshire ("RSUI Indemnity"), and
LaSalle Bank National Association, a national banking association (hereinafter
referred to as "Trustee"). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Assignment Agreement.

                                   WITNESSETH

         WHEREAS, RIC, RSLIC, Landmark, RSUI Indemnity and the Trustee desire
that, as of the Amendment Effective Date, Landmark shall no longer be a party to
the Assignment Agreement.

         NOW THEREFORE, RIC, RSLIC, Landmark, RSUI Indemnity and the Trustee, in
consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and
upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows:

SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the parties
hereto agree as follows:

         (i)      As of the Amendment Effective Date, Landmark shall no longer
be a party to the Assignment Agreement.

         (ii)     The first recital of the Preamble to the Assignment Agreement
is hereby amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

                  "WHEREAS, each of the Ceding Companies has entered into quota
share reinsurance agreements with Reinsurer, dated as of July 1, 2003
(collectively, the "Quota Share Reinsurance Agreements"), pursuant to which RIC
and RSLIC respectively have agreed to cede, and Reinsurer has agreed to assume,
on a 100% quota share basis, the liabilities and obligations arising out of the
Reinsured Contracts (as such term is defined in the respective Quota Share
Reinsurance Agreements);".

SECTION 2. MISCELLANEOUS

         (i)      Full Force and Effect. Except as expressly set forth herein,
this Amendment does not constitute a waiver or modifications of any provision of
the

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Assignment Agreement. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Assignment
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the
provisions thereof on the date hereof. As used in the Assignment Agreement, the
terms "Assignment Agreement," "herein," "hereof," "hereinafter," "hereto" and
words of similar import shall, unless the context otherwise requires, mean the
Assignment Agreement as amended by the Amendment.

         (ii)     Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall constitute an
original and all together shall constitute one agreement.

               [Remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Assignment Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of ROYAL INDEMNITY
COMPANY, ROYAL SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY, LANDMARK AMERICAN INSURANCE
COMPANY, RSUI INDEMNITY COMPANY, f/k/a UNDERWRITERS REINSURANCE COMPANY, and
LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as of the date first above written.

                                   ROYAL INDEMNITY COMPANY

                                   By:    /s/ Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                          ---------------------------
                                   Name:  Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                   Title: Vice President

                                   ROYAL SURPLUS LINES INSURANCE COMPANY

                                   By:    /s/ Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                          ---------------------------
                                   Name:  Roderick P. Hoover, Jr.
                                   Title: Vice President

                                   LANDMARK AMERICAN
                                   INSURANCE COMPANY

                                   By:    /s/ David E. Leonard
                                          ---------------------------
                                   Name:  David E. Leonard
                                   Title: Executive Vice President

                                   RSUI INDEMNITY COMPANY, F/K/A
                                   UNDERWRITERS REINSURANCE
                                   COMPANY

                                   By:    /s/ Dorothea C. Gilliam
                                          ---------------------------
                                   Name:
                                   Title:

                                   LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                   By:    /s/ James M. Feldman
                                          ---------------------------
                                   Name:  James M. Feldman
                                   Title: GSVP

                                       3<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10

                               THIRD AMENDMENT TO
                       364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

         THIS THIRD AMENDMENT, dated as of September 30, 2003 (this
"Amendment"), amends and modifies a certain 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement,
dated as of June 14, 2002, as amended by a Amendments dated as of June 13, 2003
and June 20, 2003 (as so amended, the "Credit Agreement"), among ALLEGHANY
CORPORATION (the "Borrower"), the Banks named therein and U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Agent for the Banks (in such capacity, the "Agent"). Terms not
otherwise expressly defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the
Credit Agreement.

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the Borrower, the Banks which are signatories
hereto and the Agent agree as follows:

                  ARTICLE I - AMENDMENT TO THE CREDIT AGREEMENT

         Upon effectiveness of this Amendment as provided below, the Credit
Agreement shall be deemed to be amended as follows.

         1.1 Revolving Commitment Ending Date. Section 2.12 is amended by
deleting "September 30, 2003" and inserting "October 17, 2003" in place thereof.

         1.2 Construction. All references in the Credit Agreement to "this
Agreement", "herein" and similar references shall be deemed to refer to the
Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment and as may be further amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

                   ARTICLE II - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         To induce the Banks and the Agent to enter into this Amendment and to
make and maintain the Loans under the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, the
Borrower hereby warrants and represents to the Banks and the Agent that it is
duly authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment, and to perform its
obligations under the Credit Agreement as amended hereby, and that this
Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower,
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

                       ARTICLE III - CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

         This Amendment shall become effective on the date first set forth
above, provided, however, that the effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to
the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent:

         3.1 Warranties. The representations and warranties in Article IV of the
Credit Agreement shall be true and correct as though made on the date hereof
(other than those which speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and
correct as of such date). The execution by the Borrower of this Amendment shall
be deemed a representation that the Borrower has complied with the foregoing
condition.

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         3.2 Defaults. Before and after giving effect to this Amendment, no
Default and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under the
Credit Agreement. The execution by the Borrower of this Amendment shall be
deemed a representation that the Borrower has complied with the foregoing
condition.

                              ARTICLE IV - GENERAL

         4.1 Expenses. The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Agent upon demand
for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal
expenses) incurred by the Agent in connection with the preparation, negotiation
and execution of this Amendment and any other document required to be furnished
herewith, and in enforcing the obligations of the Borrower hereunder, and to pay
and save the Agent harmless from all liability for, any stamp or other taxes
which may be payable with respect to the execution or delivery of this
Amendment, which obligations of the Borrower shall survive any termination of
the Credit Agreement.

         4.2 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in as many
counterparts as may be deemed necessary or convenient, and by the different
parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall
be deemed an original but all such counterparts shall constitute but one and the
same instrument.

         4.3 Severability. Any provision of this Amendment which is prohibited
or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provisions in any other jurisdiction.

         4.4 Law. This Amendment shall be governed by the internal laws of the
State of Minnesota, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles
thereof, but giving effect to federal laws of the United States applicable to
national banks.

         4.5 Successors; Enforceability. This Amendment shall be binding upon
the Borrower, the Banks and the Agent and their respective successors and
assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Banks and the Agent
and the successors and assigns of the Banks and the Agent.  Except as hereby
amended, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and is
hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.

                            (signature page follows)

                                        2
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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date
first written above.

                                      ALLEGHANY CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Peter R. Sismondo
                                         ----------------------------
                                      Title: VP

                                      U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                      Agent and as a Bank

                                      By: /s/ Sam S. Pepper
                                         ----------------------------
                                      Title: Vice President

                                      LaSALLE BANK NATIONAL
                                      ASSOCIATION, as a Bank

                                      By: /s/ Keith J. Cable
                                         ----------------------------
                                             Keith J. Cable
                                      Title: Assistant Vice President

                                      M&I MARSHALL & ILSLEY BANK,
                                      as a Bank

                                      By: /s/ Douglas S. Nelson
                                         ----------------------------
                                      Title: Sr. Vice President

                                      and

                                      By: John T. Ronzia
                                         ----------------------------
                                      Title: Vice President

                                      THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Bank

                                      By: /s/ J.W. Campbell
                                         ----------------------------
                                          J.W. Campbell
                                          Managing Director

                                      BANK HAPOALIM B.M., as a Bank

                                      By: /s/ James P. Surless
                                         ----------------------------
                                      Title: VP

                                      and

                                      By: /s/ Lenroy Hackett
                                         ----------------------------
                                            Lenroy Hackett
                                      Title:VP

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