Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.8

                             ASSIGNMENT OF ACCOUNT

                           Dated as of May 17, 2001

     For value received, MUTUAL RISK MANAGEMENT LTD., a company organized under
the laws of Bermuda (the "Assignor"), whose address is 44 Church Street,
Hamilton HM 12 Bermuda, hereby (i) transfers, pledges, charges, and grants to
the Holders (defined below) a first priority security interest and (ii)
transfers, pledges, and grants to the Administrative Agent (defined below) and
the RHINOS Holders (defined below) a second priority security interest
(subordinate and inferior only to the first priority security interest in favor
of the Holders) in (a) Account No. 0003493170 at Fleet National Bank, styled
"Mutual Risk Management Ltd.," and (b) any extensions or renewals of such
account if such account is one which may be extended or renewed (such account
and any extensions or renewals being hereinafter called the "Account"), together
with all of the Assignor's right, title, and interest (whether now existing or
hereafter created or arising) in and to the Account, all sums from time to time
on deposit therein, credited thereto, or payable thereon, and all instruments,
documents, certificates, and other writings evidencing the Account
(collectively, the "Collateral"), on the following terms and conditions:

     1.   As used herein:

     Account shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory
paragraph of this Agreement.

     Administrative Agent shall mean Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Lenders (herein so called) party to that certain
Credit Agreement (herein so called) dated September 21, 2000, among Assignor,
Mutual Group, Ltd., such Lenders and the Administrative Agent, as amended,
supplemented, modified, or restated from time to time.

     Agreement shall mean this Assignment of Account dated as of May 17, 2001.

     Assignor shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory
paragraph of this Agreement.

     Collateral Agreement means that certain Collateral Agreement dated as of
May 17, 2001, by and between First Union National Bank, as collateral agent, and
Assignor, a copy of which is attached hereto.

     Debentures shall mean (i) the 9 3/8% Convertible Exchangeable Debentures
due 2006 of the Assignor and (ii) the 9 3/8% Convertible Debentures due 2006 of
Newco (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement); provided, however, that
"Debentures" shall not include the RHINOS Debentures.

     Holders shall mean the holders from time to time of the Debentures.

     Payment Event means the occurrence of any event which shall cause all or
any portion of the Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Subordination
Agreement) to become due prior to the expiration of the Subordination Period (as
defined in the Subordination Agreement).

     Representative means XL Insurance Ltd., acting hereunder as representative
of the Holders.

     RHINOS shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Securities Purchase
Agreement and, for purposes of this Agreement, also means and includes the
RHINOS Debentures (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement).

     RHINOS Debentures shall have the meaning assigned thereto in the Securities
Purchase Agreement.
<PAGE>

     RHINOS Holders means the holders from time to time of the RHINOS.

     Securities Purchase Agreement shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
the Debentures.

     Subordination Agreement shall mean that certain Subordination Agreement
dated as of May 17, 2001, among the Holders, the Lenders, the RHINOS Holders,
the Administrative Agent, the Representative and certain other persons or
entities.

     2.   This assignment of the Account and the Collateral shall secure (a) on
a first priority basis, the payment of all obligations and indebtedness arising
under or pursuant to the Debentures (the "Debenture Obligations"), and (b) on a
second priority, pari passu basis, (i) the payment of all "Obligations" as
defined in the Credit Agreement and any subrogation rights that the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may have under the Subordination Agreement
(the "Credit Agreement Obligations") and (ii) the payment of all obligations and
indebtedness of the Assignor arising under or pursuant to the RHINOS and any
subrogation rights that any RHINOS Holder may have under the Subordination
Agreement (the "RHINOS Obligations").

     3.   All funds deposited or held in the Account at any time shall be
invested in U.S. Government Obligations, as defined in and subject to the
procedures and limitations with respect to investments set forth in the
Collateral Agreement.

     4.   The Assignor represents and warrants that (a) the Assignor is the sole
owner of the Account and the Collateral and has authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement; (b) no financing statement covering the Collateral, or any part
thereof, has been filed with any filing officer and no other assignment or
security agreement has been executed with respect to the Account or the
Collateral; and (c) the Account and the Collateral are not subject to any lien
or offset of any person, firm, or corporation other than the Holders on a first
priority basis and the Administrative Agent and the RHINOS Holders on a second
priority basis.

     5.   So long as the Debenture Obligations, the Credit Agreement
Obligations, or the RHINOS Obligations or any part thereof remain unpaid and
this Agreement remains effective, the Assignor covenants and agrees (a) from
time-to-time promptly to execute and deliver to the Representative, the
Administrative Agent, or the RHINOS Holders, as the case may be, all such other
assignments, certificates, passbooks, supplemental writings, and financing
statements and do all other acts or things as the Representative, the
Administrative Agent, or the RHINOS Holders, as the case may be, may reasonably
request in order to more fully evidence and perfect the security interests
herein created; (b) promptly to furnish the Representative, the Administrative
Agent, or the RHINOS Holders, as the case may be, with any information or
writings which the Representative, the Administrative Agent, or the RHINOS
Holders, as the case may be, may reasonably request concerning the Account,
including copies of monthly bank statements; (c) promptly to notify the
Representative, the Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders of any claim,
action, or proceeding affecting title to the Account, or any part thereof, or
the security interest therein, and, at the request of the Representative, the
Administrative Agent, or the RHINOS Holders, as the case may be, appear in and
defend any such action or proceeding; and (d) to pay to the Representative, the
Administrative Agent, or the RHINOS Holders, as the case may be, the amount of
any costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred by the
Representative, the Administrative Agent, or the RHINOS Holders, as the case may
be, following any Payment Event in demanding and collecting the Account. The
Assignor covenants and agrees that after the date hereof, without the prior
consent of the Representative, the Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders,
the Assignor will not create any other security interest in, mortgage, or
otherwise encumber, or assign the Account, or any part thereof, or permit the
same to be or become subject to any lien, attachment, execution, sequestration,
other legal or equitable process, or any encumbrance of any kind or character.

     6.   The Assignor hereby authorizes the Representative upon the occurrence
of a Payment Event and so long as any part of the Debenture Obligations remain
outstanding (a) to withdraw, collect, and receipt
<PAGE>

for any and all funds on deposit in or payable on the Account; (b) on behalf of
the Assignor to endorse the name of the Assignor upon any checks, drafts, or
other instruments payable to the Assignor evidencing payment on the Account; (c)
to surrender or present for notation of withdrawal the passbook, certificate, or
other documents issued to the Assignor in connection with the Account; and (d)
to exercise any other rights or take any other actions specified herein or
otherwise as if the Representative was the owner of the Account. Neither the
Representative nor the Holders shall be liable for any loss of interest on or
any penalty or charge assessed against funds in, payable on, or credited to the
Account as a result of the exercise by the Representative or the Holders of any
of their rights or remedies under this Agreement.

     7.   The Representative shall notify the holder of the Account of the
amount of any distribution to Holders permitted hereunder. Any amounts remaining
in the Account after distribution to the Holders pursuant to instructions from
the Representative shall be distributed to Administrative Agent. Any and all
funds distributed from the Account shall be applied as follows: first, to the
principal of the Debentures, second, to accrued interest on the Debentures,
third, to the remainder of the Debenture Obligations, and any excess shall be
paid ratably to (i) the Administrative Agent for application toward payment of
the Credit Agreement Obligations and (ii) the RHINOS Holders for application
toward payment of the RHINOS Obligations (for purposes hereof, "ratably" on any
date of determination, shall mean the proportion that the principal amount
outstanding at such time under the Credit Agreement or the RHINOS (as the case
may be) bears to the sum of the principal amount outstanding at such time under
the Credit Agreement and the RHINOS). Assignor hereby irrevocably agrees to such
application of payment.

     8.   Upon the earlier of (a) full and final payment of the Debenture
Obligations, the Credit Agreement Obligations, and the RHINOS Obligations and
(b) the expiration of the Subordination Period (as defined in the Subordination
Agreement), provided that upon the expiration of the Subordination Period, (i)
there are no Debentures that have become due and payable pursuant to Section
3(b) of the Debentures and that have not been indefeasibly paid in full in cash,
and (ii) there are not then outstanding any Credit Agreement Obligations or
RHINOS Obligations consisting of subrogation rights under the Subordination
Agreement, the rights of the Holders, the Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS
Holders in and to the Account and the Collateral hereunder will be deemed to be
released and of no further force and effect.

     9.   All rights, titles, interests, liens, and remedies of the Holders, the
Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders, as the case may be, hereunder are
cumulative of each other and of every other right, title, interest, lien, or
remedy which the Holders, the Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders, as
the case may be, may otherwise have at law or in equity or under any other
contract or other writing for the enforcement and collection of the Debenture
Obligations, the Credit Agreement Obligations, or the RHINOS Obligations, as the
case may be, and the exercise of one or more rights or remedies shall not
prejudice or impair the concurrent or subsequent exercise of other rights or
remedies.

     10.  No delay or omission by the Holders, the Administrative Agent, or the
RHINOS Holders in exercising any right or power hereunder, or under any other
writings executed by the Assignor as security for or in connection with the
Debenture Obligations, the Credit Agreement Obligations, or the RHINOS
Obligations, shall impair any such right or power or be construed as a waiver
thereof or any acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such right or power preclude other or further exercise thereof, or the
exercise of any other right or power of the Holders, the Administrative Agent,
or the RHINOS Holders hereunder or under such other writings.

     11.  The Assignor agrees that the Account is a "Securities Account" and all
assets in the Account are "Financial Assets" (as both terms are defined in
Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code).

     12.  Any notice or other communication required or permitted pursuant to
this Agreement shall be deemed given (a) when personally delivered to any
officer of the party to whom it is addressed, (b) on the

                                       3
<PAGE>

earlier of actual receipt thereof or five (5) days following posting thereof by
certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, (c) upon actual receipt thereof
when sent by a recognized overnight delivery service, or (d) upon actual receipt
thereof when sent by facsimile to the number set forth below with telephone
communication confirming receipt and subsequently confirmed by registered,
certified, or overnight mail to the address set forth below, in each case,
addressed to the Assignor, the Representative, the Administrative Agent, or the
RHINOS Holders at its address set forth below or at such other address as has
been furnished in writing by a party to the other by like notice:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                   <C>              <C>
If to the Assignor:                    c/o Mutual Risk Management Ltd.
                                       44 Church Street
                                       Hamilton HM12
                                       Bermuda
                                       Attention:      Chief Executive Officer
                                       Telephone:      (441) 295-5688
                                       Facsimile:      (441) 292-1867

                      with a copy to:  Mayer, Brown & Platt
                                       190 South LaSalle Street
                                       Chicago, Illinois  60603
                                       Attention:      Richard W. Shepro
                                       Telephone:     (312) 782-0600
                                       Facsimile:     (312) 701-7711

If to the Holders:                     XL Insurance Ltd., as Representative of the Holders
                                       c/o XL Capital Ltd.
                                       XL House
                                       1 Bermudiana Street
                                       Hamilton HM11
                                       Bermuda
                                       Attention:    Paul Giordano
                                       Telephone:   (441)   294-7162
                                       Facsimile:   (441)   292-5280

                      with a copy to:  Cahill Gordon & Reindel
                                       80 Pine Street
                                       New York, New York 10005-1702
                                       Attention:     Immanuel Kohn
                                       Telephone:     (212) 701-3000
                                       Facsimile:     (212) 269-5420

If to the Administrative Agent:        Bank of America, N.A.
                                       231 S. LaSalles
                                       Chicago, Illinois 60697
                                       Attention:       Nita Savage
                                       Telephone:       (312) 828-4854
                                       Facsimile:       (312) 987-0889

                      with a copy to:  Haynes and Boone, LLP
                                       901 Main Street, Suite 3100
                                       Dallas, Texas 75202
                                       Attention:       Kenneth A. Rogers
</TABLE>

                                      4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                   <C>              <C>
                                       Telephone:       (214) 651-5951
                                       Facsimile:       (214) 200-0833

If to the RHINOS Holders:              Intrepid Master Funding Trust
                                       c/o Wilmington Trust Company, as Owner-Trustee
                                       Rodney Square North
                                       1100 North Market Street
                                       Wilmington, Delaware 19890
                                       Attention:       Mary Kay Pupillo
                                       Telephone:       (302) 651-8558
                                       Facsimile:       (302) 651-8882

                      with a copy to:  Banc of  America Securities LLC
                                       9 West 57/th/ Street
                                       New York, New York 10019
                                       Attention:    William Caccamise
                                       Telephone:    (212) 847-5109
                                       Facsimile:    (212)  847-5124
</TABLE>

     13.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND
THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.

     14.  This Agreement shall be binding on the Assignor and its successors and
assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Assignor, the Holders, the
Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders and their respective successors and
assigns.

                  Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.
                           Signature Page to Follow.

                                       5
<PAGE>

          ASSIGNOR ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS ASSIGNMENT.

                                   ASSIGNOR:
                                   --------

                                   Mutual Risk Management Ltd., a company
                                   organized under the laws of Bermuda

                                   By:  _______________________________________
                                        Name:__________________________________
                                        Title:_________________________________

                                       6<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.9

                       DEPOSIT ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT

May 17, 2001

Mail Stop: CT EH 40225C
Fleet National Bank
777 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06115

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter is to notify you (the "Depository Bank") that, pursuant to that
certain Assignment of Account of even date herewith, a copy of which is attached
hereto (the "Assignment of Account"), Mutual Risk Management Ltd., a company
organized under the laws of Bermuda (the "Pledgor"), has (a) assigned to the
Holders (as defined in the Assignment of Account) of certain Debentures (as
defined in the Assignment of Account) and granted to the Holders a first
priority security interest in and lien upon, and (b) assigned to the
Administrative Agent (as defined in the Assignment of Account), for the benefit
of the Lenders (as defined in the Assignment of Account), and the RHINOS Holders
(as defined in the Assignment of Account), and granted to the Administrative
Agent and the RHINOS Holders a second priority security interest in and lien
upon, (a) Account No. 0003493170 (the "Account") maintained by the Pledgor with
you, (b) any extensions or renewals of the Account if the Account is one which
may be extended or renewed, and (c) all of the Pledgor's right, title, and
interest (whether now existing or hereafter created or arising) in and to the
Account, all sums from time to time on deposit therein, credited thereto, or
payable thereon, and all instruments, documents, certificates, and other
writings evidencing the Account (the items described in clauses (a), (b) and (c)
being herein collectively called the "Collateral"). XL Insurance Ltd. (the
"Representative") is acting as agent and representative of the Holders of the
Debentures for purposes of this letter agreement.

In connection therewith, the parties hereto agree (which agreement by the
Pledgor will be construed as instructions to the Depository Bank):

1.   The Depository Bank is instructed to deliver to the Representative, the
     Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders copies of monthly statements
     on the Account.

2.   The Account will be styled:

     "Mutual Risk Management Ltd."

3.   All dividends, interest, gains, and other profits on the Collateral will be
     reported in the name and tax identification number of the Pledgor.

4.   During the effectiveness of this agreement, the Depository Bank will not
     allow any of the Collateral or any interest therein to be sold,
     transferred, or withdrawn by or for the benefit of the Pledgor.

5.   This letter agreement gives the Representative, the Administrative Agent,
     and the RHINOS Holders "control" of the Account and the Collateral.  The
     Depository Bank agrees to comply with any order or instruction from
<PAGE>

     the Representative (which shall also be deemed to be an order or
     instruction from the Administrative Agent and the RHINOS Holders for
     purposes of this letter agreement) as to the withdrawal or disposition of
     any funds from time to time credited to the Account, or as to any other
     matters relating to the Collateral, without the further consent of the
     Pledgor or any other person. The Depository Bank shall be fully entitled to
     rely upon such instructions from the Representative even if such
     instructions are contrary to any instructions or demands that the Pledgor,
     the Administrative Agent, or any other person may give to the Depository
     Bank. The Depository Bank shall have no duty to inquire or determine
     whether the Representative is entitled, under the Assignment of Account, to
     give any such instructions. Any amounts remaining in the Account after
     distribution pursuant to instructions from the Representative shall be
     distributed to Administrative Agent.

6.   The Pledgor agrees to indemnify and hold the Depository Bank, its officers
     and employees, harmless from and against any and all claims, causes of
     action, liabilities, lawsuits, demands, and/or damages, including, without
     limitation, any and all costs, including court costs and reasonable
     attorneys' fees, that may arise or result from the Depository Bank entering
     into and performing its obligations under this letter agreement except to
     the extent that such claims, causes of action, liabilities, lawsuits,
     demands, and/or damages are found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a
     court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence
     or willful misconduct of the Depository Bank. In addition, the Pledgor
     agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses of the Depository Bank in
     entering into and administering this agreement.

7.   The Depository Bank represents that it has not received notice regarding
     any lien, encumbrance, or other claim to the Account or the Collateral from
     any person other than pursuant to this letter agreement and has not entered
     into another agreement with any other party to act on such party's
     instructions with respect to the Account.  The Depository Bank further
     agrees not to enter into any such agreement with any other party.

8.   Each of the parties executing this letter agreement agrees that the Account
     is a "Securities Account" and all assets in the Account are "Financial
     Assets" (as both terms are defined in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial
     Code).

9.   Unless the Depository Bank has obtained the Representative's, the
     Administrative Agent's, and the RHINOS Holders' prior written consent, the
     Depository Bank agrees not to exercise any right of recoupment or set-off,
     or to assert any security interest or other lien, that it may at any time
     have against or in any of the Collateral on account of any credit or other
     obligations owed to the Depository Bank by the Pledgor or any other person.
     The Pledgor shall pay the customary charges of the Depository Bank in
     maintaining the Account.

10.  This agreement shall automatically terminate upon the release or
     termination of the security interest in the Collateral in accordance with
     the terms of the Assignment of Account.  The Depository Bank shall be
     entitled to rely upon a certificate delivered by the Representative, the
     Administrative Agent, and the RHINOS Holders with respect to such
     termination or release.

11.  To the extent a conflict exists between the terms of this letter agreement
     and any account agreement between the Pledgor and the Depository Bank, the
     terms of this letter agreement will control.

12.  The terms of this letter agreement will in no way be modified except by a
     writing signed by all parties hereto.

                                       2
<PAGE>

13.  Each of the parties executing this letter agreement represents that he has
     the proper authority to execute this letter agreement.

14.  Governing Law.   Pursuant to Section 5-1401 of the New York General
     -------------
     Obligations Law, the substantive laws of the State of New York applicable
     to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state, without
     regard to the choice of law principles that might otherwise apply, and the
     applicable federal laws of the United States of America, shall govern the
     validity, construction, enforcement and interpretation of this Letter
     Agreement. New York is the jurisdiction of the Depository Bank, as the
     "securities Intermediary" under Section 8-110(e)(1) of the Uniform
     Commercial Code.

       [Remainder of page intentionally blank. Signature page follows.]

                                       3
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Pledgor, the Representative, the Administrative Agent,
and the RHINOS Holders have agreed to the terms of this letter agreement as of
the date first indicated above.

Pledgor:

MUTUAL RISK MANAGEMENT LTD.

By:  ______________________________
     Name:_________________________
     Title:________________________

Representative:

XL INSURANCE LTD.

By:  ______________________________
     Name:_________________________
     Title:________________________

Administrative Agent:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

By:  ______________________________
     Name:_________________________
     Title:________________________

RHINOS Holders:

INTREPID MASTER FUNDING TRUST, as RHINOS Holders

By:  ______________________________
     Name:_________________________
     Title:________________________
<PAGE>

Acknowledged and Agreed on May 17, 2001:

Depository Bank:

FLEET NATIONAL BANK

By:  ______________________________
     Name:_________________________
     Title:________________________

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