Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                                    FORM OF

                     DARWIN PROFESSIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC.

                            2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

      1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of the Darwin Professional
Underwriters, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") are to further the
long-term growth of Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. (the "Corporation"),
to the benefit of its stockholders, by providing incentives to the officers and
other key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries who will be largely
responsible for such growth, and to assist the Corporation in attracting and
retaining executives of experience and ability on a basis competitive with
industry practices. The Plan permits the Corporation to provide incentive
compensation in the form of, or based upon the value of, the Corporation's
common stock, $.01 par value ("Common Stock"), of the types commonly known as
restricted stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights and performance
shares, as well as other types of equity-based incentive compensation
(collectively, the "Awards").

      2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors or such other committee of two
or more directors as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to
time designate (the "Committee"). Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have exclusive power to select the officers or other key
employees to participate in the Plan, to determine the type, size and terms and
conditions of Awards (including, but not limited to, restrictions as to
transferability or forfeiture, exercisability or settlement of an Award and
waivers or accelerations thereof, based in each case on such considerations as
the Committee shall determine) and all other matters to be determined in
connection with any Award to be made to each Participant selected, and to
determine the time or times when Awards will be granted; provided, however, that
if the Committee is not the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors,
then an Award granted hereunder by the Committee to any Participant will be
revoked if such Award is not thereafter ratified by the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors. The Committee's interpretation of the Plan or of any
Awards granted thereunder shall be final and binding on all parties concerned,
including the Corporation and any Participant. The Committee shall have the
authority, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to correct any defect or
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, and to adopt,
revise and rescind such rules, regulations, guidelines, forms of agreements and
instruments relating to the Plan as it may deem necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan.

      3. PARTICIPATION. The Committee shall select from the officers and other
key employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Participants") the
persons who will receive Awards pursuant to the Plan. The term "subsidiary"
shall mean any corporation a majority of the total combined voting power of
whose stock is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.
Participants may receive multiple Awards under the Plan.

      4. SHARES OF STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 6(a) hereof, 850,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued pursuant to
Awards under the Plan, provided that no more than 850,000 shares of Common Stock
may be issued pursuant to Options intended to qualify as incentive stock
options. Shares to be issued under the Plan may be either authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of

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Common Stock held by the Corporation as treasury shares, including shares
acquired by purchase.

      No Award may be granted if the number of shares of Common Stock to which
such Award relates, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock
previously issued under the Plan and the number of shares of Common Stock which
may then be acquired pursuant to other outstanding, unexercised Awards, exceeds
the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to the
Plan. If any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award are forfeited or such
Award is settled in cash or otherwise terminates or is settled for any reason
whatsoever without an actual issuance of shares of Common Stock to the
Participant, any shares of Common Stock counted against the number of shares of
Common Stock available for issuance pursuant to the Plan with respect to such
Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, settlement, or termination,
again be available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that the
Committee may adopt procedures for the counting of shares of Common Stock
relating to any Award to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting, and
provide for adjustments in any case in which the number of shares of Common
Stock actually distributed differs from the number of shares of Common Stock
previously counted in connection with such Award. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary herein, the following shares of Common Stock shall not again be
available for issuance as Awards under the Plan: (i) shares of Common Stock
tendered (either actually, by attestation or otherwise) to pay all or any part
of the exercise price on any Option, (ii) any shares of Common Stock retained by
the Corporation in satisfaction of the Participant's obligation for withholding
taxes, and (iii) shares of Common Stock not issued as a result of a net exercise
of an Option.

      5.    AWARDS.

            (a) General. Awards under the Plan may include, but need not be
      limited to, shares of Common Stock that may be subject to certain
      restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture ("Restricted Stock"), options to
      purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a fixed exercise
      price ("Options"), rights to receive the appreciation of Common Stock from
      the date of grant to the date of exercise ("SARs") and a book-entry unit
      with an initial value equal to Common Stock on the date of grant
      ("Performance Shares"). The Committee may also make any other type of
      Award payable in, or valued in whole or in part by reference to, shares of
      Common Stock ("Stock-Based Awards") deemed by the Committee to be
      consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Awards may be granted on the
      terms and conditions set forth in this Section 5.

            (b) Vesting, Other Performance Requirements and Forfeiture. In
      making Awards under the Plan, the Committee may, on the date of grant or
      thereafter, (i) specify that the right to exercise, receive, retain and/or
      transfer such Award shall be conditional upon the fulfillment of specified
      conditions, including, without limitation, completion of specified periods
      of service in the employ of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, and/or
      the achievement of specified business and/or personal performance goals,
      and (ii) provide for the forfeiture of all or any portion of any such
      Awards in specified circumstances. The Committee may also specify by whom
      and/or in what manner the accomplishment of any such performance goals
      shall be determined. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the

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      Committee shall retain full power to accelerate or waive any such
      condition as it may have previously imposed. All Awards shall be evidenced
      by an Award agreement.

            (c) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall, except as
      otherwise provided herein, be for such period as may be determined by the
      Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the term of any Award
      exceed a period of ten years from the date of grant.

            (d) Restricted Stock. The Committee may grant Restricted Stock to
      Participants on the following terms and conditions:

                  (i) Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on
      transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the Committee may
      impose at the date of grant or thereafter, which restrictions, if any, may
      lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances
      (including, without limitation, upon achievement of performance criteria
      if deemed appropriate by the Committee), in such installments, or
      otherwise, as the Committee may determine. Except to the extent restricted
      under the Award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant
      granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder
      including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted Stock and the
      right to receive dividends (whether in cash or in shares of Common Stock)
      thereon.

                  (ii) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, at the
      date of grant or thereafter, upon termination of employment prior to
      specific vesting dates, shares of Restricted Stock and any accrued but
      unpaid dividends that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be
      forfeited.

                  (iii) Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced
      in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates
      representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the
      Participant, such certificates shall bear an appropriate legend referring
      to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted
      Stock, and, if the Committee so determines, the Corporation shall retain
      physical possession of the certificate representing such Restricted Stock
      (whether or not vested).

            (e) Options. The Committee may grant Options to Participants on the
      following terms and conditions:

                  (i) An Option shall confer on the Participant the right to
                  purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a
                  fixed exercise price (the "Exercise Price"). Options granted
                  may include Options intended to qualify as incentive stock
                  options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal
                  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"), and Options not
                  intended to so qualify.

                  (ii) The term of any Option shall be determined by the
                  Committee, but in no event shall any Option be exercisable
                  more than ten years after the date on which it was granted.

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                  (iii) The Exercise Price at which shares of Common Stock may
                  be purchased pursuant to any Option shall be determined by the
                  Committee at the time the Option is granted, but in no event
                  shall the Exercise Price be less than 100 percent of the Fair
                  Market Value of such shares on the date the Option is granted.
                  For purposes of the Plan, Fair Market Value is the mean of the
                  high and low sales prices of the Common Stock on the relevant
                  date as reported on the stock exchange or market on which the
                  Common Stock is primarily traded, or, if no sale is made on
                  such date, then Fair Market Value is the weighted average of
                  the mean of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock
                  on the next preceding day and the next succeeding day on which
                  such sales were made as reported on the stock exchange or
                  market on which the Common Stock is primarily traded.

                  (iv) Upon exercise of an Option, the Exercise Price shall be
                  payable to the Corporation in cash, or, at the discretion of
                  the Committee, in shares of Common Stock valued at the Fair
                  Market Value thereof on the date of payment, or in a
                  combination of cash and shares of Common Stock.

                  (v) The Corporation may, if the Committee so determines,
                  accept the surrender by a Participant, or the personal
                  representative of a Participant, of an Option, in
                  consideration of a payment by the Corporation equal to the
                  difference obtained by subtracting the aggregate Exercise
                  Price from the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
                  covered by the Option on the date of such surrender, such
                  payment to be in cash, or, if the Committee so provides, in
                  shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date
                  of such surrender, or partly in shares of Common Stock and
                  partly in cash.

            (f) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant
      SARs to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

                  (i) A SAR shall confer on the Participant to whom it is
                  granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess
                  of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on
                  the date of exercise over (B) the Fair Market Value of one
                  share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR (the
                  "Grant Value").

                  (ii) The Committee shall determine the time or times at which
                  a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part, the method of
                  exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable
                  in settlement, the method by which shares of Common Stock will
                  be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, and
                  any other terms and conditions of any SAR.

            (g) Performance Shares. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards
      of Performance Shares to Participants with a value equal to the Fair
      Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant. An Award
      of Performance Shares shall

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      vest and become payable to a Participant after a specified period of
      continued employment with the Corporation or a subsidiary or upon the
      achievement of specified performance goals, as determined by the
      Committee. Settlement of Performance Shares shall be made in cash or
      shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof, as determined by the
      Committee.

            (h) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject
      to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants Stock-Based
      Awards, in addition to those provided in Sections 5(d), (e), (f) and (g)
      hereof, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of
      the Plan, including Stock-Based Awards granted in substitution for any
      other right of a Participant to receive payment of compensation from the
      Corporation or a subsidiary. The Committee shall determine the terms and
      conditions of such Awards.

            (i) Cash Payments. The Committee is authorized, subject to
      limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants cash payments,
      including cash payments of dividend equivalents with respect to a
      specified number of shares of Common Stock, whether awarded separately or
      as a supplement to any other Award. The Committee shall determine the
      terms and conditions of such cash payment Awards.

            (j) Certain Qualifying Awards. The Committee, in its sole
      discretion, may grant an Award to any Participant with the intent that
      such award qualifies as "performance-based compensation" under Section
      162(m) of the Code (a "Qualifying Award"). The right to receive or retain
      any award granted as a Qualifying Award (other than an Option or SAR)
      shall be conditional upon the achievement of specified performance goals
      during a calendar year or such other period (a "Performance Period") as
      may be established by the Committee. Performance goals shall be
      established in writing by the Committee prior to the beginning of each
      Performance Period, or at such other time no later than such time as is
      permitted by the applicable provisions of the Code. Such performance
      goals, which may vary from Participant to Participant and Award to Award,
      shall be based upon the attainment of specific amounts of, or increases
      in, one or more of the following: the Fair Market Value of Common Stock,
      revenues, operating income, cash flow, earnings before income taxes, net
      income, earnings per share, stockholders' equity, return on equity,
      underwriting profits, compound growth in net loss and loss adjustment
      expense reserves, loss ratio or combined ratio of the Corporation's
      insurance businesses, operating efficiency or strategic business
      objectives consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified
      cost targets, business expansion goals and goals relating to acquisitions
      or divestitures, all whether applicable to the Corporation or any relevant
      subsidiary or business unit or entity in which the Corporation has a
      significant investment, or any combination thereof as the Committee may
      deem appropriate. Each performance goal may be expressed on an absolute
      and/or relative basis, may be based on, or otherwise employ, comparisons
      based on internal targets, the past performance of the Corporation and/or
      the past or current performance of other companies, may provide for the
      inclusion, exclusion or averaging of specified items in whole or in part,
      such as catastrophe losses, realized gains or losses on strategic
      investments, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, accounting
      changes, and unusual or nonrecurring items, and, in the case of
      earnings-based measures, may use or

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      employ comparisons relating to capital, shareholders' equity and/or shares
      outstanding, assets or net assets. Prior to the payment of any Award
      granted as a Qualifying Award, the Committee shall certify in writing that
      the performance goals were satisfied. The maximum number of shares of
      Common Stock with respect to which Qualifying Awards may be granted to any
      Participant in any calendar year shall be 127,500 shares of Common Stock,
      subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6(a) hereof.

            (k) Form of Payment. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any
      applicable Award agreement, payments or transfers to be made under the
      Plan upon the grant or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms as
      the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, shares
      of Common Stock, other Awards, or other property, and may be made in a
      single payment or transfer, or on a deferred basis. The Committee may,
      whether at the time of grant or at any time thereafter prior to payment or
      settlement, permit (subject to the requirements of applicable law and any
      conditions as the Committee may from time to time establish) a Participant
      to elect to defer receipt of all or any portion of any payment of cash or
      shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be due to such Participant in
      payment or settlement of an Award under the Plan. (Such payments may
      include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of
      reasonable interest in respect of deferred payments credited in cash, and
      the payment or crediting of dividends in respect of deferred amounts
      credited in Common Stock equivalents.)

            (l) Exchange and Buy Out Provisions; Limitation on Repricing. The
      Committee may at any time offer to exchange or buy out any previously
      granted Award for a payment in cash, shares of Common Stock, other Awards,
      or other property based on such terms and conditions as the Committee
      shall determine and communicate to a Participant at the time that such
      offer is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless such action is
      approved by the Corporation's stockholders, the Exercise Price of any
      outstanding Option or the Grant Value of an SAR may not be reduced (except
      pursuant to Section 6), nor may an Option or an SAR be cancelled and a new
      Option or SAR granted in consideration therefore (whether for the same or
      a different number of shares) having a lower Exercise Price or issued at a
      Grant Value less than the Exercise Price of the Option or the Grant Value
      of the SAR cancelled, as the case may be.

      6.    DILUTION AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS.

            (a) Changes in Capital Structure. In the event of any corporate
      transaction involving the Corporation (including, without limitation, any
      subdivision or combination or exchange of the outstanding shares of Common
      Stock, stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, split-off, recapitalization,
      capital reorganization, liquidation, reclassification of shares of Common
      Stock, merger, consolidation, extraordinary cash distribution, or sale,
      lease or transfer of substantially all of the assets of the Corporation),
      the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall make such equitable
      adjustments as it may deem appropriate in the Plan and the Awards
      thereunder, including, without limitation, an adjustment in (i) the total
      number of shares of Common Stock which may thereafter be issued pursuant
      to Awards under the Plan and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock
      that may be issued pursuant to Options intended to qualify as incentive

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      stock options pursuant to Section 4 hereof, (ii) the number of shares of
      Common Stock with respect to which Qualifying Awards may be granted to any
      Participant in any calendar year under Section 5(j) hereof, and (iii) the
      Exercise Price, Grant Price or other price or value at the time of grant
      relating to any Award. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction, the
      Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide in substitution for any
      or all outstanding Awards under the Plan such alternative consideration as
      it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and
      may require in connection therewith the surrender of all Awards so
      replaced. Agreements evidencing Awards may include such provisions as the
      Committee may deem appropriate with respect to the adjustments to be made
      to the terms of such Awards upon the occurrence of any of the foregoing
      events.

            (b) Tender Offers and Exchange Offers. In the event of any tender
      offer or exchange offer, by any person other than the Corporation, for
      shares of Common Stock, the Committee may (i) make such adjustments in
      outstanding Awards and authorize such further action as it may deem
      appropriate to enable the recipients of outstanding Awards to avail
      themselves of the benefits of such offer, including, without limitation,
      acceleration of the exercise date of outstanding Options so that they
      become immediately exercisable in whole or in part, or offering to acquire
      all or any portion of specified categories of Options for a price
      determined pursuant to Section 5(e)(v) hereof, or acceleration of the
      payment of outstanding Awards payable, in whole or in part, in shares of
      Common Stock and/or (ii) cancel any outstanding Award and cause the holder
      thereof to be paid, in cash or shares of Common Stock, or any combination
      thereof, the value of such Award based upon the price per share of Common
      Stock received or to be received by other shareholders of the Corporation
      in the tender offer or exchange offer.

            (c) Limits on Discretion to Make Adjustments. Notwithstanding any
      provision of this Section 6 to the contrary, no adjustment shall be made
      in any outstanding Qualifying Awards to the extent that such adjustment
      would adversely affect the status of that Qualifying Award as
      "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code.

      7.    MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

            (a) Right to Awards. No employee or other person shall have any
      claim or right to be granted any Award under the Plan.

            (b) Rights as Stockholders. A Participant shall have no rights as a
      holder of Common Stock by reason of Awards under the Plan, unless and
      until certificates for shares of Common Stock are issued to the
      Participant.

            (c) No Assurance of Employment. Neither the Plan nor any action
      taken thereunder shall be construed as giving any employee any right to be
      retained in the employ of the Corporation or any subsidiary.

            (d) Costs and Expenses. All costs and expenses incurred in
      administering the Plan shall be borne by the Corporation.

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            (e) Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded. The Corporation shall
      not be required to establish any special or separate fund nor to make any
      other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Award under the
      Plan.

            (f) Withholding Taxes. The Corporation is authorized to withhold
      from any Award granted and any payment relating to an Award under the
      Plan, including from a distribution of Common Stock or any payroll or
      other payment to a Participant amounts of withholding and other taxes due
      in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such
      other action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Corporation
      and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding
      taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority
      shall include authority to withhold or receive shares of Common Stock or
      other property, to make payment of an Award net of a Participant's
      withholding taxes and other tax obligations and to make cash payments in
      respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations.
      Withholding of taxes in the form of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant
      to an Award (including any net payments) shall not occur at a rate that
      exceeds the minimum required statutory federal and state withholding
      rates.

            (g) Limits on Transferability. No Awards under the Plan nor any
      rights or interests therein shall be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated
      to, or in favor of, or subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of a
      Participant to, any party, other than the Corporation or any subsidiary,
      nor shall such Awards or any rights or interests therein be assignable or
      transferable by the recipient thereof except, in the event of the
      recipient's death, to his designated beneficiary as hereinafter provided,
      or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of
      the recipient, Awards under the Plan requiring exercise shall be
      exercisable only by such recipient or by the guardian or legal
      representative of such recipient. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
      Committee may, in its discretion, provide that Awards granted pursuant to
      the Plan (other than an Option granted as an incentive stock option) be
      transferable, without consideration, to a Participant's immediate family
      members (i.e., children, grandchildren or spouse), to trusts for the
      benefit of such immediate family members and to partnerships in which such
      family members are the only partners. The Committee may impose such terms
      and conditions on such transferability as it may deem appropriate.

            (h) Beneficiary. Any payments on account of Awards under the Plan to
      a deceased Participant shall be paid to such beneficiary as has been
      designated by the Participant in writing to the Secretary of the
      Corporation or, in the absence of such designation, according to the
      Participant's will or the laws of descent and distribution.

            (i) Nature of Benefits. Awards under the Plan, and payments made
      pursuant thereto, are not a part of salary or base compensation.

            (j) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall
      be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. In the case of
      Awards to Participants, the Committee shall determine whether cash or
      other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares,
      or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited
      or otherwise eliminated.

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            (k)   Compliance with Legal Requirements.

                  (i) The obligation of the Corporation to issue shares of
                  Common Stock hereunder shall be subject to the satisfaction of
                  all applicable legal and securities exchange requirements,
                  including, without limitation, the provisions of the
                  Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange
                  Act of 1934, as amended. The Corporation shall endeavor to
                  satisfy all such requirements in such a manner to permit the
                  issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock under the
                  Plan.

                  (ii) The Committee may require, as a condition to the right to
                  receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Award, that the
                  Corporation receive from the Participant, at the time any such
                  Award is exercised, vests or any applicable restrictions
                  lapse, representations, warranties and agreements to the
                  effect that the shares are being purchased or acquired by the
                  Participant for investment only and without any present
                  intention to sell or otherwise distribute such shares and that
                  the Participant will not dispose of such shares in
                  transactions which, in the opinion of counsel to the
                  Corporation, would violate the registration provisions of the
                  Securities Act of 1933, as then amended, and the rules and
                  regulations thereunder. The certificates issued to evidence
                  such shares shall bear appropriate legends summarizing such
                  restrictions on the disposition thereof.

      (l) Discretion. In exercising, or declining to exercise, any grant of
authority or discretion hereunder, the Committee may consider or ignore such
factors or circumstances and may accord such weight to such factors and
circumstances as the Committee alone and in its sole judgment deems appropriate
and without regard to the effect such exercise, or declining to exercise such
grant of authority or discretion, would have upon the affected Participant, any
other Participant, any employee, the Company, any Subsidiary, any stockholder or
any other person.

      8. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation, without the consent of any Participant, may at any time terminate
or from time to time amend the Plan in whole or in part; provided, however,
that, subject to Section 6 hereof, no such action shall materially and adversely
affect any rights or obligations with respect to any Awards theretofore made
under the Plan; and provided, further, that no amendment, without approval of
the holders of Common Stock by an affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
of Common Stock voted thereon in person or by proxy, shall (i) increase the
aggregate number of shares subject to the Plan (other than increases pursuant to
Section 6 hereof), (ii) extend the maximum term of Awards under the Plan or the
Plan itself, (iii) decrease the price at which Options and SARs may be granted
under the Plan (other than decreases pursuant to Section 6 hereof) to less than
Fair Market Value at the time of grant, or (iv) make any other change that would
require stockholder approval pursuant to the terms of the Plan or under any
regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including as necessary to comply
with any applicable stock exchange listing requirement). Subject to Section 6
hereof, with the consent of the Participants affected, the Committee may amend
outstanding agreements evidencing Awards under the Plan in any manner not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.

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      9. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective when
adopted by the Board of Directors, provided that the Plan is approved by the
stockholders of the Corporation at the annual meeting of stockholders next
following the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors, and no Award shall
become exercisable, realizable or vested prior to such annual meeting. If the
Plan is not so approved by the stockholders at the next annual meeting, all
Awards theretofore granted shall be null and void. The Plan shall terminate at
the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan was adopted
by the Board of Directors, unless sooner terminated by action of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. No Award may be granted hereunder after
termination of the Plan, but such termination shall not affect the validity of
any Award then outstanding.

      10. LAW GOVERNING. The validity and construction of the Plan and any
agreements entered into thereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflict of laws.

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                                    FORM OF
                     DARWIN PROFESSIONAL UNDERWRITERS, INC.
                               STOCK AND UNIT PLAN
                            FOR NONEMPL0YEE DIRECTORS

1.    Introduction

            This Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc. Stock and Unit Plan for
Nonemployee Directors (the "Plan") is intended to advance the interests of the
Company and its shareholders by paying part or all of the compensation of the
Company's nonemployee directors in the form of an economic equivalent of an
equity interest in the Company. The Plan provides for the conversion of at least
50 percent and up to 100 percent of the Director Fees otherwise payable each
year to a director into units of measurement relating to the value of the
Company's Common Stock, and for payment to the director of the value of such
units after five calendar years (or upon termination from service on the Board,
if earlier), so that a director will normally receive payment under the Plan
each successive year in respect of the fees originally converted into units in
the year preceding the fifth calendar year prior to the year of payment. The
Plan also provides for a one-time grant of Restricted Stock to each nonemployee
director serving on the Board at the time the Plan is adopted. The Plan shall
become effective with respect to Director Fees earned in 2006.

2.    Definitions

            (a) "Annual Meeting" means the Company's annual meeting of
shareholders.

            (b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (c) "Common Stock" means the shares of common stock of the Company,
par value $0.01.

            (d) "Company" means Darwin Professional Underwriters, Inc., a
Delaware corporation.

            (e) "Conversion Date" means the first business day following the
conclusion of an Annual Meeting; provided that the initial Conversion Date under
the Plan shall be the first business day following the date the Plan is adopted.

            (f) "Director Fees" means the annual retainer fee or fees earned by
the Participant for his service on the Board.

            (g) "Fair Market Value" of Common Stock as of a given date means the
mean of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock on the relevant date
as reported on the stock exchange or market on which the Common Stock are
primarily traded, or, if no sale is made on such date, then Fair Market Value is
the weighted average of the mean of the high and low sales prices of the Common
Stock on the next preceding day and the next succeeding day on

<PAGE>

which such sales were made as reported on the stock exchange or market on which
the Common Stock are primarily traded; provided, however, that the Fair Market
Value for the award of Restricted Stock or the conversion into Share Units
following the adoption of the Plan shall be based upon the offering price for
Common Stock in the Company's initial public offering.

            (h) "Mandatory Conversion" means the required conversion of 50
percent of a Participant's Director Fees into a Share Unit Award pursuant to
Section 6 hereof.

            (i) "Participant" means a member of the Board who is not an employee
of the Company, any of its affiliates or Alleghany Corporation.

            (j) "Realization Date" means, with respect to each Share Unit
allocated to a Participant's Share Unit Account, the first business day
following the earlier of (i) the first business day of the sixth calendar year
after such Share Unit is awarded to the Participant, or (ii) either upon the
date the Participant ceases to be a member of the Board or upon a change in
control.

            (k) "Restricted Stock" means Common Stock which are subject to
potential forfeiture and restrictions on transfer as provided in Section 5
hereof.

            (l) "Share Unit" means a non-voting unit of measurement based on the
value of a whole or a fraction of a share of Common Stock, which entitles a
participant to receive payment in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

            (m) "Share Unit Account" means a book account maintained by the
Company reflecting the Share Units allocated to a Participant pursuant to
Section 6 hereof as a result of the Participant's Mandatory Conversions and
Voluntary Conversions and such additional Share Units as shall be credited
thereto in respect of dividends paid on Common Stock.

            (n) "Share Unit Award" means an award under Section 6 hereof of
Share Units.

            (o) "Voluntary Conversion" means the conversion based on the
election of the Participant of all or part of a Participant's Director Fees
otherwise payable to the Participant in cash into a Share Unit Award pursuant to
Section 6 hereof.

3.    Common Stock Subject to the Plan

            (a) Number of Shares

            Subject to the following provisions of this Section 3, the aggregate
number of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan is 130,000 shares of
Common Stock. The Common Stock to be delivered under the Plan will be made
available from authorized but unissued Common Stock or from reacquired shares.
To the extent that any Share Unit Award or award of Restricted Stock is
forfeited or terminated for any reason or is not paid in Common

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

Stock, the number of Common Stock covered thereby shall not be charged against
the foregoing maximum share limitation.

(b)   Adjustments

            If there shall occur any recapitalization, reclassification, share
dividend, share split, reverse share split, or other distribution with respect
to the Common Stock, or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common
Stock, the Board may, in the manner and to the extent that it deems appropriate
and equitable and consistent with the terms of this Plan, cause an adjustment to
be made in (i) the maximum number and kind of shares available for issuance
pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof and (ii) the Share Units allocated to
Participants' Share Unit Accounts in accordance with Section 6(e) hereof.

4.    Administration

            The Plan shall be administered by the Board. The Board shall have
full and final authority to administer the Plan, including the discretionary
authority to interpret and construe all provisions of the Plan, to resolve all
questions of fact arising under the Plan, and to adopt and amend such rules and
regulations for administering the Plan as it may deem necessary or appropriate.
Decisions of the Board shall be final and binding on all parties. The Board may
delegate administrative responsibilities under the Plan to appropriate officers
or employees of the Company. All expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the
Company.

5.    Restricted Share Awards

            Each Participant on the date the Plan is adopted (the "Grant Date"),
shall receive an award of Restricted Stock equal to that number of whole shares
of Common Stock (rounded up to the next whole share) as could be acquired with
$40,000, based upon the Fair Market Value of Common Stock. Awards of Restricted
Stock shall be subject to the terms of the Plan and otherwise evidenced by an
award agreement.

            (a) Each grant of Restricted Stock shall be issued for no
consideration but shall be forfeited to the Company (without the payment of any
consideration) if the Participant resigns from the Board (other than in
connection with a change in control, as such term is defined in the applicable
award agreement) prior to the first Annual Meeting next following the Grant
Date. In addition, Restricted Stock shall not be sold, assigned, pledged or
transferred to any person until the third anniversary of the Grant Date;
provided that the Restricted Stock shall automatically cease to be subject to
the foregoing restrictions on sale, assignment, pledge or transfer upon the
Participant's death or a change in control (as such term is defined in the
applicable award agreement) prior to such first Annual Meeting or, subsequent to
such first Annual Meeting, upon the date the Participant ceases to be a director
for any reason.

            (b) The Participant to whom Restricted Stock are issued will have
the customary rights of a shareholder with respect to such Restricted Stock,
including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and to receive cash dividends
paid thereon. Prior to the date the

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Restricted Stock ceases to be subject to the restrictions on sale, assignment,
pledge or transfer in Section 5(a), dividends paid on such Common Stock in the
form of additional Common Stock or as securities or other non-cash property
shall be subject to the same risk of forfeiture and other restrictions as the
underlying Common Stock with respect to which the dividend was paid.

            (c) Any Restricted Stock issued under the Plan may be evidenced in
such manner as the Board in its sole discretion shall deem appropriate,
including, without limitation, book-entry registration or by the issuance of a
stock certificate or certificates. In the event any stock certificate is issued
in respect of Restricted Stock, such certificate shall be registered in the name
of the Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms,
conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

6.    Crediting of Share Units

            (a) Mandatory Conversions

            Effective as of each Conversion Date occurring while the Plan is in
effect, 50 percent of the aggregate dollar amount of a Participant's Director
Fees otherwise payable on such Conversion Date shall be converted into a Share
Unit Award pursuant to Section 6(c) hereof.

            (b) Voluntary Conversions

            Effective as of each Conversion Date occurring while the Plan is in
effect, a Participant may elect to convert all or any portion of his Director
Fees otherwise payable on such Conversion Date (in addition to those required to
be converted under Section 6(a) hereof) into a Share Unit Award pursuant to
Section 6(c) hereof. Each Voluntary Conversion shall be made on the basis of a
Participant's written election stating the amount of such Director Fees in
excess of those required to be converted under Section 6(a) hereof which shall
be converted to a Share Unit Award. Each such election shall be made in the form
required by the Board, shall be delivered to the Company no later than the
December 31 of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in
which such Directors Fees would otherwise be payable; provided, however, that in
the year the Plan is adopted, such election shall be delivered to the Company no
later than the close of business on the date the Plan is adopted and in the case
of a member of the Board who first becomes a Participant during a year, the
election for such year must be made no later than the close of business on the
date on which the Participant is elected to the Board.

            (c) Share Unit Awards

            On each Conversion Date, a Participant shall receive a Share Unit
Award in respect of his Mandatory Conversion and any Voluntary Conversion
applicable to the Directors Fees which would otherwise be payable to the
Participant on such Conversion Date. Such Share Unit Award shall equal the
number of the Share Units determined by dividing (A) the aggregate dollar amount
of the Participant's Director Fees that are to be converted into a Share Unit

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

Award, including the Mandatory Conversion and any Voluntary Conversion, by (B)
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the applicable Conversion Date.

            (d) Dividend Equivalents

            As of any date that cash dividends are paid with respect to the
Common Stock from time to time, each Participant's Share Unit Account shall be
credited with an additional number of Share Units determined by dividing (A) the
aggregate dollar amount of the cash dividends that would have been paid on the
Share Units credited to the Participant's Share Unit Account as of the record
date for such dividend had such Share Units been actual Common Stock by (B) the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the dividend payment date.

7.    Distributions of Share Unit Awards

            (a) Valuation and Payment of Units

            Subject to Section 8 hereof, a Participant shall be entitled to a
benefit under the Plan with respect to each Share Unit Award upon the
Realization Date for such Share Unit Award. Such benefit shall be equal to the
amount determined by multiplying (A) the number of Share Units credited to the
Participant's Share Unit Account in respect of the Share Unit Award for which
the Realization Date has occurred by (B) the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the Realization Date. Each such amount shall be paid within 30 days
after the applicable Realization Date, at the discretion of the Board, in cash
or in Common Stock, or in some combination thereof.

            (b) Payment of Additional Dividends

            Subject to Section 8 hereof, if, pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof,
additional Share Units are required to be credited to a Participant's Share Unit
Account in respect of Share Units that were held in the Participant's Share Unit
Account as of the record date for cash dividends paid on the Common Stock that
are paid after the payment to the Participant of a benefit in respect of such
Share Units, the Company shall pay to the Participant a cash amount in respect
of such dividends equal to the dollar amount of such dividends. Such amount
shall be paid to the Participant within 30 days after the dividend payment date.

8.    Forfeiture of Share Unit Awards

            Each Participant's Share Unit Account hereunder shall be
nonforfeitable, except that a Participant shall forfeit all rights to all
benefits hereunder in respect of Mandatory Conversions, Voluntary Conversions
and Share Units credited to the Participant's Share Unit Account if the
Participant's status as a director of the Company is terminated for "Cause," as
determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

9.    Certain Adjustments

            If there shall occur any recapitalization, reclassification, share
dividend, share split, reverse share split, or other distribution with respect
to the Common Stock, or other change in corporate structure affecting the Common
Stock, the Board may, in the manner and to the extent that it deems appropriate
and equitable to the Participants and consistent with the terms of this Plan,
cause an adjustment to be made to the number and kind of shares that may be
issued under the Plan and to the Participants' Restricted Stock and Share Unit
Accounts. It is intended that in making such adjustments to Share Unit Accounts,
the Board will seek to treat each Participant as if he were a shareholder of the
Common Stock of the number of Share Units credited to his Share Unit Account
(but without duplication of any benefits that may be provided under Section 6(d)
hereof). Except as is expressly provided in this Section, Participants shall
have no rights as a result of any such change in the Common Stock or other
event.

10.   Beneficiaries

            Any payment required to be made to a Participant hereunder that
cannot be made to the Participant because of his death shall be made to the
Participant's beneficiary or beneficiaries, subject to applicable law. Each
Participant shall have the right to designate in writing from time to time a
beneficiary or beneficiaries by filing a written notice of such designation with
the Board. In the event a beneficiary designated by the Participant does not
survive the Participant and no successor beneficiary is selected, or in the
event no valid designation has been made, such Participant's beneficiary shall
be such Participant's estate.

11.   Unfunded Status

            The Plan shall be unfunded, and Mandatory Conversions, Voluntary
Conversions, Share Units credited to each Participant's Share Unit Account and
all benefits payable to Participants under the Plan represent merely unfunded,
unsecured promises of the Company to pay a sum of money to the Participant in
the future.

12.   Transfers Prohibited

            No transfer (other than pursuant to Section 10 hereof) by a
Participant of any right to any payment hereunder, whether voluntary or
involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, and whether by means of
alienation by anticipation, sale, transfer, assignment, bankruptcy, pledge,
attachment, charge, or encumbrance of any kind, shall vest the transferee with
any interest or right, and any attempt to so alienate, sell, transfer, assign,
pledge, attach, charge, or otherwise encumber any such amount, whether presently
or thereafter payable, shall be void and of no force or effect.

13.   Limitation of Rights

            Except as provided in Section 5 hereof, nothing contained in the
Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right as a shareholder of the
Company. In addition, nothing contained

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

herein shall be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Board to
nominate any director for re-election by the Company's shareholders or to limit
the rights of the shareholders to remove any director.

14.   Termination and Amendment

            The Plan may be terminated at any time by the Board. The Plan may be
amended by the Board from time to time in any respect; provided, however, that
no such
termination or amendment may reduce the number or the value of Share Units
theretofore credited or creditable to a Participant's Share Unit Account or
materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any
Restricted Stock award made pursuant to Section 5 hereof without the affected
Participant's prior written consent.

15.   Choice of Law

            The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be subject to and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving
effect to principles of conflict of laws.

                                      -7-

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