Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.3

                      PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS HOLDINGS, LTD.
                            CAPITAL ACCUMULATION PLAN
                     (as amended through February 19, 2003)

Section 1.        Purpose of the Plan.

                  The purpose of the Platinum Capital Accumulation Plan (the
"Plan") is to align the interests of officers and employees with those of the
shareholders by promoting ownership of Common Shares by these individuals by
payment of a portion of their annual bonus compensation in the form of
restricted Common Shares, share units or options to purchase Common Shares. The
Plan has been amended by the Board as set forth herein through February 19,
2003.

Section 2.        Definitions.

                  Wherever the following capitalized terms are used in this
Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below:

                  (a) "Annual Bonus Compensation" mean the dollar amount of the
bonus compensation earned by an Eligible Person for any year in which the Plan
is in effect under any bonus or incentive compensation plan of the Company or
any Subsidiary.

                  (b) "Award" means an award of Restricted Shares, Share Units,
Options or any combination thereof granted under the Plan.

                  (c) "Award Agreement" means an agreement entered into between
the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award
granted to a Participant.

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

                  (e) "Change in Control" shall have the meaning set forth for
such term in the Share Incentive Plan.

                  (f) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  (g) "Committee" shall have the meaning specified in Section
5(a) hereof.

                  (h) "Common Shares" means the common shares of the Company,
par value $0.01 per share.

                  (i) "Company" means Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd., a
Bermuda corporation.
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                  (j) "Date of Grant" means the date as of which an Award is
effective in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

                  (k) "Eligible Person" means any person who is an officer,
employee or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary who is entitled to
receive an award under any bonus or incentive compensation plan of the Company
or any Subsidiary.

                  (l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

                  (m) "Fair Market Value" of Common Shares as of a given date
means the closing sales price of Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange or
other exchange or securities market as reflected on the composite index on the
trading day immediately preceding the date as of which Fair Market Value is to
be determined, or in the absence of any reported sales of Common Shares on such
date, on the first preceding date on which any such sale shall have been
reported. If the Common Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange or
other exchange or securities market on the date as of which Fair Market Value is
to be determined, the Committee shall determine in good faith the Fair Market
Value in whatever manner it considers appropriate.

                  (n) "Option" means an option to purchase Common Shares that is
not incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code, including any Reload
Option.

                  (o) "Participant" means an Eligible Person designated by the
Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

                  (p) "Reload Option" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 8(e) hereof.

                  (q) "Restricted Shares" means Common Shares that are
nontransferable and subject to forfeiture until specific conditions established
by the Committee are satisfied, as described in Section 6 hereof.

                  (r) "Share Incentive Plan" means the Company's 2002 Share
Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

                  (s) "Share Unit" means a hypothetical unit of value equal to
the Fair Market Value of a Common Share that is subject to forfeiture until
specific conditions established by the Committee are satisfied, as described in
Section 7 hereof.

                  (t) "Subsidiary" means an entity (whether or not a
corporation) that is wholly or majority owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by the Company, or any other affiliate of the Company that is so
designated, from time to time, by the Committee.

Section 3.        Eligibility and Participation.

                  Any Eligible Person may be designated by the Committee for
participation in the Plan, based on any such criteria as the Committee
determines appropriate, such as

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title or salary grade, threshold bonus level, or any other criteria. Upon
designation by the Committee, participation in the Plan is generally mandatory,
although the Committee, in its sole discretion, may in certain circumstances
make participation elective. As set forth in Sections 6, 7 and 8 below, a
Participant will receive an Award of Restricted Shares, Share Units or, if
permitted by the Committee and so elected by the Participant, Options, in
respect of a portion of his Annual Bonus Compensation. The determinations to be
made by the Committee hereunder may be made at any time prior to the payment of
the Annual Bonus Compensation to the Participant.

Section 4.        Common Shares Subject to the Plan.

                  (a) Number of Shares. All Common Shares subject to Awards
under the Plan shall be charged against the share limits under Sections 3.1, 6.1
and 8.1 of the Share Incentive Plan, as adjusted under the terms of the Share
Incentive Plan. To the extent that any Award under the Plan is forfeited,
cancelled, returned to the Company for failure to satisfy vesting requirements
or upon the occurrence of other forfeiture events, or otherwise terminates
without payment being made thereunder, the Common Shares covered thereby will no
longer be charged against the foregoing maximum share limitations and may again
be made subject to Awards under the Plan and the Share Incentive Plan pursuant
to such limitations.

                  (b) Adjustments. If there shall occur any recapitalization,
reclassification, share dividend, share split, reverse share split, or other
distribution with respect to the Common Shares, or other change in corporate
structure affecting the Common Shares, the Committee 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 in (i)
the number and kind of shares of Common Shares subject to then outstanding
Awards, (ii) the exercise price for each share subject to then outstanding
Options, or (iii) any other terms of an Award that are affected by the event. In
the event of any merger, consolidation, reorganization, amalgamation or similar
corporate event in which Common Shares are to be exchanged for payment of cash
(the "Cash Consideration"), the Committee may, in its discretion, (a) make
equitable adjustments as provided above, or (b) cancel any outstanding Award in
exchange for payment in cash, if any, equal to the excess of the Cash
Consideration for the shares underlying such Award over the exercise price, if
any, for such shares.

Section 5.        Administration.

                  (a) Committee Members. The Plan shall be administered by a
committee comprised of no fewer than two members of the Board (the "Committee").
Solely to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, each Committee
member shall meet the definition of a "nonemployee director" for purposes of
such Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and of an "outside director" under
Section 162(m) of the Code. The Board shall also have the authority to exercise
the powers and duties of the Committee under the Plan. The Committee shall have
such powers and authority as may be necessary or appropriate for the Committee
to carry out its functions as described in

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the Plan. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith by the Committee with respect to the Plan or
any Award thereunder.

                  (b) Discretionary Authority. Subject to the express
limitations of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority in its discretion to
determine the Eligible Persons who shall participate in the Plan, the number of
shares subject to each Award, the time or times at which an Award will become
vested, exercisable or payable, the performance criteria, performance goals and
other conditions of an Award, the duration of the Award, and all other terms of
the Award. The Committee shall also have discretionary authority to interpret
the Plan, to make all factual determinations under the Plan, and to make all
other determinations necessary or advisable for Plan administration. The
Committee may prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to
the Plan. All interpretations, determinations, and actions by the Committee
shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all parties.

                  (c) Delegation of Authority. The Committee shall have the
right, from time to time, to delegate to one or more officers of the Company the
authority of the Committee to grant and determine the terms and conditions of
Awards awarded under the Plan, subject to such limitations as the Committee
shall determine; provided, however, that no such authority may be delegated with
respect to Awards awarded to any member of the Board or any Participant who the
Committee determines may be covered by Rule 16b under the Exchange Act or
Section 162(m) of the Code.

Section 6.        Restricted Shares.

                  (a) Award of Restricted Shares. If so determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion, a portion of each Participant's Annual Bonus
Compensation shall be paid in the form of an Award of Restricted Shares. In
order to reflect the impact of the restrictions on the value of the Restricted
Shares, as well as the possibility of forfeiture of Restricted Shares, in
determining the number of Restricted Shares to be awarded, the Fair Market Value
of Common Shares may be discounted at a rate, to be determined by the Committee,
of not greater than 25 percent. The dollar value of the portion of a
Participant's Annual Bonus Compensation to be paid in an Award of Restricted
Shares will be divided by the Fair Market Value (or the discounted market value,
as determined by the Committee) to determine the number of Restricted Shares in
an Award. The value of fractional shares will be paid in cash. Each Award of
Restricted Shares will be evidenced by an Award Agreement as described in
Section 10(a) hereof.

                  (b) Vesting Requirements. Unless another vesting schedule is
specified by the Committee, the restrictions imposed on Restricted Shares
awarded hereunder shall lapse on the second anniversary of the Date of Grant of
the Award, provided that the Participant has been continuously employed by the
Company or its Subsidiaries from the Date of Grant until such date. The
Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement for any
other vesting requirements with respect to the Restricted Shares, including,
without limitation, a longer employment period or the attainment of specified
business goals or measures established by the Committee. The Committee, in its
sole discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement

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that restrictions on the Restricted Shares will lapse upon the occurrence of
certain events, such as the death, disability or retirement of a Participant, or
upon a Change in Control. The Committee may also remove the restrictions on the
Restricted Shares at any time.

                  (c) Restrictions. Restricted Shares may not be transferred,
assigned or subject to any encumbrance, pledge, or charge until all applicable
restrictions are removed or have expired in accordance with the vesting
requirements of the Award. The Committee may require the Participant to enter
into an escrow agreement providing that the certificates representing the
Restricted Shares will remain in the physical custody of an escrow holder until
all restrictions are removed or have expired. Failure to satisfy any applicable
restrictions shall result in the subject Restricted Shares being forfeited and
returned to the Company, with any purchase price paid by the Participant to be
refunded, unless otherwise provided by the Committee. The Committee may require
that certificates representing the Restricted Shares bear a legend making
appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed.

                  (d) Rights as Shareholder. Subject to the foregoing provisions
of this Section 6 and the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant will have
all rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the
right to vote the shares and receive all dividends and other distributions paid
or made with respect thereto, unless the Committee determines otherwise at the
time the Award of Restricted Shares is granted.

                  (e) Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election
pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to Restricted Shares, the
Participant shall be required to promptly file a copy of such election with the
Company.

Section 7.        Share Units.

                  (a) Award of Share Units. If so determined by the Committee in
its sole discretion, a portion of each Participant's Annual Bonus Compensation
shall be paid in the form of an Award of Share Units. In order to reflect the
impact of the restrictions on the value of the Share Units, as well as the
possibility of forfeiture of Share Units, in determining the number of Share
Units to be awarded, the Fair Market Value of Common Shares underlying the Share
Units may be discounted at a rate, to be determined by the Committee, of not
greater than 25 percent. The dollar value of the portion of a Participant's
Annual Bonus Compensation to be paid in an Award of Share Units will be divided
by the Fair Market Value (or the discounted market value, as determined by the
Committee) to determine the number of Share Units in an Award. The value of
fractional shares will be paid in cash. Each Award of Share Units will be
evidenced by an Award Agreement as described in Section 10(a) hereof.

                  (b) Vesting Requirements. Unless another vesting schedule is
specified by the Committee, Share Units shall vest on the second anniversary of
the Date of Grant of the Award, provided that the Participant has been
continuously employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries from the Date of Grant
until such date. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in an Award
Agreement for any other vesting

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requirements with respect to the Share Unit Award, including, without
limitation, a longer employment period or the attainment of specified business
goals or measures established by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole
discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement for any other vesting requirements
with respect to the Share Units, including, without limitation, a longer
employment period or the attainment of specified business goals or measures
established by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide
in an Award Agreement that the Share Units shall vest upon the occurrence of
certain events, such as the death, disability or retirement of a Participant, or
upon a Change in Control. The Committee may also accelerate the vesting of a
Share Unit Award at any time.

                  (c) Dividend Equivalent Rights. As of any date that cash
dividends are paid with respect to the Common Shares from time to time, a
Participant shall be credited with an additional number of Share Units
determined by dividing (A) the aggregate dollar amount of the 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 Shares by (B) the Fair Market Value of the Common Shares on the dividend
payment date.

Section 8.        Options.

                  (a) Election of Options. At the time a Participant is notified
of his or her Award of Restricted Shares or Share Units under the Plan, the
Committee may in its sole discretion permit such Participant to elect to receive
up to a maximum of one-third (1/3) of his or her Award in the form of Options.
The Committee shall determine the number of Options to be awarded in lieu of
each Restricted Share or Share Unit so selected. Such election shall be made
within a period of sixty (60) days after the date of such notice (or such
shorter period after the date of the Award as the Committee may specify). The
date on which the Participant notifies the Company of his election in accordance
with procedures established by the Committee shall be the Date of Grant for
purposes of the Option. In the absence of such an election, the Award will be
paid entirely in Restricted Shares or Share Units. Each Option will be evidenced
by an Award Agreement as described in Section 10(a) hereof.

                  (b) Exercise Price. The exercise price under any Option shall
be 100 percent of the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Shares on the
Date of Grant.

                  (c) Vesting; Term of Option. Unless another vesting schedule
is specified by the Committee, an Option shall become vested and exercisable on
the second anniversary of its Date of Grant, provided that the Participant has
been continuously employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries from the Date of
Grant until such date. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide in an
Award Agreement for any other vesting requirements with respect to an Option,
including, without limitation, a longer employment period or the attainment of
specified business goals or measures established by the Committee. The Committee
may provide in an Award Agreement that an Option will become vested and
exercisable upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the death, disability
or retirement of a Participant, or upon a Change in Control. The

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Committee may also accelerate the exercisability of an Option at any time. The
period during which a vested Option may be exercised shall be ten years from the
Date of Grant, unless a shorter exercise period is specified by the Committee in
an Award Agreement, subject to such limitations as may apply under an Award
Agreement relating to the termination of a Participant's employment with the
Company or any Subsidiary or any other cancellation of an Option in accordance
with this Plan or an Award Agreement.

                  (d) Option Exercise; Withholding. Subject to such terms and
conditions as shall be specified in an Award, an Option may be exercised in
whole or in part at any time during the term thereof by written notice to the
Company, together with payment of the aggregate exercise price therefor. Payment
of the exercise price shall be made, at the discretion of the Committee as
specified in the Award Agreement, by (i) payment in cash or cash equivalent
acceptable to the Committee, (ii) payment in Common Shares (other than
Restricted Shares), that have been held by the Participant for at least six
months (or such other period as the Committee may deem appropriate for purposes
of applicable accounting rules), valued at the Fair Market Value of such shares
on the date of exercise, (iii) a broker-assisted "cashless exercise," (iv) a
combination of the methods described above, or (v) such other method as may be
approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. In addition to
and at the time of payment of the exercise price, the Participant shall pay to
the Company the full amount of any and all applicable income tax and employment
tax amounts required to be withheld in connection with such exercise, payable
under such of the methods described above for the payment of the exercise price
of the Options as may be approved by the Committee.

                  (e) Authorization of Reload Options. The Committee may provide
in an Award Agreement for any Option for the grant of an additional option to
purchase Common Shares upon the Participant's tendering of Common Shares upon
exercise (and payment of withholding tax) of the underlying Option pursuant to
Section 7(d) hereof (the "Reload Option"). The Reload Option shall be for a
number of Common Shares equal to the number of Common Shares tendered by the
Participant pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof with respect to the underlying
Option and shall have such other terms and conditions as determined by the
Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement.

                  (f) Additional Restrictions. The Committee, in its sole
discretion, may provide in an Award Agreement that any Common Shares issued as a
result of the exercise of an Option be subject to such restrictions on transfer
and other incidents of ownership and such forfeiture conditions as the Committee
may determine.

                  (g) Nontransferability. Options shall be nontransferable
except (i) upon the Participant's death, by the Participant's will or the laws
of descent and distribution or (ii) on a case-by-case basis as may be approved
by the Committee in its discretion, in accordance with the terms provided below.
An Award for an Option may provide that the Participant shall be permitted to,
during his or her lifetime and subject to the prior approval of the Committee at
the time of proposed transfer, transfer all or part of the Option to the
Participant's family member (as defined in the Award Agreement in a manner
consistent with the requirements for the Form S-8 registration statement, if
applicable). The transfer of a Option may be subject to such other terms and
conditions

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as the Committee may in its discretion impose from time to time. Subsequent
transfers of an Option shall be prohibited other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution upon the death of the transferee.

Section 9.        Change in Control.

                  The Committee may, in an Award Agreement, provide for the
effect of a "Change in Control" of the Company (as defined below) on an Award.
Such provisions may include any one or more of the following: (i) the
acceleration or extension of time periods for purposes of exercising, vesting
in, or realizing gain from any Award, (ii) the elimination or modification of
performance or other conditions related to the payment or other rights under an
Award, (iii) provision for the cash settlement of an Award for an equivalent
cash value, as determined by the Committee, or (iv) such other modification or
adjustment to an Award as the Committee deems appropriate to maintain and
protect the rights and interests of Participants upon or following a Change in
Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee and set forth in the Award
Agreement, upon a Change in Control (i) each outstanding Option, to the extent
that it shall not otherwise have become vested and exercisable, shall
automatically become fully and immediately vested and exercisable, without
regard to any otherwise applicable vesting requirement and (ii) any restricted
period in effect shall automatically terminate as to all Common Shares awarded
pursuant to an Award of Restricted Shares.

Section 10.       Award Agreements.

                  (a) Form of Agreement. Each Award under this Plan shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement in a form approved by the Committee setting
forth the number of Common Shares subject to the Award, the exercise price (if
any) of the Award, the time or times at which an Award will become vested,
exercisable or payable and the duration of the Award. The Award Agreement shall
also set forth other material terms and conditions applicable to the Award as
determined by the Committee consistent with the limitations of this Plan.

                  (b) Forfeiture Events. The Committee may specify in an Award
that the Participant's rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award
shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the
occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable
vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events shall include, but
shall not be limited to, termination of employment for cause, violation of
material Company policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other
restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the
Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company.

Section 11.       Effective Date, Amendment and Termination.

                  (a) Effective Date; Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall
become effective on the date of its adoption by the Board and approval by the
Company's shareholders. At the sole discretion of the Committee, in order to
comply with the

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requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for certain types of Awards under the
Plan, the Plan shall be submitted again for approval by the shareholders of the
Company at the first shareholders meeting that occurs more than 12 months after
the Company's initial public offering.

                  (b) Amendment. The Board may at any time and from time to time
and in any respect, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that no
amendment or modification of the Plan shall be effective without the consent of
the Company's shareholders that would allow the grant of Options at an exercise
price below Fair Market Value. In addition, the Board may seek the approval of
any amendment or modification by the Company's shareholders to the extent it
deems necessary or advisable in its sole discretion for purposes of compliance
with Section 162(m) of the Code, the listing requirements of the New York Stock
Exchange or for any other purpose. No amendment or modification of the Plan
shall adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the
Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award.

                  (c) Termination. The Plan shall terminate on the date
immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by
the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion and at any earlier date,
terminate the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no termination of the Plan
shall adversely affect any Award theretofore granted without the consent of the
Participant or the permitted transferee of the Award.

Section 12.       General Provisions.

                  (a) No Assignment or Transfer; Beneficiaries. Except as
provided in Section 8(g) hereof, Awards under the Plan shall not be assignable
or transferable, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and
during the lifetime of a Participant, the Award shall be exercised only by such
Participant or by his guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may provide in the terms of an Award Agreement that the
Participant shall have the right to designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries who
shall be entitled to any rights, payments or other specified under an Award
following the Participant's death.

                  (b) Deferrals of Payment. Notwithstanding any other provisions
of the Plan, the Committee may permit a Participant to defer the receipt of
payment of cash or delivery of Common Shares that would otherwise be due to the
Participant by virtue of the exercise of a right or the satisfaction of vesting
or other conditions with respect to an Award. If any such deferral is to be
permitted by the Committee, the Committee shall establish the rules and
procedures relating to such deferral, including, without limitation, the period
of time in advance of payment when an election to defer may be made, the time
period of the deferral and the events that would result in payment of the
deferred amount, the interest or other earnings attributable to the deferral and
the method of funding, if any, attributable to the deferred amount.

                  (c) Rights as Shareholder. Except as provided in Section 6(d)
hereof, a Participant shall have no rights as a holder of Common Shares with
respect to any unissued securities covered by an Award until the date the
Participant becomes the holder

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of record of such securities. Except as provided in Section 4(b) hereof, no
adjustment or other provision shall be made for dividends or other shareholder
rights.

                  (d) Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan, in the grant
of any Award or in any Award Agreement shall confer upon any Eligible Person the
right to continue in the capacity in which he is employed by, or otherwise
serves, the Company or any Subsidiary.

                  (e) Securities Laws. No Common Shares will be issued or
transferred pursuant to an Award unless and until all then applicable
requirements imposed by federal and state securities and other laws, rules and
regulations and by any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction, and by any
exchanges upon which the Common Shares may be listed, have been fully met. As a
condition precedent to the issuance of shares pursuant to the grant or exercise
of an Award, the Company may require the Participant to take any reasonable
action to meet such requirements. The Committee may impose such conditions on
any Common Shares issuable under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including,
without limitation, restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
under the requirements of any exchange upon which such shares of the same class
are then listed, and under any blue sky or other securities laws applicable to
such shares.

                  (f) Tax Withholding. The Participant shall be responsible for
payment of any taxes or similar charges required by law to be withheld from an
Award or an amount paid in satisfaction of an Award, which shall be paid by the
Participant on or prior to the payment or other event that results in taxable
income in respect of an Award. The Award Agreement shall specify the manner in
which the withholding obligation shall be satisfied with respect to the
particular type of Award.

                  (g) Unfunded Plan. The adoption of this Plan and any setting
aside of cash amounts or Common Shares by the Company with which to discharge
its obligations hereunder shall not be deemed to create a trust or other funded
arrangement. The benefits provided under this Plan shall be a general, unsecured
obligation of the Company payable solely from the general assets of the Company,
and neither a Participant nor the Participant's permitted transferees or estate
shall have any interest in any assets of the Company by virtue of this Plan,
except as a general unsecured creditor of the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall have the right to implement or set aside funds in a
grantor trust, subject to the claims of the Company's creditors, to discharge
its obligations under the Plan.

                  (h) Other Compensation and Benefit Plans. The adoption of the
Plan shall not affect any other share incentive or other compensation plans in
effect for the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall the Plan preclude the
Company from establishing any other forms of share incentive or other
compensation for employees of the Company or any Subsidiary. The amount of any
compensation deemed to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award shall
not constitute compensation with respect to which any other employee benefits of
such Participant are determined, including, without limitation, benefits under
any bonus, pension, profit sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan,
except as otherwise specifically provided by the terms of such plan.

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                  (i) Plan Binding on Transferees. The Plan shall be binding
upon the Company, its transferees and assigns, and the Participant, his
executor, administrator and permitted transferees and beneficiaries.

                  (j) Construction and Interpretation. Whenever used herein,
nouns in the singular shall include the plural, and the masculine pronoun shall
include the feminine gender. Headings of Sections hereof are inserted for
convenience and reference and constitute no part of the Plan.

                  (k) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award
Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law
in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be
severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions
shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

                  (l) Foreign Jurisdictions. The Committee may adopt, amend and
terminate such arrangements and grant such Awards, not inconsistent with the
intent of the Plan, as it may deem necessary or desirable to comply with or take
advantage of tax, securities, regulatory or other laws of foreign jurisdictions
with respect to Participants who are subject to such laws. The terms and
conditions of such Awards may vary from the terms and conditions that would
otherwise be required by the Plan.

                  (m) Governing Law. The Plan and all rights hereunder shall be
subject to and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,
without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws, and to applicable
federal securities laws.

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.15

[LETTER HEAD OF STPAUL RE]

August 14, 2002

Mr. Neal Schmidt
450 Park Street
Upper Montclair, New Jersey  07043

Dear Neal:

As you know, earlier this year The St. Paul Companies announced its intention to
transfer substantially all of its reinsurance operations and related assets to
Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. ("Platinum"), a newly formed Bermuda-based
reinsurer. As a result of poor market conditions, The St. Paul Companies has
postponed the transfer. However, we remain committed to building a valuable
franchise in St. Paul Re.

You are an important part of this franchise and we hope you will continue to
contribute to its value. This letter addresses certain important elements of
your compensation package.

SALARY

Effective July 1, 2002, your base salary will be $29,166.67 per month,
annualized at $350,000 per year.

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE BONUS

For 2002, you will be eligible for an annual performance bonus in the target
amount of 75% of your base salary. St. Paul Re's standard criteria, including
individual, department, and company performance, will be considered in
determining the actual amount of the annual performance bonus. However, you will
receive an annual performance bonus for 2002 of no less than $175,000 (the
"Minimum Bonus") provided that you are employed by St. Paul Re, or its
successor, up to and including the date of payment, which is expected to be
March 31, 2003. If St. Paul Re, or its successor, terminates your employment,
other than for "cause", prior to March 31, 2003, the Minimum Bonus will be paid
to you within 30 days following your separation from employment.

<PAGE>

                                                      [LETTER HEAD OF STPAUL RE]

RETENTION BONUS

In addition to the annual performance bonus, St. Paul Re, or its successor, will
also pay you, no later than July 1, 2004, a retention bonus equal to $175,000 if
you are "Continuously Employed" with St. Paul Re, or its successor, through July
1, 2004. You will be considered to be "Continuously Employed" if you diligently
perform your job duties up to and including July 1, 2004 or are on an approved
leave of absence in accordance with generally applicable policies of St. Paul Re
or its successor. This retention bonus is in addition to any base salary and
annual performance bonus that you may earn during the year. If St. Paul Re, or
its successors, terminates your employment, other than for "cause", prior to
July 1, 2004, you will be paid the full amount of the retention bonus within 30
days following your separation from employment. If the Company does not
consummate an initial public offering of common stock of Platinum on or prior to
December 31, 2003, and you elect to terminate your employment with the Company
within 30 days thereafter, the Company will pay you a one-time bonus equal to
$250,000 (the "IPO Bonus") in lieu of any retention bonus and annual performance
bonus for 2003.

ELIGIBILITY AND CONDITIONS. The following conditions apply to your eligibility
to receive the enhanced compensation provided for in this letter:

1.       You must maintain an acceptable or better level of performance and
         comply with all policies and procedures of St. Paul Re, or its
         successor, in order to remain eligible for the salary and bonuses
         outlined above (collectively, the "Benefits"). In addition, if your
         employment is terminated for "cause", you will not be paid the
         Benefits.

2.       You will not be eligible for a Benefit if you voluntarily terminate
         your employment prior to the date the Benefit is paid except you will
         receive the IPO Bonus if you terminate your employment within the time
         set forth above.

3.       All Benefits are subject to applicable withholding.

4.       You must not disclose the terms and conditions of this letter and any
         Benefits hereunder, directly or indirectly, to any other employee of
         St. Paul Re, or its successor, in order to remain eligible for the
         Benefits.

OTHER IMPORTANT PROVISIONS

1.       Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this letter is
         intended to create an express or implied contract of employment for any
         particular duration, or to change your at-will status with St. Paul Re,
         or its successor.

                                       2

<PAGE>

                                                      [LETTER HEAD OF STPAUL RE]

2.       This letter supersedes all prior communications or understandings by
         St. Paul Re or Platinum related to your base salary and bonuses. Any
         modification to this letter must be made in writing by the President
         and CEO of St. Paul Re, or its successor, and you.

3.       The rights and obligations described in this letter may not be assigned
         by either party without the prior written consent of the other party,
         except that St. Paul Re may assign its rights and/or delegate its
         obligations to any successor and/or assign of St. Paul Re without your
         consent. This letter agreement shall be binding on and inure to the
         benefit of St. Paul Re's successors and assigns.

Please sign in the space provided below and return one copy of this letter to
Teresa Claro no later than August 16, 2002.

I am confident that the compensation features described above will recognize and
reward your contribution to the Company. I thank you in advance for your hard
work and dedication.

Sincerely yours,

ST. PAUL RE, INC.

By:   /s/ Jerome T. Fadden
      -------------------------------------
      Jerome T. Fadden
      President and Chief Executive Officer

AGREED:

/s/ Neal Schmidt                                      Aug. 16, 2002
-------------------------                             --------------------------
Neal Schmidt                                          Date

                                       3

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