Donegal Group
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________________ to _________________
Commission file number 0-15341

DONEGAL GROUP INC.
----------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 23-2424711
------------------------------- -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)

1195 River Road, Marietta, Pennsylvania 17547
- ---------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (717) 426-1931
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $1.00 par value
-----------------------------
(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X . No .
--- ---

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ X ]

On March 14, 1997, the aggregate market value (based on the closing sales price
on that date) of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was
$42,732,252.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 4,479,557 shares of Common
Stock outstanding on March 14, 1997.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

1. Portions of the Registrant's annual report to stockholders for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1996 are incorporated by reference into Parts I, II and
IV of this report.

2. Portions of the Registrant's proxy statement relating to the annual meeting
of stockholders to be held April 17, 1997 are incorporated by reference into
Part III of this report.
DONEGAL GROUP INC.

INDEX TO FORM 10-K REPORT


Page
----
I. PART I.

Item 1. Business................................................ 3
Item 2. Properties.............................................. 23
Item 3. Legal Proceedings....................................... 23
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of
Security Holders....................................... 23

II. PART II.

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and
Related Stockholder Matters............................ 25
Item 6. Selected Financial Data................................. 25
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of
Operations............................................. 25
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary
Data................................................... 25
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with
Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure................................... 25

III PART III.

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the
Registrant............................................. 26
Item 11. Executive Compensation.................................. 26
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management.................................. 26
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions........................................... 26

IV. PART IV.

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
and Reports on Form 8-K............................... 27
PART I

Item 1. Business.

(a) General Development of Business.

Donegal Group Inc. is a regional insurance holding company
formed in August 1986 which is headquartered in Pennsylvania and engages,
through its subsidiaries, in the property and casualty insurance business. As
used herein, "DGI" or the "Company" refers to Donegal Group Inc. and its
subsidiaries, Atlantic States Insurance Company ("Atlantic States"), Southern
Insurance Company of Virginia ("Southern"), Delaware Atlantic Insurance Company,
formerly known as Delaware American Insurance Company ("Delaware Atlantic"), and
Atlantic Insurance Services, Inc. ("AIS"). DGI is currently 58.5% owned by
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (the "Mutual Company"). The Mutual Company's
principal subsidiaries are Pioneer Insurance Company ("Pioneer") and Aberdeen
Insurance Group, Inc. ("Aberdeen"). DGI and the Mutual Company and their
subsidiaries underwrite a broad line of personal and commercial coverages,
consisting of private passenger and commercial automobile, homeowners,
commercial multi-peril, workers' compensation and other lines of insurance.

Atlantic States, which DGI organized in September 1986,
participates in an underwriting pool whereby it cedes to the Mutual Company the
premiums, losses and loss expenses from all of its insurance business and
assumes from the Mutual Company a specified portion of the pooled business,
which also includes substantially all of the Mutual Company's property and
casualty insurance business. Effective as of October 1, 1986, DGI entered into a
pooling agreement with the Mutual Company whereby Atlantic States assumed 35% of
the pooled business written or in force on or after October 1, 1986. Effective
October 1, 1988, the pooling agreement was amended to provide for the assumption
by Atlantic States of 50% of the pooled business written or in force on or after
October 1, 1988. Effective January 1, 1993, the pooling agreement was further
amended to provide for the assumption by Atlantic States of 60% of the pooled
business written or in force on or after January 1, 1993. Effective January 1,
1996, the pooling agreement was further amended to provide for the assumption by
Atlantic States of 65% of the pooled business written or in force on or after
January 1, 1996. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" included in Item 7 hereof and Note 2 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by reference herein.

On December 29, 1988, DGI acquired all of the outstanding
capital stock of Southern in exchange for a $3,000,000 equity contribution to
Southern. On October 1, 1986, the Mutual Company and Southern's predecessor,
Southern Mutual Insurance Company, entered into a reinsurance agreement whereby
such predecessor ceded to the Mutual Company 80% of its direct premiums written,
less outside reinsurance, and retained 20%. Effective January 1, 1991, this
percentage was changed to 50% ceded to the Mutual Company and 50% retained by
Southern. Because the Mutual Company places substantially all of the business
assumed from Southern in the pool, from which DGI currently has a 65%
allocation, DGI's results of operations

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include approximately 80% of the business written by Southern. See Note 2 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by reference herein.

As of March 31, 1993, the Mutual Company converted Pioneer
Mutual Insurance Company into Pioneer, a stock insurance company, which writes
property and casualty insurance in Ohio, and acquired all of Pioneer's capital
stock. Pioneer does not currently participate in the pooling agreement. In
connection with the Pioneer transaction, the Mutual Company was admitted in Ohio
and began active marketing of its insurance products in Ohio in the fourth
quarter of 1993.

In January 1994, DGI organized a new subsidiary, AIS, which
began business in that same month. AIS is an insurance services organization
currently providing inspection and policy auditing information on a fee for
service basis to its affiliates and the insurance industry.

In December 1994, the Superintendent of Insurance of the State
of Ohio issued an order permitting the sale by the Mutual Company to DGI of all
of the outstanding capital stock of Pioneer at the independently determined fair
market value thereof at the date of sale. It is anticipated that this sale will
occur on or before March 31, 1997. Pioneer and the Mutual Company are parties to
an excess of loss reinsurance agreement whereby the Mutual Company reinsures
Pioneer for losses in excess of $100,000 up to a limit of $150,000, and a
property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance agreement whereby the Mutual
Company reinsures Pioneer for catastrophe losses in excess of $200,000 up to a
limit of $2,800,000.

As of December 31, 1995, the Company acquired all of the
outstanding capital stock of Delaware Atlantic pursuant to a Stock Purchase
Agreement dated as of December 21, 1995 between the Company and the Mutual
Company. As part of this transaction, the Mutual Company entered into an
aggregate excess of loss reinsurance agreement with Delaware Atlantic whereby
the Mutual Company insured the risk of any loss from an adverse development in
Delaware Atlantic's loss and loss adjustment expense reserve at the end of 1995
compared to the end of 1996 and losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred by
Delaware Atlantic during the month of December 1995 and for the 1996 year by
reason of the fact that Delaware Atlantic's loss and loss adjustment expense
ratio for those periods exceeded the lesser of the loss and loss expense ratios
of immediately preceding periods or 60%. This agreement resulted in no
additional payment from the Mutual Company to Delaware Atlantic.

On May 3, 1996, the Mutual Company formed Aberdeen, which, pursuant to
an Asset Purchase Agreement dated July 31, 1996, purchased all of the aggregate
excess and surplus lines insurance agency business of Thomas G. Downie Agency,
Inc. d/b/a Aberdeen Insurance Group ("Downie Agency") for a purchase price of
$100,000. As part of the agreement, Aberdeen acquired, among other things, fixed
assets, the right, title and interest in and to the name "Aberdeen Insurance
Group," all of Downie Agency's books and records relating to its excess and
surplus insurance lines agency business and all intangible


-4-
property rights and proprietary information of Downie Agency relating to the
operation of the excess and surplus lines insurance agency business that was
acquired.

Effective July 1, 1996, the Mutual Company entered into
Retrocessional Reinsurance Agreements with each of Southern, Delaware Atlantic
and Pioneer, (individually, an "Affiliate"), whereby the Mutual Company agreed
to indemnify each Affiliate in respect of 100% of the net liability that may
accrue to such Affiliate from its insurance operations and retrocede 100% of the
net liability back to each Affiliate, which the Affiliate assumes.

(b) Financial Information about Industry Segments.

The Company is of the opinion that all of its operations are
within one industry segment and that no information as to industry segments is
required pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 14 or
Regulation S-K.

(c) Narrative Description of Business.

Relationship with the Mutual Company

DGI's operations are interrelated with the operations of the
Mutual Company and, because of the percentage of the pooled business assumed by
DGI, DGI's results of operations are largely dependent upon the success of the
Mutual Company. In addition, various reinsurance agreements exist between the
Company and the Mutual Company. The Mutual Company is responsible for
underwriting and marketing the pooled business and provides facilities,
employees and services required to conduct the business of DGI on a cost
allocated basis. The Mutual Company owned 58.5% of DGI as of March 14, 1997.

Through the pool, DGI writes personal and commercial property
and casualty insurance lines, including automobile, homeowners, commercial
multi-peril, workers' compensation and other lines of business. The insurance
agencies under contract with the Mutual Company serve as representatives for the
pool participants.

Under the terms of the intercompany pooling agreement, which
took effect on October 1, 1986, Atlantic States cedes to the Mutual Company the
premiums, losses and loss expenses on all of its insurance business.
Substantially all of the Mutual Company's property and casualty insurance
business, including the business reinsured from Southern, written or in force on
or after October 1, 1986 is also included in the pooled business. The Mutual
Company retroceded 35% of the pooled business to Atlantic States and retained
65% until October 1, 1988 when Atlantic States assumed 50% of the pooled
business written or in force on or after October 1, 1988. Effective January 1,
1993, Atlantic States assumed 60% of the pooled business written or in force on
or after January 1, 1993, and, effective January 1, 1996, Atlantic States
assumed 65% of the pooled business written or in force on or after January 1,
1996. All premiums, losses, loss expenses, other underwriting expenses and
policy dividends are prorated among the parties on the basis of their

-5-
participation in the pool. The pooling agreement may be amended or terminated at
the end of any calendar year by agreement of the parties. The Company does not
intend to terminate its participation in the pooling agreement. The allocations
of pool participation percentages between the Mutual Company and the Company are
based on the pool participants' relative amounts of capital and surplus and
expectations of future relative amounts of capital and surplus. The pooling
agreement does not legally discharge Atlantic States from its primary liability
for the full amount of the policies ceded. However, it makes the Mutual Company
liable to Atlantic States to the extent of the business ceded.


All of DGI's officers are officers of the Mutual Company, and
five of DGI's seven directors are directors of the Mutual Company. A
Coordinating Committee, which consists of two outside directors from each of
DGI and the Mutual Company, none of whom hold seats on both Boards, reviews and
approves changes in the pooling agreement and is responsible for matters
involving actual or potential conflicts of interest. The decisions of the
Coordinating Committee are binding on the two companies. DGI's members must
conclude that intercompany transactions are fair and reasonable in order for
such transactions to be approved.

The underwriting pool is intended to produce a more uniform
and stable underwriting result from year to year for the companies in the pool
than they would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss among all
the participants. Each company participating in the pool has at its disposal the
capacity of the entire pool, rather than being limited to policy exposures of a
size commensurate with its own capital and surplus. The additional capacity
exists because such policy exposures are spread among the pool participants
which each have their own capital and surplus.

In addition to the underwriting pool, through the Retroces-
sional Reinsurance Agreements with each of Delaware Atlantic, Southern and
Pioneer, the Mutual Company agreed to indemnify each Affiliate in respect of
100% of the net liability that may accrue to such Affiliate from its insurance
operations and retrocede 100% of the net liability back to each Affiliate, which
the Affiliate assumes as part of the retrocession.

DGI's Business Strategy

DGI, in conjunction with the Mutual Company, has multiple
strategies which the management of DGI believes have resulted in underwriting
results that are favorable when compared to those of the property and casualty
insurance industry in general over the past five years. The principal strategies
comprise the following:

o A regional company concept designed to provide the
advantages of local marketing, underwriting and
claims servicing with the economies of scale from
centralized accounting, administrative, investment,
data processing and other services.


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o       An underwriting program and product mix designed to
produce a Company-wide underwriting profit, i.e., a
combined ratio of less than 100%, from careful risk
selection and adequate pricing.

o A goal of a closely balanced ratio between commercial
business and personal business.

o An agent selection process that focuses on appointing
agencies with proven market strategies for the devel-
opment of profitable business and an agent compensa-
tion plan providing for additional commissions based
upon premium volume and profitability and the right
to participate in the Company's Agency Stock Purchase
Plan.

o Gradual expansion into adjacent states, including
Indiana, Ohio, New York, Tennessee and North Carolina.

o A continuing effort to attract and retain qualified
employees who receive incentive compensation based
upon historical results.

Property and Casualty Insurance Products and Services

The following table indicates the percentage of DGI's net
premiums written represented by commercial lines and by personal lines for the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994:


Year Ended December 31
--------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ----


Net Premiums Written:
Commercial................... 45.2% 46.8% 43.6%
Personal..................... 54.8 53.2 56.4


The commercial lines consist primarily of automobile,
multi-peril and workers' compensation insurance. The personal lines consist
primarily of automobile and homeowners insurance. These types of insurance are
described in greater detail below:

Commercial

o Commercial automobile -- policies that provide
protection against liability for bodily injury and
property damage arising from automobile accidents,
and provide protection against loss from damage to
automobiles owned by the insured.

o Workers' compensation -- policies purchased by
employers to provide benefits to employees for
injuries sustained during employment. The extent of
coverage


-7-
is established by the workers' compensation laws of
each state.

o Commercial multi-peril -- policies that provide pro-
tection to businesses against many perils, usually
combining liability and physical damage coverages.

Personal

o Private passenger automobile -- policies that provide
protection against liability for bodily injury and
property damage arising from automobile accidents,
and provide protection against loss from damage to
automobiles owned by the insured.

o Homeowners -- policies that provide coverage for
damage to residences and their contents from a broad
range of perils, including, fire, lightning,
windstorm and theft. These policies also cover
liability of the insured arising from injury to other
persons or their property while on the insured's
property and under other specified conditions.


The following table sets forth the combined ratios of DGI,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
statutory accounting principles prescribed or permitted by state insurance
authorities. The combined ratio is a traditional measure of underwriting
profitability. When the combined ratio is under 100%, underwriting results are
generally considered profitable. Conversely, when the combined ratio is over
100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable. The combined
ratio does not reflect investment income, federal income taxes or other
non-operating income or expense. DGI's operating income depends on income from
both underwriting operations and investments.


Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ----

GAAP Combined Ratio.......... 99.4% 97.3% 101.7%
Statutory operating ratios:
Loss ratio................. 67.7 65.6 68.9
Expense ratio.............. 30.9 31.6 31.3
Dividend ratio............. 1.5 1.2 1.7
----- ----- -----
Statutory combined ratio... 100.1 98.4 101.9
Industry statutory combined
ratio...................... 107.0(1) 105.0(2) 109.6(2)
- ----------
(1) Source: A.M. Best Co.
(2) Source: Insurance Information Institute





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DGI is required to participate in involuntary insurance
programs for automobile insurance, as well as other property and casualty
insurance lines, in states in which DGI operates. These programs include joint
underwriting associations, assigned risk plans, fair access to insurance
requirements ("FAIR") plans, reinsurance facilities and windstorm plans.
Legislation establishing these programs requires all companies that write lines
covered by these programs to provide coverage (either directly or through
reinsurance) for insureds who cannot obtain insurance in the voluntary market.
The legislation creating these programs usually allocates a pro rata portion of
risks attributable to such insureds to each company on the basis of direct
premiums written or the number of automobiles insured. Generally, state law
requires participation in such programs as a condition to doing business. The
loss ratio on insurance written under involuntary programs has traditionally
been greater than the loss ratio on insurance in the voluntary market. The
impact of these involuntary programs on DGI has been immaterial.

The following table sets forth the net premiums written and
combined ratios by line of insurance for the business of DGI, prepared in
accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by state
insurance authorities, for the periods indicated.


Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ----
(in thousands)
Net Premiums Written:
Commercial:
Automobile..................... $ 10,149 $ 8,306 $ 6,133
Workers' compensation.......... 17,327 17,607 15,110
Commercial multi-peril......... 16,975 14,598 11,028
Other.......................... 2,823 2,422 2,251
-------- ------- -------
Total commercial ............. 47,274 42,933 34,522
-------- ------- -------

Personal:
Automobile..................... 36,331 31,060 29,263
Homeowners..................... 18,008 14,932 12,850
Other.......................... 3,057 2,746 2,598
-------- ------- -------
Total personal............... 57,396 48,738 44,711
-------- ------- -------
Total business................... $104,670 $91,671 $79,233
======== ======= =======

Statutory Combined Ratios:
Commercial:
Automobile..................... 97.6% 92.9% 116.1%
Workers' compensation.......... 66.6 76.9 80.0
Commercial multi-peril......... 106.5 110.0 95.0
Other.......................... 65.1 88.2 92.4
Total commercial............. 87.0% 91.6% 92.0%



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Personal:
Automobile..................... 99.9% 98.7% 92.3%
Homeowners..................... 136.4 118.7 147.5
Other.......................... 99.6 90.8 111.4
Total personal............... 111.2% 104.1% 109.3%
Total business................... 100.1% 98.4% 101.9%


Property and Casualty Underwriting

The underwriting department is responsible for the
establishment of underwriting and risk selection guidelines and criteria for the
various insurance products written by DGI. The underwriting department, in
conjunction with the marketing representatives, works closely with DGI's
independent agents to insure a comprehensive knowledge on the part of the agents
of DGI's underwriting requirements and risk selection process.

DGI's underwriting and pricing strategy is designed to produce
an underwriting profit resulting in a Company-wide combined ratio below 100%.
DGI and the Mutual Company have a conservative underwriting philosophy, which,
in the opinion of management, is one of the prime reasons for DGI's favorable
loss ratios relative to the property and casualty insurance industry over the
last five years.

The underwriting department has over time initiated risk
inspection procedures and underwriting analysis on a per risk and class of
business basis. It has also automated underwriting processing utilizing
technology such as bar coding. Management has established monitoring and
auditing processes to verify compliance with underwriting requirements and
procedures.

The underwriting department and the research and development
section are responsible for the development of new insurance products and
enhancements of existing products. Underwriting profitability is enhanced by
the creation of niche products focused on classes of business which
traditionally have provided underwriting profits.

Marketing

DGI's insurance products, together with the products of the
Mutual Company and their respective subsidiaries, are marketed through
approximately 2,300 independent insurance agents associated with approximately
700 insurance agencies. Business is written by either DGI or the Mutual Company
depending upon geographic location, agency license and product. Management has
developed an agency appointment procedure that focuses on appointing agencies
with proven marketing strategies for the development of profitable business. DGI
regularly evaluates its agency force and continues to strive to obtain and
retain a significant position within each agency relative to the amount of
business similar to that of DGI placed by the agency with other insurers. DGI
and the Mutual Company have developed a successful contingent commission plan
for agents under which additional commissions are payable based upon the volume
of premiums produced and the profitability of the business of the agency written


-10-
by DGI and the Mutual Company. Management believes the contingent commission
program and the Company's Agency Stock Purchase Plan have enhanced the ability
of DGI and the Mutual Company to write profitable business.

DGI has granted certain agents the authority to bind insurance
within underwriting and pricing limits specified by DGI without the prior
approval of DGI. However, DGI generally reviews all coverages placed by its
agents and, subject to applicable insurance regulations, may cancel the
coverage if it is inconsistent with DGI's guidelines.

DGI believes that its regional structure enables it to compete
effectively with large national companies. This regional structure permits DGI
to take advantage of its knowledge of local operating territories and the
opportunity to form strong, long-term relationships with the agents that
represent DGI and the Mutual Company.

DGI and the Mutual Company have developed comprehensive growth
strategies for each of the commercial and personal lines of insurance business.
DGI has focused on the small- to medium-sized commercial insurance markets,
which have traditionally been a stable and profitable segment of the property
and casualty insurance business. Commercial lines marketing is characterized by
account selling, in which multiple lines of insurance are offered to a single
policyholder.

DGI believes that competitive and comprehensive products
targeted to selected classes of personal lines business, along with excellent
service to agents and policyholders, will provide growth with profitability. As
is customary in the industry, insureds are encouraged to place both their
homeowners and personal automobile insurance with DGI or the Mutual Company and
are offered a discount for doing so.

Claims

The claims department develops and implements policies and
procedures for the establishment of claim reserves and the timely resolution and
payment of claims. The management and staff of the department resolve policy
coverage issues, manage and process reinsurance recoveries and handle salvage
and subrogation matters.

Insurance claims are normally investigated and adjusted by
internal claims adjusters and supervisory personnel. Independent adjusters are
employed as needed to handle claims in territories in which the volume of claims
is not sufficient to justify hiring internal claims adjusters. The litigation
and personal injury sections manage all claims litigation, and all claims above
$25,000 require home office review and settlement authorization.

Field office staffs are supported by home office technical,
litigation, material damage, subrogation and medical audit personnel who provide
specialized claims support. An investigative unit attempts to prevent fraud and
abuse and to control losses.


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Liabilities for Losses and Loss Expenses

Liabilities for losses and loss expenses are estimates at a
given point in time of what the insurer expects to pay to claimants, based on
facts and circumstances then known, and it can be expected that the ultimate
liability will exceed or be less than such estimates. Liabilities are based on
estimates of future trends and claims severity, judicial theories of liability
and other factors. However, during the loss adjustment period, additional facts
regarding individual claims may become known, and consequently it often becomes
necessary to refine and adjust the estimates of liability. Any adjustments are
reflected in operating results in the year in which the changes are made.

DGI maintains liabilities for the eventual payment of losses
and loss expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims.
Liabilities for loss expenses are intended to cover the ultimate costs of
settling all losses, including investigation and litigation costs from such
losses. The amount of liability for reported losses is primarily based upon a
case-by-case evaluation of the type of risk involved and knowledge of the
circumstances surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions
relating to the type of loss. The amount of liability for unreported claims and
loss expenses is determined on the basis of historical information by line of
insurance. Inflation is implicitly provided for in the reserving function
through analysis of costs, trends and reviews of historical reserving results.
Liabilities are closely monitored and are recomputed periodically by the Company
and the Mutual Company using new information on reported claims and a variety of
statistical techniques. Liabilities for losses are not discounted.

The establishment of appropriate liabilities is an inherently
uncertain process, and there can be no assurance that the ultimate liability
will not exceed DGI's loss and loss expenses and have an adverse effect on DGI's
results of operations and financial condition. As is the case for virtually all
property and casualty insurance companies, DGI has found it necessary in the
past to revise in non-material amounts estimated future liabilities for losses
and loss expenses, and further adjustments could be required in the future.
However, on the basis of DGI's internal procedures, which analyze, among other
things, DGI's experience with similar cases and historical trends such as
reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product
mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes,
management of DGI believes that adequate provision has been made for DGI's
liability for loss and loss expenses.

Differences between liabilities reported in DGI's financial
statements prepared on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles and
financial statements prepared on a statutory accounting basis result from
reducing statutory liabilities for anticipated salvage and subrogation
recoveries. These differences amounted to $4,918,547, $3,880,621 and $2,730,112
at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.



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The following tables set forth a reconciliation of the
beginning and ending net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses for the
periods indicated on a GAAP basis for the Company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- -------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net liability for unpaid losses
and loss expenses at
beginning of year..................................... $70,041 $62,577 $52,298
------- ------- -------
Acquisition of Delaware Atlantic....................... --- --- 5,670
------- ------- -------
New balance beginning of year.......................... 70,041 62,577 57,968
------- ------ -------
Provision for net losses and
loss expenses for claims
incurred in the current year.......................... 69,206 58,354 55,941
Increase (decrease) in provision
for estimated net losses and
loss expenses for claims
incurred in prior years............................... (2,595) (2,947) (3,084)
------- ------- -------

Total incurred......................................... 66,611 55,407 52,857

Net losses and loss payments for claims incurred during:
The current year...................................... 39,988 28,834 30,544
Prior years........................................... 22,889 19,009 17,704
------- ------- -------

Total paid............................................. 62,877 47,943 48,248

Net liability for unpaid losses
and loss expenses at
end of year........................................... $73,774 $70,040 $62,577
======= ======= =======

</TABLE>

The following table sets forth the development of the
liability for net unpaid losses and loss expenses for DGI on a GAAP basis from
1987 (the first full year of DGI's operations) to 1996, with supplemental loss
data for 1996 and 1995.

"Net liability at end of year for unpaid losses and loss
expenses" sets forth the estimated liability for net unpaid losses and loss
expenses recorded at the balance sheet date for each of the indicated years.
This liability represents the estimated amount of net losses and loss expenses
for claims arising in the current and all prior years that are unpaid at the
balance sheet date including losses incurred but not reported.

The "Liability reestimated as of" portion of the table shows
the reestimated amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience
for each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as payments are
made and more information becomes known about the severity of the remaining
unpaid claims. For example, the 1990 liability has developed an excess after six
years, in that reestimated net losses and loss expenses are expected


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to be less than the estimated liability initially established in 1990
of $31,898,000 by $2,303,000.

The "Cumulative deficiency (excess)" shows the cumulative
deficiency or excess at December 31, 1996 of the liability estimate shown on the
top line of the corresponding column. An excess in liability means that the
liability established in prior years exceeded actual net losses and loss
expenses or were reevaluated at less than the original amount. A deficiency in
liability means that the liability established in prior years was less than
actual net losses and loss expenses or were reevaluated at more than the
original amount.

The "Cumulative amount of liability paid through" portion of
the table shows the cumulative net losses and loss expense payments made in
succeeding years for net losses incurred prior to the balance sheet date. For
example, the 1990 column indicates that as of December 31, 1996, payments equal
to $28,157,000 of the currently reestimated ultimate liability for net losses
and loss expenses of $29,595,000 had been made.



-14-
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Year Ended December 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net liability at end of
year for unpaid losses
and loss expenses .... $ 11,878 $ 20,734 $ 27,767 $ 31,898 $ 36,194 $ 43,449 $ 52,298 $ 62,577 $ 70,040 $ 73,774
Net liability
reestimated as of:
One year later ..... 12,678 21,598 29,175 32,923 37,514 44,713 50,223 59,630 67,445
Two years later .... 12,949 20,475 28,861 33,550 37,765 42,053 47,820 56,123
Three years later .. 12,692 19,823 28,545 32,803 35,446 40,077 44,674
Four years later ... 12,160 19,296 27,717 31,004 33,931 37,791
Five years later ... 11,799 18,796 26,759 30,041 32,907
Six years later .... 11,857 18,457 26,180 29,595
Seven years later .. 11,782 18,189 25,971
Eight years later .. 11,722 18,117
Nine years later ... 11,655
Cumulative deficiency
(excess) ........... $ (223) $ (2,617) $ (1,796) $ (2,303) $ (3,287) $ (5,658) $ (7,624) $ (6,454) $ (2,595)
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========

Cumulative amount of
liability paid
through:
One year later ...... $ 5,891 $ 8,855 $ 11,401 $ 13,003 $ 13,519 $ 16,087 $ 15,947 $ 19,009 $ 22,889
Two years later ..... 8,472 12,280 17,421 19,795 20,942 24,010 25,128 29,892
Three years later ... 9,988 14,912 20,986 24,178 25,308 28,802 31,837
Four years later .... 10,774 16,292 23,268 26,413 27,826 32,368
Five years later .... 11,209 17,201 24,331 27,439 29,605
Six years later ..... 11,388 17,706 24,909 28,157
Seven years later ... 11,484 17,782 25,280
Eight years later ... 11,544 17,884
Nine years later .... 11,563

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Year Ended December 31
---------------------------------------------------
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Gross liability at end of year ...... $ 55,870 $ 69,442 $ 87,744 $ 97,733 $110,023
Reinsurance recoverable ............. 12,421 17,144 25,167 27,693 36,248
Net liability at end of year ........ 43,449 52,298 62,577 70,040 73,775
Gross reestimated liability -- latest 57,534 63,006 80,472 93,852
Reestimated recoverable -- latest ... 19,743 18,332 24,349 26,407
Net reestimated liability -- latest . 37,791 44,674 56,123 67,445
Gross cumulative deficiency (excess) 1,664 (6,436) (7,272) (3,881)
</TABLE>


-15-
Reinsurance

DGI and the Mutual Company use several different reinsurers,
all of which have a Best rating of A- or better or, with respect to foreign
reinsurers, have a financial condition which, in the opinion of management, is
equivalent to a company with at least an A- rating.

The external reinsurance purchased by DGI and the Mutual
Company includes "excess treaty reinsurance" under which losses are
automatically reinsured over a set retention ($250,000 for 1996) and
"catastrophic reinsurance" under which the reinsured recovers 90% of an
accumulation of many losses resulting from a single event, including natural
disasters (for 1996, $3,000,000 retention), DGI's principal reinsurance
agreement, other than that with the Mutual Company, is an excess of loss treaty
in which the reinsurers are Continental Casualty Company, Employers Reinsurance
Corporation and Dorinco Reinsurance Company. Reinsurance is also purchased on an
individual policy basis to reinsure losses that may occur from large risks,
specific risk types or specific locations. The amount of coverage provided under
each of these types of reinsurance depends upon the amount, nature, size and
location of the risk being reinsured. For property insurance, excess of loss
treaties provide for coverage up to $1,000,000. For liability insurance, excess
of loss treaties provide for coverage up to $30,000,000. Property catastrophe
contracts provide coverage up to $50,000,000 resulting from one event. On both
property and casualty insurance, DGI and the Mutual Company purchase facultative
reinsurance to cover exposures from losses that exceed the limits provided by
their respective treaty reinsurance. In addition, the Company and the Mutual
Company maintain various reinsurance agreements between themselves in addition
to the pooling agreement. Atlantic States and the Mutual Company have a
catastrophe reinsurance agreement which limits the maximum liability for losses
from any one catastrophe occurrence to $400,000 for Atlantic States and $700,000
for a catastrophe involving more than one of the Company's subsidiaries.
Southern and the Mutual Company have an excess of loss reinsurance agreement in
which the Mutual Company assumes up to $150,000 for losses in excess of
$100,000. Southern and the Mutual Company also have a catastrophe reinsurance
agreement which limits Southern's liability to $300,000 from any one catastrophe
occurrence. Delaware Atlantic and the Mutual Company have an excess of loss
reinsurance agreement in which the Mutual Company assumes up to $200,000 for
losses in excess of $50,000. Delaware Atlantic and the Mutual Company also have
a Catastrophe Reinsurance Agreement which limits Delaware Atlantic's liability
to $300,000 from any one catastrophe occurrence. Delaware Atlantic and the
Mutual Company also have a reinsurance contract whereby Delaware Atlantic cedes
70% of its workers' compensation business to the Mutual Company. Each of
Southern, Delaware Atlantic and Pioneer also have a Retrocessional Reinsurance
Agreement with the Mutual Company whereby the Mutual Company indemnifies each
Affiliate in respect of 100% of the net liability that may accrue to such
Affiliate from its insurance operations and retrocedes 100% of the net liability
back to each Affiliate, which the Affiliate assumes as part of the retrocession.



-16-
Competition

The property and casualty insurance industry is highly
competitive on the basis of both price and service. There are numerous companies
competing for this business in the geographic areas where the Company operates,
many of which are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than
DGI, and no single company dominates. In addition, because the insurance
products of DGI and the Mutual Company are marketed exclusively through
independent insurance agencies, most of which represent more than one company,
DGI faces competition to retain qualified independent agencies, as well as
competition within agencies.

Investments

DGI's return on invested assets is an important element of its
financial results. Currently, the investment objective is to maintain a widely
diversified fixed maturities portfolio structured to maximize after-tax
investment income while minimizing credit risk through investments in high
quality instruments. At December 31, 1996, all debt securities were rated
investment grade with the exception of one unrated obligation of $250,000, and
the investment portfolio did not contain any mortgage loans or any
non-performing assets.

The following table shows the composition of the debt
securities investment portfolio (at carrying value), excluding short-term
investments, by rating as of December 31, 1996:


December 31, 1996
----------------------------
Rating(1) Amount Percent
- --------------------- -------- ---------
(dollars in thousands)

U.S. Treasury and U.S.
agency securities(2) ....................... $ 83,645 51.9%
Aaa or AAA ................................... 43,857 27.2
Aa or AA ..................................... 25,879 16.0
A ............................................ 7,442 4.6
BBB .......................................... 97 0.1
Not rated(3) ................................. 250 0.2%
-------- -----
Total .................................... $161,170 100.0%
======== =====
- ----------

(1) Ratings assigned by Moody's Investors Services, Inc. or Standard
& Poor's Corporation.

(2) Includes mortgage-backed securities of $13,542,146.

(3) Represents one unrated obligation of The Lancaster County Hospital
Authority Mennonite Home Project, which management of DGI believes to
be equivalent to investment grade securities with respect to repayment
risk.




-17-
DGI invests in both taxable and tax-exempt securities as part
of its strategy to maximize after-tax income. Such strategy considers, among
other factors, the alternative minimum tax. Tax-exempt securities made up
approximately 37.0%, 38.5% and 26.4% of the total investment portfolio at
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

The following table shows the classification of the
investments (at carrying value) of DGI and its subsidiaries at December 31,
1996, 1995 and 1994.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

December 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
--------------------- ---------------------- -----------------------
Percent Percent Percent
of of of
Amount Total Amount Total Amount Total
------ ----- ------ ----- ------ -----
(dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fixed maturities(1):
Held to maturity:
U.S. Treasury securities
and obligations of U.S.
government corporations
and agencies .......................... $ 37,394 20.2% $ 19,676 12.2% $ 14,271 9.8%
Obligations of states and
political subdivisions ................ 55,989 30.2 52,081 32.3 32,110 22.1
Corporate securities ................... 5,767 3.1 3,816 2.4 2,994 2.1
Mortgage-backed
securities ............................ 12,431 6.7 16,406 10.1 20,783 14.2
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
Total held to
maturity ............................ 111,581 60.2 91,979 57.0 70,158 48.2
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
Available for sale:
U.S. treasury securities
and obligations of U.S.
government corporations
and agencies .......................... 32,709 17.6 35,421 21.9 33,429 22.9
Obligations of states and
political subdivisions ................ 12,682 6.8 10,120 6.3 6,357 4.4
Corporate securities ................... 3,087 1.7 4,348 2.7 3,734 2.6
Mortgage-backed
securities ............................ 1,111 0.6 1,758 1.1 202 0.1
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
Total available
for sale ............................ 49,589 26.7 51,647 32.0 43,722 30.0
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
Total fixed
maturities .......................... 161,170 86.9 143,626 89.0 113,880 78.2
Equity securities(2) ..................... 3,134 1.7 3,264 2.0 4,202 2.9
Short-term
investments(3) .......................... 21,207 11.4 14,498 9.0 27,485 18.9
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----

Total investments ........................ $185,511 100.0% $161,388 100.0% $145,567 100.0%
======== ===== ======== ===== ======== =====
</TABLE>

- -----------------

(1) The Company accounts for investments in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115, "Accounting For Certain
Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." See


-18-
Notes 1 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by
reference herein. Fixed maturities held to maturity are valued at
amortized cost; those fixed maturities available for sale are valued at
fair value. Total fair value of fixed maturities held to maturity was
$113,461,217 at December 31, 1996. The amortized cost of fixed
maturities available for sale was $49,314,520 at December 31, 1996.

(2) Equity securities are valued at fair value. Total cost of equity
securities was $2,770,346 at December 31, 1996, $2,954,487 at December
31, 1995 and $4,897,115 at December 31, 1994.

(3) Short-term investments are valued at cost, which approximates
market.


The following table sets forth the maturities (at carrying
value) in the fixed maturity and short-term investment portfolio at December 31,
1996, December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1994.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

December 31
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
---------------------- ----------------------- --------------------
Percent Percent Percent
of of of
Amount Total Amount Total Amount Total
------ ----- ------ ----- ------ -----
(dollars in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Due in:(1)
One year or less ...................... $ 12,615 7.8% $ 34,493 21.8% $ 35,803 25.3
Over one year
through three years .................. 24,686 15.3 19,546 12.4 34,204 24.2
Over three years
through five years ................... 20,150 12.5 9,559 6.0 5,346 3.8
Over five years
through ten years .................... 43,626 27.1 35,005 22.1 9,846 7.0
Over ten years
through fifteen
years ................................ 45,500 28.2 39,172 24.8 29,665 21.0
Over fifteen years .................... 1,051 0.7 2,185 1.4 5,968 4.2
Mortgage-backed
securities ........................... 13,542 8.4 18,164 11.5 20,534 14.5
-------- ----- -------- ----- -------- -----
$161,170 100.0% $158,124 100.0% $141,366 100.0%
======== ===== ======== ===== ======== =====

</TABLE>

(1) Based on stated maturity dates with no prepayment assumptions. Actual
maturities will differ because borrowers may have the right to call or
prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.


As shown above, the Company held investments in
mortgage-backed securities having a carrying value of $13,542,146 at December
31, 1996. Included in these investments are collateralized mortgage


-19-
obligations ("CMOs") with a carrying value of $12,730,101 at December 31, 1996.
The Company has attempted to reduce the prepayment risks associated with
mortgage-backed securities by investing approximately 87.8%, as of December 31,
1996, of the Company's holdings of CMOs in planned amortization and very
accurately defined tranches. Such investments are designed to alleviate the risk
of prepayment by providing predictable principal prepayment schedules within a
designated range of prepayments. If principal is repaid earlier than originally
anticipated, investment yields may decrease due to reinvestment of these funds
at lower current interest rates and capital gains or losses may be realized
since the book value of securities purchased at premiums or discounts may be
different from the prepayment amount.

Investment results of DGI and its subsidiaries for the years
ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 are shown in the following table:


Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ----
(dollars in thousands)

Invested assets(1) ................ $175,780 $155,093 $134,636
Investment income(2) .............. 10,316 9,270 7,778
Average yield ..................... 5.9% 6.0% 5.8%
- ----------------

(1) Average of the aggregate invested amounts at the beginning and
end of the period, including cash.

(2) Investment income is net of investment expenses and does not include
realized investment gains or losses or provision for income taxes.


A.M. Best Rating

In 1996, the Best rating of the Mutual Company, Atlantic
States, Southern and Delaware Atlantic was "A", based upon their respective
current financial conditions and historical statutory results of operations.
Management believes that this Best rating is an important factor in marketing
DGI's products to its agents and customers. Best's ratings are industry ratings
based on a comparative analysis of the financial condition and operating
performance of insurance companies as determined by their publicly available
reports. Best's classifications are A++ and A+ (Superior), A and A-
(Excellent), B++ and B+ (Very Good), B and B- (Good), C++ and C+ (Fair), C and
C- (Marginal), D (below minimum standards) and E and F (Liquidation). Best's
ratings are based upon factors relevant to policyholders and are not directed
toward the protection of investors. According to Best, an "excellent" rating is
assigned to those companies which, in Best's opinion, have achieved excellent
overall performance when compared to the norms of the property and casualty


-20-
insurance industry and have generally demonstrated a strong ability to meet
policyholder and other contractual obligations.

Regulation

Insurance companies are subject to supervision and regulation
in the states in which they transact business. Such supervision and regulation
relates to numerous aspects of an insurance company's business and financial
condition. The primary purpose of such supervision and regulation is the
protection of policyholders. The extent of such regulation varies, but generally
derives from state statutes which delegate regulatory, supervisory and
administrative authority to state insurance departments. Accordingly, the
authority of the state insurance departments includes the establishment of
standards of solvency which must be met and maintained by insurers, the
licensing to do business of insurers and agents, the nature of and limitations
on investments, premium rates for property and casualty insurance, the
provisions which insurers must make for current losses and future liabilities,
the deposit of securities for the benefit of policyholders, the approval of
policy forms, notice requirements for the cancellation of policies and the
approval of certain changes in control. State insurance departments also conduct
periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies and require the
filing of annual and other reports relating to the financial condition of
insurance companies.

In addition to state-imposed insurance laws and regulations,
in December 1993 the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (the
"NAIC") adopted a new risk-based capital system for assessing the adequacy of
statutory capital and surplus which augments the states' current fixed dollar
minimum capital requirements for insurance companies. At December 31, 1996, DGI
exceeded the required levels of capital. There can be no assurance that the
capital requirements applicable to DGI's business will not increase in the
future.

The states in which Atlantic States (Pennsylvania, Maryland
and Delaware), the Mutual Company (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, New York,
Virginia and Delaware), Southern (Virginia) and Delaware Atlantic (Delaware,
Maryland and Pennsylvania) do business have guaranty fund laws under which
insurers doing business in such states can be assessed on the basis of premiums
written by the insurer in that state in order to fund policyholder liabilities
of insolvent insurance companies. Under these laws in general, an insurer is
subject to assessment, depending upon its market share of a given line of
business, to assist in the payment of policyholder claims against insolvent
insurers. The Mutual Company, Atlantic States, Southern and Delaware Atlantic
have made accruals for their portion of assessments related to such insolvencies
based upon the most current information furnished by the guaranty associations.
During the five years ended December 31, 1996, the amount of such insolvency
assessments paid by Atlantic States, Southern, the Mutual Company and Delaware
Atlantic was not material.



-21-
The property and casualty insurance industry has recently
received a considerable amount of publicity because of rising insurance costs
and the unavailability of insurance. New regulations and legislation are being
proposed to limit damage awards, to control plaintiffs' counsel fees, to bring
the industry under regulation by the federal government and to control premiums,
policy terminations and other policy terms. It is not possible to predict
whether, in what form or in what jurisdictions any of these proposals might be
adopted or the effect, if any, on the Company.

Most states have enacted legislation that regulates insurance
holding company systems. Each insurance company in the holding company system is
required to register with the insurance supervisory agency of its state of
domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within
the holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management
or financial condition of the insurers within the system. Pursuant to these
laws, the respective insurance departments may examine the Mutual Company, the
Company and their respective insurance subsidiaries at any time, require
disclosure of material transactions by the holding company and require prior
notice or prior approval of certain transactions, such as "extraordinary
dividends" from the insurance subsidiaries to the holding company.

All transactions within the holding company system affecting
the Mutual Company and the Company's insurance subsidiaries must be fair and
equitable. Approval of the applicable insurance commissioner is required prior
to consummation of transactions affecting the control of an insurer. In some
states, including Pennsylvania, the acquisition of 10% or more of the
outstanding capital stock of an insurer or its holding company is presumed to be
a change in control. These laws also require notice to the applicable insurance
commissioner of certain material transactions between an insurer and any person
in its holding company system and, in some states, certain of such transactions
cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the applicable insurance
commissioner.

The Company's insurance subsidiaries are restricted by the
insurance laws of their respective states of domicile as to the amount of
dividends or other distributions they may pay to the Company without the prior
approval of the respective state regulatory authorities. Generally, the maximum
amount that may be paid by an insurance subsidiary during any year after notice
to, but without prior approval of, the insurance commissioners of these states
is limited to a stated percentage of that subsidiary's statutory capital and
surplus as of a certain date, or the net income or net investment income not
including realized capital gains of the subsidiary for the preceding year. As of
December 31, 1996, amounts available for payment of dividends in 1997 without
the prior approval of the various insurance commissioners were $5,410,536 from
Atlantic States, $255,480 from Southern and $1,120,952 from Delaware Atlantic.
See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by reference
herein.



-22-
The Mutual Company

The Mutual Company, which was organized in 1889, has a Best
rating of A (Excellent). At December 31, 1996, the Mutual Company had admitted
assets of $158 million and policyholders' surplus of $75 million. At December
31, 1996, the Mutual Company had no debt and, of its total liabilities of $83
million, reserves for net losses and loss expenses accounted for $48 million and
unearned premiums accounted for $21 million. Of the Mutual Company's investment
portfolio of $133 million at December 31, 1996, investment-grade bonds
accounted for $48 million, cash and short-term investments accounted for $1
million and mortgages accounted for $7 million. At December 31, 1996, the Mutual
Company owned 2,621,633 shares of the Company's Common Stock, which were carried
on the Mutual Company's books at $54 million. The foregoing financial
information is presented on the statutory basis of accounting.

Employees

As of December 31, 1996, the Mutual Company had 376 employees.
The Mutual Company's employees provide a variety of services to DGI, Atlantic
States, Delaware Atlantic and Southern as well as to the Mutual Company and its
subsidiaries.


Item 2. Properties.

DGI shares headquarters with the Mutual Company in a building
owned by the Mutual Company. The Mutual Company charges DGI for an appropriate
portion of the building expenses under an intercompany allocation agreement
which is consistent with the terms of the pooling agreement. The headquarters of
the Mutual Company have approximately 82,000 square feet of office space, with
an additional 40,000 square feet of office space currently under construction.
Southern has a facility of approximately 10,000 square feet in Glen Allen,
Virginia which it leases. Delaware Atlantic has a facility of approximately
2,800 square feet in Wilmington, Delaware, which it leases.


Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

DGI is a party to numerous lawsuits arising in the ordinary
course of its insurance business. DGI believes that the resolution of these
lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or
results of operations.


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

No matter was submitted to a vote of holders of the Company's
Common Stock during the fourth quarter of 1996.




-23-
Executive Officers of the Company

Name Age Position
---- --- --------

Donald H. Nikolaus 54 President and Chief Executive
Officer since 1981

William H. Shupert 70 Senior Vice President -
Underwriting since 1991; Vice
President - Underwriting for
18 years prior thereto

Ralph G. Spontak 44 Senior Vice President since
1991; Chief Financial Officer
and Vice President since 1983;
Secretary since 1988; KMG Main
Hurdman for nine years to 1983

Frank J. Wood 63 Vice President - Marketing
since 1988; Manager - Marketing
for one year prior thereto

James B. Price 61 Vice President - Claims since 1972

Robert G. Shenk 44 Vice President - Claims since
1992

Daniel J. Wagner 36 Treasurer since 1993; Controller for
five years prior thereto






-24-
PART II


Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters.

The answer to this Item is incorporated in part by reference
to page 24 of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
December 31, 1996, which is included as Exhibit (13) to this Form 10-K Report.
As of March 14, 1997, the Company had approximately 363 holders of record of its
Common Stock. The Company declared dividends of $.40 per share in 1995 and $44
per share in 1996.


Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The answer to this Item is incorporated by reference to page 2
of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended December 31,
1996, which is included as Exhibit (13) to this Form 10-K Report.


Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.

The answer to this Item is incorporated by reference to pages
7 through 9 of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
December 31, 1996, which is included as Exhibit (13) to this Form 10-K Report.


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The answer to this Item is incorporated by reference to pages
10 through 23 of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year ended
December 31, 1996, which is included as Exhibit (13) to this Form 10-K Report.


Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.




-25-
PART III

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Company.

The answer to this Item with respect to the Company's
directors is incorporated by reference to pages 5 through 8 of the Company's
proxy statement relating to the Company's annual meeting of stockholders to be
held April 17, 1997. The response to this Item with respect to the Company's
executive officers is incorporated by reference to Part I of this Form 10-K
Report.


Item 11. Executive Compensation.

The answer to this Item is incorporated by reference to pages
10 through 14 of the Company's proxy statement relating to the Company's annual
meeting of stockholders to be held April 17, 1997, except for the Compensation
Committee Report and the Performance Graph, which are not incorporated herein by
reference.


Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management.

The answer to this Item is incorporated by reference to pages
2 through 3 of the Company's proxy statement relating to the Company's annual
meeting of stockholders to be held April 17, 1997.


Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

The answer to this Item is incorporated by reference to pages
3 through 5 and page 14 of the Company's proxy statement relating to the
Company's annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 17, 1997.




-26-
PART IV


Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports
on Form 8-K.

(a) Financial statements, financial statement schedules
and exhibits filed:

(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
Page*
----

Report of Independent Auditors............................ 23

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995 ........................... 10
Consolidated Statements of Income
for the three years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 ..................... 11
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders'
Equity for the three years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994...................... 12
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the three years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994...................... 13
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.............. 14-22

(2) Financial Statement Schedules
Page
----
Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries:

Report of Independent Auditors on Schedules............... 33
Schedule I. Summary of Investments - Other
than Investments in Related
Parties.................................... 34
Schedule II. Condensed Financial Information
of Parent Company.......................... 35
Schedule III. Supplementary Insurance
Information................................ 39
Schedule IV. Reinsurance................................ 41
Schedule VI. Supplemental Insurance Information
Concerning Property and Casualty
Subsidiary................................. 42

All other schedules have been omitted since they are not
required, not applicable or the information is included in the financial
statements or notes thereto.

- ------------------

* Refers to the respective page of Donegal Group Inc.'s 1996 Annual Report to
Stockholders. The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements and Auditor's Report thereon on pages 10 through 23 are
incorporated herein by reference.


-27-
With the exception of the portions of such Annual Report specifically
incorporated by reference in this Item and Items 5, 6, 7 and 8, such Annual
Report shall not be deemed filed as part of this Form 10-K Report or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(3) Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description of Exhibits Reference
- ----------- ----------------------- ---------

(3)(i) Certificate of Incorporation of (a)
Registrant

(3)(ii) Amended and Restated By-laws of filed herewith
Registrant

(4) Form of Registrant's Common Stock (a)
Certificate

Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans or Arrangements
- -----------------------------------------------------------

(10)(A) Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (a)
Money Purchase Pension Plan and
Trust dated March 12, 1985

(10)(B) Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (a)
Profit Sharing Plan and Trust
dated March 12, 1985

(10)(C) Donegal Group Inc. Key Executive (b)
Incentive Bonus Plan dated
September 29, 1986

(10)(D) Donegal Group Inc. Employee Stock (b)
Purchase Plan, as amended

(10)(E) Donegal Group Inc. Equity Incentive (b)
Plan, as amended

(10)(F) Donegal Group Inc. Agency (i)
Stock Purchase Plan

(10)(G) Donegal Group Inc. Amended and filed herewith
Restated 1996 Equity Incentive
Plan

(10)(H) Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Equity filed herewith
Incentive Plan for Directors

(10)(I) Donegal Group Inc. Executive filed herewith
Restoration Plan





-28-
Other Material Contracts
- ------------------------

(10)(J) Tax Sharing Agreement dated (a)
September 29, 1986 between Donegal
Group Inc. and Atlantic States
Insurance Company

(10)(K) Services Allocation Agreement dated (a)
September 29, 1986 between Donegal
Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal
Group Inc. and Atlantic States
Insurance Company

(10)(L) Proportional Reinsurance Agreement (a)
dated September 29, 1986 between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(M) Amendment dated October 1, 1988 to (c)
Proportional Reinsurance Agreement
between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(N) Multi-Line Excess of Loss Reinsurance (e)
Agreement effective January 1, 1993
between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Southern
Insurance Company of Virginia, Atlantic States
Insurance Company and Pioneer Mutual Insurance
Company, and Christiana General Insurance Corporation
of New York, Cologne Reinsurance Company of America,
Continental Casualty Company, Employers Reinsurance
Corporation and Munich American Reinsurance Company

(10)(O) Amendment dated July 16, 1992 to Propor- (d)
tional Reinsurance Agreement between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and
Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(P) Amendment dated as of December 21, 1995 (f)
to Proportional Reinsurance Agreement
between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(Q) Credit Agreement dated as of December 29, (f)
1995 between Donegal Group Inc. and Fleet
National Bank of Connecticut

(10)(R) Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of (f)
December 21, 1995 between Donegal Mutual
Insurance Company and Donegal Group Inc.

(10)(S) Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Employee Stock (g)
Purchase Plan.


-29-
(10)(T)   Reinsurance and Retrocession Agree-                     filed herewith
ment dated May 21, 1996 between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Pioneer Insurance Company.

(10)(U) Reinsurance and Retrocession Agree- filed herewith
ment dated May 21, 1996 between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and
Delaware American Insurance Company.

(10)(V) Reinsurance and Retrocession Agree- filed herewith
ment dated May 21, 1996 between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and
Southern Insurance Company of Virginia.

(13) 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders filed herewith
(electronic filing contains only
those portions incorporated by
reference into this Form 10-K
report).

(20) Proxy Statement relating to the Annual filed herewith
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on April 17, 1997,
provided, however, that the Compensation Committee
Report and the Performance Graph shall not be deemed
filed as part of this Form 10-K Report

(21) Subsidiaries of Registrant (h)

(23) Consent of Independent Auditors filed herewith

(27) Financial Data Schedule filed herewith

- ------------------

(a) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibits in Registrant's Form S-1
Registration Statement No. 33-8533 declared effective
October 29, 1986.

(b) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibits in Registrant's Form 10-K Report for
the year ended December 31, 1986.

(c) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 10-K Report for
the year ended December 31, 1988.

(d) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 10-K Report for
the year ended December 31, 1992.

(e) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form S-2 Registration


-30-
Statement No. 33-67346 declared effective September 29,
1993.

(f) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 8-K Report dated
December 21, 1995.


(g) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form S-8 Registration
Statement No. 333-1287 filed February 29, 1996.


(h) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 10-K Report for
the year ended December 31, 1995.

(i) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form S-2 Registration
Statement No. 333-06787 declared effective August 1, 1996.



-31-
SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

DONEGAL GROUP INC.


Date: March 27, 1997 By: /s/ Donald H. Nikolaus
-----------------------
Donald H. Nikolaus, President


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----



/s/Donald H. Nikolaus President and a March 27, 1997
- --------------------------- Director (principal
Donald H. Nikolaus executive officer)


/s/Ralph G. Spontak Senior Vice President March 27, 1997
- --------------------------- and Secretary (principal
Ralph G. Spontak financial and accounting
officer)


- --------------------------- Director March , 1997
Robert S. Bolinger


- --------------------------- Director March , 1997
Thomas J. Finley


/s/Patricia A. Gilmartin Director March 27, 1997
- ---------------------------
Patricia A. Gilmartin


/s/Philip H. Glatfelter,II Director March 27, 1997
- ---------------------------
Philip H. Glatfelter, II


/s/C. Edwin Ireland Director March 27, 1997
- ----------------------------
C. Edwin Ireland


/s/R. Richard Sherbahn Director March 27, 1997
- ----------------------------
R. Richard Sherbahn


-32-
Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedules



The Board of Directors
Donegal Group Inc.:

The audits referred to in our report dated March 3, 1997, included the related
financial statement schedules as of December 31, 1996, and for each of the years
in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, incorporated by reference in
Form 10-K. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statement schedules based on our audits. In our opinion, such
financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.

We consent to the use of our reports incorporated by reference in the
registration statements (Nos. 333-06681, 33-85128 and 33-31287) on Form S-8 of
Donegal Group Inc.





KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
March 27, 1997



-33-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE I - SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES

December 31, 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Amount at Which
Fair Shown in the
Cost Value Balance Sheet
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fixed Maturities:
Held to maturity:
United States government
and governmental agencies
and authorities including
obligations of states and
political subdivisions ................................. $ 93,383,066 $ 95,014,669 $ 93,383,066
All other corporate bonds ............................... 5,766,899 6,036,500 5,766,899
Mortgage-backed securities .............................. 12,431,197 12,410,048 12,431,197
------------ ------------ ------------
Total fixed maturities
held to maturity ...................................... 111,581,162 113,461,217 111,581,162
------------ ------------ ------------
Available for sale:
United States government
and governmental agencies
and authorities including
obligations of states and
political subdivisions ................................. 45,111,935 45,390,594 45,390,594
All other corporate bonds ............................... 3,107,680 3,087,000 3,087,000
Mortgage-backed securities .............................. 1,094,905 1,110,949 1,110,949
------------ ------------ ------------
Total fixed maturities
available for sale .................................... 49,314,520 49,588,543 49,588,543
------------ ------------ ------------
Total fixed
maturities .......................................... 160,895,682 163,049,760 161,169,705
------------ ------------ ------------

Equity Securities:
Preferred stocks
Public utilities ......................................... 500,000 507,188 507,188
Banks .................................................... 812,500 825,187 825,187
Industrial and
miscellaneous ........................................... 1,389,000 1,349,250 1,349,250
------------ ------------ ------------
Total preferred stocks ................................ 2,701,500 2,681,625 2,681,625
------------ ------------ ------------

Common stocks
Banks and insurance companies ............................ 8,596 395,073 395,073
Industrial and
miscellaneous ........................................... 60,250 57,500 57,500
------------ ------------ ------------
Total common stocks .................................... 68,846 452,573 452,573
------------ ------------ ------------
Total equity securities ............................... 2,770,346 3,134,198 3,134,198
------------ ------------ ------------

Short-term investments ..................................... 21,207,503 21,207,503 21,207,503
------------ ------------ ------------
Total investments ........................................ $184,873,531 $187,391,461 $185,511,406
============ ============ ============

</TABLE>


-34-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY

Condensed Balance Sheets
($ in thousands)
December 31, 1996 and 1995

ASSETS
1996 1995
------- -------

Investment in subsidiaries (equity method) ........... $88,594 $75,236

Short-term investments, at cost,
which approximates market .......................... 7 1,117

Cash ................................................. 427 147

Property and equipment ............................... 1,248 1,355

Current income taxes ................................. 158 341

Loan costs ........................................... 246 280
Other receivables .................................... 30 4
------- -------
Total assets .............................. $90,710 $78,480
======= =======

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

1996 1995
------- -------

Cash dividends declared to stockholders .............. $ 493 $ 428

Accounts payable and accrued expenses ................ 174 317

Deferred income taxes ................................ 266 250

Payable to affiliates ................................ -- 202
Line of credit ....................................... 8,500 5,000
------- -------
Total liabilities ......................... 9,433 6,197


Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value,
authorized 1,000,000 shares,
none issued
Common stock, $1.00 par value,
authorized 10,000,000 shares,
issued 4,540,569 and 4,326,362
shares and outstanding 4,471,782
and 4,261,314 shares ......................... 4,540 4,327

Additional paid-in capital ......................... 37,316 35,018

Net unrealized gains
on investments ............................... 421 819


-35-
Retained earnings, including equity
in undistributed net income of
subsidiaries ($45,957 and 37,202) 39,892 32,939
Treasury stock at cost (892) (820)
------- -------

Total stockholders' equity 81,277 72,283
------- -------

Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $90,710 $78,480
======= =======




-36-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY

Condensed Statements of Income
($ in thousands)

Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

1996 1995 1994
------- ------- -------

Revenues

Dividends-subsidiary ................. $ 0 $ 900 $ 900
Lease income ......................... 541 491 463
Investment income .................... 31 13 12
------- ------- -------
Total revenues ................... 572 1,404 1,375
-------

Expenses

Operating expenses ..................... 548 411 418
Interest ............................... 416 4 10
------- ------- -------
Total expenses ..................... 964 415 428
------- ------- -------

Income (loss) before income
tax benefit and equity in
undistributed net income
of subsidiaries ...................... (392) 989 947

Income tax (benefit) ..................... (533) (298) 16
------- ------- -------

Income before equity in
undistributed net
income of subsidiaries ............... 141 1,287 931

Equity in undistributed net
income of subsidiaries ............... 8,755 8,571 4,109
------- ------- -------

Net income ............................... $ 8,896 $ 9,858 $ 5,040
======= ======= =======





-37-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
($ in thousands)
Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

1996 1995 1994
------- ------- -------

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income ................................ $ 8,896 $ 9,858 $ 5,040
------- ------- -------
Adjustments to reconcile net
income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Equity in undistributed net
income of subsidiaries ............. (8,755) (8,571) (4,109)
Change in accounts
payable and accrued expenses ....... (143) 225 22
Depreciation and amortization ......... 309 264 257
Change in deferred income tax ......... 16 15 21
Change in current
income tax receivable .............. 183 (332) (2)
Change in other receivables ........... 8 (284) --
------- ------- -------
Net adjustments ....................... (8,382) (8,683) (3,811)
------- ------- -------
Net cash provided by
operating activities .................. 514 1,175 1,229
------- ------- -------

Cash flows from investing activities:
Net sales (purchases) of short-term
investments ........................... 1,110 (744) 447
Net purchase of property and equipment .... (203) (279) (110)
Capital contribution to subsidiaries ...... (5,000)
Net purchases of long-term investments .... -- -- (200)
Acquisition of Delaware Atlantic .......... (202) (5,300) --
------- ------- -------
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities ..................... (4,295) (6,323) 137
------- ------- -------

Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid ....................... (1,879) (1,622) (1,433)
Issuance of common stock .................. 2,512 1,723 125

Purchase of treasury stock ................ (72) -- --
Line of credit, net ....................... 3,500 5,000 --
------- ------- -------
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities .................. 4,061 (5,101) (1,308)
------- ------- -------

Net change in cash ............................ 280 (47) 58
Cash beginning ........................ 147 194 136
------- ------- -------
Cash ending ........................... $ 427 $ 147 $ 194
======= ======= =======




-38-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Amortization
Net of Deferred
Net Net Losses Policy Other Net
Earned Investment and Loss Acquisition Underwriting Premiums
Segment Premiums Income Expenses Costs Expenses Written
------- -------- ---------- -------- ------------ ------------ -------


Year Ended
December 31, 1996
- -----------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Property and casualty $99,982,042 $10,285,617 $66,611,233 $17,032,000 $14,174,023 $104,669,903

Parent --- 30,851 --- --- --- ---
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
$99,982,042 $10,316,468 $66,611,233 $17,032,000 $14,174,023 $104,669,903
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ============

Year Ended
December 31, 1995
- -----------------

Property and casualty $86,277,852 $ 9,256,960 $55,407,254 $14,412,000 $13,049,188 $91,671,128

Parent --- 12,924 --- --- --- ---
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------
$86,277,852 $ 9,269,884 $55,407,254 $14,412,000 $13,049,188 $91,671,128
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========

Year Ended
December 31, 1994
- -----------------

Property and casualty $77,232,889 $ 7,765,950 $52,857,302 $12,055,000 $12,278,473 $79,233,963

Parent --- 12,214 --- --- --- ---
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------

$77,232,889 $ 7,778,164 $52,857,302 $12,055,000 $12,278,473 $79,233,963
=========== =========== =========== =========== =========== ===========

</TABLE>




-39-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
--------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


At December 31,
Deferred Liability Other Policy
Policy for Losses Claims and
Acquisition and Loss Unearned Benefits
Segment Costs Expenses Premiums Payable
------- ----------- --------------- -------- ------------

1996
----

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Property and Casualty $ 7,837,899 $110,022,886 $66,184,188 $ ---


1995
----

Property and casualty $ 6,902,218 $ 97,733,851 $54,377,239 $ ---
</TABLE>












-40-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Ceded Assumed Percentage
Gross To Other From Other Net Assumed
Amount Companies Companies Amount to Net
------ --------- --------- ------ ------
Year Ended
December 31, 1996
- -----------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Property and
casualty premiums $45,159,197 $38,827,050 $93,649,895 $99,982,042 94%
=========== =========== =========== =========== ====


Year Ended
December 31, 1995
- -----------------

Property and
casualty premiums $40,552,497 $29,099,448 $74,824,803 $86,277,852 87%
=========== =========== =========== =========== ====


Year Ended
December 31, 1994
- -----------------

Property and
casualty premiums $35,275,866 $24,365,441 $66,322,464 $77,232,889 86%
=========== =========== =========== =========== ====

</TABLE>






-41-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE VI - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
CONCERNING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY SUBSIDIARIES
---------------------------------------------



Discount,
Deferred Liability if any,
Policy for Losses Deducted
Acquisition and Loss From Unearned
Costs Expenses Reserves Premiums
----- -------- -------- --------

At December 31,

1996 $ 7,837,899 $110,022,886 $ --- $66,184,188
=========== ============ =========== ===========

1995 $ 6,902,218 $ 97,733,851 $ --- $54,377,239
=========== ============ =========== ===========








-42-
DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE VI - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION
CONCERNING PROPERTY AND CASUALTY SUBSIDIARIES
---------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Losses and Loss Amortization
Expenses Related to of Deferred Net
Net (1) (2) Policy Paid Losses Net
Earned Investment Current Prior Acquisition and Loss Premiums
Premiums Income Year Years Costs Expenses Written
-------- ---------- ------- --------- ------------ ------------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended
December 31, 1996 $99,982,042 $10,285,617 $69,206,233 $(2,595,000) $17,032,000 $62,877,258 $10,466,990
=========== =========== =========== ============ =========== =========== ===========


Year Ended
December 31, 1995 $86,277,852 $ 9,256,960 $58,354,254 $(2,947,000) $14,412,000 $47,943,360 $91,671,128
=========== =========== =========== ============ =========== =========== ===========


Year Ended
December 31, 1994 $77,232,889 $ 7,765,950 $55,941,502 $(3,084,000) $12,055,000 $48,248,316 $79,233,963
=========== =========== =========== ============ =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>








-43-
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
(Pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K)



Exhibit No. Description of Exhibits Reference
- ----------- ----------------------- ---------

(3)(i) Certificate of Incorporation of (a)
Registrant

(3)(ii) Amended and Restated By-laws of filed herewith
Registrant

(4) Form of Registrant's Common Stock (a)
Certificate

Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans or Arrangements
- -----------------------------------------------------------

(10)(A) Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (a)
Money Purchase Pension Plan and
Trust dated March 12, 1985

(10)(B) Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (a)
Profit Sharing Plan and Trust
dated March 12, 1985

(10)(C) Donegal Group Inc. Key Executive (b)
Incentive Bonus Plan dated
September 29, 1986

(10)(D) Donegal Group Inc. Employee Stock (b)
Purchase Plan, as amended

(10)(E) Donegal Group Inc. Equity Incentive (b)
Plan, as amended

(10)(F) Donegal Group Inc. Agency (i)
Stock Purchase Plan

(10)(G) Donegal Group Inc. Amended and filed herewith
Restated 1996 Equity Incentive Plan

(10)(H) Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Equity filed herewith
Incentive Plan for Directors

(10)(I) Donegal Group Inc. Executive filed herewith
Restoration Plan

Other Material Contracts

(10)(J) Tax Sharing Agreement dated (a)
September 29, 1986 between Donegal
Group Inc. and Atlantic States
Insurance Company

(10)(K) Services Allocation Agreement dated (a)

-44-
September 29, 1986 between Donegal
Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal
Group Inc. and Atlantic States
Insurance Company

(10)(L) Proportional Reinsurance Agreement (a)
dated September 29, 1986 between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(M) Amendment dated October 1, 1988 to (c)
Proportional Reinsurance Agreement
between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(N) Multi-Line Excess of Loss Reinsurance (e)
Agreement effective January 1, 1993
between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company,
Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, Atlantic
States Insurance Company and Pioneer Mutual
Insurance Company, and Christiana General
Insurance Corporation of New York, Cologne
Reinsurance Company of America, Continental
Casualty Company, Employers Reinsurance
Corporation and Munich American Reinsurance
Company

(10)(O) Amendment dated July 16, 1992 to Propor- (d)
tional Reinsurance Agreement between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and
Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(P) Amendment dated as of December 21, 1995 (f)
to Proportional Reinsurance Agreement
between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company
and Atlantic States Insurance Company

(10)(Q) Credit Agreement dated as of December 29, (f)
1995 between Donegal Group Inc. and Fleet
National Bank of Connecticut

(10)(R) Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of (f)
December 21, 1995 between Donegal Mutual
Insurance Company and Donegal Group Inc.

(10)(S) Donegal Group Inc. 1996 Employee Stock (g)
Purchase Plan.

(10)(T) Reinsurance and Retrocession Agree- filed herewith
ment dated May 21, 1996, between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and
Pioneer Insurance Company.

(10)(U) Reinsurance and Retrocession Agree- filed herewith
ment dated May 21, 1996, between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and

-45-
Delaware American Insurance Company.

(10)(V) Reinsurance and Retrocession Agree- filed herewith
ment dated May 21, 1996, between
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and
Southern Insurance Company of Virginia.

(13) 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders filed herewith
(electronic filing contains only
those portions incorporated by
reference into this Form 10-K
report.)

(20) Proxy Statement relating to the Annual filed herewith
Meeting of Stockholders to be held on
April 17, 1997, provided, however, that
the Compensation Committee Report and the
Performance Graph shall not be deemed
filed as part of this Form 10-K Report

(21) Subsidiaries of Registrant (h)

(23) Consent of Independent Auditors filed herewith

(27) Financial Data Schedule filed herewith

- ------------------

(a) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the like-
described exhibits in Registrant's Form S-1 Registration
Statement No. 33-8533 declared effective October 29, 1986.

(b) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibits in Registrant's Form 10-K Report
for the year ended December 31, 1986.

(c) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 10-K Report for
the year ended December 31, 1988.

(d) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 10-K Report for
the year ended December 31, 1992.

(e) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the like-
described exhibit in Registrant's Form S-2 Registration
Statement No. 33-67346 declared effective September 29, 1993.

(f) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibit in Registrant's Form 8-K Report
dated December 21, 1995.

(g) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the like-
described exhibit in Registrant's Form S-8 Registration
Statement No. 333-1287 filed on February 29, 1996.


-46-
(h)              Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the
like-described exhibits in Registrant's Form 10-K Report
for the year ended December 31, 1995.

(i) Such exhibit is hereby incorporated by reference to the like-
described exhibit in Registrant's Form S-2 Registration
Statement No. 333-06787 declared effective August 1, 1996.


-47-