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Form 8-K Filing

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 23, 2015 

Donegal Group Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

DE 0-15341 23-2424711
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) 		(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1195 RIVER RD MARIETTA, PA 17547
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   717-426-1931

________________________________________________________________________________
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

    [   ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
    [   ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
    [   ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
    [   ]   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 23, 2015 the Registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    Exhibit 99.1.       Press release dated October 23, 2015

SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    Donegal Group Inc.
(Registrant)
October 23, 2015
(Date)		   /s/   JEFFREY D. MILLER
Jeffrey D. Miller
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

  Exhibit Index
  99.1 Press release dated October 23, 2015






Donegal Group Inc. Announces Results for Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2015

EXHIBIT 99.1

Donegal Group Inc. Announces Results for Third Quarter and First Nine Months of 2015

MARIETTA, Pa., Oct. 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Donegal Group Inc. (NASDAQ:DGICA) (Nasdaq:DGICB) today reported its financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2015. Significant developments include:

  • Net income and operating income1 for the third quarter of 2015 were lower than the very good results for the third quarter of 2014, largely due to higher weather-related losses in the 2015 period
  • Net income and operating income for the first nine months of 2015 improved from the levels for the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to improved results during the first half of 2015
  • Statutory combined ratio1 of 97.4% for the third quarter of 2015, compared to 95.0% for the prior-year third quarter
  • 7.5% increase in net premiums written to $158.9 million for the third quarter of 2015, primarily reflecting continuing growth in commercial lines
  • Book value per share of $15.76 at September 30, 2015, compared to $15.40 at year-end 2014
  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2015 2014 % Change 2015 2014 % Change
  (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
             
Income Statement Data            
Net premiums earned  $ 153,096  $ 142,150 7.7%  $ 450,084  $ 412,287 9.2%
Investment income, net  5,399  4,299 25.6   15,505  13,529 14.6 
Realized (losses) gains  (754)  351 NM2  683  2,297 -70.3 
Total revenues  159,802  149,135 7.2   472,591  434,957 8.7 
Net income  5,687  8,749 -35.0   19,006  10,053 89.1 
Operating income1  6,177  8,517 -27.5   18,562  8,537 117.4 
             
Per Share Data            
Net income – Class A (diluted)  $ 0.21  $ 0.33 -36.4%  $ 0.69  $ 0.38 81.6%
Operating income – Class A (diluted)  0.22  0.32 -31.3   0.68  0.32 112.5 
Book value  15.76  15.43 2.1   15.76  15.43 2.1 
1The "Definitions of Non-GAAP and Operating Measures" section of this release defines and reconciles data that the Company prepares on an accounting basis other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").
             
2Not meaningful.

Kevin G. Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer of Donegal Group Inc., noted, "The objective of Donegal Group's long-term strategic business plan is to outperform the property and casualty insurance industry over the long term in terms of service, profitability and book value growth. While our underwriting results for the third-quarter of 2015 fell short of the excellent results we achieved in the third quarter of 2014, we believe the year-over-year improvement in our financial results for the first nine months of 2015 clearly shows the meaningful progress we are making toward our objective. Our progress reflects growth initiatives that center on our regional business approach and conservative underwriting philosophy.

"We attribute approximately half of the growth in our net premiums written for the first nine months of 2015 to additional net writings from our Michigan Insurance Company subsidiary ('MICO') that resulted from our decision to eliminate MICO's external quota-share reinsurance agreement effective January 1, 2015. We generated the remainder of the growth organically, reflecting our expanding position as a well-capitalized insurance group serving the needs of the independent agency markets within our operating regions," Mr. Burke added.

"Our commercial lines operations remain an area of focus for Donegal Group, generating a 12.5% increase in net premiums written for the first nine months of 2015, including the increased MICO contribution, and a year-to-date statutory combined ratio of 93.2%. Our strong emphasis on agency relationships remains an important factor in our continuing ability to achieve modest commercial lines renewal premium increases as we maintain our focus on underwriting profitability. Our agents continue to bring us a steady flow of new commercial lines business submissions," Mr. Burke said.

Mr. Burke stated, "Weather-related losses in the third quarter of 2015 affected our personal lines segment more significantly than our commercial lines segment. In spite of the increased weather activity, the statutory combined ratio for our personal lines segment was 99.8% for the first nine months of 2015. We continue to believe our focus on quality underwriting, our expanding use of predictive modeling and other underwriting strategies, and our implementation of rate increases where appropriate will enable us to maintain profitability in this business segment."

Donald H. Nikolaus, Chairman, further remarked, "Our agents continue to express their support for Donegal Insurance Group and their appreciation of our commitment to quality insurance products, advanced technology tools and services tailored to fit their specific needs and those of their customers. As a result of their support, our premium growth rates have remained above industry averages over the most recent five- and 10-year periods."

Mr. Nikolaus added, "Our premium revenue growth in recent quarters has enabled the steady expansion of our invested assets. This expansion has resulted in incremental increases in our investment income. At September 30, 2015, our book value per share increased to $15.76, compared to $15.40 at December 31, 2014. The increase in book value per share reflected our positive earnings for the first nine months of 2015, offset partially by cash dividends we declared and slightly lower unrealized gains in our available-for-sale fixed maturities portfolio at September 30, 2015."

Insurance Operations

Donegal Group is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries offer personal and commercial property and casualty lines of insurance in four Mid-Atlantic states (Delaware, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania), three New England states (Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont), seven Southeastern states (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) and seven Midwestern states (Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin). The insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Group and Donegal Mutual Insurance Company conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group.

  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2015 2014 % Change 2015 2014 % Change
  (dollars in thousands)
             
Net Premiums Written            
Personal lines:            
Automobile  $ 55,590  $ 53,154 4.6%  $ 163,562  $ 155,676 5.1%
Homeowners  33,214  32,057  3.6   91,019  86,142  5.7 
Other  4,715  4,463  5.6   13,763  12,846  7.1 
Total personal lines  93,519  89,674  4.3   268,344  254,664  5.4 
Commercial lines:            
Automobile  18,569  15,775  17.7   58,697  50,545  16.1 
Workers' compensation  22,248  20,682  7.6   76,237  69,605  9.5 
Commercial multi-peril  22,790  20,072  13.5   72,167  63,863  13.0 
Other  1,795  1,637  9.7   5,679  5,180  9.6 
Total commercial lines  65,402  58,166  12.4   212,780  189,193  12.5 
Total net premiums written  $ 158,921  $ 147,840 7.5%  $ 481,124  $ 443,857 8.4%

The Company's net premiums written increased 7.5% for the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014. This increase represented the combination of 12.4% growth in commercial lines net premiums written and 4.3% growth in personal lines net premiums written. The $11.1 million growth in net premiums written for the third quarter of 2015 compared to the third quarter of 2014 included:

  • $4.6 million, or 3.1% of total net premiums written, related to the termination at the beginning of 2015 of the MICO external quota-share reinsurance agreement that increased the amount of business MICO retained.
  • $4.6 million in commercial lines premiums, in addition to the MICO reinsurance change, that the Company attributes primarily to premium rate and exposure increases as well as new commercial accounts the Company's insurance subsidiaries have written throughout their operating regions.
  • $1.9 million in personal lines premiums, in addition to the MICO reinsurance change, that the Company attributes primarily to premium rate increases the Company has implemented over the past year and lower reinsurance reinstatement premiums.

For the first nine months of 2015, the Company's net premiums written increased 8.4% compared to the comparable prior-year period. This increase included $15.3 million, or 3.5% of total net premiums written, related to the aforementioned termination of the MICO quota-share reinsurance agreement.

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, September 30,
  2015 2014 2015 2014
         
Statutory Combined Ratios        
Personal Lines:        
Automobile 98.8% 94.0% 100.0% 98.4%
Homeowners 108.0  97.5  101.7  99.3 
Other 88.2  92.7  85.0  106.3 
Total personal lines 101.4  95.2  99.8  99.1 
Commercial Lines:        
Automobile 118.0  107.2  106.1  111.9 
Workers' compensation 79.1  89.3  89.0  92.3 
Commercial multi-peril 92.2  95.6  93.2  107.8 
Total commercial lines 92.0  94.4  93.2  101.3 
Total lines 97.4% 95.0% 96.9% 100.0%
         
GAAP Combined Ratios (Total Lines)        
Loss ratio (non-weather) 57.2% 56.3% 58.6% 60.3%
Loss ratio (weather-related) 9.6  7.7  7.2  9.2 
Expense ratio 32.1  32.1  32.7  31.8 
Dividend ratio 0.6  0.7  0.5  0.5 
Combined ratio 99.5% 96.8% 99.0% 101.8%

Jeffrey D. Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "Setting aside the uptick in weather-related losses, we are pleased with the performance of our business segments during the third quarter of 2015. The statutory combined ratios for most of our lines of business demonstrated continuing strength in our core underwriting results and reflected the benefit of our underwriting initiatives and commitment to rate adequacy."

Mr. Miller added, "Weather-related losses accounted for virtually all of the increase in our statutory loss ratio of 66.6% for the third quarter of 2015, compared to 63.6% for the third quarter of 2014. While no catastrophe events significantly impacted our third quarter of 2015 results, we experienced an unusually large volume of weather-related claims as a result of numerous wind and hail storms across several of our operating regions."

Weather-related losses of $14.6 million for the third quarter of 2015 contributed 9.6 percentage points to the Company's loss ratio, compared to the $10.9 million of weather-related losses, or 7.7 percentage points of the Company's loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2014. Weather-related loss activity in the third quarter of 2015 exceeded the Company's five-year average for third-quarter weather losses of $10.8 million. For the first nine months of 2015, weather-related losses were $32.4 million, which represented an improvement from the $37.8 million of weather-related losses the Company incurred for the first nine months of 2014.

Large fire losses, which the Company defines as individual fire losses in excess of $50,000, for the third quarter of 2015 were $6.8 million, or 4.4 percentage points of the Company's loss ratio, in line with the $6.3 million of large fire losses, or 4.4 percentage points of the Company's loss ratio, for the third quarter of 2014. The Company incurred large fire losses of $23.5 million for the first nine months of 2015, comparing favorably to the $25.7 million of large fire losses for the first nine months of 2014.

Mr. Miller added, "We attribute the excellent combined ratio for our workers' compensation line of business during the third quarter of 2015 to favorable prior-accident-year loss reserve development, which largely offset adverse loss reserve development for several other lines of business, and a general absence of large losses across our operating regions."

Net development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years for all lines of business added 1.0 percentage point to the Company's loss ratio for the third quarter of 2015, compared to 1.4 percentage points for the third quarter of 2014. Net development of reserves for losses incurred in prior accident years added 1.1 percentage points to the Company's loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to 1.8 percentage points for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

The Company's statutory expense ratio1 was 30.2% for the third quarter of 2015, compared to 30.7% for the third quarter of 2014. The decrease in the Company's statutory expense ratio reflected lower underwriting-based incentive costs for the third quarter of 2015.

Investment Operations

Donegal Group's investment strategy is to generate an appropriate amount of after-tax income from its invested assets while minimizing credit risk through investment in high-quality securities. As a result, the Company had 88.7% of its consolidated investment portfolio invested in diversified, highly rated and marketable fixed-maturity securities at September 30, 2015.

  September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014
  Amount % Amount %
  (dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities, at carrying value:        
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies  $ 93,580 10.5%  $ 74,878 9.0%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions  363,814 41.0   377,241 45.3 
Corporate securities  115,833 13.1   106,171 12.7 
Mortgage-backed securities  213,773 24.1   184,252 22.1 
Total fixed maturities  787,000 88.7   742,542 89.1 
Equity securities, at fair value  35,836 4.0   30,822 3.7 
Investments in affiliates  40,110 4.5   39,284 4.7 
Short-term investments, at cost  24,596 2.8   20,293 2.5 
Total investments  $ 887,542 100.0%  $ 832,941 100.0%
         
Average investment yield 2.4%   2.3%  
Average tax-equivalent investment yield 3.2%   3.1%  
Average fixed-maturity duration (years)  4.4    4.1  

Net investment income of $5.4 million for the third quarter of 2015 increased 25.6% compared to $4.3 million in net investment income for the third quarter of 2014. The increase in net investment income reflected primarily an increase in average invested assets and a decreased allocation of expenses to our investment operations for the third quarter of 2015 compared to the prior-year period. Net realized investment losses were $754,050 for the third quarter of 2015, compared to net realized investment gains of $351,269 for the third quarter of 2014. The Company had no impairments in its investment portfolio that it considered to be other than temporary during the first nine months of 2015 or 2014.

Mr. Miller, in commenting on the Company's investment operations, noted, "Continued premium growth and our ongoing focus on reinvesting the proceeds of called and maturing securities led to an increase in invested assets of $54.6 million, or 6.6%, since the end of 2014. This growth in our invested assets is generating an increased level of investment income notwithstanding continuing challenges to maintaining our average portfolio investment yield in the continuing low interest rate environment. We continue to see benefits from the allocation of a portion of our portfolio to dividend-paying equity securities, providing an increased contribution of dividend income to our net investment income for the first nine months of 2015 compared to the prior-year period."

The Company owns 48.2% of the outstanding stock of Donegal Financial Services Corporation ("DFSC"). DFSC owns all of the outstanding stock of Union Community Bank. The Company accounts for its investment in DFSC using the equity method of accounting. The Company's equity in the earnings of DFSC was $408,405 for the third quarter of 2015, compared to $476,906 for the third quarter of 2014. Donegal Mutual Insurance Company owns the remaining 51.8% of the outstanding stock of DFSC.

Definitions of Non-GAAP and Operating Measures

The Company prepares its consolidated financial statements on the basis of GAAP. The Company's insurance subsidiaries also prepare financial statements based on the statutory accounting principles state insurance regulators prescribe or permit ("SAP"). In addition to using GAAP-based performance measurements, the Company also utilizes certain non-GAAP financial measures that it believes provide value in managing its business and for comparison to the financial results of the insurance companies the Company regards as its peers. These non-GAAP measures are operating income (loss) and statutory combined ratio.

Operating income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure investors in insurance companies commonly use. The Company defines operating income (loss) as net income (loss) excluding after-tax net realized investment gains or losses. Because the Company's calculation of operating income (loss) may differ from similar measures other companies use, investors should exercise caution when comparing the Company's measure of operating income (loss) to the measures other companies report.

The following table provides a reconciliation of the Company's net income to the Company's operating income for the periods indicated:

  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2015 2014 % Change 2015 2014 % Change
  (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
             
Reconciliation of Net Income to Operating Income            
Net income  $ 5,687  $ 8,749 -35.0%  $ 19,006  $ 10,053 89.1%
Realized losses (gains) (after tax)  490  (232) NM  (444)  (1,516) -70.7%
Operating income  $ 6,177  $ 8,517 -27.5%  $ 18,562  $ 8,537 117.4%
             
Per Share Reconciliation of Net Income to Operating Income          
Net income – Class A (diluted)  $ 0.21  $ 0.33 -36.4%  $ 0.69  $ 0.38 81.6%
Realized losses (gains) (after tax)  0.01  (0.01) NM  (0.01)  (0.06) -83.3%
Operating income – Class A  $ 0.22  $ 0.32 -31.3%  $ 0.68  $ 0.32 112.5%
             
Net income – Class B  $ 0.18  $ 0.30 -40.0%  $ 0.63  $ 0.35 80.0%
Realized losses (gains) (after tax)  0.02  (0.01)  NM   (0.02)  (0.06) -66.7%
Operating income – Class B  $ 0.20  $ 0.29 -31.0%  $ 0.61  $ 0.29 110.3%

Statutory combined ratio is a non-GAAP standard measurement of underwriting profitability that is based upon amounts determined under SAP. The statutory combined ratio is the sum of:

  • the statutory loss ratio, which is the ratio of calendar-year incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned;
  • the statutory expense ratio, which is the ratio of expenses incurred for net commissions, premium taxes and underwriting expenses to premiums written; and
  • the statutory dividend ratio, which is the ratio of dividends to holders of workers' compensation policies to premiums earned.

The statutory combined ratio does not reflect investment income, federal income taxes or other non-operating income or expense. A statutory combined ratio of less than 100% generally indicates underwriting profitability.

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast on Friday, October 23, 2015, beginning at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time. You may listen via the Internet by accessing the webcast link on the Company's web site at http://investors.donegalgroup.com. A replay of the conference call will also be available via the Company's web site.

About the Company

Donegal Group is an insurance holding company. The Company's Class A common stock and Class B common stock trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols DGICA and DGICB, respectively. As an effective acquirer of small to medium-sized "main street" property and casualty insurers, Donegal Group has grown profitably since its formation in 1986. The Company continues to seek opportunities for growth while striving to achieve its longstanding goal of outperforming the property and casualty insurance industry in terms of service, profitability and growth in book value.

Safe Harbor

We base all statements contained in this release that are not historic facts on our current expectations. These statements are forward-looking in nature (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially include: our ability to maintain profitable operations, the adequacy of the loss and loss expense reserves of our insurance subsidiaries, business and economic conditions in the areas in which our insurance subsidiaries operate, interest rates, competition from various insurance and other financial businesses, acts of terrorism, the availability and cost of reinsurance, adverse and catastrophic weather events, legal and judicial developments, changes in regulatory requirements, our ability to integrate and manage successfully the insurance companies we may acquire from time to time and other risks we describe from time to time in the periodic reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update such statements or to announce publicly the results of any revisions that we may make to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited; in thousands, except share data)
 
  Quarter Ended September 30,
  2015 2014
     
Net premiums earned  $ 153,096  $ 142,150
Investment income, net of expenses  5,399  4,299
Net realized investment (losses) gains  (754)  351
Lease income  179  217
Installment payment fees  1,473  1,641
Equity in earnings of DFSC  409  477
Total revenues  159,802  149,135
     
Net losses and loss expenses  102,234  91,004
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs  25,036  22,889
Other underwriting expenses  24,156  22,795
Policyholder dividends  886  934
Interest  188  368
Other expenses  301  531
Total expenses  152,801  138,521
     
Income before income tax expense  7,001  10,614
Income tax expense  1,314  1,865
     
Net income  $ 5,687  $ 8,749
     
Net income per common share:    
Class A - basic and diluted  $ 0.21  $ 0.33
Class B - basic and diluted  $ 0.18  $ 0.30
     
Supplementary Financial Analysts' Data    
     
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:  
Class A - basic  22,442,240  21,175,388
Class A - diluted  22,684,480  21,701,648
Class B - basic and diluted  5,576,775  5,576,775
     
Net premiums written  $ 158,921  $ 147,840
     
Book value per common share at end of period  $ 15.76  $ 15.43
     
Annualized return on average equity 5.2% 8.5%
     
Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited; in thousands, except share data)
 
  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2015 2014
     
Net premiums earned  $ 450,084  $ 412,287
Investment income, net of expenses  15,505  13,529
Net realized investment gains  683  2,297
Lease income  569  644
Installment payment fees  4,473  4,965
Equity in earnings of DFSC  1,277  1,235
Total revenues  472,591  434,957
     
Net losses and loss expenses  296,012  286,524
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs  73,872  66,233
Other underwriting expenses  73,192  64,800
Policyholder dividends  2,492  1,936
Interest  909  1,177
Other expenses  1,705  2,146
Total expenses  448,182  422,816
     
Income before income tax expense  24,409  12,141
Income tax expense  5,403  2,088
     
Net income  $ 19,006  $ 10,053
     
Net income per common share:    
Class A - basic  $ 0.71  $ 0.39
Class A - diluted  $ 0.69  $ 0.38
Class B - basic and diluted  $ 0.63  $ 0.35
     
Supplementary Financial Analysts' Data    
     
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:    
Class A - basic  21,995,952  21,004,426
Class A - diluted  22,395,609  21,436,188
Class B - basic and diluted  5,576,775  5,576,775
     
Net premiums written  $ 481,124  $ 443,857
     
     
Book value per common share at end of period  $ 15.76  $ 15.43
     
Annualized return on average equity 5.9% 3.3%
     
Donegal Group Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
 
  September 30, December 31,
  2015 2014
  (unaudited)  
     
ASSETS
Investments:    
Fixed maturities:    
Held to maturity, at amortized cost  $ 303,410  $ 307,392
Available for sale, at fair value  483,590  435,150
Equity securities, at fair value  35,836  30,822
Investments in affiliates  40,110  39,284
Short-term investments, at cost  24,596  20,293
Total investments  887,542  832,941
Cash  24,928  35,579
Premiums receivable  146,608  133,307
Reinsurance receivable  259,890  253,636
Deferred policy acquisition costs  53,511  48,299
Prepaid reinsurance premiums  117,503  115,872
Other assets  40,874  39,021
Total assets  $ 1,530,856  $ 1,458,655
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities:    
Losses and loss expenses  $ 569,146  $ 538,258
Unearned premiums  441,318  408,646
Accrued expenses  18,828  19,430
Borrowings under line of credit  48,000  53,500
Subordinated debentures  5,000  5,000
Other liabilities  6,997  17,686
Total liabilities  1,089,289  1,042,520
Stockholders' equity:    
Class A common stock  235  224
Class B common stock  56  56
Additional paid-in capital  218,082  200,349
Accumulated other comprehensive income  2,789  5,354
Retained earnings  234,411  223,254
Treasury stock, at cost  (14,006)  (13,102)
Total stockholders' equity  441,567  416,135
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 1,530,856  $ 1,458,655
      
CONTACT: For Further Information:
         Jeffrey D. Miller,
         Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
         Phone: (717) 426-1931
         E-mail: investors@donegalgroup.com