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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.77


                           LOSS PORTFOLIO TRANSFER
                      ASSUMPTION REINSURANCE AGREEMENT



                                   BETWEEN



              NARM MERCANTILE GROUP SELF INSURANCE ASSOCIATION

                     OF VIRGINIA HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO

                                AS THE "GSIA"

                                     AND

                     RISCORP NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY

                 HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "REINSURER"
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                           LOSS PORTFOLI0 TRANSFER
                      ASSUMPTION REINSURANCE AGREEMENT



TABLE OF CONTENTS



<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                                <C>
ARTICLE I -   BUSINESS COVERED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
ARTICLE 2 -   EFFECTIVE DATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
ARTICLE 3 -   REINSURANCE PREMIUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
ARTICLE 4 -   COOPERATION AMONG PARTIES; TRANSFER OF DOCUMENTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
ARTICLE 5 -   NOTICE OF ASSUMPTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
ARTICLE 6 -   ADMINISTRATION AND CLAIM PAYMENTS   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
ARTICLE 7 -   ASSESSMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
ARTICLE 8 -   DIRECT SUIT AGAINST THE REINSURER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
ARTICLE 9 -   INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
ARTICLE 10 -  OTHER OBLIGATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
ARTICLE 11 -  REQUIRED REGULATORY APPROVAL  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
ARTICLE 12 -  SUBROGATION AND REINSURANCE RECEIVABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
ARTICLE 13 -  ERRORS OR OMISSIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
ARTICLE 14 -  ARBITRATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
ARTICLE 15 -  HONORABLE UNDERTAKING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
ARTICLE 16 -  TAX NEUTRALITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
ARTICLE 17 -  GENERAL PROVISIONS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
                      A.       Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
                      B.       Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
                      C.       Entire Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
                      D.       Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
                      E.       Headings, etc  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
                      F.       Non-waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
                      G.       Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
                      H.       Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8

</TABLE>

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                           LOSS PORTFOLIO TRANSFER
                       ASSUMPTION REINSURANCE AGREEMENT
                 (Hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement")


                                   between

         NARM MERCANTILE GROUP SELF INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF VIRGINIA

                   (Hereinafter referred to as the "GSIA")

                                     and

                      RISCORP NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY

                 (Hereinafter referred to as the "Reinsurer")

                         ARTICLE 1 - BUSINESS COVERED

A.   The Reinsurer assumes by assumption reinsurance the Policies and the
liability to pay all losses, including loss adjustment expenses, covered by
Policies issued by the GSIA prior to October 1, 1996, to all policyholders,
including all existing and incurred but not reported ("IBNR") claims covered by
the Policies (hereinafter "Reinsured Claims"), subject to the terms and
conditions contained herein.

B.   The term "Policies" shall mean all binders, policies, contracts,
certificates and other obligations, whether oral or written, of insurance
issued by the GSIA to its member employers.  It is understood and agreed that
the Reinsurer is bound by all the terms and conditions of the GSIA's Policies
as if the Policies had been issued by the Reinsurer.

C.   The GSIA hereby transfers to the Reinsurer all rights the GSIA may have
now or in the future under or with respect to the Policies, including, without
limitation, the right to collect and adjust premiums, adjust and settle claims,
deny coverage, rescind policies, etc.

                          ARTICLE 2 - EFFECTIVE DATE

     This Agreement shall be effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Standard 
Time, October 1, 1996.

                       ARTICLE 3 - REINSURANCE PREMIUM

     The GSIA shall pay a premium equal to the sum of all of its assets as of 
the Effective Date in accordance with the following terms and conditions.


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However, Reinsurer acknowledges that policyholders of the GSIA have the right
under Virginia law not to accept the transfer of their Policies to the
Reinsurer, and that the reinsurance premium payable hereunder will be affected
by the number of policyholders who do not accept the transfer.  Prior to the
Effective Date, the GSIA shall deliver to the Reinsurer a schedule of the
specific investments and assets which the GSIA will use to pay the premium.
All investments shall be listed on the schedule at fair market value.  As of
the Effective Date, the GSIA shall transfer all scheduled investments and
assets to the Reinsurer and shall execute all documents necessary to effectuate
such transfer.

              ARTICLE 4 - COOPERATION AMONG PARTIES; TRANSFER OF
                                  DOCUMENTS

A.   The parties hereto agree to act in good faith and cooperate with each
other in effecting the assumption of the Reinsured Claims provided for in this
Agreement.  The parties shall take all actions necessary to assist each other
in obtaining all regulatory approvals or responding to information requests of
those insurance regulatory authorities asserting jurisdiction over the
transactions herein described.

B.   Upon demand by, and in accordance with instructions of the Reinsurer, the
GSIA shall deliver originals or copies of all policy records and claims files
pertaining to the Reinsured Claims and all other files and records incidental
to the Reinsured Claims as are necessary for the Reinsurer to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.  The Reinsurer shall retain all policy
records, claim files, and other documents received by it from the GSIA as
required by applicable law.  Upon reasonable notice, each of the Reinsurer and
the GSIA will be entitled to reasonable access to the books and records of the
other party at any reasonable time, but only to the extent such materials
pertain to the business assumed and reinsured under this Agreement.  Each party
will pay its own expenses associated with any such review of the books and
records.  The GSIA will retain as its property all its original corporate
records, including, without limitation, articles of incorporation, bylaws,
minute books, and certificate of authority; provided, however, that the GSIA
shall provide the Reinsurer with copies of all such documents upon the
effective date hereof.

C.   Whenever the GSIA receives any payments or communications, including
notices of claims and proofs of loss, pertaining to the Reinsured Claims, it
will forward such payments and communications promptly to the Reinsurer.

                       ARTICLE 5 - NOTICE OF ASSUMPTION

     As soon as practicable after the Effective Date, the GSIA will issue and
deliver or cause its agents to deliver to the named insureds under the Policies
an appropriate notice of transfer/assumption substantially in the form attached
hereto.  The Reinsurer will take all other necessary actions to assume the
Reinsured Claims.  The GSIA will cooperate fully with the Reinsurer in
implementing such assumption, including, without limitation,



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executing any document reasonably necessary to evidence the completion of the
transactions contemplated by the Agreement.

                 ARTICLE 6 - ADMINISTRATION AND CLAIM PAYMENTS

A.   From and after the Effective Date, the Reinsurer will be solely liable for
the administration and disposition of all aspects of the Reinsured Claims
assumed by the Reinsurer including, without limitation, the defense,
adjustment, settlement, and payment of all losses and expenses arising under or
relating to the Reinsured Claims.  The GSIA hereby grants and assigns to the
Reinsurer full authority to administer such losses, claims, expenses, defenses,
adjustments, settlements, and payments, and such matters will be under the
Reinsurer's control and within its discretion.  The Reinsurer will bear all
expenses and costs incurred by it in connection with the administration and
disposition of such losses, claims, expenses, defenses, adjustments,
settlements, and payments.

B.   The GSIA will cause all information and notices regarding the Reinsured
Claims actually received by the GSIA after the Effective Date to be promptly
reported to the Reinsurer or the Reinsurer's designated representative.  The
GSIA also will undertake any reasonable arrangements deemed necessary by the
Reinsurer to ensure that all notices received by the GSIA after the Effective
Date in connection with the Reinsured Claims are promptly delivered to the
Reinsurer.

C.   All losses and similar items regarding the Reinsured Claims that the
Reinsurer determines to be payable will be paid directly and promptly by the
Reinsurer.

                           ARTICLE 7 - ASSESSMENTS

In the event that an assessment is made against any present or former
policyholders of the GSIA pursuant to Virginia General Statutes, the Reinsurer
agrees to pay the full assessment on behalf of said policyholders.  By this
undertaking, the Reinsurer and the GSIA expressly intend to benefit as third
party beneficiaries all present and former policyholders of the GSIA, and the
Reinsurer agrees to be subject to suit by any policyholder as set out in
Article 8.

                ARTICLE 8 - DIRECT SUIT AGAINST THE REINSURER

     The Reinsurer hereby covenants and agrees that it may be sued for
its actions after the Effective Date, in its own name, by insured under the
Policies.

                         ARTICLE 9 - INDEMNIFICATION

     The Reinsurer agrees to defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the
GSIA and its successors or assigns, against any liability, claim, loss or
damage, including punitive damages, arising under or out of any of the
Reinsured Claims reinsured hereunder or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.



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                        ARTICLE 10 - OTHER OBLIGATIONS

     The Reinsurer shall also be responsible for any losses assessed against
the GSIA or the Reinsurer.  Such losses are defined as those liabilities
(whether they constitute compensatory, incidental, exemplary or punitive
damages) not covered under any other provision of this Agreement.

                  ARTICLE 11 - REQUIRED REGULATORY APPROVAL

     This Agreement remains subject to the approval of the Virginia Bureau of
Insurance.  The GSIA and the Reinsurer shall take all steps necessary to obtain
requisite regulatory approval of this Agreement and the transaction described
herein.

             ARTICLE 12 - SUBROGATION AND REINSURANCE RECEIVABLES

A.   In the event of the payment of any loss by the Reinsurer under this
Agreement, the Reinsurer shall be subrogated, to the extent of such payment, to
all of the rights of the GSIA against any person or entity legally responsible
for the loss.  The Reinsurer is hereby authorized and empowered to bring any
appropriate action in its own name or in the name of the GSIA to enforce such
rights.

B.   Any payments received by or due to the GSIA from any reinsurer of the GSIA
which is payable on a Reinsured Claim shall become the property of and paid to
the Reinsurer.  If any payment is received by the GSIA which is to be credited
to the Reinsurer under or with respect to any of the Reinsured Claims, the GSIA
will immediately endorse (without warranty or recourse) and deliver to the
Reinsurer such checks, drafts, or money intended as such payment, and until
delivery of such items to the Reinsurer, the GSIA will treat any such checks,
drafts, or money as the property of the Reinsurer held for the account of the
Reinsurer.  The Reinsurer and the GSIA will each use all commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the transfer and assignment (as of the Effective Date) to the
Reinsurer of all of the GSIA's rights, interests, and obligations under the
GSIA's reinsurance agreements, if any, covering the risks, liabilities, and
obligations of the GSIA under or with respect to the Reinsured Claims,
including, without limitation, obtaining any necessary consents or approvals to
such transfer and assignment by the reinsurers under any such reinsurance
agreements effective as of the Effective Date.  Any failure to receive the
consents referred to herein will not relieve or diminish in any manner the
Reinsurer's obligations under this Agreement.

C.   The Reinsurer shall be authorized and entitled to file and pursue the
collection of claims against the State of Virginia, Second Injury Fund, arising
out of or resulting from Reinsured Claims (hereinafter "SIF Claims") to pursue
the collection of SIF Claims filed by the GSIA prior to the Effective Date; and
to collect, receive, and retain any monies



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paid in settlement of satisfaction of any SIF Claims filed by either the
Reinsurer or the GSIA.

                       ARTICLE 13 - ERRORS OR OMISSIONS

     Inadvertent delays, errors, or omissions made in connection with this
Agreement or any transaction hereunder will not relieve either party from any
liability that would otherwise have attached had such delay, error, or omission
not occurred.  Regardless, the responsible party will rectify each such delay,
error, or omission as promptly as practicable after discovery.

                           ARTICLE 14 - ARBITRATION

A.   Any dispute or other matter in question between the GSIA and the Reinsurer
arising out of or relating to the formation, interpretation, performance, or
breach of this Agreement, whether such dispute arises before or after
termination of this Agreement, shall be settled by arbitration if the parties
are unable to resolve the dispute through negotiation.  Arbitration shall be
initiated by the delivery of a written notice of demand for arbitration by one
party to the other.

B.   Each party shall appoint an individual as arbitrator and the two so
appointed shall then appoint a third arbitrator.  If either party refuses or
neglects to appoint an arbitrator within sixty (60) days of receipt of a
written notice of demand for arbitration, the other party may appoint the
second arbitrator.  If the two arbitrators do not agree on a third arbitrator
within sixty (60) days of their appointment, each of the arbitrators shall
nominate three individuals.  Each arbitrator shall then decline two of the
nominations presented by the other arbitrator.  The third arbitrator shall then
be chosen from the remaining two nominations by drawing lots.  The arbitrators
shall be active or former officers of insurance or reinsurance companies; the
arbitrators shall not have a personal or financial interest in the result of
arbitration.

C.   The arbitration hearings shall be held in Richmond, Virginia, or such
other place as may be mutually agreed.  Each party shall submit its case to the
arbitrators within sixty (60) days of the selection of the third arbitrator or
within such longer period as may be agreed by the arbitrators.  The
arbitrators shall not be obliged to follow judicial formalities or the rules of
evidence except to the extent required by governing law, that is, the state law
of the situs of the arbitration as herein agreed; they shall make their
decisions according to the practice of the reinsurance business.  The decision
rendered by a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on both
parties.  Such decision shall be a condition precedent to any right of legal
action arising out of the arbitrated dispute which either party may have
against the other.  Judgement upon the award rendered may be entered in any
court having jurisdiction thereof.



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D.   Each party shall pay the fee and expenses of its own arbitrator and
attorneys and one-half of the fees and expenses of the third arbitrator.  All
other expenses of the arbitration shall be equally divided between the
parties.

E.   Except as provided above, arbitration shall be based, insofar as
applicable, upon the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association.

                      ARTICLE 15 - HONORABLE UNDERTAKING

     This Agreement shall be construed as an honorable undertaking between the
parties hereto not to be defeated by technical legal constructions, it being
the intention of this Agreement that the fortunes of the Reinsurer shall in all
cases follow the fortunes of the GSIA.

                         ARTICLE 16 - TAX NEUTRALITY

     The parties to the Agreement contemplate that as a result of or concurrent
with the transfer of assets and liabilities contemplated hereby, the GSIA shall
become entitled to a refund of certain taxes, and that the Reinsurer shall
sustain a corresponding tax liability.  Accordingly, and in order to render the
transaction tax-neutral as to such refund, the GSIA hereby disavows any right
to collect any tax refund to which it currently is or may become entitled, and
assigns its rights to any such tax refund to the Reinsurer.

                       ARTICLE 17 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

A.   Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
bind the GSIA and its successors and assigns and the Reinsurer and its
successors and assigns.  Neither this Agreement nor any right hereunder nor any
part hereof may be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto.  Prior to any such assignment, the consent
of all necessary regulatory authorities must be obtained.

B.   Governing  Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Virginia (without giving effect to
principles of conflicts of laws) applicable to a contract executed and to be
performed in such state.

C.   Entire Agreement This Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and
agreements between, and contains the sole and entire agreement between the GSIA
and the Reinsurer with respect to the subject matter hereof.

D.   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number
of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which
will constitute one and the same instrument.



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E.   Headings, etc.  The headings used in this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience and do not constitute matter to be construed or interpreted in
connection with this Agreement.  Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise
requires, (a) words of any gender will be deemed to include each other gender,
(b) words using the singular or plural number will also include the plural or
singular number, respectively, (c) the terns "hereof" "herein," "hereby," and
derivative or similar words will refer to this entire Agreement, and
(d) the conjunction "of"will denote any one or more, or any combination or all,
of the specified items or matter involved in the respective list.


F.   Non-waiver.  The failure of either party hereto at any time to enforce any
provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of that
provision and shall not effect the right of either party thereafter to enforce
each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.

G.   Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be
illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under any present or future law, and if the
rights or obligation of any party under this Agreement will not be materially
and adversely affected thereby, (a) such provision will be fully severable, (b)
this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or
unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, (c) the remaining
provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not
be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its
severance herefrom, and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable
provision or by its severance added automatically as a part of this Agreement,
a legal, valid, and enforceable provision as similar in terms to such illegal,
invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible.


H.   Notices.  Any notice or communication given pursuant to this Agreement
must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if mailed (by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested), or if
transmitted by facsimile, or if delivered by courier, as follows:

     To the GSIA:

            NARM Mercantile Group Self Insurance Association of Virginia
            6800 Paragon Place, Suite 200
            Richmond, VA 23230
            Attention: Mr. Gurney Cowling, Jr., Chairman of the Board
            (804) 673-6116 or (800) 355-3596

     To the Reinsurer:
  
            RISCORP National Insurance Company
            600 Paragon Place, Suite 200
            Richmond, VA 23230
            Attention: Stephen Ficarra, Vice President
            (804) 673-6116 or (800) 355-3596



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All notices and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement
that are addressed as provided in this paragraph will, whether sent by mail,
facsimile, or courier, be deemed given upon the first business day after actual
delivery to the party to whom such notice or other communication is sent (as
evidenced by the return receipt or shipping invoice signed by a representative
of such party or by the facsimile confirmation).  Any party from time to time
may change its address for the purpose of notices to that party by giving a
similar notice specifying a new address, but no such notice will be deemed to
have been given until it is actually received by the party sought to be charged
with the contents thereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives this 27 day of September,
1996.



ATTEST:                              NARM Mercantile Group Self Insurance 
                                     Association of Virginia

Josephine A. Stephens                By: /s/ Gordey Cowring, Jr.
-----------------------------------     ----------------------------------------
                                     NAME: GORDEY COWRING, JR.
                                          --------------------------------------
                                     Title: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
                                           -------------------------------------

ATTEST:                              RISCORP National Insurance Company

/s/ Lisa A. Hanewick                 BY: /s/ James A. Malone
-----------------------------------     ----------------------------------------
                                     Name: James A. Malone
                                          --------------------------------------
                                     Title: President
                                           -------------------------------------


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