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                                                                Exhibit 10.12k1

                     AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      AMENDMENT NO. 1, dated as of March 1, 2003, among SELECTIVE INSURANCE
GROUP, INC., a New Jersey corporation ("Selective"), having an office at 40
Wantage Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07826, SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
AMERICA, a New Jersey corporation ("SICA"), having an office at 40 Wantage
Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07826, and RICHARD F. CONNELL, having an address
at 80 Cherokee Court, Sparta, New Jersey 07871 (the "Executive"), to Employment
Agreement dated as of August 8, 2000 among Selective, SICA and the Executive,
(as so amended, the "Employment Agreement").

      WHEREAS, Selective, SICA and the Executive have executed and delivered the
Employment Agreement, and Selective has guaranteed all of the obligations of
SICA as the Employer under the Employment Agreement; and

      WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to further amend the Employment
Agreement to extend the term thereof and to modify the description of the duties
of the Executive, as set forth in Section 4(a) of the Employment Agreement, and
to modify the Salary (as defined in Section 3 of the Employment Agreement)
provided for therein.

      THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

            1. The term of employment under the Employment Agreement is hereby
extended for a period of three (3) years commencing March 1, 2003, (the "Renewal
Term"), and all references in the Agreement to the term thereof or the
Executive's term of employment thereunder shall include the Renewal Term.

            2. The Salary, as defined and provided for in Section 3 of the
Employment Agreement, shall be paid to the Executive at a rate of not less than
Three Hundred Thousand and 00/100 ($300,000.00) Dollars per year during the
Renewal Term.

            3. Selective reaffirms that it guarantees to the Executive the full
performance by SICA of all of its obligations under the Employment Agreement as
amended herein.

            4. Except as amended herein, the Employment Agreement shall continue
in full force and effect on and after the date hereof.
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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been duly executed by the
Executive and on behalf of Selective and SICA by their duly authorized officers
as of the date and year first above written.


                                        SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC.


                                            By:   /s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  Gregory E. Murphy
                                              Title: President and Chief
                                                     Executive Officer


                                        SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                        OF AMERICA


                                            By:   /s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  Gregory E. Murphy
                                              Title: President and Chief
                                                     Executive Officer


                                            By:   /s/ Richard F. Connell
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                Richard F. Connell, Executive