Document:

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.16a
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

            AGREEMENT dated as of August 8, 2000, by and between SELECTIVE
INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), having
an office at 40 Wantage Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07890, and RICHARD F.
CONNELL, having an address at 80 Cherokee Court, Sparta, New Jersey 07871 (the
"Executive").

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

1.    Employment. The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive
      accepts employment with the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth
      herein.

2.    Term. The term of employment under this Agreement shall commence as of the
      date hereof and, subject to Section 7 hereof, shall terminate three (3)
      years after the date hereof.

3.    Compensation. For all services rendered by the Executive under this
      Agreement, the Company shall pay the Executive a fixed salary during the
      term of employment under this Agreement at a rate of not less than Two
      Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 ($250,000.00) Dollars per year (the
      "Salary"), payable in installments in accordance with the Company's policy
      from time to time in effect for payment of salary to executives. The
      Salary shall be reviewed no less than annually by the Company's Board of
      Directors, and nothing contained herein shall prevent the Company's Board
      of Directors from at any time increasing the Salary or other benefits
      herein provided to be paid or provided to Executive or from providing
      additional or contingent benefits to Executive as it deems appropriate.

4.    Duties.

      (a)   The Executive has been elected as Executive Vice President and Chief
            Information Officer of the Company, and he agrees to serve as such
            during each year of the term of this Agreement that he is elected to
            such office and
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            until his successor is elected and qualified. If at any time prior
            to the expiration of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the
            Company shall fail to reelect Executive as Executive Vice President
            and Chief Information Officer of the Company at the Company's Annual
            Organizational Meeting (except as a result of termination pursuant
            to Section 7 hereof), Executive's employment hereunder shall
            terminate ninety (90) days after the date of such meeting. During
            said ninety-day (90-day) period the Executive shall continue to be
            employed under this Agreement, shall cooperate fully with the
            Company's Board of Directors and shall devote his full business time
            and attention to such duties not inconsistent with the provisions
            hereof as he shall be assigned by the Company's Board of Directors.
            Upon termination of Executive's employment hereunder pursuant to
            this Section 4(a), the Executive shall resign as an officer of the
            Company and each of its subsidiaries of which he shall then be a
            director and/or officer. Notwithstanding any such termination, the
            Executive, provided he does not violate the provisions of Section 9
            hereof, shall be entitled to receive (i) as severance pay an amount
            equal to his Salary, at the rate in effect at the time of
            termination of employment hereunder, for a period of two (2) years
            after the date of such termination, payable in monthly installments,
            and (ii) the certain benefits provided for in Section 8 hereof, for
            a period of two (2) years after the date of such termination or such
            shorter period as provided in Section 8. If Executive's employment
            hereunder shall terminate pursuant to this Section 4(a), such
            termination shall not prevent Executive from accepting other
            employment with the Company or otherwise after the effective date of
            such termination.

      (b)   The Executive agrees to devote his entire business time, attention
            and services exclusively to the business and affairs of the Company
            and its subsidiaries and to perform his duties with fidelity and to
            the best of his ability. Executive may accept directorships on the
            Board of Directors of profit and nonprofit corporations with the
            prior consent of the Board of Directors of the Company.

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5.      Deferred Compensation.

      (a)   The Executive may, from time to time during the term of employment
            hereunder, request that the Company defer the whole or any part of
            his Salary payable under Section 3, provided that such request is
            received by the Company on or before the December 31 of the calendar
            year immediately preceding the calendar year in respect of which
            such Salary is due (or such other date as may be required from time
            to time by applicable law). If so requested by the Executive, the
            Company shall defer payment of the amount so specified and credit on
            the first day of each month during the year in respect of which the
            deferred Salary is due, the pro rata share of the amount of Salary
            deferred for such year to a deferred compensation account
            established on its corporate books of account. Such account shall be
            called the Richard F. Connell Deferred Compensation Account" (the
            "Account") and shall be an unfunded, unsecured liability of the
            Company to be satisfied from its general corporate funds. The
            Company agrees to credit the Account semiannually on June 30 and
            December 31 of each year with interest at a rate equal to the rate
            announced from time to time by Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New
            York as its prime rate.

      (b)   Except as herein provided in this Section 5(b), the Company shall
            distribute to the Executive all amounts credited to the Account in
            ten (10) approximately equal annual installments commencing on the
            first day of January immediately succeeding the date of termination
            of the Executive's employment under this Agreement for any reason
            whatsoever. In the event of the Executive's death prior to the time
            he shall have received the full amount due under the preceding
            sentence, the remaining payments due under such sentence shall be
            paid on the respective due dates thereof to any beneficiary or
            beneficiaries designated by the Executive to the Company in writing
            or, in the absence of such designation, to the Executive's legal
            representative. It is agreed that the benefits to be paid as
            deferred compensation pursuant to this

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            Section 5 shall not be forfeited by the Executive.

      (c)   Nothing contained in this Section 5 and no action taken pursuant to
            this Section 5 shall create or be construed to create a trust of any
            kind for the benefit of any person or a fiduciary relationship
            between the Company and any person.

6.    Benefits During Employment. During the term of Executive's employment
      under this Agreement, the Company shall (a) permit the Executive to
      participate in the Selective Insurance Stock Option Plan and the Selective
      Insurance Stock Option Plan II, Thrift Plan for Employees of Selective
      Insurance Company of America and Subsidiaries, and incentive compensation,
      stock option, stock appreciation right, stock bonus, pension, group
      insurance and other benefit plans, if any, in accordance with the
      respective provisions thereof, from time to time in effect (collectively,
      the "Plans"), and (b) provide the Executive with suitable offices,
      secretarial and other services, and other perquisites applicable to
      executives of the Company, all in accordance with the Company's policies
      with respect thereto from time to time in effect. The Executive shall also
      be entitled, during the term of his employment under this Agreement, to
      vacations and reimbursements for ordinary and necessary travel and
      entertainment expenses in accordance with the Company's policies on such
      matters from time to time in effect.

7.    Termination.

      (a)   The Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be terminated
            upon the Executive's death or if the Executive shall be adjudicated
            legally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction. In such
            event, the Executive or his legal representative shall be entitled
            to receive (i) as severance pay an amount equal to Executive's
            Salary, at the rate in effect at the time of termination of
            employment hereunder, for a period of one (1) year after the date of
            such termination, payable in monthly installments, and (ii) the
            certain benefits provided for in Section 8 hereof, for a period of
            one (1)

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            year after the date of such termination or such shorter period as
            provided in Section 8.

      (b)   The Company may, at its option, terminate the Executive's employment
            under this Agreement if the Executive shall fail, or if the majority
            of the Board of Directors shall find on the basis of medical
            evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Executive is unable,
            by virtue of or by reason of some physical or mental impairment, to
            perform his duties hereunder for a period of ninety (90) consecutive
            days or more or for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days or
            more during any 270-day period. In the event that this Agreement is
            terminated pursuant to this paragraph 7(b), Executive shall be
            entitled to receive, in monthly installments, for a period of one
            (1) year from the date of such termination, an amount which,
            together with any disability insurance benefits to which Executive
            is entitled under disability insurance policies with respect to
            which the premiums were paid by the Company, is equal to Executive's
            Salary at the rate in effect at the time of such termination. In
            that regard, Executive, following such termination of this
            Agreement, shall be considered an employee solely for the purpose of
            applying for and receiving disability payments (both the temporary
            and long-term disability) in accordance with the terms and
            conditions of such disability plans in effect at the time.

      (c)   The Company may, at its option upon resolution of a majority of the
            entire Board of Directors, terminate the Executive's employment
            under this Agreement for cause, upon: (A) the Executive's conviction
            of a felony (as evidenced by a binding and final judgment, order or
            decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, in effect after
            exhaustion or lapse of all rights of appeal), (B) the continued
            willful failure by the Executive to perform substantially his duties
            with the Company (other than any such failure resulting from his
            incapacity due to physical injury or physical or mental illness) for
            a period of thirty (30) days after a demand for substantial

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            performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board of Directors
            of the Company which specifically identifies the manner in which the
            Board of Directors believes that the Executive has not substantially
            performed his duties, or (C) willful misconduct in the performance
            of the Executive's duties and obligations to the Company which
            constitute common law fraud or other gross malfeasance of duty. In
            the event of termination of the Executive's employment pursuant to
            this paragraph 7(c), Executive shall be entitled to receive (i) his
            Salary accrued to the date of such termination and (ii) benefits
            accrued to Executive under the Plans to the date of such
            termination, to the extent that such benefits may be payable to
            Executive under the provisions of the Plans in effect on the date of
            termination of employment.

      (d)   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the
            Company may, by action duly taken by the Board of Directors,
            terminate the Executive's employment hereunder at any time and for
            any reason. In such event, the Executive, provided he does not
            violate the provisions of Section 9 hereof, shall be entitled to
            receive (i) as severance pay an amount equal to his Salary, at the
            rate in effect at the time of termination of employment hereunder,
            for a period of two (2) years after the date of such termination,
            payable in monthly installments, and (ii) the certain benefits
            provided for in Section 8 hereof, for a period of two (2) years
            after the date of such termination or such shorter period as
            provided in Section 8.

8.    Certain Benefits After Termination of Employment. Upon the termination of
      Executive's employment pursuant to Section 4(a), Section 7(a), Section
      7(b) or Section 7(d) hereof, Executive (or his legal representative) shall
      receive the benefits, if any, to which Executive is entitled under the
      provisions of the Plans in effect at the time of such termination. In
      addition, the Company shall maintain in full force and effect for the
      continued benefit of the Executive and his dependents for a period
      terminating on the earlier of (i) the termination of the period of such
      post-termination benefits set forth in Section 4(a), Section 7(a), Section
      7(b) or Section 7(d), as

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      applicable, or (ii) the commencement date of equivalent benefits from a
      new employer (the "Extended Benefit Period"), all insured and self-insured
      employee welfare benefit plans in which the Executive was entitled to
      participate immediately prior to the date of termination, provided that
      the Executive's continued participation is not barred under the general
      terms and provisions of such plans. In the event that the Executive's
      participation in any such plan is barred by its terms, the Company, at its
      sole cost and expense, shall arrange to have issued for the benefit of the
      Executive and his dependents individual policies of insurance providing
      benefits substantially similar (on an after-tax basis) to those which the
      Executive otherwise would have been entitled to receive under such plans
      pursuant to this Section 8. If, at the end of the Extended Benefit Period,
      the Executive has not previously received or is not receiving equivalent
      benefits from a new employer, or is not otherwise receiving such benefits,
      the Company shall arrange, at its sole cost and expense, to enable him to
      convert his and his dependents' coverage under such plans to individual
      policies or programs upon the same terms as employees of the Company may
      apply for such conversions upon termination of employment.

9.    Nondisclosure of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets. The Executive
      agrees that he will not, either during the term of employment under this
      Agreement or thereafter, disclose to any other person or entity any
      confidential information or trade secret of the Company or its
      subsidiaries, except for disclosures to directors, officers, key
      employees, independent accountants and counsel of the Company and its
      subsidiaries as may be necessary or appropriate in the performance of his
      duties hereunder. The Executive agrees not to take with him upon leaving
      the employ of the Company any document or paper relating to any
      confidential information or trade secret of the Company and its
      subsidiaries.

10.   Other Employees. The Executive agrees that, for a period of two (2) years
      after the termination of employment under this Agreement, he will not
      directly or indirectly solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce
      or cause any of the employees of the Company or the Company's subsidiaries
      to leave the employ of the Company or of

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      such subsidiaries.

11.   Injunctive Relief. The Executive acknowledges that monetary damages will
      not adequately compensate the Company for any violation of Sections 9 or
      10 hereof and consents to the entry of an injunction in any court of
      competent jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of Section 9 or Section
      10 hereof.

12.   Representations. The Executive represents and warrants that neither the
      execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the performance of his duties
      hereunder violates the provisions of any other agreement to which he is a
      party or by which he is bound.

13.   Nonassignability. No right or benefit under this Agreement shall be
      assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered (a) by the Executive except
      by a beneficiary designation made in the manner provided herein or by will
      or the laws of descent and distribution, (b) by any beneficiary designated
      in the manner provided herein except by will or the laws of descent and
      distribution, or (c) by the Company except that the Company may assign
      this Agreement and all of its rights hereunder to any entity with which it
      may merge or consolidate or to which it may sell all or substantially all
      of its assets provided said entity shall assume (by contract or by
      operation of law) the Company obligations hereunder. Subject to the
      foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
      of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Executive, his heirs,
      legal representatives and any beneficiary or beneficiaries designated
      hereunder.

14.   Notice. Any notice, request, or other communication given hereunder shall
      be in writing, and, if given by the Executive to the Company, shall be
      delivered personally or sent by certified or registered mail, return
      receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Company at Wantage
      Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07890, Attention: President. If given by
      the Company to the Executive, it shall be delivered personally or sent by
      certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
      addressed to the Executive at Executive's address hereinabove set forth.

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      Either party may change the address to which notices, requests and other
      communications are to be addressed by notice given to the other in
      accordance with the provisions of this Section 14. Notices, requests and
      other communications shall be deemed to be given when received, which, in
      the case of notice given by mail, shall be the time indicated on the
      receipt therefor.

15.   Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared to be
      invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such invalidity and
      unenforceability shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof which
      shall remain in full force and effect.

16.   Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
      accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey applicable to
      contracts made and performed in New Jersey.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the
Executive and on behalf of the Company by its duly authorized officer, all as of
the day and year first above written.

                                    SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

                                    By: /s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                       ...........................
                                        Gregory E. Murphy,
                                        Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                        Officer

                                      /s/ Richard F. Connell
                                    ...............................
                                     Richard F. Connell

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          In consideration of the covenants of the Executive hereinabove set
forth, Selective Insurance Group, Inc., holder of all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company, hereby guarantees to the Executive the
full performance by the Company of all of its obligations under the foregoing
Employment Agreement.
                                    SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

                                    By:/s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                       ..........................
                                        Gregory E. Murphy,
                                        Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                        Officer

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                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.16b

                              TERMINATION AGREEMENT

      TERMINATION AGREEMENT dated as of August 8, 2000, by and between SELECTIVE
INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (the "Company"), a New Jersey corporation, having
an office at 40 Wantage Avenue, Branchville, New Jersey 07826, and RICHARD F.
CONNELL (the "Executive"), having an address at 80 Cherokee Ct., Sparta, New
Jersey 07871.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, the Company recognizes the Executive to be a valuable
management employee of the Company; and

      WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that a change in control of Selective
Insurance Group, Inc., the Company's parent corporation ("Selective"), could
occur in the future, and that it is of importance to the Company and to
Selective and its stockholders to provide for the continuity of management and
its uninterrupted attention and dedication to the business affairs of the
Company; and

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has
determined that appropriate steps should be taken to encourage the continued
attention and dedication of principal members of the Company's management to
their assigned duties in circumstances arising from the possibility of a change
in control of Selective; and

      WHEREAS, the Company has determined that an arrangement of the type set
forth herein will serve the purpose of attracting desirable persons for
executive positions with the Company, will induce the Executive to remain with
the Company, and will enhance the Executive's ability to assess and advise the
Board as to whether any proposal involving a change in the control would be in
the best interests of the Company, Selective and its shareholders and to take
such other action regarding such proposal without being influenced by the
prospects of his own future employment with the Company; and

      WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to set forth their agreements
as to the subject and procedures contemplated hereunder acknowledging, however,
that this Agreement
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supplements any employment agreement that may be in effect from time to time
between the Executive and the Company and sets forth the severance benefits
which the Company agrees will be provided to the Executive in the event the
Executive's employment with the Company is terminated subsequent to a change of
control of Selective under the circumstances hereinbelow described.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

      1. TERM OF AGREEMENT.

      The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall commence on the date hereof
and shall continue in effect until August 8, 2003, provided, however, that
commencing on August 8, 2003 and each August 8 thereafter (each such August 8
being hereinafter referred to as an "Extension Date"), the Term shall
automatically be extended for one (1) additional year, unless at least
twenty-four (24) months prior to an Extension Date, the Company or the Executive
shall have given written notice in the manner hereinafter prescribed that the
Term shall not be extended as of the next Extension Date; and, provided further,
that if a "Change in Control" of Selective, as defined in Section 2 hereof,
shall have occurred during the term, as the same may be extended, this Agreement
shall terminate on the last day of the twenty-four (24) month period commencing
on the date that such Change in Control shall have occurred. Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 1 to the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate if
the Executive or the Company terminates the Executive's employment prior to the
date on which a Change in Control shall occur.

      2. CHANGE IN CONTROL.

      (a) For the purposes of this Agreement, a "change in control of Selective"
(a "Change in Control") shall mean the occurrence of an event of a nature that
would be required to be reported in response to Item 1(a) of a Current Report on
Form 8-K, as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") provided,
however, that a Change in Control shall, in any event, conclusively be deemed to
have occurred upon the first to occur of any one of the following events:

                  (i) The acquisition by any person or group, including, without
            limitation, any current shareholder or shareholders of

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            Selective, of securities of Selective resulting in such person's or
            group's owning of record or beneficially twenty-five percent (25%)
            or more, of any class of voting securities of Selective;

                  (ii) The acquisition by any person or group, including,
            without limitation, any current shareholder or shareholders of
            Selective, of securities of Selective resulting in such person's or
            group's owning of record or beneficially twenty percent (20%) or
            more, but less than twenty-five percent (25%), of any class of
            voting securities of Selective, if the Board adopts a resolution
            that such acquisition constitutes a Change in Control;

                  (iii) The sale or disposition of all or substantially all of
            the assets of Selective;

                  (iv) The reorganization, recapitalization, merger,
            consolidation or other business combination involving Selective the
            result of which is the ownership by the shareholders of Selective of
            less than eighty percent (80%) of those voting securities of the
            resulting or acquiring entity having the power to elect a majority
            of the board of directors of such entity; or

                  (v) A change in the membership in the Board of Directors of
            Selective (the "Selective Board") which, taken in conjunction with
            any other prior or concurrent changes, results in twenty percent
            (20%) or more of the Selective Board's membership being persons not
            nominated by Selective's management or Selective's Board as set
            forth in Selective's then most recent proxy statement, excluding
            changes resulting from substitutions by Selective's Board because of
            retirement or death of a director or directors, removal of a
            director or directors by Selective's Board or resignation of a
            director or directors due to demonstrated disability or incapacity.

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            (b) Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing Section 2(a) to the
contrary, no Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred for the purposes
of this Agreement by virtue of any transaction which results in the Executive,
or a group of persons which includes the Executive, acquiring, directly or
indirectly, voting securities of Selective.

            (c) For the purpose of Section 2(a) the following definitions shall
apply:

                  (i) the terms "person" and "beneficial owner" shall have the
            meanings set forth in Regulation 13D under the Exchange Act, as such
            Regulation exists on the date hereof;

                  (ii) the term "voting security" shall include any security
            that has, or may have upon an event of default or in respect to any
            transaction, a right to vote on any matter upon which the holder of
            any class of common stock of Selective would have a right to vote;

                  (iii)  the term "group" shall have the meaning
            set forth in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act; and

                  (iv) the term "substantially all of the assets of Selective"
            shall mean more than fifty percent (50%) of Selective's assets on a
            consolidated basis, as shown in Selective's most recent audited
            balance sheet.

3.    CONTINUATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

            Notwithstanding any termination date as may be specified in any
employment agreement in effect from time to time between the Company and the
Executive, in the event of a Change in Control, the Company agrees to continue
to employ the Executive, and, subject to the provisions of Section 4 hereof, the
Executive agrees to continue in the employ of the Company, in the capacity in
which the Executive was serving, and with the duties, responsibilities and
status of the Executive immediately prior to such Change in Control or in such
other capacity as shall be agreeable to the Executive, for a term commencing on
the date on which the Change in Control shall have occurred and ending three (3)
years after the date on which the Change in Control shall have occurred.
Commencing on the date three (3) years after the date on which the Change in
Control shall have occurred and each anniversary date of the Change in Control
thereafter (each

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such date being hereinafter referred to as a "Renewal Date"), the term of the
Executive's employment shall automatically be renewed for one (1) additional
year unless at least twenty-four (24) months prior to a Renewal Date the Company
or the Executive shall have given written notice in the manner hereinafter
prescribed that such employment shall not be renewed as of such Renewal Date.
The provisions of this Section 3 shall survive any termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 1 hereof after a Change in Control and shall continue in
full force and effect.

      4. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL.

            The Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided in Section
5 hereof upon the termination of his employment during the term of this
Agreement, as the same may be extended, after a Change in Control has occurred,
unless such termination is: (a) due to the Executive's death or Retirement, (b)
by the Company for Cause or Disability, or (c) by the Executive other than for
Good Reason (as such foregoing capitalized terms are hereinafter defined).

                  (i) Termination by the Executive or by the Company of the
            Executive's employment based on "Retirement" shall mean termination:
            (A) at such age as shall be established by the Board prior to a
            Change in Control for mandatory or normal retirement of Company
            executives in general, which shall not be less than age 65, or (B)
            at any other retirement age set by mutual agreement of the Company
            and the Executive and approved by the Board.

                  (ii) Termination by the Company of the Executive's employment
            based on "Disability" shall mean termination because of the
            Executive's physical injury or physical or mental illness which
            causes him to be absent from his duties with the Company on a
            full-time basis for a continuous period in excess of the greater of:
            (A) the period of disability constituting permanent disability as
            specified under the Company's long-term disability insurance
            coverage applicable to the Executive prior to a Change in Control or
            (B) six (6) calendar months, unless within thirty (30) days after
            Notice of Termination (as hereinafter defined) is thereafter given
            the

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            Executive shall have returned to the full-time performance of his
            duties.

                  (iii) Termination by the Company of the Executive's employment
            based on "Cause" shall mean termination upon: (A) the Executive's
            conviction of a felony (as evidenced by a binding and final
            judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, in
            effect after exhaustion or lapse of all rights of appeal), (B) the
            continued willful failure by the Executive to perform substantially
            his duties with the Company (other than any such failure resulting
            from his incapacity due to physical injury or physical or mental
            illness) for a period of thirty (30) days after a demand for
            substantial performance is delivered to the Executive by the Board
            of Directors of the Company which specifically identifies the manner
            in which the Board of Directors believes that the Executive has not
            substantially performed his duties, or (C) willful misconduct in the
            performance of the Executive's duties and obligations to the Company
            which constitute common law fraud or other gross malfeasance of
            duty; provided, however, that no termination for Cause pursuant to
            clauses (B) or (C) shall occur unless and until there shall have
            been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted
            by the affirmative vote of not less than sixty-six and two thirds
            percent (66 2/3%) of the entire membership of the Board, excluding
            the Executive, at a meeting of the Board called and held for the
            purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity
            for the Executive, together with his counsel, to be heard before the
            Board), finding that in good faith opinion of the Board the
            Executive was guilty of the conduct set forth in such clause (B) or
            (C) and specifying the particulars thereof in reasonable detail. For
            purposes of this clause (iii), no act, or

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            failure to act, on the part of the Executive shall be considered
            "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by the Executive in bad
            faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was
            in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. Any act,
            or failure to act, based upon authority given pursuant to a
            resolution duly adopted by the Board or based upon the advice of
            counsel for the Company shall be conclusively presumed to have been
            done or omitted to have been done by the Executive in good faith and
            in the best interests of the Company.

                  (iv) Termination by the Executive of his employment for "Good
            Reason" shall mean (A) termination by the Executive based on: (1)
            any reduction in his base salary below the annualized rate in effect
            on the date preceding the date on which a Change in Control shall
            have occurred or the Company's failure to increase (within 12 months
            of the Executive's last increase in base salary) the Executive's
            base salary after a Change in Control in an amount which at least
            equals, on a percentage basis, changes in the Consumer Price Index,
            all items, for New Jersey in the preceding twelve (12) months; or
            (2) a failure by the Company to continue in effect, or the material
            reduction of any of Executive's benefits under, any Plan (as
            hereinafter defined) in which the Executive was participating on the
            date preceding the date on which a Change in Control shall have
            occurred (or Plans providing the Executive with at least
            substantially similar benefits) other than as a result of the normal
            expiration of any such Plan in accordance with its terms as in
            effect on the date preceding the date on which a Change in Control
            shall have occurred, or the taking of any action, or the failure to
            act, by the Company which would adversely affect the Executive's
            continued participation in any of such Plans on at least as
            favorable a

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
            basis to him as was the case on the date preceding the date on which
            a Change in Control shall have occurred or which would materially
            reduce the Executive's benefits in the future under any such Plans
            or deprive the Executive of any material benefit enjoyed by him at
            the time of the Change in Control; or (3) without the Executive's
            express prior written consent, the assignment to the Executive of
            any duties inconsistent with his positions, duties, responsibilities
            and status with the Company immediately prior to a Change in
            Control, or any diminution in the Executive's responsibilities as an
            executive of the Company as compared with those he had as an
            executive of the Company immediately prior to a Change in Control,
            or any change in the Executive's titles or office as in effect
            immediately prior to a Change in Control, or any removal of the
            Executive from, or failure to re-elect him to, any of such
            positions, except in connection with the termination of the
            Executive's employment for Cause, Disability or Retirement or as a
            result of the Executive's death or by his termination of his
            employment other than for Good Reason; or (4) without the
            Executive's express prior written consent, the imposition of a
            requirement by the Company that the Executive be based anywhere
            other than where the Executive's office is located on the date
            preceding the date on which a Change in Control shall have occurred;
            or (5) without the Executive's express prior written consent, any
            reduction in the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive
            was entitled as of the date preceding the date on which a Change in
            Control shall have occurred; or (6) a failure by the Company to
            provide the Executive with office, secretarial, computer and other
            support services and facilities consistent with his position in the
            Company and substantially equivalent to those available to the
            Executive on the date preceding the date on which a Change in

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
            Control shall have occurred; or (7) the failure by the Company to
            obtain from any successor to the business of the Company, as set
            forth in Section 13, the assent to this Agreement, as described in
            such Section 13; or (8) subsequent to a Change in Control, any
            purported termination of the Executive's employment which is not
            effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination (as hereinafter
            defined) satisfying the requirements of Section 4(v) (and, if
            applicable, Section 4(iii)), and for purposes of this Agreement no
            such purported termination shall be effective; or (9) any breach by
            the Company of any of the terms and conditions of any employment
            agreement between the Company and the Executive or any agreement
            between the Company and the Executive providing for incentive
            compensation, stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock
            bonuses, pension benefits, group insurance or any similar benefits;
            or (10) any requirement by the Company that the Executive be absent
            from Executive's office on business travel or otherwise more than
            forty-five (45) days in any calendar year or for more than fourteen
            (14) consecutive days at any time, or (B) a voluntary termination by
            the Executive upon Notice of Termination given by the Executive to
            the Company no later than six (6) months after the occurrence of a
            Change in Control, provided that Executive shall not thereafter
            violate the provisions of any agreement between the Executive and
            the Company relating to nondisclosure of confidential information or
            noncompetition with the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a
            "Plan" shall mean any plan, contract, authorization or arrangement,
            whether or not set forth in any formal written documents, providing
            for compensation, incentive compensation, non-qualified supplemental
            retirement benefits, stock options (whether or not in tandem with
            stock appreciation rights), stock

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
            appreciation rights, long-term incentives, stock bonuses or
            restricted stock grants or any employee benefit plan such as a
            pension, retirement, profit sharing, medical, disability, accident,
            life insurance plan or a relocation plan or policy or any other
            plan, program, policy or arrangement of the Company intended to
            benefit the Executive or employees of the Company generally.

                  (v) Any termination of the Executive's employment by the
            Company or by the Executive shall be communicated by a Notice of
            Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of this
            Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice
            given in the manner hereinafter prescribed which shall indicate the
            specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and
            shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
            claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's
            employment under the provision so indicated and shall specify the
            date of termination in accordance with this Agreement.

                  (vi) "Date of Termination" following a Change in Control shall
            mean: (A) if the employment is to be terminated by the Company for
            Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given
            (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the
            performance of the Executive's duties on a full-time basis during
            such thirty (30) day period), or (B) if the employment is to be
            terminated by either party for any other reason, the date on which
            Notice of Termination is given.

                  (vii) In the event of dispute as to the Executive's
            termination under Section 4(iv) the matter shall be forthwith
            submitted to binding arbitration as hereinafter provided.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
      5. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS.

      (a) If an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4 hereof which entitles
the Executive to the benefits and rights set forth in this Section 5, the
Executive shall receive from the Company, or from the Escrow Agent (as
hereinafter defined), as the case may be, within five (5) days following the
Date of Termination (except as otherwise provided) all of the following
benefits, other than those benefits which he specifically elects by written
notice to the Company or to the Escrow Agent, as the case may be, not to
receive:

                  (i) earned but unpaid base salary through the Date of
            Termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the time a
            Notice of Termination is given plus any incentive compensation,
            benefits or awards (including both the cash and stock components)
            which pursuant to the terms of any Plans have been accrued, earned
            or have become payable, but which have not yet been paid to the
            Executive (including any amounts which previously had been deferred
            at the Executive's request); and

                  (ii) as severance pay and in lieu of any further salary for
            periods subsequent to the Date of Termination (including any
            payments of salary provided for by any employment agreement with the
            Company), an amount in cash equal to the Executive's "annualized
            includible compensation for the base period" (as defined in Section
            280G(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
            "Code")), multiplied by a factor of 2.99.

      (b) If an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4 hereof which entitles
the Executive to the benefits and rights set forth in this Section 5, the
Executive shall be entitled to the benefits of any stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, stock bonuses or other benefits
theretofore granted by the Company to the Executive under any Plan, whether or
not provided for in any agreement with the Company, provided, however, that,
except to the extent requiring approval of Selective's stockholders, (i) all
unvested stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants,
stock bonuses, long-term incentives and similar benefits shall be deemed to be
vested in full on the Date of Termination, notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary or any provision requiring any act or acts by the Executive in any
agreement with the Company or

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
Selective or any Plan, and (ii) to the extent that any such stock options, stock
appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, stock bonuses, long-term
incentives or similar benefits shall require by its terms the exercise thereof
by the Executive, the last date to exercise the same shall, notwithstanding any
provision to the contrary in any agreement or any Plan, shall be the later to
occur of (A) the last date provided for such exercise in any agreement or Plan
evidencing any such stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock
grants, stock bonuses, long-term incentives or similar benefits or (B) the close
of business on the date which shall be one hundred twenty (120) days after the
Date of Termination and (iii) if the vesting pursuant hereto of any such stock
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants, stock bonuses,
long-term incentives or similar benefits shall have the effect of subjecting the
Executive to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or any similar
provision of law, the vesting date thereof shall be deemed to be the first day
after the Termination Date on which such vesting may occur without subjecting
the Executive to such liability.

      (c) If an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4 hereof which entitles
the Executive to the benefits and rights set forth in this Section 5, the
Company shall maintain in full force and effect, for the continued benefit of
the Executive and his dependents for a period terminating on the earliest of:
(i) three (3) years after the Date of Termination or (ii) the commencement date
of equivalent benefits from a new employer, all insured and self-insured
employee welfare benefit Plans in which the Executive was entitled to
participate immediately prior to the Date of Termination, provided that the
Executive's continued participation is not barred under the general terms and
provisions of such Plans. In the event that the Executive's participation in any
such Plan is barred by its terms, the Company, at its sole cost and expense,
shall arrange to have issued for the benefit of the Executive and his dependents
individual policies of insurance providing benefits substantially similar (on an
after-tax basis) to those which the Executive otherwise would have been entitled
to receive under such Plans pursuant to this Section 5(c). If, at the end of
three (3) years after the Termination Date, the Executive has not previously
received or is not receiving equivalent benefits from a new employer, or is not
otherwise receiving such benefits, the Company shall arrange, at its sole cost
and expense, to enable him to convert his and his dependents' coverage under
such Plans to individual policies or programs upon the same

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
terms as employees of the Company may apply for such conversions upon
termination of employment.

      (d) Except as specifically provided in Section 5(c) above, the amount of
any payment provided for in this Section 5 shall not be reduced, offset or
subject to recovery by the Company by reason of any compensation earned by the
Executive as the result of employment by another employer after the Date of
Termination, or otherwise. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate any
amounts payable or benefits provided under this Agreement by seeking or
accepting other employment.

      (e) The rights and benefits provided herein shall be in addition to, and
not (except as provided in this Agreement) to the exclusion of, any other rights
and benefits that may be available to the Executive in regard to or arising out
of the termination of the Executive's employment, including claims for breach of
contract or for violation of relevant employment, worker's compensation or
employee benefits laws. The prosecution or enforcement of rights granted by this
Agreement or the election to take benefits under this Agreement shall in no
manner constitute an election of rights or remedies by the Executive other than
in respect of this Agreement.

      (f) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any of
the payments or benefits provided for in this Agreement, together with any other
payments or benefits which the Executive has the right to receive from the
Company (including, without limitation, any amounts payable under any employment
contract with the Company), would constitute a "parachute payment" (as defined
in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code), the payments and benefits due to the
Executive shall be reduced, in such order of priority and amount as the
Executive shall elect, to the largest amount as will result in no portion of
such payments being subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, any dispute or
controversy regarding whether any payments under this Agreement must be reduced
pursuant to this Section 5(f) shall be conclusively settled by an independent
accounting firm acceptable to each of the parties hereto, or, if no firm is
acceptable to both parties hereto, each of the Executive and the Company shall
select an accounting firm acceptable to it, and such accounting firms shall
together designate an independent accounting firm to settle such dispute or
controversy, and such settlement shall be binding upon both parties, provided,
however, that any

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
accounting firm designated to settle any dispute or controversy hereunder shall
not have been previously retained by either party for a period of a least two
(2) years subsequent to the date of this settlement of such dispute or
controversy. The Company or the Escrow Agent, as the case may be, may withhold
from any benefits payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other
taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or
ruling.

      (g) In the event that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine
that any portion of the payment and benefits paid to the Executive pursuant to
this Agreement shall have constituted a "parachute payment" (as defined in
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) and subject to an excise tax under Section
4999(a) of the Code, the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash such
additional amount as is necessary so that the total amount received by the
Executive under this Agreement, after payment of any applicable taxes on such
total amount (including, without limitation, federal, state or local income
taxes, any taxes imposed by Section 4999(a) of the Code and any taxes in respect
of any amount payable to the Executive under this Section 5(g)) shall not be
less than the net after tax amount that the Executive would have been entitled
to receive under this Agreement had such excise tax under Section 4999(a) not
been imposed. The Company shall pay such additional amount to the Executive
within thirty (30) days after the Executive gives written notice to the Company
that such determination has been made by a court of competent jurisdiction.

      6. ESCROW OF BENEFITS.

      (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company
shall, upon the written request of the Executive, promptly deliver to a bank or
other institution acceptable to the Executive, as escrow agent (the "Escrow
Agent"), an amount of cash or certificates of deposit, treasury bills or
irrevocable letters of credit adequate to fully fund the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement.

      (b) The escrow agreement or arrangement between the Company and the Escrow
Agent shall provide that amounts payable to the Executive under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Escrow Agent to the Executive five (5) days after written
demand therefore by the Executive to the Escrow Agent, with a copy to the
Company, certifying that such amounts are due and payable under this Agreement
because of the occurrence of an event specified under Section 4 hereof. Such
escrow agreement or arrangements shall also provide that if the Company shall,
prior to

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
payment by the Escrow Agent, object in writing to the Escrow Agent, with a copy
to the Executive, as to the payment of any amounts demanded by the Executive
under this Agreement, certifying that such amounts are not due and payable to
the Executive because an event specified in Section 4 hereof has not occurred,
such dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration as hereinafter set forth.

      (c) Such escrow agreement or arrangements shall further provide that any
dispute described in Section 6(b) hereof shall be forthwith submitted to binding
arbitration as hereinafter provided.

      7. ARBITRATION.

      Any disputes arising under Section 4(iv) or Section 6(b) hereof shall be
forthwith submitted to binding arbitration by three (3) arbitrators in Newark,
New Jersey, under the expedited rules of the American Arbitration Association
then obtaining. One such arbitrator shall be selected by each of the Company and
the Executive, and the two arbitrators so selected shall select the third
arbitrator. Selection of all three arbitrators shall be made within thirty (30)
days after the date the dispute arose. Such arbitration shall be limited solely
to a determination of whether or not an event has occurred pursuant to Section 4
of this Agreement which entitles the Executive to the benefits and rights set
forth in Section 5 of this Agreement. The written decision of the arbitrators
shall be rendered within ninety (90) days after selection of the third
arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the
Company and the Executive and may be entered by either party in any court having
jurisdiction.

      8. ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS.

      The Company, and any survivor of any business combination with the Company
causing rights to accrue to the Executive under this Agreement, shall pay all
the Executive's legal, accounting and arbitration fees and expenses and costs as
they become due, which the Executive may become obligated to pay in obtaining,
enforcing, retaining or defending any right or benefit provided by this
Agreement, whether in respect of any enforcement undertaken or demand made by
the Executive that is successful or in respect of any enforcement undertaken or
demand made in good faith by the Executive that is not successful. If judgment
is rendered against any of such persons, it will pay the Executive, unless
expressly included in the judgment, prejudgment interest

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
from the date of the Notice of Termination at the prime rate being charged by
Midlantic National Bank on the date of the Notice of Termination.

      9. EXECUTIVE'S COMMITMENT.

      The Executive agrees that subsequent to his period of employment with the
Company, he will not at any time communicate or disclose to any unauthorized
person, without the written consent of the Company, any proprietary or
confidential information concerning the business affairs, products or customers
of the Company which, if disclosed, would have a material adverse effect upon
the business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole; it being understood, however, that the obligations of this Section 9
shall not apply to the extent that the aforesaid matters: (a) are disclosed in
circumstances where the Executive is legally required to do so or (b) become
generally known to and available for use by the public otherwise than by the
Executive's wrongful act or omission.

      10. SEVERABILITY.

      If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of this
Agreement would be, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under
applicable law, then such provision (or any part thereof) shall be deemed
modified to the extent necessary to render it valid while most nearly preserving
its original intent; no provision (or any part thereof) of this Agreement shall
be affected by another provision (or any part thereof) of this Agreement being
held invalid.

      11. NOTICE.

      For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, requests, demands and all
other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i) when delivered personally, or (ii)
three (3) days after having been mailed by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, or (iii) one (1) day after having been sent by telegraph or
mailed by express mail or other overnight courier service, postage, telegraph,
courier and registry fees, as the case may be, prepaid and addressed to the
addresses set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement or to such other
address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt. All notices to the Company shall be directed to the attention of the
President of the Company.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
      12. MERGER; AMENDMENT; WAIVER.

      (a) This Agreement supersedes all other agreements, arrangements and
understandings, and merges all negotiations and discussions, with respect to the
subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not, except
to the extent specifically provided herein, supersede or limit the rights,
duties or obligations that the Executive may have under any written employment
agreement with the Company.

      (b) This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a writing signed by
both parties. No further agreement between the parties shall be deemed to
supersede, amend or modify this Agreement unless a statement to that effect is
made in such future agreement or the enforcement of such agreement would give
rise to conflicting obligations between the Executive on the one hand and the
Company, its successor or other bound party on the other hand; in the latter
case, however, this Agreement shall be deemed to be superseded, amended or
modified only to the extent necessary to avoid such conflict.

      (c) The waiver of the non-performance of any obligation under this
Agreement shall apply to that non-performance only and shall not constitute a
waiver, modification or amendment of this provision giving rise to such
obligation.

      13. SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT.

      (a) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
merger, consolidation or other combination other than a sale of assets) to the
business of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the
Executive, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such
agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall constitute
Good Reason for termination by the Executive of his employment, and, if a Change
in Control shall have occurred, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement, except that for purposes of
implementing the foregoing, the date. On which any such succession becomes
effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination. As used in this Agreement,
the "Company" shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined, and any successor
and assign to its business as

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
13 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.

      (b) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs,
distributees, devises and legatees of the Executive. If the Executive should die
while any amount would still be payable to him hereunder if he had continued to
live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee, legatee
or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to his estate.

      14. GOVERNING LAW.

      This Agreement is being made in the State of New Jersey and shall be
governed by, and interpreted and construed with reference to, the laws of New
Jersey.

      15. HEADINGS.

      Headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall
not be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

      16. COUNTERPARTS.

      This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereunder have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                  SELECTIVE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA

                                  BY:/s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                     .........................................
                                       GREGORY E. MURPHY,
                                       CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                       OFFICER

                                    /s/ Richard F. Connell
                                    ...................................
                                  RICHARD F. CONNELL

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19
     In consideration of the covenants of the Executive hereinabove set forth,
Selective hereby guarantees to the Executive the full performance by the Company
of all of its obligations under the foregoing Termination Agreement.

                                  SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

                                  BY:/s/ Gregory E. Murphy
                                     .....................................
                                       GREGORY E. MURPHY,
                                       CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                       OFFICER

                                      -19-

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