DONEGAL GROUP INC - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM

10-K

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

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

For the transition period from

Commission file number

0-15341

DONEGAL GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


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


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

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(800) 877-0600

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


Title of Each Class	Trading Symbols	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value	DGICA	The NASDAQ Global Select Market
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value	DGICB	The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act: Yes ☐. No ☒.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐. No ☒.

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of

Regulation S-T

(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒. No ☐.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a

non-accelerated

filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule

12b-2

of the Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer ☐		Accelerated filer ☒		Non-accelerated filer ☐		Smaller reporting company ☒

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. Yes ☒. No ☐.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule

12b-2

of the Act). Yes ☐. No ☒.

State the aggregate market value of the voting and

non-voting

common equity held by

non-affiliates

computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter. $216,494,411.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 24,699,005 shares of Class A common stock and 5,576,775 shares of Class B common stock outstanding on March 1, 2021.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

The registrant incorporates by reference portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to registrant’s annual meeting of stockholders to be held April 15, 2021 into Part III of this report.

Table of Contents

DONEGAL GROUP INC.

INDEX TO FORM

10-K

REPORT


		Page

PART I

Item 1.	Business	1

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	30

Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	44

Item 2.	Properties	44

Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	44

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	44

PART II

Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	45

Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	47

Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	48

Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	64

Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	67

Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	116

Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	116

Item 9B.	Other Information	116

PART III

Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	119

Item 11.	Executive Compensation	120

Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	121

Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	121

Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	121

PART IV

Item 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	122

Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary	125

(i)

Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Introduction

Donegal Group Inc., or DGI, is an insurance holding company whose insurance subsidiaries and affiliates offer personal and commercial lines of property and casualty insurance to businesses and individuals in 24

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. DGI has no significant business operations and is separate and distinct from its insurance subsidiaries. As used in this Form

10-K

Report, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Donegal Group Inc. and its insurance subsidiaries. Our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “DGICA” and “DGICB,” respectively.

Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, or Donegal Mutual, organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. At December 31, 2020, Donegal Mutual held approximately 42% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately

84% of our outstanding Class B common stock. Donegal Mutual’s ownership provides Donegal Mutual with approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock and our outstanding shares of Class B common stock. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have interrelated operations due to an intercompany pooling agreement and other intercompany agreements and transactions we describe in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. While maintaining the separate corporate existence of each company, our insurance subsidiaries conduct business together with Donegal Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group is not a legal entity, is not an insurance company and does not issue or administer insurance policies. Rather, it is a trade name that refers to the group of insurance companies that are affiliated with Donegal Mutual.

At December 31, 2020, we had three segments: our investment function, our commercial lines of insurance and our personal lines of insurance. We set forth financial information about these segments in Note 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual provide their policyholders with a selection of insurance products at competitive rates, while pursuing profitability by adhering to a strict underwriting discipline. Our insurance subsidiaries derive a substantial portion of their insurance business from smaller to

mid-sized

regional communities. We believe this focus provides our insurance subsidiaries with competitive advantages in terms of local market knowledge, marketing, underwriting, claims servicing and policyholder service. At the same time, we believe our insurance subsidiaries have cost advantages over many smaller regional insurers that result from economies of scale our insurance subsidiaries realize through centralized accounting, administrative, data processing, investment and other services.

We believe we have a substantial opportunity, as a well-capitalized regional insurance holding company with a solid business strategy, to grow profitably and compete effectively with larger national property and casualty insurers. Our downstream holding company structure, with Donegal Mutual holding approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our common stock, has proven its effectiveness and success over the 34 years of our existence. Over that time period, we have grown significantly in terms of revenue and financial strength, and the Donegal Insurance Group has developed an excellent reputation as a regional group of property and casualty insurers.

We have been an effective consolidator of smaller “main street” property and casualty insurance companies, and we pursue opportunities to acquire other insurance companies to expand our business in a given region. Since 1998, we and Donegal Mutual have completed seven transactions involving acquisitions of property and casualty insurance companies or participation in the business of property and casualty insurance companies through Donegal Mutual’s entry into quota-share reinsurance agreements with them.

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Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, or Mountain States, with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Company and Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company (collectively, the “Mountain States insurance subsidiaries”), became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Upon completion of the merger, Donegal Mutual assumed all of the policy obligations of Mountain States and began to market its products together with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries as the Mountain States Insurance Group in four Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool we describe in “History and Organizational Structure.” As a result, our consolidated financial results through December 31, 2020 excluded the results of the Mountain States Insurance Group operations in those Southwestern states.

We and Donegal Mutual sold Donegal Financial Services Corporation (“DFSC”) to Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (“Northwest”) on March 8, 2019, resulting in proceeds valued at approximately $85.8 million in a combination of cash and Northwest common stock. DFSC was a grandfathered unitary savings and loan holding company that owned Union Community Bank, a state savings bank. Immediately prior to the closing of the merger, DFSC paid a dividend of approximately $29.2 million to us and Donegal Mutual. As the owner of 48.2% of DFSC’s common stock, we received a dividend payment from DFSC of approximately $14.1 million and consideration from Northwest that included a combination of cash in the amount of $20.5 million and Northwest common stock with a fair value at the closing date of $20.9 million. We recorded a gain of $12.7 million from the sale of DFSC in our results of operations during 2019. We sold the Northwest common stock that we received as part of the consideration during 2019. This transaction represented the culmination of a banking strategy that began with the formation of DFSC in 2000.

Effective December 1, 2019, our insurance subsidiaries Le Mars Insurance Company (“Le Mars”) and Sheboygan Falls Insurance Company (“Sheboygan Falls”) merged with and into Atlantic States Insurance Company (the “Mergers”). As a result of the Mergers, the separate corporate existences of Le Mars and Sheboygan Falls ceased and Atlantic States Insurance Company (“Atlantic States”) continued as the surviving insurance company. Atlantic States placed the business of Le Mars and Sheboygan Falls, as their policies renewed subsequent to the effective date of the Mergers, into the underwriting pool.

Available Information

You may obtain our Annual Reports on Form

10-K,

including this Form

10-K

Report, our quarterly reports on Form

10-Q,

our current reports on Form

8-K,

our proxy statement and our other filings pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, without charge by viewing our website at

www.donegalgroup.com

. You may also view our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the charters of the executive committee, the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating committee of our board of directors on our website. Upon request to our corporate secretary, we will also provide printed copies of any of these documents to you without charge. We have provided the address of our website solely for the information of investors. We do not intend the reference to our website address to be an active link or to otherwise incorporate the contents of our website into this Form

10-K

Report. In addition to our website, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) maintains an Internet site at

www.sec.gov

that contains our reports, proxy and information statements and other information that we electronically file with, or furnish to, the SEC.

History and Organizational Structure

In the

mid-1980’s,

Donegal Mutual, as a mutual insurance company, recognized the desirability of developing additional sources of capital and surplus so it could remain competitive, expand its business and ensure its long-term viability. Accordingly, Donegal Mutual determined that the implementation of a downstream holding company structure was a viable business strategy to accomplish that objective. Thus, in 1986, Donegal Mutual formed us as a downstream holding company. After Donegal Mutual formed us, we in turn formed Atlantic States as our wholly owned property and casualty insurance company subsidiary.

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Table of Contents

In connection with the formation of Atlantic States and the establishment of our downstream insurance holding company system, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States entered into a proportional reinsurance agreement, or pooling agreement. Under the pooling agreement, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States contribute substantially all of their respective premiums, losses and loss expenses to the underwriting pool, and the underwriting pool, acting through Donegal Mutual, then allocates 80% of the pooled business to Atlantic States. Thus, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share the underwriting results of the pooled business in proportion to their respective participation in the underwriting pool.

Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries share a combined business plan to enhance market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. We believe Donegal Mutual’s majority interest in the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and of our Class B common stock fosters our ability to implement our business philosophies, enjoy management continuity, maintain superior employee relations and provide a stable environment within which we can grow our businesses.

The products Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries offer are generally complementary, which permits the Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broad range of products in a given market and to expand the Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries offer generally relate to specific risk profiles within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier products versus standard tier products. Donegal Mutual and we do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. As a result, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary. However, the underwriting pool homogenizes the risk characteristics of all business that Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States write directly. The business Atlantic States derives from the underwriting pool represents a significant percentage of our total consolidated revenues.

As the capital of Atlantic States and our other insurance subsidiaries has increased, the underwriting capacity of our insurance subsidiaries has increased proportionately. The size of the underwriting pool has also increased substantially. Therefore, as we originally planned in the

mid-1980s,

Atlantic States has successfully raised the capital necessary to support the growth of its direct business as well as to accept increases in its allocation of business from the underwriting pool. The portion of the underwriting pool allocated to Atlantic States has increased from an initial allocation of 35% in 1986 to an 80% allocation since March 1, 2008. We do not anticipate any further change in the pooling agreement between Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual, including any change in the percentage participation of Atlantic States in the underwriting pool.

In addition to Atlantic States, our insurance subsidiaries are Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, or Southern, The Peninsula Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Peninsula Indemnity Company, or collectively, Peninsula, and Michigan Insurance Company, or MICO. Donegal Mutual has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with Southern Mutual Insurance Company, or Southern Mutual, and Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Southern Mutual into the underwriting pool. Donegal Mutual wholly owns and has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Mountain States insurance subsidiaries into the underwriting pool.

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Table of Contents

The following chart depicts our organizational structure, including all of our property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and affiliates:

(1)

Because of the different relative voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, our public stockholders hold approximately 29% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock and Donegal Mutual holds approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock.

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Table of Contents

Relationship with Donegal Mutual

Donegal Mutual provides facilities, personnel and other services to us and our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual allocates certain related expenses to Atlantic States in proportion to its participation in the underwriting pool. Our insurance subsidiaries other than Atlantic States reimburse Donegal Mutual for their respective personnel costs and bear their proportionate share of information services costs based on each subsidiaries’ respective percentage of the total net premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group. Charges for these services to Atlantic States and our other insurance subsidiaries totaled $153.9 million, $134.1 million and $126.2 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Donegal Mutual is the employer of record for all personnel who provide services for our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual strives to maintain a culture that is based on integrity and respect, with an environment designed to facilitate excellent service to the agents and customers of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. At December 31, 2020, Donegal Mutual had 879 employees, of which 519 were based in its Marietta, Pennsylvania headquarters and 360 were based in regional offices or were permanent remote employees. There were 866 full-time employees and 13 part-time employees. Since March 2020, approximately 90% of Donegal Mutual’s employees have been working remotely from their homes due to health and safety concerns related to the

COVID-19

pandemic. Donegal Mutual will continue to evaluate developments related to the pandemic to determine if and when it is safe for employees to return to its headquarters and regional offices. Donegal Mutual provides employee compensation that is competitive and consistent with an employee’s position, knowledge, experience and skill level. Donegal Mutual provides annual wage increases that are based on merit. Donegal Mutual provides an annual cash incentive plan for all of its employees that provides an opportunity for Donegal Mutual’s employees to earn a bonus as a percentage of their annual wages that varies based on the level of underwriting profit Donegal Insurance Group achieves for a calendar year. In addition, Donegal Mutual provides to its full-time employees a comprehensive employee benefits program, including medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, and a 401(k) retirement plan that includes company matching provisions. Donegal Mutual also provides substantial training, development and wellness programs and resources to its employees.

Our insurance subsidiaries have various reinsurance arrangements with Donegal Mutual. These agreements include:

•

a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Atlantic States, MICO, Peninsula and Southern pursuant to which Donegal Mutual provides coverage for losses related to any catastrophic occurrence over a set retention of $2.0 million for each participating insurance subsidiary, with a combined retention of $5.0 million for a catastrophe involving a combination of participating insurance subsidiaries, up to the amount Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries retain under catastrophe reinsurance agreements with unaffiliated reinsurers; and

•

quota-share reinsurance agreements with MICO and Peninsula.

The purpose of the catastrophe reinsurance agreement is to lessen the effects of an accumulation of losses arising from one event to levels that are appropriate given each subsidiary’s size, underwriting profile and surplus.

The purpose of the quota-share reinsurance agreement with Peninsula is to transfer to Donegal Mutual 100% of the premiums and losses related to the workers’ compensation product line of Peninsula in certain states, which provides the availability of an additional workers’ compensation tier for Donegal Mutual’s commercial accounts. Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Peninsula into the underwriting pool.

The purpose of the quota-share reinsurance agreement with MICO is to transfer to Donegal Mutual 25% of the premiums and losses related to MICO’s business. Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from MICO into the underwriting pool.

We and Donegal Mutual have maintained a coordinating committee since our formation in 1986. The coordinating committee consists of two members of our board of directors, neither of whom is a member of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, and two members of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, neither of whom is a member of our board of directors. The purpose of the coordinating committee is to establish and maintain a process for an ongoing evaluation of the transactions between Donegal Mutual, our insurance subsidiaries and us. The coordinating committee considers the fairness of each intercompany transaction to Donegal Mutual and its policyholders and to us and our stockholders.

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A new agreement or any change to a previously approved agreement must receive coordinating committee approval. The approval process for a new agreement between Donegal Mutual and us or one of our insurance subsidiaries or a change in such an agreement is as follows:

•

both of our members on the coordinating committee must determine that the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement is fair and equitable to us and in the best interests of our stockholders;

•

both of Donegal Mutual’s members on the coordinating committee must determine that the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement is fair and equitable to Donegal Mutual and in the best interests of its policyholders;

•

our board of directors must approve the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement; and

•

Donegal Mutual’s board of directors must approve the new agreement or the change in an existing agreement.

The coordinating committee also meets annually to review each existing agreement between Donegal Mutual and us or our insurance subsidiaries, including all reinsurance agreements between Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. The purpose of this annual review is to examine the results of the agreements over the past year and, in the case of reinsurance agreements, over several years and to determine if the results of the existing agreements remain fair and equitable to us and our stockholders and fair and equitable to Donegal Mutual and its policyholders or if Donegal Mutual and we should mutually agree to certain adjustments to the terms of the agreements. In the case of these reinsurance agreements, the annual adjustments typically relate to the reinsurance premiums, losses and reinstatement premiums. These agreements are ongoing in nature and will continue in effect throughout 2021 in the ordinary course of our business.

Our members on the coordinating committee, as of the date of this Form

10-K

Report, are Barry C. Huber and Richard D. Wampler, II. Donegal Mutual’s members on the coordinating committee as of such date are Michael W. Brubaker and Cyril J. Greenya. We refer to our proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 15, 2021 for further information about the members of the coordinating committee.

We believe our relationships with Donegal Mutual offer us and our insurance subsidiaries a number of competitive advantages, including the following:

•

enabling our stable management, the consistent underwriting discipline of our insurance subsidiaries, external growth, long-term profitability and financial strength;

•

creating operational and expense synergies from the combination of resources and integrated operations of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries;

•

producing more stable and uniform underwriting results for our insurance subsidiaries over extended periods of time than we could achieve without our relationship with Donegal Mutual;

•

providing opportunities for growth because of the ability of Donegal Mutual to affiliate and enter into reinsurance agreements with, or otherwise acquire control of, mutual insurance companies and place the business it assumes into the underwriting pool; and

•

providing Atlantic States with a significantly larger underwriting capacity because of the underwriting pool Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States have maintained since 1986.

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In the first quarter of 2021, our board of directors and the board of directors of Donegal Mutual each undertook a review of the relationships between Donegal Mutual and DGI and determined that continuing the current relationships and the current corporate structure of Donegal Mutual and DGI is in the best interests of DGI and its various constituencies.

Business Strategy

Our strategy is designed to allow our insurance subsidiaries to achieve their longstanding goal of outperforming the United States property and casualty insurance industry in terms of profitability and service, thereby providing value to the policyholders of our insurance subsidiaries and, ultimately, providing value to our stockholders. The annual net premiums earned of our insurance subsidiaries have increased from $301.5 million in 2006 to $742.0 million in 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%.

The combined ratio of our insurance subsidiaries and that of the United States property and casualty insurance industry as computed using United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and statutory accounting principles, or SAP, for the years 2016 through 2020 are shown in the following table:


	2020			2019			2018			2017			2016
Our GAAP combined ratio		96.0	%		99.5	%		110.1	%		103.0	%		98.1	%
Our SAP combined ratio		95.4			98.7			109.4			101.7			96.8
Industry SAP combined ratio (1)		99.3			99.2			99.6			104.0			100.9

(1)	As reported (projected for 2020) by A.M. Best Company.

We and Donegal Mutual believe we can continue to expand our insurance operations over time through organic growth and acquisitions of, or affiliations with, other insurance companies. We and Donegal Mutual have enhanced the performance of companies we have acquired, while leveraging the acquired companies’ core strengths and local market knowledge to expand their operations. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also seek to increase their premium base by making quality independent agency appointments, enhancing their competitive position within each agency, introducing new and enhanced insurance products and developing and maintaining automated systems to improve service, communications and efficiency.

A detailed review of our business strategies follows:

•

Achieving underwriting profitability.

Our insurance subsidiaries seek to achieve consistent underwriting profitability. Underwriting profitability is a fundamental component of our long-term financial strength because it allows our insurance subsidiaries to generate profits without relying exclusively on their investment income for profitability. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to enhance their underwriting results by:

•

carefully selecting the product lines they underwrite;

•

carefully selecting the individual risks they underwrite;

•

utilizing data analytics and predictive modeling tools to inform risk selection and pricing decisions;

•

minimizing their individual exposure to catastrophe-prone areas; and

•

evaluating their claims history on a regular basis to ensure the adequacy of their underwriting guidelines and product pricing.

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Our insurance subsidiaries have no material exposures to asbestos or environmental liabilities. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to provide more than one policy to a given personal lines or commercial lines customer because this “account selling” strategy diversifies their risk and has historically improved their underwriting results. Our insurance subsidiaries also use reinsurance to manage their exposure and limit their maximum net loss from large single risks or risks in concentrated areas.

•

Pursuing profitable growth by organic expansion within the traditional operating territories of our insurance subsidiaries through developing and maintaining quality agency representation.

Continued expansion of our insurance subsidiaries within their existing markets will be a key source of their continued premium growth, and maintaining an effective network of independent agencies is integral to this expansion. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to be among the top three insurers within each of the independent agencies for the lines of business our insurance subsidiaries write by providing a consistent, competitive and stable market for their products. We believe that the consistency of the product offerings of our insurance subsidiaries enables our insurance subsidiaries to compete effectively for independent agents with other insurers whose product offerings may fluctuate based on industry conditions. Our insurance subsidiaries offer a competitive compensation program to their independent agents that rewards them for producing profitable growth for our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries provide their independent agents with ongoing support to enable them to better attract and service customers, including:

•

fully automated underwriting and policy issuance systems for commercial and personal lines of insurance;

•

training programs;

•

marketing support;

•

availability of a service center that provides comprehensive service for our policyholders; and

•

accessibility to and regular interactions with marketing and underwriting personnel and senior management of our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries appoint independent agencies with a strong underwriting and growth track record. We believe that our insurance subsidiaries will drive continued long-term growth by carefully selecting, motivating and supporting their independent agencies.

•

Acquiring property and casualty insurance companies to augment the organic growth of our insurance subsidiaries.

We have been an effective consolidator of smaller “main street” property and casualty insurance companies, and we expect to continue to acquire other insurance companies to expand our business in a given region over time.

Since 1998, we and Donegal Mutual have completed seven transactions involving acquisitions of property and casualty insurance companies or participation in the business of property and casualty insurance companies through Donegal Mutual’s entry into quota-share reinsurance agreements with them. We and Donegal Mutual intend to continue our growth by pursuing affiliations and acquisitions that meet our criteria. Our primary criteria are:

•

location in regions where our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are currently conducting business or that offer an attractive opportunity to conduct profitable business;

•

a mix of business similar to the mix of business of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual;

•

annual premium volume between $50.0 million to $100.0 million; and

•

fair and reasonable transaction terms.

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We believe that our relationship with Donegal Mutual assists us in pursuing affiliations with, and subsequent acquisitions of, mutual insurance companies because, through Donegal Mutual, we understand the concerns and issues that mutual insurance companies face. In particular, Donegal Mutual has had success affiliating with underperforming mutual insurance companies, and we have either acquired them following their conversion to a stock company or benefited from their underwriting results as a result of Donegal Mutual’s entry into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with them and placement of that assumed business into the pooling agreement. We have utilized our strengths and financial position to improve the operations of those underperforming insurance companies. We evaluate a number of areas for operational synergies when considering acquisitions, including product underwriting, expenses, the cost of reinsurance and technology.

We and Donegal Mutual have the ability to employ a number of acquisition and affiliation methods. Our prior acquisitions and affiliations have taken one of the following forms:

•

purchase of all of the outstanding stock of a stock insurance company;

•

purchase of a book of business;

•

quota-share reinsurance transaction;

•

merger of a mutual company into Donegal Mutual; or

•

two-step

acquisition of a mutual insurance company in which:

•

as the first step, Donegal Mutual purchases a surplus note from the mutual insurance company, Donegal Mutual enters into a services agreement with the mutual insurance company and Donegal Mutual’s designees become a majority of the members of the board of directors of the mutual insurance company; and

•

as the second step, the mutual insurance company enters into a quota-share reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual or demutualizes, or converts, into a stock insurance company. Upon the demutualization or conversion, we purchase the surplus note from Donegal Mutual and exchange it for all of the stock of the stock insurance company resulting from the demutualization or conversion.

We believe that our ability to make direct acquisitions of stock insurance companies and to make indirect acquisitions of mutual insurance companies through a sponsored conversion or a quota-share reinsurance agreement provides us with flexibility that is a competitive advantage in making acquisitions. We also believe our historic record demonstrates our ability to acquire control of an underperforming insurance company,

re-underwrite

its book of business, reduce its cost structure and return it to sustained profitability.

While Donegal Mutual and we generally engage in preliminary discussions with potential direct or indirect acquisition candidates from time to time, neither Donegal Mutual nor we make any public disclosure regarding a proposed acquisition until Donegal Mutual or we have entered into a definitive acquisition agreement.

The following table highlights our and Donegal Mutual’s history of insurance company acquisitions and affiliations since 1998:

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Company Name	State of Domicile	Year Control Acquired	Method of Acquisition/Affiliation
Southern Heritage Insurance Company (1)	Georgia	1998	Purchase of stock by us in 1998.

Le Mars Mutual Insurance Company of Iowa and then Le Mars Insurance Company (1)(2)	Iowa	2002	Surplus note investment by Donegal Mutual in 2002; demutualization in 2004; acquisition of stock by us in 2004.

Peninsula Insurance Group	Maryland	2004	Purchase of stock by us in 2004.

Sheboygan Falls Mutual Insurance Company and then Sheboygan Falls Insurance Company (1)(2)	Wisconsin	2007	Contribution note investment by Donegal Mutual in 2007; demutualization in 2008; acquisition of stock by us in 2008.

Southern Mutual Insurance Company (3)	Georgia	2009	Surplus note investment by Donegal Mutual and quota-share reinsurance in 2009.

Michigan Insurance Company	Michigan	2010	Purchase of stock by us and surplus note investment by Donegal Mutual in 2010.

Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company (4)	New Mexico	2017	Merger with and into Donegal Mutual in 2017.

(1)

To reduce administrative and compliance costs and expenses, these subsidiaries subsequently merged into one of our existing insurance subsidiaries.

(2)

Each of these acquisitions initially took the form of an affiliation with Donegal Mutual. Donegal Mutual provided surplus note financing to the insurance company, and, in connection with that financing, sufficient designees of Donegal Mutual were appointed so as to constitute a majority of the members of the board of directors of the insurance company. Donegal Mutual and the insurance company simultaneously entered into a services agreement whereby Donegal Mutual provided services to improve the operations of the insurance company. Once the insurance company’s results of operations improved to the satisfaction of Donegal Mutual, Donegal Mutual sponsored the demutualization of the insurance company. Upon the consummation of the demutualization, Donegal Mutual converted the surplus note to capital stock of the newly demutualized insurance company. We then purchased all of the capital stock of the insurance company from Donegal Mutual and made an additional capital contribution in cash to provide adequate surplus to support the insurance company’s planned premium growth.

(3)

Control acquired by Donegal Mutual.

(4)

Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States insurance subsidiaries became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual places the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool.

•

Providing responsive and friendly customer and agent service to enable our insurance subsidiaries to attract new policyholders and retain existing policyholders.

We believe that excellent policyholder service is important in attracting new policyholders and retaining existing policyholders. Our insurance subsidiaries work closely with their independent agents to provide a consistently responsive level of claims service, underwriting and customer support. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to respond expeditiously and effectively to address customer and independent agent inquiries in a number of ways, including:

•

availability of a customer call center, secure website and mobile application for claims reporting;

•

availability of a secure website and mobile application for access to policy information and documents, payment processing and other features;

•

timely replies to information requests and policy submissions; and

•

prompt responses to, and processing of, claims.

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Our insurance subsidiaries periodically conduct policyholder surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of their service to policyholders. The management of our insurance subsidiaries meets on a regular basis with the personnel of the independent insurance agents our insurance subsidiaries appoint to seek service improvement recommendations, react to service issues and better understand local market conditions.

•

Maintaining premium rate adequacy to enhance the underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries, while maintaining their existing book of business and preserving their ability to write new business.

Our insurance subsidiaries maintain discipline in their pricing by effecting rate increases to sustain or improve their underwriting results without unduly affecting their customer retention. In addition to appropriate pricing, our insurance subsidiaries seek to ensure that their premium rates are adequate relative to the amount of risk they insure. Our insurance subsidiaries review loss trends on a regular basis to identify changes in the frequency and severity of their claims and to assess the adequacy of their rates and underwriting standards. Our insurance subsidiaries also carefully monitor and audit the information they use to price their policies for the purpose of enabling them to receive an adequate level of premiums for the risk they assume. For example, our insurance subsidiaries audit the payroll data of their workers’ compensation customers to verify that the assumptions used to price a particular policy were accurate. By implementing appropriate rate increases and understanding the risks our insurance subsidiaries agree to insure, our insurance subsidiaries seek to achieve consistent underwriting profitability.

•

Focusing on expense controls and utilization of technology to increase the operating efficiency of our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries maintain stringent expense controls under direct supervision of their senior management. We centralize the processing and administrative activities of our insurance subsidiaries to realize operating synergies and better expense control. Our insurance subsidiaries utilize technology to automate much of their underwriting and to facilitate agency and policyholder communications on an efficient, timely and cost-effective basis. Our insurance subsidiaries have increased their annual premium per employee, a measure of efficiency that our insurance subsidiaries use to evaluate their operations, from approximately $470,000 in 1999 to approximately $1.1 million in 2020.

Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries strive to maintain technology comparable to that of their larger competitors. “Ease of doing business” is an increasingly important component of an insurer’s value to an independent agency. Our insurance subsidiaries provide fully automated underwriting and policy issuance systems that substantially ease data entry and facilitate the quoting and issuance of policies for the independent agents of our insurance subsidiaries. As a result, applications of the independent agents for our insurance subsidiaries can result in policy issuance without further

re-entry

of information. These systems also interface with the policy management systems of the independent agents of our insurance subsidiaries.

•

Maintaining a conservative investment approach.

Return on invested assets is an important element of the financial results of our insurance subsidiaries. The investment strategy of our insurance subsidiaries is to generate an appropriate amount of

after-tax

income on invested assets while limiting the potential impact of equity market volatility and minimizing credit risk through investments in high-quality securities. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries seek to invest a high percentage of their assets in diversified, highly rated and marketable fixed-maturity instruments. The fixed-maturity portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries consist of both taxable and

tax-exempt

securities. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain a portion of their portfolios in short-term securities to provide liquidity for the payment of claims and operation of their respective businesses. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain a small percentage (4.8% at December 31, 2020) of their portfolios in equity securities that have a history of paying cash dividends or that our insurance subsidiaries expect will appreciate in value over time.

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Competition

The property and casualty insurance industry is highly competitive on the basis of both price and service. Numerous companies compete for business in the geographic areas where our insurance subsidiaries operate. Many of these other insurance companies are substantially larger and have greater financial resources than those of our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, because our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual market their respective insurance products exclusively through independent insurance agencies, most of which represent more than one insurance company, our insurance subsidiaries face competition within agencies, as well as competition to retain qualified independent agents.

Products and Underwriting

We report the results of our insurance operations in two segments: commercial lines of insurance and personal lines of insurance. The commercial lines our insurance subsidiaries write consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation insurance. The personal lines our insurance subsidiaries write consist primarily of private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance. We describe these lines of insurance in greater detail below:

Commercial

•

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

•

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

•

Workers’ compensation — policies employers purchase to provide benefits to employees for injuries sustained during employment. The workers’ compensation laws of each state determine the extent of the coverage we provide.

Personal

•

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

•

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

In recent years, we have taken actions to shift our business mix to a higher proportion of commercial business, where we believe we have greater opportunities to achieve profitable, sustainable long-term growth. The following table sets forth the net premiums written of our insurance subsidiaries by line of insurance for the periods indicated:

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	Year Ended December 31,
	2020					2019					2018
(dollars in thousands)	Amount		%			Amount		%			Amount		%
Commercial lines:
Automobile	$	135,294		18.2	%	$	122,142		16.2	%	$	108,123		14.5	%
Workers’ compensation		109,960		14.8			113,684		15.1			109,022		14.7
Commercial multi-peril		147,993		19.9			138,750		18.5			117,509		15.8
Other		32,739		4.5			30,303		4.0			15,241		2.0

Total commercial lines		425,986		57.4			404,879		53.8			349,895		47.0

Personal lines:
Automobile		184,602		24.9			210,507		28.0			249,275		33.5
Homeowners		111,886		15.1			117,118		15.5			123,782		16.6
Other		19,666		2.6			20,097		2.7			21,064		2.9

Total personal lines		316,154		42.6			347,722		46.2			394,121		53.0

Total business	$	742,140		100.0	%	$	752,601		100.0	%	$	744,016		100.0	%

The commercial lines and personal lines underwriting departments of our insurance subsidiaries evaluate and select those risks that they believe will enable our insurance subsidiaries to achieve an underwriting profit. The underwriting departments have significant interaction with the independent agents regarding the underwriting philosophy and the underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries. Our underwriting personnel also assist in the development of quality products at competitive prices to promote growth and profitability.

We formally established an enterprise analytics function in early 2019. Our enterprise analytics team is responsible for core functions of ratemaking, predictive analytics, data governance and business intelligence. Those responsibilities include the development and expansion of risk-based pricing segmentation, analytical innovation, predictive modeling solutions, formal data strategies, performance monitoring and enhanced reporting mechanisms.

In order to achieve underwriting profitability on a consistent basis, our insurance subsidiaries:

•

assess and select primarily standard and preferred risks;

•

adhere to disciplined underwriting guidelines; and

•

utilize various types of risk management and loss control services.

Our insurance subsidiaries also review their existing policies and accounts to determine whether those risks continue to meet their underwriting guidelines. If a given policy or account no longer meets those underwriting guidelines, our insurance subsidiaries will take appropriate action regarding that policy or account, including raising premium rates or

non-renewing

the policy to the extent applicable law permits.

As part of the effort of our insurance subsidiaries to maintain acceptable underwriting results, they conduct annual reviews of agencies that have failed to meet their underwriting profitability criteria. The review process includes an analysis of the underwriting and

re-underwriting

practices of the agency, the completeness and accuracy of the applications the agency submits, the adequacy of the training of the agency’s staff and the agency’s record of adherence to the underwriting guidelines and service standards of our insurance subsidiaries. Based on the results of this review process, the marketing and underwriting personnel of our insurance subsidiaries develop, together with the agency, a plan to improve its underwriting profitability. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor the agency’s compliance with the plan and take other measures as required in the judgment of our insurance subsidiaries, including the termination to the extent applicable law permits of agencies that are unable to achieve acceptable underwriting profitability.

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Distribution

Our insurance subsidiaries market their products primarily in the

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern regions through approximately 2,300 independent insurance agencies. At December 31, 2020, the Donegal Insurance Group actively wrote business in

24 states (Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Prior to 2021, Donegal Mutual excluded the business it wrote directly and assumed from the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries in four Southwestern states (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah) from the pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States. As a result, this business had no impact on our results of operations through December 31, 2020. We believe the relationships of our insurance subsidiaries with their independent agents are valuable in identifying, obtaining and retaining profitable business. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain a stringent agency selection procedure that emphasizes appointing agencies with proven marketing strategies for the development of profitable business, and our insurance subsidiaries only appoint agencies with a strong underwriting history and potential growth capabilities. Our insurance subsidiaries also regularly evaluate the independent agencies that represent them based on their profitability and performance in relation to the objectives of our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to be among the top three insurers within each of their agencies for the lines of business our insurance subsidiaries write.

The following table sets forth the percentage of direct premiums our insurance subsidiaries write, including 80% of the direct premiums Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States include in the underwriting pool, in each of the states where they conducted a significant portion of their business in 2020:


Pennsylvania	34.7	%
Michigan	15.2
Maryland	9.3
Georgia	7.2
Virginia	6.9
Delaware	6.5
Wisconsin	3.8
Ohio	3.2
Iowa	2.3
Indiana	2.2
Tennessee	2.1
Other	6.6

Total	100.0	%

Our insurance subsidiaries employ a number of policies and procedures that we believe enable them to attract, retain and motivate their independent agents. We believe that the consistency of the product offerings of our insurance subsidiaries enables our insurance subsidiaries to compete effectively for independent agents with other insurers whose product offerings may fluctuate based upon industry conditions. Our insurance subsidiaries have a competitive compensation program for their independent agents that includes base commissions, growth incentive plans and a profit-sharing plan, consistent with applicable state laws and regulations, under which the independent agents may earn additional commissions based upon the volume of premiums produced and the profitability of the business our insurance subsidiaries receive from that agency.

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Our insurance subsidiaries encourage their independent agents to focus on “account selling,” or serving all of a particular insured’s property and casualty insurance needs, which our insurance subsidiaries believe generally results in more favorable loss experience than covering a single risk for an individual insured.

Technology

Donegal Mutual owns the technology systems our insurance subsidiaries use. The technology systems consist primarily of an integrated central processing computer system, a series of server-based computer networks and various communication systems that allow the home office and branch offices of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries to utilize the same systems for the processing of business. Donegal Mutual maintains backup facilities and systems at the office of one of our insurance subsidiaries and tests these backup facilities and systems on a regular basis. Our insurance subsidiaries bear their proportionate share of information services expenses based on their respective percentage of the total net premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group during the preceding calendar year.

The business strategy of our insurance subsidiaries depends on the use, development and implementation of integrated technology systems. These systems enable our insurance subsidiaries to provide quality service to agents and policyholders by processing business in a timely and efficient manner, communicating and sharing data with agents, providing a variety of methods for the payment of premiums and allowing for the accumulation and analysis of information for the management of our insurance subsidiaries.

We believe the availability and use of these technology systems has resulted in improved service to agents and policyholders, increased efficiencies in processing the business of our insurance subsidiaries and lower operating costs. Key components of these integrated technology systems are the agency interface system, the automated underwriting and policy issuance systems, a claims processing system and an imaging system. The agency interface system provides our insurance subsidiaries with a high level of data sharing both to and from agents’ systems and also provides agents with an integrated means of processing new business. The automated underwriting and policy issuance systems provide agents with the ability to generate underwritten quotes and automatically issue policies that meet the underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries with limited or no intervention by their personnel. The claims processing system allows our insurance subsidiaries to process claims efficiently and in an automated environment. The imaging system eliminates the need to handle paper files, while providing greater access to the same information by a variety of personnel. We believe our agency-facing technology systems compare favorably to those of many national property and casualty insurance carriers in terms of quality and service levels. In 2018, Donegal Mutual initiated a multi-year systems modernization project to replace its remaining legacy systems, streamline our business processes and workflows and enhance our data analytics and modeling capabilities. In February 2020, Donegal Mutual implemented the first release of new systems related to the project, and our insurance subsidiaries began to issue workers’ compensation policies from the new systems in the second quarter of 2020. Over the next several years, Donegal Mutual expects to implement new systems for the remaining lines of business Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries offer currently. The next release of new systems related to the project will include three personal lines of business and is scheduled for phased implementation beginning in the third quarter of 2021.

Claims

The management of claims is a critical component of the philosophy of our insurance subsidiaries to achieve underwriting profitability on a consistent basis and is fundamental to the successful operations of our insurance subsidiaries and their dedication to excellent service. Our senior claims management oversees the claims processing units of each of our insurance subsidiaries to assure consistency in the claims settlement process. The field office staff of our insurance subsidiaries receives support from home office technical, litigation, material damage, subrogation and medical audit personnel.

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The claims departments of our insurance subsidiaries rigorously manage claims to assure that they settle legitimate claims quickly and fairly and that they identify questionable claims for defense. In the majority of cases, the personnel of our insurance subsidiaries, who have significant experience in the property and casualty insurance industry and know the service philosophy of our insurance subsidiaries, adjust claims. Our insurance subsidiaries provide various means of claims reporting on a

24-hours

a day, seven-days a week basis, including toll-free numbers and electronic reporting through our website and mobile application. Our insurance subsidiaries strive to respond to notifications of claims promptly, generally within the day reported. Our insurance subsidiaries believe that, by responding promptly to claims, they provide quality customer service and minimize the ultimate cost of the claims. Our insurance subsidiaries engage independent adjusters as needed to handle claims in areas in which the volume of claims is not sufficient to justify the hiring of internal claims adjusters by our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries also employ private adjusters and investigators, structural experts and outside legal counsel to supplement their internal staff and to assist in the investigation of claims. Our insurance subsidiaries have a special investigative unit primarily staffed by former law enforcement officers that attempts to identify and prevent fraud and abuse and to investigate questionable claims.

The management of the claims departments of our insurance subsidiaries develops and implements policies and procedures for the establishment of adequate claim reserves. Our insurance subsidiaries employ an actuarial staff that regularly reviews their reserves for incurred but not reported claims. The management and staff of the claims departments resolve policy coverage issues, manage and process reinsurance recoveries and handle salvage and subrogation matters. The litigation and personal injury sections of our insurance subsidiaries manage all claims litigation. Branch office claims above certain thresholds require home office review and settlement authorization. Our insurance subsidiaries provide their claims adjusters reserving and settlement authority based upon their experience and demonstrated abilities. Larger or more complicated claims require consultation and approval of senior claims department management.

Liabilities for Losses and Loss Expenses

Liabilities for losses and loss expenses are estimates at a given point in time of the amounts an insurer expects to pay with respect to incurred policyholder claims based on facts and circumstances the insurer knows at that point in time. For example, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover. At the time of establishing its estimates, an insurer recognizes that its ultimate liability for losses and loss expenses will exceed or be less than such estimates. Our insurance subsidiaries base their estimates of liabilities for losses and loss expenses on assumptions as to future loss trends, expected claims severity, judicial theories of liability and other factors. However, during the loss adjustment period, our insurance subsidiaries may learn additional facts regarding individual claims, and, consequently, it often becomes necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to refine and adjust their estimates for these liabilities. We reflect any adjustments to the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries in our consolidated results of operations in the period in which our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments to their estimates.

Our insurance subsidiaries maintain liabilities for the payment of losses and loss expenses with respect to both reported and unreported claims. Our insurance subsidiaries establish these liabilities for the purpose of covering the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation and litigation costs. Our insurance subsidiaries base the amount of their liability for reported losses primarily upon a

case-by-case

evaluation of the type of risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions relating to the type of loss the policyholder incurred. Our insurance subsidiaries determine the amount of their liability for unreported claims and loss expenses on the basis of historical information by line of insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor their liabilities closely and recompute them periodically using new information on reported claims and a variety of statistical techniques. Our insurance subsidiaries do not discount their liabilities for losses and loss expenses.

Reserve estimates can change over time because of unexpected changes in assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment and, to a lesser extent, assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ internal operations. For example, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced an increase in claims severity and a lengthening of the claim

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settlement periods on bodily injury claims during the past several years. In addition, the

COVID-19

pandemic and related government mandates and restrictions resulted in various changes from historical claims reporting and settlement trends during 2020. These trend changes give rise to greater uncertainty as to the pattern of future loss settlements on bodily injury claims. Related uncertainties regarding future trends include social inflation, the rate of plaintiff attorney involvement in claims and the cost of medical technologies and procedures. Assumptions related to our insurance subsidiaries’ external environment include the absence of significant changes in tort law and the legal environment that increase liability exposure, consistency in judicial interpretations of insurance coverage and policy provisions and the rate of loss cost inflation. Internal assumptions include consistency in the recording of premium and loss statistics, consistency in the recording of claims, payment and case reserving methodology, accurate measurement of the impact of rate changes and changes in policy provisions, consistency in the quality and characteristics of business written within a given line of business and consistency in reinsurance coverage and collectability of reinsured losses, among other items. To the extent our insurance subsidiaries determine that underlying factors impacting their assumptions have changed, our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments in their reserves that they consider appropriate for such changes. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses will likely differ from the amount recorded at December 31, 2020. For every 1% change in our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves, net of reinsurance recoverable, the effect on our

pre-tax

results of operations would be approximately $5.6 million.

The establishment of appropriate liabilities is an inherently uncertain process and we can provide no assurance that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability will not exceed our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, we cannot predict the timing, frequency and extent of adjustments to our insurance subsidiaries’ estimated future liabilities, because the historical conditions and events that serve as a basis for our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of ultimate claim costs may change. As is the case for substantially all property and casualty insurance companies, our insurance subsidiaries have found it necessary in the past to increase their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses in certain periods and, in other periods, their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses have exceeded their actual liabilities for losses and loss expenses. Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of their liability for losses and loss expenses generally reflect actual payments and their evaluation of information received subsequent to the prior reporting period. Our insurance subsidiaries recognized a decrease in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $12.9 million in each of 2020 and 2019. Our insurance subsidiaries recognized an increase in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $35.6 million in 2018. Our insurance subsidiaries made no significant changes in their reserving philosophy or claims management personnel, and they have made no significant offsetting changes in estimates that increased or decreased their loss and loss expense reserves in those years. The 2020 development represented 2.6% of the December 31, 2019 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. The majority of the 2020 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2019 development represented 2.7% of the December 31, 2018 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2019. The majority of the 2019 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2018 development represented 9.3% of the December 31, 2017 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from higher-than-expected severity in the commercial multi-peril, personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business, offset by lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, for accident years prior to 2018. The majority of the 2018 development related to increases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and Southern. During 2018, our insurance subsidiaries received new information on previously-reported commercial automobile and personal automobile claims that led our insurance subsidiaries to conclude that their prior actuarial assumptions did not fully anticipate recent changes in severity and reporting trends. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries’ actuaries increased their projections of the ultimate cost of our insurance subsidiaries’ prior-year personal automobile and commercial automobile losses, and our insurance subsidiaries added $17.7 million to their reserves for personal automobile and $20.8 million to their reserves for commercial automobile for accident years prior to 2018.

Excluding the impact of severe weather events and the

COVID-19

pandemic, our insurance subsidiaries have noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base in

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recent years across most of their lines of business. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years due to various factors such as rising medical loss costs and increased litigation trends. We have also experienced a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could have to make further adjustments to their estimates in the future. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses.

Atlantic States’ participation in the underwriting pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business that Donegal Mutual contributes to the underwriting pool. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share proportionately any adverse risk development relating to the pooled business. The business in the underwriting pool is homogeneous, and each company has a

pro-rata

share of the entire underwriting pool. Since the predominant percentage of the business of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual is pooled and the results shared by each company according to its participation level under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than either would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the companies.

Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries operate together as the Donegal Insurance Group and share a combined business plan designed to achieve market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. The products our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual offer are generally complementary, thereby allowing Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broader range of products to a given market and to expand Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries generally relate to specific risk profiles targeted within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier products compared to standard tier products, but we do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. Therefore, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary.

Differences between liabilities reported in our financial statements prepared on a GAAP basis and our insurance subsidiaries’ financial statements prepared on a SAP basis result from anticipating salvage and subrogation recoveries for GAAP but not for SAP. These differences amounted to $21.0 million, $20.2 million and $20.0 million at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the beginning and ending GAAP net liability of our insurance subsidiaries for unpaid losses and loss expenses for the periods indicated:


	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020			2019			2018
Gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at beginning of year	$	869,674		$	814,665		$	676,672
Less reinsurance recoverable		362,768			339,267			293,271

Net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at beginning of year		506,906			475,398			383,401

Provision for net losses and loss expenses for claims incurred in the current year		472,709			519,320			540,827
Change in provision for estimated net losses and loss expenses for claims incurred in prior years		(12,945	)		(12,932	)		35,631

Total incurred		459,764			506,388			576,458

Net losses and loss expense payments for claims incurred during:
The current year		236,984			278,924			308,578
Prior years		172,497			195,956			175,883

Total paid		409,481			474,880			484,461

Net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at end of year		557,189			506,906			475,398
Plus reinsurance recoverable		404,818			362,768			339,267

Gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses at end of year	$	962,007		$	869,674		$	814,665

The following table sets forth the development of the liability for net unpaid losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries from 2010 to 2020. Loss data in the table includes business Atlantic States received from the underwriting pool.

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

The “Net liability

re-estimated

as of” portion of the table shows the

re-estimated

amount of the previously recorded liability based on experience for each succeeding year. The estimate increases or decreases as payments are made and more information becomes known about the severity of the remaining unpaid claims. For example, the 2010 liability has developed a deficiency after ten years because we expect the

re-estimated

net losses and loss expenses to be $989,000 more than the estimated liability we initially established in 2010 of $217.9 million.

The “Cumulative deficiency (excess)” shows the cumulative deficiency or excess at December 31, 2020 of the liability estimate shown on the top line of the corresponding column. A deficiency in liability means that the liability established in prior years was less than the amount of actual payments and currently

re-estimated

remaining unpaid liability. An excess in liability means that the liability established in prior years exceeded the amount of actual payments and currently

re-estimated

unpaid liability remaining.

The “Cumulative amount of liability paid through” portion of the table shows the cumulative net losses and loss expense payments made in succeeding years for net losses incurred prior to the balance sheet date. For example, the 2010 column indicates that at December 31, 2020 payments equal to $213.3 million of the currently

re-estimated

ultimate liability for net losses and loss expenses of $218.9 million had been made.

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	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2010		2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018			2019			2020
Net liability at end of year for unpaid losses and loss expenses	$	217,896	$	243,015	$	250,936	$	265,605	$	292,301	$	322,054	$	347,518	$	383,401	$	475,398		$	506,906		$	557,189
Net liability re-estimated as of:
One year later		217,728		250,611		261,294		280,074		299,501		325,043		354,139		419,032		462,466			493,961
Two years later		217,355		255,612		268,877		281,782		299,919		329,115		375,741		413,535		450,862
Three years later		218,449		257,349		270,473		281,666		304,855		338,118		376,060		404,902
Four years later		218,514		256,460		270,794		284,429		307,840		339,228		372,230
Five years later		218,202		255,660		271,954		285,130		310,354		338,020
Six years later		217,430		256,388		272,553		287,439		310,380
Seven years later		217,703		257,132		274,111		287,063
Eight years later		218,173		257,935		274,472
Nine years later		218,603		258,272
Ten years later		218,885
Cumulative deficiency (excess)		989		15,257		23,536		21,458		18,079		15,966		24,712		21,501		(24,536	)		(12,945	)

Cumulative amount of liability paid through:
One year later	$	96,202	$	119,074	$	126,677	$	131,766	$	131,779	$	149,746	$	163,005	$	175,883	$	195,956		$	172,497
Two years later		148,140		181,288		191,208		194,169		206,637		228,506		250,678		276,331		275,993
Three years later		178,073		217,138		225,956		233,371		251,654		274,235		306,338		317,447
Four years later		195,948		234,392		245,094		255,451		274,248		300,715		324,628
Five years later		203,633		241,538		254,502		265,841		287,178		309,630
Six years later		206,731		245,774		259,437		272,431		292,327
Seven years later		209,527		248,195		263,386		275,357
Eight years later		210,982		250,272		265,026
Nine years later		212,340		251,696
Ten years later		213,333


	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018			2019			2020
Gross liability at end of year	$	458,827	$	495,619	$	538,258	$	578,205	$	606,665	$	676,672	$	814,665		$	869,674		$	962,007
Reinsurance recoverable		207,891		230,014		245,957		256,151		259,147		293,271		339,266			362,768			404,818
Net liability at end of year		250,936		265,605		292,301		322,054		347,518		383,401		475,398			506,906			557,189
Gross re-estimated liability		492,274		519,465		560,090		592,023		629,162		692,908		782,595			838,833
Re-estimated recoverable		217,802		232,402		249,710		254,003		256,932		288,006		331,733			344,872
Net re-estimated liability		274,472		287,063		310,380		338,020		372,230		404,902		450,862			493,961
Gross cumulative deficiency (excess)		33,447		23,846		21,832		13,818		22,497		16,236		(32,070	)		(30,841	)

Third-Party Reinsurance

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual purchase certain third-party reinsurance on a combined basis. Our insurance subsidiaries use several different reinsurers, all of which, consistent with the requirements of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, have an A.M. Best rating of

A-

(Excellent) or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with at least an

A-

(Excellent) rating from A.M. Best.

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The external reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual purchased for 2020 included:

•

excess of loss reinsurance, under which the losses of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries were automatically reinsured, through a series of contracts, over a set retention of $2.0 million; and

•

catastrophe reinsurance, under which Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries recovered, through a series of reinsurance agreements, 100% of an accumulation of many losses resulting from a single event, including natural disasters, over a set retention of $15.0 million up to aggregate losses of $185.0 million per occurrence.

For property insurance, our insurance subsidiaries had excess of loss treaties that provided for coverage of $33.0 million per loss over a set retention of $2.0 million. For liability insurance, our insurance subsidiaries had excess of loss treaties that provided for coverage of $58.0 million per occurrence over a set retention of $2.0 million. For workers’ compensation insurance, our insurance subsidiaries had excess of loss treaties that provided for coverage of $13.0 million on any one life over a set retention of $2.0 million.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also purchased facultative reinsurance to cover certain exposures, including property exposures that exceeded the limits provided by their respective treaty reinsurance.

Investments

At December 31, 2020, 99.8% of all debt securities our insurance subsidiaries held had an investment-grade rating. The investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries did not contain any mortgage loans or any

non-performing

assets at December 31, 2020.

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The following table shows the composition of the debt securities (at carrying value) in the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries, excluding short-term investments, by rating at December 31, 2020:


(dollars in thousands)	December 31, 2020
Rating (1)	Amount		Percent
U.S. Treasury and U.S. agency securities (2)	$	374,483		32.8	%
Aaa or AAA		23,734		2.1
Aa or AA		315,352		27.6
A		211,456		18.5
BBB		214,719		18.8
B		2,001		0.2

Total	$	1,141,745		100.0	%

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

(2)	Includes mortgage-backed securities of $249.2 million.

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Our insurance subsidiaries invest in both taxable and

tax-exempt

securities as part of their strategy to maximize

after-tax

income.

Tax-exempt

securities made up approximately

22.9%, 18.7% and 19.7% of the fixed-maturity securities in the combined investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

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The following table shows the classification of our investments and the investments of our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (at carrying value):


	December 31,
	2020					2019					2018
(dollars in thousands)	Amount		Percent of Total			Amount		Percent of Total			Amount		Percent of Total
Fixed maturities (1) :
Held to maturity:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	77,435		6.3	%	$	82,916		7.5	%	$	76,223		7.4	%
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		312,319		25.6			204,634		18.4			159,292		15.5
Corporate securities		173,270		14.2			156,399		14.1			127,010		12.3
Mortgage-backed securities		23,585		1.9			32,145		2.9			40,274		3.9

Total held to maturity		586,609		48.0			476,094		42.9			402,799		39.1

Available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies		47,815		3.9			19,364		1.7			44,210		4.3
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		68,965		5.7			56,796		5.1			75,216		7.3
Corporate securities		212,708		17.4			159,244		14.3			137,833		13.4
Mortgage-backed securities		225,648		18.5			329,548		29.7			269,299		26.1

Total available for sale		555,136		45.5			564,952		50.8			526,558		51.1

Total fixed maturities		1,141,745		93.5			1,041,046		93.7			929,357		90.2
Equity securities (2)		58,556		4.8			55,477		5.0			43,667		4.2
Investment in affiliate (3)		—		—			—		—			41,026		4.0
Short-term investments (4)		20,901		1.7			14,030		1.3			16,749		1.6

Total investments	$	1,221,202		100.0	%	$	1,110,553		100.0	%	$	1,030,799		100.0	%

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(1)

We refer to Notes 1 and 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. We value those fixed maturities we classify as held to maturity at amortized cost; we value those fixed maturities we classify as available for sale at fair value. The total fair value of fixed maturities we classified as held to maturity was $632.6 million at December 31, 2020, $500.3 million at December 31, 2019 and $405.0 million at December 31, 2018. The amortized cost of fixed maturities we classified as available for sale was $535.0 million at December 31, 2020, $556.8 million at December 31, 2019 and $535.1 million at December 31, 2018.

(2)	We value equity securities at fair value. The total cost of equity securities was $42.4 million at December 31, 2020, $43.4 million at December 31, 2019 and $40.9 million at December 31, 2018.

(3)	We valued our investment in our affiliate at cost, adjusted for our share of earnings and losses of our affiliate as well as changes in equity of our affiliate due to unrealized gains and losses.

(4)	We value short-term investments at cost, which approximates fair value.

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The following table sets forth the maturities (at carrying value) in the fixed maturity portfolio of our insurance subsidiaries at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	December 31,
	2020					2019					2018
(dollars in thousands)	Amount		Percent of Total			Amount		Percent of Total			Amount		Percent of Total
Due in (1) :
One year or less	$	73,166		6.4	%	$	29,209		2.8	%	$	39,282		4.2	%
Over one year through three years		85,805		7.5			71,738		6.9			74,773		8.1
Over three years through five years		111,258		9.8			93,982		9.0			84,987		9.1
Over five years through ten years		341,947		30.0			297,836		28.6			256,267		27.6
Over ten years through fifteen years		139,604		12.2			116,368		11.2			117,875		12.7
Over fifteen years		140,732		12.3			70,220		6.8			46,600		5.0
Mortgage-backed securities		249,233		21.8			361,693		34.7			309,573		33.3

	$	1,141,745		100.0	%	$	1,041,046		100.0	%	$	929,357		100.0	%

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

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As shown above, our insurance subsidiaries held investments in mortgage-backed securities having a carrying value of $249.2 million at December 31, 2020. The mortgage-backed securities consist primarily of investments in governmental agency balloon pools with stated maturities between one and

37 years. The stated maturities of these investments limit the exposure of our insurance subsidiaries to extension risk in the event that interest rates rise and prepayments decline. Our insurance subsidiaries perform an analysis of the underlying loans when evaluating a mortgage-backed security for purchase, and they select those securities that they believe will provide a return that properly reflects the prepayment risk associated with the underlying loans.

The following table sets forth the investment results of our insurance subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2020			2019			2018
Invested assets (1)	$	1,165,878		$	1,070,676		$	1,018,334
Investment income (2)		29,504			29,515			26,908
Average yield		2.5	%		2.8	%		2.6	%
Average tax-equivalent yield		2.7			2.9			2.8

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

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

A.M. Best Rating

Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries have an A.M. Best rating of A (Excellent), based upon the respective current financial condition and historical statutory results of operations of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. We believe that the A.M. Best rating of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries is an important factor in their marketing of their products to their agents and customers. A.M. Best’s ratings are industry ratings based on a comparative analysis of the financial condition and operating performance of insurance companies. A.M. Best’s classifications are A++ and A+ (Superior), A and

A-

(Excellent), B++ and B+ (Good), B and

B-

(Fair), C++ and C+ (Marginal), C and

C-

(Weak), D (Poor), E (Under Regulatory Supervision), F (Liquidation) and S (Suspended). A.M. Best bases its ratings upon factors relevant to the payment of claims of policyholders and are not directed toward the protection of investors in insurance companies. According to A.M. Best, the “Excellent” rating that the Donegal Insurance Group maintains is assigned to those companies that, in A.M. Best’s opinion, have an excellent ability to meet their ongoing insurance obligations.

Regulation

The supervision and regulation of insurance companies consists primarily of the laws and regulations of the various states in which the insurance companies transact business, with the primary regulatory authority being the insurance regulatory authorities in the state of domicile of the insurance company. Such supervision and regulation relate to numerous aspects of an insurance company’s business and financial condition. The primary purpose of such supervision and regulation is the protection of policyholders. The authority of the state insurance departments includes the establishment of standards of solvency that insurers must meet and maintain, the licensing of insurers and insurance agents to do business, the nature of, and limitations on, investments, premium rates for property and casualty insurance, the provisions that insurers must make for current losses and future liabilities, the deposit of securities for the benefit of policyholders, the approval of policy forms, notice requirements for the cancellation of policies and the approval of certain changes in control. State insurance departments also conduct periodic examinations of the affairs of insurance companies and require the filing of annual and other reports relating to the financial condition of insurance companies.

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In addition to state-imposed insurance laws and regulations, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, or the NAIC, maintains a risk-based capital system, or RBC, for assessing the adequacy of the statutory capital and surplus of insurance companies that augments the states’ current fixed dollar minimum capital requirements for insurance companies. At December 31, 2020, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual each exceeded the minimum levels of statutory capital the RBC rules require by a substantial margin.

Generally, every state has guaranty fund laws under which insurers licensed to do business in that state can be assessed on the basis of premiums written by the insurer in that state in order to fund policyholder liabilities of insolvent insurance companies. Under these laws in general, an insurer is subject to assessment, depending upon its market share of a given line of business, to assist in the payment of policyholder claims against insolvent insurers. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have made accruals for their portion of assessments related to such insolvencies based upon the most current information furnished by the guaranty associations.

We are part of an insurance holding company system of which Donegal Mutual is the ultimate controlling person. All of the states in which our insurance companies and Donegal Mutual maintain a domicile have legislation that regulates insurance holding company systems. Each insurance company in the insurance holding company system must register with the insurance supervisory agency of its state of domicile and furnish information concerning the operations of companies within the insurance holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. Pursuant to these laws, the respective insurance departments in which our subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual maintain a domicile may examine our insurance subsidiaries or Donegal Mutual at any time, require disclosure of material transactions by the holding company with another member of the insurance holding company system and require prior notice or prior approval of certain transactions, such as “extraordinary dividends” from the insurance subsidiaries to the holding company. We have insurance subsidiaries domiciled in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Holding Companies Act, which generally applies to Donegal Mutual, us and our insurance subsidiaries, requires that all transactions within an insurance holding company system to which an insurer is a party must be fair and reasonable and that any charges or fees for services performed must be reasonable. Any management agreement, service agreement, cost sharing arrangement and material reinsurance agreement must be filed with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, or the Department, and is subject to the Department’s review. We have filed with the Department the pooling agreement between Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States that established the underwriting pool and all material agreements between Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.

Approval of the applicable insurance commissioner is also required prior to consummation of transactions affecting the control of an insurer. In virtually all states, including the states where our insurance subsidiaries are domiciled, the acquisition of 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock of an insurer or its holding company or the intent to acquire such an interest creates a rebuttable presumption of a change in control. Pursuant to an order issued in April 2003, the Department approved Donegal Mutual’s ownership of up to 70% of our outstanding Class A common stock and Donegal Mutual’s ownership of up to 100% of our outstanding Class B common stock.

Our insurance subsidiaries have the legal obligation under state insurance laws to participate in involuntary insurance programs for automobile insurance, as well as other property and casualty insurance lines, in the states in which they conduct business. These programs include joint underwriting associations, assigned risk plans, fair access to insurance requirements plans, reinsurance facilities, windstorm plans and tornado plans. Legislation establishing these programs requires all companies that write lines covered by these programs to provide coverage, either directly or through reinsurance, for insureds who are unable to obtain insurance in the voluntary market. The legislation creating these programs usually allocates a pro rata portion of risks attributable to such insureds to each company on the basis of the direct premiums it has written in that state or the number of automobiles it insures in that state. Generally, state law requires participation in these programs as a condition to obtaining a certificate of authority. Our loss ratio on insurance we write under these involuntary programs has traditionally been significantly greater than our loss ratio on insurance we voluntarily write in those states.

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Regulatory requirements, including RBC requirements, may impact our insurance subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends. The amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to satisfy regulatory requirements, including RBC requirements, was not significant in relation to our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2020. Generally, the maximum amount that one of our insurance subsidiaries may pay to us as ordinary dividends during any year after notice to, but without prior approval of, the insurance commissioner of its domiciliary state is limited to a stated percentage of that subsidiary’s statutory capital and surplus at December 31 of the preceding fiscal year or the net income of that subsidiary for its preceding fiscal year. Our insurance subsidiaries paid dividends to us of $14.0 million, $4.0 million and $11.0 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. At December 31, 2020, the amount of ordinary dividends our insurance subsidiaries could pay to us during 2021, without the prior approval of their respective domiciliary insurance commissioners, is shown in the following table.


Name of Insurance Subsidiary	Ordinary Dividend Amount
Atlantic States	$	27,979,670
MICO		12,236,054
Peninsula		10,907,098
Southern		300,409

Total	$	51,423,231

Donegal Mutual Insurance Company

Donegal Mutual organized as a mutual fire insurance company in Pennsylvania in 1889. At December 31, 2020, Donegal Mutual had admitted assets of $759.5 million and policyholders’ surplus of $319.4 million. At December 31, 2020, Donegal Mutual had total liabilities of $440.1 million, including reserves for net losses and loss expenses of $187.4 million and unearned premiums of $89.2 million. Donegal Mutual’s investment portfolio of $423.0 million at December 31, 2020 consisted primarily of investment-grade bonds of $183.0 million and its investment in our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock. At December 31, 2020, Donegal Mutual owned 10,267,692 shares, or approximately 42%, of our Class A common stock, which Donegal Mutual carried on its books at $146.7 million, and 4,654,339 shares, or approximately 84%, of our Class B common stock, which Donegal Mutual carried on its books at $66.5 million. We present Donegal Mutual’s financial information in accordance with SAP as the NAIC Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual requires. Donegal Mutual does not, nor is it required to, prepare financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Form

10-K

Report and the documents we incorporate by reference in this Form

10-K

Report contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include certain discussions relating to underwriting, premium and investment income volumes, business strategies, reserves, profitability and business relationships and our other business activities during 2020 and beyond. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “objective,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” “goal” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and our current assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those we anticipate or imply by our forward-looking statements. We cannot control or predict many of the factors that could determine our future financial condition or results of operations. Such factors may include those we describe under “Risk Factors.” The forward-looking statements contained in this Form

10-K

Report reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this Form

10-K

Report. Except as required by law, we do not intend to update, and we assume no responsibility for updating, any forward-looking statements we have made. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Risk Factors

Risks Relating to the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry

Industry trends, such as increasing loss severity due to higher rates of litigation against the insurance industry and individual insurers, the willingness of courts to expand covered causes of loss, rising jury awards, escalating medical costs and other factors may contribute to increased costs and result in ultimate loss settlements that exceed the reserves of our insurance subsidiaries.

Loss severity in the property and casualty insurance industry has increased in recent years, principally driven by factors such as distracted driving, larger court judgments, higher jury awards and increasing medical and automobile repair costs. In addition, many classes of complainants have brought legal actions and proceedings that tend to increase the size of judgments. The propensity of policyholders and third-party claimants to litigate and the willingness of courts to expand causes of loss and the size of awards, to eliminate exclusions and to increase coverage limits may result in ultimate settlements of current and future losses that exceed the loss reserves of our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to catastrophe losses and losses from other severe weather events, which are unpredictable and may adversely affect our results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.

Our property and casualty insurance operations expose us to claims arising from catastrophic events affecting multiple policyholders. Such catastrophic events consist of various natural disasters, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, windstorms, hailstorms, fires and wildfires, landslides, earthquakes, severe winter weather events and

man-made

disasters such as terrorist attacks, explosions and infrastructure failures. Historically, our insurance subsidiaries have experienced weather-related losses from hurricanes and tropical storms in

Mid-Atlantic

and Southern states, tornadoes and hailstorms in

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwestern and Southern states and severe winter weather events in

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwestern and New England states.

Losses from catastrophic events are a function of both the extent of our insurance subsidiaries’ exposures, the frequency and severity of the events themselves and the level of reinsurance coverage our insurance subsidiaries purchase. Our ability to appropriately manage catastrophe risk depends partially on catastrophe models, which may be affected by inaccurate or incomplete data, the uncertainty of the frequency and severity of future events and the uncertain impact of climate change. The underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries are subject to weather and other conditions that may adversely affect our financial condition, liquidity or results of operations. Because the occurrence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable and may vary significantly from year to year and region to region, our historical results of operations may not be indicative of our future results of operations. Our insurance subsidiaries seek to reduce their exposure to catastrophe losses through their underwriting strategies and their purchase of catastrophe reinsurance. Nevertheless, reinsurance may prove inadequate under certain circumstances.

The increased frequency and severity of weather-related catastrophes and other losses, such as from wildfires, incurred by the industry in 2020 and in prior years may be indicative of changing weather patterns due to climate change. While the emerging science regarding climate change and its connection to extreme weather events continues to be studied, climate change, to the extent it produces rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns, could affect the frequency and severity of weather events and wildfires and thus impact the affordability and availability of catastrophe reinsurance coverage for our insurance subsidiaries. In particular, increased weather-related catastrophes in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries operate would lead to higher overall losses if they were unable to offset such losses through pricing actions.

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Our insurance subsidiaries must establish premium rates and loss and loss expense reserves from forecasts of the ultimate costs they expect will arise from risks underwritten during the policy period, and the profitability of our insurance subsidiaries could be adversely affected if their premium rates or reserves are insufficient to satisfy their ultimate costs.

One of the distinguishing features of the property and casualty insurance industry is that it prices its products before it knows its costs, since insurers generally establish their premium rates before they know the amount of losses they will incur. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries establish premium rates from forecasts of the ultimate costs they expect to arise from risks they have underwritten during the policy period. These premium rates may not be sufficient to cover the ultimate losses our insurance subsidiaries incur. Further, our insurance subsidiaries must establish reserves for losses and loss expenses as balance sheet liabilities based upon estimates involving actuarial and statistical projections at a given time of what our insurance subsidiaries expect their ultimate liability to be. Significant periods of time often elapse between the occurrence of an insured loss, the reporting of the loss and the settlement of that loss. It is possible that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability could exceed these estimates because of the future development of known losses, the existence of losses that have occurred but are currently unreported and larger than historical settlements of pending and unreported claims. The process of estimating reserves is inherently judgmental and can be influenced by a number of factors, including the following:

•

trends in claim frequency and severity;

•

changes in operations;

•

emerging economic and social trends;

•

inflation; and

•

changes in the regulatory and litigation environments.

If our insurance subsidiaries determine that their reserves are insufficient to cover their ultimate liability, they will increase their reserves. An increase in reserves results in an increase in losses and a reduction in net income for the period in which our insurance subsidiaries recognize a deficiency in reserves. Accordingly, an increase in reserves may adversely impact the business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

The financial results of our insurance subsidiaries depend primarily on their ability to underwrite risks effectively and to charge adequate rates to policyholders.

The financial condition, cash flows and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries depend on their ability to underwrite and set rates accurately for a full spectrum of risks across a number of lines of insurance. Rate adequacy is necessary to generate sufficient premium to pay losses, loss adjustment expenses and underwriting expenses and to realize a profit.

The ability to underwrite and set rates effectively is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including:

•

the availability of sufficient, reliable data;

•

the ability to conduct a complete and accurate analysis of available data;

•

the ability to recognize in a timely manner changes in trends and to project both the severity and frequency of losses with reasonable accuracy;

•

uncertainties generally inherent in estimates and assumptions;

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•

the ability to project changes in certain operating expense levels with reasonable certainty;

•

the development, selection and application of appropriate rating formulae or other pricing methodologies;

•

the effective development and appropriate use of modeling tools to assist with correctly and consistently achieving the intended results in underwriting and pricing;

•

the ability to innovate with new pricing strategies and the success of those innovations on implementation;

•

the ability to secure regulatory approval of premium rates on an adequate and timely basis;

•

the ability to predict policyholder retention accurately;

•

unanticipated court decisions, legislation or regulatory action;

•

unanticipated changes in our claim settlement practices;

•

changes in driving patterns for auto exposures;

•

changes in weather patterns for property exposures;

•

changes in the medical sector of the economy that impact bodily injury loss costs;

•

changes in auto repair costs, auto parts prices and used car prices;

•

the impact of emerging technologies, including driver assistance technologies and autonomous vehicles, on pricing, insurance coverages and loss costs;

•

the impact of inflation and other factors on the cost and availability of construction materials and labor;

•

the ability to monitor property concentration in catastrophe-prone areas, such as hurricane, earthquake and wind/hail regions; and

•

the general state of the economy in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries operate.

Such risks may result in our insurance subsidiaries basing their premium rates on inadequate or inaccurate data or inappropriate assumptions or methodologies and may cause our estimates of future changes in the frequency or severity of claims to be incorrect. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries could underprice risks, which would negatively affect our margins, or our insurance subsidiaries could overprice risks, which could reduce their premium volume and competitiveness. In either event, underpricing or overpricing risks could adversely impact our operating results, financial condition and cash flows.

The pace of innovation within the insurance industry is rapidly increasing, and our insurance subsidiaries may be unable to effectively implement new technologies and anticipate changes in customer preferences and insurance needs, which could put our insurance subsidiaries at a competitive disadvantage and adversely affect their future profitability.

Innovation, recent technological developments, changing customer demographics and preferences and emerging technologies are greatly impacting the insurance industry. Our insurance subsidiaries compete with much larger insurers that are focused on implementing technology and innovative solutions to select and price risks, enhance the experience of their customers and improve their operations. If our insurance subsidiaries are unable to anticipate changes in customer expectations and keep pace with the technological changes their competitors implement, our insurance subsidiaries may not be able to attract and maintain quality accounts, adequately price risks or operate as efficiently as their competitors. In addition, emerging

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technologies such as autonomous vehicles, driver-assistance and accident avoidance features on vehicles, sensor technology and other forms of automation may reduce the future need for, or decrease the future pricing of, the insurance products our insurance subsidiaries offer.

Loss or significant restriction of the use of credit scoring in the pricing and underwriting of the personal lines insurance products by our insurance subsidiaries could adversely affect their future profitability.

Our insurance subsidiaries use credit scoring as a factor in making risk selection and pricing decisions for personal lines insurance products where allowed by state law. There is increasing regulatory debate as to whether use of credit scoring unfairly discriminates against people with low incomes, minority groups and the elderly. Consumer groups and regulators often call for the prohibition or restriction on the use of credit scoring in underwriting and pricing. Laws or regulations that significantly curtail the use of credit scoring in the underwriting process could reduce the future profitability of our insurance subsidiaries.

Changes in applicable insurance laws or regulations or changes in the way insurance regulators administer those laws or regulations could adversely affect the operating environment of our insurance subsidiaries and increase their exposure to loss or put them at a competitive disadvantage.

Property and casualty insurers are subject to extensive supervision in their domiciliary states and in the states in which they do business. This regulatory oversight includes matters relating to:

•

licensing and examination;

•

approval of premium rates;

•

market conduct;

•

policy forms;

•

limitations on the nature and amount of certain investments;

•

claims practices;

•

mandated participation in involuntary markets and guaranty funds;

•

reserve adequacy;

•

insurer solvency;

•

transactions between affiliates;

•

the amount of dividends that insurers may pay; and

•

restrictions on underwriting standards.

Such regulation and supervision are primarily for the benefit and protection of policyholders rather than stockholders.

The NAIC and state insurance regulators

re-examine

existing laws and regulations from time to time, specifically focusing on areas such as:

•

insurance company investments;

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•

issues relating to the solvency of insurance companies;

•

risk-based capital guidelines;

•

restrictions on the terms and conditions included in insurance policies;

•

certain methods of accounting;

•

reserves for unearned premiums, losses and other purposes;

•

the values at which insurance companies may carry investment securities and the definition of other-than-temporary impairment of investment securities; and

•

interpretations of existing laws and the development of new laws.

Changes in state laws and regulations, as well as changes in the way state regulators view related-party transactions in particular, could change the operating environment of our insurance subsidiaries and have an adverse effect on their business.

Insurance companies are subject to assessments, based on their market share in a given line of business, to assist in the payment of unpaid claims and related costs of insolvent insurance companies. Such assessments could adversely affect the financial condition of our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries are subject to assessments pursuant to the guaranty fund laws of the various states in which they conduct business. Generally, under these laws, our insurance subsidiaries can be assessed, depending upon the market share of our insurance subsidiaries in a given line of insurance business, to assist in the payment of unpaid claims and related costs of insolvent insurance companies in those states. For example, our insurance subsidiaries were assessed approximately $800,000 in 2018 pursuant to the guaranty fund laws of Pennsylvania to assist in the payment of unpaid claims and related costs of insolvent insurance companies in that state. We cannot predict the number and magnitude of future insurance company failures in the states in which our insurance subsidiaries conduct business, but future assessments could adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

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Risks Relating to Us and Our Business

The emergence of

COVID-19

has affected the business operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, and economic disruption related to the ongoing

COVID-19

pandemic may adversely affect our revenues, profitability, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity and financial condition.

During 2020, the

COVID-19

pandemic resulted in significant disruptions in economic activity throughout our operating regions. We cannot predict at this time the ultimate impact that the economic and financial disruption related to the ongoing

COVID-19

pandemic or any other future pandemic will have on us. Risks related to

COVID-19

or a future pandemic include, but are not limited to, the following:

•

The business operations or a specific operational function of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual could be disrupted by the illness of significant numbers of their employees and remedial efforts that would be required upon discovery of exposure to a communicable illness within their facilities.

•

The business operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are dependent upon technology systems for which regular physical access is required to maintain critical operational capabilities. The business operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual would be adversely impacted by government mandates requiring closure of facilities where those technology systems are located or restricting physical access to such facilities.

•

The revenues of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may decrease as a result of reduced demand for their insurance products as economic disruption adversely impacts current and potential insurance customers.

•

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may incur an increase in their losses and loss expenses in certain lines of business as a result of

COVID-19

or a future pandemic and related economic disruption, and such losses and loss expenses may exceed the reserves our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have established or may establish in the future.

•

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may incur increased costs related to legal disputes over policy coverages or exclusions and their defense against litigation related to

COVID-19

or a future pandemic.

•

Legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover.

•

Legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may require our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to reduce or refund premiums, suspend cancellation of policies for

non-payment

of premiums or otherwise grant extended grace periods and time allowances for the payment of premium balances due to them.

•

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may not be able to collect premium balances due to them, resulting in reduced operating cash flows and an increase in premium write-offs that would increase their operating expenses.

•

Our insurance subsidiaries may suffer declines in the market values of their investments as a result of financial market volatility related to pandemic concerns and related economic disruption.

•

Our insurance subsidiaries may experience declines in investment income as a result of lower interest rates that may be available upon reinvestment of the proceeds of maturing investments.

•

Economic disruption related to

COVID-19

or a future pandemic could result in significant declines in the credit quality of issuers, ratings downgrades or changes in financial market conditions and regulatory changes that might adversely impact the value of the fixed-maturity investments that our insurance subsidiaries own.

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Donegal Mutual is our controlling stockholder. Donegal Mutual and its directors and executive officers have potential conflicts of interest between the best interests of our stockholders and the best interests of the policyholders of Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual controls the election of all of the members of our board of directors. Six of the eleven members of our board of directors are also directors of Donegal Mutual. Donegal Mutual and we share the same executive officers. These common directors and executive officers have a fiduciary duty to our stockholders and also have a fiduciary duty to the policyholders of Donegal Mutual. Among the potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these separate fiduciary duties are the following:

•

We and Donegal Mutual periodically review the percentage participation of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual in the underwriting pool that Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States have maintained since 1986;

•

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual annually review and then establish the terms of certain reinsurance agreements between our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual;

•

We and Donegal Mutual periodically allocate certain shared expenses among ourselves and our insurance subsidiaries in accordance with various inter-company expense-sharing agreements; and

•

We and our insurance subsidiaries may enter into other transactions or contractual relationships with Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual has sufficient voting power to determine the outcome of substantially all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval.

Each share of our Class A common stock has

one-tenth

of a vote per share and generally votes as a single class with our Class B common stock. Each share of our Class B common stock has one vote per share and generally votes as a single class with our Class A common stock. Donegal Mutual has the right to vote approximately 71% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock and has sufficient voting control to and has acted to:

•

elect all of the members of our board of directors, who determine our management and policies; and

•

control the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders for approval, including mergers or other acquisition proposals and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, in each case regardless of how all of our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual vote their shares.

The interests of Donegal Mutual in maintaining this greater-than-majority voting control of us may have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock and the price of our Class B common stock because of the absence of any potential “takeover” premium and may, therefore, be inconsistent with the interests of our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual.

Donegal Mutual’s majority voting control of us, certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and

by-laws

and certain provisions of Delaware law make it remote that anyone could acquire actual control of us unless Donegal Mutual were in favor of another person’s acquisition of control of us.

Donegal Mutual’s majority voting control of us, certain anti-takeover provisions in our certificate of incorporation and

by-laws

and certain provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, could delay or prevent the removal of members of our board of directors and could make a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us more expensive as well as unlikely to succeed, even if such events were in the best interests of our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual. These factors could also discourage a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. In particular, our certificate of incorporation and

by-laws

include the following anti-takeover provisions:

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•

our board of directors is classified into three classes, so that our stockholders elect only

one-third

of the members of our board of directors each year;

•

our stockholders may remove our directors only for cause;

•

our stockholders may not take stockholder action except at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;

•

the request of stockholders holding at least 20% of the combined voting power of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock is required for a stockholder to call a special meeting of our stockholders;

•

our

by-laws

require that stockholders provide advance notice to us to nominate candidates for election to our board of directors or to propose any other item of stockholder business at a stockholders’ meeting;

•

we do not permit cumulative voting rights in the election of our directors;

•

our certificate of incorporation does not provide for preemptive rights in connection with any issuance of securities by us; and

•

our board of directors may issue, without stockholder approval unless otherwise required by law, preferred stock with such terms as our board of directors may determine.

We have authorized preferred stock that we could issue without stockholder approval to make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us.

We have 2.0 million authorized shares of preferred stock that we could issue in one or more series without further stockholder approval, unless the DGCL or the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market otherwise require, and upon such terms and conditions, and having such rights, privileges and preferences, as our board of directors may determine. Our potential issuance of preferred stock may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us.

Because we are an insurance holding company, no person can acquire or seek to acquire a 10% or greater interest in us without first obtaining approval of the insurance commissioners of the states of domicile of each of our insurance subsidiaries.

We own insurance subsidiaries domiciled in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and Donegal Mutual owns or controls insurance companies domiciled in Georgia and New Mexico. The insurance laws of each of these states provide that no person can acquire or seek to acquire a 10% or greater interest in us without first filing specified information with the insurance commissioners of those states and obtaining the prior approval of the proposed acquisition of a 10% or greater interest in us by each of the state insurance commissioners based on statutory standards designed to protect the safety and soundness of us and our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual currently conduct business in a limited number of states, with a concentration of business in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, Georgia and Virginia. Any single catastrophe occurrence or other condition affecting losses in these states could adversely affect the results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual conduct business in 24 states located primarily in the

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. A substantial portion of their business consists of private passenger and commercial automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation insurance in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, Georgia and Virginia. While our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual actively manage their respective exposure to catastrophes through their underwriting processes and the purchase of reinsurance, a single catastrophic occurrence, destructive weather pattern, general economic trend, terrorist attack, regulatory development or other

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condition affecting one or more of the states in which our insurance subsidiaries conduct substantial business could materially adversely affect their business, financial condition and results of operations. Common catastrophic events include hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, wind and hailstorms, fires, explosions and severe winter storms.

If the independent agents who market the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual do not maintain their current levels of premium writing with us and Donegal Mutual, fail to comply with established underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual or otherwise inappropriately market the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries could be adversely affected.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual market their insurance products solely through a network of approximately 2,300 independent insurance agencies. This agency distribution system is one of the most important components of the competitive profile of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual depend to a material extent upon their independent agents, each of whom has the authority to bind one or more of our insurance subsidiaries or Donegal Mutual to insurance coverage. To the extent that such independent agents’ marketing efforts fail to result in the maintenance of their current levels of volume and quality or they bind our insurance subsidiaries or Donegal Mutual to unacceptable insurance risks, fail to comply with the established underwriting guidelines of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual or otherwise inappropriately market the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries could suffer.

The business of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may not continue to grow and may be materially adversely affected if our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual cannot retain existing, and attract new, independent agents or if insurance consumers increase their use of insurance distribution channels other than independent agents.

The ability of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to retain existing, and to attract new, independent agents is essential to the continued growth of the business of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. If independent agents find it easier to do business with the competitors of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual could find it difficult to retain their existing business or to attract new business. While our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual believe they maintain good relationships with the independent agents they have appointed, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual cannot be certain that these independent agents will continue to sell the products of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to the consumers these independent agents represent. Some of the factors that could adversely affect the ability of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to retain existing, and attract new, independent agents include:

•

the significant competition among insurance companies to attract independent agents;

•

the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of selecting new independent agents;

•

the insistence of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual that independent agents adhere to certain standards;

•

the ability of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual to pay competitive and attractive commissions, bonuses and other incentives to independent agents; and

•

the ongoing consolidation of independent agencies, which may result in the acquisition of independent agencies from which our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual currently receive business by larger entities with which our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual do not have business relationships.

While our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual sell insurance to policyholders solely through their network of independent agencies, many competitors of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual sell insurance through a variety of

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delivery methods, including independent agencies, captive agencies and direct sales. To the extent that current and potential policyholders change their distribution channel preference, the business, financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries may be adversely affected.

We are dependent on dividends from our insurance subsidiaries for the payment of our operating expenses and dividends to our stockholders; however, there are regulatory restrictions and business considerations that may limit the amount of dividends our insurance subsidiaries may pay to us.

As a holding company, we rely primarily on dividends from our insurance subsidiaries as a source of funds to meet our corporate obligations and to pay dividends to our stockholders. The amount of dividends our insurance subsidiaries can pay to us is subject to regulatory restrictions and depends on the amount of surplus our insurance subsidiaries maintain. From time to time, the NAIC and various state insurance regulators consider modifying the method of determining the amount of dividends that an insurance company may pay without prior regulatory approval. The maximum amount of ordinary dividends that our insurance subsidiaries can pay to us in 2021 without prior regulatory approval is approximately $51.4 million. Other business and regulatory considerations, such as the impact of dividends on surplus that could affect the ratings of our insurance subsidiaries, competitive conditions, RBC requirements, the investment results of our insurance subsidiaries and the amount of premiums that our insurance subsidiaries write could also adversely impact the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.

If A.M. Best downgrades the rating it has assigned to Donegal Mutual or any of our insurance subsidiaries, it would adversely affect their competitive position.

Industry ratings are a factor in establishing and maintaining the competitive position of insurance companies. A.M. Best, an industry-accepted source of insurance company financial strength ratings, rates Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. A.M. Best ratings provide an independent opinion of an insurance company’s financial health and its ability to meet its obligations to its policyholders. We believe that the financial strength rating of A.M. Best is material to the operations of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. For example, certain lenders require customers to purchase insurance from an insurance carrier that has received an A.M. Best rating that exceeds a certain level. Currently, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries each have an A (Excellent) rating from A.M. Best. In February 2019, A.M. Best revised its rating outlook from stable to negative as a result of the decline in the operating performance of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries in 2017 and 2018. In March 2021, A.M. Best affirmed its A (Excellent) ratings of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. However, if A.M. Best were to downgrade the rating of Donegal Mutual or any of our insurance subsidiaries, it would adversely affect the competitive position of Donegal Mutual or that insurance subsidiary and make it more difficult for it to market its products and retain its existing policyholders.

The growth and profitability of our insurance subsidiaries depend, in part, on the effective maintenance and ongoing development of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems, and the allocation of related costs to our insurance subsidiaries may adversely impact their profitability.

Our insurance subsidiaries utilize Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems to conduct their insurance business, including policy quoting and issuance, claims processing, processing of incoming premium payments and other important functions. As a result, the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to grow their business and conduct profitable operations depends on Donegal Mutual’s ability to maintain its existing information technology systems and to develop new technology systems that will support the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries in a cost-efficient manner and provide information technology capabilities equivalent to those of our competitors. The allocation among our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual of the costs of developing and maintaining Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems may adversely impact our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio and underwriting profitability, and such costs may exceed Donegal Mutual’s and our expectations.

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Donegal Mutual is currently in the midst of a multi-year effort to modernize certain of its key infrastructure and applications systems. These new systems are intended to provide various benefits to Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries, including streamlined workflows and business processes, service enhancements for their agents and policyholders, opportunities to implement new product models and innovative business solutions, greater utilization of data analytics and operational efficiencies. Our insurance subsidiaries began to issue workers’ compensation policies from the new systems in the second quarter of 2020. Over the next several years, Donegal Mutual expects to implement new systems for the remaining lines of business that Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries offer currently. The next release of new systems related to the project will include three personal lines of business and is scheduled for phased implementation beginning in the third quarter of 2021. Even with Donegal Mutual’s and our best planning and efforts and the involvement of third-party experts, Donegal Mutual may not complete the implementation of these new systems within its planned time frames or budget. Further, Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems may not deliver the benefits Donegal Mutual and we expect and may fail to keep pace with our competitors’ information technology systems. As a result, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries may not have the ability to grow their business and meet their profitability objectives.

Our strategy to grow in part through acquisitions of other insurance companies exposes us to risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The affiliation with, and acquisition of, other insurance companies involves risks that could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. The risks associated with these affiliations and acquisitions include:

•

the potential inadequacy of reserves for losses and loss expenses of the other insurer;

•

the need to supplement management of the other insurer with additional experienced personnel;

•

conditions imposed by regulatory agencies that make the realization of cost-savings through integration of the operations of the other insurer with our operations more difficult;

•

our management’s lack of familiarity with the geography, demographics and distribution systems in the markets the other insurer serves that cause the other insurer to fail to meet the growth and profitability objectives we anticipated at the time of the acquisition or affiliation;

•

the need of the other insurer for additional capital that we did not anticipate at the time of the acquisition or affiliation; and

•

the use of more of our management’s time in improving the operations of the other insurer than we originally anticipated.

If we cannot obtain sufficient capital to fund the organic growth of our insurance subsidiaries and to make acquisitions, we may not be able to expand our business.

Our strategy is to expand our business through the organic growth of our insurance subsidiaries and through our strategic acquisitions of regional insurance companies. Our insurance subsidiaries may require additional capital in the future to support this strategy. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital on satisfactory terms and conditions, we may not be able to expand the business of our insurance subsidiaries or to make future acquisitions. Our ability to obtain additional financing will depend on a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. For example, we may not be able to obtain additional debt or equity financing because we or our insurance subsidiaries may already have substantial debt at the time, because we or our insurance subsidiaries do not have sufficient cash flow to service or repay our existing or additional debt or because financial institutions are not making financing available. In addition, any equity capital we obtain in the future could be dilutive to our existing stockholders.

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Competition within the property and casualty insurance industry may adversely impact the revenues and profit margins of our insurance subsidiaries.

The property and casualty insurance industry is intensely competitive. Competition can be based on many factors, including:

•

the perceived financial strength of the insurer;

•

premium rates;

•

policy terms and conditions;

•

policyholder service;

•

reputation; and

•

experience.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual compete with many regional and national property and casualty insurance companies, including direct sellers of insurance products, insurers having their own agency organizations and other insurers represented by independent agents. Many of these insurers have greater capital than our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual, have substantially greater financial, technical and operating resources and have equal or higher ratings from A.M. Best than our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. In addition, our competitors may become increasingly better capitalized in the future as the property and casualty insurance industry continues to consolidate.

The greater capitalization of many of the competitors of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual enables them to operate with lower profit margins and, therefore, allows them to market their products more aggressively, to take advantage more quickly of new marketing opportunities and to offer lower premium rates. In addition to established insurers, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual compete with a growing number of

start-ups,

some of which have received substantial infusions of capital, that seek to disrupt traditional business platforms and distribution channels. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may not be able to maintain their current competitive position in the markets in which they operate if their competitors offer prices for their products that are lower than the prices our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are prepared to offer. Moreover, if these competitors lower the price of their products and our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual meet their pricing, the profit margins and revenues of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual may decrease and their ratios of claims and expenses to premiums may increase. All of these factors could materially adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries and their A.M. Best ratings.

The investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of fixed-income securities; therefore, the investment income and the fair value of the investment portfolios of our insurance subsidiaries could decrease as a result of a number of factors.

Our insurance subsidiaries invest the premiums they receive from their policyholders and maintain investment portfolios that consist primarily of fixed-income securities. The effective management of these investment portfolios is an important component of the profitability of our insurance subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries derive a significant portion of their operating income from the income they receive on their invested assets. A number of factors may affect the quality and/or yield of their investment portfolios, including the general economic and business environment, government monetary policy, changes in the credit quality of the issuers of the fixed-income securities our insurance subsidiaries own, changes in market conditions and regulatory changes. The fixed-income securities our insurance subsidiaries own consist primarily of securities issued by domestic entities that are backed by either the credit or collateral of the underlying issuer. Factors such as an economic downturn, disruption in the credit market or the availability of credit, a regulatory change pertaining to a particular issuer’s industry, a significant deterioration in the cash flows of the issuer or a change in the issuer’s marketplace may adversely affect the ability of our insurance subsidiaries to collect principal and interest from the issuer in which they invest.

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The investments of our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk resulting from interest rate fluctuations. Increasing interest rates or a widening in the spread between interest rates available on U.S. Treasury securities and corporate debt or asset-backed securities, for example, will typically have an adverse impact on the market values of fixed-rate securities. If interest rates remain at historically low levels, our insurance subsidiaries will generally have a lower overall rate of return on investments of cash their operations generate. In addition, in the event of the call or maturity of investments in a low interest rate environment, our insurance subsidiaries may not be able to reinvest the proceeds in securities with comparable interest rates. Changes in interest rates may reduce both the profitability and the return on the invested capital of our insurance subsidiaries.

We and our insurance subsidiaries depend on key personnel. The loss of any member of our executive management or the senior management of our insurance subsidiaries could negatively affect the continuation of our business strategies and achievement of our growth objectives.

The loss of, or failure to attract, key personnel could significantly impede our financial plans, growth, marketing and other objectives and those of our insurance subsidiaries. The continued success of our insurance subsidiaries depends to a substantial extent on the ability and experience of their senior management. Our insurance subsidiaries and we believe that our future success is dependent on our ability to attract and retain additional skilled and qualified personnel and to expand, train and manage our employees. We and Donegal Mutual have employment agreements with our senior officers, including all of our named executive officers.

The reinsurance agreements on which our insurance subsidiaries rely do not relieve our insurance subsidiaries from their primary liability to their policyholders, and our insurance subsidiaries face a risk of

non-payment

from their reinsurers as well as the

non-availability

of reinsurance in the future.

Our insurance subsidiaries rely on reinsurance agreements to limit their maximum net loss from large single catastrophic risks or excess of loss risks in areas where our insurance subsidiaries may have a concentration of policyholders. Reinsurance also enables our insurance subsidiaries to increase their capacity to write insurance because it has the effect of leveraging the surplus of our insurance subsidiaries. Although the reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries maintain provides that the reinsurer is liable to them for any reinsured losses, the reinsurance agreements do not generally relieve our insurance subsidiaries from their primary liability to their policyholders if the reinsurer fails to pay the reinsurance claims of our insurance subsidiaries. To the extent that a reinsurer is unable to pay losses for which it is liable to our insurance subsidiaries, our insurance subsidiaries remain liable for such losses. At December 31, 2020, our insurance subsidiaries had approximately $129.5 million of reinsurance receivables from third-party reinsurers relating to paid and unpaid losses. Any insolvency or inability of these reinsurers to make timely payments to our insurance subsidiaries under the terms of their reinsurance agreements would adversely affect the results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

Michigan law requires MICO to provide certain medical benefits under the personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage of the personal automobile and commercial automobile policies it writes in the State of Michigan. Michigan law also requires MICO to be a member of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, or MCCA, in order to write automobile insurance. The MCCA receives funding through assessments that its members collect from policyholders in the state and provides reinsurance for PIP claims that exceed a set retention. At December 31, 2020, MICO had approximately $70.8 million of reinsurance receivables from MCCA relating to paid and unpaid losses. The MCCA has generated significant operating deficits in recent years. Although we currently consider the risk to be remote, should the MCCA be unable to fulfill its payment obligations to MICO in the future, MICO’s financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

In addition, our insurance subsidiaries face a risk of the

non-availability

of reinsurance or an increase in reinsurance costs that could adversely affect their ability to write business or their results of operations. Market conditions beyond the control of our insurance subsidiaries, such as the amount of surplus in the reinsurance market and the frequency and severity of natural

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and

man-made

catastrophes, affect both the availability and the cost of the reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries purchase. If our insurance subsidiaries cannot maintain their current level of reinsurance or purchase new reinsurance protection in amounts that our insurance subsidiaries consider sufficient, our insurance subsidiaries would either have to accept an increase in their net risk retention or reduce their insurance writings, either of which could adversely affect them.

The disruption or failure of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems or the compromise of the security of those systems that results in the theft or misuse of confidential information could materially impact adversely the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.

Our insurance subsidiaries’ business operations depend significantly upon the availability and successful operation of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems. In addition, in the normal course of their operations, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries collect, utilize and maintain confidential information regarding individuals and businesses. While Donegal Mutual has established various security measures to protect its information technology systems and confidential data, unanticipated computer viruses, malware, power outages, unauthorized access or other cyberattacks could disrupt those systems or result in the misappropriation or loss of confidential data. Donegal Mutual could experience technology system failures or other outages that would impact the availability of its information technology systems. Donegal Mutual has experienced brief disruptions of systems in the past, including those systems that allow underwriting and processing of new policies. Disruption in the availability of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems could affect the ability of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries to underwrite and process their policies timely, process and settle claims promptly and provide expected levels of customer service to agents and policyholders.

While Donegal Mutual has identified threats to the security of its information technology systems, Donegal Mutual and we are unaware of any significant breach of the security measures Donegal Mutual maintains. A significant breach of the security of Donegal Mutual’s information technology systems that results in the misappropriation or misuse of confidential information could damage the business reputation of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries and could expose Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries to litigation. The financial impact to Donegal Mutual, us and our insurance subsidiaries of a significant breach could be material.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

The price of our common stock may be adversely affected by its low trading volume.

Our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock have limited liquidity. Reported average daily trading volume for our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock for the year ended December 31, 2020 was approximately 39,854

shares and approximately

388 shares, respectively. This limited liquidity could subject our shares of Class A common stock and our shares of Class B common stock to greater price volatility.

Donegal Mutual’s majority voting control of our stock, anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation and

by-laws

and certain state laws make it unlikely anyone could acquire control of us unless Donegal Mutual were in favor of the acquisition of control.

Donegal Mutual’s ownership of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, certain anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation and

by-laws,

certain provisions of Delaware law and the insurance laws and regulations of Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia could delay or prevent the removal of members of our board of directors and could make it more difficult for a merger, tender offer or proxy contest involving us to succeed, even if our stockholders other than Donegal Mutual believed any of such events would be beneficial to them. These factors could also discourage a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. The classification of our board of directors could also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in our control.

In addition, we have 2,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock that we could issue in one or more series without stockholder approval, to the extent applicable law permits, and upon such terms and conditions, and having such rights, privileges and preferences, as our board of directors may determine. Our ability to issue preferred stock could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us. We have no current plans to issue any preferred stock.

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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

We have no unresolved written comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission staff regarding our filings under the Exchange Act.

Item 2. Properties.

We and our insurance subsidiaries share administrative headquarters with Donegal Mutual in a building in Marietta, Pennsylvania that Donegal Mutual owns. Donegal Mutual charges us and our insurance subsidiaries for an appropriate portion of the building expenses under an inter-company allocation agreement. The Marietta headquarters has approximately 270,000 square feet of office space. Southern owns a facility of approximately 10,000 square feet in Glen Allen, Virginia. Atlantic States owns a facility of approximately 25,500 square feet in Le Mars, Iowa and a facility of approximately 8,800 square feet in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.

Item 3. Legal

Proceedings.

Our insurance subsidiaries are parties to routine litigation that arises in the ordinary course of their insurance business. We believe that the resolution of these lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of our insurance subsidiaries.

Item 4. Mine

Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our Class A common stock and Class B common stock trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “DGICA” and “DGICB,” respectively.

At the close of business on March 2, 2021, we had approximately 1,744 holders of record of our Class A common stock and approximately 241 holders of record of our Class B common stock.

We declared dividends of $0.60 per share on our Class A common stock and $0.53 per share on our Class B common stock in 2020, compared to $0.58 per share on our Class A common stock and $0.51 per share on our Class B common stock in 2019.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.


Period	(a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased	(b) Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit)	(c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	(d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs

Month #1 October 1-31, 2020	Class A – None Class B – None	Class A – None Class B – None	Class A – None Class B – None

Month #2 November 1-30, 2020	Class A – None Class B – None	Class A – None Class B – None	Class A – None Class B – None

Month #3 December 1-31, 2020	Class A – 135,000 Class B – None	Class A – $14.17 Class B – None	Class A – 135,000 Class B – None	(1)

Total	Class A – 135,000 Class B – None	Class A – $14.17 Class B – None	Class A – 135,000 Class B – None

(1)

Donegal Mutual purchased these shares pursuant to its announcement on August 17, 2004 that it will, at its discretion, purchase shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock at market prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of SEC Rule

10b-18

and in privately negotiated transactions. Such announcement did not stipulate a maximum number of shares that may be purchased under this program.

Table of Contents

Stock Performance Chart.

The following graph provides an indicator of cumulative total stockholder returns on our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock for the period beginning on December 31, 2015 and ending on December 31, 2020, compared to the Russell 2000 Index and a peer group comprised of six property and casualty insurance companies over the same period. The peer group consists of Cincinnati Financial Corp., Hanover Insurance, Horace Mann Educators, Selective Insurance Group Inc., State Auto Financial Corp. and United Fire and Casualty Co. The graph shows the change in value of an initial $100 investment on December 31, 2015, assuming reinvestment of all dividends.


	2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020
Donegal Group Inc. Class A	$	100.00	$	128.69	$	131.77	$	108.04	$	122.20	$	119.72
Donegal Group Inc. Class B		100.00		99.24		98.07		78.92		83.91		84.83
Russell 2000 Index		100.00		121.31		139.08		123.77		156.60		188.27
Peer Group		100.00		128.19		140.15		149.78		186.07		161.93

Value Line, Inc. prepared the foregoing performance graph and data. The performance graph and accompanying data shall not be deemed “filed” as part of this Form

10-K

Report for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section and should not be deemed incorporated by reference into any other filing we make under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent we specifically incorporate the performance graph and accompanying data by reference into such filing.

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Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.


Year Ended December 31,	2020		2019		2018			2017		2016
Income Statement Data
Premiums earned	$	742,040,339	$	756,078,400	$	741,290,873		$	702,514,755	$	656,204,797
Investment income, net		29,504,466		29,514,955		26,907,656			23,527,304		22,632,730
Investment gains (losses)		2,777,919		21,984,617		(4,801,509	)		5,705,255		2,525,575
Total revenues		777,819,910		812,451,471		771,828,320			739,026,537		688,423,020
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)		63,272,503		57,081,030		(48,236,849	)		12,114,462		41,328,407
Income tax expense (benefit)		10,457,251		9,929,286		(15,476,509	)		4,998,362		10,527,270
Net income (loss)		52,815,252		47,151,744		(32,760,340	)		7,116,100		30,801,137
Basic earnings (loss) per share - Class A		1.84		1.68		(1.18	)		0.27		1.19
Diluted earnings (loss) per share - Class A		1.83		1.67		(1.18	)		0.26		1.16
Cash dividends per share - Class A		0.60		0.58		0.57			0.56		0.55
Basic earnings (loss) per share - Class B		1.65		1.51		(1.09	)		0.22		1.06
Diluted earnings (loss) per share - Class B		1.65		1.51		(1.09	)		0.22		1.06
Cash dividends per share - Class B		0.53		0.51		0.50			0.49		0.48
Balance Sheet Data at Year End
Total investments	$	1,221,201,784	$	1,110,553,363	$	1,030,798,566		$	1,005,869,705	$	945,519,655
Total assets		2,160,520,324		1,923,161,131		1,832,078,267			1,737,919,778		1,623,131,037
Debt obligations		90,000,000		40,000,000		65,000,000			64,000,000		74,000,000
Stockholders’ equity		517,774,120		451,015,519		398,869,901			448,696,104		438,615,320
Book value per share		17.13		15.67		14.05			15.95		16.21

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Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (“Donegal Mutual”) organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. See “Business - History and Organizational Structure” for more information. Our insurance subsidiaries, Atlantic States Insurance Company (“Atlantic States”), Southern Insurance Company of Virginia (“Southern”), The Peninsula Insurance Company and Peninsula Indemnity Company (collectively, “Peninsula”), and Michigan Insurance Company (“MICO”) and their affiliates write personal and commercial lines of property and casualty coverages exclusively through a network of independent insurance agents in certain

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwest, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies.

Beginning in 2018, we and Donegal Mutual implemented a number of actions to improve our financial results and enhance our operations in the future. Those actions included implementing premium rate increases in many of our operating states and business lines, strengthening our loss reserves in response to changing loss reporting and litigation trends, entering into a transfer agreement to facilitate an orderly exit from the personal lines markets in seven states where we had projected continuing underwriting losses, consolidating a regional branch office into our home office, consolidating our reinsurance program and initiating a multi-year systems modernization project.

Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, or Mountain States, with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Company and Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company (collectively, the “Mountain States insurance subsidiaries”), became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Upon completion of the merger, Donegal Mutual assumed all of the policy obligations of Mountain States and began to market its products together with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries as the Mountain States Insurance Group in four Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool we describe in “Business - History and Organizational Structure.” As a result, our consolidated financial results through December 31, 2020 excluded the results of the Mountain States Insurance Group operations in those Southwestern states.

We and Donegal Mutual Insurance Company sold Donegal Financial Services Corporation (“DFSC”) to Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (“Northwest”) on March 8, 2019, resulting in proceeds valued at approximately $85.8 million in a combination of cash and Northwest common stock. Immediately prior to the closing of the merger, DFSC paid a dividend of approximately $29.2 million to us and Donegal Mutual. As the owner of 48.2% of DFSC’s common stock, we received a dividend payment from DFSC of approximately $14.1 million and consideration from Northwest valued at approximately $41.4 million. We recorded a gain of $12.7 million from the sale of DFSC in our results of operations during 2019. We sold the Northwest common stock that we received as part of the consideration during 2019. This transaction represented the culmination of a banking strategy that began with the formation of DFSC in 2000.

Effective December 1, 2019, our insurance subsidiaries Le Mars Insurance Company (“Le Mars”) and Sheboygan Falls Insurance Company (“Sheboygan Falls”) merged with and into Atlantic States (the “Mergers”). As a result of the Mergers, the separate corporate existences of Le Mars and Sheboygan Falls ceased and Atlantic States continued as the surviving insurance company. Atlantic States placed the business of Le Mars and Sheboygan Falls, as their policies renewed subsequent to the effective date of the Mergers, into the underwriting pool.

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Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States have participated in a proportional reinsurance agreement, or pooling agreement, since 1986. Under the pooling agreement, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States contribute substantially all of their respective premiums, losses and loss expenses to the underwriting pool, and the underwriting pool, acting through Donegal Mutual, then allocates 80% of the pooled business to Atlantic States. Thus, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share the underwriting results of the pooled business in proportion to their respective participation in the underwriting pool. The operations of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual are interrelated due to the pooling agreement and other factors. While maintaining the separate corporate existence of each company, our insurance subsidiaries conduct business together with Donegal Mutual and its insurance subsidiaries as the Donegal Insurance Group. The Donegal Insurance Group is not a legal entity, is not an insurance company and does not issue or administer insurance policies. Rather, it is a trade name that refers to the group of insurance companies that are affiliated with Donegal Mutual. See “Business - History and Organizational Structure” for more information regarding the pooling agreement and other transactions with our affiliates.

In July 2013, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we have the authority to purchase up to 500,000 additional shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of the SEC

Rule 10b-18

and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during 2020 or 2019. We have purchased a total of 57,658 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through December 31, 2020.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We combine our financial statements with those of our insurance subsidiaries and present them on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Our insurance subsidiaries make estimates and assumptions that can have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to the reserves of our insurance subsidiaries for property and casualty insurance unpaid losses and loss expenses. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates we provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates, and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our results of operations for the period in which we make an adjustment.

Liability for Losses and Loss Expenses

case-by-case

evaluation of the type of risk involved, knowledge of the circumstances

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surrounding each claim and the insurance policy provisions relating to the type of loss the policyholder incurred. Our insurance subsidiaries determine the amount of their liability for unreported claims and loss expenses on the basis of historical information by line of insurance. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results. Our insurance subsidiaries monitor their liabilities closely and recompute them periodically using new information on reported claims and a variety of statistical techniques. Our insurance subsidiaries do not discount their liabilities for losses and loss expenses.

COVID-19

pre-tax

results of operations would be approximately $5.6 million.

Our insurance subsidiaries recognized a decrease in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $12.9 million for each of 2020 and 2019. Our insurance subsidiaries recognized an increase in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of $35.6 million in 2018. Our insurance subsidiaries made no significant changes in their reserving philosophy or claims management personnel, and they have made no significant offsetting changes in estimates that increased or decreased their loss and loss expense reserves in those years. The 2020 development represented 2.6% of the December 31, 2019 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. The majority of the 2020 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2019 development represented 2.7% of the December 31, 2018 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2019. The majority of the 2019 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2018 development represented 9.3% of the December 31, 2017 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from higher-than-expected severity in the commercial multi-

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peril, personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business, offset by lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, for accident years prior to 2018. The majority of the 2018 development related to increases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and Southern. During 2018, our insurance subsidiaries received new information on previously-reported commercial automobile and personal automobile claims that led our insurance subsidiaries to conclude that their prior actuarial assumptions did not fully anticipate recent changes in severity and reporting trends. Our insurance subsidiaries have encountered increasing difficulties in projecting the ultimate severity of automobile losses over recent accident years, which our insurance subsidiaries attribute to worsening litigation trends and an increased delay in the reporting to our insurance subsidiaries of information with respect to the severity of claims. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries’ actuaries increased their projections of the ultimate cost of our insurance subsidiaries’ prior-year personal automobile and commercial automobile losses, and our insurance subsidiaries added $17.7 million to their reserves for personal automobile and $20.8 million to their reserves for commercial automobile for accident years prior to 2018.

Excluding the impact of severe weather events and the

COVID-19

pandemic, our insurance subsidiaries have noted stable amounts in the number of claims incurred and the number of claims outstanding at period ends relative to their premium base in recent years across most of their lines of business. However, the amount of the average claim outstanding has increased gradually over the past several years due to various factors such as rising medical loss costs and increased litigation trends. We have also experienced a general slowing of settlement rates in litigated claims. Our insurance subsidiaries could have to make further adjustments to their estimates in the future. However, on the basis of our insurance subsidiaries’ internal procedures, which analyze, among other things, their prior assumptions, their experience with similar cases and historical trends such as reserving patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes, we believe that our insurance subsidiaries have made adequate provision for their liability for losses and loss expenses.

Atlantic States’ participation in the pool with Donegal Mutual exposes Atlantic States to adverse loss development on the business of Donegal Mutual that the pool includes. However, pooled business represents the predominant percentage of the net underwriting activity of both companies, and Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share proportionately any adverse risk development relating to the pooled business. The business in the pool is homogeneous and each company has a

pro-rata

share of the entire pool. Since the predominant percentage of the business of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual is pooled and the results shared by each company according to its participation level under the terms of the pooling agreement, the intent of the underwriting pool is to produce a more uniform and stable underwriting result from year to year for each company than either would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the companies.

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Our insurance subsidiaries’ liability for losses and loss expenses by major line of business at December 31, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:


	2020		2019
	(in thousands)
Commercial lines:
Automobile	$	151,813	$	126,224
Workers’ compensation		118,037		109,060
Commercial multi-peril		126,299		102,424
Other		13,212		9,115

Total commercial lines		409,361		346,823


Personal lines:
Automobile		120,861		132,191
Homeowners		20,976		23,494
Other		5,991		4,398

Total personal lines		147,828		160,083

Total commercial and personal lines		557,189		506,906
Plus reinsurance recoverable		404,818		362,768

Total liability for losses and loss expenses	$	962,007	$	869,674

We have evaluated the effect on our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and our stockholders’ equity in the event of reasonably likely changes in the variables we consider in establishing loss and loss expense reserves. We established the range of reasonably likely changes based on a review of changes in accident year development by line of business and applied it to our insurance subsidiaries’ loss reserves as a whole. The selected range does not necessarily indicate what could be the potential best or worst case or the most-likely scenario. The following table sets forth the effect on our insurance subsidiaries’ loss and loss expense reserves and our stockholders’ equity in the event of reasonably likely changes in the variables considered in establishing loss and loss expense reserves:


Change in Loss and Loss Expense Reserves Net of Reinsurance	Adjusted Loss and Loss Expense Reserves Net of Reinsurance at December 31, 2020		Percentage Change in Equity at December 31, 2020(1)			Adjusted Loss and Loss Expense Reserves Net of Reinsurance at December 31, 2019		Percentage Change in Equity at December 31, 2019(1)
			(dollars in thousands)
-10.0%	$	501,470		8.5	%	$	456,215		8.9	%
-7.5		515,400		6.4			468,888		6.7
-5.0		529,330		4.3			481,561		4.4
-2.5		543,259		2.1			494,233		2.2
Base		557,189		—			506,906		—
2.5		571,119		-2.1			519,579		-2.2
5.0		585,048		-4.3			532,251		-4.4
7.5		598,978		-6.4			544,924		-6.7
10.0		612,908		-8.5			557,597		-8.9

(1)	Net of income tax effect.

Our insurance subsidiaries base their reserves for unpaid losses and loss expenses on current trends in loss and loss expense development and reflect their best estimates for future amounts needed to pay losses and loss expenses with respect to incurred events currently known to them plus incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) claims. Our insurance subsidiaries develop their

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reserve estimates based on an assessment of known facts and circumstances, review of historical loss settlement patterns, estimates of trends in claims severity, frequency, legal and regulatory changes and other assumptions. Our insurance subsidiaries consistently apply actuarial loss reserving techniques and assumptions, which rely on historical information as adjusted to reflect current conditions, including consideration of recent case reserve activity. Our insurance subsidiaries use the point estimate their actuaries select.

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the actuaries developed a range from a low of $512.9 million to a high of $605.3 million and selected a point estimate of $557.2 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for commercial lines in 2020 was $376.9 million to $444.7 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $409.4 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for personal lines in 2020 was $136.0 million to $160.6 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $147.8 million. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the actuaries developed a range from a low of $468.8 million to a high of $548.1 million and selected a point estimate of $506.9 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for commercial lines in 2019 was $320.8 million to $375.0 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $346.8 million. The actuaries’ range of estimates for personal lines in 2019 was $148.0 million to $173.1 million, and the actuaries selected a point estimate of $160.1 million.

Our insurance subsidiaries seek to enhance their underwriting results by carefully selecting the product lines they underwrite. For personal lines products, our insurance subsidiaries insure standard and preferred risks in private passenger automobile and homeowners lines. For commercial lines products, the commercial risks that our insurance subsidiaries primarily insure are business offices, wholesalers, service providers, contractors, artisans and light manufacturing operations. Our insurance subsidiaries have limited exposure to asbestos and other environmental liabilities. Our insurance subsidiaries write no medical malpractice liability risks. Through the consistent application of this disciplined underwriting philosophy, our insurance subsidiaries have avoided many of the “long-tail” issues other insurance companies have faced. We consider workers’ compensation to be a “long-tail” line of business, in that workers’ compensation claims tend to be settled over a longer time frame than those in the other lines of business of our insurance subsidiaries.

The following table presents 2020 and 2019 claim count and payment amount information for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation losses primarily consist of indemnity and medical costs for injured workers.


	For the Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)	2020		2019
Number of claims pending, beginning of period		3,014		2,902
Number of claims reported		5,935		6,868
Number of claims settled or dismissed		6,051		6,756
Number of claims pending, end of period		2,898		3,014

Losses paid	$	38,204	$	42,043
Loss expenses paid		9,065		8,885

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Management Evaluation of Operating Results

Despite challenging insurance market conditions, increasing casualty loss severity trends and unusually adverse weather conditions that affected our results in recent years, our operating results improved in 2020 compared to 2019.

Because our insurance subsidiaries do not prepare GAAP financial statements, we evaluate the performance of our commercial lines and personal lines segments utilizing statutory accounting practices (“SAP”), which include financial measures that reflect the growth trends and underwriting results of our insurance subsidiaries.

We use the following financial data to monitor and evaluate our operating results:


	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020			2019			2018
Net premiums written:
Commercial lines:
Automobile	$	135,294		$	122,142		$	108,123
Workers’ compensation		109,960			113,684			109,022
Commercial multi-peril		147,993			138,750			117,509
Other		32,739			30,303			15,241

Total commercial lines		425,986			404,879			349,895

Personal lines:
Automobile		184,602			210,507			249,275
Homeowners		111,886			117,118			123,782
Other		19,666			20,097			21,064

Total personal lines		316,154			347,722			394,121

Total net premiums written	$	742,140		$	752,601		$	744,016

Components of combined ratio:
Loss ratio		62.0	%		67.0	%		77.8	%
Expense ratio		33.0			31.3			31.6
Dividend ratio		1.0			1.2			0.7

Combined ratio		96.0	%		99.5	%		110.1	%

Revenues:
Net premiums earned:
Commercial lines	$	412,877		$	385,465		$	337,924
Personal lines		329,163			370,613			403,367

Total net premiums earned		742,040			756,078			741,291
Net investment income		29,504			29,515			26,908
Investment gains (losses)		2,778			21,985			(4,802	)
Equity in earnings of DFSC		—			295			2,694
Other		3,497			4,578			5,737

Total revenues	$	777,819		$	812,451		$	771,828

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	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)	2020			2019			2018
Components of net income (loss):
Underwriting income (loss):
Commercial lines	$	(858	)	$	8,404		$	(22,059	)
Personal lines		31,764			(1,617	)		(53,590	)

SAP underwriting income (loss)		30,906			6,787			(75,649	)
GAAP adjustments		(959	)		(3,079	)		894

GAAP underwriting income (loss)		29,947			3,708			(74,755	)
Net investment income		29,504			29,515			26,908
Investment gains (losses)		2,778			21,985			(4,802	)
Equity in earnings of DFSC		—			295			2,694
Other		1,043			1,578			1,718

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)		63,272			57,081			(48,237	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		10,457			9,929			(15,477	)

Net income (loss)	$	52,815		$	47,152		$	(32,760	)

Non-GAAP

Information

We prepare our consolidated financial statements on the basis of GAAP. Our insurance subsidiaries also prepare financial statements based on SAP. SAP financial measures are considered

non-GAAP

financial measures under applicable SEC rules because the SAP financial measures include or exclude certain items that the most comparable GAAP financial measures do not ordinarily include or exclude. Our calculation of

non-GAAP

financial measures may differ from similar measures other companies use. As a result, investors should exercise caution when comparing our

non-GAAP

financial measures to the

non-GAAP

financial measures other companies use. The SAP financial measures we utilize are net premiums written and statutory combined ratio.

Net Premiums Written

We define net premiums written as the amount of full-term premiums our insurance subsidiaries record for policies effective within a given period less premiums our insurance subsidiaries cede to reinsurers. Net premiums earned is the most comparable GAAP financial measure to net premiums written. Net premiums earned represent the sum of the amount of net premiums written and the change in net unearned premiums during a given period. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as revenue over the terms of their policies, which are one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding

12-month

period compared to the comparable period one year earlier.

The following table provides a reconciliation of our net premiums earned to our net premiums written for 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019			2018
Net premiums earned	$	742,040,339	$	756,078,400		$	741,290,873
Change in net unearned premiums		99,554		(3,477,111	)		2,724,931

Net premiums written	$	742,139,893	$	752,601,289		$	744,015,804

The decrease in the change in net unearned premiums for 2020 and 2019 compared to 2018 reflects lower growth in net premiums written during 2020 and 2019, which we attribute primarily to net attrition in our personal lines segment that resulted from increased pricing on renewal policies and underwriting measures our insurance subsidiaries implemented to slow new policy growth and improve profitability.

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Statutory Combined Ratio

The combined ratio is a standard measurement of underwriting profitability for an insurance company. The combined ratio does not reflect investment income, net investment gains or losses, federal income taxes or other

non-operating

income or expense. A combined ratio of less than 100% generally indicates underwriting profitability.

The statutory combined ratio is a

non-GAAP

financial measure that is based upon amounts determined under SAP. We calculate our statutory combined ratio as the sum of:

•

the statutory loss ratio, which is the ratio of calendar-year net incurred losses and loss expenses to net premiums earned;

•

the statutory expense ratio, which is the ratio of expenses incurred for net commissions, premium taxes and underwriting expenses to net premiums written; and

•

the statutory dividend ratio, which is the ratio of dividends to holders of workers’ compensation policies to net premiums earned.

The calculation of our statutory combined ratio differs from the calculation of our GAAP combined ratio. In calculating our GAAP combined ratio, we do not deduct installment payment fees from incurred expenses, and we base the expense ratio on net premiums earned instead of net premiums written. Differences between our GAAP loss ratio and our statutory loss ratio result from anticipating salvage and subrogation recoveries for our GAAP loss ratio but not for our statutory loss ratio.

The following table presents comparative details with respect to our GAAP and statutory combined ratios for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
GAAP Combined Ratios (Total Lines)
Loss ratio (non-weather)		55.1	%		60.9	%		69.0	%
Loss ratio (weather-related)		6.9			6.1			8.8
Expense ratio		33.0			31.3			31.6
Dividend ratio		1.0			1.2			0.7

Combined ratio		96.0	%		99.5	%		110.1	%

Statutory Combined Ratios
Commercial lines:
Automobile		112.7	%		117.4	%		133.3	%
Workers’ compensation		86.3			78.5			86.6
Commercial multi-peril		98.4			93.7			98.1
Other		74.0			72.6			54.6
Total commercial lines		97.8			95.0			103.8
Personal lines:
Automobile		91.3			105.7			117.4
Homeowners		97.2			101.2			110.5
Other		74.9			73.2			96.4
Total personal lines		92.4			102.6			114.1
Total commercial and personal lines		95.4			98.7			109.4

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Results of Operations

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

Net Premiums Earned

Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned decreased to $742.0 million for 2020, a decrease of $14.1 million, or 1.9%, compared to 2019, primarily reflecting decreases in personal lines premiums written during 2019 and 2020. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as income over the terms of the policies they issue. Such terms are generally one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding twelve-month period compared to the same period one year earlier.

Net Premiums Written

Our insurance subsidiaries’ 2020 net premiums written decreased 1.4% to $742.1 million, compared to $752.6 million for 2019. We attribute the decrease primarily to net attrition in our personal lines segment that resulted from increased pricing on renewal policies and underwriting measures our insurance subsidiaries implemented to slow new policy growth and improve profitability, offset somewhat by the impact of premium rate increases and an increase in the writing of new accounts in commercial lines of business. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $21.1 million, or 5.2%, for 2020 compared to 2019. Personal lines net premiums written decreased $31.6 million, or 9.1%, for 2020 compared to 2019.

Investment Income

For 2020, our net investment income was unchanged at $29.5 million, as an increase in average invested assets offset a modest decrease in the average investment yield.

Net Investment Gains

Our net investment gains for 2020 and 2019 were $2.8 million and $22.0 million, respectively. The net investment gains for 2020 were primarily related to an increase in unrealized gains within our equity securities portfolio. The net investment gains for 2019 included $12.7 million from the sale of DFSC and $8.9 million related to unrealized gains within our equity securities portfolio. We did not recognize any impairment losses during 2020 or 2019.

Losses and Loss Expenses

Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 62.0% for 2020, compared to 67.0% for 2019. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio increased to 63.9% for 2020, compared to 63.0% for 2019. This increase resulted primarily from the workers’ compensation loss ratio increasing to 51.1% for 2020, compared to 44.6% for 2019, and the commercial multi-peril loss ratio increasing to 65.9% for 2020, compared to 63.1% for 2019. The personal lines loss ratio decreased to 59.5% for 2020, compared to 71.1% for 2019. The personal automobile loss ratio decreased to 60.1% for 2020, compared to 76.1% for 2019, primarily as a result of lower claim frequency due to reduced driving activity and traffic density and various underwriting adjustments our insurance subsidiaries

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implemented in recent years. The homeowners loss ratio decreased to 61.8% for 2020, compared to 67.1% for 2019, primarily as a result of decreased weather-related losses that we attribute to our exit from several weather-prone markets in 2019. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development of approximately $12.9 million, or 1.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2020 in their reserves for prior accident years, compared to favorable loss reserve development of approximately $12.9 million, or 1.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2019. The favorable loss reserve development in 2020 resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. Weather-related losses of $51.4 million, or 6.9 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2020 increased from $46.1 million, or 6.1 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2019, with the increase primarily impacting the commercial multi-peril line of business.

Underwriting Expenses

Our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio, which is the ratio of policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned, was 33.0% for 2020, compared to 31.3% for 2019. We attribute the modest increase to higher commercial growth incentive costs for our agents, higher underwriting-based incentive compensation for our agents and employees and higher technology-related expenses for 2020 compared to 2019. The increase in technology systems-related expenses for 2020 was primarily due to an increased allocation of costs from Donegal Mutual to our insurance subsidiaries following the successful implementation of the first phase of our ongoing systems modernization project in February 2020.

Policyholder Dividends

Combined Ratio

Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratio was 96.0% and 99.5% for 2020 and 2019, respectively. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of workers’ compensation policy dividends incurred to premiums earned. We attribute the decrease in our combined ratio primarily to the decrease in our loss ratio.

Interest Expense

Our interest expense for 2020 decreased to $1.2 million, compared to $1.6 million for 2019. We attribute the decrease to lower interest rates on our borrowings under our lines of credit during 2020 compared to 2019.

Income Taxes

Our income tax expense was $10.5 million for 2020, compared to $9.9 million for 2019. Our effective tax rate for 2020 was 16.5%, compared to 17.4% for 2019. Our income tax expense for 2020 included a $1.6 million income tax benefit related to the carryback of 2018 net operating losses to past tax years with higher statutory income tax rates than are currently in effect, as allowed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that was enacted in March 2020. Our income tax expense for 2019 included Pennsylvania state income taxes of $825,000 that were related to the gain we realized on the sale of DFSC.

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Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Our net income for 2020 was $52.8 million, or $1.83 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $1.65 per share of Class B common stock, compared to net income for 2019 of $47.2 million, or $1.67 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $1.51 per share of Class B common stock. We had 24.6 million and 23.2 million Class A shares outstanding at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding for both periods. There are no outstanding securities that dilute our shares of Class B common stock.

Book Value Per Share

Our stockholders’ equity increased by $66.8 million during 2020 as a result of our net income and net unrealized gains within our

available-for-sale

fixed maturity investments. Our book value per share increased to $17.13 at December 31, 2020, compared to $15.67 a year earlier.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2018

Net Premiums Earned

Our insurance subsidiaries’ net premiums earned increased to $756.1 million for 2019, an increase of $14.8 million, or 2.0%, over 2018, reflecting increases in commercial premiums written during 2018 and 2019. Our insurance subsidiaries earn premiums and recognize them as income over the terms of the policies they issue. Such terms are generally one year or less in duration. Therefore, increases or decreases in net premiums earned generally reflect increases or decreases in net premiums written in the preceding twelve-month period compared to the same period one year earlier.

Net Premiums Written

Our insurance subsidiaries’ 2019 net premiums written increased 1.2% to $752.6 million, compared to $744.0 million for 2018. We attribute the increase primarily to the impact of premium rate increases and an increase in the writing of new accounts in commercial lines of business. Commercial lines net premiums written increased $47.8 million, or 13.4%, for 2019 compared to 2018. Personal lines net premiums written decreased $39.2 million, or 10.1%, for 2019 compared to 2018. We attribute the decrease in personal lines primarily to net attrition as a result of underwriting measures our insurance subsidiaries have implemented to slow new policy growth and increased pricing on renewal policies, as well as the previously announced

non-renewal

of unprofitable personal lines business in seven states that began in February 2019, partially offset by premium rate increases our insurance subsidiaries have implemented over the past five quarters and lower reinsurance premiums.

Investment Income

For 2019, our net investment income increased to $29.5 million, an increase of $2.6 million, or 9.7%, over 2018. We attribute the increase primarily to an increase in average invested assets.

Net Investment Gains (Losses)

Our net investment gains (losses) for 2019 and 2018 were $22.0 million and ($4.8 million), respectively. The net investment gains for 2019 included $12.7 million from the sale of DFSC and $8.9 million related to unrealized gains within our equity securities portfolio. The net investment losses for 2018 were primarily related to a decrease in the market value of the equity securities we held at December 31, 2018. We did not recognize any impairment losses during 2019 or 2018.

Losses and Loss Expenses

Our insurance subsidiaries’ loss ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and loss expenses to premiums earned, was 67.0% for 2019, compared to 77.8% for 2018. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines loss ratio decreased to 63.0% for 2019, compared to 72.9% for 2018. This decrease resulted primarily from the commercial automobile loss ratio decreasing to 86.2% for 2019, compared to 101.9% for 2018, and the commercial multi-peril loss ratio decreasing to 63.1% for 2019,

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compared to 67.0% for 2018. The personal lines loss ratio was 71.1% for 2019, compared to 81.8% for 2018. Our insurance subsidiaries experienced favorable loss reserve development of approximately $12.9 million, or 1.7 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2019 in their reserves for prior accident years, compared to unfavorable loss reserve development of approximately $35.6 million, or 4.8 percentage points of the loss ratio, during 2018. The favorable loss reserve development in 2019 resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2019. Weather-related losses of $46.1 million, or 6.1 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2019 decreased from $65.0 million, or 8.8 percentage points of the loss ratio, for 2018.

Underwriting Expenses

Our insurance subsidiaries’ expense ratio, which is the ratio of policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned, was 31.3% for 2019, compared to 31.6% for 2018. We attribute the modest decrease to expense savings that were largely offset by higher underwriting-based incentive compensation in 2019.

Policyholder Dividends

Our insurance subsidiaries pay policyholder dividends primarily on workers’ compensation policies on a sliding scale based on the profitability of a given policy. We attribute the increase in dividends incurred for 2019 compared to 2018 to growth and profitability of the workers’ compensation line of business over the respective periods to which the dividends applied. We also partially attribute the increase to growth in workers’ compensation writings in Wisconsin, a state in which our insurance subsidiaries and their competitors pay a higher rate of dividends compared to other states and where such dividends are not dependent on the profitability of a given policy.

Combined Ratio

Our insurance subsidiaries’ combined ratio was 99.5% and 110.1% for 2019 and 2018, respectively. The combined ratio represents the sum of the loss ratio, the expense ratio and the dividend ratio, which is the ratio of workers’ compensation policy dividends incurred to premiums earned. We attribute the decrease in our combined ratio primarily to the decrease in our loss ratio.

Interest Expense

Our interest expense for 2019 decreased to $1.6 million, compared to $2.3 million for 2018. We attribute the decrease to lower average borrowings under our lines of credit during 2019 compared to 2018.

Income Taxes

Our income tax expense was $9.9 million for 2019, compared to an income tax benefit of $15.5 million for 2018. Our effective tax rate was 17.4% for 2019. Our income tax expense for 2019 included Pennsylvania state income taxes of $825,000 that were related to the gain we realized on the sale of DFSC in 2019. Our 2018 income tax benefit reflected our anticipation of an estimated carryback of our taxable loss in 2018 to prior tax years.

Net Income (Loss) and Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Our net income for 2019 was $47.2 million, or $1.67 per share of Class A common stock on a diluted basis and $1.51 per share of Class B common stock, compared to a net loss of $32.8 million, or $1.18 per share of Class A common stock and $1.09 per share of Class B common stock, for 2018. We had 23.2 million and 22.8 million Class A shares outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We had 5.6 million Class B shares outstanding for both periods. There are no outstanding securities that dilute our shares of Class B common stock.

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Book Value Per Share

Our stockholders’ equity increased by $52.1 million during 2019 as a result of our net income and net unrealized gains within our

available-for-sale

fixed maturity investments. Our book value per share increased to $15.67 at December 31, 2019, compared to $14.05 a year earlier.

Financial Condition

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measure of an entity’s ability to secure enough cash to meet its contractual obligations and operating needs as they arise. Our major sources of funds from operations are the net cash flows generated from our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results, investment income and maturing investments.

We have historically generated sufficient net positive cash flow from our operations to fund our commitments and build our investment portfolio, thereby increasing future investment returns. The pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual historically has been cash flow positive because of the profitability of the underwriting pool. Because we settle the pool monthly, our cash flows are substantially similar to the cash flows that would result from the underwriting of direct business. We maintain a high degree of liquidity in our investment portfolio in the form of marketable fixed maturities, equity securities and short-term investments. We structure our fixed-maturity investment portfolio following a “laddering” approach so that projected cash flows from investment income and principal maturities are evenly distributed from a timing perspective. This laddering approach provides an additional measure of liquidity to meet our obligations and the obligations of our insurance subsidiaries should an unexpected variation occur in the future. Net cash flows provided by operating activities in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $101.1 million, $76.4 million and $63.8 million, respectively.

In August 2020, we entered into a new credit agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T”) that related to a $20.0 million unsecured demand line of credit. The line of credit has no expiration date, no annual fees and no covenants. At December 31, 2020, we had no outstanding borrowings from M&T and had the ability to borrow up to $20.0 million at interest rates equal to the then-current LIBOR rate plus 2.00%.

Atlantic States is a member of the FHLB of Pittsburgh. Through its membership, Atlantic States has the ability to issue debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for cash advances. In August 2019, Atlantic States exchanged a variable-rate cash advance of $35.0 million that was due in March 2020 for a fixed-rate cash advance of $35.0 million that was outstanding at December 31, 2020. Atlantic States incurred a penalty of $176,000 related to the early termination of its previous cash advance. The new cash advance carries a fixed interest rate of 1.74% and is due in August 2024. In March 2020, Atlantic States issued $50.0 million of debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for a cash advance in the same amount that was outstanding at December 31, 2020. Atlantic States obtained this contingent liquidity funding in light of uncertainty surrounding the economic impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic. The debt carries a fixed interest rate of 0.83%, and Atlantic States plans to repay this cash advance in full at its March 2021 maturity.

The following table shows expected payments for our significant contractual obligations at December 31, 2020:


(in thousands)	Total		Less than 1 year		1-3 years		4-5 years		After 5 years
Net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries	$	557,189	$	256,165	$	260,460	$	20,237	$	20,327
Subordinated debentures		5,000		—		—		—		5,000
Borrowings under lines of credit		85,000		50,000		—		35,000		—

Total contractual obligations	$	647,189	$	306,165	$	260,460	$	55,237	$	25,327

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We estimated the timing of the amounts for the net liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries based on historical experience and expectations of future payment patterns. We have shown the liability net of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses to reflect expected future cash flows related to such liability. Assumed amounts from the underwriting pool with Donegal Mutual represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses, and ceded amounts to the underwriting pool represent a substantial portion of our insurance subsidiaries’ reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and loss expenses. We include cash settlements of Atlantic States’ assumed liability from the pool in our monthly settlements of pooled activity. In these monthly settlements, we net amounts ceded to and assumed from the pool. Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States do not anticipate any changes in the pool participation levels in the foreseeable future. However, any such change would be prospective in nature and therefore would not impact the timing of expected payments for Atlantic States’ proportionate liability for pooled losses occurring in periods prior to the effective date of such change.

We discuss in Note 9 – Borrowings our estimate of the timing of the amounts payable for the borrowings under our lines of credit based on their contractual maturities. The borrowings under our lines of credit carry interest rates that we discuss in Note 9 – Borrowings.

The cash dividends we declared to our stockholders totaled $17.3 million, $16.2 million and $15.8 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. There are no regulatory restrictions on our payment of dividends to our stockholders, although there are restrictions under applicable state laws on the payment of dividends from our insurance subsidiaries to us. Our insurance subsidiaries are required by law to maintain certain minimum surplus on a statutory basis and are subject to regulations under which their payment of dividends from statutory surplus is restricted and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements. The amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, was not significant in relation to our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2020. Amounts available for distribution to us as ordinary dividends from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of insurance regulatory authorities in 2021 are approximately $28.0 million from Atlantic States, $300,000 from Southern, $10.9 million from Peninsula and $12.2 million from MICO, or a total of approximately $51.4 million.

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Investments

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our investment portfolio of primarily investment-grade bonds, common stock, short-term investments and cash totaled $1.3 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, representing 61.3% and 60.3%, respectively, of our total assets. See “Business - Investments” for more information.


	December 31,
	2020					2019
(dollars in thousands)	Amount		Percent of Total			Amount		Percent of Total
Fixed maturities:
Total held to maturity	$	586,609		48.0	%	$	476,094		42.9	%
Total available for sale		555,136		45.5			564,952		50.8

Total fixed maturities		1,141,745		93.5			1,041,046		93.7
Equity securities		58,556		4.8			55,477		5.0
Short-term investments		20,901		1.7			14,030		1.3

Total investments	$	1,221,202		100.0	%	$	1,110,553		100.0	%

The carrying value of our fixed maturity investments represented 93.5% and 93.7% of our total invested assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Our fixed maturity investments consisted of high-quality marketable bonds, of which 99.8% were rated at investment-grade levels at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

At December 31, 2020, the net unrealized gain on our

available-for-sale

fixed maturity investments, net of deferred taxes, amounted to $15.9 million, compared to a net unrealized gain of $6.4 million at December 31, 2019.

Impact of Inflation

Our insurance subsidiaries establish their property and casualty insurance premium rates before they know the amount of losses and loss settlement expenses or the extent to which inflation may impact such expenses. Consequently, our insurance subsidiaries attempt, in establishing rates, to anticipate the potential future impact of inflation. Our insurance subsidiaries account for inflation in the reserving function through analysis of costs and trends and reviews of historical reserving results.

Impact of New Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires lessees to recognize leases, including operating leases, on the lessee’s balance sheet, unless a lease is considered a short-term lease. This guidance also requires entities to make new judgments to identify leases. The guidance was effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and permitted early adoption. Our adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2019 did not have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the measurement of goodwill by modifying the goodwill impairment test previous guidance required. The guidance requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize impairment for the amount by which the reporting unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value. The guidance was effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and permitted early adoption. We early adopted this guidance in 2019. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance that modifies disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. The guidance removes the requirements to disclose the amounts of, and reasons for, transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The guidance was effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and permitted early adoption. We early adopted this guidance in 2019. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2019 did not have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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In September 2016, the FASB issued guidance that amends previous guidance on the impairment of financial instruments by adding an impairment model that requires an entity to recognize expected credit losses as an allowance rather than impairments as credit losses are incurred. The intent of this guidance is to reduce complexity and result in a more timely recognition of expected credit losses. In November 2019, the FASB issued guidance that delays the effective date for “smaller reporting companies,” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of

Regulation S-K, to

annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022 from December 15, 2019. We are a smaller reporting company and are in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies accounting for income taxes. The guidance eliminates certain exceptions related to the approach for intra-period tax allocation, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The guidance was effective January 1, 2021, using the retrospective method or modified retrospective method for certain changes and the prospective method for all other changes, and permits early adoption. We do not expect our adoption of this guidance in 2021 to have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Off-Balance

Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, we did not have any

off-balance

sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation

S-K.

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes, to changes in fair values of investments and to credit risk.

In the normal course of business, we employ established policies and procedures to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates, fluctuations in the fair market value of our debt and equity securities and credit risk. We seek to mitigate these risks by various actions we describe below.

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to market risk for a change in interest rates is concentrated in our investment portfolio. We monitor this exposure through periodic reviews of our asset and liability positions. We regularly monitor estimates of cash flows and the impact of interest rate fluctuations relating to our investment portfolio. Generally, we do not hedge our exposure to interest rate risk because we have the capacity to, and do, hold fixed-maturity investments to maturity.

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Principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by stated maturity dates for the financial instruments we held at December 31, 2020 that are sensitive to interest rates are as follows:


(in thousands)	Principal Cash Flows		Weighted- Average Interest Rate
Fixed-maturity and short-term investments:
2021	$	97,539		1.83	%
2022		41,382		3.15
2023		44,923		3.22
2024		52,046		3.58
2025		60,038		3.53
Thereafter		839,306		3.28

Total	$	1,135,234

Fair value	$	1,208,677

Debt:
2021	$	50,000		0.83	%
2024		35,000		1.74	%
Thereafter		5,000		5.00

Total	$	90,000

Fair value	$	90,000

Actual cash flows from investments may differ from those depicted above as a result of calls and prepayments.

Equity Price Risk

Our portfolio of equity securities, which we carry on our consolidated balance sheets at estimated fair value, has exposure to price risk, which is the risk of potential loss in estimated fair value resulting from an adverse change in prices. Our objective is to mitigate this risk and to earn competitive relative returns by investing in a diverse portfolio of high-quality, liquid securities.

Credit Risk

Our objective is to earn competitive returns by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities. Our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and, to a lesser extent, short-term investments is subject to credit risk. We define this risk as the potential loss in fair value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay the debt. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment personnel. We also limit the amount of our total investment portfolio that we invest in any one security.

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Our insurance subsidiaries provide property and liability insurance coverages through independent insurance agencies located throughout their operating areas. Our insurance subsidiaries bill the majority of this business directly to the insured, although our insurance subsidiaries bill a portion of their commercial business through their agents, to whom they extend credit in the normal course of business.

Because the pooling agreement does not relieve Atlantic States of primary liability as the originating insurer, Atlantic States is subject to a concentration of credit risk arising from the business Atlantic States cedes to Donegal Mutual. Our insurance subsidiaries maintain reinsurance agreements with Donegal Mutual and with a number of other major unaffiliated authorized reinsurers.

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Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule


Consolidated Balance Sheets			68

Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)			69

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity			70

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows			71

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			72

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			114

Schedule:

Schedule III — Supplementary Insurance Information			126

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Donegal Group Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets


	December 31,
	2020			2019
Assets
Investments
Fixed maturities
Held to maturity, at amortized cost (fair value $632,640,821 and $500,314,344)	$	586,609,439		$	476,093,782
Available for sale, at fair value (amortized cost $534,958,100 and $556,839,278)		555,136,017			564,951,803
Equity securities, at fair value		58,556,173			55,477,556
Short-term investments, at cost, which approximates fair value		20,900,155			14,030,222

Total investments		1,221,201,784			1,110,553,363
Cash		103,094,236			49,318,930
Accrued investment income		7,936,879			7,066,029
Premiums receivable		169,596,332			165,732,949
Reinsurance receivable		408,908,850			367,021,468
Deferred policy acquisition costs		59,156,958			59,284,859
Deferred tax asset, net		5,683,113			8,514,311
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		169,418,333			142,475,767
Property and equipment, net		4,390,377			4,558,072
Accounts receivable - securities		67,676			4,961
Federal income taxes recoverable		3,089,369			—
Goodwill		5,625,354			5,625,354
Other intangible assets		958,010			958,010
Other		1,393,053			2,047,058

Total assets	$	2,160,520,324		$	1,923,161,131


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Losses and loss expenses	$	962,007,437		$	869,673,849
Unearned premiums		537,189,598			510,147,485
Accrued expenses		29,115,198			28,453,744
Reinsurance balances payable		3,233,523			2,116,084
Borrowings under lines of credit		85,000,000			35,000,000
Cash dividends declared to stockholders		4,436,301			4,075,234
Subordinated debentures		5,000,000			5,000,000
Accounts payable - securities		—			1,119
Income taxes payable		—			84,831
Due to affiliate		10,293,495			10,069,171
Other		6,470,652			7,524,095

Total liabilities		1,642,746,204			1,472,145,612

Stockholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued		—			—
Class A common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 50,000,000 shares, issued 27,651,774 and 26,203,935 shares and outstanding 24,649,186 and 23,201,347 shares		276,518			262,040
Class B common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares, issued 5,649,240 shares and outstanding 5,576,775 shares		56,492			56,492
Additional paid-in capital		289,149,567			268,151,601
Accumulated other comprehensive income		11,130,612			504,170
Retained earnings		258,387,288			223,267,573
Treasury stock, at cost		(41,226,357	)		(41,226,357	)

Total stockholders’ equity		517,774,120			451,015,519

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	2,160,520,324		$	1,923,161,131

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Donegal Group Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)


	Years Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Statements of Income (Loss)
Revenues
Net premiums earned (includes affiliated reinsurance of $192,861,276, $203,409,131 and $198,580,547 - see note 3)	$	742,040,339		$	756,078,400		$	741,290,873
Investment income, net of investment expenses		29,504,466			29,514,955			26,907,656
Installment payment fees		3,063,097			4,134,749			5,256,721
Lease income		434,089			443,750			480,617
Net investment gains (losses) (includes $572,106, $147,236 and ($499,244) accumulated other comprehensive income reclassification)		2,777,919			21,984,617			(4,801,509	)
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation		—			295,000			2,693,962

Total revenues		777,819,910			812,451,471			771,828,320

Expenses
Net losses and loss expenses (includes affiliated reinsurance of $87,374,791, $103,218,679 and $140,113,591 - see note 3)		459,764,293			506,387,664			576,458,420
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		119,072,000			122,443,000			120,964,000
Other underwriting expenses		125,862,651			114,561,741			113,270,131
Policyholder dividends		7,394,310			8,978,406			5,353,023
Interest		1,196,406			1,579,299			2,302,082
Other, net		1,257,747			1,420,331			1,717,513

Total expenses		714,547,407			755,370,441			820,065,169

Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)		63,272,503			57,081,030			(48,236,849	)
Income tax expense (benefit) (includes $120,142, $30,920 and ($104,841) income tax expense (benefit) from reclassification items)		10,457,251			9,929,286			(15,476,509	)

Net income (loss)	$	52,815,252		$	47,151,744		$	(32,760,340	)

Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Class A common stock	$	1.84		$	1.68		$	(1.18	)

Class B common stock	$	1.65		$	1.51		$	(1.09	)

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Class A common stock	$	1.83		$	1.67		$	(1.18	)

Class B common stock	$	1.65		$	1.51		$	(1.09	)


Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss)	$	52,815,252		$	47,151,744		$	(32,760,340	)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities:
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $2,944,892, $3,947,082 and ($1,865,948)		11,078,406			14,848,545			(7,019,532	)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (loss), net of income tax expense (benefit) of $120,142, $30,920 and ($104,841)		(451,964	)		(116,316	)		394,403

Other comprehensive income (loss)		10,626,442			14,732,229			(6,625,129	)

Comprehensive income (loss)	$	63,441,694		$	61,883,973		$	(39,385,469	)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Donegal Group Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity


	Common Stock
	Class A Shares		Class B Shares		Class A Amount		Class B Amount		Additional Paid-In Capital		Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income			Retained Earnings			Treasury Stock			Total Stockholders’ Equity
Balance, January 1, 2018		25,564,481		5,649,240	$	255,645	$	56,492	$	255,401,558	$	(2,684,275	)	$	236,893,041		$	(41,226,357	)	$	448,696,104

Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)		174,899				1,749				2,469,220											2,470,969
Stock-based compensation		79,961				800				2,853,111											2,853,911
Net loss															(32,760,340	)					(32,760,340	)
Cash dividends															(15,765,614	)					(15,765,614	)
Grant of stock options										534,534					(534,534	)					—
Reclassification of equity unrealized gains												(4,918,655	)		4,918,655						—
Other comprehensive loss												(6,625,129	)								(6,625,129	)

Balance, December 31, 2018		25,819,341		5,649,240	$	258,194	$	56,492	$	261,258,423	$	(14,228,059	)	$	192,751,208		$	(41,226,357	)	$	398,869,901

Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)		167,096				1,671				2,225,527											2,227,198
Stock-based compensation		217,498				2,175				4,251,665											4,253,840
Net income															47,151,744						47,151,744
Cash dividends															(16,219,393	)					(16,219,393	)
Grant of stock options										415,986					(415,986	)					—
Other comprehensive income												14,732,229									14,732,229

Balance, December 31, 2019		26,203,935		5,649,240	$	262,040	$	56,492	$	268,151,601	$	504,170		$	223,267,573		$	(41,226,357	)	$	451,015,519

Issuance of common stock (stock compensation plans)		153,233				1,532				2,057,504											2,059,036
Stock-based compensation		1,294,606				12,946				18,582,085											18,595,031
Net income															52,815,252						52,815,252
Cash dividends															(17,337,160	)					(17,337,160	)
Grant of stock options										358,377					(358,377	)					—
Other comprehensive income												10,626,442									10,626,442

Balance, December 31, 2020		27,651,774		5,649,240	$	276,518	$	56,492	$	289,149,567	$	11,130,612		$	258,387,288		$	(41,226,357	)	$	517,774,120

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Donegal Group Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


	Years Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$	52,815,252		$	47,151,744		$	(32,760,340	)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items		6,721,621			5,573,074			6,609,632
Net investment (gains) losses		(2,777,919	)		(21,984,617	)		4,801,509
Equity in earnings of Donegal Financial Services Corporation		—			(295,000	)		(2,693,962	)
Changes in Assets and Liabilities:
Losses and loss expenses		92,333,588			55,008,625			137,993,497
Unearned premiums		27,042,113			3,618,879			3,072,065
Accrued expenses		661,454			3,011,598			(2,591,630	)
Premiums receivable		(3,863,383	)		(9,030,699	)		3,704,182
Deferred policy acquisition costs		127,901			1,330,268			(325,267	)
Deferred income taxes		6,448			649,928			(4,179,805	)
Reinsurance receivable		(41,887,382	)		(23,652,403	)		(45,026,502	)
Accrued investment income		(870,850	)		(504,830	)		(8,078	)
Amounts due to affiliate		224,324			(805,369	)		3,560,172
Reinsurance balances payable		1,117,439			(1,766,109	)		(233,966	)
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		(26,942,566	)		(7,095,990	)		(347,136	)
Current income taxes		(3,174,200	)		19,117,435			(8,097,499	)
Other, net		(399,440	)		6,033,243			299,262

Net adjustments		48,319,148			29,208,033			96,536,474

Net cash provided by operating activities		101,134,400			76,359,777			63,776,134

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of fixed maturities:
Held to maturity		(157,048,527	)		(96,724,391	)		(48,969,776	)
Available for sale		(176,500,255	)		(165,989,508	)		(116,961,667	)
Purchases of equity securities		(6,964,092	)		(20,722,416	)		(11,303,361	)
Sales of fixed maturities:
Available for sale		22,172,930			19,527,658			13,202,367
Maturity of fixed maturities:
Held to maturity		47,448,424			24,460,749			13,184,665
Available for sale		172,084,542			119,113,273			105,266,805
Sales of equity securities		6,091,288			40,465,748			13,779,330
Net purchases of property and equipment		(89,702	)		(149,603	)		(105,525	)
Sale of investment in Donegal Financial Services Corporation		—			33,922,773			—
Net (purchases) sales of short-term investments		(6,869,933	)		2,718,538			(5,698,845	)

Net cash used in investing activities		(99,675,325	)		(43,377,179	)		(37,606,007	)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Issuance of common stock		19,292,324			4,834,514			3,249,849
Cash dividends paid		(16,976,093	)		(16,092,643	)		(15,658,950	)
Payments on lines of credit		—			(25,000,000	)		—
Borrowings under lines of credit		50,000,000			—			1,000,000

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		52,316,231			(36,258,129	)		(11,409,101	)

Net increase (decrease) in cash		53,775,306			(3,275,531	)		14,761,026
Cash at beginning of year		49,318,930			52,594,461			37,833,435

Cash at end of year	$	103,094,236		$	49,318,930		$	52,594,461

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Donegal Group Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Organization and Business

Donegal Mutual Insurance Company (“Donegal Mutual”) organized us as an insurance holding company on August 26, 1986. Our insurance subsidiaries, Atlantic States Insurance Company (“Atlantic States”), Southern Insurance Company of Virginia (“Southern”), the Peninsula Insurance Group (“Peninsula”), which consists of Peninsula Indemnity Company and The Peninsula Insurance Company and Michigan Insurance Company (“MICO”), and affiliates write personal and commercial lines of property and casualty coverages exclusively through a network of independent insurance agents in certain

Mid-Atlantic,

Midwestern, New England, Southern and Southwestern states. Until March 8, 2019, we also owned 48.2% of the outstanding stock of Donegal Financial Services Corporation (“DFSC”), a grandfathered unitary savings and loan holding company that owned Union Community Bank (“UCB”), a state savings bank. Donegal Mutual owned the remaining 51.8% of the outstanding stock of DFSC.

We have three segments: our investment function, our commercial lines of insurance and our personal lines of insurance. The commercial lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation policies. The personal lines products of our insurance subsidiaries consist primarily of homeowners and private passenger automobile policies.

At December 31, 2020, Donegal Mutual held approximately 42% of our outstanding Class A common stock and approximately 84% of our outstanding Class B common stock. This ownership provides Donegal Mutual with approximately 71% of the total voting power of our common stock. Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual have interrelated operations due to a pooling agreement and other intercompany agreements and transactions. While each company maintains its separate corporate existence, our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual conduct business together as the Donegal Insurance Group. As such, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries share the same business philosophy, the same management, the same employees and the same facilities and offer the same types of insurance products.

Atlantic States, our largest subsidiary, participates in a proportional reinsurance agreement, or pooling agreement, with Donegal Mutual. Under the pooling agreement, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States contribute substantially all of their respective premiums, losses and loss expenses to the underwriting pool, and the underwriting pool, acting through Donegal Mutual, then allocates

80%

of the pooled business to Atlantic States. Thus, Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States share the underwriting results of the pooled business in proportion to their respective participation in the underwriting pool.

In addition, Donegal Mutual has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with Southern Mutual Insurance Company, or Southern Mutual. Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Southern Mutual into the underwriting pool.

The same executive management and underwriting personnel administer products, classes of business underwritten, pricing practices and underwriting standards of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, as the Donegal Insurance Group, Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries share a combined business plan to achieve market penetration and underwriting profitability objectives. The products our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual market are generally complementary, thereby allowing the Donegal Insurance Group to offer a broader range of products to a given market and to expand the Donegal Insurance Group’s ability to service an entire personal lines or commercial lines account. Distinctions within the products of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries generally relate to specific risk profiles targeted within similar classes of business, such as preferred tier versus standard tier products, but we do not allocate all of the standard risk gradients to one company. Therefore, the underwriting profitability of the business the individual companies write directly will vary. However, the underwriting pool homogenizes the risk characteristics of all business that Donegal Mutual and Atlantic States write directly. The business Atlantic States derives from the underwriting pool represents a significant percentage of our total consolidated revenues. We refer to Note 3 - Transactions with Affiliates for more information regarding the pooling agreement.

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Donegal Mutual completed the merger of Mountain States Mutual Casualty Company, or Mountain States, with and into Donegal Mutual effective May 25, 2017. Donegal Mutual was the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Company and Mountain States Commercial Insurance Company (collectively, the “Mountain States insurance subsidiaries”), became insurance subsidiaries of Donegal Mutual upon completion of the merger. Upon completion of the merger, Donegal Mutual assumed all of the policy obligations of Mountain States and began to market its products together with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries as the Mountain States Insurance Group in four Southwestern states. Donegal Mutual also entered into a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with the Mountain States insurance subsidiaries on the merger date. Beginning with policies effective in 2021, Donegal Mutual began to place the business of the Mountain States Insurance Group into the underwriting pool. As a result, our consolidated financial results through December 31, 2020 excluded the results of the Mountain States Insurance Group operations in those Southwestern states.

We and Donegal Mutual sold DFSC to Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (“Northwest”) on March 8, 2019, resulting in proceeds valued at approximately $85.8 million in a combination of cash and Northwest common stock. Immediately prior to the closing of the merger, DFSC paid a dividend of approximately $29.2 million to us and Donegal Mutual. As the owner of 48.2% of DFSC’s common stock, we received a dividend payment from DFSC of approximately $14.1 million and consideration from Northwest that included a combination of cash in the amount of $20.5 million and Northwest common stock with a fair value at the closing date of $20.9 million. We recorded a gain of $12.7 million from the sale of DFSC in our results of operations for the first quarter of 2019. We sold the Northwest common stock that we received as part of the consideration during 2019. This transaction represented the culmination of a banking strategy that began with the formation of DFSC in 2000.

Effective December 1, 2019, our insurance subsidiaries Le Mars Insurance Company (“Le Mars”) and Sheboygan Falls Insurance Company (“Sheboygan Falls”) merged with and into Atlantic States (the “Mergers”). As a result of the Mergers, the separate corporate existences of Le Mars and Sheboygan Falls ceased and Atlantic States continued as the surviving insurance company. Atlantic States placed the business of Le Mars and Sheboygan Falls, as their policies renewed subsequent to the effective date of the Mergers, into the underwriting pool.

In July 2018, we consolidated the branch office operations of Peninsula into our home office operations to achieve economies of scale and enhance service levels for the policyholders of Peninsula. We recorded a restructuring charge of approximately $1.9 million in 2018 for employee termination costs associated with the Peninsula consolidation. We completed the sale of Peninsula’s branch office in 2019 for net proceeds of $1.2 million. We recorded an impairment charge of $1.1 million in other expenses in 2018 related to the value of this real estate.

Basis of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), include our accounts and those of our wholly owned subsidiaries. We have eliminated all significant inter-company accounts and transactions in consolidation. The terms “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” as we use them in the notes to our consolidated financial statements refer to the consolidated entity.

Use of Estimates

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, our management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the balance sheet and revenues and expenses for the period then ended. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

We make estimates and assumptions that could have a significant effect on amounts and disclosures we report in our consolidated financial statements. The most significant estimates relate to our insurance subsidiaries’ reserves for property and casualty insurance unpaid losses and loss expenses. While we believe our estimates and the estimates of our insurance subsidiaries are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from the estimates provided. We regularly review our methods for making these estimates as well as the continuing appropriateness of the estimated amounts, and we reflect any adjustment we consider necessary in our current results of operations.

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Reclassification

We have made certain reclassifications in our prior period financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

Investments

We classify our debt securities into the following categories:

Held to Maturity - Debt securities that we have the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity; reported at amortized cost.

Available for Sale - Debt securities not classified as held to maturity; reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from income and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity (net of tax effects).

Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost, which approximates fair value.

We make estimates concerning the valuation of our investments and the recognition of other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. For equity securities, we measure investments at fair value and recognize changes in fair value in our results of operations. With respect to a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position, we first assess if we intend to sell the debt security. If we determine we intend to sell the debt security, we recognize the impairment loss in our results of operations. If we do not intend to sell the debt security, we determine whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we recognize an impairment loss in our results of operations. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we then evaluate whether a credit loss has occurred. We determine whether a credit loss has occurred by comparing the amortized cost of the debt security to the present value of the cash flows we expect to collect. If we expect a cash flow shortfall, we consider that a credit loss has occurred. If we determine that a credit loss has occurred, we consider the impairment to be other than temporary. We then recognize the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss in our results of operations, and we recognize the remaining portion of the impairment loss in our other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In addition, we may write down securities in an unrealized loss position based on a number of other factors, including when the fair value of an investment is significantly below its cost, when the financial condition of the issuer of a security has deteriorated, the occurrence of industry, company or geographic events that have negatively impacted the value of a security and rating agency downgrades.

We amortize premiums and discounts on debt securities over the life of the security as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. We compute investment gains and losses using the specific identification method.

We amortize premiums and discounts for mortgage-backed debt securities using anticipated prepayments.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

We use the following methods and assumptions in estimating our fair value disclosures:

Investments - We present our investments in

available-for-sale

fixed maturity and equity securities at estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of a security may differ from the amount that we could realize if we sold the security in a forced transaction. In addition, the valuation of fixed maturity investments is more subjective when markets are less liquid, increasing the potential that the estimated fair value does not reflect the price at which an actual transaction would occur. We utilize nationally recognized independent pricing services to estimate fair values for our fixed maturity and equity investments. We generally obtain two prices per security. The pricing services utilize market quotations for fixed maturity and equity securities

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that have quoted prices in active markets. For fixed maturity securities that generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services prepare estimates of fair value measurements based predominantly on observable market inputs. The pricing services do not use broker quotes in determining the fair values of our investments. Our investment personnel review the estimates of fair value the pricing services provide to determine if the estimates we obtain are representative of fair values based upon the general knowledge of our investment personnel of the market, their research findings related to unusual fluctuations in value and their comparison of such values to execution prices for similar securities. Our investment personnel monitor the market and are familiar with current trading ranges for similar securities and the pricing of specific investments. Our investment personnel review all pricing estimates that we receive from the pricing services against their expectations with respect to pricing based on fair market curves, security ratings, coupon rates, security type and recent trading activity. Our investment personnel review documentation with respect to the pricing services’ pricing methodology that they obtain periodically to determine if the primary pricing sources, market inputs and pricing frequency for various security types are reasonable. We refer to Note 5 - Fair Value Measurements for more information regarding our methods and assumptions in estimating fair values.

Cash and Short-Term Investments - The carrying amounts we report in the balance sheet for these instruments approximate their fair values.

Premiums and Reinsurance Receivables and Payables - The carrying amounts we report in the balance sheet for these instruments related to premiums and paid losses and loss expenses approximate their fair values.

Subordinated Debentures - The carrying amounts we report in the balance sheet for these instruments approximate their fair values.

Revenue Recognition

Our insurance subsidiaries recognize insurance premiums as income over the terms of the policies they issue. Our insurance subsidiaries calculate unearned premiums on a daily

pro-rata

basis.

Policy Acquisition Costs

We defer our insurance subsidiaries’ policy acquisition costs, consisting primarily of commissions, premium taxes and certain other underwriting costs, reduced by ceding commissions, related directly to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance contracts. We amortize these deferred policy acquisition costs over the period in which our insurance subsidiaries earn the premiums. The method we follow in computing deferred policy acquisition costs limits the amount of such deferred costs to their estimated realizable value, which gives effect to the premium to be earned, related investment income, losses and loss expenses and certain other costs we expect to incur as our insurance subsidiaries earn the premium. Estimates in the calculation of policy acquisition costs have not shown material variability because of uncertainties in applying accounting principles or as a result of sensitivities to changes in key assumptions.

Property and Equipment

We report property and equipment at depreciated cost that we compute using the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of the assets.

Losses and Loss Expenses

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assumptions as to future loss trends, expected claims severity, judicial theories of liability and other factors. However, during the loss adjustment period, our insurance subsidiaries may learn additional facts regarding individual claims, and, consequently, it often becomes necessary for our insurance subsidiaries to refine and adjust their estimates for these liabilities. We reflect any adjustments to the liabilities for losses and loss expenses of our insurance subsidiaries in our consolidated results of operations in the period in which our insurance subsidiaries make adjustments to their estimates.

case-by-case

COVID-19

Our insurance subsidiaries seek to enhance their underwriting results by carefully selecting the product lines they underwrite. Our insurance subsidiaries’ personal lines products primarily include standard and preferred risks in private

passenger automobile and homeowners lines. Our insurance subsidiaries’ commercial lines products primarily include business offices, wholesalers, service providers, contractors, artisans and light manufacturing operations. Our insurance subsidiaries have limited exposure to asbestos and other environmental liabilities. Our insurance subsidiaries write no medical malpractice liability risks.

Income Taxes

We currently file a consolidated federal income tax return that includes us and our insurance subsidiaries.

We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method. The objective of the asset and liability method is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates we expect to be in effect when we realize or settle such amounts.

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Credit Risk

Our objective is to earn competitive returns by investing in a diversified portfolio of securities. Our portfolio of fixed maturity securities and, to a lesser extent, short-term investments is subject to credit risk. We define this risk as the potential loss in fair value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay its debt to us. We manage this risk by performing an analysis of prospective investments and through regular reviews of our portfolio by our investment personnel. We also limit the amount of our total investment portfolio that we invest in any one security.

Our insurance subsidiaries provide property and liability insurance coverages through independent insurance agencies located throughout their operating areas. Our insurance subsidiaries bill the majority of this business directly to their policyholders, although our insurance subsidiaries bill a portion of their commercial business through their agents, to whom they extend credit in the normal course of business.

Our insurance subsidiaries have reinsurance agreements with Donegal Mutual and with a number of major unaffiliated reinsurers.

Reinsurance Accounting and Reporting

Our insurance subsidiaries rely upon reinsurance agreements to limit their maximum net loss from large single risks or risks in concentrated areas and to increase their capacity to write insurance. Reinsurance does not relieve our insurance subsidiaries from liability to their respective policyholders. To the extent that a reinsurer cannot pay losses for which it is liable under the terms of a reinsurance agreement with one or more of our insurance subsidiaries, our insurance subsidiaries retain continued liability for such losses. However, in an effort to reduce the risk of

non-payment,

our insurance subsidiaries require all of their reinsurers to have an A.M. Best rating of

A-

or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, to have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with an A.M. Best rating of

A-

or better. We refer to Note 10

Reinsurance for more information regarding the reinsurance agreements of our insurance subsidiaries.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure all share-based payments to our directors and the directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, including grants of stock options, using a fair-value-based method and record such expense in our results of operations. In determining the expense we record for stock options we grant to our directors and the directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, we estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The significant assumptions we utilize in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model are the risk-free interest rate, expected term, dividend yield and expected volatility.

In 2020, 2019 and 2018, we realized $302,901, $64,765 and $25,938, respectively, in tax benefits upon the exercise of stock options.

Earnings Per Share

We calculate basic earnings per share by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.

We have two classes of common stock, which we refer to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Our Class A common stock is entitled to the declaration and payment of cash dividends that are at least 10% higher than those we declare and pay on our Class B common stock. Accordingly,

we use the two-class method for the computation of earnings per common share. The two-class method

is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share separately for each class of common stock based on dividends declared and an allocation of remaining undistributed earnings using a participation percentage that reflects the dividend rights of each class.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the underlying fair value of acquired entities. When completing acquisitions, we seek also to identify separately identifiable intangible assets that we have acquired. We assess goodwill and intangible assets with an indefinite useful life for impairment annually. We also assess goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment upon the occurrence of certain events. In making our assessment, we consider a number of factors including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and current market data. Inherent uncertainties exist with respect to these factors and to our judgment in applying them when we make our assessment. Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets could result from changes in economic and operating conditions in future periods.

2 - Impact of New Accounting Standards

Regulation S-K, to

3 - Transactions with Affiliates

Our insurance subsidiaries conduct business and have various agreements with Donegal Mutual that we describe in the following subparagraphs:

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a. Reinsurance Pooling and Other Reinsurance Arrangements

Atlantic States, our largest insurance subsidiary, and Donegal Mutual have a pooling agreement under which both companies contribute substantially all of their direct written business to the pool and receive an allocated percentage of the pooled underwriting results, excluding certain reinsurance Donegal Mutual assumes from our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, Donegal Mutual has a 100% quota-share reinsurance agreement with Southern Mutual Insurance Company, or Southern Mutual, and Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from Southern Mutual into the underwriting pool. Atlantic States has an 80% share of the results of the pool, and Donegal Mutual has a 20% share of the results of the pool. The intent of the pooling agreement is to produce more uniform and stable underwriting results from year to year for each pool participant than they would experience individually and to spread the risk of loss between the participants based on each participant’s relative amount of surplus and relative access to capital. Each participant in the pool has at its disposal the capacity of the entire pool, rather than being limited to policy exposures of a size commensurate with its own capital and surplus.

The following amounts represent reinsurance Atlantic States ceded to the pool during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020		2019		2018
Premiums earned	$	266,400,636	$	218,642,984	$	212,928,238
Losses and loss expenses		181,205,743		173,238,503		159,495,489
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		146,387,565		116,189,929		106,224,424
Liability for losses and loss expenses		232,540,607		183,326,589		158,081,925

The following amounts represent reinsurance Atlantic States assumed from the pool during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020		2019		2018
Premiums earned	$	514,172,448	$	479,835,362	$	473,512,781
Losses and loss expenses		309,315,497		309,852,141		335,789,280
Unearned premiums		262,004,199		237,106,338		231,958,181
Liability for losses and loss expenses		377,530,215		322,658,731		303,546,744

Donegal Mutual and MICO have a quota-share reinsurance agreement under which Donegal Mutual assumes 25% of the premiums and losses related to the business of MICO. Donegal Mutual and Peninsula have a quota-share reinsurance agreement under which Donegal Mutual assumes 100% of the premiums and losses related to the workers’ compensation product line of Peninsula in certain states. Donegal Mutual places its assumed business from MICO and Peninsula into the underwriting pool.

The following amounts represent reinsurance ceded to Donegal Mutual pursuant to these quota-share reinsurance agreements during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020		2019		2018
Premiums earned	$	39,315,398	$	42,079,112	$	42,813,929
Losses and loss expenses		15,471,037		19,617,787		23,175,456
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		17,155,909		19,217,849		19,047,084
Liability for losses and loss expenses		35,306,627		36,597,834		38,434,078

In 2019 and 2020, each of our insurance subsidiaries had a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual that provided coverage under any one catastrophic occurrence above a set retention of $2,000,000, with a combined retention of $5,000,000 for a catastrophe involving a combination of our insurance subsidiaries, up to the amount Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries retained under catastrophe reinsurance agreements with unaffiliated reinsurers. Through December 31, 2018, Atlantic States, Southern and Le Mars each had a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual that provided coverage under any one catastrophic occurrence above a set retention ($2,500,000, $2,000,000 and $1,000,000 for Atlantic States, Southern and Le Mars, respectively, for 2018), with a combined retention of $5,000,000 for a catastrophe involving a combination of these subsidiaries, up to the amount Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries retained under catastrophe reinsurance agreements with unaffiliated reinsurers. Through December 31, 2018, Donegal Mutual and Southern had an excess of loss reinsurance agreement in which Donegal Mutual assumed up to $500,000 of Southern’s losses in excess of $500,000.

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The following amounts represent reinsurance that our insurance subsidiaries ceded to Donegal Mutual pursuant to these reinsurance agreements during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020		2019		2018
Premiums earned	$	15,595,138	$	14,404,636	$	19,190,067
Losses and loss expenses		25,259,527		13,769,736		12,899,927
Liability for losses and loss expenses		3,812,339		3,149,907		4,847,176

The following amounts represent the effect of affiliated reinsurance transactions on net premiums our insurance subsidiaries earned during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020			2019			2018
Assumed	$	514,172,448		$	479,835,362		$	473,512,781
Ceded		(321,311,172	)		(275,126,732	)		(274,932,234	)

Net	$	192,861,276		$	204,708,630		$	198,580,547

The following amounts represent the effect of affiliated reinsurance transactions on net losses and loss expenses our insurance subsidiaries incurred during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020			2019			2018
Assumed	$	309,311,098		$	309,844,705		$	335,684,463
Ceded		(221,936,307	)		(206,626,026	)		(195,570,872	)

Net	$	87,374,791		$	103,218,679		$	140,113,591

b. Expense Sharing

Donegal Mutual provides facilities, management and other services to us and our insurance subsidiaries. In addition, Donegal Mutual purchases and maintains the information technology systems that support the business of Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual allocates certain related expenses to Atlantic States in relation to the relative participation of Atlantic States and Donegal Mutual in the pooling agreement. Our insurance subsidiaries other than Atlantic States reimburse Donegal Mutual for direct costs of services Donegal Mutual provides on their behalf and a proportionate share of certain costs Donegal Mutual allocates to them based on their percentage of the total net premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group and other metrics. Donegal Mutual allocates costs related to its development and maintenance of information technology systems over the estimated useful life of those systems (generally five years) and charges a proportionate share of those costs to our insurance companies based on their percentage of the total net premiums written of the Donegal Insurance Group. Total charges from Donegal Mutual for services it provided to our insurance subsidiaries totaled

$153,941,121, $134,143,158 and $126,153,511 for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Donegal Mutual is currently in the midst of a multi-year effort to modernize certain of its key technology infrastructure and application systems. In 2020, Donegal Mutual placed the first release of new systems into service and allocated $2.8 million of related costs to our insurance subsidiaries. Donegal Mutual will allocate to our insurance subsidiaries their proportionate share of the remaining $19.2 million of its costs for the first release over the next five years. Donegal Mutual incurred an additional $9.0 million of deferred costs related to releases under development that were not yet ready for their intended use at December 31, 2020.

Our management believes that the allocation methods Donegal Mutual utilizes are reasonable. In addition, Donegal Mutual and we maintain a coordinating committee that consists of two members of our board of directors, neither of whom is a member of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, and two members of Donegal Mutual’s board of directors, neither of whom is a member of our board of directors. The purpose of the coordinating committee is to maintain a process for an ongoing evaluation of the fairness of the terms of all transactions between Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries.

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c. Lease Agreement

We lease office equipment with terms ranging from 3 to 10 years to Donegal Mutual under a

10-year

lease agreement dated January 1, 2011.

4 - Investments

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of our fixed maturities at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:


	2020
Held to Maturity	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	77,435,268	$	3,983,890	$	223,564	$	81,195,594
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		312,319,238		23,211,483		142,750		335,387,971
Corporate securities		173,269,560		18,172,244		205,761		191,236,043
Mortgage-backed securities		23,585,373		1,235,840		—		24,821,213

Totals	$	586,609,439	$	46,603,457	$	572,075	$	632,640,821


	2020
Available for Sale	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	47,511,872	$	423,855	$	121,015	$	47,814,712
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		66,286,667		2,690,335		11,765		68,965,237
Corporate securities		202,396,309		10,496,218		184,464		212,708,063
Mortgage-backed securities		218,763,252		6,901,676		16,923		225,648,005

Totals	$	534,958,100	$	20,512,084	$	334,167	$	555,136,017


	2019
Held to Maturity	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	82,916,052	$	1,803,230	$	68,560	$	84,650,722
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		204,634,486		14,236,736		288,174		218,583,048
Corporate securities		156,398,001		8,274,912		333,166		164,339,747
Mortgage-backed securities		32,145,243		611,641		16,057		32,740,827

Totals	$	476,093,782	$	24,926,519	$	705,957	$	500,314,344

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	2019
Available for Sale	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses		Estimated Fair Value
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	19,302,056	$	81,773	$	19,370	$	19,364,459
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		55,162,046		1,641,171		6,929		56,796,288
Corporate securities		154,946,586		4,477,035		180,312		159,243,309
Mortgage-backed securities		327,428,590		2,856,820		737,663		329,547,747

Totals	$	556,839,278	$	9,056,799	$	944,274	$	564,951,803

At December 31, 2020, our holdings of obligations of states and political subdivisions included general obligation bonds with an aggregate fair value of $263.6 million and an amortized cost of $247.5 million. Our holdings also included special revenue bonds with an aggregate fair value of $140.8 million and an amortized cost of $131.1 million. With respect to both categories of bonds, we held no securities of any issuer that comprised more than 10% of that category at December 31, 2020. Education bonds and water and sewer utility bonds represented 44% and 39%, respectively, of our total investments in special revenue bonds based on their carrying values at December 31, 2020. Many of the issuers of the special revenue bonds we held at December 31, 2020 have the authority to impose ad valorem taxes. In that respect, many of the special revenue bonds we held are similar to general obligation bonds.

At December 31, 2019, our holdings of obligations of states and political subdivisions included general obligation bonds with an aggregate fair value of $182.0 million and an amortized cost of $172.3 million. Our holdings also included special revenue bonds with an aggregate fair value of $93.4 million and an amortized cost of $87.5 million. With respect to both categories of bonds, we held no securities of any issuer that comprised more than 10% of that category at December 31, 2019. Education bonds and water and sewer utility bonds represented 44% and 35%, respectively, of our total investments in special revenue bonds based on their carrying values at December 31, 2019. Many of the issuers of the special revenue bonds we held at December 31, 2019 have the authority to impose ad valorem taxes. In that respect, many of the special revenue bonds we held are similar to general obligation bonds.

We have segregated within accumulated other comprehensive income the net unrealized losses of $15.1 million arising prior to the November 30, 2013 reclassification date for fixed maturities reclassified from available for sale to held to maturity.

We are amortizing this balance over the remaining

life of the related securities as an adjustment of yield in a manner consistent with the accretion of discount on the same fixed maturities. During 2020, we recorded amortization of $1.4 million in other comprehensive income. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, net unrealized losses of $6.1 million and $7.5 million, respectively, remained within accumulated other comprehensive income.

We set forth below the amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at December 31, 2020 by contractual maturity. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

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	Amortized Cost		Estimated Fair Value
Held to maturity
Due in one year or less	$	17,487,922	$	17,751,370
Due after one year through five years		91,293,064		97,632,535
Due after five years through ten years		205,058,526		222,703,673
Due after ten years		249,184,554		269,732,030
Mortgage-backed securities		23,585,373		24,821,213

Total held to maturity	$	586,609,439	$	632,640,821

Available for sale
Due in one year or less	$	55,448,556	$	55,677,592
Due after one year through five years		99,633,832		105,770,506
Due after five years through ten years		130,984,165		136,888,915
Due after ten years		30,128,295		31,150,999
Mortgage-backed securities		218,763,252		225,648,005

Total available for sale	$	534,958,100	$	555,136,017

The cost and estimated fair values of our equity securities at December 31, 2020 were as follows:


	Cost		Gross Gains		Gross Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Equity securities	$	42,409,750	$	17,103,055	$	956,632	$	58,556,173

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The cost and estimated fair values of our equity securities at December 31, 2019 were as follows:


	Cost		Gross Gains		Gross Losses		Estimated Fair Value
Equity securities	$	43,419,136	$	12,179,912	$	121,492	$	55,477,556

The amortized cost of fixed maturities on deposit with various regulatory authorities at December 31, 2020 and 2019 amounted to $9,114,791 and $8,330,651, respectively.

We derived net investment income, consisting primarily of interest and dividends, from the following sources:


	2020			2019			2018
Fixed maturities	$	30,750,231		$	29,969,774		$	27,733,555
Equity securities		1,386,343			1,268,056			1,264,120
Short-term investments		427,392			1,243,104			795,522
Other		29,250			29,251			29,450

Investment income		32,593,216			32,510,185			29,822,647
Investment expenses		(3,088,750	)		(2,995,230	)		(2,914,991	)

Net investment income		$29,504,466			$29,514,955		$	26,907,656

We present below gross gains and losses from investments, including those we classified as held to maturity, and the change in the difference between fair value and cost of investments:


	2020		2019		2018
Gross gains:
Fixed maturities	$	818,350	$	470,983	$	131,660
Equity securities		8,532,881		10,471,285		1,890,762
Investment in affiliate		—		12,662,147

	9,351,231		23,604,415		2,022,422

Gross losses:
Fixed maturities		246,243		323,746		630,904
Equity securities		6,327,069		1,296,052		6,193,027

	6,573,312		1,619,798		6,823,931

Net investment gains (losses)	$	2,777,919	$	21,984,617	$	(4,801,509	)

Change in difference between fair value and cost of investments:
Fixed maturities	$	33,876,212	$	38,647,456	$	(20,641,433	)
Equity securities		4,088,003		9,334,127		(3,501,853	)

Totals	$	37,964,215	$	47,981,583	$	(24,143,286	)

We recognized $8.4 million of unrealized gains and $2.8 million of unrealized losses on equity securities held at December 31, 2020 in net investment gains for 2020.We recognized $8.9 million of unrealized gains and $25,751 of unrealized losses on equity securities held at December 31, 2019 in net investment gains for 2019.

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We held fixed maturities with unrealized losses representing declines that we considered temporary at December 31, 2020 as follows:


	Less than 12 months				12 months or longer
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	29,144,224	$	344,579	$	—	$	—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		9,361,435		154,515		—		—
Corporate securities		26,142,933		114,606		8,229,646		275,619
Mortgage-backed securities		3,091,272		15,425		236,560		1,498

Totals	$	67,739,864	$	629,125	$	8,466,206	$	277,117

We held fixed maturities with unrealized losses representing declines that we considered temporary at December 31, 2019 as follows:


	Less than 12 months				12 months or longer
	Fair Value		Unrealized Losses		Fair Value		Unrealized Losses
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	7,461,245	$	45,688	$	5,394,735	$	42,242
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		23,339,340		293,516		2,326,813		1,587
Corporate securities		19,362,346		263,280		18,803,546		250,198
Mortgage-backed securities		28,507,123		55,729		74,088,769		697,991

Totals	$	78,670,054	$	658,213	$	100,613,863	$	992,018

We make estimates concerning the valuation of our investments and the recognition of other-than-temporary declines in the value of our investments. For equity securities, we measure investments at fair value, and we recognize changes in fair value in our results of operations. With respect to a debt security that is in an unrealized loss position, we first assess if we intend to sell the debt security. If we determine we intend to sell the debt security, we recognize the impairment loss in our results of operations. If we do not intend to sell the debt security, we determine whether it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we recognize an impairment loss in our results of operations. If we determine it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery, we then evaluate whether a credit loss has occurred. We determine whether a credit loss has occurred by comparing the amortized cost of the debt security to the present value of the cash flows we expect to collect. If we expect a cash flow shortfall, we consider that a credit loss has occurred. If we determine that a credit loss has occurred, we consider the impairment to be other than temporary. We then recognize the amount of the impairment loss related to the credit loss in our results of operations, and we recognize the remaining portion of the impairment loss in our other comprehensive income, net of applicable taxes. In addition, we may write down securities in an unrealized loss position based on a number of other factors, including when the fair value of an investment is significantly below its cost, when the financial condition of the issuer of a security has deteriorated, the occurrence of industry, company or geographic events that have negatively impacted the value of a security and rating agency downgrades. We held 43 debt securities that were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2020. Based upon our analysis of general market conditions and underlying factors impacting these debt securities, we considered these declines in value to be temporary.

We did not recognize any impairment losses in 2020, 2019 or 2018. We had no sales or transfers from our held to maturity portfolio in 2020, 2019 or 2018. We had no derivative instruments or hedging activities during 2020, 2019 or 2018.

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5 - Fair Value Measurements

We account for financial assets using a framework that establishes a hierarchy that ranks the quality and reliability of inputs, or assumptions, used in the determination of fair value, and we classify financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value in one of the following three categories:

Level 1 - quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;

Level 2 - directly or indirectly observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices; and

Level 3 - unobservable inputs not corroborated by market data.

For investments that have quoted market prices in active markets, we use the quoted market price as fair value and include these investments in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. We classify publicly traded equity securities as Level 1. When quoted market prices in active markets are not available, we base fair values on quoted market prices of comparable instruments or price estimates we obtain from independent pricing services. We classify our fixed maturity investments as Level 2. Our fixed maturity investments consist of U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies, obligations of states and political subdivisions, corporate securities and mortgage-backed securities.

We present our investments in

available-for-sale

that the estimated fair value does not reflect the price at which an actual transaction would occur. We utilize nationally recognized independent pricing services to estimate fair values or obtain market quotations for substantially all of our fixed maturity and equity investments. We generally obtain

two

prices per security. The pricing services utilize market quotations for fixed maturity and equity securities that have quoted prices in active markets. For fixed maturity securities that generally do not trade on a daily basis, the pricing services prepare estimates of fair value measurements based predominantly on observable market inputs. The pricing services do not use broker quotes in determining the fair values of our investments. Our investment personnel review the estimates of fair value the pricing services provide to determine if the estimates we obtain are

representative of fair values based upon the general knowledge of the market of our investment personnel, their research findings related to unusual fluctuations in value and their comparison of such values to execution prices for similar securities. Our investment personnel monitor the market and are familiar with current trading ranges for similar securities and pricing of specific investments. Our investment personnel review all pricing estimates that we receive from the pricing services against their expectations with respect to pricing based on fair market curves, security ratings, coupon rates, security type and recent trading activity. Our investment personnel review documentation with respect to the pricing services’ pricing methodology that they obtain periodically to determine if the primary pricing sources, market inputs and pricing frequency for various security types are reasonable. At December 31, 2020, we received two estimates per security from the pricing services, and we priced substantially all of our Level 1 and Level 2 investments using those prices. In our review of the estimates the pricing services provided at December 31, 2020, we did not identify any material discrepancies, and we did not make any adjustments to the estimates the pricing services provided.

We present our cash and short-term investments at estimated fair value. The carrying values in our balance sheet for premium receivables and reinsurance receivables and payables for premiums and paid losses and loss expenses approximate their fair values. The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheet for our subordinated debentures and borrowings under lines of credit approximate their fair values. We classify these items as Level 3.

We evaluate our assets and liabilities on a regular basis to determine the appropriate level at which to classify them for each reporting period. Based on our review of the methodology and summary of inputs the pricing services use, we have concluded that our Level 1 and Level 2 investments were classified properly at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

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The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in

available-for-sale

fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2020:


	Fair Value Measurements Using
	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
				(in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	47,814,712	$	—	$	47,814,712	$	—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		68,965,237		—		68,965,237		—
Corporate securities		212,708,063		—		212,708,063		—
Mortgage-backed securities		225,648,005		—		225,648,005		—
Equity securities		58,556,173		54,152,085		4,404,088		—

Total investments in the fair value hierarchy	$	613,692,190	$	54,152,085	$	559,540,105	$	—

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The following table presents our fair value measurements for our investments in

available-for-sale

fixed maturity and equity securities at December 31, 2019:


	Fair Value Measurements Using
	Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
				(in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government corporations and agencies	$	19,364,459	$	—	$	19,364,459	$	—
Obligations of states and political subdivisions		56,796,288		—		56,796,288		—
Corporate securities		159,243,309		—		159,243,309		—
Mortgage-backed securities		329,547,747		—		329,547,747		—
Equity securities		55,477,556		53,124,368		2,353,188		—

Total investments in the fair value hierarchy	$	620,429,359	$	53,124,368	$	567,304,991	$	—

6 - Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ deferred policy acquisition costs are as follows:


	2020			2019			2018
Balance, January 1	$	59,284,859		$	60,615,127		$	60,289,860
Acquisition costs deferred		118,944,099			121,112,732			121,289,267
Amortization charged to earnings		(119,072,000	)		(122,443,000	)		(120,964,000	)

Balance, December 31	$	59,156,958		$	59,284,859		$	60,615,127

7 - Property and Equipment

Property and equipment at December 31, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:


	2020			2019			Estimated Useful Life
Office equipment	$	8,809,344		$	8,660,163			3-15 years
Automobiles		301,119			301,119			5 years
Real estate		4,921,056			4,977,813			5 - 50 years
Software		2,065,927			2,065,927			5 years

		16,097,446			16,005,022
Accumulated depreciation		(11,707,069	)		(11,446,950	)

	$	4,390,377		$	4,558,072

Depreciation expense for 2020, 2019 and 2018 amounted to

257,397, $282,235 and $479,550, respectively.

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8 - Liability for Losses and Loss Expenses

The establishment of an appropriate liability for losses and loss expenses is an inherently uncertain process, and we can provide no assurance that our insurance subsidiaries’ ultimate liability will not exceed their loss and loss expense reserves and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. For example, legislative, judicial and regulatory actions may expand coverage definitions, retroactively mandate coverage or otherwise require our insurance subsidiaries to pay losses for damages that their policies explicitly excluded or did not intend to cover. Furthermore, we cannot predict the timing, frequency and extent of adjustments to our insurance subsidiaries’ estimated future liabilities, because the historical conditions and events that serve as a basis for our insurance subsidiaries’ estimates of ultimate claim costs may change. As is the case for substantially all property and casualty insurance companies, our insurance subsidiaries have found it necessary in the past to increase their estimated future liabilities for losses and loss expenses in certain periods, and, in other periods, their estimates have exceeded their actual liabilities. Changes in our insurance subsidiaries’ estimate of their liability for losses and loss expenses generally reflect actual payments and their evaluation of information received since the prior reporting date.

We summarize activity in our insurance subsidiaries’ liability for losses and loss expenses as follows:


	2020			2019			2018
Balance at January 1	$	869,673,849		$	814,665,224		$	676,671,727
Less reinsurance recoverable		(362,768,427	)		(339,267,525	)		(293,271,257	)
Net balance at January 1		506,905,422			475,397,699			383,400,470

Incurred related to:
Current year		472,709,060			519,319,941			540,826,810
Prior years		(12,944,767	)		(12,932,277	)		35,631,610

Total incurred		459,764,293			506,387,664			576,458,420

Paid related to:
Current year		236,984,291			278,923,614			308,578,285
Prior years		172,496,467			195,956,327			175,882,906

Total paid		409,480,758			474,879,941			484,461,191

Net balance at December 31		557,188,957			506,905,422			475,397,699
Plus reinsurance recoverable		404,818,480			362,768,427			339,267,525

Balance at December 31	$	962,007,437		$	869,673,849		$	814,665,224

Our insurance subsidiaries recognized a decrease in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of

$12.9

million in each of 2020 and 2019. Our insurance subsidiaries recognized an increase in their liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years of

$35.6

million in 2018. Our insurance subsidiaries made no significant changes in their reserving philosophy or claims management personnel

, and they have made no significant offsetting changes in estimates that increased or decreased their loss and loss expense reserves in those years. The 2020 development represented 2.6% of the December 31, 2019 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation and personal automobile lines of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2020. The majority of the 2020 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2019 development represented 2.7% of the December 31, 2018 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, partially offset by higher-than-expected severity in the commercial automobile and commercial multi-peril lines of business, for accident years prior to 2019. The majority of the 2019 development related to decreases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and MICO. The 2018 development represented 9.3% of the December 31, 2017 net carried reserves and resulted primarily from higher-than-expected severity in the commercial multi-peril, personal automobile and commercial automobile lines of business, offset by lower-than-expected severity in the workers’ compensation line of business, for accident years prior to 2018. The majority of the 2018 development related to increases in the liability for losses and loss expenses of prior years for Atlantic States and Southern. During 2018, our insurance subsidiaries received new information on previously-reported commercial automobile and personal automobile claims that led our insurance subsidiaries to

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conclude that their prior actuarial assumptions did not fully anticipate recent changes in severity and reporting trends. Our insurance subsidiaries have encountered increasing difficulties in projecting the ultimate severity of automobile losses over recent accident years, which our insurance subsidiaries attribute to worsening litigation trends and an increased delay in the reporting to our insurance subsidiaries of information with respect to the severity of claims. As a result, our insurance subsidiaries’ actuaries increased their projections of the ultimate cost of our insurance subsidiaries’ prior-year personal automobile and commercial automobile losses, and our insurance subsidiaries added $17.7 million to their reserves for personal automobile and $20.8 million to their reserves for commercial automobile for accident years prior to 2018.

Short-duration contracts are contracts for which our insurance subsidiaries receive premiums that they recognize as revenue over the period of the contract in proportion to the amount of insurance protection our insurance subsidiaries provide. Our insurance subsidiaries consider the policies they issue to be short-duration contracts. We consider our insurance subsidiaries’ material lines of business to be personal automobile, homeowners, commercial automobile, commercial multi-peril and workers’ compensation.

Our insurance subsidiaries determine incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) reserves by subtracting the cumulative loss and loss expense amounts our insurance subsidiaries have paid and the case reserves our insurance subsidiaries have established at the balance sheet date from their actuaries’ estimate of the ultimate cost of losses and loss expenses. Accordingly, our insurance subsidiaries’ IBNR reserves include their actuaries’ projections of the cost of unreported claims as well as their actuaries’ projected development of case reserves on known claims and reopened claims. Our insurance subsidiaries’ methodology for estimating IBNR reserves has been in place for many years, and their actuaries made no significant changes to that methodology during 2020.

The actuaries for our insurance subsidiaries generally prepare an initial estimate for ultimate losses and loss expenses for the current accident year by multiplying earned premium by an expected loss ratio for each line of business our insurance subsidiaries write. Expected loss ratios represent the actuaries’ expectation of losses at the time our insurance subsidiaries price and write their policies, before the emergence of any actual claims experience. The actuaries determine an expected loss ratio by analyzing historical experience and adjusting for loss cost trends, loss frequency and severity trends, premium rate level changes, reported and paid loss emergence patterns and other known or observed factors.

The actuaries use a variety of actuarial methods to estimate the ultimate cost of losses and loss expenses. These methods include paid loss development, incurred loss development and the Bornhuetter-Ferguson method. The actuaries base their selection of a point estimate on a judgmental weighting of estimates each of these methods produce.

The actuaries consider loss frequency and severity trends when they develop expected loss ratios and point estimates. Loss frequency is a measure of the number of claims per unit of insured exposure, and loss severity is a measure of the average size of claims. Factors that affect loss frequency include changes in weather patterns or economic activity. Factors that affect loss severity include changes in policy limits, reinsurance retentions, inflation rates and judicial interpretations.

Our insurance subsidiaries create a claim file when they receive notice of an actual demand for payment, an event that may lead to a demand for payment or when they otherwise determine that a demand for payment could potentially lead to a future demand for payment on another coverage under the same policy or another policy they have issued. In recent years, our insurance subsidiaries have noted an increase in the period of time between the occurrence of a casualty loss event and the date on which they receive notice of a liability claim. Changes in the length of time between the loss occurrence date and the claim reporting date affect the actuaries’ ability to accurately predict loss frequency and the amount of IBNR reserves our insurance subsidiaries require.

Our insurance subsidiaries generally create a claim file for a policy at the claimant level by type of coverage and generally recognize one count for each claim event. In certain lines of business where it is common for multiple parties to claim damages arising from a single claim event, our insurance subsidiaries recognize one count for each claimant involved in the event. Atlantic States recognizes one count for each claim event, or claimant involved in a multiple-party claim event, related to losses Atlantic States assumes through its participation in its pooling agreement with Donegal Mutual. Our insurance subsidiaries

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accumulate the claim counts and report them by line of business. For purposes of the claim development tables we present below, our insurance subsidiaries count claims on policies they issue even if they eventually close such claims without making a loss payment. Claims our insurance subsidiaries close without making a loss payment typically generate loss expenses. The methods our insurance subsidiaries have used to summarize claim counts have not changed significantly over the time periods we report in the tables below.

The following tables present information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2020, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of IBNR reserves plus expected development on reported claims that our insurance subsidiaries included within their net incurred claims amounts. The tables include unaudited information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2011 through 2019, which we present as supplementary information.

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Personal Automobile																					At December 31, 2020
	Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims		Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
	Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
2011	$	127,929	$	131,678	$	132,987	$	133,229	$	133,617	$	133,218	$	133,145	$	133,142	$	133,207	$	133,192	$	69		75
2012				130,415		133,201		135,592		136,493		136,552		136,463		136,141		136,677		136,648		194		69
2013						124,965		130,737		131,594		132,643		132,604		132,934		132,853		132,690		136		66
2014								124,426		124,806		124,210		126,200		126,779		126,734		126,861		219		71
2015										137,569		139,333		139,181		142,493		142,408		142,073		499		70
2016												150,216		153,937		157,516		157,943		156,935		1,349		73
2017														166,690		176,728		175,939		174,784		2,567		79
2018																186,580		183,358		181,558		5,837		81
2019																		161,056		157,689		10,276		68
2020																				111,483		25,587		42

																		Total	$	1,453,913

Personal Automobile
		Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020
	Unaudited
(in thousands)
2011	$	87,191	$	110,249	$	121,621	$	127,545	$	131,319	$	132,479	$	132,714	$	132,777	$	132,835	$	133,002
2012				87,517		111,941		124,652		130,862		133,428		134,581		135,132		136,137		136,165
2013						84,241		109,051		120,118		125,946		130,026		131,326		131,642		132,215
2014								85,377		104,736		114,893		120,491		123,815		124,926		125,619
2015										93,611		116,303		128,395		135,027		139,121		140,028
2016												102,433		129,507		143,321		151,159		153,521
2017														111,964		142,372		159,879		166,099
2018																115,585		150,175		163,036
2019																		103,101		127,187
2020																				66,084

																		Total		1,342,956
						All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance														647

						Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance													$	111,604

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Homeowners																					At December 31, 2020
	Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims		Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
	Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
2011	$	71,256	$	70,461	$	70,436	$	70,381	$	70,297	$	70,351	$	70,479	$	70,642	$	70,682	$	70,689	$	—		26
2012				53,962		54,794		54,468		54,351		54,281		54,381		54,523		54,557		54,548		—		18
2013						50,887		51,121		51,122		50,874		50,988		50,971		51,008		51,064		—		12
2014								56,916		58,378		57,680		57,332		57,288		57,402		57,367		—		17
2015										63,359		63,925		63,053		63,071		63,099		62,993		28		13
2016												62,443		64,064		63,735		63,355		63,279		25		12
2017														79,283		79,911		79,305		79,247		342		17
2018																81,965		83,385		82,905		838		19
2019																		73,294		73,554		1,830		15
2020																				61,633		6,235		12

																		Total	$	657,279

Homeowners
	Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020
	Unaudited
(in thousands)
2011	$	57,588	$	69,345	$	70,125	$	70,351	$	70,541	$	70,626	$	70,648	$	70,692	$	70,692	$	70,693
2012				46,566		53,619		54,028		54,298		54,317		54,356		54,557		54,557		54,553
2013						40,949		49,410		50,210		50,478		51,043		50,902		50,967		50,965
2014								45,823		56,255		56,990		57,195		56,995		57,243		57,336
2015										51,885		61,542		62,204		62,590		62,844		62,943
2016												50,125		61,145		62,760		63,144		63,162
2017														67,077		77,663		78,006		78,127
2018																70,385		79,892		80,905
2019																		58,074		69,145
2020																				51,226

																		Total		639,055

						All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance														99


						Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance													$	18,323

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Commercial Automobile																					At December 31, 2020
	Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims		Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
	Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
2011	$	26,642	$	27,157	$	28,570	$	28,893	$	29,112	$	29,107	$	29,487	$	29,751	$	29,542	$	29,493	$	17		4
2012				26,557		27,720		30,606		31,435		31,278		31,648		31,803		31,896		31,930		27		8
2013						32,902		33,749		34,751		35,240		36,404		36,435		36,569		36,181		64		8
2014								42,760		44,544		47,326		48,213		49,284		49,168		49,308		192		11
2015										46,526		48,323		51,412		54,259		54,517		54,619		452		12
2016												54,302		57,353		65,905		67,127		66,894		861		13
2017														61,484		67,927		67,697		67,249		2,823		13
2018																79,307		81,396		82,313		5,254		15
2019																		88,864		91,245		15,356		15
2020																				90,367		32,130		13

																		Total	$	599,599

Commercial Automobile
	Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020
	Unaudited
(in thousands)
2011	$	13,876	$	19,106	$	24,267	$	26,973	$	28,014	$	28,758	$	28,836	$	29,102	$	29,474	$	29,476
2012				13,642		20,240		23,718		27,417		29,873		30,402		31,104		31,228		31,263
2013						16,306		23,557		26,879		31,053		34,083		36,004		36,106		36,092
2014								22,707		31,089		39,436		44,374		47,290		48,418		48,603
2015										23,875		35,342		41,678		48,261		51,605		51,992
2016												27,033		38,237		48,837		57,237		60,485
2017														28,707		40,213		49,703		57,128
2018																33,862		47,941		57,451
2019																		36,948		53,026
2020																				31,884

																		Total		457,400

						All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance														244


						Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance													$	142,443

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Commercial Multi-Peril																					At December 31, 2020
	Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims			Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
	Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
2011	$	33,054	$	35,411	$	35,942	$	37,576	$	37,385	$	38,270	$	38,105	$	38,160	$	38,434	$	38,478	$	—			7
2012				29,789		30,716		32,449		34,117		35,755		36,214		36,525		36,876		36,662		—			6
2013						35,683		35,679		37,292		37,205		37,981		37,365		37,453		37,495		(1	)		6
2014								48,204		50,135		51,843		52,336		53,294		53,116		52,926		119			7
2015										42,070		43,874		44,728		45,104		45,873		45,366		186			6
2016												43,005		46,988		48,267		48,871		48,732		857			6
2017														56,185		56,043		56,517		54,812		2,253			7
2018																66,265		66,470		67,749		6,243			7
2019																		71,865		73,836		12,530			7
2020																				83,195		26,981			7

																		Total	$	539,251

Commercial Multi-Peril
Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020
	Unaudited
(in thousands)
2011	$	18,773	$	24,767	$	30,286	$	33,526	$	36,722	$	37,759	$	38,240	$	38,366	$	38,413	$	38,457
2012				16,666		23,384		26,634		29,370		33,327		35,331		35,909		36,329		36,399
2013						19,875		26,216		29,159		33,614		35,104		36,321		37,333		37,436
2014								27,920		35,520		40,936		47,021		50,017		51,615		52,103
2015										21,837		29,419		34,323		39,162		42,849		44,090
2016												19,660		29,402		34,612		41,193		43,435
2017														27,399		36,926		42,691		46,361
2018																30,597		42,296		48,050
2019																		28,210		41,266
2020																				34,729

																		Total		422,326
						All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance														612

						Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance													$	117,537

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Workers’ Compensation																					At December 31, 2020
	Incurred Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020		Total IBNR Plus Expected Development on Reported Claims		Cumulative Number of Reported Claims
	Unaudited
(dollars and reported claims in thousands)
2011	$	32,490	$	35,757	$	36,614	$	36,369	$	35,670	$	35,039	$	35,194	$	34,926	$	35,034	$	35,045	$	27		5
2012				39,142		39,516		38,827		37,926		37,163		36,468		35,954		35,932		36,014		69		5
2013						46,325		47,027		44,289		42,828		42,327		42,555		42,651		42,341		116		6
2014								51,508		51,553		49,288		48,537		47,540		47,693		47,849		193		6
2015										53,332		49,615		45,991		44,986		43,006		42,597		548		5
2016												58,814		49,802		47,883		44,969		44,098		840		5
2017														60,450		56,351		52,687		51,464		2,742		5
2018																62,197		55,291		52,514		4,114		6
2019																		60,998		59,624		7,825		6
2020																				57,172		19,283		5

																		Total	$	468,718

Workers’ Compensation
	Cumulative Paid Claims and Allocated Claim Adjustment Expenses, Net of Reinsurance For the Year Ended December 31,
Accident Year	2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018		2019		2020
	Unaudited
(in thousands)
2011	$	9,157	$	21,450	$	27,517	$	31,905	$	32,394	$	33,067	$	33,577	$	33,963	$	34,109	$	34,261
2012				11,097		22,963		28,812		31,244		33,196		34,177		34,460		34,622		34,691
2013						13,052		26,043		32,783		36,351		38,877		39,617		40,361		40,827
2014								13,932		28,513		36,284		40,393		42,465		43,866		44,403
2015										13,071		27,531		34,192		36,929		37,936		38,596
2016												14,709		30,344		37,178		40,570		41,208
2017														15,581		31,990		39,684		42,954
2018																17,644		31,928		37,072
2019																		16,939		33,009
2020																				14,591

																		Total		361,612
						All outstanding liabilities before 2011, net of reinsurance														3,343

						Liabilities for claims and claims adjustment expenses, net of reinsurance													$	110,449

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The following table presents a reconciliation of the net incurred and paid claims development tables to the liability for claims and claims adjustment expenses in our consolidated balance sheet:


(in thousands)	At December 31, 2020
Net outstanding liabilities:
Personal automobile	$	111,604
Homeowners		18,323
Commercial automobile		142,443
Commercial multi-peril		117,537
Workers ’ compensation		110,449
Other		17,759

		518,115

Reinsurance recoverable:
Personal automobile	$	117,575
Homeowners		10,597
Commercial automobile		90,436
Commercial multi-peril		75,801
Workers ’ compensation		86,479
Other		7,420

		388,308

Unallocated loss adjustment expenses	$	55,584

Gross liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses	$	962,007

The following table presents supplementary information about average historical claims duration as of December 31, 2020:


	Average Annual Percentage Payout of Incurred Claims by Age, Net of Reinsurance
Years	1			2			3			4			5			6			7			8			9			10
Personal automobile		64.6	%		17.1	%		8.6	%		4.4	%		2.5	%		0.8	%		0.3	%		0.4	%		—	%		0.1	%
Homeowners		82.0			15.2			1.2			0.4			0.2			0.1			0.2			—			—			—
Commercial automobile		42.5			18.3			13.5			11.1			6.1			2.5			0.8			0.4			0.7			—
Commercial multi-peril		46.4			17.1			10.2			10.0			6.9			3.4			1.6			0.6			0.2			0.1
Workers’ compensation		29.9			31.6			15.2			8.1			3.5			2.2			1.3			0.9			0.3			0.4

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9 - Borrowings

Lines of Credit

annual fees and no covenants. At December 31, 2020, we had no outstanding borrowings from M&T and had the ability to borrow up to $20.0 million at interest rates equal to the then-current LIBOR rate plus 2.00%.

Atlantic States is a member of the FHLB of Pittsburgh. Through its membership, Atlantic States has the ability to issue debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for cash advances. In August 2019, Atlantic States exchanged a variable-rate cash advance of $35.0 million that was due in March 2020 for a fixed-rate cash advance of $35.0 million that was outstanding at December 31, 2020. Atlantic States incurred a penalty of $176,000 related to the early termination of its previous cash advance. The new cash advance carries a fixed interest rate of 1.74% and is due in August 2024. In March 2020, Atlantic States issued $50.0 million of debt to the FHLB of Pittsburgh in exchange for a cash advance in the same amount that was outstanding at December 31, 2020. The debt carries a fixed interest rate of 0.83% and is due in March 2021. Atlantic States obtained this contingent liquidity funding in light of uncertainty surrounding the economic impact of the

COVID-19

pandemic. The table below presents the amount of FHLB of Pittsburgh stock Atlantic States purchased, collateral pledged and assets related to Atlantic States’ membership in the FHLB of Pittsburgh at December 31, 2020.


FHLB stock purchased and owned as part of the agreement	$	3,690,100
Collateral pledged, at par (carrying value $87,466,236)		85,915,094
Borrowing capacity currently available		1,330,109

Subordinated Debentures

Donegal Mutual holds a $5.0 million surplus note that MICO issued to increase MICO’s statutory surplus. The surplus note carries an interest rate of 5.00%, and any repayment of principal or payment of interest on the surplus note requires prior approval of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Upon receipt of regulatory approval, MICO paid $250,000 in interest to Donegal Mutual during each of 2020, 2019 and 2018.

10 - Reinsurance

Unaffiliated Reinsurers

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual implemented a combined third-party reinsurance program effective January 1, 2019. The coverage and parameters of the fully consolidated program are common to all of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. Our insurance subsidiaries use several different reinsurers, all of which have an A.M. Best rating of

A-

(Excellent) or better or, with respect to foreign reinsurers, have a financial condition that, in the opinion of our management, is equivalent to a company with at least an

A-

rating from A.M. Best. The following information describes the external reinsurance our insurance subsidiaries had in place for 2020:

•

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As many as 28 reinsurers provided coverage for 2020 on any one treaty with no reinsurer taking more than 20% of any one treaty.

The amount of coverage provided under each of these types of reinsurance depended upon the amount, nature, size and location of the risks being reinsured. In order to write automobile insurance in the State of Michigan, MICO is required to be a member of the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (“MCCA”). The MCCA provides reinsurance to MICO for personal automobile and commercial automobile personal injury claims in the State of Michigan over a set retention.

In addition to the pooling agreement and third-party reinsurance, our insurance subsidiaries had a catastrophe reinsurance agreement with Donegal Mutual, under which each of our insurance subsidiaries recovered 100% of an accumulation of multiple losses resulting from a single event, including natural disasters, over a set retention of $2.0 million up to aggregate losses of $13.0 million per occurrence. The agreement also provided additional coverage for an accumulation of losses from a single event including a combination of our insurance subsidiaries over a combined retention of $5.0 million.

Our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual also purchased facultative reinsurance to cover certain exposures, including property exposures in excess of the covered limits of their respective treaty reinsurance.

The following amounts represent ceded reinsurance transactions with unaffiliated reinsurers during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020		2019		2018
Premiums written	$	34,165,635	$	36,941,997	$	50,160,604
Premiums earned		35,358,765		39,732,282		51,266,000
Losses and loss expenses		9,835,268		33,615,819		50,652,202
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		5,874,859		7,067,989		10,108,269
Liability for losses and loss expenses		133,158,907		139,694,097		137,904,346

Total Reinsurance

The following amounts represent total ceded reinsurance transactions with both affiliated and unaffiliated reinsurers during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020		2019		2018
Premiums earned	$	356,669,937	$	314,859,014	$	326,198,234
Losses and loss expenses		231,771,575		240,241,845		246,223,074
Prepaid reinsurance premiums		169,418,333		142,475,767		135,379,777
Liability for losses and loss expenses		404,818,480		362,768,427		339,267,525

The following amounts represent the effect of reinsurance on premiums written for 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020			2019			2018
Direct	$	586,681,839		$	589,572,526		$	594,078,723
Assumed		539,070,557			485,233,762			476,482,451
Ceded		(383,612,503	)		(322,204,999	)		(326,545,370	)

Net premiums written	$	742,139,893		$	752,601,289		$	744,015,804

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The following amounts represent the effect of reinsurance on premiums earned for 2020, 2019 and 2018:


	2020			2019			2018
Direct	$	584,537,580		$	591,101,804		$	593,976,241
Assumed		514,172,696			479,835,610			473,512,866
Ceded		(356,669,937	)		(314,859,014	)		(326,198,234	)

Net premiums earned	$	742,040,339		$	756,078,400		$	741,290,873

Percentage of assumed premiums earned to net premiums earned		69.3	%		63.5	%		63.9	%

11 - Income Taxes

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “TCJA”) was signed into law in December 2017. The TCJA contained significant changes to corporate taxation, including the reduction of the corporate income tax rate to 21% and the repeal of the corporate alternative minimum tax.

The TCJA resulted in our reclassification of an alternative minimum tax credit carryforward of $8.5 million from net deferred tax assets to federal income taxes recoverable in 2017. We generated sufficient taxable income in 2019 to fully utilize this alternative minimum tax credit carryforward.

Our provision for income tax expense (benefit) for 2020, 2019 and 2018 consisted of the following:


	2020		2019		2018
Current federal income tax	$	10,450,803	$	8,454,358	$	(11,296,704	)
Deferred federal income tax		6,448		649,928		(4,179,805	)

Federal income tax expense (benefit)	$	10,457,251	$	9,104,286	$	(15,476,509	)

Pennsylvania income tax		—		825,000		—

Income tax expense (benefit)	$	10,457,251	$	9,929,286	$	(15,476,509	)

Our effective tax rate is different from the amount computed at the statutory federal rate of 21%.

The reasons for such difference and the related tax effects are as follows:



	2020			2019			2018
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	63,272,503		$	57,081,030		$	(48,236,849	)

Computed “expected” taxes		13,287,226			11,987,016			(10,129,738	)
Tax-exempt interest		(1,468,806	)		(1,325,197	)		(1,521,090	)
Proration		395,663			357,044			405,204
Dividends received deduction		(113,845	)		(1,913,238	)		(99,726	)
Net operating loss carryback		(1,640,084	)		—			(4,210,523	)
Tax benefit on exercise of options		(302,901	)		(64,765	)		(25,938	)
Other, net		299,998			236,676			105,302
Pennsylvania income tax, net of federal benefit		—			651,750			—

Income tax expense (benefit)	$	10,457,251		$	9,929,286		$	(15,476,509	)

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of our deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

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	2020			2019
Deferred tax assets:
Unearned premium	$	15,481,602		$	15,482,366
Loss reserves		8,808,342			7,820,683
Net operating loss carryforward		104,041			200,942
Net state operating loss carryforward - DGI Parent		7,850,334			7,519,991
Other		2,342,967			2,603,155

Total gross deferred tax assets		34,587,286			33,627,137
Less valuation allowance		(7,850,334	)		(7,538,024	)

Net deferred tax assets		26,736,952			26,089,113

Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred policy acquisition costs		12,422,961			12,449,820
Loss reserve transition adjustment		1,440,793			1,733,056
Other		7,190,085			3,391,926

Total gross deferred tax liabilities		21,053,839			17,574,802

Net deferred tax asset	$	5,683,113		$	8,514,311

We recorded a net operating loss carryforward for the portion of our taxable loss for 2018 that exceeded our taxable income in 2016 and 2017. We utilized the full net operating loss carryforward in 2019.

Our income tax expense for 2020 included a $1.6 million income tax benefit related to the carryback of 2018 net operating losses to past tax years with higher statutory income tax rates than are currently in effect, as allowed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act that was enacted in March 2020.

We recorded a loss reserve transition adjustment in 2018 related to changes the TCJA required with respect to the calculation of loss reserve discounting. Pursuant to the provisions of the TCJA, we will include the loss reserve transition adjustment in our taxable income over eight years beginning in 2018.

We provide a valuation allowance when we believe it is more likely than not that we will not realize some portion of a deferred tax asset. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, we established a valuation allowance of $7.9 million and $7.5 million, respectively, for the net state operating loss carryforward of DGI. We determined that we were not required to establish a

valuation allowance for the other net deferred tax assets of $26.7 million and $26.1 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, since it is more likely than not that we will realize these deferred tax assets through reversals of existing temporary differences, future taxable income and our implementation of

tax-planning

strategies.

Tax years 2016 through 2020 remained open for examination by tax authorities at December 31, 2020. A net operating loss carryforward of $495,435 of Le Mars that we acquired on January 1, 2004 will expire in 2022 if not utilized and is subject to an annual limitation of approximately $376,000.

12 - Stockholders’ Equity

Each share of our Class A common stock outstanding at the time of the declaration of any dividend or other distribution payable in cash upon the shares of our Class B common stock is entitled to a dividend or distribution payable at the same time and to stockholders of record on the same date in an amount at least 10% greater than any dividend declared upon each share of our Class B common stock. In the event of our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, the holders of our Class A common stock and the holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to receive the same per share consideration in such merger or consolidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or

winding-up,

any assets available to common stockholders will be distributed

pro-rata

to the holders of our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock after payment of all of our obligations.

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On July 18, 2013, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we have the authority to purchase up to 500,000 additional shares of our Class A common stock at prices prevailing from time to time in the open market subject to the provisions of the SEC

Rule 10b-18

and in privately negotiated transactions. We did not purchase any shares of our Class A common stock under this program during 2020, 2019 or 2018. We have purchased a total of 57,658 shares of our Class A common stock under this program from its inception through December 31, 2020.

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our treasury stock consisted of 3,002,588 and 72,465 shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, respectively.

13 - Stock Compensation Plans

Equity Incentive Plans

Since 1996, we have maintained an Equity Incentive Plan for Employees. During 2019, we adopted a plan that made a total of 4,500,000 shares of Class A common stock available for issuance to employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates. The plan provides for the granting of awards by our board of directors in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or any combination of the above. The plan provides that stock options may become exercisable up to five years from their date of grant, with an option price not less than fair market value on the date preceding the date of grant. We have not granted any stock appreciation rights.

Since 1996, we have maintained an Equity Incentive Plan for Directors. During 2019, we adopted a plan that made 500,000 shares of Class A common stock available for issuance to our directors and the directors of our subsidiaries and affiliates.We may make awards in the form of stock options. The plan also provides for the issuance of 500 shares of restricted stock on the first business day of January in each year to each of our directors and each director of Donegal Mutual who does not serve as one of our directors. We issued 8,500 shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2020 under our director plan. We issued 8,500 shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2019 under our prior director plan. We issued 8,500 shares of restricted stock on January 2, 2018 under our prior director plan.

No further shares are available for future option grants for plans in effect prior to 2019.

We measure all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, using a fair-value-based method and record such expense in our results of operations. In determining the expense we record for stock options granted to directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, we estimate the fair value of each option award on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The significant assumptions we utilize in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model are the risk-free interest rate, expected term, dividend yield and expected volatility. The risk-free interest rate is the implied yield currently available on U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues with a remaining term equal to the expected term used as the assumption in the model. We base the expected term of an option award on our historical experience for similar awards. We determine the dividend yield by dividing the per share dividend by the grant date stock price. We base the expected volatility on the volatility of our stock price over a historical period comparable to the expected term.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options we granted during 2020 was $1.15. We calculated this fair value based upon a risk-free interest rate of 0.20%, an expected life of three years, an expected volatility of 20% and an expected dividend yield of 4%.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options we granted during 2019 was $1.15. We calculated this fair value based upon a risk-free interest rate of 1.64%, an expected life of three years, an expected volatility of 17% and an expected dividend yield of 4%.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options we granted during 2018 was $1.66. We calculated this fair value based upon a risk-free interest rate of 2.68%, an expected life of three years, an expected volatility of 22% and an expected dividend yield of 4%.

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We charged compensation expense for our stock compensation plans against income before income taxes of $1.1 million, $1.4 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019

and 2018, respectively, with a corresponding income tax benefit of $229,698, $288,901 and $354,412. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, our total unrecognized compensation cost related to

non-vested

share-based compensation granted under our stock compensation plans was $1.6 million and $2.0 million, respectively. We expect to recognize this cost over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.

During 2020, we received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans of $17.5 million. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of

302,901 for 2020. During 2019, we received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans of $2.9 million. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of $64,765 for 2019. During 2018, we received cash from option exercises under all stock compensation plans of $1.1 million. We realized actual tax benefits for the tax deductions from option exercises of share-based compensation of $25,938 for 2018.

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Information regarding activity in our stock option plans follows:


	Number of Options			Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per Share
Outstanding at December 31, 2017		9,264,462		$	15.26
Granted - 2018		1,063,000			13.69
Exercised - 2018		(79,961	)		13.74
Forfeited - 2018		(222,639	)		16.00

Outstanding at December 31, 2018		10,024,862			15.09
Granted - 2019		1,045,400			14.97
Exercised - 2019		(217,498	)		13.23
Forfeited - 2019		(416,774	)		15.88

Outstanding at December 31, 2019		10,435,990			15.09
Granted - 2020		935,099			14.45
Exercised - 2020		(1,294,606	)		13.52
Forfeited - 2020		(303,908	)		15.23
Expired - 2020		(78,223	)	$	13.64

Outstanding at December 31, 2020		9,694,352		$	15.24

Exercisable at:
December 31, 2018		7,936,659		$	15.02

December 31, 2019		8,449,389		$	15.13

December 31, 2020		7,786,934		$	15.42

Shares available for future option grants at December 31, 2020 totaled 3.0 million shares under all plans.

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2020:


Grant Date	Exercise Price	Number of Options Outstanding		Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life		Number of Options Exercisable
July 27, 2011	$12.50		743,934		1.0 years		743,934
December 20, 2012	14.50		981,759		2.0 years		981,759
December 19, 2013	15.90		1,939,970		3.0 years		1,939,970
December 18, 2014	15.80		1,235,081		4.0 years		1,235,081
December 15, 2016	16.48		1,165,308		1.0 years		1,165,308
December 21, 2017	17.60		763,633		2.0 years		763,633
December 20, 2018	13.69		910,367		3.0 years		606,851
March 4, 2019	13.51		10,000		3.2 years		6,666
December 19, 2019	14.98		1,031,300		4.0 years		343,732
December 17, 2020	14.43		913,000		5.0 years		—

	Total		9,694,352				7,786,934

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Since 1996, we have maintained an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. During 2011, we adopted a plan that made 300,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance. During 2019, we amended the plan to make 500,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance. The plan extends over a

10-year

period and provides for shares to be offered to all eligible employees at a purchase price equal to the lesser of 85% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the last day before the first day of each enrollment period (June 1 and December 1 of each year) under the plan or 85% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on the last day of each subscription period (June 30 and December 31 of each year).

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A summary of plan activity follows:


	Shares Issued
	Price	Shares
January 1, 2018	13.34	20,662
July 1, 2018	11.57	27,802
January 1, 2019	11.60	24,834
July 1, 2019	12.24	22,926
January 1, 2020	12.28	20,424
July 1, 2020	12.09	22,662

On January 1, 2021, we issued 23,336 shares at a price of $11.96 per share under this plan.

Agency Stock Purchase Plan

Since 1996, we have maintained an Agency Stock Purchase Plan. During 2015, we adopted a plan that made 350,000 shares of our Class A common stock available for issuance to agents of our insurance subsidiaries and Donegal Mutual. The plan permits an agent to invest up to $12,000 per subscription period (April 1 to September 30 and October 1 to March 31 of each year) under various methods. We issue stock at the end of each subscription period at a price equal to 90% of the average market price during the last ten trading days of each subscription period. During 2020, 2019 and 2018, we issued 101,647, 110,836 and 117,935 shares, respectively, under this plan. The expense we recognized under the plan was not material.

14 - Statutory Net Income, Capital and Surplus and Dividend Restrictions

The following table presents selected information, as filed with state insurance regulatory authorities, for our insurance subsidiaries as determined in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by such insurance regulatory authorities:


	2020		2019			2018
Atlantic States:
Statutory capital and surplus	$	279,796,696	$	259,030,868		$	230,736,313
Statutory unassigned surplus		175,777,393		155,909,822			140,713,118
Statutory net income (loss)		20,735,871		22,282,231			(23,458,516	)
Southern:
Statutory capital and surplus		57,142,228		54,405,568			45,355,785
Statutory unassigned surplus (deficit)		300,409		(2,375,794	)		(6,346,270	)
Statutory net income (loss)		4,350,677		5,061,477			(9,822,457	)
Peninsula:
Statutory capital and surplus		49,285,069		39,244,570			32,717,996
Statutory unassigned surplus		30,975,869		20,936,805			14,415,949
Statutory net income (loss)		10,955,796		7,360,378			(6,316,130	)
MICO:
Statutory capital and surplus		72,183,575		65,768,590			55,708,442
Statutory unassigned surplus		45,247,698		38,910,008			28,949,919
Statutory net income		12,240,173		9,976,610			6,350,686

Our principal source of cash for payment of dividends is dividends from our insurance subsidiaries. State insurance laws require our insurance subsidiaries to maintain certain minimum capital and surplus amounts on a statutory basis. Our insurance

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subsidiaries are subject to regulations that restrict the payment of dividends from statutory surplus and may require prior approval of their domiciliary insurance regulatory authorities. Our insurance subsidiaries are also subject to risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that may further impact their ability to pay dividends. Our insurance subsidiaries’ statutory capital and surplus at December 31, 2020 exceeded the amount of statutory capital and surplus necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements, including the RBC requirements, by a significant margin. Amounts available for distribution to us as dividends from our insurance subsidiaries without prior approval of insurance regulatory authorities in 2021 are approximately $28.0 million from Atlantic States, $300,000 from Southern, $10.9 million from Peninsula and $12.2 million from MICO, or a total of approximately $51.4 million.

15 - Reconciliation of Statutory Filings to Amounts Reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements

Our insurance subsidiaries must file financial statements with state insurance regulatory authorities using accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by those authorities. We refer to these accounting principles and practices as statutory accounting principles (“SAP”). Accounting principles used to prepare these SAP financial statements differ from those used to prepare financial statements on the basis of GAAP.

Reconciliations of statutory net income (loss) and capital and surplus, as determined using SAP, to the net income (loss) and stockholders’ equity amounts included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Statutory net income (loss) of insurance subsidiaries	$	48,282,517		$	44,680,696		$	(33,246,417	)
Increases (decreases):
Deferred policy acquisition costs		(127,901	)		(1,330,268	)		325,267
Deferred federal income taxes		(6,448	)		639,284			4,179,807
Salvage and subrogation recoverable		713,400			207,000			2,061,600
Consolidating eliminations and adjustments		(9,516,984	)		(11,048,314	)		(16,013,971	)
Parent-only net income		13,470,668			14,003,346			9,933,374

Net income (loss)	$	52,815,252		$	47,151,744		$	(32,760,340	)


	December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Statutory capital and surplus of insurance subsidiaries	$	458,407,568		$	418,449,596		$	364,518,536
Increases (decreases):
Deferred policy acquisition costs		59,156,958			59,284,859			60,615,127
Deferred federal income taxes		(18,586,428	)		(15,477,843	)		(20,094,374	)
Salvage and subrogation recoverable		20,958,600			20,245,200			20,038,200
Non-admitted assets and other adjustments, net		1,315,378			1,727,754			1,904,083
Fixed maturities		15,309,610			(326,795	)		(16,528,367	)
Parent-only equity and other adjustments		(18,787,566	)		(32,887,252	)		(11,583,304	)

Stockholders’ equity	$	517,774,120		$	451,015,519		$	398,869,901

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16 - Supplementary Cash Flow Information

The following table reflects net income taxes we paid (recovered) and interest we paid during 2020, 2019 and 2018:


		2020		2019			2018
Income taxes	$		12,800,000	$	(9,827,433	)	$	(3,290,247	)
Interest			1,191,800		321,585			1,280,352

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17 - Earnings Per Share

We have two classes of common stock, which we refer to as Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Our Class A common stock is entitled to be paid cash dividends that are at least 10% higher than the cash dividends we pay on our Class B common stock. Accordingly, we use the

two-class

method for the computation of earnings per common share. The

two-class

method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share separately for each class of common stock based on dividends declared and an allocation of remaining undistributed earnings using a participation percentage reflecting the dividend rights of each class.

We present below a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators we used in the basic and diluted per share computations for our Class A common stock:


	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2020		2019		2018
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net income (loss)	$	43,609	$	38,718	$	(26,691	)

Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding		23,707		22,986		22,705

Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	1.84	$	1.68	$	(1.18	)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net income (loss)	$	43,609	$	38,718	$	(26,691	)

Denominator:
Number of shares used in basic computation		23,707		22,986		22,705
Weighted-average effect of dilutive securities
Add: Director and employee stock options		180		211		—

Number of shares used in per share computations		23,887		23,197		22,705

Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	1.83	$	1.67	$	(1.18	)

We used the following information in the basic and diluted per share computations for our Class B common stock:



	Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2020		2019		2018
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Numerator:
Allocation of net income (loss)	$	9,206	$	8,434	$	(6,069	)

Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding		5,577		5,577		5,577

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	1.65	$	1.51	$	(1.09	)

During 2020, we did not include options to purchase 6,135,292 shares of our Class A common stock in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the options was greater than the average market price of our Class A common stock.

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18 - Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company

Condensed Balance Sheets

(in thousands)


December 31,	2020		2019
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries/affiliates (equity method)	$	540,665	$	489,657
Short-term investments		9		2,502
Cash		15,321		2,350
Property and equipment		833		944
Other		1,721		—

Total assets	$	558,549	$	495,453

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Cash dividends declared to stockholders	$	4,436	$	4,075
Notes payable to subsidiary		35,000		35,000
Other		1,339		5,362

Total liabilities		40,775		44,437

Stockholders’ equity		517,774		451,016

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	558,549	$	495,453

Condensed Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands)


Year Ended December 31,	2020		2019		2018
Statements of Income (Loss)
Revenues
Dividends from subsidiaries	$	14,000	$	4,000	$	11,000
Realized investment gains		—		12,378		—
Other		463		1,009		3,196

Total revenues		14,463		17,387		14,196

Expenses
Operating expenses		1,258		1,420		1,628
Interest		794		1,327		2,224

Total expenses		2,052		2,747		3,852

Income before income tax expense (benefit) and equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries		12,411		14,640		10,344
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,059		636		411

Income before equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries		13,470		14,004		9,933
Equity in undistributed net income (loss) of subsidiaries		39,345		33,148		(42,693	)

Net income (loss)	$	52,815	$	47,152	$	(32,760	)

Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Net income (loss)	$	52,815	$	47,152	$	(32,760	)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) - subsidiaries		10,427		14,732		(6,625	)

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		10,627		14,732		(6,625	)

Comprehensive income (loss)	$	63,442	$	61,884	$	(39,385	)

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Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)


Year Ended December 31,	2020			2019			2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	52,815		$	47,152		$	(32,760	)

Adjustments:
Equity in undistributed net (income) loss of subsidiaries		(39,345	)		(33,148	)		42,694
Realized investment gains		—			(12,378	)		—
Other		(5,615	)		490			2,531

Net adjustments		(44,960	)		(45,036	)		45,225

Net cash provided		7,855			2,116			12,465

Cash flows from investing activities:
Net sale (purchases) of short-term investments		2,493			(2,473	)		—
Net purchase of property and equipment		(18	)		(150	)		(106	)
Sale of DFSC		—			33,923			—
Sale of equity securities - available for sale		—			20,287			—
Investment in subsidiaries		(1,037	)		(18,283	)		(2,644	)
Other		—			—			(1	)

Net cash received (used)		1,438			33,304			(2,751	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid		(16,976	)		(16,093	)		(15,659	)
Issuance of common stock		20,654			6,481			3,250
Payments on lines of credit		—			(25,000	)		—
Borrowings under lines of credit		—			—			1,000

Net cash received (used)		3,678			(34,612	)		(11,409	)

Net change in cash		12,971			808			(1,695	)
Cash at beginning of year		2,350			1,542			3,237

Cash at end of year	$	15,321		$	2,350		$	1,542

19 - Segment Information

We have three reportable segments, which consist of our investment function, our commercial lines of insurance and our personal lines of insurance. Using independent agents, our insurance subsidiaries market commercial lines of insurance to small and

medium-sized

businesses and personal lines of insurance to individuals.

We evaluate the performance of the commercial lines and personal lines primarily based upon our insurance subsidiaries’ underwriting results as determined under SAP for our total business.

We do not allocate assets to the commercial and personal lines and review the two segments in total for purposes of decision-making. We operate only in the United States, and no single customer or agent provides 10 percent or more of our revenues.

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Financial data by segment is as follows:


	2020			2019			2018
	(in thousands)
Revenues:
Premiums earned:
Commercial lines	$	412,877		$	385,465		$	337,924
Personal lines		329,163			370,613			403,367

GAAP premiums earned		742,040			756,078			741,291
Net investment income		29,504			29,515			26,908
Investment gains (losses)		2,778			21,985			(4,802	)
Equity in earnings of DFSC		—			295			2,694
Other		3,497			4,578			5,737

Total revenues	$	777,819		$	812,451		$	771,828


	2020			2019			2018
	(in thousands)
Income (loss) before income taxes:
Underwriting income (loss):
Commercial lines	$	(858	)	$	8,404		$	(22,059	)
Personal lines		31,764			(1,617	)		(53,590	)

SAP underwriting income (loss)		30,906			6,787			(75,649	)
GAAP adjustments		(959	)		(3,079	)		894

GAAP underwriting income (loss)		29,947			3,708			(74,755	)
Net investment income		29,504			29,515			26,908
Investment gains (losses)		2,778			21,985			(4,802	)
Equity in earnings of DFSC		—			295			2,694
Other		1,043			1,578			1,718

Income (loss) before income taxes	$	63,272		$	57,081		$	(48,237	)

20 - Guaranty Fund and Other Insurance-Related Assessments

Our insurance subsidiaries’ liabilities for guaranty fund and other insurance-related assessments were $1.6 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019. These liabilities included $485,322 and $519,462 related to surcharges collected by our insurance subsidiaries on behalf of regulatory authorities for 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Table of Contents

21 - Interim Financial Data (unaudited)


	2020
	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter
Net premiums earned	$	187,252,778	$	184,373,768	$	184,925,733	$	185,488,060
Total revenues		184,911,206		198,899,772		196,512,266		197,496,666
Net losses and loss expenses		117,246,526		105,349,019		120,881,041		116,287,707
Net income		3,731,121		22,678,778		11,836,998		14,568,355
Net earnings per common share:
Class A common stock - basic		0.13		0.80		0.41		0.50
Class A common stock - diluted		0.13		0.79		0.41		0.49
Class B common stock - basic and diluted		0.12		0.72		0.37		0.44

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	2019
	First Quarter		Second Quarter		Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter
Net premiums earned	$	188,073,242	$	188,763,313	$	189,821,058	$	189,420,787
Total revenues		214,713,874		198,788,954		198,009,900		200,938,743
Net losses and loss expenses		123,110,656		131,507,280		130,743,395		121,026,333
Net income		23,023,164		4,788,454		5,186,379		14,153,747
Net earnings per common share:
Class A common stock - basic		0.82		0.17		0.19		0.50
Class A common stock - diluted		0.82		0.17		0.18		0.50
Class B common stock - basic and diluted		0.75		0.15		0.16		0.45

Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Donegal Group Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Donegal Group Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule III (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in

Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 5, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Estimate of Liabilities for Losses and Loss Expenses

As discussed in Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company estimates the liabilities for losses and loss expenses (reserves) through an internal reserve analysis that relies upon generally accepted actuarial practices. The Company develops reserve estimates by line of business and, as experience emerges and other information develops, the reserve estimates are assessed in aggregate and adjusted as necessary. As of December 31, 2020, the Company recorded a liability of $962,007,437 for reserves.

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We identified the evaluation of the estimate of reserves as a critical audit matter. The evaluation of the Company’s estimate of reserves involved a high degree of auditor judgment due to the inherent uncertainties in adjusting historical experience for current developments through the use of actuarial methods and assumptions, which considered internal and external factors. Assumptions included the selection of incurred and paid loss development factors, a priori ratios, and the weighting of actuarial methods when more than one was used. Evaluating the actuarial methods and assumptions required specialized skills and auditor judgment.

The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated, with the involvement of actuarial professionals, when appropriate, the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s reserving process. These included controls related to the Company’s actuarial analyses and determination of the Company’s estimate of recorded reserves. We involved actuarial professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in:

•

evaluating the Company’s actuarial methods by comparing them to generally accepted actuarial practices

•

developing an independent estimate of reserves for certain lines of business using methods consistent with generally accepted actuarial practices by independently forming assumptions of incurred and paid loss development factors, a priori ratios, and the weighting of actuarial methods when more than one was used, considering internal and external factors

•

assessing the Company’s actuarial analyses, including their methods and assumptions, for certain remaining product lines comprised of those with smaller balances or shorter tail loss reporting and payment patterns

•

developing a range of reserves and comparing to the Company’s recorded reserves and assessing movement of the Company’s recorded reserves within that range.

We or our predecessor firms have served as the Company’s auditor since 1986.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 5, 2021

115

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Item 9.

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

None.

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules

13a-15(e)

and

15d-15(e)

under the Exchange Act) at December 31, 2020 covered by this Form

10-K

Report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, at December 31, 2020, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information we are required to disclose in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act and our disclosure controls and procedures are also effective to ensure that information we disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as that term is defined in Rule

13a-15(f)

under the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, our management has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework and criteria established in

Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the “COSO Framework”). Based on our evaluation under the COSO Framework, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective at December 31, 2020.

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2020 has been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report, which is included in this Form

10-K

Report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During 2020, Donegal Mutual implemented new infrastructure and applications systems that Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries began to utilize for the issuance of new and renewal workers’ compensation policies effective beginning in the second quarter of 2020. Such changes resulted in changes to procedures related to our financial reporting. Prior to the implementation of the new systems, we identified and designed new internal controls that we incorporated into our internal controls over financial reporting. Following the implementation, we validated these new controls according to our established processes. The implementation of the new systems represented the first phase of a multi-year systems modernization initiative Donegal Mutual is implementing to achieve various benefits for Donegal Mutual and our insurance subsidiaries, including streamlined workflows and innovative business solutions. We did not implement these changes in internal controls to respond to any actual or perceived significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.

Other Information.

None.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors

Donegal Group Inc.:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

We have audited Donegal Group Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in

Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in

Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)

issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and financial statement schedule III (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 5, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 5, 2021

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PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Other than the information we provide below, we incorporate the response to this Item 10 by reference to our proxy statement we will file with the SEC on or about March 15, 2021 relating to our annual meeting of stockholders that we will hold on April 15, 2021, or our Proxy Statement.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following table sets forth information regarding the executive officers of Donegal Mutual and the Registrant as of the date of this Form

10-K

Report:

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Name	Age	Position
Kevin G. Burke	55	President and Chief Executive Officer of us since 2015; President and Chief Executive Officer of Donegal Mutual since 2018; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Donegal Mutual from 2014 to 2018; Senior Vice President of Human Resources of Donegal Mutual and us from 2005 to 2014; Vice President of Human Resources of Donegal Mutual and us from 2001 to 2005; other positions from 2000 to 2001.

Jeffrey D. Miller	56	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2014; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Donegal Mutual and us from 2005 to 2014; Vice President and Controller of Donegal Mutual and us from 2000 to 2005; other positions from 1993 to 2000.

Kristi S. Altshuler	40	Senior Vice President and Chief Analytics Officer of us since 2020; Senior Vice President and Chief Analytics Officer of Donegal Mutual since 2019; Director of Willis Towers Watson from 2018 to 2019; Director of Pricing Innovation of USAA from 2014 to 2018; other positions at USAA from 2001 to 2014.

William A. Folmar	62	Senior Vice President of Claims of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2019; Vice President of Claims of Donegal Mutual from 2010 to 2019; other positions from 1998 to 2010.

Francis J. Haefner, Jr.	57	Senior Vice President of us since 2020; Senior Vice President of Commercial Lines Underwriting of Donegal Mutual since 2012; Vice President of Commercial Lines Underwriting of Donegal Mutual from 2008 to 2012; other positions from 1984 to 2012.

Jeffery T. Hay	46	Senior Vice President and Chief Underwriting Officer of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2021; Senior Director of Willis Towers Watson from 2018 to 2021; Head of Personal Lines Product Management of The Hartford from 2015 to 2018; other positions at The Hartford from 2005 to 2015.

Christina M. Hoffman	46	Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2019; Senior Vice President of Internal Audit of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us from 2013 to 2019; Vice President of Internal Audit of Donegal Mutual and Vice President of us from 2009 to 2013.

Jeffrey A. Jacobsen	67	Senior Vice President of us since 2020; Senior Vice President of Personal Lines Underwriting of Donegal Mutual since 2008; Vice President of Personal Lines Underwriting of Donegal Mutual from 2001 to 2008; other positions from 1991 to 2001.

Richard G. Kelley	66	Senior Vice President and Head of Field Operations of Donegal Mutual and Senior Vice President of us since 2018; Senior Vice President of Donegal Mutual from 2007 to 2018; other positions from 2000 to 2007.

Robert R. Long, Jr.	62	Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Donegal Mutual and us since 2018; Vice President and House Counsel of Donegal Mutual from 2012 to 2018; other positions from 2010 to 2012.

Sanjay Pandey	54	Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2013; Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Donegal Mutual and us from 2009 to 2013; other positions from 2000 to 2009.

V. Anthony Viozzi	47	Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2012; Vice President of Investments of Donegal Mutual and us from 2007 to 2012.

Daniel J. Wagner	60	Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Donegal Mutual and us since 2005; Vice President and Treasurer of Donegal Mutual and us from 2000 to 2005; other positions from 1987 to 2000.

We incorporate the full text of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by reference to Exhibit 14 to this Form

10-K

Report.

Item 11. Executive

Compensation.

We incorporate the response to this Item 11 by reference to our Proxy Statement. Neither the Report of our Compensation Committee nor the Report of our Audit Committee included in our Proxy Statement shall constitute or be deemed to constitute a filing with the SEC under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or be deemed to have been incorporated by reference into any filing we make under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent we specifically incorporate the Report of Our Compensation Committee or the Report of Our Audit Committee by reference.

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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

We incorporate the response to this Item 12 by reference to our Proxy Statement.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

We incorporate the response to this Item 13 by reference to our Proxy Statement.

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

We incorporate the response to this Item 14 by reference to our Proxy Statement.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)

Financial statements, financial statement schedule and exhibits filed:

(i)

Consolidated Financial Statements


		Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		114

Donegal Group Inc. and Subsidiaries:

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 and 2019		68

Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018		69

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018		70

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018		71

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		72

Report and Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

(Filed as Exhibit 23.1)

(b) Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule III — Supplementary Insurance Information		126

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		Filed herewith

We have omitted all other schedules since they are not required, not applicable or the information is included in the financial statements or notes to the financial statements.

(c)

Exhibits

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Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibits	Reference


3.1	Certificate of Incorporation of Donegal Group Inc., as amended.	(o)

3.2	Amended and Restated By-laws of Donegal Group Inc.	(h)

4.1	Description of Donegal Group Inc’s Securities Registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.	Filed herewith

Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans or Arrangements

10.1	Donegal Group Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.	(b)

10.2	Donegal Group Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.	(b)

10.3	Donegal Group Inc. 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.	(b)

10.4	Donegal Group Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.	(c)

10.5	Donegal Group Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.	(c)

10.6	Consulting Agreement dated as of July 29, 2011 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Donald H. Nikolaus.	(d)

10.7	Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Kevin G. Burke.	(q)

10.8	Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Jeffrey D. Miller.	(q)

10.9	Form of Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Our Named Executive Officers Other Than Kevin G. Burke and Jeffrey D. Miller.	(q)

10.10	Form of Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2020 among Donegal Mutual Insurance Company, Donegal Group Inc. and Our Executive Officers Other Than Our Named Executive Officers.	Filed herewith

10.11	Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(e)

10.12	Amendment No. 1 effective January 1, 2000 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(e)

10.13	Amendment No. 2 effective January 6, 2000 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(a)

10.14	Amendment No. 3 effective July 23, 2001 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(a)

10.15	Amendment No. 4 effective January 1, 2002 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(a)

10.16	Amendment No. 5 effective December 31, 2001 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(a)

10.17	Amendment No. 6 effective July 1, 2002 to Donegal Mutual Insurance Company 401(k) Plan.	(f)

10.18	Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2019 and prior years.	(m)

10.19	Donegal Group Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.	(l)

10.20	Donegal Group Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.	(l)

10.21	Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2020.	(p)

10.22	Donegal Group Inc. 2020 Long-Term Executive Incentive Plan.	(p)

10.23	Donegal Group Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan for Employees.	(o)

10.24	Donegal Group Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan for Directors.	(o)

10.25	Donegal Group Inc. Cash Incentive Bonus Plan for 2021.	Filed herewith

Other Material Contracts

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10.26	Amended and Restated Proportional Reinsurance Agreement dated March 1, 2010 between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and Atlantic States Insurance Company.	(i)

10.27	Amended and Restated Tax Sharing Agreement dated December 1, 2010 among Donegal Group Inc., Atlantic States Insurance Company, Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, Le Mars Insurance Company, The Peninsula Insurance Company, Peninsula Indemnity Company and Michigan Insurance Company.	(j)

10.28	Amended and Restated Services Allocation Agreement dated December 1, 2010 among Donegal Group Inc., Atlantic States Insurance Company, Southern Insurance Company of Virginia, Le Mars Insurance Company, The Peninsula Insurance Company, Peninsula Indemnity Company and Michigan Insurance Company.	(j)

10.29	Quota-share Reinsurance Agreement dated December 1, 2010 between Donegal Mutual Insurance Company and Michigan Insurance Company.	(j)

10.30	Donegal Group Inc. 2015 Agency Stock Purchase Plan.	(k)

10.31	Discretionary Loan Agreement between Donegal Group Inc. and M&T Bank dated August 1, 2020.	Filed herewith

14	Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.	(g)

21	Subsidiaries of Registrant.	Filed herewith

23.1	Report and Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.	Filed herewith

31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer.	Filed herewith

31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer.	Filed herewith

32.1	Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer.	Filed herewith

32.2	Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer.	Filed herewith

Exhibit 101.INS	XBRL Instance Document	Filed herewith

Exhibit 101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document	Filed herewith

Exhibit 101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document	Filed herewith

Exhibit 101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document	Filed herewith

Exhibit 101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document	Filed herewith

Exhibit 101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document	Filed herewith

(a)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2001.

(b)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated April 22, 2011.

(c)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated April 22, 2013.

(d)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated August 3, 2011.

(e)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 1999.

(f)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2002.

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(g)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2003.

(h)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated July 18, 2008.

(i)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2009.

(j)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2010.

(k)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit filed in Registrant’s Form S-3 registration statement filed on April 28, 2015.

(l)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the description of such plan in Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 16, 2015 filed on March 16, 2015.

(m)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the description of such plan in Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 20, 2017 filed on March 16, 2017.

(n)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-Q Report for the year ended June 30, 2019.

(o)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the description of such plan in Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 18, 2019 filed on March 18, 2019.

(p)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 10-K Report for the year ended December 31, 2019.

(q)	We incorporate such exhibit by reference to the like-described exhibit in Registrant’s Form 8-K Report dated October 1, 2020.

Item 16. Form

10-K

Summary.

None.

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DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE III — SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION

Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018

($ in thousands)


Segment	Net Premiums Earned		Net Investment Income		Net Losses and Loss Expenses		Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs		Other UnderwritingExpenses		Net Premiums Written
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Commercial lines	$	412,877	$	—	$	264,053	$	66,253	$	72,245	$	425,986
Personal lines		329,163		—		195,711		52,819		53,618		316,154
Investments		—		29,504		—		—		—		—

	$	742,040	$	29,504	$	459,764	$	119,072	$	125,863	$	742,140

Year Ended December 31, 2019
Commercial lines	$	385,465	$	—	$	242,685	$	62,424	$	61,631	$	404,879
Personal lines		370,613		—		263,703		60,019		52,931		347,722
Investments		—		29,515		—		—		—		—

	$	756,078	$	29,515	$	506,388	$	122,443	$	114,562	$	752,601

Year Ended December 31, 2018
Commercial lines	$	337,924	$	—	$	246,048	$	55,143	$	51,635	$	349,895
Personal lines		403,367		—		330,410		65,821		61,635		394,121
Investments		—		26,908		—		—		—		—

	$	741,291	$	26,908	$	576,458	$	120,964	$	113,270	$	744,016

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DONEGAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

SCHEDULE III — SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION, CONTINUED

($ in thousands)


	At December 31,
Segment	Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs		Liability For Losses and Loss Expenses		Unearned Premiums		Other Policy Claims and Benefits Payable
2020
Commercial lines	$	33,246	$	694,569	$	301,901	$	—
Personal lines		25,911		267,438		235,289		—
Investments		—		—		—		—

	$	59,157	$	962,007	$	537,190	$	—

2019
Commercial lines	$	30,947	$	582,682	$	266,297	$	—
Personal lines		28,338		286,992		243,850		—
Investments		—		—		—		—

	$	59,285	$	869,674	$	510,147	$	—

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SIGNATURES

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


DONEGAL GROUP INC.
By:		/s/ Kevin G. Burke
		Kevin G. Burke, President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: March 5, 2021

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


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Kevin G. Burke	President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director	March 5, 2021
Kevin G. Burke	(principal executive officer)

/s/ Jeffrey D. Miller	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	March 5, 2021
Jeffrey D. Miller	(principal financial and accounting officer)

/s/ Scott A. Berlucchi	Director	March 5, 2021
Scott A. Berlucchi

/s/ Dennis J. Bixenman	Director	March 5, 2021
Dennis J. Bixenman

/s/ Jack L. Hess	Director	March 5, 2021
Jack L. Hess

/s/ Barry C. Huber	Director	March 5, 2021
Barry C. Huber

/s/ David C. King	Director	March 5, 2021
David C. King

/s/ Kevin M. Kraft, Sr.	Director	March 5, 2021
Kevin M. Kraft, Sr.

/s/ Jon M. Mahan	Director	March 5, 2021
Jon M. Mahan

/s/ S. Trezevant Moore, Jr.	Director	March 5, 2021
S. Trezevant Moore, Jr.

/s/ Annette B. Szady	Director	March 5, 2021
Annette B. Szady

/s/ Richard D. Wampler, II	Director	March 5, 2021
Richard D. Wampler, II

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