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                                                           Exhibit 99.1


                  SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP, INC. AMENDS AND 
                      RESTATES STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN

Branchville, New Jersey, February 3, 1999 - Selective Insurance Group, Inc.
today announced that its Board of Directors has approved an amended and
restated stockholder rights plan to modify the current plan which was due to
expire on November 6, 1999.  The revised plan includes a series of provisions
which are triggered when an individual or group acquires 15% or more of
Selective's common stock or commences or announces a tender offer in which
they would acquire at least 15% of Selective's common stock.

The rights are not presently exercisable.  However, ten days after an
announcement that a person or group has acquired 15% of Selective common
stock, or ten business days after a person or group announces or commences a
tender offer which would result in their acquiring 15% of the common stock,
the rights separate from Selective common stock, and each right will entitle
the holder, other than the acquiring person or group, to purchase one two-
hundredth of a share of Selective Series A Junior Preferred Stock at an
exercise price of $80.

If a person or group becomes the holder of 15% or more of Selective common
stock, their rights become void and the following provisions apply:

- -   Each right other than the void rights will be exercisable to purchase
    Selective common stock having twice the market value of the $80 exercise
    price.

- -   If Selective is acquired in a merger, or 50% or more of its assets are
    sold, each right other than the void rights will be exercisable to
    purchase shares of the acquiring  company having twice the market value
    of the $80 exercise price.

- -   Before the 15% or more stockholder acquires 50% or more of Selective
    common stock, Selective's Board may exchange rights other than the void
    rights at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock per right.

The rights expire on February 2, 2009, unless Selective's Board redeems them
at $.01 per right before a person or group triggers the plan or unless
Selective's Board exchanges them for common stock.




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Announcing the amended and restated plan, Gregory Murphy, Selective's
President and Chief Operating Officer, said, "Our stockholder rights plan
gives protection to our stockholders in the event of a future attempt to
acquire Selective for an inadequate price which does not recognize the
potential value of Selective's shares or on terms which do not treat
stockholders equally or fairly."  Mr. Murphy also stated that the plan was
revised and renewed due to the pending November expiration date and not in
response to a specific effort to acquire Selective.  Selective is not aware
of any such effort.

Selective is a regional property and casualty insurer that operates primarily
in 17 eastern, southern, and midwestern states, selling its products and
services to individuals and businesses through independent agents.  Selective
also owns Alta Services, a property and casualty managed care company, and
PDA Software Services, Inc., an insurance services and software company.  For
more information on the rights plan, call Thornton Land at 973-948-1322.





Company Contact:  Thornton R. Land, Executive Vice President and General
                  Counsel, 973-948-1322
Internet:         www.thornton_r_land @selectiveinsurance.com