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                                  EXHIBIT 10(Y)


                        AMENDED AND RESTATED REINSURANCE
                           POOLING AGREEMENT BETWEEN
                   STATE AUTOMOBILE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY,
               STATE AUTO PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
                         AND MILBANK INSURANCE COMPANY
                             EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1996
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                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                          REINSURANCE POOLING AGREEMENT


         This Amended and Restated Reinsurance Pooling Agreement (the
"Agreement"), effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time, July 1,
1996, is between and among State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, 518 East
Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio (hereinafter referred to as "State Auto Mutual")
and State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company, 112 Main Street, Greer,
South Carolina (hereinafter referred to as "State Auto P&C"), and Milbank
Insurance Company, East Highway 12, Milbank, South Dakota (hereinafter referred
to as "Milbank"). (State Auto Mutual, State Auto P&C and Milbank are herein
collectively referred to as the "State Auto Insurance Companies" or "Group").

                             BACKGROUND INFORMATION

         The members of the Group have determined that the underwriting
operations of the Group should be conducted by State Auto Mutual on behalf of
the Group which has been effected through the Amended and Restated Management
Agreement dated April 1, 1994, and by means of mutual reinsurance on a
percentage basis as herein provided.

         State Auto Mutual and State Auto P&C originally entered into an
intercompany Reinsurance Agreement effective as of 12:01 a.m., January 1, 1987
(the "Reinsurance Agreement").

         The Reinsurance Agreement has since been amended by an Addendum
effective January 1, 1987, adding an insolvency and arbitration provisions; by
Amendment Number 1 effective as of January 1, 1992 amending the pooling
percentages from 20% State Auto P&C - 80% State Auto Mutual to 30% and 70%
respectively; by Amendment Number 2 effective as of January 1, 1991 excluding
post retirement health care benefits as a pooled expense and as of January 1,
1994 excluding post employment benefits liability as a pooled expense; and by
Amendment Number 3 effective as of January 1, 1995 adding Milbank as a party and
adjusting the pooling percentages as follows: State Auto P&C 35%, State Auto
Mutual 55% and Milbank 10%.

         The Reinsurance Agreement requires an additional amendment effective as
of July 1, 1996, to exclude from its scope catastrophic loss claims and loss
adjustment expenses incurred by State Auto Mutual, State Auto P&C and Milbank in
the amount of $100,000,000 in excess of $120,000,000 of such losses and loss
adjustment expense and the premiums for such exposure.

         The parties desire to amend and restate the Reinsurance Agreement to
provide for the continuation of the pooling arrangement it effects, including
the above-described previous amendments and the additional amendment.

                             STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT

         In consideration of the mutual covenants set forth herein and INTENDING
TO BE LEGALLY BOUND HEREBY, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

DEFINITIONS:

         1.    As used in this Agreement:


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               a.   "Net Liabilities" shall mean all direct liabilities plus
               reinsurance assumed minus reinsurance ceded, except as otherwise
               expressly excluded below.

               b.   "Net Premiums" shall mean all direct premiums plus 
               reinsurance assumed minus reinsurance ceded, except as otherwise 
               expressly excluded below.

               c.   "Respective Percentage" shall be:

                    As to Milbank                      10%
                    As to State Auto P&C               35%
                    As to State Auto Mutual            55%

         2.    CESSION:

               (a)  STATE AUTO P&C CESSION: State Auto Mutual hereby reinsures
               and assumes and State Auto P&C hereby cedes and transfers to
               State Auto Mutual all Net Liabilities incurred under or in
               connection with all contracts and policies of insurance issued by
               State Auto P&C outstanding and in force as of and subsequent to
               12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time, July 1, 1996. Such
               liabilities shall include State Auto P&C's reserves for unearned
               premiums, outstanding losses and loss expenses (including
               unreported losses) and all other outstanding underwriting and
               administrative expenses as evidenced by State Auto P&C's books
               and records at the close of business on June 30, 1996, but shall
               not include intercompany balances, liabilities incurred in
               connection with the investment transactions of State Auto P&C,
               liabilities for dividends to stockholders declared and unpaid,
               other liabilities not incurred in connection with underwriting
               operations, post retirement health care benefits liability, and
               post employment benefits liability. It is further agreed State
               Auto Mutual shall receive the Net Premiums for said contracts and
               policies.


               (b)  MILBANK CESSION: State Auto Mutual hereby reinsures and
               assumes and Milbank hereby cedes and transfers to State Auto
               Mutual all Net Liabilities incurred under or in connection with
               all contracts and policies of insurance issued by Milbank
               outstanding and in force as of and subsequent to 12:01 a.m. EDST,
               July 1, 1996. Such liabilities shall include Milbank's reserves
               for unearned premiums, outstanding losses and loss expenses
               (including unreported losses) and all other outstanding
               underwriting and administrative expenses as evidenced by
               Milbank's books and records at the close of business on June 30,
               1996, but shall not include intercompany balances, liabilities
               incurred in connection with the investment transactions of
               Milbank, liabilities for dividends to stockholders declared and
               unpaid, other liabilities not incurred in connection with
               underwriting operations, post retirement health care benefits
               liability, and post employment benefits liability. It is further

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               agreed that State Auto Mutual shall receive the Net Premiums for
               said contracts and policies.


         3.    ASSETS TRANSFER TO STATE AUTO MUTUAL:

               (a) STATE AUTO P&C: In consideration of the agreements herein
               contained, State Auto P&C hereby agrees that there has been or
               will be assigned and transferred to State Auto Mutual an amount,
               in cash or other assets, equal to the aggregate of all
               liabilities of State Auto P&C assumed by State Auto Mutual under
               paragraph 2(a) hereof, less a ceding commission equal to the sum
               of the acquisition expenses associated with the unearned premium
               reserves which are transferred as provided herein. There have
               been included among the assets assigned and transferred to State
               Auto Mutual by State Auto P&C all of the right, title and
               interest of State Auto P&C in and to all assets relative to the
               underwriting operations of State Auto P&C, due or that became
               due, as evidenced by its books and records at the close of
               business on June 30, 1996, not including investments, accrued
               investment income, intercompany balances and bank deposits.

               (b) MILBANK: In consideration of the agreements herein contained,
               Milbank hereby agrees that there has been or will be assigned and
               transferred to State Auto Mutual an amount, in cash or other
               assets, equal to the aggregate of all liabilities of Milbank
               assumed by State Auto Mutual under paragraph 2(b) hereof, less a
               ceding commission equal to the sum of the acquisition expenses
               associated with the unearned premium reserves which are
               transferred as provided herein. There shall be included among the
               assets assigned and transferred to State Auto Mutual by Milbank
               all of the right, title and interest of Milbank in and to all
               assets relative to the underwriting operations of Milbank due or
               that may become due as evidenced by its books and records at the
               close of business on June 30, 1996 not including investments,
               accrued investment income, intercompany balances and bank
               deposits.

         4.    ASSUMPTION OF REINSURANCE:

               (a) STATE AUTO P&C: State Auto P&C hereby reinsures and assumes
               and State Auto Mutual hereby cedes and transfers to State Auto
               P&C its Respective Percentage of all Net Liabilities under all
               contracts and policies of insurance, (including those ceded by
               State Auto P&C and reinsured by State Auto Mutual as provided in
               paragraph 2(a)), on which State Auto Mutual is subject to
               liability and which are outstanding and in force on or after the
               effective date hereof.

               Such liabilities shall include reserves for unearned premiums,
         outstanding losses (including unreported losses) and loss expenses and
         all other underwriting and

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         administrative expenses, but shall not include intercompany balances,
         liabilities for federal income taxes, liabilities incurred in
         connection with investment transactions, liabilities for dividends to
         stockholders declared and unpaid, other liabilities not incurred in
         connection with underwriting operations, post retirement health care
         benefits liability and post employment benefits liability.

               (b) MILBANK: Milbank hereby reinsures and assumes and State Auto
               Mutual hereby cedes and transfers to Milbank its Respective
               Percentage of all Net Liabilities under all contracts and
               policies of insurance, (including those ceded by Milbank and
               reinsured by State Auto Mutual as provided in paragraph 2(b)), on
               which State Auto Mutual is subject to liability and which are
               outstanding and in force on or after the effective date hereof.

               Such liabilities shall include reserves for unearned premiums,
         outstanding losses (including unreported losses) and loss expenses and
         all other underwriting and administrative expenses, but shall not
         include intercompany balances, liabilities for federal income taxes,
         liabilities incurred in connection with investment transactions,
         liabilities for dividends to stockholders declared and unpaid, other
         liabilities not incurred in connection with underwriting operations,
         post retirement health care benefits liability and post employment
         benefits liability.

         5.    ASSET TRANSFER BY STATE AUTO MUTUAL:

               (a) STATE AUTO P&C: In consideration of the agreements herein
               contained, State Auto Mutual hereby agrees that there has been or
               will be assigned and transferred to State Auto P&C an amount, in
               cash or other assets, equal to the aggregate of all liabilities
               of State Auto Mutual assumed by State Auto P&C under paragraph
               4(a) hereof, less a ceding commission equal to the sum of the
               acquisition expenses associated with the unearned premium
               reserves which are transferred as provided herein. There shall be
               included among the assets assigned and transferred to State Auto
               P&C by State Auto Mutual all of the right, title and interest of
               State Auto Mutual in and to all assets relative to the
               underwriting operations of State Auto Mutual, due or that may
               become due, as evidenced by its books and records at the close of
               business on June 30, 1996, not including investments, accrued
               investment income, intercompany balances and bank deposits.

               (b) MILBANK: In consideration of the agreements herein contained,
               State Auto Mutual hereby agrees that there has been or will be
               assigned and transferred to Milbank an amount, in cash or other
               assets, equal to the aggregate of all liabilities of State Auto
               Mutual assumed by Milbank under paragraph 4(b) hereof, less a
               ceding commission equal to the sum of the acquisition expenses
               associated with the unearned premium reserves which are
               transferred as provided herein. There shall be included among the
               assets assigned and transferred to Milbank by State Auto Mutual
               all of the right, title and interest of State Auto Mutual in and
               to all assets

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               relative to the underwriting operations of State Auto Mutual, due
               or that may become due, as evidenced by its books and records at
               the close of business on June 30, 1996, not including
               investments, accrued investment income, intercompany balances and
               bank deposits.

         6.    PREMIUM COLLECTION AND PAYMENT OF LOSSES:

               As of the effective date of this Agreement and pursuant to the
         terms of the Amended and Restated Management Agreement dated April 1,
         1994, as amended from time to time, which includes as parties, inter
         alia Milbank, State Auto Mutual and State Auto P&C, State Auto P&C and
         Milbank hereby authorize and empower State Auto Mutual to collect and
         receive all premiums and to take charge of, adjust and administer the
         payment of all losses with respect to any and all contracts and
         policies of insurance previously or thereafter issued by State Auto P&C
         and Milbank and to reinsure or terminate all such contracts and
         policies, and in all respects to act as though said contracts and
         policies were issued by State Auto Mutual. State Auto Mutual agrees to
         administer the payment of all losses and loss adjustment expenses in
         connection with such contracts and policies. None of the foregoing is
         intended to affect or impair the direct obligation of State Auto P&C
         and Milbank to their insureds under policies issued by State Auto P&C
         and Milbank, respectively.

         7.    PREMIUM PAYABLE BY STATE AUTO MUTUAL:

               (a) STATE AUTO P&C: Commencing with the effective date of this
               Agreement, State Auto Mutual hereby agrees to pay to State Auto
               P&C its Respective Percentage of the Net Premiums written by the
               parties hereto. Similarly, commencing with the effective date of
               this Agreement, all losses, loss expenses, underwriting expenses,
               and administrative expenses chargeable to underwriting of the
               parties hereto, including the policyholder dividends, less all
               losses and expenses recovered and recoverable under reinsurance
               ceded to reinsurers other than the parties hereto, (except for
               catastrophe reinsurance ceded by State Auto Mutual and Milbank to
               State Auto P&C pursuant to a Property Catastrophe Overlying
               Excess of Loss Reinsurance Contract dated as of July 1, 1996 in
               which State Auto P&C provides catastrophe coverage for State Auto
               Mutual and Milbank for $100,000,000 of catastrophe losses and
               loss expenses in excess of $120,000,000 of such losses and loss
               expenses incurred by the Group) (the "State Auto P&C Catastrophe
               Assumption Agreement") shall be prorated between the parties on
               the basis of the Respective Percentage of each. Accounts shall be
               rendered at quarterly intervals and shall be settled within 60
               days thereafter.

               (b) MILBANK: Commencing with the effective date of this
               Agreement, State Auto hereby agrees to pay Milbank its Respective
               Percentage of the Net Premiums written by the parties hereto.
               Similarly, commencing with the effective date of this Agreement,
               all losses, loss expenses, underwriting expenses, and
               administrative

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               expenses chargeable to underwriting of the parties hereto,
               including policyholder dividends, less all losses and expenses
               recovered and recoverable under reinsurance ceded to reinsurers
               other than the parties hereto, (except for the State Auto P&C
               Catastrophe Assumption Agreement) shall be prorated between the
               parties on the basis of the Respective Percentage of each.
               Accounts shall be rendered at quarterly intervals and shall be
               settled within sixty (60) days thereafter.

         8.    OFFSET: It is understood and agreed that, insofar as is 
         practicable and consistent with the purposes and intentions of this 
         Agreement, the obligations of each company under this Agreement to 
         transfer assets to the other company may, in whole or in part, be 
         offset against the reciprocal reinsurance obligations of each company 
         to the other company so that each company shall deliver hereunder only 
         a net amount of assets required under such offset.

         9.    GENERAL STATEMENT OF INTENT:  It is the purpose and intent of 
         this Agreement that:

               (a) State Auto Mutual shall be liable as a reinsurer to State
               Auto P&C and Milbank on the policies and contracts of insurance
               of State Auto P&C and Milbank respectively, issued and in force
               at 12:01 a.m., EDST, July 1, 1996, or on which there were, at
               that time, unsettled claims or losses, and on policies and
               contracts thereafter issued by State Auto P&C and Milbank, to the
               extent of State Auto Mutual's Respective Percentage.

               (b) State Auto P&C shall be liable as a reinsurer to State Auto
               Mutual and Milbank on the policies and contracts of insurance of
               State Auto Mutual and Milbank respectively, issued and in force
               at 12:01 a.m., EDST, July 1, 1996, or on which there were, at
               that time, unsettled claims or losses, and on policies and
               contracts thereafter issued by State Auto Mutual and Milbank to
               the extent of State Auto P&C's Respective Percentage.

               (c) Milbank shall be liable as a reinsurer to State Auto Mutual
               and State Auto P&C on the policies and contracts of State Auto
               Mutual and State Auto P&C respectively, issued and in force at
               12:01 a.m., EDST, on July 1, 1996, or on which there were, at
               that time, unsettled claims or losses and on policies thereafter
               issued by State Auto Mutual or State Auto P&C to the extent of
               Milbank's Respective Percentage.

               (d) The parties hereto shall, on and after 12:01 a.m., EDST, July
               1, 1996, participate on the basis of 55% for State Auto, 35% for
               State Auto P&C and 10% for Milbank in all of the underwriting
               operations of each of the three parties hereto.

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         10.   LOSSES EXCLUDED: Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the 
         parties hereto understand and agree that this Amended and Restated
         Reinsurance Pooling Agreement shall not apply to catastrophe losses and
         loss expenses for residential and commercial property to the extent
         such losses and loss expenses are covered by the State Auto P&C
         Catastrophe Assumption Agreement. Once the aforesaid $100,000,000 of
         coverage is exhausted by loss expenses and loss payments on behalf of
         any party hereto, under either the State Auto P&C Catastrophe
         Assumption Agreement or directly, all parties understand and agree that
         catastrophe losses and loss expenses in excess of $220,000,000 shall
         once again be ceded and assumed under the terms of this Amended and
         Restated Reinsurance Agreement. All premiums attributable to the State
         Auto P&C Catastrophe Assumption Agreement are to be paid to State Auto
         P&C outside of the Amended and Restated Reinsurance Pooling Agreement.

         11.   LIABILITIES  EXCLUDED:  In addition to the  liabilities set forth
         in paragraphs 2(a), 2(b) and 10 above, this Agreement shall not apply
         to the investment operation or liabilities for federal income tax or
         other liabilities excluded by this Agreement.

         12.   "FOLLOW THE FORTUNES": The reinsurance provided by the terms of
         this Agreement shall be subject to the same terms and conditions under
         which the original insurance was concluded, or which may be or may have
         been agreed to during the term of the original insurance contract.

         13.   METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The president of State Auto Mutual, State
         Auto P&C and Milbank, or any officer of any of these companies
         designated by said president, shall determine the methods and
         procedures, including accounting transactions, by which the terms of
         this Agreement shall be performed by and on behalf of the parties
         hereto.

         14.   AMENDMENTS: This Agreement may be modified from time to time, so 
         as to adapt its provisions to the varying conditions of the business of
         the Group, by a mutual agreement in writing of the parties hereto,
         subject to ratification by the Board of Directors of each party and
         with the approval of the insurance officials from the State of Ohio,
         the State of South Carolina, and the State of South Dakota as required
         by law.

         15.   TERM:  This  Agreement  shall  remain  in  full  force  and  
         effect until canceled by agreement of the parties or by the giving of
         ninety (90) days notice by one of the parties to the other parties and
         to the respective domiciliary insurance department of each of the
         parties.

         16.   INTERPRETATION: Wherever required to give the correct meaning
         throughout this Agreement, the singular shall be interpreted in the
         plural. Clerical errors or errors of involuntary or inadvertent
         omission or commission shall not be interpreted as a discharge of
         liability on behalf of any of the parties to this contract. Such errors
         shall be rectified at the time of discovery or as soon as practicable
         thereafter. Caption headings are for convenience only and are not
         intended to affect the construction of the terms hereof.


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         17.   INSOLVENCY: The reinsurance made under this Agreement shall be
         payable by the assuming reinsurer on the basis of the liability of the
         ceding insurer under the contract or contracts reinsured without
         diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer. In the
         event of insolvency of the ceding insurer, the liquidator or receiver
         or statutory successor of such insurer shall give written notice to the
         assuming reinsurer of the pendency of a claim against the insolvent
         ceding insurer on the policy or bond reinsured within a reasonable time
         after such claim is filed in the insolvency proceeding; that during the
         pendency of such claim the assuming reinsurer may investigate such
         claim and interpose, at its own expense, in the proceeding where such
         claim is to be adjudicated any defense or defenses which it may deem
         available to the ceding insurer or its liquidator or receiver or
         statutory successors; that the expense thus incurred by the assuming
         reinsurer shall be chargeable, subject to court approval, against the
         insolvent ceding insurer as part of the expense of liquidation to the
         extent of a proportionate share of the benefit which may accrue to the
         ceding insurer solely as a result of the defense undertaken by the
         assuming reinsurer. The reinsurance made effective under this Agreement
         shall be payable by the assuming reinsurer to the ceding insurer or to
         the liquidator, receiver or statutory successor of the ceding insurer.

         18.   ARBITRATION: In the event of any dispute hereafter arising with
         respect to this Agreement, State Auto Mutual, State Auto P&C, and
         Milbank hereby agree that such dispute shall, upon the request of the
         one of the parties, be submitted to arbitration. One arbitrator shall
         be chosen by each party and those arbitrators shall then select an
         umpire who shall hear and decide the issues to be arbitrated. If one
         party fails to name an arbitrator within thirty (30) days after receipt
         of a written request to do so, the party initiating the arbitration may
         choose the arbitrators. The decision of the umpire shall be final and
         binding on the parties. Each party shall bear the expense of its
         arbitrator and the cost of the umpire shall be shared equally. The
         arbitration shall take place at Columbus, Ohio or such other location
         upon which the parties may mutually agree.


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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date and the year first above written.


Attest:                                     STATE AUTOMOBILE MUTUAL
                                            INSURANCE COMPANY

/s/ John R. Lowther                         By /s/ Robert H. Moone
- -----------------------------                 ----------------------------------
Secretary                                     President


                                            STATE AUTO PROPERTY AND CASUALTY
                                            INSURANCE COMPANY

/s/ John R. Lowther                         By /s/ Robert H. Moone
- -----------------------------                 ----------------------------------
Secretary                                     President


                                            MILBANK INSURANCE COMPANY

/s/ John R. Lowther                         By /s/ Robert H. Moone
- -----------------------------                 ---------------------------------
Secretary                                     President