SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

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

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997

                                       OR

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

                         Commission file number 1-11840

                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                  Delaware                     36-3871531
        (State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                  2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (847) 402-5000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
                                                          Name of each exchange
     Title of each class                                   on which registered
     -------------------                                   -------------------
Common Stock, par value $0.01                            New York Stock Exchange
per share (the "Common Stock")                           Chicago Stock Exchange

6.76% Exchangeable Notes                                 New York Stock Exchange
Due April 15, 1998

7.95% Cumulative Quarterly                               New York Stock Exchange
Income Preferred Securities, Series A
(issued by a wholly-owned trust of the Registrant)

7.125% Senior Quarterly Interest Bonds                   New York Stock Exchange

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






         On January 30, 1998,  Registrant had 422,722,298 shares of Common Stock
outstanding.  Of these,  approximately  350,000,000 shares,  having an aggregate
market  value  (based on the  closing  price of these  shares as  reported  in a
summary of composite  transactions  in The Wall Street Journal for stocks listed
on the New York Stock  Exchange on January  30,  1998) of  approximately  $30.98
billion,  were owned by stockholders other than directors and executive officers
of the Registrant, The Savings and Profit Sharing Fund of Allstate Employees and
any person believed by the Registrant to  beneficially  own five percent or more
of Registrant's outstanding common shares.

         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,
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                            Yes  X                     No ___
                                                ---
         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained  herein,  and will not be contained,
to the  best of  Registrant's  knowledge  in  definitive  proxy  or  information
statements  incorporated  by  reference  in Part  III of this  Form  10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

                       Documents Incorporated By Reference

         Portions of the following  documents are  incorporated  by reference as
follows:

         Parts I, II and III of this Form 10-K incorporate by reference  certain
information  from the  Registrant's  Proxy  Statement for its Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on May 19, 1998 (the "1998 Proxy Statement").




TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I Page Item 1. Business........................................................................................1 Recent Developments.........................................................................2 Risk Factors Affecting Allstate.............................................................2 Allstate Strategy...........................................................................3 Property-Liability Insurance Business.......................................................5 Discontinued Lines and Coverages...........................................................10 Life and Annuity Business..................................................................19 Capital Requirements.......................................................................20 Investments................................................................................21 Regulation.................................................................................22 Geographic Distribution of Insurance.......................................................26 Seasonality................................................................................26 Employees..................................................................................27 Service Marks..............................................................................27 Forward-Looking Statements.................................................................27 Executive Officers.........................................................................31 Item 2. Properties.....................................................................................32 Item 3. Legal Proceedings...............................................................................32 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.............................................33 PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholders Matters..........................33 Item 6. Selected Financial Data........................................................................33 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations......................................................................34 Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk........................................34 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.....................................................34 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.......................................................................34 i PART III Page Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.............................................34 Item 11. Executive Compensation.........................................................................34 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.................................35 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.................................................35 PART IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.................................35 Signatures..................................................................................................36 Index to Financial Statement Schedules.....................................................................S-1 Exhibit Index..............................................................................................E-1
ii Part I Item 1. Business - - ------ -------- The Allstate Corporation (the "Company") was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on November 5, 1992 to serve as the holding company for Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC"). The Company's business is conducted principally through AIC and AIC's subsidiaries (collectively, including the Company, "Allstate"). Allstate is engaged, principally in the United States and Canada, in the property-liability insurance and life insurance and annuity businesses. Established in 1931 by Sears, Roebuck and Co. ("Sears"), Allstate is the country's second largest property-liability insurer on the basis of 1996 statutory premiums written and is a major life insurer. Allstate's life insurance and annuity operations are conducted through Allstate Life Insurance Company ("ALIC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of AIC, and through various ALIC subsidiaries (collectively, "Allstate Life"). AIC's primary business is the sale of private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance. In 1996 Allstate maintained estimated national market shares in these lines of approximately 12.4% and 11.7%, respectively. Allstate=s property-liability operations consist of two principal areas of business: personal property and casualty ("PP&C") and discontinued lines and coverages ("Discontinued Lines and Coverages"). PP&C, which has historically included only the Company=s personal property and casualty business, now includes commercial business written through the Allstate agent distribution channel. Discontinued Lines and Coverages consists of business no longer written by Allstate, including results from environmental, asbestos and mass tort losses, mortgage pool business, and other commercial business in run-off, as well as the historical results of the commercial and reinsurance businesses sold in 1996. Allstate markets its products through a variety of distribution channels, with the core of its PP&C distribution system being a broad-based network of approximately 15,200 exclusive agents (employee and non-employee) in the United States and Canada. Allstate also uses independent and specialized brokers to expand market reach, including over 7,000 independent agents appointed to market non-standard auto business. Allstate Life sells life insurance, annuity and group pension products. Allstate Life distributes its products through Allstate agents which include life specialists, banks, independent agents, brokers and direct response marketing. Information regarding revenues, operating profit or loss and identifiable assets attributable to each of the Company's identifiable business segments is contained in note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-55 and A-56 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. 1 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS On January 27, 1998, the Company announced that it made a cash offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Pembridge, Inc., ("Pembridge") a Canadian auto insurer, for Cdn. $20 per share. The aggregate cost of the shares would be approximately $275 million, based on U.S.-Canada currency exchange rates on January 27, 1998. The offer is open for acceptance through March 27, 1998, unless it is extended or withdrawn. The offer is conditioned on the tender of at least 90% of the Pembridge shares and receipt of required regulatory approvals. On January 26, 1998, the Company announced that it filed an application with the Office of Thrift Supervision for approval to operate a federal savings bank. The business plan filed with the Company's application focused on trust and cash management services. On December 16, 1997, the Company issued $250,000,000 of 7 1/8% Senior Quarterly Interest Bonds ("QUIBS"). The QUIBS mature on December 15, 2097, subject to the Company's option to redeem the QUIBS in whole or in part on or after December 19, 2002, at 100% of principal amount plus accrued interest to the redemption date. The Company also has the right to shorten the maturity of the QUIBS to the extent required to preserve the Company's ability to deduct interest paid by it on the QUIBS. The proceeds of the offering were used for general corporate purposes, including the Company's stock repurchase program. On November 12, 1997, Allstate announced that it had sold its interest in two Japanese insurance companies to its former joint venture partner, The Saison Group. On November 10, 1997, the Company announced formation of a new subsidiary, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, a New Jersey insurance corporation, to write automobile and homeowners insurance in New Jersey, commencing January 1, 1998. The new subsidiary will serve as a replacement carrier in New Jersey for Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Indemnity Company. This resolves the Company's application to withdraw from the property-liability market in New Jersey. RISK FACTORS AFFECTING ALLSTATE In addition to the normal risks of business, Allstate is subject to significant risk factors, including those applicable to it as an insurance company, such as: (i) the inherent uncertainty in the process of establishing property-liability loss reserves, particularly reserves for the cost of environmental, asbestos and mass tort claims, and the fact that ultimate losses could materially exceed established loss reserves and have a material adverse effect on results of operations and financial condition; (ii) the fact that Allstate has experienced, and can be expected in the future to experience, catastrophe losses which could have a material adverse impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; (iii) the inherent uncertainty in the process of 2 establishing property-liability loss reserves due to the change in loss payment patterns caused by new claims settlement practices; (iv) the need for Allstate's insurance company subsidiaries to maintain appropriate levels of statutory capital and surplus, particularly in light of continuing scrutiny by rating organizations and state insurance regulatory authorities, and to maintain acceptable financial strength or claims-paying ability ratings; (v) the extensive regulation and supervision to which Allstate's insurance subsidiaries are subject, various regulatory and public initiatives that may affect Allstate, and regulatory and other legal actions involving Allstate; (vi) the Company's primary reliance, as a holding company, on dividends from AIC to meet debt payment obligations, and regulatory restrictions on AIC's ability to pay such dividends; (vii) the adverse impact which increases in interest rates could have on the value of Allstate's investment portfolio and on the attractiveness of certain Allstate Life products; (viii) the adverse impact to investment income in low interest rate environments due to funds being reinvested in securities yielding less than the average portfolio rate; (ix) the need to adjust the effective duration of the assets and liabilities of Allstate Life's operations in order to meet the anticipated cash flow requirements of its policyholder obligations; and (x) the uncertainty involved in estimating the availability of reinsurance and the collectibility of reinsurance recoverables. See also "Forward-Looking Statements" in this Form 10-K for several important factors that could cause the Company's actual results and experience, with respect to forward-looking statements in this Form 10-K and in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" incorporated herein in response to Item 7, to differ materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements. ALLSTATE STRATEGY Allstate's strategy is to focus on the profitable growth of its private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance business; to increase cross-sales of its products to its customer base; to expand distribution through existing non-agency distribution channels and through the addition of new distribution channels; to manage its catastrophe exposure; to expand its offering of life and annuity products; and to seek opportunities in the international markets. This strategy is designed to capitalize on: (1) the strength of the Allstate name, (2) Allstate's network of exclusive agents, (3) Allstate's auto insurance capabilities, and (4) additional distribution channels available to Allstate. Allstate's marketing strategy for standard auto and homeowners insurance varies by geographic area. Allstate separates the voluntary personal auto insurance business into two categories for underwriting purposes according to insurance risks: the standard market and the non-standard market, and has determined its growth strategy accordingly. Allstate is attempting to grow its standard auto business more rapidly in areas where the regulatory climate is more conducive to attractive returns. The non-standard auto insurance market consists of insurance of persons with no prior driving experience, or with a prior history of accidents or violations, or 3 owning high performance cars with high repair and replacement costs or having other special needs. Allstate has achieved the leading market share in this market. This has been a market in which Allstate has competed by capitalizing on an established distribution system, technology and claims capabilities and by tailoring pricing and products to reach a broader market. Allstate plans to continue to develop opportunities in this market in part, by expanding its independent agent distribution channel. Allstate is attempting to manage its homeowners exposure on policies in areas where the potential loss from catastrophes exceeds acceptable levels. Allstate's process of designating geographic areas as growth and limited growth is dynamic and may be revised as changes occur in the legal, regulatory and economic environments in various areas, as catastrophe exposure is reduced and as new products are approved and introduced. Less than 6% of the United States population reside in areas designated by Allstate as standard auto limited growth markets. As a result of Allstate's efforts to introduce policy changes and to purchase catastrophe insurance coverage, the homeowners limited growth markets have been reduced to areas where approximately 13% of the United States population resides. Allstate Life has been growing its business through the development of new customer focused products, the establishment of new marketing arrangements, increased cross-sales of life and annuity products to existing Allstate customers, offering a variety of competitive fee-based and spread based products to satisfy customer preferences in various interest rate environments, and leveraging existing scale to increase efficiency and effectiveness, in part, through investments in technology and the consolidation of certain facilities. Allstate Life's life insurance and annuity products are marketed through Allstate agents (including life specialists), banks, independent agents, brokers and direct response marketing. Specialized brokers are used to distribute group pension and structured settlement products not offered by Allstate=s agency force. Allstate's exclusive agency force of approximately 15,200 full-time agents is at the core of its PP&C distribution system. Allstate also uses over 2,800 independent agents to market a full range of Allstate insurance products to individuals, mostly in rural markets not served by Allstate agents, and over 7,000 independent agents appointed by Allstate's subsidiary, Deerbrook Insurance Company ("Deerbrook"), to market non-standard auto business. Allstate Life also has a direct response marketing program which principally targets customers of credit card issuers who prefer to purchase, through the mail or telephone, selected products not offered by Allstate's agency force. In 1997 Allstate commenced the sale of private passenger auto insurance in Germany through direct marketing. Allstate has also identified other foreign areas as attractive markets for property-liability or life insurance, and plans to pursue international opportunities as an avenue to grow both its revenues and profitability. Allstate believes that it will take a number of years before its new and planned international businesses contribute significantly to its financial results. 4 Allstate may also pursue selective acquisitions, partnerships, business expansions, business start-ups, and divestitures, both in the United States and internationally in the pursuit of its business strategy. PROPERTY-LIABILITY INSURANCE BUSINESS Allstate's property-liability insurance business consists of PP&C and Discontinued Lines and Coverages. PP&C, which accounted for $18.6 billion (or 79%) of Allstate's 1997 statutory written premiums, writes primarily private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance policies in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Since 1997 Allstate has also written private passenger automobile insurance in Germany. Operating in approximately 11,300 locations, Allstate agents produce more than 94% of PP&C's annual statutory written premiums, with the balance generated by independent agents largely in locations not currently served by Allstate agents. Discontinued Lines and Coverages consists of business no longer written by Allstate, including results from environmental, asbestos and mass tort losses, mortgage pool business and other commercial insurance business in run-off, as well as the historical results of the commercial and reinsurance businesses sold in 1996. Principally engaged in private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance, PP&C accounted for substantially all of Allstate's total property-liability statutory premiums. Allstate was the country's second largest personal property and casualty insurer for both private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance in 1996. Although private passenger automobile and homeowners insurance account for the majority of its business, PP&C also writes coverages for product lines such as motorcycles, motor homes, renters, condominium, residential and landlord, comprehensive personal liability, fire, personal umbrella, recreational vehicle, mobile home, boat owners and selected commercial property and casualty coverages. PP&C also operates the Allstate Motor Club, an organization whose purpose is to aid its members with travel plans and emergency road service. The Company separates the voluntary personal auto insurance business into two basic categories according to insurance risk; the standard market and the non-standard market. The standard market consists of drivers who are perceived to have low to average risk of loss expectancy. Allstate had a countrywide market share of approximately 17.3% of the non-standard market in 1996. Allstate=s presence in this market, as well as the standard market allows Allstate agents to offer insurance products to the vast majority of drivers who apply for insurance. The non-standard market consists of drivers who have higher-than-average risk profiles due to their driving records, lack of prior insurance or the types of cars they own. PP&C has a refined price structure and policy features which address the special needs of drivers in the non-standard market. These policies are written at higher than standard rates. Allstate writes policies covering these risks principally through AIC's subsidiary, Allstate Indemnity Company. Deerbrook also writes non-standard insurance through independent agencies. Allstate expects that while its 5 growth in the non-standard market will continue, its rate of growth in this market will decline as the market matures. As a condition of its license to do business in each state, Allstate, like all other automobile insurers, is required to write or share the cost of private passenger automobile insurance for higher risk individuals who would otherwise be unable to obtain such insurance. The "involuntary" market, called the "shared market," is governed by the applicable laws and regulations of each state, and policies written in this market are generally written at higher than standard rates. Allstate has generally experienced losses in its participation in the shared market. PP&C, in addition to writing insurance for standard homes, also insures high value homes and non-standard homes, such as those with increased exposure given their distance from fire protection services, and also insures risks in the renters and condominium markets. Allstate has targeted the homeowners insurance business as a market with substantial profitable growth opportunities for the Company as the implementation of catastrophe management initiatives allows the Company to re-enter certain homeowners markets. Allstate, unlike the majority of its competitors, does not rely on rating bureaus in establishing prices for its personal property and casualty products. Instead Allstate uses its proprietary database, which contains many years of its own extensive underwriting and pricing experience. Accordingly, subject to applicable state regulations, different prices are derived according to numerous variables which apply to each specific risk, including, in the case of private passenger automobile insurance, factors relating to the automobile (such as its age, make and model) as well as factors relating to the insured (such as previous driving record). In management's opinion, the extensive use and analysis of this database, rather than rating bureaus, provides PP&C with the basis for its market segmentation strategy to price risks accordingly. PP&C is updating its nationwide profiles of the types of business it intends to pursue. Allstate has attempted to reduce its PP&C claims costs through centralized claims administration, specialization and additional training of claims personnel, and intensive and early investigation and settlement of claims. The Company has focused on claims involving alleged personal injury in connection with collisions involving relatively minor impact. During 1997 Allstate continued the testing of redesigned claim settlement procedures for auto physical damage claims. As these procedures are implemented during 1998, Allstate will focus on the consistency and accuracy of estimating claim losses. As is true for the property-liability industry in general, first-year costs attributable to PP&C's products are generally higher than for subsequent years. Accordingly, customer retention is an important factor in the profitability of PP&C's products, since policies that remain in force generally become more profitable over time. Allstate customer retention rates in 1997 for standard and non-standard auto were approximately the same as in 1996. Retention rates for 6 homeowners declined in 1997, having been adversely impacted by Allstate's catastrophe management initiatives. These initiatives are discussed below, under "Catastrophe Exposure." The personal lines private passenger auto and homeowners businesses are highly competitive. As of December 31, 1996 over 1,400 insurance companies were in the market, with five groups of companies (State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Nationwide and USAA) writing approximately 47% of the private passenger automobile premiums written and approximately 48% of the homeowners premiums written in the United States. State Farm maintains the leading share in the automobile and homeowners market and had 21.4% of the automobile market and 23.4% of the homeowners market in 1996. Together, State Farm and Allstate had 34.1% of the total United State's auto and homeowners market in 1996. AIC competes principally on the basis of its name recognition, scope of distribution system, customer service, use of technology, product features and breadth of product offerings and price. Additionally, extensive use of its database to develop proprietary information gives AIC the ability to segment its market, appropriately price risks and cross-sell its products within its customer base. Approximately $45 billion of industry personal lines premiums are generated by independent agencies, and the remaining $91 billion of premiums are generated by insurers placing their products directly with the consumer through employee agents, independent contractor exclusive agents, direct response and mail order. Allstate believes its exclusive agency force provides it with an advantage in distributing PP&C products. However, some competitors, operating with solely exclusive agents who are independent contractors or distributing through direct response or mail order marketing, or operating with non-exclusive independent agents have also been able to operate effective distribution systems. A majority of Allstate's 15,200 exclusive agents are employee agents. In future years, Allstate expects that the percentage of its agents who are independent contractor exclusive agents will increase substantially. In 1990, Allstate instituted an independent contractor exclusive agent contract under which persons are hired for an 18 month period during which they are trained as agents. Upon completion of the period, Allstate offers contracts to some of the trainees to serve as independent contractors who are exclusive agents for Allstate. Each person hired since 1990 for eventual consideration as an Allstate agent has been hired on this basis. In addition, employee agents who were hired prior to 1990 have been permitted to convert to independent contractor exclusive agent status. At December 31, 1997, independent contractor exclusive agents, including agents in training to become independent contractor exclusive agents, represented approximately 40% of Allstate agents. Allstate has a strategic initiative intended to improve agencies' productivity to sell to and to service customers and to align local processes, programs and policies, including workers classification, with Allstate objectives. The Company is negotiating an agreement with the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, to ensure continuation of the employee agent program. 7 CATASTROPHE EXPOSURE Catastrophes are an inherent risk of the property-liability insurance business which have contributed, and will continue to contribute, to material year-to-year fluctuations in Allstate's results of operations and financial position. The level of catastrophe loss experienced in any year cannot be predicted and could be material to results of operations and financial position. Allstate has experienced two severe catastrophes in recent years which resulted in losses of $2.33 billion relating to Hurricane Andrew (net of reinsurance) and $1.75 billion relating to the Northridge earthquake. While management believes Allstate's catastrophe management strategies, described below, will greatly reduce the severity of future losses, Allstate continues to be exposed to similar or greater catastrophes (see ARisk Factors" and AForward-Looking Statements" in this Form 10-K). A "catastrophe" is defined by Allstate as an event that produces pre-tax losses before reinsurance in excess of $1 million involving multiple first party policyholders. Catastrophes are caused by various events, including hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, wind and hail storms, and fires. Although catastrophes can cause losses in a variety of property-liability lines, homeowners insurance has in the past generated the vast majority of catastrophe-related claims. For Allstate, major areas of potential losses due to hurricanes include major metropolitan centers near the eastern and gulf coasts of the United States. Allstate's exposure to potential earthquake losses in California are now limited by its participation in the California Earthquake Authority, as described below. Other areas in the United States in which Allstate is exposed to potential losses from earthquakes include areas in the central United States surrounding the New Madrid fault system in the midwest and areas in and around Seattle, Washington. Although Allstate, consistent with industry practice, prices risks in light of anticipated catastrophe exposure, the incidence and severity of catastrophes is unpredictable. Allstate continues to evaluate alternative business strategies to more effectively manage its exposure to catastrophe losses in these and other areas. Allstate has implemented strategies to limit, over time, subject to the requirements of insurance laws and regulations and as limited by competitive considerations, its insurance exposures in certain regions prone to catastrophe occurrences. These strategies include limits on new business production, limitations on certain policy coverages, increases in deductibles, policy brokering and participation in catastrophe pools. In addition, Allstate has requested and received rate increases and has expanded its use of deductibles in certain regions prone to catastrophes. While management believes that its initiatives have reduced or will reduce Allstate's exposure to catastrophes in certain geographic regions over time, the extent of such reduction is uncertain and is constrained by state insurance laws and regulations. For example, some states, such as Florida and New York, limit the ability of insurers to non-renew policies. The states in which Allstate faces its highest exposure -- California, Florida and New York -- require rates to be approved by the regulator, thereby making it more difficult to obtain adequate rates that reflect the catastrophe exposure. Finally, all states have shared market mechanisms that provide insurance to persons who are unable to obtain it in the voluntary market. Allstate's ability to reduce its exposure to 8 catastrophes may be offset by any increase in the exposure through such shared market mechanisms. See "Regulation - Shared Markets" below. Allstate has used catastrophe simulation models in attempting to estimate the probability and the levels of losses which may result from catastrophes (Allstate also uses these models to assist in its decisions concerning pricing, underwriting and reinsuring risks in areas of catastrophe exposure). These models are subject to uncertainties due to continual updating and revisions to reflect the most currently available information on climatology and seismology, building codes, and policy demographics. Allstate believes that improvements in the amount and types of information contained in these models have improved its estimations of catastrophe exposures, as well as its ability to estimate losses in the earlier stages of development. However, use of the models has not enabled Allstate to predict the level of losses associated with a specific catastrophe in the past, and the predictive value of such models with regard to future catastrophes is subject to challenge. Nevertheless, Allstate believes that the programs described below have significantly reduced the probable maximum loss from hurricanes in Florida or in the Northeastern portion of the United States ("Northeast") and earthquakes in California. The question of the magnitude of potential impacts of global climate change will be a continuing source of discussion. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported that there is a discernible human influence on the climate change being observed. In light of this, Allstate continues to explore and analyze credible scientific evidence, including, but not limited to, the impact of climate change, that may affect Allstate's potential exposure under its insurance policies. During 1997, the Company continued implementation of its plan to reorganize its Florida property business in order to reduce its exposure to hurricane losses. The Allstate Floridian Insurance Company ("Floridian") was formed in 1996, to sell and service Allstate's Florida property policies. Existing Allstate property policies were transferred to Floridian as the policies were renewed. By the end of 1997, Allstate transferred substantially all of its property policies to Floridian. The remaining property policies will be transferred in 1998. Floridian entered into catastrophe reinsurance agreements with a non-affiliated entity which provides access to 80% of $500 million of catastrophe reinsurance protection in excess of $1.00 billion, up to an aggregate limit of $800 million through 1999. In addition, Floridian has access to over 90% of an estimated $600 million of reinsurance from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Also, in 1996 and 1997, Allstate non-renewed 156,000 Florida property policies with annual premiums of $90 million, completing its agreement to sell renewal rights to Clarendon National Insurance Company. Allstate has entered into a three-year excess of loss reinsurance contract covering property policies in the Northeast, effective June 1, 1997. The reinsurance program provides up to 95% of $500 million of reinsurance protection for catastrophe losses in excess of an estimated $750 million retention subject to an annual limit of $500 million and an aggregate policy limit of $1.00 billion. 9 In late 1996 the California Earthquake Authority ("CEA") commenced operation. The CEA is a privately-financed, publicly-managed state agency created to provide coverage for earthquake damage resulting from seismic events. Insurers selling homeowner insurance in California are required to offer earthquake insurance to their customers either through their company or participation in the CEA. By the end of 1997, all of Allstate's traditional earthquake policies and mini-earthquake policies were renewed into the CEA or the customer decided to non-renew their earthquake insurance. Allstate's homeowners policy will continue to include coverages for losses caused by explosions, theft, glass breakage and fires following an earthquake, which are not written by the CEA. Approximately $700 million of funds needed to create the CEA were obtained from assessments of participating insurance companies. In 1996 Allstate's pretax assessment, including related expenses, was approximately $150 million. Additional funds needed to operate the CEA will be obtained through assessments of participating insurance companies, reinsurance and bond issuances funded by policyholder assessments. Allstate may be assessed in the future depending on the funding level of the CEA. All future assessments to participating CEA insurers are based on homeowners insurance market share as of December 31 of the preceding year. Allstate does not expect its portion of these additional contingent assessments, if needed in 1998, to exceed $700 million assuming its current market share does not materially change. Allstate continues to support passage of legislation in Congress such as the Homeowner's Insurance Availability Act which could, if enacted, lessen the impact to Allstate of catastrophic natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Allstate is a founding member of a newly-formed coalition whose members include property insurers and insurance agents. This group is promoting a measure that would provide federal reinsurance to state disaster plans. On February 9, 1998, the House Banking Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity submitted the Homeowner's Insurance Availability Act to the House Banking Committee. The Company is unable to determine whether, or in what form, such proposed legislation could be enacted or what the effect on the Company would be. DISCONTINUED LINES AND COVERAGES Allstate wrote excess and surplus lines coverages from 1972 to 1985 through its subsidiary, Northbrook Excess and Surplus Insurance Company ("NESCO"). NESCO wrote professional liability coverages for architects, engineers, lawyers, and physicians, principally on claims-made coverage forms. It also wrote substantial umbrella and excess liability coverages on an occurrence basis, including medical and other products liability coverages, for major United States corporations. In 1985, NESCO was merged into AIC assuming all of the assets and liabilities of NESCO. Since the early 1980's, Allstate has experienced significant increases in losses for years prior to 1980 arising out of NESCO's umbrella and excess liability coverage for large corporations. Since the late 1980's, most of these losses have related to environmental 10 damages, asbestos-related damages or mass-tort settlements. AIC, as NESCO's successor, has been involved, and continues to be involved, in coverage litigation with NESCO insureds. In addition to NESCO's activities, during the late 1960's and through the early 1980's Allstate's reinsurance business unit wrote treaty and facultative reinsurance covering general liability primary policies, including policies for major producers of asbestos products. During approximately the same period, Allstate=s reinsurance business unit wrote reinsurance coverage on liability policies with major United States corporations that have since become involved in environmental and asbestos claims. Such companies may have been involved with hazardous wastes in a variety of ways including as manufacturers, haulers, dump site owners, or through a combination of these activities. Allstate=s reinsurance business unit has been involved and continues to be involved in coverage litigation and arbitration with ceding companies and their insureds involving liability for environmental and asbestos damages claims. In 1986, Allstate ceased writing business with ceding companies which tended to insure larger corporations with potential environmental and/or asbestos damage exposures, and its underwriting focus was redirected toward smaller, more regionalized insurers who focus on property and casualty coverages and who have underwriting standards that are considered prudent by Allstate. Also in 1986, the general liability policy form used by Allstate and others in the property-liability industry was amended to introduce an "absolute pollution exclusion," which excluded coverage for environmental damage claims, and added asbestos exclusions. Most general liability policies issued prior to 1987 contain annual aggregate limits for liability coverage, and policies issued after 1986 also have an annual aggregate limit as to all coverages. Allstate's experience to date is that these policy form changes have effectively limited its exposure to environmental and asbestos claim risks assumed, as well as primary commercial coverages written, for most policies written in 1986 and all policies written after 1986. Allstate's environmental and asbestos exposures are primarily limited to policies written in periods prior to 1986 with the preponderance of the losses emanating from policies written in the 1970's. New environmental and asbestos claims, however, continue to be reported. Allstate has established substantial reserves for the environmental and asbestos damage claims, and for mass tort exposures. Mass tort exposures primarily relate to liability claims, such as those for medical devices and other products, and general liabilities. However, there are significant inherent uncertainties in estimating the ultimate cost of these claims, as discussed below. Further information regarding the foregoing is contained in AProperty-Liability Claims and Claims Expense Reserves" on pages A-10 to A-13 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. For information regarding Superfund proposed legislation, see "Regulatory Initiatives and Proposed Legislation" below. PROPERTY-LIABILITY INSURANCE CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE RESERVES Allstate establishes property-liability loss reserves to cover its estimated ultimate liability for losses and loss adjustment expenses with respect to reported claims and claims incurred but not yet reported as of the end of each accounting period. In accordance with applicable insurance 11 laws and regulations and generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), no reserves are established until a loss occurs, including a loss from a catastrophe. Underwriting results of the property-liability operations are significantly influenced by estimates of property-liability claims and claims expense reserves (see Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-42 to A-45 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof). These reserves are an accumulation of the estimated amounts necessary to settle all outstanding claims, including claims which are incurred but not reported, as of the reporting date. The reserve estimates are based on known facts and on interpretations of circumstances, including Allstate's experience with similar cases and historical trends involving claim payment patterns, loss payments, pending levels of unpaid claims and product mix, as well as other factors including court decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes. The effects of inflation are implicitly considered in the reserving process. The establishment of reserves, including reserves for catastrophes, is an inherently uncertain process and the ultimate cost may vary materially from the recorded amounts. Allstate regularly updates its reserve estimates as new facts become known and further events occur which may impact the resolution of unsettled claims. Changes in prior year reserve estimates, which may be material, are reflected in the results of operations in the period such changes are determined to be needed. Establishing net loss reserves for environmental, asbestos and mass tort claims is subject to uncertainties that are greater than those presented by other types of claims. Among the complications are lack of historical data, long reporting delays, uncertainty as to the number and identity of insureds with potential exposure, unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage, availability and collectibility of reinsurance and the extent and timing of any such contractual liability. The legal issues concerning the interpretation of various insurance policy provisions and whether environmental, asbestos and mass tort losses are, or were ever intended to be covered, are complex. Courts have reached different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions as to when losses are deemed to have occurred and which policies provide coverage; what types of losses are covered; whether there is an insured obligation to defend; how policy limits are determined; how policy exclusions are applied and interpreted; and whether clean-up costs represent insured property damage. Management believes these issues are not likely to be resolved in the near future. See Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-42 to A-45 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. The following tables are summary reconciliations of the beginning and ending property-liability insurance claims and claims expense reserve, displayed individually for each of the last three years. The first table presents reserves on a gross (before reinsurance) basis. The end of year gross reserve balances are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position on page A-26 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. The second table presents reserves on a net (after reinsurance) basis. The total net property-liability insurance claims and claims expense amounts are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on page A-25 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. 12
GROSS ($ IN MILLIONS) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------ 1997 1996 1995 ----------- ----------- ----------- GROSS RESERVE FOR PROPERTY-LIABILITY CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE, BEGINNING OF YEAR $ 17,382 $ 17,687 $ 16,763 INCURRED CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE PROVISION ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CURRENT YEAR 14,268 15,186 14,530 DECREASE IN PROVISION ATTRIBUTABLE TO PRIOR YEARS (618) (338) (235) ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE 13,650 14,848 14,295 CLAIM PAYMENTS CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CURRENT 8,300 8,073 8,490 YEAR CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PRIOR YEARS 5,329 5,711 4,881 CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO DISPOSITION OF 0 1,369 0 OPERATIONS ----------- ----------- ----------- TOTAL PAYMENTS 13,629 15,153 13,371 ----------- ----------- ----------- GROSS RESERVE FOR PROPERTY-LIABILITY CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE, END OF YEAR 17,403 17,382 17,687 LESS: ARCO RESERVE BALANCES NOT SUBJECT TO DEVELOPMENT 0 0 361 (1) ----------- ----------- ----------- GROSS RESERVE FOR PROPERTY-LIABILITY CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE, END OF YEAR AS SHOWN ON 10-K LOSS RESERVE $ 17,403 $ 17,382 $ 17,326 DEVELOPMENT TABLE =========== =========== =========== (1) ARCO WAS SOLD IN 1996. IN 1995, LOSS DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION FOR ARCO (AIC'S INDIRECTLY OWNED BRITISH REINSURANCE SUBSIDIARY) IS NOT AVAILABLE ON A COMPARABLE BASIS. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT MATERIAL ($97.7 MILLION IN GROSS CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE IN 1995 AND $85.8 MILLION IN 1995 GROSS PAYMENTS), AND WAS TREATED AS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CURRENT YEAR.
13
NET ($ IN MILLIONS) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------ 1997 1996 1995 ----------- ---------- ----------- NET RESERVE FOR PROPERTY-LIABILITY CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE, BEGINNING OF YEAR $ 15,598 $ 16,156 $ 15,406 INCURRED CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE PROVISION ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CURRENT YEAR 14,013 14,823 14,113 DECREASE IN PROVISION ATTRIBUTABLE TO PRIOR YEARS (677) (336) (425) ----------- ---------- ----------- TOTAL CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE 13,336 14,487 13,688 CLAIM PAYMENTS CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CURRENT YEAR 8,148 7,522 8,190 CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO PRIOR YEARS 5,013 5,787 4,748 CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO DISPOSITION OF 0 1,736 0 OPERATIONS ----------- ---------- ----------- TOTAL PAYMENTS 13,161 15,045 12,938 ----------- ---------- ----------- NET RESERVE FOR PROPERTY-LIABILITY CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE, END OF YEAR 15,773 15,598 16,156 LESS: ARCO RESERVE BALANCES NOT SUBJECT TO DEVELOPMENT (1) 0 0 320 ----------- ---------- ----------- NET RESERVE FOR PROPERTY-LIABILITY CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE, END OF YEAR AS SHOWN ON 10-K LOSS RESERVE DEVELOPMENT $ 15,773 $ 15,598 $ 15,836 TABLE (2) =========== ========== =========== (1) ARCO WAS SOLD IN 1996. IN 1995, LOSS DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION FOR ARCO (AIC'S INDIRECTLY OWNED BRITISH REINSURANCE SUBSIDIARY) IS NOT AVAILABLE ON A COMPARABLE BASIS. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT MATERIAL ($76.5 MILLION IN CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE IN 1995 AND $45.7 MILLION IN 1995 PAYMENTS) AND WAS TREATED AS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CURRENT YEAR. (2) RESERVES FOR CLAIMS AND CLAIMS EXPENSE ARE NET OF REINSURANCE OF $1.63 BILLION, $1.78 BILLION AND $1.53 BILLION, AT DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995, RESPECTIVELY.
14 The year-end 1997 gross reserves of $17.40 billion for property-liability insurance claims and claims expense, as determined under GAAP, were $1.80 billion more than the reserve balance of $15.60 billion recorded on the basis of statutory accounting practices for reports provided to state regulatory authorities. The principal difference is the reinsurance recoverable from third parties totaling $1.63 billion that reduces reserves for statutory reporting and is recorded as an asset for GAAP reporting. Additional differences are caused by the reserves of the Canadian subsidiary which is not included in the combined United States statutory statement. As the tables above illustrate, Allstate's net reserve for property-liability insurance claims and claims expense at the end of 1996 developed favorably in 1997 by $677 million, compared to favorable development of the gross reserves of $618 million. Net reserve development in 1996 and 1995 was more favorable than favorable gross reserve development in these years. This relationship was due to the fact that Allstate=s principal property-liability lines, such as private passenger auto and homeowners, were not significantly affected by reinsurance, whereas Discontinued Lines and Coverages involved a higher level of ceded reinsurance protection. The more favorable development in the net reserves in 1996 and 1995 was due to higher anticipated reinsurance cessions on increased reserve reestimates for Discontinued Lines and Coverages. In 1996, following completion of a comprehensive review of available reinsurance for Discontinued Lines and Coverages, the Company decreased ceded loss reserves. This decrease offset the favorable effect of higher reinsurance cessions related to increased reestimates of gross reserves for Discontinued Lines and Coverages. See "Property-Liability Claims and Claims Expense Reserves" on pages A-10 to A-13 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. For further discussion of the Company's reinsurance programs, see "Property-Liability Reinsurance Ceded" on pages A-12 and A-13 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. The loss reserve development table below illustrates the change over time of the net reserves established for property-liability insurance claims and claims expense at the end of various calendar years. The first section shows the reserves as originally reported at the end of stated year. The second section, reading down, shows the cumulative amounts paid as of the end of successive years with respect to that reserve liability. The third section, reading down, shows retroactive reestimates of the original recorded reserve as of the end of each successive year which is the result of Allstate's expanded awareness of additional facts and circumstances that pertain to the unsettled claims. The last section compares the latest reestimated reserve to the reserve originally established, and indicates whether or not the original reserve was adequate or inadequate to cover the estimated costs of unsettled claims. The table also presents the gross reestimated liability as of the end of the latest reestimation period, with separate disclosure of the related reestimated reinsurance recoverable. This presentation appears for all periods in which the income recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 113 have been applied. 15 The loss reserve development table is cumulative and, therefore, ending balances should not be added since the amount at the end of each calendar year includes activity for both the current and prior years.
Loss Reserve Development ($ in millions) December 31, (1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 ---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---- Gross Reserves for Unpaid Claims and Claims Expense $8,793 $10,035 $10,962 $12,117 $13,136 $14,902 $15,209 $16,414 $17,326 $17,382 $17,403 Deduct: Reinsurance Recoverable 1,076 1,180 1,066 1,028 1,066 1,419 1,338 1,298 1,490 1,784 1,630 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- Reserve For Unpaid Claims and Claims Expense $7,717 $8,855 $9,896 $11,089 $12,070 $13,483 $13,871 $15,116 $15,836 $15,598 $15,773 - - ------------------------- Paid (cumulative) as of: - - ------------------------ One year later 3,074 3,516 4,295 4,558 4,550 4,955 4,472 4,748 5,787 5,013 Two years later 4,586 5,279 6,338 6,723 6,688 7,068 6,519 7,749 8,232 Three years later 5,564 6,433 7,584 8,010 7,935 8,283 8,273 9,247 Four years later 6,242 7,161 8,338 8,778 8,694 9,430 9,140 Five years later 6,694 7,611 8,824 9,279 9,508 9,985 Six years later 6,975 7,927 9,180 9,883 9,907 Seven years later 7,201 8,189 9,651 10,196 Eight years later 7,407 8,560 9,921 Nine years later 7,701 8,803 Ten years later 7,932 Reserve Reestimated as of: - - -------------------------- End of year 7,717 8,855 9,896 11,089 12,070 13,483 13,871 15,116 15,836 15,598 15,773 One year later 7,824 8,891 10,312 11,367 11,990 13,081 13,159 14,691 15,500 14,921 Two years later 7,862 9,006 10,617 11,576 11,909 12,745 12,890 14,295 14,917 Three years later 7,979 9,323 10,990 11,680 11,905 12,735 12,832 13,928 Four years later 8,298 9,686 11,105 11,777 12,010 12,877 12,617 Five years later 8,687 9,817 11,245 11,954 12,322 12,830 Six years later 8,830 9,974 11,447 12,378 12,395 Seven years later 9,002 10,212 11,962 12,503 Eight years later 9,265 10,762 12,091 Nine years later 9,826 10,896 Ten years later 9,963 Initial reserve in excess of (less than) restimated reserve: - - ------------------------------- Amount ($2,246) ($2,041) ($2,195) ($1,414) ($325) $653 $1,254 $1,188 $919 $677 Percent (29.1%) (23.0%) (22.2%) (12.8%) (2.7%) 4.8% 9.0% 7.9% 5.8% 4.3% Gross Reestimated $14,574 $14,236 $15,427 $16,424 $16,764 Liability-Latest Reestimated Recoverable-Latest 1,744 1,619 1,499 1,507 1,843 ---------------------------------------- Net Reestimated Liability-Latest $12,830 $12,617 $13,928 $14,917 $14,921 Gross Cumulative Excess(Deficiency) $328 $973 $987 $902 $618 ======================================== (1) For 1990 through 1995, this loss reserve development table excludes ARCO claims and claims expense, due to the unavailability of loss reserve development information for these claims on a comparable basis. ARCO was sold in 1996.
16 The subsequent reduction in the net reserves established at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 shown in the foregoing table reflects favorable severity trends that the Company has experienced, as more fully discussed below. The principal cause for the initial reserves established at the end of 1991, and all previous years reflected in the table, needing to be increased over the time frame in the above table is the cumulative adverse reserve development on environmental, asbestos and mass tort claims, virtually all of which relates to 1984 and prior years. There are significant uncertainties in estimating the amount of Allstate's environmental, asbestos and mass tort claims. Among the complications are a lack of historical data, long reporting delays, uncertainty as to the number and identity of insureds with potential exposure, and complex unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage and the extent and timing of any such contractual liability. Courts have reached different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions as to when the loss occurred and what policies provide coverage; what claims are covered; whether there is an insured obligation to defend; how policy limits are determined; how policy exclusions are applied and interpreted; and whether clean-up costs represent insured property damage. These issues are not likely to be resolved in the near future. As a result of these issues, the ultimate cost of these claims may generate losses that vary materially from the amount currently reserved. During 1996, Allstate gained access to complex databases developed by outside experts to estimate the cost of liabilities for environmental claims. Allstate's policy files were compared to the databases to determine an estimate of the Company's potential environmental loss. The Company also refined its own estimation techniques to estimate environmental and asbestos losses. Allstate used a combination of these resources, along with an extensive internal review of its current claim exposures to estimate environmental and asbestos reserves. The Company also performed an in-depth analysis of its reinsurance recoverables. During the third quarter of 1996, based upon the Company's re-evaluation, loss reserves for environmental and asbestos exposures, net of reinsurance, were increased by $172 million and $72 million, respectively. These studies and re-evaluations resulted in Allstate's actions to increase reserves as described in AProperty-Liability Claims and Claims Expense Reserves" on pages A-10 to A-13 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. In 1997, Allstate updated its evaluations of environmental, asbestos and mass tort reserves. This updated evaluation did not result in any change in recorded net loss reserves. While Allstate believes the improved actuarial techniques and databases described above have assisted in its ability to estimate environmental, asbestos and mass tort net loss reserves, these refinements may prove to be inadequate indicators of the extent of probable loss. See note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-42 to A-45 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. 17 The following table is derived from the Loss Reserve Development table and summarizes the effect of reserve reestimates, net of reinsurance, on calendar year operations for the same ten-year period ended December 31, 1997. The total of each column details the amount of reserve reestimates made in the indicated calendar year and shows the accident years to which the reestimates are applicable. The amounts in the total accident year column on the far right represent the cumulative reserve reestimates for the indicated accident year(s).
Effect of Net Reserve Reestimates on Calendar Year Operations ($ in millions) 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 TOTAL ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- BY ACCIDENT YEAR 1987 & PRIOR $107 $38 $117 $319 $389 $143 $172 $263 $561 $137 $2,246 1988 (2) (2) (2) (26) (12) (15) (25) (11) (4) (99) 1989 301 (12) 10 (16) (17) (36) (35) (4) 191 1990 (27) (164) (11) (43) (25) (91) (4) (365) 1991 (289) (185) (101) (72) (112) (52) (811) 1992 (321) (332) (115) (170) (120) (1,058) 1993 (376) (259) (200) (168) (1,003) 1994 (156) (338) (152) (646) 1995 60 (216) (156) 1996 (94) (94) ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ TOTAL $107 $36 $416 $278 ($80) ($402) ($712) ($425) ($336) ($677) ($1,795) ==== === ==== ==== ===== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ========
Favorable calendar year reserve development in 1992 through 1997 was the result of favorable severity trends in each of the six years, which more than offset adverse development in Discontinued Lines and Coverages. The favorable severity trend during this six-year period was largely due to lower than anticipated medical cost inflation for personal auto injury claims. Improvements in the Company's claim settlement processes are also believed to have contributed to favorable development in 1995, 1996 and 1997. The reduction in the anticipated medical cost inflation trend has emerged over time as actual claim settlements validated the effect of the steady decline in the rate of inflation. Although improvements in the Company's claim settlement process have contributed to favorable severity development of personal injury claims during the past three years, the new processes have caused an increase in the number of claims outstanding. The rate of increase has declined in 1996 and 1997, and the Company expects the rate of increase to stabilize in 1998. However the number of outstanding claims may not be reduced to levels previously reported. In addition, while the claim settlement process changes are believed to have contributed to favorable severity trends on closed claims, these changes introduce a greater degree of variability in reserve estimates for the remaining outstanding claims at December 31, 1997. Future reserve releases, if any, will depend on the continuation of the favorable loss trends. See "Risk Factors Affecting Allstate" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in this Form 10-K. 18 LIFE AND ANNUITY BUSINESS Allstate Life markets a broad line of life insurance, annuity and group pension products. Life insurance includes traditional products such as whole life and term life insurance, as well as universal life, variable life and other interest-sensitive life products. Annuities include both deferred annuities, such as variable annuities and fixed rate single premium deferred annuities, and immediate annuities such as structured settlement annuities. Allstate Life's group pension products include guaranteed investment contracts and retirement annuities. The assets and liabilities relating to flexible premium deferred variable annuities, variable life and certain guaranteed investment contracts are legally segregated and reflected as assets and liabilities of the Separate Accounts. In 1997, annuity premiums and deposits represented 62% of Allstate Life's total statutory premiums and deposits. Allstate Life competes principally on the basis of its name recognition, scope of its distribution systems, customer service and focus, breadth of product offerings, product features, its financial strength, claims-paying ability ratings, and price, and with respect to variable life and annuity products, management and investment performance of, and various investment choices in, its Separate Account portfolio of funds. Allstate Life markets individual and group life insurance, annuity and group pension products and reaches a broad market of potential customers throughout the United States through a variety of distribution channels including Allstate agents, some of whom specialize in life insurance and annuity products, banks, independent agents, brokers and direct response marketing. Products bearing the "Allstate Life Insurance Company" name are generally sold by Allstate agents, specialized brokers, and through direct marketing techniques, while other products, many of which are of similar types to those bearing the "Allstate Life Insurance Company" name, are distributed through independent insurance agents, brokers and banks. Allstate Life's products are written by various ALIC subsidiaries and are sold under various names in addition to "Allstate Life Insurance Company," including "Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York," "Northbrook Life Insurance Company," "Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company," "Lincoln Benefit Life Company" and "Surety Life Insurance Company." Life insurance in force, net of reinsurance, was $194 billion at December 31, 1997 and $186 billion at December 31, 1996. As of December 31, 1997, Allstate Life had $37.3 billion of investments, including $7.6 billion of Separate Account assets. Northbrook Life Insurance Company has a strategic alliance with Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co. ("Dean Witter") for the marketing and distribution of Northbrook's life and annuity products through Dean Witter's broker sales force. Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company has also entered into marketing arrangements with banks for the sale of life and annuity products, including an arrangement with the AIM mutual fund group under which AIM markets Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company variable annuities. Allstate Life is committed to broadening its bank distribution outlets in an effort to increase the sales of its annuity products, and to participate in the market for life insurance products sold through banks. Although Allstate Life's management develops overall strategies and utilizes certain services shared with AIC such as investment, finance, information technology and legal services, the primary management 19 of each distribution channel is largely decentralized. Accordingly, management of each distribution channel is primarily responsible for determining its own product mix and designing products or product features appropriate for its target market. Allstate Life believes that its range of distribution channels promotes flexibility, extends market reach, reduces dependency on any one distribution system, and allows Allstate Life to focus on distinct, generally non-overlapping markets. The establishment of reserve and contractholder fund liabilities in recognition of Allstate's future benefit obligations under life and annuity policies and other Allstate Life products are discussed in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-30 to A-33 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. The market for financial services, including the various types of life insurance and annuities sold by Allstate Life, is highly competitive. As of December 31, 1997, there were approximately 900 groups of life insurance companies in the United States, most of which offer one or more products similar to those offered by Allstate Life and many of which use similar marketing techniques. Based on information contained in statements filed with insurance departments, in 1996 approximately 50% of the life insurance and annuity premiums and deposits were written by 24 groups of companies. Allstate Life ranked 20th based on statutory life insurance and annuity premiums and deposits and based on statutory admitted assets. Banks and savings and loan associations in certain jurisdictions compete with Allstate Life in the sale of life insurance products. In addition, because certain life insurance and annuity products include a savings or investment component, competition also comes from brokerage firms, investment advisors and mutual funds as well as from banks and other financial institutions. Despite a large number of life company acquisitions in recent years, the life insurance and annuity market continues to be highly fragmented and competitive. CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS The capacity for Allstate's growth in premiums, like that of other insurance companies, is in part a function of its operating leverage. Operating leverage for property-liability insurance companies is measured by the ratio of net premiums written to statutory surplus. Ratios in excess of 3 to 1 are considered outside the usual range by insurance regulators and rating agencies. AIC's premium to surplus ratio declined to 1.4 to 1 at December 31, 1997 from 1.6 to 1 at December 31, 1996. The principal cause of the change was an increase in statutory surplus (i.e., the excess of assets permitted by Illinois to be taken into account over all liabilities) resulting from net income and unrealized gains on securities, including investments in affiliates, on a statutory basis. Maintaining appropriate levels of statutory surplus is considered important by Allstate's management, state insurance regulatory authorities, and the agencies that rate insurers' claims-paying abilities and financial strength. Failure to maintain certain levels of statutory capital and surplus could result in increased scrutiny or, in some cases, action taken by state regulatory authorities and/or rating agencies. Increased public and regulatory concerns regarding the financial stability of participants in the insurance industry have resulted in greater emphasis being placed by policyholders upon insurance company ratings and have created, particularly with respect to certain life insurance products, some measure of competitive advantage for 20 insurance carriers with higher ratings. Failure to maintain claims-paying and financial strength ratings could negatively affect the Company's competitiveness. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") has adopted a standard for assessing the solvency of insurance companies, which is referred to as risk-based capital ("RBC"). The requirement consists of a formula for determining each insurer's RBC and a model law specifying regulatory actions if an insurer's RBC falls below specified levels. The RBC formula for life insurance companies establishes capital requirements relating to insurance risk, business risk, asset risk and interest rate risk. The RBC formula for property-liability companies includes asset and credit risk, but places more emphasis on underwriting factors for reserving and pricing. At December 31, 1997, RBC for each of Allstate's significant property-liability and life insurance companies exceeded the required capital levels. See "Capital Resources" on pages A-18 to A-21 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. Allstate enters into certain intercompany insurance and reinsurance transactions for its property-liability and life and annuity operations. Allstate enters into these transactions in order to maintain underwriting control and spread insurance risk among various legal entities. These reinsurance agreements have been approved by the appropriate regulatory authorities. All material intercompany transactions are eliminated in the Company's consolidated financial statements. INVESTMENTS Allstate follows a strategy to manage its exposure to market risk. Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse changes in market rates and prices. The Company's primary market risk exposures are to changes in interest rates, although the Company also has certain exposures to changes in equity prices and foreign currency exchange rates. The active management of market risk is integral to the Company's operations. The Company may use the following tools to manage its exposure to market risk within defined tolerance ranges: 1) rebalance its existing asset or liability portfolios, 2) change the character of future investments purchased or 3) use derivatives to modify the market risk characteristics of existing assets and liabilities or assets expected to be purchased. The Company seeks to earn returns that enhance its ability to offer competitive rates and prices to customers while contributing to attractive and stable profits and long-term capital growth for the Company. Accordingly, the Company's investment decisions and objectives are a function of the underlying risks and product profiles of each primary business operation. At December 31, 1997, Allstate's entire fixed income securities and equity securities portfolios were designated as "available for sale" and carried in the Company's financial statements at fair value. While the Company generally holds its fixed income securities for the long-term, management classifies these fixed income securities as available for sale to maximize the Company's flexibility in responding to changes in market conditions. Changes in the fair value of these securities, net of deferred income taxes and deferred acquisition costs and benefit reserve adjustments on certain life insurance products, are reflected as a separate component of shareholders' equity. For discussion of the composition of the Company's investment portfolio, see "Investments" on pages A-21 to A-23 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, 21 incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof, and Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-35 to A-38 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. REGULATION Allstate is subject to extensive regulation and supervision in the jurisdictions in which it does business. This regulation has a substantial effect on the business of Allstate, primarily on Allstate's personal lines property-liability business. This regulatory oversight includes, for example, matters relating to licensing and examination, rate setting, trade practices, policy forms, limitations on the nature and amount of certain investments, claims practices, mandated participation in shared markets and guaranty funds, reserve adequacy, insurer solvency, transactions with affiliates, the amount of dividends that may be paid, and restrictions on underwriting standards. For discussion of statutory financial information, see note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page A-50 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof; and for discussion of regulatory contingencies, see note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-47 and A-48 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDENDS BY INSURANCE SUBSIDIARIES - The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. As a holding company with no other business operations, its primary sources of cash to meet its obligations, including principal and interest payments with respect to indebtedness, are dividends and other statutorily permitted payments from AIC. AIC, as a domiciliary of Illinois, is subject to the Illinois insurance laws and regulations. In Illinois, a domestic stock insurer may, without prior regulatory approval, pay ordinary dividends from statutory surplus which at the time of declaration is not less than the minimum required for the kind of insurance business that such company is authorized to conduct. Under the Illinois Insurance Code, AIC's surplus following any transaction with affiliates or dividends, including distributions to its shareholder or other security holders, must be reasonable in relation to AIC's outstanding liabilities and must be adequate to meet its financial needs. The Illinois Insurance Code allows "extraordinary dividends" to be paid after thirty days notice to the Illinois Insurance Department, unless disapproved or sooner approved during such thirty day period. "Extraordinary dividends" for these purposes are defined as any dividend or distribution which together with any other dividend or distribution made within the preceding 12 months exceeds the greater of (i) 10% of the insurance company's statutory surplus as of the preceding December 31, or (ii) its statutory net income for the year ended on the preceding December 31. The maximum amount of dividends that AIC can distribute during 1998 without prior approval of the Illinois Department of Insurance is $2.6 billion. If insurance regulators determine that payment of a dividend or any other payments to an affiliate (such as payments under a tax sharing agreement, payments for employee or other services, or payments pursuant to a surplus note) would be hazardous to such insurance company's policyholders or creditors, the regulators may block such payments that would otherwise be permitted without prior approval. HOLDING COMPANY REGULATION - The Company and AIC are currently insurance holding companies subject to regulation throughout jurisdictions in which Allstate's insurance subsidiaries do business. Certain of AIC's and ALIC's subsidiaries are property-liability and life insurance companies organized under the respective insurance codes of California, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York and Texas. The 22 insurance codes in such states contain similar provisions (subject to certain variations) to the effect that the acquisition or change of "control" of a domestic insurer or of any person that controls a domestic insurer cannot be consummated without the prior approval of the relevant insurance regulator. In general, a presumption of "control" arises from the ownership, control, possession with the power to vote or possession of proxies with respect to 10% or more of the voting securities of a domestic insurer or of a person that controls a domestic insurer. In Florida, regulatory approval must be obtained prior to the acquisition of 5% or more of the voting securities of a domestic stock insurer or of a controlling company. In addition, certain state insurance laws contain provisions that require pre-acquisition notification to state agencies of a change in control with respect to a non-domestic insurance company admitted in that state. While such pre-acquisition notification statutes do not authorize the state agency to disapprove the change of control, such statutes do authorize certain remedies, including the issuance of a cease and desist order with respect to the non-domestic admitted insurer if certain conditions exist, such as undue market concentration. Thus, any transaction involving the acquisition of 10% or more (5% in Florida) of the Company's common stock would generally require prior approval by the state insurance departments in California, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York and Texas and would require the pre-acquisition notification in those states which have adopted pre-acquisition notification provisions and wherein Allstate's insurance subsidiaries are admitted to transact business. Such approval requirements may deter, delay or prevent certain transactions affecting the ownership of the Company's common stock. RATE REGULATION - Most states have insurance laws requiring that property-liability rate schedules, policy or coverage forms, and other information be filed with the state's regulatory authority. In many cases, such rates and/or policy forms must be approved prior to use. While they vary from state to state, the objectives of the rating laws are generally the same: a rate must be adequate, not excessive, and not unfairly discriminatory. Property-liability insurers are generally unable to effect rate increases with respect to a coverage until sometime after the costs associated with such coverage have increased. The speed at which an insurer can change rates in response to the competition or to increasing costs depends, in part, on whether the rating laws are administered as (i) prior approval, (ii) file-and-use, or (iii) use-and-file laws. In states having prior approval laws, a rate must be approved by the regulator before it may be used by the insurer. In states having file-and-use laws, the insurer does not have to wait for the regulator's approval to use a rate, but the rate must be filed with the regulatory authority prior to being used. A use-and-file law requires an insurer to file rates within a certain period of time after the insurer begins using the rates. Approximately one half of the states, including California and New York, have prior approval laws. States such as Florida, Illinois and Michigan have both use-and-file and file-and-use laws or regulations, depending upon the line of coverage. Under all three types of rating systems, the regulator has the authority to disapprove the rate subsequent to its filing. State regulators have broad discretion in judging whether an insurer's rate or proposed rate is adequate, not excessive and not unfairly discriminatory. An insurer's ability to adjust its rates in response to competition or to increasing costs is often dependent on an insurer's ability to demonstrate to the regulator that its rates or proposed rates meet the objectives of the rate making laws. In those states that significantly restrict an insurer's discretion in selecting the business that it wants to write, an insurer can manage its risk of loss by charging a price that matches the cost of providing the insurance. In those states 23 that significantly restrict an insurer's ability to charge a price that matches the cost of providing the insurance, the insurer can manage its risk of loss by being more selective in the type of business it writes. When a state significantly restricts both underwriting and pricing, it becomes more difficult for an insurer to maintain its profitability. Changes in Allstate's claim settlement process which may have contributed to favorable severity trends on closed personal injury claims in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and to a slowing of loss payments and an increase in the number of outstanding claims, will require Allstate to actuarially adjust loss information used in its rate application process. From time to time, the private passenger automobile insurance industry has come under pressure from state regulators, legislators and special interest groups to reduce, freeze or set rates at levels that do not, in Allstate's management's view, correspond with underlying costs. Some of this activity can result in legislation and/or regulations which adversely affect the profitability of Allstate's automobile insurance line of business in various states. Adverse legislative and regulatory activity constraining Allstate's ability to adequately price insurance coverage may occur in the future. Similar pressures have been experienced regarding rates for homeowners insurance, as regulators in catastrophe prone states struggle to identify an acceptable methodology to price for catastrophe exposure. The impact of the insurance regulatory environment on Allstate's results of operations in the future is not predictable. SHARED MARKETS - As a condition of its license to do business in various states, Allstate is required to participate in mandatory property-liability shared market mechanisms or pooling arrangements, which provide various insurance coverages to individuals or other entities that otherwise are unable to purchase such coverage voluntarily provided by private insurers. In addition, some states require automobile insurers to participate in reinsurance pools for claims that exceed a certain amount. Currently, there are no mandatory pooling mechanisms applicable to Allstate Life, except for guaranty fund assessments. The participation by Allstate in such shared markets or pooling mechanisms is generally in amounts related to the amount of Allstate's direct writings for the type of coverage written by the specific pooling mechanism in the applicable state. Allstate incurred an underwriting gain or (loss) from participation in such mechanisms, mandatory pools and underwriting associations of $1 million, ($68) million and ($134) million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The amount of future gains or losses or assessments from the personal and commercial lines shared market mechanisms and pooling arrangements described above cannot be predicted with certainty. Although it is possible that future gains and losses or assessments from such mechanisms and pooling arrangements could have a material effect on results of operations, the Company does not expect them to have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations. GUARANTY FUNDS - Failures of certain large insurers in recent years have increased solvency concerns of regulators. Under state insurance guaranty fund laws, insurers doing business in a state can be assessed, up to prescribed limits, for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Allstate's expenses with respect to such guaranty funds for the years 1997, 1996 and 1995 were $44 million, $35 million and $26 million, respectively. See "Pending Accounting Standards" on page A-24 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. 24 INVESTMENT REGULATION - Allstate is subject to state laws and regulations that require diversification of its investment portfolio and limit the amount of investments in certain investment categories. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations would cause non-conforming investments to be treated as non-admitted assets for purposes of measuring statutory surplus and, in some instances, would require divestiture. As of December 31, 1997, Allstate's investment portfolio complied with such laws and regulations in all material respects. REGULATORY INITIATIVES AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION - The state insurance regulatory framework has during recent years come under increased federal scrutiny, and certain state legislatures have considered or enacted laws that alter and, in many cases, increase state authority to regulate insurance companies and insurance holding company systems. Further, the NAIC and state insurance regulators are re-examining existing laws and regulations, specifically focusing on insurance company investments, issues relating to the solvency of insurance companies, interpretations of existing laws and the development of new laws. In addition, Congress and certain federal agencies have investigated the condition of the insurance industry in the United States to determine whether to promulgate federal regulation. Allstate is unable to predict whether any state or federal legislation will be enacted to change the nature or scope of regulation of the insurance industry, or what effect any such legislation would have on the Company. Environmental pollution clean-up is the subject of both federal and state regulation. By some estimates, there are thousands of potential waste sites subject to clean-up. The insurance industry is involved in extensive litigation regarding coverage issues. The Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("Superfund") and comparable state statutes ("mini-Superfund") govern the clean-up and restoration by "Potentially Responsible Parties" ("PRP's"). Superfund and the mini-Superfunds (Environmental Clean-up Laws or "ECLs") establish a mechanism to pay for clean-up of waste sites if PRP's fail to do so, and to assign liability to PRP's. The extent of liability to be allocated to a PRP is dependent on a variety of factors. Further, the number of waste sites subject to clean-up is unknown. Very few sites have been subject to clean-up to date. The extent of clean-up necessary and the assignment of liability has not been established. The insurance industry, including Allstate, are disputing many such claims. Key coverage issues include whether Superfund response costs are considered damages under the policies, trigger of coverage, applicability of pollution exclusions, the potential for joint and several liability and definition of an occurrence. Similar coverage issues exist for clean-up and waste sites not covered under Superfund. To date, courts have been inconsistent in their rulings on these issues. Allstate's exposure to liability with regard to its insureds which have been, or may be, named as PRPs is uncertain. See "Discontinued Lines and Coverages", above. Superfund reform proposals have been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the current Congress, but none has been enacted at the date of this filing. Allstate will support federal legislation which provides for the resolution of Superfund related claims against insurers at a cost which is fair and affordable to insurers, and which fosters similar state legislation for hazardous waste cleanup at sites covered by state law only. There can be no assurance that any Superfund reform legislation will be enacted or that any such legislation will provide for a fair, effective and cost-efficient system for settlement of Superfund related claims. 25 New and proposed federal and state regulation and legislation would allow banks greater participation in securities and insurance businesses. If these proposals are enacted or promulgated, they would present an increased level of competition for the sale of Allstate Life's life and annuity products. Furthermore, the market for deferred annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance is enhanced by the tax incentives available under current law. Any legislative change which lessen these incentives are likely to negatively impact the demand for these products. Enacted and pending state legislation to permit mutual insurance companies to convert to a hybrid structure known as a mutual holding company could have a number of significant effects on the Company by (1) increasing industry competition through consolidation caused by mergers and acquisitions related to the new corporate form of business; (2) increasing competition in capital markets; and (3) reopening stock-mutual company disagreements related to such issues as taxation disparity between mutual and stock insurance companies. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF INSURANCE Allstate, through a variety of companies, is authorized to sell property-liability and life insurance in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada. To a limited extent, Allstate is engaged, through subsidiaries and joint ventures, in the insurance business in Germany, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. The following tabulation reflects, in percentages, the principal geographic distribution of statutory premiums earned for the property-liability insurance business and statutory premiums for the life insurance business for the year ended December 31, 1997:
NY CA FL PA IL MI NJ MD GA NC OH TX LA Total -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ----- Property- Liability 13.0 9.4 7.8 5.3 5.2 4.8 4.5 3.7 3.1 2.8 2.8 2.6 2.6 67.6 CA FL NE IL MA TX PA MI NJ Total -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ----- Life 13.6 9.7 8.3 5.7 5.1 4.9 4.9 3.6 3.1 58.9
No other jurisdiction accounted for more than 2.5% of the statutory premiums for property-liability insurance or for life insurance. SEASONALITY Although the insurance business generally is not seasonal, claims and claims expense for the property-liability insurance operations tend to be higher for periods of severe or inclement weather. EMPLOYEES At December 31, 1997, Allstate employed approximately 51,400 people. 26 SERVICE MARKS The names "Allstate" and "Allstate Life," the slant "A" Allstate logo, the slogan "You're in Good Hands With Allstate" and the graphic "Good Hands" design logo which features cupped hands holding an automobile and a house, and the "Northbrook" logo design are used extensively in Allstate's businesses. Allstate's rights in the United States to the names "Allstate" and "Allstate Life," the Allstate and Northbrook logos, the "Good Hands" slogan and the "Good Hands" symbol continue so long as Allstate continues to exercise those rights. These service marks are the subject of numerous renewable United States and foreign service mark registrations. The Company believes that these service marks are material to the business of Allstate. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The statements contained in this Form 10-K and in the Management's Discussion and Analysis portion of the 1998 Proxy Statement, which portion has been incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof, that are not historical information are forward-looking statements that are based on management's estimates, assumptions and projections. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor under The Securities Act of 1933 and The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes several important factors that could cause the Company's actual results and experience with respect to forward-looking statements to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements: 1. Exposure to Catastrophe Losses - Management believes that the strategies implemented by the Company to manage its exposure to catastrophes will greatly reduce the probability of severe losses in the future, that the implementation of certain described actions taken in Florida and the Northeast United States will reduce the Company's exposure to losses from catastrophes in those areas, and that the Company's exposure to earthquake losses in California has been significantly reduced as a result of its participation in the CEA (see ACatastrophe Exposure" in this Form 10-K and "Catastrophe Losses and Catastrophe Management" in the 1998 Proxy Statement). These beliefs are based in part on the efficacy of the techniques and the accuracy of the data used by the Company which are designed to predict the probability of catastrophes and the extent of losses to the Company resulting from catastrophes. Catastrophic events may occur in the future which indicate that such techniques and data do not accurately predict the Company's losses from catastrophes, and the probability and extent of such losses to the Company may differ materially from that which would have been predicted by such techniques and data. As noted under "Catastrophe Exposure" in this Form 10-K and "Catastrophe Losses and Catastrophe Management" in the 1998 Proxy Statement, there are other areas of the United States, beside Florida, the Northeast coast and California, in which the Company remains exposed to the possibility of sustaining material losses from catastrophes due to hurricanes and earthquakes. 27 These other areas of potential losses due to hurricanes include major metropolitan centers near the eastern and gulf coasts of the United States. Areas in the United States with exposure to potential earthquake losses include areas surrounding the New Madrid fault system in the Midwest and faults in and surrounding Seattle, Washington. Allstate continues to evaluate alternative business strategies to more effectively manage its exposure to catastrophe losses in these and other areas. 2. Personal Injury Severity Trends - The references to favorable personal injury severity trends which management believes may be due in part to the redesign of the Company's bodily injury claim processes (see AProperty-Liability Insurance Claims and Claims Expense Reserves" and "Rate Regulation" in this Form 10-K, and APP&C Underwriting Results" in the 1998 Proxy Statement) reflect statistical data for the periods indicated. Such data for a following period or periods could well indicate that average personal injury severities have materially increased in such subsequent period or periods. Moreover, the recent favorable trends may be reversed in the future because of the increased costs of settlements and adverse judgments in cases which proceed to litigation. In the meantime, however, the current data of reduced personal injury severities may influence state insurance regulators to deny Allstate rate increases which could reduce the growth of the Company's revenues. The Company has stated (see "Property-Liability Insurance Claims and Claims Expense Reserves" in this Form 10-K, and "Property-Liability Claims and Claims Expenses Reserves" in the 1998 Proxy Statement) that although the redesign of the claims processes for personal injury claims has resulted in an increased number of claims outstanding, the rate of increase in such outstanding claims will stabilize in 1998. This supposition is based on statistical records of less than a year's duration and continuation of normal frequency trends. The statistics on outstanding personal injury claims in 1998 could indicate an acceleration of the rate of such claims pending which would increase the uncertainty associated with the statistical methods used to establish reserves. Management has stated (see "Property-Liability Claims and Claims Expenses Reserves" in the 1998 Proxy Statement) that it does not anticipate unusually large payments and commutations of environmental and asbestos claims in 1998 that would impact the survival ratio of such claims to the same degree as in 1997. Despite management's anticipation, the amount of environmental and/or asbestos claims in 1998 could in fact equal or exceed the 1997 level, with a corresponding adverse impact on the survival ratio for either or both of these types of claims. 3. Decrease in Property-Liability Net Investment Income - The Company expects to experience lower investment yields due, in part, to the reinvestment of proceeds from calls and maturities and the investment of positive cash flows from operations in securities yielding less than the average portfolio rates, given the current low interest rate environment (see "Investment Outlook" in the 1998 Proxy Statement). Any decrease in net investment income will be highly dependent on the interest rate environment that exists in 1998. 4. Liquidity of Allstate Life Portfolio - Management believes that the assets in the Allstate Life portfolio are sufficiently liquid to meet future obligations to life and annuity policyholders in various interest rate scenarios (see ALiquidity" in the 1998 Proxy Statement). However, an unexpected increase in surrenders and withdrawals, coupled with a sharp increase in interest rates could make it difficult for 28 Allstate Life to liquidate a sufficient portion of its portfolio to meet such obligations and also maintain its risk-based capital at acceptable levels. 5. Year 2000 Issues - The Company presently believes that it will be able to timely resolve the Year 2000 issues affecting its computer operations and that the cost of addressing such matters will not have a material impact on Allstate's current financial position, liquidity or results of operations. However, the extent to which the computer operations of the Company's external counterparties and suppliers are adversely affected could, in turn, affect the Company's ability to communicate with such counterparties and suppliers and could materially affect the Company's results of operations in any period or periods. 6. Expected Growth in Homeowner Premiums - Management believes an opportunity exists to grow homeowners premiums as the implementation of catastrophe management initiatives allows the Company to re-enter certain homeowners markets (see "PP&C Outlook" in the 1998 Proxy Statement). Actions of Allstate's competitors in the homeowners markets could cause Allstate's share of these markets to remain stable or to decline. 7. Expected Growth in Allstate Life Premiums and Earnings - Allstate Life expects to grow premiums and increase earnings in 1998 through continued accelerated customer-focused product development, expanding market reach by partnering with new carriers in the bank and broker distribution channels, offering a variety of competitive fee-based and spread-based products to satisfy customer preferences in various interest rate environments and leveraging existing scale to produce efficiency and effectiveness gains, in part through investments in technology (see "Allstate Life Outlook" in the 1998 Proxy Statement). Actions of Allstate's competitors and the interest rate environment that exists in 1998 could cause Allstate Life's premium growth or earnings to remain stables or to decline. 8. Availability of Company's Line of Credit - The Company maintains a $1.50 billion, five-year revolving line of credit and a $50 million one-year revolving line of credit as potential sources of funds to meet short-term liquidity requirements. In order to borrow on the line of credit, AIC is required to maintain a specified statutory surplus level and the Allstate debt to equity ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) must not exceed a designated level. Under "Capital Resources and Liquidity" in the 1998 Proxy Statement, the Company states that management expects to continue to meet such borrowing requirements in the future. The ability of AIC and Allstate to meet these requirements is dependent upon the economic well-being of AIC. Should AIC sustain significant losses from catastrophes, its and Allstate's ability to continue to meet the credit agreement requirement would be lessened. Consequently, Allstate's right to draw upon the line of credit could be diminished or eliminated during a period when it would be most in need of financial resources. 9. Cash for Debt Repayments and Purchase of Pembridge - Under the "Capital Resources and Liquidity" in the 1998 Proxy Statement, the Company has stated it has adequate borrowing capacity and cash flows from operations to fund the purchase of Pembridge, Inc. and to retire certain maturing securities. Should AIC sustain significant losses from catastrophes, its and Allstate's ability to meet these funding requirements would be lessened. 29 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS The following tabulation sets forth the names of the executive officers of the Company, their current ages, the positions with Allstate held by them, and the dates of their first election as officers:
Date First Name Age Position and Offices Held Elected Officer - - ---- --- ------------------------- --------------- Jerry D. Choate*........59 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and AIC 1983 Richard I. Cohen........53 Senior Vice President of AIC 1989 (PP&C Claim Service Unit) Joan M. Crockett........47 Senior Vice President of AIC (Human Resources) 1994 Edward J. Dixon.........54 Senior Vice President of AIC 1988 (Chairman, Allstate Automobile and Fire Insurance Company - Japan) Robert W. Gary..........59 Senior Vice President of AIC 1986 (President, PP&C Unit) Steven L. Groot.........48 Senior Vice President of AIC 1988 (President, Allstate Indemnity Company) Edward M. Liddy.........52 President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and AIC 1994 Louis G. Lower, II......52 President of ALIC 1982 Michael J. McCabe.......52 Senior Vice President of AIC 1980 (Marketing and Brand Development) Ronald D. McNeil........45 Senior Vice President of AIC 1994 (PP&C Unit, Property) Robert W. Pike..........56 Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of the Company; Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of AIC 1978 Francis W. Pollard......55 Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of AIC 1984 Casey J. Sylla..........54 Senior Vice President and 1995 Chief Investment Officer of AIC Rita P. Wilson..........51 Senior Vice President of AIC 1988 (Corporate Relations) Thomas J. Wilson........40 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AIC 1995 Edward W. Young.........57 Senior Vice President of AIC (President, International 1984 and Specialty Lines Unit) - - ----------------------- *Also a director of the Company
30 No family relationships exist among the above-named individuals. Each of the officers named above was elected to serve in the office indicated until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders in 1997 and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until such officer resigns. With the exception of officers E. Liddy, R. Wilson, T. Wilson, and C. Sylla, the above officers have held the positions set forth in the above tabulation for at least the last five years or have served Allstate in various executive or administrative capacities for at least that length of time. Prior to his election on August 10, 1994 to the position indicated above, Mr. Liddy served Sears in a financial officer capacity since April 1988, and was Sears Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 1992. Prior to his election on January 1, 1995 to the position indicated above, T. Wilson served as Sears Vice President, Strategy and Analysis from 1993 until December 31, 1994, and prior to that served as a managing director for Dean Witter from 1986 to 1993. Prior to his election on July 5, 1995 to the position indicated above, Mr. Sylla served as a Senior Vice President for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1992 to 1995, and served as President of an investment management firm from 1989 to 1992. R Wilson was elected to her current position effective May 1, 1996. Prior to that, and since November 1994 she had served as Senior Vice President-Corporate Communications for Ameritech Corporation. From September 1990 until November 1994 R. Wilson was Senior Vice President of AIC. Item 2. Properties - - ------ ---------- Allstate's home office complex is located in Northbrook, Illinois. The complex consists of 11 buildings of approximately 2 million square feet of office space on a 185 acre site. The Northbrook complex serves as the headquarters for PP&C and ALIC. Allstate's field business operations are conducted substantially from 17 offices located principally in metropolitan areas throughout the United States and Canada. Allstate also has approximately 260 claim service offices, sales facilities at approximately 11,300 locations, and approximately 650 automobile damage inspection locations, most of which are located at claim service offices and sales facilities. Allstate's home office complex and most major offices are owned. Other facilities are leased, in almost all cases for terms of not more than five years. The Company believes its properties and facilities are adequate and suited to Allstate's current operations. Item 3. Legal Proceedings - - ------ ----------------- Various legal and regulatory actions are currently pending that involve Allstate and specific aspects of its conduct of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, in one or more of these actions, in excess of amounts currently reserved is not expected to have a material effect on Allstate's financial position or results of operations. See note 9 to the 31 Consolidated Financial Statements on pages A-47 and A-48 of the 1998 Proxy Statement incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders - - ------ --------------------------------------------------- None Part II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related - - ------ ------------------------------------------------- Stockholder Matters ------------------- There were 213,792 record holders of the Company=s common stock as of February 17, 1998. The principal market for the Company's common stock is the New York Stock Exchange. The Company's common stock is also listed on the Chicago Stock Exchange. Set forth below are the high and low prices of, and cash dividends declared for, the Company's common stock during 1997 and 1996:
HIGH LOW CLOSE DIVIDENDS DECLARED ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 First quarter 68 1/4 56 1/4 59 3/8 .24 Second quarter 77 58 5/8 73 .24 Third quarter 81 1/8 70 15/16 80 3/8 .24 Fourth quarter 94 3/8 76 15/16 90 1/2 .24 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 First quarter 46 37 3/8 42 .2125 Second quarter 46 1/2 37 3/8 45 5/8 .2125 Third quarter 49 3/4 40 7/8 49 1/4 .2125 Fourth quarter 60 7/8 48 3/4 57 7/8 .2125 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock price ranges are from the New York Stock Exchange Composite Listing.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data - - ------ ----------------------- Incorporated by reference to "11-Year Summary of Selected Financial Data" on pages A-2 and A-3 of the 1998 Proxy Statement. 32 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial - - ------ ------------------------------------------------- Condition and Results of Operations ----------------------------------- Incorporated by reference to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" on pages A-4 to A-24 of the 1998 Proxy Statement. Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - - ------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Incorporated by reference to the "Market Risk" discussion on pages A-15 to A-18 of the 1998 Proxy Statement. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - - ------ ------------------------------------------- The consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the notes to such statements, and other information on pages A-25 to A-56 of the 1998 Proxy Statement and the information under "Quarterly Results" on page A-56 of the 1998 Proxy Statement are incorporated herein by reference. Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on - - ------ ------------------------------------------------ Accounting and Financial Disclosure ----------------------------------- None Part III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant Certain information regarding directors of the Company is incorporated herein by reference to the descriptions under "Election of Directors" and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in the 1998 Proxy Statement. Information regarding executive officers of the Company is incorporated herein by reference to Item 1 of this Report under the caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant" in Part I hereof. Item 11. Executive Compensation - - ------- ---------------------- Information regarding executive compensation is incorporated by reference to the material under the captions "Directors' Compensation and Benefits," "Executive Compensation," "Stock Options," "Pension Plans," and "Employment Contracts, Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements" in the 1998 Proxy Statement. 33 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and - - ------- --------------------------------------------------- Management ---------- Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated herein by reference to the material under the headings "Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers" and "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners" in the 1998 Proxy Statement. Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions - - ------- ---------------------------------------------- Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions is incorporated herein by reference to the material under the heading "Certain Transactions" in the 1998 Proxy Statement. Part IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on - - ------- ------------------------------------------------------- Form 8-K -------- (a) 1 and 2 An "Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules" has been filed as a part of this Report beginning on page S-1 hereof. (a) 3... Exhibits: An"Exhibit Index" has been filed as a part of this Report beginning on page E-1 hereof and is incorporated herein by reference. (b)..... Reports on Form 8-K: Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K on December 19, 1997 (Items 5 and 7). 34 SIGNATURES ---------- Pursuant to the Requirements of Section 13 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. THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION (Registrant) s/Samuel H. Pilch ------------------------ By: Samuel H. Pilch Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) March 10, 1998 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date - - --------- ----- ---- s/ Jerry D. Choate Chairman and Chief ) - - ------------------ Jerry D. Choate Executive Officer ) and a Director ) (Principal Executive ) Officer) ) March 10, 1998 s/ Thomas J. Wilson Vice President and ) Thomas J. Wilson Chief Financial ) Officer ) (Principal Financial ) Officer) ) 35 Signature Title Date - - --------- ----- ---- _______________ Director ) James G. Andress s/Warren L. Batts Director ) - - ----------------- Warren L. Batts s/Edward A. Brennan Director ) - - ------------------- Edward A. Brennan March 10, 1998 ______________ Director ) James M. Denny ______________ Director ) Michael A. Miles s/Joshua I. Smith Director ) - - ----------------- Joshua I. Smith s/Mary Alice Taylor Director ) - - ------------------- Mary Alice Taylor
36 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 The following consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and related information of The Allstate Corporation are incorporated herein by reference to the Company's 1998 Proxy Statement. Page* ---- Consolidated Statements of Operations ** A-25 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position ** A-26 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity ** A-27 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ** A-28 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements A-29 Quarterly Results ** A-56 The following additional financial statement schedules and independent auditors' report and consent are furnished herewith pursuant to the requirements of Form 10-K. The Allstate Corporation Page - - ------------------------ ---- Schedules required to be filed under the provisions of Regulation S-X Article 7: Schedule I Summary of Investments - Other than Investments in Related Parties S-2 Schedule II Condensed Financial Information of The Allstate Corporation (Registrant) S-3 Schedule III Supplementary Insurance Information S-7 Schedule IV Reinsurance S-8 Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying Accounts S-9 Schedule VI Supplementary Information Concerning Consolidated Property-Casualty S-10 Insurance Operations Independent Auditors' Report S-11 Independent Auditors' Consent S-12 All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, or not required, or because the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or in notes thereto. * Refers to page number in Company's 1998 Proxy Statement. ** Incorporated by reference in Item 8 herein. S-1 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE I - SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES DECEMBER 31, 1997
($ IN MILLIONS) FAIR CARRYING COST VALUE VALUE ---- ----- ----- Type of Investment - - ------------------ Fixed Income Securities, Available for Sale: Bonds: United States government, government agencies and authorities................................ $ 3,117 $ 3,677 $ 3,677 States, municipalities and political subdivisions............ 15,357 16,439 16,439 Foreign governments.......................................... 596 597 597 Public utilities............................................. 2,621 2,903 2,903 Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached................ 546 617 617 All other corporate bonds.................................... 13,181 13,984 13,984 Mortgage-backed securities...................................... 8,264 8,559 8,559 Asset-backed securities......................................... 3,948 3,996 3,996 Redeemable preferred stocks..................................... 85 88 88 -- -- -- Total fixed income securities 47,715 50,860 50,860 ------ ====== ------ Equity Securities: Common Stocks: Public utilities............................................ 314 461 461 Banks, trusts and insurance companies....................... 448 673 673 Industrial, miscellaneous and all other..................... 3,159 4,874 4,874 Nonredeemable preferred stocks.................................. 666 757 757 --- ----- ----- Total equity securities..................................... 4,587 $ 6,765 6,765 ----- ===== ----- Mortgage loans on real estate........................................ 3,002 3,002 Real estate(1) ...................................................... 686 686 Policy loans......................................................... 527 527 Other long-term investments.......................................... 21 21 Short-term investments............................................... 687 687 --- --- Total Investments.......................................... $57,225 $62,548 ====== ====== (1) Includes $234 million of real estate acquired in satisfaction of debt.
S-2 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
($ IN MILLIONS) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------- ----- 1997 1996 1995 ---- ---- ---- REVENUES Investment income, less investment expense............................. $ 30 $ 10 $ 6 Realized capital gains................................................. 5 - - Other income........................................................... 208 29 15 --- --- --- 243 39 21 EXPENSES Interest expense....................................................... 158 100 80 Other operating expenses............................................... 6 8 8 --- --- --- 164 108 88 --- --- --- Income (loss) from operations before income tax benefit and equity .......in net income of subsidiaries...................................... 79 (69) (67) Income tax benefit........................................................ (42) (31) (26) ---- ---- ---- Income (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries................. 121 (38) (41) Equity in net income of subsidiaries...................................... 2,984 2,113 1,945 ----- ----- ----- Net income............................................................. $3,105 $2,075 $1,904 ===== ===== ===== See accompanying notes to condensed financial information and notes to Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated herein by reference.
S-3 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II (CONTINUED) CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
($ IN MILLIONS) DECEMBER 31, ---------------------- 1997 1996 ---- ---- ASSETS Investments in subsidiaries............................................ $17,041 $14,777 Investments Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $419)......... 426 - Short-term........................................................... 85 582 -- --- Total investments.................................................... 511 582 Receivable from subsidiaries........................................... 441 152 Dividends receivable from subsidiaries................................. 110 - Other assets........................................................... 97 99 ------ ------ TOTAL ASSETS......................................................... $18,200 $15,610 ====== ====== LIABILITIES Short-term debt........................................................ $ 199 $ 152 Long-term debt......................................................... 1,457 1,207 Payable to subsidiaries................................................ 773 773 Dividends payable to shareholders...................................... 103 10 Other liabilities...................................................... 58 16 ----- ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................................... 2,590 2,158 ----- ----- SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock, $1 par value, 25 million shares authorized, none issued........................................................ Common stock, $.01 par value, 1.0 billion shares authorized and 450 million issued; 425 million and 442 million shares outstanding........................................................ 5 5 Additional capital paid-in............................................. 3,120 3,133 Unrealized net capital gains........................................... 2,821 2,003 Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments.................... (36) 21 Retained income........................................................ 11,646 8,958 Deferred ESOP expense.................................................. (281) (280) Treasury stock, at cost (25 million and 8 million shares).............. (1,665) (388) ------- ----- TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY........................................... 15,610 13,452 ------ ------ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY........................... $18,200 $15,610 ====== ====== See accompanying notes to condensed financial information and notes to Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated herein by reference.
S-4 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II (CONTINUED) CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
($ IN MILLIONS) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 ------ ---- ---- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Income................................................................ $3,105 $2,075 $1,904 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Equity in net income of subsidiaries................................. (2,984) (2,113) (1,945) Realized capital gains.............................................. (5) - - Dividends received from subsidiaries................................. 623 525 455 Changes in other operating assets and liabilities.................... (233) (5) 11 ----- ----- ----- Net cash provided by operating activities.......................... 506 482 425 ---- --- --- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sales of fixed income securities......................... 789 - - Investment purchases of fixed income securities........................ (363) - - Capital contribution to subsidiaries................................... - (23) - Change in short-term investments, net.................................. 427 (543) (27) ---- ----- ---- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities................ 853 (566) (27) ---- ----- ---- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Change in short-term debt, net......................................... 47 152 - Transfers to subsidiaries through intercompany loan agreement, ........net............................................................ (47) (152) - Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt............................... 250 - 357 Proceeds from borrowings from subsidiaries - 773 - Payment to Sears for transfer of ESOP.................................. - - (327) Dividends paid to shareholders......................................... (323) (378) (350) Treasury stock purchases............................................... (1,358) (336) (60) Other.................................................................. 72 25 (18) ----- ---- ---- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities................ (1,359) 84 (398) ----- ---- ----- CASH AT END OF YEAR....................................................... $ - $ - $ - ========== ========= =========
See accompanying notes to condensed financial information and notes to Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated herein by reference. S-5 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II (CONTINUED) CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION 1. GENERAL The financial statements of the Registrant should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in The Allstate Corporation 1998 Proxy Statement. The long-term and short-term debt and credit lines presented in Note 8 "Debt" on page A-46 of the 1998 Proxy Statement, with the exception of the Floating Rate Notes, are direct obligations of the Registrant. To conform with the 1997 presentation, certain amounts in the prior years' financial statements and notes have been reclassified. 2. RECEIVABLE AND PAYABLE TO SUBSIDIARIES The majority of the proceeds from the issuance of the commercial paper have been loaned to subsidiaries through an intercompany loan agreement and used for general purposes. In 1996, the Registrant borrowed $750 million from its subsidiary trusts at a weighted-average interest rate of 7.92%. These borrowings consist of $550 million and $200 million of debentures which mature in 2026 and 2045, respectively, and are redeemable by the Registrant in whole or in part beginning in 2001 and 2006, respectively. The maturity of the $550 million debenture may be extended to 2045. The Registrant recorded $59 million and $6 million of interest expense in 1997 and 1996, respectively, related to these borrowings. 3. OTHER INCOME In 1997, the Company reinstituted its practice related to the settlement of certain employee benefits of its subsidiaries, mainly profit sharing obligations. 4. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON CASH INVESTING ACTIVITY AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION During 1997, the Registrant received a $768 million dividend from a subsidiary in the form of fixed income securities. The Registrant paid $144 million, $87 million and $70 million of interest on debt in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. S-6 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ IN MILLIONS) AT DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------- RESERVES FOR CLAIMS, CLAIMS DEFERRED EXPENSE POLICY AND ACQUISITION CONTRACT SEGMENT COSTS BENEFITS UNEARNED ----- -------- PREMIUMS -------- - - ------------------------------------ 1997 - - ---- Property-liability operations PP&C................................ $ 844 $14,408 $6,168 Discontinued lines and coverages......................... - 2,995 1 ---- ------ ----- Total property-liability............ 844 17,403 6,169 Life and annuity operations........... 1,982 27,471 64 Corporate and other eliminations...... - - - ------ ------ ----- Total................................. $2,826 $44,874 $6,233 ===== ====== =====
($ IN MILLIONS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLAIMS, PREMIUM CLAIMS AMORTIZATION REVENUE EXPENSE OF OTHER PREMIUMS AND NET AND POLICY OPERATING WRITTEN SEGMENT CONTRACT INVESTMENT CONTRACT ACQUISITION COSTS AND (EXCLUDING CHARGES INCOME (1) BENEFITS COSTS EXPENSES LIFE) ------- ---------- -------- ----- -------- ----- - - ------------------------------------ 1997 - - ---- Property-liability operations PP&C................................ $18,600 $13,333 $2,491 $1,635 $18,787 Discontinued lines and coverages......................... 4 3 - 19 2 ------ ------ ----- ----- ------ Total property-liability............ 18,604 1,746 13,336 2,491 1,654 18,789 Life and annuity operations........... 1,502 2,085 2,415 298 302 132 Corporate and other eliminations...... - 30 - - (19) - ------ ----- ------ ----- ----- ------ Total................................. $20,106 $3,861 $15,751 $2,789 $1,937 $18,921 ====== ===== ====== ===== ===== ====== (1) A single investment portfolio supports the Property-liability segment.
($ IN MILLIONS) AT DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------- RESERVES FOR CLAIMS, CLAIMS DEFERRED EXPENSE POLICY AND ACQUISITION CONTRACT SEGMENT COSTS BENEFITS UNEARNED ----- -------- PREMIUMS -------- - - ------------------------------------ 1996 - - ---- Property-liability operations PP&C................................ $ 777 $13,909 $6,070 Discontinued lines and coverages......................... - 3,473 2 ----- ------ ----- Total property-liability............ 777 17,382 6,072 Life and annuity operations........... 1,837 26,407 102 Corporate and other eliminations...... - - - ----- ------ ----- Total................................. $2,614 $43,789 $6,174 ===== ====== =====
($ IN MILLIONS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLAIMS, PREMIUM CLAIMS AMORTIZATION REVENUE EXPENSE OF OTHER PREMIUMS AND NET AND POLICY OPERATING WRITTEN SEGMENT CONTRACT INVESTMENT CONTRACT ACQUISITION COSTS AND (EXCLUDING CHARGES INCOME (1) BENEFITS COSTS EXPENSES LIFE) ------- ---------- -------- ----- -------- ----- - - ------------------------------------ 1996 - - ---- Property-liability operations PP&C................................ $17,708 $13,574 $2,023 $1,676 $17,978 Discontinued lines and coverages......................... 658 913 116 130 608 ------ - ------ ----- ----- ------ Total property-liability............ 18,366 1,758 14,487 2,139 1,806 18,586 Life and annuity operations........... 1,336 2,045 2,312 203 308 173 Corporate and other eliminations...... - 10 - - (2) - ------ ----- ------ ----- ----- ------ Total................................. $19,702 $3,813 $16,799 $2,342 $2,112 $18,759 ====== ===== ====== ===== ===== ====== (1) A single investment portfolio supports the Property-liability segment.
($ IN MILLIONS) AT DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------- RESERVES FOR CLAIMS, CLAIMS DEFERRED EXPENSE POLICY AND ACQUISITION CONTRACT SEGMENT COSTS BENEFITS UNEARNED ----- -------- PREMIUMS -------- - - ------------------------------------ 1995 - - ---- Property-liability operations PP&C................................ $ 532 $12,841 $5,661 Discontinued lines and coverages......................... 72 4,846 469 ----- ------ ----- Total property-liability............ 604 17,687 6,130 Life and annuity operations........... 1,400 25,217 58 Corporate and other eliminations...... - - - -------- ------ ----- Total................................. $2,004 $42,904 $6,188 ===== ====== =====
($ IN MILLIONS) FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLAIMS, PREMIUM CLAIMS AMORTIZATION REVENUE EXPENSE OF OTHER PREMIUMS AND NET AND POLICY OPERATING WRITTEN SEGMENT CONTRACT INVESTMENT CONTRACT ACQUISITION COSTS AND (EXCLUDING CHARGES INCOME (1) BENEFITS COSTS EXPENSES LIFE) ------- ---------- -------- ----- -------- ----- - - ------------------------------------ 1995 - - ---- Property-liability operations PP&C................................ $16,524 $12,648 $1,768 $1,808 $16,941 Discontinued lines and coverages......................... 1,016 1,040 191 148 1,024 ------ - ------ ----- ----- ------ Total property-liability............ 17,540 1,630 13,688 1,959 1,956 17,965 Life and annuity operations........... 1,368 1,992 2,381 184 290 180 Corporate and other eliminations...... - 5 - - 1 - ------ ----- ------ ----- ----- ------ Total................................. $18,908 $3,627 $16,069 $2,143 $2,247 $18,145 ====== ===== ====== ===== ===== ====== (1) A single investment portfolio supports the Property-liability segment.
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE
($ IN MILLIONS) PERCENT OF CEDED TO ASSUMED FROM AMOUNT GROSS OTHER OTHER NET ASSUMED AMOUNT COMPANIES COMPANIES AMOUNT TO NET ------ --------- --------- ------ ------ YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 Life insurance in force................... $ 247,048 $ 52,760 $ 144 $194,432 0.1% ======== ======= ===== ======= Premiums and contract charges: Life insurance........................... $ 1,401 $ 165 $ - $ 1,236 -% Accident-health insurance............. 274 29 21 266 7.9% Property-liability insurance........... 18,872 366 98 18,604 0.5% ------ --- -- ------ Total premiums and contract charges. $ 20,547 $ 560 $ 119 $ 20,106 0.6% ========= ========= ===== ======== YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 Life insurance in force................... $ 219,453 $ 33,232 $ 124 $ 186,345 0.1% ======== ======= === ======= Premiums and contract charges: Life insurance......................... $ 1,163 $ 94 $ - $ 1,069 -% Accident-health insurance............. 252 2 17 267 6.4% Property-liability insurance........... 18,487 479 358 18,366 1.9% ------ --- --- ------ Total premiums and contract charges. $ 19,902 $ 575 $ 375 $ 19,702 1.9% ======== ======== ==== ======== YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 Life insurance in force................... $ 176,615 $ 14,057 $ 140 $162,698 0.1% ======= ======= === ======= Premiums and contract charges: Life insurance...........................$ 1,164 $ 43 $ - $ 1,121 -% Accident-health insurance................ 240 4 11 247 4.5% Property-liability....................... 17,540 524 524 17,540 3.0% ------ --- --- ------ Total premiums and contract charges. $ 18,944 $ 571 $ 535 $ 18,908 2.8% ======== ========= === ========
S-8 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE V - VALUATION ALLOWANCE AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
ADDITIONS ---------------------------------- ($ IN MILLIONS) BALANCE AT CHARGED TO BALANCE BEGINNING COSTS AND OTHER AT END DESCRIPTION OF PERIOD EXPENSES ADDITIONS DEDUCTIONS (1) OF PERIOD ----------- --------- -------- --------- --------------- --------- YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage loans and real estate....... $ 76 $ (21) $ 16 $ 39 Allowance for reinsurance recoverable 163 - 16 147 Allowance for premium installment receivable.......................... 57 109 105 61 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage loans and real estate....... 100 14 38 76 Allowance for reinsurance recoverable 246 18 101 163 Allowance for premium installment receivable.......................... 30 112 85 57 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage loans and real estate....... 97 50 47 100 Allowance for reinsurance recoverable 126 133 13 246 Allowance for premium installment receivable.......................... - 63 33 30 (1) Deductions in allowance for estimated losses on mortgage loans include amounts transferred to real estate. Deductions in allowance for reinsurance recovered represent write-offs, net of recoveries, of amounts determined to be uncollectible.
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE VI -SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONCERNING CONSOLIDATED PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS
($ IN MILLIONS) AT DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 ---- ---- ---- Deferred policy acquisition costs......................... $ 844 $ 777 $ 604 Reserves for unpaid claims and claim adjustments.......... 17,403 17,382 17,687 Unearned premiums......................................... 6,169 6,072 6,130 ($ IN MILLIONS) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, --------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 ---- ---- ---- Earned premiums........................................... $ 18,604 $ 18,366 $ 17,540 Net investment income..................................... 1,746 1,758 1,630 Claims and claims adjustment expense incurred Current year........................................... 14,013 14,823 14,113 Prior years............................................ (677) (336) (425) Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs......... 2,491 2,139 1,959 Paid claims and claims adjustment expense................. 13,161 15,045 12,938 Premiums written.......................................... 18,789 18,586 17,965
S-10 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of The Allstate Corporation: We have audited the consolidated financial statements of The Allstate Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, and have issued our report thereon dated February 20, 1998; such consolidated financial statements and report are included in The Allstate Corporation 1998 Proxy Statement to Stockholders and are incorporated herein by reference. Our audits also include the financial statement schedules of The Allstate Corporation and subsidiaries, listed in the Index at Item 14 (a) 2. These financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein. Deloitte & Touche LLP Chicago, Illinois February 20, 1998 S-11 Exhibit 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 33-88540, 333-10857 and 333-34583 on Form S-3 and Registration Statement Nos. 33-77928, 33-93758, 33-93760, 33-93762, 33-99132, 33-99136, 33-99138, 333-04919, 333-16129, 333-23309, 333-40283, 333-40285 and 333-40289 on Form S-8 of The Allstate Corporation of our reports dated February 20, 1998, appearing in or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Allstate Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997. Deloitte & Touche LLP Chicago, Illinois March 25, 1998 S-12 EXHIBIT INDEX
The Allstate Corporation Form 10-K For the Year Ended December 31, 1997 Exhibit Sequential No. Document Description Page No. ------- -------------------- ---------- 3.(a) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of The Allstate Corporation as amended effective August 18, 1995. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1995** 3.(b) By-Laws as amended effective June 29, 1995. Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995.** 4. Registrant hereby agrees to furnish to the Commission, upon request, with the instruments defining the rights of holders of each issue of long-term debt of the Registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries. 10.1 Master Agreement for Systems Operations Services, dated as of November 30, 1992, between Allstate Insurance Company and Advantis, a New York general partnership. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Registration Statement No. 33-59676. 10.2 Human Resources Allocation Agreement, dated as of May 27, 1993, among Sears, Roebuck and Co., The Allstate Corporation and Allstate Insurance Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Registration Statement No. 33-59676. E-1 Exhibit Sequential No. Document Description Page No. ------- -------------------- ---------- 10.3 IPO Related Intercompany Agreement, dated as of May 29, 1993, between The Allstate Corporation and Sears, Roebuck and Co. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Registration Statement No. 33-59676. 10.4 Tax Sharing Agreement dated May 14,1993 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and its subsidiaries. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 33-59676. 10.5 Separation Agreement dated February 20, 1995 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 1995.** 10.6 Marketing File Separation Agreement dated February 20, 1995 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 1995.** 10.7 Research Services Agreement dated February 20, 1995 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(c) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 1995.** 10.8 Supplemental Tax Sharing Agreement dated January 27, 1995 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 1995.** 10.9 Supplemental Human Resources Allocation Agreement dated January 27, 1995 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(e) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 1995.** E-2 Exhibit Sequential No. Document Description Page No. ------- -------------------- ---------- 10.10 Profit Sharing and Employee Stock Ownership Plan Allocation Agreement dated January 27, 1995 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(f) to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 22, 1995.** 10.11* Allstate Insurance Company Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, as amended and restated effective January 1, 1996. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.** 10.12* The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective November 11, 1997. 10.13* The Allstate Corporation Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended and restated as of February 5, 1997. 10.14* The Allstate Corporation Annual Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 31, 1994.** 10.15* The Allstate Corporation Long-Term Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company's Proxy Statement dated March 31, 1994.** 10.16* The Allstate Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on August 14, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(c) to the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-34583. 10.17* Form of stock option under the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.** E-3 Exhibit Sequential No. Document Description Page No. ------- -------------------- ---------- 10.18* Form of restricted stock grant under the Equity Incentive Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.** 10.19* The Allstate Corporation Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors as amended and restated on August 14, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(e) to the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-34583 10.20* The Allstate Corporation Employees Replacement Stock Plan, as amended and restated on August 14, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(d) to the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-34583. 10.21* Form of stock option under the Replacement Stock Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company=s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.** 10.22* Form of restricted stock grant under the Replacement Stock Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.** 11 Computation of Earnings per Common Share. 12 Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges Ratio. 21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant. E-4 Exhibit Sequential No. Document Description Page No. ------- -------------------- ---------- 23 Independent Auditors' Consent. 27 Financial Data schedule, submitted electronically to the Securities and Exchange Commission for information only and not filed.
-------------------- * A management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. ** SEC File No. 1-11840 E-5


                                                            


                                                                     Exhibit 11
                    The Allstate Corporation and Subsidiaries
                    Computation of Earnings Per Common Share

(In millions, except for per share data) Twelve Months Ended December 31, -------------------------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 -------------- -------------- ----------- Net Income $3,105 $2,075 $1,904 ============== ============= =========== Basic earnings per common share computation: Weighted average number of common shares (1) 434.0 445.4 448.5 =============== ============== =========== Net income per share - basic $7.15 $4.66 $4.25 =============== ============== =========== Diluted earnings per common share computation: Weighted average number of common shares (1) 434.0 445.4 448.5 Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options 2.5 2.8 1.0 --------------- ---------------- ------------ Adjusted weighted number of common shares outstanding 436.5 48.2 449.5 =============== ================ ============ Net income per share - diluted $7.11 $4.63 $4.24 =============== ================ ============ (1) Common shares held as treasury shares were 25 million, 8 million, and 3 million, at December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
E-6


                                                                 Exhibit 12
 


                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
                 COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES RATIO

($ in millions) For the Year ended December 31, ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1. Income from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiary, and dividends on preferred securities of subsidiary trusts $4,434 $2,669 $2,421 $120 $1,282 2. Equity in income of 100% owned subsidiary - - 49 107 94 3. Dividends from less than 50% owned subsidiary 2 2 2 - - ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 4. Income from continuing operations before income taxes $4,436 $2,671 $2,472 $227 $1,376 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed Charges: 5. Interest on indebtedness $100 $95 $81 $60 $81 6. Interest factor of annual rental expense 80 71 90 95 96 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 7. Total fixed charges (5+6) $180 $166 $171 $155 $177 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 8. Dividends on redeemable preferred securities 59 6 - - - 9. Total fixed charges and dividends on redeemable preferred securities (7+8) $239 $172 $171 $155 $177 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 10. Income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges (4+7) $4,616 $2,837 $2,643 $382 $1,553 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== 11. Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A) 19.3 X 16.5 X 15.5 X 2.5 X 8.8 X ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== 12. Interest credited to contractholder funds $1,209 $1,196 $1,191 $1,079 $1,104 13. Total fixed charges including dividends on redeemable preferred securities and interest credited to contractholder funds (9+12) $1,448 $1,368 $1,362 $1,234 $1,281 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 14. Income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges including interest credited to contractholder funds (4+7+12) $5,825 $4,033 $3,834 $1,461 $2,657 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== 15. Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, including interest credited to contractholder funds 4.0 X 2.9 X 2.8 X 1.2 X 2.1 X ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== (A) The Company has authority to issue up to 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share; however, there are currently no shares outstanding and the Company does not have a preferred stock dividend obligation. Therefore, the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends is equal to the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and is not disclosed separately.
E-7

                                                                   Exhibit 10.12




                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN












                                    ARTICLE I
                       DESIGNATION OF PLAN AND DEFINITIONS
                       -----------------------------------

1.1      TITLE

         This  Plan  shall  be  known  as  "The  Allstate  Corporation  Deferred
         Compensation  Plan." The Plan was adopted by Allstate Insurance Company
         effective  January 1, 1995 . The Plan was amended  and  restated by the
         Company, effective January 1, 1996 and November 11, 1997.

1.2      DEFINITIONS

         The following definitions will apply:

         (a)    "Accounts" shall mean Deferred Compensation Accounts.

         (b)    "Beneficiary"   or   "Contingent   Beneficiary"   (collectively,
                "Beneficiary"  or  "Beneficiaries"),  shall  mean the  person or
                persons last  designated  in writing by the  Participant  to the
                Committee, in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Plan.

         (c)    "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (d)    "Bonus"  shall mean  amounts  awarded to an  Employee  under the
                following  compensation  plans of the Controlled  Group:  Annual
                Executive  Incentive  Compensation Plan, the Long-Term Executive
                Incentive  Compensation Plan, the Annual Incentive  Compensation
                Plan, the  Pay-For-Performance  Plan or the Market Success Bonus
                Plan.

         (e)    "Code" shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
                from time to time.

                                       1


         (f)    "Compensation" shall mean "Annual  Compensation" as that term is
                defined  in  the  Allstate  Insurance  Company  Retirement  Plan
                without  regard to the  annual  compensation  limit  imposed  by
                Section  401(a)(17)  of the Code,  but shall in no event include
                any salary  continuation  payments  made to an Employee  who has
                elected the Special Retirement Opportunity offered to a class of
                Employees in 1994.

         (g)    "Compensation  Floor" shall be the compensation  limit in effect
                for a year  pursuant  to  Section  401(a)(17)  of the  Code,  as
                amended,  or any  higher  limitation  expressly  imposed  by the
                Committee.

         (h)    "Committee"  shall mean the Committee  appointed by the Board of
                Directors pursuant to Article VI of this Plan.

         (i)    "Company" shall mean The Allstate Corporation.

         (j)    "Controlled  Group" shall mean any corporation or other business
                entity which is included in a controlled  group of corporations,
                within the  meaning of section  1563(a)(i)  of the Code,  within
                which the Company is also included.

         (k)    "Current Year  Compensation"  for any year shall mean the sum of
                the Employee's  Eligible  Salary and Target Bonus for such year,
                but shall in no event include any salary  continuation  payments
                made to an  Employee  who has  elected  the  Special  Retirement
                Opportunity offered to a class of Employees in 1994.

         (l)    "Deferred  Compensation  Account"  shall mean the balance of all
                Compensation  deferred  by  a  Participant   (including  amounts
                transferred  

                                       2


                                 
                                                        
                 pursuant  to  Section  4.2  hereof),   plus  all  accruals  and
                 adjustments pursuant to Article IV of the Plan.

                                       
         (m)    "Eligible  Employee"  shall mean any Employee who is eligible to
                participate under Article II of this Plan.

         (n)    "Employee" shall mean any regular, full-time employee of (i) the
                Company,  (ii) of  Allstate  Insurance  Company  or (iii) of any
                affiliate in the Controlled Group which adopts the Plan with the
                written consent of the Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of
                the Company; but shall in no event include persons classified as
                agents.

         (o)    "Hardship"   shall  mean  severe   financial   hardship  to  the
                Participant  resulting from a sudden and  unexpected  illness or
                accident of the  Participant  or of a dependent,  or loss of the
                Participant's  property due to extraordinary  and  unforeseeable
                circumstances  arising as a result of events  beyond the control
                of the Participant.

         (p)    "Eligible  Salary",  for any Employee not  classified  as Agency
                Manager,  shall mean  salary  paid for the month of October of a
                year,  multiplied by 12.  "Eligible  Salary" shall mean, for any
                Employee classified as Agency Manager, Compensation paid through
                October 31 of a year,  less any awards under the Market  Success
                Plan during such year, multiplied by the fraction 12/10.

         (q)    "Participant"  shall mean an Eligible Employee  participating in
                the Plan in accordance with Article II hereof.

         (r)    "Plan" shall mean The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation
                Plan as set forth  herein,  and as amended  from time to time in
                accordance with Article VII hereof.

                                       3


         (s)    "Plan Year" shall mean the fiscal year of the Company.

         (t)    "Separation   from   Service"   means  the   termination   of  a
                Participant's  employment  with  the  Controlled  Group  for any
                reason whatsoever, including retirement,  resignation, dismissal
                or  death,  but does not  include  a  transfer  to  status as an
                employee  insurance agent or as an exclusive  agent  independent
                contractor  for a  member  of the  Controlled  Group  which  has
                adopted  the Plan  with the  written  consent  of the  Company's
                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

         (u)    "Target  Bonus" shall mean the amount  targeted to be paid to an
                Employee  in any Plan  Year  pursuant  to the  Annual  Executive
                Incentive  Compensation Plan, the Long-Term  Executive Incentive
                Compensation  Plan, the Annual Incentive  Compensation Plan, the
                Pay-For-Performance Plan or the Market Success Bonus Plan.




                                       4




                                   ARTICLE II

                                  PARTICIPATION
                                  -------------

2.1      ELIGIBILITY

         All  Employees  with  Current  Year   Compensation  in  excess  of  the
         Compensation  Floor for the next Plan Year, shall be Eligible Employees
         and may be  Participants  for the next Plan  Year.  The  Committee  may
         change the requirements in this Section 2.1 for eligibility,  provided,
         however,  that the Committee shall not decrease said income eligibility
         requirement.

2.2      NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY

         The  Committee  or  its  appointed  representative  shall  notify  each
         Eligible Employee no later than 30 days prior to the first business day
         of any Plan Year or as soon thereafter as  practicable,  that he/she is
         entitled to become a Participant in the Plan for such Plan Year.

2.3      PARTICIPATION ELECTION

         Each  Eligible  Employee  shall  elect in  accordance  with  procedures
         established  by  the  Committee  or its  representative,  to  become  a
         Participant  in the  Plan  for any Plan  Year,  no later  than the last
         business day of the preceding  Plan Year.  Such election  shall specify
         the  deferral  percentages  or amount to be  deferred  during such Plan
         Year, as set forth in Article III of the Plan. If an Eligible  Employee
         fails to make such  election,  such  failure will be deemed an election
         not to become a Participant  for such Plan Year. A Participant  may not
         change his deferral  election for the Plan Year after the Plan Year has
         commenced.  However, a Participant may, at any time,  irrevocably elect
         to suspend  participation  in the Plan for the remainder of a Plan Year
         as to deferrals of the salary component of Compensation,  and deferrals
         of said  salary  under the Plan for that  Plan  Year will  discontinue,
         starting with salary  earned in the month  following the receipt by the


                                       5



         Committee or its appointed representative of such suspension election.



                                       6



                                   ARTICLE III
 
                                    DEFERRALS
                                    ---------


3.1      CATEGORIES OF PERMITTED DEFERRALS

         (a)    Bonus Only: A Participant  whose Eligible Salary is less than or
                equal to the Compensation  Floor for the next Plan Year shall be
                eligible to make a deferral  election  only with  respect to the
                Participant's Bonus earned for the succeeding Plan Year, subject
                to the limit imposed by Section 3.2.

         (b)    Salary and  Bonuses:  A  Participant  whose  Eligible  Salary is
                greater than the Compensation Floor for the next Plan Year shall
                be eligible  to make a deferral  election  with  respect to both
                salary and Bonus earned for the succeeding Plan Year, subject to
                the provisions of Section 3.2.

        (c)     Recognition  of Deferrals:  Deferrals  elected for any Plan Year
                shall be recognized only after all other deductions  required by
                federal  or state law or elected  by the  Participant  have been
                deducted.

3.2      AMOUNT OF DEFERRAL

         (a)    Each  Participant  eligible  to make a  deferral  election  with
                respect to salary may specify that portion of the  Participant's
                salary to be deferred  in whole  dollar  amounts.  The amount of
                salary  the  Participant  elects  to defer  may not  exceed  the
                difference between (1) and (2) below:

                (1)     The  Participant's  Eligible  Salary  for the Plan  Year
                        preceding the Plan Year for which the deferral  election
                        is being made; and

                                       7



                (2)     The  Compensation  Floor for the Plan Year for which the
                        deferral election is being made.

         (b)    Each  Participant may specify that portion of the  Participant's
                Bonus to be deferred in whole number percentages.  The amount of
                the  Participant's  Bonus actually deferred shall not exceed the
                difference between (1) and (2):

                (1)     The sum of the  Participant's  salary  for the  month in
                        which such Bonus is paid multiplied by twelve (12), plus
                        (ii) the amount of such Bonus; and

                (2)     The  Compensation  Floor  for the Plan Year in which the
                        Bonus is paid.

         (c)    Except as provided in Section 3.2(d) hereof,  to the extent that
                a Participant has elected to defer  Compensation for a Plan Year
                which would  otherwise be includible in the  calculation  of the
                Participant's pension benefit under the Allstate Retirement Plan
                or the  Agents  Pension  Plan for such Plan  Year  (the  "Excess
                Deferral"),  the  Company  shall,  prior to the end of such Plan
                Year, refund such Excess Deferral to the Participant.

         (d)    To the extent a  Participant  is on leave of absence  for all or
                part of the Plan Year, and the  Participant's  Compensation less
                any  amounts  deferred  pursuant to Section 3.2 is less than the
                Compensation  Floor for such year, the Company  shall,  prior to
                the end of such Plan Year, pay the Participant the lesser of:

                (1)     The amount deferred during the year; or



                                       8



                (2)     The difference  between (i) the  Compensation  Floor and
                        (ii) the amount of the  Participant's  Compensation less
                        the amount the Participant  deferred pursuant to Section
                        3.2.

3.3      EFFECTIVE DATE OF DEFERRAL

         Compensation  deferred shall be credited to a Participant's  Account as
         set forth in Section 4.2.

3.4      USE OF AMOUNTS DEFERRED

         Amounts credited to Deferred Compensation Accounts hereunder shall be a
         part of the general  funds of the Company,  shall be subject to all the
         risks of the  Company's  business,  and may be  deposited,  invested or
         expended in any manner whatsoever by the Company.




                                       9




                                   ARTICLE IV

                   DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNTS AND VESTING
                   ------------------------------------------


4.1      ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT

         The Committee shall establish, by bookkeeping entry on the books of the
         Company,  a Deferred  Compensation  Account for each Participant.  Such
         Account shall be  established  as of the first day of the Plan Year for
         which the Eligible Employee first becomes a Participant. Accounts shall
         not be funded in any manner.

4.2      CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACCOUNT

         The  Committee  shall  cause  deferred  Compensation  to be credited by
         bookkeeping entry to each  Participant's  Account as of the last day of
         the month in which such Compensation  otherwise would have been payable
         to the Participant.  In addition,  the  Participant's  Account shall be
         credited with the balance of his/her account in the Sears,  Roebuck and
         Co. Deferred  Compensation Plan as and when such balance is transferred
         to the Plan.  Any  irrevocable  elections  made with respect to amounts
         accrued  under  the  Sears  plan  by  such  Participant   shall  remain
         irrevocable under this Plan.

4.3      MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNT BALANCES - SUBACCOUNT ELECTIONS

         (a)    Each  Participant  shall elect to invest his/her Account balance
                among  one or  more  of the  Subaccounts  described  in  Section
                4.3(b).  Each such  election  shall be made in  accordance  with
                procedures  established  by the Committee and shall specify that
                portion of the Participant's Account balance on the date of such
                election  to  be  invested  in  each  Subaccount.  In  its  sole
                discretion,  the  Committee  may  withhold  one or  more  of the
                Subaccounts  from  election by  


                                       10




                Participants  for a Plan Year or Years.  Investments of existing
                Account balances and of future contributions to Subaccounts must
                be made in whole  percentage  increments of such Account balance
                or  future  contributions.   Changes  in  the  Account  balances
                invested in the specified Subaccounts due to earnings and losses
                shall not require  reallocation  of the Account  balances in the
                specified proportions.

                Each  Subaccount  balance shall be adjusted,  as applicable,  to
                apply credits for contributions,  interest, Dividend Equivalents
                and other  earnings  and to apply  debits for  distributions  or
                transfers from the Subaccount and any losses in the  Subaccount.
                All such  adjustments  shall be bookkeeping  entries  reflecting
                hypothetical   experience  for  the  pertinent   Subaccounts  as
                described in Section 4.3(b).

         (b)    The   Subaccount   in  which   Account   balances   and   future
                contributions shall be invested are:

                (1)     Subaccount #1 - Commercial Paper Index
                        Account  balances in  Subaccount  #1 for an entire month
                        shall be  credited  on the last day of such  month  with
                        interest at a rate equal to one-twelfth of the per annum
                        interest rate as reported for Dealer  Commercial Paper C
                        90 day in The Wall  Street  Journal for the first day of
                        such month or, if such day is not a business day, on the
                        first business day of such month.

                (2)     Subaccount #2 - Corporate Bond Index
                        Account  balances in  Subaccount  #2 for an entire month
                        shall be  adjusted  on the last day of such month or, if
                        such day is not a business day, on the last business day
                        of such  month (the  


                                       11



                        "Accrual  Date")  by a  percentage  factor  equal to the
                        percentage  change in the Merrill Lynch  Corporate  Bond
                        Index since the preceding Accrual Date.


                (3)     Subaccount #3 - S&P 500 Index
                                        -------------
                        Account  balances in  Subaccount  #3 for an entire month
                        shall be  credited  on the last day of such month or, if
                        such day is not a business day, on the last business day
                        of such month (the "Accrual  Date") with an amount equal
                        to  dividends  paid  during  such  month  on  securities
                        included in the  Standard & Poor's 500  Composite  Stock
                        Price Index (the "S&P 500 Index"),  and Account balances
                        in  Subaccount #4 shall be adjusted on each Accrual Date
                        by a percentage factor equal to the percentage change in
                        the S&P 500 Index since the preceding Accrual Date.


                (4)     Subaccount #4 - S&P Midcap 400 Index
                                        --------------------
                        Account  balances in  Subaccount  #4 for an entire month
                        shall be  credited  on the last day of such month or, if
                        such day is not a business day, on the last business day
                        of such month (the "Accrual  Date") with an amount equal
                        to  dividends  paid  during  such  month  on  securities
                        included in the Standard & Poor's  Midcap 400  Composite
                        Stock  Price  Index (the "S&P  Midcap 400  Index"),  and
                        Account  balances in  Subaccount #5 shall be adjusted on
                        each Accrual  Date by a  percentage  factor equal to the
                        percentage  change in the S&P Midcap 400 Index since the
                        preceding Accrual Date.


                                       12


         (c)    A Participant may, in accordance with the procedures established
                by the  Committee,  change his Subaccount  investment  elections
                regarding  existing  Account  balances and future  contributions
                once each month.  Such  election  shall be  effective  as of the
                first day of the next month.

         4.4    VESTING

         A Participant  shall be fully vested in his/her  Deferred  Compensation
         Account at all times, subject to Sections 3.4 and 8.2.




                                       13




                                    ARTICLE V

                                    PAYMENTS
                                    --------


5.1      EVENTS CAUSING ACCOUNTS TO BECOME DISTRIBUTABLE

         (a)    A Participant's  Account shall become  distributable on the date
                of his/her  Separation  from  Service or, at the election of the
                Participant,  in one of the  first  through  fifth  years  after
                Separation  from Service.  In either event,  the Participant may
                elect to receive payment in a lump sum or in annual installments
                as provided in Section 5.3.

         (b)    That  portion  of a  Participant's  Account  determined  by  the
                Committee to be necessary to alleviate a  demonstrated  Hardship
                shall become distributable on the date of such determination.

         (c)    A  Participant  may make an  irrevocable  election  to receive a
                distribution  as of the  first  day of any  Plan  Year  prior to
                Separation from Service, provided such date occurs subsequent to
                the Plan Year in which the  Participant  first  participates  in
                this  Plan  and  at  least   three  years  after  the  date  the
                Participant  makes an election  pursuant to this Section 5.1(d).
                In  such  case,  that  portion  of  the  Participant's   Account
                attributable to  Compensation  deferred,  and accruals  thereon,
                after  the  Committee   receives  such  election   shall  become
                distributable   on  the  date   elected.   Any  balance  in  the
                Participant's  Account  remaining  after any payment  under this
                paragraph  and  any  balance  in  the  Account  attributable  to
                participation  in the Plan in any year subsequent to the year in
                which a payout on such date certain occurs, shall be paid to the
                Participant as provided in paragraphs (a) or (b) above.

                                       14


         (d)    Notwithstanding  any  contrary  election by a  Participant,  any
                payment or portion thereof under this Section 5.1 which would be
                made at a time when a  Participant  is a "covered  employee"  as
                defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
                as amended,  and which the Company  would be  prohibited by said
                Section  162(m) from  claiming as a deduction  on any tax return
                shall continue to be deferred  hereunder until the first date on
                which the  Company  can claim  such  deduction,  unless  further
                deferred as provided in Section 5.1(b).

5.2      NOTICE OF ACCOUNT PAYMENT AND COMMENCEMENT OF DISTRIBUTION

         The   Committee  or  its  appointed   representative   shall  notify  a
         Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, that he/she is entitled
         to receive payment from an Account,  no later than the first day of the
         month  succeeding the date on which the Account becomes  distributable,
         or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Distribution of Account balances
         shall  commence on the first day of the month  coincident  with or next
         following the date elected by the Participant  pursuant to Section 5.4,
         or as soon thereafter as practicable.

5.3      FORM OF PAYMENT

         (a)    Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 5.3
                and  Article  VIII  hereof,  payments  of Account  balances to a
                Participant  shall be in the form of one  lump  sum  payment  or
                annual cash  installment  payments over a period of from 2 to 10
                years, at the election of the Participant.

         (b)    The  following  formula  shall be used to determine  each annual
                installment  payment to a Participant who has elected to receive
                installment payments:

                            remaining Account balance
                         as of the current payment date
                   -------------------------------------------


                                       15


                number of remaining payments, including the current one


                Annual  payments  shall  be made on the  day  payments  commence
                pursuant  to  Section  5.2 and on  each  January  1  thereafter.
                Interest  accruals and other  adjustments  shall  continue  with
                respect to the entire  unpaid  Account  balance,  as provided in
                Section 4.3.

         (c)    In the event of a Participant's death prior to full distribution
                of his/her Account,  the remaining Account balance shall be paid
                in a lump-sum to the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries  designated by
                the  Participant,  as soon as practicable  after a Participant's
                death.

         (d)    Notwithstanding  the  provisions of paragraph (b) above,  if the
                remaining  unpaid Account  balance is $5,000 or less on any date
                an annual  installment  payment is to be made to a  Participant,
                the payment shall be the remaining unpaid Account balance.

5.4      DISTRIBUTION ELECTION

         (a)    Each Participant shall elect his/her desired form of payment, in
                accordance with procedures established by the Committee,  at the
                time of  his/her  initial  participation  election  set forth in
                Section 2.3.

         (b)    Except for  distribution  elections under Section  5.1(c),  each
                Participant   may  from  time  to  time   revise  the  terms  of
                distribution of the  Participants  Accounts,  in accordance with
                the procedures  established by the Committee,  provided that (i)
                the revised  notice of the desired form of payment shall be made
                by the  Participant no less than twelve months prior to the date
                on which payment is 

                                       16



                to  commence,  but in any event no later than the day before the
                date of the  Participant's  Separation  from Service and (ii) in
                any event,  distribution of the Participant's  Account shall not
                commence  earlier  than twelve  months  after the  Participant's
                revised notice of the desired form of payment is made.


                                       17


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                 ADMINISTRATION
                                 --------------


6.1      GENERAL ADMINISTRATION; RIGHTS AND DUTIES

         The Board shall appoint the  Committee,  which,  subject to the express
         limitations   of  the  Plan,   shall  be  charged   with  the   general
         administration of the Plan on behalf of the Participants. The Committee
         shall also be responsible  for carrying out its  provisions,  and shall
         have all powers necessary to accomplish those purposes,  including, but
         not by way of limitation, the following:

         (a)    To construe and interpret the Plan;

         (b)    To compute the amount of benefits payable to Participants;

         (c)    To  authorize  all  disbursements  by  the  Company  of  Account
                balances pursuant to the Plan;

         (d)    To maintain all the necessary records for the  administration of
                the Plan;

         (e)    To make and publish rules for  administration and interpretation
                of the Plan and the transaction of its business;

         (f)    To inform each Participant as soon as practicable  after the end
                of each  calendar  quarter  of the  value  of the  Participant's
                Deferred  Compensation  Account  as of the end of such  calendar
                quarter;

         (g)    To  appoint  (i)  officers  or  employees  of the  Company or of
                Allstate  Insurance  


                                       18




                Company  whom  the   Committee   believes  to  be  reliable  and
                competent;  and (ii) legal  counsel (who may be employees of the
                Company or of Allstate Insurance Company and Plan Participants),
                independent   accountants   and  other  persons  to  assist  the
                Committee in administering the Plan; and

         (h)    To refuse to accept the  deferral of amounts the  Committee,  in
                its sole discretion,  considers too small to be administratively
                feasible.

     The  determination  of  the  Committee  as  to  any  disputed  question  or
controversy shall be conclusive.

     Any member of the Committee may resign by delivering a written  resignation
to the Board.


                                       19



                                   ARTICLE VII

                         PLAN AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION
                         -------------------------------
 

7.1      AMENDMENTS

         The  Company  shall have the right to amend this Plan from time to time
         by  resolutions  of the  Board  or by the  Committee,  and to  amend or
         rescind any such amendments;  provided,  however,  that no action under
         this  Section  7.1 shall in any way reduce  the amount of  Compensation
         deferred or any accruals or other  adjustments  provided in section 4.3
         up to and including the end of the month in which such action is taken.
         Interest  will  continue  to accrue as  provided  in Section  4.3.  All
         amendments  shall be in  writing  and shall be  effective  as  provided
         subject to the  limitations  in this Section 7.1. The  Committee  shall
         inform each Participant as soon as practicable  following the enactment
         of any such amendment.

7.2      TERMINATION OF PLAN

         Although the Company expects that this Plan will continue indefinitely,
         continuance  of this Plan is not a contractual  or other  obligation of
         the  Company,   and  the  Company  expressly   reserves  its  right  to
         discontinue  this  plan  at any  time  by  resolutions  of  the  Board,
         effective  as provided by the Board in such  resolutions.  However,  no
         such action shall in any way reduce the amount of Compensation deferred
         or any accruals  thereon,  up to and  including the end of the month in
         which such action is taken.  Accruals to Accounts  shall continue until
         distribution as provided in Section 4.3.




                                       20




                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------


8.1      NOTIFICATION TO COMMITTEE

         Any election made or  notification  given by a Participant  pursuant to
         this Plan shall be made in accordance  with  procedures  established by
         the Committee or its designated representative,  and shall be deemed to
         have been made or given on the date  received by the  Committee or such
         representative.

8.2      PARTICIPANT'S EMPLOYMENT

         Participation  in this Plan shall not give any Participant the right to
         be retained in the employ of the Company, Allstate Insurance Company of
         any member of the Controlled Group, or any right or interest other than
         as herein provided.  No Participant or Employee shall have any right to
         any payment or benefit  hereunder except to the extent provided in this
         Plan. The members of the Controlled  Group expressly  reserve the right
         to dismiss any Participant  without any liability for any claim against
         them, except to the extent expressly provided herein.

8.3      STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS

         This Plan shall create only a contractual obligation on the part of the
         Company  and  shall  not be  construed  as  creating  a trust  or other
         fiduciary  relationship with Participants.  Participants will have only
         the rights of general  unsecured  creditors of the Company with respect
         to Compensation deferred and interest credited to their Accounts.


                                       21



8.4      OTHER PLANS

         This Plan shall not affect the right of any Employee or  Participant to
         participate in and receive  benefits  under and in accordance  with the
         provisions of any other Company plans which are now or may hereafter be
         in existence.

                                       22



8.5      BENEFICIARIES AND CONTINGENT BENEFICIARIES

         Each  Participant  shall, in accordance with procedures  established by
         the Committee,  designate one or more persons or entities  (including a
         trust or trusts or his/her  estate) to receive  any  balance in his/her
         Deferred Compensation Account,  including accruals thereon,  payable to
         him/her  under  this Plan in the event of his/her  death  prior to full
         payment thereof. The Participant may also designate a person or persons
         as a  Contingent  Beneficiary  or  Contingent  Beneficiaries  who shall
         succeed to the rights of the person or persons originally designated as
         Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, in case the latter should die. He/she may
         from time to time change any  designation  of Beneficiary or Contingent
         Beneficiary  so made,  and the last written  notice given by him/her to
         the  Committee  shall  be  controlling.  In  the  event  a  Participant
         designates  a person other than his/her  spouse as  Beneficiary  of any
         interests  under  this  Plan,  the  Participant's  spouse  shall sign a
         statement  specifically  approving such designation and authorizing the
         Committee to make payment of such  interests in the manner  provided in
         such   designation.   In  the  absence  of  such   designation  by  the
         Participant, or in the absence of spousal approval and authorization as
         herein  above  provided,  or in the  event  of the  death  prior  to or
         simultaneous with the death of the Participant, of all Beneficiaries or
         Contingent Beneficiaries,  as the case may be, to whom payments were to
         be made pursuant to a designation by the Participant,  such payments or
         any  balance  thereof  shall  be  paid  to  such  Participant's   legal
         representatives.  In the event of the death, subsequent to the death of
         the Participant,  of all Beneficiaries or Contingent Beneficiaries,  as
         the case may be, to whom such  payments  were to be made or were  being
         made pursuant to a designation under this section, such payments or any
         balance  thereof  shall be paid to the  legal  representatives  of such
         Beneficiaries or Contingent Beneficiaries.

8.6      TAXES

         To the  extent  permitted  by  law,  if the  whole  or  any  part  of a
         Participant's   Account   shall 



                                       23



         become the  subject  of any  estate,  inheritance,  income or other tax
         which the Company shall legally be required to withhold and/or pay, the
         Company  shall have full power and authority to pay such tax out of any
         monies or other  property  in its hands and charge  such  amounts  paid
         against the Account of the  Participant  whose  interest  hereunder  is
         subject  to such  taxes.  Prior to  making  any such tax  payment,  the
         Company may require such  releases or other  documents  from any lawful
         taxing authority as the Company shall deem necessary.

8.7      BENEFITS NOT ASSIGNABLE; OBLIGATIONS BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS

         Benefits under this Plan and rights to receive the amounts  credited to
         the Account of a Participant  shall not be  assignable or  transferable
         and any purported transfer,  assignment, pledge or other encumbrance or
         attachment of any payments or benefits  under this Plan,  other than by
         operation of law, shall not be permitted or recognized.  Obligations of
         the Company  under this Plan shall be binding  upon  successors  of the
         Company.

8.8      ILLINOIS LAW GOVERNS; SAVING CLAUSE

         The validity of this Plan or any of its  provisions  shall be construed
         and  governed  in all  respects  under  and by the laws of the State of
         Illinois.  If any  provisions  of this Plan shall be held by a court of
         competent  jurisdiction to be invalid or  unenforceable,  the remaining
         provisions hereof shall continue to be fully effective.

8.9      HEADINGS NOT PART OF PLAN

         Headings and  subheadings in this Plan are inserted for reference only,
         and are not to be  considered  in the  construction  of the  provisions
         hereof.


                                       24



                                                                   Exhibit 10.13



                    
                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

              DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

                   AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF FEBRUARY 5, 1997




I.       PURPOSE.

         The purpose of this Plan is to offer non-employee  members of the Board
         of Directors of the Company the  opportunity  to defer  receipt of cash
         compensation  to which they would  otherwise  be entitled  for services
         rendered  as  directors  of  the  Company,  as an  incentive  to  their
         continued participation as such directors.

II.      DEFINITIONS.

         A.       "Beneficiary" shall mean the person or persons designated from
                  time to time in writing by a Participant  to receive  payments
                  under the Plan after the death of such Participant, or, in the
                  absence  of any such  designation  or in the  event  that such
                  designated   person   or   persons   shall   predecease   such
                  Participant, his estate.

         B.       "Common  Share  Unit"  shall mean a Deferred  Amount  which is
                  converted  into a unit or fraction  of a unit for  purposes of
                  the Plan by dividing a dollar  amount by the Fair Market Value
                  of one share of the Company's Common Stock.

         C.       "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $.01 per
                  share, of the Company.

         D.       "Company" shall mean The Allstate Corporation.

         E.       "Compensation"  shall mean cash payments which the Participant
                  would otherwise receive from the Company for services rendered
                  as  a  Non-Employee  Director,  including  retainer  fees  and
                  meeting fees.

         F.       "Deferred   Amount"  shall  mean  an  amount  of  Compensation
                  deferred under the Plan and carried during the deferral period
                  in any Account provided for in the Plan.

         G.       "Distribution  Date"  shall  mean  the  date  designated  by a
                  Participant in the Notice of Election form for commencement of
                  distribution of Accounts.


                                       1



         H.       "Dividend  Equivalent"  shall mean an amount equal to the cash
                  dividend  paid on one  share  of the  Company's  Common  Stock
                  credited to an Account for each Common Share Unit  credited to
                  such Account.

         I.       "Fair  Market  Value" as of any  applicable  date shall be the
                  mean between the high and low prices of the  Company's  Common
                  Stock as  reported  on the New York Stock  Exchange  Composite
                  Tape or, if no such  reported  sale of the Common  Stock shall
                  have  occurred on such date,  on the next  succeeding  date on
                  which there was such a reported sale.

         J.       "Hardship" shall mean an emergency or unexpected  situation in
                  the Participant's financial affairs including, but not limited
                  to, illness or accident  involving the  Participant or his/her
                  dependents  which,  in the  opinion  of the  Compensation  and
                  Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company,
                  presents a severe economic difficulty to the Participant,  due
                  to which a  distribution  of the  balance of any  Account  (as
                  defined below) is appropriate.

         K.       "Non-Employee  Director" shall mean any member of the Board of
                  Directors  of the Company who is not an officer or employee of
                  the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

         L.       "Notice of Election"  shall mean a notice in writing signed by
                  a Non-Employee Director which specifies the type and amount of
                  Compensation  to  be  deferred  (or  to be  discontinued  from
                  deferral),  the  Account  or  Accounts  to which any  Deferred
                  Amount is to be credited,  the date and manner of distribution
                  of any Deferred  Amount and such other  information  as may be
                  requested by the Company.

         M.       "Participant" shall mean any Non-Employee  Director who elects
                  to defer any amount of Compensation under the Plan.

         N.       "Plan"  shall  mean  The  Allstate   Corporation  Amended  and
                  Restated   Deferred   Compensation   Plan   for   Non-Employee
                  Directors.

         O.       "S&P 500 Index" shall mean the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
                  Stock  Price  Index  which  is a market  value-weighted  index
                  consisting  of 500  common  stocks  of  large  U.S.  domiciled
                  companies selected by Standard and Poor's Corporation  ("S&P")
                  through  a   detailed   screening   process   starting   on  a
                  macro-economic level and working toward a micro-economic level
                  dealing  with  company  specified  information  such as market
                  value,  industry  group  classification,   capitalization  and
                  trading activity. S&P's primary objective for the S&P index is
                  to represent the segment of the U.S. equity securities markets
                  consisting of large market

                                       2





                  capitalization stocks. However,  companies are not selected by
                  S&P for  inclusion  because they are expected to have superior
                  stock price  performance  relative to the market in general or
                  other stocks in particular.

         P.       "Secretary" shall mean the duly elected Secretary of the 
                   Company.

         Q.       "Subsidiary" means any partnership,  corporation, association,
                  limited liability company,  joint stock company,  trust, joint
                  venture,  unincorporated organization or other business entity
                  of which (i) if a corporation,  a majority of the total voting
                  power of  shares  of stock  entitled  (without  regard  to the
                  occurrence  of any  contingency)  to vote in the  election  of
                  directors,  managers or trustees  thereof is at the time owned
                  or controlled,  directly or indirectly,  by the Company or one
                  or  more  of  the  other  Subsidiaries  of  the  Company  or a
                  combination  thereof,  or (ii) if a partnership,  association,
                  limited liability company,  joint stock company,  trust, joint
                  venture, unincorporated organization or other business entity,
                  a  majority  of  the   partnership  or  other  similar  equity
                  ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
                  directly  or  indirectly,  by  the  Company  or  one  or  more
                  Subsidiaries  of the  Company or a  combination  thereof.  For
                  purposes  hereof,  the Company or a Subsidiary shall be deemed
                  to  have  a  majority  ownership  interest  in a  partnership,
                  association,  limited liability company,  joint stock company,
                  trust,  joint venture,  unincorporated  organization  or other
                  business  entity if the  Company or such  Subsidiary  shall be
                  allocated  a majority  of  partnership,  association,  limited
                  liability company, joint stock company,  trust, joint venture,
                  unincorporated  organization or other business entity gains or
                  losses  or shall be or  control  the  managing  director,  the
                  trustee,   the  manager  or  the   general   partner  of  such
                  partnership,  association,  limited liability  company,  joint
                  stock   company,   trust,   joint   venture,    unincorporated
                  organization or other business entity.

III.     ELECTION TO DEFER COMPENSATION.

         Each Non-Employee Director may elect to defer the payment of all or any
         part of his or her Compensation  into a specified  Account by executing
         and  delivering to the  Secretary a Notice of Election.  Subject to the
         next  sentence,  an election  to defer  payment of  Compensation  shall
         continue  in effect  with  respect  to all  future  Compensation  until
         revoked or revised by the  execution and delivery to the Secretary of a
         subsequent Notice of Election. Each Notice of Election (whether initial
         or subsequent) shall be effective only as to Compensation payable on or
         after  the first day of the  month  following  the month in which  such
         Notice of Election is received by the Secretary; provided, that if such
         Notice of Election  is received  less than 30 days prior to the date on
         which any such  Compensation  is payable,  then such election  shall be
         effective only as to Compensation  payable on or after the first day of
         the next month following such date.


                                       3



IV.      TREATMENT OF DEFERRED AMOUNTS.

         The  Company  shall  establish  on its  books  the  necessary  accounts
         ("Account"  or  collectively,  "Accounts")  to  accurately  reflect the
         Company's  liability  to each  Participant.  To each  Account  shall be
         credited, as applicable,  Deferred Amounts,  Dividend Equivalents,  and
         interest. Payments to the Participant or amounts transferred to another
         Account under the Plan shall be debited to the appropriate Account.

         A.       Account #1 - Interest-Bearing  Account.  Compensation deferred
                  into an  Interest-Bearing  Account  shall be  credited  to the
                  Account on the same date when it would otherwise be payable to
                  the  Participant.  Deferred  Amounts  carried in this  Account
                  shall  earn  interest  from the date of  credit to the date of
                  payment. On the last day of each calendar month, interest at a
                  rate equal to  one-twelfth  of the per annum  interest rate as
                  reported  for  Dealer  Commercial  Paper - 90 day in The  Wall
                  Street  Journal for the first business day of such month shall
                  be credited to the amounts  previously accrued in each Account
                  for the period from and  including the first day of such month
                  to and including the last day of such month.

         B.       Account #2 - Common Share Unit Account.  Compensation deferred
                  into a Common  Share Unit  Account  shall be  credited  to the
                  Account on the same date when it would otherwise by payable to
                  the Participant. Such Deferred Amounts shall be converted into
                  a number of Common  Share  Units on the date  credited  to the
                  Account by  dividing  the  Deferred  Amount by the Fair Market
                  Value  on  such  date.  If  Common  Share  Units  exist  in  a
                  Participant's  Account  on a  dividend  record  date  for  the
                  Company's  common  shares,   Dividend   Equivalents  shall  be
                  credited to the Participant's  Account on the related dividend
                  payment  date,  and shall be  converted  on such date into the
                  number of Common Share Units which could be purchased with the
                  amount of Dividend Equivalents so credited.

                  In the event of any  change  in the  Company's  common  shares
                  outstanding,  by  reason  of  any  stock  split  or  dividend,
                  recapitalization,   merger,   consolidation,   combination  or
                  exchange of stock or similar corporate  change,  the Secretary
                  shall make such  equitable  adjustments,  if any, by reason of
                  any such change,  deemed  appropriate  in the number of Common
                  Share Units credited to each Participant's  Account. No Common
                  Stock shall be issued or  issuable  at any time in  connection
                  with any Common Share Unit Account.

         C.       Account #3 - S&P 500 Index Account. Compensation deferred into
                  the S&P 500 Index  Account shall be credited to the Account on
                  the  same  date  when it would  otherwise  by  payable  to the
                  Participant.  On the  last  day in  each  calendar  month  the
                  amounts in the  Participant's  Account  shall be adjusted by a
                  percentage   factor  based  on  the  total  return  (including
                  dividends) of the S&P 500 Index from the 


                                       4



                  date the  amounts  were  credited  to the  Account for amounts
                  credited  during  such  month  or  from  the  last  day of the
                  preceding  month  for  amounts  in the  Account  on such  day.
                  Similar adjustments shall also be made on any date the Account
                  is debited by reason of any  transfer  of an amount to another
                  Account or distribution to the Participant.  In the event that
                  the S&P 500 Index is not  published  for any date  referred to
                  above,  the S&P 500 Index for the closest day  preceding  such
                  date for which such Index is published shall be used.


         D.       Account #4 - Money Market Account.  Compensation deferred into
                  a Money Market Account shall be credited to the Account on the
                  same  date  when  it  would   otherwise   be  payable  to  the
                  Participant.  Deferred  Amounts  credited to the Account shall
                  earn additional  amounts which will be credited to the Account
                  on the last day of each calendar  month based upon the average
                  yield on the Dean Witter  InterCapital  Liquid  Asset Fund for
                  such  month,  pro rata for the portion of such month when such
                  Deferred Amounts were carried in the Account.

         E.       Transfers Between Accounts.  Transfers between Accounts may be
                  made at any time requested by the Participant upon application
                  to the Secretary.

V.       DISTRIBUTION.

         A.       Subject  to  Section  V.C and  Section  V.D,  distribution  of
                  Accounts shall commence as of the Distribution  Date specified
                  by the Participant in said Participant's  applicable Notice of
                  Election  form. Any such  Distribution  Date shall be no later
                  than one year  after the  Participant's  termination  from the
                  Board of Directors of the Company.  The Participant may revise
                  the terms of  distribution  of the  Participant's  Accounts by
                  submitting a revised Notice of Election, provided that (i) the
                  revised  Notice  of  Election  form  shall  be  filed  by  the
                  Participant  with the  Secretary  not later than twelve months
                  prior to the  Participant's  normal  retirement  date from the
                  Board of  Directors  of the  Company,  and (ii) in any  event,
                  distribution of the Participant's  Accounts shall not commence
                  earlier  than twelve  months after the  Participant's  revised
                  Notice of Election form is filed with the Secretary.

         B.       Subject to Section V.C and Section V.D,  payment of the amount
                  in each  Account  shall be either in the form of a lump sum or
                  in  annual  installments  over a period of years not to exceed
                  ten  (10)  years  as  selected  by  the   Participant  in  the
                  applicable   Notice  of  Election  form.  The  amount  of  any
                  installment  payment shall be determined  by  multiplying  the
                  amount to which the  Participant  would be  entitled as a lump
                  sum (which amount includes  earnings  credited thereon) on the
                  installment date by a fraction,  the numerator of which is one
                  and the denominator of which is the number of remaining unpaid
                  installments.


                                       5



         C.       In the event of the Participant's death or disability prior to
                  the  Distribution  Date or after  annual  installments  to the
                  Participant  have commenced but before full  distribution  has
                  been made, the then remaining balance in each Account shall be
                  paid  in  a  lump-sum  to  the   Beneficiary   or   contingent
                  Beneficiary  designated in the Notice of Election  form, or to
                  the  estate  of  the  deceased  Participant  if  there  is  no
                  surviving  Beneficiary  or contingent  Beneficiary.  In either
                  such  event  the lump sum  payment  shall be  valued as of the
                  first day of the month  following  the  Participant's  date of
                  death. A Participant  may change the Beneficiary or contingent
                  Beneficiary  from time to time by filing with the  Secretary a
                  written notice of such change; provided, however, that no such
                  notice of change of Beneficiary  shall be effective  unless it
                  had been  received by the  Secretary  prior to the date of the
                  Participant's death.

         D.       Upon  demonstration  of  Hardship  by the  Participant  to the
                  Compensation   and  Nominating   Committee  of  the  Board  of
                  Directors  of the  Company,  distribution  of a  Participant's
                  Accounts, or the remaining balance of any unpaid installments,
                  as the case may be, may be made in a lump sum.


VI.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         A.       The Board of  Directors  of the Company may amend or terminate
                  the Plan at any time; however, any amendment or termination of
                  the Plan  shall  not  affect  the  rights of  Participants  or
                  Beneficiaries to payment,  in accordance with Section V of the
                  Plan,  of amounts  credited to  Participants'  Accounts at the
                  time of such amendment or termination.  The Board of Directors
                  of the  Company  and the  Secretary  may in  their  discretion
                  prescribe such provisions and  interpretations  of the Plan as
                  they shall deem  necessary or advisable.  Expenses of the Plan
                  shall be borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

         B.       The Plan does not create a trust in favor of a Participant,  a
                  Participant's designated Beneficiary or Beneficiaries,  or any
                  other  person  claiming  on a  Participant's  behalf,  and the
                  obligation of the Company is solely a  contractual  obligation
                  to make payments due hereunder. In this regard, the balance in
                  any Account shall be considered a liability of the Company and
                  a  Participant's  right  thereto  shall  be  the  same  as any
                  unsecured   general   creditor  of  the  Company.   Neither  a
                  Participant  nor any other  person  shall  acquire  any right,
                  title,  or  interest  in or to  any  amount  outstanding  to a
                  Participant's  credit  under the Plan  other  than the  actual
                  payment of such portions  thereof in accordance with the terms
                  of the Plan.

         C.       No right or  benefit  under or  interest  in the Plan shall be
                  transferable by a Participant,  other than by will or the laws
                  of descent  and  distribution  or to a 


                                       6




                  revocable inter vivos trust in which such  participant is sole
                  settlor, trustee and beneficiary.

         D.       Construction  of the  Plan  shall be  governed  by the laws of
                  Delaware.

         E.       The  terms  of the  Plan  shall be  binding  upon  the  heirs,
                  executors,    administrators,     personal    representatives,
                  successors and assigns of all parties in interest.

         F.       The headings have been inserted for convenience only and shall
                  not affect the meaning or interpretation of the Plan.

         G.       Any  amount  payable  to or for the  benefit  of a  minor,  an
                  incompetent  person or other person  incapable  of  receipting
                  therefor  shall be  deemed  paid  when  paid to such  person's
                  guardian or to the party providing or reasonably  appearing to
                  provide for the care of such person,  and such  payment  shall
                  fully  discharge  the Company and the Board of Directors  with
                  respect thereto.

         H.       Neither  the  Plan nor any  action  taken  hereunder  shall be
                  construed as giving any Non-Employee  Director any right to be
                  retained in the service of the Company.


                                       7




                                                                     EXHIBIT 21

                       THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION (Delaware)

                             OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES


WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES
(Listed by direct owner of stock)

         THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
         Allstate Insurance Company (Illinois)
         Allstate International Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
         Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)

         ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY (Subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation)
         AEI Group, Inc. (Delaware)
         Allstate Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
         Allstate Indemnity Company (Illinois)
         Allstate International Inc. (Delaware)
         Allstate Investment Management Company (Delaware)
         Allstate Life Insurance Company (Illinois)
         Allstate New Jersey Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
         Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Company (Illinois)
         Allstate Texas Lloyd's, Inc. (Texas)
         Deerbrook Insurance Company (Illinois)
         Forestview Mortgage Insurance Co. (California)
         Forty Fifth & Main Redevelopment Corp. (Missouri)
         General Underwriters Agency, Inc. (Illinois)
         Pinebrook Mortgage Insurance Company (Illinois)
         The Northbrook Corporation (Nebraska)

         ALLSTATE  INTERNATIONAL  INSURANCE  HOLDINGS,  INC.  (Subsidiary of The
         Allstate Corporation) 
         Allstate Services, Inc. (Japan)

         ALLSTATE NON-INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. (Subsidiary of The Allstate 
         Corporation)
         Tech-Cor, Inc. (Delaware)

         ALLSTATE HOLDINGS, INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company)
         Allstate Floridian Insurance Company (Illinois)
         Allstate Floridian Indemnity Company (Illinois)

         ALLSTATE NEW JERSEY HOLDINGS, INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Insurance 
         Company)
         Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company (Illinois)

         ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (Subsidiary of Allstate Insurance 
         Company)
         Allstate Insurance Company of Canada (Canada)
         Allstate Life Financial Services, Inc. (Delaware)
         Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York (New York)
         Allstate Settlement Corporation (Nebraska)
         Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company (Illinois)
         Laughlin Group Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
         Lincoln Benefit Life Company (Nebraska)
         Northbrook Life Insurance Company (Illinois)
         Surety Life Insurance Company (Nebraska)

         AEI GROUP, INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company)
         Allstate Motor Club, Inc. (Delaware)
         Direct Marketing Center, Inc. (Delaware)
         Enterprises Services Corporation (Delaware)
         Rescue Express, Inc. (Delaware)
         Roadway Protection Auto Club, Inc. (Delaware)

         ALLSTATE INTERNATIONAL INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company)
         Allstate International Holding GmbH (Germany)





         ALLSTATE  INSURANCE  COMPANY OF CANADA  (Subsidiary  of  Allstate  Life
         Insurance Company
         Allstate Life Insurance Company of Canada (Canada)

         LAUGHLIN GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance
         Company)
         Bank Insurance Services, LLC (Oregon)
         Florence Financial Services, Inc. (Alabama)
         Investor Financial Services, Inc. (Nevada)
         Laughlin Analytics, Inc. (Oregon)
         Laughlin Educational Services, Inc. (Oregon)
         Laughlin Group Advisors, Inc. (Oregon)
         Lee Financial Services, Inc. (Illinois)
         Lifemark Financial and Insurance Agency, LLC (New York)
         Lifemark Financial & Insurance Services, Inc. (California)
         Lifemark Insurance Services of California, Inc. (California)
         Provest Insurance Services, Inc. (Indiana)
         Provest Insurance Services, Inc. (Kentucky)
         Provest Insurance Services, Inc. (Pennsylvania)
         Security Financial Network, Inc. (Florida)
         Security Financial Network, Inc. (Georgia)
         The Laughlin Direct Advantage Agency, Inc. (Delaware)
         The Laughlin Group, Inc. (Oregon)

         LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY (Subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance
         Company)
         Lincoln Benefit Financial Services, Inc.(Delaware)

         ALLSTATE INTERNATIONAL HOLDING GMBH
         Allstate Direct Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
         Allstate Werbung und Marketing GmbH (Germany)
         Allstate Diretto Assicurazioni Danni S.p.A (Italy)1

LESS THAN WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES
         Allstate Automobile and Fire Insurance Company, Ltd. (Japan)
                  5% owned by Allstate International Inc.
         Samshin Allstate Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (South Korea)
                  50% owned by Allstate International Inc.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT COMPANIES
         Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company (Texas)
                  A  mutual  company  owned  by  policy  holders.  Officers  and
                  employees of Allstate Insurance Company serve as directors and
                  officers of Allstate County Mutual Insurance Company

         Allstate Texas Lloyd's (Texas)
                  An  insurance  syndicate  organized  under  the laws of Texas.
                  Allstate Texas Lloyd's, Inc. (a direct wholly-owned subsidiary
                  of Allstate  Insurance  Company) is the  attorney-in-fact  for
                  this syndicate.





- - -------------------------
1 Allstate  International  Holding  GmbH owns 90% of this  company and  Allstate
International Insurance Holdings, Inc. owns 10%.

 


7 THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN SUCH COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 899051 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION 1,000,000 U.S Dollars 12-MOS DEC-31-1997 JAN-01-1997 DEC-31-1997 1 0 0 50860 6765 3002 686 62548 220 2048 2826 80918 24485 6233 0 20389 1696 0 0 5 15605 80918 20106 3861 982 0 15751 2789 2037 4434 1324 3105 0 0 0 3105 7.15 7.11 15598 14013 (677) 8148 5013 15773 0