UNITED STATES
                       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, 1998

                                       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                                                 Chicago Stock Exchange

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 31,  1999,  Registrant  had  813,386,882  shares of common stock
outstanding.  Approximately  754,000,000  of these  shares,  having an aggregate
market  value (based on closing  prices on January 29, 1999  reported in the New
York Stock Exchange  Composite  listing) of approximately  $28.28 billion,  were
owned by  stockholders  other  than the  Registrant's  directors  and  executive
officers and Northern  Trust  Corporation,  which is the trustee for The Savings
and Profit Sharing Fund of Allstate Employees.


     The Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months,
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 18, 1999 (the "Proxy Statement").


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS




PART I                                                                      PAGE

Item 1.      Business..........................................................1
                 Recent Developments...........................................2
                 Risk Factors Affecting Allstate as an Insurer.................3
                 Allstate Strategy.............................................3
                 Property-Liability Insurance Business.........................6
                    Catastrophe Exposure and Catastrophe Management............9
                    Property-Liability Claims and Claims Expense Reserves.....12
                 Discontinued Lines and Coverages.............................20
                 Life and Savings Segment.....................................21
                 Year 2000....................................................22
                 Capital Requirements.........................................24
                 Investments..................................................25
                 Regulation...................................................25
                 Geographic Distribution of Insurance.........................30
                 Seasonality..................................................30
                 Employees....................................................30
                 Service Marks................................................30
                 Forward-Looking Statements...................................30
                 Executive Officers...........................................32
Item 2.     Properties........................................................33
Item 3.     Legal Proceedings.................................................33
Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders...............34


PART II

Item 5.     Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholders
            Matters...........................................................34
Item 6.     Selected Financial Data...........................................34
Item 7.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations.........................................35
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.........35
Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.......................35
Item 9.     Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
             and Financial Disclosure.........................................35


                                       i




PART III                                                                    PAGE

Item 10.     Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant...............35
Item 11.     Executive Compensation...........................................35
Item 12.     Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management...36
Item 13.     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions...................36


PART IV

Item 14.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K...36
Signatures....................................................................37
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 savings
businesses.  Allstate is the country's second largest property-liability insurer
on the basis of 1997  statutory  premiums  written and is a major life  insurer.
Allstate's life insurance and savings  operations are conducted through Allstate
Life Insurance Company ("ALIC"),  a wholly-owned  subsidiary of AIC, and through
various ALIC subsidiaries ("Life and Savings").

     Allstate's  primary  business  is the sale of  private  passenger  auto and
homeowners  insurance.  In 1997, Allstate  maintained  estimated national market
shares in these lines of approximately 12.3% and 11.3%, respectively. Allstate's
Property-Liability   operations  consist  of  two  business  segments:  personal
property and casualty  ("PP&C") and  Discontinued  Lines and Coverages.  PP&C is
principally  engaged  in the  sale  of  private  passenger  auto  insurance  and
homeowners  insurance  to  individuals  in both the  United  States and in other
countries.  Discontinued  Lines and  Coverages  consists  of  business no longer
written  by  Allstate.  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  15,500  exclusive  agents  (employee and
non-employee) in the United States and Canada, and over 3,000 independent agents
who offer  Allstate  products  primarily  in rural  areas not served by Allstate
agents.  Allstate also uses independent and specialized brokers to expand market
reach,  including  approximately  13,000  independent agents appointed to market
non-standard auto business.

     Life and Savings markets a broad line of life insurance,  savings and group
pension  products.  Life and Savings  distributes its products  through Allstate
agents (including life specialists),  banks,  independent agents and brokers and
through direct response marketing.

     Allstate's Corporate and Other business segment is comprised of holding
company activities and certain non-insurance operations.

     Information  regarding the last three years' revenues and operating  profit
or loss, and the last two years'  identifiable  assets  attributable  to each of
Allstate's  four  business  segments  is  contained  in note 15 of the  Notes to
Consolidated  Financial Statements on pages C-62 to C-64 of the Proxy Statement,
incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof.


                                       1


RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

     On March 3,  1999,  ALIC  and  Putnam  Investments,  a  leading  investment
management  company,  announced  a joint  venture  to create  and  distribute  a
co-branded  variable insurance product line. A joint venture executive committee
consisting  of  executives  from ALIC and Putnam  will  manage the  partnership.
Putnam's  portfolio  managers will oversee the mutual fund  investments and ALIC
will manage the insurance assets.  The products will be distributed via Putnam's
wholesaling  force, and through its partnerships with banks,  broker-dealers and
financial advisors.

     On February 12, 1999, the Company  announced a Rights Agreement under which
shareholders of record on February 26, 1999 will receive a dividend distribution
of one preferred share purchase right (a "Right") on each  outstanding  share of
the Company's common stock.  The Rights become  exercisable ten days after it is
publicly  announced  that a person  or  group  has  acquired  15% or more of the
Company's  common stock or ten business  days after the beginning of a tender or
exchange  offer to acquire 15% or more of the Company's  common stock.  Then the
Rights  become  exercisable  at a price of $150 for a number  of  shares  of the
Company's  common  stock  having a market  value equal to $300.  The Company may
redeem the Rights at a price of $.01 per Right.  The Rights  expire on  February
12,  2009.  The Rights are  intended to protect  shareholders  from  unsolicited
takeover  attempts that may unfairly  pressure  shareholders and deprive them of
the full value of their  shares.  Management is not aware of any such attempt at
this time.

     On September 21, 1998,  the  Company's  Board of Directors  announced  that
Jerry D. Choate,  the  Company's  Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer,  would
retire at the end of 1998, and that Edward M. Liddy had been elected,  effective
January 1,  1999,  to  replace  Mr.  Choate.  Mr.  Liddy had been the  Company's
President and Chief Operating  Officer since August 1994. As of January 1, 1999,
Mr. Liddy became the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

     During  1998,  the  Company  received  a charter  from the Office of Thrift
Supervision to operate a federal  savings bank,  Allstate  Federal  Savings Bank
("AFSB").  AFSB offers  electronic  commerce  services to AIC  specifically  for
pre-authorized  payments of customers' premiums and other consumer transactions.
AFSB is also committed to investing $15 million annually in the redevelopment of
urban  communities,  and  plans  to  form  strategic  alliances  with  community
organizations  and other groups in  connection  with these  investments.  During
1999, AFSB plans to introduce  personal trust,  financial  planning services and
other products based on customer needs and regulatory approvals.


                                       2



RISK FACTORS AFFECTING ALLSTATE AS AN INSURER

     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  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 Life and Savings  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 Life and
Savings'  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," below, 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 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 auto and homeowners insurance business;  to improve customer retention
and to increase  cross-sales of its products to its customer base; to manage its
catastrophe  exposure;  to expand  its  offering  of Life and  Savings  products
through existing  non-agency  distribution  channels and through the addition of
new  distribution  channels;  and to  seek  opportunities  in the  international
markets. This

                                       3


strategy is designed to  capitalize  on: (1) the strength of the Allstate  name,
(2) Allstate's  network of exclusive agents,  (3) Allstate's auto and homeowners
insurance  capabilities,  and (4) additional  distribution channels available to
Allstate.

     Allstate is  experiencing  increased  competition in both its PP&C and Life
and Savings  segments.  The  increase in PP&C  competition  is due, in part,  to
increased  consolidation  in the industry,  to the entry of new companies to the
market attracted by historically  high profit margins on auto insurance,  and to
the expansion and  redefinition of underwriting  risk selection and tolerance by
many competitors.  Increased competition in the Life and Savings segment is due,
in part, to  demutualization  and  consolidation  currently being experienced in
this  industry.  There is also a possibility of federal  legislation  that would
allow banks, securities firms and insurance companies to affiliate.

     Allstate expects that the competitive  pricing  environment in the personal
property  and  casualty  industry  will put  pressure on its premium  growth and
profit  margins,  and plans to offset this pressure by initiating  the following
actions to  increase  growth  and to improve  expense  margins:

     o    implementing  processes  designed  to  control  the  cost of  settling
          homeowners  claims;  

     o    expanding its independent agent  distribution  channel with the intent
          to grow standard, non-standard and homeowners premiums written;

     o    increasing sales of auto and homeowners  related services such as auto
          and home  equity  financing,  and auto parts and labor  warranties  in
          order to provide a more complete set of services to customers; and

     o    expanding  its  domestic  and   international   presence  through  the
          development of start-up  operations,  acquisitions,  partnerships  and
          expanded distribution channels.

     Allstate's  marketing strategy for auto and homeowners  insurance varies by
geographic area.  Allstate is attempting to grow its auto business in the United
States more rapidly in states where the regulatory  climate is more conducive to
attractive returns.  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,  as  catastrophe  exposure  is  reduced  and as new
insurance policies are approved and introduced.  Allstate  continuously monitors
its  designated  growth  and  limited  growth  areas and  adjusts  its  actions,
including  limiting  premium  growth,  as  necessary,   to  maintain  acceptable
catastrophe  exposure  levels in these areas. As of December 31, 1998, the areas
designated as auto limited growth markets represent an insignificant  percentage
of the total United  States  population.  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
4% of the United States population resides.

                                       4


     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.   The  standard  market  consists  of  drivers  who  meet  criteria
indicating  that  they  have  low  to  average  risk  of  loss  expectancy.  The
non-standard    auto   insurance   market   consists   of   drivers   who   have
higher-than-average risk profiles due to their driving records, to their lack of
prior  insurance  or to the types of cars they own.  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 claim handling 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.

     Life and Savings 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  Savings  products  to  existing  Allstate
customers,  offering a variety of competitive  fee-based and  interest-sensitive
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.  Life and  Savings'  products are marketed
through Allstate agents (including life specialists),  banks, independent agents
and brokers and through direct response marketing.  Specialized brokers are used
to distribute  group pension and structured  settlement  products not offered by
Allstate=s  agency force.  Life and Savings' direct response  marketing  program
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.

     Allstate's  exclusive agency force of approximately 15,500 full-time agents
is at the core of its PP&C  distribution  system.  Allstate also uses over 3,000
independent  agents to market a full range of  Allstate  insurance  products  to
individuals,  mostly  in rural  markets  not  served  by  Allstate  agents,  and
approximately  13,000  independent  agents  appointed by Allstate's  subsidiary,
Deerbrook Insurance Company ("Deerbrook"), to market non-standard auto business.

     Allstate's   international  operations  have  included  the  sale  of  auto
insurance in Canada for over 40 years. In 1997,  Allstate  commenced the sale of
private  passenger auto insurance in Germany through direct response  marketing.
Allstate  plans similar  direct  response  marketing of auto  insurance in other
western European  countries and in Japan.  Allstate has also identified areas in
Asia and the Pacific Rim as attractive markets,  principally for life insurance,
and plans to pursue these and other 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.

     Allstate  plans  to  pursue  selective  business  start-ups,  acquisitions,
partnerships,  and expanded distribution channels, both in the United States and
internationally in the pursuit of its business strategy.

                                       5

PROPERTY-LIABILITY INSURANCE BUSINESS

     Allstate's  Property-Liability  insurance business consists of the PP&C and
Discontinued  Lines and  Coverages  segments.  PP&C,  which  accounted for $19.5
billion (or 78%) of Allstate's 1998 statutory written premiums, writes primarily
private  passenger  auto and  homeowners  insurance  policies in 50 states,  the
District  of   Columbia,   Puerto  Rico,   Canada  and  Germany.   Operating  in
approximately  11,800  locations,  Allstate  agents  produce  more than 94.2% 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  insurance  business and other  commercial  insurance  business in
run-off,  as well as the historical  results of the  commercial and  reinsurance
businesses sold in 1996.

     PP&C is  principally  engaged  in  private  passenger  auto and  homeowners
insurance,   and  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  auto and
homeowners  insurance in 1997.  Although  private  passenger auto and homeowners
insurance  account for the majority of its business,  PP&C also writes coverages
for  product  lines such as  motorcycles,  motor  homes,  mechanical  breakdown,
renters,   condominium,   residential  and  landlord,   comprehensive   personal
liability,  fire,  personal umbrella,  recreational  vehicle,  mobile home, boat
owners, parts and labor warranties and selected commercial property and casualty
coverages.  PP&C also operates the AEI Group,  Inc., whose principal  subsidiary
Allstate  Motor Club  provides  members  with travel  plans and  emergency  road
service.  Allstate  customers  are also  offered  access to auto and home equity
loans provided by a third party.

     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 meet certain
criteria which  classify them as having low to average risk of loss  expectancy.
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.  Allstate's  presence in the  non-standard  market as well as the
standard market allows  Allstate agents to offer insurance  products to the vast
majority of drivers who apply for insurance.  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 had a countrywide market share
of approximately 18.5% of the non-standard market in 1997.

     As a condition of its license to do business in each state, Allstate,  like
all other  auto  insurers,  is  required  to write or share the cost of  private
passenger auto insurance for higher risk

                                       6

individuals  who  would  otherwise  be unable to  obtain  such  insurance.  This
"Involuntary,"  or  "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 PP&C 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 auto
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.

     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,  evaluation and negotiation of
claims.  During 1998,  Allstate completed the implementation of redesigned claim
settlement procedures for auto physical damage claims. In addition, Allstate has
continued the design and testing of new  procedures  for personal  injury claims
and for property claims involving fire and roof damage.

     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 1998 for standard and
non-standard auto were  approximately  the same as in 1997.  Retention rates for
homeowners  increased  slightly in 1998,  having  declined  in 1997,  due to the
adverse  impact  of  Allstate's   catastrophe  management   initiatives.   These
initiatives  are discussed  below,  under  "Catastrophe  Exposure."  Homeowners'
retention improved significantly in Florida in 1998, after a decline in 1997 due
to the non-renewal and sale of renewal rights of certain homeowners' policies.

     The personal lines private  passenger  auto and  homeowners  businesses are
highly

                                       7


competitive.  As of December 31, 1997 over 1,400 insurance companies were in the
market, with five groups of companies (State Farm, Allstate, Farmers, Nationwide
and  Progressive)  writing  approximately  47% of  the  private  passenger  auto
premiums written.  Approximately  48% of the homeowners  premiums written in the
United  States were written by five groups of companies  (State Farm,  Allstate,
Farmers,  Nationwide and  Travelers).  State Farm maintains the leading share in
the auto and  homeowners  insurance  market and had 20.5% of the auto market and
23.0% of the homeowners  market in 1997.  Together,  State Farm and Allstate had
32.8% and 34.3%,  respectively,  of the total United States' auto and homeowners
market in 1997.

     AIC competes  principally  on the basis of its name  recognition,  scope of
distribution  system,  customer  service,  use of technology,  product features,
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.

     In 1997, approximately $48 billion of industry personal lines premiums were
generated by  independent  agencies,  and the  remaining $95 billion of premiums
were  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  solely  with  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.

     Approximately one half of Allstate's  approximately 15,500 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. With very limited exceptions, persons hired since
1990 for  eventual  consideration  as  Allstate  agents  have 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, 1998,  independent  contractor exclusive agents,  including
agents  in  training  to  become   independent   contractor   exclusive  agents,
represented  approximately  47% 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. Allstate has entered into an agreement
with the Internal  Revenue  Service which permits  continuation  of the employee
agent programs under specified conditions.

                                       8

CATASTROPHE EXPOSURE AND CATASTROPHE MANAGEMENT

     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, each of which
resulted  in losses of  approximately  $2  billion.  While  management  believes
Allstate's catastrophe management strategies,  described below, have reduced the
severity of possible 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 PP&C 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  is now limited by its
participation  in the  California  Earthquake  Authority  ("CEA"),  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 faults in and around
Seattle, Washington and Charleston, South Carolina.

     Allstate has  implemented  initiatives  to limit,  over time, its insurance
exposures in certain regions prone to catastrophes,  subject to the requirements
of insurance laws and regulations and as limited by competitive  considerations.
These  initiatives  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  continues  to expand 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.  See "Regulation -
Shared Markets" below.

     Allstate formed  Allstate  Floridian  Insurance  Company (" Floridian") and
Allstate  Floridian  Indemnity  Company  ("AFI") which are operating to sell and
service  residential  property  customers in Florida.  Floridian  entered into a
catastrophe  reinsurance  agreement with a non-affiliated  entity which provides
access to 80% of $500 million of catastrophe reinsurance protection for any loss
in excess of  approximately  $1.00  billion,  up to an  aggregate  limit of $800
million.  In addition,  Floridian has access to 90% of an estimated $950 million
of  reimbursements  of  losses  from  the  Florida  Hurricane  Catastrophe  Fund
("FHCF").

                                       9

     The  FHCF  has the  authority  to issue  bonds  to pay its  obligations  to
participating  insurers.  The bonds issued by the FHCF are funded by assessments
on all property  and casualty  premiums  written in the state,  except  workers'
compensation and accident and health insurance. These assessments are limited to
4% and are recoupable  immediately  through  increases in policyholder  rates. A
rate  filing  or any  portion  of a rate  change  attributable  entirely  to the
assessment is deemed  approved when made to the Florida  Department of Insurance
(the  "Department"),  subject to the Department's  statutory authority to review
the "adequacy" of any rate at any time.

     In addition to direct hurricane losses,  Floridian and AFI are also subject
to assessments from the Florida Windstorm Underwriting  Association ("FWUA") and
the Florida  Property and Casualty Joint  Underwriting  Association  ("FRPCJUA")
which are organizations  created to provide coverage for catastrophic  losses to
property  owners  unable to  obtain  coverage  in the  private  market.  Regular
assessments are levied on participating companies if the deficit in the calendar
year is less than or equal to 10% of the Florida property premiums industry-wide
for the year. An insurer may recoup a regular  assessment through a surcharge to
policyholders  subject  to a cap on the  amount  that can be  charged in any one
year. If the deficit  exceeds 10%, the FWUA and/or FRPCJUA will fund the deficit
through the issuance of bonds.  The costs of these bonds are then funded through
a regular  assessment  in the first  year  following  the  deficit  and  through
emergency  assessments  in subsequent  years.  Companies are required to collect
emergency  assessments directly from the policyholders and remit these monies to
the  organizations  as they  are  collected.  Participating  companies  are also
required to purchase  any unsold bonds  issued by the FWUA and/or  FRPCJUA.  The
insurer must file any recoupment  surcharge with the Department at least 15 days
prior  to  imposing  the  surcharge  on  policies.  The  surcharge  may be  used
automatically  after the  expiration of the 15 days,  unless the  Department has
notified the insurer in writing that any of its calculations are incorrect.

     While the Florida  statutes are designed so that the ultimate cost is borne
by the policyholders, the exposure to assessments and availability of recoveries
may not offset one another in the insurers'  financial  statements due to timing
and to the possibility of policies not being renewed in subsequent years.

     Allstate  entered into a  three-year  excess of loss  reinsurance  contract
covering  property  policies in the  northeastern  portion of the United  States
("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  limit of $1.00  billion  over a  three-year  contract
period.  The deductibles on residential  property policies in New York are being
converted to include a hurricane deductible that is triggered by hurricane

                                       10

winds greater than 100 miles per hour, and at December 31, 1998, this conversion
process was 40% complete.

     Allstate  participates in the CEA, a  privately-financed,  publicly-managed
state agency created to provide coverage for earthquake damage. Insurers selling
homeowner insurance in California are required to offer earthquake  insurance to
their customers either through their company or by participation in the CEA. All
of Allstate's traditional earthquake policies and mini-earthquake  policies have
been either (i) renewed  into the CEA,  or (ii) not renewed in  accordance  with
customer  requests.  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 underwritten by the CEA.

     Approximately  $700  million  of the  capital  needed to create the CEA was
obtained  from  assessments  of  participating  insurance  companies.  In  1996,
Allstate's pretax assessment, including related expenses, was approximately $150
million.  Should losses  arising from an earthquake  cause a deficit in the CEA,
additional   capital  needed  to  operate  the  CEA  will  be  obtained  through
assessments of participating insurance companies, reinsurance and bond issuances
funded by policyholder assessments.  Participating insurers are required to fund
a second  assessment,  not to exceed  $2.15  billion,  if the capital of the CEA
falls below $350  million.  Participating  insurers are required to fund a third
assessment,  not to exceed $1.43 billion, if the aggregate CEA earthquake losses
exceed  $5.81  billion or the  capital of the CEA falls below $350  million.  At
December 31, 1998, the CEA's capital balance was approximately $432 million.  If
the CEA  assesses  its  member  insurers  for any  amount,  the amount of future
assessments on members is reduced by the amounts previously  assessed.  To date,
the CEA has not assessed  member  insurers  beyond the initial  assessment.  The
authority  of the  CEA to  assess  participating  insurers  expires  when it has
completed  twelve years of operation.  At the end of 1998, the CEA had completed
two years of operation. All future assessments to participating CEA insurers are
based on their CEA  insurance  market  share as of December 31 of the  preceding
year. Assuming its current CEA market share does not materially change, Allstate
does not expect its portion of these additional contingent assessments,  if any,
to exceed $540 million,  as the  likelihood of an earthquake  causing  losses in
excess  of the  CEA  industry  capacity  of  $5.81  billion  is less  than  .2%.
Management  believes  Allstate's exposure to earthquake losses in California has
been significantly reduced as a result of its participation in the CEA.

     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 coalition whose members include
property insurers and insurance  agents.  This group is promoting a measure that
would provide federal reinsurance to state disaster plans. Proposed legislation,
H.R. 21, was  introduced at the beginning of the 106th Congress and was referred
to the House Banking and  Financial  Services  Committee.  Allstate is unable to
determine whether,  or in what form, such proposed  legislation could be enacted
or any resulting effect on Allstate.

                                       11

PROPERTY-LIABILITY 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 laws and
regulations and generally accepted accounting  principles ("GAAP"),  no specific
claim  reserves are  established  until a loss  occurs,  including a loss from a
catastrophe.  Underwriting  results of the two  Property-Liability  segments 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 C-48 to C-51 of the 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.  These 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.

     The Company,  in the normal course of business,  may  supplement its claims
and  underwriting  processes by  utilizing  third party  adjusters,  appraisers,
engineers, inspectors, other professionals and information sources to assess and
settle catastrophe and non-catastrophe related claims.

     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 these 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 C-48 to C-51 of the Proxy Statement,  

                                       12

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  reserves,
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 C-32 of the 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 C-30 of the Proxy Statement,  incorporated  herein by reference in response
to Item 8 hereof.















                                       13




                         

GROSS
($ in millions)
                                                                                  Year Ended December 31,
                                                                          ------------------------------------
                                                                              1998        1997         1996

                                                                          ---------   ---------    ---------
Gross reserve for property-liability claims and claims expense,
  beginning of year                                                    $    17,403  $   17,382    $  17,687
 Acquisitions                                                                   96           0            0
                                                                          ---------   ---------    ---------
                  Total  gross reserve adjusted                             17,499      17,382       17,687

Incurred claims and claims expense
  Provision attributable to the current year                                14,614      14,268       15,186
  Decrease in provision attributable to prior years                          (695)       (618)        (338)
                                                                          ---------   ---------    ---------
                  Total claims and claims expense                           13,919      13,650       14,848

Claim payments
  Claims and claims expense attributable to current year                     8,909       8,300        8,073
  Claims and claims expense attributable to prior years                      5,628       5,329        5,711
  Claims and claims expense attributable to disposition of operations            0           0        1,369
                                                                          ---------   ---------    ---------
                  Total payments                                            14,537      13,629       15,153
                                                                          ---------   ---------    ---------

Gross reserve for property-liability claims and claims expense,
  end of year as shown on 10-K loss reserve development table          $    16,881  $   17,403    $  17,382
                                                                          =========   =========    =========





NET ($ in millions) Year Ended December 31, ---------------------------------- 1998 1997 1996 --------- --------- --------- Net reserve for property-liability claims and claims expense, beginning of year $ 15,773 $ 15,598 $ 16,156 Acquisitions 58 0 0 --------- --------- --------- Total net reserves adjusted 15,831 15,598 16,156 Incurred claims and claims expense Provision attributable to the current year 14,301 14,013 14,823 Decrease in provision attributable to prior years (700) (677) (336) --------- --------- --------- Total claims and claims expense 13,601 13,336 14,487 Claim payments Claims and claims expense attributable to current year 8,521 8,148 7,522 Claims and claims expense attributable to prior years 5,488 5,013 5,787 Claims and claims expense attributable to disposition of operations 0 0 1,736 --------- --------- --------- Total payments 14,009 13,161 15,045 --------- --------- --------- Net reserve for property-liability claims and claim expense, end of year as shown on 10-K loss reserve development table (1) $ 15,423 $ 15,773 $ 15,598 ========= ========= ========= (1) Reserves for claims and claims expense are net of reinsurance of $1.46 billion, $1.63 billion and $1.78 billion, at December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
The year-end 1998 gross reserves of $16.88 billion for property-liability insurance claims and claims expense, as determined under GAAP, were $1.90 billion more than the reserve balance of $14.98 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 $1.46 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 international subsidiaries which are 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 1997 developed favorably in 1998 by $700 million, compared to favorable development of the gross reserves of $695 million. Net reserve development in 1998 and 1997 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 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 C-10 to C-14 of the 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 C-13 and C-14 of the 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 the 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. 16 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) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Gross Reserves for Unpaid Claims and Claims Expense $10,035 $10,962 $12,117 $13,136 $14,902 $15,209 $16,414 $17,326 $17,382 $17,403 $16,881 Deduct: Reinsurance Recoverable 1,180 1,066 1,028 1,066 1,419 1,338 1,298 1,490 1,784 1,630 1,458 ----- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Reserve For Unpaid Claims and Claims Expense $8,855 $9,896 $11,089 $12,070 $13,483 $13,871 $15,116 $15,836 $15,598 $15,773 $15,423 - ------------------------- Paid (cumulative) as of: - ------------------------ One year later 3,516 4,295 4,558 4,550 4,955 4,472 4,748 5,787 5,013 5,488 Two years later 5,279 6,338 6,723 6,688 7,068 6,519 7,749 8,232 7,952 Three years later 6,433 7,584 8,010 7,935 8,283 8,273 9,247 10,083 Four years later 7,161 8,338 8,778 8,694 9,430 9,140 10,400 Five years later 7,611 8,824 9,279 9,508 9,985 9,849 Six years later 7,927 9,180 9,883 9,907 10,467 Seven years later 8,189 9,651 10,196 10,284 Eight years later 8,560 9,921 10,512 Nine years later 8,803 10,206 Ten years later 9,065 Reserve Reestimated as of: - -------------------------- End of year 8,855 9,896 11,089 12,070 13,483 13,871 15,116 15,836 15,598 15,773 15,423 One year later 8,891 10,312 11,367 11,990 13,081 13,159 14,691 15,500 14,921 15,073 Two years later 9,006 10,617 11,576 11,909 12,745 12,890 14,295 14,917 14,450 Three years later 9,323 10,990 11,680 11,905 12,735 12,832 13,928 14,700 Four years later 9,686 11,105 11,777 12,010 12,877 12,617 13,835 Five years later 9,817 11,245 11,954 12,322 12,830 12,585 Six years later 9,974 11,447 12,378 12,395 12,895 Seven years later 10,212 11,962 12,503 12,499 Eight years later 10,762 12,091 12,612 Nine years later 10,896 12,216 Ten years later 11,022 Initial reserve in excess of (less than) reestimated reserve: - ------------------------------- Amount ($2,167) ($2,320) ($1,523) ($429) $588 $1,286 $1,281 $1,136 $1,148 $700 Percent (24.5%) (23.4%) (13.7%) (3.6%) 4.4% 9.3% 8.5% 7.2% 7.4% 4.4% Gross Reestimated Liability-Latest $14,723 $14,274 $15,394 $16,238 $16,267 $16,708 Reestimated Recoverable-Latest 1,828 1,689 1,559 1,538 1,817 1,635 ----------------------------------------------------- Net Reestimated Liability-Latest $12,895 $12,585 $13,835 $14,700 $14,450 $15,073 Gross Cumulative Excess (Deficiency) $179 $935 $1,020 $1,088 $1,115 $695 ===================================================== (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.
17 The subsequent reduction in the net reserves established since December 31, 1993 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, complex unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage, availability of reinsurance 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. Allstate has 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 has 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 has also performed in-depth analysis of its reinsurance recoverables. During 1996, based upon the Company's re-evaluation, loss reserves for environmental and asbestos exposures, net of reinsurance, were increased by $172 million and $72 million, respectively. These studies and re-evaluations resulted in Allstate's actions to increase reserves as described in AProperty-Liability Claims and Claims Expense Reserves" on pages C-10 to C-14 of the Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. Allstate updates its evaluations of environmental, asbestos and mass tort reserves annually. While Allstate believes the improved actuarial techniques and databases described above have assisted in its ability to estimate environmental, asbestos and mass tort net loss reserves, these refinements may prove to be inadequate indicators of the extent of probable loss. See note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages C-48 to C-51 of the Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. 18 The following table is derived from the Loss Reserve Development table and summarizes the effect of reserve reestimates, net of reinsurance, on calendar year operations for the same ten-year period ended December 31, 1998. The total of each column details the amount of reserve reestimates made in the indicated calendar year and shows the accident years to which the reestimates are applicable. The amounts in the total accident year column on the far right represent the cumulative reserve reestimates for the indicated accident year(s). Effect of Net Reserve Reestimates on Calendar Year Operations ($ in millions ) 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 TOTAL ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- BY ACCIDENT YEAR 1988 & PRIOR $36 $115 $317 $363 $131 $157 $238 $550 $134 $126 $2,167 1989 301 (12) 10 (16) (17) (36) (35) (5) (1) 189 1990 (27) (164) (11) (43) (25) (91) (4) (16) (381) 1991 (289) (185) (101) (72) (112) (52) (5) (816) 1992 (321) (332) (115) (170) (120) (39) (1,097) 1993 (376) (259) (200) (168) (97) (1,100) 1994 (156) (338) (152) (61) (707) 1995 60 (216) (124) (280) 1996 (94) (254) (348) 1997 (229) (229) ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ TOTAL $36 $416 $278 ($80) ($402) ($712) ($425) ($336) ($677) ($700) ($2,602) ===== ==== ==== ===== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ========
Favorable calendar year reserve development in 1992 through 1998 was the result of favorable severity trends in each of the seven years, which more than offset adverse development in Discontinued Lines and Coverages. The favorable severity trend during this seven-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 since 1995. 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. 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, 1998. Future reserve releases, if any, are expected to be adversely impacted by anticipated increases in medical cost inflation rates. See ARisk Factors Affecting Allstate" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in this Form 10-K. 19 DISCONTINUED LINES AND COVERAGES An Allstate subsidiary wrote excess and surplus lines coverages from 1972 to 1985, including professional liability coverages, principally on claims-made coverage forms. The subsidiary also wrote substantial umbrella and excess liability coverages on an occurrence basis, including medical and other product liability coverages, for major United States corporations. In 1985, the subsidiary was merged into AIC with AIC assuming all of its assets and liabilities. Since the early 1980's, Allstate has experienced significant increases in losses for years prior to 1980 arising out of the subsidiary's umbrella and excess liability coverage for large corporations. Since the late 1980's, most of these losses have related to environmental damages, asbestos-related damages or mass-tort settlements. AIC continues to be involved in coverage litigation with the subsidiary's insureds. In addition, 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 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 product 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 product 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 C-10 to C-14 of the 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. 20 LIFE AND SAVINGS BUSINESS Life and Savings markets a broad line of life insurance, savings 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. Savings products include both deferred annuities, such as variable annuities and fixed rate single premium deferred annuities, flexible premium deferred annuities and immediate annuities such as structured settlement annuities. Life and Savings' group pension products include guaranteed investment contracts and retirement annuities. The assets and liabilities relating to flexible premium deferred variable annuities, variable life, variable universal life and certain guaranteed investment contracts are legally segregated and reflected as assets and liabilities of the Separate Accounts. In 1998, annuity premiums and deposits represented 56% of Life and Savings' total statutory premiums and deposits. Life and Savings 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. Life and Savings markets individual and group life insurance, savings and group pension products and reaches a broad market of potential customers throughout the United States and in other countries through Allstate agents (including life specialists), banks, independent agents and brokers and through direct response marketing. Products bearing the "Allstate Life Insurance Company" name are generally sold by Allstate agents, specialized brokers, and through direct marketing techniques. Other products, many of which are of similar types to those bearing the "Allstate Life Insurance Company" name but which bear other brand names, are distributed through independent insurance agents, brokers, banks and direct marketing techniques. Life insurance in force, net of reinsurance, was $202 billion at December 31, 1998 and $194 billion at December 31, 1997. As of December 31, 1998, Life and Savings had $41.86 billion of investments, including $10.10 billion of Separate Account assets. ALIC subsidiary Northbrook Life Insurance Company ("Northbrook") has a strategic alliance with Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. ("Dean Witter") for the marketing and distribution of Northbrook's life and annuity products through Dean Witter's broker sales force. ALIC subsidiary Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company has also entered into marketing arrangements with banks and brokers 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. In 1998 Glenbrook Life and Annuity also began distributing a no-load variable annuity product through direct marketing. Life and Savings is committed to broadening its bank and broker 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 currently benefits from agreements with financial services entities who market and distribute its products, change in control of these non-affiliated entities with which Allstate has alliances could have a detrimental effect on Life and Savings sales. See 21 "Recent Developments," above, concerning the joint venture between ALIC and Putnam Investments to sell variable insurance products. Life and Savings utilizes certain services shared with AIC such as investment, finance, information technology and legal services. Although Life and Savings' management develops overall strategies for its business, the primary management of each distribution channel is largely decentralized. Accordingly, management of each distribution channel is primarily responsible for determining its own product mix and product features appropriate for its target market. Life and Savings believes that its range of distribution channels promotes flexibility, extends market reach, reduces dependency on any one distribution system, and allows Life and Savings 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 Life and Savings products are discussed in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages C-36 to C-40 of the 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 Life and Savings, is highly competitive. As of December 31, 1998, there were approximately 830 groups of life insurance companies in the United States, most of which offer one or more products similar to those offered by Life and Savings and many of which use similar marketing techniques. Based on information contained in statements filed with insurance departments, in 1997 approximately 68% of the life insurance and annuity premiums and deposits were written by 25 groups of companies. Life and Savings ranked 13th based on ordinary life insurance in force and 20th based on statutory admitted assets. Banks and savings and loan associations in certain jurisdictions compete with Life and Savings 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. YEAR 2000 The Company is heavily dependent upon complex computer systems for all phases of its operations, including customer service, insurance processing, underwriting, loss reserving, investments and other enterprise systems. Since many of the Company's older computer software programs recognize only the last two digits of the year in any date, some software may fail to operate properly in or after the year 1999, if the software is not reprogrammed, remediated, or replaced ("Year 2000"). Also, many systems and equipment that are not typically thought of as computer-related (referred to as "non-IT") contain embedded hardware or software that may have a Year 2000 sensitive component. Allstate believes that many of its counterparties and suppliers also have Year 2000 issues and non-IT issues which could affect the Company. In 1995, the Company commenced a plan consisting of four phases which are intended to mitigate and/or prevent the adverse affects of the Year 2000 issues on its systems: 1) inventory and assessment of 22 affected systems and equipment, 2) remediation and compliance of systems and equipment through strategies that include the replacement or enhancement of existing systems, upgrades to operating systems already covered by maintenance agreements and modifications to existing systems to make them Year 2000 compliant, 3) testing of systems using clock-forward testing for both current and future dates and for dates which trigger specific processing, and 4) contingency planning which will address possible adverse scenarios and the potential financial impact to the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial position. The Company believes that the first three steps of this plan, assessment, remediation and testing, including clock-forward testing which is being performed on the Company's systems and non-IT, are mostly complete for the Company's critical systems. In April 1998, the Company announced its main premium application system, ALERT, which manages more than 20 million auto and homeowners policies is Year 2000 compliant. The Company is relying on other remediation techniques for its midrange and personal computer environments, and certain mainframe applications. Certain investment processing systems, midrange computers and personal computer environments are planned to be remediated by the middle of 1999, and some systems and non-IT related to discontinued or non-critical functions of the Company are planned to be abandoned by the end of 1999. The Company is currently in the process of identifying key processes and developing contingency plans in the event that the systems supporting these key processes are not Year 2000 compliant at the end of 1999. Management believes these contingency plans should be completed by mid-1999. Until these plans are complete, management is unable to determine an estimate of the most reasonably possible worst case scenario due to issues relating to the Year 2000. In addition, the Company is actively working with its major external counterparties and suppliers to assess their compliance efforts and the Company's exposure to both their Year 2000 issues and non-IT issues. This assessment has included the solicitation of external counterparties and suppliers, evaluating responses received and testing third party interfaces and interactions to determine compliance. Currently the Company has solicited approximately 1,500 and has received responses from approximately 75% of its counterparties and suppliers. Allstate will continue its efforts to solicit responses on Year 2000 compliance from these parties. The majority of these responses have stated that the counterparties and suppliers believe that they will be Year 2000 compliant and that no transactions will be affected. However, some key vendors have not provided affirmative responses to date. The Company has also decided to test certain interfaces and interactions to gain additional assurance on third party compliance. If key vendors are unable to meet the Year 2000 requirement, Allstate is preparing contingency plans that will allow the Company to continue to sell its products and to service its customers. Management believes these contingency plans should be completed by mid-1999. The Company currently does not have sufficient information to determine whether or not all of its external counterparties and suppliers will be Year 2000 ready. The Company is currently assessing the level of Year 2000 risk associated with certain personal lines policies that have been issued. To date, no changes have been made in coverages provided by the Company's personal auto and homeowners lines policies to specifically exclude coverage for Year 2000 23 related claims. This does not mean that all losses, or any particular type of loss, that might be related to the Year 2000 will be covered. Rather, all claims will continue to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether coverage is available for a particular loss in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of the policy in force. The Company also has investments which have been publicly and privately placed. The Company may be exposed to the risk that the issuers of these investments will be adversely impacted by Year 2000 issues. The Company assesses the impact which Year 2000 issues have on the Company's investments as part of due diligence for proposed new investments and in its ongoing review of all current portfolio holdings. Any recommended actions with respect to individual investments are determined by taking into account the potential impact of Year 2000 on the issuer. Contingency plans are being created for any securities held whose issuer is determined to not be Year 2000 compliant. The Company presently believes that it will resolve the Year 2000 issue in a timely manner. Year 2000 costs are expensed as incurred, therefore the majority of expenses related to this project have been incurred as of December 31, 1998. The Company estimates that approximately $125 million in costs will be incurred between the years of 1995 and 2000. These amounts include costs directly related to fixing Year 2000 issues, such as modifying software and hiring Year 2000 solution providers. These amounts also include costs incurred to replace certain non-compliant systems which would not have been otherwise replaced. CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS The capacity for Allstate's premium growth, 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 was 1.4 to 1 at December 31, 1998 and 1997. 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 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 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 24 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 risks, but places more emphasis on underwriting factors for reserving and pricing. At December 31, 1998, RBC for each of Allstate's domestic insurance companies exceeded the required capital levels. See "Capital Resources" on pages C-19 and C-20 of the 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 Savings segments. 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 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 derivative instruments 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, 1998, 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 C-22 to C-24 of the Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof, and Note 4 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages C-41 to C-44 of the 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 PP&C segment. 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, 25 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 pages C-57 and C-58 of the 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 C-52 to C-55 of the 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 1999 without prior approval of the Illinois Department of Insurance is $2.96 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 Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York and Texas. The 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. 26 hile 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 Arizona, 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 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 bodily injury claims since 1995, 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. 27 From time to time, the private passenger auto 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 auto 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. Underwriting results related to these organizations have been immaterial to the results of operations. GUARANTY FUNDS - 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 related to these funds have been immaterial. See "Pending Accounting Standards" on page C-27 of the Proxy Statement, incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 7 hereof. 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, 1998, 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. 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") 28 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, is 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 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. New and proposed federal and state regulation and legislation would allow banks greater participation in securities and insurance businesses. Depending on the form in which these proposals are enacted or promulgated, they could present an increased level of competition for the sale of Life and Savings products. Furthermore, the market for deferred annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance is enhanced by the tax incentives available under current law. Any legislative changes which would 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, and (2) increasing competition in capital markets. 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, in 1998 Allstate was also engaged, through subsidiaries and joint ventures, in the insurance business in Germany, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea. In 1999, Allstate expects to sell insurance in Japan, Italy and the Philippines. The following tabulation reflects, in percentages, the principal geographic distribution of statutory premiums earned for the Property-Liability segments and statutory premiums for the Life and Savings segment for the year ended December 31, 1998: 29 NY CA TX FL NJ PA IL MI MD Total -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ----- Property- Liability 11.0 9.5 9.0 7.9 5.0 5.0 4.0 3.5 3.1 58.0 PA IL NE MA OH CA NJ FL TX MI Total -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ----- Life 13.0 11.8 11.6 10.6 6.8 5.3 5.0 4.3 3.5 3.3 75.2
No other jurisdiction accounted for more than 3% of the statutory premiums for the Property-Liability or Life and Savings segments. 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, 1998, Allstate employed approximately 53,000 people. 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 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, Allstate notes several important factors that could cause its actual results and experience with respect to forward-looking statements to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in Allstate's forward-looking statements: 1. Exposure to Catastrophe Losses - Allstate believes that: o the strategies implemented by it to manage its exposure to catastrophes have reduced the probability of 30 severe losses in the future; o the implementation of certain described actions taken in Florida and the Northeast will reduce Allstate's exposure to losses from catastrophes in those areas; o Allstate's exposure to earthquake losses in California has been significantly reduced as a result of its participation in the CEA (see "Catastrophe Exposure and Catastrophe Management," above). Factors that could cause actual catastrophe losses to be materially greater than currently anticipated by Allstate include that fact that its beliefs are based in part on the efficacy of the techniques and the accuracy of the data used by Allstate and the CEA which are designed to predict the probability of catastrophes and the extent of losses to Allstate and the CEA resulting from catastrophes. Catastrophic events may occur in the future which indicate that such techniques and data do not accurately predict Allstate's or the CEA's losses from catastrophes, and the probability and extent of such losses to Allstate and the CEA may differ materially from that which would have been predicted by such techniques and data. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL AND ASBESTOS RISKS - Allstate believes that changes to insurance policies have effectively limited its exposure to losses from environmental and asbestos for most policies written in 1986 and all policies written after 1986 ( see "Discontinued Lines and Coverages," above). Factors that could cause Allstate to sustain materially greater losses from these policies include the possibility that future judicial decisions could be adverse to it. That is, interpretation of provisions in insurance policies is a complex process, and courts have reached different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions concerning liability under these policies. Consequently, Allstate's experience to date may not be an accurate predictor of future experience concerning its possible exposure to losses under these policies. 3. BODILY INJURY SEVERITY TRENDS - The references to favorable severity trends, which management believes may be due in part to lower than anticipated medical cost inflation for personal auto injury claims and to improvements in Allstate's claim settlement processes (see "Property-Liability Claims and Claims Expense Reserves," above), reflect statistical data for the periods indicated. Such data for a future period or periods could well indicate that 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 severities may influence state insurance regulators to deny Allstate rate increases which could reduce the growth of its revenues. 4. YEAR 2000 ISSUES - Allstate believes that it will be able to timely resolve the Year 2000 issues affecting its computer operations and that the costs incurred between the years 1995-2000 in resolving these issues will be approximately $125 million (see "Year 2000," above). However, the extent to which the computer operations of Allstate's external counterparties and suppliers are adversely affected could, in turn, affect Allstate's ability to communicate with such counterparties and suppliers, could increase the cost of resolving the Year 2000 issues and could materially affect Allstate's results of operations in any future period or periods. 31 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 Edward M. Liddy*........53 Chairman, President and Chief Executive 1994 Officer of the Company and AIC Richard I. Cohen........54 Senior Vice President of AIC 1989 (PP&C Claim Service Unit) Joan M. Crockett........48 Senior Vice President of AIC (Human Resources) 1994 Edward J. Dixon.........55 Senior Vice President of AIC 1988 (PP&C Field Operations) Robert W. Gary..........60 Senior Vice President of AIC 1986 President, PP&C Unit) Steven L. Groot.........49 Senior Vice President of AIC 1988 (President, International Unit) Louis G. Lower, II......53 Chairman, ALIC 1982 Michael J. McCabe.......53 Senior Vice President of AIC 1980 (Marketing and Brand Development) Ronald D. McNeil........46 Senior Vice President of AIC 1994 (PP&C, Property Operations) Robert W. Pike..........57 Vice President, Secretary and 1978 General Counsel of the Company; Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of AIC Samuel H. Pilch ........52 Controller of the Company; Group 1995 Vice President and Controller of AIC Francis W. Pollard......56 Senior Vice President and 1984 Chief Information Officer of AIC Casey J. Sylla..........55 Vice President and Acting Chief Financial 1995 Officer of the Company; Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer of AIC Rita P. Wilson..........52 Senior Vice President of AIC 1988 (President, Allstate Indemnity) Thomas J. Wilson........41 President, ALIC 1995 No family relationships exist among the above-named individuals. ___________________ *Also a director of the Company 32 Each of the Company and AIC officers named above may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors of the Company, in the case of Company positions, and by the Board of Directors of AIC, in the case of AIC positions. With the exception of Messrs. Liddy, T. Wilson, Sylla and Pilch, 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 five years. Prior to his election on January 1, 1999 to the position stated above, Mr. Liddy served as the Company's and AIC's President and Chief Operating Officer since August 1994, and before that as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Sears, Roebuck and Co. since February 1992. Prior to his election on January 1, 1999 to the position stated above, T. Wilson served as the Company's and AIC's Chief Financial Officer since January 1, 1995 and prior to that as Sears' Vice President, Strategy and Analysis since 1993. Prior to his election on January 1, 1999 to the position stated above, Mr. Sylla was AIC's Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer since July 5, 1995. Before coming to Allstate, Mr. Sylla served as a Senior Vice President for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1992 to 1995. Before his election on January 18, 1999 to the position stated above, Mr. Pilch served as Controller of the Company and AIC since 1995, and prior to that as Vice President of The Travelers Corporation since 1989. ITEM 2. PROPERTIES Allstate's home office complex is located in Northbrook, Illinois. The complex consists of 11 building complexes providing approximately 2 million square feet of office space on a 185 acre site. The Northbrook complex serves as the headquarters for AIC and ALIC. Allstate's field business operations are conducted substantially from 17 major offices located principally in metropolitan areas throughout the United States and Canada. Allstate also has approximately 270 claim service offices, sales facilities at approximately 11,600 locations, and approximately 850 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 the conduct of its 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 Consolidated Financial Statements on pages C-52 to C-55 of the Proxy Statement incorporated herein by reference in response to Item 8 hereof. 33 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 184,332 record holders of the Company's common stock as of February 18, 1999. 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 1998 and 1997. Stock prices and dividends have been adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 split of the Company's common stock in July 1998: Dividends High Low Close declared 1998 First quarter 49 3/16 40 15/16 45 31/32 .135 Second quarter 50 1/8 44 1/8 45 25/32 .135 Third quarter 52 3/8 36 1/16 41 1/2 .135 Fourth quarter 48 3/8 37 38 1/2 .135 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 First quarter 34 1/8 28 1/8 29 11/16 .12 Second quarter 38 1/2 29 5/16 36 1/2 .12 Third quarter 40 9/16 35 15/32 40 3/16 .12 Fourth quarter 47 3/16 38 15/32 45 1/4 .12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 C-2 and C-3 of the Proxy Statement. 34 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 C-4 to C-29 of the Proxy Statement. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Incorporated by reference to the "Market Risk" discussion on pages C-16 to C-19 of the Proxy Statement. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the notes to such statements on pages C-30 to C-65 of the Proxy Statement and the information under "Quarterly Results" on page C-65 of the 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 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- 35 Control Arrangements" in the Proxy Statement. 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 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 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: None. 36 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 26, 1999 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/ EDWARD M. LIDDY Chairman, President and Edward M. Liddy Chief Executive Officer ) and a Director ) (Principal Executive ) Officer) ) ) March 26, 1999 S/CASEY J. SYLLA Vice President and Casey J. Sylla Acting Chief Financial ) Officer ) (Principal Financial ) Officer) ) 37 SIGNATURE TITLE DATE S/ JAMES G. ANDRESS Director ) James G. Andress S/WARREN L. BATTS Director ) Warren L. Batts S/EDWARD A. BRENNAN Director ) Edward A. Brennan S/ JAMES M. DENNY Director ) March 26, 1999 James M. Denny S/RONALD T. LEMAY Director ) Ronald T. LeMay S/MICHAEL A. MILES Director ) Michael A. Miles S/H. JOHN RILEY, JR. Director ) H. John Riley, Jr. S/JOSHUA I. SMITH Director ) Joshua I. Smith 37 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES Year Ended December 31, 1998 The following consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and related information of The Allstate Corporation are incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement. PAGE* Consolidated Statements of Operations ** C-30 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income ** C-31 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position ** C-32 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity ** C-33 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ** C-34 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements** C-35 Quarterly Results ** C-65 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 Allowance 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 the Company's 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, 1998 ($ in millions) Cost Fair Carrying ---- Value Value TYPE OF INVESTMENT ----- ----- Fixed Income Securities, Available for Sale: Bonds: United States government, government agencies and authorities................................ $3,171 $3,960 $3,960 States, municipalities and political subdivisions............ 17,589 18,771 18,771 Foreign governments.......................................... 625 653 653 Public utilities............................................. 2,809 3,134 3,134 Convertibles and bonds with warrants attached................ 552 654 654 All other corporate bonds.................................... 13,147 13,991 13,991 Mortgage-backed securities...................................... 7,612 7,879 7,879 Asset-backed securities......................................... 4,197 4,251 4,251 Redeemable preferred stocks..................................... 244 267 267 ------ ------ ------ Total fixed income securities............................... 49,946 $53,560 53,560 ------ ======= ------ Equity Securities: Common Stocks: Public utilities............................................ 223 374 374 Banks, trusts and insurance companies....................... 325 492 492 Industrial, miscellaneous and all other..................... 3,219 5,027 5,027 Nonredeemable preferred stocks.................................. 464 528 528 ----- ----- ----- Total equity securities..................................... 4,231 $6,421 6,421 ----- ====== ----- Mortgage loans on real estate........................................ 3,458 3,458 Policy loans......................................................... 569 569 Other long-term investments.......................................... 40 40 Short-term investments............................................... 2,477 2,477 ------ ------ Total Investments.......................................... $60,721 $66,525 ======= =======
S-2 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS ($ in millions) Year Ended December 31, ---------------------------- ---- 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- REVENUES Investment income, less investment expense............................. $ 52 $ 30 $ 10 Realized capital gains................................................. 32 5 - Other income........................................................... 149 208 29 --- --- --- 233 243 39 EXPENSES Interest expense....................................................... 192 158 100 Other operating expenses............................................... 10 6 8 --- --- --- 202 164 108 Gain on disposition of operations..................................... 49 - - --- --- --- Income (loss) from operations before income tax benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries........................................... 80 79 (69) Income tax benefit........................................................ (24) (42) (31) Income (loss) before equity in net income of subsidiaries................. 104 121 (38) ----- ----- ----- Equity in net income of subsidiaries...................................... 3,190 2,984 2,113 ----- ----- ----- Net income............................................................. 3,294 3,105 2,075 ----- ----- ----- OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX Changes in: Unrealized gains and losses.......................................... 173 818 (633) Foreign currency translation adjustments............................. (2) (57) 1 ----- ----- ----- Other comprehensive income........................................... 171 761 (632) ----- ----- ----- Comprehensive income................................................. $3,465 $3,866 $1,443 ====== ====== ====== See accompanying notes to condensed financial information and notes to Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated herein by reference. S-3
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE II (CONTINUED) CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION > ($ in millions) December 31, ---------------------- 1998 1997 ---- ---- ASSETS Investments in subsidiaries............................................ $ 18,720 $ 17,041 Investments Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost $484 and $419) 484 426 Short-term........................................................... 430 85 ------ ------ Total investments.................................................... 914 511 Receivable from subsidiaries........................................... 563 441 Dividends receivable from subsidiaries................................. - 110 Other assets........................................................... 81 97 ------- ------ TOTAL ASSETS......................................................... $ 20,278 $ 18,200 ======= ====== LIABILITIES Short-term debt........................................................ $ 393 $ 199 Long-term debt......................................................... 1,300 1,457 Payable to subsidiaries................................................ 1,182 773 Dividends payable to shareholders...................................... 111 103 Other liabilities...................................................... 52 58 ----- ----- TOTAL LIABILITIES.................................................... 3,038 2,590 ----- ------ SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Preferred stock, $1 par value, 25 million shares authorized, none issued........................................................ Common stock, $.01 par value, 1.0 billion shares authorized and 900 million issued; 818 million and 850 million shares outstanding........................................................ 9 9 Additional capital paid-in............................................. 3,102 3,116 Retained income........................................................ 14,490 11,646 Deferred ESOP expense.................................................. (252) (281) Treasury stock, at cost (82 million and 50 million shares)............. (3,065) (1,665) Accumulated other comprehensive income: Unrealized net capital gains..................................... 2,994 2,821 Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments.............. (38) (36) ------ ------ Total accumulated other comprehensive income....................... 2,956 2,785 ------ ------ TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY........................................... 17,240 15,610 ------ ------ TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY........................... $ 20,278 $ 18,200 ======= ======= 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, --------------------------------- 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net Income................................................................ $3,294 $3,105 $2,075 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities Equity in net income of subsidiaries................................. (3,190) (2,984) (2,113) Realized capital gains.............................................. (32) (5) - Gain on disposition of operations.................................... (49) - - Dividends received from subsidiaries................................. 1,497 623 525 Changes in other operating assets and liabilities.................... 197 (233) (5) ----- ----- ----- Net cash provided by operating activities.......................... 1,717 506 482 ----- ----- ----- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds from sales of investments..................................... 1,332 789 - Investment purchases................................................... (1,019) (363) - Capital contribution to subsidiaries................................... (225) - (23) Change in short-term investments, net.................................. (335) 427 (543) Proceeds from disposition of operations............................... 49 - - Acquisition of subsidiary............................................. (275) - - ------ ----- ----- Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities................ (473) 853 (566) ------ ----- ----- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Change in short-term debt, net......................................... 181 47 152 Transfers to subsidiaries through intercompany loan agreement, net..... (181) (47) (152) Repayment of long-term debt............................................ (300) - - Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt............................... 500 250 - Proceeds from borrowings from subsidiaries............................. 405 - 773 Dividends paid to shareholders......................................... (443) (323) (378) Treasury stock purchases............................................... (1,489) (1,358) (336) Other.................................................................. 83 72 25 ------- ------- ---- Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities................ (1,244) (1,359) 84 ------- ------- ---- 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 1999 Proxy Statement. The long-term and short-term debt and credit lines presented in Note 8 "Debt" on page C-52 of the 1999 Proxy Statement, with the exception of the Floating Rate Notes, are direct obligations of the Registrant. To conform with the 1998 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 of interest expense in 1998 and 1997, respectively, related to these borrowings. 3..OTHER INCOME Other income primarily represents income from the settlement of certain employee benefits of its subsidiaries, mainly profit sharing obligations. The 1997 amount includes settlements for prior years. 4. GAIN ON DISPOSITION OF OPERATIONS The gain on disposition of operations in 1998 was in connection with the conversion of 6.76% Automatically Convertible Equity Securities ("ACES") into shares of The PMI Group, Inc. common stock. 5. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON CASH INVESTING ACTIVITY AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION The Registrant received dividends of $707 million and $768 million from a subsidiary in the form of fixed income securities in 1998 and 1997, respectively. The Registrant paid $178 million, $144 million and $87 million of interest on debt in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. S-6 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ in millions) At December 31, -------------------------------------- Reserves Claims Deferred Expense Policy and Acquisition Contract Unearned Segment Costs Benefits Premiums - ------------------------------------- ---- -------- ---------- 1998 - ---- Property-Liability operations PP&C.................................. $ 915 $ 14,297 $ 6,376 Discontinued Lines and Coverages...... - 2,584 1 ------ -------- ------- Total Property-Liability.............. 915 16,881 6,377 Life and Savings operations............. 2,181 28,734 48 Corporate and Other..................... - - - ------- -------- ------- Total................................... $ 3,096 $ 45,615 $ 6,425 ======= ======== ======= 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 Savings operations........... 1,982 27,471 64 Corporate and Other .................. - - - ------ ------- ------ Total................................. $2,826 $44,874 $6,233 ====== ======= ====== 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 Savings operations........... 1,837 26,407 102 Corporate and Other .................. - - - ------ ------- ------ Total................................. $2,614 $43,789 $6,174 ====== ======= =======
S-7 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ in millions) For the Year Ended December 31, -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Claims, Premium Claims Amortization Revenue Expense of Other Premiums and Net and Contract Policy Operating Written Contract Investment Benefits Acquisition Costs and (Excluding Segment Charges Income (1) Costs Expenses Life) - ------------------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ------- ---------- --------- 1998 - ---- Property-Liability operations PP&C.................................. $ 19,307 $ 13,572 $ 2,644 $ 1,735 $ 19,516 Discontinued Lines and Coverages...... - 29 - 22 (1) ------ ------ ------- ------- -------- Total Property-Liability.............. 19,307 $ 1,723 13,601 2,644 1,757 19,515 Life and Savings operations............. 1,519 2,115 2,415 377 315 136 Corporate and Other..................... - 52 - - (6) - ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- Total................................... $ 20,826 $ 3,890 $ 16,016 $ 3,021 $ 2,066 $ 19,651 ========= ======== ======== ======= ======= ======== 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 Savings operations........... 1,502 2,085 2,415 298 302 132 Corporate and Other .................. - 30 - - (19) - -------- ----- ------ ------ ------ ------- Total................................. $20,106 $3,861 $15,751 $2,789 $1,937 $18,921 ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ======= 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 Savings operations........... 1,336 2,045 2,312 203 308 173 Corporate and Other .................. - 10 - - (2) - ------ ------- ------ ------- ------ ------- Total................................. $19,702 $3,813 $16,799 $2,342 $2,112 $18,759 ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ======= (1) A single investment portfolio supports the Property-liability segment. S-7
THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE ($ in millions) Percent of Ceded to Assumed from Amount Gross Other Other Net Assuamed Amount Companies Companies Amount to Net YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 ------ --------- ----------- ------ -------- Life insurance in force................... $ 276,029 $ 73,769 $ 6 $ 202,267 0.0% ========= ========= ========== ========= Premiums and contract charges: Life insurance.......................... $ 1,430 $ 174 $ 6 $ 1,262 0.4% Accident-health insurance............... 238 4 23 257 8.9% Property-liability insurance........... 19,666 433 74 19,307 0.4% --------- --------- ---------- --------- Total premiums and contract charges. $ 21,334 $ 611 $ 103 $ 20,826 0.5% ========== ========= ========== ========= 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 0.0% 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% ========= ======== ========== ========= 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, 1998 Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage loans and real estate........ $ 39 $ (16) $ 8 $ 15 Allowance for reinsurance recoverable.... 147 - 6 141 Allowance for premium installment 61 86 54 receivable . 93 Allowance for deferred tax assets 12 21 33 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 57 109 105 61 receivable.......................... Allowance for deferred tax assets - 12 12 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 (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.
S-9 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES SCHEDULE VI - SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONCERNING CONSOLIDATED PROPERTY-CASUALTY INSURANCE OPERATIONS ($ in millions) At December 31, --------------------------------- 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- Deferred policy acquisition costs......................... $ 915 $ 844 $ 777 Reserves for unpaid claims and claim adjustments.......... 16,881 17,403 17,382 Unearned premiums......................................... 6,377 6,169 6,072 ($ in millions) Year Ended December 31, --------------------------------- 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- Earned premiums........................................... $19,307 $18,604 $18,366 Net investment income..................................... 1,723 1,746 1,758 Claims and claims adjustment expense incurred Current year........................................... 14,301 14,013 14,823 Prior years............................................ (700) (677) (336) Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs......... 2,644 2,491 2,139 Paid claims and claims adjustment expense................. 14,009 13,161 15,045 Premiums written.......................................... 19,515 18,789 18,586 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, 1998 and 1997, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, and have issued our report thereon dated February 19, 1999; such consolidated financial statements and report are included in The Allstate Corporation 1999 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 19, 1999 S-11 Exhibit 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-61817 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 19, 1999, appearing in or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Allstate Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1998. Deloitte & Touche LLP Chicago, Illinois March 24, 1999 S-12 EXHIBIT INDEX The Allstate Corporation Form 10-K For the Year Ended December 31, 1998 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** By-Laws as amended effective June 29,1995. 3.(b) Incorporated by reference to the Company's 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 Form 10-K report for 1995.** 10.12* The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated effective November 11, 1997. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit to the Company's Form 10-K report for 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. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Company's Form 10-K report for 1997.** 10.14* The Allstate Corporation Annual Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of March 9, 1999. 10.15* The Allstate Corporation Long-Term Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of March 9, 1999. 10.16* The Allstate Corporation Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on November 10, 1998. 10.17* Form of stock option under the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Company's Form 10-K report for 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 Form 10-K report for 1996.** 10.19* The Allstate Corporation Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors as amended and restated on November 10, 1998. 10.20* The Allstate Corporation Employees Replacement Stock Plan, as amended and restated on November 10, 1998. 10.21* Form of stock option under the Replacement Stock Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Company=s Form 10-K report for 1995.** 10.22* Form of restricted stock grant under the Replacement Stock Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company's Form 10-K for 1995.** 10.23* The Allstate Corporation Annual Covered Employee Incentive Compensation Plan as amended and restated as of March 9, 1999. 11 Computation of Earnings per Common Share. 12 Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges Ratio. 21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant. 23 Independent Auditors' Consent. E-4 EXHIBIT SEQUENTIAL NO. DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION PAGE NO. 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,

                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              1998                1997                1996
                                                                         ----------------    ---------------     ---------------

Net Income                                                                        $3,294             $3,105              $2,075

                                                                         ================    ===============     ===============

Basic earnings per common share computation:


        Weighted average number of common shares (1)                               832.2              867.9               890.8

                                                                         ================    ===============     ===============

        Net income per share - basic                                               $3.96              $3.58              $ 2.33

                                                                         ================    ===============     ===============

Diluted earnings per common share computation:


        Weighted average number of common shares (1)                               832.2              867.9               890.8

        Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options                                   4.4                4.9                 5.6

                                                                         ----------------    ---------------     ---------------
           Adjusted weighted number of common shares outstanding                   836.6              872.8               896.4

                                                                         ================    ===============     ===============

        Net income per share - diluted                                             $3.94              $3.56               $2.31

                                                                         ================    ===============     ===============



(1)     Common shares held as treasury shares were 82 million, 501 million, and 17 million, at December 31, 1998, 1997
        and 1996, respectively.


                                                            E-6


                         
                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                  Exhibit 12





                                                THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
                                     COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES RATIO

($ in millions)                                                       For the Year ended December 31,
                                                      ----------------------------------------------------------------

                                                        1998          1997         1996          1995         1994
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------
1.    Income from continuing operations
      before income taxes, equity in net income
      of
      unconsolidated subsidiary, and dividends on
      preferred securities of subsidiary trusts          $4,745        $4,434       $2,669        $2,421         $120

2.    Equity in income of 100% owned subsidiary               -             -            -            49          107

3.    Dividends from less than 50% owned affiliate            1             2            2             2            -
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------

4. Income from continuing operations before
      income taxes                                       $4,746        $4,436       $2,671        $2,472         $227
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------

      Fixed Charges:

5.    Interest on indebtedness                             $118          $100          $95           $81          $60

6.    Interest factor of annual rental expense               90            80           71            90           95
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------

7.    Total fixed charges  (5+6)                           $208          $180         $166          $171         $155
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------

8.    Dividends on redeemable preferred securities           59                                              
                                                                           59            6             -            -

9.    Total fixed charges and dividends on
      redeemable preferred securities (7+8)                $267          $239         $172          $171         $155
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------

10. Income from continuing operations before
      income taxes and fixed charges (4+7)               $4,954        $4,616       $2,837        $2,643         $382
                                                      ==========   ===========   ==========   ===========   ==========

11.   Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (A)               18.6 X        19.3 X       16.5 X        15.5 X        2.5 X
                                                      ==========   ===========   ==========   ===========   ==========

12.   Interest credited to contractholder funds          $1,247        $1,209       $1,196        $1,191       $1,079

13.   Total fixed charges including dividends
      on redeemable preferred securities and interest
      credited to contractholder funds (9+12)            $1,514        $1,448       $1,368        $1,362       $1,234
                                                      ----------   -----------   ----------   -----------   ----------

14.   Income from  continuing  operations  
      before income taxes and fixed charges
      including interest credited to contractholder
      funds (4+7+12)                                     $6,201        $5,825       $4,033        $3,834       $1,461
                                                      ==========   ===========   ==========   ===========   ==========

15.   Ratio of  earnings  to  fixed  charges,  
      including  interest  credited  to contractholder
      funds                                                 4.1 X         4.0 X        2.9 X         2.8 X        1.2 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 10.14
                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                  ANNUAL EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

                     AS AMENDED AND RESTATED MARCH 9, 1999


1.       PURPOSES.

         The purposes of the Annual Executive  Incentive  Compensation Plan (the
"Plan") are:

               a.   to attract and retain competent personnel;

               b.   to provide  Participants  with added  incentives  to promote
                    various  short-term  performance  goals,  while  taking into
                    account  the  varying   objectives  and  conditions  of  the
                    different  businesses engaged in by The Allstate Corporation
                    and its Subsidiaries;

               c.   to link  compensation  to  performance by tying a portion of
                    annual pay to reaching annual financial goals;

               d.   to  compensate   executives  at   competitive   levels  when
                    competitive  performance is achieved, and at superior levels
                    when performance exceeds competitors', and

               e.   to encourage teamwork among top executives.

2.       DEFINITIONS.

         The  following  terms when used in the Plan shall,  for the purposes of
the Plan, have the following meanings:

a.   "Award" means the cash amount  payable to a  Participant  for a fiscal year
     pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

b.   "Board" means the Board of Directors of The Allstate Corporation.

c.   "Business Unit" means any operating unit of The Allstate Corporation or any
     of its  Subsidiaries,  including  but not  limited  to,  the  property  and
     casualty  business,  the life business,  the investments  business,  or the
     international business.

                                       1



d.   "Committee" means at least two members of the Board who have been appointed
     by the Board to administer the Plan.

e.   "Company" means The Allstate Corporation.

f.   "Fiscal Year" means the calendar year.

g.   "Participant"  means an  executive of the  Company,  or of any  Subsidiary,
     selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan for the fiscal year.

h.   "Plan" means the Annual Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

i.   "Subsidiary"  means any  corporation  of which the Company owns directly or
     indirectly a majority of the outstanding shares of voting stock.

3.  ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

     a. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

     b. The  Committee  shall have the authority to make all  determinations  it
     deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan,  including
     the selection of Participants,  the  determination of the timing and amount
     of Awards made to each  Participant,  and the  establishment of performance
     standards ("performance goals") for earning Awards.

     c. The  Committee  shall  have the  authority  to  exercise  discretion  in
     determining the amounts of the Awards otherwise  payable under the terms of
     the Plan, and may increase or decrease such Awards.


4.   AWARDS.

     a. Awards under the Plan shall  consist of annual cash  bonuses  based upon
     the degree of attainment  of  performance  goals of the Company  and/or its
     Subsidiaries  and/or  Business Units thereof,  where  applicable,  over the
     fiscal year. Awards to Participants who are "Covered  Employees" as defined
     in Section 162(m) of the Internal  Revenue Code shall be payable solely for
     attainment of performance priority goals set forth in Section 4.d., below.

     b. The Committee shall establish  performance goals for each fiscal year at
     a  time  while  the  outcome  of the  performance  goals  is  substantially
     uncertain.  Such  performance  goals  may be  expressed  in terms of annual
     financial,  operating or other criteria, or any combination thereof,  using
     such measures of  performance  as the Committee  selects  solely in its own
     discretion.   The  Committee  may  establish   performance  priority  as  a
     performance  goal,  the  attainment  of which may result in the increase or
     decrease of an Award to any Participant.


                                       2

     c. A target Award shall be established  for each fiscal year based upon the
     Participant's  position  held with the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.
     The target Award will be determined  as a percentage of each  Participant's
     base  salary,  and shall be payable as an Award  based upon  attainment  of
     performance  goals for such year. A maximum Award opportunity shall also be
     established for each Participant.

     d. Awards under the Plan for Covered  Employees  shall be granted solely on
     the basis of their achievement of performance  priority goals.  Performance
     priority  goals  shall be  strategic  in nature,  and  designed  to further
     Company goals which are assigned to specific  Participants  to  accomplish.
     Performance priority goals shall be based on business criteria separate and
     distinct from any criteria  applicable to such Covered  Employee  under the
     Annual Covered Employee Incentive Compensation Plan for the fiscal year.


5.       PAYMENT OF AWARDS.

     a.  Awards  under  the  Plan  shall  be  paid  to  Participants  as soon as
     practicable after the end of the fiscal year to which performance  relates,
     and after the Committee has approved the Awards.

     b. Awards shall be paid in cash,  less required  withholding,  or for those
     eligible,  may be deferred at the  Participant's  election,  subject to the
     terms  and  conditions  of any  deferred  compensation  plan in  which  the
     Participant is eligible to participate.

     c. Unless the Committee has taken action under subsection 3.c. hereof prior
     to payment of an Award,  each  Participant  selected by the Committee for a
     fiscal year who remains  actively  employed by the Company or a  Subsidiary
     thereof  at the end of the  fiscal  year  shall be  entitled  to  receive a
     payment of an Award  earned  pursuant to the terms of the Plan with respect
     to such year.

     d. If a  Participant's  employment is  terminated  prior to completion of a
     fiscal  year for any reason  other than as  described  in  subsection  5.e.
     below,  the Participant  will forfeit any Award otherwise  payable for such
     fiscal year.

     e. If a Participant  dies,  retires or is disabled  during the fiscal year,
     and the  Committee  has not taken action under  Section  3.c.  hereof,  the
     Participant's  Award will be prorated based on the number of  Participant's
     full months as an active  employee during the fiscal year. If a Participant
     dies  before  receipt  of  an  Award,   the  Award  will  be  paid  to  the
     Participant's beneficiaries.

     f. Prorated Awards will be paid at the same time as regular Awards.

                                       3

6.  MISCELLANEOUS.

     a. All amounts  payable  hereunder shall be payable only to the Participant
     or his or her  beneficiaries.  The rights and  interests  of a  Participant
     under the Plan may not be assigned, encumbered, or transferred, voluntarily
     or  involuntarily,   other  than  by  will  or  the  laws  of  descent  and
     distribution.

     b. No individual  shall have any claim or right to be a Participant  in the
     Plan at any time,  and any  individual's  participation  in the Plan may be
     terminated  at any time  with or  without  notice,  cause or regard to past
     practices.

     c. Neither the Plan nor any action hereunder shall confer on any person any
     right to remain in the employ of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or
     shall affect an employee's compensation not arising under the Plan. Neither
     the  adoption  of the Plan nor its  operation  shall in any way  affect the
     right and power of the Company or any  Subsidiary  to dismiss or  discharge
     any employee at any time.

     d. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to deduct from any
     Award, prior to payment, the amount of any taxes required to be withheld by
     any federal, state or local government with respect to such payments.

     e. The  Committee  may  rely  upon any  information  supplied  to it by any
     officer of the Company or any Subsidiary or by any  independent  accountant
     for the Company and may rely upon the advice of counsel in connection  with
     the administration of the Plan and shall be fully protected in relying upon
     such information or advice.

     f. All expenses and costs in connection with the administration of the Plan
     shall be borne by the Company.

     g. The Plan and any agreements entered into thereunder shall be governed by
     and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Illinois.

7.  AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

     The Board may suspend, terminate, modify or amend the Plan.

8.  EFFECTIVE DATE.

     The Plan was adopted by the Board on March 8, 1994, and was approved by the
     Company's  stockholders  on May 19, 1994. The Plan, as amended and restated
     herein, was adopted and made effective by the Board on March 9, 1999.


                                  4
 



                                                                   Exhibit 10.15


                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                 LONG-TERM EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

                AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE MARCH 9, 1999


1.       PURPOSES.

         The Allstate  Corporation  Long-Term Executive  Incentive  Compensation
         Plan was adopted and made  effective by the Board of Directors on March
         9, 1999.  The Plan was  submitted  to the  Company's  stockholders  for
         approval on May 18, 1999. The purposes of the Plan are:

                  a.       to attract  and  retain  competent  personnel  and to
                           ensure the  deductibility of compensation  paid under
                           the Plan to any Participant who is a Covered Employee
                           as defined in Section 162(m) of the Internal  Revenue
                           Code (the "Code");

                  b.       to  provide  Participants  with added  incentives  to
                           promote various long-term  performance  goals,  while
                           taking  into  account  the  varying   objectives  and
                           conditions of the different  businesses engaged in by
                           The Allstate Corporation and its Subsidiaries;

                  c.       to  link  compensation  to  performance by  rewarding
                           three-year corporate performance;

                  d.       to compensate participants at competitive levels when
                           competitive  performance is achieved, and at superior
                           levels when performance exceeds competitors'; and

                  e.       to encourage teamwork among top executives.

2.       DEFINITIONS.

          The following  terms when used in the Plan shall,  for the purposes of
          the Plan, have the following meanings:

          a. "Award" means the cash amount payable to a Participant for a
          Performance Cycle pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

          b. "Board" means the Board of Directors of The Allstate Corporation.

                                       1

  
          c.   "Business   Unit"  means  any  operating  unit  of  The  Allstate
          Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries,  including but not limited to,
          the property and casualty business, the life business, the investments
          business, or the international business.

          d. "Committee" means two or more members of the Board who are "outside
          directors"  within the  meaning of Section  162(m) of the Code and the
          regulations thereunder.

          e. "Company" means The Allstate Corporation.

          f. "Covered  Employee" means a Participant who is a "Covered Employee"
          as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

          g. "Fiscal Year" means the calendar year.

          h.  "Participant"  means a senior  executive  of the Company or of any
          Subsidiary, selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan for a
          Performance Cycle or for any shorter period within a Performance Cycle
          in which the Participant is a senior executive of the Company selected
          by the Committee to participate in the Plan.

          i.  "Performance  Cycle"  means a period of three  consecutive  fiscal
          years.

          j. "Plan" means the Long-Term Executive Incentive Compensation Plan.

          k.  "Subsidiary"  means  any  corporation  of which the  Company  owns
          directly or indirectly a majority of the outstanding  shares of voting
          stock.

3.        ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

          a. The Plan shall be  administered  by the  Committee.  Members of the
          Committee shall be appointed by the Board.

          b. The Committee  shall have the authority to make all  determinations
          it deems  necessary or advisable for the  administration  of the Plan,
          including  the  selection  of   Participants,   and,  subject  to  the
          limitations  set forth  herein,  the  determination  of the timing and
          amount of Awards made to each  Participant,  and the  establishment of
          objective and measurable  performance standards  ("performance goals")
          for earning Awards.

          c. The Committee  shall have the  authority to exercise  discretion in
          determining  the  amounts of the Awards  otherwise  payable  under the
          terms of the Plan; provided, however, that the Committee shall have no
          authority  to increase the amount of Awards  otherwise  payable to any
          Covered Employee under the terms of the Plan.

4.        AWARDS.

          a. Awards under the Plan shall  consist of cash bonuses based upon the
          degree of

                                       2

          attainment  of  objective  and  measurable  performance  goals  of the
          Company and/or its Subsidiaries  and/or Business Units thereof,  where
          applicable,  over a Performance  Cycle or such shorter period within a
          Performance  Cycle during which the  Participant is an employee of the
          Company or of any Subsidiary.

          b. The Committee shall establish  written  performance goals within 90
          days after the  beginning of a  Performance  Cycle (or, if the Covered
          Employee is not an employee at the beginning of a  Performance  Cycle,
          within the first 25% of the period  within  the  Performance  Cycle in
          which the Covered  Employee is an employee),  and while the outcome of
          the performance  goals is  substantially  uncertain.  Such performance
          goals  shall  be  expressed  in  terms  of  objective  and  measurable
          financial and/or operating criteria,  and may involve comparisons with
          respect to historical  results of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
          operating  groups or Business  Units  thereof,  as well as comparisons
          with  respect to peer group  performance.  Performance  goals shall be
          expressed using one or more of the following  measures of performance:
          net earnings,  operating income, return on equity, earnings per share,
          return on assets, values of assets, revenues,  market share, prices of
          Company stock,  or strategic  business  criteria  consisting of one or
          more Company,  Subsidiary or Business Unit objectives based on meeting
          specified  revenue  goals,  market  penetration  goals,  international
          business  expansion  goals,  cost targets,  customer  retention goals,
          customer  satisfaction  goals,  or goals relating to  acquisitions  or
          divestitures.  The calculation is specifically defined at the time the
          goal  is set.  Each  performance  goal  must  state,  in  terms  of an
          objective  formula or standard,  the Award payable to each Participant
          if the performance goal is attained.

          c. No award  opportunity for any Participant for any Performance Cycle
          shall exceed $3,500,000.

5.       PAYMENT OF AWARDS.

          a.  Awards  under the Plan  shall be paid to  Participants  as soon as
          practicable after the completion of the Performance  Cycle,  after the
          completion  of the audits for each year in the  Performance  Cycle and
          after the Committee certifies that the performance goals and any other
          material terms were in fact satisfied.

          b.  Awards will be paid in cash,  less  required  withholding,  or for
          those eligible, may be deferred at the Participant's election, subject
          to the terms and conditions of any deferred compensation plan in which
          the Participant is eligible to participate.

          c. Unless the Committee has taken action under  subsection 3.c. hereof
          prior  to  payment  of an  Award,  each  Participant  selected  by the
          Committee who remains actively employed by the Company or a Subsidiary
          thereof at the end of a Performance Cycle shall be entitled to receive
          a payment of an Award  earned  pursuant  to the terms of the Plan with
          respect to such Performance Cycle.

         d. If a Participant's employment is terminated prior to completion of a
         Performance  

                                       3

          Cycle for any reason other than as described in subsection 5.e. below,
          the  Participant  will  forfeit any Award  otherwise  payable for such
          Performance Cycle.

          e. If a Participant dies,  retires or is disabled during a Performance
          Cycle,  and the  Committee  has not taken  action  under  Section 3.c.
          hereof, the Participant's  Award shall be prorated based on the number
          of  Participant's  full  months  as  an  active  employee  during  the
          Performance  Cycle. If a Participant  dies before receipt of an Award,
          the Award will be paid to the Participant's beneficiaries.

          f. Prorated Awards will be paid at the same time as regular Awards.

6.        MISCELLANEOUS.

          a.  All  amounts  payable  hereunder  shall  be  payable  only  to the
          Participant or his or her beneficiaries. The rights and interests of a
          Participant  under  the  Plan  may  not be  assigned,  encumbered,  or
          transferred,  voluntarily or involuntarily,  other than by will or the
          laws of descent and distribution.

          b. No individual  shall have any claim or right to be a Participant in
          the Plan at any time, and any  individual's  participation in the Plan
          may be terminated at any time with or without notice,  cause or regard
          to past practices.

          c.  Neither  the Plan nor any  action  hereunder  shall  confer on any
          person any right to remain in the employ of the  Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries  or shall affect an employee's  compensation  not arising
          under the Plan.  Neither the  adoption  of the Plan nor its  operation
          shall in any way  affect  the right and  power of the  Company  or any
          Subsidiary to dismiss or discharge any employee at any time.

          d. The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  shall have the right to deduct
          from any Award, prior to payment,  the amount of any taxes required to
          be withheld by any federal,  state or local government with respect to
          such payments.

          e. The Committee may rely upon any  information  supplied to it by any
          officer  of the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  or by  any  independent
          accountant  for the Company and may rely upon the advice of counsel in
          connection  with the  administration  of the  Plan and  shall be fully
          protected in relying upon such information or advice.

          f. All expenses and costs in connection with the administration of the
          Plan shall be borne by the Company.

          g.  The Plan  and any  agreements  entered  into  thereunder  shall be
          governed by and construed in accordance  with the laws of the state of
          Illinois.

                                       4


7.   AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

     The  Board may  suspend,  terminate,  modify  or amend the Plan;  provided,
     however,   that  any  such  action  which  changes  employees  eligible  to
     participate,  the criteria  set forth in  subsection  4.b.,  or the maximum
     amount of an Award set forth in subsection  4.c., shall be disclosed to and
     approved by the Company's stockholders.  Stockholder approval must be given
     by a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  by  the  holders  of  Company  shares
     represented  in person or by proxy at the annual meeting next following the
     date of any such change.

8.   EFFECTIVE DATE.

     The Plan was adopted by the Board on March 8, 1994, and was approved by the
     Company's  stockholders  on May 19, 1994. The Plan, as amended and restated
     herein,  was adopted by the Board of  Directors  on March 9, 1999,  and was
     submitted to the Company's stockholders for approval on May 18, 1999.
















                                       5




                                                                   Exhibit 10.16




                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION





                              EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN


            AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE AS OF NOVEMBER 10, 1998





























                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

       1.       Purpose........................................................1

       2.       Definitions....................................................1

       3.       Scope of the Plan..............................................3
                (a)   Number of Shares Available For Delivery Under the Plan...3
                (b)   Effect of Expiration or Termination......................3
                (c)   Treasury Stock...........................................3
                (d)   Committee Discretion to Cancel Options...................4

       4.       Administration.................................................4
                (a)    Committee Administration................................4
                (b)    Board Reservation and Delegation........................4
                (c)    Committee Authority.....................................4
                (d)    Committee Determinations Final..........................5

       5.       Eligibility....................................................5

       6.       Conditions to Grants...........................................6
                (a)    General Conditions......................................6
                (b)    Grant of Options and Option Price.......................6
                (c)    Grant of Incentive Stock Options........................6
                (d)    Grant of Reload Options.................................8
                (e)    Grant of Shares of Restricted Stock.....................8
                (f)    Grant of Unrestricted Stock............................10

       7.       Limitations on Transferability................................11

       8.       Exercise......................................................11
                (a)    Exercise of Options....................................11
                (b)    Special Rules for Section 16 Grantees..................13
                (c)    Permissible Shares Issued..............................13

       9.       Loans and Guarantees..........................................13

      10.       Notification under Section 83(b)..............................14

      11.       Mandatory Withholding Taxes...................................14


      12.       Elective Share Withholding....................................14

      13.       Termination of Employment.....................................15
                (a)    Restricted Stock.......................................15
                (b)    Other Awards...........................................15
                (c)    Maximum Extension......................................16

      14.       Equity Incentive Plans of Foreign Subsidiaries................16

      15.       Substituted Awards............................................16

      16.       Securities Law Matters........................................16

      17.       No Funding Required...........................................17

      18.       No Employment Rights..........................................17

      19.       Rights as a Stockholder.......................................17

      20.       Nature of Payments............................................17

      21.       Non-Uniform Determinations....................................17

      22.       Adjustments...................................................18

      23.       Amendment of the Plan.........................................18

      24.       Termination of the Plan.......................................18

      25.       No Illegal Transactions.......................................18

      26.       Controlling Law...............................................19

      27.       Severability..................................................19


                                      -ii-



   
                THE PLAN.  The  Company  established  The  Allstate  Corporation
Equity  Incentive  Plan (as set forth herein and from time to time amended,  the
"Plan"),  effective  June 2, 1993.  Amendments  to the Plan were approved by the
Company's  stockholders  on May 19,  1994  and on May 23,  1995.  The  Board  of
Directors further amended the Plan on May 21, 1996, November 12, 1996 and August
14,  1997.  On May 19, 1998,  the Plan was amended and restated  effective as of
July 2, 1998. The Plan was further amended and restated effective as of November
10, 1998.     

     1. PURPOSE.  The primary purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which
key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries can acquire and maintain stock
ownership,  thereby strengthening their commitment to the success of the Company
and its  Subsidiaries and their desire to remain employed by the Company and its
Subsidiaries.  The Plan also is intended to attract and retain key employees and
to provide such employees  with  additional  incentive and reward  opportunities
designed to encourage them to enhance the  profitable  growth of the Company and
its Subsidiaries.

     2.  DEFINITIONS.  As  used  in  the  Plan,  terms  defined  parenthetically
immediately after their use shall have the respective  meanings provided by such
definitions  and the terms set forth  below  shall have the  following  meanings
(such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the terms defined):

        (a) "Award"  means  options,  shares of restricted  Stock,  or shares of
unrestricted Stock granted under the Plan.

        (b) "Award  Agreement" means the written  agreement by which an Award is
evidenced.

        (c) "Board" means the board of directors of the Company.

        (d) "Committee"  means the committee of the Board appointed  pursuant to
Article 4.

        (e)  "Company" means  The Allstate  Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

        (f) "Disability" means, as relates to the exercise of an incentive stock
option after Termination of Employment,  a permanent and total disability within
the meaning of Section  22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and for all other
purposes, a mental or physical condition which, in the opinion of the Committee,
renders a Grantee unable or  incompetent  to carry out the job  responsibilities
which such  Grantee held or the duties to which such Grantee was assigned at the
time the disability  was incurred,  and which is expected to be permanent or for
an indefinite duration.

        (g) "Effective  Date" means the date described in the first paragraph of
the Plan.

                                      -1-

        (h) "Fair Market Value" of the Stock means,  as of any  applicable  date
(other than on the  Effective  Date) the mean between the high and low prices of
the Stock as reported on the New York Stock  Exchange  Composite  Tape, or if no
such  reported  sale of the Stock shall have  occurred on such date, on the next
preceding date on which there was such a reported sale, PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that
if the  Stock  is  acquired  and sold in a  simultaneous  sale  pursuant  to the
provisions of Article 8(a)(iv),  Fair Market Value means the price received upon
such sale.  Solely as of the effective date of the IPO, Fair Market Value of the
Stock  means the price to the public  pursuant  to the form of final  prospectus
used in  connection  with  the  IPO,  as  indicated  on the  cover  page of such
prospectus or otherwise.

        (i)  "Grant  Date"  means  the date of grant of an Award  determined  in
accordance with Article 6.

        (j) "Grantee" means an individual who has been granted an Award.

        (k) "Internal  Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended,  and  regulations  and rulings  thereunder.  References to a particular
section of the  Internal  Revenue  Code shall  include  references  to successor
provisions.

        (l) "IPO" means such term as defined in the first paragraph of the Plan.

        (m) "Minimum  Consideration"  means the $.01 par value per share or such
larger  amount  determined  pursuant  to  resolution  of the Board to be capital
within the meaning of Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

        (n) "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

        (o)  "Option  Price"  means  the per share  purchase  price of (i) Stock
subject to an option or (ii) restricted Stock subject to an option.

        (p)     [deleted]

        (q) "Plan" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

        (r) "Reload Option" has the meaning specified in Article 6(d).

        (s) "Retirement" means a Termination of Employment occurring on or after
an  individual  attains age 65, or a Termination  of Employment  approved by the
Company  as an  early  retirement;  provided  that in the case of a  Section  16
Grantee, such early retirement must be approved by the Committee.

        (t) "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                      -2-

        (u) "Section 16 Grantee" means a person  subject to potential  liability
with respect to equity securities of the Company under Section 16(b) of the 1934
Act.

        (v) "Stock" means common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.

        (x) "Subsidiary" means a corporation as defined in Section 424(f) of the
Internal   Revenue  Code,  with  the  Company  being  treated  as  the  employer
corporation for purposes of this definition.

        (y) "10% Owner" means a person who owns stock  (including  stock treated
as owned under Section 424(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) possessing more than
10% of the Voting Power of the Company.

        (z)  "Termination  of  Employment"  occurs  the  first  day on  which an
individual  is for any reason no longer  employed  by the  Company or any of its
Subsidiaries,  or  with  respect  to  an  individual  who  is an  employee  of a
Subsidiary,  the first day on which the Company no longer owns voting securities
possessing at least 50% of the Voting Power of such Subsidiary.

        (aa)   "Voting   Power"   means  the   combined   voting  power  of  the
then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors.

     3. SCOPE OF THE PLAN.

     (a) NUMBER OF SHARES  AVAILABLE  FOR DELIVERY  UNDER THE PLAN. A maximum of
36,000,000  shares of Stock may be  awarded  under the Plan.  Awards may be made
from  authorized but unissued  shares of Stock or from Treasury  Stock.  No more
than an aggregate  of 3,400,000  shares of the  aforesaid  36,000,000  shares of
Stock may be granted under Article 6(e) and (f). No more than  1,600,000  shares
of Stock may be granted as stock options to any employee  during the duration of
the Plan.

     (b) EFFECT OF  EXPIRATION  OR  TERMINATION.  If and to the extent an Award,
other than an Award granted under Article 6(e) or (f),shall  expire or terminate
for any  reason  without  having  been  exercised  in full  (including,  without
limitation,  a  cancellation  and  regrant  of an  option  pursuant  to  Article
4(c)(vii)),  or shall be forfeited,  without, in either case, the Grantee having
enjoyed any of the benefits of stock  ownership,  the shares of Stock associated
with such Award shall become available for other Awards. Except in the case of a
Reload  Option  granted to a Section 16  Grantee,  the grant of a Reload  Option
shall not reduce the number of shares of Stock available for other Awards.

     (c) TREASURY  STOCK.  The  Committee  shall have the authority to cause the
Company to  purchase  from time to time  shares of Stock to be held as  treasury
shares and used for or in connection with Awards.

                                      -3-

    
     (d) COMMITTEE  DISCRETION  TO CANCEL  OPTIONS.  The  Committee  may, in its
discretion, elect at any time, should it determine it is in the best interest of
the Company's  stockholders to cancel any options granted  hereunder,  to cancel
all or any of the  options  granted  hereunder  and pay the  holders of any such
options an amount  (payable in such proportion as the Committee may determine in
cash or in Stock  (valued  at the Fair  Market  Value of a share of Stock on the
date of  cancellation  of such  option))  equal to the number of shares of Stock
subject to such cancelled option, multiplied by the amount (if any) by which the
Fair Market Value of Stock on the date of cancellation of the option exceeds the
Option Price;  provided that if the Committee  should  determine that not making
payment of such amount to the holders of such option upon the cancellation would
be in the best  interests  of  stockholders  of the  Company  (ignoring  in such
determination the cost of such payment and considering only other matters),  the
Committee may void options  granted  hereunder and declare that no payment shall
be made to the holders of such options.

   4. ADMINISTRATION.

     (a) COMMITTEE  ADMINISTRATION.  Subject to Article 4(b),  the Plan shall be
administered by the Committee,  which shall consist of not less than two persons
appointed by the Board,  who are  directors of the Company and not  employees of
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries.  Membership on the  Committee  shall be
subject to such limitations (including, if appropriate,  a change in the minimum
number of members of the  Committee)  as the Board deems  appropriate  to permit
transactions  pursuant to the Plan to be exempt from potential  liability  under
Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act and to comply with Section 162 (m) of the Internal
Revenue Code.

     (b) BOARD  RESERVATION  AND  DELEGATION.  The Board may, in its discretion,
reserve to itself or  delegate to another  committee  of the Board any or all of
the authority  and  responsibility  of the  Committee  with respect to Awards to
Grantees  who are not  Section  16  Grantees  at the  time  any  such  delegated
authority or  responsibility  is exercised.  Such other committee may consist of
one or more  directors  who may,  but need not be,  officers or employees of the
Company or of any of its Subsidiaries. To the extent that the Board has reserved
to itself or delegated the authority and responsibility of the Committee to such
other  committee,  all  references to the Committee in the Plan shall be to such
other committee.

     (c) COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. The Committee shall have full and final authority,
in its sole and absolute  discretion,  but subject to the express  provisions of
the Plan, as follows:

          (i) to grant Awards,

          (ii) to determine  (A) when Awards may be granted,  and (B) whether or
     not specific Awards shall be identified with other specific Awards,  and if
     so, whether they shall be exercisable  cumulatively  with, or alternatively
     to, such other specific Awards,

          (iii) to interpret the Plan and to make all  determinations  necessary
     or advisable for 

                                      -4-


     the administration of the Plan,

          (iv) to prescribe,  amend, and rescind rules and regulations  relating
     to the Plan,  including,  without  limitation,  rules  with  respect to the
     exercisability  and  nonforfeitability  of Awards upon the  Termination  of
     Employment of a Grantee,

          (v) to determine  the terms and  provisions  of the Award  Agreements,
     which need not be identical and, with the consent of the Grantee, to modify
     any such Award Agreement at any time,

          (vi) to cancel  options in  accordance  with the  provision of Section
     3(d),

          (vii) except as provided in Section 4(c)(vi) hereof,  to cancel,  with
     the consent of the Grantee,  outstanding Awards, and to grant new Awards in
     substitution thereof,

          (viii) to accelerate the exercisability of, and to accelerate or waive
     any or all of the restrictions and conditions applicable to, any Award,

          (ix) to authorize  foreign  Subsidiaries to adopt plans as provided in
     Article 14,

          (x) to make such  adjustments or  modifications  to Awards to Grantees
     working outside the United States as are necessary and advisable to fulfill
     the purposes of the Plan,

          (xi) to  authorize  any  action  of or make any  determination  by the
     Company as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable for carrying out
     the purposes of the Plan,

          (xii) to make appropriate adjustments to, cancel or continue Awards in
     accordance with Article 22, and

          (xiii)  to  impose  such  additional  conditions,   restrictions,  and
     limitations  upon  the  grant,  exercise  or  retention  of  Awards  as the
     Committee  may,  before  or  concurrently  with  the  grant  thereof,  deem
     appropriate, including, without limitation, requiring simultaneous exercise
     of related  identified  Awards, and limiting the percentage of Awards which
     may from time to time be exercised by a Grantee.

     (d) COMMITTEE  DETERMINATIONS  FINAL. The determination of the Committee on
all matters  relating to the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be conclusive and
final.   No  member  of  the  Committee  shall  be  liable  for  any  action  or
determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award.

     5. ELIGIBILITY. Awards may be granted to any employee of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries. In selecting the individuals to whom Awards may be granted,
as well as in  determining  the  number of shares of Stock  subject  to, and the
other terms and conditions

                                      -5-

applicable  to, each Award,  the Committee  shall take into  consideration  such
factors as it deems relevant in promoting the purposes of the Plan.

       6.  CONDITIONS TO GRANTS.

        (a)     GENERAL CONDITIONS.

                (i) The  Grant  Date of an Award  shall be the date on which the
        Committee grants the Award or such later date as specified in advance by
        the Committee.

                (ii) The term of each Award  (subject to Articles  6(c) and 6(d)
        with   respect  to   incentive   stock   options  and  Reload   Options,
        respectively) shall be a period of not more than 12 years from the Grant
        Date, and shall be subject to earlier termination as herein provided.

               (iii) A Grantee may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional
          Awards in any combination.

                (iv) The  Committee  may grant Awards with terms and  conditions
        which differ among the Grantees thereof.  To the extent not set forth in
        the Plan,  the terms and  conditions of each Award shall be set forth in
        an Award Agreement.

        (b) GRANT OF  OPTIONS  AND  OPTION  PRICE.  The  Committee  may,  in its
discretion, grant options (which may be options to acquire unrestricted Stock or
restricted Stock) to any employee eligible under Article 5 to receive Awards. No
later than the Grant Date of any  option,  the  Committee  shall  determine  the
Option  Price;  provided  that the Option  Price  shall,  except as  provided in
subsection (c) below and in Article 15, not be less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of the Stock on the Grant Date.

        (c) GRANT OF INCENTIVE  STOCK  OPTIONS.  At the time of the grant of any
option,  the Committee  may designate  that such option shall be made subject to
additional  restrictions to permit it to qualify as an "incentive  stock option"
under the  requirements of Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code. Any option
designated as an incentive stock option:

                (i) shall have an Option  Price of (A) not less than 100% of the
        Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Grant Date or (B) in the case of a
        10% Owner,  not less than 110% of the Fair Market  Value of the Stock on
        the Grant Date;

                (ii) shall have a term of not more than 10 years (five years, in
        the case of a 10% Owner)  from the Grant  Date,  and shall be subject to
        earlier  termination  as  provided  herein  or in the  applicable  Award
        Agreement;

                (iii) shall not have an aggregate Fair Market Value  (determined
        for each incentive

                                      -6-


        stock option at its Grant Date) of Stock with respect to which incentive
        stock options are  exercisable for the first time by such Grantee during
        any calendar  year (under the Plan and any other  employee  stock option
        plan of the  Grantee's  employer  or any  parent or  subsidiary  thereof
        ("Other  Plans")),  determined  in  accordance  with the  provisions  of
        Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code,  which exceeds  $100,000 (the
        "$100,000 Limit");

                (iv)  shall,  if  the  aggregate  Fair  Market  Value  of  Stock
        (determined  on the Grant  Date)  with  respect to all  incentive  stock
        options  previously  granted  under the Plan and any Other Plans ("Prior
        Grants") and any incentive  stock options under such grant (the "Current
        Grant")  which are  exercisable  for the first time during any  calendar
        year would exceed the $100,000 Limit, be exercisable as follows:

                         (A) the portion of the Current  Grant  exercisable  for
                the first time by the  Grantee  during any  calendar  year which
                would  be,  when  added  to any  portions  of any  Prior  Grants
                exercisable  for the  first  time  by the  Grantee  during  such
                calendar  year  with  respect  to  stock  which  would  have  an
                aggregate  Fair Market Value  (determined  as of the  respective
                Grant Date for such  options)  in excess of the  $100,000  Limit
                shall,  notwithstanding  the  terms  of the  Current  Grant,  be
                exercisable  for the  first  time by the  Grantee  in the  first
                subsequent   calendar  year  or  years  in  which  it  could  be
                exercisable  for the first time by the Grantee when added to all
                Prior Grants without exceeding the $100,000 Limit; and

                         (B) if, viewed as of the date of the Current Grant, any
                portion  of a Current  Grant  could not be  exercised  under the
                provisions  of the  immediately  preceding  sentence  during any
                calendar year  commencing  with the calendar year in which it is
                first  exercisable  through and including the last calendar year
                in which it may by its terms be  exercised,  such portion of the
                Current Grant shall not be an incentive stock option,  but shall
                be exercisable as a separate option at such date or dates as are
                provided in the Current Grant;

                (v) shall be  granted  within 10 years  from the  earlier of the
        date  the Plan is  adopted  or the  date  the  Plan is  approved  by the
        stockholders of the Company; and

                (vi) shall  require the Grantee to notify the  Committee  of any
        disposition  of  any  Stock  issued  pursuant  to  the  exercise  of the
        incentive  stock  option  under the  circumstances  described in Section
        421(b) of the Internal  Revenue Code (relating to certain  disqualifying
        dispositions), within 10 days of such disposition.

Notwithstanding  the foregoing and Article  4(c)(v),  the Committee may take any
action with  respect to any option,  including  but not limited to an  incentive
stock  option,  without the  consent of the  Grantee,  in order to prevent  such
option from being treated as an incentive stock option.

     (d)  GRANT  OF  RELOAD  OPTIONS.  The  Committee  may  provide  in an Award
Agreement  

                                      -7-

that a Grantee who exercises all or any portion of an option for shares of Stock
which have a Fair Market  Value equal to not less than 100% of the Option  Price
for such options ("Exercised Options") and who paid the Option Price with shares
of Stock shall be granted,  subject to Article 3, an additional  option ("Reload
Option") for a number of shares of stock equal to the sum  ("Reload  Number") of
the  number of shares of Stock  tendered  or  withheld  in payment of the Option
Price for the  Exercised  Options  plus,  if so provided by the  Committee,  the
number of shares of Stock,  if any,  retained by the Company in connection  with
the exercise of the Exercised Options to satisfy any federal, state or local tax
withholding requirements.

        Reload Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

                (i) the Grant Date for each Reload  Option  shall be the date of
exercise of the Exercised Option to which it relates;

                (ii) subject to Article  6(d)(iii)  below, the Reload Option may
        be  exercised  at any time during the  unexpired  term of the  Exercised
        Option (subject to earlier  termination  thereof as provided in the Plan
        and in the applicable Award Agreement); and

                (iii) the terms of the  Reload  Option  shall be the same as the
        terms of the Exercised  Option to which it relates,  except that (A) the
        Option  Price shall be the Fair  Market  Value of the Stock on the Grant
        Date of the  Reload  Option and (B) no Reload  Option  may be  exercised
        within one year from the Grant Date thereof.

        (e)     GRANT OF SHARES OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

               (i)  The  Committee  may,  in its  discretion,  grant  shares  of
          restricted  Stock to any employee  eligible under Article 5 to receive
          Awards.

               (ii)  Before the grant of any  shares of  restricted  Stock,  the
          Committee shall determine, in its discretion:

                    (A)  whether  the  certificates  for  such  shares  shall be
               delivered  to the  Grantee or held  (together  with a stock power
               executed in blank by the  Grantee) in escrow by the  Secretary of
               the  Company  until  such  shares  become  nonforfeitable  or are
               forfeited,

                    (B) the per share purchase  price of such shares,  which may
               be zero provided, however, that

                         (1) the per  share  purchase  price of all such  shares
                    (other  than  treasury  shares)  shall  not be less than the
                    Minimum Consideration for each such share; and

                                      -8-

          
                         (2) if such  shares  are to be  granted to a Section 16
                    Grantee,  the per share  purchase  price of any such  shares
                    shall also be at least 50% of the Fair  Market  Value of the
                    Stock on the Grant Date  unless  such shares are granted for
                    no monetary consideration (in which case treasury shares are
                    to be delivered) or with a purchase price per share equal to
                    the Minimum Consideration for the Stock, and

                          (C)  the restrictions applicable to such grant;

                (iii)  Payment of the purchase  price (if greater than zero) for
        shares of restricted  Stock shall be made in full by the Grantee  before
        the  delivery of such  shares  and, in any event,  no later than 10 days
        after the Grant Date for such shares.  Such payment may, at the election
        of the Grantee, be made in any one or any combination of the following:

                         (A)      cash,

                         (B) Stock  valued at its Fair Market  Value on the date
                of payment or, if the date of payment is not a business day, the
                next succeeding business day, or

                         (C) with  the  approval  of the  Committee,  shares  of
                restricted  Stock,  each  valued at the Fair  Market  Value of a
                share of Stock on the date of payment or, if the date of payment
                is not a business day, the next succeeding business day

provided, however, that, in the case of payment in Stock or restricted Stock,

                                  (1) the use of  Stock or  restricted  Stock in
                         payment of such purchase  price by a Section 16 Grantee
                         is subject to (i) the  availability  of an exemption of
                         such  use  of  stock  from  potential  liability  under
                         Section   16(b)   of  the   1934   Act,   or  (ii)  the
                         inapplicability of such Section;

                                  (2) in the  discretion of the Committee and to
                         the extent  permitted by law,  payment may also be made
                         in accordance with Article 9; and

                                  (3) if the purchase price for restricted Stock
                         ("New  Restricted   Stock")  is  paid  with  shares  of
                         restricted   Stock  ("Old   Restricted   Stock"),   the
                         restrictions  applicable  to the New  Restricted  Stock
                         shall  be the same as if the  Grantee  had paid for the
                         New Restricted Stock in cash unless, in the judgment of
                         the Committee,  the Old Restricted Stock was subject to
                         a greater risk of forfeiture, in which case a number of
                         shares of New  Restricted  Stock equal to the number of
                         shares of Old Restricted  Stock tendered in payment for
                         New  Restricted  Stock  may  in the  discretion  of the
                         Committee  be subject to the same  restrictions  as the
                         Old Restricted Stock,

                                      -9-

                         determined immediately before such payment.

                (iv) The  Committee  may, but need not,  provide that all or any
        portion of a Grantee's Award of restricted Stock shall be forfeited

                    (A) except as otherwise  specified  in the Award  Agreement,
               upon the Grantee's  Termination of Employment  within a specified
               time period after the Grant Date, or

                    (B) if the Company or the Grantee does not achieve specified
               performance  goals within a specified time period after the Grant
               Date and before the Grantee's Termination of Employment, or

                    (C) upon failure to satisfy such other  restrictions  as the
               Committee may specify in the Award Agreement.

                (v) If a share of restricted Stock is forfeited, then

                    (A) the Grantee shall be deemed to have resold such share of
               restricted Stock to the Company at the lesser of (1) the purchase
               price paid by the Grantee (such purchase price shall be deemed to
               be zero  dollars  ($0) if no purchase  price was paid) or (2) the
               Fair  Market  Value  of a  share  of  Stock  on the  date of such
               forfeiture;

                    (B)  the  Company  shall  pay  to  the  Grantee  the  amount
               determined  under  clause  (A) of  this  sentence  as  soon as is
               administratively practical; and

                    (C)  such  share  of  restricted  Stock  shall  cease  to be
               outstanding,  and shall no longer  confer on the Grantee  thereof
               any rights as a  stockholder  of the Company,  from and after the
               date of the Company's  tender of the payment  specified in clause
               (B) of this  sentence,  whether or not such tender is accepted by
               the Grantee.

                (vi) Any share of  restricted  Stock  shall bear an  appropriate
        legend specifying that such share is non-transferable and subject to the
        restrictions  set forth in the Plan. If any shares of  restricted  Stock
        become  nonforfeitable,  the Company shall cause  certificates  for such
        shares to be issued or reissued without such legend and delivered to the
        Grantee or, at the request of the Grantee, shall cause such shares to be
        credited to a brokerage account specified by the Grantee.

     (f) GRANT OF  UNRESTRICTED  STOCK.  The Committee  may, in its  discretion,
grant shares of unrestricted  Stock to any employee  eligible under Article 5 to
receive Awards.

                                      -10-
    
     7.  LIMITATIONS  ON  TRANSFERABILITY.  Except as otherwise  provided in the
terms of a specific grant,  each Award (other than  unrestricted  Stock) granted
hereunder  shall by its terms not be  assignable or  transferable  other than by
will or the laws of descent and  distribution  and may be exercised,  during the
Grantee's lifetime, only by the Grantee. Each share of restricted Stock shall be
non-transferable  until such share becomes  nonforfeitable.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing,  the Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion,  to grant
(or to sanction by way of amendment  of an existing  grant)  nonqualified  stock
options the vested  portions of which may be  transferred  by the Grantee during
his  lifetime  to  (a)  any  member  of his  immediate  family,  (b) to a  trust
established  for the exclusive  benefit of himself or one or more members of his
immediate family, or (c) to a partnership,  the partners of which are limited to
the Grantee and members of his  immediate  family.  A transfer of a stock option
pursuant  to this  section 7 may only be  effected by the Company at the written
request  of a Grantee  and shall  become  effective  only when  recorded  in the
Company=s  record of outstanding  stock options.  In the event a stock option is
transferred as contemplated in this section 7 any Reload Options associated with
such transferred stock option shall terminate, and such transferred stock option
may not be subsequently transferred by the transferee except by will or the laws
of descent  and  distribution.  Otherwise,  a  transferred  stock  option  shall
continue to be governed by and subject to the terms and  limitations of the Plan
and the relevant grant,  and the transferee shall be entitled to the same rights
as the Grantee,  as if no transfer  had taken place.  As used in this section 7,
Aimmediate  family@ shall mean, with respect to any person,  his/her spouse, any
child,  stepchild or grandchild,  and shall include  relationships  arising from
legal adoption.

      8. EXERCISE.

     (a) EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Subject to Articles 4(c)(vii), 14 and 17, and such
terms  and  conditions  as the  Committee  may  impose,  each  option  shall  be
exercisable  in one or more  installments  commencing not earlier than the first
anniversary  of the Grant Date of such option.  Options shall not be exercisable
for twelve months following a hardship  distribution that is subject to Treasury
Regulation  '   1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(B)(4),   except  to  the  extent  permitted
thereunder.  Options shall not be  exercisable  for less than 25 shares of Stock
unless  the  exercise  represents  the  entire  remaining  balance of a grant or
grants.  Each option  shall be  exercised  by delivery to the Company of written
notice of intent to purchase a specific  number of shares of Stock or restricted
Stock  subject  to the  option.  The  Option  Price  of any  shares  of Stock or
restricted  Stock as to which an option shall be exercised shall be paid in full
at the time of the  exercise.  Payment may, at the  election of the Grantee,  be
made in any one or any combination of the following forms:

          (i) check in such form as may be satisfactory to the Committee,

          (ii) Stock valued at its Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or,
     if the date of exercise is not a business day, the next succeeding business
     day,

          (iii) with the approval of the Committee,  shares of restricted Stock,
     each  valued  

                                      -11-

     at the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise or, if
     the date of exercise is not a business  day, the next  succeeding  business
     day,

          (iv)  through   simultaneous  sale  through  a  broker  of  shares  of
     unrestricted Stock acquired on exercise, as permitted under Regulation T of
     the Federal Reserve Board, or

          (v) by  authorizing  the  Company  in his or  her  written  notice  of
     exercise to  withhold  from  issuance a number of shares of Stock  issuable
     upon  exercise of such option  which,  when  multiplied  by the Fair Market
     Value of Common Stock on the date of exercise  (or, if the date of exercise
     is not a business day, the next  succeeding  business day), is equal to the
     aggregate Option Price payable with respect to the option so exercised.

        In the  event a Grantee  elects to pay the  Option  Price  payable  with
respect to an option  pursuant to clause (ii) above,  (A) only a whole number of
share(s)  of Stock  (and not  fractional  shares of Stock)  may be  tendered  in
payment,  (B) such Grantee must present evidence  acceptable to the Company that
he or she has owned any such  shares of Stock  tendered in payment of the Option
Price  (and that such  shares of Stock  tendered  have not been  subject  to any
substantial  risk of  forfeiture)  for at least six months  prior to the date of
exercise,  and (C) Stock must be delivered to the Company.  Delivery may, at the
election of the Grantee,  be made either by (I)  delivery of the  certificate(s)
for  all  such  shares  of  Stock  tendered  in  payment  of the  Option  Price,
accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer in a form acceptable to the
Company,  or (II) direction to the Grantee=s broker to transfer,  by book entry,
such  shares of Stock from a  brokerage  account of the  Grantee to a  brokerage
account  specified by the  Company.  When payment of the Option Price is made by
tender of Stock,  the  difference,  if any,  between the aggregate  Option Price
payable with respect to the option being  exercised and the Fair Market Value of
the share(s) of Stock tendered in payment (plus any  applicable  taxes) shall be
paid by check.  No Grantee may tender shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value
exceeding  the  aggregate  Option Price payable with respect to the Option being
exercised

        In the  event a Grantee  elects to pay the  Option  Price  payable  with
respect to an option  pursuant to clause (v) above,  (A) only a whole  number of
share(s)  of Stock  (and not  fractional  shares of Stock)  may be  withheld  in
payment and (B) such  Grantee must present  evidence  acceptable  to the Company
that he or she has  owned a number  of  shares  of  Stock at least  equal to the
number of shares of Stock to be  withheld  in payment  of the Option  Price (and
that such owned shares of Stock have not been subject to any substantial risk of
forfeiture) for at least six months prior to the date of exercise.  When payment
of the  Option  Price  is  made by the  withholding  of  shares  of  Stock,  the
difference,  if any,  between the aggregate Option Price payable with respect to
the option  being  exercised  and the Fair Market Value of the share(s) of Stock
withheld  in payment  (plus any  applicable  taxes)  shall be paid by check.  No
Grantee may  authorize the  withholding  of shares of Stock having a Fair Market
Value  exceeding the  aggregate  Option Price payable with respect to the option
being exercised.  Any withheld shares of Stock shall no longer be issuable under
such option.

                                      -12-

        If restricted  Stock  ("Tendered  Restricted  Stock") is used to pay the
Option Price for Stock, then a number of shares of Stock acquired on exercise of
the option equal to the number of shares of Tendered  Restricted  Stock shall be
subject to the same restrictions as the Tendered Restricted Stock, determined as
of the date of exercise of the option.  If the Option Price for restricted Stock
is paid with Tendered Restricted Stock, and if the Committee determines that the
restricted  Stock acquired on exercise of the option is subject to  restrictions
("Greater Restrictions") that cause it to have a greater risk of forfeiture than
the Tendered Restricted Stock, then notwithstanding the preceding sentence,  all
the restricted Stock acquired on exercise of the option shall be subject to such
Greater Restrictions.

        Shares of  unrestricted  Stock  acquired  by a Grantee on exercise of an
option  shall be  delivered  to the Grantee  or, at the request of the  Grantee,
shall be credited directly to a brokerage account specified by the Grantee.

     (b) SPECIAL RULES FOR SECTION 16 GRANTEES. Subject to Article 15, no option
shall be  exercisable  by a Section 16 Grantee during the first six months after
its Grant Date, if such exercise (or the sale of shares  received upon exercise)
would result in the loss of an exemption  for a grant under Section 16(b) of the
1934 Act.

     (c) PERMISSIBLE SHARES ISSUED. No shares of Stock shall be issued hereunder
upon option  exercise  except shares of Stock available under Article 3(a). Each
Grantee, by acceptance of an award, waives all rights to specific performance or
injunctive or other equitable  relief and  acknowledges  that he has an adequate
remedy at law in the form of damages.

     9.   LOANS AND GUARANTEES. The Committee may, in its discretion:

     (a) allow a Grantee to defer  payment to the  Company of all or any portion
of (i) the Option  Price of an  option,  (ii) the  purchase  price of a share of
restricted  Stock, or (iii) any taxes associated with a benefit  hereunder which
is not a cash benefit at the time such benefit is so taxable, or

     (b)  cause  the  Company  to  guarantee  a loan  from a third  party to the
Grantee, in an amount equal to all or any portion of such Option Price, purchase
price, or any related taxes.

Any such payment deferral or guarantee by the Company pursuant to this Article 9
shall be, on a secured or unsecured  basis,  for such periods,  at such interest
rates,  and on such other terms and  conditions as the Committee may  determine.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  a Grantee  shall not be  entitled to defer the
payment of such Option Price,  purchase  price,  or any related taxes unless the
Grantee (i) enters into a binding obligation to pay the deferred amount and (ii)
except with respect to treasury shares, pays upon exercise of an option or grant
of shares of restricted Stock, as the case may be, an amount equal to or greater
than  the  aggregate  Minimum  Consideration  therefor.  If  the  Committee  has
permitted a payment deferral or caused the Company to guarantee

                                      -13-


a loan  pursuant to this Article 9, then the Committee  may, in its  discretion,
require the immediate  payment of such deferred amount or the immediate  release
of such guarantee upon the Grantee's Termination of Employment or if the Grantee
sells or otherwise transfers the Grantee's shares of Stock purchased pursuant to
such deferral or guarantee.

     10.  NOTIFICATION UNDER SECTION 83(B). The Committee may, on the Grant Date
or any later date,  prohibit a Grantee from making the election described below.
If the Committee has not prohibited such Grantee from making such election,  and
the Grantee shall, in connection  with the exercise of any option,  or the grant
of any share of  restricted  Stock,  make the election  permitted  under Section
83(b) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code  (i.e.,  an  election  to  include in such
Grantee's gross income in the year of transfer the amounts  specified in Section
83(b) of the Internal  Revenue  Code),  such Grantee shall notify the Company of
such election  within 10 days of filing notice of the election with the Internal
Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to
regulations  issued under the authority of Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code.

     11. MANDATORY WITHHOLDING TAXES.

     (a)  Whenever  under the Plan,  cash or shares of Stock are to be delivered
upon  exercise  or  payment  of an  Award or upon a share  of  restricted  Stock
becoming nonforfeitable,  or any other event with respect to rights and benefits
hereunder,  the Company  shall be entitled to require as a condition of delivery
(i) that the Grantee remit an amount  sufficient to satisfy all federal,  state,
and local withholding tax requirements related thereto,  (ii) the withholding of
such sums from  compensation  otherwise due to the Grantee or from any shares of
Stock  due to the  Grantee  under  the  Plan or  (iii)  any  combination  of the
foregoing.

     (b) If any disqualifying  disposition described in Article 6(c)(vi) is made
with respect to shares of Stock acquired under an incentive stock option granted
pursuant to the Plan or any election  described in Article 10 is made,  then the
person  making such  disqualifying  disposition  or election  shall remit to the
Company  an  amount  sufficient  to  satisfy  all  federal,   state,  and  local
withholding taxes thereby incurred;  provided that, in lieu of or in addition to
the  foregoing,  the  Company  shall have the right to  withhold  such sums from
compensation otherwise due to the Grantee or from any shares of Stock due to the
Grantee under the Plan.

     12.  ELECTIVE SHARE WITHHOLDING

     (a) Subject to the prior  approval of the Committee and to Article 12(b), a
Grantee  may elect the  withholding  ("Share  Withholding")  by the Company of a
portion of the shares of Stock  otherwise  deliverable  to such Grantee upon the
exercise or payment of an Award or upon a share of restricted  Stock's  becoming
nonforfeitable (each a "Taxable Event") having a Fair Market Value equal to

          (i) the minimum amount necessary to satisfy required  federal,  state,
     or local 

                                      -14-

     withholding tax liability attributable to the Taxable Event; or

          (ii) with the  Committee's  prior approval,  a greater amount,  not to
     exceed the estimated  total amount of such  Grantee's  tax  liability  with
     respect to the Taxable Event.

     (b) Each Share  Withholding  election by a Grantee  shall be subject to the
following restrictions:

          (i) any Grantee's  election shall be subject to the Committee's  right
     to revoke its  approval of Share  Withholding  by such  Grantee at any time
     before the Grantee's election if the Committee has reserved the right to do
     so at the time of its approval;

          (ii) if the Grantee is a Section 16 Grantee,  such Grantee's  election
     shall be subject to the  disapproval of the Committee at any time,  whether
     or not the Committee has reserved the right to do so; and

          (iii) the  Grantee's  election  must be made before the date (the "Tax
     Date") on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.

          13.  TERMINATION  OF  EMPLOYMENT.  

          (a) RESTRICTED STOCK. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee on
     or after the Grant Date, a Grantee's  shares of  restricted  Stock that are
     forfeitable   shall  be  forfeited   upon  the  Grantee's   Termination  of
     Employment.

          (b) OTHER AWARDS. If a Grantee has a Termination of Employment,  then,
     unless otherwise provided in the Grant Agreement, any unexercised option to
     the  extent  exercisable  on the  date  of  the  Grantee's  Termination  of
     Employment  may be exercised by the  Grantee,  in whole or in part,  at any
     time within three months following such  Termination of Employment,  except
     that

               (i) if the Grantee's  Termination  of Employment is on account of
          Disability,  then any unexercised  option to the extent exercisable at
          the date of such Termination of Employment, may be exercised, in whole
          or in part, by the Grantee at any time within two years after the date
          of such Termination of Employment; and

               (ii) if the Grantee's  Termination of Employment is on account of
          Retirement,  then any unexercised  option to the extent exercisable at
          the date of such Termination of Employment, may be exercised, in whole
          or in part,  by the  Grantee at any time  within  five years after the
          date of such Termination of Employment; and

               (iii) if the Grantee's Termination of Employment is caused by the
          death of the  Grantee  or if the  Grantee's  death  occurs  during the
          period following Termination of

                                      -15-

          Employment  during  which the option  would be  exercisable  under the
          preceding  clause of Article 13(b) or under Article  13(b)(i) or (ii),
          then any unexercised  option to the extent  exercisable on the date of
          the Grantee's  death,  may be  exercised,  in whole or in part, at any
          time  within  two years  after the  Grantee's  death by the  Grantee's
          personal  representative  or by the  person  to  whom  the  option  is
          transferred   by  will  or  the   applicable   laws  of  descent   and
          distribution.

     (c) Maximum  Extension.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  no Award shall be
exercisable beyond the maximum term permitted under the original Award Agreement
unless the Committee  explicitly  extends such original term, in which case such
term shall not be extended beyond the maximum term permitted by the Plan.

     14.  EQUITY  INCENTIVE  PLANS OF FOREIGN  SUBSIDIARIES.  The  Committee may
authorize any foreign  Subsidiary to adopt a plan for granting Awards  ("Foreign
Equity Incentive Plan").  All awards granted under such Foreign Equity Incentive
Plans shall be treated as grants under the Plan.  Such Foreign Equity  Incentive
Plans  shall  have such  terms  and  provisions  as the  Committee  permits  not
inconsistent  with the provisions of the Plan and which may be more  restrictive
than those  contained in the Plan.  Awards  granted  under such  Foreign  Equity
Incentive  Plans shall be governed by the terms of the Plan except to the extent
that the provisions of the Foreign Equity  Incentive Plans are more  restrictive
than the  terms of the Plan,  in which  case such  terms of the  Foreign  Equity
Incentive Plans shall control.

     15.  SUBSTITUTED  AWARDS. The Committee may grant substitute awards for any
cancelled  Award granted  under this Plan or any plan of any entity  acquired by
the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  in accordance  with this Article 15. If
the  Committee  cancels any Award  (granted  under this Plan, or any plan of any
entity acquired by the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries),  and a new Award is
substituted therefor,  then the Committee may, in its discretion,  determine the
terms and  conditions of such new Award,  and may provide that the Grant Date of
the  cancelled  Award shall be the date used to determine  the earliest  date or
dates for  exercising the new  substituted  Award under Article 8 hereof so that
the  Grantee  may  exercise  the  substituted  Award at the same  time as if the
Grantee had held the  substituted  Award  since the Grant Date of the  cancelled
Award.

     16. SECURITIES LAW MATTERS.

     (a) If the Committee  deems  necessary to comply with the Securities Act of
1933, the Committee may require a written  investment  intent  representation by
the Grantee and may require that a restrictive legend be affixed to certificates
for shares of Stock.

     (b) If based upon the opinion of counsel  for the  Company,  the  Committee
determines  that the exercise or  nonforfeitability  of, or delivery of benefits
pursuant to, any Award could violate any applicable  provision of (i) federal or
state  securities  law or regulations  or (ii) the listing  requirements  of any
national securities exchange on which are listed any of the

                                      -16-

Company's equity securities,  then the Committee may postpone any such exercise,
nonforfeitability or delivery, as the case may be, but the Company shall use its
best  efforts to cause such  exercise,  nonforfeitability  or delivery to comply
with all such provisions at the earliest practicable date.

     17. NO  FUNDING  REQUIRED.  Benefits  payable  under the Plan to any person
shall be paid  directly by the  Company.  The  Company  shall not be required to
fund, or otherwise  segregate  assets to be used for payment of,  benefits under
the Plan.

     18. NO EMPLOYMENT  RIGHTS.  Neither the  establishment of the Plan, nor the
granting  of any Award shall be  construed  to (a) give any Grantee the right to
remain employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any benefits not
specifically  provided by the Plan or (b) in any manner  modify the right of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  to modify,  amend,  or terminate any of its
employee benefit plans.

     19.  RIGHTS AS A  STOCKHOLDEr.  A Grantee shall not, by reason of any Award
(other than  restricted  Stock) have any right as a  stockholder  of the Company
with respect to the shares of Stock which may be  deliverable  upon  exercise or
payment of such Award until such shares have been  delivered  to him.  Shares of
restricted  Stock  held by a Grantee or held in escrow by the  Secretary  of the
Company shall confer on the Grantee all rights of a stockholder  of the Company,
except as otherwise provided in the Plan or the Award Agreement.  The Committee,
in its  discretion,  at the time of grant of  restricted  Stock,  may  permit or
require  the  payment of cash  dividends  thereon  to be  deferred  and,  if the
Committee so determines, reinvested in additional restricted Stock to the extent
shares are available  under Article 3, or otherwise  reinvested in Stock.  Stock
dividends,  deferred cash  dividends and dividends in the form of property other
than cash,  issued with  respect to  restricted  Stock shall,  unless  otherwise
provided in the Award Agreement,  be treated as additional  shares of restricted
Stock that are subject to the same  restrictions and other terms as apply to the
shares with respect to which such  dividends are issued.  The Committee  may, in
its  discretion,  provide for crediting and payment of interest on deferred cash
dividends.

     20. NATURE OF PAYMENTS. Any and all grants, payments of cash, or deliveries
of shares of Stock hereunder shall constitute  special incentive payments to the
Grantee and shall not be taken into account in computing the amount of salary or
compensation  of the  Grantee  for the  purposes  of  determining  any  pension,
retirement,   death  or  other  benefits  under  (a)  any  pension,  retirement,
profit-sharing,  bonus,  life  insurance or other  employee  benefit plan of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries or (b) any agreement  between the Company or
any Subsidiary,  on the one hand, and the Grantee,  on the other hand, except as
such plan or agreement shall otherwise expressly provide.

     21.  NON-UNIFORM  DETERMINATIONS.  Neither the  Committee's nor the Board's
determinations  under the Plan need be uniform and may be made by the  Committee
or the Board selectively among persons who receive,  or are eligible to receive,
Awards (whether or not such

                                      -17-

persons  are  similarly  situated).  Without  limiting  the  generality  of  the
foregoing,  the  Committee  shall  be  entitled,  among  other  things,  to make
non-uniform  and  selective  determinations,   to  enter  into  non-uniform  and
selective Award Agreements as to (a) the identity of the Grantees, (b) the terms
and  provisions  of  Awards,  and  (c)  the  treatment,  under  Article  13,  of
Terminations of Employment.

     22.  ADJUSTMENTS.  The  Committee may make such  provision  with respect to
Awards, including without limitation, equitable adjustment of

     (a) the aggregate  numbers of shares of Stock available under Articles 3(a)
and 3(b),

     (b) the number of shares of Stock or shares of restricted  Stock covered by
an Award, and

     (c) the Option Price, or

the  termination  or  continuation  of  an  Award  as  it  may  determine  to be
appropriate  and  equitable to reflect a stock  dividend,  stock split,  reverse
stock  split,  share  combination,   recapitalization,   merger,  consolidation,
acquisition of property or shares, separation, spin-off,  reorganization,  stock
rights offering, liquidation, or similar event, of or by the Company.

     23.  AMENDMENT  OF THE  PLAN.  The  Board  may  from  time  to  time in its
discretion  amend or modify the Plan without the approval of the stockholders of
the Company,  except as such stockholder  approval may be required (a) to permit
transactions in Stock pursuant to the Plan to be exempt from potential liability
under  Section  16(b) of the 1934 Act,  (b) to permit the Company to deduct,  in
computing  its income tax liability  pursuant to the  provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code,  compensation resulting from Awards, (c) to retain incentive stock
option  treatment  under Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code, or (d) under
the listing  requirements of any securities  exchange on which are listed any of
the Company's equity securities.

     24.  TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall  terminate on the tenth (10th)
anniversary  of the  Effective  Date or at such  earlier  time as the  Board may
determine.  Any  termination,  whether in whole or in part, shall not affect (a)
any Award then outstanding  under the Plan, or (b) the Company's ability to make
adjustments to or cancel or continue Awards in accordance with Article 22.

     25. NO ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS. The Plan and all Awards granted pursuant to it
are subject to all laws and regulations of any governmental  authority which may
be  applicable  thereto;  and  notwithstanding  any provision of the Plan or any
Award, Grantees shall not be entitled to exercise Awards or receive the benefits
thereof and the Company  shall not be  obligated to deliver any Stock or pay any
benefits to a Grantee if such exercise, delivery, receipt or payment of benefits
would  constitute a violation by the Grantee or the Company of any  provision of
any such law or regulation.

                                      -18-

     26.  CONTROLLING  LAW. The law of the State of Delaware except its law with
respect to choice of law,  shall be  controlling  in all matters  relating to or
arising out of the Plan or any Award.

     27.  SEVERABILITY.  If all or any part of the Plan is declared by any court
or  governmental  authority  to be  unlawful or invalid,  such  unlawfulness  or
invalidity shall not serve to invalidate any portion of the Plan not declared to
be  unlawful  or  invalid.  Any  Article or part of an Article so declared to be
unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give
effect to the terms of such Article or part of an Article to the fullest  extent
possible while remaining lawful and valid.

















                                      -19-



                                                                   Exhibit 10.19


                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS

            As Amended and Restated effective as of November 10, 1998

I.       PURPOSE.

         The  purpose of The  Allstate  Corporation  Equity  Incentive  Plan for
Non-Employee  Directors (the "Plan") is to promote the interests of The Allstate
Corporation  (the "Company") by providing an inducement to obtain and retain the
services of  qualified  persons as members of the  Company's  Board of Directors
(the  "Board") and to align more closely the  interests of such persons with the
interests of the Company's  stockholders  by providing a significant  portion of
the  compensation  provided to such persons in the form of equity  securities of
the Company.

II.      ADMINISTRATION.

         The Plan shall be  administered  by the Committee.  The Committee shall
have full power to  construe  and  interpret  the Plan and  Shares  and  Options
granted  hereunder,  to establish and amend rules for its  administration and to
correct any defect or omission and to reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or
in any Share or Option  granted  hereunder  to the  extent the  Committee  deems
desirable  to carry  the Plan or any  Share or  Option  granted  hereunder  into
effect.  Any decisions of the Committee in the  administration of the Plan shall
be final and  conclusive.  The  Committee  may  authorize any one or more of its
members, the secretary of the Committee or any officer of the Company to execute
and deliver documents on behalf of the Committee.  Each member of the Committee,
and, to the extent provided by the Committee, any other person to whom duties or
powers shall be delegated in connection with the Plan,  shall incur no liability
with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken in  connection  with the
Plan and shall be fully  protected  in  relying in good faith upon the advice of
counsel, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

III.     ELIGIBILITY.

         Each  Non-Employee  Director  shall be eligible to  participate  in the
Plan.

IV.      LIMITATION ON AGGREGATE SHARES.

         A. MAXIMUM  NUMBER OF SHARES.  The aggregate  maximum  number of Shares
that may be granted  pursuant  to the Plan or issued  upon  exercise  of Options
granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be 580,000  shares.  Such maximum  number of
Shares is subject to adjustment under the provisions of Section IV.B. The Shares
to be granted or issued upon exercise of Options may be authorized  but unissued
Shares or Shares previously issued which have been reacquired by the

                                       1

Company.  In the  event  any  Option or Reload  Option  shall,  for any  reason,
terminate or expire or be surrendered without having been exercised in full, the
Shares  subject to such  Option or Reload  Option but not  purchased  thereunder
shall be available for future  Options or Reload Options to be granted under the
Plan.

         B. ADJUSTMENt. The maximum number of Shares referred to in Section IV.A
of the Plan,  the number of Shares  granted  pursuant to Section VI of the Plan,
the number of Options  granted  pursuant  to  Section  VII of the Plan,  and the
option  price  and the  number  of  Shares  which  may be  purchased  under  any
outstanding   Option   granted   under   Section   VII  of  the  Plan  shall  be
proportionately  adjusted  for any  increase or decrease in the number of issued
and  outstanding  Shares as the result of (i) the  declaration  and payment of a
dividend  payable  in  Common  Stock,  or  the  division  of  the  Common  Stock
outstanding at the date hereof (or the date of the grant of any such outstanding
Option,  as  applicable)  into a greater number of Shares without the receipt of
consideration  therefor by the Company,  or any other  increase in the number of
such  Shares of the Company  outstanding  at the date hereof (or the date of the
grant of any such outstanding  Option, as applicable) which is effective without
the receipt of  consideration  therefor by the Company  (exclusive of any Shares
granted by the Company to  employees  of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
without  receipt  of  separate  consideration  by  the  Company),  or  (ii)  the
consolidation  of the Shares  outstanding at the date hereof (or the date of the
grant of any such  outstanding  Option,  as applicable) into a smaller number of
Shares without the payment of consideration thereof by the Company, or any other
decrease  in the number of such  Shares  outstanding  at the date hereof (or the
date of the  grant of any  such  outstanding  Option,  as  applicable)  effected
without the payment of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that the
total option  price for all Shares  which may be purchased  upon the exercise of
any Option granted  pursuant to the Plan (computed by multiplying  the number of
Shares originally purchasable  thereunder,  reduced by the number of such Shares
which have theretofore been purchased  thereunder,  by the original option price
per share  before  any of the  adjustments  herein  provided  for)  shall not be
changed.

         In the event of a change in the Common Stock as  presently  constituted
which is limited to a change of the Company's authorized shares with a par value
into the same number of shares with a different  par value or without par value,
the shares  resulting from any such change will be deemed to be the Common Stock
within the meaning of this Plan and no adjustment  will be required  pursuant to
this Section IV.B.

         The  foregoing  adjustments  shall  be  made  by the  Committee,  whose
determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as
expressly  provided in this Section IV.B, a Non-Employee  Director shall have no
rights by reason of any subdivision or  consolidation  of shares of stock of any
class or the payment of any stock  dividend or any other increase or decrease in
the number of shares of stock of any class.

V.       DEFINITIONs.

         The  following  terms shall have the meanings set forth below when used
herein:

                                       2

 
        "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "COMMITTEE"  means the  Compensation  and  Nominating  Committee of the
Board, any successor  committee of the Board performing similar functions or, in
the absence of such a committee, the Board.

         "COMMON  STOCK" means the Common Stock,   par value $.01 per share,  of
     the Company.

         "DISABILITY" means a mental or physical condition which, in the opinion
of the Committee, renders a Non-Employee Director unable or incompetent to carry
out his or her  duties as a member of the  Board  and  which is  expected  to be
permanent or for an indefinite duration.

         "ELECTION  SHARES" means any Shares issued to a  Non-Employee  Director
pursuant to the  election of such person to receive  such Shares in lieu of cash
compensation made in accordance with Section VIII.B.

         "ERISA" means the  Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
     amended.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         "FAIR MARKET VALUE" of any Share means, as of any applicable  date, the
mean  between  the high and low prices of the Shares as reported on the New York
Stock  Exchange-Composite  Tape, or if no such reported sale of the Shares shall
have occurred on such date, on the next  succeeding date on which there was such
a reported sale.

         "INITIAL  ELECTION DATE" means,  for each  Non-Employee  Director,  the
later to occur of (i) the date the Plan is approved and adopted by the Company's
stockholders  pursuant  to Section  XIII of the Plan,  and (ii) the date of such
member's initial election or appointment to the Board.

         "NON-EMPLOYEE  DIRECTOR"  means each  member of the Board who is not an
officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

         "OPTION" means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock.

         "SHARES" means shares of Common Stock.

         "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

                                       3

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.

VI.      FORMULA RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS.

         A. ANNUAL GRANT OF SHARES. Beginning December 1, 1998, on December 1 of
each year 1,000  Shares  shall  automatically  be  granted to each  Non-Employee
Director serving on the Board on such date who has served in such capacity since
June 1 of such year. If any person serving as a Non-Employee  Director on June 1
of any year ceases to serve as a director of the Company  prior to December 1 of
such year, such director shall be  automatically  granted on his or her last day
of service a number of Shares equal to (i) 1,000  multiplied by (ii) a fraction,
the numerator of which is the number of full calendar  months such  Non-Employee
Director has served on the Board during the period  beginning on such June 1 and
ending on such  director's  last date of service and the denominator of which is
6.

         B.  GRANT  FOR  NEWLY  APPOINTED  DIRECTORS.  If after  June 1,  1998 a
Non-Employee  Director is initially  elected or appointed to the Board effective
on any date other than June 1, such Non-Employee Director shall automatically be
granted,  on the June 1  following  the date he or she  joins the Board (or such
earlier  date as he or she  ceases to serve as a  director),  a number of Shares
equal to (i) 1,000 multiplied by (ii) a fraction,  the numerator of which is the
number of full  calendar  months such  Non-Employee  Director  has served on the
Board during the period beginning on the date such director joined the Board and
ending on the  following  May 31 (or such  earlier  date as he or she  ceases to
serve as a  director)  and the  denominator  of which is 6;  provided  that such
fraction shall in no event be greater than one.


         C. ROUNDING OF SHARE  AMOUNTS.  To the extent that  application  of the
foregoing  formulas  would  result in  fractional  Shares being  issuable,  such
Non-Employee  Director  shall be granted a number of Shares equal to the nearest
whole number of Shares.

         D. PAYMENT FOR ESTIMATED  TAXES. In addition,  the Company shall pay to
each Non-Employee  Director, in cash, as soon as practicable after each issuance
of Shares pursuant to this Section VI, an amount equal to the estimated increase
in such Non-Employee  Director's  federal,  state and local tax liabilities as a
result of such grant of Shares, assuming the maximum statutory

                                       4

tax rates applicable to such Non-Employee Director.

         E. RESTRICTIONS.  The Non-Employee  Directors shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to any Shares to be granted pursuant to this Section VI
prior to the time such Shares are granted.  Upon such grant, the Shares shall be
represented  by a stock  certificate  registered in the name of the holder.  The
Shares granted  pursuant to this Section VI shall be fully vested,  but shall be
subject to certain  restrictions  during the six month period following the date
of grant (the  "Restriction  Period").  The holder shall have the right to enjoy
all  shareholder  rights during the Restriction  Period  (including the right to
vote the  Shares and the right to receive  any cash or other  dividends  paid in
respect thereof) with the exception that (i) the holder may not sell,  transfer,
pledge or assign the Shares during the Restriction  Period, and (ii) the Company
shall retain  custody of the  certificates  representing  the Shares  during the
Restriction Period.

         All  restrictions  shall  lapse and the holder of the  Shares  shall be
entitled to the delivery of a stock certificate or certificates representing the
Shares  (and  to the  removal  of any  restrictive  legend  set  forth  on  such
certificates) upon the earliest of (i) six months from the date of grant of such
Shares, (ii) the date of the holder's death or Disability, and (iii) the date on
which the holder is no longer serving as a director of the Company.

VII.     FORMULA STOCK OPTION GRANTS FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS.

         A. ANNUAL GRANT OF OPTIONS.  On June 1 of each year,  beginning June 1,
1999,  Options to purchase 3,000 Shares shall  automatically  be granted to each
Non-Employee   Director  serving  on  the  Board  on  such  date.  If  any  such
Non-Employee  Director  will be required to retire  (pursuant to the policies of
the Board) during the 12 month period  beginning on the date of any grant (or if
any such Non-Employee  Director has notified the Board that he or she intends to
resign from the Board for any reason during the 12 month period beginning on the
date of any  grant),  such  director  shall  instead be granted on June 1 of the
relevant  year  Options  to  purchase  a number  of Shares  equal to (i)  3,000,
multiplied  by (ii) a  fraction,  the  numerator  of which is the number of full
calendar  months such  Non-Employee  Director will serve on the Board during the
period  beginning  on such  June 1 and  ending on such  director's  last date of
service and the denominator of which is 12.

         B.  GRANT  FOR  NEWLY  APPOINTED  DIRECTORS.  If after  July 2,  1998 a
Non-Employee  Director is initially  elected or appointed to the Board effective
on any date other than June 1, such Non-Employee Director shall automatically be
granted, on the date he or she joins the Board,  Options to purchase a number of
Shares equal to (i) 3,000, MULTIPLIED BY (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of full calendar months such  Non-Employee  Director will serve on
the Board during the period  beginning on the date such director joins the Board
and ending on the following May 31 and the denominator of which is 12.

       C.     OPTION EXERCISE PRICE. The  exercise  price  per  Share  for  each
option shall be 100% of the  Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of  grant,
subject to Section IV.B.

                                       5

        D.   TERM OF OPTIONS.  Each Option shall be  exercisable  for ten years 
after the date of grant, subject to Section VII.F.

       E.  CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE.

                    (i)   VESTING.   Each  Option  shall  vest  in  three  equal
         installments on the first,  second and third  anniversaries of the date
         of grant. Upon a Non-Employee  Director's mandatory retirement pursuant
         to the policies of the Board, the unvested  portions of any outstanding
         Options held by such  Non-Employee  Director shall fully vest. Upon the
         termination of a Non-Employee  Director's  tenure for any other reason,
         the unvested  portions of any  outstanding  Options shall expire and no
         Options  granted  to such  Non-Employee  Director  shall vest after the
         termination of such director's tenure on the Board.

                   (ii)  EXERCISE.  Each Option shall be  exercisable  in one or
         more  installments  and  shall  not be  exercisable  for less  than 100
         Shares, unless the exercise represents the entire remaining exercisable
         balance  of a grant  or  grants.  Each  Option  shall be  exercised  by
         delivery  to the  Company  of  written  notice of intent to  purchase a
         specific  number of Shares  subject to the Option.  The option price of
         any Shares as to which an Option  shall be  exercised  shall be paid in
         full at the time of the  exercise.  Payment may, at the election of the
         Non-Employee  Director,  be made in any one or any  combination  of the
         following forms:

                         (a) check or wire transfer of funds in such form as may
                    be satisfactory to the Committee;

                         (b)  delivery  of Shares  valued at their  Fair  Market
                    Value on the date of exercise or, if the date of exercise is
                    not a business day, the next succeeding business day;

                         (c)  through  simultaneous  sale  through  a broker  of
                    unrestricted Shares acquired on exercise, as permitted under
                    Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board; or

                         (d) by  authorizing  the  Company in his or her written
                    notice of  exercise to  withhold  from  issuance a number of
                    Shares  issuable upon  exercise of such Option  which,  when
                    multiplied  by the Fair Market  Value of Common Stock on the
                    date of  exercise  (or,  if the  date of  exercise  is not a
                    business day, the next succeeding business day), is equal to
                    the  aggregate  exercise  price  payable with respect to the
                    Option so exercised.

         In the event a Non-Employee  Director  elects to pay the exercise price
payable with respect to an Option pursuant to clause (b) above, (i) only a whole
number of Share(s) (and not fractional Shares) may be tendered in

                                       6

payment, (ii) such Non-Employee Director must present evidence acceptable to the
Company  that he or she has owned any such  Shares  tendered  in  payment of the
exercise  price  (and that such  Shares  tendered  have not been  subject to any
substantial  risk of  forfeiture)  for at least six months  prior to the date of
exercise,  and (iii) the  certificate(s) for all such Shares tendered in payment
of the  exercise  price must be  accompanied  by duly  executed  instruments  of
transfer  in a form  acceptable  to the  Company.  When  payment  of the  Option
exercise price is made by the tender of Shares, the difference,  if any, between
the aggregate  exercise price payable with respect to the Option being exercised
and the  Fair  Market  Value of the  Share(s)  tendered  in  payment  (plus  any
applicable  taxes)  shall  be paid  by  check  or wire  transfer  of  funds.  No
Non-Employee Director may tender Shares having a Fair Market Value exceeding the
aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the Option being exercised.

         In the event a Non-Employee  Director  elects to pay the exercise price
payable with respect to an Option pursuant to clause (d) above, (i) only a whole
number of Share(s)  (and not  fractional  Shares) may be withheld in payment and
(ii) such Non-Employee  Director must present evidence acceptable to the Company
that he or she has  owned a number of  Shares  at least  equal to the  number of
Shares to be  withheld  in  payment of the  exercise  price (and that such owned
Shares have not been subject to any substantial risk of forfeiture) for at least
six months  prior to the date of exercise.  When payment of the Option  exercise
price is made by the withholding of Shares, the difference,  if any, between the
aggregate  exercise price payable with respect to the Option being exercised and
the Fair Market Value of the Share(s)  withheld in payment (plus any  applicable
taxes)  shall  be paid by check  or wire  transfer  of  funds.  No  Non-Employee
Director may  authorize  the  withholding  of Shares  having a Fair Market Value
exceeding the aggregate  exercise price payable with respect to the Option being
exercised. Any withheld Shares shall no longer be issuable under such Option.

         F.       ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS.

                    (i)  ACCELERATED  EXPIRATION OF OPTIONS UPON  TERMINATION OF
         DIRECTORSHIP.  Upon the termination of a Non-Employee Director's tenure
         for any reason,  each  outstanding  vested and  previously  unexercised
         Option shall  expire  three months after the date of such  termination;
         PROVIDED that (a) upon the  termination  of a  Non-Employee  Director's
         tenure as a result of death or Disability,  each outstanding vested and
         previously  unexercised Option shall expire two years after the date of
         his or her  termination  as a  director,  and (b)  upon  the  mandatory
         retirement of a Non-Employee  Director  pursuant to the policies of the
         Board, each outstanding vested and previously  unexercised Option shall
         expire  five  years  after  the  date  of his or her  termination  as a
         director.  In no event  shall  the  provisions  of this  Section  VII.F
         operate to extend the original expiration date of any Option.

                   (ii)  SALE OF THE  COMPANY.  In the  event of a merger of the
         Company  with or into  another  corporation  constituting  a change  of
         control  of the  Company,  a sale  of all or  substantially  all of the
         Company's  assets or a sale of a majority of the Company's  outstanding
         voting securities (a "Sale of the Company"), the Options may be assumed
         by the successor corporation or a parent of such

                                       7

          successor  corporation  or  substantially  equivalent  options  may be
          substituted by the successor corporation or a parent of such successor
          corporation,  and if the  successor  corporation  does not  assume the
          Options or  substitute  options,  then all  outstanding  and  unvested
          Options  shall  become  immediately  exercisable  and all  outstanding
          Options shall terminate if not exercised as of the date of the Sale of
          the Company (or other  prescribed  period of time).  The Company shall
          provide  at  least 30 days  prior  written  notice  of the Sale of the
          Company to the holders of all outstanding Options,  which notice shall
          state  whether  (a) the  Options  will  be  assumed  by the  successor
          corporation or substantially equivalent options will be substituted by
          the successor  corporation,  or (b) the Options are thereafter  vested
          and  exercisable and will terminate if not exercised as of the date of
          the Sale of the Company (or other prescribed period of time).

               (iii) Liquidation or Dissolution. In the event of the liquidation
          or dissolution  of the Company,  Options shall  terminate  immediately
          prior to the liquidation or dissolution.

     G. GRANT OF RELOAD  OPTIONS.  A Non-Employee  Director who exercises all or
any  portion of an Option by the tender or  withholding  of Shares  which have a
Fair  Market  Value equal to not less than 100% of the  exercise  price for such
Options (the "Exercised  Options")  shall be granted,  subject to Section IV, an
additional option (a "Reload Option") for a number of Shares equal to the sum of
the number of Shares  tendered or withheld in payment of the exercise  price for
the Exercised Options.

         Reload Options shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

               (i) the grant date for each  Reload  Option  shall be the date of
          exercise of the Exercised Option to which it relates;

               (ii)  subject to clause  (iii)  below,  the Reload  Option may be
          exercised  at any time  during  the  unexpired  term of the  Exercised
          Option  (subject  to earlier  termination  thereof as  provided in the
          Plan); and

               (iii) the other terms of the Reload  Option  shall be the same as
          the terms of the  Exercised  Option to which it  relates  and shall be
          subject  to the  provisions  of the Plan,  except  that (a) the option
          price shall be the Fair  Market  Value of the Shares on the grant date
          of the Reload Option, (b) no Reload Option may be exercised within six
          months from the grant date  thereof,  and (c) no other  Reload  Option
          shall be granted upon exercise of such Reload Option.

     H. NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS. All Options granted under the Plan shall be
non-qualified  options not entitled to special tax treatment  under Code Section
422, as may be amended from time to time.

                                       8

VIII.    ELECTION TO RECEIVE STOCK IN LIEU OF CASH COMPENSATION.

     A.  GENERAL.  A  Non-Employee   Director  may  elect  to  reduce  the  cash
compensation  otherwise  payable for  services to be rendered by him or her as a
director for any period  beginning on June 1 and continuing to the following May
31 (or such other period for which cash  compensation is payable to Non-Employee
Directors pursuant to the policies of the Board),  beginning June 1, 1996 and to
receive in lieu thereof Shares as provided in this Section VIII.

     B. ELECTION.  By the later of (i) the date of the Company's  annual meeting
of stockholders next preceding the June 1 to which such election relates (but in
no event  less  than  five  business  days  prior to such  June 1) and (ii) such
Non-Employee  Director's  Initial Election Date, each Non-Employee  Director may
make  an  irrevocable  election  to  receive,  in  lieu  of all  or a  specified
percentage   (which   percentage  shall  be  in  10%  increments)  of  the  cash
compensation  to which such director would  otherwise be entitled as a member of
the Board and any committee  thereof  (including the annual retainer fee and any
meeting  or other  fees  payable  for  services  on the  Board or any  committee
thereof,  but excluding any reimbursement  for  out-of-pocket  expenses) for the
year  beginning  the  following  June 1 (or such  other  period  for which  cash
compensation is payable to such  Non-Employee  Director pursuant to the policies
of the Board),  an equivalent  value in Shares  granted in accordance  with this
Section  VIII. An election  shall be effective  (i) if made in  accordance  with
clause (i) of the  preceding  sentence,  beginning on the June 1 following  such
election;  and (ii) if made on such  Non-Employee  Director's  Initial  Election
Date, immediately.

     Each such  election  shall (i) be in  writing in a form  prescribed  by the
Company, (ii) specify the amount of cash compensation to be received in the form
of Election  Shares  (expressed  as a percentage of the  compensation  otherwise
payable in cash),  and (iii) be delivered to the Secretary of the Company.  Such
election may not be revoked or changed  thereafter except as to compensation for
services to be rendered in any 12 month period  beginning on any June 1 at least
six months following such revocation or new election.

     C. ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK. If a Non-Employee  Director elects pursuant to
Section VIII.B above to receive  Shares,  there shall be issued to such director
promptly  following each  subsequent June 1 for which such election is effective
(or  promptly  following  the  first day of such  other  period  for which  such
election is  effective) a number of Shares  equal to the amount of  compensation
otherwise payable for the 12 month period beginning on such June 1 (or the other
period for which such election is effective) divided by the Fair Market Value of
the  Shares on such June 1 (or on the first day of such  other  period).  To the
extent that the application of the foregoing  formula would result in fractional
shares of Common  Stock being  issuable,  cash will be paid to the  Non-Employee
Director in lieu of such  fractional  Shares based upon the Fair Market Value of
such fractional Share.

     D. COMPLIANCE WITH EXCHANGE ACT. The election to receive Election Shares is
intended  to comply in all  respects  with Rule  16b-3(d)(1)  promulgated  under
Section  16(b) of the  Exchange  Act such that the  issuance of Election  Shares
under the Plan on a grant date occurring

                                       9

at least six months after the election shall be exempt from Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act.

     E. GRANT DATE. The grant date for each Election Share for the  Non-Employee
Director electing such option shall be the first day of the period to which such
election relates and is effective.

IX.      MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

     A. RIGHTS OF  NON-EMPLOYEE  DIRECTORS.  No  Non-Employee  Director shall be
entitled  under  the Plan to  voting  rights,  dividends  or other  rights  of a
stockholder  prior to the  issuance  of Common  Stock.  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.

     B. LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFER AND EXERCISE. All Options granted under the Plan
shall not be transferable by the  Non-Employee  Director,  other than by will or
the laws of  descent  and  distribution  or  pursuant  to a  qualified  domestic
relations  order, as defined by '1 et seq, of the Code,  Title I of ERISA or the
rules  and  regulations   thereunder,   and  shall  be  exercisable  during  the
Non-Employee  Director's lifetime only by such Non-Employee  Director or by such
Non-Employee  Director's  guardian  or  other  legal  representative;  provided,
however,  that the vested  portions of  Options,  (other  than  Incentive  Stock
Options  as  defined in Section  422 of the  Code),  may be  transferred  by the
Non-Employee  Director  during his  lifetime to (a) any member of his  immediate
family,  (b) to a trust  established for the exclusive benefit of himself or one
or more members of his immediate family,  or (c) to a partnership,  the partners
of which are limited to the  Non-Employee  Director and members of his immediate
family.  A transfer of an Option pursuant to this paragraph may only be effected
by the  Company at the  written  request of a  Non-Employee  Director  and shall
become  effective  only when  recorded in the  Company=s  record of  outstanding
Options.  In the  event  an  Option  is  transferred  as  contemplated  in  this
paragraph,  any Reload Options  associated  with such  transferred  Option shall
terminate,  and such transferred  Option may not be subsequently  transferred by
the  transferee  except  by  will  or the  laws  of  descent  and  distribution.
Otherwise,  a transferred Option shall continue to be governed by and subject to
the terms and limitations of the Plan and the relevant grant, and the transferee
shall be  entitled  to the same rights as the  Non-Employee  Director,  as if no
transfer had taken place.  As used in this paragraph,  Aimmediate  family@ shall
mean,  with  respect to any person,  his/her  spouse,  any child,  stepchild  or
grandchild, and shall include relationships arising from legal adoption.

         C.  COMPLIANCE  WITH LAWS.  No shares of Common  Stock  shall be issued
hereunder  unless  counsel for the Company shall be satisfied that such issuance
will  be in  compliance  with  applicable  federal,  state,  local  and  foreign
securities, securities exchange and other applicable laws and requirements. Each
Share  granted  pursuant to Section VI or Section  VIII and each Option  granted
pursuant to Section VII shall be subject to the requirement  that if at any time
the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration
or  qualification  of the Shares  granted  or  subject  to the  Option  upon any
securities  exchange  or under any state or federal  securities  or other law or
regulation, or the consent or approval of any governmental

                                       10

regulatory  body,  is necessary or desirable as a condition to or in  connection
with the  granting  of such Share,  such  Option or the  issuance or purchase of
Shares thereunder, no such Share may be issued and no Option may be exercised or
paid in Common Stock,  in whole or in part,  unless such listing,  registration,
qualification,  consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of
any  conditions  not  acceptable to the  Committee.  The holder of such Share or
Option will  supply the  Company  with such  certificates,  representations  and
information as the Company shall request and shall otherwise  cooperate with the
Company in  obtaining  such  listing,  registration,  qualification,  consent or
approval.  The Committee may at any time impose any limitations upon the sale of
a Share or the exercise of an Option or the sale of the Common Stock issued upon
exercise of an Option that,  in the  Committee's  discretion,  are  necessary or
desirable  in order to comply with  Section  16(b) of the  Exchange  Act and the
rules  and  regulations  thereunder.  The  Committee  may  at  any  time  impose
additional  limitations,  or may amend or delete the existing limitations,  upon
the  exercise of Options by the tender or  withholding  of Shares in  accordance
with Section VII.E (including an amendment or deletion of the related  ownership
period for Shares  specified in such Section),  if such  additional,  amended or
deleted limitations are necessary,  desirable or no longer required (as the case
may be) to  remain  in  compliance  with  applicable  accounting  pronouncements
relating to the treatment of the plan as a fixed plan for accounting purposes.

     D. PAYMENT OF WITHHOLDING TAX. Whenever Shares are to be issued pursuant to
Section  VI or  Section  VIII of the Plan or upon  exercise  of  Options  issued
pursuant to Section VII of the Plan, the Company shall be entitled to require as
a condition of delivery (i) that the participant  remit an amount  sufficient to
satisfy  all  federal,  state and local  withholding  tax  requirements  related
thereto,  (ii) the withholding of Shares due to the  participant  under the Plan
with a Fair Market Value equal to such amount,  or (iii) any  combination of the
foregoing.

     E. EXPENSES. The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its
Subsidiaries.

     F. DEEMED  ACCEPTANCE,  RATIFICATION  AND CONSENt.  By accepting any Common
Stock hereunder or other benefit under the Plan, each Non-Employee  Director and
each person claiming under or through him or her shall be conclusively deemed to
have indicated his or her acceptance  and  ratification  of, and consent to, any
action taken under the Plan by the Company, the Board or the Committee.

     G. SECURITIES ACT  REGISTRATION.  The Company shall use its best efforts to
cause to be filed under the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  a registration
statement  covering the Shares  issued,  and issuable  upon  exercise of options
granted, under the Plan.

     H.  GOVERNING  LAW.  The  provisions  of the Plan shall be  governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware.

     I. ELECTION  SHARES.  Pending the grant of Election Shares  hereunder,  all
compensation earned by a Non-Employee Director with respect to which an election
to receive

                                       11

the grant of Election  Shares  pursuant to Section VIII.B has been made shall be
the  property  of such  director  and shall be paid to him or her in cash in the
event that Election Shares are not granted by the Company hereunder.

     J. HEADINGS;  CONSTRUCTION.  Headings are given to the sections of the Plan
solely as a convenience to facilitate  reference.  Such headings,  numbering and
paragraphing  shall not in any case be deemed tn any way material or relevant to
the construction of the Plan or any provisions  hereof.  The use of the singular
shall also include within its meaning the plural,  where  appropriate,  and vice
versa.

X.       THIS SECTION INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

XI.      AMENDMENT.

         The Plan may be amended at any time and from time to time by resolution
of the Board as the Board  shall  deem  advisable;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that no
amendment  shall  become  effective   without   stockholder   approval  if  such
stockholder approval is required by law, rule or regulation. No amendment of the
Plan shall  materially and adversely  affect any right of any  participant  with
respect to any Options or Shares theretofore granted under the Plan without such
participant's written consent, except for any modifications required to maintain
compliance with any federal or state statute or regulation.

XII.     TERMINATION.

         The Plan shall  terminate  upon the earlier of the  following  dates or
events to occur:

               (i) upon the  adoption of a resolution  of the Board  terminating
          the Plan; and

               (ii) ten years from the date the Plan is  initially  approved and
          adopted by the  stockholders of the Company in accordance with Article
          XIII.

         Except as  specifically  provided  herein,  no  termination of the Plan
shall  materially  and adversely  affect any of the rights or obligations of any
person  without  his or her  consent  with  respect  to any  Options  or  Shares
theretofore granted under the Plan.

XIII.    STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL AND ADOPTION.

         The Plan was originally  adopted by the Board on March 12, 1996 and was
approved and adopted at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company held on May
21,  1996.  The Plan was amended and  restated by the Board at a meeting held on
November 12, 1996, August 14, 1997 and, in connection with a 2-for-1 stock split
in the form of a dividend,  effective  as of July 2, 1998.  The Plan was further
amended and restated by the Board at a meeting held on November 10, 1998.


                                       12



                                                                   Exhibit 10.20













                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
                        EMPLOYEES REPLACEMENT STOCK PLAN



                  As Amended and Restated on November 10, 1998








                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page

1.       Purpose...............................................................1

2.       Definitions...........................................................1

3.       Scope of the Plan.....................................................5
         (a)      Number of Shares Available Under Plan........................5
         (b)      Expired or Terminated Awards not Available...................5
         (c)      Treasury Stock...............................................6

4.       Administration........................................................6
         (a)      Committee Administration.....................................6
         (b)      Board Reservation and Delegation.............................6
         (c)      Committee Authority..........................................6
         (d)      Committee Determinations Final...............................7

5.       Eligibility...........................................................7

6.       Awards................................................................7
         (a)      In General...................................................7
         (b)      Options and Reload Options...................................7
         (c)      Stock Appreciation Rights....................................9
         (d)      Restricted Stock............................................10

7.       Limitations on Transferability.......................................11

8.       Exercise.............................................................12
         (a)      Exercise of Replacement Options.............................12
         (b)      Exercise of Replacement Stock Appreciation Rights...........12
         (c)      Special Rules for Section 16 Grantees.......................12

9.       Notification under Section 83(b).....................................12

10.      Withholding Taxes....................................................13
         (a)      Mandatory Withholding.......................................13
         (b)      Elective Share Withholding..................................13

11.      Termination of Employment............................................14
         (a)      Restricted Stock............................................14
         (b)      Other Awards................................................14

                                      -i-



12.      Securities Law Matters...............................................14

13.      No Funding Required..................................................15

14.      No Employment Rights.................................................15

15.      Rights as a Stockholder..............................................15

16.      Nature of Payments...................................................15

17.      Non-Uniform Determinations...........................................16

18.      Adjustments..........................................................16

19.      Amendment of the Plan................................................16

20.      Termination of the Plan..............................................16

21.      No Illegal Transactions..............................................16

22.      Controlling Law......................................................17

23.      Severability.........................................................17


                                      -ii-


         THE PLAN. The Allstate Corporation  ("Company")  Employees  Replacement
Stock Plan (as set forth herein and from time to time amended,  the "Plan"), was
adopted by the Company's Board of Directors on January 16, 1995 and was approved
by the Company's stockholders on May 23, 1995. The Plan was amended and restated
by the Board on November 12, 1996, August 14, 1997 and November 10, 1998.

     1. PURPOSE.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide continuation of benefits
and  opportunities  provided to former  participants  in any of the Sears Plans,
which benefits and opportunities  were lost,  terminated,  forfeited,  cancelled
(with  or  without  consent  of the  grantee)  or  reduced  as a  result  of the
Distribution, by providing for the grant of substitute Awards hereunder.

     2. DEFINITIONS.

     As used in the Plan, terms defined parenthetically  immediately after their
use shall have the  respective  meanings  provided by such  definitions  and the
terms set forth below shall have the  following  meanings  (such  meanings to be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

         (a) "Allstate  Group  Grantee"  means any individual who is employed on
the Distribution Date or who,  immediately prior to his most recent  Termination
of  Employment  prior to the  Distribution  Date,  was  employed by The Allstate
Corporation or any Allstate Affiliate,  as defined in the Separation  Agreement,
except The PMI Group, Inc. ("PMI") or any of PMI's subsidiaries.

         (b)  "Award"  means an  option,  share of  restricted  Stock,  or stock
appreciation right granted under the Plan.

         (c) "Award  Agreement" means the written agreement by which an Award is
evidenced.

         (d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (e) "Change of Control" means any of the following  occurring more than
five business days after the Distribution:

                  (i) the  acquisition  by any  person  or group  of  beneficial
         ownership of any of the Stock or the Voting Power of the Company, which
         acquisition results in such person or group having beneficial ownership
         of 20% or more of either the then-outstanding  Stock or Voting Power of
         the Company, except that (A) no such person or group shall be deemed to
         own beneficially (1) any securities  acquired directly from the Company
         pursuant to a written  agreement  with the Company,  (2) any securities
         held by the Company or a Subsidiary  or any  employee  benefit plan (or
         any  related  trust)  of  the  Company  or a  Subsidiary,  or  (3)  any
         securities  acquired  directly  from  any  Grantee,  except  securities
         acquired  in  transactions   effected   through  the  facilities  of  a
         registered national

                                       1


          securities  exchange or any automated quotation system of the National
          Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc., and (B) no Change of Control
          shall  be  deemed  to have  occurred  solely  by  reason  of any  such
          acquisition  by a  corporation  with  respect  to  which,  after  such
          acquisition,  more than 60% of both the then-outstanding common shares
          of such  corporation and the Voting Power of such corporation are then
          beneficially  owned,  directly or indirectly,  by the persons who were
          the  beneficial  owners of the Stock and Voting  Power of the  Company
          immediately   before  such  acquisition  in  substantially   the  same
          proportion as their ownership, immediately before such acquisition, of
          the then-outstanding  Stock or the Voting Power of the Company, as the
          case may be;

                  (ii) individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
         Board (the  "Incumbent  Board")  cease for any reason to  constitute at
         least a majority of the Board; provided that any individual who becomes
         a director after the Effective Date whose  election,  or nomination for
         election by the  Company's  stockholders,  was approved by a vote of at
         least  two-thirds of the directors then  comprising the Incumbent Board
         shall be  considered  as though  such  individual  were a member of the
         Incumbent Board, but excluding,  for this purpose,  any such individual
         whose initial  assumption of office is in connection  with an actual or
         threatened  election  contest relating to the election of the directors
         of the Company  (as such terms are used in Rule  14a-11  under the 1934
         Act); or

                  (iii)  approval  by the  stockholders  of the Company of (A) a
         merger,  reorganization  or  consolidation  with  respect  to which the
         individuals and entities who were the respective  beneficial  owners of
         the Stock and  Voting  Power of the  Company  immediately  before  such
         merger,  reorganization  or  consolidation  do not,  after such merger,
         reorganization   or   consolidation,   beneficially  own,  directly  or
         indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding common
         shares  and the Voting  Power of the  corporation  resulting  from such
         merger,   reorganization  or   consolidation,   (B)  a  liquidation  or
         dissolution of the Company or (C) the sale or other  disposition of all
         or substantially all of the assets of the Company;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
         that for the purposes of this clause (iii), the votes of all Section 16
         Grantees  shall  be  disregarded  in  determining  whether  stockholder
         approval has been obtained.

For purposes of this  definition,  "person"  means such term as used in SEC Rule
13d-5(b)  under the 1934 Act,  "beneficial  owner" means such term as defined in
SEC Rule 13d-3  under the 1934 Act,  and  "group"  means such term as defined in
Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing,  (a) a Change of Control shall be deemed
not to have  occurred  with respect to any Section 16 Grantee if such Section 16
Grantee is, by agreement  (written or otherwise),  a participant on such Section
16 Grantee's own behalf in a  transaction  which causes the Change of Control to
occur; and (b) the Distribution shall not be deemed to be a Change in Control.

         (f) "Change of Control Value" means the Fair Market Value of a share of
Stock  on the  date  of  receipt  of  notice  of  exercise  of a  limited  stock
appreciation right issued to replace a

                                       2

limited stock appreciation right granted under a Sears Plan.

         (g) "Committee" means the committee of the Board appointed  pursuant to
Article 4.

         (h)  "Company" means The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

         (i) "Distribution"  means the distribution by Sears to holders of Sears
common shares of all of the shares of Stock owned by it.

         (j) "Distribution Date" means the date to be determined by the board of
directors of Sears, as of which the Distribution shall be effected.

         (k) "Effective Date" means the date described in the first paragraph of
the Plan.

         (l) "Fair  Market  Value" of any  security  of the Company or any other
issuer  (other than Fair Market Value of Stock as of the  Distribution  Date and
Fair Market Value of a Sears common share as of the Distribution Date) means, as
of any applicable date:

                  (i) if the  security  is listed  for  trading  on the New York
         Stock  Exchange,  the  mean  between  the high  and low  prices  of the
         security as reported on the New York Stock Exchange  Composite Tape, or
         if no such  reported  sale of the security  shall have occurred on such
         date,  on the next  preceding  date on which  there was such a reported
         sale, or

                  (ii)  if the  security  is not so  listed,  but is  listed  on
         another national securities exchange or authorized for quotation on the
         National  Association  of Securities  Dealers  Inc.'s  NASDAQ  National
         Market  ("NASDAQ/NM"),  the closing price, regular way, of the security
         on such  exchange  or  NASDAQ/NM,  as the  case  may be,  or if no such
         reported sale of the security  shall have occurred on such date, on the
         next preceding date on which there was such a reported sale, or

                  (iii) if the  security is not listed for trading on a national
         securities  exchange or  authorized  for  quotation on  NASDAQ/NM,  the
         average of the closing bid and asked prices as reported by the National
         Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ")
         or, if no such prices shall have been so reported for such date, on the
         next preceding date for which such prices were so reported, or

                  (iv) if the  security  is not listed for trading on a national
         securities exchange or authorized for quotation on NASDAQ/NM or NASDAQ,
         the fair market  value of the security as  determined  in good faith by
         the Committee.

Notwithstanding  paragraphs  (i) through (iv) above,  "Fair  Market  Value" of a
Sears common share as of the  Distribution  Date shall be the sum of the average
of the high and low per share prices,  regular way, of such share as reported on
the New York Stock  Exchange  Composite  Tape on each of the five  business days
beginning on and including the tenth business day preceding

                                       3

the record date associated with the Distribution ("Record Date"), on which there
was a reported sale of such stock,  divided by five (or, if less,  the number of
such days on which there was such a reported  sale);  and "Fair Market Value" of
Stock as of the  Distribution  Date shall be the sum of the  average of the high
and low per share prices,  regular way, of the Stock as reported on the New York
Stock Exchange Composite Tape on each of the five business days beginning on and
including the tenth business day preceding the Record Date, on which there was a
reported  sale of such stock  divided by five (or,  if less,  the number of such
days on which there was such a reported sale).

         (m) "Grant  Date"  means,  except as provided in Article 6, the date on
which the Committee  grants the Award or such later date as specified in advance
by the Committee.

         (n) "Grantee" means an individual who has been granted an Award.

         (o) "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended,  and  regulations  and rulings  thereunder.  References to a particular
section of the  Internal  Revenue  Code shall  include  references  to successor
provisions.

         (p) "Minimum  Consideration"  means the $.01 par value per share of the
Stock or such larger amount determined pursuant to resolution of the Board to be
capital  within the meaning of Section 154 of the Delaware  General  Corporation
Law.

         (q) "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

         (r) "Option  Price" means the per share purchase price of Stock subject
to an option.

         (s) "Plan" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph.

         (t) "Reload Option" has the meaning set forth in Article 6(b)(ii).

         (u)  "Retirement"  means a Termination  of  Employment  occurring on or
after an  individual  attains age 65, or a Termination  of  Employment  after an
individual  attains age 55 approved  by Allstate  Insurance  Company as an early
retirement,  provided  that in the case of a  Section  16  Grantee,  such  early
retirement must be approved by the Committee.

         (v) "Sears" means Sears, Roebuck and Co., a New York corporation.

         (w) "Sears Option" means an option granted under a Sears Plan.

         (x)  "Sears  Plans"  means  the  following  plans  of  Sears:  the 1994
Employees  Stock Plan, the 1990 Employees  Stock Plan, the 1986 Employees  Stock
Plan, the 1982 Employees Stock Plan, the 1978 Employees Stock Plan and the 1979
Incentive Compensation Plan.

         (y) "Sears  Restricted  Stock" means restricted  shares granted under a
Sears Plan.

                                       4

         (z)  "Sears  SAR"  means  a stock  appreciation  right,  limited  stock
appreciation right or tax benefit right granted under a Sears Plan.

         (aa)  "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         (bb) "Section 16 Grantee" means a person subject to potential liability
with respect to equity securities of the Company under Section 16(b) of the 1934
Act.

         (cc)  "Separation  Agreement"  means the separation  agreement  between
Sears and the Company dated as of January ___, 1995.

         (dd) "Stock"  means   common  stock of the Company,  par value $.01 per
     share.

         (ee)  "Subsidiary"  means a corporation as defined in Section 424(f) of
the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  with the Company  being  treated as the  employer
corporation for purposes of this definition.

         (ff) "10% Owner" means a person who owns stock (including stock treated
as owned under Section 424(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) possessing more than
10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.

         (gg) "Termination of Employment" occurs as of the first day on which an
individual  is for any reason no longer  employed  by the  Company or any of its
Subsidiaries,  or  with  respect  to  an  individual  who  is an  employee  of a
Subsidiary,  the  first  day  on  which  the  Company  no  longer,  directly  or
indirectly,  owns voting  securities  possessing  at least 50% of the  aggregate
Voting Power of such Subsidiary.

         (hh) "Voting Power" of a corporation or other entity means the combined
voting power of the  then-outstanding  voting  securities of such corporation or
other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

         3. SCOPE OF THE PLAN.

     (a) NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER PLAN. An aggregate number of shares of
Stock is hereby made  available  and is reserved  for delivery on account of the
exercise of Awards and payment of benefits in  connection  with Awards  equal to
the number of shares of Stock  determined  pursuant to the formulas set forth in
Article 6 to be required to replace awards under the Sears Plans;  provided that
in no  event  shall  the  aggregate  number  of  such  shares  of  Stock  exceed
4,500,000shares of Stock. Subject to the foregoing limits,  shares of authorized
but unissued Stock or shares of Stock held as treasury shares by the Company may
be used for or in connection with Awards.

     (b) EXPIRED OR  TERMINATED  AWARDS NOT  AVAILABLE.  If and to the extent an
Award shall

                                       5


expire or terminate  for any reason  without  having been  exercised in full, or
shall be forfeited,  regardless of whether,  in either case, the Grantee enjoyed
any of  the  benefits  of  stock  ownership,  the  shares  of  Stock  (including
restricted Stock) and stock appreciation rights associated with such Award shall
not become available for other Awards.

     (c) TREASURY  STOCK.  The  Committee  shall have the authority to cause the
Company to  purchase  from time to time  shares of Stock to be held as  treasury
shares and used for or in connection with Awards.

         4.    ADMINISTRATION.

     (a) COMMITTEE  ADMINISTRATION.  Subject to Article 4(b),  the Plan shall be
administered  by the  Committee,  which  shall  consist  of not less than  three
persons who are appointed by the Board, who are directors of the Company and not
employees of the Company or any of its  affiliates.  Membership on the Committee
shall be subject to such limitations (including, if appropriate, a change in the
minimum  number of members of the  Committee) as the Board deems  appropriate to
permit  transactions  pursuant  to the  Plan  to be (1)  exempt  from  potential
liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, and Rule 16b-3 pursuant  thereto,
as in effect both before and after  September 1, 1995, or such other date as the
SEC shall  determine,  and (2) exempt from  limitations on  deductibility  under
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

     (b) BOARD  RESERVATION  AND  DELEGATION.  The Board may, in its discretion,
reserve to itself or  delegate to another  committee  of the Board any or all of
the authority  and  responsibility  of the  Committee  with respect to Awards to
Grantees  who are not  Section  16  Grantees  at the  time  any  such  delegated
authority or  responsibility  is exercised.  Such other committee may consist of
one or more  directors  who may,  but need not, be officers or  employees of the
Company or of any of its Subsidiaries. To the extent that the Board has reserved
to itself or delegated the authority and responsibility of the Committee to such
other  committee,  all  references  to the Committee in the Plan shall be to the
Board or such other committee, as the case may be.

     (C) COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. The Committee shall have full and final authority,
in its  discretion,  but  subject  to the  express  provisions  of the Plan,  as
follows:

          (i) to grant Awards on or after the Distribution  Date as described in
     Article 6,

          (ii) to determine  (A) when Awards may be granted,  and (B) whether or
     not specific Awards shall be identified with other specific Awards,  and if
     so, whether they shall be exercisable  cumulatively  with, or alternatively
     to, such other specific Awards,

          (iii) to interpret the Plan and to make all  determinations  necessary
     or advisable for the administration of the Plan,

          (iv) to prescribe,  amend, and rescind rules and regulations  relating
     to the Plan,  including,  without  limitation,  rules  with  respect to the
     exercisability and nonforfeitability

                                       6

     of Awards upon the Termination of Employment of a Grantee,

          (v) to determine  the terms and  provisions  of the Award  Agreements,
     which need not be identical  and, with the consent (to the extent  required
     by the Plan) of the  Grantee,  to modify  any such Award  Agreement  at any
     time,

          (vi) to accelerate the  exercisability  of, and to accelerate or waive
     any or all of the restrictions and conditions applicable to, any Award,

          (vii) to make such  adjustments or modifications to Awards to Grantees
     working outside the United States as are necessary and advisable to fulfill
     the purposes of the Plan, and

          (viii)  to  impose  such  additional  conditions,   restrictions,  and
     limitations  upon  the  grant,  exercise  or  retention  of  Awards  as the
     Committee  may,  before  or  concurrently  with  the  grant  thereof,  deem
     appropriate, including, without limitation, requiring simultaneous exercise
     of related  identified  Awards, and limiting the percentage of Awards which
     may from time to time be exercised by a Grantee.

         The  Committee  shall have full and final  authority to  authorize  any
action or make any  determination  as the  Committee  shall  deem  necessary  or
advisable  for carrying  out the purposes of the Plan,  including to correct any
defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency between the Plan and
the awards under the Sears Plans the Plan is intended to replace.

          (d) COMMITTEE DETERMINATIONS FINAL. The determination of the Committee
     on all  matters  relating  to the  Plan or any  Award  Agreement  shall  be
     conclusive  and final.  No member of the Committee  shall be liable for any
     action or determination  made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
     Award.

     5.  ELIGIBILITY.  Awards may be granted to any employee or former  employee
(or  to  the  estate  of a  deceased  employee)  of  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries to replace any awards granted to such employee,  former employee or
deceased employee under a Sears Plan which were terminated, forfeited, cancelled
or reduced (with or without the consent of the Grantee) in  connection  with the
Distribution.

     6. AWARDS.

     (a) IN GENERAL. In accordance with its powers under the Plan, the Committee
may grant  replacement  Awards,  including  options  (including Reload Options),
replacement stock appreciation rights (including  replacement stock appreciation
rights replacing limited stock  appreciation  rights and tax benefit rights) and
replacement  restricted  stock in  accordance  with Article 6 to preserve  those
opportunities  and benefits of Allstate Group  Grantees  which were  terminated,
forfeited,  cancelled, or reduced in connection with the Distribution,  provided
that no Grantee shall be granted Awards under the Plan with respect to more than
675,000 shares of

                                       7

Stock.

     (b) OPTIONS AND RELOAD OPTIONs. 

     (i) GRANT OF  REPLACEMENT  OPTIONS.  Subject to Article 3(a), the Committee
may grant options ("Replacement  Options") under the Plan to each Allstate Group
Grantee who holds unexercised Sears Options (whether or not  nonforfeitable)  at
the  Distribution  Date;  provided that such Allstate Group  Grantee's  right to
exercise any Sears Options has been  forfeited or cancelled in  connection  with
the Distribution.  The Award Agreement with respect to such Replacement  Options
shall  provide  that the Grantee may exercise a  Replacement  Option at the same
time as he would  have  been able to  exercise  the  Sears  Option it  replaces,
subject to Article 8(c), if applicable.

                           (A) The Option Price for a  Replacement  Option shall
               be determined by the following formula; provided that in no event
               shall the Option Price be less than the Minimum Consideration:

                           Option Price = A x B
                                          ------
                                            C

         Any fraction of a cent shall be rounded down to the next full cent.

                           (B) The  number  of  shares  of Stock  for  which the
               Replacement   Option  is  exercisable   shall  be  determined  in
               accordance with the following formula:

                           Number of shares = C x D
                                              -----
                                                B

         Any fractional share shall be rounded up to the next full share.

                           (C) In the foregoing formulas,

          "A"   is the option exercise price for a Sears Option being replaced,

          "B"   is the  Fair  Market  Value  of a  share  of  Stock  as  of  the
                Distribution Date,

          "C"   is the Fair  Market  Value  of a Sears  common  share  as of the
                Distribution Date, and

          "D"   is the number of Sears common  shares for which the Sears Option
                being replaced is exercisable.

                           (D) Each Replacement Option shall have the same terms
               and  conditions  (other  than the Option  Price and the number of
               shares of Stock,  but including any provision for Reload Options)
               as, and not give the Grantee any benefits he did not

                                       8

             have, under the corresponding Sears Option.

                  (ii) GRANT OF RELOAD  OPTIONS.  The Committee may,  subject to
         Article 3, grant a Reload Option to any Grantee of a Replacement Option
         whose Replaced Sears Option  included a reload option for Sears shares.
         For  purposes of the Plan,  a "Reload  Option"  shall mean an option to
         purchase  a number of shares of Stock  granted in  connection  with the
         exercise of the Grantee's  Replacement Option (the "Exercised Options")
         upon the payment of the Option  Price for such  Exercised  Options with
         shares of Stock which have a Fair  Market  Value equal to not less than
         100% of the Option Price for such Exercised Options.  The Reload Option
         with respect to an Exercised  Option shall be for a number of shares of
         Stock equal to the number of shares of Stock  tendered to exercise  the
         Exercised Options plus, if so provided by the Committee,  the number of
         shares of Stock, if any, retained by the Company in connection with the
         exercise of the  Exercised  Options to satisfy any federal,  state,  or
         local tax withholding requirements.  Reload Options shall be subject to
         the following terms and conditions:

                           (A) the Grant Date for each  Reload  Option  shall be
               the date of exercise of the Exercised Option to which it relates;

                           (B) the Reload  Option may be  exercised  at any time
               during the unexpired term of the  Replacement  Option to which it
               relates  (subject to earlier  termination  thereof as provided in
               the Plan and in the applicable Award Agreement); and

                           (C) the terms of the Reload  Option shall be the same
               as the terms of the Exercised Option to which it relates,  except
               that (1) the Option  Price shall be the Fair Market  Value of the
               Stock on the Grant  Date of the  Reload  Option and (2) no Reload
               Option  may be  exercised  within  one year from the  Grant  Date
               thereof.

         (c)   STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

                  (i) GRANT OF  REPLACEMENT  SARs. The Committee may grant stock
         appreciation  rights  ("Replacement  SARs")  under  the  Plan  to  each
         Allstate Group Grantee who holds unexercised limited stock appreciation
         rights,  and tax benefit rights (whether or not  nonforfeitable)  under
         the Sears Plans;  provided that such Allstate Group  Grantee's right to
         exercise any Sears SARs has been  forfeited or cancelled in  connection
         with the Distribution. Replacement SARs granted in replacement of Sears
         SARs  identified  with Sears  Options  shall be equal in number to, and
         shall be identified with the Replacement Options granted in replacement
         of such  Sears  Options.  The  Award  Agreement  with  respect  to such
         Replacement  SARs  shall  provide  that  the  Grantee  may  exercise  a
         Replacement  SAR at the  same  time  as if the  Grantee  had  held  the
         Replacement  SAR  since the  grant  date of the Sears SAR it  replaces,
         subject to the limitations of Article 8(c), if applicable.

                  (ii)  BENEFIT  FOR  REPLACEMENT   LIMITED  STOCK  APPRECIATION
         RIGHTS.  The benefit for 

                                       9


          each  Replacement  SAR  granted  in  replacement  of a  limited  stock
          appreciation right ("Replacement LSAR") identified with a Sears Option
          shall be equal to the  difference  between the Change of Control Value
          of a share of Stock on the date of  exercise of such  Replacement  SAR
          and the Option Price of the related Replacement Option.

                  (iii) BENEFIT FOR REPLACEMENT TAX BENEFIT RIGHTS.  The benefit
         for each  Replacement SAR granted in replacement of a tax benefit right
         ("Replacement Tax Benefit Right")  identified with a Sears Option shall
         be equal to the then applicable  maximum  statutory  federal income tax
         rate for corporations  (subject to any limitations thereon contained in
         the tax benefit  right  being  replaced),  multiplied  by the amount of
         compensation,  if any,  realized by the Grantee for federal  income tax
         purposes upon exercise of the related Replacement Option.

                  (iv)  TERMS  AND   CONDITIONS  OF   REPLACEMENT   SARs.   Each
         Replacement  SAR shall  have the same terms and  conditions  (except as
         provided  above in this  Article  6(c))  as,  and not give the  Grantee
         greater rights than, the corresponding Sears SAR.

         (d)   RESTRICTED STOCK.

                  (i)  REPLACEMENT  RESTRICTED  STOCK.  The  Committee may grant
         shares of restricted Stock  ("Replacement  Restricted Stock") under the
         Plan to each Allstate  Group Grantee  whose Sears  Restricted  Stock is
         forfeited or cancelled in connection with the  Distribution.  The Award
         Agreement  with  respect to such  Replacement  Restricted  Stock  shall
         provide   that  such   Replacement   Restricted   Stock  shall   become
         nonforfeitable  at the same  time that the  Sears  Restricted  Stock it
         replaces would have become  nonforfeitable,  subject to the limitations
         of Article 8(c), if applicable.

                           (A) The Grantee's basis in the Replacement Restricted
               Stock (i.e.  the amount of  consideration,  if any, that shall be
               deemed  to have  been  paid by the  Grantee  for the  Replacement
               Restricted Stock) shall be determined by the following formula:

                                            E x B
                                            -----
                                              C

                  The  Grantee   shall  not  be   required  to  pay   additional
               consideration  for the  grant of  Replacement  Restricted  Stock,
               except  that  the  Minimum  Consideration  shall  be paid for any
               shares of restricted Stock that are not treasury shares.

                           (B) The  number of shares of  Replacement  Restricted
               Stock to be granted shall be determined by the following formula:

                                            Number of shares = F x C
                                                               -----
                                                                 B

                                       10

               Any fractional share shall be rounded up to the next full share.

                    (C)  In the foregoing formulas,

                         "B" is the Fair Market  Value of a share of Stock as of
                             the Distribution Date,

                         "C" is the Fair Market Value of a Sears common share as
                             of the Distribution Date,

                         "E" is the Grantee's  average per share basis,  if any,
                             in the Sears Restricted Stock being replaced, and

                         "F" is the number of shares of Sears  Restricted  Stock
                             being replaced.

                    (D) Each  share of  Replacement  Restricted  Stock  shall be
               substantially  the same  terms  and  conditions  (other  than the
               number of shares and the amount of the Grantee's  basis  therein)
               as, and shall not give the Grantee any benefits  which he did not
               have, under the corresponding  Sears Restricted Stock,  except as
               otherwise provided by the Committee.

                  (ii)  ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR RESTRICTED STOCK.

                           (A) The  Committee  may  provide  that  any  share of
               restricted  Stock  shall  be held  (together  with a stock  power
               executed in blank by the  Grantee) in escrow by the  Secretary of
               the  Company  until  such  shares  become  nonforfeitable  or are
               forfeited or may make such other  arrangements for the holding of
               shares of restricted stock as it deems appropriate.

                           (B) If a share of restricted  Stock is forfeited such
               share of  restricted  Stock  shall cease to be  outstanding,  and
               shall no longer  confer on the  Grantee  thereof  any rights as a
               stockholder of the Company.

                           (C) Any  share  of  restricted  Stock  shall  bear an
               appropriate legend specifying that such share is non-transferable
               and  subject to the  restrictions  set forth in the Plan.  If any
               shares of  restricted  Stock become  nonforfeitable,  the Company
               shall cause certificates for such shares to be issued or reissued
               without  such  legend and  delivered  to the  Grantee  or, at the
               request of the Grantee, shall cause such shares to be credited to
               a brokerage account specified by the Grantee.

         7.  LIMITATIONS ON  TRANSFERABILITY.  Awards are not  transferable by a
Grantee  except  by will or the  laws of  descent  and  distribution;  PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Committee shall have

                                       11

the authority,  in its discretion,  to grant (or to sanction by way of amendment
of an existing grant) Replacement  Options (other than Replacement Options which
are Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code), the
vested  portions of which may be  transferred by the Grantee during his lifetime
to (a) any member of his immediate  family,  (b) to a trust  established for the
exclusive  benefit of himself or one or more members of his immediate family, or
(c) to a  partnership,  the  partners  of which are  limited to the  Grantee and
members of his immediate  family. A transfer of an Award may only be effected by
the Company at the written request of a Grantee and shall become  effective only
when recorded in the Company=s  record of  outstanding  Awards.  In the event an
Award is transferred,  any Reload Options associated with such transferred Award
shall terminate,  and such transferred Award may not be subsequently transferred
by the  transferee  except  by will or the  laws of  descent  and  distribution.
Otherwise,  a transferred  Award shall continue to be governed by and subject to
the terms and limitations of the Plan and the relevant grant, and the transferee
shall be entitled to the same rights as the Grantee, as if no transfer had taken
place. As used in this paragraph, Aimmediate family@ shall mean, with respect to
any person,  his/her  spouse,  any child,  stepchild  or  grandchild,  and shall
include relationships arising from legal adoption.


     8.    EXERCISE.

     (a) EXERCISE OF REPLACEMENT OPTIONS.  Subject to Articles 4 and 6, (i) each
Replacement  Option shall be exercisable in one or more installments  commencing
not earlier than the first  anniversary of the grant date of the Sears Option it
replaces,  (ii) options shall not be exercisable  for twelve months  following a
hardship    distribution   that   is   subject   to   Treasury    Regulation   '
1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(B)(4),  (iii) each option shall be exercised by delivery to
the Company of written notice of intent to purchase a specific  number of shares
of Stock subject to the option,  (iv) the Option Price of any shares of Stock as
to which an option shall be  exercised  shall be paid in full at the time of the
exercise,  and (v) payment may be made in either one or any  combination  of the
following, as provided in the Award Agreement:

                    (I)  cash, or

                    (II)  Stock  that has been  held  for at least  six  months,
               valued at the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.

         Shares of Stock acquired by a Grantee on exercise of an option shall be
delivered  to the Grantee or, at the request of the  Grantee,  shall be credited
directly to a brokerage account specified by the Grantee.

     (b) EXERCISE OF REPLACEMENT STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.  Subject to Articles
4(c)(vi)  and 6, (i) each stock  appreciation  right  shall be  exercisable  not
earlier  than  the  first  anniversary  of the  grant  date of the  Sears  stock
appreciation  right it  replaces,  to the  extent  the  option  with which it is
identified,  if any, may be exercised, (ii) replacement LSARs shall become fully
exercisable  upon the occurrence of a Change of Control and shall be exercisable
for a period of sixty days

                                       12

thereafter, (iii) replacement SARs shall be exercised by delivery to the Company
of written notice of intent to exercise a specific  number of Replacement  SARs,
and (iv)  unless  otherwise  provided in the  applicable  Award  Agreement,  the
exercise of stock  appreciation  rights which are identified with shares subject
to an option shall result in the  cancellation  or  forfeiture of such option to
the extent of such exercise.

     (c) SPECIAL  RULES FOR SECTION 16 GRANTEES.  Subject to Article 6, no stock
appreciation right or option shall be exercisable by a Section 16 Grantee during
the first six months after its Grant Date, except as exempted from Section 16(b)
of the 1934 Act.

     9.  NOTIFICATION  UNDER SECTION 83(B). The Committee may, on the Grant Date
or any later date,  prohibit a Grantee from making the election described below.
If the Committee has not prohibited such Grantee from making such election,  and
the Grantee,  in connection with the exercise of any option, or the grant of any
share of restricted Stock,  makes the election  permitted under Section 83(b) of
the Internal  Revenue Code to include in such Grantee's gross income in the year
of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code,
such Grantee shall notify the Company of such election  within 10 days of filing
notice of such election.

     10. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

         (a)   MANDATORY WITHHOLDING.

               (i)  Whenever  under the Plan,  cash or shares of Stock are to be
         delivered  upon  exercise  or  payment  of an  Award or upon a share of
         restricted  Stock  becoming  nonforfeitable,  or any other  event  with
         respect to rights and benefits hereunder, the Company shall be entitled
         to require as a  condition  of delivery  (A) that the Grantee  remit an
         amount sufficient to satisfy all federal,  state, and local withholding
         tax requirements related thereto, (B) the withholding of such sums from
         compensation  otherwise  due to the Grantee or from any shares of Stock
         due to the  Grantee  under  the  Plan  or (C)  any  combination  of the
         foregoing.

               (ii) If any  election  described  in Article 9 is made,  then the
         person  making  such  election  shall  remit to the  Company  an amount
         sufficient to satisfy all federal,  state, and local  withholding taxes
         thereby  incurred;  provided  that,  in lieu of or in  addition  to the
         foregoing,  the Company shall have the right to withhold such sums from
         compensation  otherwise  due to the Grantee or from any shares of Stock
         due to the Grantee under the Plan.

         (b)   ELECTIVE SHARE WITHHOLDING.

               (i)To the extent  provided under the terms of the Sears Option or
         Sears  Restricted  Stock  Award which it  replaces,  and subject to the
         prior  approval of the  Committee  and to Article  10(b)(ii)  below,  a
         Grantee may elect the withholding ("Share Withholding") by

                                       13

        the Company of a portion of the shares of Stock otherwise deliverable to
        such Grantee upon the exercise or payment of an Award or upon a share of
        restricted  Stock's  becoming  nonforfeitable  (each a "Taxable  Event")
        having a Fair Market Value equal to

                  (A) the minimum amount necessary to satisfy required  federal,
               state,  or local  withholding  tax liability  attributable to the
               Taxable Event; or

                  (B) with the Committee's prior approval, a greater amount, not
               to  exceed  the  estimated  total  amount of such  Grantee's  tax
               liability with respect to the Taxable Event.

               (ii)  Each  Share  Withholding  election  by a  Grantee  shall be
          subject to the following restrictions:

                  (A) any Grantee's election shall be subject to the Committee's
               right to revoke its approval of Share Withholding by such Grantee
               at any time before the  Grantee's  election if the  Committee has
               reserved the right to do so at the time of its approval;

                  (B) if the  Grantee is a Section 16  Grantee,  such  Grantee's
               election shall be subject to the  disapproval of the Committee at
               any time,  whether or not the Committee has reserved the right to
               do so; and

                  (C) the  Grantee's  election must be made before the date (the
               "Tax  Date")  on  which  the  amount  of  tax to be  withheld  is
               determined.


     11.   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.   

     (a) RESTRICTED STOCK.  Except as otherwise  provided by the Committee on or
after  the  Grant  Date,  a  Grantee's  shares  of  restricted  Stock  that  are
forfeitable shall be forfeited upon the Grantee's Termination of Employment.

     (b) OTHER AWARDS.  Unless otherwise  provided in the Award  Agreement,  any
unexercised option or stock appreciation right, to the extent exercisable on the
date of the Grantee's Termination of Employment,  may be exercised,  in whole or
in part,  at any time within  three months after the  Grantee's  Termination  of
Employment, except that

                  (i) if the  Grantee's  Termination  of Employment is caused by
         the death of the Grantee,  or if the Grantee's  death occurs during the
         period following  Termination of Employment  during which the option or
         stock  appreciation  right  would be  exercisable  under the  preceding
         clause  of  Article  11(b)  or  under  Article   11(b)(ii),   then  any
         unexercised  option  or  stock  appreciation   rights,  to  the  extent
         exercisable on the date of the Grantee's  death,  may be exercised,  in
         whole or in part,  at any time  within  two years  after the  Grantee's
         death by the Grantee's personal representative or by the person to

                                       14

         whom the  option or stock  appreciation  rights are transferred by will
         or the  applicable laws of descent and distribution; and

                  (ii) if the Grantee's  Termination of Employment is on account
         of  Retirement,  then any  unexercised  option  or  stock  appreciation
         rights,  to the extent  exercisable on the date of such  Termination of
         Employment,  may be exercised,  in whole or in part, at any time within
         two years after such Termination of Employment.

     (c) The  foregoing  provisions  of this  Article  11 shall not  extend  the
unexpired term of any Award.

         12.   SECURITIES LAW MATTERS.

         (a) If the Committee  deems necessary to comply with the Securities Act
of 1933, the Committee may require a written investment intent representation by
the Grantee and may require that a restrictive legend be affixed to certificates
for shares of Stock.

         (b) If,  based  upon  the  opinion  of  counsel  for the  Company,  the
Committee  determines  that the exercise,  nonforfeitability  of, or delivery of
benefits  pursuant to, any Award would violate any  applicable  provision of (i)
federal or state securities law or regulations or (ii) the listing  requirements
of any  national  securities  exchange on which are listed any of the  Company's
equity   securities,   then  the  Committee  may  postpone  any  such  exercise,
nonforfeitability or delivery, as the case may be, but the Company shall use its
best  efforts to cause such  exercise,  nonforfeitability  or delivery to comply
with all such provisions at the earliest practicable date.

         13. NO FUNDING REQUIRED.  Benefits payable under the Plan to any person
shall be paid directly by the Company. The Company shall not be required to fund
or otherwise segregate assets to be used for payment of benefits under the Plan.

        14. NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.  Neither the establishment of the Plan nor the
granting  of any Award shall be  construed  to (a) give any Grantee the right to
remain employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to any benefits not
specifically  provided  by the Plan or (b) alter in any  manner the right of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  to modify,  amend,  or terminate any of its
employee benefit plans.

        15. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER. A Grantee shall not, by reason of any Award
(other than  restricted  Stock) have any right as a  stockholder  of the Company
with respect to the shares of Stock which may be  deliverable  upon  exercise or
payment of such Award  until such  Stock has been  delivered  to him.  Shares of
restricted  Stock  held by a Grantee or held in escrow by the  Secretary  of the
Company shall confer on the Grantee all rights of a stockholder  of the Company,
except as otherwise provided in the Plan or Award Agreement.  Subject to Article
6, the  Committee  may, in its  discretion,  at the time of grant of  restricted
Stock,  permit or require the payment of cash dividends thereon to be reinvested
in additional restricted Stock to the extent

                                       15

shares are available  under Article 3, or otherwise  reinvested in Stock.  Stock
dividends and deferred cash dividends with respect to restricted  Stock shall be
subject to the same  restrictions  and other  terms as apply to the shares  with
respect to which such dividends are issued.  Subject to Article 6, the Committee
may,  in its  discretion,  provide  for  crediting  and  payment of  interest on
deferred cash dividends.

        16.  NATURE  OF  PAYMENTS.  Any and all  grants,  payments  of cash,  or
deliveries  of shares of Stock  hereunder  shall  constitute  special  incentive
payments  to the Grantee and shall not be taken into  account in  computing  the
amount of salary or  compensation of the Grantee for the purposes of determining
any  pension,  retirement,  death  or  other  benefits  under  (a) any  pension,
retirement, profit-sharing, bonus, life insurance or other employee benefit plan
of the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or (b) any  agreement  between  the
Company or any Subsidiary,  on the one hand, and the Grantee, on the other hand,
except as such plan or agreement shall otherwise expressly provide.


        17.  NON-UNIFORM  DETERMINATIONS.  The  Committee and the Board may make
non-uniform   determinations   under  the  Plan  and  may  make   determinations
selectively  among  persons who  receive,  or are  eligible  to receive,  Awards
(whether or not such  persons are  similarly  situated).  Without  limiting  the
generality  of the  foregoing,  the  Committee  shall be  entitled,  among other
things,  to  make  non-uniform  and  selective  determinations,  to  enter  into
non-uniform  and  selective  Award  Agreements  as to (a)  the  identity  of the
Grantees,  (b) the terms and provisions of Awards, and (c) the treatment,  under
Article 11, of Terminations of Employment.

       18. ADJUSTMENTS. Subject to Article 6, the Committee shall make equitable
adjustment of

          (a) the aggregate  numbers of shares of Stock available under Articles
     3(a) and 3(b),

          (b) the number of shares of Stock, shares of restricted Stock or stock
     appreciation rights covered by an Award,

          (c) the Option Price,

          (d) the Fair Market Value of Stock to be used to determine  the amount
     of the benefit payable upon exercise of stock appreciation rights, and

          (e) all other appropriate matters,

to  reflect  any  stock  dividend,  stock  split,  reverse  stock  split,  share
combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or
shares, separation, spin-off, reorganization, stock rights offering, liquidation
or similar event of or by the Company.

        19.  AMENDMENT  OF THE  PLAN.  The  Board  may from  time to time in its
discretion amend or

                                       16

modify the Plan without the approval of the stockholders of the Company,  except
as such stockholder approval may be required (a) to permit transactions in Stock
pursuant to the Plan to be exempt from potential  liability  under Section 16(b)
of the 1934 Act, (b) to permit the Company to deduct,  in  computing  its income
tax  liability  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  Internal  Revenue  Code,
compensation resulting from Awards, or (c) under the listing requirements of any
national  securities  exchange on which are listed any of the  Company's  equity
securities.

       20. TERMINATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th)
anniversary  of the  Effective  Date or at such  earlier  time as the  Board may
determine.  Any  termination,  whether in whole or in part, shall not affect any
Award then outstanding under the Plan.

        21. NO ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS. The Plan and all Awards granted pursuant to
it are subject to all laws and regulations of any  governmental  authority which
may be applicable thereto;  and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any
Award, Grantees shall not be entitled to exercise Awards or receive the benefits
thereof and the Company  shall not be  obligated to deliver any Stock or pay any
benefits to a Grantee if such exercise, delivery, receipt or payment of benefits
would  constitute a violation by the Grantee or the Company of any  provision of
any such law or regulation.

        22.  CONTROLLING  LAW. The law of the State of Delaware,  except its law
with respect to choice of law, shall be  controlling in all matters  relating to
the Plan.

        23.  SEVERABILITY.  If all or any  part of the Plan is  declared  by any
court or governmental  authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or
invalidity  shall not  invalidate  any  portion of the Plan not  declared  to be
unlawful  or  invalid.  Any  Article  or part of an Article  so  declared  to be
unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which will give
effect to the terms of such Article or part of an Article to the fullest  extent
possible while remaining lawful and valid.





                                       17

 



                                                                   Exhibit 10.23




                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

               ANNUAL COVERED EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


1.       PURPOSES.

         The Allstate Corporation Annual Covered Employee Incentive Compensation
         Plan was adopted and made  effective by the Board of Directors on March
         9, 1999.  The Plan was  submitted  to the  Company's  stockholders  for
         approval  on May 18,  1999.  The Plan's  purposes  are to provide  cash
         incentive   compensation   to  Covered   Employees  to  achieve  annual
         performance goals, and to ensure the deductibility of such compensation
         under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code").

2.       DEFINITIONS.

         The  following  terms when used in the Plan shall,  for the purposes of
         the Plan, have the following meanings:

          a. "Award" means the cash amount payable to a Participant for a fiscal
          year pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

          b. "Board" means the Board of Directors of The Allstate Corporation.

          c.   "Business   Unit"  means  any  operating  unit  of  The  Allstate
          Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries,  including but not limited to,
          the property and casualty business, the life business, the investments
          business, or the international business.

          d. "Committee" means two or more members of the Board who are "outside
          directors"  within the  meaning of Section  162(m) of the Code and the
          regulations thereunder.

          e. "Company" means The Allstate Corporation.

          f. "Covered  Employee" means a Participant who is a "Covered Employee"
          as defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

          g. "Fiscal Year" means the calendar year.

          h.  "Participant"  means any  senior  executive  of the  Company  or a
          Subsidiary  who is a Covered  Employee  for the fiscal year or for any
          shorter period within the fiscal year in which the Covered Employee is
          an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

          i. "Plan" means the Annual  Covered  Employee  Incentive  Compensation
          Plan.

                                       1

          j.  "Subsidiary"  means  any  corporation  of which the  Company  owns
          directly or indirectly a majority of the outstanding  shares of voting
          stock.

3.        ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.

          a. The Plan shall be  administered  by the  Committee.  Members of the
          Committee shall be appointed by the Board.

          b. The Committee  shall have the authority to make all  determinations
          it deems  necessary or advisable for the  administration  of the Plan,
          including  the  selection  of   Participants,   and,  subject  to  the
          limitations  set forth  herein,  the  determination  of the timing and
          amount of Awards made to each  Participant,  and the  establishment of
          objective and measurable  performance standards  ("performance goals")
          for earning Awards.

          c. The Committee  shall have the  authority to exercise  discretion to
          decrease the amount of any Award otherwise payable under the Plan, but
          the  Committee  shall have no  authority to increase the amount of any
          such Award.

4.       AWARDS.

          a. Awards under the Plan shall  consist of annual cash  bonuses  based
          solely  upon the degree of  attainment  of  objective  and  measurable
          performance  goals  of the  Company  and/or  its  Subsidiaries  and/or
          Business  Units over the fiscal year or, if  shorter,  over the period
          within the fiscal  year in which a Covered  Employee is an employee of
          the Company or of any Subsidiary.

          b. The Committee shall establish  written  performance goals within 90
          days  after the  beginning  of the  fiscal  year (or,  if the  Covered
          Employee  is not an  employee  at the  beginning  of the fiscal  year,
          within the first 25% of the period within the fiscal year in which the
          Covered  Employee  is an  employee),  and  while  the  outcome  of the
          performance goals is substantially  uncertain.  Such performance goals
          shall be  expressed  in  terms  of  objective  and  measurable  annual
          financial and/or operating criteria,  and may involve comparisons with
          respect to historical  results of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
          operating  groups or Business  Units  thereof,  as well as comparisons
          with  respect to peer group  performance.  Performance  goals shall be
          expressed using one or more of the following  measures of performance:
          net earnings,  operating income, return on equity, earnings per share,
          return on assets, values of assets, revenues,  market share, prices of
          Company stock,  or strategic  business  criteria  consisting of one or
          more Company,  Subsidiary or Business Unit objectives based on meeting
          specified  revenue  goals,  market  penetration  goals,  international
          business  expansion  goals,  cost targets,  customer  retention goals,
          customer  satisfaction  goals,  or goals relating to  acquisitions  or
          divestitures.  The calculation is specifically defined at the time the
          goal  is set.  Each  performance  goal  must  state,  in  terms  of an
          objective  formula or standard,  the Award payable to each Participant
          if the performance goal is attained.

                                       2

          c. No  Award  for any  Participant  for any  fiscal  year  may  exceed
          $3,000,000.


5.        PAYMENT OF AWARDS.

          a.  Awards  under the Plan  shall be paid to  Participants  as soon as
          practicable  after the  completion  of the fiscal year audit and after
          the  Committee  certifies  that the  performance  goals  and any other
          material terms were in fact satisfied.

          b. Awards shall be paid in cash,  less  required  withholding,  or for
          those eligible may be deferred at the Participant's election,  subject
          to the terms and conditions of any deferred compensation plan in which
          the Participant is eligible to participate.

          c. Unless the Committee has taken action under  subsection 3.c. hereof
          prior  to  payment  of an  Award,  each  Participant  selected  by the
          Committee  for a fiscal  year who  remains  actively  employed  by the
          Company  or a  Subsidiary  at the  end of the  fiscal  year  shall  be
          entitled to receive a payment of an Award earned pursuant to the terms
          of the Plan with respect to such year.

          d. If a Participant's  employment is terminated prior to completion of
          a fiscal year for any reason  other than as  described  in  subsection
          5.e. below, the Participant  will forfeit any Award otherwise  payable
          for such fiscal year.

          e. If a  Participant  dies,  retires or is disabled  during the fiscal
          year,  and the  Committee  has not taken  action  under  Section  3.c.
          hereof,  the Participant's  Award will be prorated based on the number
          of  Participant's  full months as an active employee during the fiscal
          year. If a Participant dies before receipt of an Award, the Award will
          be paid to the Participant's beneficiaries.

          f. Prorated Awards will be paid at the same time as regular Awards.

6.       MISCELLANEOUS.

          a.  All  amounts  payable  hereunder  shall  be  payable  only  to the
          Participant or his or her beneficiaries. The rights and interests of a
          Participant  under  the  Plan  may  not be  assigned,  encumbered,  or
          transferred,  voluntarily or involuntarily,  other than by will or the
          laws of descent and distribution.

          b. No individual  shall have any claim or right to be a Participant in
          the Plan at any time, and any  individual's  participation in the Plan
          may be terminated at any time with or without notice,  cause or regard
          to past practices.

          c.  Neither  the Plan nor any  action  hereunder  shall  confer on any
          person any right to remain in the employ of the  Company or any of its
          Subsidiaries or shall affect an

                                       3

          employee's  compensation  not  arising  under  the Plan.  Neither  the
          adoption  of the Plan nor its  operation  shall in any way  affect the
          right  and  power of the  Company  or any  Subsidiary  to  dismiss  or
          discharge any employee at any time.

          d. The  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  shall have the right to deduct
          from any Award, prior to payment,  the amount of any taxes required to
          be withheld by any federal,  state or local government with respect to
          such payments.

          e. The Committee may rely upon any  information  supplied to it by any
          officer  of the  Company  or  any  Subsidiary  or by  any  independent
          accountant  for the Company and may rely upon the advice of counsel in
          connection  with the  administration  of the  Plan and  shall be fully
          protected in relying upon such information or advice.

          f. All expenses and costs in connection with the administration of the
          Plan shall be borne by the Company.

          g.  The Plan  and any  agreements  entered  into  thereunder  shall be
          governed by and construed in accordance  with the laws of the state of
          Illinois.

7.        AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.

          The Board may suspend,  terminate, modify or amend the Plan; provided,
          however,  that any such action  which  changes  employees  eligible to
          participate, the criteria set forth in subsection 4.b., or the maximum
          amount of an Award set forth in subsection 4.c., shall be disclosed to
          and approved by the Company's stockholders.  Stockholder approval must
          be given by a  majority  of the votes  cast by the  holders of Company
          shares  represented  in person or by proxy at the annual  meeting next
          following the date of any such change.

8.       EFFECTIVE DATE.

         The Plan was adopted by the Board of  Directors of the Company on March
          9, 1999, and was submitted to the Company's stockholders for approval
         on May 18, 1999.











                                       4






                                                                      Exhibit 21

                       THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION (Delaware)
                             OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES


THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
Allstate Insurance Company (Illinois)
Allstate International Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
Allstate Federal Savings Bank1
Kennett Capital, Inc.
Willow Insurance Holdings Inc.

ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY (Subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation)
Allstate Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
Allstate Indemnity Company (Illinois)
Allstate International Inc. (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)
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 International Holding GmbH (Germany)
Allstate Life Insurance Company of the Philippines, Inc. (Philippines)2
Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Japan Company, Limited (Japan)3
Allstate Reinsurance Ltd. (Bermuda)
Allstate Services, Inc. (Japan)4
Pafco Underwriting Managers Inc. (Ontario)
Pembridge America Inc. (Florida)

ALLSTATE NON-INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. (Subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation)
AEI Group, Inc. (Delaware)
Allstate Investment Management Company (Delaware)
Tech-Cor, Inc. (Delaware)


- ---------------------
1 A "stock  savings  association"  organized  under federal law. 
2 Wholly-owned except for five shares owned by  incorporator(s).  
3 Wholly-owned except for one share  owned by  incorporator.  
4 Wholly-owned  except  for one share  owned by incorporator.

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)5
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York (New York)
Allstate Settlement Corporation (Nebraska)
CNL, Inc. (Missouri)
Glenbrook Life and Annuity Company (Arizona)
Laughlin Group Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)
Lincoln Benefit Life Company (Nebraska)
Northbrook Life Insurance Company (Arizona)
PT Asuransi Jiwa Allstate (Indonesia)6
Surety Life Insurance Company (Nebraska)

AEI GROUP, INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings, Inc.)
Allstate Motor Club, Inc. (Delaware)
Roadway Protection Auto Club, Inc. (Delaware)
Allstate Motor Club of Canada Inc. (Canada)

ALLSTATE INTERNATIONAL INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company)
Samshin Allstate Life Insurance Company, Ltd. (Republic of Korea)7

TECH-COR, INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate Non-Insurance Holdings,Inc.)
Northbrook Services, Inc. (Delaware)

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)
Investor Financial Services, Inc. (Nevada)
LSA Securities, Inc. (Oregon)8
Lifemark Financial and Insurance Agency, LLC (New York)

- ----------------------
5 Broker/dealer.
6 Joint  venture  of which  Allstate  Life  Insurance  Company  controls  80%. 
7 Allstate International Inc. owns only 50%.
8 Broker/dealer.


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. (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)9

ALLSTATE INTERNATIONAL HOLDING GMBH (Subsidiary of Allstate International 
Insurance Holdings, Inc.)
Allstate Direct Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft (Germany)
Allstate Diretto Assicurazioni Danni S.p.A (Italy)10
Allstate Werbung und Marketing GmbH (Germany)

PAFCO UNDERWRITING MANAGERS INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate International
Insurance Holdings, Inc.)
Pafco Insurance Company (Ontario)11
Pembridge Reinsurance Company Limited (Ireland)
Precision Claims Management Inc. (Canada)

PEMBRIDGE AMERICA INC. (Subsidiary of Allstate International 
Insurance Holdings, Inc.)
American Surety and Casualty Company (Florida)

ALLSTATE MOTOR CLUB, INC. (Subsidiary of AEI Group,Inc.)
Direct Marketing Center, Inc. (Delaware)
Enterprises Services Corporation (Delaware)
Rescue Express, Inc. (Delaware)






- -------------------
9 Broker/dealer.
10 Allstate  International  Holding  GmbH owns 90% of this  company and Allstate
   International Insurance Holdings, Inc. owns 10%.
11 Pafco  Underwriting  Managers  Inc.  owns all of the common  stock except for
   directors' qualifying shares.





OTHER POSSIBLY 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.
LSI Financial Services, Inc. (Ohio)
     S corporation owned by Marco Mazzone.  Sole member of Board of Directors is
     Bud Taylor, indirectly appointed by Allstate.
ProVest Insurance Services, Inc. (Ohio)
      S corporation owned by Marco Mazzone. Sole member of Board of Directors is
      Bud Taylor, indirectly appointed by Allstate.
Saison Automobile and Fire Insurance Company, Ltd. (Japan)
      5% owned by Allstate International Inc.


 
 


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, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 0000899051 THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION 1,000,000 U.S. Dollars 12-MOS DEC-31-1998 JAN-01-1998 DEC-31-1998 1 53560 0 53560 6421 3458 0 66525 258 1932 3096 87691 24482 6425 0 21133 1746 750 0 9 17231 87691 20826 3890 1163 0 16016 3021 2184 4745 1422 3294 0 0 0 3294 3.96 3.94 0 0 0 0 0 0 0