ST PAUL COMPANIES INC /MN/
S-3, EX-1.1, 2000-08-18
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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                          THE ST. PAUL COMPANIES, INC.


                                 DEBT SECURITIES
                                  -------------

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                                          [DATE]


[UNDERWRITERS]
   [As representatives of the several Underwriters
     named in Schedule 1 hereto,]
[c/o NAME]
     [ADDRESS]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         From time to time The St. Paul Companies, Inc., a Minnesota corporation
(the "Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a
"Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and
deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the
"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities
specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified
in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing
Agreement, the "Designated Securities").

         The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated
Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and
in or pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.


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         1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to
time to the Underwriters of such securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the
Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities, the initial public
offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase price to the
Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of
such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such
Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter and shall set forth the date, time and manner of
delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor. The Pricing
Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and
the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an
executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an
exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device
designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The
obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
shall be several and not joint.

         2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:

         (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. o) (the "Initial
    Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities have been filed with
    the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the Initial
    Registration Statements and any post-




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<PAGE>


    effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be
    delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial
    Registration Statements, but including all documents incorporated by
    reference in the prospectus included in the latest registration statement,
    to the Representatives for each of the other Underwriters, have been
    declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration
    statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b)
    Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities
    Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no
    other document with respect to the Initial Registration Statements or
    documents incorporated by reference therein has heretofore been filed or
    transmitted for filing with the Commission (other than prospectuses filed
    pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under
    the Act, each in the form heretofore delivered to the Representatives); and
    no stop order suspending the effectiveness of any Initial Registration
    Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Rule 462(b)
    Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that
    purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary
    prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statements or filed with the
    Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
    amended (the "Act"), is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"); the
    various parts of the Initial Registration Statements, any post-effective
    amendment thereto, and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statements, if any,
    including all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference
    in the prospectus contained in the Initial Registration Statement, at the
    time such part of the Initial Registration Statements became effective but
    excluding Form T-l, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial
    Registration Statements became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b)
    Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are
    hereinafter called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to
    the Securities, in the form in which it has most recently been filed, or
    transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior to the date of this
    Agreement, being hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein
    to any Preliminary


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<PAGE>


    Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
    documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable form
    under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus,
    as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any
    Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
    include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or
    Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
    as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated by reference in such
    Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to
    any amendment to the Initial Registration Statements shall be deemed to
    refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to
    Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the
    Initial Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the
    Registration Statement; and any reference to the Prospectus as amended or
    supplemented shall be deemed to refer to and include the Prospectus as
    amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable Designated Securities
    to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, in the form filed or transmitted for
    filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and in
    accordance with Section 5(a) hereof (including any documents incorporated by
    reference therein as of the date of such filing);

         (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
    they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
    conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the
    Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
    thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a
    material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
    therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any
    further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
    or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become
    effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform
    in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act,
    as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
    and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

    or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
    to make the statements therein not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this
    representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
    made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
    writing to the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through
    the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or
    supplemented to relate to a particular issuance of Securities;

         (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
    further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
    Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the
    Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture
    Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not
    and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the Registration
    Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable filing date as
    to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue
    statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
    stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
    PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to
    any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with
    information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of
    Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
    Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate to a particular issuance of
    Securities;

         (d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since
    the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated
    by reference in the Prospectus any direct loss or interference with its
    business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
    covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental
    action, order or decree, which is material to the Company and its
    subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
    in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information
    is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not
    been any change in the



                                      -5-
<PAGE>

    capital stock or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
    a whole (other than any decrease in the capital stock resulting from
    purchases under the Company's Stock Repurchase Program and any increase
    resulting from the exercise of stock options or the issuance of restricted
    shares under the Company's stock incentive and employee compensation plans,
    or the conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Series C
    Convertible Preferred Stock) or any material adverse change, or any
    development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting
    the general affairs, management, financial position, shareholders' equity or
    results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole,
    otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus;

         (e) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
    corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota, with
    power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
    its business as described in the Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as
    a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
    standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or
    leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
    qualification, and is not subject to any material liability or disability by
    reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each
    of the Company's principal subsidiaries (hereinafter called "Principal
    Subsidiaries"), namely St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, United
    States Fidelity and Guaranty Company and The John Nuveen Company, has been
    duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
    under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has been duly
    qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in
    good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or
    leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such
    qualification;

         (f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
    Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
    have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
    non-assessable; all of the issued shares of capital


                                      -6-
<PAGE>


    stock of each of St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, United States
    Fidelity and Guaranty Company and The John Nuveen Company held directly or
    indirectly by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
    fully paid and non-assessable and (except as disclosed in the Registration
    Statement) all shares of the capital stock of such subsidiaries are owned
    directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
    encumbrances, equities or claims;

         (g) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company, and, when
    Designated Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement
    and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities, such
    Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued
    and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
    the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will
    be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
    Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under
    the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
    Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute a
    valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its
    terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
    and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
    rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture conforms, and the
    Designated Securities will conform, to the descriptions thereof contained in
    the Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated
    Securities;

         (h) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
    Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this
    Agreement and any Pricing Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
    herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach
    or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
    under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other
    agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
    party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to
    which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
    subsidiaries is subject, nor will



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<PAGE>

    such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated
    Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or the By-laws, as amended, of the
    Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
    governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
    its subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval,
    authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such
    court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of
    the Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions
    contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or the Indenture,
    except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Delivery,
    obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
    approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
    required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
    purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;

         (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
    its organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance
    of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
    any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
    agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
    properties is or may be bound;

         (j) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
    "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer" and "Description of Notes",
    insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the
    Securities therein described, and, subject to the limitations set forth
    therein, under the caption "United States Taxation", and under the captions
    "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting" insofar as they purport to
    describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are
    accurate, complete and fair;

         (k) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, and other than
    litigation (none of which is reasonably likely to be material) incidental to
    the kinds of business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries, there
    are no legal or governmental proceedings pending



                                      -8-
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    to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or of which any
    property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, which, if
    determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
    individually or in the aggregate (after giving effect to any applicable
    insurance, reinsurance or reserves therefor) have a material adverse effect
    on the current or future consolidated financial position, shareholders'
    equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
    as a whole; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings
    are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
    others;

         (l) The Company is not and, after giving effect to each offering and
    sale of the Securities will not be, an "investment company" or an entity
    "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
    Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act");

         (m) Immediately after any sale of Securities by the Company hereunder
    or under any Pricing Agreement, the aggregate amount of Securities which
    shall have been issued and sold by the Company hereunder or under any
    Pricing Agreement and of any debt securities of the Company (other than such
    Securities) that shall have been issued and sold pursuant to the
    registration statement will not exceed the amount of debt securities
    registered under the registration statement; and

         (n) (A) KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of
    the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as
    required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
    thereunder; and (B) Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial
    statements of former USF&G Corporation and its subsidiaries, are independent
    public accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of
    the Commission thereunder.

         3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such




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Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

         4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant
to the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in definitive form to the extent
practicable, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such
names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior
notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of
Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the
Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance or at such other place and
time and date specified in such Pricing Agreement or at such other place and
time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing,
such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such
Securities.

         5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:

         (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to
    the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the
    Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
    the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second
    business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement
    relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if applicable, such
    earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment
    or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or
    supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such
    Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Securities which shall
    be disapproved by the Representatives for such Securities promptly after
    reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any
    such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the
    Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and any
    definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the
    Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
    of the Exchange Act for so long as



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    the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or
    sale of such Securities, and during such same period to advise the
    Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when
    any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes
    effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has
    been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any
    stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
    prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the
    qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
    of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or
    of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
    Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in
    the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order
    preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the
    Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best
    efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

         (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
    Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
    offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
    Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the
    continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long
    as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Securities,
    provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to
    qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
    process in any jurisdiction;

         (c) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus as
    amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from
    time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is
    required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of the
    Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of
    which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
    statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
    order to make the statements therein, in the light of the



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    circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered,
    not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during
    such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the
    Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in
    order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act,
    to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document
    and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any
    dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to
    time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the
    Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such
    compliance;

         (d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
    practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
    effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
    under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
    (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the
    rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including at the option
    of the Company Rule 158); and

         (e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement
    for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including the earlier
    of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated
    Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the
    Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell,
    contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company
    which mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and which are
    substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior
    written consent of the Representatives; and

         (f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall
    file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance
    with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
    Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the
    Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b)



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<PAGE>

    Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of
    such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.

         6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any
Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents
(including compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the
offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in
connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under
state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Surveys;
(iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities;
(v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the
Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and
expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and
disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and
the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as
provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel,
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.

         7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities
under the Pricing Agreement relating



                                      -13-
<PAGE>

to such Designated Securities shall be subject, in the discretion of the
Representatives, to the condition that all representations and warranties and
other statements of the Company in or incorporated by reference in the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities are, at and as of the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that
the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to
be performed, and the following additional conditions:

         (a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
applicable Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such
filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section
5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M.,
Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have
been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or
threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the
part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives'
reasonable satisfaction;

         (b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery for
such Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the Company,
the validity of the Indenture, the Designated Securities, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other related matters
as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have
received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable
them to pass upon such matters;

         (c) Bruce A. Backberg, Esq., Senior Vice President for the Company, or
other counsel for the Company acceptable to the Representatives, shall have
furnished to the Representatives his written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery
for such Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, to the effect that:

         (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
    corporation in good standing



                                      -14-
<PAGE>

    under the laws of the State of Minnesota, with corporate power and authority
    to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
    Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

         (ii) The Company has an authorized share capital as set forth in the
    Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all of the issued shares of
    capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued
    and are fully paid and non-assessable;

         (iii) The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
    the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each
    jurisdiction in which, in such counsel's opinion, the Company is required to
    be so qualified or if the Company is not so qualified in any such state or
    jurisdiction, the failure to so qualify would not, considering all cases in
    the aggregate, involve a material risk to the business, properties,
    financial position or results of operation of the Company and its
    subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

         (iv) Each of the Principal Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and
    is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
    jurisdiction of incorporation; all of the issued shares of capital stock of
    each of St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, United States Fidelity
    and Guaranty Company and The John Nuveen Company held directly or indirectly
    by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
    and non-assessable, and (except as disclosed in the Registration Statement)
    all shares of the capital stock of such subsidiaries are owned directly or
    indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
    equities or claims (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the
    opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and in respect of
    matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Company or the
    Principal Subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he
    believes that both the Representatives and he are justified in relying upon
    such opinions and certificates);

         (v) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or
    governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
    subsidiaries is a



                                      -15-
<PAGE>

    party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
    the subject, other than as set forth in the Prospectus and other than
    litigation or proceedings (none of which is reasonably likely to be
    material) incident to the kinds of business conducted by the Company and its
    subsidiaries, which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
    subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate (after giving effect to
    any applicable insurance, reinsurance or reserves therefor) have a material
    adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity
    or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
    whole; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are
    threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
    others;

         (vi) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
    Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
    the Company;

         (vii) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed,
    authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally binding
    obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
    Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture conform to the
    descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

         (viii) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
    by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument,
    enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to
    bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
    similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
    rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture has been duly
    qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

         (ix) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities, the compliance by
    the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated Securities, the
    Indenture, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
    Designated Securities and the consummation of the transactions herein and
    therein



                                      -16-
<PAGE>

    contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of
    any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result
    in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of
    the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to
    the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or
    other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or
    any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
    subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
    Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result
    in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Articles of
    Incorporation, as amended, or By-laws, as amended, of the Company or any
    statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court
    or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any
    of its subsidiaries or any of their properties;

         (x) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
    qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
    required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities or the
    consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
    Agreement or any applicable Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such
    as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such
    consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may
    be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
    purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters;

         (xi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
    its organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance
    of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
    material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
    agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
    properties is or may be bound;

         (xii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
    "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer" and "Description of Notes",
    insofar as they



                                      -17-
<PAGE>

    purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities therein
    described, and, subject to the limitations set forth therein, under the
    caption "United States Taxation", and under the captions "Plan of
    Distribution" and "Underwriting" insofar as they purport to describe the
    provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate,
    complete and fair;

         (xiii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to each offering and
    sale of the Securities will not be, an "investment company" or an entity
    "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
    Investment Company Act;

         (xiv) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
    amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and related
    schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when
    they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
    complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
    Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
    Commission thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to believe that any of
    such documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case may
    be, contained, in the case of the registration statement which became
    effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
    to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
    the statements therein not misleading, or, in the case of other documents
    which were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an
    untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
    necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
    circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed,
    not misleading; and

         (xv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
    supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto made by the
    Company prior to the date of such opinion for the Designated Securities
    (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to
    which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
    material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Trust



                                      -18-
<PAGE>

    Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; such counsel has no
    reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration Statement
    or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to the date of
    such opinion (other than the financial statements and related schedules
    therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an
    untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
    required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
    not misleading or that, as of its date, the Prospectus as amended or
    supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the
    Company prior to the date of such opinion (other than the financial
    statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need
    express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
    omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
    in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading or
    that, as of the date of such opinion, either the Registration Statement or
    the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or
    supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the date of such opinion
    (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to
    which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of
    a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the
    statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made,
    not misleading; and such counsel does not know of any amendment to the
    Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or other
    documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the
    Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the
    Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be described in the
    Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented which
    are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as required;

    PROVIDED that in lieu of the delivery of the opinion set forth in paragraph
    (iv) of this Section 7(c) as to The John Nuveen Company, such counsel may
    cause Alan G. Berkshire, Vice President and General Counsel to The John
    Nuveen Company, to deliver an opinion as to such matters, dated the Time of
    Delivery for such Designated Securities.



                                      -19-
<PAGE>

         (d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities
and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, the independent
accountants of the Company who have certified the financial statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Representatives a letter,
dated the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of the most
recent report filed with the Commission containing financial statements and
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, if the date of such
report is later than such effective date, and a letter dated such Time of
Delivery, respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with
respect to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as
the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives;

         (e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Principal Subsidiaries shall
have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended prior to the
date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities any loss or
interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing
Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, and (ii) since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to the
date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities there shall
not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company
and its subsidiaries



                                      -20-
<PAGE>

taken as a whole (other than any decrease in the capital stock resulting from
purchases under the Company's Stock Repurchase Program and any increase in the
capital stock resulting from the exercise of stock options or the issuance of
restricted shares under the Company's stock incentive and employee compensation
plans, or the conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Series C
Convertible Preferred Stock) or any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial
position, shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior to the date of the Pricing
Agreement relative to the Designated Securities, the effect of which, in any
such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of the
Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus as first amended relating to the Designated Securities;

         (f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded the Company's debt securities or the Company's financial strength or
claims paying ability by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) under the Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly
announced or otherwise given notice to the Company that it has under
surveillance, review or watch, with possible negative implications, its rating
of any of the Company's debt securities or the Company's financial strength or
claims paying ability, or of any review for a possible change therein that does
not indicate the direction of the possible change;

         (g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading the
Company's securities on the New York Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium
on commercial banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New
York State authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities
involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a
national emergency or war if the effect of any such event specified in this
clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to the Designated
Securities;



                                      -21-
<PAGE>

         (h) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a
certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the
Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such
Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (f) of this
Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably
request.

         8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities; and PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that the Company shall not be liable to any Underwriter under the
indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary
Prospectus to the extent that any such loss,



                                      -22-
<PAGE>

claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the fact such
Underwriter sold Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given,
at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the
Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference) or of the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated
by reference) in any case where such delivery is required by the Act if the
Company has previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter and the
loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from an untrue
statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Preliminary
Prospectus which was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented).

         (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement,
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

         (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if



                                      -23-
<PAGE>

a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under
such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve
it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any
indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to
the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from
the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel
or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified
party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the
indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim
in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of
such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an
admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.

         (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the



                                      -24-
<PAGE>

one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other from the
offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable
law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under
subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated
Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages



                                      -25-
<PAGE>

which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such
Securities and not joint.

         (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

         9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein. If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do
not arrange for the purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to
procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to
purchase such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the
respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they
have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company
notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities for a period of
not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be
made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees
to



                                      -26-
<PAGE>

file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made
necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any
person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Securities.

         (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does not exceed one- eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of
the Designated Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated
Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement
relating to such Designated Securities and, in addition, to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the
principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.

         (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company
and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and
contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.



                                      -27-
<PAGE>

         10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

         11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof; but, if for any other
reason Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the
Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof.

         12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters
of Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and
the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement,
request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.

         All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the




                                      -28-
<PAGE>

Registration Statement: Attention: Bruce A. Backberg, Esq., Senior Vice
President; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to
Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters'
Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be
supplied to the Company by the Representatives upon request. Any such
statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt
thereof.

         13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon,
and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the
extent provided in Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the officers and directors
of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and
no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.

         14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used
herein, "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in
Washington, D.C. is open for business.

         15. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

         16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any
one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us four counterparts hereof.

                                   Very truly yours,

                                   THE ST. PAUL COMPANIES, INC.




                                      -29-
<PAGE>

                                   By:
                                      --------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


Accepted as of the date hereof:


[UNDERWRITERS]

BY:  [REPRESENTATIVE]


By:
    ---------------------------------
       Name:
       Title:

On behalf of each of the Underwriters





                                      -30-
<PAGE>

                                                                         ANNEX I

                                PRICING AGREEMENT

[UNDERWRITERS]
   As Representatives of the several
      Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
[ADDRESS]

                                                                          [DATE]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The St. Paul Companies, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the "Company"),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement, dated April o, 2000 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
between the Company on the one hand and [UNDERWRITERS] on the other hand, to
issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated
Securities"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a
part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set
forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth
therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the
Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a
representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in
relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and
warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities which are the
subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein
and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference
shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined
in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The
Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf
of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12
of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to
in such Section 12 are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.



                                      -1-
<PAGE>

         An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place
and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto,
the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us [One for the issuer and each of the Representatives plus one
for each Counsel] counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.




                                      -2-
<PAGE>



                                   Very truly yours,

                                   THE ST. PAUL COMPANIES, INC.


                                   By:
                                      -----------------------------------
                                        Name:
                                        Title:


Accepted as of the date hereof:



[UNDERWRITERS]

BY:



By:
   --------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

On behalf of each of the Underwriters






                                      -3-
<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE I



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PRINCIPAL
                                                          AMOUNT OF
                                                          DESIGNATED
                     UNDERWRITER                          SECURITIES
                     -----------                          TO BE
                                                          PURCHASED
                                                          ---------

<S>                                                    <C>
[UNDERWRITER]......................................... $
[UNDERWRITER]. .......................................
[UNDERWRITER].........................................

         Total........................................
                                                          ----------
                                                       $
                                                          ==========
</TABLE>






                                      -1-
<PAGE>




                                   SCHEDULE II

TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:

      [  %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes]
      [Debentures] due     ,

AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
      [$]

PRICE TO PUBLIC:
      % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities,
      plus accrued interest[, if any,] from          to        [and
      accrued amortization[, if any,] from                      to      ]

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:
      % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities,
      plus accrued interest from
            to             [and accrued amortization[, if any,] from
                                      to                               ]

FORM OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
      [Definitive form to be made available for checking and packaging at least
      twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of [The
      Depository Trust Company or its designated custodian] [the
      Representatives]] [Book-entry only form represented by one or more global
      securities deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its
      designated custodian, to be made available for checking by the
      Representatives at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery
      at the office of DTC.]

SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:
      Federal (same day) funds

TIME OF DELIVERY:
      a.m. (New York City time),                                , 2000

INDENTURE:
      Indenture dated                                , 2000       , between the
      Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee

MATURITY:

INTEREST RATE:
      [   %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions]



                                      -1-
<PAGE>




INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
      [months and dates, commencing ....................., 2000]

REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:
      [No provisions for redemption]
      [The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
      sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the
      amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof, [on or after     , at the
      following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal
      amount). If [redeemed on or before     ,   %, and if] redeemed during the
      12-month period beginning                 ,

               YEAR                              REDEMPTION
                                                    PRICE


      and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case
      with accrued interest to the redemption date.]
      [on any interest payment date falling on or after       ,     , at the
      election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal
      amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]]
      [Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption upon
      occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law]
      [Restriction on refunding]

SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:
      [No sinking fund provisions]
      [The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund
      to retire [$ ] principal amount of Designated Securities on        in each
      of the years through       at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued
      interest[, together with [cumulative] [noncumulative] redemptions at the
      option of the Company to retire an additional [$ ] principal amount of
      Designated Securities in the years       through       at 100% of their
      principal amount plus accrued interest.]


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

            [IF DESIGNATED SECURITIES ARE EXTENDABLE DEBT SECURITIES,
                                    INSERT--

EXTENDABLE PROVISIONS:
      Designated Securities are repayable on       , [insert date and years], at
      the option of the holder, at their principal amount with accrued interest.
      The initial annual interest rate will be    %, and thereafter the annual
      interest rate will be adjusted on        , and           to a rate not
      less than    % of the effective annual interest rate on U.S. Treasury
      obligations with     -year maturities as of the [insert date 15 days prior
      to maturity date] prior to such [insert maturity date].]

          [IF DESIGNATED SECURITIES ARE FLOATING RATE DEBT SECURITIES,
                                    INSERT--

FLOATING RATE PROVISIONS:
      Initial annual interest rate will be    % through       [and
      thereafter will be adjusted [monthly] [on each          ,    ,
                    and      ] [to an annual rate of     % above the
      average rate for                          -year
      [month][securities][certificates of deposit] issued by
                            and
      [insert names of banks].] [and the annual interest rate [thereafter] [from
                  through        ] will be the interest yield equivalent of the
      weekly average per annum market discount rate for   -month Treasury bills
      plus    % of Interest Differential (the excess, if any, of (i) the then
      current weekly average per annum secondary market yield for    -month
      certificates of deposit over (ii) the then current interest yield
      equivalent of the weekly average per annum market discount rate for
          -month Treasury bills); [from          and thereafter the rate will
      be the then current interest yield equivalent plus    % of Interest
      Differential].]

DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS:

CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:

ADDITIONAL CLOSING CONDITIONS:
      PARAGRAPH [7(g)] OF THE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT SHOULD BE MODIFIED IN THE
      EVENT THAT THE SECURITIES ARE DENOMINATED IN, INDEXED TO, OR PRINCIPAL OR
      INTEREST ARE PAID IN, A CURRENCY OTHER THAN THE U.S. DOLLAR, MORE THAN ONE
      CURRENCY OR IN A COMPOSITE CURRENCY. THE COUNTRY OR COUNTRIES ISSUING SUCH
      CURRENCY SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE BANKING MORATORIUM AND HOSTILITIES CLAUSES
      AND THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL CLAUSE SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE PARAGRAPH (THE
      ENTIRE PARAGRAPH SHOULD BE RESTATED, AS AMENDED):



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

          "; (  ) the imposition of the proposal of exchange
      controls by any governmental authority in [INSERT THE
      COUNTRY OR COUNTRIES ISSUING SUCH CURRENCY, CURRENCIES OR
      COMPOSITE CURRENCY]".

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

      Designated Representatives:

      Address for Notices, etc.:

[OTHER TERMS]:









                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                                                                        ANNEX II



         Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

         (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to
      the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the
      applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

         (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary
      financial information and schedules audited, and, if applicable, financial
      forecasts and/or pro forma financial information examined, by them and
      included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
      Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
      accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and
      the related published rules and regulations thereunder; and, if
      applicable, they have made a review in accordance with standards
      established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
      the consolidated interim financial statements, selected financial data,
      pro forma financial information, financial forecasts and/or condensed
      financial statements derived from audited financial statements of the
      Company for the periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their
      reports thereon, copies of which have been [SEPARATELY] furnished to the
      representative or representatives of the Underwriters (the
      "Representatives")such term to include an Underwriter or Underwriters who
      act without any firm being designated as its or their representatives [AND
      ARE ATTACHED HERETO];

         (iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards established
      by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited
      condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets
      and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the



                                      -1-
<PAGE>

      Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly report on Form
      10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as indicated in their
      reports thereon copies of which [HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY FURNISHED TO THE
      REPRESENTATIVES][ARE ATTACHED HERETO]; and on the basis of specified
      procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who have
      responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether the
      unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referred to in
      paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material respects with
      the applicable accounting requirements of the [ACT AND THE EXCHANGE] Act
      and the related published rules and regulations, nothing came to their
      attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed
      consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in all material
      respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the [ACT AND THE
      EXCHANGE] Act and the related published rules and regulations;

         (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the
      consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company
      for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus and
      included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's Annual
      Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the
      corresponding amounts (after restatement where applicable) in the audited
      consolidated financial statements for five such fiscal years which were
      included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Reports on
      Form 10-K for such fiscal years;

         (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under selected
      captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on the
      basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to their
      attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to


                                      -2-
<PAGE>

      believe that this information does not conform in all material respects
      with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d),
      respectively, of Regulation S-K;

         (vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
      examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
      consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
      information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim
      financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of
      the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of
      the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by
      reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and
      its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and
      such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such
      letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe
      that:

                  (A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
         income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash
         flows included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by
         reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated
         by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
         respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange
         Act, or (ii) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
         condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance
         sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the
         Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them to be in
         conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

                  (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance
         sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the
         corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements
         from which such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited
         data and items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent
         with the basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited
         consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference
         in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal
         year;



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                  (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included
         in the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed
         financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income
         statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and
         referred to in clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
         consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements included
         or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form
         10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

                  (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
         statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
         not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
         accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules and
         regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been
         properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
         statements;

                  (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to
         the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the
         consolidated capital stock (other than any decrease in the capital
         stock resulting from purchases under the Company's Stock Repurchase
         Program and any increase in the capital stock resulting from the
         exercise of stock options or the issuance of restricted shares under
         the Company's stock incentive and employee compensation plans, or the
         conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Series C
         Convertible Preferred Stock) or any increase in the consolidated
         long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in
         consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity or other items
         specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items
         specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts
         shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference
         in the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or
         decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or
         which are described in such letter;


                  (F) at the date of the latest available incomplete unaudited
         consolidated condensed balance sheet of the Company and subsidiaries
         there were any decreases in



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

         total invested assets, total assets or total net assets or other items
         reasonably specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
         items reasonably specified by the Representatives, in each case as
         compared with the amounts reflected in the incomplete unaudited
         consolidated condensed balance sheet at the date of the latest
         financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
         Prospectus, except in each case for increases or decreases which the
         Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described
         in such letter;

                  (G) for the period from the date of the latest financial
         statements for the Company and its subsidiaries included or
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the specified date
         referred to in clause (E) there were any changes in the consolidated
         capital stock or in the debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or
         other items specified by the Representatives in each case as compared
         with the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other
         period of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except
         in each case for increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses
         have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

         (vii) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
      included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
      procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
      referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
      certain specified procedures, not constituting an examination in
      accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to
      certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the
      Representatives which are derived from the general accounting records of
      the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus
      (excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or in
      exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by the
      Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the
      Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain of
      such amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting
      records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in
      agreement.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>

         All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated
Securities for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities.


                                      -6-


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