ALLSTATE CORP
10-Q, 1996-11-14
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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                    Washington, D.C.  20549

                     ---------------------

                            FORM 10-Q

/X/    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
        FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 30, 1996

                                OR

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

                   Commission file number 1-11840


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

               Delaware                                36-3871531
       (State of Incorporation)           (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

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


      REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:  847/402-5000

      REGISTRANT  HAS FILED ALL  REPORTS  REQUIRED  TO BE FILED BY SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS, AND
(2) HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH FILING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PAST 90 DAYS.

                         YES /X/     NO


      AS OF OCTOBER 31, 1996, THE REGISTRANT HAD 444,672,713 COMMON SHARES, $.01
PAR VALUE, OUTSTANDING.













<PAGE>



                          THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
                    INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
                              SEPTEMBER 30, 1996


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                                <C>
PART 1  -  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                                                   PAGE


Item 1.    Financial Statements.

           Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
           for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996
           and 1995 (unaudited).                                                                                     1


           Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial
           Position as of September 30, 1996 (unaudited)
           and December 31, 1995.                                                                                    2

           Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
           for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996
           and 1995 (unaudited).                                                                                     3

           Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial
           Statements (unaudited).                                                                                   4

           Independent Certified Public Accountants'
           Review Report.                                                                                            11

Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of
           Financial Condition and Results of Operations.                                                            12


PART II -  OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.                                                                          33


</TABLE>

<PAGE>




                             PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                              ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                         THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS





                                                                                 Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                                                                    September 30,       September 30,
                                                                                 -----------------    -----------------
                                                                                   1996       1995      1996      1995
                                                                                 --------   -------    -------   -------
                                                                                                 (Unaudited)
 ($ in millions except per share data)
<S>                                                                               <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>

Revenues
    Property-liability insurance premiums earned                                   $4,598    $4,442    $13,792   $13,001
    Life insurance premium income and contract
     charges                                                                          338       290        950     1,011
    Net investment income                                                             958       912      2,842     2,690
    Realized capital gains and losses                                                 121        55        658       241
                                                                                  --------   -------   -------   -------
                                                                                    6,015     5,699     18,242    16,943
                                                                                  --------   -------   -------   -------

Costs and expenses
    Property-liability insurance claims and
     claims expenses                                                               3,825      3,458     11,041    10,111
    Life insurance policy benefits                                                   578        546      1,685     1,767
    Amortization of deferred policy
     acquisition costs                                                               584        554      1,721     1,564
    Operating costs and expenses                                                     438        535      1,604     1,686
    California Earthquake Authority assessment                                       150          -        150         -
    Interest expense                                                                  19         18         57        54
                                                                                  --------   -------     ------   -------
                                                                                   5,594      5,111     16,258    15,182
                                                                                  --------   -------   -------    -------

(Loss)gain on disposition of operations                                             (125)         -       (125)      159

Income from operations before income tax
    expense and equity in net income
    of unconsolidated subsidiary                                                     296        588       1,859     1,920

Income tax expense                                                                    11        148         400       462
                                                                                  --------   ---------    -------   -----

Income before equity in net income of
 unconsolidated subsidiary                                                           285        440       1,459     1,458

Equity in net income of unconsolidated
 subsidiary                                                                            7          6          21        49
                                                                                  --------   ---------    -------   ------

Net income                                                                          $292       $446      $1,480     $1,507
                                                                                  ========   =========    =======   ======

Net income per share                                                                $  0.65    $  1.00   $    3.30  $    3.36
                                                                                   ========   =========    =======    =======

Weighted-average common and common
    equivalent shares outstanding                                                    447.4      448.1       448.7      448.7
                                                                                   ========   =========   =======    =======

<FN>

                See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                     -1-


<PAGE>



                THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION




                                                                                 September 30,   December 31,
($ in millions)                                                                      1996            1995

                                                                                 -------------   -------------
                                                                                  (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                                <C>            <C>

Assets
Investments
     Fixed income securities available for sale, at fair value
         (amortized cost $44,364 and $41,907)                                      $ 45,795       $  45,272
     Equity securities, at fair value (cost $4,018 and $4,716)                        5,370           6,150
     Mortgage loans                                                                   3,265           3,280
     Real estate                                                                        719             786
     Short-term                                                                         695             548
     Other                                                                              502             469
                                                                                   ----------     -----------
         Total investments                                                           56,346          56,505

Premium installment receivables, net                                                  2,701           2,935
Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                     2,470           2,004
Reinsurance recoverables, net                                                         2,130           1,829
Property and equipment, net                                                             701             724
Accrued investment income                                                               771             750
Deferred income taxes                                                                   588             229
Cash                                                                                    164              90
Other assets                                                                          1,402           1,154
Separate Accounts                                                                     4,940           3,809
                                                                                  ----------      ----------
         Total assets                                                              $ 72,213        $ 70,029
                                                                                  ==========      ==========

Liabilities
Reserve for property-liability insurance
     claims and claims expense                                                     $ 17,391        $ 17,687
Reserve for life insurance policy benefits                                            6,014           6,071
Contractholder funds                                                                 19,864          19,146
Unearned premiums                                                                     6,231           6,188
Claim payments outstanding                                                              521             568
Other liabilities and accrued expenses                                                3,114           2,663
Short-term debt                                                                         192               -
Long-term debt                                                                        1,229           1,228
Separate Accounts                                                                     4,928           3,798
                                                                                   ----------      ----------
         Total liabilities                                                           59,484          57,349
                                                                                   ----------      ----------

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities (Notes 2, 3, 4, and 6)

Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock, $1 par value, 25 million
     shares authorized, none issued                                                       -               -
Common stock, $.01 par value, 1 billion shares
     authorized and 450 million issued, 444.7 million
     and 447.5 million shares outstanding                                                 5               5
Additional capital paid-in                                                            3,133           3,134
Unrealized net capital gains                                                          1,612           2,636
Unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments                                      20              20
Retained income                                                                       8,457           7,261
Deferred ESOP expense                                                                  (301)           (300)
Treasury stock, at cost (5.3 million and 2.5 million shares)                           (197)            (76)
                                                                                    ---------       ---------
         Total shareholders' equity                                                  12,729          12,680
                                                                                     --------        --------
         Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                                $ 72,213        $ 70,029
                                                                                    =========       =========

<FN>

       See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>

                                  -2-


<PAGE>



               THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

           CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                                    Nine Months Ended
                                                                                      September 30,
                                                                                  -----------------------
($ in millions)                                                                     1996          1995
                                                                                   ---------     --------
                                                                                         (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                               <C>              <C>

Cash flows from operating activities
     Net income                                                                   $1,480           $1,507
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to
        net cash provided by operating activities
         Realized capital gains and losses                                         (658)             (241)
         Loss(gain) on disposition of operations                                    125              (159)
         Interest credited to contractholder funds                                  905               889
         Increase in policy benefit and other insurance reserves                    587               780
         Increase in unearned premiums                                              311               443
         Increase in deferred policy acquisition costs                             (368)             (248)
         Change in premium installment receivables, net                              46              (720)
         Increase in reinsurance recoverables, net                                 (374)             (286)
         Change in deferred income taxes                                            109                86
         Changes in other operating assets and liabilities                          (65)              304
                                                                                  ---------      --------
            Net cash provided by operating activities                             2,098             2,355
                                                                                  ---------      --------

Cash flows from investing activities
     Proceeds from sales
         Fixed income securities available for sale                               7,839             4,748
         Fixed income securities held to maturity                                     -                24
         Equity securities                                                        2,902             1,638
     Investment collections
         Fixed income securities available for sale                               3,319             1,422
         Fixed income securities held to maturity                                     -               494
         Mortgage loans                                                             292               194
     Investment purchases
         Fixed income securities available for sale                             (14,570)           (9,609)
         Fixed income securities held to maturity                                     -              (428)
         Equity securities                                                       (1,572)           (1,696)
         Mortgage loans                                                            (280)             (390)
     Change in short-term investments, net                                         (148)               45
     Change in other investments, net                                                32                51
     Proceeds from disposition of operations                                        341                 -
     Purchases of property and equipment, net                                       (82)              (79)
                                                                                 ---------        --------
         Net cash used in investing activities                                   (1,927)           (3,586)
                                                                                 ---------        --------

Cash flows from financing activities
     Proceeds from issuance of short-term debt, net                                  192                -
     Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                                          3              341
     Repayment of long-term debt                                                      (2)              (2)
     Repayment of demand note by Sears                                                 -              450
     Proceeds from sale of subsidiary's stock                                          -              784
     Payment to Sears for transfer of ESOP obligation                                  -             (327)
     Contractholder fund deposits                                                  2,311            2,794
     Contractholder fund withdrawals                                              (2,196)          (2,472)
     Dividends paid                                                                 (284)            (262)
     Change in treasury stock, net                                                  (121)             (52)
     Other                                                                             -              (16)
                                                                                  ---------      --------
         Net cash provided by (used in)financing activities                          (97)           1,238
                                                                                  ---------      --------

Net increase in cash                                                                  74                7
Cash at beginning of period                                                           90               56
                                                                                  ---------      --------
Cash at end of period                                                            $   164         $     63
                                                                                  =========      ========
<FN>

      See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
</FN>

</TABLE>

                                 -3-


<PAGE>



                     THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                             (Unaudited)


 1.Basis of Presentation

   The accompanying  condensed  consolidated  financial  statements  include the
accounts of The Allstate Corporation and its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Allstate
Insurance   Company,  a   property-liability   insurance  company  with  various
property-liability  and life  insurance  subsidiaries,  including  Allstate Life
Insurance Company (collectively referred to as the "Company" or "Allstate").

   The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes as of September 30,
1996 and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and
1995 are unaudited.  The condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all
adjustments  (consisting  only of normal  recurring  accruals) which are, in the
opinion of  management,  necessary  for the fair  presentation  of the financial
position,  results of operations and cash flows for the interim  periods.  These
condensed  consolidated  financial  statements  and  notes  should  be  read  in
conjunction  with  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  notes  thereto
included in The Allstate  Corporation  Annual Report to Shareholders  and Annual
Report on Form 10-K for 1995. The results of operations for the interim  periods
should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

   Effective   July  1,   1996   the   Company   changed   the   components   of
property-liability  acquisition  costs  deferred  to include  all forms of agent
remuneration which vary directly with premium  production.  This change was made
to more  appropriately  match the costs of  acquiring  business  to the  related
premium  revenue  and to  increase  the  consistency  of  accounting  for  agent
remuneration   despite  differing   contractual   agreements  with  agents.  The
additional costs deferred consist primarily of employer payroll taxes, benefits,
and the agents'  office  expense  allowance,  which is  reimbursed  based on the
percent of premiums  written.  Previously,  only  commissions paid to agents and
agency managers,  premium taxes, and inspection report costs were deferred. This
change increased third quarter 1996 net income by $57 million after-tax.

2.  Disposition of Operations

   On July 31, 1996,  Allstate completed the sale of Northbrook  Holdings,  Inc.
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively "Northbrook") to St. Paul Fire &
Marine  Insurance  Company ("St.  Paul").  Northbrook  writes  commercial  lines
insurance  through its  subsidiaries.  Allstate  recorded gross proceeds of $189
million and recognized a gain of $18 million ($51 million after-tax) on the sale
during  the third  quarter  of 1996.  The  proceeds  and gain are  subject  to a
purchase price  adjustment  based on the final balance sheet of Northbrook as of
July 31, 1996,  expected to be completed in the fourth  quarter.  In  connection
with the sale, Allstate entered into an agreement with St. Paul whereby Allstate
and St. Paul will share in any  development  of the closing net loss reserves of
Northbrook  to be  settled  as of July 31,  2000.  Under the  agreement,  if the
development  of ultimate net loss reserves  exceeds net loss reserves at closing
by more than $25 million, Allstate will be required to pay St. Paul a portion of
the difference, limited to $100 million. If the development of ultimate net loss
reserves is less than net loss reserves at closing, St. Paul will be required to
pay Allstate a portion of the difference

                                     -4-

<PAGE>


not to exceed $50  million.  The  Company  does not expect  unfavorable  reserve
development based on current trends, conditions, and claim settlement processes.
Premiums written for Northbrook through July 31, 1996 included in the results of
operations for the three-month  and nine-month  periods ended September 30, 1996
were $50 million and $295 million,  respectively.  As a result of the sale,  the
Company's liability for claims and claims expense net of reinsurance recoverable
was reduced by $1.01 billion and invested assets were reduced by $973 million.

   On  September  16,  1996,  the  Company  completed  the  sale  of  Allstate's
U.S.-based    reinsurance   operations   for   policies   written   after   1984
("Reinsurance") to SCOR U.S. Corporation ("SCOR").  The transaction consisted of
the sale of certain non-insurance  assets,  liabilities and renewal rights and a
reinsurance  transaction  for the insurance  liabilities.  The Company  recorded
gross  proceeds of $152  million as a result of the sale and will realize an $83
million gain ($61 million  after-tax).  The portion of the gain  relating to the
sale of the renewal rights, $19 million ($12 million after-tax), was recorded in
the  third  quarter  of 1996.  The  remaining  $64  million  gain  ($49  million
after-tax) was deferred and will be amortized through  underwriting  income over
the reserve  run-off  period,  approximately  five  years,  in  accordance  with
retroactive  reinsurance  accounting.  The  proceeds  and gains are subject to a
purchase price adjustment based on the final statement of assets and liabilities
sold as of September 16, 1996,  expected to be completed in the first quarter of
1997.

   Pending  regulatory  approval,  Allstate  expects to complete the sale of the
common stock of its London-based  reinsurance  operations,  Allstate Reinsurance
Co, Limited ("ARCO") to QBE Insurance Group Limited of Sydney, Australia ("QBE")
in the fourth  quarter of 1996. The Company  expects to receive  proceeds of $35
million and has  recognized a $38 million  loss($39  million  after-tax)  in the
third quarter of 1996. In connection with the sale,  Allstate will enter into an
agreement  with QBE whereby 80% of any ultimate  adverse  development  on ARCO's
December 31, 1995 net loss reserves  will be reimbursed to QBE by Allstate.  QBE
will reimburse  Allstate for 70% of any ultimate favorable net loss development.
Development  will be settled  annually.  At the closing,  in addition to the $35
million  cash  proceeds,  QBE will deposit  approximately  $20 million in escrow
related to this agreement,  representing a contingent  purchase payment. If 1996
net loss development is favorable,  Allstate will receive the $20 million escrow
deposit in addition to 70% of any  redundancy.  Allstate  would report this as a
purchase price  adjustment in 1997. If 1996 net loss development is unfavorable,
the amount held in escrow will be used to satisfy any of Allstate's  obligation,
with the excess,  if any,  paid to Allstate.  In addition,  the  development  of
accident year 1996  underwriting  results for QBE is limited to a combined ratio
of 110 for  contracts in place as of the closing  date, and to be reviewed  and
settled annually.

   Premiums  written for  Reinsurance  and ARCO for the third  quarter and first
nine months of 1996,  were $101  million and $292  million,  respectively.  As a
result of the Reinsurance  sale, during the third quarter of 1996, the Company's
invested assets were reduced by $300 million.

                                     -5-

<PAGE>

   During the third quarter of 1996,  the Company  increased by $87 million ($55
million  after-tax) the provision for future losses  provided for the run-off of
the mortgage pool business in the loss on disposition of operations  line of the
income  statement.  The provision was established in the second quarter of 1995,
in connection with Allstate's  decision to exit the mortgage guaranty  insurance
business. The increase was due primarily to revised loss trend analyses based on
continued  weakness  in Southern  California's  economic  conditions,  including
real estate prices and unemployment.  This business,  which is
highly  concentrated  in Southern  California,  continues  to be affected by the
factors described above, as well as interest rate volatility or a combination of
such factors.  These factors are considered in the reevaluation of the provision
for future losses.

   Allstate  entered  into an  agreement  to sell the renewal  rights of 137,000
Florida property policies to Clarendon  National  Insurance  Company.  Beginning
with policies expiring after November 14, 1996,  Allstate will no longer provide
coverage  for these  polices as they  expire  over the next  twelve  months.  In
connection with the sale of these policies, the Company recognized a loss of $37
million ($24 million  after-tax)  in the third  quarter of 1996.  The Company is
expecting annual written premiums to decrease by approximately  $78 million as a
result of this transaction.

3.  California Earthquake Authority

   During  the  third  quarter  of  1996,  the  Governor  of  California  signed
legislation  which  established the terms under which the California  Earthquake
Authority  ("CEA")  will become  operational.  The CEA is a  privately-financed,
publicly-managed  state agency created to provide coverage for earthquake damage
resulting from the movement of the earth.  Insurers selling homeowners insurance
will continue to be required to offer  earthquake  insurance to their  customers
either  through their company or  participation  in the CEA. The CEA will become
operational   when  insurers   representing  at  least  70%  of  the  California
residential  property  insurance  market agree to participate  and the necessary
commitments  from  reinsurers  are  obtained.  Assuming  the  required  level of
participation  and  reinsurance  commitments  are  obtained,  the  Department of
Insurance has stated that it expects the CEA to be selling policies in December,
1996.  Until the CEA becomes  operational,  Allstate  will continue to write its
earthquake mini-policy for policies renewing.  The mini-policy,  introduced late
in the second quarter of 1996, increases deductibles and eliminates coverage for
most non-dwelling  structures and significantly reduces Allstate's exposure from
what was in place at the time of the Northridge earthquake in 1995. The CEA will
issue earthquake policies as existing policies issued by participating  insurers
expire.

   The capital  needed to create and  operate the CEA is to be obtained  through
assessments on participating insurance companies,  reinsurance, and funding from
the capital markets. Initially,  insurance companies who elect to participate in
the CEA will be  assessed  approximately  $1 billion  based on their  respective
market share of earthquake  coverage.  Allstate's pretax  assessment,  including
related  expenses,  of  approximately  $150  million  was  expensed in the third
quarter of 1996.

                                     -6-

<PAGE>

   Allstate may be assessed in the future  depending on the capital level of the
CEA. If the capital of the CEA drops below $350 million,  participating insurers
may be assessed over a period of twelve years,  based on market share, an amount
not to exceed $3 billion in total. Participating insurers are required to fund a
third  assessment,  not to exceed $2 billion in total,  if aggregate  earthquake
losses exceed $8.5 billion and the CEA's  capital falls below $350 million.  The
authority of the CEA to assess  participating  insurers expires when the CEA has
completed  twelve years of  operation.  Allstate  does not expect its portion of
these additional contingent assessments, if needed, to exceed $750 million.

4. Reserve for Property-Liability Insurance Claims and Claims Expense

   The Company  establishes  reserves for claims and claims  expense on reported
and unreported  claims of insured losses.  These reserve  estimates are based on
known  facts  and  interpretation  of  circumstances,  including  the  Company's
experience  with similar cases and  historical  trends  involving  claim payment
patterns,  loss  payments,  pending  levels of unpaid  claims,  product mix, and
unavailable  reinsurance  balances,  as well as other  factors  including  court
decisions, economic conditions and public attitudes.

   The   establishment   of  appropriate   reserves,   including   reserves  for
catastrophes, is an inherently uncertain process. Allstate regularly updates its
reserve  estimates as new facts become known and further  events occur which may
impact the  resolution  of  unsettled  claims.  Changes  in prior  year  reserve
estimates,  which may be material, are reflected in the results of operations in
the period such changes are determined to be needed.

   Catastrophes  are  an  inherent  risk  of  the  property-liability  insurance
business which have  contributed,  and will continue to contribute,  to material
year-to-year  fluctuations in the Company's  results of operations and financial
position.  The level of  catastrophe  losses  experienced  in any year cannot be
predicted  and could be  material  to the results of  operations  and  financial
position.  The Company has experienced two severe  catastrophes in the last five
years resulting in losses of $2.33 billion  relating to Hurricane Andrew (net of
reinsurance)  and $1.72  billion  relating  to the  Northridge  earthquake.  The
Company is exposed to similar or greater catastrophes in the future.

   During the third  quarter of 1996,  the  Company  concluded  a  comprehensive
re-evaluation of its net loss reserves, including the process for estimating and
identifying  available  reinsurance,  for its  Discontinued  Lines and Coverages
segment which resulted in an increase in net loss reserves of $318 million.  The
increase in net loss reserves consisted of several components,  including a $244
million net increase in  environmental  and asbestos  net loss  reserves,  a $60
million net increase in other latent exposure and general liability net loss 
reserves, and a $14 million increase in the provision for future insolvencies 
of reinsurers.

                                     -7-

<PAGE>

   Allstate's  exposure to  environmental  and asbestos claims stem  principally
from excess and surplus business written from 1972-1985,  including  substantial
excess and surplus general  coverages on Fortune 500 companies,  and reinsurance
coverage written during the 1960's through the 1980's,  including reinsurance on
primary  insurance  written  on  large  U.S.  companies.  Establishing  net loss
reserves for environmental and asbestos claims is subject to uncertainties  that
are  greater  than  those  presented  by  other  types  of  claims.   Among  the
complications   are  the  lack  of  historical  data,  long  reporting   delays,
uncertainty as to the number and identity of insureds with  potential  exposure,
unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage,  and the extent and timing of
any such contractual  liability.  The legal issues concerning the interpretation
of various  insurance policy  provisions and whether  environmental and asbestos
losses are or were ever intended to be covered are complex.  Courts have reached
different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions as to when losses are deemed to
have  occurred and which  policies  provide  coverage;  what types of losses are
covered; whether there is an insured obligation to defend; how policy limits are
determined;  how policy  exclusions  are  applied and  interpreted;  and whether
clean-up costs represent  insured  property  damage.  Management  believes these
issues are not likely to be resolved in the near future.

   As the industry has gained experience  evaluating  environmental and asbestos
exposures  some  actuarial  firms  have  developed  meaningful   techniques  and
databases to estimate  environmental and asbestos  liabilities.  Allstate gained
access to complex databases developed by outside experts to estimate the cost of
liabilities for  environmental  claims.  The databases  contained lists of known
potentially  responsible parties ("PRP"),  National Priority List ("NPL") sites,
and the Environmental Protection Agency's estimate of clean-up costs. Allstate's
policy files were compared to the databases,  and factors to estimate  growth of
NPL sites, state sites, third party claims, natural resource damage, probability
of coverage,  and PRP's being named at future sites were applied to determine an
estimate of the Company's potential environmental loss. The Company also refined
its own  estimation  techniques,  which  were  tested and  validated  by outside
actuaries,  to estimate  environmental  and  asbestos  losses.  Allstate  used a
combination of these resources,  along with an extensive  internal review of its
current claim exposures to estimate  environmental  and asbestos  reserves.  The
Company  performed  an in-depth  analysis of its  reinsurance  recoverables  and
refined its process for estimating and identifying  available  reinsurance since
some reinsurers have become insolvent or Allstate has commuted their agreements.
During the third quarter of 1996, loss reserves for asbestos exposures increased
$153 million before  consideration  of reinsurance  recoverables and $72 million
net of  reinsurance  recoverables.  Loss  reserves for  environmental  exposures
decreased $10 million  before  consideration  of  reinsurance  recoverables  and
increased $172 million net of reinsurance  recoverables during the third quarter
of 1996.  For the nine months ended  September  30, 1996,  net loss reserves for
environmental and asbestos exposures  increased by $220 million and $32 million,
respectively. Environmental and asbestos net loss  reserves as of September 30, 
1996 were $740 million and $533 million, respectively.

                                     -8-

<PAGE>

   In  addition to  environmental  and  asbestos  exposures,  the  studies  also
included  an  assessment  of current  claims for other  latent  exposures  which
primarily relate to products liability claims, such as those for medical devices
and other  products,  and general  liabilities.  Loss  reserves for other latent
exposures and general liabilities  increased $87 million before consideration of
reinsurance  recoverables  and $60 million net of reinsurance  recoverables as a
result of the studies.  This  increase is net of the movement of $103 million of
general  liability net loss reserves  between 1985 and later  accident  years to
pre-1985 accident years.

   In 1986, the general liability policy form used by Allstate and others in the
property-liability  industry was amended to  introduce  an  "absolute  pollution
exclusion," which excluded coverage for environmental damage claims and added an
asbestos exclusion. Most general liability policies issued prior to 1986 contain
annual aggregate  limits for products  liability  coverage,  and policies issued
after 1986 also have an annual  aggregate limit as to all coverages.  Allstate's
experience  to date is that these policy form changes have  effectively  limited
its  exposure to  environmental  and  asbestos  claim  risks  assumed as well as
primary commercial  coverages written subsequent to 1986.  Allstate's  reserves,
net  of  reinsurance   recoverables  of  $524  million  and  $647  million,  for
environmental  and  asbestos  claims  were $1.27  billion  and $1.02  billion at
September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively.

   Management  believes  its net loss  reserves for  environmental  and asbestos
coverages and other latent  exposures  are  appropriately  established  based on
available facts, updated technology, laws, and regulations.  However, due to the
inconsistencies of court coverage  decisions,  plaintiffs'  expanded theories of
liability,  the risks inherent in major litigation and other uncertainties,  the
ultimate  cost of these claims may vary  materially  from the amounts  currently
recorded,  resulting in an increase in the net loss reserves. In addition, while
the Company  believes the  improved  actuarial  techniques  and  databases  have
assisted  in its  ability  to  estimate  environmental  and  asbestos  net  loss
reserves,  these refinements may subsequently prove to be inadequate  indicators
of the  extent  of  probable  net loss.  Due to the  uncertainties  and  factors
described  above,  management  believes  it is  not  practicable  to  develop  a
meaningful range for any such additional net loss reserves that may be required.

                                     -9-

<PAGE>

5. Reinsurance

   Property-liability  insurance  premiums and life insurance premium income and
contract charges are net of reinsurance ceded as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,        September 30,
($ in millions)
                                        1996      1995     1996       1995
                                        ----      ----     ----       ----

<S>                                     <C>        <C>     <C>        <C>

Property-liability premiums........     $119       $135    $404       $396
Life insurance premium income and
 contract charges..................       44         14      73         39
</TABLE>

  Property-liability  insurance  claims and claims  expense  and life  insurance
policy benefits are net of reinsurance recoveries as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,        September 30,
($ in millions)
                                        1996      1995     1996       1995
                                        ----      ----     ----       ----

<S>                                     <C>        <C>     <C>        <C>

Property-liability claims and
 claims expense...................       $11       $236    $200       $590
Life insurance policy benefits
 and contract charges.............         6          6      30         17


</TABLE>


6. Regulation and Legal Proceedings

   The Company's  insurance  businesses are subject to the effects of a changing
social, economic and regulatory  environment.  Public and regulatory initiatives
have varied and have included  efforts to restrict  premium rates,  restrict the
Company's ability to cancel policies,  impose underwriting  standards and expand
overall regulation.  The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these
initiatives are uncertain.

   Various  legal and  regulatory  actions are  currently  pending  that involve
Allstate  and  specific  aspects of its conduct of  business.  In the opinion of
management,  the ultimate liability,  if any, in one or more of these actions in
excess of amounts  currently  reserved is not expected to have a material effect
on results of operations, liquidity or capital resources.


                                     -10-

<PAGE>




INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REVIEW REPORT


To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
The Allstate Corporation:


We have reviewed the accompanying  condensed consolidated statement of financial
position of The Allstate  Corporation  and  subsidiary as of September 30, 1996,
and  the  related  condensed  consolidated  statements  of  operations  for  the
three-month  and nine-month  periods ended  September 30, 1996 and 1995, and the
condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine-month periods ended
September 30, 1996 and 1995. These financial  statements are the  responsibility
of the Company's management.

We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute  of  Certified  Public  Accountants.  A review  of  interim  financial
information consists principally of applying analytical  procedures to financial
data and of making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting
matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance
with  generally  accepted  auditing  standards,  the  objective  of which is the
expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole.
Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material  modifications that should
be made to such condensed  consolidated  financial  statements for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

We have  previously  audited,  in accordance  with generally  accepted  auditing
standards,  the  consolidated  statement of  financial  position of The Allstate
Corporation and subsidiary as of December 31, 1995, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then
ended, not presented  herein. In our report dated March 1, 1996, we expressed an
unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion,
the information set forth in the accompanying  condensed  consolidated statement
of financial  position as of December 31, 1995 is fairly stated, in all material
respects,  in relation to the consolidated  statement of financial position from
which it has been derived.




Deloitte & Touche LLP

Chicago, Illinois
November 13, 1996

                                     -11-

<PAGE>



Item 2:  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and
Results of Operations for the Three-Month and Nine-Month Periods Ended
September 30, 1996 and 1995

   The following discussion  highlights  significant factors influencing results
of operations and changes in financial position of The Allstate Corporation (the
"Company" or  "Allstate").  It should be read in conjunction  with the condensed
consolidated  financial  statements and notes thereto found under Part I. Item 1
along  with the  discussion  and  analysis  found  under  Part 2.  Item 7 of The
Allstate  Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1995.

Consolidated Operations

   Consolidated  revenues for the third quarter of 1996  increased 5.5% to $6.02
billion  from $5.7  billion  for the same  period  last year  reflecting  a $156
million increase in  property-liability  earned premiums, a $66 million increase
in net realized capital gains, a $48 million increase in life premium income and
contract  charges  and  a  $46  million  increase  in  net  investment   income.
Consolidated revenues for the first nine months of 1996 increased 7.7% to $18.24
billion  from  $16.94  billion  for the same  period in 1995  reflecting  a $791
million increase in property-liability  earned premiums, a $417 million increase
in net realized  capital  gains,  and a $152 million  increase in net investment
income,  partially  offset by a $61 million  decrease in life premium income and
contract  charges.  The increase in  property-liability  earned premiums for the
three-month  and  nine-month   periods  are  due  primarily  to  growth  in  the
non-standard  auto business.  Increased  capital gains for the nine-month period
resulted   primarily  from  repositioning  the   property-liability   investment
portfolio  in the second  quarter of 1996.  Revenue  results  for the  Company's
primary insurance segments are discussed further in the following sections.

   Net income for the third  quarter of 1996 was $292  million,  or 65 cents per
share,  compared with $446 million,  or $1.00 per share,  for the same period of
1995. Net income for the first nine months of 1996 was $1.48  billion,  or $3.30
per share,  compared with $1.51 billion, or $3.36 per share, for the same period
of 1995. For both the  three-month  and nine-month  periods ended  September 30,
1996, increased property-liability net realized capital gains and life operating
income  were  more  than  offset by  increased  property-liability  underwriting
losses, the California Earthquake Authority ("CEA") assessment and a net loss on
the  disposition  of  operations.  The  property-liability  underwriting  losses
increased  for both periods,  as increases in earned  premiums,  favorable  auto
injury  severity  trends,  and a benefit  due to a change in the  components  of
acquisition costs deferred to include all forms of agent  remuneration that vary
with  premium  production,  were more than offset by an increase to the reserves
for claims and claims expense (net loss reserves) for certain discontinued lines
and coverages and catastrophe losses.

   Net income for the nine-month  period ended September 30, 1995 included a $93
million after-tax gain from the sale of 70% of The PMI Group, Inc.

                                     -12-

<PAGE>
Property-Liability Operations

Overview

   In order to focus primarily on its core  strengths,  during the third quarter
of 1996, the Company sold the majority of its "Business Insurance" segment which
was comprised of commercial property and casualty and reinsurance operations. As
a result,  the  Company's  property-liability  operations  include two segments:
Personal  Property and Casualty  ("PP&C") and  Discontinued  Lines and Coverages
("Discontinued Lines and Coverages").  PP&C, which has historically included all
of the Company's  personal property and casualty  business,  has been revised to
include ongoing commercial  business written through the same agent distribution
channel. Discontinued Lines and Coverages consists of business no longer written
by  Allstate,  including  results  from  asbestos,   environmental,   and  other
commercial  and mortgage  pool  business in run-off,  as well as the  historical
results of businesses sold in 1996.

   Underwriting  results  for  each  of  the  property-liability   segments  are
discussed separately beginning on page 19.

                                     -13-

<PAGE>

   The following table sets forth certain  unaudited  summarized  financial data
and key operating ratios for the Company's property-liability operations for the
three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended
                                       September 30,          September 30,
                                       -------------          -------------

($ in millions)                         1996        1995        1996     1995
                                        ----        ----        ----     ----

<S>                                   <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>

Premiums written..................... $4,798     $4,647     $14,063    $13,432
                                       =====      =====      ======     ======

Premiums earned...................... $4,598     $4,442     $13,792    $13,001
Claims and claims expense............  3,825      3,458      11,041     10,111
Other costs and expenses.............    894        963       2,952      2,899
                                         ---        ---       -----      -----
Underwriting (loss) income ..........   (121)        21        (201)        (9)
California Earthquake
 Authority assessment........            150          -         150          -
Net investment income ...............    439        406       1,306      1,199
Realized capital gains and
 losses, after-tax...................     77         33         405        129
(Loss)gain on disposition
of                                       (55)        -          (55)        93
                                                      -
operations, after-tax..
Income tax (benefit) expense on
 operations..........................     (4)        91        119        199
                                          ---        --       -----      -----
Income before equity in net
 income of unconsolidated
 subsidiary..........................    194        369       1,186      1,213
Equity in net income of
 unconsolidated subsidiary...........      7          6          21         49
                                          --         --          --         --
Net income...........................  $ 201      $ 375      $1,207     $1,262
                                         ===        ===       =====      =====

Catastrophe losses...................  $ 304     $  171      $  815      $ 707
                                         =====    =====       =====       ====

Operating ratios.....................
Claims and claims expense
 ("loss") ratio......................   83.2       77.8        80.1       77.8
Expense ratio........................   19.4       21.7        21.4       22.3
                                        ----       ----       -----      -----
Combined ratio.......................  102.6       99.5       101.5      100.1
                                       =====       ====       =====      =====
Effect of catastrophe losses
 on combined ratio...................    6.6        3.8         5.9        5.4
                                         ====      ====       =====      =====

</TABLE>
                                      -14-
<PAGE>



Net Investment Income and Realized Capital Gains

   Pretax net investment  income increased 8.1% and 8.9% for the three-month and
nine-month  periods of 1996,  compared  with the same  periods in 1995.  For the
quarter,  increased  investment  income  resulted  from an  increase in invested
balances  as a result  of  positive  cash  flows  over the  last  twelve  months
partially  offset by the sale of Northbrook and Reinsurance in the third quarter
of  1996.  The  pretax  portfolio  yield  also  increased  slightly  due  to the
repositioning  of the  portfolio  during  the  second  quarter  of 1996  and the
transfer of lower yielding  Northbrook  investments  during the third quarter in
connection with the sale to St. Paul, partially offset by the negative impact of
calls and maturities of higher yielding bonds. The second quarter 1996 portfolio
repositioning  is  not  expected  to  impact  after-tax  portfolio  yields.  The
increased  investment  income for the  nine-month  period was  primarily  due to
increased  invested balances as a result of positive cash flows from operations,
and the full year impact of proceeds received from The PMI Group, Inc. and Sears
Distribution transactions in the second quarter of 1995, partially offset by the
sale of Northbrook and Reinsurance.

   Realized  capital  gains  after-tax  for the third  quarter  of 1996 were $77
million  compared with $33 million for the same period in 1995. The increase was
primarily due to the Company's sale of securities to take advantage of favorable
investment performance and market conditions. For the first nine months of 1996,
realized  capital gains  after-tax were $405 million  compared with $129 million
for the  comparable  period in 1995.  During the first half of 1996, the Company
reassessed the market risk associated with its  property-liability  fixed income
and equity securities  portfolios and, as a result, sold a portion of its equity
securities and tax-exempt long-term fixed income securities.  Approximately $234
million of capital gains  after-tax  were realized in the second quarter of 1996
as a result of this  repositioning.  The proceeds  from the  repositioning  were
reinvested   in  taxable   intermediate-term   fixed  income   securities   (see
Investments).

   Increases in  property-liability  net investment  income will be lower in the
future as a result of the  sales of  Northbrook  and  Reinsurance.  These  sales
resulted  in a net  reduction  of the  property-liability  invested  balances of
approximately $1.27 billion in the third quarter of 1996.

Catastrophe Losses

   Catastrophes  are  an  inherent  risk  of  the  property-liability  insurance
business which have  contributed,  and will continue to contribute,  to material
year-to-year  fluctuations  in Allstate's  results of  operations  and financial
position.  The level of  catastrophe  losses  experienced  in any year cannot be
predicted  and could be  material to the  Company's  results of  operations  and
financial  position.  The Company has experienced two severe catastrophes in the
last five years which  resulted in losses of $2.33 billion  related to Hurricane
Andrew  (net  of  reinsurance)  and  $1.72  billion  related  to the  Northridge
earthquake.  The  Company is exposed to similar or greater  catastrophes  in the
future.

   Catastrophe  losses for the third quarter of 1996 were $304 million  compared
to $171 million for the same period of 1995.  The increase was  primarily due to
the effects of Hurricane  Fran.  For the nine-month  period ended  September 

                                     -15-

<PAGE>

30, 1996,  catastrophe  losses were $815  million  versus $707  million for the 
same period in 1995.

   The  establishment  of  appropriate   reserves  for  catastrophes  that  have
occurred,  as for all  property-liability  claims,  is an  inherently  uncertain
process. Catastrophe reserve estimates are regularly reviewed and updated, using
the most current information. Any resulting adjustments,  which may be material,
are reflected in current period operations.

Catastrophe Management

   Allstate  has  initiated  strategies  to  limit,  over  time,  its  insurance
exposures in certain regions prone to catastrophes,  subject to the requirements
of insurance laws and regulations and as limited by competitive  considerations.
These strategies  include  reductions in policies in force in catastrophe  prone
areas,  limits on new business  production,  and  limitations  on certain policy
coverages.  In  addition,  Allstate  has  requested  rate  increases  in certain
catastrophe prone areas.

   During the third  quarter of 1996,  the Company  received  approval  from the
Florida  Department  of Insurance on key  components  of the  Company's  plan to
reorganize  its Florida  property  business  in order to reduce its  exposure to
hurricanes. As part of this plan, the Company has taken the following actions.

      The Allstate Floridian Insurance Company  ("Floridian") was formed to sell
      and service Allstate's Florida property policies.  Effective September 17,
      1996,  all new  Florida  property  policies  were  written  in  Floridian.
      Beginning  with  policies  expiring  after  October 31,  1996,  Allstate's
      existing  Florida  property  policies will be  transferred to Floridian as
      policies are renewed.

      Floridian   entered  into  catastrophe   reinsurance   agreements  with  a
      non-affiliated  entity which provides access to approximately $400 million
      of catastrophe reinsurance protection.

      Allstate  entered into an agreement to sell the renewal  rights of 137,000
      Florida  property  policies  to  Clarendon   National  Insurance  Company.
      Beginning with policies expiring after November 14, 1996, Allstate will no
      longer  provide  coverage  for these  polices as they expire over the next
      twelve months. In connection with the sale of these policies,  the Company
      recognized an after-tax  loss of $24 million in the third quarter of 1996.
      The  Company  is  expecting   annual  written   premiums  to  decrease  by
      approximately $78 million as a result of this transaction.

      Beginning  September  16,  1996,  Allstate  discontinued  its  non-renewal
      program, which pertained to certain Florida counties.

      Effective September 17, 1996, for new business,  and November 1, 1996, for
      renewal business, Florida property policies contained certain coverage and
      deductible  modifications  and a 22% statewide average increase in premium
      rates.  The Company will be unable to increase  property  premium rates in
      Florida until January of 1999.

      The Company  anticipates  regulatory  approval to transfer the wind damage
      portion of approximately  67,000 Allstate property policies to the Florida
      Windstorm Underwriting Association. Once approved, the

                                     -16-

<PAGE>


      Company expects annual premium written to decrease by approximately $12
      million.

    Management  believes as these actions are implemented the Company's exposure
to catastrophes will be reduced in Florida.

   During  the  third  quarter  of  1996,  the  Governor  of  California  signed
legislation  which  established the terms under which the California  Earthquake
Authority  ("CEA")  will become  operational.  The CEA is a  privately-financed,
publicly-managed  state agency created to provide coverage for earthquake damage
resulting from the movement of the earth.  Insurers selling homeowner  insurance
will continue to be required to offer  earthquake  insurance to their  customers
either  through their company or  participation  in the CEA. The CEA will become
operational   when  insurers   representing  at  least  70%  of  the  California
residential  property  insurance  market agree to participate  and the necessary
commitments  from  reinsurers  are  obtained.  Assuming  the  required  level of
participation  and  reinsurance  commitments  are  obtained,  the  Department of
Insurance has stated that it expects the CEA to be selling policies in December,
1996.  Until the CEA becomes  operational,  Allstate  will continue to write its
earthquake mini-policy for policies renewing.  The mini-policy,  introduced late
in the second quarter of 1996, increases deductibles and eliminates coverage for
most non-dwelling  structures and significantly reduces Allstate's exposure from
what it was at the time of the Northridge earthquake in 1995. The CEA will issue
earthquake  policies  as  existing  policies  issued by  participating  insurers
expire.

   The capital  needed to create and  operate the CEA is to be obtained  through
assessments on participating insurance companies,  reinsurance, and funding from
the capital markets. Initially,  insurance companies who elect to participate in
the CEA will be  assessed  approximately  $1 billion  based on their  respective
market share of earthquake  coverage.  Allstate's pretax  assessment,  including
related  expenses,  of  approximately  $150  million  was  expensed in the third
quarter of 1996.

   Allstate may be assessed in the future  depending on the capital level of the
CEA. If the capital of the CEA drops below $350 million,  participating insurers
may be assessed over a period of twelve years,  based on market share, an amount
not to exceed $3 billion in total. Participating insurers are required to fund a
third  assessment,  not to exceed $2 billion in total,  if aggregate  earthquake
losses exceed $8.5 billion and the CEA's  capital falls below $350 million.  The
authority of the CEA to assess  participating  insurers expires when the CEA has
completed  twelve years of  operation.  Allstate  does not expect its portion of
these additional contingent assessments, if needed, to exceed $750 million.

   As a result of the  passage  of the CEA  legislation,  Allstate  returned  to
writing new  property  policies in  California  on November 4, 1996.  Management
believes Allstate's exposure to earthquake losses will be significantly  reduced
in the  future as a result of the CEA.  However,  the  Company  continues  to be
exposed to earthquake losses for the next year until all policies expire and are
rewritten by the CEA. Assuming the CEA commences operations on December 1, 1996,
the Company will non-renew  approximately  $109 million in premiums written over
the  following  year.  The homeowner  policy also  provides  coverage for losses
caused by fires following an earthquake.

                                     -17-

<PAGE>

   For Allstate, major areas of potential losses due to hurricanes include major
metropolitan  centers near the eastern and gulf coasts of the United States. The
major areas of exposure to potential  losses due to  earthquakes  in  California
include  population  centers in and around Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Other
areas in the United States with exposure to potential  earthquake losses include
areas  surrounding  the New Madrid fault line and faults in and  surrounding the
Seattle,  Washington area.  Although the Company has made progress in California
and Florida,  Allstate  continues to evaluate options in the reinsurance  market
for appropriate  coverage at acceptable rates, the financial markets,  and other
business  strategies  to more  effectively  manage its exposure to  catastrophic
losses in other areas.

Disposition of Operations

   The (loss) gain on the  disposition  of  operations  line in the statement of
operations is comprised of the following after-tax gains and losses:

          $51 million gain from the sale of the Northbrook commercial lines
          operations;
          $12 million gain from the sale of the U.S.-based reinsurance
          operations;
          $24 million  loss from the sale of renewal  rights of certain  Florida
          homeowners policies to Clarendon National Insurance Company;
          $39 million expected loss from the sale of the foreign-based
          reinsurance operations;
          $55 million loss due to an increase in the provision for future losses
          established  in  connection  with  Allstate's  decision  to  exit  the
          mortgage guaranty insurance business.


   The sale of certain  Florida renewal rights to Clarendon  National  Insurance
Company  is  discussed  in  Catastrophe  Management.  The  sales  of  Northbrook
commercial   operations,   U.S.-based  reinsurance   operations,   foreign-based
reinsurance  operations,  and  the  increase  in  provision  for  future  losses
established  for  mortgage   guaranty   business  are  discussed  in  detail  in
Discontinued Lines and Coverages.

                                     -18-

<PAGE>


Underwriting Results

   PP&C -  Underwriting  results  and key  operating  ratios  for the  Company's
Personal  Property  and  Casualty  insurance  segment  for the  three-month  and
nine-month  periods  ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995 are  summarized  in the
following table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                   Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                      September 30,           September 30,
                                      -------------           -------------

($ in millions)                       1996       1995       1996        1995
                                      ----       ----       ----        ----

<S>                                <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>

Premiums written................   $ 4,651    $ 4,377   $ 13,480    $ 12,670
                                     ======     =====    =======     =======

Premiums earned.................   $ 4,459    $ 4,186     13,164      12,258
Claims and claims expense.......     3,410      3,188     10,159       9,346
Other costs and expenses........       837        869      2,720       2,650
                                       ---       ----     ------      ------
Underwriting income.............   $   212    $   129    $   285     $   262
                                       ===       ====     ======      ======

Catastrophe losses..............   $   303    $   168    $   808     $   688
                                       ===

Operating ratios................
  Claims and claims expense
   ("loss") ratio...............       76.5       76.1       77.2        76.3
  Expense ratio.................       18.8       20.8       20.6        21.6
                                       ----       ----       ----        ----
  Combined ratio................       95.3       96.9       97.8        97.9
                                       ====       ====       ====        ====
  Effect of catastrophe losses
   on combined ratio............        6.8        4.0        6.1         5.6
                                        ===        ===        ===         ===
</TABLE>

   PP&C  primarily  sells  private-passenger  auto and  homeowners  insurance to
individuals.  The  Company  separates  the  voluntary  personal  auto  insurance
business into two categories for  underwriting  purposes  according to insurance
risks:  the standard  market and the  non-standard  market.  The standard market
consists of drivers who meet certain  criteria which  classifies  them as having
low to average risk of loss  expectancy.  The  non-standard  market  consists of
drivers who have  higher-than-average risk profiles due to their driving records
or the types of cars they own.  These  policies are written at rates higher than
standard auto rates.  PP&C is pursuing a segmented  growth strategy with respect
to geographic areas, attempting to grow more rapidly in areas where risk of loss
from  catastrophes  and the regulatory  climate are more conducive to attractive
returns and limiting growth in markets that do not provide appropriate  returns.
The ongoing commercial  property and casualty insurance written through the same
agent  distribution  channels as auto and  homeowners  is also  included in this
segment. Ongoing commercial business premiums written accounted for less than 3%
of PP&C premiums  written for the quarter and  nine-month  period ended Septmber
30, 1996. Segment results for 1995 have been restated to reflect this change.

   PP&C  premiums  written for the third quarter  increased  6.3% over the third
quarter of 1995.  For the  nine-month  period ending  September  30, 1996,  PP&C
premiums  written  increased  6.4% over the  comparable  period  for  1995.  The
Company's  long term goals for  premiums  written are  greater  than the current
increases.  Standard auto premiums  written  increased 2.3% to $2.63 billion for
the third  quarter of 1996,  compared  with $2.57 billion for the same period in
1995. For the first nine months of 1996,  standard auto premiums  increased 2.5%
to $7.80 billion from $7.61  billion for the same period in 1995.  The growth in
standard auto premiums  written for both the three-month and nine-month  periods
was driven  primarily by increases in policies in force (unit sales) and average
premiums on renewals.  The growth in policies in force was generally achieved in
markets that management believes will be profitable,

                                     -19-

<PAGE>

partially  offset  by a  decline  in  policies  in some of  those  markets  that
management  believes  do  not  provide  appropriate  returns.   Average  premium
increases  were  primarily  attributable  to a shift to newer and more expensive
autos and, to a lesser extent,  rate  increases  which in general are limited by
regulatory  and  competitive  factors.  The reduced rate of increase in standard
auto premiums written,  as compared to 1995,  reflects in part, the  competitive
pressures  currently  facing  this  market.  The  Company  is  pursuing  various
initiatives to increase the growth of Allstate's standard auto premium.

   Non-standard  auto premiums  written  increased  28.5% to $717 million in the
third  quarter of 1996,  from $558 million for the same period in 1995.  For the
nine-month  period  non-standard  auto premiums written increased 28.1% to $2.03
billion  compared with $1.58 billion for 1995. The increase for both periods was
driven by an increase in  policies  in force and,  to a lesser  extent,  average
premiums.  Policies in force  increased  in both new and renewal  business.  The
increase in average premiums was primarily due to rate increases.

   Homeowners  premiums  written for the three-month  period ended September 30,
1996 were $835 million,  an increase of 2.2% over third quarter 1995 premiums of
$817 million. For the first nine months of 1996 homeowners premiums written were
$2.29 billion an increase of 5.1% over the same period of 1995.  For the quarter
the increase was primarily  attributable  to an increase in renewal  policies in
force and to a lesser extent average  premiums.  The reduced rate of increase in
homeowners  premiums written for the quarter was impacted by the issuance of the
California  earthquake  mini-policy.   The  mini-policy  reduces  the  Company's
exposure  to  earthquake  losses and as a result  charges a lower  premium.  The
increase for the nine-month  period was primarily due to higher average premiums
on renewals.  The higher average premiums are primarily due to rate increases in
catastrophe  exposure  areas,  principally  Florida,  and the  effect  of policy
provisions which adjust for inflation.  Growth in policies in force is primarily
occurring in areas targeted for growth and is partially  offset by reductions in
policies in certain catastrophe exposure areas.

   For the third quarter of 1996, PP&C had  underwriting  income of $212 million
compared with  underwriting  income of $129 million for the same period in 1995.
The increase in  underwriting  income was primarily due to favorable auto injury
coverage  severity  (average cost per claim) growth  trends,  growth in premiums
written, an improved expense ratio, and favorable standard auto frequency trends
which were partially offset by an increase in catastrophe  losses. Auto physical
damage  coverage  claim  severities  increased  over the prior  year,  driven by
moderate inflationary  pressure.  Auto injury claim severities trended favorably
as compared to relevant medical cost indexes.

   For the first  nine  months  of 1996,  PP&C had  underwriting  income of $285
million  compared  with $262  million  for the  comparable  period of 1995.  The
increase in  underwriting  income was primarily due to favorable  loss trends in
auto injury coverage claim severities,  premium growth,  and an improved expense
ratio, which was partially offset by increases in loss frequency trends (rate of
claim  occurrence)  and catastrophe  losses.  The increase in loss frequency was
primarily due to weather-related losses from the first quarter of 1996.

   The  improvement  in the expense  ratio for the  three-month  and  nine-month
periods  was   primarily   the  result  of  a  change  in  the   components   of
property-liability  acquisition  costs  deferred  to include  all forms of agent
remuneration which vary directly with premium  production.  This change was made
to more appropriately match the costs of acquiring business to the

                                     -20-

<PAGE>

related  premium revenue and to increase the consistency of accounting for agent
remuneration   despite  differing   contractual   agreements  with  agents.  The
additional costs deferred consist primarily of employer payroll taxes, benefits,
and the agents'  office  expense  allowance,  which is  reimbursed  based on the
percent of premiums  written.  Previously,  only  commissions paid to agents and
agency managers,  premium taxes, and inspection report costs were deferred. This
change had a favorable impact to third quarter PP&C  underwriting  income of $88
million and a favorable  impact of 1.9 points in the expense  ratio.  Management
expects  this  change  to  increase  fourth  quarter   underwriting   income  by
approximately  $38 million.  The impact of the change will be immaterial in 1997
due to amortization periods averaging less than a year.

   Management  believes the favorable  injury severity trends are due in part to
the  redesign of the  Company's  bodily  injury claim  processes  and lower than
anticipated  medical cost inflation  rates.  The redesign of the claim processes
includes a more focused approach to settling claims involving Allstate customers
and  uninsured  motorists,   ensuring  all  claims  are  evaluated  and  settled
consistently using best practices across the country,  increasing  investigation
of minor  accidents  that result from low- or  moderate-impact  collisions,  and
aggressively defending lawsuits. During the third quarter, the Company began the
implementation of redesigned claim processes for auto physical damage claims.

                                     -21-

<PAGE>

Discontinued  Lines and Coverages - Discontinued  Lines and Coverages consist of
business  no  longer  written  by  Allstate,  including  losses  from  asbestos,
environmental,  and other  commercial and mortgage pool business in run-off,  as
well as the historical  results of businesses sold in 1996.  Segment results for
1995 have been restated to reflect this change.

   Underwriting  results  for the  Company's  Discontinued  Lines and  Coverages
segment for the three-month and nine-month  periods ended September 30, 1996 and
1995 are summarized in the following table.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                          September 30,        September 30,
                                          -------------        -------------

($ in millions)                             1996    1995      1996      1995
                                            ----    ----      ----      ----

<S>                                        <C>     <C>      <C>       <C>

Underwriting loss from
 environmental and asbestos losses
 and other discontinued lines..........    $(304)  $(75)    $(423)    $(172)
Underwriting loss from mortgage pool
 business..............................        -      -         -       (10)
Underwriting loss from certain former
 Business Insurance operations
 sold or in run-off.... . . . .....          (29)   (33)      (63)      (89)
                                             ----   ----      ----      ----
   Total underwriting loss.............    $(333) $(108)    $(486)    $(271)
                                            =====  =====     =====     =====

</TABLE>

   During the third  quarter of 1996,  the  Company  concluded  a  comprehensive
re-evaluation of its net loss reserves, including the process for estimating and
identifying  available  reinsurance,  for its  Discontinued  Lines and Coverages
segment which resulted in an increase in net loss reserves of $318 million.  The
increase in net loss reserves consisted of several components,  including a $244
million net increase in  environmental  and asbestos  net loss  reserves,  a $60
million net increase in other latent  exposure  and general  liability  net loss
reserves, and a $14 million increase in the provision for future insolvencies of
reinsurers.

   Allstate's  exposure to  environmental  and asbestos claims stem  principally
from excess and surplus business written from 1972-1985,  including  substantial
excess and surplus general  coverages on Fortune 500 companies,  and reinsurance
coverage written during the 1960's through the 1980's,  including reinsurance on
primary  insurance  written  on  large  U.S.  companies.  Establishing  net loss
reserves for environmental and asbestos claims is subject to uncertainties  that
are  greater  than  those  presented  by  other  types  of  claims.   Among  the
complications   are  the  lack  of  historical  data,  long  reporting   delays,
uncertainty as to the number and identity of insureds with  potential  exposure,
unresolved legal issues regarding policy coverage,  and the extent and timing of
any such contractual  liability.  The legal issues concerning the interpretation
of various  insurance policy  provisions and whether  environmental and asbestos
losses are or were ever intended to be covered are complex.  Courts have reached
different and sometimes inconsistent conclusions as to when losses are deemed to
have  occurred and which  policies  provide  coverage;  what types of losses are
covered; whether there is an insured obligation to defend; how policy limits are
determined;  how policy  exclusions  are  applied and  interpreted;  and whether
clean-up costs represent  insured  property  damage.  Management  believes these
issues are not likely to be resolved in the near future.

   As the industry has gained experience  evaluating  environmental and asbestos
exposures some actuarial firms have developed meaningful techniques and

                                     -22-

<PAGE>

databases to estimate  environmental and asbestos  liabilities.  Allstate gained
access to complex databases developed by outside experts to estimate the cost of
liabilities for  environmental  claims.  The databases  contained lists of known
potentially  responsible parties ("PRP"),  National Priority List ("NPL") sites,
and the Environmental Protection Agency's estimate of clean-up costs. Allstate's
policy files were compared to the databases,  and factors to estimate  growth of
NPL sites, state sites, third party claims, natural resource damage, probability
of coverage,  and PRP's being named at future sites were applied to determine an
estimate of the Company's potential environmental loss. The Company also refined
its own  estimation  techniques,  which  were  tested and  validated  by outside
actuaries,  to estimate  environmental  and  asbestos  losses.  Allstate  used a
combination of these resources,  along with an extensive  internal review of its
current claim exposures to estimate  environmental  and asbestos  reserves.  The
Company  performed  an in-depth  analysis of its  reinsurance  recoverables  and
refined its process for estimating and identifying  available  reinsurance since
some reinsurers have become insolvent or Allstate has commuted their agreements.
During the third quarter of 1996, loss reserves for asbestos exposures increased
$153 million before  consideration  of reinsurance  recoverables and $72 million
net of  reinsurance  recoverables.  Loss  reserves for  environmental  exposures
decreased $10 million  before  consideration  of  reinsurance  recoverables  and
increased $172 million net of reinsurance  recoverables during the third quarter
of 1996.  For the nine months ended  September  30, 1996,  net loss reserves for
environmental and asbestos exposures  increased by $220 million and $32 million,
respectively.  Environmental  and asbestos net loss reserves as of September 30,
1996 were $740 million and $533 million, respectively.

   In  addition to  environmental  and  asbestos  exposures,  the  studies  also
included  an  assessment  of current  claims for other  latent  exposures  which
primarily relate to products liability claims, such as those for medical devices
and other  products,  and general  liabilities.  Loss  reserves for other latent
exposures and general liabilities  increased $87 million before consideration of
reinsurance  recoverables  and $60 million net of reinsurance  recoverables as a
result of the studies.  This  increase is net of the movement of $103 million of
general  liability net loss reserves  between 1985 and later  accident  years to
pre-1985 accident years.

   In 1986, the general liability policy form used by Allstate and others in the
property-liability  industry was amended to  introduce  an  "absolute  pollution
exclusion," which excluded coverage for environmental damage claims and added an
asbestos exclusion. Most general liability policies issued prior to 1986 contain
annual aggregate  limits for products  liability  coverage,  and policies issued
after 1986 also have an annual  aggregate limit as to all coverages.  Allstate's
experience  to date is that these policy form changes have  effectively  limited
its  exposure to  environmental  and  asbestos  claim  risks  assumed as well as
primary commercial  coverages written subsequent to 1986.  Allstate's  reserves,
net  of  reinsurance   recoverables  of  $524  million  and  $647  million,  for
environmental  and  asbestos  claims  were $1.27  billion  and $1.02  billion at
September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively.

   Management  believes  its net loss  reserves for  environmental  and asbestos
coverages,  and other latent exposures are  appropriately  established  based on
available facts, updated technology, laws, and regulations.  However, due to the
inconsistencies of court coverage  decisions,  plaintiffs'  expanded theories of
liability,  the risks inherent in major litigation and other uncertainties,  the
ultimate  cost of these claims may vary  materially  from the amounts  currently
recorded, resulting in an increase in the net loss reserves. In

                                     -23-

<PAGE>

addition,  while the Company  believes the  improved  actuarial  techniques  and
databases  have assisted in its ability to estimate  environmental  and asbestos
net loss reserves,  these  refinements may  subsequently  prove to be inadequate
indicators of the extent of probable loss. Due to the  uncertainties and factors
described  above,  management  believes  it is  not  practicable  to  develop  a
meaningful range for any such additional net loss reserves that may be required.

   On July 31, 1996,  Allstate completed the sale of Northbrook  Holdings,  Inc.
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively "Northbrook") to St. Paul Fire &
Marine  Insurance  Company ("St.  Paul").  Northbrook  writes  commercial  lines
insurance  through its  subsidiaries.  Allstate  recorded gross proceeds of $189
million and recognized a gain of $18 million ($51 million after-tax) on the sale
during  the third  quarter  of 1996.  The  proceeds  and gain are  subject  to a
purchase price  adjustment  based on the final balance sheet of Northbrook as of
July 31, 1996,  expected to be completed in the fourth  quarter.  In  connection
with the sale, Allstate entered into an agreement with St. Paul whereby Allstate
and St. Paul will share in any  development  of the closing net loss reserves of
Northbrook  to be  settled  as of July 31,  2000.  Under the  agreement,  if the
development  of ultimate net loss reserves  exceeds net loss reserves at closing
by more than $25 million, Allstate will be required to pay St. Paul a portion of
the difference, limited to $100 million. If the development of ultimate net loss
reserves is less than net loss reserves at closing, St. Paul will be required to
pay Allstate a portion of the difference not to exceed $50 million.  The Company
does  not  expect  unfavorable  reserve  development  based on  current  trends,
conditions,  and claim  settlement  processes.  Premiums  written for Northbrook
through July 31, 1996 included in the results of operations for the  three-month
and  nine-month  periods  ended  September  30,  1996 were $50  million and $295
million,  respectively.  As a result of the sale,  the  Company's  liability for
claims and claims  expense net of  reinsurance  was reduced by $1.01 billion and
invested assets were reduced by $973 million.

   On  September  16,  1996,  the  Company  completed  the  sale  of  Allstate's
U.S.-based    reinsurance   operations   for   policies   written   after   1984
("Reinsurance") to SCOR U.S. Corporation ("SCOR").  The transaction consisted of
the sale of certain non-insurance  assets,  liabilities and renewal rights and a
reinsurance  transaction  for the insurance  liabilities.  The Company  recorded
gross  proceeds of $152  million as a result of the sale and will realize an $83
million gain ($61 million  after-tax).  The portion of the gain  relating to the
sale of the renewal rights, $19 million ($12 million after-tax), was recorded in
the  third  quarter  of 1996.  The  remaining  $64  million  gain  ($49  million
after-tax) was deferred and will be amortized through  underwriting  income over
the reserve  run-off  period,  approximately  five  years,  in  accordance  with
retroactive  reinsurance  accounting.  The  proceeds  and gains are subject to a
purchase price adjustment based on the final statement of assets and liabilities
sold as of September 16, 1996,  expected to be completed in the first quarter of
1997.

   Pending  regulatory  approval,  Allstate  expects to complete the sale of the
common stock of its London-based  reinsurance  operations,  Allstate Reinsurance
Co, Limited ("ARCO") to QBE Insurance Group Limited of Sydney, Australia ("QBE")
in the fourth  quarter of 1996. The Company  expects to receive  proceeds of $35
million and has  recognized a $38 million loss ($39  million  after-tax)  in the
third quarter of 1996. In connection with the sale,  Allstate will enter into an
agreement  with QBE whereby 80% of any ultimate  adverse  development  on ARCO's
December 31, 1995 net loss reserves  will be reimbursed to QBE by Allstate.  QBE
will reimburse  Allstate for 70% of any ultimate favorable net loss development.
Development will be settled

                                     -24-

<PAGE>

annually. At the closing, in addition to the $35 million cash proceeds, QBE will
deposit   approximately  $20  million  in  escrow  related  to  this  agreement,
representing  a contingent  purchase  payment.  If 1996 net loss  development is
favorable,  Allstate will receive the $20 million  escrow deposit in addition to
70% of any redundancy. Allstate would report this as a purchase price adjustment
in 1997. If 1996 net loss development is unfavorable,  the amount held in escrow
will be used to satisfy any of Allstate's  obligation,  with the excess, if any,
paid  to  Allstate.   In  addition,   the  development  of  accident  year  1996
underwriting  results  for QBE is  limited  to a  combined  ratio  of  110  for
contracts in place as of the closing date, to be reviewed and settled annually.

   Premiums  written for  Reinsurance  and ARCO for the third  quarter and first
nine months of 1996,  were $101  million and $292  million,  respectively.  As a
result of the Reinsurance  sale, during the third quarter of 1996, the Company's
invested assets were reduced by $300 million.

   During the third quarter of 1996,  the Company  increased by $87 million ($55
million  after-tax) the provision for future losses  provided for the run-off of
the mortgage pool business in the loss on disposition of operations  line of the
income  statement.  The provision was established in the second quarter of 1995,
in connection with Allstate's  decision to exit the mortgage guaranty  insurance
business. The increase was due primarily to revised loss trend analyses based on
continued weakness in Southern California's economic conditions,  including real
estate prices and unemployment.  This business,  which is highly concentrated in
Southern California, continues to be affected by the factors described above, as
well as interest rate volatility or a combination of such factors. These factors
are considered in the reevaluation of the provision for future losses.

                                     -25-

<PAGE>


Life Operations

   Allstate  Life  markets a broad  line of life  insurance,  annuity  and group
pension  products  through a  combination  of Allstate  agents,  banks and other
financial institutions, independent brokers and direct response marketing.

   The following  table sets forth  certain  summarized  financial  data for the
Company's  life  insurance   operations  and  invested  assets  at  or  for  the
three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                        September 30,           September 30,
                                        -------------           -------------

 ($ in millions)                        1996     1995         1996        1995
                                        ----     ----         ----        ----
<S>                                   <C>      <C>          <C>         <C>

Statutory premiums and deposits....   $ 1,149  $ 1,050      $ 3,798     $ 3,596
                                        =====    =====       ======      ======

Invested assets(1)................    $26,546  $25,206      $26,546     $25,206

Separate Account assets (1).......      4,940    3,421        4,940       3,421
                                        -----    -----       ------      ------
Invested assets including Separate
 Account assets...................    $31,486  $28,627      $31,486     $28,627
                                       =======  ======       ======      ======

Premium income and contract
 charges..........................    $   338  $   290      $   950     $ 1,011
Net investment income.............        516      504        1,531       1,486
Policy benefits and expenses......        707      673        2,060       2,115
                                          ---      ---       ------      ------
Income from operations............        147      121          421         382
Income tax expense on operations..         49       44          143         133
                                           --       --      -------     -------
Net operating income..............         98       77          278         249
Realized capital gains and losses,
 after-tax........................          2        3           23          28
                                        -----    -----       ------      ------
Net income........................    $   100  $    80      $   301     $   277
                                          ===       ==       ======      ======

<FN>
(1)Fixed income securities are included in invested assets in the table above at
amortized  cost and are  carried at fair value in the  statements  of  financial
position.  Separate  Account assets are included at fair value in both the table
above and the statements of financial position.
</FN>
</TABLE>


   Life insurance  statutory  premiums and deposits  increased 9.4% and 5.6% for
the  quarter and first nine  months of 1996,  respectively.  For the quarter the
increase  was  primarily  due to  increases  in  sales of new  annuity  and life
products, which were partially offset by decreases in sales of fixed annuity and
group  pension  products.  For the  nine-month  period  increased  sales  of new
products including  proprietary  variable  annuities,  equity indexed annuities,
fee-based group pension and individual  life, were partially offset by decreases
in fixed annuity and other group pension product sales.

   Premium  income and contract  charges  under  generally  accepted  accounting
principles  ("GAAP") increased 16.6% in the third quarter and decreased 6.0% for
the first nine months. The increase in the third quarter was due to increases in
traditional life product sales, life contingent annuity sales,  contract charges
on universal life products and fee-based product revenues.  The decrease for the
first nine months is due to decreases in sales of life contingent annuities as a
result of maintaining  margins on new business  throughout  the year,  partially
offset by increases in  traditional  life sales,  contract  charges on universal
life products,  and fee-based product revenues.  Under GAAP,  revenues vary with
the mix of products sold during the period because they exclude deposits on most
annuities and premiums on universal life insurance policies.

                                     -26-

<PAGE>

   Pretax net investment  income increased 2.4% and 3.0% for the three-month and
nine-month periods of 1996 respectively, compared with the same periods in 1995,
primarily  due to the $1.34 billion  increase in invested  assets from period to
period.  The overall portfolio yield declined  slightly,  as proceeds from calls
and  maturities as well as new premiums and deposits were invested in securities
yielding less than the average portfolio rate.

   Net operating income increased 27.3% during the third quarter,  and increased
11.6% for the first nine  months of 1996.  The  increases  were due to growth in
both the life and annuity businesses,  as well as favorable mortality margins on
existing business.

   Net realized  capital gains  after-tax were  relatively flat during the third
quarter of 1996 as  compared to the same period in 1995.  Net  realized  capital
gains decreased for the first nine months of 1996 as compared to the same period
in 1995, as higher gains on the sales of equity securities were more than offset
by losses on fixed income  securities  and increased  writedowns on fixed income
and equity securities.

                                     -27-

<PAGE>

Liquidity and Capital Resources

   Shareholders' equity increased $49 million to $12.73 billion at September 30,
1996 versus $12.68 billion at December 31, 1995 as net income for the period was
substantially  offset  by a  decrease  in  unrealized  net  capital  gains  (see
"Investments"). The decrease in unrealized net capital gains is primarily due to
the effect of rising interest rates on the value of the fixed income  securities
portfolio.

   The  Company  maintains  a line of  credit  of $1.5  billion  as a source  of
potential  funds to meet  short-term  liquidity  requirements.  During  the nine
months ended  September 30, 1996,  there were no  borrowings  under this line of
credit.

   In early 1996 the Company launched a commercial  paper program.  The majority
of the proceeds from the issuance of the commercial  paper have been used by the
insurance  operations for general operating purposes.  As of September 30, 1996,
the Company had outstanding  commercial paper borrowings of $192 million.  Total
borrowings  under the combined  commercial  paper program and line of credit are
limited to $1.5 billion.

   During the third quarter of 1996, the Company purchased 969,027 shares of its
common  stock,  for its  treasury,  at an average  cost per share of $43.65,  to
provide for the future exercise of employee and outside  director stock options.
At September 30, 1996, the Company held 5,348,698  shares of treasury stock with
an  average  cost per share of  $36.87.  On  November  12,  1996,  The  Allstate
Corporation  board of directors  authorized the expansion of the Company's stock
repurchase  program by an amount not to exceed $750  million  through the end of
1997.

   The Company filed a shelf  registration  statement  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  during  the  third  quarter  of 1996,  to issue up to $1.5
billion of debt securities, preferred stock, and debt warrants. Under this shelf
registration  the  Company  intends to issue up to $750  million of  securities,
assuming favorable market conditions.

   During  the third  quarter  of 1996 the  Company  recorded  proceeds  of $341
million in connection  with the sales of Northbrook  and  Reinsurance.  Proceeds
from the sales of these operations will be used for general corporate purposes.

   Surrenders  and  withdrawals  for the life  operations  were $385 million and
$1.15 billion for the  three-month and nine-month  periods ending  September 30,
1996, compared to $324 million and $1.41 billion in the respective 1995 periods.
Customers surrendering certain older fixed-rate annuities on which the surrender
period  has  expired,  which may  continue,  caused  the  increase  in the third
quarter.  The decrease in the nine-month  period is  attributable  to management
actions  taken in 1995 to slow the  surrender  rate on certain  other  policies,
which included raising renewal crediting rates.

                                     -28-

<PAGE>


Investments

   Total  investments  were $56.35 billion at September 30, 1996 a decrease from
$56.51 billion at December 31, 1995.  Property-liability  investments  decreased
$201  million to $29.01  billion at  September  30, 1996 from $29.21  billion at
December 31, 1995. The decrease in the  property-liability  investment portfolio
was  primarily  due to the  transfer  of  investments  related  to the  sale  of
Northbrook and Reinsurance of $1.27 billion and a $1.01 billion  decrease in the
unrealized  gains on the fixed income and equity security  portfolios which were
partially  offset by the  investment  of  positive  cash  flows  generated  from
operating  activities.  Life  investments  at September 30, 1996,  increased $49
million to $27.31  billion from $27.26  billion at December 31, 1995 as positive
cash flows  generated from  operations  were  partially  offset by a decrease of
$1.04 billion in the unrealized gain on the fixed income  securities  portfolio.
The decreases in unrealized  gains in the fixed income portfolio were due to the
effects of rising interest rates.

   The  composition  of the  investment  portfolio  at September  30,  1996,  at
financial statement carrying values, is presented in the table below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                            Property-liability        Life            Total
                            ------------------        ----            -----


<S>                          <C>       <C>     <C>      <C>     <C>       <C>

  Fixed income
   securities (1) .......    $23,534   81.1%   $22,261  81.5%   $45,795   81.3%
  Equity securities......      4,580   15.8        790   2.9      5,370    9.5
  Mortgage loans.........         49     .2      3,216  11.8      3,265    5.8
  Real estate............        426    1.5        293   1.1        719    1.3
  Short-term.............        402    1.4        261    .9        695    1.2
  Other..................         18     -         484   1.8        502     .9
                              ------  ----      ------ -----     ------   ----
     Total...............    $29,009  100.0%   $27,305 100.0%   $56,346  100.0%
                              ======  =====     ====== =====     ======  =====
<FN>

(1) Fixed income securities are carried at fair value.  Amortized cost for these
securities was $22.86 billion and $21.5 billion for  property-liability and life
operations, respectively.
</FN>
</TABLE>

   Over 94% of the  fixed  income  securities  portfolio  is  rated  "investment
grade", which is defined by the Company as a security having an NAIC rating of 1
or 2, a Moody's  rating of Aaa, Aa, A or Baa, or a comparable  Company  internal
rating.

   The Company uses derivative  financial  instruments to reduce its exposure to
market and  interest  rate risk on its  invested  assets,  as well as to improve
asset/liability management. The Company does not hold or issue these instruments
for trading  purposes.  The Company is exposed to  credit-related  losses in the
event of nonperformance by  counterparties  to financial  instruments.  However,
such  nonperformance  is not expected  because the Company utilizes highly rated
counterparties,   established  risk  control  limits,   and  maintains   ongoing
monitoring  procedures.  During 1996, the Company  increased its use of interest
rate cap and floor  agreements to hedge the interest rate risk  associated  with
certain deferred annuity products sold in the Life operations.

                                     -29-

<PAGE>

   In  order  to  more  closely  align  the  interest  rate  sensitivity  of its
property-liability  assets and liabilities  (and thereby  decrease the Company's
exposure to interest rate risk),  during the second  quarter of 1996 the Company
reduced its  investment  in tax-exempt  long-term  fixed income  securities.  In
addition,  to reduce  exposure to equity  market risk in the  property-liability
investment  portfolio,  the Company decreased its holdings of equity securities.
The proceeds from these sales were reinvested in taxable intermediate-term fixed
income  securities.  In addition,  the Company uses futures contracts to further
reduce the interest rate risk of the property-liability  fixed income portfolio,
thereby  more  closely  aligning the  interest  rate  sensitivity  of assets and
liabilities.

   There have been no  significant  changes in the risk profile of the Company's
derivative portfolio since December 31, 1995.

   The net carrying value of problem,  restructured, and potential problem fixed
income  securities  was $190 million and $281 million at September  30, 1996 and
December  31,   1995,   respectively.   The  net  carrying   value  of  problem,
restructured,  and potential problem commercial  mortgage loans was $352 million
and $394 million at September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively.  The
carrying value of impaired  commercial  mortgage loans as of September 30, 1996,
and December 31, 1995 was $213 million and $193 million, respectively.

Pending Accounting Standards

   In October 1995, the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board ("FASB")  issued
Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  ("SFAS") No. 123  "Accounting for
Stock-Based  Compensation"  which  encourages the adoption of a fair value based
method of accounting for compensation cost of employee stock compensation plans.
The  statement  allows an entity  to  continue  the  application  of  accounting
prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25,  "Accounting  for Stock Issued to  Employees".
However,  pro forma  disclosures of net income and earnings per share, as if the
fair  value  based  method of  accounting  defined  by this  statement  had been
applied,  are required.  The disclosure  requirements  of this statement will be
adopted  in  December  1996  and  are  expected  to be  immaterial.  Results  of
operations  and financial  position will not be affected by the adoption of this
statement.

   In June 1996,  the FASB  issued  Statement  of FASB No. 125  "Accounting  for
Transfers of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities". This standard
distinguishes  between  transfers of financial  assets as sales versus financing
transactions  based upon  relinquishment of control and addresses the accounting
for securitizations,  securities lending,  repurchase agreements and insubstance
defeasance  transactions.  The requirements of this statement will be adopted in
January  1997 and are not  expected to have a material  impact on the results of
operations or financial position of the Company.

                                     -30-

<PAGE>


Forward-Looking Statements

      The statements contained in this Management's Discussion and Analysis that
are not historical information are forward-looking  statements that are based on
management's  estimates,  assumptions and  projections.  The Private  Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor under The Securities Act of
1933 and The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for forward-looking  statements. In
order to comply with the terms of the safe  harbor,  the Company  notes  several
important  factors that could cause the Company's  actual results and experience
with  respect  to  forward-looking  statements  to  differ  materially  from the
anticipated   results  or  other   expectations   expressed  in  the   Company's
forward-looking statements:

1. The references to favorable auto injury  severity  trends (see  "Consolidated
Operations" at page 12) and the favorable trends of auto injury claim severities
(average  cost per claim)  compared to medical cost  indexes (see  "Underwriting
Results" at page 20) merely reflect  statistical data for the periods indicated.
Such data for a  following  period or  periods  could  well  indicate  that such
average  severities  have  increased  or that they have  outpaced  medical  cost
indexes in such  subsequent  period or periods.  Management  believes  that such
favorable  trends in auto bodily  injury  claims costs may be due in part to the
redesign of the  Company's  bodily  injury claim  processes  (see  "Underwriting
Results" at page 21).  However,  these  favorable  trends may be reversed in the
future because of the increased  costs of settlements  and adverse  judgments in
cases which proceed to litigation.

2. The reference to the Company's expectation that the implementation of actions
taken in Florida and California  will reduce its exposure to catastrophe  losses
of the magnitude experienced from hurricane Andrew and the Northridge Earthquake
(see "Catastrophe Management" at pages 16-18) reflects the Company's belief that
the  techniques  and data  used by the  Company  and  designed  to  predict  the
probability of  catastrophes  and the extent of losses to the Company  resulting
from  catastrophes,  are accurate.  Catastrophic  events may occur in the future
which  indicate  that such  techniques  and data do not  accurately  predict the
Company's  losses  from  catastrophes,  and the  probability  and extent of such
losses may differ  materially  from that which would have been predicted by such
techniques  and data.  Management's  expectation  that the operations of the CEA
will  significantly  reduce  Allstate's  exposure to  earthquakes  in the future
depends in part on the CEA functioning as planned. As of the time this report is
written, the conditions required for the CEA to become operational have not been
satisfied,  and there is no assurance  that they will be satisfied.  The current
CEA  legislation  provides  that  the  Company  may  be  subject  to  additional
assessments  of up to  approximately  $750  million in certain  events,  but the
California  legislature  may, in the future,  attempt to provide for  additional
assessments against the Company beyond the current limitation.

3.  Although  the  Company's  PP&C  written   premium   growth   continues  (see
"Underwriting  Results" at pages 19-20), the rate of increase in such growth has
decreased in recent quarters.  Moreover, the Company's segmented growth strategy
(see  "Underwriting  Results" at page 19) under which it intends to limit growth
in some  markets,  and the  actions  taken in  Florida  and  California  to cede
homeowner policies or earthquake  coverages in an attempt to limit the Company's
exposure to  catastrophe  losses may offset,  to some  extent,  written  premium
growth in other  areas  over the near term.  Consequently,  the  Company's  PP&C
written premium growth may continue to decelerate over the near term.

                                     -31-

<PAGE>


4. The  Northbrook  sales  agreement  contains a provision  which could  require
Allstate to pay the purchaser up to $100 million should the reserves at the date
of sale be determined,  four years after the sale, to have been understated (see
"Discontinued Lines and Coverages" at page 24). Although the Company states that
it does not expect  unfavorable  development  of the  Northbrook  reserves,  the
establishment of appropriate reserves,  including  Northbrook's  reserves, is an
inherently uncertain process.  Accordingly, the Company could be required to pay
as much as $100 million to the purchaser  when the July 31, 2000  calculation is
agreed to.

5. The Company  added $87 million ($55 million  after-tax)  to the provision for
losses for the run-off  mortgage  pool  business  (see  "Discontinued  Lines and
Coverages" at page 25).  Although the Company  believes  that this  provision is
appropriate,  there can be no  assurance  that  future  material  changes in the
provision will not be made, as the  establishment of appropriate  reserves is an
inherently uncertain process.


For other  important risk factors  generally  affecting the results of operation
and  financial  condition  of the  Company,  as a  regulated  insurance  holding
company,  see "Risk Factors Affecting  Allstate" at page 4 of the Company's 1995
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

                                     -32-

<PAGE>



PART II.  Other Information

 Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

            (a) Exhibits

                An Exhibit  Index has been filed as part of this  Report on Page
                E-1.

            (b) Reports on Form 8-K.

                Registrant  filed a Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  September
                30, 1996 (Items 5 and 7).

                Registrant  filed a Current  Report on Form 8-K dated October 8,
                1996 (Items 5 and 7).


                                     -33-


<PAGE>




               
                                  SIGNATURE



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
      Registrant  has duly  caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
      undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                          The Allstate Corporation
                                          (Registrant)







                November 13, 1996
                                          By /s/Samuel H. Pilch

                                             ------------------
                                             Samuel H. Pilch
                                             Controller

                                             (Principal Accounting Officer
                                              and duly authorized Officer of
                                              Registrant)


                                     -34-

<PAGE>








                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
                        QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



<S>                               <C>                                            <C>
                                                                                 Sequentially
Exhibit No.                       Description                                    Numbered Page
- -----------                       -----------                                    -------------

     4       Registrant  hereby agrees to furnish the Commission,  upon request,
             with the  instruments  defining the rights of holders of each issue
             of  long-term  debt  of  the   Registrant   and  its   consolidated
             subsidiary.

     11      Computation of earnings per common share for The
             Allstate Corporation and consolidated subsidiary.

     15      Acknowledgment  of  awareness  from  Deloitte & Touche  LLP,  dated
             November  13,  1996,   concerning   unaudited   interim   financial
             information.

     27      Financial Data Schedule,  which is submitted  electronically to the
             Securities  and Exchange  Commission for  information  only and not
             filed.

</TABLE>

                                     E-1
<PAGE>




                                                                    Exhibit 11


                         The Allstate Corporation and Subsidiary
                        Computation of Earnings Per Common Share


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

($ in millions, except for per share data)

                                             Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
                                               September 30,               September 30,
                                            ----------------------    --------------------

                                              1996         1995        1996        1995
                                            ---------    ---------    --------    -------

<S>                                         <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>

Net Income                                  $292         $446        $1,480      $1,507
                                            =========    =========    ========   =======

Primary earnings per common share computation:

 Weighted average number of common shares    444.7        448.1       446.0       448.7
 Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options    2.7          1.4         2.7         0.6
                                            ---------    ---------    --------    ------
  Adjusted weighted number of common
 shares outstanding                          447.4        449.5       448.7       449.3
                                            =========    =========    ========    ======

  Primary net income per share                $0.65       $0.99        $3.30       $3.35
                                            =========    =========    ========    ======

Fully diluted earnings per common share computation:

 Weighted average number of common shares    444.7        448.1       446.0       448.7
 Assumed exercise of dilutive stock options    3.0          1.9         3.0         1.9
                                            ---------    ---------    --------    ------
  Adjusted weighted number of common shares
   outstanding                               447.7        450.0       449.0       450.6
                                            =========    =========    ========    ======

 Fully diluted net income per share          $0.65        $0.99       $3.30       $3.34
                                            =========    =========    ========    ======



</TABLE>

                                     E-2

<PAGE>






                                                                EXHIBIT 15







To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
The Allstate Corporation:


We have  reviewed,  in accordance  with  standards  established  by the American
Institute of Certified  Public  Accountants,  the  unaudited  interim  financial
information of The Allstate  Corporation  and subsidiary for the three-month and
nine-month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995, as indicated in our report
dated  November 13, 1996;  because we did not perform an audit,  we expressed no
opinion on that information.

We are aware  that our  report  referred  to above,  which is  included  in your
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended  September  30,  1996,  is
incorporated by reference in Registration  Statement Nos.  333-10857 on Form S-3
and  Registration  Statement  No.  33-77928,   33-93758,   33-93760,  33-93762,
33-99132, 33-99136, 33-99138, and 333-04919 on Form S-8.

We also are aware that the aforementioned report,  pursuant to Rule 436(c) under
the  Securities  Act of  1933,  is not  considered  a part  of the  Registration
Statement  prepared  or  certified  by an  accountant  or a report  prepared  or
certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.



Deloitte & Touche LLP

Chicago, Illinois
November 13, 1996














                                     E-3


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE
     ALLSTATE  CORPORATION  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  INCLUDED  IN  SUCH  COMPANY'S
     QUARTERLY  REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED
     IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000899051
<NAME>                        THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           45795
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            0
<EQUITIES>                                     5370
<MORTGAGE>                                     3265
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  719
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 56346
<CASH>                                         164
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             2130
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         2470
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 72213
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                23405
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            6231
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          19864
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                1421
                          0
                                    0
<COMMON>                                       5
<OTHER-SE>                                     12724
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   72213
                                     14742
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            2842
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             658
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 0
<BENEFITS>                                     12726
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    1721
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           1604
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                1859
<INCOME-TAX>                                   400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1459
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1480
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  3.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  3.30
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        0
        


</TABLE>


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