SECURITY CONNECTICUT CORP
8-K, 1997-02-26
LIFE INSURANCE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)     February 23, 1997
                                                --------------------------



                        Security-Connecticut Corporation
                        --------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chapter)



          Delaware                   001-12746                    06-1383088
          --------                   ---------                    ----------
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission                 (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)             File Number)             Identification No.)



              20 Security Drive
              Avon, Connecticut                                      06001
              -----------------                                      -----
   (Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code (860) 677-8621



  (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) Not Applicable



                     The Exhibit Index is located on Page 4
                                Page 1 of 60 Pages

                                      -1-
<PAGE>

Other Events

     Security-Connecticut  Corporation has entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger  Agreement"),  dated as of February 23, 1997, with ReliaStar
Financial Corp., a Delaware corporation.  The Merger Agreement and related Press
Release, issued February 24, 1997, are attached as Exhibit 2.1 and Exhibit 99.1,
respectively.


Item 7.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.


          c. The following exhibits are filed with this report:

          2.1  Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated  February  23,  1997 by and
               among   ReliaStar   Financial   Corp.  and   Security-Connecticut
               Corporation.

          99.1 Press   Release,    dated   February   24,   1997,    issued   by
               Security-Connecticut Corporation



                                      -2-
<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 hereto duly authorized.


                                       SECURITY-CONNECTICUT CORPORATION


DATED:   February 25, 1997             By: Robert J. Voight
                                          -----------------
                                           Name: Robert J. Voight
                                           Title:Executive Vice President




                                      -3-
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                         Page in

Sequentially
Exhibit                                                              Numbered
Number                              Description                         Copy


 2.1    Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated  February  23, 1997          5
        by and among ReliaStar Financial Corp. and Security-Connecticut   
        Corporation.

99.1    Press Release, dated February 24, 1997, issued by                 53 
        Security-Connecticut Corporation



                                      -4-
<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit 2.1

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






                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                 by and between

                            RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.

                                       and

                        SECURITY-CONNECTICUT CORPORATION




                          Dated as of February 23, 1997









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

                                      -5-
<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                           (Not Part of the Agreement)

                                                                            Page
INTRODUCTION AND RECITALS....................................................1


I. CONTEMPLATED BUSINESS COMBINATION.........................................1
      1.1 The Merger.........................................................1
      1.2 Effect of the Merger...............................................1
      1.3 Consummation of the Merger.........................................2
      1.4 Closing............................................................2
      1.5 Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws...........................2
      1.6 Conversion of Securities...........................................2
      1.7 Letters of Transmittal.............................................5
      1.8 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificate..............................5
      1.9 Further Action.....................................................5


II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...........................................5
      2.1 Representations and Warranties of RELIASTAR........................5
            (a) Organization and Compliance with Law.........................5
            (b) Capitalization...............................................6
            (c) Authorization and Validity of Agreements.....................7
            (d) No Notices or Approvals Required and No Conflicts............8
            (e) RELIASTAR Reports and Financial Statements...................8
            (f) Conduct of Business in the  Ordinary  Course and Absence
                  of Certain Changes and Events.............................10
            (g) Certain Fees................................................10
            (h) Litigation..................................................10
            (i) Employee Benefit Plans......................................11
            (j) Taxes.......................................................12
            (k) Intellectual Property.......................................13
            (l) Environmental Matters.......................................13
            (m) Opinion of Financial Advisor................................14
            (n) Investigation by RELIASTAR..................................14
      2.2 Representations and Warranties of SECURITY........................15
            (a) Organization and Compliance with Law........................15
            (b) Capitalization..............................................16
            (c) Authorization and Validity of Agreements....................17
            (d) No Notices or Approvals Required and No Conflicts...........17
            (e) SECURITY Reports and Financial Statements...................18
            (f) Conduct of Business in the  Ordinary  Course and Absence
                  of Certain Changes and Events.............................20
            (g) Certain Fees................................................20
            (h) Litigation..................................................20
            (i) Employee Benefit Plans......................................21
            (j) Taxes.......................................................21
            (k) Intellectual Property.......................................23
            (l) No Secured Debt.............................................23
                                      -6-
<PAGE>

            (m) Environmental Matters.......................................23
            (n) Opinion of Financial Advisor................................24
            (o) Investigation by SECURITY...................................24


III. COVENANTS OF SECURITY..................................................25
      3.1  Conduct of Business by  SECURITY  and  SECURITY  Subsidiaries
            Pending the Merger..............................................25
      3.2 Proxy Statement...................................................26
      3.3 Meeting of Stockholders of SECURITY...............................27
      3.4 No Solicitation of Acquisition Transactions.......................27
      3.5 Access to Information; Confidentiality............................28
      3.6 Dissenters' Rights................................................29
      3.7 Tax Certificate...................................................29
      3.8 Amendment to Rights Plan..........................................29


IV. COVENANTS OF RELIASTAR..................................................29
      4.1 Conduct of Business by RELIASTAR  and  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries
            Pending the Merger..............................................29
      4.2 Proxy Statement...................................................31
      4.3 Registration Statement............................................31
      4.4 Access to Information; Confidentiality............................31
      4.5 Reservation of RELIASTAR Capital Stock............................32
      4.6 Tax Certificate...................................................32
      4.7 Employee Benefits.................................................32
      4.8  Indemnification..................................................33
      4.9  SECURITY Options.................................................33
      4.10 Tax Matter.......................................................34


V. MUTUAL COVENANTS.........................................................34
      5.1 Expenses..........................................................34
      5.2 Reimbursement of Expenses; SECURITY Fee...........................34
      5.3 Additional Agreements.............................................35
      5.4 Notification of Certain Matters...................................35
      5.5 Agreement to Defend...............................................35
      5.6 Compliance with HSR Act...........................................35
      5.7 Securities Laws...................................................35


VI. CONDITIONS..............................................................36
      6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger......36
      6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of RELIASTAR.................37
      6.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of SECURITY..................37


VII. MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................38
      7.1 Termination.......................................................38
      7.2 Effect of Termination.............................................40
      7.3 Waiver and Amendment..............................................40
      7.4 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties.....................40

                                      -7-
<PAGE>


      7.5 Public Statements.................................................40
      7.6 Knowledge.........................................................40
      7.7 Assignment........................................................40
      7.8 Notices...........................................................40
      7.9 Governing Law.....................................................41
      7.10 Severability.....................................................42
      7.11 Counterparts.....................................................42
      7.12 Headings.........................................................42
      7.13 Entire Agreement.................................................42
      7.14 Limited Liability................................................42
      7.15 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL....................42


Exhibit 2.1(a) RELIASTAR Subsidiaries
Exhibit 2.2(a) SECURITY Subsidiaries
Exhibit 3.7  Substance  of SECURITY  Tax  Certificate  Exhibit 4.6  Substance of
RELIASTAR  Tax  Certificate   Exhibit  4.7(b)  RELIASTAR  Plans  Exhibit  6.2(e)
Substance of Opinion of Counsel to SECURITY  Exhibit 6.3(d) Substance of Opinion
of Counsel to RELIASTAR




                                      -8-
<PAGE>


                             INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
                           (Not Part of the Agreement)

                                                                        Section
Acquisition Proposal....................................................5.2(b)
Acquisition Transaction....................................................3.4
Agreement.........................................................Introduction
Approval Date..............................................................1.4
By-Laws....................................................................1.5
Certificate................................................................1.5
Closing....................................................................1.4
Closing Date...............................................................1.4
Code..................................................................Recitals
Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation...............................1.6(a)
Constituent Corporations...................................................1.2
Delaware Law...............................................................1.1
Effective Time.............................................................1.3
Environmental Law....................................................2.1(1)(i)
ERISA................................................................2.1(i)(i)
Exchange Agent..........................................................1.6(b)
Exchange Price.......................................................1.6(b)(i)
Exchange Ratio..........................................................1.6(b)
Hazardous Substances.................................................2.1(1)(i)
HSR Act............................................................2.1(d)(iii)
IRS................................................................2.1(i)(iii)
Indemnitees.............................................................4.9(a)
LSL.....................................................................2.2(a)
Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR....................................2.1(a)
Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY.....................................2.2(a)
Material Breach.........................................................5.2(a)
Merger................................................................Recitals
1933 Act.............................................................2.1(e)(i)
1934 Act.............................................................2.1(e)(i)
NLIC....................................................................2.1(a)
PBGC................................................................2.1(i)(ii)
Potential Acquirer.........................................................3.4
Potential Acquirer Confidentiality Agreement...............................3.4
Proxy Statement............................................................3.2
Registration Statement.....................................................4.3
RELIASTAR.........................................................Introduction
RELIASTAR Board.......................................................Recitals
RELIASTAR Common Stock................................................Recitals
RELIASTAR Disclosure Letter................................................2.1
RELIASTAR Drip.....................................................2.1(b)(ii)
RELIASTAR Employee Plans.............................................2.1(i)(i)
RELIASTAR Insurance Filings..........................................2.1(e)(v)
RELIASTAR Insurance Subsidiaries........................................2.1(a)
RELIASTAR Insurance Subsidiary Shares..............................2.1(b)(iii)
RELIASTAR Junior Preferred Stock.....................................2.1(b)(i)
RELIASTAR Pension Plans..............................................2.1(i)(i)


                                      -9-

<PAGE>

RELIASTAR Plans.........................................................4.7(b)
RELIASTAR Proxy Statement...........................................2.1(b)(ii)
RELIASTAR Rights.....................................................2.1(b)(i)
RELIASTAR Rights Agreement...........................................2.1(b)(i)
RELIASTAR SEC Reports................................................2.1(e)(i)
RELIASTAR Subsidiaries..................................................2.1(a)
RELIASTAR Subsidiary Shares........................................2.1(b)(iii)
RELIASTAR 10-K......................................................2.1(b)(ii)
RELIASTAR 10-Qs....................................................2.1(e)(iii)
RBSL....................................................................2.1(a)
RLIC....................................................................2.1(a)
RUSLIC..................................................................2.1(a)
SEC..................................................................2.1(e)(i)
Section 2.1(j) Investor.............................................2.1(j)(iv)
Section 2.2(j) Investor.............................................2.2(j)(iv)
SECURITY..........................................................Introduction
SECURITY Board........................................................Recitals
SECURITY Common Stock.................................................Recitals
SECURITY Disclosure Letter.................................................2.2
SECURITY Employee Plans..............................................2.2(i)(i)
SECURITY Incentive Shares...........................................2.2(b)(ii)
SECURITY Insurance Filings..........................................2.2(e)(vi)
SECURITY Insurance Subsidiaries.........................................2.2(a)
SECURITY Long-Term Incentive Plan...................................2.2(b)(ii)
SECURITY Option Plan................................................2.2(b)(ii)
SECURITY Options....................................................2.2(b)(ii)
SECURITY Pension Plans...............................................2.2(i)(i)
SECURITY Plans..........................................................4.7(a)
SECURITY Rights......................................................2.2(b)(i)
SECURITY Rights Agreement............................................2.2(b)(i)
SECURITY SEC Reports.................................................2.2(e)(i)
SECURITY Subsidiaries...................................................2.2(a)
SECURITY Subsidiary Shares.........................................2.2(b)(iii)
SECURITY 10-K.......................................................2.2(e)(iv)
SECURITY 10-Qs......................................................2.2(e)(iv)
SCL.....................................................................2.2(a)
Surviving Corporation......................................................1.1
Tax or Taxes.........................................................2.1(j)(i)
Tax Returns..........................................................2.1(j)(i)




                                      -10-
<PAGE>



      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"),  dated as of February 23,
1997,  by  and  between  ReliaStar  Financial  Corp.,  a  Delaware   corporation
("RELIASTAR"),  and  Security-Connecticut  Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation
("SECURITY").

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of RELIASTAR (the "RELIASTAR  Board") and
the Board of Directors of SECURITY (the "SECURITY Board")  respectively  believe
it is in the long-term strategic interests of RELIASTAR and its stockholders and
of  SECURITY  and its  stockholders  that  RELIASTAR  and  SECURITY  effect  the
transactions contemplated hereby;

      WHEREAS,  RELIASTAR and SECURITY desire to adopt a plan of  reorganization
pursuant to the provisions of Section  368(a)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),  providing for the merger of SECURITY with and
into  RELIASTAR  (the  "Merger")  pursuant  to  which  all  of  the  issued  and
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock,  $.01 par value  per  share,  of  SECURITY
("SECURITY  Common  Stock") will be converted  into and  exchanged for shares of
Common Stock,  without par value, of RELIASTAR  ("RELIASTAR Common Stock"),  all
pursuant to the plan of reorganization set forth herein;

      WHEREAS,  the  RELIASTAR  Board and the SECURITY  Board have each approved
this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

      WHEREAS,  RELIASTAR  and  SECURITY  desire to effect  the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated hereby; and

      WHEREAS,  the parties hereto desire to set forth certain  representations,
warranties,  covenants and agreements made by each to the other as an inducement
to the  consummation  of the  Merger  and the  other  transactions  contemplated
hereby;

      NOW,   THEREFORE,   in   consideration   of  the   premises   and  of  the
representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements  contained  herein,  the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

I.    CONTEMPLATED BUSINESS COMBINATION

      In  accordance  with the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  of this
Agreement, RELIASTAR and SECURITY shall effect the Merger as follows:

      1.1 The Merger.  At the  Effective  Time (as defined in Section  1.3),  in
accordance  with this Agreement and the General  Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the "Delaware Law"), SECURITY shall be merged with and into RELIASTAR,
the separate  existence of SECURITY shall cease, and RELIASTAR shall continue as
the  surviving  corporation  under the corporate  name it possesses  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time and shall be  governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware.   RELIASTAR  is  herein  sometimes   referred  to  as  the  "Surviving
Corporation".

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

      1.2 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
shall thereupon and thereafter  possess all the rights,  privileges,  powers and
franchises, of a public as well as of a private nature, of each of RELIASTAR and
SECURITY  (collectively,  the "Constituent  Corporations") and be subject to all
the   restrictions,   disabilities   and  duties  of  each  of  the  Constituent
Corporations; all and singular, the rights, privileges, powers and franchises of
each  of  the  Constituent  Corporations,  and  all  property  of  each  of  the
Constituent Corporations, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due to each of
the   Constituent   Corporations  on  whatever   account,   as  well  for  stock
subscriptions  as all  other  things  in  action  or  belonging  to  each of the
Constituent  Corporations,  shall be vested in the  Surviving  Corporation;  all
assets, property,  rights,  privileges,  powers and franchises and all and every
other interest of each of the  Constituent  Corporations  shall be thereafter as
effectually  the  property  of the  Surviving  Corporation  as they  were of the
respective Constituent Corporations;  and the title to any real estate vested by
deed or otherwise under the laws of the United States,  the State of Delaware or
other  jurisdiction in each of the Constituent  Corporations  shall be vested in
the  Surviving  Corporation  and shall not revert or be in any way  impaired  by
reason of the  Merger;  and all  rights  of  creditors  and all  liens  upon any
property of the Constituent Corporations shall be preserved unimpaired,  and all
debts,   liabilities,   obligations  and  duties  of  each  of  the  Constituent
Corporations  shall thenceforth  attach to the Surviving  Corporation and may be
enforced against it to the extent as if such debts, liabilities, obligations and
duties had been incurred or  contracted  by it; all in  accordance  with Section
259(a) of the Delaware Law.

      1.3  Consummation of the Merger.  As soon as is practicable on the Closing
Date (as defined in Section 1.4) after all conditions to the consummation of the
Merger set forth herein have been  satisfied or duly waived,  the parties hereto
shall cause the Merger to be  consummated  by filing with the Secretary of State
of the State of Delaware,  a  Certificate  of Merger in such form as is required
by, and executed,  acknowledged  and certified in accordance  with, the relevant
provisions of the Delaware Law (the time of such filing is herein referred to as
the "Effective Time").

      1.4   Closing.  The  closing of the Merger  (the  "Closing")  shall take
place:

            (a) at the offices of Faegre & Benson LLP, 2200 Norwest  Center,  90
South Seventh Street,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota 55402, at 10:00 a.m.  Minneapolis
time on the fifth  business day  following  (i) the date of the last to occur of
compliance with the conditions to the Closing set forth in Section 6.1(a),  (b),
(d), (e) and (f),  (ii) if any order  referred to in Section  6.1(c) shall be in
effect on the date  described in the  foregoing  Clause (i), the date such order
ceases to be in effect,  or (iii) if any  condition  set forth in Section 6.2 or
Section 6.3 is not  satisfied or waived on the date  described in the  foregoing
Clause (i) or (ii), the date on which any cure period provided by Section 7.1(d)
or 7.1(e)  expires or such earlier date on which the cure is effected  (the date
determined in accordance with foregoing  Clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) hereinafter
called the "Approval Date"); or

            (b) at such other time and place or on such other date as  RELIASTAR
and  SECURITY  shall  mutually  agree (such fifth  business  day  following  the
Approval Date or such other mutually agreed to date is herein referred to as the
"Closing Date").

                                      -12-
<PAGE>


      1.5  Certificate  of  Incorporation   and  By-Laws.   The  Certificate  of
Incorporation of RELIASTAR (the "Certificate") and the By-Laws of RELIASTAR (the
"By-Laws"),  as in effect  immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  By-Laws of the  Surviving  Corporation  and
thereafter  shall continue to be its  Certificate of  Incorporation  and By-Laws
until amended as provided therein and in accordance with the Delaware Law.

      1.6 Conversion of Securities.  In accordance with the terms and subject to
the conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of  RELIASTAR,  SECURITY or the holder of any
of the following securities:

            (a) Each share of  RELIASTAR  Common Stock  outstanding  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time shall remain  outstanding  as a share of RELIASTAR
Common Stock (the "Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation") and shall not be
converted  into  any  other  securities  or cash  pursuant  to the  Merger.  The
certificates  for such shares shall not be surrendered or in any way modified by
reason of the effectiveness of the Merger.

            (b) Each share of  SECURITY  Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into such number of
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation
as determined in accordance  with this Section  1.6(b).  The number of shares of
Common  Stock of the  Surviving  Corporation  to be  received  for each share of
SECURITY Common Stock (the "Exchange Ratio") shall be determined as follows:

                  (i) if the  average of the per share  closing  sale  prices of
RELIASTAR Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange  Composite Tape for the 20
trading days  immediately  prior to the Approval Date (the "Exchange  Price") is
equal to or greater than $52.65 and not greater than $60.65,  the Exchange Ratio
shall be equal to the quotient (rounded to the fourth decimal place) obtained by
dividing $47.00 by the Exchange Price;

                  (ii) if the Exchange Price is less than $52.65 but equal to or
greater than $49.00, the Exchange Ratio shall be .8927;

                  (iii) if the  Exchange  Price is greater than $60.65 but equal
to or less than $64.30, the Exchange Ratio shall be .7749;

                  (iv) if the Exchange  Price is less than $49.00,  the Exchange
Ratio shall be as set forth in Clause (A) or (B) below:

                    (A)   .8927, or

                    (B)  if RELIASTAR  shall so  designate by written  notice to
                         SECURITY  on the  second  business  day  following  the
                         Approval  Date,  the  quotient  (rounded  to the fourth
                         decimal  point)  obtained  by  dividing  $43.74  by the
                         Exchange Price; and

                  (v) if the Exchange Price is greater than $64.30, the Exchange
Ratio shall be as set forth in Clause (A) or (B) below:

                    (A)   .7749, or

                    (B)  if SECURITY  shall so  designate  by written  notice to
                         RELIASTAR  on the second  business  day  following  the
                         Approval  Date,  the  quotient  (rounded  to the fourth
                         decimal  point)  obtained  by  dividing  $49.83  by the
                         Exchange Price.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

The  Exchange  Ratio shall be adjusted to reflect  fully the effect of any stock
split,  reverse split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of
securities  convertible  into RELIASTAR  Common Stock or SECURITY Common Stock),
exchange of shares, reclassification,  reorganization, recapitalization or other
similar  change  (including  the  exercise  of any  RELIASTAR  Rights  under the
RELIASTAR Rights  Agreement (as such terms are defined in Section  2.1(b)(i)) or
the exercise of any SECURITY Rights under the SECURITY Rights Agreement (as such
terms are defined in Section  2.2(b)(i)))  with respect to the RELIASTAR  Common
Stock or the SECURITY  Common Stock occurring after the date hereof and prior to
the  Effective  Time.  After  the  Effective  Time,  each  record  holder  of  a
certificate  or  certificates   that  immediately   prior  thereto   represented
outstanding  shares of SECURITY  Common Stock shall be entitled,  upon surrender
thereof to the  Surviving  Corporation  or the  exchange or transfer  agent (the
"Exchange Agent") for the Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation, promptly to
receive in exchange  therefor a certificate  or  certificates  representing  the
number of whole shares of Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation  into which
such shares of SECURITY Common Stock shall have been converted  pursuant to this
Section 1.6, in such  denominations  and registered in such names as such holder
may request, and, in addition,  each such holder who would otherwise be entitled
to a fraction of a share of Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation  shall be
entitled,  upon such surrender of a certificate or certificates to the Surviving
Corporation or the Exchange Agent, promptly to be paid cash for such fraction of
a  share  in  accordance  with  Section  1.6(e).  Until  so  surrendered,   each
certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding
shares of SECURITY  Common  Stock  shall be deemed from and after the  Effective
Time,  for all corporate  purposes  other than the payment of dividends or other
distributions, to evidence the ownership of the number of whole shares of Common
Stock of the  Surviving  Corporation  into which such shares of SECURITY  Common
Stock shall have been so  converted  and to be paid cash in lieu of the issuance
of any  fractional  share  of  Common  Stock  of the  Surviving  Corporation  in
accordance  with  Section  1.6(e).  Unless and until any such  certificate  that
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  represented  outstanding  shares  of
SECURITY  Common  Stock  shall  be  so   surrendered,   no  dividends  or  other
distributions   payable  to  the  holders  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Surviving
Corporation,  as of the Effective Time or any time thereafter,  shall be paid to
the holder of such certificate;  provided however,  that, upon surrender of such
certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding
shares of  SECURITY  Common  Stock,  there will be  promptly  paid to the record
holder of the  certificate  or  certificates  issued in  exchange  therefor  the
amount, without interest thereon, of dividends and other distributions,  if any,
that  theretofore  became  payable with respect to the number of whole shares of
Common Stock of the Surviving Corporation issued to such holder.

            (c) All shares of Common  Stock of the  Surviving  Corporation  into
which  shares of SECURITY  Common  Stock shall have been  converted  pursuant to
Section  1.6(b)  shall be issued,  and cash  payable for any  fractional  shares
pursuant to Section  1.6(e) shall be paid,  in full  satisfaction  of all rights
pertaining to such converted shares.

            (d) If any  certificate  for shares of Common Stock of the Surviving
Corporation  is to be issued in a name other  than that of the record  holder of
the certificate  surrendered in exchange therefor, it will be a condition of the
issuance thereof that the certificate so surrendered  shall be properly endorsed
and  otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person  requesting  such
issuance shall have paid to the Exchange Agent or any other agent  designated by
RELIASTAR  any  transfer or other taxes  required by reason of the issuance of a
certificate for shares of Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation in any name
other  than  that  of the  record  holder  of the  certificate  surrendered,  or
established  to the  satisfaction  of the  Exchange  Agent  or any  other  agent
designated by RELIASTAR that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

            (e) No  fraction  of a  share  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Surviving
Corporation shall be issued, but in lieu thereof each record holder of shares of
SECURITY  Common Stock who would  otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share
of Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation shall be entitled,  upon surrender
to  the  Surviving  Corporation  or  the  Exchange  Agent  of a  certificate  or
certificates   that   immediately   prior  to  the  Effective  Time  represented
outstanding  shares of  SECURITY  Common  Stock,  promptly to be paid in cash an
amount  equal to the value of such  fraction of a share based upon the  Exchange
Price and the Exchange Ratio. No interest shall be paid on any such amount.

            (f) All shares of  SECURITY  Common  Stock  held by a record  holder
shall be aggregated for the purposes of  computations of the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation  issuable and cash to be paid in lieu
of fractional shares hereunder.

      1.7  Letters  of  Transmittal.  Promptly  after the  Effective  Time,  the
Surviving Corporation shall, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to, mail, to each
record holder of a certificate or  certificates  that  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time represented outstanding shares of SECURITY Common Stock, a letter
of transmittal  and reasonable  instructions  for such holder's use in effecting
the surrender of such  certificate or certificates in exchange for a certificate
or   certificates   representing   shares  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Surviving
Corporation.

      1.8  Lost,  Stolen  or  Destroyed  Certificate.  In  the  event  that  any
certificate  evidencing shares of SECURITY Common Stock shall be alleged to have
been lost,  stolen or destroyed,  the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for
such  alleged  lost,  stolen or  destroyed  certificate,  upon the  making of an
affidavit of such  allegation by the record holder  thereof,  a certificate  for
such shares of Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation and such record holder
shall be  entitled  to any cash  payments  required  pursuant  to  Section  1.6;
provided however, that the Surviving Corporation may, in its discretion and as a
condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require such holder of such alleged
lost,  stolen  or  destroyed  certificate  to  deliver a bond in such sum as the
Surviving  Corporation may reasonably direct as indemnity against any claim that
may be made against the  Surviving  Corporation  and/or the Exchange  Agent with
respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

      1.9 Further  Action.  Each of RELIASTAR  and SECURITY  shall take all such
reasonable  and lawful  action as may be  necessary or  appropriate  in order to
effectuate  the  Merger as  promptly  as  possible.  If,  at any time  after the
Effective  Time,  any further  action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes  of this  Agreement  and to vest the  Surviving  Corporation  with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges,  powers
and franchises of the  Constituent  Corporations,  the directors and officers of
each of the Constituent  Corporations  are fully authorized and empowered in the
name and on behalf of their  respective  corporation  or otherwise to take,  and
shall take, all such further action.

II.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      2.1  Representations   and  Warranties  of  RELIASTAR.   RELIASTAR  hereby
represents  and warrants to SECURITY  that,  except as disclosed in a disclosure
letter  delivered  by  RELIASTAR  to  SECURITY  prior  to the date  hereof  (the
"RELIASTAR Disclosure Letter"):


                                      -15-

<PAGE>

            (a)  Organization and Compliance with Law. Each of RELIASTAR and its
direct and indirect  subsidiaries  (all such direct and  indirect  subsidiaries,
including  without  limitation  ReliaStar  Life Insurance  Company,  a Minnesota
corporation  ("RLIC") and a wholly owned subsidiary of RELIASTAR,  Northern Life
Insurance  Company,  a  Washington   corporation  ("NLIC")  and  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of RLIC, ReliaStar United Services Life Insurance Company, a Virginia
corporation  ("RUSLIC")  and a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of RLIC,  and ReliaStar
Bankers Security Life Insurance Company,  a New York corporation  ("RBSL") and a
wholly owned subsidiary of RUSLIC, are herein sometimes collectively referred to
as the  "RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries"  and RLIC,  NLIC,  RUSLIC  and RBSL are herein
sometimes  referred  to  as  the  "RELIASTAR   Insurance   Subsidiaries")  is  a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation  and has all requisite  corporate power and
corporate authority and all requisite  governmental and other  authorizations to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as
now being conducted,  except such governmental and other authorizations (if any)
where the  failure to have such  authorizations  does not and would not,  either
individually  or in  the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on the
financial  condition,  results of  operations  or business of RELIASTAR  and the
RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  taken  as a  whole  (a  "Material  Adverse  Effect  on
RELIASTAR").  RELIASTAR is incorporated in the State of Delaware. Exhibit 2.1(a)
hereto  sets forth the name and  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  of each of the
RELIASTAR Subsidiaries. Each of RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries is duly
qualified as a foreign  corporation  to do business  and is in good  standing in
each  jurisdiction in which the property owned,  leased or operated by it or the
nature of the  business  conducted  by it makes  such  qualification  necessary,
except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material  Adverse Effect
on  RELIASTAR.  Each of  RELIASTAR  and  the  RELIASTAR  Insurance  Subsidiaries
possesses  all  material  permits,   licenses,   authorizations,   certificates,
franchises,  orders,  consents  or other  indicia of  authority  required by any
governmental,  administrative  or  regulatory  authority  or  agency  and  is in
compliance  with all applicable  laws,  judgments,  orders,  decrees,  rules and
regulations,  except  where the failure to possess  such  permits,  licenses and
other  authorizations  does not and would  not,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR. RELIASTAR has heretofore
delivered  to  SECURITY  true and  complete  copies of the  Certificate  and the
By-Laws  and of the  charter  and  bylaws  of  each of the  RELIASTAR  Insurance
Subsidiaries, in each case as in existence on the date hereof.

            (b)   Capitalization.

                  (i) The  authorized  capital  stock of  RELIASTAR  consists of
100,000,000  shares of RELIASTAR  Common Stock and 7,000,000 shares of preferred
stock,  without  par value.  As of  December  31,  1996,  there were  issued and
outstanding  40,016,685 shares of RELIASTAR Common Stock. As of such date, there
were also reserved for issuance up to 2,500,000  shares of RELIASTAR's  Series A
Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  ("RELIASTAR  Junior  Preferred  Stock")
issuable  under a Rights  Agreement,  dated as of October 7, 1988,  as  amended,
between RELIASTAR and Norwest Bank Minnesota,  National  Association,  as Rights
Agent (the "RELIASTAR  Rights  Agreement"),  pursuant to which each  outstanding
share of RELIASTAR  Common Stock has attached to it certain  rights  ("RELIASTAR
Rights") including rights under certain circumstances to purchase one-tenth of a
share of RELIASTAR Junior  Preferred Stock at $200, at the date hereof,  subject
to adjustment.  Except for shares of RELIASTAR Common Stock issued in connection
with the exercise of options to purchase  ReliaStar Common Stock, since December
31, 1996 no shares of RELIASTAR capital stock have been issued.  All outstanding
shares  of  RELIASTAR   capital  stock  are  validly  issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable  and no holder thereof is entitled to any preemptive  rights.  All
shares of Common Stock of the Surviving  Corporation  issued in accordance  with
this  Agreement,   when  issued,   will  be  validly  issued,   fully  paid  and
nonassessable,  will have RELIASTAR  Rights attached  thereto in accordance with
the RELIASTAR Rights Agreement and will not have any preemptive rights.  Neither
RELIASTAR nor any of the RELIASTAR Insurance  Subsidiaries is a party to, nor is
RELIASTAR  aware of, any voting  agreement,  voting trust or similar  agreement,
arrangement or  understanding  relating to any class of capital stock of, or any
agreement,  arrangement or understanding  providing for registration rights with
respect to any class of capital stock or other  securities of,  RELIASTAR or any
of the RELIASTAR Insurance Subsidiaries, other than voting arrangements relating
to the RELIASTAR Common Stock held by RELIASTAR's  Employee Stock Ownership Plan
and except for any such voting  agreements,  voting trusts or similar agreements
as may be disclosed in any filings under Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the 1934 Act.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>

                  (ii)  Other  than  the  RELIASTAR  Dividend  Reinvestment  and
Optional  Cash  Payment  Plan  (the  "RELIASTAR  DRIP"),  the  RELIASTAR  Rights
Agreement  and options  outstanding  under the  RELIASTAR  employee  benefit and
option plans as described in RELIASTAR's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995 (the  "RELIASTAR  10-K") or RELIASTAR's  proxy statement
dated March 26, 1996 (the "RELIASTAR Proxy  Statement"),  there are not now, and
at the  Effective  Time there will not be, any  outstanding  options,  warrants,
scrip, rights to subscribe for, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever
relating to, or  securities  or rights  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for,
shares of any class of capital  stock of RELIASTAR,  or  contracts,  agreements,
arrangements or  understandings to which RELIASTAR is a party, or by which it is
or may be bound, to issue additional shares of any class of its capital stock or
options, warrants, scrip or rights to subscribe for, calls or commitments of any
character  whatsoever  relating to, or securities or rights  convertible into or
exchangeable  for,  any  additional  shares  of any  class of  capital  stock of
RELIASTAR.

                  (iii) The shares of capital  stock or other equity  securities
of each of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the
"RELIASTAR  Subsidiary  Shares".  The  shares of capital  stock or other  equity
securities  of each of the RELIASTAR  Insurance  Subsidiaries  are  collectively
referred  to  herein  as  the  "RELIASTAR   Insurance  Subsidiary  Shares."  All
outstanding  RELIASTAR  Subsidiary  Shares are  validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable  and,  except  as  set  forth  in  Exhibit  2.1(a)  hereto,  owned
beneficially  and of record directly or indirectly by RELIASTAR,  free and clear
of all liens, pledges, security interests, claims or other encumbrances.  Except
as aforesaid,  there are not now, and at the Effective Time will not be, any (A)
outstanding  RELIASTAR  Insurance  Subsidiary Shares that are owned of record or
beneficially  by  any  person  or  entity  other  than  RELIASTAR  or one of the
RELIASTAR Subsidiaries,  or (B) outstanding options,  warrants, scrip, rights to
subscribe for, calls or commitments of any character  whatsoever relating to, or
securities or rights  convertible into or exchangeable  for, shares of any class
of capital stock of any of the RELIASTAR Insurance  Subsidiaries,  or contracts,
agreements,  arrangements  or  understandings  to which  RELIASTAR or any of the
RELIASTAR  Insurance  Subsidiaries is a party, or by which any thereof is or may
be bound, to issue  additional  shares of any class of capital stock or options,
warrants,  scrip  or  rights  to  subscribe  for,  calls or  commitments  of any
character  whatsoever  relating to, or securities or rights  convertible into or
exchangeable  for, any additional shares of any class of capital stock of any of
the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries.

            (c)  Authorization  and Validity of  Agreements.  RELIASTAR  has all
requisite  corporate power and corporate  authority to enter into this Agreement
and to perform its  obligations  hereunder,  including  without  limitation  the
preparation,  filing and distribution of the Registration  Statement (as defined
in Section 4.3),  and the execution and delivery by RELIASTAR of this  Agreement
and the  consummation by it of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have been
duly authorized by all requisite  corporate action. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by RELIASTAR  and is the valid and binding  obligation of
RELIASTAR,  enforceable  against RELIASTAR in accordance with its terms,  except
that (i) such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy,  insolvency,  moratorium
or similar laws affecting  creditors' rights  generally,  and (ii) the remedy of
specific  performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable  relief may be
subject to certain equitable  defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which any proceedings therefor may be brought.
                                     -17-

<PAGE>


            (d) No Notices or Approvals  Required and No Conflicts.  None of the
execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement by  RELIASTAR,  the  performance  by
RELIASTAR of its obligations  hereunder or the  consummation by RELIASTAR of the
transactions contemplated hereby will:

                  (i)   conflict with the  Certificate  or the By-Laws or with
the charter or bylaws of any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries;

                  (ii) assuming  satisfaction of the  requirements  set forth in
Clause  (iii)  (A),  (B),  (C) and  (D)  below,  violate  any  provision  of law
applicable  to RELIASTAR or any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  except for any
such  violations of law as do not and would not,  either  individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR;

                  (iii)  require any  consent or approval  of, or filing with or
notice  to,  any  public  body or  authority,  domestic  or  foreign,  under any
provision of law  applicable to RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,
except  for  (A)   requirements  of  Federal  and  state  securities  laws,  (B)
requirements arising out of the Hart-Scott-Rodino  Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976,  as  amended  (the  "HSR  Act"),  (C) the  filing of this  Agreement  or a
Certificate  of Merger in accordance  with the Delaware Law, (D) approvals of or
notices to regulatory authorities pursuant to the insurance laws of the State of
Connecticut, the State of New York and any other jurisdiction in which RELIASTAR
or any of the RELIASTAR  Insurance  Subsidiaries is licensed or authorized to do
business,  and (E) such  consents,  approvals or filings the failure of which to
obtain or make  would  not,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR; or

                  (iv)  require  any  consent,  approval  or  notice  under,  or
violate,  breach, be in conflict with or constitute a default (or an event that,
with notice or lapse of time or both,  would  constitute  a default)  under,  or
permit the  termination  of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien
upon any assets,  properties  or business of RELIASTAR  or any of the  RELIASTAR
Insurance  Subsidiaries  under, any note,  bond,  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of
trust, lease, franchise, permit, authorization,  license (other than franchises,
permits,  authorizations,  or licenses  which may require  action under  Section
2.1(d)(iii)  above),  contract,  instrument  or other  agreement or  commitment,
order,  judgment or decree to which RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Insurance
Subsidiaries is a party or by which RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Insurance
Subsidiaries or any of the assets or properties  thereof is bound or encumbered,
except for such consents, approvals or notices the failure of which to obtain or
make would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on RELIASTAR.
                                      -18-

<PAGE>

            (e)   RELIASTAR Reports and Financial Statements.

                  (i)  Since  December  31,  1993,  each  of  RELIASTAR  and the
RELIASTAR Subsidiaries has filed all reports,  registration statements and other
filings,  together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto,
that it has been required to file with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission
(the "SEC") under the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"),  and
the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act").  All reports,
registration  statements and other filings  (including  all exhibits,  notes and
schedules  thereto and documents  incorporated  by reference  therein)  filed by
RELIASTAR and any of the  RELIASTAR  Insurance  Subsidiaries  with the SEC on or
after January 1, 1994,  together with any amendments  thereto,  including,  when
filed, the Registration Statement, together with any amendments thereto, insofar
as the  Registration  Statement  contains data and  information  with respect to
RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR Insurance  Subsidiaries,  are herein sometimes
collectively  referred  to  as  the  "RELIASTAR  SEC  Reports".   RELIASTAR  has
heretofore  delivered  to  SECURITY  true  and  complete  copies  of  all of the
RELIASTAR  SEC  Reports  that  have  been  filed  with the SEC prior to the date
hereof.  As of (A) with respect to all of the  RELIASTAR  SEC Reports other than
registration  statements filed under the 1933 Act, the respective dates of their
filing with the SEC and (B) with respect to all  registration  statements  filed
under the 1933 Act, their respective  effective dates, the RELIASTAR SEC Reports
complied or will comply,  as the case may be, in all material  respects with the
rules and  regulations  of the SEC and did not or will not,  as the case may be,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  made therein
not misleading.

                  (ii) All material  contracts  and  agreements of RELIASTAR and
the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  have been  disclosed in the  RELIASTAR SEC Reports
filed  with the SEC or in the  RELIASTAR  Disclosure  Letter,  except  for those
contracts  and  agreements  not  required to be filed  pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the SEC and those contracts and agreements that have already been
fully performed and as to which there are no material contingent  liabilities on
the part of RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries.

                  (iii) The  consolidated  financial  statements  (including any
related  notes or  schedules)  included in the  RELIASTAR  10-K and  RELIASTAR's
Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the  quarters  ended  March 31, June 30, and
September 30, 1996 (the "RELIASTAR 10-Qs"), as filed with the SEC, were prepared
in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied  on a
consistent  basis  (except as may be noted  therein or in the notes or schedules
thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated  financial
position of RELIASTAR and its consolidated  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994
and  1995  and  March  31,  June 30 and  September  30,  1995  and  1996 and the
consolidated  results of their  operations  and cash flows for each of the three
years in the  three-year  period  ended  December 31, 1995 and each of the three
months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, each of the six months ended June 30, 1995
and 1996, and each of the nine months ended September 30, 1995 and 1996 subject,
in the case of the  unaudited  interim  financial  statements  contained  in the
RELIASTAR 10-Qs, to normal year-end adjustments on a basis comparable with prior
periods.  The accountants who certified any financial  statements and supporting
schedules included or incorporated by reference in the RELIASTAR SEC Reports are
independent  public  accountants  with  respect to  RELIASTAR as required by the
rules and regulations of the SEC.
                                      -19-
<PAGE>


                  (iv) The statutory financial statements of each of RELIASTAR's
Insurance Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the quarters
ended March 31, June 30 and  September 30, 1996 have been prepared in accordance
with all material accounting  practices  prescribed or permitted by the National
Association of Insurance  Commissioners and, with respect to each such insurance
subsidiary,  the  appropriate  insurance  department of the state of domicile of
such insurance subsidiary,  and such accounting practices have been applied on a
consistent basis throughout the period  involved,  except as disclosed  therein.
RELIASTAR has heretofore  delivered to SECURITY true and complete  copies of all
such statements.

                  (v)  Since  December  31,  1993,  each  of  RELIASTAR  and the
RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  has filed all reports and other filings,  together with
any  amendments  required  to be made  with  respect  thereto,  that it has been
required  to file with  state  and other  insurance  and  securities  regulatory
authorities (the "RELIASTAR Insurance Filings"), except for any such reports and
other filings,  including any amendments  thereto,  the failure of which to file
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR,  and all of the RELIASTAR
Insurance  Filings  filed prior to the date hereof have complied in all material
respects,  and all such filings made hereafter  prior to the Effective Time will
comply in all material  respects,  with applicable  laws, rules and regulations,
and there are no  material  open or  unresolved  issues of which  RELIASTAR  has
knowledge  raised by any  insurance  or  securities  regulatory  authority  with
respect to any of such filings.

            (f)   Conduct of  Business in the  Ordinary  Course and Absence of
Certain Changes and Events.

                  (i) Except as  contemplated  by this Agreement or as disclosed
in the RELIASTAR  SEC Reports  filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof,  and
except for  changes  resulting  from (A)  changes in general  economic or market
conditions,  including  changes in interest rates, (B) changes in insurance laws
or regulations, and (C) matters affecting the life insurance industry generally,
since September 30, 1996 RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries have taken no
action of the type referred to in  paragraphs  (a) though (c) of Section 4.1 and
there  has not been any  material  adverse  change in the  financial  condition,
results of operations or businesses of RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  and there has not been any  condition,  event or  development
that is reasonably  expected by RELIASTAR to result in a material adverse change
in the financial condition, results of operations or businesses of RELIASTAR and
the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, and that would be required to be
disclosed in the RELIASTAR SEC Reports  under the rules and  regulations  of the
SEC or that  would be  required  to be  disclosed  in  RELIASTAR's  consolidated
financial  statements or the notes thereto under generally  accepted  accounting
principles.  RELIASTAR  and the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  are not parties to any
collective  bargaining  agreements  and believe that their  relations with their
employees are generally  satisfactory.  Since September 30, 1996, no significant
labor  dispute  with  any  employees  of  RELIASTAR  or  any  of  the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries  or union  organizing  effort has existed or, to the  knowledge  of
RELIASTAR, is imminent or threatened.

                  (ii) Neither  RELIASTAR nor any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries
is in  violation of its charter or bylaws or in default in the  performance  of,
and no event has  occurred  that,  with  notice or lapse of time or both,  would
constitute a default in the performance of, any note, bond, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust,  lease,  franchise,  permit,  authorization,  license,  contract,
instrument or other agreement or commitment,  order, judgment or decree to which
RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries is a party or by which RELIASTAR
or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries or any of the assets or properties thereof
is bound or encumbered, except for such defaults which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR.
                                      -20-
<PAGE>

            (g) Certain Fees.  With the exception of the engagement by RELIASTAR
of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation,  Milliman and Robertson,
and  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,  none  of  RELIASTAR  or  any  of  the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors,  officers,  employees, agents
or representatives,  on behalf of RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries
or their respective boards of directors,  or any committee thereof, has employed
any financial advisor,  actuary,  broker or finder or incurred any liability for
any financial advisory, actuarial,  brokerage or finders' fees or commissions in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

            (h)  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in the  RELIASTAR  SEC Reports
filed with the SEC prior to the date  hereof,  there are no claims  (other  than
policy claims that are not in litigation),  actions,  suits,  investigations  or
proceedings  pending or, to the  knowledge of RELIASTAR,  threatened  against or
affecting  RELIASTAR  or any  of  the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  or any of  their
respective assets or properties,  at law or in equity, before or by any Federal,
state, municipal or other governmental agency or authority, foreign or domestic,
or before any arbitration board or panel, wherever located.

            (i)   Employee Benefit Plans.

                  (i) There are no "employee  pension benefit plans", as defined
in Section  3(2) of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act of 1974,  as
amended ("ERISA"),  maintained by RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries
for the benefit of their employees  (collectively,  "RELIASTAR  Pension Plans"),
except  for  the  RELIASTAR  Pension  Plans  disclosed  in the  RELIASTAR  Proxy
Statement or in the RELIASTAR  Disclosure Letter.  Each "employee benefit plan",
as  defined  in  Section  3(3) of ERISA,  maintained  by  RELIASTAR,  any of the
RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries or any of their predecessors  (collectively,  "RELIASTAR
Employee  Plans") has been  maintained and  administered  in accordance with its
terms and complies in all material respects with all applicable  requirements of
ERISA, the Code and other applicable laws (except that certain RELIASTAR Pension
Plans  may not yet have been  amended  to comply  with the  Small  Business  Job
Protection Act of 1996 and subsequent laws and  regulations).  None of RELIASTAR
or any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  nor any of their  respective  directors,
officers, employees or agents has, with respect to any of the RELIASTAR Employee
Plans,  engaged in any "prohibited  transaction",  as defined in Section 4975 of
the Code or Section 406 of ERISA, or any conduct that is reasonably  expected by
RELIASTAR to result in any taxes or penalties on prohibited  transactions  under
Section  4975 of the Code or  Section  502(i)  of ERISA or any  liability  under
Section 409 of ERISA for breach of fiduciary duty, that,  individually or in the
aggregate,  are reasonably expected by RELIASTAR to result in a Material Adverse
Effect on RELIASTAR.

                  (ii) Each of  RELIASTAR  and the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  has
fulfilled its  obligations to the extent  applicable  under the minimum  funding
requirements of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code with respect to
each of the RELIASTAR  Pension  Plans;  none of the RELIASTAR  Pension Plans has
incurred an "accumulated funding deficiency", as defined in Section 302 of ERISA
and Section 412 of the Code,  whether or not  waived;  and no material  civil or
criminal action or claim (other than uncontested claims for benefits) is pending
or,  to the  knowledge  of  RELIASTAR,  threatened  with  respect  to any of the
RELIASTAR   Employee  Plans.   Neither   RELIASTAR  nor  any  of  the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries  has,  or within the past five  years has had,  any  obligation  to
contribute to any  "multiemployer  plan",  as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA,
and neither RELIASTAR nor any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries has incurred, and no
event has occurred that might  reasonably be expected to result in, any material
liability  under Title IV of ERISA  (excluding  liability  for required  premium
payments to the Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  ("PBGC")) in connection
with any such  multiemployer  plan or any of the RELIASTAR Pension Plans that is
subject to Title IV of ERISA. RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries have paid
all  premiums,  if any,  that have become due to the PBGC with respect to any of
the RELIASTAR Pension Plans.
                                      -21-
<PAGE>


                  (iii) The assets of each of the  RELIASTAR  Pension Plans that
are  subject  to  Title IV of ERISA  exceed  the  present  value of  vested  and
nonvested  benefits  accrued  under such plan,  determined as of the date of the
most  recent  actuarial  report for such plan on a  termination  basis using the
actuarial  assumptions  established  by the PBGC as in effect on such date.  The
Internal  Revenue  Service  (the  "IRS")  has  issued a  letter  for each of the
RELIASTAR  Pension Plans  determining  that such plan is qualified under Section
401(a) of the Code and there has been no  occurrence  since the date of any such
determination letter that has adversely affected such qualification.

            (j)   Taxes.

                  (i) All  returns and  reports,  including  without  limitation
information and withholding returns and reports (collectively, "Tax Returns") of
or relating to any foreign,  Federal,  state,  local or other  income,  premium,
property, sales, excise and other taxes of any nature whatsoever,  including any
interest,  penalties and additions to tax in respect  thereof ("Tax" or "Taxes")
heretofore   required  to  be  filed  by  RELIASTAR  or  any  of  the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries  have been duly filed on a timely basis,  except to the extent that
any such failure to file would not,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR.  All such Tax Returns so filed were
complete  and  accurate in all  material  respects.  Each of  RELIASTAR  and the
RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries has paid or has made adequate  provision for the payment
of all  Taxes,  including  any  Taxes  as a  result  of  being  a  member  of an
affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any taxable period or as
a result of any  obligation to indemnify  another  person,  except to the extent
that any  failure to fully pay or make  provision  for the payment of such Taxes
would not,  either  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse
Effect on RELIASTAR.

                  (ii) As of the date of this  Agreement  there are no audits or
administrative   proceedings,   court  proceedings  or  claims  pending  against
RELIASTAR or any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  with respect to any Taxes,  no
assessment,  deficiency or adjustment  has been asserted or, to the knowledge of
RELIASTAR,  proposed  with  respect  to any Tax  Return  of or with  respect  to
RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries and there are no liens for Taxes
upon the assets or properties of RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries,
except  liens for Taxes not yet  delinquent  and,  in each case,  except for any
audits, proceedings, claims, assessments,  deficiencies, adjustments or liens as
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR.

                  (iii) There are not in force any waivers or  agreements  by or
with  respect to  RELIASTAR or any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  of or for an
extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Taxes.  Neither RELIASTAR
nor any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries has received a written ruling of a taxing
authority  relating  to Taxes or  entered  into a written  and  legally  binding
agreement with a taxing authority relating to Taxes that would have a continuing
Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR after the Closing Date.  Neither  RELIASTAR
nor any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  is  required  to  include in income any
adjustment  pursuant  to  Section  481(a) of the Code by  reason of a  voluntary
change in  accounting  method  initiated by  RELIASTAR  or any of the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries,  and to the best  knowledge of RELIASTAR  the IRS has not proposed
any such adjustment or change in accounting method. For purposes of this Section
2.1(j), the term "RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries"  shall include former subsidiaries of
RELIASTAR for the periods during which any such subsidiaries were owned directly
or indirectly by RELIASTAR.

                  (iv) To the best knowledge of RELIASTAR, no person (a "Section
2.1(j)  Investor"),  by reason of  ownership  of a  partnership  interest in any
partnership  in which  RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  owned or
owns  directly or  indirectly a  partnership  interest and with respect to which
partnership  interests  were issued  pursuant to an exemption from the 1933 Act,
has asserted any claim against  RELIASTAR or any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries
with  respect  to  Taxes,  which  claim is  derived  from  such  Section  2.1(j)
Investor's  interest in such  partnership,  nor has any  governmental  authority
asserted or proposed any adjustment that could give rise to such a claim. To the
best knowledge of RELIASTAR, no such claim has been threatened.

                                      -22-
<PAGE>


                  (v)  Each of  RELIASTAR  and the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  has
withheld  and  paid  all  Taxes  required  to have  been  withheld  and  paid in
connection  with amounts paid or owing to any  employee,  creditor,  independent
contractor  or other third  party,  except for any Taxes the failure of which to
withhold  or pay would not,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR.

                  (vi) Neither  RELIASTAR nor any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries
has  filed a  consent  under  Section  341(f)  of the  Code.  RELIASTAR  and the
RELIASTAR   Subsidiaries   are  parties  to  Tax   allocation  and  Tax  sharing
arrangements  among  them,  all  of  which  arrangements  have  heretofore  been
disclosed to SECURITY by RELIASTAR.

                  (vii)  No  property  of  RELIASTAR  or any  of  the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries is property that RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries is
required to treat as owned by another person pursuant to the safe harbor leasing
provisions (now repealed) of the Code.

            (k) Intellectual  Property.  As of the date of this Agreement and to
the best knowledge of RELIASTAR, RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries own or
are otherwise  duly  authorized or entitled to utilize all  trademarks,  service
marks,  trade names, trade secrets,  licenses,  designs,  copyrights,  formulas,
processes,  patents, or applications  therefor,  and other intellectual property
rights as are presently used in, or necessary for, the conduct of the businesses
of RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries as presently conducted, except where
the failure to have such ownership or  authorization or entitlement does not and
would not,  individually or in the aggregate,  have a Material Adverse Effect on
RELIASTAR. Since December 31, 1993, to the best knowledge of RELIASTAR there has
not been any  violation or  infringement  by  RELIASTAR or any of the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries  of any  intellectual  property  right of any other person,  or any
claim of such  infringement,  that has not been resolved and is continuing,  and
neither  RELIASTAR  nor any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  has given to or made
with any other person any  forbearance to sue or settlement for  infringement of
any intellectual property right.

             (l)  Environmental Matters.

                  (i)   For purposes of this Agreement,

                        (A)   "Environmental   Law"  means  the  Comprehensive
                  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and Liability Act, 42
                  U.S.C.  ss. 9601  et  seq.,  the  Resource   Conservation  and
                  Recovery  Act, 42 U.S.C.  ss. 6901 et seq.,  the Federal Water
                  Pollution  Control Act, 33 U.S.C.  ss. 1201 et seq., the Clean
                  Water Act, 33 U.S.C.  ss. 1321 et seq.,  the Clean Air Act, 42
                  U.S.C. ss.  7401 et seq., and any other federal,  state, local
                  or other governmental statute,  regulation, law or ordinance
                  dealing with the protection of the environment;

                        (B)   "Hazardous   Substance"   means   any   pollutant,
                  contaminant,   hazardous  substance  or  waste,  solid  waste,
                  petroleum  or any  fraction  thereof,  or any other  chemical,
                  substance or material  listed or identified in or regulated by
                  any Environmental Law; and

                                      -23-
<PAGE>


                        (C) A  "RELIASTAR  Environmental  Claim"  shall mean any
                  written communication by a person or entity alleging potential
                  liability (including, without limitation,  potential liability
                  for investigatory costs, cleanup costs,  governmental response
                  costs,  natural resource damages,  property damages,  personal
                  injuries,  or penalties) arising out of, based on or resulting
                  from (i) the presence, or release into the environment, of any
                  Hazardous  Substance at any location,  whether or not owned by
                  RELIASTAR or any RELIASTAR  Subsidiary  or (ii)  circumstances
                  forming the basis of any violation,  or alleged violation,  of
                  any Environmental Law.

                  (ii) Except for matters that are not reasonably likely to have
      a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR:

                        (A) RELIASTAR and each RELIASTAR  Subsidiary comply with
                  all  Environmental  Laws  applicable to the ownership of their
                  respective   assets  and  the  conduct  of  their   respective
                  businesses;

                        (B) RELIASTAR and each RELIASTAR  Subsidiary possess all
                  licenses  and  permits  required  by  all  Environmental  Laws
                  applicable to the ownership of their respective assets and the
                  conduct of their respective businesses, and RELIASTAR and each
                  RELIASTAR  Subsidiary comply in all material respects with the
                  terms and conditions of such licenses and permits;

                        (C) There is no RELIASTAR  Environmental  Claim  pending
                  or,  to  the  knowledge  of  RELIASTAR,   threatened   against
                  RELIASTAR or any RELIASTAR Subsidiary or against any person or
                  entity whose liability for such RELIASTAR  Environmental Claim
                  RELIASTAR  or  any  RELIASTAR  Subsidiary  have  or  may  have
                  retained or assumed  either  contractually  or by operation of
                  law; and

                        (D)  The  property   currently   owned  or  operated  by
                  RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries is not subject
                  to, and RELIASTAR has no knowledge of, any  restriction on the
                  ownership,  occupancy, use or transferability of such property
                  in connection with any Environmental Law or resulting from any
                  release,  threatened  release  or  disposal  of any  Hazardous
                  Substance.

            (m) Opinion of Financial  Advisor.  The RELIASTAR Board has received
from  Donaldson,  Lufkin & Jenrette  Securities  Corporation a written  opinion,
dated on or prior to the date of this Agreement, to the effect that the Exchange
Ratio is fair to RELIASTAR from a financial point of view.

            (n)  Investigation  by  RELIASTAR.  RELIASTAR  has conducted its own
independent review and analysis of the businesses, assets, condition, operations
and prospects of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries.  In entering into this
Agreement,  RELIASTAR has relied solely upon its own  investigation and analysis
and the  representations  and  warranties  of  SECURITY  contained  herein,  and
RELIASTAR:
                                      -24-
<PAGE>


                  (i)   acknowledges   that  none  of  SECURITY,   the  SECURITY
      Subsidiaries or any of their respective  directors,  officers,  employees,
      affiliates,   agents  or  representatives   makes  any  representation  or
      warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of
      any of the  information  provided or made  available to RELIASTAR or their
      agents or representatives prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

                  (ii) agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that none
      of  SECURITY,  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or  any  of  their  respective
      directors,  officers,  employees,  affiliates,  agents or  representatives
      shall have any liability or responsibility  whatsoever to RELIASTAR on any
      basis (including,  without limitation,  in contract or tort, under federal
      or state securities laws or otherwise) based upon any information provided
      or made available, or statements made, to RELIASTAR prior to the execution
      of this Agreement.

except that the foregoing  shall not apply (A) to the extent  SECURITY makes the
specific  representations  and  warranties  set  forth  in  Section  2.2 of this
Agreement and in the SECURITY  Disclosure Letter, or (B) to the extent SECURITY,
the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or any of  their  respective  directors,  officers,
employees,  affiliates,  agents or representatives commits fraud with respect to
the information that it provides or makes available to RELIASTAR.

            2.2  Representations  and  Warranties of SECURITY.  SECURITY  hereby
represents and warrants to RELIASTAR  that,  except as disclosed in a disclosure
letter  delivered  by  SECURITY  to  RELIASTAR  prior  to the date  hereof  (the
"SECURITY Disclosure Letter"):

            (a)  Organization  and Compliance with Law. Each of SECURITY and its
direct and indirect  subsidiaries  (all such direct and  indirect  subsidiaries,
including without  limitation  Security-Connecticut  Life Insurance  Company,  a
Connecticut  corporation  ("SCL") and a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  SECURITY,
Arrowhead,  Ltd.,  a Bermuda  insurance  corporation  ("AHL") and a wholly owned
subsidiary of SECURITY,  and Lincoln Security Life Insurance Company, a New York
corporation  ("LSL") and a wholly owned  subsidiary of SCL, are herein sometimes
collectively  referred to as the  "SECURITY  Subsidiaries",  and SCL and LSL are
sometimes  herein  referred to as the "SECURITY  Insurance  Subsidiaries")  is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its jurisdiction of incorporation  and has all requisite  corporate power and
corporate authority and all requisite  governmental and other  authorizations to
own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as
now being conducted,  except such governmental and other authorizations (if any)
where the  failure to have such  authorizations  does not and would not,  either
individually  or in  the  aggregate,  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on the
financial  condition,  results of  operations  or business  of SECURITY  and the
SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  taken  as  a  whole  (a  "Material  Adverse  Effect  on
SECURITY").  SECURITY is incorporated  in the State of Delaware.  Exhibit 2.2(a)
hereto  sets forth the name and  jurisdiction  of  incorporation  of each of the
SECURITY Subsidiaries.  Neither SECURITY nor any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries is
a general  partner in any  partnership.  Except as set forth in  Exhibit  2.2(a)
hereto,  neither SECURITY nor any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries is a party to any
joint venture in which SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries have made, or have
an obligation to make,  capital  contributions in excess of $1 million.  Each of
SECURITY  and  the  SECURITY   Subsidiaries  is  duly  qualified  as  a  foreign
corporation to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the  property  owned,  leased or  operated  by it or the nature of the  business
conducted by it makes such qualification necessary,  except where the failure to
so  qualify  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  SECURITY.  Each of
SECURITY and the SECURITY Insurance Subsidiaries possesses all material permits,
licenses,  authorizations,  certificates,  franchises, orders, consents or other
indicia of authority required by any governmental,  administrative or regulatory
authority or agency and is in compliance  with all applicable  laws,  judgments,
orders, decrees, rules and regulations, except where the failure to possess such
permits,  licenses  and  other  authorizations  does not and would  not,  either
individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse Effect on SECURITY.
SECURITY has heretofore  delivered to RELIASTAR true and complete  copies of its
articles  of  incorporation  and bylaws and of the charter and bylaws of each of
the SECURITY  Insurance  Subsidiaries,  in each case as in existence on the date
hereof.   Notwithstanding   anything  to  the  contrary  contained  herein,  all
representations  of SECURITY in this Section 2.2(a)  relating to AHL (other than
the  representation  and warranty  regarding  the  ownership  of AHL),  shall be
limited to the best knowledge of SECURITY.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>


            (b)   Capitalization.

                  (i) The  authorized  capital  stock of  SECURITY  consists  of
      50,000,000  shares  of  SECURITY  Common  Stock and  10,000,000  shares of
      preferred  stock,  par value $.01. As of the date hereof there were issued
      and  outstanding  8,572,115  shares of SECURITY  Common Stock.  As of such
      date,  there were also  reserved  for  issuance  up to  500,000  shares of
      SECURITY  Preferred Stock issuable under a Rights  Agreement,  dated as of
      February 16, 1995, between SECURITY and The First National Bank of Boston,
      as Rights Agent (the "SECURITY Rights Agreement"),  pursuant to which each
      outstanding  share of  SECURITY  Common  Stock has  attached to it certain
      rights  (the   "SECURITY   Rights"),   including   rights  under   certain
      circumstances  to purchase  shares of SECURITY  Preferred Stock at $85.00,
      subject to adjustment. All outstanding shares of SECURITY Common Stock are
      validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and no holder  thereof is
      entitled  to  any  preemptive  rights.  Neither  SECURITY  nor  any of the
      SECURITY  Subsidiaries is a party to, nor is SECURITY aware of, any voting
      agreement, voting trust or similar agreement, arrangement or understanding
      relating to any class of capital stock of, or any  agreement,  arrangement
      or  understanding  providing for  registration  rights with respect to any
      class of capital  stock or other  securities  of,  SECURITY  or any of the
      SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  except  for any such  voting  agreements,  voting
      trusts or similar  agreements  as may be  disclosed  in any  filing  under
      Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the 1934 Act.

                  (ii) As of the date hereof, there are outstanding options (the
      "SECURITY Options") to purchase under SECURITY's 1993 Stock Incentive Plan
      (the "SECURITY  Option Plan") an aggregate of not more than 444,924 shares
      of SECURITY Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price per share of
      $25.55  (ranging from $19.25 to $36.50 per share).  As of the date hereof,
      SECURITY is  obligated to issue an aggregate of not more than 5,058 shares
      of  SECURITY  Common  Stock  without  additional  consideration  under the
      SECURITY  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan (the  "SECURITY  Long-Term  Incentive
      Plan"),  subject to certain  conditions  therein  contained (any shares of
      SECURITY  Common  Stock  issuable  on or after the date  hereof and to and
      including the Effective Time under the SECURITY  Long-Term  Incentive Plan
      are herein  called the  "SECURITY  Incentive  Shares").  Other than as set
      forth in this Section 2.2(b) and other than the SECURITY Rights Agreement,
      the SECURITY Options and option agreements relating thereto,  the SECURITY
      Incentive  Shares,  and the SECURITY  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan,  and any
      shares of SECURITY  Common Stock issued  pursuant to any of the foregoing,
      there are not now,  and at the  Effective  Time there will not be, any (A)
      outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  or  other  equity  securities  of
      SECURITY, or (B) outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe
      for,  calls or  commitments  of any character  whatsoever  relating to, or
      securities or rights  convertible into or exchangeable  for, shares of any
      class of capital stock of SECURITY, or contracts, agreements, arrangements
      or  understandings  to which SECURITY is a party, or by which it is or may
      be bound, to issue additional  shares of any class of its capital stock or
      options,  warrants, scrip or rights to subscribe for, calls or commitments
      of  any  character   whatsoever  relating  to,  or  securities  or  rights
      convertible into or exchangeable  for, any additional  shares of any class
      of  capital  stock of  SECURITY.  SECURITY  has  heretofore  delivered  to
      RELIASTAR  true and  complete  copies of the  SECURITY  Option  Plan as in
      existence on the date hereof.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>


                  (iii) The shares of capital  stock or other equity  securities
      of each of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries are collectively  referred to herein
      as the "SECURITY  Subsidiary Shares".  All outstanding SECURITY Subsidiary
      Shares  are  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and  nonassessable  and  owned
      beneficially  and of record  directly or indirectly by SECURITY,  free and
      clear  of  all  liens,  pledges,  security  interests,   claims  or  other
      encumbrances. Except as aforesaid, there are not now, and at the Effective
      Time there will not be, any (A)  outstanding  SECURITY  Subsidiary  Shares
      that are owned of record or  beneficially  by any  person or entity  other
      than  SECURITY or one of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  or (B)  outstanding
      options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe for, calls or commitments of
      any character  whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible
      into or  exchangeable  for, shares of any class of capital stock of any of
      the SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  or  contracts,  agreements,  arrangements  or
      understandings to which SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries is a
      party,  or by which any  thereof is or may be bound,  to issue  additional
      shares of any class of capital stock or options, warrants, scrip or rights
      to  subscribe  for,  calls  or  commitments  of any  character  whatsoever
      relating to, or securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for,
      any   additional   shares  of  capital   stock  of  any  of  the  SECURITY
      Subsidiaries.

            (c)  Authorization  and Validity of Agreements.  Subject only,  with
respect to the Merger,  to approval of this  Agreement  by the  stockholders  of
SECURITY as provided for in Section 3.3,  SECURITY has all  requisite  corporate
power and  corporate  authority to enter into this  Agreement and to perform its
obligations  hereunder,  and the  execution  and  delivery  by  SECURITY of this
Agreement and the  consummation by it of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
have been duly authorized by all requisite  corporate  action.  Without limiting
the  generality  of the  foregoing,  the  SECURITY  Board  or a duly  authorized
committee  thereof  has  taken  all  necessary  action,  if any,  on the part of
SECURITY (i) to provide for all SECURITY Options unexercised as of the Effective
Time to be exercisable  in accordance  with Section 4.9, and (ii) to provide for
RELIASTAR  Common  Stock to be issued in lieu of any SECURITY  Incentive  Shares
required to be issued at or after the  Effective  Time.  On or prior to the date
hereof, the SECURITY Board has determined to recommend approval of the Merger to
the stockholders of SECURITY, and such determination is in effect as of the date
hereof.  As of the date of this  Agreement,  neither  SECURITY nor any director,
officer or  representative  thereof is soliciting,  initiating or engaged in any
substantive  discussions or other negotiations with or providing any information
to any third party concerning any possible  Acquisition  Transaction (as defined
in Section 3.4). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by SECURITY
and is the  valid  and  binding  obligation  of  SECURITY,  enforceable  against
SECURITY in accordance with its terms,  except that (i) such  enforcement may be
subject  to  bankruptcy,   insolvency,  moratorium  or  similar  laws  affecting
creditors'  rights  generally,  and (ii) the remedy of specific  performance and
injunctive  and other  forms of  equitable  relief  may be  subject  to  certain
equitable  defenses  and to  the  discretion  of  the  court  before  which  any
proceedings therefor may be brought.

            (d) No Notices or Approvals  Required and No Conflicts.  None of the
execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  by  SECURITY,  the  performance  by
SECURITY of its  obligations  hereunder or the  consummation  by SECURITY of the
transactions contemplated hereby will:

                  (i)   conflict with the articles of  incorporation or bylaws
of  SECURITY   or  with  the  charter  or  bylaws  of  any  of  the   SECURITY
Subsidiaries;

                                      -27-
<PAGE>

                  (ii) assuming  satisfaction of the  requirements  set forth in
Clause  (iii)  (A),  (B),  (C) and  (D)  below,  violate  any  provision  of law
applicable to SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries,  except for any such
violations  of  law as do not  and  would  not,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY;

                  (iii)  require any  consent or approval  of, or filing with or
notice  to,  any  public  body or  authority,  domestic  or  foreign,  under any
provision of law  applicable  to SECURITY or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries,
except  for  (A)   requirements  of  Federal  and  state  securities  laws,  (B)
requirements  arising out of the HSR Act, (C) the filing of this  Agreement or a
Certificate  of Merger in accordance  with the Delaware Law, (D) approvals of or
notices to regulatory authorities pursuant to the insurance laws of the State of
Connecticut,  the State of New York and any other jurisdiction in which SECURITY
or any of the SECURITY  Insurance  Subsidiaries  is licensed or authorized to do
business,  and (E) such  consents,  approvals or filings the failure of which to
obtain or make  would  not,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY; or

                  (iv)  require  any  consent,  approval  or  notice  under,  or
violate,  breach, be in conflict with or constitute a default (or an event that,
with notice or lapse of time or both,  would  constitute  a default)  under,  or
permit the  termination  of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien
upon any assets,  properties  or  business  of  SECURITY or any of the  SECURITY
Subsidiaries under, any note, bond, indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust, lease,
franchise,  permit,  authorization,  license  (other than  franchises,  permits,
authorizations,  or licenses which may require action under Section  2.2(d)(iii)
above), contract,  instrument or other agreement or commitment,  order, judgment
or decree to which SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries is a party or by
which  SECURITY  or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or any of the  assets or
properties thereof is bound or encumbered,  except for such consents,  approvals
or notices the failure of which to obtain or make would not, either individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY.

            (e)   SECURITY Reports and Financial Statements.

                  (i) Since December 31, 1993, each of SECURITY and the SECURITY
Subsidiaries has filed all reports,  registration  statements and other filings,
together with any amendments  required to be made with respect thereto,  that it
has been  required to file with the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act. All
reports,  registration  statements  and other filings  (including  all exhibits,
notes and schedules  thereto and documents  incorporated  by reference  therein)
filed by SECURITY and any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries with the SEC on or after
January 1, 1994,  together with any amendments thereto,  including,  when filed,
the Proxy Statement,  together with any amendments thereto, insofar as the Proxy
Statement  contains data and information  with respect to SECURITY or any of the
SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  are herein  sometimes  collectively  referred to as the
"SECURITY SEC Reports".  SECURITY has heretofore delivered to RELIASTAR true and
complete copies of all of the SECURITY SEC Reports that have been filed with the
SEC prior to the date hereof.  As of (A) with respect to all of the SECURITY SEC
Reports  other  than  registration  statements  filed  under the 1933  Act,  the
respective  dates of their  filing  with  the SEC and (B)  with  respect  to all
registration  statements  filed under the 1933 Act, their  respective  effective
dates, the SECURITY SEC Reports complied or will comply,  as the case may be, in
all material  respects with the rules and  regulations of the SEC and did not or
will not, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements made therein not misleading.

                  (ii) All material contracts and agreements of SECURITY and the
SECURITY Subsidiaries have been disclosed in the SECURITY SEC Reports filed with
the SEC or in the SECURITY  Disclosure  Letter,  except for those  contracts and
agreements not required to be filed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the
SEC and those  contracts and agreements  that have already been fully  performed
and as to which  there are no  material  contingent  liabilities  on the part of
SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>


                  (iii)  Except as  disclosed in the SECURITY SEC Reports or the
SECURITY  Disclosure  Letter,  none of  SECURITY,  SCL,  LSL or any of the other
SECURITY  Subsidiaries  is a party to any  contract  or  agreement  (or group of
related  contracts or agreements) that during the calendar year 1996 contributed
more than $5 million of new life paid annualized  premiums,  and none is a party
to any contract or agreement  entered into other than in the ordinary  course of
business in which the  liability of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  for
future payments exceeds $5 million in the aggregate.

                  (iv) The  consolidated  financial  statements  (including  any
related  notes or schedules)  included in SECURITY's  Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended  December  31,  1995 (the  "SECURITY  10-K")  and  SECURITY's
Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q for the  quarters  ended  March 31, June 30, and
September 30, 1996 (the "SECURITY 10-Qs"),  as filed with the SEC, were prepared
in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied  on a
consistent  basis  (except as may be noted  therein or in the notes or schedules
thereto) and fairly present in all material respect the  consolidated  financial
position of SECURITY and its  consolidated  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1994
and  1995  and  March  31,  June 30 and  September  30,  1995  and  1996 and the
consolidated  results of their  operations  and cash flows for each of the three
years in the  three-year  period  ended  December 31, 1995 and each of the three
months ended March 31, 1995 and 1996, each of the six months ended June 30, 1995
and  1996,  and each of the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1995 and  1996,
subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial  statements contained in
the SECURITY 10-Qs, to normal  year-end  adjustments on a basis  comparable with
prior  periods.  The  accountants  who certified any  financial  statements  and
supporting  schedules  included or incorporated by reference in the SECURITY SEC
Reports are independent  public accountants with respect to SECURITY as required
by the rules and regulations of the SEC.

                  (v) The statutory  financial  statements of each of SECURITY's
Insurance Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 1995 and for the quarters
ended March 31, June 30, and  September 30 1996 have been prepared in accordance
with all material accounting  practices  prescribed or permitted by the National
Association of Insurance  Commissioners and, with respect to each such insurance
subsidiary,  the  appropriate  insurance  department of the state of domicile of
such insurance subsidiary,  and such accounting practices have been applied on a
consistent basis throughout the period  involved,  except as disclosed  therein.
SECURITY has heretofore  delivered to RELIASTAR true and complete  copies of all
such statements.

                  (vi)  Since  December  31,  1993,  each  of  SECURITY  and the
SECURITY Subsidiaries has filed all reports and other filings, together with any
amendments  required to be made with respect thereto,  that it has been required
to file with state and other  insurance and  securities  regulatory  authorities
(the  "SECURITY  Insurance  Filings"),  except  for any such  reports  and other
filings,  including any amendments  thereto,  the failure of which to file would
not have a Material  Adverse Effect on SECURITY,  all of the SECURITY  Insurance
Filings filed prior to the date hereof have  complied in all material  respects,
and all such filings made  hereafter  prior to the Effective Time will comply in
all material  respects,  with applicable laws, rules and regulations,  and there
are no material open or unresolved issues of which SECURITY has knowledge raised
by any insurance or securities  regulatory authority with respect to any of such
filings.
                                      -29-

<PAGE>


            (f)   Conduct of  Business in the  Ordinary  Course and Absence of
Certain Changes and Events.

                  (i) Except as  contemplated  by this Agreement or as disclosed
in the  SECURITY  SEC  Reports  filed with the SEC prior to the date  hereof and
except for  changes  resulting  from (A)  changes in general  economic or market
conditions,  including  changes in interest rates, (B) changes in insurance laws
or regulations, and (C) matters affecting the life insurance industry generally,
since  September 30, 1996 SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  have taken no
action of the type referred to in paragraphs  (a) through (g) of Section 3.1 and
there  has not been any  material  adverse  change in the  financial  condition,
results of operations  or businesses of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  and there has not been any  condition,  event or  development
that is reasonably  expected by SECURITY to result in a material  adverse change
in the financial condition,  results of operations or businesses of SECURITY and
the SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  and that would be required to be
disclosed in the SECURITY SEC Reports under the rules and regulations of the SEC
or that would be required to be disclosed in SECURITY's  consolidated  financial
statements or the notes thereto under generally accepted accounting  principles.
SECURITY  and the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  are  not  parties  to any  collective
bargaining  agreement and believe that their  relations with their employees are
generally  satisfactory.  Since September 30, 1996, no significant labor dispute
with any  employees  of SECURITY or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or union
organizing  effort has existed or, to the knowledge of SECURITY,  is imminent or
threatened.

                  (ii) Neither SECURITY nor any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries is
in violation of its charter or bylaws or in default in the  performance  of, and
no event  has  occurred  that,  with  notice  or  lapse  of time or both,  would
constitute a default in the performance of, any note, bond, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust,  lease,  franchise,  permit,  authorization,  license,  contract,
instrument or other agreement or commitment,  order, judgment or decree to which
SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries is a party or by which SECURITY or
any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries or any of the assets or properties  thereof is
bound or encumbered, except for defaults which would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on SECURITY.

            (g) Certain Fees.  With the exception of the  engagement by SECURITY
of Merrill Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner & Smith Incorporated,  Milliman and Robertson
and Ernst & Young LLP, none of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries,  or
any  of   their   respective   directors,   officers,   employees,   agents   or
representatives,  on behalf of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or
their respective boards of directors, or any committee thereof, has employed any
financial advisor,  actuary,  broker or finder or incurred any liability for any
financial  advisory,  actuarial,  brokerage or finders' fees or  commissions  in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

            (h)  Litigation.  Except as  disclosed  in the  SECURITY SEC Reports
filed with the SEC prior to the date  hereof,  there are no claims  (other  than
policy claims that are not in litigation),  actions,  suits,  investigations  or
proceedings  pending or, to the  knowledge  of SECURITY,  threatened  against or
affecting  SECURITY  or any  of  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or  any  of  their
respective assets or properties,  at law or in equity, before or by any Federal,
state, municipal or other governmental agency or authority, foreign or domestic,
or before any arbitration board or panel, wherever located.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>


            (i)   Employee Benefit Plans.

                  (i) There are no "employee  pension benefit plans", as defined
in  Section  3(2)  of  ERISA,  maintained  by  SECURITY  or any of the  SECURITY
Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees (collectively, "SECURITY Pension
Plans")  except for the SECURITY  Pension Plans  disclosed in the SECURITY Proxy
Statement  dated  April  2,  1996 or in the  SECURITY  Disclosure  Letter.  Each
"employee  benefit  plan",  as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  maintained  by
SECURITY,  any of  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or  any  of  their  predecessors
(collectively,  "SECURITY  Employee Plans") has been maintained and administered
in  accordance  with its terms and  complies in all material  respects  with all
applicable  requirements  of ERISA,  the Code and other  applicable laws (except
that certain SECURITY Pension Plans may not yet have been amended to comply with
the  Small  Business  Job  Protection  Act  of  1996  and  subsequent  laws  and
regulations).  None of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  nor any of
their respective directors,  officers,  employees or agents has, with respect to
any of the SECURITY Employee Plans, engaged in any "prohibited transaction",  as
defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA, or any conduct that
is  reasonably  expected  by  SECURITY  to result in any taxes or  penalties  on
prohibited  transactions  under  Section  4975 of the Code or Section  502(i) of
ERISA or any liability  under Section 409 of ERISA for breach of fiduciary  duty
that,  individually or in the aggregate,  are reasonably expected by SECURITY to
result in a Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY.

                  (ii)  Each of  SECURITY  and  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  has
fulfilled its  obligations to the extent  applicable  under the minimum  funding
requirements of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code with respect to
each of the  SECURITY  Pension  Plans;  none of the SECURITY  Pension  Plans has
incurred an "accumulated funding deficiency", as defined in Section 302 of ERISA
and Section 412 of the Code,  whether or not  waived;  and no material  civil or
criminal action or claim (other than uncontested claims for benefits) is pending
or, to the knowledge of SECURITY, threatened with respect to any of the SECURITY
Employee Plans.  Neither SECURITY nor any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  has, or
within  the past  five  years  has had,  any  obligation  to  contribute  to any
"multiemployer plan", as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, and neither SECURITY
nor any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  has  incurred,  and no event has occurred
that might  reasonably  be expected to result in, any material  liability  under
Title IV of ERISA  (excluding  liability  for required  premium  payments to the
PBGC) in  connection  with any such  multiemployer  plan or any of the  SECURITY
Pension  Plans that is subject to Title IV of ERISA.  SECURITY  and the SECURITY
Subsidiaries  have paid all  premiums,  if any, that have become due to the PBGC
with respect to any of the SECURITY Pension Plans.

                  (iii) The assets of each of the  SECURITY  Pension  Plans that
are  subject  to  Title IV of ERISA  exceed  the  present  value of  vested  and
nonvested  benefits  accrued  under such plan,  determined as of the date of the
most  recent  actuarial  report for such plan on a  termination  basis using the
actuarial assumptions established by the PBGC as in effect on such date. The IRS
has issued a letter for each of the SECURITY Pension Plans determining that such
plan is  qualified  under  Section  401(a)  of the  Code and  there  has been no
occurrence  since the date of any such  determination  letter that has adversely
affected such qualification.

            (j)   Taxes.

                  (i) All Tax  Returns of or  relating  to any Taxes  heretofore
required to be filed by SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  have been
duly filed on a timely  basis,  except to the extent that any failure to so file
would not,  either  individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse
Effect on SECURITY.  All such Tax Returns so filed were complete and accurate in
all material respects.  Each of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries has paid
or made adequate provision for the payment of all Taxes,  including any Taxes as
a result of being a member of an affiliated,  consolidated,  combined or unitary
group  for any  taxable  period or as a result of any  obligation  to  indemnify
another  person,  except to the  extent  that any  failure  to fully pay or make
provision for the payment of such Taxes would not, either individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY.

                                      -31-
<PAGE>


                  (ii) As of the date of this  Agreement  there are no audits or
administrative proceedings, court proceedings or claims pending against SECURITY
or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  with respect to any Taxes,  no assessment,
deficiency  or  adjustment  has been  asserted or, to the knowledge of SECURITY,
proposed with respect to any Tax Return of or with respect to SECURITY or any of
the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  and there are no liens for Taxes upon the assets or
properties  of SECURITY or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  except liens for
Taxes not yet delinquent and, in each case, except for any audits,  proceedings,
claims,  assessments,  deficiencies,  adjustments  or liens as would  not have a
Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY.

                  (iii) There are not in force any waivers or  agreements  by or
with  respect  to  SECURITY  or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  of or for an
extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Taxes.  Neither  SECURITY
nor any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  has received a written ruling of a taxing
authority  relating  to Taxes or  entered  into a written  and  legally  binding
agreement with a taxing authority relating to Taxes that would have a continuing
Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY after the Closing Date.  Except as disclosed
in the  SECURITY  Disclosure  Letter,  neither  SECURITY nor any of the SECURITY
Subsidiaries is required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section
481(a)  of the  Code by  reason  of a  voluntary  change  in  accounting  method
initiated  by  SECURITY  or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  and to the best
knowledge of SECURITY the IRS has not proposed any such  adjustment or change in
accounting  method.  For purposes of this  Section  2.2(j),  the term  "SECURITY
Subsidiaries"  shall  include  former  subsidiaries  of SECURITY for the periods
during  which  any such  subsidiaries  were  owned  directly  or  indirectly  by
SECURITY.

                  (iv) To the best knowledge of SECURITY,  no person (a "Section
2.2(j)  Investor"),  by reason of  ownership  of a  partnership  interest in any
partnership in which SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries owned or owns
directly  or  indirectly  a  partnership  interest  and  with  respect  to which
partnership  interests  were issued  pursuant to an exemption from the 1933 Act,
has asserted any claim against SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries with
respect to Taxes,  which claim is derived  from such Section  2.2(j)  Investor's
interest in such  partnership,  nor has any governmental  authority  asserted or
proposed  any  adjustment  that  could  give  rise to such a claim.  To the best
knowledge of SECURITY, no such claim has been threatened.

                  (v)  Each  of  SECURITY  and  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  has
withheld  and  paid  all  Taxes  required  to have  been  withheld  and  paid in
connection  with amounts paid or owing to any  employee,  creditor,  independent
contractor  or other third  party,  except for any Taxes the failure of which to
withhold  or pay would not,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  have a
Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY.

                  (vi) Neither SECURITY nor any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries has
filed a consent  under  Section  341(f) of the Code.  SECURITY  and the SECURITY
Subsidiaries  are parties to Tax allocation and Tax sharing  arrangements  among
them, all of which  arrangements  have heretofore been disclosed to RELIASTAR by
SECURITY.

                  (vii)  No  property  of  SECURITY  or  any  of  the   SECURITY
Subsidiaries  is property that SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  is
required,  or  that  RELIASTAR  or any of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  will  be
required,  to treat  as owned by  another  person  pursuant  to the safe  harbor
leasing provisions (now repealed) of the Code.

                                      -32-

<PAGE>

            (k) Intellectual  Property.  As of the date of this Agreement and to
the best knowledge of SECURITY,  SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  own or
are otherwise  duly  authorized or entitled to utilize all  trademarks,  service
marks, trade names, licenses, designs, copyrights, formulas, processes, patents,
or  applications  therefor,  and  other  intellectual  property  rights  as  are
presently  used in, or necessary  for, the conduct of the businesses of SECURITY
and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries as presently conducted,  except where the failure
to have such ownership or  authorization  or entitlement does not and would not,
individually  or in the aggregate,  have a Material  Adverse Effect on SECURITY.
Since  December 31, 1993, to the best  knowledge of SECURITY  there has not been
any violation or infringement by SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries of
any  intellectual  property  right of any  other  person,  or any  claim of such
infringement, that has not been resolved and is continuing, and neither SECURITY
nor any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries has given to or made with any other person
any  forbearance  to sue or  settlement  for  infringement  of any  intellectual
property right.

            (l) No  Secured  Debt.  There  is not  now,  and  there  will not be
immediately prior to the Effective Time, any secured debt (including capitalized
leases) of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  except for capitalized
leases of less than $1 million in the  aggregate as to SECURITY and the SECURITY
Subsidiaries,  the existence of which does not violate the terms of any material
note,  bond,  indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust,  lease,  franchise,  permit,
authorization, license, contract, instrument or other agreement or commitment to
which  SECURITY  or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  is a party  or by  which
SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries or any of the assets or properties
thereof is bound or encumbered.

            (m)   Environmental Matters.

                        (i)  For  purposes  of  this   Agreement,   a  "SECURITY
                  Environmental Claim" shall mean any written communication by a
                  person  or entity  alleging  potential  liability  (including,
                  without  limitation,  potential  liability  for  investigatory
                  costs,  cleanup costs,  governmental  response costs,  natural
                  resource damages,  property  damages,  personal  injuries,  or
                  penalties)  arising out of, based on or resulting from (i) the
                  presence,  or release into the  environment,  of any Hazardous
                  Substance at any location, whether or not owned by SECURITY or
                  any  SECURITY  Subsidiary  or (ii)  circumstances  forming the
                  basis  of  any  violation,   or  alleged  violation,   of  any
                  Environmental Law.

                  (ii) Except for matters that are not reasonably likely to have
      a Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY:

                        (A) SECURITY and each  SECURITY  Subsidiary  comply with
                  all  Environmental  Laws  applicable to the ownership of their
                  respective   assets  and  the  conduct  of  their   respective
                  businesses;

                        (B) SECURITY and each  SECURITY  Subsidiary  possess all
                  licenses  and  permits  required  by  all  Environmental  Laws
                  applicable to the ownership of their respective assets and the
                  conduct of their respective businesses,  and SECURITY and each
                  SECURITY  Subsidiary  comply in all material respects with the
                  terms and conditions of such licenses and permits;

                                      -33-
<PAGE>


                        (C) There is no SECURITY Environmental Claim pending or,
                  to the knowledge of SECURITY,  threatened  against SECURITY or
                  any SECURITY  Subsidiary or against any person or entity whose
                  liability for such SECURITY  Environmental  Claim  SECURITY or
                  any SECURITY  Subsidiary  have or may have retained or assumed
                  either contractually or by operation of law; and

                        (D) The property currently owned or operated by SECURITY
                  or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  is not  subject to, and
                  SECURITY  has  no  knowledge  of,  any   restriction   on  the
                  ownership,  occupancy, use or transferability of such property
                  in connection with any Environmental Law or resulting from any
                  release,  threatened  release  or  disposal  of any  Hazardous
                  Substance.

            (n) Opinion of Financial  Advisor.  The SECURITY  Board has received
from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated a written opinion, dated
on or prior to the date of this Agreement,  to the effect that the consideration
taken as a whole to be received by the stockholders of SECURITY in the Merger is
fair to the stockholders of SECURITY from a financial point of view.

            (o)  Investigation  by  SECURITY.  SECURITY  has  conducted  its own
independent review and analysis of the businesses, assets, condition, operations
and prospects of RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries. In entering into this
Agreement,  SECURITY has relied solely upon its own  investigation  and analysis
and the representations and warranties contained herein, and SECURITY:

                  (i)  acknowledges  that  none  of  RELIASTAR,   the  RELIASTAR
      Subsidiaries or any of their respective  directors,  officers,  employees,
      affiliates,   agents  or  representatives   makes  any  representation  or
      warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of
      any of the  information  provided or made  available  to SECURITY or their
      agents or representatives prior to the execution of this Agreement; and

                  (ii) agrees,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, and none
      of  RELIASTAR,  the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  or any of  their  respective
      directors,  officers,  employees,  affiliates,  agents or  representatives
      shall have any liability or  responsibility  whatsoever to SECURITY on any
      basis (including,  without limitation,  in contract or tort, under federal
      or state securities laws or otherwise) based upon any information provided
      or made available,  or statements made, to SECURITY prior to the execution
      of this Agreement.

except that the foregoing shall not apply (A) to the extent  RELIASTAR makes the
specific  representations  and  warranties  set  forth  in  Section  2.1 of this
Agreement  and in  the  RELIASTAR  Disclosure  Letter,  or  (B)  to  the  extent
RELIASTAR,  the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective  directors,
officers,  employees,  affiliates,  agents or representatives commits fraud with
respect to the information that it provides or makes available to SECURITY.

III.  COVENANTS OF SECURITY

      3.1 Conduct of Business by SECURITY and SECURITY  Subsidiaries Pending the
Merger.  SECURITY  covenants  and agrees with  RELIASTAR  that,  with respect to
SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  prior to the  Effective  Time,  unless
RELIASTAR  shall  otherwise  agree  or  as is  otherwise  contemplated  by  this
Agreement:
                                      -34-

<PAGE>


            (a) The businesses of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries will be
conducted only in, and SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries will not take any
material  action except in the ordinary  course of business and consistent  with
prior practices.

            (b) Each of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries will not directly
or indirectly do any of the following:  (i) issue, sell,  pledge,  dispose of or
encumber  (A) any shares of capital  stock of  SECURITY  or any of the  SECURITY
Subsidiaries,  except the issuance of shares of SECURITY  capital stock pursuant
to  the  SECURITY  Rights   Agreement  or  upon  exercise  of  SECURITY  Options
outstanding as of the date hereof and referred to in Section 2.2(b)(ii), (B) any
investment assets of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries other than in
the  ordinary  course  of  business   consistent  with  prior  practices  or  in
transactions  not in excess of $5  million  in the  aggregate,  or (C) any other
assets or properties of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries other than
in the ordinary  course of business and  consistent  with prior  practices or in
transactions not in excess of $3 million in the aggregate; (ii) amend or propose
to amend  its  charter  or  bylaws;  (iii)  split,  combine  or  reclassify  any
outstanding  capital  stock,  or  declare,  set  aside  or pay any  dividend  or
distribution  payable in cash, stock,  property or otherwise with respect to its
capital  stock  whether  now or  hereafter  outstanding,  except  for  (A)  cash
dividends from one of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  paid to SECURITY or another of
the SECURITY  Subsidiaries and (B) regular  quarterly cash dividends of not more
than $.14 per share per quarter on SECURITY Common Stock; (iv) redeem,  purchase
or acquire or offer to acquire any of their capital  stock,  except  pursuant to
the exercise of, or the tax withholding provisions under, any outstanding awards
granted under the SECURITY  Option Plan; or (v) agree or commit to do any of the
foregoing.

            (c) Each of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries will not directly
or indirectly do any of the following: (i) grant, issue, sell, pledge or dispose
of any  options,  warrants  or rights of any kind to  acquire  any shares of any
class of capital  stock of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or any
securities that are convertible or exchangeable therefor;  (ii) acquire (whether
by  merger,  consolidation,  acquisition  of stock or assets or  otherwise)  any
corporation,  partnership or other business  organization  or division  thereof;
(iii) incur any  indebtedness  for borrowed money or issue any debt  securities,
except  for  intercompany  indebtedness;  (iv)  cancel  any  material  debts  or
obligations  owing to it,  except in  connection  with the  settlement of policy
claims;  (v) liquidate or merge into or consolidate with any other  corporation;
or (vi) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

            (d) Each of SECURITY  and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  will not enter
into, amend in any material respect, terminate or waive any material right under
any contract or agreement  referred to in Clause (iii) of Section 2.2(e) or that
would have been disclosed  pursuant to such clause if such contract or agreement
had been in effect as of the date hereof;  provided  however,  that this Section
3.1(d) shall not  prohibit  SECURITY or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  from
taking any of the  following  actions in the  ordinary  course of  business  and
consistent with prior  practices:  accepting or reinsuring  insurance or annuity
risks, or entering into,  modifying or terminating  agency  contracts;  provided
however,  that SECURITY will consult with  RELIASTAR  prior to  terminating  any
agency contract referred to in Clause (iii) of Section 2.2(e) or that would have
been disclosed pursuant to such clause if such contract had been in effect as of
the date hereof.

            (e) Other than the  engagement  of  lawyers,  accountants  and other
professional  advisors in the ordinary  course of business or in connection with
the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  each of  SECURITY  and the
SECURITY  Subsidiaries will not enter into or amend any employment,  consulting,
separation or termination  agreement,  arrangement or understanding nor take any
action with respect to the grant of any  separation or  termination  pay or with
respect to any increase of benefits  payable under its separation or termination
pay policies or agreements or arrangements in effect as of the date hereof.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>


            (f) Each of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries will not (i) hire
any new executive  employee,  (ii) hire any new management  employee with annual
compensation  greater  than  $100,000,  (iii)  except  for  replacements  in the
ordinary course of business consistent with prior practices,  hire any other new
employee,  (iv) except in the ordinary course of business  consistent with prior
practices,  increase the  compensation  of any  employee,  or (v) adopt or amend
(except to comply with applicable law) any bonus, profit sharing,  compensation,
stock option, pension,  retirement,  separation,  deferred compensation or other
employee  benefit  plan,  agreement or trust fund for the benefit or welfare of,
any employee or former employee.

            (g) Each of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries will not make any
capital expenditure or commitment for which it is not contractually bound at the
date hereof except  necessary  replacements  in the ordinary  course of business
consistent  with past  practices.  All capital  expenditures  and commitments in
excess  of  $50,000  for  which  SECURITY  and  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  are
contractually  bound at the date hereof are disclosed in the SECURITY Disclosure
Letter.

            (h)  Subject  to  the  provisions  hereof,  SECURITY  will  use  all
reasonable efforts (i) to preserve intact the business organization of SECURITY,
SCL,  LSL  and  each  of the  other  SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  including  without
limitation their current product distribution systems, to maintain in effect any
licenses,   franchises,   authorizations  or  similar  rights  material  to  the
businesses  of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  to keep  available  the
services of their respective  current officers and key employees and to preserve
the goodwill of those having  relationships with SECURITY or any of the SECURITY
Subsidiaries, and (ii) to cooperate with RELIASTAR in jointly communicating with
SECURITY's employees and with members of SECURITY's product distribution system,
including   independent   contractors,   regarding  the  Merger  and  continuing
operations after consummation of the Merger.

      3.2 Proxy  Statement.  As promptly as  practicable  after the date hereof,
SECURITY will  cooperate  with  RELIASTAR in drafting and will file with the SEC
under the 1934 Act, and will use all  reasonable  efforts to have cleared by the
SEC, a proxy  statement (the "Proxy  Statement")  with respect to the meeting of
stockholders of SECURITY referred to in Section 3.3, and SECURITY will cooperate
with  RELIASTAR  in  drafting  the  Registration  Statement  (of which the Proxy
Statement  is a part).  The Proxy  Statement  (as it relates to  SECURITY)  will
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act
and the rules and regulations of the SEC, and the  Registration  Statement (with
respect  to  information   concerning  SECURITY  or  the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries
furnished by or on behalf of SECURITY to RELIASTAR specifically for use therein)
and the Proxy Statement (except with respect to data and information  concerning
RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries furnished by or on behalf of RELIASTAR
to SECURITY  specifically for use therein) will not contain any untrue statement
of a  material  fact or omit to state a  material  fact  required  to be  stated
therein or necessary to make the statements made therein not misleading. Subject
to the  provisions  of  Section  3.4,  the  Proxy  Statement  will  contain  the
recommendation  of the SECURITY Board that the  stockholders of SECURITY vote to
approve and adopt the Merger and this  Agreement.  SECURITY will promptly notify
RELIASTAR in writing if prior to the Effective Time it shall obtain knowledge of
any fact that  would  make it  necessary  to amend the Proxy  Statement  (or the
Registration  Statement)  in order to render the  statements  made  therein  not
misleading or to comply with applicable law.  SECURITY will promptly  furnish to
RELIASTAR a true and  complete  copy of each written  communication  of SECURITY
with the SEC with  respect  to the  Proxy  Statement  and will  promptly  advise
RELIASTAR of the substance of each such oral communication.

                                      -36-

<PAGE>


      3.3 Meeting of  Stockholders  of SECURITY.  Subject to the  provisions  of
Section  3.4, as soon as  practicable  after the date  hereof,  SECURITY and the
SECURITY  Board  will (i) take  all  action  necessary  in  accordance  with the
Delaware  Law and its  certificate  of  incorporation  and  bylaws to  convene a
meeting of its  stockholders  to consider and vote upon approval and adoption of
the Merger and this Agreement,  (ii) recommend that the stockholders of SECURITY
vote to approve  and adopt the Merger and this  Agreement,  (iii) mail the Proxy
Statement  to its  stockholders,  (iv) use  commercially  reasonable  efforts to
solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of such approval and adoption and
(v) take all other commercially reasonable action necessary or helpful to secure
a vote of its stockholders in favor of such approval and adoption.

      3.4 No Solicitation of Acquisition Transactions. After the date hereof and
prior to the Effective  Time or earlier  termination of this  Agreement,  unless
RELIASTAR shall  otherwise  agree in writing,  SECURITY shall not, and shall not
permit  any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  to,  initiate,  solicit,  negotiate,
encourage,  or provide  confidential  information  or access to the  properties,
books or records of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries to facilitate,
and SECURITY shall, and shall cause each of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries to, cause
each officer,  director or employee of, and each  financial  advisor,  attorney,
accountant  or  other  agent  retained  by,  SECURITY  or any  of  the  SECURITY
Subsidiaries,  not  to  initiate,  solicit,  negotiate,  encourage,  or  provide
confidential  information  or  access to the  properties,  books or  records  of
SECURITY or any of the  SECURITY  Subsidiaries  to  facilitate,  any proposal or
offer to acquire all or any  substantial  part of the business and properties of
SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or any capital stock
of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries,  whether by merger, purchase of
assets, tender offer or otherwise, and whether for cash, securities or any other
consideration  or  combination  thereof  (such  transactions,  exclusive  of  an
acquisition of assets that does not constitute  substantially  all of the assets
of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  being referred to
herein as "Acquisition Transactions"); provided, however, that:

            (i) SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries may furnish  information
      concerning  their  business,  properties  or  assets  and  access  to  the
      properties, books and records of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries to
      a corporation,  partnership, person or other entity or group (a "Potential
      Acquirer") if (A) the SECURITY  Board is advised by its financial  advisor
      that such Potential  Acquirer has the financial  wherewithal to consummate
      an Acquisition Transaction whose offer of consideration is superior to the
      consideration  offered in the Merger, (B) the SECURITY Board determines in
      good faith that such  Potential  Acquirer  is likely to submit a bona fide
      offer  to   consummate   an   Acquisition   Transaction   whose  offer  of
      consideration  is superior to the  consideration  offered in the Merger if
      provided with such confidential information and access, (C) upon advice of
      Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney or other outside counsel knowledgeable
      in corporate  fiduciary  matters,  the SECURITY  Board  determines in good
      faith that the failure to provide such confidential information and access
      could  reasonably be expected to constitute a breach of its fiduciary duty
      to the SECURITY  stockholders  under applicable law, and (D) the Potential
      Acquirer  has  negotiated  with,   signed  and  delivered  to  SECURITY  a
      confidentiality  agreement  in  customary  form (the  "Potential  Acquirer
      Confidentiality Agreement"); and

                                      -37-
<PAGE>


            (ii)  following  receipt  of a bona  fide  offer  from  a  Potential
      Acquirer  who  meets  the  requirements  of  Clause  (i)(A)  above and has
      executed a Potential Acquirer  Confidentiality  Agreement, and whose offer
      the  SECURITY  Board  determines  in  good  faith  provides  consideration
      superior to the  consideration  offered in the Merger,  SECURITY may, with
      respect to such Potential Acquirer,  negotiate and take any of the actions
      otherwise  prohibited  by this  Section  3.4 if,  upon  advice of  Murtha,
      Cullina,  Richter and Pinney or other  outside  counsel  knowledgeable  in
      corporate  fiduciary matters,  the SECURITY Board determines in good faith
      that the failure to negotiate  with such  Potential  Acquirer would likely
      constitute a breach of its  fiduciary  duty to the  SECURITY  stockholders
      under applicable law.

In the event  SECURITY shall  determine to provide any  information or access as
described  above,  or shall  receive  any offer of the type  referred to in this
Section 3.4, it shall  concurrently give notice to RELIASTAR as to the fact that
information  or access is to be provided and the nature of the  information  and
access to be provided or that an offer has been  received  and shall  furnish to
RELIASTAR  the identity of the  recipient of such  information  or access or the
proponent of such offer,  if applicable,  and, if an offer has been received,  a
description of the material terms thereof.  SECURITY may enter into a definitive
agreement for an Acquisition Transaction with a Potential Acquirer with which it
is  permitted  to  negotiate  pursuant to this  Section 3.4 and  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  thereby,  provided that at least three days prior to
execution thereof SECURITY shall have furnished  RELIASTAR with a description of
all of the material terms thereof. Upon compliance with the foregoing,  SECURITY
shall be entitled to not recommend,  or to modify or withdraw its recommendation
concerning,  the  Merger,  and  SECURITY  shall be  entitled  to  enter  into an
agreement with the Potential Acquirer concerning an Acquisition  Transaction and
consummate the transactions  contemplated thereby; provided however, that in any
such event SECURITY shall immediately  terminate this Agreement and make payment
in full to RELIASTAR of the fee set forth in Section 5.2.

      3.5 Access to  Information;  Confidentiality.  From the date hereof to the
Effective  Time,  (i) each of SECURITY and the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  will, and
their respective  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents and  representatives
will, afford the officers,  employees,  agents and  representatives of RELIASTAR
reasonable   access  at  all  reasonable  times  to  the  officers,   employees,
representatives,  properties,  books and  records of SECURITY  and the  SECURITY
Subsidiaries,  and to the books and records of any  predecessors  thereof in the
possession of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY Subsidiaries,  and will furnish to
RELIASTAR all financial,  operating and other data and information as RELIASTAR,
through its officers, employees or representatives,  may reasonably request, and
(ii)  SECURITY  will  cooperate  with  RELIASTAR  personnel  to  facilitate  the
transition from preclosing operations to postclosing operations;  provided that,
notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no person shall have access to  information or
documents  subject to the  attorney/client  privilege  between  SECURITY and its
counsel to the extent  that  providing  such  access  would,  in the  opinion of
counsel to SECURITY,  constitute a waiver of such privilege.  SECURITY agrees to
hold in confidence all, and not to disclose to others for any reason  whatsoever
any, non-public  information received by it pursuant to Section 4.4 or otherwise
in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby, except (a) as required
by law,  (b) for  disclosure  to  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents  and
representatives  as necessary to the Merger or as necessary to the  operation of
its and RELIASTAR's  businesses,  and (c) for information  that becomes publicly
available  other than through  SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  or
their respective directors,  officers, employees, agents or representatives.  In
the event that this Agreement is terminated,  upon receipt of a written  request
from  RELIASTAR,  SECURITY  will return to  RELIASTAR  all  documents  and other
material  (and  all  copies  thereof)  obtained  from  RELIASTAR  or  any of the
RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby
and will destroy all documents and other material prepared by SECURITY or any of
the SECURITY Subsidiaries,  or their respective directors,  officers, employees,
agents  and  representatives,  that  reflect  any  such  non-public  information
received by any of them in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

      3.6  Dissenters'  Rights.  SECURITY  will not take any  action  that would
affect its  stockholders'  appraisal  rights  with  respect to the Merger or the
other transactions contemplated hereby under the Delaware Law.

                                      -38-
<PAGE>

      3.7 Tax  Certificate.  Immediately  prior to the Effective Time,  SECURITY
will  deliver  a  certificate  to  RELIASTAR  and its  tax  counsel  making  the
representations  and  warranties  substantially  in the form attached  hereto as
Exhibit 3.7.

      3.8 Amendment to Rights Plan.  Prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement,  the Board of  Directors of SECURITY  authorized  an amendment to the
SECURITY  Rights  Agreement  to provide  that (i)  RELIASTAR  will not become an
"Acquiring  Person"  as  a  result  of  the  consummation  of  the  transactions
contemplated  by  this   Agreement,   (ii)  no  "Stock   Acquisition   Date"  or
"Distribution Date" (as such terms are defined in the SECURITY Rights Agreement)
will occur as a result of the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement, and (iii) all outstanding SECURITY Rights issued and outstanding
under  the  SECURITY  Rights  Agreement  will  expire  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time.  As soon as  reasonably  practicable  after  the  date  hereof,
SECURITY  shall cause said  amendment  to be  documented  and to be executed and
delivered  as of the date  hereof.  Anything in this  Agreement  to the contrary
notwithstanding,  SECURITY  shall  have the right at any time  after the date of
this  Agreement and prior to the Effective  Time to further  amend,  or take any
other action with respect to, the SECURITY Rights  Agreement as deemed necessary
by  SECURITY;  provided  that any such  further  action or  amendment  shall not
contravene the amendment contemplated by this Section 3.8.



IV.   COVENANTS OF RELIASTAR

      4.1 Conduct of Business by RELIASTAR  and RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  Pending
the Merger.  RELIASTAR  covenants and agrees with SECURITY that, with respect to
RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  prior to the Effective Time,  unless
SECURITY  shall  otherwise  agree  or  as  is  otherwise  contemplated  by  this
Agreement:

            (a) The businesses of RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries will
be conducted only in, and RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries will not take
any material  action  except in the ordinary  course of business and  consistent
with prior practices.

            (b)  Each of  RELIASTAR  and the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  will  not
directly or indirectly do any of the following: (i) issue, sell, pledge, dispose
of or  encumber  (A) any  shares of  capital  stock of  RELIASTAR  or any of the
RELIASTAR Subsidiaries,  except the issuance of RELIASTAR capital stock pursuant
to the RELIASTAR DRIP,  pursuant to the RELIASTAR  Rights  Agreement or upon the
exercise of options  referred to in Section  2.1(b)(ii),  and further except for
the issuance of RELIASTAR capital stock with a market value not in excess of $50
million,  (B)  any  investment  assets  of  RELIASTAR  or any  of the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries  other than in the ordinary  course of business and consistent with
prior  practices  or in  transactions  not  in  excess  of  $50  million  in the
aggregate,  or (C) any other  assets or  properties  of  RELIASTAR or any of the
RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
with prior  practices  or in  transactions  not in excess of $30  million in the
aggregate;  (ii) amend or propose to amend its charter or bylaws  (provided that
this Clause (ii) shall not prohibit any increase in the authorized capital stock
of RELIASTAR or any change in the par value of RELIASTAR  capital stock);  (iii)
combine or reclassify any  outstanding  capital stock (provided that this Clause
(iii)  shall not  prohibit  a stock  split),  or  declare,  set aside or pay any
dividend or  distribution  payable in cash,  stock,  property or otherwise  with
respect to its capital  stock whether now or hereafter  outstanding,  except for
(A) cash  dividends  from one of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  to  RELIASTAR  or
another of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries, (B) regular cash dividends on RELIASTAR's
preferred  stock and (C) regular  quarterly cash  dividends on RELIASTAR  Common
Stock of not more than $.33 per share per  quarter on  RELIASTAR  Common  Stock;
(iv) except as described in the RELIASTAR Disclosure Letter, redeem, purchase or
acquire or offer to acquire any of their capital  stock;  or (v) agree or commit
to do any of the foregoing.


                                      -39-
<PAGE>


            (c)  Each of  RELIASTAR  and the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  will  not
directly or indirectly do any of the following:  (i) except pursuant to existing
agreements  and plans referred to in Section  2.1(b)(ii),  grant,  issue,  sell,
pledge or  dispose  of any  options,  warrants  or rights of any kind to acquire
shares  of any  class of  capital  stock of  RELIASTAR  or any of the  RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries or any securities  that are  convertible or exchangeable  therefor;
(ii) acquire (whether by way of merger,  consolidation,  acquisition of stock or
assets or otherwise) any corporation, partnership or other business organization
or division thereof with gross revenues in excess of $35 million during its last
fiscal  year or a net asset  value in excess of $50  million  if,  after  giving
effect to any such acquisition,  the aggregate  consideration  paid by RELIASTAR
and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries for all such acquisitions between the date hereof
and the Effective  Time would exceed $50 million;  (iii) incur any  indebtedness
for  borrowed  money or issue  any debt  securities,  except  under (A) the $200
million  commercial  paper  program and  related  credit  agreement  among Chase
Manhattan  Bank (as  successor to Chemical  Bank),  as agent,  the lenders named
therein,  and ReliaStar Mortgage  Corporation,  which is guaranteed by ReliaStar
Life Insurance  Company,  which commercial paper program may be increased by $50
million,  (B) the loan  agreement  between First Bank National  Association  and
ReliaStar Mortgage Corporation,  which is guaranteed by ReliaStar Life Insurance
Company,  providing for a $75 million  credit  facility,  (C) the loan agreement
between Chase  Manhattan  Bank (as successor to Chemical  Bank),  as agent,  the
lenders  named  therein,  and  RELIASTAR,  providing  for a $75  million  credit
facility, (D) the loan agreement between Allomon Funding and RELIASTAR providing
for a $25 million credit facility,  (E) the overdraft line provided by Zapp Bank
to PrimeVest Financial Services,  Inc., which is guaranteed by RELIASTAR, in the
amount of $2 million, (F) the loan agreement between Bankers Trust and PrimeVest
Financial  Services,  Inc.  providing for a $5 million credit facility,  (G) the
agent debt line provided to Northern Life  Insurance  Company by SeaFirst in the
amount of $8 million, (H) intercompany loans and advances, (I) additional credit
facilities  and debt  securities in the aggregate  amount of up to $150 million,
and (J) any  refinancings  of the  foregoing;  (iv) cancel any material debts or
obligations  owing to it,  except in  connection  with the  settlement of policy
claims;  (v) liquidate or merge into or consolidate with any other  corporation;
or (vi) agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

            (d)  Subject  to the  provisions  hereof,  RELIASTAR  will  use  all
reasonable efforts (i) to preserve intact the business organization of RELIASTAR
and each of the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  including  without  limitation  their
current  product  distribution  systems,  to  maintain  in effect any  licenses,
franchises,  authorizations  or similar  rights  material to the  businesses  of
RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  and to preserve the goodwill of those
having  relationships  with RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries  and
(ii) to  cooperate  with  SECURITY  in  jointly  communicating  with  SECURITY's
employees and with members of SECURITY's product distribution system,  including
independent  contractors,  regarding the Merger and continuing  operations after
consummation of the Merger.

      4.2 Proxy  Statement.  As promptly as  practicable  after the date hereof,
RELIASTAR  will  cooperate  with SECURITY in drafting the Proxy  Statement.  The
Proxy  Statement (as it relates to RELIASTAR)  will not contain (with respect to
data  and  information  concerning  RELIASTAR  and  the  RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries
furnished by or on behalf of RELIASTAR to SECURITY specifically for use therein)
any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to  state a  material  fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  made therein
not  misleading.  RELIASTAR will promptly notify SECURITY in writing if prior to
the  Effective  Time it shall  obtain  knowledge  of any fact that would make it
necessary to amend the Proxy  Statement in order to render the  statements  made
therein not misleading or to comply with applicable law.

                                      -40-
<PAGE>


      4.3  Registration  Statement.  As promptly as  practicable  after the date
hereof,  RELIASTAR  will  file  with  the  SEC  a  registration  statement  (the
"Registration Statement") on an appropriate form under the 1933 Act with respect
to the offering, sale and delivery of the shares of RELIASTAR Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to the Merger,  and RELIASTAR will use all reasonable efforts to
cause such Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as practicable
after  filing and to cause the  shares of  RELIASTAR  Common  Stock to be issued
pursuant  to the  Merger to be duly  listed  for  trading  on the New York Stock
Exchange. RELIASTAR will also use all reasonable efforts to take action required
to be taken under  state  securities  laws in  connection  with the  issuance of
RELIASTAR Common Stock pursuant to the Merger.  The Registration  Statement will
comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act
and the 1934 Act and the  rules  and  regulations  of the SEC and  (except  with
respect  to  data  and   information   concerning   SECURITY  and  the  SECURITY
Subsidiaries furnished by or on behalf of SECURITY to RELIASTAR specifically for
use therein) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements made therein not misleading.  RELIASTAR will advise SECURITY promptly
in writing if prior to the Effective Time it shall obtain  knowledge of any fact
that would make it  necessary  to amend the  Registration  Statement in order to
render the statements  made therein not misleading or to comply with  applicable
law.  RELIASTAR  will  promptly  furnish to SECURITY a true and complete copy of
each  written  communication  of  RELIASTAR  with  the SEC with  respect  to the
Registration  Statement  and will promptly  advise  SECURITY of the substance of
each such oral communication.

      4.4 Access to  Information;  Confidentiality.  From the date hereof to the
Effective Time, each of RELIASTAR and the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries will, and their
respective  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents and representatives  will,
afford  the  officers,   employees,   agents  and  representatives  of  SECURITY
reasonable   access  at  all  reasonable  times  to  the  officers,   employees,
representatives,  properties,  books and records of RELIASTAR  and the RELIASTAR
Subsidiaries,  and the books and  records  of any  predecessors  thereof  in the
possession of RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  and will furnish
to SECURITY all financial, operating and other data and information as SECURITY,
through its officers,  employees or  representatives,  may  reasonably  request;
provided,  that,  notwithstanding the foregoing,  no person shall have access to
information  or  documents  subject  to the  attorney/client  privilege  between
RELIASTAR and its counsel to the extent that providing such access would, in the
opinion  of  counsel  to  RELIASTAR,  constitute  a  waiver  of such  privilege.
RELIASTAR  agrees to hold in  confidence  all, and not to disclose to others for
any reason  whatsoever any,  non-public  information  received by it pursuant to
Section  3.5 or  otherwise  in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  except  (a) as  required  by law,  (b)  for  disclosure  to  directors,
officers, employees, agents and representatives as necessary to the Merger or as
necessary  to the  operation  of its  and  SECURITY's  businesses,  and  (c) for
information that becomes publicly  available other than through RELIASTAR or any
of  the  RELIASTAR   Subsidiaries  or  their  respective  directors,   officers,
employees,  agents or  representatives.  In the event  that  this  Agreement  is
terminated,  upon receipt of a written  request from  SECURITY,  RELIASTAR  will
return to SECURITY all  documents and other  material  (and all copies  thereof)
obtained from SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  in connection  with
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and will destroy all documents and other
material  prepared by RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  or their
respective  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents and representatives,  that
reflect any such  non-public  information  received by any of them in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby.

                                      -41-
<PAGE>


      4.5 Reservation of RELIASTAR  Capital Stock.  Prior to the Effective Time,
RELIASTAR shall reserve for issuance, out of its authorized but unissued capital
stock,  (a) such number of shares of  RELIASTAR  Common Stock as may be issuable
upon consummation of the Merger (taking into  consideration the number of shares
of SECURITY  Common Stock that may be issuable  pursuant to Sections  2.2(b)(ii)
and 4.9) and (b) such number of shares of RELIASTAR  Junior  Preferred  Stock as
may be  necessary  for the  Rights to attach to the shares of  RELIASTAR  Common
Stock referred to in Clause (a) of this Section 4.5.

      4.6 Tax Certificate.  Immediately  prior to the Effective Time,  RELIASTAR
will  deliver  a  certificate  to  SECURITY  and  its  tax  counsel  making  the
representations  and  warranties  substantially  in the form attached  hereto as
Exhibit 4.6.

      4.7   Employee Benefits.

            (a) Without  limiting  the  obligations  of  RELIASTAR to assume any
SECURITY  employee  benefit  plan,  program,  policy,  contract,   agreement  or
arrangement  as may arise by operation of law, at the Effective  Time  RELIASTAR
will assume all SECURITY employee benefit plans, programs, policies,  contracts,
agreements  and  arrangements  (the  "SECURITY  Plans") and shall succeed to all
rights of SECURITY as the employer or sponsor under the SECURITY Plans to amend,
modify or terminate the same in accordance  with their terms and applicable law,
except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in Exhibit 4.7(b) hereto.

            (b)  Following the Effective  Time,  RELIASTAR  agrees to furnish to
employees who are employees of SECURITY or any of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries the
employee benefit plans, programs, policies and arrangements set forth in Exhibit
4.7(b) hereto (the "RELIASTAR Plans"),  subject,  except to the extent otherwise
expressly  provided in Exhibit 4.7(b)  hereto,  to its rights as the employer or
sponsor  under the  RELIASTAR  Plans to amend,  modify or terminate  the same in
accordance with their terms and applicable law.

            (c)  Nothing  contained  in this  Section 4.7 or  elsewhere  in this
Agreement  shall  confer,  or be deemed to  confer,  upon any  person  who is an
employee of RELIASTAR or any of the RELIASTAR Subsidiaries or of SECURITY or any
of the SECURITY  Subsidiaries  any rights to continued  employment or, except as
expressly  provided in Exhibit 4.7(b)  hereto,  to  continuation  of any benefit
plans, programs, policies or arrangements,  including the SECURITY Plans and the
RELIASTAR Plans, for any particular period of time following consummation of the
Merger.

      4.8   Indemnification.

            (a) RELIASTAR  agrees that from and after the Effective Time it will
assume and honor the  indemnification  obligations  (including  any  obligations
relating  to the  advancement  of  expenses)  of  SECURITY  set forth in Article
Eleventh of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of SECURITY as in effect on the
date  hereof  with  respect to any and all  persons  described  in such  charter
provision  (the  "indemnitees")  as to any matter  arising  out of any action or
omission of any such indemnitee  prior to the Effective Time (including  without
limitation indemnification for any claim that is based upon, arises out of or in
any way relates to the Merger, the Registration Statement,  the Proxy Statement,
this  Agreement or any of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby) and that such
indemnitees  shall be entitled to the full benefits of, and  RELIASTAR  shall be
bound by, such charter provision as though such charter  provision  continued in
full force and effect after the  Effective  Time as an  obligation  of RELIASTAR
with respect to such matters.

            (b)  RELIASTAR  agrees that for a period of six years from and after
the  Effective  Time it will  maintain and cause to remain in effect the current
directors' and officers'  liability insurance policies maintained by SECURITY or
any  SECURITY  Subsidiary  with  respect to claims  arising from facts or events
which  occurred  at or  before  the  Effective  Time;  provided,  however,  that
RELIASTAR may  substitute  therefor new or  additional  policies of at least the
same  coverage  and  amounts  and  containing   terms  and  conditions  no  less
advantageous  than such current  directors'  and officers'  liability  insurance
policies.

                                      -42-
<PAGE>


            (c) In the event  RELIASTAR or any of its  successors or assigns (i)
reorganizes or consolidates  with or merges into or enters into another business
combination  transaction  with  any  other  person  or  entity  and is  not  the
resulting,  continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation,
merger  or  transaction,  or (ii)  liquidates,  dissolves  or  transfers  all or
substantially  all of its properties  and assets to any person or entity,  then,
and in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of RELIASTAR assume the obligations set forth in this Section 4.8.

            (d) This Section 4.8 shall be construed as an agreement, as to which
the indemnitees are intended to be third-party beneficiaries,  between RELIASTAR
and such  indemnitees  as  unaffiliated  third parties and is not subject to any
limitations to which RELIASTAR may be subject in indemnifying  its own directors
or officers or other persons.

      4.9   SECURITY Options.

            (a) Upon and after the  Effective  Time  each  unexercised  SECURITY
Option  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time will be assumed by
RELIASTAR in a manner that will cause RELIASTAR to be a corporation  "assuming a
stock  option in a  transaction  to which  Section  424(a)  applies"  within the
meaning of Section  422(a)(2)  of the Code or, to the extent that Section 422 of
the Code  does not  apply to the  option,  would  cause  RELIASTAR  to be such a
corporation  if  Section  422 of the Code were  applicable  to the  option.  The
SECURITY  Options  assumed by RELIASTAR will be exercisable  upon the same terms
and  conditions as under the  applicable  SECURITY  Option Plan or the governing
option agreements  (taking into account,  without  limitation,  provisions under
which the  exercisability  of  options  would be  accelerated  on account of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby),  as the  case may be,  except  that (i) the
option shall be  exercisable  for that number of shares of  RELIASTAR  Common as
would have been received pursuant to Section 1.6(b) at the Effective Time of the
Merger for the shares of  SECURITY  Common  Stock  subject to the option had the
option been exercisable and exercised  immediately  prior to the Effective Time,
and any fractional  share of RELIASTAR Common Stock shall be settled at the time
the option is exercised by a cash payment equal to the fair market value of such
fractional  share,  and (iii) the exercise  price per share of RELIASTAR  Common
Stock  issuable  upon the exercise of the option shall be an amount equal to the
option price per share of the SECURITY Common Stock in effect  immediately prior
to the Effective  Time,  divided by the Exchange  Ratio,  rounded  upward to the
nearest full cent; provided that in no event shall the Merger be deemed an event
that terminates the option.

            (b) No later than 90 days after the Effective  Time,  RELIASTAR will
file and use all reasonable efforts to obtain  effectiveness  under the 1933 Act
of one or more registration statements on Form S-8, or other applicable form, in
respect of shares of  RELIASTAR  Common Stock into which  SECURITY  Options that
have been converted under this Section 4.9 are  exercisable.  RELIASTAR  further
agrees to use all  reasonable  efforts to keep such  registration  statement  or
statements  effective by means of all required supplements or amendments thereto
until all shares of  RELIASTAR  Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise  of such
SECURITY  Options  have been issued upon  exercise  thereof or such options have
terminated, as the case may be.

      4.10 Tax  Matters.  Following  the Merger,  RELIASTAR  will  continue  the
historic business of SECURITY and the SECURITY Subsidiaries or use a significant
portion of the  historic  business  assets  thereof in a business,  in each case
within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-1(d).

                                      -43-
<PAGE>


V.    MUTUAL COVENANTS

      5.1  Expenses.  All costs and expenses  incurred in  connection  with this
Agreement  and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby will be paid by the party
incurring such costs and expenses.

      5.2   Reimbursement of Expenses; SECURITY Fee.

            (a) If (i) there has been no  material  breach by  RELIASTAR  of the
representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements of RELIASTAR  under this
Agreement (a "Material  Breach") and (ii) this Agreement is terminated  pursuant
to Section  7.1(g) or (k), then SECURITY  will  promptly  thereafter,  but in no
event  later  than three  business  days after  receiving  a written  request by
RELIASTAR therefor, pay to RELIASTAR a fee of $8 million.

            (b) If (i) there has been no Material Breach and (ii) this Agreement
is  terminated   pursuant  to  Section  7.1(c),   then  SECURITY  will  promptly
thereafter,  but in no event later than three  business  days after  receiving a
written  request by  RELIASTAR  therefor,  pay to  RELIASTAR  the amount of $2.5
million to reimburse RELIASTAR for its expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement  and  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  If at  the  time  this
Agreement is  terminated  pursuant to Section  7.1(c),  or at any time within 90
days  thereafter an Acquisition  Proposal (as defined below) is outstanding  and
the Acquisition Proposal, as it may be modified, or a substitute, alternative or
other Acquisition Proposal, is consummated within 12 months after this Agreement
is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(c), then SECURITY will at the time of such
consummation or promptly  thereafter,  but in no event later than three business
days after receiving a written request from RELIASTAR therefor, pay to RELIASTAR
a fee of $5.5 million.  As used herein,  an "Acquisition  Proposal" shall mean a
publicly-announced  offer, or a publicly-announced intent to make an offer, from
a party other than RELIASTAR or its affiliates,  to acquire SECURITY or SCL in a
merger,  consolidation,  share exchange or other  business  combination or joint
venture, to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of SECURITY or SCL or
a  substantial  part  of the  assets  of  SECURITY  and the  SECURITY  Insurance
Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  or to acquire at least 50% of the  outstanding
SECURITY  Common  Stock or at least 50% of the equity  interests in the SECURITY
Insurance  Subsidiaries,  or a negotiated  transaction for any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in the event that this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section  7.1(c) at a time when either  party would have the right to
terminate  this  Agreement  pursuant  to  Section  7.1(g) or  7.1(k),  then such
termination  shall be deemed to be a termination under Section 7.1(g) or (k), as
the case may be, no fee shall be payable  pursuant to this Section  5.2(b),  and
the fee payable by SECURITY shall be as set forth in Section 5.2(a).

      5.3 Additional Agreements. In accordance with the terms and subject to the
conditions  hereof,  each of the  parties  hereto  agrees to use all  reasonable
efforts  to take,  or cause to be taken,  all  action  and to do, or cause to be
done,  all things  necessary,  proper or advisable to fulfill the conditions and
consummate  and make  effective  as promptly  as  practicable  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

      5.4 Notification of Certain  Matters.  SECURITY will give prompt notice to
RELIASTAR,  and  RELIASTAR  will  give  prompt  notice to  SECURITY,  of (i) the
occurrence,  or failure to occur, of any event which occurrence or failure would
be likely to cause any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement to
be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at any time from the date hereof
to the Effective  Time, and (ii) any material  failure of SECURITY or RELIASTAR,
or any director,  officer,  employee, agent or representative thereof, to comply
with or satisfy any  covenant,  condition or  agreement  to be complied  with or
satisfied by it hereunder.

                                      -44-
<PAGE>

      5.5  Agreement  to  Defend.  In  the  event  any  claim,   action,   suit,
investigation or other  proceeding by any  governmental  body or other person or
other  legal or  administrative  proceeding  is  commenced  that  questions  the
validity or legality of the transactions contemplated hereby or seeks damages in
connection  therewith,  whether before or after the Effective  Time, the parties
hereto agree to cooperate and use all  reasonable  efforts to defend against and
respond thereto.

      5.6  Compliance  with HSR Act. Each of RELIASTAR and SECURITY will use all
reasonable  efforts to (i) file as promptly as possible  and in any event within
20 days after the date of this  Agreement with the Department of Justice and the
Federal Trade Commission any premerger notification required of it under the HSR
Act, (ii) respond  promptly to any inquiries  from the  Department of Justice or
the Federal Trade  Commission in connection with the  transactions  contemplated
hereby,  and (iii) obtain the  earliest  possible  termination  or waiver of any
applicable HSR Act waiting period.

      5.7  Securities  Laws.   RELIASTAR  and  SECURITY   acknowledge  that  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby are subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act
and Rule 145  thereunder  and of the 1934 Act.  Each of  RELIASTAR  and SECURITY
agrees to provide promptly to the other such data and information concerning its
financial condition,  assets and properties,  affairs, operations and businesses
as may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the Registration Statement or
in  the  Proxy  Statement  and  to  cause  its  counsel,   investment  advisors,
accountants  and  actuaries to cooperate  with the other's  counsel,  investment
advisors,  accountants  and  actuaries in the  preparation  of the  Registration
Statement and the Proxy Statement.  Each of RELIASTAR and SECURITY agrees to use
its reasonable  efforts to have the Registration  Statement  declared  effective
under the 1933 Act as soon as may be  practicable.  Upon the  declaration of the
effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement and subject to the  provisions of
this  Agreement  and the  receipt of the letters and  opinions  contemplated  by
Sections 6.2(d),  6.2(h), 6.3(c) and 6.3(f),  SECURITY will distribute the Proxy
Statement to the  stockholders  of SECURITY not less than 25 business days prior
to the meeting of stockholders  of SECURITY.  RELIASTAR shall not be required to
maintain the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement  for the purpose of
resale by stockholders of SECURITY who may be "affiliates"  pursuant to Rule 145
under the 1933 Act.

VI.   CONDITIONS

      6.1  Conditions  to  Obligations  of Each Party to Effect the Merger.  The
respective  obligations  of each  party  hereto  to  effect  the  Merger  and to
consummate  the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby will be subject to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

            (a) The  Merger and this  Agreement  shall  have been  approved  and
adopted by the requisite vote of the stockholders of SECURITY as required by law
and by any applicable provisions of its certificate of incorporation and bylaws.

            (b) The waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the
consummation  of the  Merger  under  the  HSR Act  shall  have  expired  or been
terminated.

            (c) No order  shall  have been  entered  and remain in effect in any
action or proceeding before any foreign,  Federal or state court or governmental
agency or other foreign, Federal or state regulatory or administrative agency or
commission that would prevent or make illegal the consummation of the Merger.

                                      -45-
<PAGE>


            (d)  The  Registration   Statement  shall  be  effective,   and  all
post-effective  amendments  filed with the SEC (if any) shall have been declared
effective  or shall  have  been  withdrawn,  and no  stop-order  suspending  the
effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose
shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the parties, threatened by the
SEC.

            (e) The shares of  RELIASTAR  Common  Stock into which the shares of
SECURITY Common Stock are to be converted  pursuant to this Agreement shall have
been  approved  for listing on the New York Stock  Exchange  subject to official
notice of issuance.

            (f)  All  consents,  authorizations,  orders  and  approvals  of (or
filings or registrations  with) any  governmental  authority or other regulatory
body required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement,  the failure of which to obtain would prevent the consummation of the
Merger or have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on
SECURITY or a Material  Adverse  Effect on  RELIASTAR,  shall have been obtained
without the imposition of any conditions  which would have,  individually  or in
the  aggregate,  a Material  Adverse  Effect on SECURITY  or a Material  Adverse
Effect on RELIASTAR.

            (g) All authorizations, consents, waivers and approvals from parties
to contracts or other  agreements to which any of SECURITY or RELIASTAR or their
respective Subsidiaries is a party, or by which any is bound, which are required
to be  obtained  in  connection  with  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement,  the failure of which to obtain would prevent the consummation of the
Merger or have,  individually or in the aggregate,  a Material Adverse Effect on
SECURITY or a Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR shall have been obtained.

      6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of RELIASTAR.  The obligations of
RELIASTAR  to  effect  the  Merger  and to  consummate  the  other  transactions
contemplated  hereby  are,  at the  option of  RELIASTAR,  also  subject  to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

            (a) The  representations  and  warranties  of SECURITY  contained in
Section 2.2 shall be accurate as of the date of this  Agreement  and,  except to
the extent that such  representations  and warranties  refer to a specific date,
accurate as if made on the Closing Date,  except in the case of either such date
for any  inaccuracy  which  individually  or in the  aggregate  does  not have a
Material Adverse Effect on SECURITY;  all of the terms, covenants and conditions
of this Agreement to be complied with and performed by SECURITY at or before the
Closing  shall  have been  duly  complied  with and  performed  in all  material
respects; and a certificate to the foregoing effect dated as of the Closing Date
and signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of SECURITY
shall have been delivered to RELIASTAR.

            (b) Since the date of this Agreement,  no material adverse change in
the financial condition, results of operations or businesses of SECURITY and the
SECURITY Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall have occurred, other than changes
resulting from (i) changes in general economic or market  conditions,  including
changes in interest  rates,  (ii) changes in insurance laws or  regulations,  or
(iii) matters affecting the life insurance industry generally, and a certificate
to such effect  dated as of the Closing  Date and signed by the Chief  Executive
Officer or Chief  Financial  Officer of SECURITY  shall have been  delivered  to
RELIASTAR.

            (c)  Holders  of  shares of  SECURITY  Common  Stock  shall not have
dissenters'  rights  with  respect  to  the  Merger  or the  other  transactions
contemplated hereby.


                                      -46-
<PAGE>


            (d) On the date of the Proxy  Statement,  the RELIASTAR  Board shall
have received from Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation a written
update, dated such date, confirming the opinion referred to in Section 2.1(m).

            (e)  RELIASTAR  shall  have  received  a written  opinion of Murtha,
Cullina,  Richter and Pinney, counsel to SECURITY, dated as of the Closing Date,
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit 6.2(e) hereto, together with an
opinion of such counsel with respect to AHL as RELIASTAR may reasonably request.

            (f) The  RELIASTAR  Board shall have  received a written  opinion of
counsel to  RELIASTAR,  in form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
RELIASTAR  Board,  dated as of the Closing  Date,  to the effect that the Merger
will  qualify  as  a  reorganization  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  Section
368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.

            (g)  RELIASTAR  shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter,
dated  the date of the  Proxy  Statement,  with  respect  to  certain  financial
information  regarding  SECURITY  included in the Proxy Statement,  which letter
shall  be in  form  and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to  RELIASTAR  and
customary in scope and substance  for letters  delivered by  independent  public
accountants in connection with proxy statements similar to the Proxy Statement.

      6.3 Additional  Conditions to Obligations of SECURITY.  The obligations of
SECURITY  to  effect  the  Merger  and  to  consummate  the  other  transactions
contemplated  hereby  are,  at the  option  of  SECURITY,  also  subject  to the
fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:

            (a) The  representations  and  warranties of RELIASTAR  contained in
Section 2.1 shall be accurate as of the date of this  Agreement  and,  except to
the extent that such  representations  and warranties  refer to a specific date,
accurate as if made on the Closing Date,  except in the case of either such date
for any  inaccuracy  which  individually  or in the  aggregate  does  not have a
Material Adverse Effect on RELIASTAR; all of the terms, covenants and conditions
of this  Agreement to be complied  with and  performed by RELIASTAR at or before
the Closing  shall have been duly  complied  with and  performed in all material
respects; and a certificate to the foregoing effect dated as of the Closing Date
and  signed  by the  Chief  Executive  Officer  or Chief  Financial  Officer  of
RELIASTAR shall have been delivered to SECURITY.

            (b) Since the date of this Agreement,  no material adverse change in
the  financial  condition,  results of operations or businesses of RELIASTAR and
the RELIASTAR  Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, shall have occurred,  other than
changes  resulting  from (i) changes in general  economic or market  conditions,
including  changes  in  interest  rates,  (ii)  changes  in  insurance  laws  or
regulations,  or (iii) matters affecting the life insurance industry  generally,
and a certificate  to such effect dated as of the Closing Date and signed by the
Chief Executive  Officer or Chief Financial Officer of RELIASTAR shall have been
delivered to SECURITY.

            (c) On the date of the Proxy  Statement,  the  SECURITY  Board shall
have received from Merrill Lynch, Pierce,  Fenner & Smith Incorporated a written
update,  dated as of such date,  confirming  the opinion  referred to in Section
2.2(n).

                                      -47-
<PAGE>


            (d)  SECURITY  shall have  received  written  opinions of Richard R.
Crowl,  Senior Vice  President,  General  Counsel and Secretary of RELIASTAR and
Faegre & Benson  LLP,  counsel  to  RELIASTAR,  dated  as of the  Closing  Date,
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit 6.3(d) hereto.

            (e) The  SECURITY  Board  shall have  received a written  opinion of
counsel  to  SECURITY,  in form and  substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
SECURITY Board, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the Merger will
qualify as a reorganization  pursuant to the provisions of Section  368(a)(1)(A)
of the Code.

            (f)  SECURITY  shall  have  received  from  Deloitte  & Touche LLP a
letter, dated the effective date of the Registration Statement,  with respect to
certain financial  information  regarding RELIASTAR included in the Registration
Statement,  which letter shall be in form and substance reasonably  satisfactory
to SECURITY  and  customary  in scope and  substance  for letters  delivered  by
independent  public  accountants  in  connection  with  registration  statements
similar to the Registration Statement.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS

      7.1  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger and the
other transactions contemplated herein may be abandoned at any time prior to the
Effective  Time,  whether  prior to or after  approval  by the  stockholders  of
SECURITY:

            (a)   By the mutual  written  consent of the  RELIASTAR  Board and
the SECURITY Board.

            (b) By the  RELIASTAR  Board or the  SECURITY  Board,  if the Merger
shall not have been  consummated  on or before  September  30, 1997 (unless such
failure  to  consummate  is the  result of a breach  of the terms  hereof in any
material respect by the party asserting the termination right).

            (c) By the RELIASTAR  Board or the SECURITY Board, if the Merger and
this  Agreement  shall  have been  submitted  to a vote of the  stockholders  of
SECURITY and shall not have been approved by the requisite vote.

            (d) By the SECURITY Board, if a condition to SECURITY's  obligations
to close set forth in Article VI of this Agreement  cannot be met on the Closing
Date and is not waived;  provided  however,  that with respect to the failure to
satisfy a condition  under  Section 6.3 that is capable of being cured within 30
days, the right of the SECURITY  Board to terminate  this Agreement  shall exist
only if the failure to satisfy such  condition is not cured within 30 days after
written notice by SECURITY to RELIASTAR of such condition.

            (e)  By  the  RELIASTAR   Board,   if  a  condition  to  RELIASTAR's
obligations to close set forth in Article VI of this Agreement  cannot be met on
the Closing Date and is not waived;  provided however,  that with respect to the
failure to satisfy a condition  under Section 6.2 that is capable of being cured
within 30 days,  the right of the RELIASTAR  Board to terminate  this  Agreement
shall exist only if the failure to satisfy such condition is not cured within 30
days after written notice by RELIASTAR to SECURITY of such condition.

            (f)  By the  RELIASTAR  Board  or the  SECURITY  Board,  if a  final
unappealable  order to  restrain,  enjoin  or  otherwise  prevent,  or  awarding
substantial  damages in connection  with, the  consummation of the Merger or the
other  transactions  contemplated  hereby  shall have been entered by a court of
competent jurisdiction or other regulatory authority.

                                      -48-
<PAGE>


            (g) By the RELIASTAR  Board or the SECURITY  Board,  if the SECURITY
Board does not make to the  stockholders of SECURITY a favorable  recommendation
with respect to the Merger or such  recommendation is modified or withdrawn in a
way   detrimental  to  RELIASTAR  (and  RELIASTAR  and  SECURITY  agree  that  a
determination  by the  SECURITY  Board not to call the  meeting of  stockholders
contemplated  by Section 3.3 or the  cancellation or adjournment of such meeting
without a vote on the  Merger  and this  Agreement  being  taken  (except  under
circumstances  where  SECURITY is otherwise  attempting  to secure a vote of its
stockholders in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger and this Agreement)
shall  be  deemed  to be  such  a  failure  to  make  or a  withdrawal  of  such
recommendation).

            (h) By the  SECURITY  Board  (during  the period  commencing  on the
Approval  Date and ending on the fourth  business  day  following  the  Approval
Date),  if the Exchange  Price is less than $49.00 and RELIASTAR  shall not have
designated the Exchange Ratio set forth in Clause (B) of Section 1.6(b)(iv).

            (i) By the  RELIASTAR  Board  (during the period  commencing  on the
Approval  Date and ending on the fourth  business  day  following  the  Approval
Date),  if the Exchange Price is greater than $64.30 and SECURITY shall not have
designated the Exchange Ratio set forth in Clause (B) of Section 1.6(b)(v).

            (j) By the RELIASTAR  Board or the SECURITY Board, if the Rights are
triggered  and are not  redeemed,  so that  they  may be  exercised  and  traded
separately pursuant to the RELIASTAR Rights Agreement or the SECURITY Rights are
triggered  and are not  redeemed  so  that  they  may be  exercised  and  traded
separately pursuant to the SECURITY Rights Agreement.

            (k) By the RELIASTAR  Board or the SECURITY  Board if SECURITY shall
have entered into a definitive  agreement  for an  Acquisition  Proposal  with a
Potential Acquirer in accordance with Section 3.4.

      7.2  Effect  of  Termination.  In the  event  of any  termination  of this
Agreement  pursuant  to  Section  7.1,  RELIASTAR  and  SECURITY  shall  have no
obligation or liability to each other except that (a) the provisions of the last
two sentences of Sections 3.5 and 4.4 and the provisions of Sections 5.1 and 5.2
shall survive any such  termination,  and (b) nothing  herein and no termination
pursuant  hereto shall  relieve any party from  liability  for any breach of any
covenant or agreement of such party contained in this Agreement.

      7.3 Waiver and Amendment. Any provision of this Agreement may be waived at
any time by the  party  that is,  or whose  stockholders  or  stockholders  are,
entitled  to  the  benefits  thereof.  This  Agreement  may  not be  amended  or
supplemented at any time, except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
each party hereto; provided however, that after this Agreement has been approved
and adopted by the  stockholders  of SECURITY this Agreement may be amended only
as may be permitted by applicable provisions of the Delaware Law.

      7.4   Nonsurvival of Representations  and Warranties.  No representation
or warranty in this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the Merger.

                                      -49-
<PAGE>

      7.5 Public  Statements.  RELIASTAR and SECURITY agree to consult with each
other  prior to  issuing  any press  release  or  otherwise  making  any  public
statement or disclosure with respect to the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
and neither will issue any such press release or make any such public  statement
or disclosure  prior to such  consultation,  except as may be required by law or
applicable stock exchange policy.

      7.6  Knowledge.  All  references  in  this  Agreement  to  knowledge  of a
corporation  shall  be  deemed  to  mean  knowledge  of any  one or  more of its
executive officers.

      7.7   Assignment.  This  Agreement will not be assignable by the parties
hereto.

      7.8  Notices.   All   notices,   requests,   claims,   demands  and  other
communications  hereunder  will be in  writing  and will be given  (and  will be
deemed to have been duly  received if so given) by delivery by cable,  telegram,
telex,  telecopy or by registered or certified  mail,  postage  prepaid,  return
receipt requested, to the respective parties as follows:

             if to RELIASTAR:

                  RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.
                  20 Washington Avenue South
                  Minneapolis, Minnesota  55401
                  Attention:  General Counsel

                  Telephone Number:  612/372-5479
                  Telecopy Number:  612/342-3160

                  with a copy to:

                  Faegre & Benson LLP
                  2200 Norwest Center
                  90 South Seventh Street
                  Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402
                  Attention:  Thomas G. Morgan

                  Telephone Number:  612/336-3171
                  Telecopy Number:  612/336-3026

             and if to SECURITY:

                  SECURITY-CONNECTICUT CORPORATION
                  20 Security Drive
                  Avon, Connecticut 06001
                  Attention:  President

                  Telephone Number:  860/674-6214
                  Telecopy Number:  860/674-6097


                                      -50-
<PAGE>

                        with a copy to:

                  Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney
                  CityPlace 1
                  185 Asylum Street
                  Hartford, Connecticut 06103
                  Attention: Timothy L. Largay

                  Telephone Number: 860/240-6000
                  Telecopy Number: 860/240-6150

or to such other  address  as either  party may have  furnished  to the other in
writing in accordance  herewith,  except that notices of change of address shall
only be effective upon receipt.

      7.9   Governing  Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE  WITH THE  SUBSTANTIVE  LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE  WITHOUT  GIVING
EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW THEREOF.

      7.10  Severability.   If  any  term,  provision,  covenant,  agreement  or
restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid,  void  or  unenforceable,  the  remainder  of  the  terms,  provisions,
covenants,  agreements and  restrictions of this Agreement will continue in full
force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

      7.11  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,  each
of which will be an original,  but all of which together will constitute one and
the same agreement.

      7.1   Headings.  The section  headings herein are for  convenience  only
and will not affect the construction hereof.

      7.13  Entire   Agreement.   This  Agreement  (a)  constitutes  the  entire
agreement  between the parties hereto and supersedes all other prior  agreements
and understandings,  both oral and written,  between the parties relating to the
subject matter hereof and thereof, and (b) except as provided in Section 4.8(e),
does not  confer  upon any person or entity  not a party  hereto or thereto  any
rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder.

      7.14  Limited  Liability.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of this
Agreement,  no stockholder,  director,  officer,  affiliate or representative of
SECURITY  or  RELIASTAR  shall  have any  personal  liability  in  respect of or
relating to the covenants,  obligations,  representations  or warranties of such
party  under this  Agreement  or in respect of any  certificate  delivered  with
respect  hereto or thereto,  except to the extent that such person or entity has
engaged  in fraud  with  respect  to such  matters.  Except  as set forth in the
preceding sentence, to the fullest extent legally permissible,  each of SECURITY
and  RELIASTAR,  for  itself  and  its  stockholders,  directors,  officers  and
affiliates,  waives  and  agrees  not to seek to  assert  or  enforce  any  such
liability that any such person otherwise might have pursuant to applicable law.

      7.15  CONSENT   TO  JURISDICTION;   WAIVER  OF  JURY  TRIAL.   EACH  PARTY
IRREVOCABLY  CONSENTS AND AGREES THAT ANY LEGAL ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BY OR
AGAINST IT WITH RESPECT TO ITS RIGHTS,  OBLIGATIONS  OR  LIABILITIES  UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER  AGREEMENT  EXECUTED IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT
SHALL BE BROUGHT BY SUCH PARTY ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES  DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
DISTRICT OF DELAWARE.  EACH PARTY  IRREVOCABLY  AND  UNCONDITIONALLY  WAIVES ANY
RIGHT THAT IT MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL IN ANY LEGAL  ACTION,  SUIT OR PROCEEDING
WITH  RESPECT TO,  ARISING OUT OF OR IN  CONNECTION  WITH THIS  AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER AGREEMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.



                                      -51-

<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  RELIASTAR has caused this  Agreement to be signed by
its Chairman or its President or a Vice  President and attested by its Secretary
or an Assistant  Secretary,  and SECURITY has caused this Agreement to be signed
by its  Chairman  or its  President  or a Vice  President  and  attested  by its
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, all as of the date first above written.

                                    RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.


Attest:                             By:  /s/ John G. Turner
                                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Richard R. Crowl
      Secretary

                                    SECURITY-CONNECTICUT CORPORATION


Attest:                             By:  /s/ Ronald D. Jarvis
                                          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Patricia C. Devita
      Secretary

                                      -52-

<PAGE>


                                                                    Exhibit 99.1



                                                For Immediate Release
                                                Feb. 24, 1997
Media Contact:    Ruth Weber Kelley -- ReliaStar
                  (612) 372-5628
                  Mark J. Robinson -- Security-Connecticut
                  (860) 679-6838

Investor Contact: Karin E. Glasgow -- ReliaStar
                  (612) 342-3979
                  Charlene H. Fischler, CFA -- Security-Connecticut
                  (860) 674-7686


          RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

                   TO MERGE IN DEAL VALUED AT $488 MILLION

   Combined company to be 11th largest stock life insurance holding company


      MINNEAPOLIS and AVON,  CONN. -- ReliaStar  Financial Corp.  (NYSE:  RLR)
and  Security-Connecticut  Corp.  (NYSE:  SRC) today  announced that they have
signed  a  definitive  agreement  to  combine  the two  companies  by  merging
Security-Connecticut  into ReliaStar in a stock-for-stock  transaction  valued
at $488  million,  which  includes  ReliaStar's  assumption  of $75 million of
Security-Connecticut debt.
      After the merger's  close,  Security-Connecticut's  two  subsidiaries --
Security-Connecticut  Life  Insurance Co. and Lincoln  Security Life Insurance
Co.  -- will  become  members  of the  ReliaStar  Financial  Corp.  family  of
companies.

                                     -more-
                                      -53-

<PAGE>


RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  2-2-2

      On a pro forma basis as of Dec. 31, 1996,  the  combined  company  would
have:
      *     Assets under  management  of $19.9  billion,  compared  with $18.1
            billion for ReliaStar alone;
      *     $241.4  billion of life  insurance in force,  compared with $190.2
            billion for ReliaStar alone.

      Based on the Feb. 21, 1997, closing price of ReliaStar common stock and on
a  $47  price  per  share  for   Security-Connecticut   common   stock,   market
capitalization on a pro forma basis for the combined  organization would be $2.8
billion, compared with $2.4 billion for ReliaStar alone.

      Based on the pro forma combined  total assets at year-end 1996,  ReliaStar
would become the 11th largest  publicly held life insurance  holding  company in
the United States.

      The definitive agreement provides for Security-Connecticut shareholders to
receive a fraction of a share of  ReliaStar  common  stock to be  calculated  by
dividing $47 by the average  closing  price of  ReliaStar  common stock during a
period of 20 trading  days ending six business  days prior to closing,  provided
the average  closing price of ReliaStar  common stock during the 20-day  trading
period remains between $52.65 and $60.65. (See attachment for additional details
on terms.)






                                     -more-

                                      -54-
<PAGE>


RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  3-3-3

      Based on the closing price of $59.25 for ReliaStar common stock on Friday,
Feb. 21, 1997, Security-Connecticut  shareholders would receive .7932 of a share
of ReliaStar common stock for each share of  Security-Connecticut  common stock.
Assuming the Feb. 21 closing price,  ReliaStar would issue  approximately  seven
million  additional shares of ReliaStar common stock, and the total value of the
transaction would be about $488 million, including $75 million in debt.

      The  actual  number of shares  to be  issued  in the  transaction  will be
determined  at closing based on the average  closing  price of ReliaStar  common
stock  during a period of 20  trading  days  ending six  business  days prior to
closing. In addition,  ReliaStar will assume $75 million of Security-Connecticut
debt in the form of seven-year, 7.125% notes.

      Security-Connecticut common stock closed at $37.50 on Friday, Feb. 21, and
has a 52-week  high and low of $39.875  and  $24.875,  respectively.  In January
1994, the initial public  offering price of  Security-Connecticut  stock was $22
per share.

      ReliaStar  said it will  recommend  that its board of directors  approve a
buyback of ReliaStar  common stock of up to $100 million in conjunction with the
transaction.  Terms of the  agreement  also include a breakup  provision for the
protection  of  ReliaStar  shareholders  that  would  result in a payment  of $8
million to ReliaStar  under  certain  circumstances  if the  transaction  is not
completed.





                                     -more-

                                      -55-
<PAGE>


RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  4-4-4

      Completion  of  the  merger  is  subject  to  normal  closing  conditions,
including approval by  Security-Connecticut  shareholders and various regulatory
approvals.  The  transaction  will be  recorded as a purchase  under  accounting
rules.  The  exchange  of  shares  will  be  tax-free  to   Security-Connecticut
shareholders.   Security-Connecticut  will  mail  proxy  statements  to  solicit
shareholder approval during the second quarter. The companies intend to complete
the merger within the next 90-120 days.

      "This merger reflects ReliaStar's high regard for Security-Connecticut and
our enthusiasm for the potential for growth from each  organization,"  said John
G. Turner,  ReliaStar chairman and chief executive  officer.  "Each organization
has products that will be attractive to the other's distribution channels,  and,
as ReliaStar  increases its scope as a broad financial services company, we will
now have additional access to customers through Security-Connecticut's top-notch
network of life insurance brokerage general agencies.  This merger continues our
strategy to provide consumers access to personal  financial  planning advice and
sound protection, accumulation and estate planning products through a variety of
distribution channels."

      "ReliaStar and Security-Connecticut are a perfect complement to each other
in both products and distribution," said Ronald D. Jarvis,  Security-Connecticut
chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Security-Connecticut has built
a strong presence in the individual  life insurance  market,  serving  primarily
high net worth individuals.  ReliaStar's variable life and annuity products,  in
particular, will be extremely attractive in




                                     -more-

                                      -56-
<PAGE>


RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  5-5-5

this  market.  In  addition,   Security-Connecticut   has  strong  second-to-die
universal  life and term  life  products  that  complement  ReliaStar's  product
portfolio.

      "I'm  delighted  that we were able to align  ourselves  with a company  of
ReliaStar's caliber," Jarvis said. "The benefits that  Security-Connecticut will
accrue  through  this   partnership--   including  broader  product   offerings,
anticipated  claims-paying  ratings  upgrades over time and increased  operating
efficiency -- will enable us to provide  significant  value to our  distributors
and customers."

      Jarvis   will   continue   to  serve  as  chief   executive   officer   of
Security-Connecticut  Life Insurance Co., which will operate as a  free-standing
ReliaStar  business unit  headquartered in Avon, Conn. Jarvis will also become a
member of the boards of directors of ReliaStar  Life Insurance Co. and ReliaStar
Bankers Security Life Insurance Co., two wholly owned  subsidiaries of ReliaStar
Financial  Corp.  Jarvis will report to John  Flittie,  ReliaStar  president and
chief operating officer.

      Turner,  who will remain chairman and chief executive officer of ReliaStar
Financial Corp.,  said that Jarvis will become part of the ReliaStar  Management
Committee, the senior management group responsible for setting company strategy.

      Both companies indicated  their strong interest in the  opportunities  for
growing sales  through their  respective  distribution  channels:  * ReliaStar's
individual  life and  annuity  channels  currently  include  personal  producing
general agents (PPGAs)  selling in all 50 states and a career force that focuses
on the military market.



                                     -more-

                                      -57-
<PAGE>


RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  6-6-6

      Following  the  merger,  these  distribution  systems  will have access to
      Security-Connecticut's  second-to-die  universal  life  insurance and term
      life insurance products, which are very competitive tools for a variety of
      purposes,  including  estate planning.  In addition,  Security-Connecticut
      will introduce in 1997 an equity indexed  annuity  product  followed by an
      equity indexed universal life product, products not currently available to
      ReliaStar distributors.

*     Security-Connecticut's distribution systems include:

      -     Approximately 450 brokerage general agencies (wholesalers), which
            account for about 74 percent of life sales;

      -     PPGAs that account for 13 percent of life sales;  and

      -     A special markets channel that focuses on the sale of life insuranc
            and annuities  through national  marketing  organizations, financial
            institutions and the  worksite. This channel accounts for 13 percent
            of life sales.

*     The Security-Connecticut distribution network includes individuals already
      selling  other  companies'  products in the  tax-sheltered  annuity  (TSA)
      market.  ReliaStar's  Northern  Life  subsidiary,  which  is a  leader  in
      providing TSAs to the K-12 teacher market,  can provide top-tier products,
      sales support and administrative services to these producers.

*     The combination of the two companies provides a significant  increase in
      scale for the combined  individual life insurance  businesses.  Based on
      1996 results, Security- Connecticut would add



                                     -more-

                                      -58
<PAGE>


      RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  7-7-7

      $253  million to  ReliaStar's  $503 million of  statutory  life  insurance
      premiums,    a   50   percent    increase.    Based   on   1996   results,
      Security-Connecticut's  sales of individual life insurance would add about
      80 percent to ReliaStar's  sales of individual life insurance  (first-year
      annualized premiums).

      ReliaStar said that it expects the merger to be  essentially  non-dilutive
to earnings per share in 1997,  and  accretive to earnings per share in 1998 and
beyond, assuming the $100 million buyback of ReliaStar stock in 1997.

      The  integration  of  operations  following  the  merger  will  result  in
anticipated  combined net pre-tax  annualized  expense reductions of at least $7
million.  ReliaStar said it is essential that Security-Connecticut  maintain its
high  standards  of service to its  distributors  and  customers  from its Avon,
Conn., location.

      "The real leverage in ReliaStar and  Security-Connecticut  coming together
is  the  tremendous  opportunity  for  cross-selling,"  said  John  H.  Flittie,
ReliaStar president and chief operating officer. "In addition, the potential for
increased  operating  efficiency  -- and the  resulting  expense  reductions  --
further adds to the benefit of this transaction."






                                     -more-

                                      -59
<PAGE>


RELIASTAR, SECURITY-CONNECTICUT SIGN AGREEMENT  8-8-8

      Flittie added that over the last several  years,  ReliaStar has proven its
ability to effectively  cross-sell  among its operations.  In 1996,  ReliaStar's
cross-selling  production  exceeded  $240  million  or about 20 percent of total
sales, up from $66 million in 1995.

      Security-Connecticut     Corp.     is    a    holding     company    for
Security-Connecticut  Life  Insurance Co. and Lincoln  Security Life Insurance
Co., which  specialize in life  insurance and annuity  products sold through a
network of independent  general agencies and more than 50,000 independent life
insurance agents throughout the United States.

     ReliaStar  Financial  Corp.  is a  Minneapolis-based  holding  company that
provides  financial  security  through  individual life insurance and annuities,
employee  benefits,  reinsurance,  retirement plans,  mutual funds,  residential
mortgages and personal finance education. The company was founded in 1885.



                                      -60-



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