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                                                                  EXHIBIT (a)(7)

Contact: Kevin Foley
         212 578-4132
         Kfoley@metlife.com

              METLIFE PROPOSES TO ACQUIRE PUBLIC SHARES OF CONNING
                          FOR $10.50 PER SHARE IN CASH

     New York, January 18, 2000 -- MetLife today announced that MetLife has
proposed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Conning Corporation
(NASDAQ: CNNG) common stock not already controlled by MetLife for $10.50 per
share in cash, which would represent a premium of approximately 21% above the
average of the closing prices of the Conning stock over the past 20 trading
days. MetLife acquired its 61% interest in Conning as a result of its January 6
acquisition of GenAmerica Corporation, Conning's indirect majority owner.

     The transaction would be subject to customary terms and conditions,
including regulatory approvals, and approval by the MetLife Board of Directors.
MetLife reserves the right to amend or withdraw the proposal at any time in its
sole discretion. MetLife stated in its proposal that it is not interested, under
any circumstances, in selling its interest in Conning.

     "MetLife recognizes Conning's premier position in the marketplace and
believes it will make an important addition to the MetLife asset management
family," said Gary Beller, MetLife General Counsel and Senior Executive Vice
President. "We look forward to working with its highly skilled staff and
continuing to grow Conning's customer base while finding the right synergies
with our existing asset management operations," Mr. Beller added.

     MetLife plans, pursuant to the investment management agreement with
Conning, to assume the management of the general account assets of General
American Life Insurance Company that are currently managed by Conning. "This is
consistent with MetLife's general policy of managing the general account assets
of its insurance affiliates which we consider to be a highly efficient
approach," added Mr. Beller.

     Conning provides asset management services primarily to insurance companies
and institutional investors, manages private equity funds investing in insurance
and insurance-related companies, and conducts in-depth research on the insurance
industry.

     Headquartered in New York City since 1868, MetLife is a leading provider of
insurance and financial products and services to a broad spectrum of individual
and group customers. The company, with $404.2 billion of assets under management
as of September 30, 1999 on a pro-forma basis, including the acquisition of
GenAmerica Corp., provides individual insurance and investment products to
approximately 9 million households in the U.S. In addition, the corporations and
institutions that MetLife provides with group insurance and investment products
have approximately 33 million employees and members. MetLife also has
international insurance operations in ten countries, with a focus on the
Asia/Pacific region, Latin America and selected European countries. For more
information about MetLife, please visit the company's Web site at
www.metlife.com.

                                     * * *

     This press release is not an offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy
any securities of Conning, and no such offer or solicitation will be made except
in compliance with applicable securities laws.

     Certain of the above statements are forward-looking statements that involve
a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are within
the meaning of that term in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Factors that could
have a material effect include the following: business conditions in Conning's
industry and in the general economy; actual and expected results of operations
of Conning and the other parties to any possible transaction; changes in the
financial or capital markets; and the risk factors listed from time to time in
Conning's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are
cautioned that such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance.