Exhibit 1.1

                              The Chubb Corporation

               13,500,000 Shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value

                             Underwriting Agreement

                                                              New York, New York
                                                                   June 18, 2003

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
4 World Financial Center, North Tower
New York, NY 10080

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The Chubb Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of New
Jersey (the "COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters
named in Schedule II hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS"), for whom you (the
"REPRESENTATIVES") are acting as representatives, the number of shares of its
Common Stock, $1.00 par value ("COMMON STOCK"), set forth in Schedule I hereto
(said shares to be issued and sold by the Company being hereinafter called the
"UNDERWRITTEN SECURITIES") and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to the
number of additional shares of Common Stock set forth in Schedule I hereto (the
"OPTION SECURITIES"; the Option Securities, together with the Underwritten
Securities, being hereinafter called the "SECURITIES"). The Securities include
the rights (the "RIGHTS") evidenced by such Securities to the extent provided in
the Rights Agreement dated as of March 12, 1999 (the "RIGHTS AGREEMENT") between
the Company and EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. The Company simultaneously
proposes to issue and sell 16,000,000 of its 7% Equity Units (or 18,400,000 7%
Equity Units if an option to purchase additional Equity Units is exercised in
full). The offering of the Securities and the 7% Equity Units are not
conditioned on each other. To the extent there are no additional Underwriters
listed on Schedule II other than you, the term Representatives as used herein
shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters
shall



mean either the singular or plural as the context requires. Any reference herein
to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final
Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the
Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any
Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and
any reference herein to the terms "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with
respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary
Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include
the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of
the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus, any
Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed
to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined
in Section 17 hereof.

         1.       Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this
Section 1.

                  (a)      The Company meets the requirements for use of Form
         S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission a
         registration statement (the file number of which is set forth in
         Schedule I hereto) on Form S-3, including a related basic prospectus,
         for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the
         Securities. The Company may have filed one or more amendments thereto,
         including a Preliminary Final Prospectus, each of which has previously
         been furnished to you. The Company will next file with the Commission
         one of the following: (i) after the Effective Date of such registration
         statement, a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in
         accordance with Rules 430A and 424(b), (ii) prior to the Effective Date
         of such registration statement, an amendment to such registration
         statement (including the form of final prospectus supplement) or (iii)
         a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b). In the case
         of clause (i), the Company has included in such registration statement,
         as amended at the Effective Date, all information (other than Rule 430A
         Information) required by the Act and the rules thereunder to be
         included in such registration statement and the Final Prospectus. As
         filed, such final prospectus supplement or such amendment and form of
         final prospectus supplement shall contain all Rule 430A Information,
         together with all other such required information, and, except to the
         extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification,
         shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior
         to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution
         Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other
         changes (beyond that contained in the Basic Prospectus and any
         Preliminary Final Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to
         the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration

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         Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in
         Rule 415(a)(1)(x);

                  (b)      On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did
         or will, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed (if required) in
         accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date and on any date on
         which Option Securities are purchased, if such date is not the Closing
         Date (a "SETTLEMENT DATE"), the Final Prospectus (and any supplement
         thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act
         and the respective rules thereunder; on the Effective Date and at the
         Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not or will not contain
         any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
         fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and, on the Effective Date, the
         Final Prospectus, if not filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), will not, and
         on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing
         Date and any settlement date, the Final Prospectus (together with any
         supplement thereto) will not, include any untrue statement of a
         material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
         make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
         which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
         Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of
         the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of
         Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act
         of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the
         Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement
         thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
         in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through
         the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration
         Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto);

                  (c)      The Company and each of its subsidiaries that is a
         "significant subsidiary" within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation
         S-X (each a "Subsidiary") have been duly incorporated and are validly
         existing as corporations in good standing under the laws of the
         jurisdiction in which they are chartered or organized with full
         corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and
         to operate their properties and conduct their business as described in
         the Final Prospectus, and are duly qualified to do business as foreign
         corporations and are in good standing under the laws of each
         jurisdiction in which the conduct of their business or their ownership
         or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the
         extent the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not
         have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
         otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company
         and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT");

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                  (d)      All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each
         Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are
         fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the
         Final Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the
         Subsidiaries are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly
         owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or
         any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances, except in
         each case as would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (e)      Since the respective dates as of which information is
         given in the Final Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A)
         there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
         or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
         prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
         enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
         (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any
         of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of
         business, which are material with respect to the Company and its
         subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) except for regular
         dividends on the Common Stock in amounts per share that are consistent
         with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any
         kind declared, paid or mad by the Company on any class of its capital
         stock.

                  (f)      The Company's authorized equity capitalization is as
         set forth in the Final Prospectus; the capital stock of the Company
         conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained
         in the Final Prospectus; the outstanding shares of Common Stock have
         been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
         nonassessable; and the holders of outstanding shares of capital stock
         of the Company are not entitled to preemptive or other rights to
         subscribe for the Securities; and, except as set forth in the Final
         Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase,
         agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any
         obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares of capital
         stock of or ownership interests in the Company are outstanding;

                  (g)      (i) The Securities have been duly authorized and,
         when issued and sold hereunder, will be validly issued, fully paid and
         non-assessable, and the issuance of such Securities will not be subject
         to any preemptive or similar rights and

                           (ii)     the related Rights have been duly
                  authorized, and when issued in accordance with the Rights
                  Agreement upon the issuance of the Securities will have been
                  validly issued.

                  (h)      There is no franchise, contract or other document of
         a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
         Final

4



         Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not
         described or filed as required; and the statements in the Final
         Prospectus under the headings "Description of Capital Stock" and
         "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations", and the
         statements in the Final Prospectus incorporated by reference from the
         Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
         2002 under the headings: Item 1. "Business--Regulation, Premium Rates
         and Competition" and Item 3. "Legal Proceedings", insofar as such
         statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or
         proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such
         legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings;

                  (i)      This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
         delivered by the Company;

                  (j)      The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
         offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds
         thereof as described in the Final Prospectus, will not be an
         "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
         as amended;

                  (k)      No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or
         order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in
         connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as
         have been or will have been obtained prior to the Closing Date under
         the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under
         the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase
         and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner
         contemplated herein and in the Final Prospectus;

                  (l)      Neither the issue and sale of the Securities, nor the
         compliance of the Company with the terms of the Securities nor the
         consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor
         the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a
         breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
         upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
         pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease,
         mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other
         agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its
         or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule,
         regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any
         of its Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative
         agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
         jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its
         or their properties except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) as
         would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

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                  (m)      No holders of securities of the Company have rights
         to the registration of such securities under the Registration
         Statement;

                  (n)      The consolidated historical financial statements and
         schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in
         the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in
         all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
         and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods
         indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting
         requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
         throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein);
         and the statutory financial statements of the Company's subsidiaries
         that are insurance companies (the "COMPANY INSURANCE SUBSIDIARIES"),
         from which certain ratios and other statistical data filed or
         incorporated by reference as part of the Registration Statement have
         been derived have for each relevant period been prepared in all
         material respects in conformity with statutory accounting practices
         required or permitted by the insurance laws of their respective states
         of domicile, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and
         such statutory accounting practices have been applied on a consistent
         basis throughout the periods involved, except as may otherwise be
         indicated therein or in the notes thereto;

                  (o)      No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court
         or governmental agency, authority (including proceedings of any
         insurance regulatory authority) or body or any arbitrator involving the
         Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending
         or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) would
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
         performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the
         transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) would reasonably be expected
         to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or
         contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
         thereto);

                  (p)      Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in
         violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws,
         (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of
         trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation,
         condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to
         which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule,
         regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body,
         administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority
         having jurisdiction over the Company or such Subsidiary or any of its
         properties, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
         for any violations or defaults which would not, singly or in the
         aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

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                  (q)      Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain
         financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
         and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated
         financial statements and schedules included in the Final Prospectus,
         are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within
         the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and
         regulations thereunder;

                  (r)      There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or
         charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political
         subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
         execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance by the Company
         or sale by the Company of the Securities;

                  (s)      No Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited,
         directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from
         making any other distribution on such Subsidiary's capital stock, from
         repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from
         the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary's property or
         assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, except as
         described in or contemplated by the Final Prospectus;

                  (t)      The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain a
         system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
         assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
         management's general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are
         recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
         conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
         maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only
         in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and
         (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the
         existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
         with respect to any differences;

                  (u)      The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all
         licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the
         appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities (including
         any insurance regulatory authority) necessary to conduct their
         respective businesses as presently conducted (except as would not
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and neither
         the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of
         proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
         certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate,
         would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except
         as set forth in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
         any supplement thereto);

                  (v)      The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly,
         any action designed to or that would constitute or that might
         reasonably be

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         expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise,
         stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
         Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities;

                  (w)      There is and has been no failure on the part of the
         Company and any of the Company's directors or officers, in their
         capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any
         provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and
         regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the "SARBANES-OXLEY
         ACT"), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906
         related to certifications; and

                  (x)      Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and
         the Final Prospectus and other than its co-investment with Goldman,
         Sachs & Co. in Allied World Assurance Holdings, Ltd., the Company (i)
         does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank
         or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use
         any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay
         any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

         Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to
the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the
offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the
Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

         2.       Purchase and Sale. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price
set forth in Schedule I hereto, the amount of the Underwritten Securities set
forth opposite such Underwriter's name in Schedule II hereto.

         (b)      Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants to
the several Underwriters the right to purchase at their election, severally and
not jointly, up to the maximum number of Option Securities set forth in Schedule
I hereto at the same purchase price per Option Security as the Underwriters
shall pay for the Underwritten Securities, for the sole purpose of covering
sales of shares in excess of the number of Underwritten Securities. Said option
may be exercised only if the Underwriters sell more than the number of
Underwritten Securities. Said option may be exercised in whole or in part at any
time on or before the 30th day after the date of the Final Prospectus upon
written or telegraphic notice by the Representatives to the Company setting
forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are
exercising the option and the settlement date. The number of Option Securities
to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of the total
number of Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters as such
Underwriter is

8



purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in
your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional Option
Securities.

         3.       Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the
Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in
Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the third Business
Day prior to the Closing Date) shall be made on the date and at the time
specified in Schedule I hereto or at such time on such later date not more than
three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall
designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the
Representatives and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date
and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the
"CLOSING DATE"). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives
for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the
several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price thereof
to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds
to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities
and the Option Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

         If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised after
the third Business Day prior to the Closing Date, the Company will deliver the
Option Securities (at the expense of the Company) to the Representatives, at the
place in the City of New York, New York and on the date specified by the
Representatives (which shall be within three Business Days after exercise of
said option) for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against
payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase
price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in
same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. If settlement for the
Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the
Representatives on the settlement date for the Option Securities, and the
obligation of the Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be
conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions, certificates and letters
confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on
the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

         4.       Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth
in the Final Prospectus.

         5.       Agreements. (a) The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters that:

                           (i)      The Company will use its best efforts to
                  cause the Registration Statement, if not effective at the
                  Execution Time, and any amendment thereof, to become
                  effective. Prior to the termination of the offering of the
                  Securities, the Company will not

9



                  file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement
                  (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Final
                  Prospectus) to the Basic Prospectus or any Rule 462(b)
                  Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a
                  copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any
                  such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably
                  object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration
                  Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule
                  430A, or filing of the Final Prospectus is otherwise required
                  under Rule 424(b), the Company will cause the Final
                  Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to
                  be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable
                  paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and
                  will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of
                  such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the
                  Representatives (A) when the Registration Statement, if not
                  effective at the Execution Time, shall have become effective,
                  (B) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto,
                  shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission
                  pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration
                  Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (C) when,
                  prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any
                  amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed
                  or become effective, (D) of any request by the Commission or
                  its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or
                  any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement
                  to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information, (E)
                  of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending
                  the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
                  institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose
                  and (F) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with
                  respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
                  Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or
                  threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company
                  will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
                  stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if
                  issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

                           (ii)     If, at any time when a prospectus relating
                  to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act,
                  any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as
                  then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a
                  material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
                  make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances
                  under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be
                  necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement
                  the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange
                  Act or the

10



                  respective rules thereunder, the Company promptly will (A)
                  notify the Representatives of such event, (B) prepare and file
                  with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of Section
                  5(a)(i), an amendment or supplement which will correct such
                  statement or omission or effect such compliance and (C) supply
                  any supplemented Final Prospectus to you in such quantities as
                  you may reasonably request.

                           (iii)    As soon as practicable, the Company will
                  make generally available to its security holders and to the
                  Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions
                  of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.

                           (iv)     The Company will furnish to the
                  Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without
                  charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including
                  exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the
                  Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long
                  as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be
                  required by the Act, as many copies of each Preliminary Final
                  Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and any supplement thereto
                  as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company
                  will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all
                  documents relating to the offering.

                           (v)      The Company will arrange, if necessary, for
                  the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of
                  such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate, will
                  maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for
                  the distribution of the Securities and will pay any fee of the
                  National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., in
                  connection with its review of the offering; provided that in
                  no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do
                  business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified
                  or to take any action that would subject it to service of
                  process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering
                  or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not
                  now so subject.

                           (vi)     The Company will not, without the prior
                  written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract
                  to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any
                  transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be
                  expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual
                  disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash
                  settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of
                  the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any
                  affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including
                  the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration

11



                  statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or
                  increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a
                  call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of
                  the Exchange Act, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
                  convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares
                  of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect
                  any such transaction, until the Business Day set forth on
                  Schedule I hereto, provided, however, that (A) the Company may
                  issue and sell 16,000,000 7.00 % Equity Units (or 18,400,000
                  7.00% Equity Units if the Underwriters exercise their option
                  to purchase additional Equity Units in full) in the concurrent
                  offering, (B) the Company may issue and sell Common Stock
                  pursuant to any employee stock option plan, stock ownership
                  plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at
                  the Execution Time, (C) the Company may issue Common Stock
                  issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of
                  warrants outstanding at the Execution Time and (D) the Company
                  may issue stock options and restricted stock to employees,
                  provided that such options are not exercisable, and such
                  restricted stock grants do not vest, before such date.

                           (vii)    The Company will not take, directly or
                  indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or
                  that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under
                  the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation
                  of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
                  sale or resale of the Securities.

                           (viii)   The Company will comply in all material
                  respects with all applicable securities and other applicable
                  laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation,
                  the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and will use its best efforts to cause
                  the Company's directors and officers, in their capacities as
                  such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations,
                  including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes
                  Oxley Act.

                           (ix)     The Company will not take, directly or
                  indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or
                  that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under
                  the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation
                  of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the
                  sale or resale of the Securities.

                  (b)      Each Underwriter severally represents and agrees
         that:

12



                           (i)      it has not offered or sold and, prior to the
                  expiry of six months from the Closing Date, will not offer or
                  sell any Securities to persons in the United Kingdom except to
                  persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring,
                  holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or
                  agent) for the purposes of their businesses or otherwise in
                  circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in
                  an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within the
                  meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995;

                           (ii)     it has only communicated and caused to be
                  communicated and will only communicate or cause to be
                  communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in
                  investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the
                  Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA")) received by
                  it in connection with the issue or sale of any International
                  Securities in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA
                  does not apply to the Company;

                           (iii)    it has complied and will comply with all
                  applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything
                  done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise
                  involving the United Kingdom; and

                           (iv)     the offer in The Netherlands of the
                  Securities is exclusively limited to persons who trade or
                  invest in securities in the conduct of a profession or
                  business (which includes banks, stockbrokers, insurance
                  companies, pension funds, other institutional investors and
                  finance companies and treasury departments of large
                  enterprises).

         6.       Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwritten Securities and the
Option Securities, as the case may be, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of
the Execution Time, the Closing Date and any settlement date pursuant to Section
3 hereof, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any
certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

                  (a)      If the Registration Statement has not become
         effective prior to the Execution Time, unless the Representatives agree
         in writing to a later time, the Registration Statement will become
         effective not later than (i) 6:00 PM New York City time on the date of
         determination of the public offering price, if such determination
         occurred at or prior to 3:00 PM New York City time on such date or (ii)
         9:30 AM on the Business Day

13



         following the day on which the public offering price was determined, if
         such determination occurred after 3:00 PM New York City time on such
         date; if filing of the Final Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is
         required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the Final Prospectus, and any such
         supplement, will be filed in the manner and within the time period
         required by Rule 424(b); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
         of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings
         for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

                  (b)      The Company shall have requested and caused Joanne L.
         Bober, General Counsel for the Company, to have furnished to the
         Representatives her opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to
         the Representatives, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B.

                  (c)      The Company shall have requested and caused Debevoise
         & Plimpton, outside counsel for the Company, to have furnished to the
         Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to
         the Representatives, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C.

                  (d)      The Company shall have requested and caused Drinker
         Biddle & Reath LLP, outside New Jersey counsel for the Company, to have
         furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing Date
         and addressed to the Representatives, substantially in the form set
         forth in Exhibit D.

                  (e)      The Representatives shall have received from Davis
         Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or
         opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives,
         with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the
         Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus (together with any
         supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives
         may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such
         counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them
         to pass upon such matters.

                  (f)      The Company shall have furnished to the
         Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman or
         Vice Chairman of the Board or the President and the principal financial
         or accounting officer or the treasurer of the Company, dated the
         Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have
         carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus,
         any supplements to the Final Prospectus and this Agreement and that:

                           (i)      the representations and warranties of the
                  Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of
                  the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
                  Closing Date and the Company has complied in all material
                  respects with all the

14



                  agreements and satisfied in all material respects all the
                  conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
                  prior to the Closing Date;

                           (ii)     no stop order suspending the effectiveness
                  of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
                  proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the
                  Company's knowledge, threatened; and

                           (iii)    since the date of the most recent financial
                  statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final
                  Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has
                  been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or
                  otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not
                  arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business,
                  except as set forth in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus
                  (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

                  (g)      The Company shall have requested and caused Ernst &
         Young LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution
         Time and at the Closing Date, letters (which may refer to letters
         previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated
         respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in
         form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that
         they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
         respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission
         thereunder and that they have performed a review of the unaudited
         interim financial information of the Company for the three-month period
         ended March 31, 2003, and as at March 31, 2003, in accordance with
         Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100, and stating in effect, except
         as provided in Schedule I hereto, that:

                           (i)      in their opinion the audited financial
                  statements and financial statement schedules included or
                  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
                  the Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form
                  in all material respects with the applicable accounting
                  requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the related
                  rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;

                           (ii)     on the basis of a reading of the latest
                  unaudited financial statements made available by the Company
                  and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified
                  procedures (but not an examination in accordance with
                  generally accepted auditing standards) which would not
                  necessarily reveal matters of

15



                  significance with respect to the comments set forth in such
                  letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the
                  stockholders, directors and the executive, finance and audit
                  committees of the Company and the Subsidiaries; and inquiries
                  of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility
                  for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its
                  subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to March
                  31, 2003, nothing came to their attention which caused them to
                  believe that:

                                    (A)      any unaudited financial statements
                           included or incorporated by reference in the
                           Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus do
                           not comply as to form in all material respects with
                           applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
                           with the related rules and regulations adopted by the
                           Commission with respect to financial statements
                           included or incorporated by reference in quarterly
                           reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and said
                           unaudited financial statements are not in conformity
                           with generally accepted accounting principles applied
                           on a basis substantially consistent with that of the
                           audited financial statements included or incorporated
                           by reference in the Registration Statement and the
                           Final Prospectus;

                                    (B)      with respect to the period
                           subsequent to March 31, 2003, there were any
                           increases, at a specified date not more than five
                           days prior to the date of the letter, in the
                           long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or
                           decreases in the shareholders' equity of the Company
                           as compared with the amounts shown on March 31, 2003
                           consolidated balance sheet included or incorporated
                           by reference in the Registration Statement and the
                           Final Prospectus, or for the period from April 1,
                           2003 to May 31, 2003 there were any decreases, as
                           compared with the corresponding period in the
                           preceding year, in total revenues or premiums earned
                           of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all
                           instances for changes or decreases set forth in such
                           letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied
                           by an explanation by the Company as to the
                           significance thereof unless said explanation is not
                           deemed necessary by the Representatives; or

                                    (C)      the information included or
                           incorporated by reference in the Registration
                           Statement and Final Prospectus in response to
                           Regulation S-K, Item 301 (Selected Financial Data),
                           Item 302 (Supplementary

16



                           Financial Information), Item 402 (Executive
                           Compensation) and Item 503(d) (Ratio of Earnings to
                           Fixed Charges) is not in conformity with the
                           applicable disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K;

                           (iii)    they have performed certain other specified
                  procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
                  information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature
                  (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
                  information derived from the general accounting records of the
                  Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration
                  Statement and the Final Prospectus and in Exhibit 12 to the
                  Registration Statement, including the information set forth
                  under the captions "Summary Historical Financial Data" and
                  "Capitalization" in the Final Prospectus, the information
                  included or incorporated by reference in Items 5-8 and 10-13
                  inclusive of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
                  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
                  the Final Prospectus, and the information included in the
                  "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
                  and Results of Operations" included or incorporated by
                  reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q,
                  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
                  the Final Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of
                  the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of
                  legal interpretation.

                           References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph
                  6(g) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.

                  (h)      Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the
         dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
         (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus
         (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i)
         any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to
         in Section 6(g) or (ii) any change, or any development involving a
         prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or
         otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
         transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
         or contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
         thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or
         (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so
         material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to
         proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated
         by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and
         the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

17



                  (i)      Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
         furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates
         and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

                  (j)      Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not
         have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt
         securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
         organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) or
         any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such
         rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not
         indicate the direction of the possible change.

                  (k)      The Company shall have used commercially reasonable
         best efforts to furnish, at the Execution Time, and the Company shall
         have furnished, on or prior to the Closing Date, to the Representatives
         a letter substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto from each
         executive officer and director of the Company addressed to the
         Representatives.

         If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have
been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement,
or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this
Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this
Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at,
or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such
cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or
facsimile confirmed in writing.

         The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be
delivered at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters,
at 450 Lexington Avenue, on the Closing Date.

         7.       Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied,
because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on demand for all out-of-pocket
expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall
have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of
the Securities.

         8.       Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The company agrees to
indenmify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers,
employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any
Underwriter.


18



within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any
of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of
the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Basic
Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, or in any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such
loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made
therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

         (b)      Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers
who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing
indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which
any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements
set forth in (A) the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the
Securities and, (B) under the heading "Underwriting": (i) the table listing the
Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities,
(ii) following the table of Underwriters and their shares, the second paragraph
and the fifth paragraph (including the four bullets thereunder relating to
international offerings) and (iii) following the table regarding underwriting
discounts and commissions, the first, second, and third paragraphs in any
Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for
inclusion in any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus.

         (c)      Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a

19



claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof;
but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph 8(a) or 8(b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph 8(a) or
8(b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties
except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's
election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including
local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs
and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel
with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or
targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the
indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate
counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will
not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding.

         (d)      In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph 8(a) or
8(b) is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for
any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to
the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same)
(collectively "LOSSES") to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters
may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the

20



Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided,
however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any
agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be
responsible for any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. If the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and
the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the
Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each
case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or
any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company
on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by
pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this paragraph 8(d), no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each
director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the
Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer
of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each
director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this
paragraph 8(d).

         9.       Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased
by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of

21



Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the
aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining
Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the
aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of
Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall
have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to
purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not
purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to
any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any
Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed
for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall
determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and
the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of
its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for
damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

         10.      Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in
the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company
prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to
such time (a) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have been suspended by
the Commission on the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally
on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum
prices shall have been established on the New York Stock Exchange, (b) a banking
moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State
authorities or (c) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or
other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to
make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable
to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by
the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

         11.      Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in
Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or
cancellation of this Agreement.

         12.      Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and
effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed,
delivered or telefaxed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel (fax
no.:

22



(212) 816-7912) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets
Inc., at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General
Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to
the General Counsel, The Chubb Corporation (fax no.: 908-903-3607) and confirmed
to it at the office of the General Counsel, The Chubb Corporation, 15 Mountain
View Road, Warren, New Jersey 07059.

         13.      Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in
Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation
hereunder.

         14.      Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

         15.      Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         16.      Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

         17.      Definitions. The terms which follow, when used in this
Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

         "ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

         "BASIC PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus referred to in paragraph
1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date
including any Preliminary Final Prospectus.

         "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are
authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

         "COMMISSION" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean each date and time that the Registration
Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement became or become effective.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

23



         "EXECUTION TIME" shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is
executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

         "FINAL PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the
Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution
Time, together with the Basic Prospectus.

         "PRELIMINARY FINAL PROSPECTUS" shall mean any preliminary prospectus
supplement to the Basic Prospectus which describes the Securities and the
offering thereof and is used prior to filing of the Final Prospectus, together
with the Basic Prospectus.

         "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean the registration statement referred
to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements, as
amended at the Execution Time (or, if not effective at the Execution Time, in
the form in which it shall become effective) and, in the event any
post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration
statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case
may be. Such term shall include any Rule 430A Information deemed to be included
therein at the Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A.

         "RULE 415", "RULE 424", "RULE 430A" and "RULE 462" refer to such rules
under the Act.

         "RULE 430A INFORMATION" shall mean information with respect to the
Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the
Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A.

         "RULE 462(b) REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall mean a registration
statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to
the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a)
hereof.

         "TRUST INDENTURE ACT" shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

24



         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon
this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the
Company and the several Underwriters.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        The Chubb Corporation

                                        By: /s/ JOHN D. FINNEGAN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            John D. Finnegan
                                            Chief Executive Officer

25



The foregoing Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date specified in
Schedule I hereto.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

By: /s/ RICHARD SPIRO

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

By: /s/ GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
           Incorporated

By: /s/ JOSEPH E. CONSOLINO

For themselves and the other
several Underwriters, if any,
named in Schedule II to the
foregoing Agreement.

26



                                                                      SCHEDULE I


                                                               
Underwriting Agreement dated...................................   June 18, 2003

Registration Statement No......................................   333-104310

Title, Purchase Price and Number of Securities:

     Title:....................................................   Shares of Common Stock,
                                                                  $1.00 par value

     Number of Underwritten Securities
     to be sold by the Company.................................   13,500,000 Shares of
                                                                  Common Stock

     Maximum number of Optional Securities
     to be sold by the Company.................................   2,025,000 Shares of
                                                                  Common Stock

     Purchase Price per Share..................................   $57.12

     Price to Public per Share:................................   $59.50

     Price to Public - total:..................................   $803,250,000

     Underwriting Discount per Share:..........................   $2.38

     Underwriting Discount - total:............................   $32,130,000

     Proceeds to Company per Share:............................   $57.12

     Proceeds to Company - total:..............................   $771,120,000

Closing Date, Time and Location                                   June 24, 2003,
                                                                  10 a.m. (New York City
                                                                  time),

                                                                  Davis Polk & Wardwell
                                                                  450 Lexington Avenue
                                                                  New York, New York


Date referred to in Section 5(a)(vi) after which the Company may offer or sell
securities without the consent of the Representative(s): September 18, 2003

Modification of items to be covered by the letter from Ernst & Young delivered
pursuant to Section 6(f) at the Execution Time:

I-1



                                                                     SCHEDULE II



                                                                        NUMBER OF UNDERWRITTEN
                                                                      SECURITIES TO BE PURCHASED
                                                                      --------------------------
                                                                   
Citigroup Global Markets Inc...................................                        3,268,750
Goldman Sachs & Co.............................................                        3,268,750
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &
            Smith Incorporated.................................                        3,268,750
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc........................................                          653,750
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC.................................                          653,750
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc...................................                          653,750
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..............................                          653,750
Wachovia Securities, Inc.......................................                          653,750
Blaylock & Partners, L.P.......................................                           85,000
Dowling & Partners Securities, LLC.............................                           85,000
AG Edward & Sons Inc...........................................                           85,000
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc...................................                           85,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated...........................                           85,000
                                                                      --------------------------
      Total....................................................                       13,500,000
                                                                      ==========================


II-1



                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                 [LETTERHEAD OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR DIRECTOR OF
                             THE CHUBB CORPORATION]

                              THE CHUBB CORPORATION

                         PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK

                                                                   June 18, 2003

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
As Representatives of the several Underwriters,

care of:

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed
Underwriting Agreement (the "UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT"), between The Chubb
Corporation, a New Jersey corporation (the "COMPANY"), and each of you as
representatives of a group of Underwriters named therein, relating to an
underwritten public offering of Common Stock, $1.00 par value ("COMMON STOCK")
Notes of the Company.

         In order to induce you and the other Underwriters to enter into the
Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will not, without the prior written
consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or
otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or
might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual
disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person
in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly
or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect
of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease
a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder



with respect to, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, or
publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of
90 days after the date of the Underwriting Agreement. The foregoing shall not
apply to (i) the exercise of options outstanding as of the Execution Time, (ii)
dispositions of common stock by gift to members of, or to trusts established for
the benefit of, members of the undersigned's immediate family provided that any
such recipient agrees in writing as a condition to receiving such common stock
to be bound by the restrictions set forth in this letter or (iii) dispositions
of common stock by the undersigned by bona fide gift to charitable
organizations.

         If for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior
to the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), the agreement
set forth above shall likewise be terminated.

                                        Yours very truly,

                                        By: ____________________________________
                                                  [SIGNATURE OF EXECUTIVE
                                                  OFFICER OR DIRECTOR]
                                            Name: [NAME AND ADDRESS OF EXECUTIVE
                                                  OFFICER OR DIRECTOR]




                                                                       EXHIBIT B

       FORM OF OPINION OF JOANNE L. BOBER, GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY
                               TO THE EFFECT THAT:

         (i)      The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation
for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each
foreign jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any
business, so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material
liability or disability by reason of failure to be so qualified in any such
jurisdiction;

         (ii)     To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set
forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending
to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or of which any
property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the subject which would
individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of
such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened;

         (iii)    The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
Company with all of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions therein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement or other agreement or instrument known to me to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is bound to or which any of the property or assets of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in any
violations of the provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or
By-laws of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to
me of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, such as would be
material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

         (iv)     No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the
Company of the other transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement.



                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                     FORM OF OPINION OF DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON
                               TO THE EFFECT THAT:

         (i)      The Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company under the law of the State of New York;

         (ii)     The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Final Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

         (iii)    No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the
registration of such securities under the Registration Statement;

         (iv)     The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Final Prospectus (except the financial statements and
schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which such counsel
need express no opinion), as of the Execution Time, appeared on their face to be
appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder, other than Regulation S-T;

         (v)      The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act;
any required filing of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus
and the Final Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b)
has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b);
to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued, no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or threatened and the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus (other than the financial statements and other financial information
contained therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as
to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and
the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder; and such counsel has no
reason to believe that on the Effective Date, or the date the Registration
Statement was last deemed amended, or on the date of the Underwriting Agreement
the Registration Statement contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the Final Prospectus as of
its date on the Closing Date included or includes any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not



misleading (in each case, other than the financial statements and other
financial information contained therein, as to which such counsel need express
no opinion).

         (vi)     The statements made in the Prospectus Supplement under the
caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations", insofar as
such statements purport to summarize legal matters referred to therein, are
accurate and fair in all material respects.




                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                  FORM OF OPINION OF DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP
                               TO THE EFFECT THAT:

         (i)      The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey will
full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to
operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Basic
Prospectus and Final Prospectus;

         (ii)     The Company's authorized equity capitalization is as set forth
in the Final Prospectus; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all
material respects to the description thereof contained in the Final Prospectus;

         (iii)    The Securities have been duly and validly authorized, and,
when issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement, will be fully paid and nonassessable; the issuance of the Securities
in uncertificated form has been duly authorized by the Company; and the holders
of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not entitled to
preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the Securities;

         (iv)     The Rights relating to the Securities have been duly
authorized and, when issued, in accordance with the terms of the Rights
Agreement upon the issuance of the Securities, will have been validly issued;

         (vi)     The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized by the
Company.

         (vii)    Neither the issue and the sale of the Securities, nor the
compliance of the Company with the terms of the Securities, nor the consummation
of any other of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, nor
the fulfillment of the terms thereof, will conflict with, result in a breach or
violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to the Certificate of
Incorporation or by-laws of the Company or Chubb Capital Corporation.