Exhibit 99


                                    CONTACT:
                                    Dennis Milewski,  (860) 722-5313


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                HSB GROUP, INC. ELECTS RICHARD H. BOOTH CHAIRMAN

HARTFORD,  Conn.,  March 6, 2000 -- HSB Group, Inc.  (NYSE-HSB)  announced today
that Richard H. Booth,  president and chief executive officer,  has been elected
chairman of the board effective March 3rd. He succeeds Gordon W. Kreh.

Mr. Booth,  a member of HSB Group's Board of Directors  since July 1996,  became
president and chief  executive  officer on January 1, 2000  following Mr. Kreh's
announcement of his intention to retire.

"Under Gordon's  leadership,  HSB strengthened its skills and capital structure,
became more flexible and responsive to customers and devised  innovative  growth
strategies,"   said  Mr.  Booth.  "We  are  grateful  to  Gordon  for  his  many
contributions  over his  thirty-year  career and his assistance most recently in
assuring a smooth management transition."

HSB Group,  Inc., the parent company of The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and
Insurance  Company,  is a  global  provider  of  specialty  insurance  products,
engineering  services  and  management  consulting.  The  Hartford  Steam Boiler
Inspection and


Insurance  Company was founded in 1866 to provide  loss  prevention  service and
insurance to businesses, industries and institutions. For more information about
HSB, visit its web site at www.hsb.com.

This news release contains forward-looking  statements within the meaning of the
Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform  Act  of  1995,  that  are  management's
estimates,  assumptions  and  projections  and  are  not  guarantees  of  future
performance.  Forward-looking  statements  involve  known and unknown  risks and
uncertainties.  These and other important factors,  including those mentioned in
various  Securities and Exchange  Commission  filings made  periodically  by the
company,  may cause the  company's  actual  results  and  performance  to differ
materially. Investors and prospective investors should read this news release in
conjunction  with the  company's  most  recent  Form  10-K,  Form 10-Q and other
documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.