Exhibit 99(ii)

                                                     CONTACT:
                                                     James C. Rowan Jr.
                                                     Office:  (860)  722-5180


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                        HSB GROUP, INC. DECLARES DIVIDEND

HARTFORD,  Conn.,  January 26, 1998 -- The Board of Directors of HSB Group, Inc.
(NYSE-HSB)  today declared a regular  quarterly  dividend of 60 cents per share,
payable April 30, 1998, to shareholders of record at the close of business April
10, 1998.  The Hartford  Steam Boiler has paid  dividends  continuously  for 128
years, one of the longest records of the New York Stock Exchange.