Exhibit 99.2

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

              HSB GROUP ANNOUNCES STOCK SPLIT AND DECLARES DIVIDEND

HARTFORD,  Conn.,  April 21,  1998 -- HSB  Group,  Inc.'s  (NYSE:  HSB) Board of
Directors today approved a  three-for-two  stock split for shares held of record
on May 1, 1998.  Additional  shares resulting from the split will be distributed
on or about May 22, 1998.

In addition,  the company declared a regular quarterly  dividend of 40 cents per
share (post split), payable July 30, 1998, to shareholders of record on July 10,
1998.

HSB Group, Inc. (HSB) is a global provider of insurance products and engineering
management consulting services.  HSB is the parent company of The Hartford Steam
Boiler  Inspection  and  Insurance  Company,  founded  in 1866  and the  largest
provider of equipment breakdown insurance in the world.

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