Exhibit 99.1
                          ------------

Conning Corporation
700 Market Street
St. Louis, MO  63101


                          PRESS RELEASE
                          -------------

                                Investor Contact: Fred Schpero or
                                                  Paul Kopsky
                                                  (314) 444-0715

                                Media Contact:    David Garino
                                                  (314) 982-1700



CONNING ELECTS ARTHUR REEDS CHAIRMAN AND CEO


     ST. LOUIS, MO., SEPTEMBER 22, 1999 -- Conning Corporation
(Nasdaq/NMS: CNNG) announced today that its board of directors elected
Arthur C. (Duke) Reeds, III chairman of the board, president and chief
executive officer, succeeding Leonard M. Rubenstein, who retired from
active service with the company. Reeds, who has been a Conning director
since July 1998, was formerly president of CIGNA Corporation's
investment management subsidiary and CIGNA's chief investment officer.
His career at CIGNA spanned 30 years.

     Reeds commented, "It is a privilege for me to join Conning's
management group.  I look forward to helping Conning provide
professional services to its clients and profitable growth to its
shareholders.  The pending acquisition of GenAmerica Corporation by
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company should broaden the opportunities for
Conning."  GenAmerica Corporation is a significant client and majority
shareholder of Conning, holding 61 percent of Conning common stock.

     Conning provides asset management services primarily to insurance
companies and institutional investors, manages private equity funds
investing in insurance and insurance-related companies, and conducts
extensive research on the life insurance and property-casualty insurance
industries.

     The preceding discussion of expected future results may constitute
forward-looking statements.  Actual results could differ from expected
results due to various factors, including whether final costs exceed
estimates, revenue contributions from transactions and acquisitions have
been projected accurately, and other factors discussed in company
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                              ###