                                                                       EXHIBIT 1


                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                   $650,000,000 5.000% Senior Notes Due 2014

                             ----------------------

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                             ----------------------

                                                              New York, New York
                                                                 August 11, 2004

To the Representatives
   named in Schedule I
   hereto of the Underwriters
   named in Schedule II hereto

   c/o J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
   270 Park Avenue, 8th Floor
   New York, NY 10017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (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, $650,000,000 principal amount of its 5.000% Senior Notes Due
2014 registered under the Registration Statement referred to in Section 1(a)
below (the "Securities"), to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an
Indenture, dated as of December 16, 1997, as amended by the Third Supplemental
Indenture, dated as of July 23, 1999, and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of June 12, 2000, and as supplemented by the Eleventh Supplemental
Indenture, to be dated as of August 16, 2004 (as so amended and supplemented,
the "Indenture"), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (as
successor to State Street Bank and Trust Company), as Trustee (the "Trustee").

     1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to,
and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

     (a) The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement
on Form S-3 (No. 333-108253) under the Act, which has become effective, for the
registration under the Act of the Securities (such registration statement,
including the exhibits thereto, as amended at the date of this Agreement, is
hereinafter called the "Registration Statement"). No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for
such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
by the Commission. The Company proposes to


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file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act a supplement or
supplements to the form of prospectus included in the Registration Statement
relating to the Securities and the plan of distribution thereof; such prospectus
in the form in which it appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter
called the "Basic Prospectus"; and such supplemented form of prospectus, in the
form in which it shall be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424
(including the Basic Prospectus as so supplemented) is hereinafter called the
"Final Prospectus." Any preliminary form of the Final Prospectus which has
heretofore been filed pursuant to Rule 424 is hereinafter called the
"Preliminary Final Prospectus." 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
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), on or before
the date of this Agreement, 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 date of this
Agreement, 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.

     (b) As of the date hereof, when the Final Prospectus is first filed or
transmitted for filing pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, when, prior to the
Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined), any amendment to the Registration
Statement becomes effective (including the filing of any document incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement), when any supplement to the Final
Prospectus is filed with the Commission and at the Time of Delivery, (i) the
Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time, the Final Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented as of any such time, and the Indenture complied and will
comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and the
Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and (ii) neither the
Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time, nor the Final
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of such time, contained or will
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; provided, however, that the Company makes no
representations or warranties as to (i) the parts of the Registration Statement
which constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under
the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustees (the "Form T-1") or (ii) the information
contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to such Underwriter or the underwriting
arrangements furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter specifically
for use in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus.

     (c) Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
and the Final Prospectus, at the time they were, or hereafter are, filed with
the Commission, complied or will comply and, at any time when a prospectus
relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in
connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, will comply in all material
respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.


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<PAGE>

     (d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified
to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     (e) Each subsidiary of the Company listed in Schedule III hereto (each, a
"Principal Subsidiary") has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus and is duly qualified
to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Principal Subsidiaries are currently the
only operating insurance companies that are "significant subsidiaries" of the
Company as that term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the rules
and regulations of the Commission under the Act.

     (f) All of the issued shares of capital stock of each Principal Subsidiary
have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable, and are owned of record directly or indirectly by the Company or
another Principal Subsidiary, as the case may be, free and clear of any security
interest, claim, lien or encumbrance.

     (g) Each Principal Subsidiary is duly licensed or authorized as an insurer
or reinsurer in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed, except
where the failure to be so licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does
not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and
each Principal Subsidiary have made all required filings under applicable
insurance holding company statutes, and each is duly licensed or authorized as
an insurance holding company in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so
licensed, except where the failure to have made such filings or to be so
licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and each Principal Subsidiary have
all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or
qualifications of and from all insurance regulatory authorities to conduct their
respective businesses as described in the Final Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, except where the failure to have such authorizations, approvals,
orders, consents, registrations or qualifications does not have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and none of the Company or any Principal
Subsidiary has received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority
to the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order, consent,
registration or qualification from such insurance regulatory authority is needed
to be obtained by any of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary in any case
where it could be reasonably expected that (x) the Company or any Principal
Subsidiary would in fact be required either to obtain any such additional
authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification or cease
or otherwise limit writing certain business


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<PAGE>

and (y) obtaining such authorization, approval, order, consent, license,
certificate, permit, registration or qualification or limiting such business
would have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     (h) Each Principal Subsidiary is in compliance with the requirements of the
insurance laws and regulations of its state of incorporation and the insurance
laws and regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable to such
Principal Subsidiary, and has filed all notices, reports, documents or other
information required to be filed thereunder, except where the failure to so
comply or file would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

     (i) Other than as set forth in the Final Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and, to the
best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened.

     (j) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.

     (k) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid
and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms
except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights
of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
equitable principles of general applicability.

     (l) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when the Securities are
issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Securities will have been
duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by
the Indenture.

     (m) The issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company
with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement
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 for borrowed money to
which the Company or any Principal Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company
or any of its Principal Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company or any of its Principal Subsidiaries is subject, nor will
such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any of its Principal Subsidiaries or
any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or insurance
regulatory authority or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
over the Company or any of its Principal Subsidiaries or any of their
properties, in each case other than such breaches, conflicts, violations or
defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and no


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<PAGE>

authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification of or
with any such court or insurance regulatory authority or other governmental
agency or body is required for the issue or sale of the Securities, except such
authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications as
may be required under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, in
each case other than such authorizations, approvals, orders, consents,
registrations or qualifications which (individually or in the aggregate) the
failure to make, obtain or comply with would not have a material adverse effect
on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     (n) Except as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement
and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change in, or
any adverse development which materially affects, the business, properties,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole from the dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus; and, since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus, there has not been any material increase in the consolidated capital
stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock
appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions
of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of
the latest balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus) or
any material increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its
subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth
or contemplated in the Final Prospectus.

     (o) There are no material contracts, agreements or understandings between
the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company
to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any notes or debt
of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to
include such securities for registration pursuant to the Registration Statement
or pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the
Act.

     (p) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Securities and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in
the Final Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     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. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several
Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated,
agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective
principal amounts of the Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto


                                       5
<PAGE>

opposite their names at 98.613% of the principal amount -- the purchase price --
plus accrued interest, if any, from August 16, 2004 to the date of payment and
delivery.

     3. Payment and Delivery of the Securities. Delivery of and payment for the
Securities shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on August 16, 2004, 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 10 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for
the Securities being herein called the "Time of Delivery"). 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 Securities shall be made through the facilities of
the Depositary Trust Company unless the Representatives otherwise instruct.

     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. Company Covenants. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of
the Securities:

     (a) (i) To prepare the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented in
relation to the Securities in a form approved by the Representatives and to
timely file such Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; (ii) to
make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or
Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date hereof and prior to
the Time of Delivery for the Securities unless the Representatives shall have
had a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon any such amendment or
supplement prior to any filing thereof; (iii) to advise the Representatives
promptly of any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and
furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; (iv) to file promptly all
reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed
by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in
connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, and during such same
period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof,
of (I) the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed
or becomes effective or any supplement to the Final Prospectus or any amended
Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, (II) the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
the Final Prospectus, (III) the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or
threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or (IV) any request by the
Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or
the Final Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the
issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending
the use of the Final Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to use
promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

     (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representatives
may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the
securities and insurance securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as


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<PAGE>

to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions
for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities,
provided that in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to
qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
process in any jurisdiction;

     (c) To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Final Prospectus as
amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from time
to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at
any time in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, and if at
such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Final
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made
when such Final Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other
reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Final
Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by
reference in the Final Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange
Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their
request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any
dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time
reasonably request of an amended Final Prospectus or a supplement to the Final
Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such
compliance;

     (d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, an earnings statement of the Company and its
subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder; and

     (e) During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and
including the latter of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for the
Securities, as notified to the Company by the Representatives or their counsel
and (ii) the Time of Delivery for the Securities, not to offer, sell, contract
to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company which are
substantially similar to the Securities, without the prior written consent of
the Representatives, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     (f) 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.

     6. Fees and Expenses. The Company covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i)
the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus and
the Final Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and
delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of
printing or producing this Agreement, any Blue Sky Survey and any Legal
Investment Memoranda in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and
delivery of the Securities; (iii) all reasonable


                                       7
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expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and
sale under state securities and insurance securities laws as provided in Section
5(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the
Blue Sky and Legal Investment surveys; (iv) the filing fees incident to securing
any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of
the terms of the sale of the Securities; (v) any fees charged by securities
rating services for rating the Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the
Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of any Trustee, Paying Agent or Transfer
Agent and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any such Trustee, Paying
Agent or Transfer Agent in connection with the Indenture and the Securities; and
(viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided in this
Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section,
Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs
and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of
any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any
offers they may make.

     7. Conditions to Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of
the execution of this Agreement and as of the Time of Delivery, 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) The Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and
regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part
thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have
been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional
information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the
Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;

     (b) LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., counsel for the Company, shall
have furnished to you their written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for the
Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect
that:

          (i) The Company is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
     under the laws of the State of Delaware, with 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 Final Prospectus as amended and
     supplemented;

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

          (iii) The Securities have been duly authorized, and (assuming their
     due authentication by the Trustee) have been duly executed, issued and
     delivered and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the
     Company entitled to the benefits


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<PAGE>

     provided by the Indenture, and the Securities and the Indenture conform in
     all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Final Prospectus
     as amended or supplemented;

          (iv) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
     Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company,
     and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in
     accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating
     to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;

          (v) The Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented and any further amendments thereto made by the Company prior
     to such Time of Delivery for the Securities (in each case other than with
     respect to the financial statements, financial and accounting data and
     related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded
     therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the
     Form T-1, as to which such counsel need express no opinion or belief),
     appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material
     respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the
     applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; provided
     that, such counsel shall not be deemed to be passing upon and shall not be
     required to assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
     fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and
     Final Prospectus;

          (vi) The issue and sale of the Securities and the performance by the
     Company of its obligations under the Indenture, the Securities or this
     Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
     contemplated therein will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of
     the provisions of the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act or the
     rules and regulations issued pursuant to each such act.

          (vii) All consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations,
     and qualifications of or with any United States court or governmental
     agency or body required for the issue and sale of the Securities by the
     Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
     by this Agreement under the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act
     or the rules and regulations issued pursuant to each such act have been
     obtained or made.

          (viii) As such counsel, such counsel reviewed the Registration
     Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, participated in
     discussions with representatives of the Underwriters and of the Company and
     its accountants at which contents of the Registration Statement and Final
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented and related matters were discussed;
     on the basis of the information that such counsel gained in the course of
     the performance of their services referred to above, although such counsel
     shall not be deemed to be passing upon and shall not assume any
     responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
     statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus
     and shall not be required to have made an independent check or verification
     thereof (except as described in paragraph (iii) hereof), on the basis of
     the foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the
     course of such review which have led such counsel to believe that, as of
     its effective date, the


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<PAGE>

     Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company
     prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and the
     financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by
     reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the
     Registration Statement, including the Form T-1, as to which such counsel
     need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact
     or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its
     date or the Time of Delivery, the Final Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the
     Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements
     and financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by
     reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the
     Registration Statement, including the Form T-1, as to which such counsel
     need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact
     or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
     therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not
     misleading; and

          (ix) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
     "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     (c) Michael J. McCabe, Vice President and General Counsel of the Company,
shall have furnished to you his written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for
the Securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the
effect that:

          (i) Each of Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC") and Allstate Life
     Insurance Company ("ALIC") has been duly incorporated and is validly
     existing as an insurance corporation under the laws of the State of
     Illinois, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and
     conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented (such counsel being entitled to rely, with respect to the
     opinion in this clause (i), upon the opinions of members of the Company's
     in-house legal staff);

          (ii) All of the issued shares of capital stock of each Principal
     Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid
     and nonassessable, and are owned of record directly or indirectly by the
     Company, AIC or ALIC, as the case may be, free and clear of any perfected
     security interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry,
     any other security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance (such counsel being
     entitled to rely, with respect to the opinion in this clause (ii), upon
     opinions of local or in-house counsel and, in respect of matters of fact,
     upon certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries, provided
     that such counsel shall state that he believes that both you and he are
     justified in relying upon such opinions or certificates);

          (iii) Each Principal Subsidiary is duly licensed or authorized as an
     insurer or reinsurer in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be
     so licensed, except where the failure to be so licensed or authorized in
     any such jurisdiction does not have a material adverse effect on the
     financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its
     subsidiaries taken as a whole; the Company and each Principal Subsidiary
     have made all required filings under applicable insurance holding company
     statutes, and each is duly


                                       10
<PAGE>

     licensed or authorized as an insurance holding company in each jurisdiction
     where it is required to be so licensed, except where the failure to have
     made such filings or to be so licensed or authorized in any such
     jurisdiction does not have a material adverse effect on the financial
     condition, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken
     as a whole; the Company and each Principal Subsidiary have all necessary
     authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or
     qualifications of and from all insurance regulatory authorities to conduct
     their respective businesses as described in the Final Prospectus as amended
     or supplemented, except where the failure to have such authorizations,
     approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications does not have
     a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
     properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and none
     of the Company or any Principal Subsidiary has received any notification
     from any insurance regulatory authority to the effect that any additional
     authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or qualification from
     such insurance regulatory authority is needed to be obtained by any of the
     Company or any Principal Subsidiary in any case where it could be
     reasonably expected that (x) the Company or any Principal Subsidiary would
     in fact be required either to obtain any such additional authorization,
     approval, order, consent, registration or qualification or cease or
     otherwise limit writing certain business and (y) obtaining such
     authorization, approval, order, consent, license, certificate, permit,
     registration or qualification or limiting such business would have a
     material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (such
     counsel being entitled to rely, with respect to the opinion in this clause
     (iii), upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and, in respect of
     matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the Company or its
     subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes that
     both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and
     certificates);

          (iv) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, after due inquiry, each
     Principal Subsidiary is in compliance with the requirements of the
     insurance laws and regulations of its state of incorporation and the
     insurance laws and regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable
     to such Principal Subsidiary, and has filed all notices, reports, documents
     or other information required to be filed thereunder, or is subject to no
     material liability or disability by reason of the failure to so comply or
     file (such counsel being entitled to rely, with respect to this clause
     (iv), upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and, in respect of matters
     of fact, upon certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries,
     provided that such counsel shall state that he believes that both you and
     he are justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates);

          (v) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, after due inquiry, and
     other than as set forth in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented,
     there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company
     or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined
     adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, individually or in the
     aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
     on the financial condition, business or properties of the Company and its
     subsidiaries taken as a whole; and, to the best of such counsel's
     knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened;


                                       11
<PAGE>

          (vi) The issuance and sale of the Securities and the performance by
     the Company of its obligations under the Indenture, the Securities and this
     Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
     contemplated therein and herein will not conflict with or result in a
     breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
     any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material
     agreement or instrument relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
     as such agreements or instruments have been amended (which indentures,
     mortgages, deeds of trust, loan agreements or other agreements or
     instruments may be specified by such counsel on a schedule attached to his
     opinion); nor will any such action result in any violation of the
     provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Company
     or any of its Principal Subsidiaries or any applicable United States law or
     statute or any order, rule or regulation of any United States court or
     governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, its
     subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, provided, that the
     foregoing opinion is limited to those statutes, laws, rules and regulations
     of the United States of America, the General Corporation Law of the State
     of Delaware and the State of Illinois, in each case, which, in the opinion
     of such counsel, are normally applicable to transactions of the type
     contemplated by this Agreement, and provided further, that no opinion need
     be given with respect to (A) the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture
     Act, the rules and regulations issued pursuant to each such act, any order,
     rule or regulation made or established by any insurance official or
     regulatory authority or the National Association of Securities Dealers,
     Inc., or state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase
     and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters or (B) conflicts,
     breaches or violations which individually and in the aggregate both would
     not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and would
     not have a material adverse effect on the sale or ownership of the
     Securities (such counsel being entitled to rely, with respect to the
     opinion in this clause (vi), upon opinions of local or in-house counsel
     and, in respect of matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the
     Company or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he
     believes that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions
     and certificates);

          (vii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
     qualification of or with any United States court or governmental agency or
     body is required for the issue and sale of the Securities by the Company or
     the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
     Agreement, except that such counsel need not express any opinion with
     respect to such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations
     or qualifications (A) as may be required under the Act, the Exchange Act,
     the Trust Indenture Act, the rules and regulations issued pursuant to each
     such act, any order, rule or regulation made or established by any
     insurance official or regulatory authority or the National Association of
     Securities Dealers, Inc., (B) as may be required under state securities or
     Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
     Securities by the Underwriters, (C) the absence of which individually or in
     the aggregate both are not material to the Company and its subsidiaries
     taken as a whole and would not have a material adverse effect on the sale
     or ownership of the Securities or (D) as may be required under foreign laws
     in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by any
     international managers; provided, that the foregoing opinion is limited


                                       12
<PAGE>

     to those consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations and
     qualifications under laws which, in the experience of such counsel, are
     normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by this
     Agreement;

          (viii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, after due inquiry, the
     Company and its subsidiaries, as applicable, have filed all notices,
     reports, documents or other information required to be filed pursuant to,
     and have obtained all authorizations, approvals, orders, consents,
     registrations or qualifications required to be obtained under, and have
     otherwise complied with all requirements of, all applicable insurance laws
     and regulations known to such counsel to be normally applicable to the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance
     and sale by the Company of the Securities and, except as have been obtained
     pursuant to the foregoing clause, no filing, authorization, approval,
     order, consent, registration or qualification of or with any insurance
     regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries or any of their properties known to such counsel to be
     normally applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
     the Indenture is required for the issue and sale of the Securities or the
     consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
     Agreement, except such filings, authorizations, approvals, orders,
     consents, registrations or qualifications which (individually or in the
     aggregate) the failure to make, obtain or comply with would not have a
     material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or properties
     of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or a material adverse
     effect on the sale or ownership of the Securities;

          (ix) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, after due inquiry, there
     are no material contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company
     and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to
     file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any notes or
     debt of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the
     Company to include such securities for registration pursuant to the
     Registration Statement or pursuant to any other registration statement
     filed by the Company under the Act.

          (x) As general counsel to the Company, such counsel reviewed the
     Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented,
     participated in various discussions with representatives of the
     Underwriters and of the Company and its accountants at which contents of
     the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented
     were discussed; on the basis of the information that such counsel gained in
     the course of his activities referred to above and as general counsel, such
     counsel confirms that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date,
     and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (in each case other
     than with respect to the financial statements, financial and accounting
     data and related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or
     excluded therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion or
     belief), appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all
     material respects to the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules
     and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and, although such counsel is
     not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
     completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration
     Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented (except as
     expressly set forth in such opinion), on the basis of the


                                       13
<PAGE>

     foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the
     course of such review which has caused such counsel to believe that, as of
     its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment
     thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the
     financial statements and financial and accounting data and related
     schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded
     therefrom or the exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Form
     T-1, and other than information under the captions "Description of Debt
     Securities," "Description of Capital Stock," "Description of Depositary
     Shares," "Description of Warrants," "Description of Stock Purchase
     Contracts and Stock Purchase Units," "Description of Trust Preferred
     Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of
     Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and under the captions "Description
     of the Notes" and "Underwriting" contained in the Final Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no opinion)
     contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the Final
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or
     supplement thereto made by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery
     (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data and
     related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded
     therefrom or the exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Form
     T-1, and other than information under the captions "Description of Debt
     Securities," "Description of Capital Stock," "Description of Depositary
     Shares," "Description of Warrants," "Description of Stock Purchase
     Contracts and Stock Purchase Units," "Description of Trust Preferred
     Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of
     Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and under the captions "Description
     of the Notes" and "Underwriting" contained in the Final Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no opinion)
     contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or that, as of the Time of Delivery,
     either the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented or any further amendment or supplement (when considered
     together with the document to which such supplement relates) thereto made
     by the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the financial
     statements and financial and accounting data and related schedules
     incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded therefrom or the
     exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Form T-1, and other
     than information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities,"
     "Description of Capital Stock," "Description of Depositary Shares,"
     "Description of Warrants," "Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and
     Stock Purchase Units," "Description of Trust Preferred Securities,"
     "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution"
     in the Basic Prospectus and under the captions "Description of the Notes"
     and "Underwriting" contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an
     untrue statement of a material fact 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; and he does not know of any
     amendment to the Registration Statement required to be filed or of any
     contracts or other documents of a character required to be filed as an
     exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by


                                       14
<PAGE>

     reference into the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required
     to be described in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented which are not filed or described as required, in
     each case, other than with respect to the information under the captions
     "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Capital Stock,"
     "Description of Depositary Shares," "Description of Warrants," "Description
     of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units," "Description of
     Trust Preferred Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities
     Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and under
     the captions "Description of the Notes" and "Underwriting" contained in the
     Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented; and

          (xi) On the basis of the information that such counsel gained in the
     course of the review referred to in paragraph (x) above and as general
     counsel (but without passing upon or assuming any responsibility for the
     accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
     documents described below), such counsel confirms that no facts have come
     to the attention of such counsel in the course of such review which have
     caused such counsel to believe that the documents incorporated by reference
     in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the
     financial statements and financial and accounting data and related
     schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or excluded
     therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they
     became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, did
     not comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
     Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of
     the Commission thereunder; and he has no reason to believe that any of such
     documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case may be,
     contained, in the case of a registration statement which became effective
     under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or, in the case of other documents that
     were filed under the Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary
     to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
     they were made not misleading.

     (d) The Representatives shall have received from Willkie Farr & Gallagher
LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of
Delivery and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and
sale of the Securities, the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented 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
this purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

     (e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate
of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,
President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, General
Counsel or Treasurer of the Company, dated the Time of Delivery, to the effect
that the signatory of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration
Statement, the Final Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and this
Agreement and that:


                                       15
<PAGE>

          (i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
     Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Time of Delivery with the
     same effect as if made on the Time of Delivery and the Company has complied
     with all agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
     performed or satisfied at or prior to the Time of Delivery;

          (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 Final Prospectus there has occurred no
     event required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the
     Registration Statement or Final Prospectus, and there has been no document
     required to be filed under the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder
     which, upon filing, would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
     Final Prospectus which has not been so filed.

     (f) On the date hereof, Deloitte & Touche shall have furnished to the
Representatives a letter, dated the date hereof, to the effect set forth in
Schedule IV hereto. As of the Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche shall have
furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated as of the Time of Delivery,
reaffirming, as of such date, all of the statements set forth in Schedule IV
hereto and otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

     (g) Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there shall not
have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities by
any of Moody's Investors Service or Standard & Poor's Corporation or any public
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.

     (h) Prior to or at the Time of Delivery, the Company shall have furnished
or shall furnish to the Representatives such additional certificates of officers
of the Company as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably
request.

     If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 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 cancelled at,
or at any time prior to, the Time of Delivery 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 7 shall be delivered
at the office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, at
787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, at the Time of Delivery.

     8. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the Securities
provided herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of
the Underwriters set forth in Section 7 (other than Section 7(d)) hereof is not
satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 11(i) hereof or
because of any refusal, inability or failure by the Company to perform



                                       16
<PAGE>

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 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. on demand for all
reasonable 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.

     9. Indemnification and Contribution.

     (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the
directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person
who controls any Underwriter, 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: (i) 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 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 (ii) 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. The Company 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 arising in connection with this Section 9 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 specifically for
inclusion therein, and, provided, further, that the Company shall not be liable
to any Underwriter under the indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) with
respect to any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as the case may be, to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from the
fact such Underwriter sold the Securities to a person to whom there was not sent
or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the
Final Prospectus or of the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented,
whichever is most recent, in any case where such delivery is required by the Act
if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter and
the loss, claim, damage or liability of such Underwriter results from an untrue
statement or omission of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Final
Prospectus which was corrected in the Final Prospectus (or the Final Prospectus
as amended or supplemented). 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, 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 specifically for inclusion in the
documents


                                       17
<PAGE>

referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.

     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 9 of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 9, 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 (a) or (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 (a) or (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) and to participate in and assume the
defense of the claim associated with such action; 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 (a) or (b) of
this Section 9 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 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 total price at
which the applicable Securities


                                       18
<PAGE>

underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public. 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: (i) 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; (ii) the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge; (iii)
access to information; and (iv) the 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 (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 9, 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 (d).

     10. Defaulting Underwriters. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to
purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by the
Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its 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 Securities set forth opposite
their names on 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 on 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 non-defaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this
Agreement will terminate without any liability to any non-defaulting Underwriter
or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in
this Section 10, the Time of Delivery shall be postponed for such period, not
exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order
that the required changes to the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus
or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall relieve


                                       19
<PAGE>

any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any
non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

     11. Termination. This Agreement is 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
(i) trading in the Company's securities shall have been suspended by the
Commission, (ii) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange
shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been
established on such Exchange, (iii) a banking moratorium shall have been
declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) 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 supplements thereto).

     12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements,
representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or
its officers and of the several 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 9 hereof, and will survive the delivery of and payment for the
Securities. The provisions of Section 8 and 9 hereof shall survive the
termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

     13. 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 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 270 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New
York, NY 10017, Attn: High Grade Syndicate Desk (fax no. 212 834-6081); Lehman
Brothers Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, Attn: Debt Capital
Markets, Financial Institutions Group (fax number 212 526 0943); with a copy to
Lehman Brothers Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, Attn: General
Counselor; and Morgan Stanley & Co., 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, Attn:
Eric Bluhm (212 507-2937); if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or
telefaxed to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement,
Attention: Secretary.

     14. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers, directors, employees, agent and controlling persons referred to in
Section 9 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation
hereunder.

     15. Time; 'Business Day'. As used herein, the term `business day' shall
mean any day other than a Saturday, 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.

     16. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


                                       20
<PAGE>

     17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the
parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the
same instrument.


                                       21
<PAGE>

     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 ALLSTATE CORPORATION


                                        By: /s/ James P. Zils
                                            -------------------
                                            Name: James P. Zils
                                            Title: Treasurer

The foregoing Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the
date first above written.

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

By:  J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.


By:  /s/ Robert Bottamedi
     ----------------------
     Name: Robert Bottamedi
     Title: Vice President



For themselves and the other
Underwriters named in Schedule II
to the foregoing Agreement


                                       22
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

Representatives
---------------

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated


<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE II

                                                     Principal Amount of
Underwriters                                         Securities to be Purchased
------------                                         --------------------------

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc......................................$   188,435,000
Lehman Brothers Inc.............................................$   123,045,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated...............................$   123,045,000
Banc of America Securities LLC..................................$    30,745,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co. ...........................................$    30,745,000
UBS Securities LLC..............................................$    30,745,000
BNY Capital Markets, Inc. ......................................$    15,405,000
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ..................................$    15,405,000
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC..................................$    15,405,000
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. ..................................$    15,405,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated..............$    15,405,000
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. .................................$    15,405,000
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC...................................$    15,405,000
Wells Fargo Brokerage Services, LLC.............................$    15,405,000

                                            Total...............$   650,000,000
                                                                    ===========


<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE III

Principal Subsidiaries                            Jurisdiction Of Incorporation

Allstate Insurance Company                                  Illinois

Allstate Life Insurance Company                             Illinois


<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE IV

     Pursuant to Section 7(f) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

          (i) They are independent registered public accountants with respect to
     the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act, the
     Exchange Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the
     applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

          (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and financial
     statement schedules, certain summary and selected consolidated financial
     and operating data, and any supplementary financial information and
     schedules (and, if applicable, pro forma financial information) audited by
     them and included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented or the Registration Statement comply as to form in
     all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
     Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations
     thereunder; and, they have performed a review in accordance with standards
     established under Statement of Auditing Standards No. 100 established by
     the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited
     consolidated interim financial statements, and any supplementary financial
     information and schedules, selected financial data, pro forma financial
     information, prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial
     statements derived from audited financial statements of the Company
     included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus, as amended
     or supplemented or the Registration Statement, for the periods specified in
     such letter, and, as indicated in their report thereon, copies of which
     have been furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the
     "Representatives");

          (iii) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an audit in
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a
     reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information
     referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim and annual
     financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the
     minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the
     latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference
     in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, inquiries of officials
     of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
     accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
     specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them
     to believe that:

               (A) the unaudited consolidated statements of income, consolidated
          balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows and certain
          summary and selected consolidated financial and operating data
          included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
          amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all material
          respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
          the Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations
          thereunder and generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a
          basis


<PAGE>

          substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements
          included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus;

               (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
          items included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
          amended or supplemented do not agree with the corresponding items in
          the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data
          and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not
          determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the
          corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements
          included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
          amended or supplemented;

               (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included or
          incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
          supplemented but from which were derived any unaudited condensed
          financial statements referred to in Clause (A) and any unaudited
          income statement data and balance sheet items included or incorporated
          by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and
          referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
          consistent with the basis for the audited consolidated financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final
          Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

               (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final
          Prospectus as amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all
          material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
          Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations
          thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied
          to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements.

               (E) as of a specified date not more than five business days prior
          to the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the
          consolidated capital stock or any increase in the consolidated
          borrowings or consolidated reserve for property-liability insurance
          claims and claims expense or consolidated reserve for life insurance
          policy benefits, or asset reserves of the Company and its
          subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated fixed income securities
          available for sale, consolidated equity securities, consolidated
          investments or shareholder equity, or any decrease in AIC's or ALIC's
          statutory capital and surplus, or other items specified by the
          Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the
          latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the
          Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, except in each case for
          changes, increases or decreases which the Final Prospectus discloses
          have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

               (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Final
          Prospectus as amended or supplemented to the specified date referred
          to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in


                                       2
<PAGE>

          consolidated premiums earned, consolidated net investment income, or
          other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
          items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with
          the comparable period of the preceding year and with any other period
          of corresponding length specified by the Representatives, except in
          each case for decreases or increases which the Final Prospectus
          discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
          letter; and

          (iv) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
     included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented and the limited procedures, inspection of minute books,
     inquiries and other procedures referred to in paragraphs (ii) and (iii)
     above, they have carried out certain procedures as specified in their
     letter, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted
     auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
     financial information specified by the Representatives, which are derived
     from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries,
     which appear or are incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to,
     the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives, and have
     compared certain of such specified amounts, percentages and financial
     information with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries
     and have found them to be in agreement.


                                       3

