8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) - July 13, 1998

                                 HSB Group, Inc.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Connecticut               001-13135          06-1475343
        (State or other             (Commission       (IRS Employer
   jurisdiction of incorporation)   File Number)    Identification No.)

               One State Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06102-5024
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code - (860-722-1866)


Item 5.  Other Events

On July  13,  1998,  HSB  Group,  Inc.  (the  Company)  issued  a press  release
announcing  the  completion  of its  acquisition  of  the  monoline  boiler  and
machinery  business  of Kemper  Insurance  Companies,  effective  July 1,  1998.
Included  herewith as Exhibit 99 is the Company's  press release related to this
announcement and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Exhibits.

99. The Company's press release dated July 13, 1998.



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                        
                                             HSB GROUP, INC.



Dated:  July 13, 1998                        /s/ R. Kevin Price
                                             R. Kevin Price
                                             Senior Vice President and Corporate
                                             Secretary

EX-99

                                                                      Exhibit 99


                                                           MEDIA CONTACT:
                                                  Dennis Milewski (860) 722-5567
                                                        FINANCIAL CONTACT:
                                                     Jim Rowan (860) 722-5180


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 HARTFORD STEAM BOILER COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
                      KEMPER BOILER AND MACHINERY BUSINESS

HARTFORD,  Conn.,  July 13, 1998 -- The  Hartford  Steam Boiler  Inspection  and
Insurance Company (HSB) has completed its acquisition of the monoline boiler and
machinery  business of Kemper Insurance  Companies,  effective July 1, 1998. The
companies also completed an arrangement for HSB to reinsure boiler and machinery
coverage written as part of Kemper's  commercial package policies.  Terms of the
transaction were not disclosed.

HSB will provide jurisdictional inspections,  loss prevention and claim services
to Kemper insureds. In addition,  HSB purchased Kemper's ASME inspection service
business,  a fee-based  engineering  service that certifies  boiler and pressure
vessel compliance with codes and standards of the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers.

In 1997,  Kemper reported  equipment  breakdown  premiums of  approximately  $80
million and engineering fees for ASME inspections of $7.5 million. HSB also will
offer employment to Kemper underwriters, inspectors and engineering specialists.

"Not only did we acquire  Kemper's fine book of monoline  business," said Gordon
W. Kreh,  president  and chief  executive  officer of HSB, "but we are extremely
pleased to add the people who helped make that business a success. They give HSB
additional  strength  to grow and  technical  skills to help  customers  prevent
loss."

HSB  Group,  Inc.(NYSE:HSB)  is a global  provider  of  insurance  products  and
engineering  management consulting services.  HSB Group is the parent company of
The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance  Company,  founded in 1866 to
provide loss  prevention  service and insurance to  businesses,  industries  and
institutions. For more information about HSB, visit its website at www.hsb.com.

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