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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 12b-25
NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING
(CHECK ONE): /X/Form 10-K / /Form 20-F / /Form 11-K / /Form 10-Q / /Form N-SAR
For Period Ended: December 31, 1998
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/ / Transition Report on Form 10-K
/ / Transition Report on Form 20-F
/ / Transition Report on Form 11-K
/ / Transition Report on Form 10-Q
/ / Transition Report on Form N-SAR
For the Transition Period Ended:
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READ INSTRUCTION (ON BACK PAGE) BEFORE PREPARING FORM. PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE.
NOTHING IN THIS FORM SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THE COMMISSION HAS
VERIFIED ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
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If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify
the Item(s) to which the notification relates:
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PART I -- REGISTRANT INFORMATION
Zenith National Insurance Corp.
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Full Name of Registrant
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Former Name if Applicable
21255 Califa Street
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Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number)
Woodland Hills, California 91367-5021
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City, State and Zip Code
PART II -- RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)
If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or
expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate)
/X/ (a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this
form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or
expense;
(b) The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report
on Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof,
/X/ will be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following
the prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly report of
transition report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed
on or before the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due
date; and
/ / (c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule
12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.
PART III -- NARRATIVE
State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K, 10-Q,
N-SAR, or the transition report or portion thereof, could not be filed within
the prescribed time period.
The Registrant's Form 10-K and Annual Report (certain portions of which are
incorporated by reference into the Form 10-K) for the period ending December
31, 1998 cannot be filed without unreasonable effort or expense due to the
recent receipt of the report from a neutral third party resolving certain
disputed items representing a material uncertainty with respect to the final
purchase price of the RISCORP Acquisition made by Registrant's subsidiary on
April 1, 1998.
(ATTACH EXTRA SHEETS IF NEEDED)
SEC 1344 (6/94)
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PART IV -- OTHER INFORMATION
(1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
notification
Fredricka Taubitz 818 713-1000
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(Name) (Area Code) (Telephone Number)
(2) Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period
that the registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If
answer is no, identify report(s). /X/ Yes / / No
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(3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations
from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected
by the earnings statements to be included in the subject report or
portion thereof? /X/ Yes / / No
If so, attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.
The Registrant has previously announced that net income for 1998 was $1.26
per share compared to $1.57 per share for the corresponding period in 1997.
The decrease in net income was due principally to catastrophe losses,
underwriting losses in the CalFarm health business, which has subsequently
been sold, and the impact of the RISCORP Acquisition in 1998. The Registrant
is in the process of analyzing the recently received report from a neutral
third party relating to the computation of the purchase price for the Riscorp
Acquisition. Based on a preliminary evaluation of the report, the Registrant
expects 1998 net income to decrease due principally to interest on the
balance of the purchase price for the RISCORP Acquisition, reduction in
goodwill amortization and the accounting for reinsurance purchased in
connection with the RISCORP acquisition. Subject to audit, it is Registrant's
present estimate that these items will have the effect of reducing the
previously announced 1998 net income in the range of $.15 to $.20 per share.
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Zenith National Insurance Corp.
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Registrant as Specified in Charter)
has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.
Date April 1, 1999 By /s/ Fredricka Taubitz
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Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the registrant
or by any other duly authorized representative. The name and title of the
person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the signature. If
the statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an authorized
representative (other than an executive officer), evidence of the
representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be filed
with the form.
____________________________________ATTENTION__________________________________
INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE FEDERAL CRIMINAL
VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).
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GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
1. This form is required by Rule 12b-25 of the General Rules and Regulations
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
2. One signed original and four conformed copies of this Form and amendments
thereto must be completed and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, in accordance with Rule O-3 of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Act. The information contained in
or filed with the Form will be made a matter of public record in the
Commission files.
3. A manually signed copy of the form and amendments thereto shall be filed
with each national securities exchange on which any class of securities of
the registrant is registered.
4. Amendments to the notifications must also be filed on form 12b-25 but need
not restate information that has been correctly furnished. The form shall
be clearly identified as an amended notification.
5. ELECTRONIC FILERS. This form shall not be used by electronic filers unable
to timely file a report solely due to electronic difficulties. Filers unable
to submit a report within the time period prescribed due to difficulties in
electronic filing should comply with either Rule 201 or Rule 202 of
Regulation S-T or apply for an adjustment in filing date pursuant to Rule
13(b) of Regulation S-T.
