TRENWICK AMERICA CORP
8-K12G3, 2000-11-16
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                       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) September 27, 2000
                                                 -------------------------------


                          Trenwick America Corporation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware                                                       06-1087672
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State or Other Jurisdiction          (Commission             (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                     File Number)           Identification No.)



One Canterbury Green, Stamford, Connecticut                           06901
-----------------------------------------------                 ----------------
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (203) 353-5500
                                                   -----------------------------


          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)








                                        1


<PAGE>


Item 5. - Other Events

On September 27, 2000, Trenwick Group Inc., LaSalle Re Holdings Limited, LaSalle
Re  Limited  and  Trenwick  Group  Ltd.   (formerly   known  as  Gowin  Holdings
International  Limited)  completed the transactions  contemplated by the Amended
and Restated Agreement, Schemes of Arrangement and Plan of Reorganization, dated
as of March 20, 2000 (the "Business Combination Agreement").  Under the terms of
the Business Combination Agreement, Trenwick Group Ltd., a newly formed company,
acquired all of the assets and liabilities of Trenwick Group Inc. and all of the
issued and outstanding  common shares of LaSalle Re Holdings Limited and LaSalle
Re Limited in exchange  for Trenwick  Group Ltd.  common  shares (the  "Business
Combination").  Trenwick Group Inc. then  distributed  the shares  received from
Trenwick Group Ltd. to its shareholders in a liquidating distribution.

As a part of the Business Combination, Trenwick Group Inc. completed an internal
reorganization of its subsidiary companies. First, substantially all of Trenwick
Group Inc.'s assets and  liabilities,  were transferred from Trenwick Group Inc.
to  Chartwell  Re Holdings  Corporation,  its  wholly-owned  direct  subsidiary,
immediately prior to the Business Combination. Chartwell Re Holdings Corporation
then sold for fair value back to Trenwick  Group Inc. most of its United Kingdom
and Bermuda  subsidiaries.  Last,  Chartwell Re Holdings Corporation merged with
and into Trenwick America Corporation, another wholly owned direct subsidiary of
Trenwick  Group  Inc.,  with  Trenwick  America  Corporation  as  the  surviving
corporation.

As a result of the Business  Combination,  Trenwick America Corporation succeeds
to the rights and  obligations  of Trenwick  Group Inc. with respect to Trenwick
Group Inc.'s  outstanding  indebtedness,  including its outstanding  6.7% Senior
Notes due April 1, 2003,  Contingent  Interest  Notes due June 30,  2006,  8.82%
Subordinated Capital Income Securities issued by its subsidiary trust,  Trenwick
Capital Trust I and 8.82% Junior  Subordinated  Deferrable  Interest  Debentures
supporting the Capital Income  Securities.  Consequently,  the 6.7% Senior Notes
due April 1, 2003,  the  Contingent  Interest Notes due June 30, 2006, the 8.82%
Subordinated  Capital Income  Securities  issued by Trenwick Capital Trust I and
the 8.82% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of Trenwick America
Corporation are hereby registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934,  as amended  (the "1934 Act"),  pursuant to Rule 12g-3  promulgated
under the 1934 Act. Trenwick America Corporation shall report under the 1934 Act
as a successor issuer to Trenwick Group Inc.  pursuant to Rule 15d-5 promulgated
under the 1934 Act.

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits

    2.1   Amended and Restated  Agreement,  Schemes of Arrangement  and  Plan of
          Reorganization,  dated as of March 20, 2000, by  and  among LaSalle Re
          Holdings  Limited,  LaSalle  Re  Limited,  Trenwick  Group  Inc.  and
          Trenwick  Group Ltd. (formerly known as Gowin  Holdings  International
          Limited). Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to  Trenwick Group
          Inc.'s Form 8-K/A, dated March 20, 2000 (File No. 1-15389).

                                       2
<PAGE>

    3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Trenwick America Corporation

    3.2    By-laws of Trenwick America Corporation

    4.1      (a)  Indenture,  dated as of January  31,  1997,   between Trenwick
                  Group Inc. and The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  as Trustee,  with
                  respect to the 8.82% Junior Subordinated  Deferrable  Interest
                  Debentures.  Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  4.2(a)  to
                  Trenwick Group Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the  year
                  ended  December 31, 1996 (File No. 0-14737).

    4.1      (b)  Amended  and  Restated   Declaration   of  Trust  of  Trenwick
                  Capital Trust I, dated as of January 31, 1997. Incorporated by
                  reference to Exhibit  4.2(b) to Trenwick  Group Inc.'s  Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 (File
                  No. 0-14737).

    4.1      (c)  Exchange Capital Securities  Guarantee  Agreement dated  as of
                  July 25, 1997, between Trenwick and The Chase Manhattan  Bank,
                  as  Trustee.  Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  4.7 to
                  Trenwick  Group Inc.'s   Registration  Statement  on  Form S-4
                  (File No. 333-28707).

    4.2    First Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September 27, 2000, among
           Trenwick  Group  Inc.,  Trenwick  America  Corporation  and The Chase
           Manhattan  Bank,  as  Trustee,  with  respect  to  the  8.82%  Junior
           Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures.

    4.3    Indenture,  dated as of March 27, 1998,  between  Trenwick Group Inc.
           and The First National Bank of Chicago,  as Trustee,  with respect to
           the 6.7% Senior Notes due April 1, 2003. Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 4.2 to Trenwick  Group Inc.'s  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
           for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 (File No. 1-15389).

    4.4    First Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September 27, 2000, among
           Trenwick Group Inc., Trenwick America Corporation, and Bank One Trust
           Company,  N.A., as successor to First  National  Bank of Chicago,  as
           Trustee, with respect to the 6.7% Senior Notes due April 1, 2003.

    4.5    Indenture, dated as of  December 1, 1995, between Piedmont Management
           Company Inc. and Fleet Bank, as Trustee, for the  Contingent Interest
           Notes  due  June 30,  2006.  Incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit
           4.5 to Chartwell Re Corporation's Registration Statement  on Form S-1
           (File No. 333-678).


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<PAGE>

    4.6    First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of December 13, 1995, among
           Piedmont Management Company, Chartwell Re Corporation and Fleet Bank,
           as Trustee  under the  Contingent  Interest  Notes due June 30, 2006.
           Incorporated   by   reference   to  Exhibit  4.6  to   Chartwell   Re
           Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-678).

    4.7    Second  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of October 27, 1999, among
           Chartwell Re  Corporation,  Trenwick Group Inc. and State Street Bank
           and Trust  Company,  as  successor  to Fleet Bank,  as Trustee,  with
           respect to the Contingent Interest Notes due June 30, 2006.

    4.8    Third Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September 27, 2000, among
           Trenwick Group Inc.,  Trenwick  America  Corporation and State Street
           Bank and Trust Company,  as successor to Fleet Bank, as Trustee under
           the Contingent Interest Notes due June 30, 2006.



                                    SIGNATURE

         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 hereunto duly authorized.

                                            TRENWICK AMERICA CORPORATION


                                            By:   /s/ Stephen H. Binet
                                               ---------------------------------
                                                  Stephen H. Binet
                                                  President and Chief Executive
                                                  Officer



Dated:  November 16, 2000


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<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit                    Description of Exhibit


    2.1    Amended and Restated  Agreement,  Schemes of Arrangement  and Plan of
           Reorganization,  dated as of March 20, 2000, by and among  LaSalle Re
           Holdings  Limited,  LaSalle  Re  Limited,  Trenwick  Group  Inc.  and
           Trenwick  Group Ltd. (formerly known as Gowin  Holdings International
           Limited). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Trenwick  Group
           Inc.'s Form 8-K/A, dated March 20, 2000 (File No. 1-15389).

    3.1    Certificate of Incorporation of Trenwick America Corporation

    3.2    By-laws of Trenwick America Corporation

    4.1       (a) Indenture, dated as of January  31,  1997,   between  Trenwick
                  Group Inc.  and The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  as Trustee,  with
                  respect to the 8.82% Junior Subordinated  Deferrable  Interest
                  Debentures.  Incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  4.2(a)  to
                  Trenwick Group Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the  year
                  ended  December 31, 1996 (File No. 0-14737).

    4.1       (b) Amended  and  Restated  Declaration  of Trust of Trenwick
                  Capital Trust I, dated as of January 31, 1997. Incorporated by
                  reference to Exhibit  4.2(b) to Trenwick  Group Inc.'s  Annual
                  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 (File
                  No. 0-14737).

    4.1       (c) Exchange Capital Securities  Guarantee  Agreement  dated as of
                  July 25, 1997, between Trenwick and The Chase Manhattan  Bank,
                  as Trustee.  Incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit 4.7  to
                  Trenwick  Group  Inc.'s   Registration  Statement  on Form S-4
                  (File No. 333-28707).

    4.2    First Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September 27, 2000, among
           Trenwick  Group  Inc.,  Trenwick  America  Corporation  and The Chase
           Manhattan  Bank,  as  Trustee,  with  respect  to  the  8.82%  Junior
           Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures.

    4.3    Indenture,  dated as of March 27, 1998,  between  Trenwick Group Inc.
           and The First National Bank of Chicago,  as Trustee,  with respect to
           the 6.7% Senior Notes due April 1, 2003. Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 4.2 to Trenwick  Group Inc.'s  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q
           for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 (File No. 1-15389).

    4.4    First Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September 27, 2000, among
           Trenwick Group Inc., Trenwick America Corporation, and Bank One Trust
           Company,  N.A., as successor to First  National  Bank of Chicago,  as
           Trustee, with respect to the 6.7% Senior Notes due April 1, 2003.


                                       5
<PAGE>


    4.5    Indenture, dated as of December 1, 1995, between Piedmont  Management
           Company Inc. and Fleet Bank, as Trustee, for the  Contingent Interest
           Notes  due  June  30,  2006.  Incorporated  by reference  to  Exhibit
           4.5 to Chartwell Re Corporation's Registration Statement on  Form S-1
           (File No. 333-678).

    4.6    First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of December 13, 1995, among
           Piedmont Management Company, Chartwell Re Corporation and Fleet Bank,
           as Trustee  under the  Contingent  Interest  Notes due June 30, 2006.
           Incorporated   by   reference   to  Exhibit  4.6  to   Chartwell   Re
           Corporation's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-678).

    4.7    Second  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of October 27, 1999, among
           Chartwell Re  Corporation,  Trenwick Group Inc. and State Street Bank
           and Trust  Company,  as  successor  to Fleet Bank,  as Trustee,  with
           respect to the Contingent Interest Notes due June 30, 2006.

    4.8    Third Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September 27, 2000, among
           Trenwick Group Inc.,  Trenwick  America  Corporation and State Street
           Bank and Trust Company,  as successor to Fleet Bank, as Trustee under
           the Contingent Interest Notes due June 30, 2006.


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