SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 4)*
Amwest Insurance Group Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
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(Title of Class of Securities)
032345100
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(CUSIP Number)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
CUSIP NO. 032345100
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(1) Name of Reporting Person
S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person
Markel Corporation
54-0292420
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) SEC Use Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) Citizenship or Place of Organization Virginia Corporation
Number of Shares (5) Sole Voting Power 202,950
Beneficially Owned
by Each Reporting (6) Shared Voting Power -0-
Person With
(7) Sole Dispositive Power 202,950
(8) Shared Dispositive Power 32,560
(9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 235,510
(10) Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain
Shares (See Instructions) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 5.9%
(12) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) HC, CO
CUSIP NO. 032345100
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Item 1 (a). Name of Issuer:
Amwest Insurance Group, Inc.
Item 1 (b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
6320 Canoga Avenue
Suite 300
Woodland Hills, California 91367
Item 2 (a). Name of Person Filing:
Markel Corporation
Item 2 (b). Address or Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
4551 Cox Road
Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
Item 2 (c). Citizenship:
Not applicable
Item 2 (d). Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock
Item 2 (e). CUSIP Number:
032345100
Item 3. This statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b)
and the person filing, Markel Corporation, is a parent holding
company in accordance with Rule 13-1(b) (ii) (G).
(Note: See Item 7).
Item 4. Ownership
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 235,510
(b) Percent of Class: 5.9%
CUSIP NO. 032345100
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(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 202,950
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: 202,950
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of: 32,560
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Essex Insurance Company, Evanston Insurance Company (each
subsidiaries of Markel Corporation) and certain other
investors advised by Markel Gayner Asset Management
Corporation, have the right to receive or the power to direct
the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale
of, the common stock of Amwest Insurance Group, Inc. The
interest of each of such persons relates to less than five
percent of the common stock of Amwest Insurance Group Inc.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the
Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.
See attached Exhibit(s) A and B.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Not applicable, see attached Exhibit A.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not applicable.
CUSIP NO. 032345100
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Item 10. Certification.
By signing below I certify that to the best of my knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in
the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the
purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or
influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and
were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in
any transaction having such purpose or effect.
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: February 12,1999
Signature: /s/ Alan I. Kirshner
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Title: Chairman
CUSIP NO. 032345100
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EXHIBIT A
SCHEDULE 13G
Pursuant to the instructions in Item 7 of Schedule 13G, Markel Gayner Asset
Management Corporation,("Markel Gayner") 4551 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia
23060, a wholly owned subsidiary of Markel Corporation and an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of
235,510 shares of 5.9% of the outstanding common stock of Amwest Insurance Group
Inc. (the "Company") as a result of acting as investment adviser to Essex
Insurance Company, Evanston Insurance Company (each wholly owned subsidiaries of
Markel Corporation) and certain other investors.
Markel Corporation, through its control of Markel Gayner, Essex Insurance
Company and Evanston Insurance Company, has sole power to direct the voting and
disposition of shares of common stock of the Company held by those entities.
Markel Corporation, through its control of Markel Gayner, has shared power to
direct the disposition, but not the voting, of shares of common stock of the
Company held by certain other investors advised by Markel Gayner.
CUSIP NO. 032345100
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EXHIBIT B
RULE 13d-1(f) AGREEMENT
The undersigned persons on this 12th day of February, 1999, agree and consent to
the joint filing on their behalf of this Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13G in
connection with their beneficial ownership of the common stock of Amwest
Insurance Group, Inc.
MARKEL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Alan I. Kirshner
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Title: Chairman
ESSEX INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Alan I. Kirshner
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Title: Chairman
EVANSTON INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Anthony F. Markel
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Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
MARKEL GAYNER ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
By: /s/ Thomas S. Gayner
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Title: President
