AMERICAN SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP LTD
SC 13G, 1999-02-10
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS & SERVICE
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934*


                      AMERICAN SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP, LTD.
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  Common Stock
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    G02995101
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                December 31, 1998
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the  appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

      [X]     Rule 13d-1(b)

      [ ]     Rule 13d-1(c)

      [ ]     Rule 13d-1(d)

* 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
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).
                                  Page 1 of 10
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. G02995101

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.    Name Of Reporting Persons
      I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

      Pilgrim America Capital Corporation
      86-0670679

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.    Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

      (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.    SEC Use Only
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:

      Delaware

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    5.  Sole Voting Power               0
Number Of Shares    -----------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially Owned  6.  Shared Voting Power             0
By Each Reporting   -----------------------------------------------------------
Person With:        7.  Sole Dispositive Power          0
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
                    8.  Shared Dispositive Power        0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.    Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

      None. Pursuant to Rule 13d-4, Pilgrim America Capital Corporation declares
      that  the  filing  of this  Schedule  13G  shall  not be  deemed  to be an
      admission by it that it is, for purposes of Section  13(d) or 13(g) of the
      Securities Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of any securities covered by
      this statement.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares   [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

      0%

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person

      HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 2 of 10
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. G02995101

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.    Name Of Reporting Persons
      I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

      Pilgrim Group, Inc.
      95-4516050

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.    Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

      (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.    SEC Use Only
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:

      Delaware

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    5.  Sole Voting Power               0
Number Of Shares    -----------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially Owned  6.  Shared Voting Power             0
By Each Reporting   -----------------------------------------------------------
Person With:        7.  Sole Dispositive Power          0
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
                    8.  Shared Dispositive Power        0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.    Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

      None.  Pursuant to Rule 13d-4, Pilgrim Group, Inc. declares that the
      filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be deemed to be an admission by
      it that it is, for purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities
      Exchange Act, the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this
      statement.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares   [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

      0%

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person

      HC
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 3 of 10
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. G02995101

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.    Name Of Reporting Persons
      I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

      Pilgrim Investments, Inc.
      95-4516049

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.    Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

      (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.    SEC Use Only
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:

      Delaware

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    5.  Sole Voting Power               0
Number Of Shares    -----------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially Owned  6.  Shared Voting Power             0
By Each Reporting   -----------------------------------------------------------
Person With:        7.  Sole Dispositive Power          0
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
                    8.  Shared Dispositive Power        430,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.    Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

      430,000.  Pursuant to Rule 13d-4, Pilgrim Investments,  Inc. declares that
      the filing of this  Schedule 13G shall not be deemed to be an admission by
      it that it is, for  purposes of Section  13(d) or 13(g) of the  Securities
      Exchange  Act,  the  beneficial  owner of any  securities  covered by this
      statement.

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares   [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

      7.13%

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person

      IA
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 4 of 10
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. G02995101

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.    Name Of Reporting Persons
      I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only)

      Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund, Inc.
      95-4020286

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.    Check The Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

      (a) [  ]          (b)  [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.    SEC Use Only
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Citizenship or Place of Organization:

      Maryland

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    5.  Sole Voting Power               430,000
Number Of Shares    -----------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially Owned  6.  Shared Voting Power             0
By Each Reporting   -----------------------------------------------------------
Person With:        7.  Sole Dispositive Power          0
                    -----------------------------------------------------------
                    8.  Shared Dispositive Power        0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.    Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned By Each Reporting Person

      430,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.   Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares   [  ]

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.   Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

      7.13%

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.   Type of Reporting Person:

      IV
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Page 5 of 10
<PAGE>
Item 1.

      (a)   Name of Issuer:

            American Safety Insurance Group, Ltd.

      (b)   Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

            44 Church Street, P.O. Box 2064, Hamilton HM HX, Bermuda

Item 2.

      (a)   Name of Person Filing:

            Pilgrim America Capital Corporation
            Pilgrim Group, Inc.
            Pilgrim Investments, Inc.
            Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund, Inc.

      (b)   Address of Principal Business Offices or, if none, Residence:

            40 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-4424

      (c)   Citizenship

            Not applicable

      (d)   Title of Class of Securities:

            Common Stock

      (e)   CUSIP Number:

            G02995101

Item 3. If  this  statement  is  filed  pursuant  to  Sections  240.13d-1(b)  or
240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

      (a) [ ] Broker  or  dealer  registered  under  Section  15 of the
              Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act").

      (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act.

      (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act.

                                  Page 6 of 10
<PAGE>

      (d) [X] Investment  company  registered  under  Section  8 of the
              Investment Company Act of 1940.

      (e) [X]  An  investment   advisor  in   accordance   with  Section
               240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

      (f) [ ] An employee  benefit plan or endowment  fund in accordance
              with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).

      (g) [X] A parent  holding  company or control person in accordance
              with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).

      (h) [ ] A savings  association  as defined in Section  3(b) of the
              Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

      (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded  from the  definition of an
              investment  company under Section  3(c)(14) of the  Investment
              Company Act of 1940.

      (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.       Ownership.

      Items (a)  through  (c):  See items 1 and 5-11 of the cover  pages to this
      filing.

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.

      Not applicable

Item 7.  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
      the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.

      Pilgrim Investments,  Inc., which is a registered investment adviser under
      Section 203 of the Investment  Advisers Act, is a wholly-owned  subsidiary
      of Pilgrim  Group,  Inc.,  which is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Pilgrim
      America Capital Corporation. The reported shares are beneficially owned by
      Pilgrim  Bank and Thrift  Fund,  Inc.,  which is a  registered  investment
      company for which Pilgrim Investments, Inc.
      serves as investment adviser.

Item 8.  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group

      Not applicable

                                  Page 7 of 10
<PAGE>


Item 9.  Notice of Dissolution of Group

      Not applicable

Item 10. Certification

      By signing  below I certify  that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the  securities  referred to above were  acquired  and are held in the  ordinary
course of business  and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or
with the effect of  changing  or  influencing  the  control of the issuer of the
securities  and were not  acquired and are not held in  connection  with or as a
participant in any transaction having that 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.


                                        PILGRIM AMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                        

February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President


                                        PILGRIM GROUP, INC.


February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President


                                        PILGRIM INVESTMENTS, INC.



February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President

                                  Page 8 of 10
<PAGE>


                                        PILGRIM BANK AND THRIFT FUND, INC.
                                        


February 4, 1999                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
  (Date)                                Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President



                                  Page 9 of 10
<PAGE>
                             Joint Filing Agreement

      In accordance  with Rule  13d-1(f)  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  as amended,  the  undersigned  hereby agree to the joint filing with each
other of a  Schedule  13G,  and all  amendments  thereto,  with  respect to each
holding of Pilgrim Bank and Thrift Fund,  Inc. as to which such a report must be
made, and that each such Schedule and all amendments  thereto are made on behalf
of each of them.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this agreement this 4th
day of February, 1999.

                                        PILGRIM AMERICA CAPITAL CORPORATION
                                        


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President



                                        PILGRIM GROUP, INC.
                                        


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President



                                        PILGRIM INVESTMENTS, INC.
                                        


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President



                                        PILGRIM BANK AND THRIFT FUND, INC.
                                        


                                        By:       /s/ James M. Hennessy
                                        Name:     James M. Hennessy
                                        Title:    Executive Vice President

                                 Page 10 of 10


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