Item 4.  Parents and Subsidiaries of the Registrant

         The Frank B. Howes Trust, which holds 36.5 per cent of the Registrant's
         outstanding common stock, is the parent of the Registrant.  This
         percentage includes 3,000,000 shares which is held in escrow by the
         Insurance Department of Iowa.  The escrow arrangement was required by
         the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Iowa in order to gain
         approval of Registrant's new stock issue of April 1971.  Under the
         terms of this arrangement, those shares could not be sold for a period
         of five (5) years or until Registrant attained certain profitable
         operating goals for three (3) consecutive years.  The escrow
         arrangement also required that should Registrant dissolve during this
         period, the shares held in escrow will not participate in the assets of
         Registrant legally available for distribution until after there has
         been paid or irrevocable set aside for all other shares an amount equal
         to the other shares at the per offering price of $1.25, adjusted for
         stock splits and stock dividends.  As of April 6, 1976, five (5) years
         elapsed.

         The Insurance Department of Iowa, Securities Division has indicated
         that under the terms of the Escrow Agreement the approval of the
         Commissioner of Insurance was required.  The Insurance Department,
         reviewing the condition of the Registrant, did conclude that the
         requisite approval of the Commissioner would not be forthcoming at that
         time, and furthermore, that the Insurance Department will act as escrow
         agent for the shares of the Frank B. Howes Trust.