SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 11-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Mark One) _X_ Annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 7, 1996) For the fiscal year ended DECEMBER 31, 1998 ----------------- Or [ ] Transition report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) For the transition period from ____________________ to ____________________ Commission file number: 1-11794 ------- A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below EWB RETIREMENT PLAN B. Name of the issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office E.W. BLANCH HOLDINGS, INC., 500 N. AKARD, DALLAS, TEXAS 75201 SIGNATURES THE PLAN. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. EWB RETIREMENT PLAN ------------------------------------------ (Name of Plan) Date JUNE 23, 1999 By /s/ IAN DAVID PACKER --------------------------- ------------------------------------------ (Signature) IAN DAVID PACKER ------------------------------------------ (Print Name) Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules EWB RETIREMENT PLAN YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 WITH REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS EWB Retirement Plan Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules Year ended December 31, 1998 CONTENTS Report of Independent Auditors.................................................1 Audited Financial Statements Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits................................2 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits......................6 Notes to Financial Statements..................................................8 Supplemental Schedules Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes....................13 Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions................................19 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors EWB Retirement Plan We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the EWB (formerly E. W. Blanch Co.) Retirement Plan as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes as of December 31, 1998, and reportable transactions for the year then ended, are presented for purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial statements, but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The Fund Information in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for benefits and the changes in net assets available for benefits of each fund. The supplemental schedules and Fund Information have been subjected to auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP June 24, 1999 Dallas, Texas EWB Retirement Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 1998 TWENTIETH TWENTIETH AMERICAN AMERICAN TWENTIETH TWENTIETH CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY INT'L CENTURY INT'L ULTRA VISTA BALANCED VALUE GROWTH DISCOVERY FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $267,267 $92,688 $3,876,337 $274,603 $2,560,331 $232,436 Common/collective trust - - - - - - EWBH common stock - - - - - - Self-directed funds: Cash - - - - - - Mutual funds - - - - - - Bonds - - - - - - EWBH common stock - - - - - - Common stocks - - - - - - Preferred stocks - - - - - - Stock options (short) - - - - - - U.S. government obligations - - - - - - International equities - - - - - - Participant loans - - - - - - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 267,267 92,688 3,876,337 274,603 2,560,331 232,436 Receivables: Employer contribution 30,215 5,780 87,744 22,427 71,060 23,117 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $297,482 $98,468 $3,964,081 $297,030 $2,631,391 $255,553 ==================================================================================================== [WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE] STRATEGIC STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ALLOCATION: ALLOCATION: ALLOCATION: CONSERVATIVE MODERATE AGGRESSIVE FUND FUND FUND ------------------------------------------------ ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $43,611 $53,944 $108,131 Common/collective trust - - - EWBH common stock - - - Self-directed funds: Cash - - - Mutual funds - - - Bonds - - - EWBH common stock - - - Common stocks - - - Preferred stocks - - - Stock options (short) - - - U.S. government obligations - - - International equities - - - Participant loans - - - -------------------------------------------------- 43,611 53,944 108,131 Receivables: Employer contribution 4,156 7,885 16,987 -------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $47,767 $61,829 $125,118 ================================================== SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES. 2 EWB Retirement Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits (continued) December 31, 1998 BENHAM PUTNAM BARCLAYS UNRESTRICTED PRIME MONEY BENHAM NEW EQUITY EWBH MARKET GNMA OPPORTUNITIES JANUS INDEX STOCK FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $1,084,722 $ 890,731 $8,155,060 $8,006,973 $ -- $ 14,075 Common/collective trust -- -- -- -- 635,597 -- EWBH common stock -- -- -- -- -- 8,853,753 Self-directed funds: Cash -- -- -- -- -- -- Mutual funds -- -- -- -- -- -- Bonds -- -- -- -- -- -- EWBH common stock -- -- -- -- -- -- Common stocks -- -- -- -- -- -- Preferred stocks -- -- -- -- -- -- Stock options (short) -- -- -- -- -- -- U.S. government obligations -- -- -- -- -- -- International equities -- -- -- -- -- -- Participant loans -- -- -- -- -- -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,084,722 890,731 8,155,060 8,006,973 635,597 8,867,828 Receivables: Employer contribution 134,836 27,496 245,618 217,784 54,293 -- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $1,219,558 $ 918,227 $8,400,678 $8,224,757 $ 689,890 $8,867,828 ====================================================================================== [WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE] RESTRICTED EWBH SELF- PARTICIPANT STOCK DIRECTED LOAN FUND FUND FUND TOTAL --------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 25,660,909 Common/collective trust -- -- -- 635,597 EWBH common stock 68,718 -- -- 8,922,471 Self-directed funds: Cash -- 684 -- 684 Mutual funds -- 1,569,591 -- 1,569,591 Bonds -- 223,750 -- 223,750 EWBH common stock -- 1,941,543 -- 1,941,543 Common stocks -- 1,652,738 -- 1,652,738 Preferred stocks -- 26,000 -- 26,000 Stock options (short) -- (23,150) -- (23,150) U.S. government obligations -- 281,065 -- 281,065 International equities -- 611,451 -- 611,451 Participant loans -- -- 815,378 815,378 -------------------------------------------------------------- 68,718 6,283,672 815,378 42,318,027 Receivables: Employer contribution 1,182,425 -- -- 2,131,823 -------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $1,251,143 $ 6,283,672 $ 815,378 $ 44,449,850 ============================================================== SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES 3 EWB Retirement Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 1997 TWENTIETH TWENTIETH AMERICAN AMERICAN TWENTIETH TWENTIETH CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY INT'L CENTURY INT'L ULTRA VISTA BALANCED VALUE GROWTH DISCOVERY FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $120,982 $37,473 $3,787,075 $211,504 $2,142,889 $111,092 Common/collective trust - - - - - - EWBH common stock - - - - - - Self-directed funds: Mutual funds - - - - - - Bonds - - - - - - EWBH common stock - - - - - - Common stocks - - - - - - Preferred stocks - - - - - - U.S. government obligations - - - - - - International equities - - - - - - Participant loans - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total investments 120,982 37,473 3,787,075 211,504 2,142,889 111,092 Receivables: Employer contribution 8,708 3,815 101,611 8,717 84,171 9,372 Participant contribution 932 261 4,112 793 4,707 823 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 130,622 41,549 3,892,798 221,014 $2,231,767 $121,287 LIABILITIES Other - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $130,622 $41,549 $3,892,798 $221,014 $2,231,767 $121,287 =========================================================================================== [WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE] STRATEGIC STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ALLOCATION: ALLOCATION: ALLOCATION: CONSERVATIVE MODERATE AGGRESSIVE FUND FUND FUND -------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $46,327 $20,982 $38,505 Common/collective trust - - - EWBH common stock - - - Self-directed funds: Mutual funds - - - Bonds - - - EWBH common stock - - - Common stocks - - - Preferred stocks - - - U.S. government obligations - - - International equities - - - Participant loans - - - -------------------------------------------- Total investments 46,327 20,982 38,505 Receivables: 503 1,480 3,652 Employer contribution - 136 284 -------------------------------------------- Participant contribution 46,830 22,598 42,441 Total assets LIABILITIES Other - - - -------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $46,830 $22,598 $42,441 ============================================ SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES 4 EWB Retirement Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits (continued) December 31, 1997 BENHAM PUTNAM BARCLAYS UNRESTRICTED PRIME MONEY BENHAM NEW EQUITY EWBH MARKET GNMA OPPORTUNITIES JANUS INDEX STOCK FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $869,163 $596,560 $7,331,752 $6,564,207 $ - $ 4,726 Common/collective trust - - - - 229,661 - EWBH common stock - - - - - 6,048,578 Self-directed funds: Mutual funds - - - - - - Bonds - - - - - - EWBH common stock - - - - - - Common stocks - - - - - - Preferred stocks - - - - - - U.S. government obligations - - - - - - International equities - - - - - - Participant loans - - - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total investments 869,163 596,560 7,331,752 6,564,207 229,661 6,053,304 Receivables: Employer contribution 104,967 22,273 317,670 240,259 12,543 - Participant contribution 1,497 1,228 15,756 12,897 652 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 975,627 620,061 7,665,178 6,817,363 242,856 6,053,304 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES Other - - - - - 33,832 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $975,627 $620,061 $7,665,178 $6,817,363 $242,856 $6,019,472 ====================================================================================== [WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE] RESTRICTED EWBH SELF- PARTICIPANT STOCK DIRECTED LOAN FUND FUND FUND TOTAL --------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments at fair value: Mutual funds $ - $ - $ - $21,883,237 Common/collective trust - - - 229,661 EWBH common stock 129,737 - - 6,178,315 Self-directed funds: Mutual funds - 1,827,229 - 1,827,229 Bonds - 8,000 - 8,000 EWBH common stock - 1,441,261 - 1,441,261 Common stocks - 1,424,904 - 1,424,904 Preferred stocks - 26,250 - 26,250 U.S. government obligations - 231,653 - 231,653 International equities - 466,912 - 466,912 Participant loans - - 1,009,801 1,009,801 --------------------------------------------------------------- Total investments 129,737 5,426,209 1,009,801 34,727,223 Receivables: Employer contribution 1,114,285 - - 2,034,026 Participant contribution 4,467 - - 48,545 --------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 1,248,489 5,426,209 1,009,801 36,809,794 --------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES Other - - - 33,832 --------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $1,248,489 $5,426,209 $1,009,801 $36,775,962 =============================================================== SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES 5 EWB Retirement Plan Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Year ended December 31, 1998 TWENTIETH TWENTIETH AMERICAN AMERICAN TWENTIETH TWENTIETH CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY CENTURY INT'L CENTURY INT'L ULTRA VISTA BALANCED VALUE GROWTH DISCOVERY FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Additions: Interest and dividends $ 23,103 $ 729 $ 495,607 $ 47,059 $ 49,066 $ 1,468 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 36,091 802 105,205 (35,998) 376,249 19,078 Employer contributions 30,891 6,052 94,818 23,058 76,990 23,830 Participant contributions 84,847 17,559 223,006 69,288 215,110 63,995 Rollovers 14,856 672 5,074 2,123 14,411 20,649 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 189,788 25,814 923,710 105,530 731,826 129,020 Deductions: Benefit payments 12,452 1,093 657,677 4,761 265,756 5,278 Transfers to/from other plans 9,206 557 141,567 3,629 (3,431) 1,477 Administrative expenses 1,071 318 5,234 743 4,460 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22,729 1,968 804,478 9,133 266,785 6,755 Interfund transfers (199) 33,073 (47,949) (20,381) (65,417) 12,001 Net increase (decrease) 166,860 56,919 71,283 76,016 399,624 134,266 Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year 130,622 41,549 3,892,798 221,014 2,231,767 121,287 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net assets available for benefits at end of year $ 297,482 $ 98,468 $ 3,964,081 $ 297,030 $ 2,631,391 $ 255,553 ==================================================================================== [WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE] STRATEGIC STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ALLOCATION: ALLOCATION: ALLOCATION: CONSERVATIVE MODERATE AGGRESSIVE FUND FUND FUND ----------------------------------------- Additions: Interest and dividends $ 2,485 $ 2,845 $ 4,142 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 3,375 2,788 5,584 Employer contributions 4,180 7,991 17,253 Participant contributions 11,454 13,673 36,875 Rollovers 21,500 13,177 11,997 ----------------------------------------- 42,994 40,474 75,851 Deductions: Benefit payments 469 1,390 3,102 Transfers to/from other plans 9 - 1,466 Administrative expenses 130 108 503 ----------------------------------------- 608 1,498 5,071 Interfund transfers (41,449) 255 11,897 Net increase (decrease) 937 39,231 82,677 Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year 46,830 22,598 42,441 ----------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits at end of year $ 47,767 $ 61,829 $ 125,118 ========================================= SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES 6 EWB Retirement Plan Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits (continued) Year ended December 31, 1998 BENHAM PUTNAM BARCLAYS UNRESTRICTED PRIME MONEY BENHAM NEW EQUITY EWBH MARKET GNMA OPPORTUNITIES JANUS INDEX STOCK FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions: Interest and dividends $ 64,102 $ 45,272 $ 282,488 $ 234,251 $ 3,847 $ 83,887 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments - 1,411 1,341,308 2,134,048 103,551 2,647,937 Employer contributions 142,343 29,078 268,027 234,820 55,231 - Participant contributions 146,933 53,457 724,242 593,063 123,668 825 Rollovers 46,867 1,150 41,219 46,217 17,792 17,552 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 400,245 130,368 2,657,284 3,242,399 304,089 2,750,201 Deductions: Benefit payments 563,057 50,812 1,178,123 1,340,399 5,469 927,869 Transfers to/from other plans 123,654 126,926 279,191 279,929 2,218 246,274 Administrative expenses 3,387 1,479 18,565 14,385 1,419 1,731 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 690,098 179,217 1,475,879 1,634,713 9,106 1,175,874 Interfund transfers 533,784 347,015 (445,905) (200,292) 152,051 1,274,029 Net increase (decrease) 243,931 298,166 735,500 1,407,394 447,034 2,848,356 Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year 975,627 620,061 7,665,178 6,817,363 242,856 6,019,472 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits at end of year $1,219,558 $ 918,227 $ 8,400,678 $ 8,224,757 $689,890 $8,867,828 =================================================================================== [WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE] RESTRICTED EWBH SELF- PARTICIPANT STOCK DIRECTED LOAN FUND FUND FUND TOTAL ---------------------------------------------------------- Additions: Interest and dividends $ 19,411 $ 131,107 $ 87,557 $ 1,578,426 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 8,667 887,516 - 7,637,612 Employer contributions 1,238,007 - - 2,252,569 Participant contributions 282,599 - - 2,660,594 Rollovers - - - 275,256 ---------------------------------------------------------- 1,548,684 1,018,623 87,557 14,404,457 Deductions: Benefit payments 12,127 63,781 59,523 5,153,138 Transfers to/from other plans 67,095 156,343 87,788 1,523,898 Administrative expenses - - - 53,533 ---------------------------------------------------------- 79,222 220,124 147,311 6,730,569 Interfund transfers (1,466,808) 58,964 (134,669) - Net increase (decrease) 2,654 857,463 (194,423) 7,673,888 Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year 1,248,489 5,426,209 1,009,801 36,775,962 ---------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits at end of year $ 1,251,143 $ 6,283,672 $ 815,378 $44,449,850 ========================================================== SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES. 7 EWB Retirement Plan Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1998 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN The following description of the EWB (formerly E. W. Blanch Co.) Retirement Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan which was established in September 1985. An employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan on the first day of the calendar quarter following his or her employment date, provided employment has not been terminated prior to such date. An employee must complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of service during each Plan year and be employed on December 31 of that year to receive a discretionary employer contribution, if declared. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). CONTRIBUTIONS Eligible participants may enter into a Salary Reduction Agreement whereby a percentage of pretax compensation per payroll period may be withheld and contributed to the Plan. For the 1998 Plan year, the maximum salary reduction that could be contributed to the Plan could not exceed the lesser of 14% of pretax compensation or $10,000. Additionally, participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans. The assets of the Plan are held by UMB Bank (UMB), the trustee of the Plan, and American Century, a custodian of the Plan, through an agency agreement with UMB. E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. (the Company), may make annual discretionary contributions to all eligible participants' accounts equal to 7.5% of total base earnings. The Company may direct the trustee to invest up to 50% of the employer contribution in the restricted portion of the E. W. Blanch Company Stock Fund, which is restricted from reallocation to other funds until after two full calendar quarters following the quarter in which the funds are contributed. This option was exercised for the 1998 contributions at the full 50%. The remainder of the employer contribution is allocated based on the participants' investment elections in effect at the end of the Plan year. 8 EWB Retirement Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONTINUED) Total contributions to a participant's account in any Plan year are limited to the lesser of $30,000 or 25% of the participant's total compensation. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions and allocations of the Company's contributions and Plan earnings, and is charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined. Forfeited balances of terminated employees' nonvested accounts are used to reduce future Company contributions. Nonvested accounts forfeited in 1998 and 1997 totaled $59,747 and $97,249, respectively. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's account. VESTING Participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Effective January 1, 1998, vesting in the Company contribution portion of each participant's account plus actual earnings thereon occurs over a three year period, provided that the participant is credited with at least 1,000 hours of continuous service in each Plan year. Participants hired prior to April 1, 1993, are 100% vested in Company contributions. Participants of plans merged into the Plan may be immediately 100% vested with respect to employer contributions up to the date of the merger, subject to the provisions of the previous plan. Vesting of subsequent employer contributions is subject to the three years of continuous service requirement. Length of service for vesting purposes is calculated from the date of hire in the previous company. INVESTMENT OPTIONS Other than the 50% of discretionary employer contributions initially directed to the restricted portion of the E. W. Blanch Company Stock Fund, participants may direct daily 100% of all contributions in 5% increments to various mutual funds and the restricted portion of the E. W. Blanch Company Stock Fund. Participants' contributions to the E. W. Blanch Company Stock Fund are restricted from reallocation to other funds until after two full calendar quarters following the quarter in which the funds are contributed. Participants may also elect to self-direct such amounts to other investments, subject to certain restrictions. 9 EWB Retirement Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN (CONTINUED) PARTICIPANT LOANS Participants may borrow from their fund accounts an amount not to exceed 50% of the previous quarter's vested account balance up to a maximum of $50,000. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer from (to) the investment fund to (from) the loan fund. Loans must be repaid within five years through either monthly payroll deductions of principal and interest or through direct remittance of the outstanding balance by the borrowing participant. Loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at rates comparable to rates charged by persons in the business of lending money (7% to 10% in 1998). BENEFITS Upon termination of service, disability, or retirement, a participant will receive a lump-sum amount equal to the vested value of his or her account if the balance does not exceed $5,000. If the account balance is $5,000 or more, the participant may receive a lump-sum amount equal to the vested value of his or her account or may leave the account in the Plan no longer than mandatory distribution age. In the case of retirement, the distribution may be delayed until some time after normal retirement age. In the event of death, the distribution will be made to a named beneficiary. Prior to 1997, participants could invest in life insurance policies. Payments made by the trustee for premiums on such policies shall be considered to be distributions from the participant's account. The cash surrender value of these allocated insurance contracts is excluded from the net assets of the Plan. 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF PRESENTATION The financial statements of the Plan are presented on the accrual basis of accounting. VALUATION OF INVESTMENTS Investments of the Plan are stated at fair market value based on published market quotes or cost, which approximates fair market value, if there is no active market. Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value. 10 EWB Retirement Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. CHANGE IN PRESENTATION OF COMPARATIVE STATEMENTS Certain financial statement amounts at December 31, 1997, have been reclassified to conform to the December 31, 1998, presentation. 3. INVESTMENTS Investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets available for benefits are separately identified in the statements of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 1998 and 1997. 4. PLAN TERMINATION Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts. 5. INCOME TAX STATUS The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service dated January 19, 1994, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. However, the Plan Administrator believes the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and the related trust is tax exempt. 11 EWB Retirement Plan Notes to Financial Statements (continued) 6. YEAR 2000 (UNAUDITED) The Plan Sponsor has determined that it will be necessary to take certain steps in order to ensure that the Plan's information systems are prepared to handle year 2000 dates. The Plan Sponsor is taking a two-phase approach. The first phase addresses internal systems that must be modified or replaced to function properly. Both internal and external resources are being utilized to replace or modify existing software applications, and test the software and equipment for the year 2000 modifications. The Plan Sponsor anticipates substantially completing this phase of the project by late 1999. Costs associated with modifying software and equipment are not estimated to be significant and will be paid by the Plan Sponsor. For the second phase of the project, Plan management established formal communications with its third-party service providers to determine that they have developed plans to address their own year 2000 problems as they relate to the Plan's operations. All third-party service providers have indicated that they will be year 2000 compliant by late 1999. If modification of data processing systems of either the Plan, the Plan Sponsor, or its service providers are not completed timely, the year 2000 problem could have a material impact on the operations of the Plan. Plan management has not developed a contingency plan, because they are confident that all systems will be year 2000 ready. 12 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 December 31, 1998 (b) (c) IDENTITY OF ISSUE, DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING (e) (a) BORROWER, MATURITY DATE, RATE OF INTEREST, (d) CURRENT LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY COLLATERAL, PAR, OR MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mutual Funds: * American Century Twentieth Century Ultra Fund $ 247,566 $ 267,267 * American Century Twentieth Century Vista Fund 91,493 92,688 * American Century Balanced Fund 3,675,146 3,876,337 * American Century Value Fund 313,233 274,603 * American Century Twentieth Century International Growth Fund 2,182,268 2,560,331 * American Century Twentieth Century International Discovery Fund 217,391 232,436 * American Century Strategic Allocation: Conservative Fund 44,090 43,611 * American Century Strategic Allocation: Moderate Fund 50,427 53,944 * American Century Strategic Allocation: Aggressive Fund 100,073 108,131 * American Century Benham Prime Money Market Fund 1,084,722 1,084,722 * UMB Scout Prime I - Money Market Fund 41,632 41,632 * American Century Benham GNMA 881,297 890,731 Putnam Funds New Opportunities Fund 5,983,158 8,155,060 Janus Janus Fund 6,009,405 8,006,973 ------------------------------------ Total Mutual Funds 20,921,901 25,688,466 Common/Collective Trust Barclay Global Investors, NA Equity Index Fund J 195,803 635,597 Common Stock: * E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. 245,980 shares 5,194,512 10,864,014 Schwab Funds Cash 684 684 Mutual Funds (self-directed): American Funds Capital Income Builder Fund 60,796 81,917 Marsico Investment Fund Marsico Focus Fund 26,270 26,166 * Party-in-interest 13 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes (continued) EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 December 31, 1998 (c) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, (b) INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, RATE OF IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER, INTEREST, COLLATERAL, PAR, OR (d) (e) (a) LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY VALUE COST CURRENT VALUE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mutual Funds (self-directed) (continued): Franklin Group of Funds Mutual Beacon Fund - Class Z $ 106,006 $ 143,687 Neuberger & Berman Guardian Fund 49,720 53,340 Oakmark Funds Harris Assoc. Investment Tr 13,863 20,973 Reynolds Funds Blue Chip Growth Fund 25,000 29,823 Rydex Series Trust OTC Fund 25,210 32,557 Schwab Funds Money Market Fund 740,065 740,065 Schwab Funds Value Advantage Money Fund 82,787 82,787 Sound Shore Fund Sound Shore Fund 97,962 88,126 Transamerica Premier Funds Premier Small Co. Fund 25,000 31,059 Vanguard Group Primecap Fund 143,320 211,534 ----------------------------------- Total Mutual Funds (self-directed) 1,395,999 1,542,034 Bonds (self-directed): BellSouth 7.625%, due 5/15/35 215,631 223,750 Common Stocks (self-directed): Airtouch Communications 200 shares 10,450 14,487 AK Steel Holding Corp. 200 shares 4,255 4,700 Alliance World Dlr Govt II 4,500 shares 53,895 38,250 American Express Company 1,000 shares 42,705 102,500 Amgen Incorporated 700 shares 34,881 73,194 Applied Materials, Inc. 200 shares 6,904 8,537 Arcadia Financial Ltd. 1,000 shares 17,719 3,625 Arizona Home Holdings, Inc. 25,000 shares 25,000 25,000 Asyst Technology, Inc. New 100 shares 2,680 2,037 Berkshire Hthwy Cl A 20 shares 46,015 140,000 Boeing Co. 202.2192 shares 10,332 6,597 Caterpillar, Inc. 300 shares 13,905 13,800 Cendant Corp. 600 shares 8,303 11,587 Ciena Corp. 200 shares 6,999 2,925 Cisco Systems, Inc. 450 shares 12,970 41,765 * Party-in-interest 14 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes (continued) EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 December 31, 1998 (c) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, (b) RATE OF INTEREST, (e) IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER, COLLATERAL, PAR, OR (d) CURRENT (a) LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stocks (self-directed) (continued): Compaq Computer Corp. 500.9141 shares $ 11,623 $ 21,038 Computer Associates Int'l. Inc. 200 shares 6,385 8,525 Conseco, Inc. 184.8902 shares 7,962 5,639 Disney Walt Holding Co. 1,200 shares 10,803 36,000 Dupont E I De Nemour & Co. Odd Lot Tender 402.5073 shares 7,756 21,358 Eastman Chemical Co. 56 shares 1,871 2,506 Equus II, Inc. 1,000 shares 19,987 17,105 First Data Corporation 200.5752 shares 21,025 6,393 Gannett Co., Inc. Del 1,600 shares 45,664 103,200 General Electric Company 100.6706 shares 8,621 10,268 General Motors Corp. 300.1411 shares 15,131 21,478 GTE Corporation 103.4153 shares 4,741 6,722 GIC Global Entertainment 2,000 shares 3,247 3,625 Goodyear Tire & Rubber 300 shares 16,294 15,131 Guidant Corp. 200.0727 shares 12,853 22,008 Hartford Financial Services Group 200 shares 10,980 10,975 Hewlett-Packard Company 1302.1995 shares 77,383 88,956 Honeywell Incorporated 700 shares 30,926 52,719 I S B Financial Corp. 300 shares 4,788 6,638 Imation Corp. 40 shares 969 700 Intel Corp. 200.3122 shares 49,394 23,750 Johnson & Johnson 1,000 shares 67,018 83,875 LTV Corporation 300 shares 4,174 1,725 Littelfuse, Inc. 1,400 shares 23,327 26,950 Loral Space & Communications Ltd. 200 shares 6,667 3,563 M B I A, Inc. 800 shares 23,882 52,450 MCI Worldcom, Inc. 200 shares 10,188 14,350 McDonald's Corp. 600 shares 22,976 46,088 Mercury Finance Co. 500 shares 661 22 * Party-in-interest 15 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes (continued) EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 December 31, 1998 (c) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, (b) RATE OF INTEREST, (e) IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER, COLLATERAL, PAR, OR (d) CURRENT (a) LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Common Stocks (self-directed) (continued): Micro Therapeutics New 2,000 shares $ 16,708 $ 20,000 MicroSoft Inc. 40 shares 5,765 5,548 Minnesota Mining & Mfg. 400 shares 34,682 28,450 Motorola Incorporated 200.8883 shares 40,908 12,267 Pepsico Incorporated 200.4039 shares 7,371 8,192 Petroleum & Resources CP 320.5402 shares 12,487 9,817 Pfizer, Inc. 300 shares 32,209 37,500 Philip Morris Cos. Inc. 504.0827 shares 23,221 26,968 Renaissance Holdings Inc. 2,000 shares 75,131 73,250 Rubbermaid Inc. 102.3074 shares 3,113 3,216 St. Joe Company 500 shares 16,967 11,719 Schlumberger Ltd. 200 shares 10,305 9,275 Starwood Hotels & Resorts 200 shares 10,417 4,538 Sunbeam Corporation 1,000 shares 7,790 6,875 Sun Microsystems Inc. 100 shares 3,763 8,563 USA Networks 400 shares 6,150 13,250 Unilever 100 shares 3,893 4,500 United Healthcare Corporation 300.0424 shares 5,836 12,921 United States Filter 2,100 shares 21,784 48,038 VLSI Technology, Inc. 200 shares 4,129 2,188 Vesta Insurance Group 2,500 shares 27,142 15,000 Vision Twenty One Inc. 500 shares 4,217 2,625 Wahlco Environmental Systems Inc. 100 shares 934 9 Wal-Mart Stores Inc. 800 shares 8,391 65,150 Wells Fargo & Co. 203.7145 shares 3,556 8,136 Xerox Corp. 101.5449 shares 7,884 11,982 -------------------------------- Total Common Stocks (self-directed) 1,219,062 1,652,738 Preferred Stocks (self-directed): Hartford Capital 1,000 shares, preferred 8.35% 25,150 26,000 * Party-in-interest 16 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes (continued) EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 December 31, 1998 (c) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, (b) INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, RATE OF (e) IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER, INTEREST, COLLATERAL, PAR, OR (d) CURRENT (a) LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options: Applied Materials 2 $ (690) $ (875) Compaq Computers 4 (715) (2,600) Cisco 3 (302) (7,650) General Motors Corp. 3 (321) (938) Guidant Corp. 2 (340) (6,025) Honeywell, Inc. 2 (315) (25) Motorola 2 (165) (500) Phillip Morris 4 (390) (475) Airtouch Communications 2 (115) (925) Sun Miscrosystems 1 (165) (2,562) Xerox Corporation 1 (115) (575) -------------------------------- (3,633) (23,150) U.S. Government Securities (self-directed): Ctf Accrl Treasury 250,000, Series J, due 5/15/11 67,688 170,450 Treasury Strip 10,000, 00%, due 5/15/99 4,040 9,834 Treasury Note 100,000, 5.375%, due 1/31/00 100,217 100,781 -------------------------------- Total U.S. Government Securities (self-directed) 171,945 281,065 International Equity (self-directed): American Funds Capital World Growth & Income Fund 62,792 79,518 Chile Fund Inc. Chile Fund Inc. 4,462 1,813 American Funds Europacific Growth Fund 99,230 138,444 India Fund Inc. India Fund Inc. 4,265 3,156 India Growth Fund Inc. India Growth Fund Inc. 7,824 4,650 Janus Worldwide Fund 170,820 205,617 Korea Fund Incorporated Korea Fund Incorporated 4,681 7,557 Merrill Lynch NIKKEI Index 225 Market Index, due 2/14/02 93,135 95,563 Franklin Group of Funds Mutual European Fund 46,871 45,633 Oakmark Funds Oakmark International Fund 29,224 26,237 Pakistan Investment Fund Pakistan Investment Fund 4,391 1,500 Thai Fund Thai Fund 3,134 1,763 -------------------------------- Total International Equity (self-directed) 530,829 611,451 17 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes (continued) EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 December 31, 1998 (c) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING MATURITY DATE, (b) RATE OF INTEREST, (e) IDENTITY OF ISSUE, BORROWER, COLLATERAL, PAR, OR (d) CURRENT (a) LESSOR, OR SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY VALUE COST VALUE - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Participant Loans: Promissory Notes due the EWB Interest rates ranging from Retirement Plan 7% to 10% $ 815,378 $ 815,378 ------------------------------ Total $30,683,261 $42,318,027 ============================== *Party-in-interest. 18 EWB Retirement Plan Line 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions EIN: 41-1741779 PLAN #: 001 Year ended December 31, 1998 (h) CURRENT (i) VALUE NET (c) (d) (g) OF ASSET ON GAIN OR (a) (b) PURCHASE SELLING COST OF TRANSACTION (LOSS) ON IDENTITY OF PARTY INVOLVED DESCRIPTION OF SECURITY PRICE PRICE ASSET DATE SALE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Category (iii) - Series of Transactions in Excess of 5% of Plan Assets - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- American Century Balanced Fund $ 942,018 $ - $ 942,018 $ 942,018 $ - American Century Balanced Fund - 957,962 875,037 957,962 82,595 E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. Common Stock 4,512,839 - 4,512,839 4,512,839 - E. W. Blanch Holdings, Inc. Common Stock - 4,440,376 3,713,156 4,440,376 727,220 American Century Benham Prime Money Market Fund 2,163,563 - 2,163,563 2,163,563 - American Century Benham Prime Money Market Fund - 1,947,999 1,947,999 1,947,999 - Putnam New Opportunities Fund 1,641,371 - 1,641,371 1,641,371 - Putnam New Opportunities Fund - 2,155,262 1,845,648 2,155,262 309,614 Janus Janus Fund 1,399,632 - 1,399,632 1,399,632 - Janus Janus Fund - 2,088,085 1,895,995 2,088,085 192,090 Columns (e) and (f) are not applicable. There were no category (ii) or (iv) reportable transactions for the year ended December 31, 1998. 19 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit 23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors 20