1
 
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 12, 1998
 
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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                                 UNITED STATES
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
 
                                   FORM SB-2
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
 

                                                   
           COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC.                                 NORTH CAROLINA
 (Name of small business issuer as specified in its        (State or jurisdiction of incorporation or
                      charter)                                           organization)

 

                                                   
                        6331
  (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code                         56-1919638
                      Number)                                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 
COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC., 9140 ARROWPOINT BOULEVARD, SUITE 200, CHARLOTTE,
                                   NC 28273,
                                 (704) 525-8478
(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices and principal place
                                  of business)
 
                             PAUL V. H. HALTER, III
                         COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC.
                      9140 ARROWPOINT BOULEVARD, SUITE 200
                              CHARLOTTE, NC 28273
                                 (704) 525-8478
           (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
 
                          COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS TO:
 

                                                          
                      CHARLES BARKLEY                                            RICHARD F. DAHLSON
                 3001 PLANTERS WALK COURT                                       JACKSON WALKER L.L.P.
                 CHARLOTTE, NC 28210-8025                                    901 MAIN STREET, SUITE 6000
                 TELEPHONE: (704) 543-8806                                    DALLAS, TEXAS 75202-3797
                TELECOPIER: (704) 543-8863                                    TELEPHONE: (214) 953-6000
                                                                             TELECOPIER: (214) 953-5822

 
                             ---------------------
 
    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:   As soon
as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.  [ ]
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  [ ]
                             ---------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 


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                                                               PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM    AMOUNT OF
           TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF               AMOUNT TO BE    OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE       REGISTRATION
          SECURITY TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED      PER UNIT(1)     OFFERING PRICE        FEE
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Units(2).....................................    2,300,000(2)      $5.1875        $11,931,250       $ 3,519.72
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Common Stock, $.001 par value................    2,300,000(2)      $5.00                  (3)           (3)
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Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrants(4)...    2,300,000         $ .125                 (9)           (9)
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Common Stock, Issuable Under Series A Common
  Stock Purchase Warrants(5).................    2,300,000         $6.00          $13,800,000       $ 4,071.00
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Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrants(4)...    2,300,000         $ .0625                (9)           (9)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, Issuable Under Series B Common
  Stock Purchase Warrants(5).................    2,300,000         $7.00          $16,100,000       $ 4,749.50
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative's Warrants....................      200,000           .0005        $       100       $      .03
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units underlying Representative's Warrants...      200,000         $6.225         $ 1,245,000       $   367.28
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock(6)Included in Representative's
  Warrants...................................      200,000         $6.00               (3)(8)        (3)(8)
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Representatives Series A Common Stock
  Purchase Warrants..........................      200,000           .15                  (9)           (9)
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Representatives Series B Common Stock
  Purchase Warrants..........................      200,000           .075                 (9)           (9)
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Representative's Common Stock Issuable Under
  Representative's Series A Common Stock
  Purchase Warrants(7).......................      200,000         $6.00          $ 1,200,000       $   354.00
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Representative's Common Stock Issuable Under
  Representative's Series B Common Stock
  Purchase Warrants(7).......................      200,000         $7.00          $ 1,400,000       $   413.00
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        TOTAL................................                                                       $13,474.53
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                                                        (Footnotes on next page)
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
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   2
 
- ---------------
 
(Footnotes continued from cover)
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
    registration fee in accordance with Rule 457 under the Securities Act of
    1933, as amended.
(2) Includes 300,000 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the
    Representative's over-allotment option.
(3) Included in the Units. No additional registration fee is required.
(4) Includes 300,000 Series A and 300,000 Series B Warrants issuable pursuant to
    the Representative's over-allotment option.
(5) Represents shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A and
    Series B Warrants registered hereby together with such additional
    indeterminate number of shares as may be issued upon exercise of such
    Warrants by reason of the anti-dilution provisions contained therein.
(6) Represents shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
    Representative's Warrant, together with such additional indeterminate number
    of shares of Common Stock as may be issued upon exercise of such
    Representative's Warrant by reason of the anti-dilution provisions contained
    therein.
(7) Represents Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Representative's Warrant,
    together with such additional indeterminate number of Warrants as may be
    issued upon exercise of such Representative's Warrant.
(8) Represents shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
    included within the Representative's Warrant, together with such additional
    indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be issued upon
    exercise of such Warrants by reason of the anti-dilution provisions
    contained therein. No additional filing fee required.
(9) Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act of 1933, no separate registration
    fee is required because the Common Stock underlying the Series A and Series
    B Warrants is being registered in the same registration statement.
   3
 
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                             DATED: AUGUST   , 1998
 
                         COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC.
                                2,000,000 UNITS
 
               EACH UNIT CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF COMMON STOCK,
             ONE REDEEMABLE SERIES A COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT,
           AND ONE REDEEMABLE SERIES B COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
 
    Commerce Casualty Group, Inc. (the "Company" or "Commerce Casualty") is
offering (the "Offering") 2,000,000 units (the "Units"), each Unit consisting of
one share (the "Shares") of common stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"); one Redeemable Series A Common Stock Purchase Warrant (the "Series A
Warrants"); and one Redeemable Series B Common Stock Purchase Warrant (the
"Series B Warrants"). The Series A Warrants and the Series B Warrants may
sometimes be collectively referred to as the "Warrants." The Units, the Shares
and the Warrants offered hereby are referred to collectively as the
"Securities." The Shares and Warrants included in the Units may be not be traded
separately until          , 1999 (180 days from the date of this Prospectus)
unless earlier separated upon three days notice from the Representative (as
hereinafter defined) to the Company. The Warrants may not be exercised until
they are separated from the Units. Prior to this Offering, there has been no
public market for the Units, the Common Stock or the Warrants. It is estimated
that the initial public offering price will be $5.1875 per Unit.
 
    Each Series A Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of Common
Stock at a price of $ 6.00 per share during the five-year period commencing on
the date of this Prospectus. The Series A Warrants are redeemable by the Company
for $9.00 per Warrant. Each Series B Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one
share of Common Stock at a price of $ 7.00 per share during the five-year period
commencing on the date of this Prospectus. The Series B Warrants are redeemable
by the Company for $10.00 per Warrant. Redemption requires not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days written notice provided there is then in effect a current
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the issuance and sale of the Common Stock
upon the exercise of the Warrants. Any redemption of the Warrants during the
one-year period commencing on the date of this Prospectus shall require the
written consent of First London Securities Corporation, the representative of
the Underwriters (the "Representative"). See "Description of Securities".
 
    The initial public offering prices of the Securities and the exercise price
and other terms of the Warrants have been determined through negotiations
between the Company and the Representative and are not related to the Company's
assets, book value, financial condition or other recognized criteria of value.
Although the Company has applied for the inclusion of the Common Stock and the
Warrants on the Pacific Stock Exchange and on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market, there
can be no assurance that an active trading market in the Company's securities
will develop or be sustained.
 
    THESE SECURITIES ARE HIGHLY SPECULATIVE, INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK AND
IMMEDIATE SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5 OF THIS
PROSPECTUS AND "DILUTION" BEGINNING ON PAGE 13 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
                             ---------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 


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                                                                           UNDERWRITING DISCOUNTS    PROCEEDS TO THE
                                                    PRICE TO THE PUBLIC(1)   AND COMMISSION(1)        COMPANY(2)(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         
Per Unit Total --..................................           $                      $
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(1) Does not include additional underwriting compensation to be received by the
    Representative in the form of (i) a non-accountable expense allowance equal
    to 2% of the gross proceeds of this Offering, of which $25,000 has been paid
    to date, (ii) a warrant issued to the Representative (the "Representative's
    Warrant") to purchase up to 200,000 Units, each Unit consisting of one share
    of Common Stock, one Series A Warrant and one Series B Warrant exercisable
    for a four-year period commencing one year after the effective date of this
    Offering at an exercise price of 120% of the initial offering price of the
    Shares and Warrants (in each case subject to adjustment). The Company has
    agreed to pay the Representative upon the exercise of the Warrants a fee
    equal to 5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company, subject to
    certain conditions. In addition, the Company has granted to the
    Representative certain registration rights with respect to registration of
    the Shares and the Warrants underlying the Representative's Warrant (the
    "Underlying Warrants") and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
    of the Underlying Warrants. The Company has agreed to indemnify the
    underwriters against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
    See "Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $623,496
    including the Representative's nonaccountable expense allowance. To date,
    the Company has incurred costs of approximately $25,000 and expects to incur
    filing, printing, legal, accounting and miscellaneous expenses relating to
    the Offering. The Company's officers and directors may purchase up to 10% of
    the offered Securities on the same terms and conditions as all other
    investors.
(3) The Company has granted the Representative an option (the "Representative's
    Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable within 45 days from the date of this
    Prospectus, to purchase on the same terms as the Securities offered hereby
    up to 300,000 additional Units, each Unit consisting of one share of Common
    Stock, one Series A Warrant and one Series B Warrant solely to cover
    over-allotments, if any. If the Representative's Over-Allotment Option is
    exercised in full, the total Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and
    Commissions, and Proceeds to Company will be $        , $        and
    $        , respectively. See "Underwriting".
 
                             ---------------------
 
    The Securities offered by this Prospectus are being offered on a firm
commitment basis by the Underwriters when, as and if delivered to and accepted
by the Underwriters subject to prior sale, and certain other conditions. The
Representative reserves the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the Offering
without notice and to reject any order, in whole or in part. It is expected that
delivery of the certificates representing the Securities will be made against
payment therefor at the offices of First London Securities Corporation, Dallas,
Texas on or about          , 1998.
 
                      FIRST LONDON SECURITIES CORPORATION
 
                THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS           , 1998.
   4
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the Securities. This
Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration
Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Commission. For further information with respect to the
Company and this Offering, reference is made to the Registration Statement,
including the exhibits filed therewith, which may be examined at the
Commission's principal office, Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549 where copies may be obtained upon payment of the fees prescribed by
the Commission. Descriptions contained in the Prospectus as to the contents of
any contract or other documents filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement are not necessarily complete and each such description is qualified by
reference to such contract or document. The Company will provide without charge
to each person who receives a Prospectus, upon written request of such person, a
copy of any of the information that is incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus.
 
     Upon consummation of this Offering, the Company will become subject to the
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith will file reports and other
information with the Commission. Such reports and other information can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549 and at its New York Regional Office,
Room 1300, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048; and at its Chicago
Regional Office, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite
1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such material may also be obtained
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at prescribed rates. The
Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as well as any reports to be filed
under the Exchange Act can also be obtained electronically after the Company has
filed such documents with the Commission through a variety of databases,
including among others, the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis And
Retrieval ("EDGAR") program, Knight-Ridder Information, Inc., Federal
Filings/Dow Jones and Lexis/Nexis. Additionally, the Commission maintains a
Website (at http://www.sec.gov) that contains such information regarding the
Company.
 
     The Company intends to furnish to its stockholders annual reports
containing financial statements which are audited and reported upon by its
independent public accounting firm and such other reports as the Company may
deem appropriate.
 
                             ---------------------
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK OR
WARRANTS AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET.
SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING" AND "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION."
 
                                       ii
   5
 
                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
 
     The following is a summary of certain information contained in this
Prospectus and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and
financial statements (including the notes thereto) appearing elsewhere in the
Prospectus and in the Registration Statement. Unless otherwise indicated, (i)
all information in this Prospectus assumes no exercise of the Warrants, the
Representative's Over-allotment Option or the Representative's Warrant; (ii) all
information in this Prospectus assumes a public offering price of $5.1875 per
Unit ($5.00 per share of Common Stock, $.125 per Series A Warrant, and $0.0625
per Series B Warrant); and (iii) all share and per share data have been adjusted
to give effect to the Company's 3.5 for 1 forward stock split effective July 15,
1998 (the "Stock Split.").
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company is a provider of worker's compensation insurance in the states
of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The Company has
established a network of approximately 93 independent insurance agents and
agencies in those states, all of whom own an equity interest in the Company. The
Company does not presently accept coverage submitted by agents who are not
shareholders.
 
     Workers compensation coverage is statutorily mandated in some form in all
fifty states of the United States, although not all states require commercial
insurance carriers. The Company established an insurance subsidiary, Commerce
Casualty Insurance Company, Ltd. ("Insurance Subsidiary"), on December 19, 1995
under the laws of Bermuda. The Insurance Subsidiary has contracted with Star
Insurance Company ("Star") to sell worker's compensation insurance under the
Company's name through an arrangement with Star. Star is a property and casualty
insurance carrier licensed in 49 states. Star is rated "A minus" by A. M. Best
Review, the industry rating company.
 
     The Company has established its selected network by choosing member agents
with established clienteles in targeted geographical areas. The Company
successfully obtained member agents by providing a series of benefits that are
not typically associated with its worker's compensation competitors. First, the
Company services its agents by providing broad based worker's compensation
coverage which does not restrict the coverages to certain geographical areas,
certain types of businesses, or to limited insurance class codes, unlike many of
its competitors. Second, the Company provides financing to the agent's insureds
for any shortfall in annual premiums that is revealed after the Company audits
the payrolls of the insureds for the previous year. Third, the Company's policy
is to give its agents a 24 hour response to any request for coverage as opposed
to the typical 2 to 3 week industry response time. Finally, the Company will
give telephone quotations to its member agents. By rendering prompt responses
and telephone quotes, the agent's time and expense in determining eligibility
and costs are reduced.
 
     By expanding its network of member agents, the Company will have a network
for distribution of additional insurance products and services. All of the
member agents sell a wide variety of insurance products and services in addition
to worker's compensation coverage. For example, many of the member agents assist
their insureds by arranging for the financing of insurance premiums through
intermediaries. Though this is an important service to many insureds, most
states restrict the ability of insurance agents to collect fees, commissions or
other payments from premium financing. All states where the Company presently
does business, except Georgia, prohibit all fees, commissions, or payments to a
licensed insurance agent for arranging for or financing insurance premiums.
 
     In early 1998, the Company established Commerce Capital, Inc., a North
Carolina corporation, (the "Finance Subsidiary") to provide financing options
for premiums payable on policies of insurance offered by member agents. In June,
1998, the Finance Subsidiary obtained a Line of Credit from First Union National
Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina. This line of credit provides funds for the
financing of insurance premiums. Since no competitor can lawfully pay
commissions to the Company's member agents for financing premiums (except in
Georgia), the Company believes that its member agents will prefer the Company's
premium finance services instead of a third party. See "Business -- Finance
Subsidiary."
 
                                        1
   6
 
     Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 1997 increased 350.4%. Total
revenues for the first quarter of 1998 increased by 101.9% from the same quarter
of 1997. This increase reflected the increase in workers compensation insurance
premiums written through independent insurance agents and the expansion of the
Company into Georgia. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
 
PLAN OF OPERATION
 
     The Company has focused its initial efforts on the establishment of a
network of independent insurance agents in the states of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The Company intends to continue the expansion
of its network of participating agents in Virginia and Tennessee and may add
agents to new and existing geographical areas. In addition, the Company may
introduce new products and services to the network of agents, such as the
premium finance service, excess & surplus lines, and other insurance products
and services to its agents. See "Business."
 
     The Company intends to expand its insurance business, especially its
workers compensation business, into the state of Virginia. This is expected to
be accomplished by soliciting existing Virginia insurance agents to sell the
Company's insurance products. Additional agents may be marketed in the
geographical areas presently served by the Company. All of the Company's agents
will likely be introduced to the Company's premium financing capabilities.
 
     The Company's address is 9140 Arrowpoint Boulevard, Suite 200, Charlotte,
NC 28273 and its telephone number is (704) 525-8478.
 
                                        2
   7
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
Securities Offered.........  2,000,000 Units, each Unit consisting of one share
                             of Common Stock; one Series A Warrant entitling the
                             holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at
                             $6.00 per share until           , 2003 (five years
                             from date of this Prospectus) and one Series B
                             Warrant entitling the holder to purchase one share
                             of Common Stock at $7.00 per share until
                             , 2003 (five years from date of this Prospectus).
                             See "Description of Securities."(1)(2)
 
Description of the
Warrants...................  Each Series A Warrant entitles the holder to
                             purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of
                             $6.00 per share during the five-year period
                             commencing on the date of this Prospectus. The
                             Series A Warrants are redeemable by the Company for
                             $9.00 per Warrant. Each Series B Warrant entitles
                             the holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at
                             a price of $7.00 per share during the five-year
                             period commencing on the date of this Prospectus.
                             The Series B Warrants are redeemable by the Company
                             for $10.00 per Warrant. See "Description of
                             Securities".
 
Common Stock
Outstanding:...............
 
  Before the Offering......  4,464,021
 
  After the Offering.......  6,464,021 (1)(2)
 
Warrants Outstanding:
 
  Before the Offering......  None
 
  After the Offering.......  2,000,000 Series A Warrants and 2,000,000 Series B
                             Warrants. (3)
 
Estimated Net Proceeds to
the Company (4)............  $8,714,004 if the Securities are sold and
                             $10,114,629 if the overallotment option is fully
                             exercised. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
Risk Factors...............  This Offering involves a high degree of risk and
                             immediate and substantial dilution. See "Risk
                             Factors" and "Dilution."
 
Use of Proceeds............  The net proceeds will be used to fund the capital
                             surplus of the Insurance Subsidiary; to fund the
                             initial operations of the newly created Finance
                             Subsidiary; repayment of debt and to expand the
                             existing network of insurance agents. Additional
                             amounts will be divided between additional funding
                             of capital surplus and the balance to the Company
                             for operations. See "Use of Proceeds."
- ---------------
 
(1) Does not include (a) up to 300,000 Shares issuable pursuant to the
    Representative's Overallotment Option, (b) up to 2,300,000 shares of Common
    Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrants and (c) up to
    2,300,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series B
    Warrants. See "Capitalization."
(2) Does not include (a) up to 200,000 Shares included in the Units issuable
    pursuant to the Representative's Warrant and (b) up to 200,000 shares of
    Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A Warrants included in the
    Representative's Warrant and (c) up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock
    issuable upon exercise of the Series B Warrants included in the
    Representative's Warrant.
(3) Does not include 300,000 Series A Warrants or 300,000 Series B Warrants
    issuable pursuant to the Representative's Overallotment Option. Does not
    include up to 200,000 Series A Warrants included in the Representative's
    Warrant and up to 200,000 Series B Warrants included in the Representative's
    Warrant.
(4) After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
    offering expenses payable by the Company, including a 2% non-accountable
    expense allowance payable to the Representative of which $25,000 has been
    paid to date. See "Underwriting."
 
                                        3
   8
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
 


                                       TWO MONTHS          YEARS ENDED           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                         ENDED            DECEMBER 31,          MARCH 31, (UNAUDITED)
                                      DECEMBER 31,   -----------------------   -----------------------
                                          1995          1996         1997         1997         1998
                                      ------------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                                             
CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS STATEMENT
  DATA:
  Revenues and Income:
     Premiums earned................   $    4,553    $  818,979   $3,986,105   $  713,604   $1,410,828
     Commission fees................       15,161       354,271    1,396,533      248,370      535,990
     Investment income..............        5,146        71,370      225,459       38,882       73,996
                                       ----------    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          TOTAL REVENUE.............       24,860     1,244,620    5,608,097    1,000,856    2,020,814
                                       ----------    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  Costs and Expenses:
  Losses and loss adjustment
     expense........................        2,315       427,008    2,518,938      384,942    1,364,551
  Policy acquisition costs..........        1,120       292,625    1,122,877      239,178      419,952
  General and administrative
     expenses.......................      191,153       898,609    1,974,042      416,370      671,674
  Interest..........................        2,640        13,081       17,002        4,450        3,172
                                       ----------    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          TOTAL COSTS AND
            EXPENSES................      197,228     1,631,323    5,632,859    1,044,940    2,459,349
                                       ----------    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  (Loss) before Preferred Stock
     dividend.......................     (172,368)     (386,703)     (24,762)     (44,084)    (438,535)
  Preferred Stock dividend..........           --       (98,280)     (98,280)     (24,570)     (24,570)
                                       ----------    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  Net loss..........................   $ (172,368)   $ (484,983)  $ (123,042)  $  (68,654)  $ (463,105)
                                       ==========    ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
  Net loss per share................   $     (.05)   $     (.14)  $     (.03)  $     (.02)  $     (.11)
                                       ==========    ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
  Weighted Average:
     Number of Common Shares
       Outstanding..................    3,383,520     3,397,477    3,926,442    3,251,883    4,082,753
                                       ==========    ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========

 


                                                                                             MARCH 31,
                                         DECEMBER 31,                         MARCH 31,         1998
                                   -------------------------    MARCH 31,        1998       PRO FORMA AS
                                      1996          1997          1998       PRO FORMA(1)   ADJUSTED(2)
                                   ----------   ------------   -----------   ------------   ------------
                                                               (UNAUDITED)   (UNAUDITED)    (UNAUDITED)
                                                                             
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and investments...........  $1,956,603    $5,399,334    $ 6,185,398   $ 6,825,822    $15,539,970
  Total assets...................   4,555,327     9,986,666     13,413,153    14,053,577     22,767,725
  Total policy liabilities.......   3,249,003     7,178,249     10,178,907    10,178,907     10,178,907
  Total shareholders' equity.....     446,328     1,609,044      1,749,339     2,389,763     11,103,911

 
- ---------------
 
(1) Reflects sale of 231,458 common shares and 1,187 Class B NonVoting Common
    Shares ("Class B Shares") subsequent to March 31, 1998 (number of shares
    adjusted for Stock Split).
(2) Reflects sale of 231,458 common shares and 1,187 Class B Shares subsequent
    to March 31, 1998 and gives effect to the consummation of the Offering and
    the application of the estimated net proceeds as described under "Use of
    Proceeds".
 
                                        4
   9
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Prospective investors should carefully review the following risk factors
together with the other information in this Prospectus in evaluating the Company
and its business prior to purchasing the Securities offered by this Prospectus.
This Prospectus contains forward looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Actual results could differ from those discussed in the forward
looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth
below and elsewhere in the Prospectus.
 
LIMITED FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR RESERVES
 
     For each policy sold, Bermuda insurance statutes require the Company to set
aside capital surplus for each premium dollar at the present rate of $1.00 of
capital surplus for each $5.00 in assumed premium up to $6 million in premium
dollars. The ratio is reduced to a rate of $1.00 of capital surplus for each
$6.00 in assumed premium for sums in excess of $6 million. Regulations designate
that the premium, even if fully collected, is not deemed to be fully "earned"
except ratably over the life of the policy. Additionally, regulations prohibit
the use of "unearned" portions of the premium for crediting against capital
surplus requirements. Since premiums are earned on a monthly basis, the Company
is able to use a larger portion of premiums sold earlier in the year than it can
on premiums sold later in the year. The unearned premiums are placed in a trust
with Star as collected and are earned monthly thereafter. Therefore, the Company
will continue to require infusions of capital to meet statutory capital surplus
requirements. Since the Company expects to continue its growth, the need for
such additional capital will continue into the foreseeable future. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
 
ABSENCE OF LICENSURE; FRONTING ARRANGEMENTS; DEPENDENCE ON STAR INSURANCE
COMPANY
 
     Although the sole initial business purpose of the Company is the sale of
insurance products primarily in the Southeastern United States, neither the
Company nor its Insurance Subsidiary is licensed as an insurance carrier in any
state. Instead, the Company will serve as a Managing General Agent for Star, a
property and casualty insurance company duly licensed and admitted in 49 states.
Under such arrangements, the Company is contractually bound to Star, who in turn
permits the Company to issue the policies it sells. Star is the responsible
party for all purposes under state insurance laws and Star must file all
required reports, maintain statutorily required capital and surplus, and must
otherwise be and remain in good standing to conduct insurance business in the
appropriate jurisdictions. Should the fronting arrangement be terminated, or if
Star should lose its licensure or admission, the Company must either obtain
licensure as an insurance company or find another fronting carrier. Neither of
these possibilities is likely to be practical since both require time and
financial resources. If the Company cannot qualify as an insurance company and
cannot find another fronting company, it would not likely be able to continue
its business. See "Business -- Managing General Agency Agreement."
 
LICENSURE AS A BERMUDA INSURANCE COMPANY
 
     The Company conducts its insurance business through its Insurance
Subsidiary. To continue operations as an insurance company, the Insurance
Subsidiary must maintain its licensure with the government of Bermuda. As of the
date of this Prospectus, all required filings have been made with the Bermuda
Government and the Company expects uninterrupted licensure. The maintenance of
the Insurance Subsidiary is necessary to maintain the fronting relationship with
Star and permits the Company to do insurance business in Bermuda. The Company
can conduct its insurance business in other jurisdictions only through its
fronting arrangement with Star.
 
CAPITAL SURPLUS SHORTAGES
 
     As the Company has grown, the requirements to place increasing amounts in
capital surplus has grown commensurately. The Company, from time to time, has
been unable to fund the required capital surplus from cash flow from operations.
The Company has funded those shortfalls through sales of securities and loans
from shareholders. As a result, in June, 1998, the Company borrowed an aggregate
of $500,000 from the Company's
 
                                        5
   10
 
Chairman, Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. and his wife, Marian Tucker. Promissory notes
were issued to Mr. and Mrs. Tucker which require repayment by December 31, 1998.
The Company also sold 184,209 restricted shares of Common Stock to an existing
shareholder, William F. Bronson, at a price of $2.71 per share. The Company
intends to utilize a portion of the net proceeds from this Offering to repay Mr.
Tucker and his wife all outstanding principal together with interest at the rate
of prime plus 1% from June 30, 1998. In addition, $2,000,000 of the net proceeds
of this Offering will be contributed to the capital of the Insurance Subsidiary
to support additional premium writings. There can be no assurance in the future
that the Company will be able to fund its capital surplus requirements through
cash flow from operations, from third party financing sources or from loans from
its shareholders. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions."
 
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CAPITAL
 
     The Company anticipates that the net proceeds of this Offering will be
sufficient to conduct the Company's plan of operations. Numerous unforeseen
difficulties, however, may require additional funds. The Company may encounter
difficulty in obtaining additional funds at favorable rates or at all. Since the
Company's growth and the amount of insurance that it may sell are directly
related to its capital surplus, lack of needed financing could limit the
premiums which the Company can accept, which could impact operations. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
 
GENERAL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE INDUSTRY
 
     Unlike many other types of insurance, workers compensation insurance does
not provide definite dollar limits to different categories of coverage within
the policy. While the states in which the Company presently operates mandates
the use of medical fee schedules and limits claimants to a maximum of 500 weeks
of lost wages, estimating ultimate claim payments is difficult. There may also
be awards for disfigurement, partial or total permanent disabilities, and
attorneys fees. Since the amounts payable under such policies may differ
substantially, the Company's operational success depends on management's skill
in selecting risks to insure and in controlling payouts on claims. The Company
has established guidelines with respect to selecting the underwriting risks that
it accepts, but there can be no assurance that these measures will successfully
limit exposure to catastrophic claims.
 
     The Company is also subject to numerous factors affecting the workers
compensation insurance industry over which the Company has no control. The
property and casualty insurance industry has historically experienced cycles or
fluctuations that are roughly tied to interest rates, particularly with respect
to interest earned on premium reserves. Competition intensifies and premiums are
often reduced when interest rates are high since income from investments can
sometimes offset underwriting losses. As investment income declines, some
insurers raise premiums to cover underwriting losses.
 
     The industry is also subject to general economic conditions, statutory
changes in workers compensation laws, and judicial decisions affecting
compensability of claims. Even though the industry segment targeted by the
Company is highly regulated, management believes that the Company is subject to
the same level of volatility as experienced throughout the property and casualty
insurance industry.
 
NEW AND UNSEASONED SUBSIDIARY
 
     The Company incorporated the Finance Subsidiary on January 20, 1998 to
engage in the business of financing premiums for a wide array of insurance
products. The Company has no prior experience in the business of financing
premiums and management has only limited experience. While management believes
that the network of agents will forward premium financing prospects to the
Company, the newly created Finance Subsidiary is subject to all of the
uncertainties of any unseasoned, start up business. Such risks include the
dominance of larger, better financed competitors; the need for additional
capital; market fluctuations in the demand for such services; and the relative
lack of barriers to entry. Approximately $2 million of the net proceeds from
this Offering will be used to finance the operations of the newly created
premium Finance Subsidiary. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
                                        6
   11
 
UNDERWRITING RISKS
 
     Industry data suggests that insurance underwritten by new insurance
businesses often carries higher loss frequencies and loss ratios than more
seasoned risks. Since the Company is less than five years old, much of its
business may be considered "new." The Company must rely upon available
information and the knowledge of the insurance agent submitting the business to
assess the loss experience of the prospect. The Company has therefore adopted
underwriting guidelines which are intended to reduce exposure to adverse loss
experience. It is not possible, however, to eliminate the underwriting risks
inherent in a new insurance business. The Company reinsures all of its policies,
but such reinsurance does not relieve the Company of its liability if the
reinsurer does not or cannot pay its obligations. See "Business -- Underwriting
Criteria."
 
LIMITED MARKET FOR COMPANY'S PRODUCTS
 
     The Company presently has approximately 90 agent representatives in
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia and only three elsewhere.
It has limited its insurance products to workers compensation insurance.
Applicable statutory capital requirements will likely prevent the Company from
expanding into other lines of insurance for the foreseeable future, except
through its fronting relationship with Star. In addition, the amount of
insurance that may be sold by a licensed workers compensation carrier is
statutorily related to the amount of its surplus. Based upon the successful
closing of the Offering, management estimates that the Company will have the
capacity to accept approximately $40 million in insurance premiums through its
fronting arrangement with Star. Many of the Company's underwriting and
operational guidelines potentially limit the market for its workers compensation
insurance products. Since the Company is limited to $40 million in premiums the
market potentially available to the Company is small in relation to the overall
market.
 
REGULATION
 
     Extensive laws and regulations of the states in which the Company conducts
operations govern many aspects of its business, including, but not limited to,
licensing, payment of dividends, establishment of rates, transfer of control and
the Company's participation in residual markets such as assigned risk pools.
Changes in such laws and regulations or the adoption of new laws or consumer
initiatives regarding rates charged for workers compensation insurance coverage
or other matters could have a material adverse affect on the operations of the
Company. State agencies and officials responsible for administering such laws
and regulations have broad powers which they exercise primarily for the
protection of policyholders. See "Business -- Regulation."
 
EXPANSION
 
     Under the fronting agreement with Star, Star must give prior approval to
the Insurance Subsidiary's expansion into other jurisdictions and other lines of
business. Star has indicated that it will consider giving such approval, but
there can be no assurance that such approval will be granted. Thus, the growth
of the Company's workers' compensation insurance business will depend on its
ability to obtain Star's approval, obtain fronting arrangements through others
or to establish its own insurer authorized to issue policies of insurance.
Accomplishing any of these is contingent on various factors, including the
availability of adequate capital and applicable regulatory approval, including
licensing requirements. Star has no contractual rights to limit the expansion of
the Insurance Subsidiary.
 
REINSURANCE
 
     When the Insurance Subsidiary underwrites an insurance policy, it does not
generally intend to assume all of the risk of that policy. To reduce its risk
exposure and to reduce the amount of capital surplus necessary to cover risks,
the Insurance Subsidiary expects to maintain reinsurance. Reinsurance is an
arrangement whereby one insurance company (the "assuming reinsurer") agrees to
assume all or part of the risk undertaken by another insurance company (the
"ceding insurer"). Reinsuring risks is a common insurance industry practice. The
parties usually agree upon a division of the risk and a division of the
premiums. In most cases, the ceding
 
                                        7
   12
 
insurer agrees to pay all claims up to an agreed upon amount and to pay a
premium to the reinsurer for insuring claims above that amount. Obtaining
reinsurance, however, does not absolve the ceding insurer from liability. If the
reinsurer does not or cannot pay its agreed upon portion, the ceding insurer
would be responsible for the entire loss.
 
     The Insurance Subsidiary is a party to a quota share reinsurance agreement
with Star. Under this Agreement Star reinsures each policy. Star and the Company
share in premiums and claims expenses until such time as the Company has paid $
50,000 of the first $250,000 on any one claim. Once the Company has paid $50,000
per claim, Star and its reinsurers are responsible for the balance of the
liabilities. See "Business -- Reinsurance."
 
DEPENDENCE ON AGENTS
 
     The Company depends on independent insurance agents and agencies to market
its insurance products. The Company currently has 93 independent insurance
agents in offices marketing its products. The Company intends to expand its
distribution network further into North Carolina and Virginia. Each proposed
relationship will be new and there can be no guarantee that the Company will be
successful in finalizing or maintaining such relationships. The relationship of
the Company with independent insurance agencies and agents and the efforts and
support of independent agencies and agents is critical to the success of the
Company. The Company requires that independent insurance agents be shareholders
of the Company in order to sell its insurance products; however, there will be
no minimum number of the Company's Shares that such agents or agencies will be
required to own in order to act as agents for the Company. In addition,
Management may waive this requirement in its discretion. See
"Business -- Independent Agents and Agencies."
 
COMPETITION
 
     The workers compensation insurance and premium financing industries are
highly competitive. Many competing companies are larger and have far greater
financial resources, marketing abilities and name recognition than the Company.
The Company will be competing with these companies for potential insureds and
for the support and efforts of independent agents to market its insurance
products. The Company's past success has been highly attributable to its
responsive service to its insurance agent representatives, which the Company
believes is its true customer. The Company also believes this strategic approach
has been essentially ignored by its larger competitors. Although the Company
believes that its business plans are differentiated from the competition and are
particularly well devised, there can be no assurance that current or future
competitors, most of whom are larger and better financed, will not initiate
similar plans and operations. See "Business -- Competition."
 
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
 
     The Company's success is largely dependent on the skills, experience and
performance of certain key members of its management, including Paul V. H.
Halter, III and Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. The loss of the services of key employees
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. The Company does not maintain key-man
insurance on the lives of any employees other than Mr. James P. Chick, Jr.,
Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Charles H. Sharpe, Chief Claims Officer. There
are no employment agreements between the Company and any of the executive
officers. The Company's future success and plans for growth also depend on its
ability to attract, train and retain skilled personnel in all areas of its
business. See "Management."
 
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
 
     Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. and E. Eugene Tucker, III have other business
interests. The Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Ernest E. Tucker,
Jr. has loaned moneys to the Company from time to time for capital surplus
infusions to the Insurance Subsidiary. The Company has agreed to repay Mr.
Tucker together with interest at current prime plus one (1%) percent per annum
on a demand note basis. These agreements have not been negotiated at arms
length. Also, any debt owned to Mr. Tucker would likely receive
 
                                        8
   13
 
preferable treatment from any distribution made upon dissolution or liquidation.
It is estimated that E. Eugene Tucker, III devotes approximately 30% of his time
to the Company. Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. devotes approximately 70% of his time to
the Company. Such persons could be subject to conflicting interests insofar as
business interests unrelated to the Company require their time and attention.
See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
 
CONTROL BY EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS
 
     Immediately following the completion of this Offering, there will be
6,464,021 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, of which approximately
29.3%, 8.9% and 8.9%, respectively, will be owned by Messrs. Ernest E. Tucker,
Jr., E. Eugene Tucker, III and Paul V. H. Halter, III. The present shareholders
will own 69.1% of the common voting stock and the purchasers in this Offering
will not have sufficient voting power to elect any directors. The Company's
Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result,
such persons will control the election of future directors and management. The
Company's dividend policy, as well as all other major decisions, such as wages,
acquisitions and financing by the Company, will be significantly influenced and
controlled by such persons. See "Principal Shareholders."
 
DILUTION
 
     Based on an assumed price of $5.1875, purchasers of the Units offered
hereby will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $3.39 per share or
approximately 68% of the net tangible book value of their shares of Common Stock
since the $5.00 of the Unit purchase price attributable to the Common Stock
substantially exceeds the current tangible book value per share of the Common
Stock. See "Dilution."
 
DIVIDEND POLICY
 
     The Company does not intend to pay dividends on its Common Stock and
intends to retain earnings, if any, to finance the growth of the Company's
business. The ability of the Company to pay dividends on Common Stock in the
future will be dependent upon earnings. State law prohibits payment of
"distributions" if the ensuing result of such payments is to impair creditors.
See "Dividend Policy."
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
     Upon completion of the Offering, the Company will have outstanding
6,464,021 shares of Common Stock (6,764,021 shares if the Representative's
Over-allotment Option is exercised in full). Of that amount, the 2,000,000
shares sold to the public in this Offering (2,300,000 if the Representative's
Over-allotment Option is exercised in full) will be freely tradeable without
restriction. The remaining 4,464,021 shares are "restricted shares" and may be
publicly sold only if registered, if eligible for resale under Rule 144 under
the Securities Act, or if an exemption from registration exists. Generally,
under Rule 144, Shares may be sold by non-affiliates after a holding period of
one year. Affiliates may also sell shares under Rule 144 if the holding period
has been met and certain additional requirements have been completed. No
predictions can be made as to the effect, if any, that market sales of such
shares will have on the market price of shares of Common Stock prevailing from
time to time. However, sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the open
market or the availability of such Shares for sale following the Offering could
adversely affect the market price for the Common Stock. See "Shares Eligible for
Future Sale," "Description of Securities" and "Principal Shareholders."
 
NO PRIOR MARKET; POTENTIAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
     There has been no public market for the Securities of the Company and there
can be no assurance that an active public market would develop. Recent history
relating to the market prices of newly public companies indicates that, from
time to time, there may be significant volatility in their market price. There
can be no assurance that the market price of the Units, the Common Stock or the
Warrants will not be volatile as a result of a number of factors, including the
Company's financial results or various matters affecting the stock market
generally.
 
                                        9
   14
 
ARBITRARY OFFERING PRICE AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
 
     The public offering price of the Units and the exercise price of the
Warrants, as well as the exercise price of the Warrants underlying the
Representative's Warrant, have been determined solely by negotiations between
the Company and the Representative. Among the factors considered in determining
these prices were the Company's current financial condition and prospects,
market prices of similar securities of comparable publicly traded companies, and
the general condition of the securities market. However, the public offering
price of the Units as well as the amount of the offering price attributable to
the Common Stock and the Warrants and the exercise price of the Warrants and the
underlying Common Stock do not necessarily bear any relationship to the
Company's assets, book value, earnings or any other established criterion of
value. See "Underwriting."
 
     Holders of the Warrants have the right to exercise the Warrants only if
there is then a current effective registration statement under the Securities
Act and if the underlying shares of Common Stock are qualified, registered or
exempt from registration under applicable securities laws of the states in which
the various holders of the Warrants reside. The Company cannot issue shares of
Common Stock to holders of the Warrants in states where such shares are not
qualified, registered or exempt. It is possible that the Warrants could be held
by persons residing in states where the Company is unable to qualify the Common
Stock underlying the Warrants for sale. The Company has undertaken, however, to
qualify the Warrants for listing on the Pacific Stock Exchange, tier II, which
provides for blue-sky registration in 24 states. The Warrants may expire,
unexercised, which would result in the holders losing all the value of the
Warrants. See "Description of Securities -- Series A and Series B Redeemable
Warrants."
 
REDEEMABLE WARRANTS AND IMPACT ON INVESTORS
 
     The Warrants are subject to redemption by the Company in certain
circumstances. The Company's exercise of this right would force a holder of the
Warrants to exercise the Warrants and pay the exercise price at a time when it
may be disadvantageous for the holder to do so, to sell the Warrants at the then
current market price when the holder might otherwise wish to hold the Warrants
for possible additional appreciation, or to accept the redemption price, which
is likely to be substantially less than the market value of the Warrants in the
event of a call for redemption. Holders in some jurisdictions may be prohibited
from exercise, in which case the Warrants may expire valueless. Holders who do
not exercise their Warrants prior to redemption by the Company will forfeit
their right to purchase the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants. The
foregoing notwithstanding, the Company may not redeem the Warrants at any time
that a current registration statement under the Securities Act is not then in
effect. The Company may be expected to redeem the Warrants at a time when the
market price of the Common Stock exceeds $10.00 per share for more than 10 days.
See "Description of Securities -- Warrants."
 
REPRESENTATIVES PURCHASE WARRANTS
 
     In connection with this Offering, the Company will sell to the
Representative, for nominal consideration, a Representative's Warrant to
purchase up to 200,000 Units, each unit consisting of one Share of common stock,
one Series A Warrant and one Series B Warrant from the Company. The
Representative's Warrant will be exercisable for a four-year period commencing
one year from the date of this Prospectus at an exercise price of $6.00 per
Share and $0.15 per Series A Warrant, and $.075 per Series B Warrant, subject to
adjustment. The Representative's Warrant may have certain dilutive effects
because the holders thereof will be given the opportunity to profit from a rise
in the market price of the underlying Shares with a resulting dilution in the
interest of the Company's other shareholders. The terms on which the Company
could obtain additional capital during the life of the Representative's Warrant
may be adversely affected because the holders of the Representative's Warrant
might be expected to exercise them at a time when the Company would otherwise be
able to obtain comparable additional capital in a new offering of securities at
a price per share greater than the exercise price of the Representative's
Warrant.
 
                                       10
   15
 
POTENTIAL INFLUENCE OF REPRESENTATIVE ON TRADING MARKET
 
     It is anticipated that a significant number of the Units will be sold to
customers of the Representative. Although the Representative has advised the
Company that it intends to make a market in the Securities, it will have no
legal obligation to do so. The prices and the liquidity of the Securities may be
significantly affected by the degree, if any, of the Representative's
participation in the market. No assurance can be given that any market making
activities of the Representative, if commenced, will be continued. The Common
Stock and the Warrants may not be traded separately until             , 1999,
(180 days from the date of this Prospectus) unless earlier separated upon three
days notice in the sole discretion of the Representative and without the consent
of the Unit holders. The Warrants are not exercisable until separated from the
Units. Factors that the Representative will consider in determining whether to
separate the Units before             , 1999 are the trading price and volume
for the Units and the volatility of the trading price for the Units. See
"Underwriting."
 
POSSIBLE APPLICABILITY OF RULES PERTAINING TO LOW COST SECURITIES; POSSIBLE
FAILURE TO QUALIFY FOR PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE OR NASDAQ SMALLCAP MARKET LISTING
 
     The Commission has adopted regulations which generally define a "penny
stock" to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) of less
than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. While the price at which
the Units offered to the public pursuant to this Offering will be equal to
$5.1875, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to satisfy the
listing criteria of the Pacific Stock Exchange or that the Units, the Common
Stock or the Warrants will trade for $5.00 or more after the Offering.
Consequently, the "penny stock" rules may restrict the ability of broker/dealers
to sell the Company's Securities and may affect the ability of purchasers in
this Offering to sell the Company's Securities in a secondary market.
 
     Although the Company has applied for listing of the Units, the Common Stock
and the Warrants on the Pacific Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq SmallCap Market,
there can be no assurance that such application will be approved or that a
trading market for the Units, the Common Stock and the Warrants will develop or,
if developed, will be sustained. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the
Securities purchased by the public hereunder may be resold at their original
offering price or at any other price.
 
     In order to qualify for initial listing on the Pacific Stock Exchange, a
company must, among other things, have at least $8,000,000 in net worth,
1,000,000 Shares in the "public float," with a public float market value of
$2,000,000, 500 beneficial holders, and a minimum $1.00 bid price. For continued
listing on the Pacific Stock Exchange, a company must maintain $1,000,000 of
total assets, a 150,000 share public float with a $500,000 market value, 250
beneficial owners and a minimum $500,000 of stockholders equity. The failure to
meet these maintenance criteria in the future may result in the discontinuance
of the listing of the Securities on the Pacific Stock Exchange.
 
     In order to qualify for initial listing on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, a
company must, among other things, have at least $4,000,000 in net tangible
assets, $5 million "public float," and a minimum bid price for its securities of
$4.00 per share. For continued listing on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, a company
must maintain $2,000,000 in net tangible assets and a $1,000,000 market value of
the public float. In addition, continued inclusion requires two market-makers
and a minimum bid of $1.00 per share. The failure to meet these maintenance
criteria in the future may result in the discontinuance of the listing of the
Common Stock and Warrants on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
 
     If the Company is or becomes unable to meet the listing criteria (either
initially or on a continued basis) of the Pacific Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market and its Securities are never traded or become delisted
therefrom, trading, if any, in the Common Stock and the Warrants would
thereafter be conducted in the over-the-counter market in the so-called "pink
sheets" or, if then available, "Electronic Bulletin Board" administered by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"). In such an event,
the market price of the Securities may be adversely impacted. As a result, an
investor may find it difficult to dispose of or to obtain accurate quotations as
to the market value of the Securities.
 
                                       11
   16
 
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
     Management believes that this Prospectus includes forward looking
statements, including statements regarding, among other items, the Company's
future plans and growth strategies and anticipated trends in the industry in
which the Company operates. These forward looking statements are based largely
on the Company's expectations and are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Actual results
could differ materially from these forward looking statements as a result of the
factors described herein, including, among other things, regulatory or economic
influences. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance
that the forward looking information contained in this Prospectus sill in fact
transpire or prove to be accurate.
 
                                       12
   17
 
                                    DILUTION
 
     The difference between the initial public offering price per share of
Common Stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this
Offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this Offering. Net tangible
book value per share is determined by dividing the net tangible book value of
the Company (total tangible assets less total liabilities) by the number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock adjusted for stock sales subsequent to March
31, 1998 and the Stock Split.
 
     At March 31, 1998, the net tangible book value of the Company was
$1,078,439 or $.25 per share. After giving effect to the sale of 232,645
equivalent shares of Common Stock for $640,424, the pro forma net tangible book
value of the Company was $1,718,863 or $.39 per share. Without taking into
account any changes in net tangible book value attributable to operations after
March 31, 1998, other than the issuance and sale by the Company of 2,000,000
shares of Common Stock offered hereby at the public offering price of $5.00 per
share, 2,000,000 Series A Warrants at the public offering price of $.125 per
Warrant, and 2,000,000 Series B Warrants offered hereby at the public offering
price of $.0625 per Warrant, and the application of the net proceeds as
described under "Use of Proceeds," the pro forma net tangible book value of the
Company as of March 31, 1998 would have been $10,433,011, or $1.61 per share.
This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $1.22 per
share to the existing shareholders and an immediate dilution of $3.39 per share
to new investors (68% of the initial public offering price per share of Common
Stock). The following table illustrates this dilution, on a per share basis:
 

                                                                
Initial public offering price of Common Stock...............          $5.00
Net tangible book value as of March 31, 1998................  $ .25
Increase in pro forma net tangible book value after giving
  effect of private stock sale subsequent to March 31,
  1998......................................................    .14
Increase in net tangible book value attributable to new
  investors.................................................   1.22
Pro forma net tangible book value after offering............           1.61
                                                                      -----
          Total dilution to new investors...................          $3.39
                                                                      =====

 
     If the Representatives' over-allotment option is exercised in full, the pro
forma net tangible book value of the Company as of March 31, 1998 will be
$11,802,511, or $1.74 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net
tangible book value of $1.35 per share to the existing shareholders and an
immediate dilution of $3.26 per share to new investors.
 
     The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 1998, the total number of
shares of Common Stock purchased from the Company, the aggregate consideration
paid and the average price per share paid by the existing shareholders and the
new investors.
 


                                                 SHARES PURCHASED      TOTAL CONSIDERATION     AVERAGE
                                                -------------------   ---------------------     PRICE
                                                 NUMBER     PERCENT     AMOUNT      PERCENT   PER SHARE
                                                ---------   -------   -----------   -------   ---------
                                                                               
Existing Shareholders.........................  4,464,021     69.0%     3,689,160     29.7%     $ .83
New Investors.................................  2,000,000     31.0%     8,714,148     70.3%     $5.00
                                                ---------    -----    -----------    -----      -----
          Total...............................  6,464,021    100.0%   $12,403,308    100.0%     $1.92
                                                =========    =====    ===========    =====      =====

 
     If the Representative's over-allotment option is exercised in full, the new
investors will have paid $10,083,648 for 2,300,000 shares of Common Stock,
representing 73.2% of the total consideration for 34.0% of the total number of
shares outstanding.
 
                                       13
   18
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of the
2,000,000 Units offered hereby are estimated to be approximately $8,714,004
($10,114,629 if the Representative's Over-allotment Option is exercised in full)
assuming an initial public offering price of $5.125 per Unit and after deducting
the estimated underwriting discounts and offering expenses and a non-accountable
expense allowance payable to the Representative equal to 2% of the gross
proceeds. The Company's offering expenses, in the approximate amount of
$623,496, will be paid from proceeds.
 
     The following table reflects the application of the estimated net proceeds
by the Company:
 


APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS                                         AMOUNT
- -----------------------                                       ----------
                                                           
Capital Surplus Addition to Insurance Subsidiary(1).........  $2,000,000
Operations of the Company(2)................................   4,070,625
Capital to Finance Subsidiary(3)............................   2,000,000
Retire debt owed to Mr. And Mrs. E. E. Tucker, Jr.(4).......     523,750
Retire outstanding debt to Tucker Administrators, Inc.(5)...     119,629
                                                              ----------
          Total.............................................  $8,714,004
                                                              ==========

 
- ---------------
 
(1) The amount of insurance premiums that the Company may accept is regulated by
    the Bermuda Government and is directly related to the amount of surplus
    available to the Company. Thus, by establishing higher amounts of surplus,
    the Company is able to accept more risks and hence potentially earn more
    premium income. Consequently, the Company's funds, including its working
    capital, may be considered surplus from time to time in management's
    discretion. Also, the Bermuda Government has broad powers to require
    additional amounts.
(2) Operations of the Company may include amounts for such items as expansion of
    the Company's business, geographical expansions, hiring and training, sales
    and office personnel, preparation and printing of marketing and other
    materials, telephone, supplies, office rent, office equipment, travel and
    entertainment, postage and general office expenses. Management, in its
    discretion, may allocate portions of this amount to the capital surplus
    needs of its Insurance Subsidiary and to capitalize the financing of
    premiums by its Finance Subsidiary.
(3) It is anticipated that this sum will be used to issue loans for the
    financing of premiums for various insurance products, although a portion may
    be used for general operations of the Finance Subsidiary.
(4) On June 30, 1998, Mr. Ernest E. Tucker, the Company's Chairman and Chief
    Executive Officer, and his wife loaned the Company an aggregate of $500,000
    at an interest rate of prime plus one percent. All of these sums were added
    to the capital surplus of the Bermuda insurance company to maintain
    statutory capital surplus requirements under Bermuda law. This sum
    anticipates that the Tuckers will be repaid on or before the end of 1998.
    See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
(5) Repayment of all outstanding sums to Tucker Administrators, Inc., for
    advancements made to the Company during its developmental stage in 1995.
    Tucker Administrators, Inc. is owned by Teeco, Inc. which is owned by Ernest
    E. Tucker, Jr. and his son, E. Eugene Tucker, III. The Tuckers are officers
    and directors of the Company. See "Certain Relationships and Related
    Transactions."
 
     The figures set forth above are estimates and cannot be precisely
calculated. The actual expenditure is likely to vary from that described
depending on a number of factors, including changes that may be required by the
Bermuda Government. See "Plan of Distribution."
 
     The balance of the net proceeds will be used for general working capital.
The Company does not have any present agreements or understandings regarding any
acquisitions.
 
     Pending application of the net proceeds of this Offering, the Company may
invest such net proceeds in interest-bearing accounts, United States government
obligations, certificates of deposit or short-term interest bearing securities.
 
                                       14
   19
 
                                DIVIDEND POLICY
 
     The Company does not intend to pay dividends on its Common Stock and
intends to retain earnings, if any, to finance the growth of the Company's
business. The ability of the Company to pay dividends on Common Stock in the
future will be dependent upon earnings. State law prohibits payment of
"distributions" if the ensuing result of such payments is to impair creditors.
 
                                       15
   20
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth (i) the capitalization of the Company at
March 31, 1998 (unaudited), (ii) the Pro Forma capitalization of the Company as
of such date after giving effect to the sale of 231,458 shares of Common Stock
and 678 Class B Shares (pre-split) which equaled 1,187 shares of Common Stock
after the conversion and the Stock Split, and (iii) the Pro Forma capitalization
of the Company as of such date after giving effect to the private sale of stock
and the sale by the Company of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, 2,000,000
Series A Warrants and 2,000,000 Series B Warrants offered hereby at an assumed
initial public offering price of $5.00 per share of Common Stock, $.125 per
Series A Warrant and $.0625 per Series B Warrant (after deduction of the
underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses) and the application of
the net proceeds as described under "Use of Proceeds." This table should be read
in conjunction with Financial Statements of the Company, including notes
thereto, included elsewhere herein.
 


                                                                      MARCH 31, 1998
                                                          ---------------------------------------
                                                                                       PRO FORMA
                                                                            PRO           AS
                                                            ACTUAL       FORMA(2)     ADJUSTED(3)
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                             
Current maturities of long term debt(1).................  $        --   $        --   $        --
Long-term debt(1).......................................           --            --            --
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
Preferred Stock -- $0.001 par value; 1,000,000 Shares
  authorized, 109,200 issued or outstanding.............          109            --            --
Common stock -- $.001 par value; 10,000,000 Shares
  authorized; 1,068,668 Shares issued and outstanding,
  4,464,021 Shares issued and outstanding Pro Forma, and
  6,464,021 Shares outstanding Pro Forma, As Adjusted...        1,069         4,464         6,464
Class B Nonvoting Common Stock, $0.001 par value;
  authorized 10,000,000 Shares; issued and
  outstanding...........................................           10         9,691            --
Additional paid-in-capital..............................    2,991,649     3,628,797    12,340,945
Retained deficit:
          Total stockholders' equity....................   (1,243,498)   (1,243,498)   (1,243,498)
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
          Total capitalization..........................    1,749,339     2,389,763    11,103,911
                                                          -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                          $ 1,749,339   $ 2,389,763   $11,103,911
                                                          ===========   ===========   ===========

 
- ---------------
 
(1) Reflects the actual short-term and long-term indebtedness and capitalization
    of the Company at March 31, 1998.
(2) Reflects the pro forma short-term and long-term indebtedness and
    capitalization of the Company after giving effect to the sale of 66,131
    pre-split Shares (231,458 after split) of common stock for $635,000 and 678
    (1,187 after split) Class B Shares for $5,424 and the conversion of
    Preferred Stock and Class B Shares to the Company's common shares and Stock
    Split.
(3) Same as (2) above and gives effect to the consummation of the Offering and
    the application of the estimated net proceeds as described under "Use of
    Proceeds."
 
                                       16
   21
 
                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The data for the years ended
December 31, 1997 and 1996 are derived from the audited financial statements
included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The data for the three months ended March
31, 1998 and 1997 are derived from unaudited financial statements that are
included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 


                                                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                             YEARS ENDED                MARCH 31,
                                      TWO MONTHS            DECEMBER 31,               (UNAUDITED)
                                         ENDED         -----------------------   -----------------------
                                   DECEMBER 31, 1995      1996         1997         1997         1998
                                   -----------------   ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                                               
CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS STATEMENT
  DATA:
  Revenues and Income:
    Premiums earned..............      $   4,553       $  818,979   $3,986,105   $  713,604   $1,410,828
    Commission fees..............         15,161          354,271    1,396,533      248,370      535,990
    Investment income............          5,146           71,370      225,459       38,882       73,996
                                       ---------       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
         TOTAL REVENUE...........         24,860        1,244,620    5,608,097    1,000,856    2,020,814
                                       ---------       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  Costs and Expenses:
    Losses and loss adjustment
      expense....................          2,315          427,008    2,518,938      384,942    1,364,551
    Policy acquisition costs.....          1,120          292,625    1,122,877      239,178      419,952
    General and administrative
      expenses...................        191,153          898,609    1,974,042      416,370      671,674
    Interest.....................          2,640           13,081       17,002        4,450        3,172
                                       ---------       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
         TOTAL COSTS AND
           EXPENSES..............        197,228        1,631,323    5,632,859    1,044,940    2,459,349
                                       ---------       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  (Loss) before Preferred Stock
    dividend.....................       (172,368)        (386,703)     (24,762)     (44,084)    (438,535)
    Preferred Stock dividend.....             --          (98,280)     (98,280)     (24,570)     (24,570)
                                       ---------       ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
  Net loss.......................      $(172,368)      $ (484,983)  $ (123,042)  $  (68,654)  $ (463,105)
                                       =========       ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
  Net loss per share.............      $    (.05)      $     (.14)  $     (.03)  $     (.02)  $     (.11)
                                       =========       ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========
  Weighted Average:
    Number of Common Shares
      Outstanding................      3,383,520        3,397,477    3,926,442    3,251,883    4,082,753
                                       =========       ==========   ==========   ==========   ==========

 


                                                                                                      MARCH 31,
                                                   DECEMBER 31,                        MARCH 31,         1998
                                              -----------------------    MARCH 31,        1998       PRO FORMA AS
                                                 1996         1997         1998       PRO FORMA(1)   ADJUSTED(2)
                                              ----------   ----------   -----------   ------------   ------------
                                                                        (UNAUDITED)   (UNAUDITED)    (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                      
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Cash and investments......................  $1,956,603   $5,399,334   $6,185,398     $6,825,822    $15,539,970
  Total assets..............................   4,555,327    9,986,666   13,413,153     14,053,577     22,767,725
  Total policy liabilities..................   3,249,003    7,178,249   10,178,907     10,178,907     10,178,907
  Total shareholders' equity................     446,328    1,609,044    1,749,339      2,389,763     11,103,911

 
- ---------------
 
(1) Reflects sale of 231,458 common shares and 1,187 Class B Shares subsequent
    to March 31, 1998 (number of shares adjusted for Stock Split).
(2) Reflects sale of 231,458 common shares and 1,187 Class B Shares subsequent
    to March 31, 1998 and gives effect to the consummation of the Offering and
    the application of the estimated net proceeds as described under "Use of
    Proceeds".
 
                                       17
   22
 
                      MANAGEMENTS' DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the information
contained in the financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the
other financial information appearing elsewhere in the Prospectus.
 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 1998, as compared to Three Months Ended March 31,
1997
 
     Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 1998 increased to
$2,021,000 from $1,001,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997, an
increase of $1,020,000 or 101.9%. This increase in total revenues is due to
continuing growth in the Company's business, which is represented by the
increase in workers compensation insurance premiums written through independent
insurance agents. Direct (gross) written premiums (premiums before any
reinsurance is applied) were $4,905,000 in the first quarter of 1998, compared
to $2,885,000 in the first quarter of 1997, an increase of 70.0%. This increase
in premiums in the first quarter of 1998 was due to the expansion of the Company
into Georgia with the appointment of a number of independent insurance agencies;
the appointment of additional agents in North Carolina; the writing of a
relatively higher proportion of large premium policies; and offset by slowly
declining premiums rates.
 
     Of the revenue items, premiums earned (premiums assumed by the Insurance
Subsidiary as reinsurer of Star through a quota share reinsurance agreement) was
$1,411,000 in the first three months of 1998, compared to $714,000 in the first
three months of 1997, an increase of $697,000 or 97.6%. Insurance premiums (the
written premiums mentioned in the preceding paragraph) are recognized as earned
on a prorata basis over the term of each underlying insurance policy. Almost all
of the policies written by the Company have a one-year term.
 
     Commissions and fees earned from the production, rating, and processing of
insurance policies and the adjusting of related insurance claims was $536,000 in
1998's first quarter, compared to $248,000 for the comparable period of fiscal
1997, an increase of $288,000 or 116.1%. The Company recognizes commission
income in relation to the amount of work done in issuing and maintaining the
policies, where about two-thirds of the work is done by the time a policy is
issued. Claims fees earned from the adjusting of insurance claims is recognized
over the thirty-six months that the Company is required by contract to adjust
claims from each policy. Commissions and fees earned increased due to the
increase in the Company's business as discussed above.
 
     Investment income increased to $74,000 in the first quarter of 1998 from
$39,000 in the same period last year, an increase of $35,000 or 89.7%, which
reflects the almost two-fold increase in total cash and cash equivalents
invested and investments, derived from the Company's increasing business
activity.
 
     Total expenses increased to $2,459,000 in the first quarter of 1998 from
$1,045,000 in the first quarter of 1997, an increase of $1,414,000 or 135.3%.
This increase reflects (1) the growth of the Company's business and (2) a
substantial increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses as discussed below.
 
     Of the expense items, losses and loss adjustment expenses, primarily
medical and indemnity claims payments to medical providers and to claimants for
time lost from work where the claimant was injured on the job, rose to
$1,365,000 in the first quarter of 1998 from $385,000 in 1997, an increase of
$980,000 or 254.5%. Losses and loss adjustment expenses as a percentage of
premiums earned (the loss ratio) was 96.7% in 1998's first quarter, compared to
53.9% in the first quarter of 1997.
 
     The increase in losses and loss adjustment expenses reflects in part the
growth of the Company's business. The increase in the loss ratio in the first
quarter of 1998 is due to increases in the frequency and severity of claims.
Further, a book of business (that is, a group of insurance policies) which is
not seasoned, where the Company has not insured these policies for a number of
years and thus has not yet weeded out all of the policies producing excessive
claims, the loss experience is usually not as good as that of a seasoned book.
In any event, corrective measures being implemented involve a re-evaluation of
the underwriting on each policy; the nonrenewal of policies with poor claims
experience; decisions to not write certain types of business; and the renewal of
certain policies at a higher premium, which results in more premiums available
to offset claims.
                                       18
   23
 
     Reflecting the Company's increase in business, policy acquisition costs
(expenses related to the production of business, i.e., the writing of insurance
policies) increased to $420,000 in the first quarter of 1998 from $239,000 in
the first quarter of 1997, an increase of $181,000 or 75.7%. Policy acquisition
costs consist of expenses incurred for commissions to agents; administration
fees paid to Star; and taxes, licenses, and assessments required to be paid by
statue in the conduct of an insurance business.
 
     General and administrative expenses, primarily salaries and other operating
expenses incurred by the Company in the production of business and claims
adjusting, increased to $672,000 in the first quarter of 1998 from $416,000 in
the first quarter of 1997, an increase of $256,000 or 61.5%. This increase was
less than the increase in policy acquisition costs, as the Company was able to
achieve further economies of scale in 1998 relative to 1997, as income derived
from a substantial increase in business offset fixed expenses to a greater
degree. The Company had 21 employees at the end of the first quarter of 1998,
compared to 11 employees a year earlier.
 
     As a result of the foregoing, the loss before federal income taxes and
preferred stock dividends was $439,000 in the first three months of 1998,
compared to a loss of $44,000 in the first three months of 1997.
 
  Year Ended December 31, 1997, Compared To Year Ended December 31, 1996
 
     Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 1997 increased to $5,608,000
from $1,245,000 for the year ended December 31, 1996, an increase of $4,363,000
or 350.4%. This more than three-fold increase in total revenues was due to the
growth in the Company's business, represented by the increase in workers'
compensation insurance premiums written through independent insurance agents.
Direct (gross) written premiums (premiums before any reinsurance is applied)
were $11,770,000 in 1997, compared to $4,190,000 in 1996. This increase in
premiums in 1997 reflects the expansion of the Company into Georgia with the
appointment of a number of independent insurance agencies; the appointment of
additional agents in North Carolina; the writing of a relatively higher
proportion of larger accounts; offset by slowly declining premiums rates.
 
     Of the revenue items, premiums earned (premiums assumed by the Insurance
Subsidiary as a reinsurer of Star through a quota share reinsurance agreement)
was $3,986,000 in 1997, compared to $819,000 in 1996, an increase of $3,167,000
or 386.7%. Insurance premiums are recognized as earned on a prorata basis over
the term of each underlying insurance policy. Almost all of the policies written
by the Company have a one-year term.
 
     Commissions and fees earned from the production, rating, and processing of
insurance policies and the adjusting of related insurance claims was $1,397,000
in 1997, compared to $354,000 in 1996, an increase of $1,043,000 or 294.6%. The
Company recognizes commission income in relation to the amount of work done in
issuing and maintaining the policies, where about two-thirds of the work is done
by the time a policy is issued. Claims fees earned from the adjusting of
insurance claims is recognized over the thirty-six months that the Company is
required by contract to adjust claims from each policy. Commissions and fees
earned increased due to the increase in the Company's business as discussed
above.
 
     Investment income increased to $225,000 in 1997 from $71,000 in 1996, an
increase of $154,000 or 216.9%, which reflects the additional funds available
for investment as the Company's business has grown.
 
     Total expenses increased to $5,633,000 in 1997 from $1,631,000 in 1996, an
increase of $4,002,000 or 245.4%. This increase reflects the growth of the
Company's business.
 
     Of the expense items, losses and loss adjustment expenses, primarily
medical and indemnity claims payments to medical providers and to claimants for
time lost from work where the claimant was injured on the job, rose to
$2,519,000 in 1997 from $427,000 in 1996, an increase of $2,092,000 or 489.9%.
Losses and loss adjustment expenses as a percentage of premiums earned (the loss
ratio) was 63.2% in 1997, compared to 52.1% in 1996. The higher loss ratio in
1997 was due to an increase in the frequency of claims. Reflecting the Company's
increase in business, policy acquisition costs (expenses related to the
production of business, i.e., the writing of insurance policies) increased to
$1,123,000 in 1997 from $293,000 in 1996, an increase of $830,000 or 283.3%.
Policy acquisition costs consist of expenses incurred for commissions to agents;
                                       19
   24
 
administration fees paid to Star; and taxes, licenses, and assessments required
to be paid by statue in the conduct on an insurance business.
 
     General and administrative expenses, primarily salaries and other operating
expenses incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries in the production of
business and claims adjusting, increased to $1,974,000 in 1997 from $899,000 in
1996, an increase of $1,075,000 or 119.6%. This increase was less than the
increase in policy acquisition costs, as the Company was able to achieve some
economies of scale in 1997, where income derived from a substantial increase in
business offset the relatively high fixed expenses in 1996, which was the
Company's first full year of operations. The Company had 16 employees at
year-end 1997, compared to nine employees at year-end 1996.
 
     As a result of the foregoing, the loss before federal income taxes and
preferred stock dividends was $25,000 in 1997, as compared to a loss of $387,000
in 1996.
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
     Cash flow from the operating activities of the Company grew to $3,192,000
for the year ended December 31, 1997, compared to $4,979 for the year ended
December 31, 1996. This increase in cash flow was due to the substantial growth
of the Company's business as discussed in the previous section.
 
     Another significant source of funds for the Company in 1997 was the sale of
Common Stock and the sale of Class B Shares, generating aggregate net proceeds
to the Company of $1,208,000. There were no sales of Common Stock in 1996.
 
     During 1997 the Company., was able to meet its cash flow requirements from
the commissions and claims fees it received from the production of insurance
premiums and from its insurance claims adjusting work.
 
     To support the insurance premiums assumed by the Insurance Subsidiary, the
Company allocated $950,000 in 1997 to increase the capital of the Insurance
Subsidiary. Nevertheless, because of the significant growth of the Company's
business and thus the increasing amounts of premiums assumed by the Insurance
Subsidiary, the Insurance Subsidiary did not meet the requirements for minimum
statutory capital and surplus at year-end 1997, which was the greater of
$1,000,000, a percentage of net written premiums, or a given fraction of the
reserve for losses and loss adjustment expenses (as explained further in Note 9
to the consolidated financial statements). The Insurance Subsidiary's statutory
capital and surplus was $872,00 at year-end 1997, less than the required minimum
of $1,000,000. The Company contributed an additional $150,000 on March 19, 1998
to allow the Insurance Subsidiary to meet this deficiency. Because of the
continuing growth expected in the Company's business, additional contributions
will be needed to maintain minimum statutory capital surplus, a portion of such
funds may come from the net proceeds of this Offering. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
     The Company's net cash flows from operating activities result from the
commissions and fees received by the Company in the production of insurance
premiums and from claims adjusting work and the net amount of premiums assumed
less claims payments made by the Insurance Subsidiary. All of the Company's
funds are invested in cash and cash equivalents with little or no exposure to
loss of principal due to fluctuations in interest rates. This conservative
investment strategy is appropriate now because of the Company's obligation to
cover, dollar-for-dollar, in a bank trust account, the unearned premiums and
loss and loss adjustment expense reserves ceded by Star. Without this reserve
funding , insurance regulators would require Star to write down its statutory
surplus by the amount of reserves ceded to the Insurance Subsidiary. The amount
in trust on behalf of Star was $3,864,000 at year-end 1997. If the Insurance
Subsidiary were invested in securities with an exposure to loss of principal due
to interest rate fluctuations, the Company would have to fund the trust account
for any such loss of principal, in order to again bring the amount held in trust
up to the amount of Star's ceded reserves. The Company is not in a position to
fund such deficiencies. The net proceeds of this Offering will allow the Company
to better fund the Insurance Subsidiary, which will allow the Insurance
Subsidiary to invest in securities with a higher yield.
 
                                       20
   25
 
                                    BUSINESS
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company was incorporated in North Carolina on April 19, 1995 as a
holding company for the purpose of engaging in the business of insurance. The
Company established the Insurance Subsidiary on December 19, 1995 under the laws
of Bermuda.
 
     The Company initially devoted its efforts to workers compensation insurance
in certain southeastern states. On January 20, 1998, the Company established a
second subsidiary, the Finance Subsidiary, for the purpose of engaging in the
business of financing insurance premiums The term "Company" means both the
holding company and its subsidiaries, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise.
 
     The Company initially targeted the workers compensation in North Carolina
and South Carolina. The Company devoted its marketing efforts to selecting and
soliciting certain established insurance brokers and agencies within these
states and offering participation to the selected agents. Shortly thereafter,
the Company expanded its efforts into the State of Georgia. The Company
presently has approximately 27 agents in North Carolina; 30 agents in South
Carolina and 30 agents in Georgia. Recently, the Company has began expanding
solicitations of agents and currently has 3 in Virginia, 2 in Alabama and 1 in
Mississippi. See "-- Residual Markets."
 
     Neither the Company nor the Insurance Subsidiary is licensed as an
insurance company in the United States. The Company sells insurance products
through "fronting" arrangements with other licensed insurance companies. Such
arrangements are common to the insurance industry and permit the issuance of
policies on behalf of the fronting insurer. The Company has entered into a
contract generally known as a fronting agreement, a common industry practice,
with Star which permits the Company to sell insurance policies in Georgia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia,. The term of the agreement is seven
years, subject to a 180 day notice of cancellation. Under this arrangement, the
Company issues insurance policies secured by Star but procured by the Company as
if it were a licensed insurance company, subject to the terms and restrictions
of the Company's agreements with Star. To further this arrangement, the Company
must maintain insurance financial requirements for the Bermuda subsidiary. See,
"Business -- Managing General Agency Agreement".
 
     Additionally, the Company is a party to the Star Trust dated October 1,
1995, under which the Company funds from premiums received amounts estimated to
equal its claim liabilities. To limit the Company's overall exposure for claims
liabilities, the Company also entered into a Quota Share reinsurance agreement
(the "Reinsurance Agreement") with Star on the same date. Reinsurance agreements
are pervasive in the industry and reflect the sharing of risks. Through the
fronting relationship, the Insurance Subsidiary engages in the insurance
business, under the auspices of the fronting insurer without the burden of
obtaining and maintaining of licensure as an insurance company. See "-- Managing
General Agency Agreement" and "-- Reinsurance".
 
INSURANCE SUBSIDIARY
 
     The Company has established the Insurance Subsidiary as a captive insurer
under the insurance laws of Bermuda. The Insurance Subsidiary is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, duly licensed as a Bermuda insurance company. The
Insurance Subsidiary has an agreement with Star to provide management services
necessary to comply with Bermuda insurance laws.
 
     In general, fronting arrangements involve and insurer called a "fronting"
insurer that is licensed to carry on the particular insurance business in the
targeted jurisdiction. The "fronting" insurer enters into a contractual
agreement with another insurance company (generally called the "captive") which
permits the captive to write insurance policies under the auspices of the
fronting insurer. The captive generally establishes a trust or other guaranty
arrangement to cover some or all of the liabilities assumed by the fronting
insurer. By this arrangement, the captive insurer is able to sell insurance
through the fronting insurer in jurisdictions in which the captive insurer is
not licensed.
 
                                       21
   26
 
     Under the Star Trust, the Company funds the trust to protect Star from some
of the liabilities incurred by Star as a result of the fronting arrangement. The
funding of the Star Trust occurs on a monthly basis. The amounts required
reflect management's estimate of claims incurred, including those incurred but
not yet reported, for the preceding month. Consequently, management is unable to
precisely estimate the amounts that may be required. See "-- Claim, Losses and
Loss Adjustment Expenses and Reserves."
 
     The fronting relationship and Reinsurance Agreement with Star do not create
a joint venture partnership, pooling of interests, or similar sharing of
liabilities. In addition, Star does not serve as a guarantor to any of the
Company's activities. Star has no other responsibilities with respect to the
operations of the Company.
 
FINANCE SUBSIDIARY
 
     The Company has adopted a policy of generally requiring participating
insurance agents to also maintain ownership in the Company. As a result, the
insurance agents that refer workers compensation insurance to the Company's
Insurance Subsidiary securities holders as well. Practically all of the agents
handle a wide array of insurance products in addition to workers compensation
insurance. The financing of premiums for insurance products is a service that is
routinely offered by insurance agents for many insurance products in addition to
workers compensation insurance.
 
     The Company established the Finance Subsidiary in early 1998 to provide
financing options for premiums payable on policies of insurance offered through
the Company's network of participating agents. Financed premiums can include,
but are not limited to, workers compensation insurance offered by the Company's
Insurance Subsidiary. The Finance Subsidiary became operational in the second
quarter of 1998 and began to finance premiums in late April, 1998.
 
     The Finance Subsidiary has obtained a Line of Credit with First Union
National Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina under the terms of which up to
$2,000,000 may be advanced from time to time. Presently, the interest rate is
8.19% at an interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 250 basis points. These funds are
dedicated to the financing of insurance premiums. The Company generally requires
a prepayment of a portion of the premium and finances the balance at interest
rates competitive in the industry.
 
PLAN OF OPERATIONS
 
     The Company intends to implement its business plan by continuing to expand
the network of insurance agents that sell the Company's insurance products and
services. These efforts will include the servicing of existing agents in North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia and an expansion into nearby
states including Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.
 
     To expand its agency network, management meets with prospective independent
insurance agents and agencies to describe the Company's philosophy and marketing
objectives. The Company familiarizes them with the Company's specialized
products and services, its marketing approach and its underwriting requirements.
The Company is licensed by the North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Virginia Insurance Departments as a Managing General Agency and one or more
employees must secure a nonresident agent's license. The Company has met with
officials of various states' Insurance Departments and intends to take the
necessary steps required in connection with each state's licensing requirements.
 
     The Company has also put in place administrative and operating procedures
and policies relating to the Company's business operations. A claims department
has been established with training in the Company's philosophy of claims
management. This philosophy includes prompt intervention and an attempt to
minimize attorney involvement. A significant amount of time and effort is
devoted to the training of agents and agencies and instructing prospective
agents and agencies in the methods by which the Company hopes to control its
claims exposure.
 
     An insurer's capacity to write insurance coverage is affected by such
insurers available capital and surplus. The Company's capacity to write coverage
is related in part to the capital and surplus of Star. Star has agreed to front
for the Company the full amount of premium permitted by Bermuda law. Management
anticipates the Company will have the legal capacity to write insurance premiums
amounting to approximately
                                       22
   27
 
$40,000,000 upon the successful conclusion of this Offering. The Company's
ability to write new business may require raising additional capital. There can
be no assurance that additional capital will subsequently be available, if it is
needed, or of the terms and conditions upon which additional capital might be
available. See "Risk Factors -- Capital Surplus Shortages."
 
MARKETING STRATEGY
 
     The Company markets its products through independent insurance agencies
located in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Virginia. According to a report in Best's Review, Property/Casualty Edition,
independent agency insurers wrote approximately 70% of the workers compensation
premiums in 1997 issued by insurance companies. A meaningful percentage of
workers' compensation insurance premiums nationally are placed in self-insurance
funds. While there is no industry certified data, estimates place this volume at
approximately 30% of the entire premium countrywide.
 
     Essentially all of the insurance companies (other than the direct writing
companies) compete for the business generated by independent insurance agencies.
Agents are compensated on a commission basis at competitive rates. Management
believes that its commission rate is competitive with those of other insurance
companies. Risks are undertaken which, in the discretion of management, meet the
Company's underwriting criteria. The Company has adopted a policy to require
initial ownership in the Company by participating agents, but that policy may be
altered in the discretion of the board of directors. The Company does not plan
to alter that policy after the Offering. If an aftermarket develops for the
Company's securities, of which there is no assurance, the Company would have no
practical way to verify ownership by agents.
 
     Agents do not have the authority to bind coverage on policies issued. The
Company retains the right to cancel an agent's or agency's right to place
business with the Company if business placed with the Company creates adverse
financial results for the Company. In the event an agent or agency loses the
right to place business with the Company, ownership in the Company's Common
Stock by such agent or agency would not be affected.
 
     For the next year, Management expects that its efforts will be devoted to
expanding the Company's insurance business into the state of Virginia and to add
additional agents to its existing areas. The Company will continue to pursue
arrangements with established agents and agencies. Marketing to prospective
agents in Virginia will likely follow the format developed by the Company in
other states. In addition, the Company intends to market its premium finance
capabilities to its agents.
 
INSURANCE PRODUCTS
 
     The Company offers policies providing for statutorily prescribed employer's
liability limits and statutorily determined employee benefits. Policies are
written on an annual basis and will have payment options based on the amount of
annual premiums. For accounts whose annual premiums are less than $5,000, the
full annual premium is usually due with the application. For accounts with
annual premiums between $5,001 and $10,000, insureds may pay in two installments
or annually. For accounts between $10,001 and $25,000, insureds may pay in three
installments. Independent agencies do not have the ability to bind insurance
policies without prior approval of the Company and the Company retains the sole
power to commit to providing insurance coverage.
 
MANAGING GENERAL AGENCY AGREEMENT
 
     The Company has a management agreement (the "Agreement") with Star. Under
that Agreement, the Company performs virtually all of the administrative,
management and clerical functions pertaining to the workers compensation
insurance business written pursuant to the fronting arrangement. The Company's
staff handles all inquiries, customer service and claims management.
 
                                       23
   28
 
     The Company has responsibility with respect to establishing overall
policies and with respect to any other significant matters relating to workers
compensation policies written by Star under the fronting arrangement. Thus, the
Company is directly responsible for:
 
     - Approval or rejection of business (underwriting) submitted by insurance
       agents.
 
     - Submitting reinsurance claims.
 
     - Decisions relating to the approving or contesting payments of all workers
       compensation claims.
 
     - Selecting and managing agency/agent relations.
 
     - Formulating and implementing marketing and sales strategies.
 
     - Establishing and adjusting claim reserves.
 
     Star prepares required financial reports, annual statements and other
regulatory reports and periodic reports relating to the handling of moneys in
the Star Trust.
 
     Among other things, the Company has administrative and clerical
responsibilities relating to developing underwriting guidelines to facilitate
underwriting decisions, policy issue, policy invoicing, collection of premiums,
return of premiums, cancellations, endorsements, agency commission disbursement,
claims settlement, claim management, and monthly financial reporting. The
Company deducts agents' commissions from remittances to Star and remits such
commissions to agents on a regularly scheduled basis in accordance with its
agency agreements.
 
     The Agreement with Star has a continuous term from the date of its
execution. The Agreement may be cancelled by either party with 180 written
notice. Termination can occur upon insolvency or loss of licensure by either
party. The Agreement can be terminated by Star for, among other things, sale of
all of the Company's assets, failure to maintain staff or "quality" of services,
failure to render reports, failure to maintain premium funds or to make required
payments, failure to permit inspection or audit, fraud, breach of the Agreement,
or the business becomes economically unfeasible due to judicial, legislative or
regulatory changes. Under its terms, practically all provisions of the Agreement
relating to insurance business in force before any termination shall be deemed
to survive termination of the Agreement. See "Risk Factors -- Absence of
Licensure."
 
     During the term of the Agreement, Star has the right at any time during
regular business hours to visit, inspect, examine and verify properties,
accounts, books, records or work papers belonging to or in possession of the
Company pertaining to the subject matter of the Agreement or to the financial
condition of the Company and to make copies and extracts therefrom.
 
     Although the Company's Agreement encompasses all 49 states where Star is
licensed, Star's consent must be first obtained before the Company is permitted
to sell policies in additional states. The Company has the ability to enter into
additional lines of insurance that do not directly compete with Star. As a
practical matter, the Company will not likely engage in business practices that
might jeopardize the existing relationship with Star. Star, as the fronting
carrier, has the ability to alter the types of business that the Company may
write, may dictate underwriting guidelines, may limit the geographical expansion
and even inhibit overall writings. The Company's growth is therefore dependent
upon Star's approval. See "Risk Factors -- Absence of Licensure; Fronting
Arrangements; Dependence on Star Insurance Company."
 
UNDERWRITING CRITERIA
 
     Businesses participating in the workers' compensation insurance market have
had their job functions evaluated and classified over the years by the National
Council on Compensation Insurance ("NCCI"). The NCCI has developed and maintains
an historical record of loss experience by industry, by state and by workers'
compensation job classification codes.
 
     Management of the Company has developed a list of "eligible class codes"
from which agencies can submit business to the Company for consideration.
Eligible class codes must have, in management's opinion,
 
                                       24
   29
 
acceptable historical loss experience. Job function descriptions must not
indicate the likelihood of back injury. Industries with potential disease
exposures are excluded. Industries with an excessive amount of driving are
excluded. The Company's typical desired insured is a small to medium sized
service, wholesale, retail, or light manufacturing business with an acceptable
history of risk modification.
 
     An additional strategy intended to reduce the probability of adverse risk
selection is addressed by underwriting documentation which is required with each
new insurance application submitted to the Company. Agents may be required to
submit copies of the applicant's last three years workers' compensation
insurance policy declaration page showing the years effective, experience
modification, and annual payrolls. If an applicant does not have experience
modification for the last three years, the agent may be required to include
prior loss information from the last three years.
 
CLAIMS, LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES AND RESERVES
 
     All insurance companies are required to make estimates of future payouts
and to set aside reserves from which the future payments are made. The term
"loss" refers to amounts that must be paid to insureds for benefits due under
the policy. The term "loss adjustment expenses" refers to the expenses
associated with settling claims, including legal and other fees and expenses,
such as investigation, travel and clerical costs. With respect to these future
payments, the Company's success hinges upon the ability of management to reduce
the amounts payable and to correctly estimate the amount of such payments and
establish appropriate reserves for these amounts.
 
     The Company attempts to minimize the overall claims payouts by establishing
underwriting guidelines. When claims occur, the Company provides prompt and
personal contact between the claims adjuster and the claimant. Management
believes that quality client service and prompt intervention can help reduce
ultimate loss payments. Salaried claims personnel are employed when economically
feasible. Independent adjusters are employed in locations where claims volume
does not support the use of salaried personnel.
 
     Accordingly, the Company provides for a high degree of personal contact
between claims adjusters and claimants. Standard operating procedures require
telephone contact with the claimant and/or next of kin within eight hours after
receiving the first report of injury. With respect to all potential lost time
claims, an adjuster is usually required to make face-to-face contact with the
claimant within seventy-two hours. Claimants are generally contacted by
telephone at least once a week and visited once a month personally by a claims
adjuster until the claim is resolved. It is management's belief that prompt,
informed intervention can result in lower ultimate claim payouts. Close personal
contact is maintained with medical providers to control costs and indemnity
periods.
 
LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES ("LAE") RESERVES
 
     Under applicable law, Star must establish reserves to cover losses from
claims and loss adjustment expenses. Under the fronting arrangement with Star,
the Company must establish reserves of equal amount in its Star Trust. Loss
reserves are estimates of what an insurer expects to pay claimants. Loss
adjustment expenses ("LAE") are expenses associated with claims adjustment. The
amounts established for these reserves are estimates of future payouts and
costs. Star is required to maintain these reserves for both reported claims
("case reserves") and claims which have been incurred but not yet reported
("IBNR"). The ultimate liability incurred by Star may be different from reserve
estimates. The policy of the Company is to establish reserves sufficient for the
ultimate final payout for all claims. The Company is required to separately
maintain reserves for such amounts, but adjustments will be made monthly by Star
to the amounts payable to the Company's Star Trust account. If that amount is
not sufficient, Star may obtain reimbursement from the Star Trust. Therefore,
these expenses are ultimately payable by the Company, but are based on Star's
actuarial computations on payouts.
 
     While Star has the right to review the Company's reserving practices, the
Company has responsibility in the establishment of claims reserves. Workers
compensations carriers establish initial reserves for medical only claims based
on historical averages. These averages are reviewed annually for accuracy and
applicability. For lost time, claims reserves are established on a case-by-case
basis, initially under the supervision of the
                                       25
   30
 
Company's Chief Claims Officer. The reserving process takes into account the
types of claims, applicable policy provisions, and historical paid loss and loss
adjustment expense data for similar claims. With respect to LAE, certain formula
calculations are utilized. The Company's claims department regularly monitors
the adequacy of reserves for losses that have been reported to the Company and
adjust such reserves as necessary.
 
     Loss and LAE reserves for claims that have been incurred but not yet
reported are estimated based on many variables, including historical and
statistical information, inflation, legal developments, economic conditions,
general trends in claim severity and frequency and other factors that can affect
the adequacy of loss reserves. The Chief Claims and Financial Officers of the
Company review reserves monthly and IBNR reserves are adjusted quarterly.
 
     Workers compensation claims are of a long-term nature requiring accurate
reserves to establish the Company's ultimate liability. Shortfalls in reserves
would likely have a material adverse impact on the Company's financial condition
and results of operations.
 
     Adjustments in aggregate reserves, if any, are reflected in the operating
results of the period during which such adjustments are made. Although claims
for which reserves are established may not be paid for several years, the
reserves for losses and LAE are not discounted, except as required to calculate
taxable income for Federal income tax purposes.
 
INVESTMENTS
 
     It is the Company's investment policy to invest in investment-grade fixed
income securities, as defined by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners. The Company's investment objective is to maximize current yield
while maintaining safety of capital and adequate liquidity for its insurance
operations. The Company's investment guidelines may change as the Company grows.
The investments of the Company are regularly reviewed and approved by its board
of directors.
 
REINSURANCE
 
     Reinsurance is an arrangement whereby one insurance company (the "assuming
reinsurer") agrees to assume all or part of the risk undertaken by another
insurance company (the "ceding insurer"). Reinsuring risks is a common insurance
industry practice. The parties usually agree upon a division of the risk and a
division of the premiums. In most cases, the ceding insurer agrees to pay all or
an agreed upon percentage of claims up to an agreed upon amount and to pay a
premium to the reinsurer for insuring claims above that amount. Obtaining
reinsurance, however, does not absolve the ceding insurer from liability. If the
reinsurer does not or cannot pay its agreed upon portion, the ceding insurer
would be responsible for the entire loss.
 
     The Insurance Subsidiary has entered into the Reinsurance Agreement with
Star. Under this agreement Star reinsures each policy with the Insurance
Subsidiary. Under the agreement, Star and the Company share equally in premiums
and claims until such time as the Company has paid $ 50,000 of the first
$250,000 on any one claim. Once the Company has paid $50,000 on any one claim,
Star and its reinsurers are responsible for the balance of the liabilities.
 
RESIDUAL MARKETS
 
     Although regulations vary by state, residual market mechanisms are
generally designed to provide insurance coverage for consumers who are unable to
obtain insurance on the voluntary workers compensation market. Companies
participate in the administration, profit and/or loss associated with those
consumers' policies as provided by state regulations.
 
REGULATION
 
     The Insurance Subsidiary, is subject to the Insurance laws and regulations
of Bermuda. The Company (including the Insurance Subsidiary) is not licensed as
an insurance company to conduct business in any jurisdiction other than Bermuda,
but is permitted to sell policies as a managing general agent under the Star
fronting arrangement.
                                       26
   31
 
     The insurance laws and regulations of the states in which the Company
elects to operate, as well as the level of supervisory authority that may be
exercised by the various insurance departments, vary by jurisdiction but
generally grant broad powers to supervisory agencies or regulators to examine
and supervise insurance companies and insurance holding companies with respect
to every significant aspect of the conduct of its insurance business. See "Risk
Factors -- Regulation."
 
     These laws and regulations generally require insurance companies to
maintain minimum standards of business conduct and solvency, meet certain
financial tests, file certain reports with regulatory authorities, including
information concerning their capital structure, ownership and financial
condition, and require prior approval of certain changes in control of domestic
insurance companies and their direct and indirect parents and the payment of
extraordinary dividends and distributions.
 
     Financial requirements pertaining to casualty insurers imposed by Bermuda
include requirements relating to minimum capital surplus of $1,000,000. In
addition, laws and regulations of the various jurisdictions require approval for
certain intercompany transfers of assets and certain transactions between
insurance companies and their direct and indirect parents and affiliates, and
generally require that all such transactions have terms no less favorable than
terms that would result from transactions between parties negotiating at arm's
length.
 
     Further, many states have enacted laws which restrict an insurer's
underwriting discretion, such as the ability to terminate policies, terminate
agents or reject insurance coverage applications, and many state regulators have
the power to reduce, or to disavow increases in premium rates. These laws may
adversely affect the ability of an insurer to earn a profit on its underwriting
operations. In general, such laws and regulations are for the protection of
policyholders rather than security holders. Additionally, the Company may be
subject to periodic examination by the Insurance Commissioners of the states in
which the Company operates.
 
     Most states have enacted legislation regulating insurance holding
companies. The insurance holding company laws and regulations vary by state, but
generally require an insurance holding company and its insurance company
subsidiary licensed to do business in the state to register and file certain
reports with the regulatory authorities, including information concerning
capital structure, ownership, financial condition, certain inter-company
transactions and general business operations. State holding company laws also
require prior notice or regulatory agency approval of direct or indirect changes
in control of an insurer or its holding company and of certain material
inter-company transfers of assets within the holding company structure. Star is
subject to any such applicable regulations.
 
     The Company conducts business, through Star, in Alabama, Georgia,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. All states have a
guaranty fund law pursuant to which insurers doing business in the state are
assessed by a state insurance guaranty association in order to fund liabilities
to policyholders and claimants of insolvent insurance companies. Assessments
range from 1% to 2% of direct premiums written. Since the likelihood and amount
of any particular assessment generally cannot be determined until an insolvency
has occurred, potential liabilities for specific assessments are generally not
reflected on the books of insurers.
 
     The property and casualty insurance business has been the subject of much
legislation activity in various states seeking to address the issues of
affordability and availability of different lines of insurance. Many state
legislatures and regulatory authorities are considering workers' compensation
insurance issues in an effort to control premium increases. The enactment of
future legislation could adversely affect the profitability of the Company. See
"Risk Factors -- Regulation."
 
     An insurance company's profitability may be affected by court decisions.
Premium rates are established using actuarial methods in order to permit an
insurer to earn a reasonable underwriting profit. A court decision may undermine
or change the assumptions used in the actuarial analysis so as to impact
projected levels of profitability. The Company carefully considers the
legislative and regulatory climate in states before commencing operations and
will not do business in states where the climate is not conducive to the
operation of its business.
 
                                       27
   32
 
COMPETITION
 
     The Company competes with both national and regional insurers for agents
and insureds. Many of these competitors are substantially larger, have much
greater financial and marketing resources, and may offer lower rates and higher
commissions than the Company. Since workers compensation insurance is mandated
by state law, competition tends to occur on a state by state basis.
 
     Management believes the principal competitive factors affecting the
Company's business are price, service to agents and policyholders, agents'
commissions and the financial stability of the insurer. The workers compensation
insurance business is price sensitive. The Company is competing successfully
notwithstanding such factors, but such occurrences may nevertheless adversely
affect the Company and cause fluctuations in the Company's results of
operations. Management believes that the Company's prices will continue to be
competitive.
 
     From time to time the larger insurance companies alter their corporate
policies with respect to worker's compensation insurance. A market can be
significantly impacted by a single large insurer's decision to enter or exit the
market. Such insurers may abruptly exit a market by refusing to renew existing
policies or sell new ones and then abruptly reenter the market. These decisions
can occur on a national or a state by state basis. As a result, the profit
margins that the Company experiences are often affected by the decisions of
larger competitors. Though the decisions of such large insurers are undoubtedly
dictated by perceived market conditions, the Company has no ability to predict
when such shifts are likely to occur.
 
A.M. BEST RATING
 
     The Company's fronting carrier, Star has an "A-" rating from the A M. Best
Company, a nationally recognized insurance rating organization. Best's Ratings
are industry ratings based on a comparative analysis of the financial condition
and operating performance of insurance companies as determined by their publicly
available reports. Agents and prospective insureds often regard a Best's Rating
as one of the criteria they use to evaluate whether to seek to acquire insurance
coverage from a particular insurance company. Best's Ratings are based upon
factors of concern to insureds and are not directed toward the protection of
investors.
 
PROPERTIES
 
     The corporate headquarters of the Company is located in approximately 2,980
square feet of office space at 9140 ArrowPoint Boulevard, Suite 200, Charlotte,
North Carolina 28273. The space is leased by TEECO, Inc. ("TEECO") and houses
several other business enterprises. TEECO is owned by Mr. Ernest E. Tucker, Jr.,
and Ernest E. Tucker, III, both officers, directors and principal shareholders
of the Company. The Company pays to TEECO its prorata share of the lease paid by
TEECO to the landlord. The Company owns no real property and believes that its
shared facilities are adequate for its present needs. See "Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions."
 
EMPLOYEES
 
     The Company has 22 full-time employees. The Company, in order to attract
and retain qualified employees, has adopted employee benefit packages including
vacation, sick leave, 401-k plan, life and health insurance plans. The Company's
employees are not subject to a collective bargaining arrangement. There are no
employment contracts.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
     The Company is routinely named as a party by claimants seeking coverage
under workers compensation policies issued through the Company. There are no
pending legal proceedings against the Company and the Company is not aware of
any threatened legal proceedings to which the Company may be a party outside the
ordinary course of business.
 
                                       28
   33
 
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
 
     Each officer and director of the Company listed below commenced to serve on
April 19, 1995, except for W. K. Woltz and William F. Bronson. Directors will
serve for a term of one year and/or until a successor is elected and qualified.
Officers of the Company will serve for indeterminate terms at the pleasure of
the Company's board of directors. The following table sets forth certain
information with respect to the directors and executive officers of the Company:
 


NAME                                     AGE                  POSITION
- ----                                     ---                  --------
                                         
Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. .................  76    Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of
                                               the Board of Directors
Paul V. H. Halter, III.................  39    President, Chief Operating Officer,
                                               Director
E. Eugene Tucker, III*.................  39    Secretary and Treasurer, Director
James P. Chick, Jr. ...................  51    Chief Financial Officer, Vice President
Charles H. Sharpe......................  57    Chief Claims Officer, Vice President
C. Gregory Hutchinson..................  34    Executive Vice President of Commerce
                                               Capital, Inc.
Clinton B. Peters......................  50    Director
Donald R. Johnson, II..................  40    Director
William K. Woltz, Sr...................  82    Director
William F. Bronson.....................  58    Director

 
- ---------------
 
* E. Eugene Tucker, III is the son of Ernest E. Tucker, Jr.
 
     Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. has been engaged for 53 years in the administration
of insurance plans, primarily in health and accident insurance. Mr. Tucker's
first ten years were spent with Mutual of Omaha in underwriting and claims.
Since 1958, Mr. Tucker has been a third party administrator in the health
insurance industry. He is the Chairman and founder of TEECO, which owns Tucker
Administrators, Inc. Tucker Administrators, Inc. consults, develops, implements
and manages group health self-insurance plans and flexible compensation plans.
See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
 
     Paul V. H. Halter, III began his insurance career in 1981 as owner of an
independent insurance agency, Edisto Underwriters. In 1984, he joined Crum and
Forster as Agency Sales Manager for South Carolina. Mr. Halter joined Marsh &
McLennan, Inc., a large insurance broker, as Vice President and Area Manager in
1986 for North and South Carolina. In 1989, Mr. Halter joined Johnson & Higgins,
a private insurance broker, as Vice President and national manager of its
Private Insurance Division. Mr. Halter has earned the professional designations
of Charter Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance
Counselor (CIC). Mr. Halter taught at the Insurance School of Chicago from 1989
to 1992 and has served on the National Faculty of the Society of Certified
Insurance Counselors since 1985. He is a member of the Society of CPCU and
Society of CIC.
 
     E. Eugene Tucker, III is President of Tucker Administrators, Inc., a third
party administrator in Charlotte, NC. Tucker Administrators administers
self-funded and partially self-funded group health and welfare benefits plans.
He is also a shareholder of TEECO, an entity that serves as the Company's
landlord. Mr. Tucker has had the underwriting pen for several major European
reinsurers and was a broker at Lloyds of London. Mr. Tucker is a member of the
Society of Professional Benefit Administrators, the Self Insurance Institute of
America, the Employers Council of Flexible Compensation and the Charlotte, State
of North Carolina and National Associations of Health Underwriters.
 
     James P. Chick, Jr. was President, Chief Operating Officer, and director of
Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast and Selective Insurance Company of
South Carolina, two multi-line property and casualty insurers, from 1988 to
1993. After beginning his career with First Union National Bank of North
Carolina, Mr. Chick became Operations Accountant with Selective in 1976. In
1981, he was promoted to Assistant Vice
 
                                       29
   34
 
President of Selective; became Vice President and Treasurer in 1984; and added
the title of Corporate Secretary in 1985. As Treasurer, Mr. Chick managed the
accounting and financial functions for both the Selective companies.
 
     Charles H. Sharpe was employed, prior to joining the Company, with
Selective Insurance Company of America, where his last position was Senior Vice
President and Director of Claims for all offices in the United States. Mr.
Sharpe has served as a member of the American Insurance Association and on its
claims administration committee. He participated as a member of the board of
directors of Arbitration Forums, Inc. Mr. Sharpe has been an officer of the
Company since its inception.
 
     William K. Woltz has been on the Board since May, 1998. He has been the
Chairman of Page Holding Company since 1996. Page Holding Company acquired
certain assets of Perry Manufacturing Company, a private label manufacturer of
knit and woven sportswear. Mr. Woltz had been Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Perry Manufacturing since 1952. Mr. Woltz has also served as a Member
of the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina and was Vice
Chairman from 1985 to 1989. Mr. Woltz also serves on various other boards of
charities and for profit enterprises. Mr. Woltz resides in Mt. Airy, North
Carolina.
 
     Donald R. Johnson, II, is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon with
offices in Charleston, South Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Science degree
from the College of Charleston in 1980 and a Medical Doctor degree from the
Medical University of South Carolina in 1984. Dr. Johnson has served as a Member
of the Board of Trustees for the Medical University of South Carolina since
1994. Dr. Johnson has been a member of the South Carolina Worker's Compensation
Advisory Board and a visiting professor to the University of Madrid, the
University of Paris, and the London Spine Institute. From 1995 to 1997 Dr.
Johnson was President of the South Carolina Spine Society. He has served on the
Board of the Company since 1995.
 
     Clinton Peters has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capitol
News Agency, Inc., a wholesale distributor of periodicals with its principal
offices in Richmond, Virginia since 1973. He is a graduate of Virginia
Commonwealth University with a Bachelors of Science in Business.
 
     William F. Bronson was elected to the Board in July, 1998. Mr. Bronson was
the founder and President of B & B X-Ray, Inc. from 1971 until 1995. In 1995,
Mr. Bronson became Chairman of the Board of three additional medical services
companies,: King's X-Ray of Jacksonville, Florida, United X-Ray of Birmingham,
Alabama, and American Medical of Pompano, Florida. In November, 1996, all of
these entities were acquired by Physicians Sales and Service, a publicly traded
company. Mr. Bronson has been retired since that acquisition.
 
     Greg Hutchinson joined the Finance Subsidiary in February, 1998. Mr.
Hutchinson's premium finance career spans thirteen years with such companies as
Afco Credit Corporation, Transamerica Insurance Finance, and Cananwill Consumer
Discount Company. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Carolina
University.
 
                                       30
   35
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The following table sets forth all compensation awarded to, earned by, or
paid by the Company to executive officers for services during each of the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, and 1995:
 


                                               ANNUAL COMPENSATION
                                               -------------------
                                               FISCAL                           ALL OTHER(3)
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION                     YEAR       SALARY    BONUS(1)   COMPENSATION
- ---------------------------                    -------    --------   --------   ------------
                                                                    
Ernest E. Tucker, Jr.(2).....................    1995(2)  $39,807    $     0         $0
  Chairman and CEO                               1996(2)   75,000          0          0
                                                 1997      75,000    $ 7,200          0
Paul V. H. Halter, III.......................    1995     $12,499    $     0         $0
  President and COO                              1996      50,961          0          0
                                                 1997      63,013    $17,200          0
E. Eugene Tucker, III(2).....................    1995(2)  $13,269    $     0         $0
  Secretary and Treasurer                        1996(2)   25,000          0          0
                                                 1997      25,000    $ 5,400          0
Charles H. Sharpe............................    1995     $14,230    $     0         $0
  Chief Claims Officer                           1996      49,999          0          0
                                                 1997      54,085    $ 7,250          0
James P. Chick, Jr. .........................    1995     $12,807    $     0         $0
  Chief Financial Officer                        1996      45,865          0          0
                                                 1997      47,136    $ 5,600          0

 
     (1) All employees receive small gifts or bonuses at the end of the year
which are not in excess of $200 in value. None of the officers or directors
received personal benefits in addition to salary and bonuses except in de
minimus amounts.
 
     (2) Salaries for Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. and E. E. Tucker, III were accrued
in 1995, 1996 and part of 1997 in the aggregate amounts of $120,670 and $41,456
respectively, which accrued salaries were paid in first quarter of 1997.
 
     (3) All employees, including Executive Officers, receive employee welfare
benefits such as health insurance, group life, and disability. The Executive
Officers do not receive any benefits not ordinarily provided to other employees.
Except for the payment of salaries, no proceeds of the offering will be paid by
the Company to officers, directors, promoters or their affiliates, except to
repay loans and reimburse expenses advanced. Salaries will be paid by the
Company. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors of the Company consists of seven members. Each
director will hold office until the annual meeting of the shareholders of the
Company next following his election or until his successor is elected and
qualified.
 
     Directors of the Company who are employed by the Company do not receive
compensation for serving as directors. Outside directors have not been
compensated for their role as directors but will compensated hereafter per board
meeting attended. All directors of the Company are reimbursed for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors or committees
thereof, and for other expenses incurred in their capacities as directors of the
Company.
 
     First London Securities Corporation shall have the right for a period of
two years from the Effective Date to nominate one advisory director to the Board
of Directors. The advisory director shall have the same
 
                                       31
   36
 
privileges as a normal director, including equal compensation, but will not have
the right to vote on issues presented to the Board of Directors.
 
                      COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors has established three committees :an Executive
Committee, a Compensation Committee and an Audit Committee. The Executive
Committee is currently comprised of Ernest E. Tucker, Jr., E. E. Tucker, III and
Paul V. H. Halter, III. This committee oversees the day to day operations of the
Company and is comprised entirely of officers of the Company. The Compensation
Committee, currently comprised of William Bronson, William K. Woltz, Donald
Johnson and Clinton Peters , is responsible for reviewing and making
recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to compensation of
executive officers and other compensation matters. The Audit Committee,
currently comprised of Paul V. H. Halter, III, E. E. Tucker, III and William
Bronson, is responsible for reviewing the Company's financial statements, audit
reports, internal controls and the services performed by the Company's
independent public accountants, and for making recommendations with respect to
those matters to the Board of Directors. Outside directors have not been
compensated for their role as directors but will be compensated in the
discretion of the Board for service on the Committees of the Board.
 
      LIMITATION OF DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION
 
     The Company's Articles of Incorporation limit the liability of officers and
directors of the Company to the corporation or its shareholders for damages
except for liabilities arising from acts or omissions involving intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law. The Bylaws of the Company
also provide that the Company may indemnify directors and officers to the
fullest extent permitted by North Carolina law. North Carolina law permits a
corporation to indemnify any officer or director from any liability incurred by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or director if such
person acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in
the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to a criminal action, if
he had no reason to believe his conduct was unlawful. At present, there is no
pending litigation or proceeding involving any director, officer, employee, or
agent of the Company under circumstances in which indemnification is likely to
be required or permitted.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act may be
permitted to officers, directors or persons controlling the Company pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of
the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
 
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
 
     The Company, since June 20, 1995, subleases approximately 2,980 square feet
of office space from Tucker Administrators, Inc., a company owned by the
Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. and Ernest
E. Tucker, III, the Secretary/Treasurer and a director of the Company. Tucker
Administrators leases approximately 9,000 total square feet. The Company also
uses the telephone systems, and computer systems of Tucker Administrators on an
"as needed" basis at negotiated rates. Tucker Administrators submits a monthly
bill to the Company's controller who reviews the apportionment. Management
believes that the rates paid to Tucker Administrators are at or slightly below
similar rates charged by third parties for similar services. The Company shares
certain employees with Tucker Administrators, Inc. and apportions the costs of
salary and benefits between the Companies. The Company also shares certain
operating expenses and pays its pro-rata share of certain operating expenses,
such as postage, telephone tolls, freight.
 
     In 1995, Tucker Administrators loaned the Company $24,000 which was repaid
in 1997. From the inception of the Company in April, 1995 and continuing through
1996, Tucker Administrators, Inc. paid $167,596 in expenses on behalf of the
Company, which have been repaid at the rate of $5,000 per month
 
                                       32
   37
 
together with interest at the annual rate of 8 1/4 percent. As of March 31,
1998, $122,824 of that amount remained unpaid.
 
     At the inception of the Company in 1995, the Company sold 504,000 shares of
Common Stock to Ernest E. Tucker, Jr., 168,000 shares of Common Stock to Paul
Halter and 168,000 shares of Common Stock to Ernest E. Tucker, III, all at a
price of $0.05 per share. After giving effect to the Stock Split, the number of
shares were increased to 1,764,000, 588,000 and 588,000 respectively.
 
     In the second quarter of 1997, the Company issued 6,000 shares of Common
Stock to James P. Chick, Jr., Chief Financial Officer and 12,000 shares of
Common Stock to Charles Sharpe, Chief Claims Officer, for past and future
considerations at a price of $.05 per share. Following the Stock Split in July,
1988, these shares were increased to 21,000 to Mr. Chick and 42,000 to Mr.
Sharpe.
 
     By March 31, 1998, the Company had sold sufficient premiums to be required
under Bermuda law to contribute approximately $1 million in additional capital
surplus. On June 30, 1998, Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. loaned the Company $400,000 and
his wife, Marian Tucker, loaned the Company $100,000 to partially fund capital
surplus shortfalls. Promissory notes in those respective amounts were issued by
the Company bearing interest at the rate of 15%. Payment is due by December 30,
1998. The Company also sold 184,209 restricted shares to an existing
shareholder, William F. Bronson, at a price of $2.71 per share. All of the
proceeds from the loans and the sale of stock were contributed to the capital
surplus of the Company. The Company intends to utilize a portion of the net
proceeds from this Offering to repay Mr. Tucker and his wife together with
interest at the rate of prime plus 1% from June 30, 1998.
 
                                       33
   38
 
                             PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of shares of the Company's Common Stock as of June 30, 1998, and as
adjusted to reflect the sale of the securities offered hereby (i) each of the
Company's executive officers and directors, (ii) each person known to the
Company who beneficially owns more than 10% of the outstanding Shares of the
Company's Common Stock, and (iii) all directors and officers of the Company as a
group.
 


                                            BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP                             BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
                                              BEFORE OFFERING                                 AFTER OFFERING(1)
                               ----------------------------------------------   ----------------------------------------------
                                                   PERCENTAGE      PERCENT                          PERCENTAGE      PERCENT
                                    NUMBER             OF             OF             NUMBER             OF             OF
NAME AND ADDRESS                  OF SHARES       COMMON STOCK   COMMON STOCK      OF SHARES       COMMON STOCK   COMMON STOCK
- ----------------               ----------------   ------------   ------------   ----------------   ------------   ------------
                                                                                                
Ernest E. Tucker, Jr.(2).....         1,891,680       42.4           29.3
 9140 ArrowPoint Boulevard
 Charlotte, North Carolina
   28273
Paul V. H. Halter, III.......           572,796       12.8            8.9
 9140 ArrowPoint Boulevard
 Charlotte, North Carolina
   28273
E. E. Tucker, III(2).........           572,796       12.8            8.9
 9140 ArrowPoint Boulevard
 Charlotte, North Carolina
   28273
Charles H. Sharpe............            53,592        1.2             .8
 9140 ArrowPoint Boulevard
 Charlotte, North Carolina
   28273
James P. Chick, Jr...........            26,418         .6             .4
 9140 ArrowPoint Boulevard
 Charlotte, North Carolina
   28273
William K. Woltz.............            87,500        2.0            1.4
 232 South Park Avenue
 Mount Airy, NC 27030
Donald R. Johnson, II,
 M.D.(3).....................           133,868        3.0            2.1
 #41 25th Avenue
 Isle of Palms, SC 29451
Clinton B. Peters............            55,118        1.2             .9
 1529 Sunset Lane
 Richmond, VA 23221
William F. Bronson...........           236,709        5.3            3.7
 6040 Farm Oak Drive
 Charlotte, NC 28227
C. Gregory Hutchinson........               219        .01            .01
 1138 Millwright Lane
 Matthews, NC 28105
All directors and officers
 as a group (three
 persons):...................  3,630,696 Shares       81.3           56.2

 
- ---------------
 
(1) Assumes an aggregate of 6,464,021 shares of Common Stock outstanding after
    the offering.
(2) Mr. Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. and Mr. Ernest E Tucker, III are father and son.
    Other members of their family also own Shares in the Company. The Tucker
    family owns an aggregate of 2,583,256 shares, which will represent 40% of
    the total issued and outstanding shares after the Offering.
(3) 87,500 of Dr. Johnson's shares are held by Patient Investors Limited
    Partnership, a South Carolina limited partnership, which is beneficially
    owned 51% by Dr. Johnson and 49% by his brother, John Johnson, M.D.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
 
     The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 10,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, of which 4,464,021 shares of Common Stock were outstanding as of
July 15, 1998. As of that date, there were 89 holders of record of outstanding
shares of the Common Stock.
 
                                       34
   39
 
     The Company authorized 1,000,000 shares of convertible Preferred Stock, of
which 109,200 was outstanding as of June 30,1998. The Company had also
authorized 1,000,000 shares of Class B Shares, $0.001 par value, of which 9,593
were outstanding as of June 30, 1998. As of July 15, 1998, all outstanding
shares of convertible Preferred Stock and Class B Shares were converted by the
board of directors to shares of Common Stock. Conversion of the convertible
Preferred Stock was at the rate of 6 shares of Common Stock for 5 shares of
convertible Preferred Stock. Shares of Class B Shares were converted to shares
of Common Stock at a rate of one to one. The remaining authorized but unissued
shares of convertible Preferred Stock and Class B Shares were canceled.
 
     As a result of those conversions, 1,275,432 shares of Common Stock were
issued and outstanding. Subsequent to the conversion of all of the outstanding
convertible Preferred Stock and Class B Shares, the Board of Directors caused
all outstanding Common Stock to be forward split at the rate of 3.5 shares to 1
share. Following the Stock Split, the Company had 4,464,021 shares of stock
outstanding.
 
UNITS
 
     Each Unit consists of one Share; one Series A Warrant; and one Series B
Warrant. It is estimated that the initial public offering price will be $5.1875
per Unit. The Shares and Warrants included in the Units may be not be traded
separately 180 days from the date of this Prospectus unless earlier separated
upon three days notice from the Representative to the Company.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
     Holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share for
the election of directors and with respect to all matters to be submitted to a
vote of the Company's shareholders. The holders of shares of Common Stock are
entitled to share ratably in such dividends as may be declared by the board of
directors and paid by the Company out of funds legally available therefor. In
the event of dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company, holders of
shares of Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining
after payment of all liabilities and liquidation preferences, if any. Holders of
shares of Common Stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or
conversion rights. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the Shares to
be issued by the Company in connection with the Offering will be, duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
SERIES A AND SERIES B REDEEMABLE WARRANTS
 
     The Series A and Series B Warrants will be issued in registered form
pursuant to an agreement dated the date of this Prospectus (the "Warrant
Agreement"), between the Company and First Union Transfer Corporation,
Charlotte, North Carolina, as Warrant Agent (the "Warrant Agent"). The following
discussion of certain terms and provisions of the Warrants is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the Warrant Agreement. A form of the certificate
representing the Series A Warrants and a form of the certificate representing
the Series B Warrants which forms a part of the Warrant Agreement have been
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part
 
     Each Series A Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share
of Common Stock. The Warrants are exercisable at a price of $6.00, which
exercise price has been arbitrarily determined by the Company and the
Representative, subject to certain adjustments. Each Series B Warrant also
entitled the registered holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $7.00, subject to the same adjustments. All of the Warrants
are entitled to the benefit of adjustments in their exercise prices and in the
number of shares of Common Stock or other securities deliverable upon the
exercise thereof in the event of a stock dividend, stock split,
reclassification, reorganization, consolidation or merger.
 
     The Warrants may be exercised at any time after separation from the Units
until the close of business five years from the date hereof, unless such period
is extended by the Company. After the expiration date, Warrant holders shall
have no further rights. Warrants may be exercised by surrendering the
certificate evidencing such Warrant, with the form of election to purchase on
the reverse side of such certificate properly completed and executed, together
with payment of the exercise price and any transfer tax, to the Warrant Agent.
If less than
                                       35
   40
 
all of the Warrants evidenced by a warrant certificate are exercised, a new
certificate will be issued for the remaining number of Warrants. Payment of the
exercise price may be made by cash, bank draft or official bank or certified
check equal to the exercise price.
 
     Warrant holders do not have any voting or any other rights as shareholders
of the Company. The Company has the right at any time beginning six months from
the date hereof to redeem the Series A Warrants, at a price of $9.00 per
Warrant, by written notice to the registered holders thereof, mailed not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date. The Company has the
right at any time beginning six months from the date hereof to redeem the Series
B Warrants, at a price of $10.00 per Warrant, by written notice to the
registered holders thereof, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior
to the Redemption Date. The Company may exercise this right only if the closing
bid price for the Common Stock for seven trading days during a 10 consecutive
trading day period ending no more than 15 days prior to the date that the notice
of redemption is given, equals or exceeds $10, subject to adjustment.
 
     The Company has the right to call either or both series for redemption. If
the Company exercises its right to call the Warrants for redemption, such
Warrants may still be exercised until the close of business on the day
immediately preceding the Redemption Date. If any Warrant called for redemption
is not exercised by such time, it will cease to be exercisable, and the holder
thereof will be entitled only to the repurchase price. Notice of redemption will
be mailed to all holders of Warrants of record at least 30 days, but not more
than 60 days, before the Redemption Date. The foregoing notwithstanding, the
Company may not call the Warrants at any time that a current registration
statement under the Securities Act is not then in effect. Any redemption of the
Warrants during the one-year period commencing on the date of this Prospectus
shall require the written consent of the Representative.
 
     The Warrant Agreement permits the Company and the Warrant Agent without the
consent of Warrant holders to supplement or amend the Warrant Agreement in order
to cure any ambiguity, manifest error or other mistake, or to address other
matters or questions arising thereafter that the Company and the Warrant Agent
deem necessary or desirable and that do not adversely affect the interest of any
Warrant holder. The Company and the Warrant Agent may also supplement or amend
the Warrant Agreement with respect to either Series of Warrant in any other
respect with the written consent of holders of not less than a majority in the
number of the Warrants then outstanding in that Series; however, no such
supplement or amendment may (i) increase the exercise price of the Warrant, (ii)
shorten the time period upon which the Warrants are exercisable or may be
redeemed, or (iii) reduce the percentage interest of the holders of the Warrants
without the consent of each Warrant holder affected thereby.
 
     In order for the holder to exercise a Warrant, there must be an effective
registration statement, with a current prospectus on file with the Commission
covering the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, and the issuance of
such Shares to the holder must be registered, qualified or exempt under the laws
of the state in which the holder resides. If required, the Company will file a
new registration statement with the Commission with respect to the securities
underlying the Warrants prior to the exercise of such Warrants and will deliver
a prospectus with respect to such securities to all holders thereof as required
by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act. See "Risk Factors -- Arbitrary
Offering Price and Exercise of Warrants."
 
WARRANT SOLICITATION FEE
 
     The Company shall pay to the Representatives upon the exercise of the
Warrants a fee equal to 5% of the gross proceeds received by the Company from
the exercise of the Warrants. Such fee will be paid to the Representatives or
their designees no sooner than 12 months after the Effective Date. Additionally,
the Representatives or their designees must be designated in writing by the
Warrant holder as having solicited the Warrant in order to receive the fee and
such fee shall not be paid with respect to Warrants held in a discretionary
account without the prior written approval of such exercise by the discretionary
account holder.
 
CERTAIN CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS
 
     The Company has no super-majority, staggered board or other antitakeover
provisions in either its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws. The Bylaws of the
Company provide for indemnification of the directors
                                       36
   41
 
and officers of the Company to the full extent authorized or permitted by the
North Carolina Business Corporation Act. See "Management."
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
     The Transfer Agent and Registrar and Warrant Agent for the Company's Units,
Common Stock and Warrants is First Union National Bank Corporate Trust
Department, 1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd., 3C3, Charlotte, North Carolina
28288-1153.
 
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
 
     Upon completion of this Offering, the Company will have 6,464,021 shares of
Common Stock outstanding (6,746,021 if the overallotment is sold.). Of these
shares, the 2,000,000 Shares sold to the public hereby will be freely tradable
without restrictions or registration under the Securities Act (2,300,000 if the
Representative's Over-allotment Option is exercised in full), except that any
Shares purchased by "affiliates" of the Company, as that term is defined in Rule
144 ("Rule 144") under the Securities Act ("Affiliates") may generally be sold
only within the limitations of Rule 144 described below. An aggregate of
2,000,000 Shares will be issued upon the exercise of the Series A Warrants and
an aggregate of 2,000,000 Shares will be issued upon the exercise of the Series
B Warrants. The Company has agreed to register these Shares under the Securities
Act in order to permit the resale of such Shares in the open market from time to
time and has agreed to maintain the effectiveness of such registration.
Following the sale of such Shares pursuant to an effective registration
statement filed in connection with such registration, these Shares shall be
freely tradable
 
     A total of 4,464,021 Shares owned by the Company's shareholders prior to
this Offering (the "Restricted shares") will be "restricted shares" within the
meaning of the Securities Act and may be publicly sold only if registered under
the Securities Act or sold in accordance with an applicable exemption from
registration, such as those provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Of
the 4,464,021 shares of Common Stock presently outstanding, 3,630,695 will be
deemed to be "affiliate securities," as that term is defined under Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act. In general, under Rule 144, as currently
in effect, a person (or persons whose Shares are aggregated) is entitled to sell
restricted shares if at least one year has passed since the later of the date
such Shares were acquired from the Company or any affiliate of the Company. Rule
144 provides that within any three-month period such person may sell only up to
the greater of one percent (1%) of the then outstanding Shares of the Company's
Common Stock (approximately 56,000 Shares following completion of this Offering)
or the average weekly trading volume in the Company's Common Stock during the
four calendar weeks immediately preceding the date on which the notice of the
sale is filed with the Commission. Sales pursuant to Rule 144 are subject to
certain other requirements relating to manner of sale, notice of sale and
availability of current public information. Any person who has not been an
affiliate of the Company for a period of three months preceding a sale of
restricted shares is entitled to sell such Shares under Rule 144 without regard
to such limitations if at least two years have passed since the later of the
date such Shares were acquired from the Company or any affiliate of the Company.
Shares held by persons who are deemed to be affiliates of the Company are
subject to such volume limitations regardless of how long they have been owned
or how they were acquired. The foregoing is a brief summary of certain
provisions of Rule 144 and is not intended to be a complete description thereof.
The "restricted shares" held by the current shareholders of the Company have
been held longer than two years and are qualified for sale pursuant to Rule 144
beginning 90 days after the date of this Prospectus.
 
     The Company cannot predict the effect, if any, that sales of restricted
securities or the availability of such securities for sale could have on the
market price, if any, prevailing from time to time. Nevertheless, sales of
substantial amounts of the Company's securities, including the securities
offered hereby, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the Company's
securities and the Company's ability to raise additional capital by occurring at
a time when it would be beneficial for the Company to sell securities.
 
                                       37
   42
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters named below, for whom First London Securities Corporation is acting
as Representative, have severally agreed to purchase from the Company an
aggregate of 2,000,000 Units. The number of Units which each Underwriter has
agreed to purchase is set forth opposite its name.
 


                                                              NUMBER OF
NAME                                                            UNITS
- ----                                                          ---------
                                                           
First London Securities Corporation.........................
                                                              --------
          Total.............................................
                                                              ========

 
     The Units are offered by the Underwriters subject to prior sale, when, as
and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to approval of
certain legal matters by counsel and certain other conditions. The Underwriters
are committed to purchase all Units offered by this Prospectus, if any are
purchased.
 
     The Company has been advised by the Representative that the Underwriters
propose initially to offer the Units offered hereby to the public at the
offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. The
Representative has advised the Company that the Underwriters propose to offer
the Units through members of the NASD, and may allow a concession, in their
discretion, to certain dealers who are members of the NASD and who agree to sell
the Units in conformity with the NASD Conduct Rules. Such concessions shall not
exceed the amount of the underwriting discount that the Underwriters are to
receive. The public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers will
not be reduced by the Representative until after the Offering is complete. No
such reduction shall change the amount of proceeds to be received by the Company
as set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus.
 
     The Company has granted to the Representative an option, exercisable for 30
days from the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to an additional 300,000
Units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus. The Representative may exercise the
Over-allotment Option solely to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Units
being offered by this Prospectus.
 
     Officers and directors of the Company may introduce the Representative to
persons to consider the Offering and purchase Units either through the
Representative, other Underwriters, or through participating dealers. The
Underwriters have not reserved any Units for sale to persons introduced to the
Underwriters by officers and directors. In this connection, officers and
directors will not receive any commissions or any other compensation.
 
     The Company has agreed to pay the Representative a commission of 10% of the
gross proceeds of the offering (the "Underwriting Discount"), including the
gross proceeds from the sale of the Over-allotment Option, if exercised. In
addition, the Company has agreed to pay to the Representative a non-accountable
expense allowance of two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds of this Offering,
including proceeds from any Units purchased pursuant to the Over-allotment
Option. The Representative's expenses in excess of the non-accountable expense
allowance will be paid by the Representative. To the extent that the expenses of
the Representative are less than the amount of the non-accountable expense
allowance received, such excess shall be deemed to be additional compensation to
the Representative.
 
     Prior to the Offering, there has been no public market for the Units, the
Shares or Warrants of the Company. Consequently, the initial public offering
price for the Units, and the terms of the Warrants (including the exercise price
of the Warrants), have been determined by negotiation between the Company and
the Representative. Among the factors considered in determining the public
offering price were the history of, and the prospect for, the Company's
business, an assessment of the Company's management, its past and present
operations, the Company's development and the general condition of the
securities market at the time of the Offering. The initial public offering price
does not necessarily bear any relationship to the Company's assets, book value,
earnings or other established criteria of value. Such price is subject to change
as a result of market conditions and other factors, and no assurance can be
given that a public market for the Units, the Shares or Warrants will develop
after the close of the Offering, or if a public market in fact
 
                                       38
   43
 
develops, that such public market will be sustained, or that the Securities can
be resold at any time at the offering or any other price. See "Risk Factors."
 
     At the closing of this Offering, the Company will issue to the
Representative or persons related to the Representative, for nominal
consideration, a Representative's Warrant to purchase up to 200,000 Units, each
unit consisting of one Share of common stock, one Series A Warrant and one
Series B Warrant (the "Underlying Warrants"). The Representative's Warrant will
be exercisable for a four-year period commencing one year from the date of this
Prospectus at an exercise price of $6.00 per Share and $0.125 per Series A
Warrant, subject to adjustment, and $0.0625 per Series B Warrant, subject to
adjustment. The number of Shares and Warrants subject to the Representative's
Warrant will not exceed 10% of the Shares and Warrants underlying the Units
offered hereby to the public, excluding the securities subject to the
Representative's Warrant. The Representative's Warrant will not be transferable
for one year from the date of this Prospectus, except (i) to officers of the
Representative or to officers and partners of the other Underwriters or selected
dealers participating in this Offering; (ii) by will; or (iii) by operation of
law.
 
     The Representative's Warrant contains provisions providing for appropriate
adjustment in the event of any merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction. The
Representative's Warrant contains net issuance provisions permitting the holders
thereof to elect to exercise the Representative's Warrant in whole or in part
and instruct the Company to withhold from the securities issuable upon exercise
a number of securities, valued at the current fair market value on the date of
exercise, to pay the exercise price. Such net exercise provision has the effect
of requiring the Company to issue shares of Common Stock without a corresponding
increase in capital. A net exercise of the Representative's Warrant will have
the same dilutive effect on the interests of the Company's shareholders as will
a cash exercise. The Representative's Warrant does not entitle the holders
thereof to any rights as a shareholder of the Company until such
Representative's Warrant is exercised and shares of Common Stock are purchased
thereunder.
 
     The Company has granted to the holders of the Representative's Warrant
certain rights with respect to registration of the Shares, the Underlying
Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative's
Warrant (the "Registrable Securities") under the Securities Act. For a period of
four years commencing one year following the date of this Prospectus, the
holders representing more than 50% of the Registrable Securities have the right
at the Representative's or holders' expense to require the Company to prepare
and file one registration statement with respect to the Registrable Securities.
In addition, subject to certain limitations, in the event the Company proposes
to register any of its securities under the Securities Act during the seven year
period following the date of this Prospectus, the holders of the Registrable
Securities are entitled to notice of such registration and may elect to include
the Registrable Securities held by them in such registration statement at the
sole expense of the Company.
 
     The foregoing is a summary of the principal terms of the agreements
described above and does not purport to be complete. Reference is made to copies
of each such agreement which are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement. See "Available Information."
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Legal matters in connection with the Common Stock and Warrants being
offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Charles Barkley,
Charlotte, North Carolina. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the
Underwriters by Jackson Walker L.L.P, Dallas, Texas.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements of Commerce Casualty Group, Inc. as of December
31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the years then ended, included in this
Prospectus have been audited by Killman, Murrell & Company, P. C. independent
auditors, as stated in their report included therein, and have been so included
in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       39
   44
 
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                                              PAGE
                                                              ----
                                                           
 
Report of Certified Public Accountants......................  F-2
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1996 and 1997
  and March 31, 1998 (Unaudited)............................  F-3
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
  December 31, 1996 and 1997 and the Three Months Ended
  March 31, 1997 and 1998 (Unaudited).......................  F-4
 
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the
  Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 and the Three
  Months Ended March 31, 1998 (Unaudited)...................  F-5
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
  December 31, 1996 and 1997 and the Three Months Ended
  March 31, 1997 and 1998 (Unaudited).......................  F-6
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements..................  F-7

 
                                       F-1
   45
 
               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Commerce Casualty Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
9140 Arrowpoint Blvd.
Suite 200
Charlotte, NC 28273
 
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Commerce
Casualty Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash
flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated 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 audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Commerce Casualty Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997,
and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then
ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Dallas, Texas
April 17, 1998
 
                                       F-2
   46
 
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 


                                                                 DECEMBER 31,
                                                            -----------------------    MARCH 31,
                                                               1996         1997         1998
                                                            ----------   ----------   -----------
                                                                         (UNAUDITED)
                                                                             
                                             ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents -- Note 7.......................  $1,342,325   $5,399,334   $ 6,185,398
Investments -- Note 2.....................................     614,278           --            --
Accrued Interest Income...................................       2,771          221        19,566
Premiums Receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
  accounts of $41,898, $144,637 and $193,685,
  respectively............................................   1,402,267    2,692,952     4,232,819
Reinsurance Balances Receivable...........................     676,464      801,258     1,381,608
Claims Fees Receivable....................................     170,186      507,495       726,849
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs -- Note 3...............     309,445      448,384       670,900
Equipment, at cost, less accumulated depreciation of
  $2,308, $13,691 and $20,042, respectively...............      17,261      100,608       130,568
Other Assets..............................................       7,701       26,971        56,798
Organizational Costs, less accumulated amortization of
  $4,299, $7,485 and $8,281, respectively.................      12,629        9,443         8,647
                                                            ----------   ----------   -----------
          TOTAL ASSETS....................................  $4,555,327   $9,986,666   $13,413,153
                                                            ==========   ==========   ===========
                              LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses -- Note
  6.......................................................  $  370,616   $1,978,612   $ 2,903,956
Unearned Premiums.........................................   1,258,558    2,061,501     3,021,350
Payable to Insurance Company..............................   1,619,829    3,138,136     4,253,601
Unearned Commissions and Fees.............................     130,467      432,577       520,065
Accounts Payable..........................................      99,108      226,997       311,449
Accrued Liabilities.......................................     160,377      300,273       505,999
Payable to Stockholders and Affiliate -- Note 8...........     371,764      141,246       122,824
Dividends Payable.........................................      98,280       98,280        24,570
Commitment and Contingencies -- Notes 4, 7, 8 and 10......          --           --            --
                                                            ----------   ----------   -----------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES...............................   4,108,999    8,377,622    11,663,814
                                                            ==========   ==========   ===========
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY -- NOTES 5, 8, 9 AND 11
9% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001
  Par Value. Authorized 1,000,000 Shares; Issued and
     Outstanding 109,200 Shares...........................         109          109           109
Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value. Authorized 10,000,000
  Shares; Issued and Outstanding 840,000, 1,010,028 and
  1,068,668 Shares in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively...         840        1,010         1,069
Class B Nonvoting Common Stock, $0.001 Par Value.
  Authorized 10,000,000 Shares; Issued and Outstanding
  8,191 and 9,691 Shares in 1997 and 1998.................          --            8            10
Paid in Capital...........................................   1,100,427    2,388,310     2,991,649
Retained Deficit..........................................    (657,351)    (780,393)   (1,243,498)
Unrealized Appreciation on Investments....................       2,303           --            --
                                                            ----------   ----------   -----------
          TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY......................     446,328    1,609,044     1,749,339
                                                            ----------   ----------   -----------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY......  $4,555,327   $9,986,666   $13,413,153
                                                            ==========   ==========   ===========

 
                         The accompanying notes are an
           integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       F-3
   47
 
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 


                                                                                 THREE MONTHS
                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,       ENDED MARCH 31,
                                                 ------------------------   -----------------------
                                                    1996          1997         1997         1998
                                                 -----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
                                                                                  (UNAUDITED)
                                                                             
REVENUES
Premiums Assumed...............................  $ 2,002,121   $4,789,048   $1,442,665   $2,370,677
Change in Unearned Premiums....................   (1,183,142)    (802,943)    (729,061)    (959,849)
                                                 -----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
Premiums Earned................................      818,979    3,986,105      713,604    1,410,828
Commissions and Fees...........................      354,271    1,396,533      248,370      535,990
Investment Income..............................       71,370      225,459       38,882       73,996
                                                 -----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          TOTAL REVENUES.......................    1,244,620    5,608,097    1,000,856    2,020,814
                                                 ===========   ==========   ==========   ==========
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses............      427,008    2,518,938      384,942    1,364,551
Policy Acquisition Costs, including
  amortization of deferred policy acquisition
  costs -- Note 3..............................      292,625    1,122,877      239,178      419,952
General and Administrative Expenses............      898,609    1,974,042      416,370      671,674
Interest.......................................       13,081       17,002        4,450        3,172
                                                 -----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          TOTAL EXPENSES.......................    1,631,323    5,632,859    1,044,940    2,459,349
                                                 ===========   ==========   ==========   ==========
(LOSS) BEFORE FEDERAL INCOME TAXES AND
  PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS....................     (386,703)     (24,762)     (44,084)    (438,535)
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES -- Note 3.................           --           --           --           --
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS -- Note 4............      (98,280)     (98,280)     (24,570)     (24,570)
                                                 -----------   ----------   ----------   ----------
          NET (LOSS)...........................  $  (484,983)  $ (123,042)  $  (68,654)  $ (463,105)
                                                 ===========   ==========   ==========   ==========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
  ADJUSTED FOR CONVERSION OF PREFERRED STOCK
  AND CLASS B SHARES INTO COMMON SHARES AND
  1998 STOCK SPLIT -- Note 11..................    3,397,477    3,926,442    3,251,883    4,082,753
                                                 ===========   ==========   ==========   ==========
          BASIC LOSS PER SHARE.................  $      (.14)  $     (.03)  $     (.02)  $     (.11)
                                                 ===========   ==========   ==========   ==========

 
                         The accompanying notes are an
           integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       F-4
   48
 
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           CHANGES IN CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1997


                                                                            CLASS B
                                                                           NONVOTING                                  UNREALIZED
                                PREFERRED STOCK       COMMON STOCK       COMMON STOCK                                APPRECIATION
                                ----------------   ------------------   ---------------    PAID IN      RETAINED          ON
                                SHARES    AMOUNT    SHARES     AMOUNT   SHARES   AMOUNT    CAPITAL       DEFICIT     INVESTMENTS
                                -------   ------   ---------   ------   ------   ------   ----------   -----------   ------------
                                                                                          
Balance, December 31, 1995....  105,600    $106      840,000   $ 840       --     $--     $1,064,430   $  (172,368)    $    --
Sale of Preferred Stock.......    3,600       3           --      --       --      --         35,997            --          --
Increase in Investment
  Appreciation................       --      --           --      --       --      --             --            --       2,303
Net (Loss)....................       --      --           --      --       --      --             --      (484,983)         --
                                -------    ----    ---------   ------   -----     ---     ----------   -----------     -------
Balance, December 31, 1996....  109,200     109      840,000     840       --      --      1,100,427      (657,351)      2,303
Sale of Common Stock net of
  $23,275 of offering costs,
  February 1997...............       --      --      162,000     162       --      --      1,076,563            --          --
Conversion of Preferred Stock
  Dividend Into Common Stock,
  February 1997...............       --      --        8,028       8       --      --         80,272            --          --
Sale of Class B NonVoting
  Common Stock................       --      --           --      --    8,191       8        131,048            --          --
Decrease in Unrealized
  Appreciation................       --      --           --      --       --      --             --            --      (2,303)
Net (Loss)....................       --      --           --      --       --      --             --      (123,042)         --
                                -------    ----    ---------   ------   -----     ---     ----------   -----------     -------
Balance, December 31, 1997....  109,200     109    1,010,028   1,010    8,191       8      2,388,310      (780,393)         --
Sale of Common Stock in March
  1998........................                        50,000      50                         499,950
Sale of Class B Common Stock
  in January and March 1998...                                          1,500       2         16,998
Conversion of Preferred Stock
  Dividend Into Common Stock,
  February 1998...............                         8,640       9                          86,391
Net (Loss) Unaudited..........                                                                            (463,105)
                                -------    ----    ---------   ------   -----     ---     ----------   -----------     -------
Balance, March 31, 1998.......  109,200    $109    1,068,668   $1,069   9,691     $10     $2,991,649   $(1,243,498)    $    --
                                =======    ====    =========   ======   =====     ===     ==========   ===========     =======
 

 
                                  TOTAL
                                ----------
                             
Balance, December 31, 1995....  $  893,008
Sale of Preferred Stock.......      36,000
Increase in Investment
  Appreciation................       2,303
Net (Loss)....................    (484,983)
                                ----------
Balance, December 31, 1996....     446,328
Sale of Common Stock net of
  $23,275 of offering costs,
  February 1997...............   1,076,725
Conversion of Preferred Stock
  Dividend Into Common Stock,
  February 1997...............      80,280
Sale of Class B NonVoting
  Common Stock................     131,056
Decrease in Unrealized
  Appreciation................      (2,303)
Net (Loss)....................    (123,042)
                                ----------
Balance, December 31, 1997....   1,609,044
Sale of Common Stock in March
  1998........................     500,000
Sale of Class B Common Stock
  in January and March 1998...      17,000
Conversion of Preferred Stock
  Dividend Into Common Stock,
  February 1998...............      86,400
Net (Loss) Unaudited..........    (463,105)
                                ----------
Balance, March 31, 1998.......  $1,749,339
                                ==========

 
                         The accompanying notes are an
           integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       F-5
   49
 
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 


                                                                     YEARS ENDED             THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,                  MARCH 31,
                                                              -------------------------   -------------------------
                                                                 1996          1997          1997          1998
                                                              -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                                          (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                            
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net (Loss)................................................  $  (484,983)  $  (123,042)  $  (68,654)   $  (463,105)
  Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Provided by
    Operations Increase in Allowance for Doubtful
    Accounts................................................       41,898       102,739           --         49,048
      Depreciation..........................................        2,346        11,383        1,312          6,351
      Amortization..........................................        4,178         3,186          797            796
      Preference Stock Dividend.............................       98,280        98,280       24,570         24,570
  Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities
    (Increase) Decrease in:
      Investments...........................................     (611,975)      611,975      (10,784)            --
      Accrued Interest Income...............................         (482)        2,550       (3,637)       (19,345)
      Premiums Receivable...................................   (1,336,300)   (1,393,424)    (878,821)    (1,588,915)
      Reinsurance Balances Receivable.......................     (628,315)     (124,794)    (295,721)      (580,350)
      Claim Fees Receivable.................................     (161,812)     (337,309)    (119,923)      (219,354)
      Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs.....................     (290,888)     (138,939)    (163,573)      (222,516)
      Other Assets..........................................         (725)      (19,270)      (3,310)       (29,827)
    Increase (Decrease) in:
      Reserve for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses.......      368,301     1,607,996      269,726        925,344
      Unearned Premium......................................    1,183,142       802,943      665,294        959,849
      Payable to Insurance Company..........................    1,481,662     1,518,307      819,758      1,115,465
      Unearned Commission and Fees..........................      123,787       302,110       76,230         87,488
      Accounts Payable......................................       73,867       127,889       45,360         84,452
      Accrued Liabilities...................................      142,998       139,896       69,296        205,726
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
        NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES...........        4,979     3,192,476      427,920        335,677
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Purchase of Equipment.....................................      (12,697)      (94,730)     (10,672)       (36,311)
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
        NET CASH (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES.............      (12,697)      (94,730)     (10,672)       (36,311)
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Sale of Common Stock......................................           --     1,107,781      850,000        517,000
  Sale of Preferred Stock...................................       36,000            --           --             --
  Shareholders and Affiliate Loans..........................      197,685      (130,518)     (77,910)       (18,422)
  Payment of Preferred Stock Dividend.......................           --       (18,000)     (18,000)       (11,880)
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
        NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES...........      233,685       959,263      754,090        486,698
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
INCREASE IN CASH............................................  $   225,967   $ 4,057,009   $1,171,338    $   786,064
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD............    1,116,358     1,342,325    1,342,325      5,399,334
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD..................  $ 1,342,325   $ 5,399,334   $2,513,663    $ 6,185,398
                                                              ===========   ===========   ==========    ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
  Cash Paid During the Year:
    Interest Expense........................................  $    13,081   $    17,002   $   20,171    $     3,172
                                                              ===========   ===========   ==========    ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING
  AND FINANCING ACTIVITY:
  Preferred Stock Dividend Conversion to Common Stock.......  $        --   $   (80,280)  $   80,280    $   (86,400)
  Common Stock..............................................           --        80,280           --         86,400
  Stockholders Payable......................................           --      (100,000)     100,000             --
  Common Stock..............................................           --       100,000     (180,280)            --
                                                              -----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
                                                              $        --   $        --   $       --    $        --
                                                              ===========   ===========   ==========    ===========

 
                         The accompanying notes are an
           integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
                                       F-6
   50
 
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
             (INCLUDING NOTES APPLICABLE TO THE UNAUDITED PERIODS)
                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1997
 
NOTE 1:  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
     The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Commerce
Casualty Group, Inc. (CCG) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Commerce Casualty
Insurance Company Ltd. (the Insurance Subsidiary) and Commerce Capital, Inc.
(CCI), collectively referred to as "the Company". All material intercompany
balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
     CCG was incorporated on April 19, 1995, under the laws of the State of
North Carolina. On September 1, 1995, CCG entered into an Agency Agreement with
Star Insurance Company (STAR) (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meadowbrook
Insurance Group, Inc.) whereby CCG would solicit workers compensation insurance
business in the states of North and South Carolina on behalf of Star. This
agreement can be cancelled by either party with sixty (60) days notice.
Effective October 1, 1995, CCG entered into a Service Agreement with
Meadowbrook, Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meadowbrook Insurance Group,
Inc.) which allows CCG to service the workers' compensation claims on policies
sold by CCG and CCG is to be paid a service fee by Meadowbrook, Inc. for the
claim services rendered. The service fees are to be paid to CCG as follows: 50%
of service fees thirty (30) days after STAR has received premiums, 25% within
fifteen (15) months, and 25% within twenty-seven (27) months of the policy month
written.
 
     Effective October 1, 1995, CCG entered into an Insurance Program Agreement
with Meadowbrook, Inc. The agreement set forth CCG's intent to organize a
reinsurance company under the laws of Bermuda, for the purpose of reinsuring a
portion of the liability on insurance policies it sold on behalf of STAR.
Meadowbrook, Inc. agreed to assist CCG in the organization and licensing of a
Bermuda company. On December 19, 1995, Commerce Casualty Insurance Company Ltd.
was incorporated in Bermuda and is registered as a class 3 reinsurer under The
Insurance Act of 1978 and related regulations. the Insurance Subsidiary
participates in a 50% (20% for the three months July to September 1997) quota
share agreement reinsuring a U.S. ceding company which issues workers'
compensation policies under the Commerce Casualty Group Program. The exposure of
the participants to the reinsurance agreement is limited through reinsurance
under the quota share agreement to $250,000 per occurrence. Consequently, the
Insurance Subsidiary's exposure is limited to $125,000 per occurrence. The
agreement is subject to cancellation if notice is given at least 90 days prior
to anniversary date of agreement (October 1) or immediately by mutual consent.
 
     The Insurance Subsidiary entered into a Management and Consulting Agreement
with Meadowbrook Risk Management Ltd. (MRM), a Bermuda company and subsidiary of
Meadowbrook, Inc. MRM will provide the Insurance Subsidiary necessary office
facilities, underwriting, consultation services, preparation of financial
statements and other general corporate functions. The term of the agreement is
for a three (3) year period and can be renewed yearly thereafter. MRM agreed to
charge the Insurance Subsidiary a fixed rated of compensation escalated at 5%
per year.
 
     CCI was incorporated on January 20, 1998, under the laws of the State of
North Carolina. CCI was organized to provide premium finance support for the
insurance agents doing business with CCG. As of March 31, 1998, no premiums had
been financed by CCI.
 
USE OF ESTIMATES
 
     The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles which require
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
 
                                       F-7
   51
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
INVESTMENTS
 
     Under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities", the Company considers its investments as available for sale and
accordingly they are recorded at fair value. Unrealized appreciation or
depreciation in value is included as a separate component of shareholders'
equity.
 
     Realized gains and losses on sales of investments are determined using the
specific identification method and are included in the statement of operations.
 
DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS
 
     Policy acquisition costs, consisting principally of agents' commissions,
taxes and administrative fees, are amortized over the period in which the
related premiums are earned. The method followed in determining deferred
acquisition costs limits the amount of the deferral to its realizable value by
giving consideration to losses and expenses expected to be incurred as premiums
are earned.
 
EQUIPMENT
 
     Equipment is stated at cost and is depreciated using the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three to ten
years. Upon sale or retirement, the cost of the asset and related accumulated
depreciation are eliminated from their respective accounts, and the resulting
gain or loss is included in income. Repairs and maintenance are charged to
operations when incurred.
 
ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS
 
     Organization cost is amortized on a straight-line basis over five (5) years
from date of incorporation.
 
LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES
 
     Losses and loss expenses paid are recorded when advised by the ceding
insurance company. Outstanding losses comprise estimates of the amount of
reported losses and loss expenses received from the ceding insurance company
plus a provision for losses incurred but not reported. The provision for losses
incurred but not reported is based on the recommendations of an independent loss
reserve specialist using the Company's limited historical loss experience, loss
experience of the ceding insurance company and other available information.
 
     Management believes that the provision for outstanding losses and loss
expenses will be adequate to cover the ultimate net cost of losses incurred to
the balance sheet date but the provision is necessarily an estimate and claims
may ultimately be settled for greater or lesser amounts. It is at least
reasonably possible that management will revise this estimate significantly in
the near term. Any subsequent differences arising are recorded in the period in
which they are determined.
 
     Significant delays can be experienced in the insurance industry generally
in both the notification and settlement of losses. Accordingly, a substantial
measure of judgement is required in assessing such losses, the ultimate cost of
which cannot be known with certainty.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
     Premiums assumed are recognized as earned on a pro rata basis over the life
of the policy term. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written
which are applicable to the unexpired terms of policies in force.
 
     Commission and fee income is recorded on the effective date of the policy
on which it was earned.
 
                                       F-8
   52
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     The claims processing fees are recognized as revenue over the estimated
life of the claims.
 
     Investment income, comprising dividends and interest, is accrued to the
balance sheet date.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
 
     The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income
Taxes" ("SFAS No. 109"), which requires recognition of deferred tax liabilities
and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been
included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred
tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the
financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax
rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
     The Company considers all cash on hand, deposits with financial
institutions that can be withdrawn without prior notice or penalty, and short
term deposits with an original maturity of ninety days or less as equivalent to
cash.
 
EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
     The net loss per share is based on the weighted average number of common
Shares outstanding, adjusted for the 1998 stock split. The earnings per share
computation did include the conversion of the 9% Cumulative Convertible
Preferred Stock to common stock and the conversion of Class B common stock to
common stock.
 
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
     In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share"
(Statement No. 128), which is required to be adopted for financial statements
issued for annual or interim periods after December 15, 1997. The adoption of
Statement No. 128 required a change in the presentation of earnings per share
(EPS) to replace primary and fully diluted EPS with a presentation of basic and
diluted EPS and to restate EPS for all periods presented. The adoption of
Statement No. 128 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial
statements.
 
     In February 1997, the FASB also issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 129, "Disclosure of Information about Capital Structure"
(Statement No. 129). Statement No. 129 establishes standards for disclosing
information about an entity's capital structure and applies to all entities.
Statement No. 129 continues the previous requirements to disclose certain
information about an entity's capital structure found in APB Opinions No. 10,
"Omnibus Opinion -- 1966", and 15, "Earnings per Share", and FASB Statements of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 47, "Disclosure of Long-Term Obligations",
for entities that were subject to the requirements of APB Opinions 10 and 15 and
Statement No. 47 and consolidates them for ease of retrieval and for greater
visibility to non-public entities. Statement No. 129 is effective for financial
statements for periods ending after December 15, 1997. The Company experienced
no material revision in its disclosures when Statement No. 129 was adopted.
 
     In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" (Statement No. 130). Statement No. 130
establishes standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its
components (revenues, expenses, gains and losses) in a full set of general
purpose financial statements. Statement No. 130 requires that all items that are
required to be recognized under accounting standards as components of
comprehensive income be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with
the same prominence as other financial statements. It does not require a
specific format for that financial statement but requires that an entity display
an amount representing total comprehensive income for the period in that
financial statement. Statement No. 130 is effective for fiscal years
                                       F-9
   53
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
beginning after December 15, 1997. Reclassification of financial statements for
earlier periods provided for comparative purposes is required. Statement No. 130
had no impact on the financial condition or results of operations of the
Company, but required changes in the Company's disclosure and presentation
requirements, which were not made due to the immaterial effect on the financial
statements.
 
     In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 131 (Statement No. 131), "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information." Statement No. 131 establishes standards for disclosures
related to business operating segments. The Company anticipates that Statement
No. 131 will have no significant effect on the disclosures set forth in its
consolidated financial statements.
 
     In December 1997, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 97-3 "Accounting by Insurance and Other Enterprises
for Insurance-related Assessments" (SOP 97-3). SOP 97-3 provides guidance for
determining when an insurance company or other enterprise should recognize a
liability for guaranty-fund assessments and guidance for measuring the
liability. SOP 97-3 is effective for financial statements for fiscal years
beginning after December 15 1998. The Company anticipates that the adoption of
SOP 97-3 will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or
results of operations.
 
INTERIM UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
     The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 1998 and
statements of operations, shareholder's equity and cash flows for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998 are unaudited. In the opinion of
management, these statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited
consolidated financial statements included herein and include all adjustments,
necessary to present fairly the information set forth therein, which consist
solely of normal recurring adjustments. The results of operations for the
interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results for a full
year.
 
NOTE 2:  INVESTMENTS
 
     The Company's investments at December 31, 1996, comprise the following:
 


                                                                    UNREALIZED     FAIR
                                                           COST        GAIN       VALUE
                                                         --------   ----------   --------
                                                                        
Mutual Fund............................................  $611,975     $2,303     $614,278
                                                         ========     ======     ========

 
     The mutual fund invests principally in obligations issued or guaranteed by
the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, including
mortgage-backed securities issued by the Government National Mortgage
Association ("GNMA").
 
     There were no investments at December 31, 1997.
 
                                      F-10
   54
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 3:  DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS
 
     Deferred policy acquisition costs and the components of the change in
deferred acquisition costs were as follows:
 


                                                    YEAR ENDED        THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                    MARCH 31,            DECEMBER 31,
                                               --------------------   -------------------
                                                 1996        1997       1997       1998
                                               ---------   --------   --------   --------
                                                                     
Balance, beginning of period.................  $  18,557   $309,445   $309,445   $448,384
Agents Commissions...........................    160,170    383,124    115,413    189,654
Administration, taxes, & other...............    260,275    622,576    187,546    308,188
Amortization.................................   (129,557)  (866,761)  (139,386)  (275,326)
                                               ---------   --------   --------   --------
Balance, end of period.......................  $ 309,445   $448,384   $473,018   $670,900
                                               =========   ========   ========   ========

 
NOTE 4:  INCOME TAXES
 
UNITED STATES
 
     Effective December 19, 1995, the Insurance Subsidiary made an irrevocable
election under Section 953(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
to be treated as a domestic insurance company for United States federal income
tax purposes. As a result of the "domestic election" the Insurance Subsidiary is
subject to U.S. taxation on its worldwide income as if it were a U.S.
corporation.
 
BERMUDA
 
     Under current Bermuda law, the Insurance Subsidiary is not required to pay
taxes in Bermuda on either income or capital gains. The Company has received an
undertaking from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that in the event of any
such taxes being imposed the Insurance Subsidiary will be exempted from taxation
until the year 2016.
 
     At December 31, 1997, the following net operating losses are available to
off-set future taxable income:
 


COMPANY                                                        AMOUNT
- -------                                                       --------
                                                           
CCG.........................................................  $ 76,000
The Insurance Subsidiary....................................   285,000
                                                              --------
                                                              $361,000
                                                              ========

 
     The net operating losses will begin to expire in 2010.
 
     Federal income tax benefit differs from the statutory rate of 34% as
follows:
 


                                                                1996       1997
                                                              --------   --------
                                                                   
Tax Benefit at Statutory Rate of 34%........................  $131,479   $  8,419
Meals, Entertainment and Other..............................    (1,141)     4,830
Increase in Valuation Allowance.............................  (130,338)   (13,249)
                                                              --------   --------
Federal Income Tax Benefit..................................  $     --   $     --
                                                              ========   ========

 
                                      F-11
   55
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31,
1996 and 1997 are as follows:
 


                                                                1996        1997
                                                              ---------   ---------
                                                                    
Deferred Tax Assets:
  Organization and Startup Costs............................  $  26,729   $  19,756
  Accrued Expenses..........................................     49,765      60,403
  Benefit of Net Operating Loss for Federal Tax Purposes....    153,134     123,009
                                                              ---------   ---------
          Total Deferred Tax Assets.........................    229,628     203,168
                                                              ---------   ---------
Deferred Tax Liabilities:
  Liabilities Applicable to the Insurance Subsidiary........     40,845       1,136
                                                              ---------   ---------
          Total Deferred Tax Liabilities....................     40,845       1,136
                                                              ---------   ---------
Net Deferred Tax Assets.....................................    188,783     202,032
Less Valuation Allowance....................................   (188,783)   (202,032)
                                                              ---------   ---------
          Total Deferred Taxes..............................  $      --   $      --
                                                              =========   =========

 
     Realization of the deferred tax assets applicable to temporary timing
difference and the net operating loss carryforward is dependent on the Company's
ability to generate sufficient future taxable income. A valuation allowance
equal to the net deferred tax assets was recognized since the Company's
management believes that there is at least a 50% chance that insufficient
taxable income will be generated to allow for the realization of the deferred
tax assets.
 
NOTE 5:  PREFERRED AND COMMON STOCK
 
     In 1996, the Company sold 3,600 Shares of 9% Preferred Stock, par value
$0.001, at $10 per share. Payment of the dividends on the Preferred Stock is
subject to various provisions of the laws of the State of North Carolina;
however, if not paid annually the dividends will accumulate until such time as
payment is permissible under state law. On December 31, 1996 and 1997, the
Company declared a $98,280 Preferred Stock dividend.
 
     The Preferred Stock is convertible to common stock based on the ratio of 5
Shares of Preferred Stock for 6 Shares of common. The mandatory conversion will
occur on the five (5) year anniversary of the issuance of the Preferred Stock.
 
     In January and February of 1997, the Company sold 162,000 Shares of it's
common stock for an aggregate value of $1,100,000 and incurred offering costs of
$23,275.
 
     On June 26, 1997, the Company's articles of incorporation were amended to
authorize the issuance of 10,000,000 Shares designated as Class B Nonvoting
Common Stock with par value $0.001. In December 1997, the Company sold 8,191
Class B Common Shares for an aggregate value of $131,056.
 
                                      F-12
   56
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 6:  OUTSTANDING LOSSES AND LOSS EXPENSES
 
     The summary of changes in outstanding losses and loss expenses is as
follows:
 


                                                       DECEMBER 31,                MARCH 31,
                                                   ---------------------   -------------------------
                                                     1996        1997         1997          1998
                                                   --------   ----------   -----------   -----------
                                                                           (UNAUDITED)   (UNAUDITED)
                                                                             
Balance January 1,...............................  $     --   $  370,616    $ 370,616    $1,978,612
                                                   --------   ----------    ---------    ----------
Incurred losses related to:
  Current year...................................   429,740    2,537,238      350,413       747,501
  Prior years....................................        --      (18,301)      34,529       617,050
                                                   --------   ----------    ---------    ----------
                                                    429,740    2,518,937      384,942     1,364,551
                                                   --------   ----------    ---------    ----------
Paid losses related to:
  Current year...................................   (59,124)    (684,739)      (7,927)      (18,798)
  Prior years....................................        --     (226,202)    (107,289)     (420,409)
                                                   --------   ----------    ---------    ----------
                                                    (59,124)    (910,941)    (115,216)     (439,207)
                                                   --------   ----------    ---------    ----------
Balance at December 31,..........................  $370,616   $1,978,612    $ 640,342    $2,903,956
                                                   ========   ==========    =========    ==========

 
NOTE 7:  CONCENTRATION OF RISK
 
     At times the Company's cash balances ($1,079,287 at December 31, 1997)
exceeded the FDIC insurance limit, thus exposing the Company to concentrations
of credit risk. The Company places its cash with what it believes to be high
credit quality financial institutions. Approximately $3,864,000 of the excess
balance is held in escrow in order to indemnify the insurer.
 
     The Meadowbrook Insurance Group, Inc. (Meadowbrook) is the sole source of
workers' compensation insurance sold by the managing general agency and has been
given, by contract, the right to manage the Company's insurance subsidiary in
Bermuda. If the various contracts and agreements with Meadowbrook were
terminated, the Company could be subjected to a severe interruption in its
business operations.
 
     The carrying amounts of receivables and payables approximate their fair
value at December 31, 1997.
 
                                      F-13
   57
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 8:  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
     At December 31, 1996 and 1997 and March 31, 1998, the balances due to
stockholders and an affiliate were as follows:
 


                                                                                AMOUNT
                                                                   ---------------------------------
                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                                   -------------------    MARCH 31,
TO WHOM OWED                  EXPLANATION                            1996       1997        1998
- ------------                  -----------                          --------   --------   -----------
                                                                                         (UNAUDITED)
                                                                             
Tucker Administrators, Inc.   Expenses paid on behalf
                              of Company.........................  $167,596   $141,246    $122,824
Tucker Administrators, Inc.   Loans to Company...................    24,000         --          --
E. E. Tucker, Jr.             Expenses paid on behalf
                              of Company.........................    18,042         --          --
E. E.Tucker, Jr.              Accrued Salary and Taxes...........   120,670         --          --
E. Eugene Tucker, III         Accrued Salary and Taxes...........    41,456         --          --
                                                                   --------   --------    --------
                                                                   $371,764   $141,246    $122,824
                                                                   ========   ========    ========

 
     For the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, the Company's results of
operations included general and administrative expenses of $170,641 and $131,720
paid by Tucker Administrators, Inc. on behalf of the Company. For the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, the results of operations included general
and administrative expenses of $23,413 and $24,578, respectively, paid by Tucker
Administrators, Inc. on behalf of the Company.
 
NOTE 9:  STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS
 
     The Insurance Subsidiary is required by its license to maintain capital and
surplus greater than a minimum statutory amount determined as the greater of
$1,000,000, a percentage of outstanding losses or a given fraction of net
written premiums. At December 31, 1997, the Company is required to maintain a
minimum statutory capital and surplus of $1,000,000. Actual statutory capital
and surplus is $872,124 and accordingly does not meet its minimum capital and
surplus requirement at December 31, 1997. Subsequent to the year end, CCG
contributed $150,000 to allow the Insurance Subsidiary to meet this deficiency.
 
     Actual statutory capital and surplus, as determined using statutory
accounting principles, is as follows:
 

                                                           
Total shareholders' equity-the Insurance Subsidiary.........  $1,692,929
Less non-admitted assets:
  Deferred acquisition expenses.............................    (811,362)
  Deferred organizational costs.............................      (9,443)
                                                              ----------
Statutory capital and surplus...............................  $  872,124
                                                              ==========

 
The Insurance Subsidiary is also required to maintain a minimum liquidity ratio
whereby the value of its relevant assets are not less than 75% of the amount of
its relevant liabilities. Relevant assets include cash and deposits, quoted
investments, investment income, accrued and insurance balances receivable.
Certain categories of assets do not qualify as relevant assets under the
statute. The relevant liabilities are outstanding losses and loss expenses and
unearned premiums and accounts payable and accrued expenses. At December 31,
1997, the Insurance Subsidiary cannot pay any dividends to is shareholder.
 
     At December 31, 1997, the Insurance Subsidiary was required to maintain
relevant assets of approximately $3,181,000 (1996 -- 1,284,000). At that date,
relevant assets were approximately $5,114,000 (1996 -- $2,172,000) and the
minimum liquidity ratio was therefore met.
 
                                      F-14
   58
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
NOTE 10:  IMPACT OF YEAR 2000
 
     The Year 2000 Issue is the result of computer programs being written using
two digits rather than four to define the applicable year. Any of the Company's
computer programs that have time-sensitive software may recognize a date using
"00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in a system
failure or miscalculations causing disruptions of operations, including, among
other things, a temporary inability to process transactions, send invoices, or
engage in similar normal business activities.
 
     Based on a recent assessment, the Company determined that it will not be
required to modify or replace significant portions of its software so that its
computer systems will function properly with respect to dates in the year 2000
and thereafter. The Company believes that the Year 2000 Issue will not pose
significant operational problems for its computer systems.
 
     The Company has initiated formal communications with all of its significant
suppliers and large customers to determine the extent to which the Company's
interface systems are vulnerable to those third parties' failure to remediate
their own Year 2000 Issues. However, there can be no guarantee that the systems
of other companies on which the Company's systems rely will be timely converted
and would not have an adverse effect on the Company's systems. The Company has
determined it has no exposure to contingencies related to the Year 2000 Issue
for the insurance policies it has sold.
 
     The total cost of the Year 2000 project is not expected to be significant.
 
NOTE 11:  STOCK TRANSACTIONS (UNAUDITED)
 
     The following summarizes the stock transaction of the Company from January
1, 1998 to July 15, 1998:
 


                                                MONTH       NUMBER       PRICE
DESCRIPTION                                     SOLD       OF SHARES   PER SHARE     AMOUNT
- -----------                                  -----------   ---------   ---------   ----------
                                                                       
Sale of Stock Common Stock.................        March     50,000     $10.00     $  500,000
  Common Stock.............................        April     13,500      10.00        135,000
  Common Stock.............................         July     52,631       9.50        500,000
  Class B Common Stock.....................      January        625      16.00         10,000
  Class B Common Stock.....................        March        875       8.00*         7,000
  Class B Common Stock.....................        April        678       8.00*         5,424
                                                            -------                ----------
                                                            118,309                 1,157,424
Conversion of Preferred Stock Dividend
  Common Stock.............................     February      8,640      10.00         86,400
                                                            -------                ----------
                                                            126,949                $1,243,824
                                                            =======                ==========

 
- ---------------
 
* Shares sold to employees of Company
 
     In July 1998, the Company effected the following stock transactions:
 
     - Converted the Preferred Stock to common stock on the basis of five (5)
       Shares of Preferred Stock exchanged for six (6) shares of Common Stock.
 
     - Converted the Class B common stock on a one for one basis.
 
     - Split the common Shares on a 3.5 to 1 basis, except for the Shares sold
       to its employees for $8.00 which were split 1.75 to 1.
 
                                      F-15
   59
                 COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
     At March 31, 1998, the stockholders' equity would be effected as follows:
 


                                                    PRO FORMA                PRO FORMA
                                                OUTSTANDING COMMON   TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                                      SHARES               MARCH 31, 1998
                                                ------------------   --------------------------
                                                               
Balance, March 31, 1998.......................      1,068,668                $1,749,339
Sale of Common Stock..........................         66,131                   635,000
Class B Common Stock..........................             --                     5,424
Conversion of Preferred Stock.................        131,040                        --
Conversion of Class B Common Stock............         10,369                        --
Stock Split...................................      3,187,813                        --
                                                    ---------                ----------
                                                    4,464,021                $2,389,763
                                                    =========                ==========

 
     Stockholders' equity does not reflect the effect of the results of
operations for the three months ended June 30, 1998.
 
                                      F-16
   60
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
 
  NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER
TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SHARES TO ANY PERSON IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN
WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR
TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER
THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 


                                        PAGE
                                        ----
                                     
Available Information.................    ii
Prospectus Summary....................     1
Risk Factors..........................     5
Dilution..............................    13
Use of Proceeds.......................    14
Dividend Policy.......................    15
Capitalization........................    16
Selected Consolidated Financial
  Data................................    17
Management's Discussion and Analysis
  of Financial Condition and Results
  of Operations.......................    18
Business..............................    21
Management............................    29
Executive Compensation................    31
Limitation of Directors' and Officers'
  Liability and Indemnification.......    32
Certain Relationships and Related
  Transactions........................    32
Principal Shareholders................    33
Description of Securities.............    34
Underwriting..........................    38
Legal Matters.........................    39
Experts...............................    39
Table of Contents to Financial
  Statements..........................   F-1

 
  UNTIL                     , 1998 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS),
ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE REGISTERED SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY,
WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A
PROSPECTUS. THIS DELIVERY REQUIREMENT IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF
DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO
THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
                                2,0000,000 UNITS
               EACH UNIT CONSISTING OF ONE SHARE OF COMMON STOCK,
             ONE SERIES A REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
           AND ONE SERIES B REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
 
                         COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC.
                              --------------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                                              , 1998
                              --------------------
 
                            FIRST LONDON SECURITIES
                                  CORPORATION
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
   61
 
                                    PART II
 
ITEM 24.  INDEMNIFICATION
 
     The Company's Articles of Incorporation limit the liability of officers and
directors of the Company to the corporation or its shareholders for damages
except for liabilities arising from acts or omissions involving intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law. The Bylaws of the Company
also provide that the Company may indemnify directors and officers to the
fullest extent permitted by North Carolina law. North Carolina law permits a
corporation to indemnify any officer or director from any liability incurred by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer or director if such
person acted in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in
the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to a criminal action, if
he had no reason to believe his conduct was unlawful. At present, there is no
pending litigation or proceeding involving any director, officer, employee, or
agent of the Company under circumstances in which indemnification is likely to
be required or permitted.
 
ITEM 25.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     See "Use of Proceeds." Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution are
estimated as follows:
 

                                                           
Registration Fees:..........................................  $ 13,839.70
NASD filing fee:............................................     5,656.00
NASDAQ Small Cap Market.....................................    25,000.00
Underwriters nonaccountable expense allowance:..............   200,000.00
Transfer Agent Fees:........................................     4,000.00
Printing Costs:.............................................    60,000.00
Legal Expenses:.............................................   150,000.00
Accounting Expenses:........................................   150,000.00
Miscellaneous:..............................................    15,000.00
                                                              -----------
          Total Estimated "Other" Expenses..................  $623,496.00
                                                              ===========

 
ITEM 26.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
 
     Within the past three years, the Company has sold the securities listed
below pursuant to exemptions from the Securities Act .
 
     1. The Company was incorporated on April 19, 1995 and issued stock
thereafter, representing a total of 840,000 Shares, to its founders, officers
and directors, as set forth below. All such Shares were sold at a subscription
price of $.05. Following the July, 1998 Stock Split, the number of shares was
increased to 2,940,000.
 

                                                           
Ernest E. Tucker, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Director....  504,000
Paul V. H. Halter, III, Chief Operating Officer, Director...  168,000
Ernest E. Tucker, III, Secretary, Treasurer, Director.......  168,000

 
     With respect to such sales, an exemption under Section 4(2) is claimed as
follows:
 
          a. No general advertising or general solicitation was engaged in nor
     were any commissions or similar remuneration, directly or indirectly, paid
     with respect to these transactions;
 
          b. Reasonable inquiry was made to determine that the securities were
     purchased solely for investment and without a view to their resale or
     distribution; subscribers were informed of the restrictions regarding
     resale; subscribers received legended stock subject to the absence of
     registration under the Securities Act and the restrictions on
     transferability and resale;
 
          c. Registrant provided subscribers with all information, requested by
     them and with all information believed by Registrant to be relevant. These
     persons are afforded continuous access to all such information.
                                      II-1
   62
 
          d. All subscribers had and continue to have sufficient knowledge and
     experience in financial and business matters such that they are capable of
     evaluating the risks and merits of the investment and similar investments
     and all are able to bear the economic risk, including the loss of the
     entire investment;
 
          e. The size of the offering was de minimus and the number of offerees
     limited.
 
     Accordingly, Registrant claims the transactions described to have been
exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act by
reason of the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) in that the transactions did
not involve a public offering of Securities or are otherwise exempt form
registration under the Securities Act.
 
     2. Beginning on August 25, 1995 and continuing through January, 1996, the
Company made a private offering under Rules 505 and 506 of Regulation D
securities and sold 109,200 Shares of Convertible Preferred Stock at a price of
$10.00 per share. In July, 1998 Stock Split, the number of Preferred shares was
converted on a 5 shares of Preferred Stock for 6 shares of Common Stock. After
the conversion, the shares were forward split and the number of common shares
issued was 458,640. The private placement was made pursuant to a private
placement Memorandum dated August 25, 1995 which was filed with the Blue Sky
Administrators in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and
Virginia. A form D was thereafter filed with the Securities & Exchange
Commission. No general advertising or general solicitation was engaged in nor
were any commissions or similar remuneration, directly or indirectly, paid with
respect to these transactions. Reasonable inquiry was made to determine that the
securities were purchased solely for investment and without a view to their
resale or distribution; subscribers were informed of the restrictions regarding
resale; subscribers received legended stock subject to the absence of
registration under the Securities Act and the restrictions on transferability
and resale. Registrant provided each offeree with a private placement
memorandum. All subscribers had and continue to have sufficient knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters such that they are capable of
evaluating the risks and merits of the investment and similar investments and
all are able to bear the economic risk, including the loss of the entire
investment. Accordingly, Registrant claims the transactions described to have
been exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities
Act by reason of the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) in that the transactions
did not involve a public offering of Securities and under Regulation D or are
otherwise exempt form registration under the Securities Act.
 
     3. From January to March, 1997, the Company sold 162,000 shares of Common
Stock to 8 existing shareholders and 11 sophisticated and accredited purchasers
at a price of $6.67. Following the July, 1998 Stock Split, the number of shares
was increased to 567,000. Reasonable inquiry was made to determine that the
securities were purchased solely for investment and without a view to their
resale or distribution; subscribers were informed of the restrictions regarding
resale; subscribers received legended stock subject to the absence of
registration under the Securities Act and the restrictions on transferability
and resale. Registrant provided each offeree with a private placement memorandum
 . All subscribers had and continue to have sufficient knowledge and experience
in financial and business matters such that they are capable of evaluating the
risks and merits of the investment and similar investments and all are able to
bear the economic risk, including the loss of the entire investment Accordingly,
Registrant claims the transactions described to have been exempt from the
registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act by reason of the
exemption afforded by Section 4(2) in that the transactions did not involve a
public offering of Securities.
 
     4. From July 13, 1997 until January 31, 1998, the Company sold 8,191 Shares
of Convertible Class B common stock at a price of $16.00 per share to fifteen
purchasers pursuant to a private placement Memorandum dated July 13, 1997, which
was filed with the Blue Sky Administrators in the states of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. The Class B Shares were converted to
common stock in July, 1998. Following the Stock Split in July, 1998, these
shares were increased to a total of 30,856 shares. It is claimed that each of
these placements were exempt from registration under Section 4(2) and under
Regulation D, including Rules 505 and 506, as follows. Reasonable inquiry was
made to determine that the securities were purchased solely for investment and
without a view to their resale or distribution; subscribers were informed of the
restrictions regarding resale; subscribers received legended stock subject to
the absence of registration under the Securities Act and the restrictions on
transferability and resale. Registrant provided
                                      II-2
   63
 
each offeree with a private placement memorandum. All subscribers had and
continue to have sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business
matters such that they are capable of evaluating the risks and merits of the
investment and similar investments and all are able to bear the economic risk,
including the loss of the entire investment Accordingly, Registrant claims the
transactions described to have been exempt from the registration requirements of
Section 5 of the Securities Act by reason of the exemption afforded by Section
4(2) in that the transactions did not involve a public offering of Securities
and under Regulation D or are otherwise exempt form registration under the
Securities Act.
 
     5. In March and April, 1998, the Company sold 1,553 Class B shares at a
price of $8.00 per share to four employees of the Company. These shares were
converted in July, 1998 on a 1 to 1 basis to 1,553 shares of common stock. These
shares of common stock were forward split at a rate of 1.75 to 1 for a total of
2,718 shares. Reasonable inquiry was made to determine that the securities were
purchased solely for investment and without a view to their resale or
distribution; subscribers were informed of the restrictions regarding resale;
subscribers received legended stock subject to the absence of registration under
the Securities Act and the restrictions on transferability and resale.
Registrant provided each offeree with a private placement memorandum. All
subscribers had and continue to have sufficient knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters such that they are capable of evaluating the
risks and merits of the investment and similar investments and all are able to
bear the economic risk, including the loss of the entire investment Accordingly,
Registrant claims the transactions described to have been exempt from the
registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act by reason of the
exemption afforded by Section 4(2) in that the transactions did not involve a
public offering of Securities.
 
     6. From March to July, 1998, the Company sold 116,131 restricted shares to
nine existing shareholders and three accredited and sophisticated investors at a
price of $10.00 per share except for shares sold to William F. Bronson at a
price of $9.50. Following the July, 1998 stock split, the number of shares
increased to a total of 406,459. Reasonable inquiry was made to determine that
the securities were purchased solely for investment and without a view to their
resale or distribution; subscribers were informed of the restrictions regarding
resale; subscribers received legended stock subject to the absence of
registration under the Securities Act and the restrictions on transferability
and resale. Registrant provided each offeree with a private placement
memorandum. All subscribers had and continue to have sufficient knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters such that they are capable of
evaluating the risks and merits of the investment and similar investments and
all are able to bear the economic risk, including the loss of the entire
investment Accordingly, Registrant claims the transactions described to have
been exempt from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities
Act by reason of the exemption afforded by Section 4(2) in that the transactions
did not involve a public offering of Securities and Rule 506 in that all
offerees were accredited investors as defined in Regulation D.
 
ITEM 27.  EXHIBITS
 
     The following documents are attached hereto as Exhibits:
 


NUMBER                                DESCRIPTION
- ------                                -----------
        
  1.1    --   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  1.2    --   Form of Selected Dealer Agreement
  3.1    --   Articles of Incorporation of Commerce Casualty Group, Inc.,
              as amended (1)
  3.2    --   Bylaws, as amended and restated, of Commerce Casualty Group,
              Inc.
  4.1    --   Form of Warrant Agreement
  5.1    --   Opinion of Charles Barkley (1)
 10.1    --   Loan and Security Agreement by and among the Company and
              First Union National Bank
 10.3    --   Form of Representative's Warrant Agreement
 10.4    --   Managing Agency Agreement Between the Company and Star
              Insurance Company (1)
 10.5    --   Trust Agreement Between the Company and Star Insurance
              Company (1)
 10.6    --   Reinsurance Agreement Between the Company and Star Insurance
              Company (1)
 10.7    --   Promissory note to Ernest E. Tucker, Jr. (1)

 
                                      II-3
   64
 


NUMBER                                DESCRIPTION
- ------                                -----------
        
 10.8    --   Promissory note to Marian Tucker (1)
 21.1    --   List of Subsidiaries
 23.1    --   Consent of Charles Barkley (See Exhibit 5.1)
 23.2    --   Consent of Killman, Murrell & Company
 24.1    --   Power of Attorney (See Page II-5)
 27.1    --   Financial Data Schedule
 27.2    --   Financial Data Schedule
 27.3    --   Financial Data Schedule
 27.4    --   Financial Data Schedule

 
- ---------------
(1) To be filed by amendment
 
ITEM 28.  UNDERTAKINGS
 
     (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the
Underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates
in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the
Underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
     (b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
     this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the
     form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
     (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
     Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
     be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
     offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
     deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     (c) The registrant hereby undertakes (1) to file, during any period in
which it offers or sells securities, a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement, to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act, to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events which,
individually or together, represent a fundamental change in the information in
the Registration Statements, and to include any additional or changed material
information on the plan of distribution; (2) that, for the purpose of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, to treat each
post-effective amendment as a new Registration Statement relating to the
securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to file a
post-effective amendment to remove from registration any of the securities being
registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising from the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is,therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-4
   65
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     In accordance with the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements of filing on Form SB-2 and authorized this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, in the City of
Charlotte, State of North Carolina on August 12, 1998.
 
                                          COMMERCE CASUALTY GROUP, INC.
 
                                          By:  /s/ PAUL V. H. HALTER, III
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                   Paul V. H. Halter, III
                                                  Chief Operating Officer
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     We, the undersigned officers and directors of Commerce Casualty Group, Inc.
hereby severally constitute and appoint Ernest E. Tucker and Paul V. H. Halter,
III and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys, with full power to
them and each of them singly, to sign for us in our names in the capacities
indicated below, all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to this
Registration Statement, including any filings pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and generally to do all things in our names
and on our behalf in such capacities to enable Commerce Casualty Group, Inc. to
comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
     In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities on August 12, 1998.
 


                      NAME                                               TITLE
                      ----                                               -----
                                               
 
              /s/ ERNEST E. TUCKER                Chairman of the Board and Director
- ------------------------------------------------
                Ernest E. Tucker
 
           /s/ PAUL V. H. HALTER, III             Chief Operating Officer and Director (Principal
- ------------------------------------------------    Executive Officer)
             Paul V. H. Halter, III
 
               /s/ JAMES P. CHICK                 Vice President of Finance and Chief
- ------------------------------------------------    Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
                 James P. Chick
 
And a Majority of Its Board of Directors:
 
              /s/ ERNEST E. TUCKER                Chairman of the Board and Director
- ------------------------------------------------
                Ernest E. Tucker
 
           /s/ PAUL V. H. HALTER, III             Director
- ------------------------------------------------
             Paul V. H. Halter, III
 
             /s/ E. E. TUCKER, III                Director
- ------------------------------------------------
               E. E. Tucker, III
 
                                                  Director
- ------------------------------------------------
                 Clinton Peters
 
              /s/ WILLIAM K. WOLTZ                Director
- ------------------------------------------------
                William K. Woltz
 
                                                  Director
- ------------------------------------------------
               William F. Bronson
 
                                                  Director
- ------------------------------------------------
                 Donald Johnson

 
                                      II-5