AMWEST SURETY TO LIQUIDATE

Amwest Insurance Group Inc. received notice that an Order of Liquidation of its subsidiary Amwest Surety Insurance Company had been entered by the Honorable John A. Colborn, Judge of the District Court of Lancaster County, Nebraska, upon petition of the Nebraska Director of Insurance. The court appointed L. Tim Wagner, Director of Insurance for the State of Nebraska, as Liquidator. Amwest is a Calabasas, Calif.-based insurance holding company underwriting surety bonds through Far West Insurance Company. Although Far West is not subject to the Order and continues to operate under its present management, the Liquidator advised the Company it expects to offer Far West for sale in the future.