SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14D-1 (AMENDMENT NO. 6) TENDER OFFER STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(D)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 and SCHEDULE 13D UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ALLIED GROUP, INC. (NAME OF SUBJECT COMPANY) NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY (Bidders) COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE (Title of Class of Securities) 019220102 (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) W. SIDNEY DRUEN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY ONE NATIONWIDE PLAZA COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215 TELEPHONE: (614) 249-7111 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Bidders) WITH A COPY TO: ERIC M. FOGEL, ESQ. HAROLD W. NATIONS, ESQ. HOLLEB & COFF 55 E. MONROE STREET, SUITE 4100 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603 TELEPHONE: (312) 807-4600 CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TRANSACTION VALUATION* $1,506,756,211 AMOUNT OF FILING FEE** $301,351 * For purposes of calculating the filing fee only. This calculation assumes the purchase of 31,228,108 shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of ALLIED GROUP, INC. (the "Company") at $48.25 net per share in cash. ** The amount of the filing fee, calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, equals 1/50th of one percent of the aggregate value of cash offered by Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation for such number of Common Shares. [X] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. Amount Previously Paid: $287,960 Filing Party: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation Form or Registration No.: Schedule 14D-1 Date Filed: May 19, 1998 CUSIP NO. 019220102 1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (E.I.N.: 31-4177100) 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP [ ] (a) [ ] (b) 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) or 2(f) 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Ohio 7. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,996,836 Common Shares 1,827,222 Preferred Shares 8. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 9. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7) 6.3% of the Common Shares and 100% of the Preferred Shares representing 21.8% of the voting securities 10. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IC 2 CUSIP NO. 019220102 1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation (E.I.N.: 31-1598405) 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP [ ] (a) [ ] (b) 3. SEC USE ONLY 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS AF 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) or 2(f) 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Ohio 7. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,996,836 Common Shares 1,827,222 Preferred Shares 8. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES 9. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7) 6.3% of the Common Shares and 100% of the Preferred Shares representing 21.8% of the voting securities 10. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO This Amendment No. 6 amends and supplements the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1 initially filed on May 19, 1998 (as amended, the "Schedule 14D-1") filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation ("Purchaser"), an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company ("Parent"), an Ohio mutual insurance company, to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of Allied Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation, at a price of $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated May 19, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), as amended and supplemented by the Supplement thereto, dated June 10, 1998 (the "Supplement") and the revised Letter of Transmittal (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, constitutes the "Offer"). Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned such terms in the Offer to Purchase, the Supplement or the Schedule 14D-1. ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY. Item 1 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: 3 (b) The information set forth under "Introduction" and Section 1 under "Terms of the Offer; Expiration Date" in the Supplement annexed hereto as Exhibit (a)(28) is incorporated herein by reference. (c) The information set forth in Section 3 under "Price Range of Shares; Dividends" in the Supplement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 3. PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SUBJECT COMPANY. Item 3 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: (a)-(b) The information set forth under "Introduction," Section 5, "Background of the Offer; Contacts with the Company," and Section 6, "Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations," in the Supplement is incorporated herein by reference. 4 ITEM 4. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION. Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: (a) The information set forth in Section 4, "Source and Amount of Funds" in the Supplement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 5. PURPOSE OF THE TENDER OFFER AND PLANS OR PROPOSALS OF THE BIDDER. Item 5 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: The information set forth under "Introduction," Section 5, "Background of the Offer; Contacts with the Company" and Section 6, "Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations" in the Supplement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 6. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE SUBJECT COMPANY. Item 6 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: (a) - (b) The information set forth in the Introduction and Schedule I of the Offer to Purchase and Section 6, "Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations - The Merger Agreement" in the Supplement is incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to the irrevocable proxy granted to Purchaser pursuant to the Shareholder Agreement, dated as of June 3, 1998 between Parent and Allied Mutual Insurance Company, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit (c)(1), Purchaser and Parent may be deemed beneficial owners of 1,827,222 shares of 6-3/4% Series Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Preferred Shares") and 498,236 shares of Common Stock, no par value (the "Common Shares") (constituting 17.8% of the outstanding voting securities of the Issuer). None of the persons identified on Schedule I of the Offer to Purchase (which is incorporated herein by reference) beneficially owns or has a right to acquire directly or indirectly any Shares. Each of the Parent and the Purchaser has sole voting power with respect to 1,498,600 of the Common Shares; may be deemed to have shared voting power with respect to 1,827,222 Preferred Shares and 498,236 Common Shares; has sole dispositive power with respect to 1,498,600 of the Common Shares; and has shared dispositive power with respect to none of the Shares. Except as set forth in this Schedule 14D-1, the Parent and the Purchaser do not know of any other person who has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the Shares beneficially owned by the Parent or the Purchaser. ITEM 7. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT COMPANY'S SECURITIES. Item 7 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: The information set forth under "Introduction," Section 5, "Background of the Offer; Contacts with the Company", Section 6, "Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations" and Section 9, "Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals; Certain Litigation" in the Supplement is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Item 10 is hereby amended and supplemented by the following: (f) The information set forth in the Supplement and the revised Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibits (a)(28) and (a)(29), respectively, is incorporated herein by reference. 5 ITEM 11. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS. (a) (28) Supplement to Offer to Purchase, dated June 10, 1998. (29) Revised Letter of Transmittal. (30) Revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. (31) Revised Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (32) Revised Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (c) (1) Shareholder Agreement, dated as of June 3, 1998 between Parent and Allied Mutual Insurance Company. 6 SIGNATURE After due inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: June 10, 1998 NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY By: /s/ David A. Diamond ------------------------------- Name: David A. Diamond Title: Vice President - Enterprise Controller NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION By: /s/ Mark B. Koogler ------------------------------- Name: Mark B. Koogler Title: Vice President - Associate General Counsel 7 EXHIBIT INDEX (a)(28) Supplement to Offer to Purchase, dated June 10, 1998. (a)(29) Revised Letter of Transmittal. (a)(30) Revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. (a)(31) Revised Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and other Nominees. (a)(32) Revised Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (c)(1) Shareholder Agreement, dated as of June 3, 1998 between Parent and Allied Mutual Insurance Company. 8 SUPPLEMENT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE DATED MAY 19, 1998 NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY HAS INCREASED THE PRICE OF ITS OFFER TO PURCHASE ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. TO $48.25 NET PER COMMON SHARE THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1998, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. (THE "COMPANY"), ACTING ON THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF A COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF ALL OF THE UNAFFILIATED DIRECTORS, HAS UNANIMOUSLY DETERMINED THAT THE OFFER AND THE MERGER ARE FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY (OTHER THAN NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY ("PARENT") AND NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF PARENT ("PURCHASER")) AND RECOMMENDS THAT ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT THE OFFER, TENDER THEIR SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND, IF REQUIRED, VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MERGER. ------------------------ THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT PROPERLY WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER THAT NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES WHICH REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY OUTSTANDING ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS, AND (2) PARENT AND PURCHASER HAVING OBTAINED ALL INSURANCE REGULATORY APPROVALS NECESSARY FOR THEIR ACQUISITION OF CONTROL OF THE COMPANY AND ITS INSURANCE SUBSIDIARIES ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO PURCHASER AND SUCH REGULATORY APPROVAL SHALL HAVE BECOME FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE. SEE SECTION 14 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND SECTION 1 OF THIS SUPPLEMENT. THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON PURCHASER OBTAINING FINANCING. IMPORTANT Any shareholder desiring to tender all or any portion of such shareholder's Common Shares should either; (i) complete and sign one of the Letters of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) in accordance with the instructions in the Letters of Transmittal, have such shareholder's signature thereon guaranteed if required by Instruction 1 to the Letters of Transmittal, mail or deliver one of the Letters of Transmittal (or such facsimile thereof) and any other required documents to the Depositary (as defined herein) and either deliver the certificates for such Common Shares to the Depositary along with the Letters of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) or deliver such Common Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfers set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase prior to the expiration of the Offer or (ii) request such shareholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to effect the transaction for such shareholder. A shareholder having Common Shares registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if such shareholder desires to tender such Common Shares. Any shareholder who desires to tender Common Shares and whose certificates for such shares are not immediately available, or who cannot comply with the procedures for book-entry transfers described in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of this Supplement on a timely basis, may tender such Common Shares by following the procedures for guaranteed delivery set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of this Supplement. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover of this Supplement. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Supplement, the revised Letter of Transmittal or other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent. The Dealer Manager for the Offer is: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON June 10, 1998 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION................................................ 1 1. Terms of the Offer; Expiration Date...................... 3 2. Procedures for Tendering Common Shares................... 3 3. Price Range of Shares; Dividends......................... 3 4. Source and Amount of Funds............................... 3 5. Background of the Offer; Contacts with the Company....... 3 6. Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations.......................... 4 7. Conditions of the Offer.................................. 13 8. Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals; Certain Litigation................................................ 14 9. Miscellaneous............................................ 14 To the Holders of Common Stock of Allied Group, Inc.: INTRODUCTION The following information amends and supplements the Offer to Purchase, dated May 19, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), of Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation ("Purchaser"), an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio mutual insurance company ("Parent"), pursuant to which Purchaser is offering to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of Allied Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), at a price of $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, this Supplement and the revised Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). This Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Offer to Purchase. Except as set forth in this Supplement and the revised Letter of Transmittal, the terms and conditions previously set forth in the Offer to Purchase, and the Letter of Transmittal previously mailed to shareholders, remain applicable in all respects to the Offer. Terms used but not defined herein have the meaning set forth in the Offer to Purchase or this Supplement. On June 2, 1998 and June 3, 1998, representatives of Parent and the Company, together with their legal counsel and financial advisors, held meetings with respect to the negotiation of a definitive agreement. On June 3, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Company Board") approved the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 3, 1998, by and among Parent, Purchaser and the Company (the "Merger Agreement"). Thereafter, Parent, Purchaser and the Company entered into the Merger Agreement, which provides, among other things, for (i) the increase in the Offer Price from $47.00 per Common Share to $48.25 per Common Share and the modification of the conditions of the Offer, as described in Section 7 hereof, and (ii) following the consummation of the Offer, the merger of Purchaser with and into the Company with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the "Merger"). Pursuant to the Merger, each Common Share then outstanding at the effective time of the Merger (other than Common Shares owned by Parent or Purchaser, shares held as treasury shares by the Company and Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive $48.25 per Common Share, net to the shareholder in cash, without interest thereon (the "Merger Consideration"), upon surrender of the certificate formerly representing such Common Shares (a "Certificate"). According to the Company's Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (Amendment No. 1) (the "Schedule 14D-9") filed on June 4, 1998 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the Company Board, acting on the unanimous recommendation of a committee consisting of all of the unaffiliated directors, determined, after consultation with its legal and financial advisors, and based upon information currently available to it, that the terms of the Offer as revised to offer cash of $48.25 per Common Share and the Merger are fair to and in the best interests of the shareholders of the Company (other than Parent and Purchaser). The Offer is being amended and supplemented pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. For a more detailed description of the Merger Agreement, see Section 6 of this Supplement. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, ACTING ON THE UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF A COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF ALL OF THE UNAFFILIATED DIRECTORS, HAS UNANIMOUSLY DETERMINED THAT THE OFFER AND THE MERGER ARE FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY (OTHER THAN PARENT AND PURCHASER) AND RECOMMENDS THAT ALL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT THE OFFER, TENDER THEIR SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND, IF REQUIRED, VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MERGER. Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated ("Morgan Stanley"), financial advisor to the Company, has delivered its written opinion to the Company Board that the consideration to be received per Common Share by the holders thereof, in connection with the Offer and the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to such shareholders. A copy of the opinion of Morgan Stanley is attached as an exhibit to the Schedule 14D-9. Shareholders are urged to read such opinion in its entirety for a description of the procedures followed, assumptions and qualifications made, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken by Morgan Stanley. Because the Company Board approved, on June 3, 1998, the terms of the Merger Agreement and determined that the Offer and the Merger are fair to and in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders, the business combination provisions of Section 490.1110 of the Iowa Business Corporation Act have been rendered inapplicable to the Merger. Accordingly, the Offer is no longer subject to the Business Combination Condition. THE OFFER REMAINS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT PROPERLY WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER THAT NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES WHICH REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY OUTSTANDING ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS, AND (2) PARENT AND PURCHASER HAVING OBTAINED ALL INSURANCE REGULATORY APPROVALS NECESSARY FOR THEIR ACQUISITION OF CONTROL OF THE COMPANY AND ITS INSURANCE SUBSIDIARIES ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO PURCHASER AND SUCH REGULATORY APPROVAL SHALL HAVE BECOME FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE. SEE SECTION 14 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND SECTION 1 OF THIS SUPPLEMENT. THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON PURCHASER OBTAINING FINANCING. Parent, in addition to entering into the Merger Agreement, has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 3, 1998 (the "Allied Mutual Merger Agreement") with Allied Mutual Insurance Company ("Allied Mutual"), providing for the merger of Allied Mutual with and into Parent (the "Allied Mutual Merger"). The Allied Mutual Merger Agreement contemplates that, immediately prior to the consummation of the Allied Mutual Merger, Allied Mutual would make an extraordinary distribution of $110 million in cash to Allied Mutual's policyholders. Parent has also entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 3, 1998 (the "Allied Life Merger Agreement") providing for the merger of a subsidiary of Parent with and into Allied Life Financial Corporation ("Allied Life"), with Allied Life being the surviving corporation (the "Allied Life Merger"). In the Allied Life Merger, the holders of the outstanding shares of common stock of Allied Life (other than Allied Mutual and holders exercising dissenters' rights of appraisal) would receive $30 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon. The Company has represented to Purchaser and Parent that at the close of business on June 2, 1998, there were 30,114,827 Common Shares issued and outstanding, 5,174,437 Common Shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options or other rights to purchase Common Shares under the Company's benefit plans (of which options or rights with respect to 1,113,281 Common Shares have been granted) and 1,827,222 shares of 6- 3/4% Series Preferred Stock, no par value (the "Preferred Shares") issued and outstanding. Each of the Preferred Shares is entitled to 3.375 votes, which in the aggregate represents approximately 16.5% of the voting power of the Company on a fully diluted basis as of June 2, 1998. All of the Preferred Shares are currently held by Allied Mutual. In connection with the Allied Mutual Merger Agreement, Allied Mutual has irrevocably granted to Parent's designees, Allied Mutual's proxy to vote any securities (including the Preferred Shares) owned by Allied Mutual at any shareholders meeting (i) in favor of the Merger, and (ii) against any alternative transaction or frustrating transaction. See "Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations -- Shareholder Agreement." Based on the foregoing, there would be 31,228,108 Common Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis. The Purchaser believes that approximately 15,614,055 Common Shares represent a majority of the Common Shares of the Company. Accordingly, Purchaser believes that the Minimum Condition would be satisfied if an aggregate of 15,614,055 Common Shares are validly tendered pursuant to the Offer. 2 THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THIS SUPPLEMENT AND THE REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. 1. TERMS OF THE OFFER; EXPIRATION DATE. The discussion set forth in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: The term "Expiration Date" has been amended to mean 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on Monday, August 31, 1998, unless and until Purchaser, in its sole discretion, but subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, shall have extended the period of time during which the Offer is open, in which event the term "Expiration Date" shall refer to the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by Purchaser, shall expire. So long as the Merger Agreement is in effect, and the Offer Conditions (as defined below) have not been satisfied or waived, Purchaser shall not, and Parent shall not cause Purchaser to, have the Offer expire. See Section 6, "Purpose of the Offer and the Merger; Plans for the Company; Certain Considerations-The Merger Agreement-The Offer." It is Parent's and Purchaser's current expectation that the Form A hearing in Iowa will be held at the end of July 1998. A hearing date has not established with the Arizona Insurance Commissioner. Since the Offer remains conditional upon the satisfaction of the Insurance Regulatory Condition, the Purchaser is currently extending the Expiration Date to August 31, 1998 to provide sufficient time for the Form A hearing in Iowa and any order to become final and non-appealable. Depending on the outcome of the Iowa Form A hearing and the hearing to be held in Arizona, it is possible that the Offer may be extended one or more times, which time periods may, in the aggregate, be significant. 2. ACCEPTANCE FOR PAYMENT AND PAYMENT FOR COMMON SHARES. The discussion set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: The revised Letter of Transmittal and the revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery distributed with this Supplement may be used to tender Common Shares. Tendering shareholders may also continue to use the Letter of Transmittal and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery previously distributed with the Offer to Purchase to tender Common Shares. SHAREHOLDERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY VALIDLY TENDERED COMMON SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND NOT PROPERLY WITHDRAWN SUCH COMMON SHARES HAVE VALIDLY TENDERED SUCH COMMON SHARES FOR PURPOSES OF THE OFFER, AS AMENDED, AND NEED NOT TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE PRICE OF $48.25 PER COMMON SHARE PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. 3. PRICE RANGE OF SHARES; DIVIDENDS. The discussion set forth in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: According to public sources, the high and low closing sale prices per Common Share on the NYSE for the Second Quarter of 1998 (through June 9, 1998) were $46 9/16 and $26.00 respectively. On June 3, 1998, the last full trading day prior to the announcement of the Merger Agreement, the last reported closing price on the NYSE Composite Tape was $46 3/16 per Common Share. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO OBTAIN A CURRENT MARKET QUOTATION FOR THE COMMON SHARES. 3 4. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS. The discussion set forth in Section 10 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: Purchaser estimates that the total amount of funds now required to purchase Common Shares pursuant to the Offer (as described in this Supplement) and to pay all related costs and expenses, will be approximately $1.55 billion. Purchaser plans to obtain all funds needed for the Offer through a capital contribution from Parent. Parent plans to obtain such funds entirely from existing cash accounts. Parent has in excess of $7.0 billion available for such purpose. 5. BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER; CONTACTS WITH THE COMPANY. The discussion set forth in Section 11 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: On May 28, 1998, Parent, Purchaser and the Company entered into an agreement as to the confidentiality of settlement discussions on or before June 2, 1998 regarding the litigation filed by Parent. Beginning on May 28, 1998, representatives of Parent's financial advisor met with representatives of the Company's financial advisor on several occasions to discuss the terms of the Offer and whether a negotiated transaction could be achieved. On May 29, 1998, Parent delivered to the Company a draft merger agreement. On June 1, Parent indicated that it was prepared to increase its Offer to $48.25 per Common Share as part of a negotiated merger agreement and to reduce the amount of the termination fee that would be payable under certain circumstances pursuant to Parent's and Purchaser's proposed merger agreement. On June 1, the Company's financial advisor informed Parent that the Company Board determined that it was prepared in principle to recommend a transaction at that price and with the revised termination fee provision, subject to negotiation of an acceptable definitive agreement. On June 2, 1998 and June 3, 1998, representatives of Parent and the Company, together with their legal counsel and financial advisors, held meetings with respect to the negotiation of a definitive agreement. On June 3, 1998, the Company Board approved the Merger Agreement. Thereafter, Parent, Purchaser and the Company entered into the Merger Agreement, which provides, among other things, for (i) the increase in the Offer Price from $47.00 per Common Share to $48.25 per Common Share and the modification of the conditions of the Offer, as described in Section 7 hereof, and (ii) following the consummation of the Offer, the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger, each Common Share then outstanding at the effective time of the Merger (other than Common Shares owned by Parent or Purchaser, shares held as treasury shares by the Company and Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement)) will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive $48.25 per Common Share, net to the shareholder in cash, without interest thereon, upon surrender of the Certificate. 6. PURPOSE OF THE OFFER AND THE MERGER; PLANS FOR THE COMPANY; CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS. The discussion set forth in Section 12 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: The Merger Agreement Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and following the consummation of the Offer, Parent, Purchaser and the Company have agreed to effect the Merger in accordance with the provisions of the Merger Agreement as promptly as practicable following the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions to the Merger. Set forth below is a description of the material provisions of the Merger Agreement. The Offer. In the Merger Agreement, the Purchaser has agreed, subject to certain conditions, and among other things, to amend the Offer (a) to increase the purchase price offered from $47 per Common Share to $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash without interest, and (b) to modify the conditions of the Offer to those set forth below under Section 7. The Merger Agreement provides that, without 4 the consent of the Company, the Purchaser shall not (a) reduce the number of Common Shares sought in the Offer, (b) reduce the Offer price to a price less than $48.25 per Common Share, (c) change or add to the conditions set forth below under Section 7, (d) except as provided in the next sentence, extend the Offer, (e) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer (f) waive the Minimum Condition or the Insurance Regulatory Condition without the Company's consent, or (g) amend any other term of the Offer in any manner adverse to the holders of the Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser may, without the consent of the Company, (A) extend the Offer, if at the scheduled or extended expiration date of the Offer any of the conditions to the Purchaser's obligation to purchase the Common Shares shall not be satisfied or waived, until such time as such conditions are satisfied or waived, (B) extend the Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or the staff thereof applicable to the Offer and (C) extend the Offer for any reason on one or more occasions for an aggregate period of not more than 10 business days (for all such extensions) pursuant to this clause (C) beyond the latest expiration date that would otherwise be permitted under clause (A) or (B) of this sentence. So long as the Merger Agreement is in effect, and the Offer Conditions (as defined below) have not been satisfied or waived, Purchaser shall not, and Parent shall not cause Purchaser to, have the Offer expire. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer and the Merger Agreement, Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause Purchaser to, accept for payment, and pay for, all Common Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer that Purchaser becomes obligated to accept for payment, and pay for, pursuant to the Offer, as soon as practicable after the expiration of the Offer. The Merger. The Merger Agreement provides that, following the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth therein, Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"), and each Common Share then outstanding (other than Common Shares owned by Parent or Purchaser, shares held as treasury shares by the Company and Dissenting Shares) will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action by the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive $48.25 per Common Share, net to the shareholder in cash, without interest thereon, upon the surrender of the Certificate formerly representing such Shares. Representations and Warranties. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties by the Company with respect to, among other things, the organization, qualification and capitalization of the Company, the subsidiaries of the Company, the authority of the Company relative to the Merger Agreement, the absence of violations of law, required governmental filings, the statutory financial statements of the Company's insurance company subsidiaries and their actuarial reserves, the SEC filings of the Company, the absence of certain changes or events and of any undisclosed liabilities, the inapplicability of state takeover statutes, compliance with applicable laws, the assets of the Company, environmental matters, contracts of the Company, taxes and tax returns, benefit plans, labor relations, intellectual property, transactions with affiliates, voting requirements applicable to the Merger and the status of the Company's subsidiaries as regulated investment companies. The Merger Agreement also contains representations and warranties of Parent and Purchaser with respect to, among other things, their organization and qualification, their authority relative to the Merger Agreement, the absence of violations of law, required governmental filings, the absence of certain litigation, and their financial ability to perform. Covenants of the Company. In the Merger Agreement, the Company has covenanted and agreed that, among other things, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement until the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), unless Parent shall otherwise agree in writing, or except as otherwise contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries shall conduct their respective businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and shall use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact their business organizations and relationships with third parties (including but not limited to their respective relationships with policyholders, insureds, agents, underwriters, brokers and investment customers), and to keep available the services of their present officers and key employees, subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement. In addition, except as otherwise contemplated by the Merger Agreement, from the date thereof until the Effective Time, without the prior written consent of Parent, (a) the Company shall not adopt 5 or propose any change in its Restated Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; (b) the Company shall not declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution with respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company, except for regular quarterly dividends payable in an amount no greater than $0.14 per share on the Common Shares and the regular quarterly dividends per share on the Preferred Shares, or split, combine or reclassify any of the Company's capital stock, and the Company and its subsidiaries shall not repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock or other securities of, or other ownership interests in, the Company; (c) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, merge or consolidate with any other person or (except in the ordinary course of business) acquire a material amount of assets of any other person; (d) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any subsidiary to, sell, lease, license or otherwise surrender, relinquish or dispose of (i) any material facility owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any assets or property which are material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, except pursuant to existing contracts or commitments, or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (e) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, settle any material audit, make or change any material tax election or file materially amended tax returns; (f) the Company and its subsidiaries shall not issue any capital stock or other securities or enter into any amendment of any material term of any outstanding security of the Company, and the Company and its subsidiaries shall not incur any material indebtedness except in the ordinary course of business pursuant to existing credit facilities or arrangements, amend or otherwise increase, accelerate the payment or vesting of the amounts payable or to become payable under or fail to make any required contribution to, any Benefit Plan (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or materially increase any non-salary benefits payable to any employee or former employee, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or as otherwise permitted by the Merger Agreement; (g) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, grant any increase in the compensation or benefits of directors, officers, employees, consultants or agents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than increases in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (h) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, enter into or amend any employment agreement or other employment arrangement with any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices (which past practices shall not be deemed to include actions taken in connection with the Merger); (i) the Company shall not change any method of accounting or accounting practice by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for any such required change in GAAP or SAP (as such terms are defined in the Merger Agreement); (j) the Company shall not permit any Allied Insurer (as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement) to conduct transactions in investment assets except in compliance with the investment policies of such Allied insurance subsidiaries in effect on the date hereof and all applicable insurance laws and regulations; (k) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement to purchase, or to lease for a term in excess of one year, any real property, provided that the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, (i) may as a tenant, or a landlord, renew any existing lease for a term not to exceed eighteen months and (ii) may, in its capacity as a landlord, renew any lease pursuant to an option granted prior to the date hereof; and (l) none of the Allied insurance subsidiaries may make any material change in its underwriting, claims management or reserving practices. In addition to the foregoing, the Company has agreed that, except to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, it shall not, and shall not permit any of its subsidiaries to, (a) take, or agree or commit to take, any action that would make any representation and warranty of the Company in the Merger Agreement inaccurate in any material respect at, or as of any time prior to, the Effective Time, (b) omit, or agree or commit to omit, to take any action necessary to prevent any such representation or warranty from being inaccurate in any material respect at any such time, provided however, that the Company shall be permitted to take or omit to take such action which (without any uncertainty) can be cured, and in fact is cured, at or prior to the Effective Time or (c) take, or agree to commit to take, any action that would result in, or is reasonably likely to result in, any of the conditions of the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement not being satisfied. Prohibition on Solicitation. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company has agreed that it will not, and will not permit or cause any of its subsidiaries or any of the officers or directors of it or its subsidiaries to, and shall direct its and its subsidiaries' employees, agents and representatives (including any investment 6 banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, encourage or otherwise facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer with respect to a merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation or similar transaction involving, or any purchase of 20 percent or more of the assets or any equity securities of, the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC) other than as set forth in the Allied Disclosure Letter, or another business combination (any such proposal or offer, an "Acquisition Proposal"). The Merger Agreement further provides that the Company will not, and will not permit or cause any of its subsidiaries or any of the officers and directors of it or its subsidiaries to, and shall direct its, and its subsidiaries' employees, agents and representatives (including any investment banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its subsidiaries) to, directly or indirectly, engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to, or have any discussions with, any person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, whether made before or after the date of the Merger Agreement, or otherwise facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that nothing contained in the Merger Agreement shall prevent the Company or the Company Board from (i) complying with Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to an Acquisition Proposal or (ii) at any time prior to the payment for Common Shares pursuant to the Offer (A) providing information in response to a request therefor by a person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal if the Company Board receives from such person an executed confidentiality agreement on customary terms; (B) engaging in any negotiations or discussions with any person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal; or (C) recommending such an Acquisition Proposal to the shareholders of the Company, if and only to the extent that, (i) in each such case referred to in clause (A), (B) or (C) above, the Company Board determines in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel that such action is reasonably likely to be necessary in order for its directors to comply with their respective fiduciary duties under applicable law and (ii) in the case referred to in clause (C) above, the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor) that such Acquisition Proposal, if accepted, is reasonably likely to be consummated, taking into account all legal, financial and regulatory aspects of the proposal and the person making the proposal and would, if consummated, result in a more favorable transaction than the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement, taking into account the long-term prospects and interests of the Company and its shareholders. The Company has agreed in the Merger Agreement to immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations with any parties conducted heretofore with respect to any of the foregoing, and to notify Parent immediately if any such inquiries, proposals or offers are received by, any such information is requested from, or any such discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated or continued with, any of its representatives indicating, in connection with such notice, the name of such person and the material terms and conditions of any proposals or offers and thereafter shall keep Parent informed, on a reasonably current basis, of the status and terms of any such proposals or offers and the status of any such negotiations or discussions. If, prior to the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer, there is an Acquisition Proposal which the Company Board determines represents a more favorable transaction to the Company and its shareholders than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and if the Company Board, after consultation with outside counsel, shall have determined that failure to terminate the Merger Agreement is reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company Board under applicable law, the Company may terminate the Merger Agreement. If the Company so elects to terminate the Merger Agreement, the Company shall, immediately prior to any such termination, pay a termination fee in the amount of $30 million in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Parent. Stockholder Approval; Preparation of Proxy Statement. The Merger Agreement provides that as soon as practicable following the purchase of the Common Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement, if required by applicable law. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to its shareholders as promptly as practicable. Parent and Purchaser will use their reasonable best efforts to assist the Company in the preparation and filing of the Proxy Statement. 7 Subject to the fiduciary obligations of the Company Board, as described above, the Merger Agreement provides that following the purchase of Shares in the Offer, if Parent and its subsidiaries shall not following such purchase own at least 90% of the Company's outstanding Common Shares and 90% of the Company's outstanding Preferred Shares, the Company will take all actions necessary in accordance with applicable law and its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws to convene a meeting, if required by applicable law, of its shareholders (the "Shareholders Meeting") to consider and vote upon the approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Subject to the fiduciary obligations of the Company Board, as described above, the Merger Agreement further provides that the Company will, through the Company Board, recommend to its shareholders approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger, and that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to hold the Shareholders Meeting (unless, following the purchase of Common Shares in the Offer, Parent and its subsidiaries own at least 90% of the Company's outstanding Common Shares and 90% of the Company's outstanding Preferred Shares), as soon as practicable after the date of the Merger Agreement. For a description of the short-form merger provisions of the Iowa Business Corporation Law, which, under certain circumstances, could be applicable to the Merger, see the introduction to the Purchaser's Offer to Purchase. Access to Information. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, subject to applicable law, the Company (a) shall afford to Parent's and Purchaser's accountants, legal counsel and other advisors ("Representatives") full access during normal business hours through the period immediately prior to the Effective Time to all of its and its Significant Subsidiaries' assets, books, contracts, commitments and records (including, but not limited to, tax returns), and (b) during such period, shall furnish promptly to Parent and Purchaser all such information concerning its business, assets and personnel or those of any of its affiliates, in either clause (a) or (b), as Parent or Purchaser may reasonably request. Unless otherwise required by law, Parent and Purchaser will, and will cause their Representatives to, hold any such information in confidence until such time as such information otherwise becomes publicly available through no wrongful act of Parent, Purchaser or their Representatives. In the event of the termination of the Merger Agreement for any reason, Parent will, and will cause Purchaser and their respective Representatives to, return to the Company all copies of written information furnished by the Company or its Representatives to Parent, Purchaser and their Representatives and destroy all memoranda, notes and other writings prepared by Parent, Purchaser or their Representatives based upon or including the information furnished by the Company or any of its Representatives to Parent, Purchaser or their Representatives (and Parent will certify to the Company that such destruction has occurred) and neither Parent nor Purchaser shall use any such information for any purpose. Prior to the completion of the Offer and, if the Merger Agreement is terminated, during the two-year period following the date of termination, Parent will not (and will not assist or encourage others, including its subsidiaries, to) solicit the services, as employee, consultant or otherwise, of any employee of the Company, provided, that nothing in the Merger Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit general solicitations of employment of persons in Parent's ordinary course of business not directed specifically toward employees of the Company, solicitations through executive recruiting firms not directed specifically toward employees of the Company or employees that make contact with Parent. Reasonable Best Efforts. Each of the parties to the Merger Agreement agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken all action, to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing or causing to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, (i) the holding of the Shareholders Meeting and the preparation of the Proxy Statement, (ii) the obtaining of all governmental approvals, and all other necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from all appropriate governmental entities and other persons and the making of all necessary registrations and filings, (iii) the obtaining of the opinions and other documents that are conditions to the closing of the Merger, (iv) the resolution of all organizational and human resources issues relating to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (v) the obtaining or making of all consents, environmental permits, filings or licenses necessary or desirable to ensure that the business of the Surviving Corporation may be conducted without disruption consistent with the past practice of each of the constituent companies to the Merger and (vi) the defending of any legal proceedings challenging the Merger 8 Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, the defense of which shall, at the request of either the Company or Parent, be conducted jointly by Parent and the Company on a basis that is satisfactory to both the Company and Parent. The Company grants Parent the right to decide for purposes of the insurance regulatory hearings whether to submit regulatory applications for the Company, Allied Life and Allied Mutual concurrently or separately, and whether to conduct the regulatory hearing and approval proceedings concurrently or separately for each of the Company, Allied Life and Allied Mutual. Both the Company and Parent agree to use their reasonable best efforts to coordinate and cooperate during the regulatory approval process. Certain Litigation. In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent and Purchaser agreed from and after the date of the Merger Agreement and until the Effective Time, to cease, in any and all respects, the prosecution of any litigation against the Company or any of its affiliates. In addition, Parent and Purchaser agreed that immediately following the Effective Time, they would dismiss, with prejudice, any and all litigation brought by them against the Company or against its affiliates. See Section 8 of this Supplement. Board of Directors; Corporate Governance. Promptly upon acceptance for payment of the Common Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, Purchaser shall be entitled to designate such number of directors on the Company Board as will give Purchaser, subject to compliance with Section 14(f) of the Exchange Act, a majority of such directors, and the Company shall, at such time, cause Purchaser's designees to be so elected by its existing Company Board and each subsidiary of the Company and each committee of the Company Board and each such Subsidiary as will give Purchaser a majority of such directors or committee, and the Company shall, at such time, cause Purchaser's designees to be so elected. Subject to applicable law, the Company shall take all action requested by Parent necessary to effect any such election. In connection with the foregoing, the Company will promptly, at the option of Parent, either increase the size of the Company Board and/or obtain the resignation of such number of its current directors as is necessary to enable Purchaser's designees to be elected or appointed to the Company Board. Treatment of Stock Options; Certain Benefits. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as of immediately prior to the Effective Time each option to acquire Common Shares (each, an "Option"), restricted stock award ("Restricted Stock") or stock appreciation right ("SARs" and, together with the Options and Restricted Stock, the "Awards") outstanding under any of the Company's Long-Term Management Incentive Plan, the Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, the Stock Option Plan, the Executive Equity Incentive Plan or any other similar plan, arrangement or agreement (together, the "Company Plans"), whether or not then exercisable or vested, shall become fully exercisable and vested and shall be canceled or repurchased and, in consideration of such cancellation or repurchase, the Company shall pay to the holder of such Award an amount in respect thereof equal to the product of (A) the Applicable Amount, multiplied by (B) the number of shares subject thereto (such payment to be net of applicable withholding taxes). The term "Applicable Amount" shall mean (i) in the case of Awards of Restricted Stock, the Merger Consideration, (ii) in the case of Awards of Options, the excess of (A) the Merger Consideration over (B) the exercise price of such Option or (iii) in the case of Awards of SARs, the excess of (A) the Merger Consideration over (B) the grant price of such SAR. The Merger Agreement provides that, for a period of at least one year following the Effective Time, Parent shall provide each employee or former employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with (i) the same basic compensation (including base salary, wages or commissions) and annual incentive opportunity, to the extent applicable, and (ii) benefits, which, not individually but in the aggregate, are substantially comparable, in each case to the compensation and benefits that were provided to such employee or former employee by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, any Allied Benefit Plan) as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, provided that the foregoing items (i) and (ii) shall not be deemed to require Parent to offer an employee stock ownership plan or other equity related arrangement. Parent is not required to continue any such employee's employment following the Effective Time, provided, however, that, in the event that any such employee is terminated involuntarily following the Effective Time and prior to the first anniversary thereof by action of Parent or any of its subsidiaries, such employee shall receive at least the same severance and termination benefits as he or she would have received under the terms of the applicable Allied Benefit Plan, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time. From and after the Effective Time, 9 for purposes of determining eligibility, but not for purposes of benefit accrual under the Parent defined benefit plan, and for purposes of determining entitlement to vesting and entitlement to vacation, severance and other benefits for employees under any compensation, severance, welfare, pension (but not for purposes of benefit accrual), benefit, savings or other plan of Parent or any of its subsidiaries in which employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries become eligible to participate, service with the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be credited as if such service had been rendered to Parent or such Purchaser subsidiary; provided that Parent may, in lieu of providing retiree medical coverage under Parent's retiree medical plan, cause the Company to continue to offer its retiree medical plan as currently in effect to its current and former employees. For purposes of each outstanding Company short-term, mid-term and long-term incentive award held by any Company employee that is based in whole or in part on the achievement of any performance or other similar criteria, such award shall be adjusted, as determined by Parent in consultation with the Company, to reflect factors that adversely impact the opportunity of such Allied employee to achieve such performance or other criteria, and which shall include financial advisory, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Indemnification and Insurance. The Merger Agreement provides that, in the event of any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative, including, without limitation, any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation by or in the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, in which any of the present officers or directors (the "Indemnified Parties") of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is, or is threatened to be, made a party by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, whether before or after the Effective Time, the parties to the Merger Agreement will cooperate and use their best efforts to defend against and respond thereto. It is understood and agreed that the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, and after the Effective Time the Surviving Corporation and Parent, jointly and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless, as and to the full extent permitted by applicable Law, each such Indemnified Party against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, and, in the event of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i) the Indemnified Parties may retain one counsel satisfactory to them unless there are conflicts under applicable professional standards, and the Company, or the Surviving Corporation and Parent after the Effective Time, shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified Parties promptly as statements therefor are received and (ii) the Company and the Surviving Corporation and Parent will use their respective reasonable best efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter; provided, that neither the Company nor the Surviving Corporation nor Parent shall be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided further that the Surviving Corporation and Parent shall have no obligation under the Merger Agreement to any Indemnified Party when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine, and such determination shall have become final and non-appealable, that indemnification of such Indemnified Party in the manner contemplated by the Merger Agreement is prohibited by applicable law. The Merger Agreement further provides that Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to keep in effect in its By-Laws a provision for a period of not less than six years from the Effective Time (or, in the case of matters occurring prior to the Effective Time which have not been resolved prior to the sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, until such matters are finally resolved) which provides for indemnification of the Indemnified Parties to the full extent permitted by applicable law. In addition, the Merger Agreement provides that Parent shall cause to be maintained in effect, for not less than six years from the Effective Time, the current policies of the directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage containing terms and conditions which are no less advantageous) with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that if the aggregate annual premiums for such insurance at any time during such period shall exceed 200% of the per annum rate of premium currently paid by the 10 Company and its Subsidiaries for such insurance on the date of the Merger Agreement, then Parent shall cause the Company (or the Surviving Corporation if after the Effective Time) to, and the Company (or the Surviving Corporation if after the Effective Time) shall, provide the maximum coverage that shall then be available at an annual premium equal to 200% of such rate, and Parent, in addition to the indemnification described above, shall indemnify the Indemnified Parties for the balance of such insurance coverage on the same terms and conditions as though Parent were the insurer under those policies. Conditions to the Merger. The respective obligation of each party to the Merger Agreement to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction, prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, of the following conditions: (a) the Offer shall have been successfully completed; (b) if required by applicable law, the Merger Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved and adopted by the vote of the shareholders of the Company at the Shareholders Meeting called for such purpose; and (c) no order entered or law promulgated or enacted by any governmental entity shall be in effect which would prevent the consummation of the Merger or any other material transactions completed by the Merger Agreement, and no proceeding brought by a governmental entity shall have been commenced and be pending which seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent, or materially delay or restructure the Merger or any other material transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Termination. The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the Merger by the shareholders of Parent or of Allied: (a) by mutual consent of Parent and the Company; (b) by Parent, if the Board of Directors of the Company withdraws its recommendation to the Company's shareholders to approve the Merger; (c) by Parent or the Company, if consummation of the Merger is barred by a permanent injunction which is final and non-appealable; (d) by the Company, if prior to the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer, there is an Acquisition Proposal which the Company Board determines represents a more favorable transaction to the Company and its shareholders than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and if the Company Board, after consultation with outside counsel, shall have determined that failure to terminate the Merger Agreement is reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company Board under applicable law; (e) by the Company prior to the completion of the Offer, upon a material breach of any representation or warranty of Parent or Parent's failure to comply in any material respect with any of its covenants or agreements, or if any representation or warranty of Parent or Purchaser shall be or become untrue in any material respect, which breach or failure to comply or untruth is not curable or, if curable, is not cured within 30 Business Days (as defined in the Merger Agreement) after written notice thereof has been given to Parent (materiality being construed in light of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement); (f) by Parent prior to the completion of the Offer, upon a material breach of any representation, or warranty of the Company or the Company's failure to comply in any material respect with any of its covenants or agreements, or if any representation or warranty of the Company shall be or become untrue in any material respect, which breach or failure to comply or untruth is not curable or, if curable, is not cured within 30 Business Days after written notice thereof has been given to the Company (materiality being construed in light of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement); or (g) by Parent or by the Company, if Common Shares shall not have been purchased pursuant to the Offer by December 31, 1998 (the "Termination Date"), provided that such right to terminate the Merger Agreement shall not be available to a party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under the Merger Agreement has been the cause of the failure of such purchase to occur by such date. Fees and Expenses. The Merger Agreement provides that, if the Merger is not consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs or expenses, except for expenses incurred in connection with the printing, mailing and solicitation of proxies from shareholders and all filing fees and related expenses, which shall be borne equally by Parent and the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, as described under "Prohibition on Solicitation", above, if prior to the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer, there is an Acquisition Proposal which the Company Board determines represents a more favorable transaction to the Company and its shareholders than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and if the Company Board, after consultation with 11 outside counsel, shall have determined that failure to terminate the Merger Agreement is reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company Board under applicable Law, the Company may terminate the Merger Agreement. If the Company so elects to terminate the Merger Agreement, the Company shall, immediately prior to any such termination, pay a termination fee, in the amount of $30 million in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Parent. In the event of a termination by Parent for a willful breach of a representation or warranty by the Company, the Company shall pay Parent $10 million in immediately available funds. The Company will also pay a $30 million termination fee following the termination of the Merger Agreement by Parent (i) following a withdrawal by the Company Board of its recommendation that the shareholders approve the Merger Agreement (other than if the recommendation is withdrawn because the conditions to the consummation of the Merger cannot be fulfilled for any reason other than a breach by the Company), or (ii)(A) by virtue of an uncured breach of covenant by the Company or (B) after the Termination Date, in each case if termination follows the making of an Acquisition Proposal by a third party, and with the termination fee payable only upon the execution, within one year of such termination, of a definitive agreement implementing an Acquisition Proposal. Amendment. The Merger Agreement may be amended by the parties thereto at any time before or after the approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of the Company, but after such approval no amendment or modification shall be made which in any way materially adversely affects the rights of such shareholders without the further approval of such shareholders. The Merger Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except by written agreement of the parties thereto. Shareholder Agreement The Shareholder Agreement dated as of June 3, 1998, by and among Parent, Purchaser and Allied Mutual with respect to the Common Shares and Preferred Shares owned by Allied Mutual is summarized below: Pursuant to the Shareholder Agreement, Allied Mutual agrees to tender, and not to withdraw, the Common Shares it holds pursuant to the Offer. Allied Mutual further agrees (i) not to sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any Contract (as defined therein), option or other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of, the Common Shares or Preferred Shares held by Allied Mutual (collectively, the "Securities") to any person other than Parent or Parent's designee, (ii) not to enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting, trust, power-of-attorney or otherwise, with respect to the Securities. Allied Mutual agrees not to, and agrees not to permit any investment banker, financial adviser, attorney, accountant or other representative or agent of Allied Mutual to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing information), or knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal which constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal. At any meeting of shareholders of the Company called to vote upon the Merger and the Merger Agreement or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval (including by written consent) with respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement is sought, Allied Mutual agrees to, including by initiating a written consent solicitation if requested by Parent, vote (or cause to be voted) Allied Mutual's Securities in favor of the Merger, the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. At any meeting of shareholders of the Company or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which Allied Mutual's vote, consent or other approval is sought, Allied Mutual will vote (or cause to be voted) Allied Mutual's Securities against (i) any merger (other than the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any other Acquisition Proposal (collectively, "Alternative Transactions") or (ii) any amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or 12 any of its subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement including any consent to the treatment of any Securities in or in connection with such transaction (collectively, "Frustrating Transactions"). The Shareholder Agreement terminates upon the earlier of (i) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms and (ii) the termination of the Allied Mutual Merger Agreement. Allied Mutual irrevocably grants to, and appoints, any individual who shall be designated by Parent as Allied Mutual's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of Allied Mutual, to vote Allied Mutual's Securities, or grant a consent or approval in respect of such Securities, at any meeting of shareholders of the Company or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which their vote, consent or other approval is sought, (i) in favor of the Merger, the adoption by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (ii) against any Alternative Transaction or Frustrating Transaction. 7. CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER. The discussion set forth in Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Offer, Purchaser shall not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to Purchaser's obligation to pay for or return tendered Common Shares promptly after termination or withdrawal of the Offer), to pay for Common Shares not theretofore accepted for payment or paid for (i) unless any one or more of the Minimum Condition or the Insurance Regulatory Approval Condition has not been satisfied, and the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), applicable to the purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer shall not have expired or been terminated, or (ii) if at any time on or after the date of the Merger Agreement and at or before the time that the particular Common Shares are accepted for payment (whether or not any other Common Shares shall theretofore have been accepted for payment or paid for pursuant to the Offer) any of the following conditions exists: (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any general suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States, or (iii) a commencement of a war, armed hostilities or other international or national calamity directly involving the United States which has a material adverse effect on the general economic conditions in the United States; (b) any statute, rule, regulation, a temporary, preliminary or permanent order or injunction shall be promulgated, enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Offer, the Merger or performance under the Merger Agreement, by any state, federal or foreign government or governmental authority or court or governmental agency of competent jurisdiction that (i) prohibits the consummation of the Offer or the Merger or (ii) imposes material limitations on the ability of Purchaser effectively to exercise full rights of ownership with respect to the Common Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote any Common Shares purchased by it on all matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Company or to operate a material portion of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided that Parent and Purchaser shall have used their reasonable best efforts to have any such decree, order or injunction vacated or reversed; (c) the Company shall have entered into an agreement obligating the Company to accept an Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) with a person other than Purchaser or an affiliate of either; (d)(i) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of its material obligations, covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement (materiality being construed 13 in light of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement), (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Merger Agreement shall not be true and correct as of the date of the Merger Agreement or as of the scheduled or extended expiration of the Offer, as if made as of such dates (provided that representations and warranties made as of a specified date prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, need only be true as of such date), unless the failure to be so true and correct (without regard to any materiality qualifiers) would not, in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or (iii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Sections 4.2 or 4.4 of the Merger Agreement shall not be true and correct in all material respects; (e) the Company Board shall have withdrawn its recommendation or modified its recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser; or (f) the failure to obtain any Governmental Approvals (as defined in the Merger Agreement), which failure, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and Purchaser and may be asserted by Parent or Purchaser in their sole discretion, regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such conditions or may be waived by Parent or Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their sole discretion (subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement). The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and other circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances, and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time. 8. CERTAIN LEGAL MATTERS; REGULATORY APPROVALS; CERTAIN LITIGATION. The discussion set forth in Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase is hereby amended and supplemented as follows: In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent and Purchaser agreed from and after the date of the Merger Agreement and until the Effective Time, to cease, in any and all respects, the prosecution of any litigation against the Company or any of its affiliates. In addition, Parent and Purchaser agreed that immediately following the Effective Time, they would seek the dismissal, with prejudice, of any and all litigation brought by them against the Company or any of its affiliates. Certain Litigation On December 31, 1997, a complaint was filed by Mary M. Rieff, a policyholder of Allied Mutual, in the Iowa District Court in and for Polk County Iowa, against the Company and certain other individuals who are or were officers and/or directors of Allied Mutual and the Company. The complaint, an alleged policyholder derivative action brought on behalf of Allied Mutual, asserts, among other things, (a) that the defendants were responsible for the inappropriate transfer of Allied Mutual's corporate assets, the seizure of certain corporate opportunities, and the implementation of an improper de facto demutualization without informing or compensating policyholders or receiving the appropriate approval from regulatory authorities; (b) that this allegedly wrongful demutualization began on or about January 1, 1985 and was accomplished through transfer of Allied Mutual's assets to the Company and to the individual defendants for inadequate consideration; (c) that the individual defendants breached fiduciary duties owed to Allied Mutual, wasted its corporate assets, and intentionally interfered with its contracts, prospective business advantage, and business relationships; and (d) that the defendants improperly transferred substantial ownership of and control over the Company and Allied Mutual's insurance business. The complaint further asserts that as a result of the foregoing, Allied Mutual and its policyholders have suffered damages in excess of $500 million. The complaint requests and accounting of the assets allegedly wrongfully transferred to the Company and compensation to Allied Mutual for the value of such assets, for the seizure of corporate opportunities, and for the de facto demutualization of Allied Mutual. The complaint also asks for certain other relief, including attorney's fees and costs, equitable relief and interest, and restitution for any assets wrongfully transferred or conveyed. 14 On June 1, 1998, a motion was filed by Mary M. Rieff seeking to enjoin the defendant directors of Allied Mutual from considering, negotiating or approving any transaction on behalf of Allied Mutual with Parent or any third party because of alleged conflicts of interest of the members of the Board of Directors of Allied Mutual. On June 4, 1998, the complaint was amended to include a class action component. 9. MISCELLANEOUS. Parent and Purchaser have filed with the SEC the Schedule 14D-1, together with exhibits, pursuant to Rule 14d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, furnishing certain additional information with respect to the Offer. The Schedule 14D-1, and any amendments thereto, may be inspected at, and copies may be obtained from, the same places and in the same manner as set forth in Section 8 (except that they may not be available at the regional offices of the SEC). NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION June 10, 1998 15 Facsimile copies of one of the Letters of Transmittal, properly completed and duly signed, will be accepted. The Letters of Transmittal, certificates for the Common Shares and any other required documents should be sent by each shareholder of the Company or his broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary as follows: The Depositary for the Offer is: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. By Mail: By Overnight Courier Delivery: By Hand: Post Office Box 3301 85 Challenger Road -- Mail 120 Broadway, 13th Floor South Hackensack, NJ 07606 Drop - Reorg New York, NY 10271 Attn: Reorganization Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 Attn: Reorganization Department Attn: Reorganization Department Department By Facsimile Transmission: (201) 329-8936 Confirm by Telephone: (201) 296-4860 Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective telephone numbers and locations listed below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Supplement, the revised Letter of Transmittal and the revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the Information Agent at its address and telephone numbers set forth below. Holders of Common Shares may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer. The Information Agent for the Offer is: GEORGESON & COMPANY INC. Wall Street Plaza New York, NY 10005 Bankers and Brokers call collect: (212) 440-9800 All Others Call Toll-Free: (800) 223-2064 INTERNET: World Wide Web http://www.georgeson.com The Dealer Manager for the Offer is: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION Eleven Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010 Call Toll Free: (800) 863-6558 Exhibit (a)(29) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO TENDER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. PURSUANT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE DATED MAY 19, 1998 AND THE SUPPLEMENT THERETO DATED JUNE 10, 1998 BY NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1998, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. The Depositary for the Offer is: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. By Mail: By Overnight Courier Delivery: By Hand: Post Office Box 3301 85 Challenger Road -- Mail 120 Broadway, 13th Floor South Hackensack, NJ 07606 Drop - Reorg New York, NY 10271 Attn: Reorganization Department Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 Attn: Reorganization Department Attn: Reorganization Department By Facsimile Transmission: (201) 329-8936 Confirm by Telephone: (201) 296-4860 DELIVERY OF THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. YOU MUST SIGN THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL WHERE INDICATED BELOW AND COMPLETE THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 PROVIDED BELOW. THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES TENDERED - ----------------------------------------------------- NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED OWNER(S) COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) AND (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK, EXACTLY AS NAME(S) COMMON SHARES TENDERED APPEAR(S) ON COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATE(S)) (ATTACH ADDITIONAL LIST IF NECESSARY) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES COMMON SHARE REPRESENTED BY CERTIFICATE COMMON SHARE NUMBER OF COMMON NUMBER(S)* CERTIFICATE(S)* SHARES TENDERED** ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- TOTAL NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Need not be completed by shareholders delivering Common Shares by book-entry transfers. ** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Common Shares evidenced by each Common Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary are being tendered hereby. See Instruction 4. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This revised Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by shareholders either if certificates ("Common Share Certificates") evidencing shares of common stock, no par value, of Allied Group, Inc. ("Common Shares") are to be forwarded herewith or, unless an Agent's Message (as defined below) is utilized, if delivery of Common Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to the Depositary's account at The Depository Trust Company or Philadelphia Depository Trust Company (each a "Book-Entry Transfer Facility" and collectively, the "Book-Entry Transfer Facilities") pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedure described in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below) as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement (as defined below). DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY. Shareholders who have previously tendered Common Shares pursuant to the Offer using the previously circulated Letter of Transmittal or the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and who have not properly withdrawn such Common Shares have validly tendered such Common Shares for the purposes of the Offer, as amended, and need not take any further action. Shareholders whose Common Share Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot deliver all documents required hereby to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Supplement) or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis and who wish to tender their Common Shares must do so pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. See Instruction 2. [ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED COMMON SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE DEPOSITARY'S ACCOUNT AT ONE OF THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITIES AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING. Name of Tendering Institution________________________________________________ Check Box of Applicable Book-Entry Transfer Facility: PHILADELPHIA THE DEPOSITORY DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TRUST COMPANY -------------- ------------- (CHECK ONE) [ ] [ ] Account Number______________________________________________________________ Transaction Code Number_____________________________________________________ [ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED COMMON SHARES ARE BEING TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING. Name(s) of Registered Holder(s)______________________________________________ Window Ticket No. (if any)___________________________________________________ Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery___________________________ Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery________________________________ The names and addresses of the registered holders should be printed, if not already printed above, exactly as they appear on the certificates representing Common Shares tendered hereby. The certificates and number of Common Shares that the undersigned wishes to tender should be indicated in the appropriate boxes. [ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO LOST, STOLEN, DESTROYED OR MUTILATED SECURITIES. SEE INSTRUCTION 11. NOTE: SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW. PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY. 2 Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned hereby tenders to Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation ("Purchaser"), an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company ("Parent"), an Ohio mutual insurance company, the above-described shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares") of Allied Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to Purchaser's offer to purchase all outstanding Common Shares, at a price of $48.25 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 19, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), the Supplement thereto, dated June 10, 1998 (the "Supplement"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this revised Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). The undersigned understands that Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, in whole or in part from time to time, to one or more of its affiliates, the right to purchase all or any portion of the Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer. Subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Common Shares tendered herewith, in accordance with the terms of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all the Common Shares that are being tendered hereby and all dividends, distributions (including, without limitation, distributions of additional Common Shares) and rights declared, paid or distributed in respect of such Common Shares on or after May 18, 1998 (collectively, "Distributions"), and irrevocably appoints ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., (the "Depositary") the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Common Shares and all Distributions, with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) deliver Common Share Certificates evidencing such Common Shares and all Distributions, or transfer ownership of such Common Shares and all Distributions on the account books maintained by a Book-Entry Transfer Facility, together, in either case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser, (ii) present such Common Shares and all Distributions for transfer on the books of the Company and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Common Shares and all Distributions, all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. If, on or after the date of the Offer to Purchase, the Company should declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares, other than regular quarterly dividends, or make any distribution (including, without limitation, the issuance of additional Common Shares pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split, the issuance of other securities or the issuance of rights for the purchase of any securities) with respect to the Common Shares that is payable or distributable to shareholders of record on a date prior to the transfer to the name of Purchaser or its nominee or transferee on the Company's stock transfer records of the Common Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, then, without prejudice to Purchaser's rights under Sections 1 and 14 of the Offer to Purchase and Sections 1 and 7 of the Supplement, (i) the purchase price per Common Share payable by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer will be reduced by the amount of any such cash dividend or cash distribution and (ii) any such non-cash dividend, distribution or right to be received by the tendering shareholders will be received and held by such tendering shareholders for the account of Purchaser and will be required to be promptly remitted and transferred by each such tendering shareholder to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer. Pending such remittance and subject to applicable law, Purchaser will be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of any such non-cash dividend, distribution or right and may withhold the entire purchase price or deduct from the purchase price the amount or value thereof, as determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion. By executing this revised Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints David A. Diamond, W. Sidney Druen and Mark B. Koogler, and each of them, as the attorneys and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of the undersigned's rights with respect to the Common Shares tendered by the undersigned and accepted for payment by Purchaser (and any and all Distributions). All such proxies shall be considered coupled with an interest in the tendered Common Shares. This appointment will be effective if, when, and only to the extent that Purchaser accepts such Common Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior proxies given by the undersigned with respect to such Common Shares, Distributions and other securities will, without further action, be revoked, and no subsequent proxies may be given. The individuals named above as proxies will, with respect to the Common Shares, Distributions and other securities for which the 3 appointment is effective, be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights of the undersigned as they, in their sole discretion, may deem proper at any annual, special, adjourned or postponed meeting of Company shareholders, by written consent or otherwise, and Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for Common Shares, Distributions or other securities to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such Common Shares, Purchaser or Purchaser's designees must be able to exercise full voting rights with respect to such Common Shares. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Common Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions, that the undersigned own(s) the Common Shares tendered hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Rule 14e-4"), that such tender of Common Shares complies with Rule 14e-4 and that when such Common Shares are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto and to all Distributions, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that none of such Common Shares and Distributions will be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned, upon request, shall execute and deliver all additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Common Shares tendered hereby and all Distributions. In addition, the undersigned shall remit and transfer promptly to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser all Distributions in respect of the Common Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, and, pending such remittance and transfer or appropriate assurance thereof, Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of each such Distribution and may withhold the entire purchase price of the Common Shares tendered hereby, or deduct from such purchase price, the amount or value of such Distribution as determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion. No authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. All obligations of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, personal and legal representatives, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable. The undersigned understands that tenders of Common Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement and in the instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned's acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. Purchaser's acceptance for payment of Common Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. The undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Supplement, Purchaser may not be required to accept for payment any of the Common Shares tendered hereby. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions," please issue the check for the purchase price and/or return any Common Share Certificates evidencing Common Shares not tendered or accepted for payment, in the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under "Description of Common Shares Tendered." Similarly, unless otherwise indicated in the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions," please mail the check for the purchase price of all Common Shares purchased and all Common Share Certificates evidencing Common Shares not tendered or not purchased (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under "Description of Common Shares Tendered." In the event that the boxes entitled "Special Payment Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" are both completed, please issue the check for the purchase price and/or return any Common Share Certificates for Common Shares not purchased or not tendered or accepted for payment in the name(s) of, and mail such check and/or return such Common Share Certificates to, the person(s) so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions," please credit any Common Shares tendered hereby and delivered by book-entry transfer, but which are not purchased, by crediting the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the instructions in the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions," to transfer any Common Shares from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if Purchaser does not purchase any of the Common Shares tendered hereby. 4 - ------------------------------------------------------------ SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7) To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Common Shares or Common Share Certificates evidencing Common Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned, or if the Common Shares delivered by book-entry transfer which are not purchased are to be returned by credit to an account maintained at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility other than that designated above. Issue [ ] Check [ ] Common Share Certificate to: Name ----------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE PRINT) Address: -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ (INCLUDE ZIP CODE) ------------------------------------------------------------ RECIPIENT'S TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (ALSO COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 BELOW) [ ] Credit unpurchased Common Shares delivered by book-entry transfer to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility account set forth below: Check appropriate box: [ ] The Depository Trust Company [ ] Philadelphia Depository Trust Company ------------------------------------------------------------ (ACCOUNT NUMBER) ============================================================ SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7) To be completed ONLY if Common Share Certificates tendered and/or Common Share Certificates evidencing Common Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be mailed to someone other than the undersigned, or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown under "Description of Common Shares Tendered." Mail [ ] Check [ ] Common Share Certificates to: Name: ----------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE PRINT) Address: -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ (INCLUDE ZIP CODE) ------------------------------------------------------------ RECIPIENT'S TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (ALSO COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 BELOW) - ------------------------------------------------------------ 5 IMPORTANT SHAREHOLDERS: SIGN HERE (PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 INCLUDED HEREIN) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (SIGNATURE(S) OF HOLDER(S)) Dated: 1998 ------------------------- (Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Common Share Certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or other persons acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the following information. See Instruction 5.) Name(s): - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE PRINT) Capacity (full title): - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: ================================================================================ (INCLUDE ZIP CODE) Daytime Area Code and Telephone No.: -------------------------------------------- Taxpayer Identification or Social Security No.: --------------------------------- (COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 INCLUDED HEREIN) GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S) (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5) Authorized Signature: ----------------------------------------------------------- Name: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT) Title: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Firm: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (INCLUDE ZIP CODE) Area Code and Telephone No.: --------------------------------------------------- Dated: 1998 ------------------ FOR USE BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: PLACE MEDALLION GUARANTEE IN SPACE BELOW 6 INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER 1. Guarantee of Signatures. Except as otherwise provided below, all signatures on this revised Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a firm which is a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity that is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (each, an "Eligible Institution"). No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Transmittal (i) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this document, shall include any participant in a Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of Common Shares) of Common Shares tendered herewith, unless such holder(s) has (have) completed either the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" herein or (ii) if such Common Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5. 2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Common Share Certificates. This revised Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if Common Share Certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if Common Shares are to be delivered by book-entry transfer pursuant to the procedure set forth in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. Common Share Certificates evidencing all tendered Common Shares, or confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Common Shares into the Depositary's account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities pursuant to the procedures set forth in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement, together with a properly completed and duly executed revised Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message) and any other documents required by this revised Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date. If Common Share Certificates are forwarded to the Depositary in multiple deliveries, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal must accompany each such delivery. Shareholders whose Common Share Certificates are not immediately available, who cannot deliver their Common Share Certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis may tender their Common Shares pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution; (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by Purchaser herewith, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date; and (iii) the Common Share Certificates, in proper form for transfer, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Common Shares into the Depositary's account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities, together with a properly completed and duly executed revised Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message), and any other documents required by this revised Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary within three (3) New York Stock Exchange Inc. trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as described in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase. The term "Agent's Message" means a message, transmitted by a Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), which states that such Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in such Book-Entry Transfer Facility tendering the Common Shares that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal and that Purchaser may enforce such agreement against the participant. THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH ANY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY, IS AT THE SOLE OPTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING SHAREHOLDER, AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED 7 MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Common Shares will be purchased. By execution of this revised Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), all tendering shareholders waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Common Shares for payment. 3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided herein under "Description of Common Shares Tendered" is inadequate, the Common Share Certificate number, the total number of Common Shares represented by such Common Share Certificates and the number of Common Shares tendered should be listed on a separate schedule and attached hereto. 4. Partial Tenders (not applicable to shareholders who tender by book-entry transfer). If fewer than all the Common Shares evidenced by any Common Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary herewith are to be tendered hereby, fill in the number of shares of Common Shares which are to be tendered in the column entitled "Number of Common Shares Tendered" in the above "Description of Common Shares Tendered". In such cases, new Common Share Certificate(s) evidencing the remainder of the Common Shares that were evidenced by the Common Share Certificate(s) delivered to the Depositary herewith will be sent to the person(s) signing this revised Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions," as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Offer. All Common Shares evidenced by Common Share Certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated. 5. Signatures on Revised Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this revised Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Common Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond exactly with the name(s) as written on the face of the Common Share Certificate(s) evidencing such Common Shares without alteration, enlargement or any other change whatsoever. DO NOT SIGN THE BACK OF THE COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES. If any Common Shares tendered hereby are owned of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this revised Letter of Transmittal. If any of the Common Shares tendered hereby are registered in the names of different holders, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate revised Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Common Shares. If this revised Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Common Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of Common Share Certificates or separate stock powers are required, unless payment is to be made to, or Common Share Certificates evidencing Common Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s), in which case, the Common Share Certificate(s) evidencing the Common Shares tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such Common Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such Common Share Certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If this revised Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Common Shares tendered hereby, the Common Share Certificate(s) evidencing the Common Shares tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such Common Share Certificate(s). Signatures on such Common Share Certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If this revised Letter of Transmittal or any Common Share Certificates or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to Purchaser of such person's authority so to act must be submitted. 8 6. Stock Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, Purchaser will pay all stock transfer taxes with respect to the sale and transfer of any Common Shares to it or its order pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price of any Common Shares purchased is to be made to, or Common Share Certificate(s) evidencing Common Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s), the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s), such other person or otherwise) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be deducted from the purchase price of such Common Shares purchased, unless evidence satisfactory to Purchaser of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted. Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Common Share Certificates evidencing the Common Shares tendered hereby. 7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check for the purchase price of any Common Shares tendered hereby is to be issued, or Common Share Certificate(s) evidencing Common Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be issued, in the name of a person other than the person(s) signing this revised Letter of Transmittal or if such check or any such Common Share Certificate is to be sent to someone other than the person(s) signing this revised Letter of Transmittal or to the person(s) signing this revised Letter of Transmittal but at an address other than that shown in the box entitled "Description of Common Shares Tendered," the appropriate boxes on this revised Letter of Transmittal must be completed. Shareholders tendering Common Shares by book-entry transfer may request that Common Shares not purchased be credited to such account maintained at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such stockholder may designate in the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions" hereof. If no such instructions are given, all such Common Shares not purchased will be returned by crediting the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities designated herein as the account from which such Common Shares were delivered. 8. Waiver of Conditions. The conditions of the Offer may be waived, in whole or in part, by Purchaser, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, in the case of any Common Shares tendered. 9. Questions and Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent or Dealer Manager at their respective addresses or telephone numbers set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Supplement, this revised Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager, and copies will be furnished promptly at Purchaser's expense. No fees or commissions will be paid to brokers, dealers or other persons (other than the Information Agent and the Dealer Manager) for soliciting tenders of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer. 10. Substitute Form W-9. Each tendering shareholder is required to provide the Depositary with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") on the Substitute Form W-9 which is provided under "Important Tax Information" below, and to certify, under penalties of perjury, that such number is correct and that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding of federal income tax. If a tendering shareholder has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such shareholder is subject to backup withholding, such shareholder must cross out item (2) of the Certification box of the Substitute Form W-9, unless such shareholder has since been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding. Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the tendering shareholder to 31% federal income tax withholding on the payment of the purchase price of all Common Shares purchased from such shareholder. If the tendering shareholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for one or intends to apply for one in the near future, such shareholder should write "Applied For" in the space provided for the TIN in Part 1 of the Substitute Form W-9, and sign and date the Substitute Form W-9. If "Applied For" is written in Part 1 and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, the Depositary will withhold 31% on all payments of the purchase price to such shareholder until a TIN is provided to the Depositary. 11. Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Common Share Certificates. If any Common Share Certificates have been lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen, the shareholder should promptly notify the Depositary. The shareholder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the Common Share Certificate(s). This revised Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be 9 processed until the procedures for replacing lost or destroyed Common Share Certificates have been followed. In order to facilitate replacement, contact Harris Trust & Savings Bank at (312) 360-5100. IMPORTANT: THIS REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR FACSIMILE HEREOF), PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED (TOGETHER WITH ANY REQUIRED SIGNATURE GUARANTEES AND COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE. IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION Under the federal income tax law, a shareholder whose tendered Common Shares are accepted for payment is required by law to provide the Depositary (as payer) with such shareholder's correct TIN on Substitute Form W-9 below. If such shareholder is an individual, the TIN is such shareholder's social security number. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct TIN, the shareholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and payments that are made to such shareholder with respect to Common Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer may be subject to backup withholding of 31%. In addition, if a shareholder makes a false statement that results in no imposition of backup withholding, and there was no reasonable basis for such a statement, a $500 penalty may also be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Certain shareholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt recipient, such individual must submit a statement, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to such individual's exempt status. Forms of such statements can be obtained from the Depositary. See the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional instructions. A shareholder should consult his or her tax advisor as to such shareholder's qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption. If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 31% of any payments made to the shareholder. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service. PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to a shareholder with respect to Common Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, the shareholder is required to notify the Depositary of such shareholder's correct TIN by completing the form below certifying (a) that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such shareholder is awaiting a TIN), and (b) that (i) such shareholder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (ii) the Internal Revenue Service has notified such shareholder that such shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding. WHAT NUMBER TO GIVE THE DEPOSITARY The shareholder is required to give the Depositary the social security number or employer identification number of the record holder of the Common Shares tendered hereby. If the Common Shares are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional guidance on which number to report. If the tendering shareholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near future, the shareholder should write "Applied For" in the space provided for the TIN in Part 1, and sign and date the Substitute Form W-9. If "Applied For" is written in Part 1 and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, the Depositary will withhold 31% of all payments of the purchase price to such shareholder until a TIN is provided to the Depositary. 10 ALL TENDERING STOCKHOLDERS MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: PAYER'S NAME: CHASEMELLON SHAREHOLDER SERVICES, L.L.C. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBSTITUTE PART 1 -- Taxpayer Identification Number -- For ------------------------------- FORM W-9 all accounts, enter your taxpayer Social Security Number DEPARTMENT OF THE identification number in the box at right. (For OR TREASURY most individuals, this is your social security INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE number. If you do not have a number, see ------------------------------- Obtaining a Number in the enclosed Guidelines Employer Identification Number PAYER'S REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER for Certification of Taxpayer Identification (If awaiting TIN write "Applied For") IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ("TIN") Number of Substitute Form W-9.) Certify by signing and dating below. Note: If the account is in more than one name, see the chart in the enclosed Guidelines to determine which number to give the payer. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART 2 -- For Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding, see the enclosed Guidelines and complete as instructed therein. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTIFICATION -- Under penalties of perjury, I certify that: (1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and (2) I am not subject to backup withholding because I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. CERTIFICATE INSTRUCTIONS -- You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding, you received another notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). (Also see instructions in the enclosed Guidelines.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Signature Date __________ , 1998 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU WRITE "APPLIED FOR" IN THE SPACE PROVIDED FOR THE TIN IN PART 1 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (1) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (2) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of payment, 31% of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld. ============================================================== Signature Date ------------------------------------------------------------- Name (Please Print) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective telephone numbers and locations listed below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Supplement, the revised Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the Information Agent at its address and telephone numbers set forth below. Holders of Common Shares may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer. The Information Agent for the Offer is: [GEORGESON & COMPANY INC. LOGO] Wall Street Plaza New York, NY 10005 Bankers and Brokers call collect: (212) 440-9800 All Others Call Toll-Free: (800) 223-2064 INTERNET: World Wide Web http://www.georgeson.com The Dealer Manager for the Offer is: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION Eleven Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010 Call Toll Free: (800) 863-6558 June 10, 1998 Exhibit (a)(30) NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY FOR TENDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEES) This revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, or one substantially in the form hereof, must be used to accept the Offer (as defined below) (i) if certificates ("Common Share Certificates") evidencing shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of Allied Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), are not immediately available, (ii) if Common Share Certificates and all other required documents cannot be delivered to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Depositary (the "Depositary"), prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Supplement (as defined below)) or (iii) if the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis. This revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or mail or transmitted by telegram or facsimile transmission to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution (as defined in the Offer to Purchase (as defined below)) and a representation that the shareholder owns the Common Shares, and that the tender of the Common Shares effected thereby complies with Rule 14e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each in the form set forth in this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. See "Section 3. Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. The Depositary for the Offer is: ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. By Mail: By Overnight Courier Delivery: By Hand: Post Office Box 3301 85 Challenger Road -- Mail 120 Broadway, 13th Floor South Hackensack, NJ 07606 Drop - Reorg New York, NY 10271 Attn: Reorganization Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 Attn: Reorganization Department Attn: Reorganization Department Department By Facsimile Transmission: (201) 329-8936 Confirm by Telephone: (201) 296-4860 DELIVERY OF THIS REVISED NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. This revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a revised Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an "Eligible Institution" under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space provided in the signature box on the revised Letter of Transmittal. THE GUARANTEE INCLUDED HEREIN MUST BE COMPLETED. Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned hereby tenders to Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation, an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio mutual insurance company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated May 19, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), the Supplement thereto dated June 10, 1998 (the "Supplement") and the revised Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"), receipt of each of which is hereby acknowledged, the number of Common Shares specified below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in "Section 3. Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. Number of Common Shares: Common Share Certificate Nos. (If Available): - --------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- [ ]Check box if Common Shares will be delivered by book-entry transfer Account No. - ----------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- SIGNATURE(S) OF HOLDER(S) Dated: ________ , 1998 Name(s) of Holders: - --------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- Please Type or Print - --------------------------------------------------- Address - --------------------------------------------------- Zip Code - --------------------------------------------------- Area Code and Telephone No. THE GUARANTEE SET FORTH BELOW MUST BE COMPLETED GUARANTEE (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEES) The undersigned, a firm that is a commercial bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (each, an "Eligible Institution") hereby (a) represents that the above named person(s) "own(s)" the Common Shares tendered hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Rule 14e-4"), (b) represents that the tender of Common Shares effected hereby complies with Rule 14e-4, and (c) guarantees delivery to the Depositary, at one of its addresses set forth above, of Common Share Certificates tendered hereby in proper form for transfer, or confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Common Shares into the account maintained by the Depositary at The Depository Trust Company or Philadelphia Depository Trust Company, in each case with delivery of a properly completed and duly executed revised Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined in "Section 3. Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase), and any other documents required by the revised Letter of Transmittal, within three (3) New York Stock Exchange, Inc. trading days after the date of execution of this revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. The Eligible Institution that completes this form must communicate the guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver the revised Letter of Transmittal and the Common Share Certificates to the Depositary within the time period shown herein. Failure to do so could result in financial loss to such Eligible Institution. All terms used herein have the meanings set forth in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by the Supplement. (PLEASE PRINT) Name: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Address: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Zip Code) AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytime Area Code and Tel. No.: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dated: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: DO NOT SEND COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES WITH THIS REVISED NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. Exhibit (a)(31) [CREDIT SUISSE/FIRST BOSTON LOGO] CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION Eleven Madison Avenue Telephone (212) 325-2000 New York, NY 10010-3829 SUPPLEMENT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. AT $48.25 NET PER SHARE BY NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1998, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. June 10, 1998 To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees: We have been appointed by Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation ("Purchaser"), an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio mutual insurance company ("Parent"), to act as Dealer Manager in connection with Purchaser's offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of Allied Group Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), at a price of $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Purchaser's Offer to Purchase dated May 19, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), the Supplement thereto dated June 10, 1998 (the "Supplement") and the revised Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer") enclosed herewith. Please furnish copies of the enclosed materials to those of your clients for whose accounts you hold Common Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (1) THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT PROPERLY WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER THAT NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES WHICH REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY OUTSTANDING ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS (THE "MINIMUM CONDITION"); AND (2) PARENT AND PURCHASER HAVING OBTAINED ALL INSURANCE REGULATORY APPROVALS NECESSARY FOR THEIR ACQUISITION OF CONTROL OF THE COMPANY AND ITS INSURANCE SUBSIDIARIES ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS SATISFACTORY TO PURCHASER AND SUCH REGULATORY APPROVAL HAVING BECOME FINAL AND NON-APPEALABLE (THE "INSURANCE REGULATORY APPROVAL CONDITION"). THE OFFER IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CERTAIN OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AS SUPPLEMENTED BY THE SUPPLEMENT, HOWEVER, THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON PURCHASER OBTAINING FINANCING. For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Common Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, or who hold Common Shares registered in their own names, we are enclosing the following documents: 1. The Supplement dated June 10, 1998; 2. The revised Letter of Transmittal for your use and for the information of your clients. Facsimile copies of the revised Letter of Transmittal may be used to tender Common Shares; 3. The revised Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept the Offer if a shareholder's certificates evidencing such shareholder's Common Shares and all other required documents are not immediately available or cannot be delivered to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Depositary") by the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Supplement) or if the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis; 4. A printed form of a letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Common Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients' instructions with regard to the Offer; and 5. The guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9. YOUR PROMPT ACTION IS REQUESTED. WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1998, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. Your attention is invited to the following: 1. The tender price is $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. 2. The Offer is being made for all outstanding Common Shares. 3. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 P.M. midnight, New York City time, on Monday, August 31, 1998, unless the Offer is extended. 4. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the Minimum Condition and the Insurance Regulatory Approval Condition. The Offer is also subject to certain other terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by the Supplement, however, the Offer is not conditioned upon Purchaser obtaining financing. 5. Except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the revised Letter of Transmittal, tendering shareholders will not be obligated to pay stock transfer taxes with respect to the purchase of Common Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. However, backup federal income tax withholding at a rate of 31% may be required, unless an exemption applies or unless the required taxpayer identification information is provided. See Instruction 10 of, and "Important Tax Information" in, the revised Letter of Transmittal. 6. In all cases, payment for Common Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of certificates evidencing such Common Shares (or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Common Shares into the Depositary's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined in the Offer to Purchase)), a Letter of Transmittal or revised Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal or revised Letter of Transmittal. See "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. If holders of Common Shares wish to tender, but it is impracticable for them to forward their certificates evidencing such Common Shares or other required documents prior to the Expiration Date or, if applicable, to comply with the book-entry transfer procedures on a timely basis, a tender may be effected by following the guaranteed delivery procedure described in "Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker, dealer or other person (other than the Dealer Manager, the Depositary and the Information Agent as described in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by the Supplement) in connection with the solicitation of tenders of Common Shares pursuant to the Offer. However, Purchaser will reimburse you for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to your clients. Purchaser will pay or cause to be paid any stock transfer taxes payable with respect to the transfer of Common Shares to it, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the revised Letter of Transmittal. Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Offer should be addressed to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, the Dealer Manager, or Georgeson & Company Inc., the Information Agent, at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase and the Supplement. Additional copies of the enclosed material may be obtained from the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase and the Supplement. Very truly yours, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON THE AGENT OF THE PARENT, THE PURCHASER, THE COMPANY, THE DEALER MANAGER, THE INFORMATION AGENT OR THE DEPOSITARY, OR OF ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OF THEM, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR TO MAKE ANY STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OTHER THAN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS AND THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN. Exhibit (a)(32) SUPPLEMENT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. AT $48.25 NET PER COMMON SHARE BY NATIONWIDE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1998, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. To Our Clients: Enclosed for your consideration is a Supplement dated June 10, 1998 (the "Supplement") to the Offer to Purchase dated May 19, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase") and a revised Letter of Transmittal in connection with the offer by Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation ("Purchaser"), an Ohio corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio mutual insurance company ("Parent"), to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of Allied Group Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), at a price of $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, the Supplement, and the revised Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). Shareholders who desire to tender Common Shares pursuant to the Offer and whose certificates evidencing such Common Shares are not immediately available or the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by the Supplement cannot be completed on a timely basis or time will not permit all required documents to reach ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C. (the "Depositary") prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Supplement) may nevertheless tender their Common Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in "Section 3. Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. We are (or our nominee is) the holder of record of Common Shares held by us for your account. A TENDER OF SUCH COMMON SHARES CAN BE MADE ONLY BY US AS THE HOLDER OF RECORD AND PURSUANT TO YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. THE REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS FURNISHED TO YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED BY YOU TO TENDER COMMON SHARES HELD BY US FOR YOUR ACCOUNT. We request instructions as to whether you wish to have us tender on your behalf any or all of the Common Shares held by us for your account, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. Your attention is invited to the following: 1. The tender price is $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. 2. The Offer is being made for all outstanding Common Shares. 3. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, August 31, 1998, unless the Offer is extended. 4. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (1) there being validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer the number of Common Shares which represent a majority of the Common Shares of the Company outstanding on a fully diluted basis, and (2) Parent and Purchaser having obtained all insurance regulatory approvals necessary for their acquisition of control of the Company and its insurance subsidiaries on terms and conditions satisfactory to Purchaser and such regulatory approval having become final and non-appealable. The Offer is also subject to certain other terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by the Supplement, however, the Offer is not conditioned upon Purchaser obtaining financing. 5. Except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the revised Letter of Transmittal, tendering shareholders will not be obligated to pay stock transfer taxes with respect to the purchase of Common Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. However, backup federal income tax withholding at a rate of 31% may be required, unless an exemption applies or unless the required taxpayer identification information is provided. See Instruction 10 of, and "Important Tax Information" in, the revised Letter of Transmittal. 6. In all cases, payment for Common Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of certificates evidencing, or a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) with respect to, such Common Shares and a Letter of Transmittal or revised Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with all required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal or revised Letter of Transmittal. See "Section 3. Procedures for Tendering Common Shares" of the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by Section 2 of the Supplement. If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Common Shares, please so instruct us by completing, executing and returning to us the form contained in this letter. An envelope in which to return your instructions to us is enclosed. If you authorize the tender of your Common Shares, all such Common Shares will be tendered unless otherwise specified in your instructions. Your instructions should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit a tender on your behalf prior to the expiration of the Offer. THE OFFER IS MADE SOLELY BY THE OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE SUPPLEMENT AND THE REVISED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND IS BEING MADE TO ALL HOLDERS OF COMMON SHARES. Purchaser is not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Offer is prohibited by administrative or judicial action pursuant to any valid state statute. If Purchaser becomes aware of any valid state statute prohibiting the making of the Offer or the acceptance of Common Shares pursuant thereto, Purchaser will make a good faith effort to comply with such state statute. If, after such good faith effort, Purchaser cannot comply with such state statute, the Offer will not be made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) the holders of Common Shares in such state. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ALLIED GROUP, INC. The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter, the enclosed Supplement dated June 10, 1998 to the Offer to Purchase dated May 19, 1998 and the revised Letter of Transmittal in connection with the offer by Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation, an Ohio corporation, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio mutual insurance company, to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of Allied Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation, at a price of $48.25 per Common Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon. This will instruct you to tender the number of Common Shares indicated below (or, if no number is indicated below, all Common Shares) that are held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase as supplemented by the Supplement. Number of Common Shares to Be Tendered: ____________ Common Shares* Dated: , 1998 SIGN HERE - --------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- Signature(s) - --------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- Please type or print name(s) - --------------------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------------------- Please type or print address - --------------------------------------------------- Area Code and Telephone Number - --------------------------------------------------- Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number - ------------ * Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Common Shares held by us for your account are to be tendered. Exhibit (c)(1) SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENT, dated as of June 3, 1998, between Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, an Ohio mutual insurance company ("Nationwide"), and Allied Mutual Insurance Company, an Iowa mutual insurance company (the "Securityholder"). WHEREAS, Nationwide, Nationwide Group Acquisition Corporation, an Ohio corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Nationwide ("Sub"), and Allied Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the "Company"), propose to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated the date hereof (as the same may be amended or supplemented, the "Merger Agreement"), which provides for a cash tender offer by Sub (as such tender offer may hereafter be amended from time to time, the "Offer") to purchase all shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company (the "Common Shares") and, following the consummation of the Offer, the merger of Sub with the Company (the "Merger"); WHEREAS, the Securityholder is the record and beneficial owner of the number of (i) Common Shares, and (ii) shares of 6 3/4% Series Preferred Stock, no par value, of the Company and (collectively, the "Preferred Shares") set forth on Schedule A hereto; such securities, as they may be adjusted by stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, reorganization or other change or transaction of or by the Company, together with securities that may be acquired after the date hereof by the Securityholder, including Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of options to purchase Common Shares (as the same may be adjusted as aforesaid), being collectively referred to herein as the "Securities"; and WHEREAS, as a condition to their willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Nationwide has requested that the Securityholder enter into this Agreement (capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement); NOW, THEREFORE, to induce Nationwide to enter into, and in consideration of it entering into, the Merger Agreement, and in consideration of the premises and the representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows: 1 1. Tender of Common Shares. The Securityholder agrees to tender (or cause the record owner thereof to tender), pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Offer, and not to withdraw, all Securities which are Common Shares. Stockholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that Nationwide's and Sub's obligation to accept for payment and pay for Common Shares in the Offer, including any Securities tendered by Securityholder, is subject to the terms and conditions of the Offer. The parties agree that the Securityholder will, for all Common Shares tendered by Securityholder in the Offer and accepted for payment and paid for by Sub, receive the same per share consideration paid to other shareholders who have tendered into the Offer. 2. Covenants of the Securityholder. The Securityholder agrees as follows: (a) The Securityholder shall not, except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement, (i) sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any Contract (as defined below), option or other arrangement (including any profit sharing arrangement) or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of, the Securities to any person other than Nationwide or Nationwide's designee, or (ii) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, power-of-attorney or otherwise, with respect to the Securities. (b) The Securityholder shall not, nor shall the Securityholder permit any investment banker, financial adviser, attorney, accountant or other representative or agent of the Securityholder to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing information), or knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal which constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal. (c) At any meeting of shareholders of the Company called to vote upon the Merger and the Merger Agreement or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which a vote, consent or other approval (including by written consent) with respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement is sought, the Securityholder shall, including by initiating a written consent solicitation if requested by Nationwide, vote (or cause to be voted) such Securityholder's Securities in favor of the Merger, the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. At any meeting of sharehold- 2 ers of the Company or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which the Securityholder's vote, consent or other approval is sought, the Securityholder shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Securityholder's Securities against (i) any merger (other than the Merger), consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by the Company or any other Acquisition Proposal (collectively, "Alternative Transactions") or (ii) any amendment of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws or other proposal or transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which amendment or other proposal or transaction would in any manner impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify, the Merger, the Merger Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement including any consent to the treatment of any Securities in or in connection with such transaction (collectively, "Frustrating Transactions"). 3. Grant of Irrevocable Proxy Coupled with an Interest; Appointment of Proxy. (a) Subject to governmental approvals, the Securityholder hereby irrevocably grants to, and appoints, any individual who shall be designated by Nationwide as the Securityholder's proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of the Securityholder, to vote the Securityholder's Securities, or grant a consent or approval in respect of such Securities, at any meeting of shareholders of the Company or at any adjournment thereof or in any other circumstances upon which their vote, consent or other approval is sought, (i) in favor of the Merger, the adoption by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (ii) against any Alternative Transaction or Frustrating Transaction. (b) The Securityholder represents that any proxies heretofore given in respect of the Securityholder's Securities are not irrevocable, and that any such proxies are hereby revoked. (c) THE SECURITYHOLDER HEREBY AFFIRMS THAT THE PROXY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 3 IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND IS IRREVOCABLE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THIS AGREEMENT TERMINATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS TERMS. The Securityholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is given in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of the Securityholder under this Agreement. 3 The Securityholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that such irrevocable proxy may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. 4. Acquisition Proposals. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during any period of time that the Company is not prohibited by the Merger Agreement from (A) providing information in response to a request therefor by a Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal; (B) engaging in any negotiations or discussions with any Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal; or (C) recommending an Acquisition Proposal to the shareholders of the Company, the Securityholder's obligations under Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Agreement shall be deemed inoperative. (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, during any period of time that the Securityholder is not prohibited by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Securityholder and Nationwide (the "Allied Mutual Merger Agreement") from (A) providing information in response to a request therefor by a Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal; (B) engaging in any negotiations or discussions with any Person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal; or (C) recommending an Acquisition Proposal to the policyholders of the Securityholder, the Securityholder's obligations under Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Agreement shall be deemed inoperative. For purposes of this Section 4(b), "Acquisition Proposal" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Allied Mutual Merger Agreement. 5. Representations and Warranties of the Securityholder. The Securityholder hereby represents and warrants to Nationwide as follows: (a) Authority. The Securityholder has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Securityholder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Securityholder and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Nationwide, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Securityholder enforceable against the Securityholder in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorgani- 4 zation, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. Except for the informational filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and except for any state insurance department approvals or filings, neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Securityholder nor the consummation by the Securityholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will (i) require any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval (collectively, "Governmental Approvals") of, any federal, state, local or municipal foreign or other government or subdivision, branch, department or agency thereof or any governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature, including any court or other tribunal, (a "Governmental Entity"), except where the failure to obtain any such Governmental Approvals would not be reasonably likely to adversely affect the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, amendment, cancellation or acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Securityholder under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, permit, concession, franchise, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation (a "Contract") to which the Securityholder is a party or by which the Securityholder or any of the Securityholder's properties or assets, including the Securityholder's Securities, may be bound, except for such violations, breaches, defaults, rights of termination, amendment, cancellation and acceleration and liens which would not be reasonably likely to adversely affect the transactions contemplated hereby or (iii) violate any judgment, order, writ, preliminary or permanent injunction or decree (an "Order") or any statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity (a "Law") applicable to the Securityholder or any of the Securityholder's properties or assets, including the Securityholder's Securities, except for such violations which would not be reasonably likely to adversely affect the transactions contemplated hereby (b) The Securities. The Securityholder's Securities and the certificates representing such Securities are now, and at all times during the term hereof will be, held by such Securityholder, or by a nominee or custodian for the benefit of such Securityholder, and the Securityholder has good and marketable title to such Securities, free and-clear of any liens, proxies, voting trusts or agreements, understandings or arrangements, except for any such liens or proxies arising hereunder and the agreements made hereby. The Securityholder owns of record or beneficially no securities of the Company, or any options, warrants or rights exercisable for 5 securities of the Company, other than such Securityholder's Securities, as set forth on Schedule A hereto. (c) Brokers. Except as provided in the Allied Mutual Merger Agreement, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Securityholder. (d) Merger Agreement. The Securityholder understands and acknowledges that Nationwide is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon the Securityholder's execution and delivery of this Agreement. 6. Representations and Warranties of Nationwide. Nationwide hereby represents and warrants to the Securityholder as follows: (a) Authority. Nationwide has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Nationwide and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Nationwide. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Nationwide and, assuming this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Securityholder, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Nationwide enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and injunctive relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. (b) Securities Act. The Securities will be acquired in compliance with, and Nationwide will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of any Securities so acquired by it in violation of any of, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. 7. Further Assurances. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 4(a) and 4(b), the Securityholder will, from time to time, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional or further transfers, assignments, endorsements, consents and other instruments as Nationwide may reasonably request 6 for the purpose of effectively carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to vest the power to vote the Securityholder's Securities as contemplated by Section 3. Nationwide agrees to use its best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal requirements that may be imposed with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 8. Termination. This Agreement, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall terminate on the earlier of the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms and the termination of the Allied Mutual Merger Agreement. Nothing in this Section 8 shall relieve any party from liability for willful breach of this Agreement. 9. General Provisions. (a) Assignment; Binding Effect. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. (b) Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. (c) Notice. All notices, consents, requests, approvals, authorizations and other communications (collectively, "Notices") required or permitted to be given hereunder by one party to another shall only be effective if in writing. All Notices shall be sent (i) by registered or certified mail (with return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or (ii) by Federal Express, U.S. Post Office Express Mail, Airborne or similar overnight courier which delivers, if requested, only upon signed receipt of the addressee (with such signed receipt being requested), or (iii) by facsimile transmission, and addressed or transmitted as follows or at such other address or facsimile number, and to the attention of such other person, as the parties shall give notice as herein provided: If to Nationwide, to: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company One Nationwide Plaza 7 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Attention: David A. Diamond, Vice President -- Enterprise Controller Facsimile: (614) 249-4462 with a copy to: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company One Nationwide Plaza Columbus, Ohio 43215 Attention: Mark B. Koogler, Vice President and Associate General Counsel Roger A. Craig, Counsel Facsimile: (614) 249-7254 and if to the Securityholder, to: Allied Mutual Insurance Company 701 Fifth Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50391-2000 Attention: John E. Evans, Chairman of the Board Douglas L. Andersen, President and Chief Executive Officer Facsimile No.: 515-280-4399 with copies to: Nyemaster, Goode, Voigts, West, Hansell & O'Brien A Professional Corporation 700 Walnut Street, Suite 1600 Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3899 Attention: Mark C. Dickinson, Esq. Facsimile No.: 515-283-3108 and 8 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 919 Third Avenue New York, New York 10022-3897 Attention: Jeffrey W. Tindell, Esq. Facsimile No.: 212-451-7321 A Notice shall be effective upon receipt and shall be deemed to be received, if sent by registered or certified mail, U.S. Post Office Express Mail, Federal Express, Airborne or similar overnight courier, on the date of receipt by the recipient as shown on the return receipt card, or if sent by facsimile, upon receipt by the sender of an acknowledgment or transmission report generated by the machine from which the facsimile was sent indicating that the facsimile was sent in its entirety to the recipient's facsimile number; provided that if a Notice is received by facsimile on a day which is not a Business Day, or after 5:00 p.m. on any Business Day at the addressee's location, such Notice shall be deemed to be received by the recipient at 9:00 a.m. on the first Business Day thereafter. Rejection or other refusal to accept or the inability to deliver because of changed address of which no Notice was given shall be deemed to be receipt of the Notice as of the date of such rejection, refusal or inability to deliver. (d) Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Wherever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation." The words "hereof", "herein" and "herewith" and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The plural of any defined term shall have a meaning correlative to such defined term, and words denoting any gender shall include all genders. Where a word or phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms shall have a corresponding meaning. A reference to any party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document shall include such party's successors and permitted assigns. A reference to any legislation or to any provision of any legislation shall include any modification or re-enactment thereof, any legislative provision substituted therefor and all regulations and statutory instruments issued thereunder or pursuant thereto. For purposes of this Agreement, "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint stock company, 9 limited liability company, Governmental Entity, trust, joint venture, labor union, estate, unincorporated organization or other entity. (e) Counterparts. This Agreement shall be executed in duplicate and may be executed in counterparts each of which shall be deemed to constitute an original and constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. In proving this Agreement, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought. (f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. (g) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto or their respective heirs, successors, executors, administrators and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement. (h) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa without regard to any conflicts or choice of law provisions thereof or of any other jurisdiction. (i) Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in a court of the United States. This being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In addition, each of the parties hereto waives any right to trial by jury with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. 10 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of Nationwide and Securityholder has caused this Agreement to be signed by its officer thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first written above. NATIONWIDE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY By: /s/ Mark B. Koogler --------------------------------------- Name: Mark B. Koogler Title: Vice President and Associate General Counsel ALLIED MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY By: /s/ George T. Oleson --------------------------------------- Name: George T. Oleson Title: Vice President and Corporate Counsel 11 SCHEDULE A Common Preferred Name and Address Shares Shares Warrants Options ---------------- ------ ------ -------- ------- Allied Mutual Insurance Company 498,236 1,827,222 -- -- 12