Java HotSpot Virtual Machine

complicated, atleast for me :) where do I find if JVM installs any exit handlers when invoked through native C app.
OS -> HP UX 11
java -version ->
java version "1.4.0.02"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.4.0.02-021031-18:00)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.4 1.4.0.02-021031-19:15-PA_RISC2.0 PA2.0, mixed mode)

Although jvm used is HP's hotspot, behaviour seems to be generic, so any directions are appreciated.

In my case JNI based native shared object (on ux) is being used as a pluggin for comm with microsoft SQL2k.

A daemon loads the pluggin (shl_load) -> transaction -> unloads (shl_unload) pluggin.
For each tran I need to create a new JVM instance and later distroy it as it is not possible to multiple times create and distroy JVM in same process space (as encountered)

LD_PRELOAD=.../libjvm.sl
start the daemon( basic signals masked)
Parent -> fork() a child process and wait for its exit status.
Child -> Load JVM and execute reqd method
Child -> unload JVM
Child -> exit() the child process
Parent ->Check the child process exit() code and carry further processing.

Sometimes child does not exit cleanly. Even after exit() child process can be seen in process table and parent wait()'s idefinetly for child exit code.

gdb ouput of child preocess
###########
#0 0xdd28ca38 in os::report_fatal_error () from /opt/java1.4/jre/lib/PA_RISC2.0/server/libjvm.sl
#1 0xdd28dc48 in os::handle_unexpected_exception ()
from /opt/java1.4/jre/lib/PA_RISC2.0/server/libjvm.sl
#2 0xdd296c50 in os::Hpux::JVM_handle_hpux_signal ()
from /opt/java1.4/jre/lib/PA_RISC2.0/server/libjvm.sl
#3 0xdd293adc in os::Hpux::signalHandler ()
from /opt/java1.4/jre/lib/PA_RISC2.0/server/libjvm.sl
#4 <signal handler called>
#5 0x7e5e6134 in ?? ()
#6 0xc03c6fbc in __niamHelper () from /usr/lib/libCsup.2
###########
Can any one tell me what exactly is happening ?

If I call [b]_exit() instead of exit() everything works fine.