-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, C8RdIECQDmlWcdNKqPglrsH7bHxGa6AJQSEmrHRl7c63H8QKL1G+m1Q5AsXInP3A NLDmFPl4Uy4NYHMOqZGOJg== 0001042046-05-000038.txt : 20051221 0001042046-05-000038.hdr.sgml : 20051221 20051221153536 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001042046-05-000038 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20051219 ITEM INFORMATION: Regulation FD Disclosure ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20051221 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20051221 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001042046 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331] IRS NUMBER: 311544320 STATE OF INCORPORATION: OH FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13653 FILM NUMBER: 051278462 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE EAST FOURTH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 919 CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45202 BUSINESS PHONE: 5135792121 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE EAST FOURTH STREET STREET 2: SUITE 919 CITY: CINCINNATI STATE: OH ZIP: 45202 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDINGS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19970709 8-K 1 afg8kdec19a.htm AFG FORM 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 19, 2005

 

AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Ohio

1-13653

31-1544320

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

(State or other jurisdiction

(Commission

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

File Number)

Identification No.)


One East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, OH

45202

____________________________________________________________

______________________________

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code 513-579-2121

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

/   /   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

/   /   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

/   /   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
        (17 CFR  240.14d-2(b))

/   /   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
        (17 CFR  240.13e-4(c))


Item 7.01 - Regulation FD Disclosure.

         American Financial Group, Inc. ("AFG") announced that its 82% owned subsidiary, Great American Financial Resources, Inc. has reached an agreement to sell Great American Life Assurance Company of Puerto Rico. AFG also announced an increase in its earnings guidance. See attached Press Release.

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

    1. Financial statements of business acquired.  Not applicable.
    2. Pro forma financial information.  Not applicable.
    3. Exhibits

Exhibit No.

Description                                                                   

   

  99.1

Press release, dated December 19, 2005

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

   
   

Date:   December 21, 2005

 
 

By:     Karl J. Grafe

 

           Karl J. Grafe

 

           Vice President

 

EX-99 2 pr12-18a.htm AFG PRESS RELEASE American Financial Group's (AFG) 83% owned subsidiary, Great American Financial Resources, Inc

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

 

 

American Financial Group Announces

Agreement to Sell Puerto Rico Subsidiary, and

Increased Earnings Guidance

 

Cincinnati, Ohio - December 19, 2005 - American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE/NASDAQ: AFG) today announced that its 82% owned subsidiary, Great American Financial Resources, Inc. ("GAFRI"), has reached an agreement to sell Great American Life Assurance Company of Puerto Rico ("GA-PR") to Triple-S Management Corporation, also of Puerto Rico. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2006, subject to customary conditions including regulatory approvals. AFG does not expect to record a material after-tax gain or loss on the sale.

S. Craig Lindner, GAFRI's Chief Executive Officer and AFG Co-CEO, commented "Our investment in Great American Life of Puerto Rico has been very profitable and represents another example of our ability to create shareholder value through successful acquisitions. Since its acquisition in 1997 for approximately $50 million, we have recorded more than $81 million in GAAP earnings from GA-PR. We expect this transaction to be dilutive to AFG's annual operating earnings by about $0.07 to $0.10 per share until the proceeds are reinvested in an acquisition or otherwise deployed at appropriate returns. However, we believe the sale provides us with significant capital to invest in GAFRI's core U. S. operations and allows the company to focus on its expertise in the annuity, supplemental and life insurance operations. Each of these core lines of business is projected to produce operating earnings growth in 2006. Following the sale of Great American Life of Puerto Rico, we expect GAFRI to have approximately $200 million of excess capital available for acquisitions, organic growth, or other transactions designed to increase shareholder value. The financial strength and liquidity of both GAFRI and AFG have never been higher. GAFRI is currently pursuing several opportunities to grow its core lines of business organically and through acquisitions."

AFG also announced that it is pursuing the commutation of certain residual value exposures within its property and casualty insurance operations as part of a current strategic review of its residual value business. In addition, AFG expects greater than anticipated profits from its crop insurance businesses in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Carl H. Lindner III, AFG Co-CEO, stated "While our operating results are generally developing as expected for 2005, we are revising our earnings guidance to between $3.65 and $3.70 per share to reflect an adverse effect from the pending commutation and better than expected crop results." Management's previous guidance was between $3.55 and $3.70 per share. Guidance excludes the benefit from real estate and asset sales as well as the impact of a 2005 third quarter asbestos and environmental reserve charge and, as disclosed today by GAFRI in its news release, any potential write-offs of deferred acquisition costs.


 

Page Two

Looking forward, Mr. Lindner III stated, "We are revising our earnings guidance upward for 2006 to between $3.80 and $4.15 per share from $3.70 and $4.00 per share. This change is primarily due to an improved outlook for our Specialty Financial Group as a result of the commutation of the residual value business, partially offset by the potential earnings dilution from the GA-PR sale. We now expect the Specialty Financial Group to achieve underwriting profitability beginning in the first quarter of 2006."

About American Financial Group, Inc.

Through the operations of the Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of retirement annuities, supplemental and life insurance products.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on estimates, assumptions and projections. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: the Company's expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings and investment activities; recoverability of asset values; expected losses and the adequacy of reserves for asbestos, environmental pollution and mass tort claims; rate increases and improved loss experience.

Actual results could differ materially from those expected by AFG depending on certain factors including but not limited to: the unpredictability of possible future litigation if certain settlements do not become effective, changes in economic conditions including interest rates, performance of securities markets, the availability of capital, regulatory actions and changes in the legal environment affecting AFG or its customers, tax law changes, levels of natural catastrophes, terrorist activities, including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events, incidents of war and other major losses, development of insurance loss reserves and other reserves, particularly with respect to amounts associated with asbestos and environmental claims, availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations, trends in mortality and morbidity, competitive pressures, including the ability to obtain rate increases, and changes in debt and claims paying ratings.

 

 

Contact:

Anne N. Watson

Web Sites: www.afginc.com

 

Vice President-Investor Relations

www.GreatAmericanInsurance.com

 
 

(513) 579-6652

   
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