-----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, SG9KAWBmXkbd8wMl8Y3HBm6dqdFmOul4tEGX+jKCY0T5rzrld9uzL1Zly2Tar20i jLcmXa4ub0cTUOFNgHJ1VA== 0000944695-99-000015.txt : 19990624 0000944695-99-000015.hdr.sgml : 19990624 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000944695-99-000015 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19990526 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19990526 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000944695 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331] IRS NUMBER: 043263626 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-13754 FILM NUMBER: 99635278 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 440 LINCOLN ST CITY: WORCESTER STATE: MA ZIP: 01653 BUSINESS PHONE: 5088551000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 440 LINCOLN ST CITY: WORCESTER STATE: MA ZIP: 01653 8-K 1 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): May 26, 1999 ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-13754 04-3263626 (State or other (Commission File (I.R.S. Employer I.D. jurisdiction of Number) Number) Incorporation) 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653 (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (508) 855-1000 (Registrant's Telephone Number including area code) Page 1 of 5 pages Exhibit Index on page 4 Item 5. Other Events. On May 25, 1999, Allmerica Financial Corporation announced that a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit against the Company and three of its subsidiaries received final approval today in U.S. District Court in Worcester. The class action related to the sale of approximately 400,000 policies from 1978 to May 31, 1998. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated by reference herein. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE `SAFE HARBOR' PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 Forward-Looking Statements The Company wishes to caution readers that the following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect, the Company's actual results and could cause the Company's actual results for 1998 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. When used in the attached press release, words such as "believes", "anticipated", "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. See "Important Factors Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" filed as Exhibit 99-2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 1998.Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or projected, forecast, estimated or budgeted in such forward looking statements include among others, the following possibilities: (i)adverse catastrophe experience and severe weather; (ii) adverse loss development for events the Company insured in prior years or adverse trends in mortality and morbidity; (iii) heightened competition, including the intensification of price competition, the entry of new competitors, and the introduction of new products by new and existing competitors; (iv) adverse state and federal legislation or regulation, including decreases in rates, limitations on premium levels, increases in minimum capital and reserve requirements, benefit mandates, limitations on the ability to manage care and utilization, and tax treatment of insurance and annuity products; (v) changes in interest rates causing a reduction of investment income or in the market value of interest rate sensitive investments; (vi) failure to obtain new customers, retain existing customers or reductions in policies in force by existing customers; (vii) higher service, administrative, or general expense due to the need for additional advertising, marketing, administrative or management information systems expenditures; (viii) loss or retirement of key executives; (ix) increases in medical costs, including increases in utilization, costs of medical services, pharmaceuticals, durable medical equipment and other covered items; (x) termination of provider contracts or renegotiations at less cost-effective rates or terms of payment; (xi) changes in the Company's liquidity due to changes in asset and liability matching; (xii) restrictions on insurance underwriting, based on genetic testing and other criteria; (xiii) adverse changes in the ratings obtained from independent rating agencies, such as Moody's, Standard and Poor's, A.M. Best, and Duff & Phelps; (xiv) lower appreciation on and decline in value of managed investments, resulting in reduced variable products, assets and related fees; (xv) possible claims relating to sales practices for insurance products; (xvi) uncertainty related to the Year 2000 issue; (xvii) failure of a reinsurer of the Company's policies to pay its liabilities under reinsurance contracts; (xviii) earlier than expected withdrawals from the Company's general account annuities, GICs, and other insurance products; and (xix) changes in the mix of assets comprising the Company's investment portfolio and the fluctuation of the market value of such assets. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. Exhibit 99 Press Release dated May 25, 1999, announcing that Allmerica Financial Corporation received final approval of its settlement agreement related to a class action lawsuit. Page 2 of 5 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. ALLMERICA FINANCIAL CORPORATION By: __________________________ Edward J. Parry III Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer Date: May 26, 1999 Page 3 of 5 Exhibit Index Exhibit 99 Press Release dated May 25, 1999, announcing that Allmerica Financial Corporation received final approval of its settlement agreement related to a class action lawsuit. Page 4 of 5 EXHIBIT 99 COURT FINALIZES ITS PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IN ALLMERICA CASE WORCESTER, Mass., May 25, 1999 - Allmerica Financial Corporation (NYSE: AFC) announced that a settlement agreement in a class action lawsuit against the company and three of its subsidiaries received final approval today in U.S. District Court in Worcester. The class action related to the sale of approximately 400,000 policies from 1978 to May 31, 1998. Final approval of the settlement follows a preliminary approval by the court on December 4, 1998. Allmerica Financial is a diversified group of insurance and financial services companies headquartered in Worcester, Mass. The Allmerica companies rank among the country's 20 leading providers of variable life insurance products and the 30 largest providers of property and casualty insurance coverage. The lead company in the group, Allmerica Financial Corporation, is a Fortune 500 company. Contacts: Media: Investors: Michael F. Buckley Henry P. St. Cyr (508) 855-3099 (508) 855-2959 AF-3 5/99 Page 5 of 5 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----