CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
SC 13D/A, 1998-02-13
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION-CROPS
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<PAGE>

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                
                          SCHEDULE 13D
                                
            Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                
                       (Amendment No. 39)
                                
               Chiquita Brands International, Inc.
             ---------------------------------------
                        (Name of Issuer)
                                
              Common Capital Stock, $.33 Par Value
             ---------------------------------------
                 (Title of Class of Securities)
                                
                           170032-10-6
                       -------------------
                         (CUSIP Number)
                                
                     James C. Kennedy, Esq.
                     One East Fourth Street
                     Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
                         (513) 579-2538
     ------------------------------------------------------
          (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
        Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
                                
                           See Item 5
     ------------------------------------------------------
     (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule
13G  to  report  the  acquisition which is the  subject  of  this
Schedule  13D, and is filing this schedule because of  Rule  13d-
1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].

Check  the  following  box  if a fee  is  being  paid  with  this
statement [ ].

                        Page 1 of 16Pages

<PAGE>

CUSIP NO. 170032-10-6          13D             Page 2 of 16 Pages

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

          American Financial Group, Inc.               31-1544320
          American Financial Corporation               31-0624874

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*    (a) [X]
                                                          (b) [ ]
3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS*
          N/A

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
          Ohio corporations

7    NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
     WITH:
     SOLE VOTING POWER
           - - -

8    SHARED VOTING POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
           - - -

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*                                [ ]

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          37.4% (See Item 5)

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          HC
          HC
<PAGE>

CUSIP NO. 170032-10-6          13D             Page 3 of 16 Pages

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

          Carl H. Lindner

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*    (a) [X]
                                                          (b) [ ]
3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS*
          N/A

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          United States Citizen

7    NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
     WITH:
     SOLE VOTING POWER
          42,600 (See Item 5)

8    SHARED VOTING POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
          42,600

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
          24,038,895 (See Item 5)

12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*                                [ ]

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          37.5% (See Item 5)

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          IN
<PAGE>

CUSIP NO. 170032-10-6          13D             Page 4 of 16 Pages

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

          Carl H. Lindner III

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*    (a) [X]
                                                          (b) [ ]
3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS*
          N/A

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          United States Citizen

7    NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
     WITH:
     SOLE VOTING POWER
           - - -

8    SHARED VOTING POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
           - - -

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*                                [ ]

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          37.4% (See Item 5)

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          IN
<PAGE>

CUSIP NO. 170032-10-6          13D             Page 5 of 16 Pages

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

          S. Craig Lindner

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*    (a) [X]
                                                          (b) [ ]
3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS*
          N/A

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          United States Citizen

7    NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
     WITH:
     SOLE VOTING POWER
          ---

8    SHARED VOTING POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
          ---

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*                                [ ]

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          37.4% (See Item 5)

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          IN
<PAGE>

CUSIP NO. 170032-10-6          13D             Page 6 of 16 Pages

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

          Keith E. Lindner

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*    (a) [X]
                                                          (b) [ ]
3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS*
          N/A

5    CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          United States Citizen

7    NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
     WITH:
     SOLE VOTING POWER
          ---

8    SHARED VOTING POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
          ---

10    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
          23,996,295 (See Item 5)

12    CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
      EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*                                [ ]

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          37.4% (See Item 5)

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          IN
<PAGE>

Item 1.   Security and Issuer.

      This Amendment No. 39 to Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of
American  Financial Group, Inc. ("American Financial" or  "AFG"),
American Financial Corporation ("AFC"), and Carl H. Lindner, Carl
H.   Lindner   III,  S.  Craig  Lindner  and  Keith  E.   Lindner
(collectively,  the "Lindner Family") (AFG, AFC and  the  Lindner
Family  are collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons"),
to  amend  and update the Schedule 13D most recently  amended  on
November 12, 1997, relative to the common capital stock par value
$.33  per  share  ("Common  Stock")  issued  by  Chiquita  Brands
International, Inc. ("Chiquita").

      The principal executive offices of Chiquita are located  at
250  East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio  45202.  All capitalized
terms  not  otherwise  defined herein  shall  have  the  meanings
assigned  to  them  in the Schedule 13D, as amended.   Items  not
included  in  this amendment are either not amended  or  are  not
applicable.

      As  of  December 31, 1997, the Lindner Family  beneficially
owned  approximately 35% of the outstanding common stock  of  AFG
and  AFG  beneficially  owned all of  the  common  stock  of  AFC
(approximately   79%   of   AFC's   outstanding   voting   equity
securities).  Through their ownership of common stock of American
Financial and their positions as directors and executive officers
of  American Financial and AFC, the members of the Lindner Family
may  be deemed to be controlling persons with respect to American
Financial and AFC.





                              - 7 -

<PAGE>

Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

      As  of January 31, 1998, the Reporting Persons beneficially
owned   24,038,895  shares  (or  approximately   37.5%   of   the
outstanding shares) of Chiquita Common Stock as follows:

     Holder                   Number of Shares
     ---------------          ----------------
     Carl H. Lindner              42,600*
     AAL                          39,649
     ACC                       1,000,000
     ADSLIC                       29,065
     AEIC                         75,717
     AESIC                        63,705
     AESLIC                      959,447
     AFC                         884,470
     AGR                          25,574
     ANF                          41,217
     ASI                          73,134
     EAI                          27,281
     EPI                          37,238
     GAI                      13,270,221
     GALIC                     2,672,572
     INFIN                       400,000
     MCC                         563,755
     OSC                          58,561
     RICA                      1,236,844
     SHIC                          5,135
     SIC                       1,796,473
     TICO                         18,227
     TRANS                       118,010
     WIC                         600,000
                              ----------
               TOTAL          24,038,895
                              ==========

*Includes  12,600  shares  issuable pursuant  to  employee  stock
options exercisable within sixty days.




                              - 8 -

<PAGE>


AAL        =  American Alliance Insurance Company (a)
ACC        =  Atlanta Casualty Company (b)
ADSLIC     =  American Dynasty Surplus Lines Insurance Company (a)
AEIC       =  American Empire Insurance Company (a)
AESIC      =  Agricultural Excess and Surplus Insurance Company (a)
AESLIC     =  American Empire Surplus Lines Insurance Company (a)
AGR        =  Agricultural Insurance Company (a)
ANF        =  American National Fire Insurance Company (a)
ASI        =  American Spirit Insurance Company (a)
EAI        =  Eagle American Insurance Company (a)
EPI        =  Eden Park Insurance Company (a)
GAI        =  Great American Insurance Company ("GAI") (b)
GALIC      =  Great American Life Insurance Company (c)
INFIN      =  Infinity Insurance Company (b)
MCC        =  Mid-Continent Casualty Company (a)
OSC        =  Oklahoma Surety Company (a)
RICA       =  Republic Indemnity of American (b)
SHIC       =  Seven Hills Insurance Company (a)
SIC        =  Stonewall Insurance Company (a)
TICO       =  TICO Insurance Company (a)
TRANS      =  Transport Insurance Company (a)
WIC        =  Windsor Insurance Company (b)

(a)  100% owned subsidiaries of GAI
(b)  100% owned subsidiary of AFC
(c)  81% owned subsidiary of AFG


      Each company listed above shares with the Reporting Persons
the  power to vote or to direct the voting of, and the  power  to
dispose  or  to  direct the disposition of, the  Chiquita  Common
Stock held by such company.




                              - 9 -

<PAGE>

      At  January 31, 1998, certain officers and directors of AFG
and AFC beneficially owned shares of Chiquita Common Stock.

     Holder                   Number of Shares*

     Fred J. Runk                 133,367
     Thomas E. Mischell            67,430
     Robert C. Lintz               58,880

*  Includes options exercisable within 60 days.

      In  addition,  certain of these officers and directors  are
participants  in the Chiquita Savings and Investment  Plan.   The
shares held in the Plan are voted by the Plan trustees.

      Fred  J. Runk, Senior Vice President and Treasurer of  AFG,
purchased  80  shares  of  Chiquita Common  Stock  at  $16.01  on
December  31,  1997 and 239 shares of Chiquita  Common  Stock  at
$14.06  on  January 27, 1998.  As of January 31, 1998 and  within
the  past  60  days,  to the best knowledge  and  belief  of  the
undersigned  and other than as set forth herein, no  transactions
involving  Chiquita  Common Stock had  been  engaged  in  by  the
Reporting  Persons,  by  AFG's or AFC's  directors  or  executive
officers.


Item 7.   Material to be filed as Exhibits.

          (1)   Agreement required pursuant to Regulation Section
          240.13d-1(f)(1)   promulgated  under   the   Securities
          Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

          (2)   Powers  of  Attorney executed in connection  with
          filings  under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,  as
          amended.


                             - 10 -


<PAGE>


      After  reasonable  inquiry and to the  best  knowledge  and
belief  of  the  undersigned, it is  hereby  certified  that  the
information  set  forth in this statement is true,  complete  and
correct.


Dated:  February 13, 1998     AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

                              By: James C. Kennedy
                              ------------------------------------
                                  James C. Kennedy, Deputy General
                                   Counsel and Secretary

                              AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                              By: James C. Kennedy
                              ------------------------------------
                                  James C. Kennedy, Deputy General
                                   Counsel and Secretary


                                 James C. Kennedy
                              -------------------------------------
                                   James C. Kennedy, As
                                   Attorney-in-Fact for:
                                     Carl H. Lindner
                                     Carl H. Lindner III
                                     S. Craig Lindner
                                     Keith E. Lindner












                             - 11 -

<PAGE>
Exhibit 1
                            AGREEMENT

      This Agreement executed this 7th day of April, 1995, is  by
and between American Premier Group, Inc. ("American Premier") and
American  Financial Corporation ("AFC"), both Ohio  corporations,
located  at  One East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202,  and
Carl  H. Lindner ("CHL"), Carl H. Lindner III (CHL III), S. Craig
Lindner ("SCL") and Keith E. Lindner ("KEL"), each an individual,
the   business  address  of  each  is  One  East  Fourth  Street,
Cincinnati,  Ohio 45202.  CHL, CHL III, SCL and KEL are  referred
to herein collectively as the Lindner Family.

      WHEREAS, as of the date of this Agreement, American Premier
owns  100%  of  the  common stock of AFC and the  Lindner  Family
beneficially  owns  approximately  49.9%  of  American  Premier's
outstanding Common Stock and each member of the Lindner Family is
a director and executive officer of American Premier and AFC;

      WHEREAS,  the  Lindner  Family may  be  deemed  to  be  the
beneficial  owner of securities held by AFC and its  subsidiaries
pursuant  to Regulation Section 240.13d-3 promulgated  under  the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

      WHEREAS,  American  Premier and AFC and their  subsidiaries
from  time  to  time  must file statements  pursuant  to  certain
sections  of  the  Securities Exchange Act of 1934,  as  amended,
concerning   the  ownership  of  equity  securities   of   public
companies;

     NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that American Premier, AFC and
the  Lindner  Family, do hereby agree to file  jointly  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission any schedules or other filings
or  amendments thereto made by or on behalf of American  Premier,
AFC  or  any  of  their subsidiaries pursuant to  Section  13(d),
13(f),  13(g), and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of  1934,
as amended.
                    AMERICAN PREMIER GROUP, INC.
                    AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                    By: /s/ James E. Evans
                         James E. Evans
                         Vice President & General Counsel

                    /s/ Carl H. Lindner
                        Carl H. Lindner

                    /s/ Carl H. Lindner III
                        Carl H. Lindner III

                    /s/ S. Craig Lindner
                        S. Craig Lindner

                    /s/ Keith E. Lindner
                        Keith E. Lindner
                             - 12 -
<PAGE>

Exhibit 2

                        POWER OF ATTORNEY
                        -----------------
                                



      I,  Carl H. Lindner, do hereby appoint James C. Kennedy and
Karl J. Grafe, or either of them, as my true and lawful attorneys-
in-fact to sign on my behalf individually and as Chairman of  the
Board  of  Directors  and  Chief Executive  Officer  of  American
Financial  Group, Inc. or as a director or executive  officer  of
any  of  its  subsidiaries and to file with  the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission any schedules or other filings or amendments
thereto made by me or on behalf of American Financial Group, Inc.
or  any  of  its subsidiaries pursuant to Sections 13(d),  13(f),
13(g),  14(d)  and 16(a) of the Securities and  Exchange  Act  of
1934, as amended.

      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  at
Cincinnati, Ohio as of the 5th day of November, 1997.



                    /s/  Carl H. Lindner
                    -----------------------------------
                         Carl H. Lindner







                              - 13-

<PAGE>

                        POWER OF ATTORNEY
                        -----------------



      I,  Carl H. Lindner III, do hereby appoint James C. Kennedy
and  Karl  J.  Grafe, or either of them, as my  true  and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact  to sign on my behalf individually  and  as  an
officer  or director of American Financial Group, Inc.  or  as  a
director or executive officer of any of its subsidiaries  and  to
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any schedules or
other  filings or amendments thereto made by me or on  behalf  of
American  Financial  Group,  Inc.  or  any  of  its  subsidiaries
pursuant to Sections 13(d), 13(f), 13(g), 14(d) and 16(a) of  the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  at
Cincinnati, Ohio as of the 5th day of November, 1997.



                    /s/  Carl H. Lindner III
                    -----------------------------------------
                         Carl H. Lindner III







                              - 14-



<PAGE>

                        POWER OF ATTORNEY
                        -----------------
                                



      I, S. Craig Lindner, do hereby appoint James C. Kennedy and
Karl J. Grafe, or either of them, as my true and lawful attorneys-
in-fact  to  sign on my behalf individually and as an officer  or
director  of  American Financial Group, Inc. or as a director  or
executive officer of any of its subsidiaries and to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission any schedules or other filings
or  amendments  thereto  made by me  or  on  behalf  of  American
Financial  Group,  Inc.  or any of its subsidiaries  pursuant  to
Sections  13(d), 13(f), 13(g), 14(d) and 16(a) of the  Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  at
Cincinnati, Ohio as of the 5th day of November, 1997.



                    /s/  S. Craig Lindner
                    -----------------------------------------
                         S. Craig Lindner






                              - 15-




<PAGE>

                        POWER OF ATTORNEY
                        -----------------



      I, Keith E. Lindner, do hereby appoint James C. Kennedy and
Karl J. Grafe, or either of them, as my true and lawful attorneys-
in-fact  to  sign on my behalf individually and as an officer  or
director  of  American Financial Group, Inc. or as a director  or
executive officer of any of its subsidiaries and to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission any schedules or other filings
or  amendments  thereto  made by me  or  on  behalf  of  American
Financial  Group,  Inc.  or any of its subsidiaries  pursuant  to
Sections  13(d), 13(f), 13(g), 14(d) and 16(a) of the  Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  at
Cincinnati, Ohio as of the 5th day of November, 1997.



                    /s/  Keith E. Lindner
                    -----------------------------------------
                         Keith E. Lindner







                              - 16-







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