<PAGE> 1
Schedule 14A
Information Required in Proxy Statement
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (amendment no. )
Filed by the Registrant. ( x )
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant. ( )
Check the appropriate box:
( ) Preliminary Proxy Statement
( x ) Definitive Proxy Statement
( ) Definitive Additional Materials
( ) Soliciting Material Pursuant to '240.14a-11(c) or '240.14a-12
Cincinnati Financial Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement if other than Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
( X ) No fee required.
( ) Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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5) Total fee paid:
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( ) Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
( ) Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
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2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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3) Filing Party:
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4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE> 2
March 1, 2000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To the Shareholders of Cincinnati Financial Corporation:
You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of
Cincinnati Financial Corporation, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday,
April 1, 2000, at the Cincinnati Art Museum, located in Eden Park, Cincinnati,
Ohio, for the purposes of:
1. Electing five directors for terms of three years; and
2. Transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournment thereof.
Shareholders of record at the close of business on February 9, 2000, are
entitled to vote at the meeting.
Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, you can ensure that your shares
will be voted as you want by completing, signing and mailing the enclosed form
of proxy. Your interest and participation in the affairs of the Corporation are
appreciated.
/s/ Kenneth W. Stecher
Kenneth W. Stecher
Secretary
<PAGE> 3
PROXY STATEMENT
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496
GENERAL
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Cincinnati
Financial Corporation (the "Corporation") for use at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, April 1, 2000, at the Cincinnati
Art Museum, located in Eden Park, Cincinnati, Ohio. The proxy and this statement
are being distributed to shareholders on March 1, 2000. The Annual Report for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, is also enclosed. Any shareholder
giving a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is voted, by a later proxy
received by the Corporation or by giving notice of revocation to the Corporation
in writing or in open meeting or by voting the shares personally.
Only the holders of common stock of the Corporation of record at the close of
business on February 9, 2000, are entitled to vote at the meeting. Each share of
common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote. As of February 1, 2000,
there were 161,760,644 shares outstanding. A majority of such holders present in
person or by proxy is necessary for a quorum. The failure by a broker to return
a proxy card will result in the shares covered by the proxy not being counted
towards a quorum. As stated in the notice of meeting, an election will be held
to fill the five vacancies which occur on the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. A simple majority of votes cast is required to elect directors and
an abstention or broker non-vote will not be the equivalent of a negative vote.
Votes cast by proxy will be tabulated prior to the meeting by the holders of the
proxies. Inspectors of election, duly appointed by the presiding officer of the
meeting in accordance with the provisions of Ohio law, will count the votes and
announce the results at the meeting. The Proxy Committee reserves the right not
to vote any proxies which are altered in a manner not intended by the
instructions contained in the proxy.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table lists the persons who, to the best of the Corporation's
knowledge, are "beneficial owners" (as defined in Regulations of the SEC) of
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Corporation's common stock at
December 31, 1999.
Name and Address Of Shares Bene- Percent of
Beneficial Owner ficially Owned Common Stock
---------------- -------------- ------------
Fifth Third Bancorp 14,209,756 (1) 8.77
Fifth Third Center
Cincinnati, Ohio 45263
John J. Schiff, Jr. 11,231,146 6.93
Cincinnati Financial Corporation
P.O. Box 145496
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496
Thomas R. Schiff 9,591,749 5.92
John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 145496
Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-5496
Robert C. Schiff 9,362,680 5.78
250 Central Trust Building
309 Vine Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
1
<PAGE> 4
(1) On February 18, 2000, the Corporation received a copy of a Schedule 13G
filed by Fifth Third Bancorp with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
disclosing that on December 31, 1999, Fifth Third Bancorp and its nine
wholly-owned banking subsidiaries were the beneficial owners of 14,209,756
shares of the Corporation. Of those shares, it was reported that Fifth Third
Bancorp and its subsidiary banks had sole voting power over 13,851,546
shares, shared voting power over 358,210 shares, sole investment power over
7,528,274 shares and shared investment power over 426,414 shares. The
banking subsidiaries hold an additional 3,814,598 shares in fiduciary
accounts with regard to which they have neither voting nor investment
control and which are not deemed beneficially owned.
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Corporation is divided into three classes, and
each year the directors in one class are elected to serve terms of three years.
The term of office of five of the directors will expire at the Annual Meeting.
In order to fill the five vacancies, it is intended that votes will be cast to
elect William F. Bahl, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, Jackson H. Randolph, John J.
Schiff, Jr. and E. Anthony Woods as directors to serve for terms of three years,
or until their respective successors shall be elected. Each of these nominees is
presently serving as a director of the Corporation. The Board of Directors has
no reason to believe that any of the above-mentioned nominees will refuse or be
unable to accept the nomination. In the event, however, that any of the above
nominees should refuse or for any reason be unable to accept the nomination, it
is intended that the persons acting under the proxies will vote for the election
of such person or persons as the Board of Directors may recommend.
INFORMATION REGARDING NOMINEES, DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table provides information with respect to each nominee for
election to the office of director, each of the current directors whose term
does not expire at this time and each of the executive officers of the
Corporation.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Office, Principal Shares Percent Director or
Occupation During Past Beneficially Of Executive
Five Years & Other Owned As Of Common Officer
Name and Age Directorships February 1, 2000 Stock Since
------------ ---------------------- ---------------- ------- -------
Nominees For Director For Term Ending 2003
- ------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William F. Bahl (48) President, Bahl & Gaynor, Inc.
(investment advisors) 182,371 (9) 0.11 1995
Kenneth C. Lichtendahl (51) President, Chief Exec. Officer,
Tradewinds Beverage Company, Inc.;
President, Chief Executive Officer &
Director, Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing
Co., Inc. until 1999; Director,
Glenway Financial Corp.; 10,271 0.01 1988
Jackson H. Randolph (69) Chairman of the Board and Director
(Chief Exec. Officer until 1995),
CINergy Corp.; Director, The Union
Light, Heat, Power Co., and PNC
Financial Corp. 36,451 0.02 1986
John J. Schiff, Jr. (56) Chairman of the Board and President &
Chief Executive Officer (since April
1999), Cincinnati Financial Corp. and
Cincinnati Insurance Co.; Chief
Operating Officer, Cincinnati
Financial Corp. and Cincinnati Ins.
Co. 1998-1999; Director (agent until
December 1996), John J. & Thomas R.
Schiff & Co., Inc. (insurance agency);
Director, Fifth Third Bancorp,
Standard Register Co., and CINergy
Corp. 11,154,906 (1)(2)(3)(6)(11) 6.87 1968
E. Anthony Woods (59) President & Chief Exec. Officer,
Deaconess Associates, Inc.. (health
care) 6,000 -- 1998
Continuing Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2002
- -----------------------------------------------
James G. Miller (62) Chief Investment Officer, Senior Vice
President, Cincinnati Financial Corp.;
Chief Investment Officer, Senior Vice
President-- Investments, Cincinnati
Ins. Co., a subsidiary
of the Corporation 507,820 (6) 0.31 1996
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Thomas R. Schiff (52) Chairman of the Board, Chief Exec.
Officer & Agent (President until
December 1996), John J. & Thomas R.
Schiff & Co., Inc. (insurance agency) 9,593,017 (2)(3)(6)(11) 5.91 1975
Frank J. Schultheis (60) President, Director & Agent,
Schultheis Insurance Agency, Inc. 12,367 (1)(6) 0.01 1995
Larry R. Webb (44) President, Director & Agent, Webb
Insurance Agency, Inc. 112,388 0.07 1979
Continuing Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2001
- -----------------------------------------------
Michael Brown (64) President & Gen'l Mgr., Cincinnati
Bengals, Inc. (professional football
team) 204,516 (1) 0.13 1980
John E. Field (66) Vice Chairman & Agent, Wallace &
Turner, Inc. (insurance agency);
Director, Western Ohio Financial Corp. 184,863 (1)(7)(8) 0.11 1995
William R. Johnson (51) President & Chief Exec. Officer and
Director, H. J. Heinz Company;
Director, PNC Financial Corp. and
Amerada Hess Corporation 6,755 -- 1996
Robert C. Schiff (76) Chairman & Chief Exec. Officer, Schiff,
Kreidler-Shell, Inc. (insurance agency) 9,362,680 (4)(5) 5.77 1968
Alan R. Weiler (66) President, Chief Exec. Officer &
Agent, Archer-Meek-Weiler Agency, Inc.
(insurance agency); Director, Glimcher
Realty Trust; Director, Commerce
National Bank of Columbus 39,713 (1)(10) 0.02 1992
Non-director Executive Officers
- -------------------------------
James E. Benoski (62) Vice Chairman, Chief Insurance
Officer, Senior Vice President &
Director, Cincinnati Ins. Co., a
subsidiary of the Corporation 123,266(6) .08 1996
Larry R. Plum (53) Senior Vice President & Director,
Cincinnati Ins. Co., President &
Director, Cincinnati Casualty Co.,
subsidiaries of the Corporation 269,874 (6) 0.17 1988
Urban G. Neville (61) Senior Vice President, Cincinnati Ins.
Co., a subsidiary of the Corporation 121,116 (6) 0.07 1991
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. (47) Senior Vice President & Director,
Cincinnati Ins. Co., a subsidiary of
the Corporation 109,789 (6) 0.07 1995
Kenneth W. Stecher (53) Senior Vice President, Secretary &
Treasurer, Cincinnati Financial
Corporation 101,460 (6) .06 1999
Timothy L. Timmel (51) Senior Vice President & Director,
Cincinnati Ins. Co., a subsidiary of
the Corporation 126,826 (6) .08 1997
All Directors and Executive Officers As A Group
(20 Persons), Including Shares Listed Above 25,519,280 15.72
- ---------------
</TABLE>
1) Also a member of the Executive Committee of the Corporation.
2) Includes 404,601 shares owned of record by a trust and 1,403,732 shares
owned of record by the John J. and Mary R. Schiff Foundation, the trustees
of both of which are John J. Schiff, Jr., Thomas R. Schiff and Suzanne S.
Reid, who share voting and investment power equally.
3) Includes 97,221 shares owned of record by the John J. & Thomas R. Schiff &
Co., Inc. pension plan, the trustees of which are John J. Schiff, Jr. and
Thomas R. Schiff, who share voting and investment power; and 99,882 shares
owned by John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc., of which John J. Schiff,
Jr. and Thomas R. Schiff are principal owners.
3
<PAGE> 6
4) Includes 103,401 shares owned of record by the Schiff, Kreidler-Shell, Inc.
pension plan, of which Robert C. Schiff is a trustee; and 252,324 shares
owned of record by Schiff, Kreidler-Shell, Inc., which is owned by Robert
C. Schiff.
5) Includes 754,161 shares owned of record by a trust, the trustees of which
are Robert C. Schiff and Adele R. Schiff, who share voting and investment
power.
6) Includes shares available within 60 days from exercise of stock options or
conversion of debentures in the amount of 76,080 shares for Mr. Miller;
21,050 shares for Mr. Neville; 52,404 shares for Mr. Plum; 66,372 shares
for Mr. Scherer, Jr., 457,317 shares for Mr. J. Schiff, Jr.; 228,227 shares
for Mr. T. Schiff; 1,344 shares for Mr. Schultheis; 18,208 shares for Mr.
Benoski; 26,984 shares for Mr. Stecher; and 61,413 shares for Mr. Timmel.
7) Includes 4,370 shares owned of record by Wallace & Turner, Inc., of which
John E. Field is Vice Chairman.
8) Includes 34,905 shares owned of record by a trust, the trustee of which is
John E. Field, and 14,147 shares owned of record by a trust, the trustee of
which is Alice A. Field, wife of John E. Field; and 130,938 shares owned of
record by a limited partnership of which John E. Field is a general
partner.
9) Includes 1,245 shares owned of record by Bahl & Gaynor, Inc. of which
William F. Bahl is a principal owner.
10) Includes 6,722 shares available within 60 days from conversion of
debentures owned of record by Archer-Meek-Weiler Agency, Inc., of which
Alan R. Weiler is Chairman and a principal owner.
11) Includes 4,741,733 shares owned of record or which may be acquired through
conversion of debentures by the estate of John J. Schiff, the co-executors
of which are John J. Schiff, Jr. and Thomas R. Schiff, who share voting and
investment power equally.
Officers are elected at the annual meetings of the Boards of Directors of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries for terms of one year.
Each of the executive officers, each of the nominees and each of the directors
whose term does not expire has served as an officer or director continuously
since first elected to that position. John J. Schiff, Jr. and Thomas R. Schiff
are brothers and nephews of Robert C. Schiff.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Corporation met five times and the Executive
Committee of the Board met five times during the previous fiscal year. In
addition, the Board of Directors has standing Audit, Compensation and Nominating
Committees.
The Nominating Committee is composed of John J. Schiff, Jr., Michael Brown and
Jackson H. Randolph, and the members of that Committee met once during the last
year. The Nominating Committee recommends qualified candidates for election as
officers and directors of the Corporation and its subsidiary companies,
including the slate of directors which the Board proposes for election by the
shareholders at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders wishing to suggest candidates
for director for consideration by the Nominating Committee should write to the
Secretary of the Corporation, giving the candidate's name, biographical data and
qualifications. Such information must be received by November 30 of each year to
be considered for the Annual Meeting held in the following year.
The Audit Committee is composed of Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, Jackson H. Randolph
and E. Anthony Woods and the members of that Committee met two times during the
last year. The functions of the Committee include but are not limited to the
following: recommendation to the full Board as to engagement or discharge of
independent auditors; reviewing with independent auditors the plan and results
of the audit engagement; reviewing the scope and results of the Corporation's
internal auditing procedures; and reviewing the adequacy of the Corporation's
system of internal accounting controls.
The Compensation Committee is composed of Michael Brown, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl
and William F. Bahl, and the members of that Committee met two times during the
last fiscal year. The function of the Committee is to set compensation for the
principal executive officers and the internal auditor of the Corporation and to
administer the Corporation's stock option and performance-based compensation
plans.
All directors attended at least 75% of the Board and Committee meetings they
were required to attend.
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Directors, officers and 10% shareholders of the Corporation are required to
report their beneficial ownership of the Corporation's stock according to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act of 1934.
Based on a review of copies of those reports, we believe that all directors,
officers and 10 percent of shareholders complied with the Section 16 reporting
requirements.
4
<PAGE> 7
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Nonemployee directors of the Corporation were paid a fee of $4,500 per meeting
for attendance at directors' meetings and $1,500 per meeting for attendance at
Committee meetings of the Board and the Corporation's subsidiaries, with fees
for all meetings in any one day not to exceed $6,000. They were also reimbursed
for actual travel expenses incurred in attending meetings.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION SUMMARY
The following table summarizes the compensation of the Corporation's Chief
Executive Officer and the four most highly compensated executive officers for
each of the Corporation's last three years.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary Compensation Table (1)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual Long-Term
Compensation Compensation
------------------------------------------ -----------------------
Name and Options
Principal Year Salary Bonus (# Awarded
Position ($) ($) Shares)(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert B. Morgan 1999 642,459 -0- 105,000
President & Chief 1998 831,009 527,351 10,000
Executive Officer 105,000
until April 3, 1999 1997 728,713 527,933 90,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
John J. Schiff, Jr. 1999 505,498 -0- 105,000
Chairman, 1998 469,494 199,606 10,000
Chief Operating Officer until April 3, 1999 105,000
President & Chief Executive Officer 1997 411,700 230,074 90,000
after April 3, 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
James G. Miller 1999 257,252 197,689 15,000
Chief Investment Officer, 1998 221,925 164,818 10,000
Senior Vice President, 15,000
Assistant Secretary & 15,000
Assistant Treasurer 1997 193,909 181,845 7,500
7,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
Urban G. Neville 1999 268,805 115,549 15,000
Senior Vice President 1998 231,966 96,368 3,000
The Cincinnati Insurance Company 6,000
1997 198,158 106,550 3,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
Larry R. Plum 1999 270,274 77,149 15,000
President 1998 248,264 64,368 10,000
The Cincinnati Casualty Company 15,000
1997 238,734 71,350 3,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. 1999 236,252 120,349 15,000
Senior Vice President 1998 201,925 100,368 10,000
The Cincinnati Insurance Company 15,000
1997 161,925 110,950 7,500
5,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ -----------------------
</TABLE>
1) Pursuant to SEC rules, the column "Other Annual Compensation" was omitted
because, in all cases, the amounts were less than the minimum required to
be reported.
2) Options granted prior to April 24, 1998 have been adjusted to reflect the
three-for-one stock split paid on May 15, 1998.
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<PAGE> 8
STOCK OPTION PLANS
The following table contains information concerning grants of options to
purchase the Corporation's common stock which were made to each of the named
executive officers in 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
Annual Rates of
% of Total Stock Price
Options Appreciation for
Options Granted to Exercise Option Term (3)
Granted Employees Price Expiration -------------------------------
Name (# Shares) (1) in 1999 $/Sh. (2) Date 5% ($) 10% ($)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert B. Morgan 105,000 10.38% 33.75 01/27/09 2,229,019 5,648,738
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John J. Schiff, Jr. 105,000 10.38% 33.75 01/27/09 2,229,019 5,648,738
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James G. Miller 15,000 1.48% 33.75 01/27/09 318,431 806,963
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urban G. Neville 15,000 1.48% 33.75 01/27/09 318,431 806,963
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry R. Plum 15,000 1.48% 33.75 01/27/09 318,431 806,963
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. 15,000 1.48% 33.75 01/27/09 318,431 806,963
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
1) Options were granted January 27, 1999. One third of each option becomes
exercisable on the first anniversary of grant in 2000, an additional one
third on the second anniversary in 2001 and the remainder on the third
anniversary in 2002, so long as employment continues with the Corporation or
its subsidiaries. There are no stock appreciation rights, performance units
or other instruments granted in tandem with these options, nor are there any
re-load provisions, tax reimbursement features or performance-based
conditions to exercisability.
2) The option exercise price is 100% of the Nasdaq National Market's closing
price for CINF on the day prior to date of grant.
3) The assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation are prescribed in the
proxy rules of the SEC and should not be construed as a forecast of future
appreciation in the market price for the Corporation's common stock.
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<PAGE> 9
The following table contains information for each of the named executive
officers concerning the exercise of options during 1999 and the value of
unexercised options at year-end for the Corporation's common stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and FY-End Option Values
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value of
Number of Unexercised
Unexercised In-the-Money
Options at Options at
Shares 12/31/99 12/31/99
Acquired on Value Exercisable (E)/ Exercisable (E)/
Exercise Realized Unexercisable (U) Unexercisable (U)
Name (# Shares) ($) (# Shares) ($)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert B. Morgan 49,614 1,530,592 E 526,877 E 6,999,904
U 211,667 U 245,625
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John J. Schiff, Jr. -0- -0- E 342,323 E 3,648,500
U 211,667 U 245,625
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James G. Miller 11,580 176,432 E 49,358 E 363,048
U 46,667 U 42,288
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urban G. Neville 6,500 116,047 E 13,050 E 103,489
U 22,000 U 8,728
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Larry R. Plum -0- -0- E 40,060 E 419,659
U 32,667 U 8,728
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob F. Scherer, Jr. -0- -0- E 51,372 E 561,013
U 36,667 U 42,288
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
PENSION PLAN
The following table sets forth the estimated annual benefits payable from the
Corporation's qualified noncontributory pension plan under various assumptions
as to the employee's compensation level and years of service.
Qualified Pension Plan Table
----------------------------
Years of Service on December 31, 1999
-------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Average
ANNUAL EARNINGS 15 20 25 30 35 40
--------------- -- -- -- -- -- --
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$200,000 $20,520 $29,640 $38,760 $47,880 $57,000 $66,120
150,000 20,250 29,250 38,250 47,250 56,250 65,250
100,000 13,500 19,500 25,500 31,500 37,500 43,500
75,000 10,125 14,625 19,125 23,625 28,125 32,625
50,000 6,750 9,750 12,750 15,750 18,750 21,750
</TABLE>
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<PAGE> 10
All of the persons listed in the Summary Compensation Table are participants in
the plan. For purposes of computing retirement benefits under the Corporation's
pension plan, for the individuals listed in the Summary Compensation Table,
earnings for any given year as defined by the plan is the base rate of salary in
effect on the last day of the plan year, subject to maximum recognizable
compensation under Sec. 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code. This differs
from Salary as shown in the Summary Compensation Table. The annual earnings for
1999 qualifying under the plan for each individual is $160,000. The years of
service as of December 31, 1999, under the plan for those individuals are as
follows: James G. Miller, 33 years; Robert B. Morgan, 34 years; Urban G.
Neville, 31 years; Larry R. Plum, 12 years; Jacob F. Scherer, Jr., 16 years; and
John J. Schiff, Jr., 13 years.
The normal retirement pension is computed as a single life annuity and is the
sum of .009 per year of the employee's highest five-year average earnings for
the first 15 years of service plus .012 per year of the employee's highest
five-year average earnings for years 16 through 40. Vesting is 100% after five
years of service and there are no deductions for Social Security or other offset
amounts.
SUPPLEMENTAL RETIREMENT PLAN
Effective January 1, 1989, the Corporation adopted a nonqualified,
noncontributory Supplemental Retirement Plan for the benefit of thirty-seven
higher paid employees whose projected retirement pension was reduced as a result
of the amendment to the Corporation's qualified pension plan. The Supplemental
Retirement Plan was designed to replace the pension benefit lost by those
employees.
The following table illustrates the retirement income payable under the
Supplemental Retirement Plan computed as a single life annuity on retirement at
age 65 under various assumptions as to the employee's highest five-year average
annual earnings and years of service.
Supplemental Retirement Plan
----------------------------
Years of Service on December 31, 1999
-------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Average
Annual Earnings 15 25 35 45
--------------- -- -- -- --
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$900,000 $138,326 $237,202 $331,162 $434,242
850,000 134,720 221,577 309,287 406,117
750,000 115,970 190,326 265,537 349,867
650,000 97,220 159,077 221,787 293,617
550,000 78,470 127,827 178,037 237,367
450,000 59,720 96,577 134,287 181,117
350,000 40,970 65,327 90,537 124,867
250,000 22,220 34,077 46,787 68,617
150,000 3,740 3,337 3,787 13,237
100,000 1,115 462 662 6,862
</TABLE>
This plan is integrated with Social Security and a normal retirement pension is
the sum of .0075 of the employee's highest five-year average annual earnings
below the integration level plus .0125 of the employee's highest five-year
average annual earnings in excess of the integration level, multiplied by the
number of years of service. The integration level is equal to the average of the
integration levels for the period of the employee's employment, using wages
paid, with a maximum of $6,000 for years beginning prior to 1976 and wages
subject to Social Security tax for all years after 1975. The retirement benefit
paid pursuant to the Supplemental Plan is the difference between the amount
computed by the above formula and the amount payable from the Qualified Plan.
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<PAGE> 11
All of the persons listed in the Summary Compensation Table, except Jacob F.
Scherer, Jr., are participants in the plan. For purposes of determining benefits
under the Supplemental Retirement Plan, annual earnings is defined as the base
rate of salary in effect on the last day of the plan year. This differs from
salary under the Summary Compensation Table. The annual earnings for 1999 as
defined in the plan and the years of service as of December 31, 1999, for those
individuals are as follows: James G. Miller, $269,502 and 33 years; Robert B.
Morgan, $424,317 and 34 years; Urban G. Neville, $281,604 and 31 years; Larry R.
Plum, $283,144 and 12 years; and John J. Schiff, Jr., $486,776 and 13 years.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The members of the Corporation's Compensation Committee for 1999 were Michael
Brown, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl and William F. Bahl. Lawrence H. Rogers, II, a
former director, served as an advisor to the Committee.
During 1999, Michael Brown was the President and General Manager and a principal
shareholder of Cincinnati Bengals, Inc., and John J. Schiff, Jr., Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and Chairman of the
Corporation's Board of Directors, was a Director of Cincinnati Bengals, Inc.
During the year, the Corporation and its subsidiaries purchased football
tickets, club seat and luxury box licenses from Cincinnati Bengals, Inc. for
payments totaling $100,135. Mr. Schiff also served on the Compensation Committee
of the Board of Directors of CINergy Corp., and Jackson H. Randolph, Chairman of
CINergy Corp., served on the Corporation's Board of Directors.
John J. Schiff, Jr. was also a director and one of the principal owners of John
J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc., an insurance agency which represents a number
of insurance companies, including the Corporation's insurance affiliates. Thomas
R. Schiff, also a director of the Corporation, was the Chairman of the Board and
one of the principal owners of John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc. During the
year ended December 31, 1999, John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc. paid
$96,958 in rent to CFC Investment Company, one of the Corporation's subsidiary
companies, and the Corporation's insurance affiliates paid John J. & Thomas R.
Schiff & Co., Inc. commissions of $3,036,789. Those commissions were paid at the
same commission rates, pursuant to the same agent's contract with the
Corporation's insurance affiliates, as paid to other agents of those companies.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Corporation's Compensation Committee is charged with the duty of determining
the compensation of the Corporation's internal auditor and its principal
executive officers. It also administers and grants options under the
Corporation's stock option plans and administers the Corporation's Incentive
Compensation Plan, including granting performance bonuses to senior management.
It is the goal of the Committee to:
- - Attract and retain quality executives;
- - Provide compensation competitive with other similar companies;
- - Reinforce the attainment of the Corporation's performance objectives;
- - Align the interests of executives with those of the Corporation's
shareholders; and
- - Encourage executives to acquire and retain the Corporation's stock.
A portion of total compensation is paid in the form of an annual salary in an
amount which the Committee feels sufficient to be competitive with salaries paid
by other property and casualty and multiline insurance companies which
constitute the Corporation's most direct competitors for executive talent.
Executive salaries are reviewed annually. In determining salary levels, the
Committee considers changes in general economic conditions, including inflation
and changes in compensation paid by the Corporation's peers. The Committee also
seeks input from the Corporation's chief executive officer in setting salaries
for executives other than the CEO.
The 1999 salaries contained in the Summary Compensation Table were established
in October of 1998. Available information at that time regarding compensation
paid by the Corporation's peers was for the calendar year 1997. The 1998 salary
of Mr. Morgan, who was at that time the Corporation's President and Chief
Executive Officer, was approximately equal to the mean for 1997 CEO salaries of
the Corporation's peers. Mr. Morgan's 1998 salary was increased by 4% which the
Committee felt would fix his 1999 base salary at the average for 1998 CEO
salaries paid by the Corporation's peers.
A second component of compensation is paid in the form of a bonus, which is
influenced by the Corporation's performance during the year. Performance is
measured not only by profit, which is directly affected by the impact of weather
on the profits of the Corporation's property and casualty insurance
subsidiaries, but by a review of such factors as stock price, premium volume,
total expenses, combined ratios of the insurance subsidiaries and ratings issued
by national rating agencies, including A. M. Best Company. Bonuses are
established at the end of each year but do not reflect the application of any
precise formula to the performance indicators listed.
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<PAGE> 12
Because of the impact that weather has on the financial indicators reviewed, the
Committee does not feel that the application of a mechanical system of
determining bonuses is appropriate; therefore, the setting of bonuses is a
subjective process, not totally dependent on the objective criteria listed.
The Committee met in October of 1999 to determine year-end bonuses for
executives, including Mr. John J. Schiff, Jr., who became President and Chief
Executive Officer in April of 1999. The Committee reviewed an analysis of the
total salary and bonus paid to executives from 1995 through 1998. The Committee
also reviewed corporate performance for the first three quarters of 1999. The
efforts of management and the leadership of Mr. Schiff resulted in the continued
growth of 6.5% in gross premium volume for the first nine months. Total expenses
other than claims were steady, with employee efficiency remaining constant.
Losses due to catastrophic storms decreased the combined loss and expense ratio
of the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries to 101.7% for the first
three quarters. Net income increased by approximately 22%. The ratings from A.M.
Best Company for all insurance subsidiaries were renewed at their then current
levels. In spite of those results, the market price of the Corporation's stock
had declined 15.5% during the first three quarters. While the Committee felt
that these results merited a significant bonus, at his request, no bonus was
paid to Mr. Schiff.
The third component of compensation is awarded through the grant of stock
options. The Compensation Committee considers options to be an integral part of
total compensation. In addition, options are the primary mechanism for
encouraging the ownership of the Corporation's shares, aligning the interests of
executives with those of shareholders and for providing long-term rewards to
employees for overall corporate performance. In granting options to executives,
it is the Committee's intent not only to reward executives for services to the
Corporation but to provide incentive for individual option holders to remain in
the employ of the Corporation. Executives are reviewed for stock option grants
each year. In determining the options to be granted to executives, the Committee
reviews grants by the Corporation's peers with the objective of providing the
opportunity for competitive long-term compensation.
During 1999, Mr. Morgan and Mr. Schiff each received options for 105,000 shares
of the Corporation's stock. The value of those grants, employing SEC evaluation
procedures, was approximately 91% of the mean value of grants made by the
Corporation's competitors to their chief executive officers during 1998.
The Internal Revenue Service has limited the deductibility of compensation paid
to the Corporation's chief executive officer and the four other most highly
compensated executive officers to one million dollars each, unless that
compensation is paid pursuant to a performance-based compensation plan meeting
IRS requirements. Income resulting from the grant of bonuses under the
Corporation's Incentive Compensation Plan and the exercise of options under the
Corporation's Stock Option Plans qualifies as performance-based compensation
under these requirements.
Submitted by the Compensation Committee
Michael Brown, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl and William F. Bahl
10
<PAGE> 13
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
The graph below summarizes the cumulative total shareholder return on the
Corporation's common stock compared with the Standard & Poor's 500 Index and the
Standard & Poor's Property-Casualty Index.
Total Return Analysis
CFC vs. Market Indices
December 31 Totals
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
CFC Index 136 145 318 253 220
S&P Index 137 168 224 287 347
S&P P&C Index 135 164 234 213 155
OTHER TRANSACTIONS
John E. Field is a director of the Corporation, The Cincinnati Insurance
Company, The Cincinnati Indemnity Company and a principal owner and Vice
Chairman of Wallace & Turner, Inc., an insurance agency which represents a
number of insurance companies, including the Corporation's insurance affiliates.
During the year ending December 31, 1999, the Corporation's insurance affiliates
paid Wallace & Turner, Inc., commissions of $1,010,669. Wallace & Turner, Inc.
also participated in the Premium Incentive Loan Program made available to agents
of the Corporation's insurance affiliates. During that period, Wallace & Turner,
Inc. had a secured loan from CFC Investment Company, one of the Corporation's
affiliated companies, in the principal amount of $124,854 at 8.75% interest. At
December 31, 1999, the principal balance of the loan had been reduced to
$109,282.
Robert C. Schiff is a director of the Corporation, The Cincinnati Insurance
Company, The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, The Cincinnati Indemnity Company
and The Cincinnati Casualty Company. Mr. Schiff is Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and principal owner of Schiff, Kreidler-Shell, Inc., an insurance agency
which represents a number of insurance companies, including the Corporation's
insurance affiliates. During the year ending December 31, 1999, the
Corporation's insurance affiliates paid Schiff, Kreidler-Shell, Inc.,
commissions of $3,021,129.
John J. Schiff, Jr. is Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer
and a director of the Corporation, The Cincinnati Insurance Company and The
Cincinnati Indemnity Company; and Chief Executive Officer and a director of The
Cincinnati Casualty Company, The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company and CFC
Investment Company. Thomas R. Schiff is a director of the Corporation, The
Cincinnati Insurance Company, The Cincinnati Casualty Company, The Cincinnati
Indemnity Company and The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company. John J. Schiff, Jr.
and Thomas R. Schiff are principal owners and Thomas R. Schiff is Chairman of
the Board and a director of John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc., an insurance
agency which represents a number of insurance companies, including the
Corporation's insurance affiliates. During the year ended December 31, 1999, the
Corporation's insurance affiliates paid John J. & Thomas R. Schiff & Co., Inc.,
commissions of $3,036,789.
Larry R. Webb is a director of the Corporation, The Cincinnati Insurance Company
and The Cincinnati Indemnity Company; and President and a principal owner of
Webb Insurance Agency, Inc., an insurance agency which represents a number of
insurance companies including the Corporation's insurance affiliates. During the
year ended December 31, 1999, the Corporation's insurance affiliates paid Webb
Insurance Agency, Inc., commissions of $809,829.
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<PAGE> 14
Alan R. Weiler is a director of the Corporation, The Cincinnati Insurance
Company and The Cincinnati Indemnity Company; and President and a principal
owner of Archer-Meek-Weiler Agency, Inc., an insurance agency which represents a
number of insurance companies, including the Corporation's insurance affiliates.
During the year ended December 31, 1999, the Corporation's insurance affiliates
paid Archer-Meek-Weiler Agency, Inc., commissions of $1,914,869.
Frank J. Schultheis is a director of the Corporation, The Cincinnati Insurance
Company and The Cincinnati Indemnity Company; and a principal owner and
President of Schultheis Insurance Agency, Inc.; and a principal owner and
Secretary of Hoosierland Insurance Agency, Inc. and Salem Insurance Agency,
Inc., all of which are insurance agencies which represent a number of insurance
companies including the Corporation's insurance affiliates. During the year
ended December 31, 1999, the Corporation's insurance affiliates paid those
agencies $2,251,701, $254,747 and $688,934, respectively.
The Schultheis Insurance Agency, Inc. had four automobile finance leases with
CFC Investment Company in an aggregate principal amount of $124,510 at an
interest rate of 9.5%. The principal balance of these finance leases had been
reduced to $109,710 at December 31, 1999.
In addition, on January 25, 1995, Salem Insurance Agency, Inc. purchased the
assets of an insurance agency owned by CFC Investment Company, one of the
Corporation's affiliated companies, for consideration totalling $2,290,730. On
December 20, 1995, a partnership in which Mr. Schultheis is a 25% partner,
purchased the real estate occupied by the agency for the amount of $300,000. The
selling price for the agency assets was determined by management of the
Corporation, based upon an appraisal of the asset by a professional appraiser.
The price for the real estate was determined through an appraisal obtained from
an independent source. As part of the payment of the purchase price for the
assets of the insurance agency, Salem Insurance Agency, Inc. executed two
promissory notes to CFC Investment Company totalling $1,850,000 and which bear
interest at the prime rate of interest. By December 31, 1999, the principal
balance of those notes had been reduced to $1,000,000. The agency also had an
automobile finance lease with CFC Investment Company in the principal amount of
$21,835 at 9% interest which had been reduced to $20,905 by December 31, 1999.
The Hoosierland Insurance Agency, Inc. also participated in the Premium
Incentive Loan Program and had a secured loan from CFC Investment Company in the
principal amount of $109,000 at 9% interest. At December 31, 1999, the principal
balance of the loan had been reduced to $105,135.
The foregoing agencies are paid at the same commission rates and have the same
agent's contract with the Corporation's insurance affiliates as other agents of
those companies in similar geographic areas. Each of the aforementioned agencies
has employees and solicitors who are not directors or executive officers of the
Corporation's insurance affiliates. Participation in the Premium Incentive Loan
Program is offered as a production incentive and automobile finance leases are
made in the ordinary course of business to credit-worthy agencies of the
Corporation's insurance affiliates. The loans and leases to the foregoing
agencies were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and
collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans and leases to
other agencies.
INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As has been the Corporation's practice, independent auditors for the current
year will not be selected by the Board of Directors prior to the Annual Meeting
of Shareholders.
Representatives from Deloitte & Touche LLP, which served as the Corporation's
independent auditors for the last calendar year, will be present at the meeting
and will be afforded the opportunity to make any statements they wish and to
answer appropriate questions.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Corporation. The Corporation
has requested banks, brokerage houses, other custodians, nominees and
fiduciaries to forward copies of the proxy material to beneficial owners of
shares or to request authority for the execution of proxies; and the Corporation
has agreed to reimburse the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection therewith. In addition to solicitations by mail, regular employees of
the Corporation may, without extra remuneration, solicit proxies personally or
by telephone.
12
<PAGE> 15
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
The Corporation has not received any shareholder proposals to be presented at
the 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Any shareholder who wishes a proposal
to be considered for presentation at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
must submit the proposal to Cincinnati Financial Corporation, P.O. Box 145496,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45250-5496, on or before November 1, 2000.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management does not know of any other matter or business which may be brought
before the meeting; but if any other matter or business comes before the
meeting, it is intended that a vote will be cast pursuant to the accompanying
proxy in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons voting the same.
/s/ Kenneth W. Stecher
Kenneth W. Stecher
Secretary
March 1, 2000
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<PAGE> 16
EXHIBIT A
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
STOCK OPTION PLAN NO. VI
1. PURPOSE. Stock Option Plan No. VI (the "Plan") and the options
authorized hereunder are intended as an employment incentive, to retain in the
employ of Cincinnati Financial Corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as
"CFC") and its subsidiaries (as defined in subsection 425(f) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), persons of training, experience, and ability,
to attract new employees whose services are considered unusually valuable, to
encourage a sense of proprietorship of such persons, and to stimulate the active
interest of such persons in the development and financial success of CFC and its
subsidiaries.
2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. The aggregate number of shares of the
common stock of CFC which may be issued under all options to be granted pursuant
to this Plan shall not exceed 5,000,000 shares of common stock with the par
value of $2.00 per share. Conditioned on approval by the shareholders of CFC,
the options granted under this Plan may be Incentive Stock Options (as defined
in Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) or
non-qualified options (any option which is not an Incentive Stock Option).
3. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN. A Committee (or Subcommittee) of at least
two disinterested, outside (as hereinafter defined) members of the Board of
Directors of CFC, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Board of
Directors (hereinafter called the "Committee") shall supervise the
administration of the Plan. Any questions of interpretation of the Plan or of
any options issued under it shall be determined by the Committee and such
determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons. The Committee shall
have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options or nonqualified options to
those employees it deems appropriate. Those options shall contain such terms as
the Committee determines, subject to the limitations and requirements provided
herein. For purposes of determining who may serve as a member of the Committee,
"disinterested" shall mean a person who is not authorized to receive and who has
not, during the one year prior to service on the Committee, been granted an
option under the Plan or under any other stock option plan of CFC, and "outside"
shall mean a director who is not a current or former employee or officer of the
Company and who does not receive any "remuneration" as that term is defined in
the regulations under Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m), in any capacity,
other than as a director.
4. ELIGIBILITY FOR OPTIONS. All full-time employees of CFC and its
subsidiaries shall be eligible to receive options and the fact that an employee
may be a director of CFC or of a subsidiary of CFC shall not disqualify an
employee from participating in this Plan. No employee shall receive options on
more than 300,000 shares over any three-year period.
5. AMENDMENTS TO PLAN. For the purpose of meeting any changes in
pertinent law or governmental regulations, or for any other purpose which at the
time may be permitted by law, the Board of Directors, from time-to-time, may
amend or revise the terms of this Plan and the Committee may amend or revise the
terms of any outstanding option, retroactive to the date of granting of the
Option, except that the number of shares to be issued shall not increase, other
than to make appropriate adjustments in the number of shares that may be issued
pursuant to the Plan, and appropriate adjustments in the number and price of
shares covered by outstanding options hereunder, to give effect to any stock
splits, or stock dividends, or other relevant changes in capitalization.
6. TERMS OF OPTIONS. The option price per share for options granted
hereunder shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value of the shares on
the date said option was granted. The aggregate fair market value (at date of
grant of the option) of the stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
are first exercisable by any employee in any calendar year under this Plan and
any other plans of CFC and its subsidiaries shall not exceed $100,000. All
options granted hereunder shall expire not more than ten years from the date
granted.
Except in cases of retirement or death of the option holder, options may not be
exercisable earlier than as provided in the following schedule:
(1) After the expiration of one year of continuous employment
immediately following the date of grant, the Option shall be exercisable to the
extent of one-third of the number of shares originally subject to the Option;
<PAGE> 17
PROXY
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45250-5496
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The undersigned hereby appoints John J. Schiff, Jr., Kenneth W. Stecher, and
James G. Miller, or any one of them, with power of substitution, as Proxies, and
hereby authorizes them to represent and to vote, as designated below, all the
shares of Cincinnati Financial Corporation held of record on February 9, 2000,
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 1, 2000, or any
adjournment thereof.
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FOR all nominees listed WITHHOLD AUTHORITY
below (except as specified to vote for all nominees
to the contrary below) listed below
William F. Bahl, Kenneth C. Lichtendahl, Jackson H. Randolph, John J. Schiff,
Jr., and E. Anthony Woods.
Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, write
that nominee's name on the space provided below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. At their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other
business as may come before the meeting.
This Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed herein by
the undersigned shareholder.
IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR ALL NOMINEES LISTED.
Please sign exactly as your name appears. When shares are held by joint tenants,
both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, or
guardian, please give your full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in
full corporate name by president or other authorized officer. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by authorized person.
Please mark, sign, date, and return the Proxy promptly using the enclosed
envelope.
- ---------------------------------- -------------------------------
- ---------------------, 2000
Signature Signature if held jointly DATED
* Number of shares includes those held in your name directly and those in your
dividend reinvestment account, if applicable.
