PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP INC
SC 13D/A, 2000-06-09
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                          SCHEDULE 13D
                         (Rule 13d-101)

   INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO
   13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO 13d-2(a)

                       (Amendment No. 27)

                 PROVIDENT FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
      -----------------------------------------------------
                        (Name of Issuer)

                   Common Stock, No Par Value
            ----------------------------------------
                 (Title of Class of Securities)

                           743866 10 5
                      ---------------------
                         (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 [ ].

                       Page 1 of 15 Pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 743866 10 5           13D        Page 2 of 15 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
          5,500,979

9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
           - - -

10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          6,489,179

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
          6,489,179

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

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          13.0%

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          HC
          HC
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 743866 10 5           13D        Page 3 of 15 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
              1,912,898

8      SHARED VOTING POWER
              5,500,979

9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
              1,912,898

10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
              6,489,179

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
             8,402,077

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

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
            16.9%

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
           IN
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 743866 10 5          13D        Page 4 of 15 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
           2,609,807

8      SHARED VOTING POWER
           5,500,979

9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
           2,609,807

10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
           6,489,179

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
           9,098,986

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

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          18.3%

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          IN
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 743866 10 5        13D      Page 5 of 15 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
          3,249,506

8      SHARED VOTING POWER
          5,500,979

9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
          3,249,506

10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
         6,489,179

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
         9,738,685

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

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          19.6%

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
         IN
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 743866 10 5          13D        Page 6 of 15 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
          3,635,108

8      SHARED VOTING POWER
          5,500,979

9      SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
          3,635,108

10     SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
          6,489,179

11    AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING
      PERSON
         10,124,287

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

13    PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
          20.4%

14    TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
          IN
<PAGE>

Item 1.  Security and Issuer.

      This Amendment No. 27 to Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of
American  Financial Group, Inc. ("American Financial" or  "AFG"),
and  Carl H. Lindner ("CHL"), Carl H. Lindner III ("CHLIII"),  S.
Craig Lindner ("SCL") and Keith E. Lindner ("KEL") (collectively,
the   "Lindner   Family")  (AFG  and  the  Lindner   Family   are
collectively  referred to as the "Reporting Persons"),  to  amend
and  update  the Schedule 13D most recently amended on  March  8,
2000,  relative to the no par value Common Stock ("Common Stock")
issued by Provident Financial Group, Inc. (referred to herein  as
"Provident").

      The principal executive offices of Provident are located at
One East Fourth 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 May 31, 2000, the Lindner Family beneficially  owned
approximately 37.3% of the outstanding voting stock of AFG.


Item 4.  Purpose of the Transaction.

     The Reporting Persons consider their beneficial ownership of
Provident equity securities as an investment which they  continue
to  evaluate. Although they have no present plans to do so,  from
time  to  time  the  Reporting  Persons  may  acquire  additional
Provident  equity securities or dispose of some  or  all  of  the
Provident equity securities which they beneficially own.

      Except  as set forth in this Item 4, the Reporting  Persons
presently  have  no plans or proposals that relate  to  or  would
result in any of the actions specified in clauses (a) through (j)
of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.










                              - 7 -


<PAGE>

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

     As of June 8, 2000, the Reporting Persons beneficially owned
17,896,498 shares (or approximately 36.0% of the outstanding
shares) of Provident Common Stock as follows:

          Holder                        Number of Shares
          -------------                 ----------------

          GAI                            5,210,271
          GALIC (a)                        724,503
          LOYAL (b)                        494,100
          ACC                               36,104
          Infinity                          24,201
          Carl H. Lindner (c)            1,912,898
          Carl H. Lindner III (d)        2,609,807
          S. Craig Lindner (e)           3,249,506
          Keith E. Lindner (f)           3,635,108
                                         ---------
          Total:                        17,896,498

GAI    = Great American Insurance Company, 100% owned by AFC
GALIC  = Great American Life Insurance Company, 83% owned by AFG
LOYAL   =  Loyal American Life Insurance Company, 100%  owned  by
GALIC
ACC    = Atlanta Casualty Company, 100% owned by AFG
Infinity  = Infinity Insurance Company, 100% owned by AFG

(a)  Includes   494,100  shares  issuable  upon   conversion   of
     Provident D Preferred.
(b)  Represents  shares issuable upon conversion of  Provident  D
     Preferred.
(c)  Includes  1,652,038  shares held by his spouse  and  146,760
     shares  held  by a foundation over which he has  voting  and
     investment power.  Does not include the shares beneficially owned
     by subsidiaries of AFG, of which he is Chairman of the Board and
     Chief  Executive Officer and with whom he shares voting  and
     investment power.
(d)  Includes  5,135 shares held by his spouse, individually  and
     as trustee, and 2,229 shares held in a charitable foundation over
     which  he has voting and investment power.  Does not include
     shares beneficially owned by AFG.  See Note (c).
(e)  Includes 352,131 shares held by his spouse individually  and
     as custodian for their minor children and 56,726 shares held by a
     charitable foundation over which he has voting and investment
     power.  Does not include shares beneficially owned by AFG. See
     Note (c).
(f)  Includes 169,311 shares held by his spouse, individually and
     as trustee, and 14,408 shares held as custodian for his minor
     children.  Also includes 367,731 shares which are held in trusts
     for the benefit of the minor children of Carl H. Lindner III and
     S.  Craig Lindner, over which shares he has sole voting  and
     investment power but no pecuniary interest.  Does not include
     shares beneficially owned by AFG. See Note (c).



                              - 8 -
<PAGE>



      Certain  executive officers and directors of  AFG  and  AFC
beneficially own shares of Provident Common Stock as follows:

          Holder                   Number of Shares
          -------------------      ----------------
          James E. Evans               20,000
          Fred J. Runk                148,735
          Thomas E. Mischell           40,684
          William R. Martin               707
          Thomas E. Emmerich            2,625
          Thomas M. Hunt                3,000

      As of June 8, 2000, and within the prior 60-day period, the
Reporting  Persons  have entered into the following  transactions
involving  Provident  Common Stock.  On June  8,  2000,  a  trust
expired  pursuant to its terms and distributed 393,750 shares  to
each  of  Carl  H.  Lindner III, S. Craig Lindner  and  Keith  E.
Lindner, the beneficiaries of the trust.  On April 9, 2000,  Carl
H.  Lindner's  spouse  received a trust distribution  of  174,118
shares.   On  April 19, 2000 and May 31, 2000, S.  Craig  Lindner
gifed  100 and 1,000 shares respectively.  On May 16, 2000, Keith
E. Lindner gifted 555 shares of Provident.  To the best knowledge
and belief of the undersigned, other than as described herein, no
transactions  involving  Provident  equity  securities  had  been
engaged  in  by  the  Reporting Persons or by  the  directors  or
executive officers of AFG or AFC.



                              - 9 -

<PAGE>

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships
           With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

      AFG  has agreed with the Board of Governors of the  Federal
Reserve System that any shares of Provident Common Stock received
upon  conversion of Provident D Preferred (taken with  all  other
Provident  voting  shares  beneficially  owned  by  AFG),   which
represent  more  than  4.9%  of  Provident's  outstanding  voting
shares,  will be voted in strict proportion with all other  (non-
AFG held) outstanding Provident voting shares.

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.

           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:  June 9, 2000

                              AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

                              By: Karl J. Grafe
                              -----------------------------------
-----
                                Asst.  General  Counsel  &  Asst.
Secretary



                              Karl J. Grafe
                              -----------------------------------
-----
                              Karl J. Grafe,
                                   As Attorney-in-Fact for:
                                   Carl H. Lindner
                                   Carl H. Lindner III
                                   S. Craig Lindner
                                   Keith E. Lindner



G:\USERS\LEGAL\13D\PROV27.DOC
                             - 10 -
<PAGE>

Exhibit 1

                            AGREEMENT

      This Agreement executed this 7th day of April, 1995, is  by
and  among 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 American Premier, AFC  and
their  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
                          Vice President & General Counsel

                         /s/ Carl H. Lindner
                         /s/ Carl H. Lindner III
                         /s/ S. Craig Lindner
                         /s/ Keith E. Lindner


                             - 11 -
<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







                             - 12 -

<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







                             - 13 -



<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






                             - 14 -




<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







                             - 15 -







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