<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
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
/ / Preliminary proxy statement
/ X / Definitive proxy statement
/ / Definitive additional materials
/ / Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c)
or Rule 14A-12
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
James C. Kennedy
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
/ x / $125 per Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-
6(i)(1), or 14a-6(j)(2).
/ / 500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to
Exchange Act rule 14a-6(i)(3).
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-
6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction
applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transactions
applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act rule 0-11: ftnt. 1
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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.
<PAGE>
(1) Amount previously paid:
(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
(3) Filing party:
(4) Date filed:
1. Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how
it was determined.
AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To be Held on June 4, 1996
To our Shareholders:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of American Financial Corporation
will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 1996, at 11:00 a.m., at The Cincinnatian
Hotel, 601 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. The purposes of the meeting are:
1. To establish the number of directors at eight;
2. To elect eight directors; and
3. To transact such other business as may properly
come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
Only holders of American Financial Corporation voting securities of
record at the close of business on April 15, 1996 are entitled to receive
notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
You are invited to be present at the meeting so that you can vote in
person. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please date, sign and
return the accompanying proxy form in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope.
If you do attend the meeting, you may either vote by proxy or revoke your
proxy and vote in person. You may also revoke your proxy at any time before
the vote is taken at the meeting by written revocation or by submitting a
later-dated proxy form.
Sincerely,
Carl H. Lindner
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Cincinnati, Ohio
April 22, 1996
AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors of American Financial Corporation ("AFC"
or the "Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the
"Meeting") to be held on Tuesday, June 4, 1996; at 11:00 a.m. and any
adjournment thereof. The approximate mailing date of this Proxy Statement and
accompanying proxy form is April 22, 1996. At the Meeting, shareholders will
be asked to establish the number of directors at eight, to elect directors
and to transact such other business as may properly come before the Meeting
or any adjournment thereof.
VOTING AT THE MEETING
Record Date; Shares Outstanding
As of April 15, 1996, the record date for determining shareholders
entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting (the "Record Date"), the
Company had outstanding two classes of voting securities, its common stock,
no par value ("Common Stock") and its voting preferred stock consisting of
its Series F Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series F Preferred") and its
Series G Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series G Preferred"). At the
Record Date, 53,000,000 shares of Common Stock were outstanding, all of which
were held by American Financial Group, Inc. ("AFG"), 13,744,754 shares of
Series F Preferred were outstanding and 364,158 shares of Series G Preferred
were outstanding (collectively, the Series F Preferred and Series G Preferred
are referred to herein as the "Preferred Stock"). Each share of outstanding
Common Stock and Preferred Stock is entitled to one vote on each matter to be
presented at the Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no
effect on any item voted on at the Meeting.
Proxies
If a choice is specified on a properly executed proxy form, the shares
will be voted accordingly. If a proxy form is signed without a preference
indicated, those shares will be voted "FOR" the election of the eight
nominees proposed by the Board of Directors. If any other matters properly
come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof, each properly executed
proxy form will be voted in the discretion of the proxies named therein.
Shareholders may vote in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Proxies given
may be revoked at any time by filing with the Company either a written
revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or shareholders may
appear at the Meeting and vote in person.
Solicitation of proxies is being made by management at the direction
of the Company's Board of Directors, without additional compensation, through
the mail, in person, by facsimile or by telephone. The cost will be borne by
the Company. In addition, the Company will request brokers and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxy soliciting material to
the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons, and the
Company will reimburse them for their expenses in so doing.
<PAGE>
Adjournment and Other Matters
Approval of a motion for adjournment or other matters brought before
the Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares voting
at the Meeting. Management knows of no other matters to be presented at the
Meeting other than those stated in the Notice.
Principal Shareholders
The following shareholders are the only persons known by the Company
to own beneficially 5% or more of its outstanding voting securities as of
March 31, 1996:
Name and Address
of Amount and Nature of Percent of
Beneficial Owner Voting Securities Held Voting Securities
- ------------------------------ ----------------------- -----------------
American Financial Group, Inc. (a) 53,000,000 (b) 79.0%
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
The American Financial Corporation 8,661,273 (c) 12.9%
Employee Stock Ownership/
Retirement Plan
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(a) Carl H. Lindner, Carl H. Lindner III, S. Craig Lindner, Keith
E. Lindner and trusts for their benefit (collectively the "Lindner Family")
are the beneficial owners of approximately 44% of the voting stock of AFG.
AFG and the Lindner Family may be deemed to be controlling persons of the
Company.
(b) Shares of Common Stock.
(c) Includes 8,584,373 shares of Series F Preferred and 76,900
shares of Series G Preferred. This represented approximately 62.5% and 21.1%
of these Series, respectively, at March 31, 1996.
PROPOSAL NO. 1 Establish the Number of Directors at Eight
At the Meeting, Management will ask shareholders to establish the
number of directors at eight. The number of directors currently is eight.
A majority of the shares voted at the Meeting is required for this action.
PROPOSAL NO. 2 Election of Directors
The Board of Directors has nominated eight directors to hold office
until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are
elected and qualified. If any of the nominees should become unable to serve
as a director, the proxies will be voted for any substitute nominee
designated by the Board of Directors but, in any event, no proxy may be voted
for more than eight nominees. The eight nominees who receive the greatest
number of votes will be elected.
<PAGE>
The nominees for election to the Board of Directors are CARL H.
LINDNER, CARL H. LINDNER III, S. CRAIG LINDNER, KEITH E. LINDNER, THEODORE H.
EMMERICH, JAMES E. EVANS, THOMAS M. HUNT, and WILLIAM R. MARTIN. All of
these nominees were elected directors at the Company's last Annual Meeting of
Shareholders held on May 19, 1995. Alfred W. Martinelli, formerly a director
of the Company, resigned on March 20, 1996. See "Management" below for
information concerning the background, securities holdings, remuneration and
certain other matters relating to the nominees. Each of the nominees for
director is also a director of AFG and American Premier Underwriters, Inc.
("APU").
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR Proposals
1 and 2.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MANAGEMENT
The directors and executive officers of the Company
are:
Director or
Age* Position Executive Since
--- -------------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Carl H. Lindner 76 Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer 1959
Carl H. Lindner III 42 Co-President and a Director 1980
S. Craig Lindner 41 Co-President and a Director 1979
Keith E. Lindner 36 Co-President and a Director 1981
Theodore H. Emmerich 69 Director 1995
James E. Evans 50 Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and a Director 1976
Thomas M. Hunt 72 Director 1995
William R. Martin 67 Director 1995
Neil M. Hahl 47 Senior Vice President 1996
Sandra W. Heimann 53 Vice President 1984
Robert C. Lintz 62 Vice President 1979
Thomas E. Mischell 48 Senior Vice President - Taxes 1985
Fred J. Runk 53 Senior Vice President and Treasurer 1978
*As of March 31, 1996
</TABLE>
Carl H. Lindner (Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer;
Chairman of the Executive Committee) Mr. Lindner has been Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company for more than five years.
He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of American Annuity Group, Inc.
("AAG"), American Financial Enterprises, Inc. ("AFEI"), AFG, APU, Chiquita
Brands International, Inc. ("Chiquita") and Citicasters Inc. Mr. Lindner is
the father of Carl H. Lindner III, S. Craig Lindner and Keith E. Lindner.
<PAGE>
Carl H. Lindner III (Co-President; Member of the Executive Committee)
Mr. Lindner has been Co-President since March 1996. Prior thereto, he had
served as President of the Company since April 1995. During the last five
years, Mr. Lindner has been President of Great American Insurance Company
("Great American"), the principal property and casualty insurance subsidiary
of AFC. He is also a director of AFG and APU.
S. Craig Lindner (Co-President; Member of the Executive Committee)
Since March 1993, Mr. Lindner has been President of AAG, an 81%-owned
subsidiary of AFC that markets tax-deferred annuities principally to
employees of educational institutions. Mr. Lindner was elected President of
American Money Management Corporation ("AMMC"), a subsidiary of AFC which
provides investment services for the Company and its affiliated companies, in
January 1996. For over five years prior thereto, he had served as Senior
Executive Vice President of AMMC. Mr. Lindner is a director of AAG, AFG, APU
and Citicasters.
Keith E. Lindner (Co-President; Member of the Executive Committee)
During the last five years, Mr. Lindner has been President and Chief
Operating Officer and a director of Chiquita, a worldwide marketer and
producer of bananas and other food products in which the Company has a 38%
ownership interest. He is also a director of AFG and APU.
Theodore H. Emmerich (Chairman of the Audit Committee; Member of the
Compensation Committee) Until his retirement in 1986, Mr. Emmerich was
managing partner of the Cincinnati office of the independent accounting firm
of Ernst & Whinney. He is also a director of AFG, APU, Citicasters, Carillon
Fund, Inc., Carillon Investment Trust, Gradison Custodial Trust, Gradison-
McDonald Municipal Custodial Trust, Gradison-McDonald Cash Reserve Trust and
Summit Investment Trust.
James E. Evans (Senior Vice President and General Counsel) Mr. Evans
was elected Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company in March
1996. During the past five years, Mr. Evans has been Vice President and
General Counsel of AFC. Mr. Evans is also a director of AFEI, AFG, APU and
Citicasters.
Thomas M. Hunt (Member of the Compensation Committee) During the past
five years, Mr. Hunt has been Chairman of the Board of Hunt Petroleum
Corporation, an oil and gas production company. He is also a director of AFG
and APU.
William R. Martin (Chairman of the Compensation Committee; Member of
the Audit Committee) During the past five years, Mr. Martin has been Chairman
of the Board (since 1993) and President and Chief Executive Officer (until
1993) of MB Computing, Inc., a computer software and services company. Mr.
Martin is also a director of AAG, AFG and APU.
Neil M. Hahl was elected Senior Vice President of the Company in March
1996. For more than five years previously, he has served as a Senior Vice
President of APU.
<PAGE>
Sandra W. Heimann has served as a Vice President of the Company for
more than five years.
Robert C. Lintz has served as a Vice President of the Company for more
than five years.
Thomas E. Mischell was elected Senior Vice President - Taxes of the
Company in September 1995. Prior thereto, he had served as a Vice President
of AFC for over five years.
Fred J. Runk was elected Senior Vice President and Treasurer of the
Company in March 1996. Prior thereto, he had served as a Vice President and
Treasurer of the Company for more than five years.
In December 1993, Great American Communications Company, which
subsequently changed its name to Citicasters Inc., completed a comprehensive
financial restructuring that included a prepackaged plan of reorganization
filed in November of that year under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Carl
H. Lindner, Fred J. Runk and Thomas E. Mischell had been executive officers
of that company within two years before its bankruptcy reorganization.
Securities Ownership
The following table sets forth information, as of March 31, 1996,
concerning the beneficial ownership of equity securities of the Company and
its subsidiaries by each director, nominee for director, the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table (see "Compensation" below)
and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Such information is
based on data furnished by the persons named. Except as set forth in the
following table, no director or executive officer beneficially owned 1% or
more of any class of equity security of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries outstanding at March 31, 1996.
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership(a)
--------------------------------------------
Name of Shares of Common Shares of Preferred
Beneficial Owner Stock Held Stock Held
- ----------------------- ------------------- --------------------
Carl H. Lindner 53,000,000 (b) ---
Carl H. Lindner III 53,000,000 (b) ---
S. Craig Lindner 53,000,000 (b) ---
Keith E. Lindner 53,000,000 (b) ---
Theodore H. Emmerich --- ---
James E. Evans --- ---
Thomas M. Hunt --- ---
William R. Martin --- 38,508
- ------------------
All directors and 53,000,000 (b) 55,824
executive
officers as a group
<PAGE>
(a) Does not include the following ownership interests in
subsidiaries of the Company: Messrs. Emmerich, Evans, Hunt and S.C. Lindner
and all directors and executive officers as a group beneficially own 561,
19,638, 382, 45,308 and 76,588 shares, respectively, of the common stock of
American Annuity Group, Inc.; and Mr. Evans and all directors and executive
officers as a group beneficially own 116,000 and 409,120 shares,
respectively, of the common stock of American Financial Enterprises, Inc.
Also excludes the following interests in Chiquita and Citicasters: Messrs.
Emmerich, C.H. Lindner, K.E. Lindner, S.C. Lindner and all directors and
executive officers as a group beneficially own 200, 41,081, 39,806, 42,645
and 216,969 shares, respectively, of the common stock of Chiquita; and
Messrs. Emmerich, Evans, C.H. Lindner, S.C. Lindner and all directors and
executive officers as a group beneficially own 7,425, 94,500, 3,432,666,
85,500 and 3,783,717 shares, respectively, of the common stock of
Citicasters. This table also excludes the ownership of shares of common
stock of AFG, the Company's parent, as follows: Carl H. Lindner - 6,793,221;
Carl H. Lindner III - 4,449,233; S. Craig Lindner - 4,027,871; Keith E.
Lindner - 6,212,775; Mr. Emmerich - 16,219, Mr. Evans - 42,846; Mr. Hunt -
15,819; Mr. Martin - 6,000; and all directors and executive officers as a
group - 22,158,730.
(b) Represents shares held by AFG. The Lindner Family may be
deemed to be the beneficial owners of these shares, which represent 100% of
the Common Stock outstanding.
COMPENSATION
The following table summarizes the aggregate cash compensation for
1995, 1994 and 1993 of the Company's Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer and its four other most highly compensated executive
officers during 1995 (such five executive officers being herein referred to
as the "Named Executive Officers"). Such compensation includes amounts paid
by AFC, APU and their subsidiaries and certain affiliates during 1995.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation
------------------------------------
Other All
Annual Long-Term Other
Compen- Incentive Compen-
Name and sation Payouts sation
Principal Position (a) Year Salary Bonus (b) (c) (d)
- ----------------------- ---- ------ ----- ------- ---------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Carl H. Lindner 1995 $1,364,000 $ 900,000 $254,000 --- $169,000
Chairman of the Board and 1994 1,129,000 2,050,000 143,000 --- 108,000
Chief Executive Officer 1993 1,649,000 2,083,000 200,000 --- 159,000
Carl H. Lindner III 1995 $1,076,000 $ 900,000 $223,000 $5,950,000 $103,000
Co-President 1994 529,000 784,000 13,000 --- 82,000
1993 1,071,000 1,389,000 165,000 --- 128,000
S. Craig Lindner 1995 $1,121,000 $ 900,000 $142,000 $5,950,000 $83,000
Co-President(e) 1994 1,570,000 1,350,000 106,000 --- 95,000
1993 1,535,000 2,200,000 74,000 --- 88,000
Keith E. Lindner 1995 $ 935,000 $ 900,000 --- $5,950,000 $30,000
Co-President
James E. Evans 1995 $ 948,000 $ 850,000 $10,000 $1,480,000 $58,000
Senior Vice President and 1994 1,019,000 850,000 1,000 --- 50,000
General Counsel 1993 960,000 400,000 3,000 --- 64,000
</TABLE>
(a) Carl H. Lindner III, S. Craig Lindner and Keith E. Lindner
were elected Co-Presidents of the Company in March 1996. Prior thereto, they
have served as President, Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively.
Keith E. Lindner became an executive officer of the Company in April 1995.
(b) This column includes the amounts in the following table for
(i) personal homeowners and automobile insurance coverage, and (ii) the use
of corporate aircraft, housing and value of automobiles. AFC's business
requires AFC executives to travel frequently. To assure security and to
minimize travel time, AFC requires or encourages certain executives and their
families to utilize corporate aircraft for personal travel. AFC does not
incur significant additional cost for such personal use and reports such use
as additional compensation for income tax purposes.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Year Insurance Aircraft & Automobiles
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Carl H. Lindner 1995 $18,000 $236,000
1994 10,000 133,000
1993 10,000 190,000
Carl H. Lindner III 1995 7,000 206,000
1994 3,000 ---
1993 15,000 150,000
S. Craig Lindner 1995 20,000 122,000
1994 --- 106,000
1993 19,000 55,000
Keith E. Lindner 1995 --- ---
James E. Evans 1995 --- 10,000
1994 --- 1,000
1993 --- 3,000
</TABLE>
(c) Represents payments made in April 1995 upon termination of the
AFC Book Value Incentive Plan which was established in 1980 (the "Incentive
Plan"). The Incentive Plan generally provided for the granting of Units
measured by an adjusted book value of AFC Common Stock at the time of grant
with distributions based on the increase in the value of the Units to the
date of exercise to the extent vested. The Incentive Plan, which was
approximately 95% vested immediately prior to the April 1995 mergers
involving the Company, AFG and APU (the "Mergers"), terminated upon
completion of the Mergers, at which time full vesting was granted.
(d) This column includes amounts for (i) Employee Stock
Ownership/Retirement Plan contributions, (ii) directors' fees, (iii) savings
and retirement plans of subsidiaries and (iv) term life insurance premiums.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Savings
and
Directors' Retirement Term
Name Year Esorp Fees Plans Life
- ------------------- ----- -------- --------- ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Carl H. Lindner 1995 $30,000 $25,000 $ 74,000 $40,000
1994 30,000 19,000 49,000 10,000
1993 30,000 19,000 100,000 10,000
Carl H. Lindner III 1995 30,000 --- 67,000 6,000
1994 30,000 --- 51,000 1,000
1993 30,000 --- 97,000 1,000
S. Craig Lindner 1995 30,000 51,000 --- 2,000
1994 30,000 64,000 --- 1,000
1993 30,000 57,000 --- 1,000
Keith E. Lindner 1995 30,000 --- --- ---
James E. Evans 1995 30,000 25,000 --- 3,000
1994 30,000 19,000 --- 1,000
1993 30,000 33,000 --- 1,000
</TABLE>
(e) Does not include 75,000 AAG stock appreciation rights granted
and cancelled in 1995.
Stock Options
No Company stock options were granted to, or exercised by, the Named
Executive Officers during 1995. Certain executive officers of AFC also serve
as executive officers of AFC subsidiaries and may be granted employee stock
options or SARS by such subsidiaries.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1995 AND 1995 YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Securities
Shares Underlying Value of Unexercised
Acquired on Value Unexercised Options In-the-Money Options
Exercise Realized at Year End at Year End (a)
-------------------- --------------------
Name Company (# of Shares) Exer- UnExer- Exer- Unexer
-cisable cisable cisable cisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
James E. Evans AFEI --- --- 115,000 --- $93,750 ---
S. Craig Lindner AAG 85,000 $52,675 --- --- --- ---
</TABLE>
(a) The value of in-the-money options is calculated
based on the closing market price on December 29, 1995 (the
last trading day of the year) for AFEI's common stock of
$21.75 per share.
<PAGE>
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of three
directors, none of whom is an employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries. This Committee also acts as the Compensation Committee for
AFG. The Committee's functions include reviewing, and making recommendations
to the Board of Directors with respect to, the compensation of the senior
executive officers of AFG and the Company. As a result, much of the
discussion contained in this report relates to service provided to, and
compensation paid by, AFG and its subsidiaries, including the Company.
During 1995, the Board generally delegated to the Chief Executive
Officer the authority to approve the compensation of the executive officers
other than himself and the Co-Presidents (formerly the President and the Vice
Chairmen).
Compensation of Executive Officers. The Company's compensation system
for executive officers of the Company has two principal components: annual
base salary and annual incentive bonuses.
Before making decisions regarding salaries and bonuses for senior
executives, the Committee's practice is first to discuss such matters with
the CEO and the Co-Presidents and then to solicit their recommendations based
on such discussions. After the Committee has deliberated and formed its
recommendations, its practice is to present them to the full Board for its
approval. The compensation decisions discussed in this report conformed with
recommendations made by the Committee, the CEO, and the Co-Presidents.
After completion of the Mergers involving the Company, AFG and APU, a
new Compensation Committee consisting entirely of independent directors was
formed and, in addition to the functions described above, was charged with
developing an annual bonus system for the CEO, the Co-Presidents, and the
senior executive officers that would make a substantial portion of their
total compensation dependent on the performance of AFG and the Company,
including achievement of pre-established earnings per share targets relating
to AFG common stock.
Shortly after the Mergers, the AFG Board acted on the recommendation
of the Committee and fixed the annual base salary for the CEO and the Co-
Presidents at $900,000. For each such executive officer, the AFG salary is
to be reduced by the amount of salary and director fee payments received from
affiliates of AFG, including the Company. The amounts shown in the Summary
Compensation Table are greater than $900,000 as a result of the higher
salaries for the CEO and the Co-Presidents prior to the Mergers.
In August 1995, the Committee determined that it was not practical to
implement an annual bonus system for 1995 based on objective criteria. This
determination was made primarily because the Mergers were not consummated
until the second quarter of 1995. Although the debt reductions and operating
<PAGE>
efficiencies resulting from the Mergers were effected as soon as practicable
after the Mergers, much of the savings from such measures could not be
realized until later in 1995. The Committee determined that 1995 bonuses
paid to senior executives (including the CEO and the Co-Presidents) would be
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
Annual Base Salaries. The Committee's policy is to approve annual
base salaries and salary increases for senior executive officers that are
appropriate, in the Committee's subjective judgment, for their respective
positions and levels of responsibilities. In determining the salary to be
paid by the Company, the Committee considered the fact that the senior
executive officers also had significant responsibilities as executive
officers of AFG and its other subsidiaries.
Annual Bonuses. The bonuses awarded to senior executive officers for
1995 were based on assessments of both Company performance and individual
performance during 1995. After reviewing a number of subjective factors, the
Committee made a qualitative judgment that the Company's performance and
accomplishments in 1995 warranted bonuses in the amounts awarded. In
determining the 1995 bonuses, the Committee did not specifically relate any
measure of performance or any accomplishment to the level of bonuses awarded.
Nor did the Committee assign relative weight to any specific performance
factor. Rather, the Committee members made the subjective determination that
the bonuses awarded were appropriate in view of their qualitative judgment
that 1995 represented a year of significant achievement for the Company that
was in large part attributable to the talents and efforts of its senior
executives.
In determining the annual base salaries and 1995 bonuses to the CEO
and the Co-Presidents, the Committee was fully aware that the 1995 cash
compensation received by such executives is substantially less than the
aggregate annual compensation they have received from AFC, its subsidiaries
and affiliates in recent years. Ultimately, the annual base salary and
bonuses received by the CEO and the Co-Presidents from the Company and its
affiliates are expected to be virtually identical because the Committee views
them as working as a management team whose skills and areas of expertise
complement each other.
Compensation of the CEO.. Shortly after the Mergers were completed,
the annual bonus awarded for 1995 to the CEO was determined on the basis
described above under "Compensation of Executive Officers - Annual Bonuses."
More specifically, the Committee evaluated the Company's achievements, both
financial and non-financial, for the year and the CEO's contributions to
those achievements. The Committee concluded that 1995 was a year of
significant achievement for the Company. The Committee based this conclusion
primarily on the fact that since the Mergers, the Company has been able to
significantly improve its balance sheet through the retirement of relatively
expensive AFC debt with borrowings from APU. The Committee concluded that
the CEO's leadership contributed substantially to these accomplishments and
made the qualitative judgment that the size of bonus awarded to the CEO for
1995 was warranted.
<PAGE>
Members of the Compensation Committee: William R. Martin, Chairman
Theodore H. Emmerich
Thomas H. Hunt
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Since the consummation of the merger on April 3, 1995, the
compensation of AFC's Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers
has been determined by a Compensation Committee of independent directors.
Prior to the merger, AFC's Board of Directors determined the compensation of
the Chief Executive Officer. The Executive Committee of AFC's Board
determined the compensation of the other executive officers. Compensation
received by the Chief Executive Officer from the public reporting
subsidiaries has been determined by the boards of directors or committees of
such companies. Until the merger, the members of AFC's Board were Carl H.
Lindner, Ronald F. Walker, and Robert D. Lindner and Richard E. Lindner. The
first three served as the Executive Committee and were executive officers of
AFC. Carl H. Lindner and Ronald F. Walker are also members of the Boards of
Directors of certain of AFC's subsidiaries. Mr. Walker is a member of the
Compensation/Stock Option Committee of AFEI and a similar committee of AAG.
Carl H. Lindner is a member of the boards of directors and an executive
officer of AFEI and AAG. Certain directors have had transactions with AFC
and its subsidiaries which are described under "Certain Transactions."
Performance Graph
No performance graph is included as the Company's Common Stock is not
publicly traded.
Certain Transactions
AFC and its subsidiaries have had and expect to continue to have
transactions with AFC's directors, officers, principal shareholders, their
affiliates and members of their families. AFC believes that the financial
terms of these transactions are comparable to those that would apply to
unrelated parties and are fair to AFC.
On April 3, 1995, the Mergers were consummated, resulting in AFG
acquiring all of the common stock of AFC and APU. In connection with the
Mergers, (i) each then outstanding share of APU common stock was converted
into one share of common stock of AFG, (ii) each then outstanding share of
AFC common stock was converted into 1.435 shares of common stock of AFG
(after giving effect to the Settlement discussed below), and (iii) APU and
AFC become subsidiaries of AFG. In the Mergers, 28.3 million shares of
Common Stock were issued to the former shareholders of AFC, consisting of
Carl H. Lindner, members of his family and trusts for their benefit.
<PAGE>
AFC provides security guard and surveillance services at the main
office of Provident Bancorp, Inc. ("Provident") for which Provident paid
$100,000 in 1995. Members of the Lindner family are the majority owners of
Provident. Provident leases its main banking and corporate office from AFC.
During 1995, the lease agreements were rewritten and extended to the year
2010, with Provident receiving $1.2 million which represent the net present
value of the difference between payments of the old and current lease
agreements. Provident paid rent under the leases of $1,397,000 in 1995.
In March 1995, Carl H. Lindner purchased a home from a subsidiary of
the Company for its book value of approximately $1.8 million.
In connection with the sale of investment securities in 1991 to
certain executive officers and employees, AFC received promissory notes
bearing interest at 7%. The highest balance due from Mr. Evans, the sole
executive officer owing more than $60,000 at any time since January 1, 1995,
was $85,000. Mr. Evans repaid these notes in April 1995.
As of March 31, 1996, the Company and the Lindner family owned a
majority of the common stock of Citicasters Inc. Facilities and services
provided to Citicasters by the Company for which charges exceeded $60,000 in
1995 were as follows: approximately $254,000 for the lease of Citicasters'
corporate headquarters, $520,000 for insurance coverage, $643,000 for travel
related services and $64,000 for banquet and hotel services.
In 1995, the Company paid approximately $70,000 for meat products
which were purchased from Thriftway Supermarkets, Inc. and given to employees
of the Company and certain affiliates as holiday gifts in December 1994.
Richard E. Lindner and members of his family were the owners of Thriftway at
the time of the purchase.
During 1995, a subsidiary of the Company leased an aircraft from a
company owned by members of the Richard E. Lindner family. The subsidiary
made lease payments of $328,000 under a one-year agreement renewable at each
party's option. The Company also pays its proportionate share of actual
costs incurred for personnel, fuel and other related items, based on actual
usage.
In 1995, the Company and certain subsidiaries purchased automobiles,
automobile repairs and other merchandise used in AFC's business from various
businesses owned by relatives of Ms. Heimann for an aggregate of
approximately $100,000.
Directors' Compensation
The Company's Board of Directors receives no annual compensation from
the Company. However, they are paid as directors of AFG.
<PAGE>
Committees and Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Company's Board of Directors held six meetings and took action in
writing two times in 1995. The Company's Board of Directors has an Executive
Committee, an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee. There is no
Nominating Committee.
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee consists of Carl H.
Lindner (Chairman), Carl H. Lindner III, S. Craig Lindner and Keith E.
Lindner. The Committee's functions include analyzing the future
development of the business affairs and operations of the Company,
including further expansion of businesses in which the Company is
engaged and acquisitions and dispositions of businesses. With certain
exceptions, the Executive Committee is generally authorized to exercise
the powers of the Board of Directors between meetings of the Board
of Directors. The Executive Committee consulted among themselves
informally many times throughout the year and took action in writing on
seven occasions in 1995.
Audit Committee. The Audit Committee consists of Theodore H. Emmerich
(Chairman) and William R. Martin. Neither is an officer or employee of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Committee's functions include
recommending to the Board of Directors the engagement of independent
accounting firms to audit the financial statements of the Company and
its subsidiaries and to provide other audit-related services and
recommending the terms of such firms' engagements; reviewing the
engagement of independent accounting firms to provide non-audit services,
including the terms of their engagements; reviewing the adequacy and
implementation of the Company's internal audit function; reviewing the
policies, procedures and principles of the management of the Company
for purposes of conformity to the standards required by the Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act; establishing procedures designed to provide
and encourage timely access to the Committee by the independent accounting
firm engaged by the Company, its internal audit department and its principal
financial officers; and conducting such investigations relating to the
Company's financial affairs as the Committee or the Board of Directors deems
desirable. The Committee's functions also include supervising, reviewing and
reporting to the Board of Directors on the performance of management
committees of the Company responsible for the administration and the
management of the investments of the employee benefits plans of the Company
and its subsidiaries. The Audit Committee met four times and took action in
writing on one occasion in 1995.
Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee consists of William
R. Martin (Chairman), Theodore H. Emmerich and Thomas M. Hunt. The
functions of the Compensation Committee are discussed under
"Compensation - Compensation Committee Report." The Compensation Committee
met five times in 1995.
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP served as the Company's
independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995.
Representatives of that firm will attend the Meeting and will be given the
opportunity to comment, if they so desire, and to respond to appropriate
questions that may be asked by shareholders. No auditor has yet been
selected for the current year because it is generally the practice of the
Company not to select independent auditors prior to the annual shareholders
meeting.
In its report on AFC's 1994 financial statements, Ernst & Young LLP,
AFC's principal independent accounts, expressed reliance on the reports of
Deloitte & Touche LLP with respect to the financial statements of American
Premier Underwriters, Inc., an AFC investee. For financial reporting
purposes, AFC is the predecessor to American Financial Group, Inc. Effective
August 23, 1995, pursuant to a recommendation of their respective Audit
Committees adopted by their Executive Committees of the Board of Directors,
American Financial Group, Inc. and American Premier engaged the firm of Ernst
& Young LLP to be their principal independent accountants for purposes of
performance the 1995 audit of their financial statements. This change
enables the companies to better coordinate financial reporting matters with
AFC. This change results in a single auditor for the major subsidiaries of
American Financial Group, Inc.
American Premier has reported that in connection with the audits of
its two fiscal years ended December 31, 1994, and the subsequent interim
periods, there had been no disagreements on any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedures with Deloitte & Touche LLP, which disagreements if not resolved to
the satisfaction of Deloitte & Touche LLP would have caused them to make
reference in their opinion to the subject matter of the disagreement. The
report of Deloitte & Touche LLP on the consolidated financial statements of
American Premier has not contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of
opinion, and has not been qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit
scope, or accounting principles for the years 1993 and 1994.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If a shareholder desires to have a proposal included in the proxy
statement for the 1997 annual shareholders meeting, such proposal must be
received by the Company's Secretary at his office by December 31, 1996 in
order to be considered for inclusion.
<PAGE>
REQUESTS FOR FORM 10-K
The Company will send, upon written request, without charge, a copy of
the Company's most current Annual Report on Form 10-K to any shareholder who
writes to Fred J. Runk, Vice President and Treasurer, American Financial
Corporation, One East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
By order of the Board of Directors,
James C. Kennedy
Secretary
Cincinnati, Ohio
April 22, 1996
