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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 1, 2000
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Commission File Number 0-5544
OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
OHIO 31-0783294
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
136 North Third Street, Hamilton, Ohio 45025
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(513) 867-3000
(Registrant's telephone number)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Exhibit Index - Page 3
Page 1 of 3 Pages
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ITEM 5. Other Events
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On March 1, 2000, Ohio Casualty Corporation (the "Corporation") announced that
Barry S. Porter, Chief Financial Officer of Ohio Casualty Corporation, was
retiring from that position effective April 1, 2000.
A copy of the press release issued by Ohio Casualty Corporation on March 1,
2000, announcing this change in its executive leadership is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99 and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
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Exhibit No. Description
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99 Press release dated March 1, 2000, announcing the
retirement of Barry S. Porter as Chief Financial
Officer of Ohio Casualty Corporation.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
OHIO CASUALTY CORPORATION
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(Registrant)
March 15, 2000 /s/ William L. Woodall
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William L. Woodall, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Page 2 of 3 Pages
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Current Report on Form 8-K
Dated March 1, 2000
Ohio Casualty Corporation
Exhibit No. Description
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99 Press release dated March 1, 2000, announcing the
retirement of Barry S. Porter as Chief Financial
Officer of Ohio Casualty Corporation.
Page 3 of 3 Pages
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Contact: Analyst contact: Dale A. Thatcher
Chief Accounting Officer
513-603-2244
[email protected]
or
Richard B. Kelly
Sr. Vice President, Investments and Investor Relations
513-603-7991
Media contact: Cindy L. Denney
Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications
513-603-2074 (ofc.), 513-703-7372 (cell)
[email protected]
For release March 1, 2000
Ohio Casualty Corporation
CFO Announces Retirement
HAMILTON, OHIO, MARCH 1, 2000 - Barry S. Porter, treasurer and chief financial
officer of Ohio Casualty Corporation (NASDAQ: OCAS) announced today that he
will retire from the Corporation, effective April 1, 2000.
A graduate of Denison University and the recipient of an MBA from the
University of Cincinnati, Mr. Porter joined Ohio Casualty as an assistant
treasurer in 1972. He was named treasurer of Ohio Casualty Corporation in 1976
and chief financial officer in 1993. Mr. Porter is a member of the board of
directors of First Financial Bancorp, the Financial Executives Institute, and
is serving on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange's Issuers Affairs Committee.
"Mr. Porter has served the Corporation faithfully and well during his tenure,"
commented President and Chief Executive Officer William L. Woodall, CPCU. "The
associates of Ohio Casualty Corporation wish him and his family the very best
on his well-deserved retirement."
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Mr. Porter's duties will be assumed by several current members of Ohio
Casualty Corporation's senior management group, the Executive Management Team,
which was announced today by Mr. Woodall.
Senior Vice President Richard B. Kelly, JD, CFA, FLMI, will now be responsible
for Investments/Investor Relations, in addition to his current duties as head
of Business Growth and Development for the Corporation. Mr. Kelly joined the
Corporation in 1986 as an investment analyst. He was appointed assistant
secretary and portfolio manager in 1988 and promoted to assistant vice
president a year later. In 1993, he was named senior investment officer,
becoming vice president of Business Growth and Development in 1996. He has
been part of the senior management group since 1998. Mr. Kelly is a graduate
of Xavier University (OH) and the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He
achieved the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1989.
Senior Vice President Elizabeth M. Riczko, FCAS, MAAA, will now oversee
Financial as well as Actuarial functions. Mrs. Riczko began her career with
Ohio Casualty in 1992 as a senior actuarial assistant. She was promoted to
manager of corporate actuarial unit a year later. In 1994, she was promoted
to manager of Actuarial, followed by an appointment to assistant secretary the
same year. She joined the senior management group in 1995. In 1996, Mrs.
Riczko was promoted to vice president of Actuarial. She was named a senior
vice president in 1998. A graduate of Muhlenberg College (PA), where she
earned an undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics, she is a member of
the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) and achieved the fellow designation
from the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) in 1994.
Other current members of the senior management group who will retain their
roles include:
Howard L. Sloneker III, senior vice president, human resources, began his
career with Ohio Casualty as an underwriter trainee in 1979. Mr. Sloneker
continued his career as an underwriter, field representative and branch
manager in the Company's Fullerton (CA) Philadelphia and Springfield (IL)
offices. He was named to the Corporation's Board of Directors in 1983, became
an assistant secretary in 1988, and was named vice president and secretary in
1989. A member of the senior management group since 1989, he is a graduate of
the University of Kentucky.
Coy Leonard Jr. is senior vice president, Information Systems. Mr. Leonard
began his career with Ohio Casualty in 1992 as manager of Strategic Planning
and Technology. He was promoted to assistant vice president, Information
Systems a year later, and in 1996, was promoted to vice president, Information
Systems, and became a member of the senior management group. He was promoted
to his current position in 1998.
John S. Busby, CPCU, is senior vice president, Property and Casualty
Operations. In his expanded role, he will oversee all field and home office
underwriting operations for Commercial and Personal Lines. A graduate of
Butler University (IN), Mr. Busby joined
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Ohio Casualty in 1970 as an underwriting trainee. He has held various
positions in the underwriting career path, including field representative and
branch manager. He was named an assistant vice president in 1989 and in 1991,
was named vice president of Property and Casualty Operations. Joining the
senior management group in 1997, he was named senior vice president in 1999.
Mr. Busby achieved his Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
designation in 1980.
Frederick W. Wendt will continue to oversee Claims Operations. A graduate of
Valparaiso University (IN), Mr. Wendt joined Ohio Casualty in 1967 as a claims
representative. He held numerous supervisory and managerial positions in the
Claims areas, and was named vice president and claims area officer in 1991. A
member of the senior management group since 1994, he was named a senior vice
president in 1999.
In addition to the announcement of the senior management group, the
Corporation is announcing that Sarah L. Burton, CCM, current treasurer of its
property and casualty subsidiaries, will take on the additional role as
treasurer of Ohio Casualty Corporation. A graduate of Indiana University and
the recipient of an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, Ms. Burton joined
Ohio Casualty in 1990. She was named assistant treasurer in 1996 and treasurer
of the property and casualty subsidiaries in 1999. Ms. Burton is a Certified
Cash Manager (CCM).
Corporate profile
Ohio Casualty Corporation is the holding company of The Ohio Casualty
Insurance Company, which is one of six property-casualty companies that make
up Ohio Casualty Group. Ohio Casualty Group is among the top 40 property and
casualty insurance groups in the country, offering businesses and individuals
a range of property-casualty products. The Group is active in more than 40
states, operates primarily through the independent agency system, and has
written premiums of $1.6 billion. Ohio Casualty Corporation trades on the
NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol OCAS. Ohio Casualty Corporation has
assets of more than $5 billion.
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Ohio Casualty Corporation publishes forward-looking statements relating to
such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects and
plans, regulatory developments and similar matters. The statements contained
in this news release that are not historical information, are forward-looking
statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a
safe harbor under The Securities Act of 1933 and The Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 for forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may
affect the operations, performance, development and results of the
Corporation's business and the results of the acquisition described herein,
include the following: changes in property and casualty reserves; catastrophe
losses; premium and investment growth; product pricing environment;
availability of credit; changes in
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government regulation; performance of financial markets; fluctuations in
interest rates; availability and pricing of reinsurance; litigation and
administrative proceedings; Year 2000 issues; ability of Ohio Casualty
to integrate the acquired business and to retain the acquired insurance
business; and general economic and market conditions.
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