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):
January 13, 2000
ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-7461 31-0742926
(State of Incorporation) (Commission File Number)(IRS Employer Identification
Number)
222 S. 15th Street, Suite 600 North
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(402) 344-8800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Item 5. Other Events.
(a) The registrant issued the following press release on
January 13, 2000:
ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INC. REACHES AGREEMENT WITH
STATE OF ARKANSAS
(OMAHA, NE. - January 13, 2000)____Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc.
(NYSE: AIF) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Arkansas
Insurance Commissioner and Attorney General. The agreement resolves all issues
associated with the spring 1999 sale of CRCPlus(TM), a supplemental crop
insurance program offered by Acceptance through American Agrisurance.
Under the agreement, Acceptance is providing funding for projects that
benefit rice producers. The projects will be administered by the University of
Arkansas, Arkansas State University and the Arkansas Rice Research and
Promotion Board. The federal Risk Management Agency has approved this
agreement as satisfying public service obligations the Company undertook
last spring.
"Acceptance Insurance Companies is pleased with this agreement because
rice producers will gain increased risk management education and research
opportunities," said John Martin, Company President and CEO. "Our company
acted responsibly and will continue to deliver the quality service and
innovative products that farmers require."
More than 60 percent of the insured rice acreage in the United States
in 1998 was in Arkansas. Acceptance Insurance Companies is currently engaged
in discussions of possible similar agreements with three other rice-producing
states.
Acceptance Insurance Companies is a specialized insurance company
providing crop, property and casualty insurance products throughout the United
States. American Agrisurance, the Company's wholly owned crop insurance
marketing subsidiary, is a widely recognized leader in the crop insurance
industry.
CONTACT:
Acceptance Insurance Companies Inc:
John Martin
President and Chief Executive Officer
402-344-8800
Mike Gottschalk
Secretary and General Counsel
402-344-8800
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANIES INC.
By /s/ J. Michael Gottschalk
J. Michael Gottschalk, Chief Legal Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
January 13, 2000