MERIDIAN INSURANCE GROUP INC
SC TO-T/A, 2000-12-08
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 SCHEDULE TO
                               (AMENDMENT NO. 7)

         TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(1) OR 13(e)(1) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                           MERIDIAN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
                         (Name of Subject Company (Issuer))

                AMERICAN UNION INSURANCE COMPANY (OFFEROR PARENT)
            MERIDIAN INSURANCE GROUP ACQUISITION CORPORATION (OFFEROR)
               GREGORY M. SHEPARD (SHAREHOLDER OF OFFEROR PARENT)
                TRACY M. SHEPARD (SHAREHOLDER OF OFFEROR PARENT)
                        (Names of Filing Persons (Offerors))

                            COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
                          (Title of Class of Securities)

                                 589644-10-3
                      (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

                             Gregory M. Shepard
                      2205 East Empire Street, Suite A
                         Bloomington, Illinois 61704
                          Telephone:  (309) 661-1793
                          Facsimile:  (309) 661-1797

           (Name, Address and Telephone Numbers of Person Authorized to
            Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)

                                 Copies to:

                             Eric M. Fogel, Esq.
                        Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
                         227 West Monroe, Suite 3400
                           Chicago, Illinois 60606
                          Telephone: (312) 499-6700
                          Facsimile:  (312) 499-6701

                          CALCULATION OF FILING FEE


  TRANSACTION VALUATION*                                   AMOUNT OF FILING FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      $74,644,225.00                                            $14,928.85
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


     *  For purposes of calculating filing fee only.  This amount is based on
the offer to purchase 2,985,769 of the outstanding shares of common stock, no
par value, of Meridian Insurance Group, Inc. (the "Shares"), at a purchase price
per Share of $25.00 cash per share.  The amount of the filing fee, which was
calculated in accordance with Regulation 240.0-11 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, equals 1/50th of one percent of the value of the
transaction.


<PAGE>

     [X] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-
     11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was
     previously paid.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, of the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     Amount Previously Paid: $25,176.04

     Form or Registration No.: Schedule TO

     Filing Party: American Union Insurance Company (Offeror Parent) and
     Meridian Insurance Group Acquisition Corporation

     Date Filed: August 30, 2000

     [  ]  Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary
           communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

     Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which
     the statement relates:

     [X]  third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.

     [  ]  issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.

     [  ]  going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.

     [  ]  amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.

     Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the
     results of the tender offer: [X]

                   AMENDMENT NO. 7 TO TENDER OFFER STATEMENT

     This Amendment No. 7 to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the
"Schedule TO"), as previously amended by Amendment No. 6, filed with the
Commission on November 17, 2000, by Parent, Purchaser and the Shepards,
Amendment No. 5, filed with the Commission on October 27, 2000, by Parent,
Purchaser and the Shepards, Amendment No. 4, filed with the Commission on
October 19, 2000, by Parent, Purchaser, and the Shepards, Amendment No. 3, filed
with the Commission on October 6, 2000, by Parent, Purchaser, and the Shepards,
Amendment No. 2, filed with the Commission on September 18, 2000, by Parent,
Purchaser and the Shepards and Amendment No. 1, filed with the Commission on
September 14, 2000, by Parent, Purchaser, and the Shepards, relates to the offer
by American Union Insurance Company, an Illinois stock insurance company
("Parent"), Meridian Insurance Group Acquisition Corporation, an Illinois
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"), and Gregory
M. Shepard and Tracy M. Shepard, the sole shareholders of Parent (the
"Shepards") (Parent, Purchaser and the Shepards are collectively, the
"Offerors") to purchase shares of common stock, no par value per share, ("Common
Stock" or the "Shares") of Meridian Insurance Group, Inc., an Indiana
corporation (the "Company").  The item numbers and responses thereto below are
in accordance with the requirements of Schedule TO.

ITEM   4.  TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION.

          Item 4, part (a)(1)(i)-(v), is hereby amended and supplemented by
reference to the Press Release issued by Parent on December 8, 2000, which is
attached hereto as Exhibit (a)(1)(Z) and incorporated herein by reference, to
reflect the Offerors' withdrawal of their tender offer for 50.1% of the Shares
of the Company, effective as of December 8, 2000.


<PAGE>

ITEM  12.  EXHIBITS.

(a)(1)(A)    Offer to Purchase, dated August 31, 2000.*

(a)(1)(B)    Letter of Transmittal.*

(a)(1)(C)    Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*

(a)(1)(D)    Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and
             other Nominees.*

(a)(1)(E)    Form of letter to clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial
             Banks, Trust Companies and Nominees.*

(a)(1)(F)    Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
             Substitute Form W-9.*

(a)(1)(G)    Press Releases issued by Parent, dated August 30, 2000.*

(a)(1)(H)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 5, 2000.*

(a)(1)(I)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 6, 2000.*

(a)(1)(J)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 11, 2000.*

(a)(1)(K)    Supplement to Offer to Purchase, dated September 18, 2000.*

(a)(1)(L)    Amended Letter of Transmittal.*

(a)(1)(M)    Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*

(a)(1)(N)    Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and
             other Nominees.*

(a)(1)(O)    Form of letter to clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial
             Banks, Trust Companies and Nominees.*

(a)(1)(P)    Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
             Substitute Form W-9.*

(a)(1)(Q)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 18, 2000.*

(a)(1)(R)    Summary Advertisement, dated September 18, 2000.*

(a)(1)(S)    Administrative Complaint filed by the Chief Deputy Commissioner,
             Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State of the
             State of Indiana on September 21, 2000.*

(a)(1)(T)    Administrative Complaint filed by the Chief Deputy Commissioner,
             Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State of the
             State of Indiana on September 21, 2000.*

(a)(1)(U)    Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order filed by the
             Indiana Securities Commissioner on October 4, 2000.*

(a)(1)(V)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated October 6, 2000.*

(a)(1)(W)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated October 19, 2000.*

(a)(1)(X)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated October 26, 2000.*


<PAGE>

(a)(1)(Y)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated November 17, 2000.*

(a)(1)(Z)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated December 8, 2000.

(b)          None or not applicable.

(d)          None or not applicable.

(g)          None or not applicable.

(h)          None or not applicable.

99.1         The statutory financial statement of Parent (without schedules), as
             filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance for 1998.*

99.2         The statutory financial statement of Parent (without schedules), as
             filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance for 1999. *

99.3         The statutory financial statement of Parent (without schedules), as
             filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance for the six months
             ended June 30, 2000.*

* Previously filed.


<PAGE>

                                 SIGNATURE

     After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: December 8, 2000

                                    AMERICAN UNION INSURANCE COMPANY


                                     /s/ Gregory M. Shepard
                                    -----------------------
                                    (Signature)

                                    Gregory M. Shepard, President
                                    -----------------------------
                                    (Name and Title)

                                    December 8, 2000
                                    ----------------
                                    (Date)


                                    MERIDIAN INSURANCE GROUP ACQUISITION
                                    CORPORATION


                                     /s/ Gregory M. Shepard
                                    -----------------------
                                    (Signature)

                                    Gregory M. Shepard, President
                                    -----------------------------
                                    (Name and Title)

                                    December 8, 2000
                                    ----------------
                                    (Date)


                                    GREGORY M. SHEPARD


                                     /s/ Gregory M. Shepard
                                    -----------------------
                                    (Signature)

                                    December 8, 2000
                                    ----------------
                                    (Date)


                                    TRACY M. SHEPARD


                                     /s/ Tracy M. Shepard
                                    ---------------------
                                    (Signature)

                                    December 8, 2000
                                    ----------------
                                    (Date)


<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT      PAGE

(a)(1)(A)    Offer to Purchase, dated August 31, 2000.*

(a)(1)(B)    Letter of Transmittal.*

(a)(1)(C)    Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*

(a)(1)(D)    Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and
             other Nominees.*

(a)(1)(E)    Form of letter to clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial
             Banks, Trust Companies and Nominees.*

(a)(1)(F)    Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
             Substitute Form W-9.*

(a)(1)(G)    Press Releases issued by Parent, dated August 30, 2000.*

(a)(1)(H)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 5, 2000.*

(a)(1)(I)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 6, 2000.*

(a)(1)(J)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 11, 2000.*

(a)(1)(K)    Supplement to Offer to Purchase, dated September 18, 2000.*

(a)(1)(L)    Amended Letter of Transmittal.*

(a)(1)(M)    Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.*

(a)(1)(N)    Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and
             other Nominees.*

(a)(1)(O)    Form of letter to clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial
             Banks, Trust Companies and Nominees.*

(a)(1)(P)    Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on
             Substitute Form W-9.*

(a)(1)(Q)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated September 18, 2000.*

(a)(1)(R)    Summary Advertisement, dated September 18, 2000.*

(a)(1)(S)    Administrative Complaint filed by the Chief Deputy Commissioner,
             Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State of
             the State of Indiana on September 21, 2000.*

(a)(1)(T)    Administrative Complaint filed by the Chief Deputy Commissioner,
             Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of State of
             the State of Indiana on September 21, 2000.*

(a)(1)(U)    Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Final Order filed by the
             Indiana Securities Commissioner on October 4, 2000.*

(a)(1)(V)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated October 6, 2000.*

(a)(1)(W)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated October 19, 2000.*


<PAGE>

(a)(1)(X)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated October 26, 2000.*

(a)(1)(Y)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated November 17, 2000.*

(a)(1)(Z)    Press Release issued by Parent, dated December 8, 2000.

(b)          None or not applicable.

(d)          None or not applicable.

(g)          None or not applicable.

(h)          None or not applicable.

99.1         The statutory financial statement of Parent (without schedules), as
             filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance for 1998.*

99.2         The statutory financial statement of Parent (without schedules), as
             filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance for 1999.*

99.3         The statutory financial statement of Parent (without schedules), as
             filed with the Illinois Department of Insurance for the six
             months ended June 30, 2000.*

* Previously filed.




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