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 4, 1997
Mercury Finance Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware 1-10176 36-3627010
(State of other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
100 Field Drive, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (847) 295-8600
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. Other Events.
On March 4, 1997, the registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is
attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. Description of Document
99.1 Press release dated March 4, 1997 issued by the
registrant.
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Mercury Finance Company
Date: March 4, 1997 By: Bradley Vallem
Its: AVP & Treasurer
TO BUSINESS EDITOR:
Mercury Finance Exploring Possible Sale of Lyndon Insurance Unit
CHICAGO, March 4/PRNewswire/ -- Mercury Finance Company (NYSE: MFN)
announced that Salomon Brothers has been engaged to seek offers for the sale of
the Lyndon Insurance Group, a Mercury subsidiary headquartered in St. Louis.
Salomon is in discussions on behalf of the company with several parties that
have expressed an interest in purchasing Lyndon. Names of the interested
parties were not disclosed.
"It is appropriate for Mercury to take a serious look at these expressions
of interest," said William A. Brandt, Jr., Mercury's president and chief
executive officer. "We cannot predict the outcome of the discussions, but we
are prepared to make a decision and act promptly within regulatory guidelines."
Mercury officials are working closely with the Missouri insurance commissioner
in connection with the sale efforts.
Lyndon has been managed as a stand-alone operation. Its divestiture would
have no effect on Mercury's ability to operate its core consumer finance
business and to continue offering add-on insurance products to its consumer
finance customers.
Lyndon was acquired by Mercury in October, 1995, from ITT for $72.5
million. Subsequently, other smaller insurance operations of Mercury were
merged with Lyndon.
SOURCE Mercury Finance Company
CONTACT: Joe Kopec or Jim Fitzpatrick of The Dilenschneider Group.
312-553-0700\
(MFN)
