UNITED STATES
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): August 16, 2007
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Ohio |
1-13653 |
31-1544320 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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One East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, OH |
45202 |
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________________________ |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code 513-579-2121
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Section 8 - Other Events
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On August 16, 2007, American Financial Group, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors had authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 5 million shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, and disclosed purchases during 2007 under its existing repurchase authorization. A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
Description |
99.1 |
News release, dated August 16, 2007. |
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.
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. |
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Date: August 17, 2007 |
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By: Karl J. Grafe |
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Karl J. Grafe |
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Vice President |
Exhibit 99.1
American Financial Group, Inc. Announces
Additional Stock Buyback Authorization
Cincinnati, Ohio-- August 16, 2007 - American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE/NASDAQ: AFG) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to an additional 5 million shares of the Company's outstanding common stock. This authorization is in addition to the 1 million shares remaining from the Board's previous authorization in March 2004. AFG intends to repurchase shares from time to time by means of open market purchases and privately negotiated transactions at prevailing market prices. The number of shares purchased, if any, will be dependent upon market conditions. The Company currently has approximately 116 million shares of common stock outstanding.
Pursuant to the Board's previous authorization, AFG has repurchased 3.1 million shares at an average price of $27.08 per share during the third quarter of 2007. This brings total purchases during the year to 4 million at an average price of $28.53. "This additional authorization reflects the Board of Directors' continued confidence in the Company's prospects and commitment to enhancing shareholder value," said S. Craig Lindner and Carl H. Lindner III, AFG Co-Chief Executive Officers. They added, "We believe that repurchasing shares during opportunistic market conditions is a productive use of our excess capital and will have a favorable effect on our return on equity."
About American Financial Group, Inc.
Through the operations of the Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed, indexed and variable annuities and a variety of supplemental insurance products.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this press release not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on estimates, assumptions and projections. Examples of such forward-looking statements include statements relating to: the Company's expectations concerning market and other conditions and their effect on future premiums, revenues, earnings and investment activities; recoverability of asset values; expected losses and the adequacy of reserves for asbestos, environmental pollution and mass tort claims; rate increases and improved loss experience.
Page Two
Actual results could differ materially from those expected by AFG depending on certain factors including but not limited to: the unpredictability of possible future litigation if certain settlements do not become effective, changes in economic conditions including interest rates, performance of securities markets, the availability of capital, regulatory actions and changes in the legal environment affecting AFG or its customers, tax law changes, levels of natural catastrophes, terrorist activities, including any nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological events, incidents of war and other major losses, development of insurance loss reserves and other reserves, particularly with respect to amounts associated with asbestos and environmental claims, availability of reinsurance and ability of reinsurers to pay their obligations, trends in persistency, mortality and morbidity, competitive pressures, including the ability to obtain rate increases, and changes in debt and claims p aying ratings.
Contact: |
Anne N. Watson |
Web Sites: www.afginc.com |
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Vice President-Investor Relations |
www.GreatAmericanInsurance.com |
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(513) 579-6652 |
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