American Financial Increases Dividend

American Financial Group Inc. (AFG) announced that its Board of Directors has approved an increase in the company’s annual dividend from $.50 to $.55 per share of common stock. The increased dividend, when declared, will be paid on a quarterly basis of $.1375 per share of common stock beginning in January of 2006. The new dividend rate represents a 10 percent increase over the dividend paid in 2005.

Through the operations of the Great American Insurance Group, Cincinnati-based AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of retirement annuities, supplemental insurance and life products.