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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission file number 0-4604
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio 31-0746871
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation (I.R.S. Employer Identification
or organization) No.)
6200 S. Gilmore Road, Fairfield, Ohio 45014-5141
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (513) 870-2000
Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure. On September 25, 2003, Cincinnati Financial
Corporation issued the attached news release. The news release is furnished as
Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference. This report should
not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information contained in
the news release.
The information furnished in this report shall not be deemed "filed" for
purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall such information
be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.
Signature
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 thereunto duly authorized.
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORPORATION
/S/ Kenneth W. Stecher
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Kenneth W. Stecher
Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
September 25, 2003
(attach release - Exhibit 99.1)
Exhibit 99.1
Cincinnati Financial Corporation Hosts Investor Headquarters Visit
* Discusses Favorable Long-Term Outlook
* Comments on Recent Storm Activity
CINCINNATI, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati Financial Corporation will
host investors at its headquarters on Thursday, September 25. The event will
offer management's insight into the company's insurance and investment
operations, strong competitive position, growth strategies and favorable long-
term outlook.
"We are pleased to open this window on our company," said John J. Schiff
Jr., CPCU, chairman and chief executive officer. "Cincinnati Financial
Corporation is structured for strength and stability, and we welcome the
opportunity to detail our plans to continue to outperform."
Cincinnati Financial is the 19th largest publicly traded property casualty
insurer based on revenues. Independent insurance ratings companies
consistently recognize Cincinnati Financial with high ratings affirming solid
protection for policyholders. The company's most important competitive
advantage is its relationships with professional independent insurance agents.
Its agency-centered approach has produced above-average profitability and
shareholder return.
Catastrophe Losses
"Hurricane Isabel lost some power as it headed inland, and we are grateful
for that," Schiff said. "Nonetheless, it was powerful enough to disrupt homes,
businesses and lives, and we are responding quickly to get things back in
order. While only 700 claims were reported as of Wednesday, total claims may
rise as high as 1,700. Most reports to date are wind damage, such as trees on
houses, and we anticipate a lesser amount of flooded cars, spoilage and
business income claims.
"In advance of the storm's landfall, a Cincinnati storm team of seasoned
field claims representatives set up an operating base in New Bern, North
Carolina. That office remains open, along with another base in Richmond,
Virginia. Additionally, Maryland agents and policyholders are being served by
a team dispatched yesterday to Fredericksburg, Virginia.
"Although it's very early to estimate the full impact of Hurricane Isabel
on our third-quarter results, we expect to include a preliminary estimate of
$15 million pre-tax, which would add 2.2 percent to the quarter's GAAP
combined ratio and reduce net earnings by 6 cents per share. When combined
with the previously announced July storms and development of prior storms,
Hurricane Isabel-related losses would bring third-quarter total catastrophe
losses to approximately $40 million, which would add 5.9 points on the
combined ratio and reduce earnings by 16 cents per share.
"While the quarterly total significantly exceeds third-quarter 2002's $4.8
million, the year-to-date impact of catastrophe losses on the combined ratio
is expected to be less than 1 percentage point above the 3.8 percentage points
in the first nine months of last year. And with our continued growth and
excellent non-catastrophe underwriting results, the nine-month GAAP combined
ratio including catastrophe losses should be well below the 101.4 percent
reported in the first nine months of 2002," Schiff said.
Long-Term Outlook Favorable
Schiff noted that the company remains on track to achieve excellent
results in 2003 and beyond.
"Through the first half of this year, the efforts of our agents and
associates generated 13.4 percent net written premium growth and positive
underwriting trends. Based on that performance, we believe our target for a
full-year 2003 GAAP combined ratio near the six-month ratio of 96.8 percent,
including 3.8 percentage points from catastrophe losses, remains within reach,
although dependent on typically lower catastrophe losses in the fourth
quarter. We firmly believe that we are on track to achieve a 2003 GAAP
combined ratio that will be the best we have achieved in over 10 years and a
signal that more is yet to come," Schiff concluded.
For additional information or to listen to the Webcast of the investor
headquarters visit, please visit www.cinfin.com.
Cincinnati Financial Corporation offers property and casualty insurance,
its main business, through The Cincinnati Insurance Company, The Cincinnati
Indemnity Company and The Cincinnati Casualty Company. The Cincinnati Life
Insurance Company markets life, disability income and long-term care insurance
and annuities. CFC Investment Company supports the insurance subsidiaries and
their independent agent representatives through commercial leasing and
financing activities. CinFin Capital Management Company provides asset
management services to institutions, corporations and individuals.
This is a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Certain forward-looking statements contained herein
involve potential risks and uncertainties. The company's future results could
differ materially from those discussed. Factors that could cause or contribute
to such differences include, but are not limited to: unusually high levels of
catastrophe losses due to changes in weather patterns or other causes;
increased frequency and/or severity of claims; environmental events or
changes; insurance regulatory actions, legislation or court decisions that
increase expenses or place the company at a disadvantage in the marketplace;
adverse outcomes from litigation or administrative proceedings; recession or
other economic conditions resulting in lower demand for insurance products;
sustained decline in overall stock market values negatively affecting the
company's equity portfolio, in particular a sustained decline in market value
of Fifth Third Bancorp shares; events that lead to a significant decline in
the market value of a particular security and impairment of the asset; delays
in the development, implementation and benefits of technology enhancements;
and decreased ability to generate growth in investment income.
Further, the company's insurance businesses are subject to the effects of
changing social, economic and regulatory environments. Public and regulatory
initiatives have included efforts to adversely influence and restrict premium
rates, restrict the ability to cancel policies, impose underwriting standards
and expand overall regulation. The company also is subject to public and
regulatory initiatives that can affect the market value for its common stock,
such as recent measures impacting corporate financial reporting and
governance. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these
initiatives are uncertain.
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