Overview
American Financial Group Inc., is a Cincinnati-based holding company in insurance and investments. Its major insurance division, Great American Insurance Co., provides property and casualty insurance, including specialized commercial products for businesses. The company also sells traditional fixed, indexed and variable annuities and supplemental insurance products. Its products are provided through independent agents with, historically, an emphasis on writing small to mid-size "mainstreet" commercial accounts.
The publicly traded company is controlled by Carl Lindner Jr., ex-CEO and co-owner of pro baseball's Cincinnati Reds; all told, the Lindner family, management and employees own 42% of the company. The Reds' Great American Ball Park is named for the company's insurance subsidiary. Sons Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner are co-chief executives of the holding company, and the family is known for its financial backing of Republican political candidates.
American Financial is among the largest of the employers and landowners in the Cincinnati downtown. By 2011, its headquarters will occupy 22 floors of what will be the tallest building in the city on completion of Queen City Square, a 41-story tower topped by a massive tiara inspired by one worn by the late Princess Diana.