United States
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
American Financial Corporation
(Name of Issuer)
Series J Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
026087-85-8
(CUSIP Number)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[ X ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
December 31, 2001
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
(1) The reminder of this cover page shall be filed out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover gage shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section
of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however,
see the Notes).
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CUSIP No. 026087-85-8 THE COMMERCE GROUP, Inc.
SCHEDULE 13G
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. ID NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
The Commerce Group Inc.
ID# 04-2599931
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) [ ]
(b) [x]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OF PLACE OR ORGANIZATION
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 287,563
BENEFICAILLY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 0
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 287,563
PERSON 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 0
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
287,563
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES. [ x ]
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
9.96%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
HC
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CUSIP No. 026087-85-8 THE COMMERCE GROUP, Inc.
SCHEDULE 13G
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
ITEM 1(a). Name of Issuer
American Financial Corporation
ITEM 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
ITEM 2(a). Name of Person Filing
The Commerce Group, Inc.
ITEM 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence
211 Main Street, Webster, MA 01570
ITEM 2(c). Citizenship
Organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
ITEM 2(d). Title of Class of Securities
Series J Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock
ITEM 2(e). Cusip Number
026087-85-8
ITEM 3. If this statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1 (b), or
13d-2 (b) or (c), Check whether the Person Filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange
Act.
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
Company Act.
(e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(E);
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [X] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act;
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
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CUSIP No. 026087-85-8 THE COMMERCE GROUP, Inc.
SCHEDULE 13G
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
ITEM 4. Ownership.
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 287,563
The number of shares reflected in this Statement does not
include 4,500 shares that are owned of record by several trusts of which an
executive officer of Commerce Group is either beneficiary or a trustee with
voting and investment power over such shares. Commerce Group disclaims
beneficial ownership of those shares.
(b) Percent of class: 9.96%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 287,563
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 0,
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of
287,563
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0
ITEM 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the
date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more
than five percent of the class of securities check the following [ ].
Not Applicable
ITEM 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
Not Applicable
ITEM 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or
Control Person.
The Commerce Insurance Company - (IC)
American Commerce Insurance Company - (IC)
Commerce West Insurance Company - (IC)
ITEM 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
Reference is made to the disclosure in Item 4(a) of this statement
regarding the shares that may be deemed to be owned beneficially by a Commerce
Group executive officer. Commerce Group disclaims the existence of any
agreement to act together with such executive officer for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting or disposing any of the shares.
ITEM 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not Applicable
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CUSIP No. 026087-85-8 THE COMMERCE GROUP, Inc.
SCHEDULE 13G
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
ITEM 10. Certifications.
(a) The following certification shall be included if the statement
is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b):
"By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in
the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and not held for the
purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect."
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
September 30, 2003 THE COMMERCE GROUP INC.
/s/ Gerald Fels
Gerald Fels
Executive Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
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