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     <!-- Control Number: AM4170                                                           -->
     <!-- Rev Number:                                                                      -->
     <!-- Client Name:    American Financial Group, Inc.                                   -->
     <!-- Project Name:   Form S-8                                                         -->
     <!-- Firm Name:      KMK                                                              -->
     <TITLE>Form S-8</TITLE>
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<P ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2005 </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Registration No. 333- </FONT></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=4>SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION</FONT><BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Washington, D.C. 20549 </FONT></H1>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>FORM S-8<BR>
REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>UNDER<BR>THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933 </FONT></H1>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=6><B>AMERICAN FINANCIAL
GROUP, INC.</B></FONT><BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </FONT></P>

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     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Ohio</FONT></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">31-1544320</FONT></TH></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="1">(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
incorporation or organization)
</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="50%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="1">(IRS Employer Identification<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Number)
</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
<B>One East Fourth Street<BR>Cincinnati, Ohio 45202<BR>(513) 579-2121</B></FONT><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>
 (Address of Registrant&#146;s Principal Executive Offices) </FONT></P>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>AMERICAN FINANCIAL
GROUP, INC.<BR>2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN </FONT></H1>

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     <P ALIGN=CENTER>_________________ </P>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
James C. Kennedy, Esq.<BR>Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary<BR>
American Financial Group, Inc.<BR>One East Fourth Street<BR>Cincinnati, Ohio 45202<BR>
(513) 579-2538<BR>Facsimile: (513) 579-0108</FONT><BR>
<FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=1>
(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,<BR>
of Agent for Service of Process) </FONT></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>CALCULATION OF
REGISTRATION FEE </FONT></H1>


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<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Title of<BR>
Securities<BR>
To Be Registered</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Amount<BR>
To Be<BR>
Registered(1)</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Proposed Maximum<BR>
Offering Price<BR>
Per Share(2)</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Proposed Maximum<BR>
Aggregate Offering<BR>
Price(2)</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Amount of<BR>
Registration<BR>
Fee(3)</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH></TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
     <TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">Common Stock
</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">5,000,000 shares
</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">$31.92
</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">$159,600,000
</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="20%" ALIGN="Center"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE="2">$18,801
</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE><BR>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><SUP>(1)</SUP></FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=95%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          This Registration Statement is filed for up to 5,000,000 shares of common stock
          of American Financial Group, Inc. (the &#147;Registrant&#148;) pursuant to the
          2005 Stock Incentive Plan. </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><SUP>(2)</SUP></FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=95%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          Estimated solely for purposes of calculating registration fee. </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><SUP>(3)</SUP></FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=95%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          Registration fee has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h). </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>
          <BR>


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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>PART II<BR><BR>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</FONT></H1>

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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Incorporation of
Documents by Reference </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
following documents filed by American Financial Group, Inc. (the &#147;Registrant&#148;)
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) are incorporated
herein by reference and made a part hereof: </FONT></P>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>1.</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>
          <BR>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>2.</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005. </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>
          <BR>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>3.</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 18, 2005, March 8, 2005, and May 19,
          2005. </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>
          <BR>

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          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>4.</FONT></TD>
          <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
          The description of the Registrant&#146;s common stock contained in the Form 8-A
          filed with the Commission on November 25, 1997. </FONT></TD>
          </TR>
          </TABLE>
          <BR>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All
reports and other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such
documents. </FONT></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Description of
Securities </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not
required.</FONT></P>


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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interests of
Named Experts and Counsel </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
legality of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the Registrant by
Keating Muething &amp; Klekamp PLL, One East Fourth Street, Suite 1400, Cincinnati, Ohio
45202. </FONT></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 6. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Indemnification
of Directors and Officers </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ohio
Revised Code, Section 1701.13(E), allows indemnification by the Registrant to any person
made or threatened to be made a party to any proceedings, other than a proceeding by or in
the right of the Registrant, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Registrant, against expenses, including judgment and fines, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
Registrant&#146;s best interests and, with respect to criminal actions, in which he had no
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Similar provisions apply to
actions brought by or in the right of the Registrant, except that no indemnification shall
be made in such cases when the person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence
or misconduct to us unless deemed otherwise by the court. Indemnifications are to be made
by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors or the written opinion of
independent counsel or by the shareholders or by the court. The Registrant&#146;s Code of
Regulations extends such indemnification. </FONT></P>


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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Registrant maintains, at its expense, Directors and Officers Liability and Company
Reimbursement Liability Insurance. The Directors and Officers Liability portion of such
policy covers all of the Registrant&#146;s directors and officers and of the companies
which are, directly or indirectly, more than 50% owned by the Registrant. The policy
provides for payment on behalf of the directors and officers, up to the policy limits and
after expenditure of a specified deductible, of all Loss (as defined) from claims made
against them during the policy period for defined wrongful acts, which include errors,
misstatements or misleading statements, acts or omissions and neglect or breach of duty by
directors and officers in the discharge of their individual or collective duties as such.
The insurance includes the cost of investigations and defenses, appeals and bonds and
settlements and judgments, but not fines or penalties imposed by law. The insurance does
not cover any claims arising out of acts alleged to have been committed prior to October
24, 1978. The insurer limit of liability under the policy is $175,000,000 in the aggregate
for all losses each year subject to certain individual and aggregate deductibles. The
policy contains various exclusions and reporting requirements. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
Registrant also has entered into indemnification agreements with its executive officers
and directors providing for indemnification against certain liabilities to the fullest
extent permitted under Ohio law. </FONT></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption from
Registration Claimed </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not
applicable. </FONT></P>


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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits </FONT></H1>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>5 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Opinion
of Keating Muething &amp; Klekamp PLL</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>          10 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>2005
Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex I                to the
Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting                of Shareholders)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>          23.1 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Consent
of Keating Muething &amp; Klekamp PLL (contained on Exhibit                5).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>23.2 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Consent
of Ernst &amp; Young LLP</FONT></TD>
</TR>
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<BR>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>          24 </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Power
of Attorney (contained on the signature page).</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
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<H1 ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Item 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Undertakings </FONT></H1>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: </FONT></P>


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                    <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
                    <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>1. </FONT></TD>
                    <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
                    to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
                    1933; </FONT></TD>
                    </TR>
                    </TABLE>
                    <BR>

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                    <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
                    <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>2. </FONT></TD>
                    <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
                    to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
                    date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
                    in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. </FONT></TD>
                    </TR>
                    </TABLE>
                    <BR>

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<TD WIDTH=10%>&nbsp;</TD>
<TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in
the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation of Registration
Fee&#148; table in the effective registration statement. </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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                    <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
                    <TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>3. </FONT></TD>
                    <TD WIDTH=90%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
                    to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
                    previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to
                    such information in the Registration Statement; </FONT></TD>
                    </TR>
                    </TABLE>
                    <BR>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>provided, however, that paragraphs
(1) and (2) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to
the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. </FONT></P>


<!-- MARKER PAGE="sheet: 8; page: 8" -->
<HR SIZE=5 COLOR=GRAY NOSHADE>



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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;9.5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. </FONT></P>


<!-- MARKER PAGE="sheet: 9; page: 9" -->
<HR SIZE=5 COLOR=GRAY NOSHADE>



<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Head Major Center Bold-TNR" FSL="Workstation" -->
<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>SIGNATURES </FONT></H1>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent Lv 0-TNR" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8
and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 27, 2005. </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Signature (Single)" FSL="Workstation" -->
<TABLE WIDTH=100% CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 BORDER=0>
<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=40%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=10%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2></FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.<BR><BR>
<BR>BY: /s/Carl H. Lindner III<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Carl H. Lindner III<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Co-Chief Executive Officer<BR><BR><BR>
<BR>BY: /s/S. Craig Lindner<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;&#151;<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;S. Craig Lindner<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Co-Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent Lv 0-TNR" FSL="Workstation" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>KNOW</B>
<B>ALL</B> <B>PERSONS</B> <B>BY</B> <B>THESE</B> <B>PRESENTS,</B> that each person whose
signature appears below whose name is preceded by an (*) hereby constitutes and appoints
James C. Kennedy and Karl J. Grafe, and each of them acting individually, his or her true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this
Registration Statement and to sign any and all registration statements relating to the
same offering of securities as this Registration Statement that are filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) promulgated under of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all
intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. </FONT></P>

<!-- MARKER FORMAT-SHEET="Para Indent Lv 0-TNR" FSL="Default" -->
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. </FONT></P>


<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Signature</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH>
     <TH><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Capacity</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH>
     <TH ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Date</FONT><HR WIDTH=95% SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK NOSHADE></TH></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD WIDTH="35%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/Carl H. Lindner
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="49%" ALIGN="LEFT"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Chairman of the Board of Directors</FONT></TD>
     <TD WIDTH="16%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*Carl H. Lindner</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>(Principal Executive Officer)</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/Carl H. Lindner III
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*Carl H. Lindner III</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/S. Craig Lindner
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*S. Craig Lindner</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/James E. Evans
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*James E. Evans</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/Theodore H. Emmerich
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*Theodore H. Emmerich</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*Terry S. Jacobs</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*William R. Martin</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*Kenneth C. Ambrecht</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/William W. Verity
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Director</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>*William W. Verity</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
      <TD>&nbsp; </TD>
      <TD> </TD>
      <TD ALIGN="CENTER"> </TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2><U>/s/Keith A. Jensen
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U>
</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Senior Vice President</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>May 27, 2005</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR VALIGN=Bottom>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>Keith A. Jensen</FONT></TD>
     <TD ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE=2>(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>


</BODY>
</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "forms80505.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 37586}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC", "cik": "0001042046", "assigned-sic": "6331", "irs-number": "311544320", "state-of-incorporation": "OH", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-125304", "film-number": "05863098"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE EAST FOURTH STREET", "street2": "SUITE 919", "city": "CINCINNATI", "state": "OH", "zip": "45202", "phone": "5135792121"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE EAST FOURTH STREET", "street2": "SUITE 919", "city": "CINCINNATI", "state": "OH", "zip": "45202"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDINGS INC", "date-changed": "19970709"}}
Form S-8
As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2005
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
_________________
AMERICAN FINANCIAL
GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Ohio
31-1544320
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer Identification
Number)
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 579-2121
(Address of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
_________________
AMERICAN FINANCIAL
GROUP, INC.
2005 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
_________________
James C. Kennedy, Esq.
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Secretary
American Financial Group, Inc.
One East Fourth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(513) 579-2538
Facsimile: (513) 579-0108
(Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Agent for Service of Process)
CALCULATION OF
REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
Securities
To Be Registered
Amount
To Be
Registered(1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share(2)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)
Amount of
Registration
Fee(3)
Common Stock
5,000,000 shares
$31.92
$159,600,000
$18,801
(1)
This Registration Statement is filed for up to 5,000,000 shares of common stock
          of American Financial Group, Inc. (the "Registrant") pursuant to the
          2005 Stock Incentive Plan.
(2)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating registration fee.
(3)
Registration fee has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(h).
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.    Incorporation of
Documents by Reference
The
following documents filed by American Financial Group, Inc. (the "Registrant")
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated
herein by reference and made a part hereof:
1.
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
2.
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.
3.
Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 18, 2005, March 8, 2005, and May 19,
          2005.
4.
The description of the Registrant's common stock contained in the Form 8-A
          filed with the Commission on November 25, 1997.
All
reports and other documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such
documents.
Item 4.    Description of
Securities
Not
required.
Item 5.    Interests of
Named Experts and Counsel
The
legality of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the Registrant by
Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL, One East Fourth Street, Suite 1400, Cincinnati, Ohio
45202.
Item 6.    Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
Ohio
Revised Code, Section 1701.13(E), allows indemnification by the Registrant to any person
made or threatened to be made a party to any proceedings, other than a proceeding by or in
the right of the Registrant, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Registrant, against expenses, including judgment and fines, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
Registrant's best interests and, with respect to criminal actions, in which he had no
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Similar provisions apply to
actions brought by or in the right of the Registrant, except that no indemnification shall
be made in such cases when the person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence
or misconduct to us unless deemed otherwise by the court. Indemnifications are to be made
by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors or the written opinion of
independent counsel or by the shareholders or by the court. The Registrant's Code of
Regulations extends such indemnification.
The
Registrant maintains, at its expense, Directors and Officers Liability and Company
Reimbursement Liability Insurance. The Directors and Officers Liability portion of such
policy covers all of the Registrant's directors and officers and of the companies
which are, directly or indirectly, more than 50% owned by the Registrant. The policy
provides for payment on behalf of the directors and officers, up to the policy limits and
after expenditure of a specified deductible, of all Loss (as defined) from claims made
against them during the policy period for defined wrongful acts, which include errors,
misstatements or misleading statements, acts or omissions and neglect or breach of duty by
directors and officers in the discharge of their individual or collective duties as such.
The insurance includes the cost of investigations and defenses, appeals and bonds and
settlements and judgments, but not fines or penalties imposed by law. The insurance does
not cover any claims arising out of acts alleged to have been committed prior to October
24, 1978. The insurer limit of liability under the policy is $175,000,000 in the aggregate
for all losses each year subject to certain individual and aggregate deductibles. The
policy contains various exclusions and reporting requirements.
The
Registrant also has entered into indemnification agreements with its executive officers
and directors providing for indemnification against certain liabilities to the fullest
extent permitted under Ohio law.
Item 7.    Exemption from
Registration Claimed
Not
applicable.
Item 8.    Exhibits
5
Opinion
of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL
10
2005
Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Annex I                to the
Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting                of Shareholders)
23.1
Consent
of Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (contained on Exhibit                5).
23.2
Consent
of Ernst & Young LLP
24
Power
of Attorney (contained on the signature page).
Item 9.    Undertakings
9.1   
The Registrant hereby undertakes to file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
1.
to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
                    1933;
2.
to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective
                    date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
                    in the information set forth in the Registration Statement.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in
the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration
Fee" table in the effective registration statement.
3.
to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
                    previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to
                    such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs
(1) and (2) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to
the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
9.2   
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
9.3   
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
9.4   
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
9.5   
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of
expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8
and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 27, 2005.
AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
BY: /s/Carl H. Lindner III
——————————————
Carl H. Lindner III
Co-Chief Executive Officer
BY: /s/S. Craig Lindner
——————————————
S. Craig Lindner
Co-Chief Executive Officer
KNOW
ALL
PERSONS
BY
THESE
PRESENTS,
that each person whose
signature appears below whose name is preceded by an (*) hereby constitutes and appoints
James C. Kennedy and Karl J. Grafe, and each of them acting individually, his or her true
and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this
Registration Statement and to sign any and all registration statements relating to the
same offering of securities as this Registration Statement that are filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) promulgated under of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any other regulatory authority, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all
intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, his substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Capacity
Date
/s/Carl H. Lindner
Chairman of the Board of Directors
May 27, 2005
*Carl H. Lindner
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/Carl H. Lindner III
Director
May 27, 2005
*Carl H. Lindner III
/s/S. Craig Lindner
Director
May 27, 2005
*S. Craig Lindner
/s/James E. Evans
Director
May 27, 2005
*James E. Evans
/s/Theodore H. Emmerich
Director
May 27, 2005
*Theodore H. Emmerich
Director
May 27, 2005
*Terry S. Jacobs
Director
May 27, 2005
*William R. Martin
Director
May 27, 2005
*Kenneth C. Ambrecht
/s/William W. Verity
Director
May 27, 2005
*William W. Verity
/s/Keith A. Jensen
Senior Vice President
May 27, 2005
Keith A. Jensen
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)