04/07/2008

CINCINNATI—A long-haul trucker from Danville, Iowa was the lucky winner of Great American Insurance Group’s second annual BIG RIG GIVEAWAY at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) on March 29 in Louisville, Kentucky. Michael Van Ness’s name was drawn at random from more than 9,000 entries received during the three-month contest period.

Mr. Van Ness won a customized Peterbilt enhanced by Stoops Truck Center of Indianapolis and Chrome Country of Nashville that included a new custom paint job, chrome detailing and an externally mounted “Sidetracker” video camera with in-cab display to minimize driver blind spots. A remote controlled electric hood opener from HoodXpress® was a new feature added to this year’s truck. The Peterbilt is equipped with a 475 hp C15 Caterpillar engine and a 13 speed Eaton/Fuller transmission.

The BIG RIG GIVEAWAY was open to all truckers with a valid commercial drivers’ license. Van Ness was standing in the crowd around the Great American booth when his name was announced. “I could hardly believe it”, he said and when he called his wife with the good news, she didn’t believe it, either.

The BIG RIG GIVEAWAY debuted at MATS last year and drew over 7,500 entries, both on-line and on-site at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. The volume of entries increased by over 1,500 during the contest’s second year as more truckers learned of the annual give-away. Scott Hendricks, Divisional President of Great American’s Trucking Division, said that planning has already begun for the 2009 contest.

The Mid-America Trucking Show is the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world. As the industry’s premier business venue, each year the show offers attendees the best opportunities for exploring new products and services, as well as insight into a variety of current industry issues via seminars and special events. The show attracts more than 1,000 exhibiting companies and approximately 75,000 attendees each year.

Great American’s Trucking Division, part of the property and casualty operations of Great American Insurance Group, has been an exhibitor at MATS since 2004, using the event to connect with current and future customers and business partners. According to Tim Clinton, Trucking’s Divisional VP of Marketing, “this event is a great opportunity to renew customer contacts and learn more about developing industry issues and trends.”

About Great American Insurance Group

Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialty commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of annuities and supplemental insurance products. The members of the Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG’s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) and Nasdaq under the symbol (“AFG”).

Web Sites: http://www.GreatAmericanTrucker.com
http://www.greatamericaninsurance.com
http://www.afginc.com