SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [ ]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
CENDANT CORPORATION
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
_____________________
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transactions:____________________
(5) Total fee paid.
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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PRELIMINARY COPY--SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 10, 1998
[CENDANT LOGO]
February , 1998
Dear American Bankers Shareholder:
On January 27, 1998, Season Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Cendant Corporation ("Cendant"), commenced a tender offer for 51% of the
outstanding shares of American Bankers' common stock (including the
associated preferred stock purchase rights) for $58.00 per common share in
cash. In addition, Cendant has proposed a tax-free merger of the two
companies pursuant to which each remaining share of American Bankers common
stock following the Cendant Offer would be converted into shares of Cendant
common stock having a value of $58.00 and each outstanding share of American
Bankers preferred stock would be converted into one share of Cendant
preferred stock having substantially similar terms.
As you know, American International Group, Inc. ("AIG") and American
Bankers have agreed to a merger whereby holders of American Bankers common
stock would receive for each of their shares AIG common stock and/or cash
valued at $47.00 and holders of American Bankers preferred stock would
receive for each of their shares one share of AIG preferred stock having
substantially similar terms (the "Proposed AIG Merger").
In connection with the Proposed AIG Merger, American Bankers has scheduled
a special meeting of preferred shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern
time, on March 4, 1998 and a special meeting of common shareholders to be
held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on March 6, 1998. Each of these meetings is
scheduled to be held at the Auditorium of American Bankers' headquarters,
11222 Quail Roost Drive, Miami, Florida 33157-6696. The American Bankers'
board of directors is soliciting your vote to approve the Proposed AIG Merger
at the special meetings. As discussed in the accompanying Proxy Statement,
our proposal offers a significantly higher dollar value to American Bankers
shareholders than the Proposed AIG Merger, and is also superior to the
Proposed AIG Merger in other respects.
WE BELIEVE YOU SHOULD VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER BECAUSE:
o The Cendant transaction offers a significantly higher value per
American Bankers common share than the Proposed AIG Merger by giving
you cash and/or stock with a combined per common share value of $58.00,
representing a premium of $11.00 (in excess of 23%) over the Proposed
AIG Merger.
o American Bankers' shareholders should send a strong message to American
Bankers' board of directors that you want to preserve your opportunity
to accept the superior value provided by the Cendant Offer.
There is no reason why the Cendant transaction could not close as swiftly
as the Proposed AIG Merger. Cendant's believes that its regulatory filings
are complete in American Bankers' six domiciliary states and Cendant is
already approved to write insurance in certain states and is familiar with
the requirements.
You may also want to consider that a Cendant and American Bankers business
combination would, in our opinion, bring together two excellent companies
with complementary skills and focus under a strong management team.
o Cendant is the product of the recent combination of CUC International
Inc. and HFS Incorporated, creating the world's largest consumer and
business services company. It is a $30 billion company, in terms of
market capitalization -one of the 100 largest in the United States.
In addition to providing technology-driven, membership based consumer
services, residential mortgage services, tax preparation services and
multimedia products, Cendant is the world's largest hotel franchisor
(with 8 brand names, including Days Inn(Registered Trademark),
Ramada(Registered Trademark) (in the United States) and Howard
Johnson(Registered Trademark)) and largest real estate brokerage
franchisor (operating the Century 21(Registered Trademark), Coldwell
Banker(Registered Trademark) and Electronic Realty
Associates(Registered Trademark) (ERA(Registered Trademark)) brand
systems). All together, Cendant interacts with approximately 170
million customers and members around the world, several times each
year.
o Cendant's vision for American Bankers is one of exceptional growth and
opportunity, which involves utilizing Cendant's distribution channels
and customer base as an additional outlet for American Bankers'
products and capitalizing on American Bankers' existing relationships
with financial institutions and retailers to increase penetration of
Cendant's products.
o Cendant is committed to maintaining American Bankers' headquarters in
Miami, maintaining all of its major facilities and continuing to employ
American Bankers' employees -and Cendant is willing to include this
commitment in an agreement with American Bankers. In contrast, AIG has
made no commitment to American Bankers' Florida operations or people
and has emphasized the importance of expense savings (which usually
involve cutting jobs and facilities) in its decision to acquire
American Bankers.
YOUR VOTE IS ESSENTIAL! IF YOU WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE
CENDANT OFFER, VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER BY RETURNING THE
ACCOMPANYING [COLOR] PROXY CARD TODAY.
A vote against the Proposed AIG Merger will not obligate you to tender
your American Bankers shares in the Cendant Offer. It will help give American
Bankers shareholders an opportunity to decide for themselves whether the
Cendant Offer is in their best interests.
We strongly urge you to vote AGAINST the Proposed AIG Merger by signing,
dating and returning the enclosed [COLOR] proxy card today. You have the
option to revoke your proxy at any time, or to vote your shares personally on
request if you attend the special meeting. Even if you have already submitted
a proxy card to American Bankers board, it is not too late to change your
vote by simply signing, dating and returning the [COLOR] proxy card today.
We encourage you to read carefully the attached proxy statement before
submitting a proxy. PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS AND VOTE THE [COLOR] PROXY CARD
TODAY.
Thank you for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
President and Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer
IMPORTANT
If your shares are held in your own name, please sign, date and return the
enclosed [COLOR] proxy card today. If your shares are held in "Street-Name"
only your broker or bank can vote your shares and only upon receipt of your
specific instructions. Please return the enclosed [COLOR] proxy card to
your broker or bank and contact the person responsible for your account to
ensure that a [COLOR] proxy is voted on your behalf.
Only shareholders of record on January 30, 1998 are entitled to vote at the
special meeting.
Do not sign any [color] proxy card you may receive from American Bankers.
If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares, please
call:
Innisfree M&A Incorporated
501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
CALL TOLL-FREE: (888) 750-5834
Banks and Brokers call collect: (212) 750-5833
THIS PROXY STATEMENT RELATES SOLELY TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES WITH
RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER AND IS NEITHER A REQUEST FOR THE TENDER OF
AMERICAN BANKERS COMMON SHARES NOR AN OFFER TO SELL SHARES OF CENDANT COMMON
STOCK. THE CENDANT OFFER IS BEING MADE ONLY BY MEANS OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE
AND RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, WHICH HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY MAILED TO
AMERICAN BANKERS SHAREHOLDERS.
PRELIMINARY COPY--SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 10, 1998
SPECIAL MEETING OF PREFERRED SHAREHOLDERS
OF
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
TO BE HELD ON MARCH 4, 1998
AND
SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
OF
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
TO BE HELD ON MARCH 6, 1998
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PROXY STATEMENT
OF
CENDANT CORPORATION
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SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED MERGER OF
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC. AND
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.
This Proxy Statement and the enclosed [COLOR] proxy card are furnished by
Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Cendant"), in connection with
its solicitation of proxies to be used at a special meeting of preferred
shareholders of American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc., a Florida corporation
("American Bankers"), to be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on March 4,
1998 and at any adjournments, postponements or rescheduling thereof and at a
special meeting of common shareholders of American Bankers to be held at
10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on March 6, 1998 and at any adjournments,
postponements or reschedulings thereof (collectively, the "Special
Meetings"). Each of the Special Meetings is scheduled to be held at the
Auditorium of American Bankers' headquarters, 11222 Quail Roost Drive, Miami,
Florida 33157-6596. Pursuant to this Proxy Statement, Cendant is soliciting
proxies from holders of shares of the common stock, par value $1.00 per
share, of American Bankers (the "Common Shares") and holders of shares of the
$3.125 Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of American Bankers
(the "Preferred Shares" and, together with the Common Shares, the "Shares")
to vote AGAINST American Bankers' proposal to merge with and into AIGF, Inc.,
a Florida corporation ("AIG Sub") and a wholly owned subsidiary of American
International Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("AIG") (such proposed
merger, the "Proposed AIG Merger"). American Bankers has fixed January 30,
1998 as the record date for determining those shareholders who will be
entitled to vote at the Special Meetings. This Proxy Statement and the
enclosed proxy are first being sent or given to shareholders of American
Bankers on or about February , 1998. The principal executive offices of
American Bankers are located at 11222 Quail Roost Drive, Miami, Florida
33517.
On January 27, 1998, Season Acquisition Corp., a New Jersey corporation
and a wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant ("Cendant Sub"), commenced a tender
offer (the "Cendant Offer") for 23,501,260 Common Shares (which represent 51%
of the outstanding Common Shares on a fully diluted basis), including the
associated preferred stock purchase rights (including any successors thereto,
the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Rights Agreement, dated as of February
24, 1988, as amended and restated as of November 14, 1990, between American
Bankers and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as successor Rights
Agent (as such agreement may be further amended and including any successor
agreement, the "Rights Agreement"), at a price of $58.00 per Common Share,
net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon. The terms and conditions
of the Cendant Offer are set forth in an Offer to Purchase (the "Cendant
Offer to Purchase") which has been included as an exhibit to a Schedule 14D-1
filed by Cendant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on
January 27, 1998. The Cendant Offer of $58.00 per Common Share represents a
premium of $11.00 (in excess of 23%) over the per Common Share value of AIG's
49.9% cash and 50.1% stock proposal. Shareholders are referred to the Cendant
Offer to Purchase for a more detailed description of the terms and conditions
of the Cendant Offer.
1
Pursuant to the terms of the Rights Agreement, the Rights expire on March
10, 1998 unless earlier redeemed by American Bankers. In the definitive
agreement regarding the Proposed AIG Merger (including all amendments
thereto, the "AIG Merger Agreement"), American Bankers has agreed that upon
request of AIG, it will take all actions necessary to extend the terms of the
Rights Agreement or to enter into a new Rights Agreement. In connection with
the execution of the AIG Merger Agreement, American Bankers' rendered the
Rights inapplicable to the Proposed AIG Merger. In addition, American Bankers
has amended the Rights Agreement to provide that the commencement of the
Cendant Offer would not trigger the occurrence of a "Distribution Date" (as
defined in the Rights Agreement). Under the Rights Agreement, until the
occurrence of a Distribution Date, the Rights are evidenced by, and are
transferred with, the Common Shares. As a result of the two-for-one split in
the Common Shares on September 12, 1997, one-half of one right is associated
with each Common Share. Unless the Rights are redeemed, shareholders will be
required to tender one-half of one Right for each Common Share tendered in
the Cendant Offer. If separate certificates for the Rights are not issued, a
tender of Common Shares will also constitute a tender of the associated
Rights. The Rights Agreement, if not invalidated, may make the acquisition of
Common Shares pursuant to the Cendant Offer impracticable unless the Rights
Agreement expires prior to the consummation of the Cendant Offer or American
Bankers' Board of Directors redeems the Rights or amends the Rights Agreement
to provide that it is not applicable to the Cendant Offer.
The purpose of the Cendant Offer and the proposed second step merger is to
enable Cendant to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity
interest in, American Bankers. The Cendant Offer, as the first step in the
acquisition of American Bankers, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of
a majority of the outstanding Common Shares. Cendant is seeking to negotiate
with American Bankers a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which
American Bankers would, as soon as practicable following consummation of the
Cendant Offer, consummate a merger with and into a direct wholly owned
subsidiary of Cendant with such subsidiary continuing as the surviving
corporation (the "Proposed Cendant Merger"). In the Proposed Cendant Merger,
each Common Share then outstanding (other than Common Shares owned by Cendant
or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Common Shares held in the treasury
of American Bankers, and if shareholder appraisal rights are available under
Florida law with respect to Common Shares, Common Shares held by shareholders
who perfect such appraisal rights) would be converted into the right to
receive that number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
Cendant ("Cendant Common Stock") having a value equal to the price per Common
Share paid pursuant to the Cendant Offer (as determined as of the time of the
Proposed Cendant Merger). In addition, pursuant to the Proposed Cendant
Merger, each of the then outstanding Preferred Shares would be converted into
one share of a new series of convertible preferred stock of Cendant having
substantially similar terms, except that such shares would be convertible
into shares of Cendant Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the
Preferred Shares.
The Cendant Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) there being
validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Cendant
Offer a number of Common Shares which, together with Shares owned by Cendant
and Cendant Sub, constitute at least 51% of the Common Shares outstanding on
a fully diluted basis, (ii) the affiliated transaction provisions of Florida
law being inapplicable to the Proposed Cendant Merger, (iii) the control
share acquisition provisions of Florida law continuing to be inapplicable to
the acquisition of Common Shares pursuant to the Cendant Offer, (iv) the
purchase of Common Shares pursuant to the Cendant Offer having been approved
for purposes of rendering the supermajority vote requirement of American
Bankers' Articles of Incorporation inapplicable to Cendant and Cendant Sub,
(v) the Rights having been redeemed by American Bankers' Board of Directors
or having been invalidated or otherwise rendered inapplicable to the Cendant
Offer and the Proposed Cendant Merger, (vi) the AIG Lockup Option (as defined
below) having been terminated or invalidated without any Common Shares having
been issued thereunder, and (vii) Cendant and Cendant Sub having obtained all
insurance regulatory approvals necessary for their acquisition of control
over the Company's insurance subsidiaries on terms and conditions
satisfactory to Cendant Sub, in its sole discretion. See the Introduction and
Section 14 of the Cendant Offer to Purchase.
As described in the Cendant Offer to Purchase, the conditions described in
clauses (ii) and (iii) above would be satisfied upon approval by American
Bankers' Board of Directors of the Cendant Offer and the
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Proposed Cendant Merger. Under American Bankers' By-laws, the Florida control
share acquisition statute is not applicable to American Bankers. Accordingly,
the condition described in clause (iv) above will continue to be satisfied
unless American Bankers amends its By-laws and elects to have the Florida
control share acquisition statute apply to control share acquisitions of
American Bankers' shares.
Under the terms of the Rights Agreement, the American Bankers' Board of
Directors has the ability to redeem the Rights at a price of $.01 per Right
(the "Redemption Price") or to otherwise make the Rights inapplicable to the
Cendant Offer and the Proposed Cendant Merger, thereby satisfying the
condition described in clause (v) above relating to the Rights (the "Rights
Condition"). However, American Bankers has agreed in the AIG Merger Agreement
not to facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an acquisition
proposal, which would include the Cendant Offer, including by means of an
amendment to the Rights Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, American
Bankers has amended the Rights Agreement to provide that the commencement of
the Cendant Offer would not trigger the occurrence of a Distribution Date.
Cendant believes that under applicable law and under the circumstances of
the Cendant Offer, including the approval of the American Bankers' Board of
Directors of the AIG Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby, the American Bankers' Board of Directors is obligated by its
fiduciary responsibilities not to redeem the Rights or render the Rights
Agreement inapplicable to any business transaction by AIG without, at the
same time, taking the same action as to Cendant, the Cendant Offer and the
Proposed Cendant Merger, and that the American Bankers Board's failure to do
so would be a violation of law. Cendant has commenced litigation against
American Bankers, substantially all of the members of the American Bankers'
Board of Directors, AIG and AIG Sub in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division (the "Florida Litigation"),
seeking to enjoin American Bankers from treating AIG and Cendant differently
under the Rights Agreement. In addition, Cendant is seeking to invalidate the
AIG Lockup Option in the Florida Litigation. See "CERTAIN LITIGATION."
While Cendant believes its claims in the Florida Litigation are
meritorious, there can be no assurance that it will prevail in such
litigation. If Cendant were to prevail in the Florida Litigation and American
Bankers was compelled to redeem the Rights or otherwise render the Rights
inapplicable to the Cendant Offer and the Proposed Cendant Merger, the Rights
Condition would be satisfied. Immediately upon the action of the American
Bankers' Board of Directors ordering a redemption of the Rights, the Rights
would terminate, and the only rights to which the holders of Rights would be
entitled would be the right to receive the Redemption Price.
If the Rights Condition is not satisfied and Cendant Sub elects, in its
sole discretion, to waive such condition and consummate the Cendant Offer,
and if there are outstanding Rights which have not been acquired by Cendant
Sub, Cendant Sub will evaluate its alternatives. Such alternatives could
include purchasing additional Rights in the open market, in privately
negotiated transactions, in another tender or exchange offer or otherwise.
Any such additional purchase of Rights could be for cash or other
consideration. Under such circumstances, the Proposed Cendant Merger might be
delayed or abandoned as impracticable.
There can be no assurance as to the timing of satisfaction of the
conditions to the Cendant Offer, as many of them are within the control of
the American Bankers' Board of Directors which, as described below, is
purportedly restricted in its ability to negotiate with Cendant or terminate
the AIG Merger Agreement. However, Cendant intends to vigorously pursue its
claims in the Florida Litigation as expeditiously as possible and to attempt
to ensure that further steps toward consummation of the Proposed AIG Merger
are not taken until the takeover defenses and other impediments described
above are invalidated, enjoined or otherwise rendered inapplicable to Cendant
and the Cendant Offer. By voting against the Proposed AIG Merger,
shareholders can demonstrate their support for the proposed combination of
American Bankers and Cendant. A vote against the Proposed AIG Merger moves
all American Bankers shareholders closer to being able to benefit from the
Cendant Offer. Absent the various takeover defenses and other impediments
adopted by the American Bankers' Board of Directors,
3
there is no reason why the Cendant Offer could not close as swiftly as the
Proposed AIG Merger. Cendant believes that its regulatory filings are
complete in American Bankers' six domiciliary states and Cendant is already
approved to write insurance in certain states and is familiar with the
requirements.
OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED AIG MERGER
According to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by American Bankers with
the SEC on January 13, 1998 (the "American Bankers January 13 Form 8-K"),
American Bankers entered into the AIG Merger Agreement with AIG and AIG Sub
on December 21, 1997 and subsequently amended and restated such agreement as
of January 7, 1998. The AIG Merger Agreement provides that, following the
satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, American Bankers would
consummate the Proposed AIG Merger. Pursuant to the Proposed AIG Merger, each
outstanding Common Share would be converted, based upon elections made by the
respective holders and subject to certain limitations, into the right to
receive (i) $47.00 in cash, without interest, (ii) a portion of a share of
common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of AIG (the "AIG Common Stock") with
a value equal to $47.00 (as determined based on the average closing prices of
the AIG Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the ten trading days
ending on the third trading day prior to the date that the Proposed AIG
Merger is consummated) or (iii) in certain circumstances, a combination of
cash and shares of AIG Common Stock with an aggregate value equal to $47.00.
In addition, pursuant to the Proposed AIG Merger, each of the then
outstanding Preferred Shares would be converted into one share of AIG
preferred stock having substantially similar terms, except that such
preferred stock would be convertible into shares of AIG Common Stock.
The obligations of AIG and American Bankers to effect the Proposed AIG
Merger are subject to various conditions, including the approval of the
Proposed AIG Merger by the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding
Common Shares voting separately as a class and by the holders of a least a
majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares voting separately as a class
(the "Preferred Shareholder Approval") and the receipt of all required
regulatory consents, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations. In
the event that the Preferred Shareholder Approval is not obtained or AIG
reasonably determines that such approval is not likely to be obtained, the
AIG Merger Agreement provides that the AIG Merger Agreement would be amended
to change the structure of the Proposed AIG Merger such that AIG Sub would
merge with and into American Bankers with American Bankers continuing as the
surviving corporation. Upon consummation of such revised Proposed AIG Merger,
the Preferred Shares would remain outstanding pursuant to their existing
terms (except that they would be convertible into shares of AIG Common
Stock). Unlike the Proposed AIG Merger initially contemplated in the AIG
Merger Agreement, the revised Proposed AIG Merger would not require any
approval of holders of Preferred Shares and would be a fully taxable
transaction, with the result that holders of Common Shares would pay federal
income tax on all consideration, whether cash or shares of AIG Common Stock,
that they received in the revised Proposed AIG Merger to the extent of any
gain they may have on their Common Shares.
In connection with the execution of the AIG Merger Agreement, American
Bankers and AIG entered into an option agreement (the "AIG Lockup Option
Agreement") pursuant to which American Bankers granted to AIG an option (the
"AIG Lockup Option"), exercisable in certain events, to purchase up to
approximately 8,265,626 Common Shares (which represented 19.9% of the
outstanding number of Common Shares at the time the AIG Lockup Option
Agreement was entered into) at an exercise price of $47.00 per Common Share,
subject to adjustment as set forth therein. The AIG Lockup Option may not be
exercised prior to AIG's receipt of applicable regulatory approvals,
including insurance regulatory approvals.
In the AIG Merger Agreement, American Bankers has agreed to a provision
(the "Fiduciary Sabbatical Provision") which provides that American Bankers
and its subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives will not, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit,
encourage or otherwise facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal
or offer with respect to a merger, reorganization, share exchange,
consolidation or similar transaction involving, or any purchase of 15% or
more of the assets or any equity securities of, American Bankers or any of
its subsidiaries (an "Acquisition
4
Proposal"), except that, after 120 days have elapsed from the date of the AIG
Merger Agreement and if the Proposed AIG Merger shall not have been approved
by the requisite vote of American Bankers' shareholders by such date,
American Bankers may, in certain limited circumstances, engage in
negotiations or discussions with any person who has made an unsolicited bona
fide superior Acquisition Proposal. In addition, in the AIG Merger Agreement,
American Bankers agreed that if a superior Acquisition Proposal was made,
American Bankers would not be able to terminate the AIG Merger Agreement in
order to accept such proposal prior to 180 days from the date of execution of
the AIG Merger Agreement.
In addition, the AIG Merger Agreement provides that under certain
circumstances in which the AIG Merger Agreement is terminated, American
Bankers will have an obligation to pay a cash fee of $66 million to AIG (the
"AIG Termination Fee"). However, pursuant to the terms of the AIG Lockup
Option Agreement, AIG's total profit under the AIG Lockup Option (including
the amount of the AIG Termination Fee) is limited to $66 million.
In connection with the execution of the AIG Merger Agreement, AIG has
entered into a Voting Agreement (the "AIG Voting Agreement") with R. Kirk
Landon, Chairman of the Board of American Bankers, and Gerald N. Gaston, Vice
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Bankers, pursuant
to which Messrs. Landon and Gaston have agreed (i) to vote the approximately
8.2% of the outstanding Common Shares beneficially owned by them (A) in favor
of adopting the AIG Merger Agreement and approving the Proposed AIG Merger
and (B) against any action or proposal that would compete with or could serve
to materially interfere with, delay, discourage, adversely affect or inhibit
the timely consummation of the Proposed AIG Merger, and (ii) upon request, to
grant to AIG an irrevocable proxy with respect to such Common Shares.
The foregoing description of the Proposed AIG Merger is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the AIG Merger Agreement, the AIG
Lockup Option Agreement and the AIG Voting Agreement, copies of which have
been filed with the SEC as exhibits to the American Bankers January 13 Form
8-K. For additional information concerning American Bankers, AIG and the
Proposed AIG Merger, including the material terms thereof and financial
information relating thereto, reference is made to the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus of American Bankers and AIG, dated as of January 30,
1998, mailed to American Bankers' shareholders in connection with the Special
Meetings (the "Proxy Statement/ Prospectus").
The purpose of the solicitation made by this Proxy Statement is to enable
American Bankers shareholders to decide for themselves which proposal is
financially superior and to act accordingly.
Cendant stands ready to enter into immediate negotiations with American
Bankers concerning a superior alternative to the Proposed AIG Merger. The
Cendant Offer also constitutes an invitation to the Board of Directors of
American Bankers to enter into merger negotiations with Cendant.
5
IMPORTANT
IF YOU WANT THE CENDANT OFFER TO SUCCEED, WE URGE YOU TO PROMPTLY SIGN,
DATE AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY TO VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG
MERGER.
REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN
SECURING THE SUCCESS OF THE CENDANT OFFER. HOWEVER, YOU MUST TENDER YOUR
COMMON SHARES PURSUANT TO THE CENDANT OFFER IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE CENDANT OFFER. YOUR VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER DOES NOT
OBLIGATE YOU TO TENDER YOUR COMMON SHARES PURSUANT TO THE CENDANT OFFER.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SENT A PROXY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
AMERICAN BANKERS, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO CHANGE YOUR VOTE. YOU MAY REVOKE
THAT PROXY AND VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER BY SIGNING, DATING AND
MAILING THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE. NO
POSTAGE IS NECESSARY IF YOUR PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS NEITHER A REQUEST FOR THE TENDER OF COMMON SHARES
NOR AN OFFER WITH RESPECT THERETO. SUCH AN OFFER WITH RESPECT TO COMMON
SHARES IS MADE ONLY THROUGH THE CENDANT OFFER TO PURCHASE.
6
BACKGROUND OF THE CENDANT OFFER
Over the past several years, representatives of Cendant (formerly known as
CUC International Inc., "CUC"), including John H. Fullmer, Cendant's
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, and representatives of
American Bankers, including Gerald N. Gaston, American Bankers' Vice
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, met on various occasions to
discuss possible strategic marketing alliances. At a meeting in May 1997, Mr.
Fullmer and Mr. Gaston met and discussed CUC's interest in acquiring American
Bankers and the existence of certain financial issues relating to a possible
combination.
In the Summer of 1997, representatives of HFS Incorporated ("HFS")
separately identified American Bankers as a possible acquisition candidate.
HFS's interest in American Bankers increased as a result of its decision to
acquire Providian Auto & Home Insurance Company and its property and casualty
subsidiaries, which predominately market personal automobile insurance
through direct marketing channels.
During the course of planning for the then-pending merger of CUC and HFS,
their mutual interest in American Bankers was identified and scheduled to be
pursued following completion of the merger.
On December 3, 1997, a significant shareholder of American Bankers
indicated to the Senior Vice President -- Acquisitions of HFS that it
believed American Bankers was considering a sale transaction. This
information was conveyed to Mr. Fullmer, who attempted on several occasions
to contact Mr. Gaston to inquire as to its validity.
Mr. Fullmer ultimately spoke with Mr. Gaston in mid-December 1997 and
described the merger of CUC and HFS which created Cendant and emphasized that
the resulting size and scale of Cendant had eliminated the financial issues
relating to an acquisition of American Bankers which they had previously
discussed. Mr. Fullmer inquired whether American Bankers was actively engaged
in discussions relating to an acquisition, and indicated that, if American
Bankers was so engaged, representatives of Cendant would like to meet
immediately with American Bankers' representatives to discuss Cendant's
strong interest in exploring such a transaction. In response to Mr. Gaston's
assurances that American Bankers was not actively engaged in acquisition
discussions, Mr. Fullmer agreed to forward to Mr. Gaston information
regarding Cendant and to contact Mr. Gaston to schedule a meeting in early
January to discuss a possible acquisition transaction.
On December 22, 1997, American Bankers and AIG announced that they had
entered into the AIG Merger Agreement contemplating the Proposed AIG Merger
and had entered into the AIG Lockup Option Agreement, and that certain
shareholders of American Bankers had entered into the AIG Voting Agreement
with AIG.
Following a series of meetings among representatives of Cendant and
Cendant's outside financial advisors and legal counsel and a meeting of
Cendant's Executive Committee, on January 26, 1998 Cendant's Board of
Directors (the "Cendant Board") met to review its strategic options in light
of the announcement of the Proposed AIG Merger. Because the Cendant Board
believes that a combination of Cendant and American Bankers would offer
compelling benefits to both companies, their shareholders and their other
constituencies, it determined that Cendant should make a competing offer for
American Bankers.
On January 27, 1998, Cendant announced its intention to commence the
Cendant Offer, to be followed by the Proposed Cendant Merger. Also on January
27, 1998, Cendant and Cendant Sub commenced the Florida Litigation. On the
same day, Cendant sent the following letter to American Bankers' Board of
Directors:
7
January 27, 1998
Board of Directors
American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc.
11222 Quail Roost Drive
Miami, Florida 33157
Attention: Mr. R. Kirk Landon, Chairman
Dear Members of the Board:
On behalf of Cendant Corporation we are pleased to submit a proposal to
acquire American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. for $58 per common share
payable in cash and stock. Our proposal, representing a premium of $11 (in
excess of 23%) over the value of American International Group's proposal, is
demonstrably superior to the AIG proposed transaction.
Several months ago one of our senior executives had discussed with Mr.
Gaston our interest in pursuing a business combination with American Bankers.
As recently as December, in response to our inquiry as to whether American
Bankers was engaged in discussions relating to an acquisition and to our
expression of Cendant's strong interest in exploring such a transaction with
American Bankers, Mr. Gaston said that American Bankers was not pursuing any
acquisition transaction, and suggested that he meet with our senior executive
in early January to discuss the matter further. In view of this, it is
particularly disappointing that we were not made aware that American Bankers
was interested in pursuing acquisition proposals, and, accordingly, we did
not have the opportunity to submit an offer prior to the announcement of your
proposed transaction with AIG.
We would have liked to discuss our proposal directly with you. However,
the terms of Section 6.2 of your agreement with AIG purport to prohibit
discussions with us or any other party until 120 days following the date of
such agreement, at which time, as both you and AIG have publicly stated, the
acquisition of American Bankers by AIG likely will have been completed,
making any discussions between us irrelevant. We believe this is an
extraordinary measure and raises questions about whether it is in the best
interests of American Bankers' shareholders.
Accordingly, we will be commencing promptly a cash tender offer directly
to American Bankers' shareholders for 51% of American Bankers' shares at a
price of $58 per common share to be followed by a second step merger in which
shares of Cendant common stock with a fixed value of $58 per share will be
exchanged on a tax-free basis for the balance of American Bankers' common
stock and each share of American Bankers' preferred stock will be converted
into one share of Cendant preferred stock having substantially similar terms,
except that such shares will be convertible into shares of Cendant common
stock calculated in accordance with the terms of the American Bankers'
preferred stock.
The provisions in your agreement with AIG include highly unusual and
restrictive conditions which, in fact, represent a virtual forfeiture of the
Board's fundamental mandate of protecting the interests of shareholders.
Accordingly, we have today commenced litigation in federal court in Miami to
ensure that your shareholders will have the opportunity to consider our offer
and to assist your board in fulfilling its fiduciary obligations and to
resolve certain other issues.
Although we have determined that it is both necessary and appropriate,
under the circumstances, to commence our cash tender offer and litigation,
our strong preference would be to enter into a merger agreement with you
containing substantially the same terms and conditions (other than price and
inappropriate terms) as your proposed transaction with AIG.
In addition to its significant economic superiority, the merits and the
strategic value of the combination of Cendant and American Bankers are
compelling. Cendant (NYSE:CD) is the product of the recent combination of CUC
International Inc. and HFS Incorporated, creating the world's largest
consumer and business services company. Cendant interacts with approximately
170 million customers and members around the world, several times each year.
Cendant is investment grade rated and has a market value of approximately $30
billion. Cendant's 1997 revenues and net income are estimated by
8
Wall Street analysts at approximately $5.1 billion and $900 million,
respectively. Cendant has recently announced its acquisition of Providian
Direct, a direct marketer of automobile insurance. Under separate cover, we
have sent a copy of the proxy statement for the merger that created Cendant.
Cendant's vision for American Bankers is one of exceptional growth and
opportunity, which involves utilizing Cendant's distribution channels and
customer base as an outlet for American Bankers' products and capitalizing on
American Bankers' existing relationships with financial institutions and
retailers to increase penetration of Cendant's products. Consistent with this
vision, and Cendant's past strategic acquisition practices, Cendant would
expect American Bankers' management to continue with the company, would not
expect significant employment reductions and would expect American Bankers to
continue to maintain its headquarters in Miami.
The price we are offering in our proposal clearly provides significantly
greater value to your shareholders than the proposed transaction with AIG. It
would also benefit Cendant's shareholders and be accretive to earnings within
the first year. Our proposal is not subject to any due diligence or financing
condition and the funds for the cash portion of our offer are available from
existing cash resources and under our credit facilities. In addition,
Cendant, having acquired control of insurers in the past, is extremely
familiar with the insurance regulatory process, has obtained approvals of the
type required to implement this proposal and will be able to complete our
proposed transaction on a timely basis.
Accordingly, we strongly believe that you are obligated by principles of
fiduciary duty to consider and accept our proposal. Consistent with your
clear fiduciary duties, we expect you will provide us with at least the same
information you furnished to AIG in the course of your discussions and
negotiations with them and that you will discuss and negotiate with us the
details of our proposal. In addition, you should take whatever other actions
are reasonably necessary or appropriate so that we may operate on a level
playing field with AIG and any other companies which may be interested in
acquiring American Bankers.
Our Board of Directors is fully supportive of our proposal and has
unanimously authorized and approved it and no other Cendant approval is
required for this transaction. Consistent with our Board of Directors'
action, we and our advisors stand ready to meet with you and your advisors at
your earliest convenience. We want to stress that we are flexible as to all
aspects of our proposal and are anxious to proceed to discuss and negotiate
it with you as soon as possible.
Should you find it helpful to do so in connection with reviewing and
considering our proposal, you and your advisors should feel free to contact
our outside advisors: Steven B. Wolitzer of Lehman Brothers and Jack Levy of
Merrill Lynch & Co., our financial advisors, and David Fox of Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, our legal counsel.
Personally and on behalf of our colleagues at Cendant, we look forward to
hearing from you soon and working with you on our proposal.
Sincerely,
/s/ Henry R. Silverman /s/Walter A. Forbes
Henry R. Silverman Walter A. Forbes
President and Chairman
Chief Executive
Officer
cc: All Directors
9
On January 28, 1998, Cendant Sub commenced the Cendant Offer.
On February 2, 1998, Cendant and Cendant Sub filed certain motions with
the Florida Department of Insurance in connection with Cendant and Cendant
Sub's insurance regulatory application. See "CERTAIN LITIGATION."
On February 3, 1998, Cendant sent the following letter to American
Bankers' Board of Directors:
[Cendant Logo]
February 3, 1998
Board of Directors
American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc.
11222 Quail Roost Drive
Miami, Florida 33157
Attention: Mr. R. Kirk Landon, Chairman
Dear Members of the Board:
We appreciate that you find yourselves in a difficult position since the
AIG contract purports to eliminate your ability to reply to any party
interested in acquiring your company for 120 days following your agreement to
sell it to AIG. Thus, we recognize that you may believe you are not able to
reply to this letter. Nevertheless, we felt it important to make clear to you
our position on certain matters of importance to you, your company and its
shareholders.
It is regrettable that AIG's acquisition agreement places you in this
untenable position; it does not appear that AIG is prepared to adjust its
agreement to address your current circumstances. Our litigation is intended
to offer you and your shareholders relief from this quandary, and to free you
as board members to pursue the best interests of your shareholders. We want
to assure you that our goals in this litigation are not punitive. We
understand that to be unable to react to new facts and new opportunities
would be deeply frustrating for any board -we hope that soon you will be
able to regain control of your situation.
Despite the agreement with AIG, we believe you still retain several tools
to advance your shareholders' best interests. It is never too late for you to
put forward a revised recommendation based on the most recent facts and the
most recent opportunities for your shareholders. We believe your shareholders
would respect and applaud your flexibility and responsiveness.
We urge you to take advantage of these opportunities and to communicate to
your shareholders that you are committed to advancing their interests, and to
demonstrate that you recognize events have changed matters and that you are
working to maximize shareholder value.
We would also like to clearly address one point that we believe has not
been adequately discussed in the press: our commitment to Florida and to your
company. We will maintain the company's headquarters in Miami. We do not plan
to close any major facilities or dismiss their employees. We believe your
company has built a remarkable franchise in its industry and we will be very
careful not to jeopardize this asset. We believe this commitment to your
community and to your people is much stronger than that of AIG. The insurance
expertise of American Bankers' people and the insurance infrastructure of the
company are clearly an asset that Cendant values highly. Hence our ability to
make this commitment to you which we would include in an agreement with you
offering real protection to your people Our premise in making our acquisition
proposal is the promise of business growth at American Bankers, not expense
reduction.
We believe our proposed commitments are materially better than AIG's vague
"statement of intent" with respect to your Florida headquarters and the
absence in AIG's agreement of any guarantees regarding the continued
employment of your people or maintenance of existing operations. The
10
information in AIG's proxy statement indeed leads us to suspect they could
not make these commitments. In particular, AIG's constant focus on expense
savings in all of your discussions (page 21 -- 22) indicates that
consolidating ABI's insurance infrastructure into AIG is vital to its
investment thesis. It is certainly telling that in July Mr. Greenberg thought
your historical results and current cost structure made a transaction
"unlikely." After receiving detailed analysis of the synergies and expense
savings AIG could reap (p. 22), he switched to "serious interest" in
September. As leaders of one of the largest service companies in the world,
we know of only one way to swiftly cut expenses in a service business --
close offices, reduce headcount.
Again, we would like to reemphasize there is no reason why our merger
would not close swiftly. Our regulatory filings in your six domicile states
are complete -we have already been approved to write insurance in several
states and are familiar with the requirements. And funds continue to be fully
available to quickly complete a transaction.
Again, we would prefer to engage in a direct dialogue with you. Your track
record as a board and as individuals gives us confidence that you would
quickly come to understand our vision of the opportunities that the joining
of our two companies could realize. We believe, however, that upon
consideration of the facts -the superior value and the compelling benefits
of this combination -that your shareholders and you, their board, will soon
be able to recognize that joining with Cendant is in everyone's long-term
best interest and that you will ultimately decide in favor of our proposal.
Sincerely,
/s/ Henry R. Silverman /s/ Walter A. Forbes
Henry R. Silverman Walter A. Forbes
President and Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
11
REASONS TO VOTE AGAINST
THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER
Cendant urges you to vote your Shares AGAINST the Proposed AIG Merger for
the following reasons:
o A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER ALLOWS YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RECEIVE GREATER VALUE FOR YOUR SHARES.
The Cendant Offer would provide $58.00 per Common Share in cash and in the
Proposed Cendant Merger each remaining Common Share would be converted into
the number of shares of Cendant Common Stock having a value of $58.00 (as
determined as of the time of the Proposed AIG Merger), representing a premium
of $11.00 (in excess of 23%) over the per Common Share value of the Proposed
AIG Merger. Cendant is committed to helping American Bankers' shareholders
realize the significantly higher value of the Cendant transaction -even if
it means that Cendant must wait the full 180 days until the American Bankers'
Board of Directors can terminate the AIG Merger Agreement.
o A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO
AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT YOU WANT TO PRESERVE YOUR
OPPORTUNITY TO ACCEPT THE CENDANT OFFER, WHICH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY
GREATER FINANCIAL VALUE THAN THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER.
By voting against the Proposed AIG Merger, shareholders can demonstrate
their support for the proposed combination of American Bankers and Cendant. A
vote against the Proposed AIG Merger moves all American Bankers shareholders
closer to being able to benefit from the Cendant Offer. There is no reason
why the Cendant Offer could not close swiftly. Cendant believes that its
regulatory filings are complete in American Bankers' six domiciliary states
and Cendant is already approved to write insurance in certain states and is
familiar with the requirements.
o A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER ALSO SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO
THE AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO
JEOPARDIZE THE REMARKABLE FRANCHISE WHICH AMERICAN BANKERS HAS BUILT
IN ITS INDUSTRY.
While AIG has only made vague statements regarding American Bankers'
Florida headquarters and the continued employment of its personnel, Cendant
is committed in maintaining American Bankers' headquarters in Miami,
maintaining all of its major facilities and continuing to employ American
Bankers' employees -and Cendant is willing to include this commitment in an
agreement with American Bankers. The insurance expertise of American Bankers'
people and the insurance infrastructure of the company are clearly an asset
that Cendant values highly. Cendant wants to grow and strengthen the American
Bankers business, not simply extract financial windfalls primarily through
expense reduction.
A vote against the Proposed AIG Merger will not obligate you to tender
your Common Shares pursuant to the Cendant Offer. If American Bankers
shareholders approve the Proposed AIG Merger, it is likely that the Proposed
AIG Merger will be consummated.
OBSTACLES TO THE CENDANT OFFER CREATED BY
AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS
You should be aware that the Board of Directors of American Bankers has
taken several actions in connection with the Proposed AIG Merger which create
barriers against competing proposals (such as the Cendant Offer) and thus
hinder your ability to receive the maximum value for your Shares.
AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS AGREED TO IGNORE SUPERIOR
PROPOSALS. In the AIG Merger Agreement, American Bankers agreed to the
Fiduciary Sabbatical Provision, which provides that for 120 days from the
date of execution of the AIG Merger Agreement it would not discuss any other
proposal to be acquired, even a proposal for more money. American Bankers
also agreed that if a superior Acquisition Proposal was made, American
Bankers would not be able to terminate the AIG Merger Agreement in order to
accept such proposal prior to 180 days from the date of execution of the AIG
Merger Agreement.
12
AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE AIG LOCKUP OPTION
AGREEMENT. Concurrently with the execution of the AIG Merger Agreement, AIG
and American Bankers entered into the AIG Lockup Option Agreement granting
AIG the right to purchase, under certain circumstances, up to 8,265,626
Common Shares (representing 19.9% of the outstanding Common Shares at the
time the AIG Lockup Option Agreement was entered into) at a cash purchase
price of $47.00 per share, subject to adjustment. By entering into the AIG
Lockup Option Agreement, your Board of Directors has created a further
obstacle to your receiving the maximum value for your Shares and has agreed
to dilute your equity in American Bankers or pay money to AIG in certain
circumstances involving a competing proposal to acquire American Bankers at a
price in excess of $47.00 per common share, including the Cendant Offer.
Under the terms of the AIG Lockup Option Agreement, the maximum profit which
AIG may realize through exercising the AIG Lockup Option is $66 million
(including any payment of the AIG Termination Fee). As a result of the
commencement of the Cendant Offer, the AIG Lockup Option is immediately
exercisable upon AIG's receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals,
including insurance regulatory approvals. AIG's ability to profit under the
AIG Lockup Option is not contingent upon shareholders voting against the
Proposed AIG Merger at the Special Meetings or upon consummation of the
Cendant Offer.
AMERICAN BANKERS' CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CEO AGREED TO VOTE FOR THE
PROPOSED AIG MERGER. Mr. R. Kirk Landon, Chairman of the Board of American
Bankers, and Mr. Gerald N. Gaston, Vice Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of American Bankers, together beneficially owning
approximately 8.2% of the Common Shares, each entered into the AIG Voting
Agreement committing them to vote in favor of the Proposed AIG Merger and
against any competing transaction that might inhibit consummation of the
Proposed AIG Merger.
AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED THE AIG TERMINATION FEE. In
the AIG Merger Agreement, American Bankers agreed to pay AIG the AIG
Termination Fee of $66 million under certain circumstances involving a
termination of the AIG Merger Agreement following a third-party proposal to
acquire American Bankers. American Bankers also agreed to reimburse AIG for
up to $5 million in transaction expenses if American Bankers' shareholders
fail to approve the Proposed AIG Merger without a third-party transaction
proposal having been made and to pay AIG the $66 million AIG Termination Fee
if within 18 months of such termination American Bankers enters into an
agreement concerning a third-party transaction proposal. Cendant believes
that the AIG Termination Fee constitutes a significant obstacle to your
receiving the maximum value for your Shares.
AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS AGREED TO EXTEND THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT
OR ENTER INTO A NEW RIGHTS AGREEMENT. Pursuant to the terms of the Rights
Agreement, the Rights expire on March 10, 1998 unless earlier redeemed by
American Bankers. In the AIG Merger Agreement, American Bankers has agreed
that, upon request of AIG, it will take all actions necessary to extend the
term of the Rights Agreement or to enter into a new Rights Agreement. The
Rights Agreement, if not invalidated, may make the acquisition of Common
Shares pursuant to the Cendant Offer impracticable unless the Rights
Agreement expires prior to the consummation of the Cendant Offer or American
Bankers' Board of Directors redeems the Rights or amends the Rights Agreement
to provide that it is not applicable to the Cendant Offer. However, in the
AIG Merger Agreement, American Bankers has also agreed that it will not
facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an acquisition
proposal, which would include the Cendant Offer, including by means of an
amendment to the Rights Agreement. Agreeing (without shareholder approval) to
extend the term of the Rights Agreement, to enter into a new Rights Agreement
and to restrict its ability to amend the Rights Agreement in connection with
an acquisition proposal creates a significant obstacle to your receiving
maximum value for your Shares.
Cendant has commenced litigation challenging certain aspects of these
actions. See "CERTAIN LITIGATION".
13
YOU CAN TAKE SOME IMMEDIATE STEPS TO HELP OBTAIN
THE MAXIMUM VALUE FOR YOUR SHARES
(1) RETURN YOUR [COLOR] PROXY AND VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER;
AND
(2) MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN TO AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
BY TAKING THESE STEPS, YOU WILL GIVE AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS A
CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO REMOVE ALL
OBSTACLES TO THE CENDANT OFFER, WHICH PROVIDES SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER
FINANCIAL VALUE THAN THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER.
A vote against the Proposed AIG Merger will not obligate you to tender
your Common Shares in the Cendant Offer. However, we believe that a vote
against the Proposed AIG Merger will enable the American Bankers shareholders
to consider the Cendant Offer and will help secure the success of the Cendant
Offer.
CERTAIN LITIGATION
On January 27, 1998, Cendant filed a complaint in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the "Court") against
American Bankers, substantially all of the directors of American Bankers, AIG
and AIG Sub. The complaint, as amended on February 2, 1998, alleges that the
directors and American Bankers, in a civil conspiracy with AIG and AIG Sub,
have breached the fiduciary obligations owed to the shareholders of American
Bankers by, among other things, entering into the AIG Merger Agreement and
deterring the Cendant Offer through a number of unlawful takeover defenses,
including the AIG Lockup Option Agreement, the Fiduciary Sabbatical Provision
in the AIG Merger Agreement, the AIG Termination Fee and the Rights
Agreement. The amended complaint also alleges that AIG filed materially false
and misleading public disclosures on Schedule 13D regarding the AIG Voting
Agreement in violation of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Specifically, it is alleged that AIG
failed to disclose that AIG's Chairman of the Board, Maurice R. Greenberg, is
a person controlling AIG. In addition, the amended complaint alleges that AIG
and American Bankers have violated Sections 14(a) and 14(e) of the Exchange
Act by making a number of materially false and misleading statements in an
AIG press release dated January 27, 1998 and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus,
including statements, among others, that (a) AIG has exercised the AIG Lockup
Option Agreement when, in fact, it cannot be exercised until such time as AIG
obtains the requisite regulatory approvals, which are not imminent; (b)
American Bankers and AIG expect the Proposed AIG Merger to close in March
1998 when, in fact, they know that the likelihood of receiving all required
regulatory approvals prior to the second quarter of 1998 is remote at best;
(c) AIG expects to achieve expense savings following consummation of the
Proposed AIG Merger without specifying how they will be achieved, when, in
fact, to accomplish such savings, it is likely that jobs will be eliminated
and employees of American Bankers will be terminated, including those based
in Florida, although AIG has previously stated that the employee base should
not be much affected; and (d) Salomon Smith Barney, American Bankers'
financial advisor, rendered its opinion as to the fairness of the
consideration to be paid to holders of Common Shares in the Proposed AIG
Merger without disclosing the extent to which Salomon Smith Barney relied on
the revised projections prepared by American Bankers' management that
contained lower estimates of revenue and income, and whether the fairness
opinion could have been given had the unrevised, higher projections been
used.
In the amended complaint, Cendant and Cendant Sub ask the Court to enter
judgment against the defendant: (a) declaring the AIG Lockup Option
Agreement, Fiduciary Sabbatical Provision and AIG Termination Fee to be
unlawful and in breach of the fiduciary duties of American Bankers and
American Bankers' Board of Directors; (b) enjoining, temporarily,
preliminarily, and permanently, (i) any exercise or payment of the AIG Lockup
Option Agreement, (ii) enforcement of the Fiduciary Sabbatical Provision,
(iii) payment of the AIG Termination Fee, and (iv) any steps to implement the
Rights Agreement or to extend its terms; (c) declaring the AIG Merger
Agreement to be unlawful and in breach of the fiduciary duties of American
Bankers and the American Bankers' Board of Directors, and enjoining,
temporarily, preliminarily and permanently, any steps to effectuate it unless
and until the takeover defenses discussed above are invalidated, enjoined or
otherwise rendered inapplicable to
14
Cendant and Cendant Sub and any actions contemplated by Cendant and Cendant
Sub, including the Cendant Offer and the Proposed Cendant Merger; (d)
enjoining, temporarily, preliminarily and permanently, AIG from acquiring any
shares of American Bankers, voting any shares of American Bankers or
soliciting any proxies with respect to the shares of American Bankers stock
unless and until AIG files a full and complete Schedule 13D with respect to
American Bankers; (e) requiring American Bankers and its directors to provide
Cendant Sub with a fair and equal opportunity to acquire American Bankers,
including furnishing to Cendant Sub the same information and access to
information that was provided to AIG; and (f) compelling corrective
disclosures to cure the materially false and misleading statements made in
the AIG press release dated January 27, 1998 and the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the
shareholder vote on the AIG Merger Agreement.
On January 29, 1998, the Court in the Florida Litigation entered an order
implementing an agreed upon expedited discovery schedule (the "Expedited
Discovery Order"). Pursuant to the Expedited Discovery Order, Cendant and
Cendant Sub will take depositions of the defendants between February 9 and
February 19, 1998. The Expedited Discovery Order also provides that
additional discovery, including subpoenas on third party witnesses, will
proceed on an expedited basis.
In addition, on February 2, 1998, in connection with Cendant's and Cendant
Sub's application for approval of the acquisition of a controlling interest
in American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, American Bankers Life
Assurance Company of Florida and Voyager Service Warranties, Inc. (the
"Florida Domestic Insurers"), each a subsidiary of American Bankers (the
"Cendant Form A Proceedings"), Cendant and Cendant Sub filed with the Florida
Department of Insurance (the "Department") a motion to consolidate the
Cendant Form A Proceedings with the application of AIG and AIG Sub for
approval of their proposed acquisition of a controlling interest in the
Florida Domestic Insurers (the "AIG Form A Proceedings"). In this motion,
Cendant and Cendant Sub asserted that the Department would commit a material
error in procedure if it did not consolidate the Cendant Form A Proceedings
and the AIG Form A Proceedings and render its decision on the applications
simultaneously. Also on February 2, 1998, Cendant Sub (1) petitioned to
intervene in the AIG Form A Proceedings and to have those proceedings
consolidated with the Cendant Form A Proceedings and (2) petitioned for a
hearing on the AIG Form A Proceedings as provided for by Florida law. Cendant
and Cendant Sub asserted that they should be admitted as parties to the AIG
Form A Proceedings as provided by Florida law because their substantial
interests as a shareholder (in the case of Cendant) and competing acquiror of
American Bankers will be affected by the AIG Form A Proceedings. Cendant and
Cendant Sub further asserted that the AIG Form A Proceedings raise disputed
issues of material fact as to whether AIG's proposed acquisition of a
controlling interest in the Florida Domestic Insurers should be approved by
the Department, and that Cendant and Cendant Sub have a right to be heard on
these issues through participation in the AIG Form A Proceedings.
On February 3, 1998, AIG moved to dismiss the claims against it in the
Florida Litigation (the "AIG Motion to Dismiss"). The AIG Motion to Dismiss
argues that AIG made all required disclosures in its Schedule 13D, and
specifically that AIG need not disclose that Mr. Greenberg is a controlling
person of AIG. The AIG Motion to Dismiss also denies the allegations against
AIG added in the amended complaint, claiming that the statements in the
January 27, 1998 press release and the Proxy Statement/ Prospectus were not
misleading and that all required material disclosures were made. The AIG
Motion to Dismiss also claims that because the Federal securities allegations
against AIG should be dismissed, the Court should decline to exercise its
supplemental federal jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims against
AIG. Cendant and Cendant Sub believe that the claims in the amended complaint
are meritorious, and will vigorously oppose the AIG Motion to Dismiss.
VOTING INFORMATION
Approval of the Proposed AIG Merger requires the affirmative vote of a
majority of all outstanding Common Shares voting separately as a class and a
majority of all outstanding Preferred Shares voting separately as a class.
Broker non-votes and abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against
the Proposed AIG Merger.
15
According to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, as of the close of business
on January 30, 1998, the record date for the Special Meetings, there were
issued and outstanding 42,205,238 Common Shares and 2,300,000 Preferred
Shares.
The accompanying [COLOR] proxy will be voted in accordance with the
shareholder's instructions on such [COLOR] proxy. Shareholders may vote
against the Proposed AIG Merger by marking the proper box on the [COLOR]
proxy. If no instructions are given, the [COLOR] proxy will be voted AGAINST
the Proposed AIG Merger.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETINGS, WE URGE YOU TO
VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER ON THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY AND
IMMEDIATELY MAIL IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. YOU MAY DO THIS EVEN IF YOU
HAVE ALREADY SENT IN A DIFFERENT PROXY SOLICITED BY AMERICAN BANKERS' BOARD
OF DIRECTORS. IT IS YOUR LATEST DATED PROXY THAT COUNTS. EXECUTION AND
DELIVERY OF A PROXY BY A RECORD HOLDER OF SHARES WILL BE PRESUMED TO BE A
PROXY WITH RESPECT TO ALL SHARES HELD BY SUCH RECORD HOLDER UNLESS THE PROXY
SPECIFIES OTHERWISE.
YOU MAY REVOKE YOUR PROXY AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO ITS EXERCISE BY ATTENDING
THE SPECIAL MEETINGS AND VOTING IN PERSON, BY SUBMITTING A DULY EXECUTED
LATER DATED PROXY OR BY SUBMITTING A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION. UNLESS
REVOKED IN THE MANNER SET FORTH ABOVE, DULY EXECUTED PROXIES IN THE FORM
ENCLOSED WILL BE VOTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETINGS ON THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER IN
ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH INSTRUCTIONS, SUCH
PROXIES WILL BE VOTED AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER.
CENDANT STRONGLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE [COLOR] PROXY
TODAY.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SENT A PROXY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMERICAN
BANKERS, YOU MAY REVOKE THAT PROXY AND VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED AIG MERGER
BY SIGNING, DATING AND MAILING THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY.
If you have any questions about the voting of Shares, please call:
INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED
501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Call Toll-Free: (888) 750-5834
Banks and Brokers call collect: (212) 750-5833
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
Proxies will be solicited by mail, telephone, telefax, telegraph, the
world wide web, newspapers and other publications of general distribution and
in person. Cendant has retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated ("Innisfree") for
solicitation and advisory services in connection with solicitations relating
to the Special Meeting, for which Innisfree is to receive a fee up to
$175,000 in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Special
Meetings. Cendant has also agreed to reimburse Innisfree for out-of-pocket
expenses and to indemnify Innisfree against certain liabilities and expenses,
including reasonable legal fees and related charges. Innisfree will solicit
proxies for the Special Meetings from individuals, brokers, banks, bank
nominees and other institutional holders. Directors, officers and certain
employees of Cendant may assist in the solicitation of proxies without any
additional remuneration. The entire expense of soliciting proxies for the
Special Meetings by or on behalf of Cendant is being borne by Cendant.
The following directors of Cendant may solicit proxies: Walter A. Forbes;
Henry R. Silverman; James E. Buckman; Bartlett Burnap; Leonard S. Coleman; T.
Barnes Donnelley; Martin L. Edelman; Frederick D. Green; Stephen A. Greyser;
Dr. Carole G. Hankin; Stephen P. Holmes; Robert D. Kunisch;
16
Christopher K. McLeod; Michael P. Monaco; The Rt Hon. Brian Mulroney, P.C.,
LL.D; Robert E. Nederlander; Burton C. Perfit; Anthony G. Petrello; Robert W.
Pittman; E. John Rosenwald, Jr.; Robert P. Rittereiser; Stanley M. Rumbough,
Jr.; Leonard Schutzman; E. Kirk Shelton; Robert F. Smith; John D. Snodgrass;
Craig R. Stapleton; and Robert T. Tucker. In addition, the following officers
of Cendant may solicit proxies: Samuel L. Katz; Cosmo Coriliano; John Fulmer;
Laura T. Hamilton; Elliot Bloom; Cindy C. Hodnett; Ronen Stauber; and Eric J.
Bock. Certain directors of Cendant are also officers of Cendant. None of the
foregoing participants beneficially owns any Shares. Cendant is the
beneficial holder of 371,200 Common Shares and 99,900 Preferred Shares which
were purchased in open-market transactions as set forth on Schedule I hereto.
Lehman Brothers Inc. ("Lehman Brothers") and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner
& Smith Incorporated ("Merrill Lynch") (together, the "Dealer Managers") are
acting in such capacity in connection with the Cendant Offer and are acting
as financial advisors to Cendant in connection with its effort to acquire
American Bankers. Cendant has agreed to pay each of the Dealer Managers (in
their capacities as Dealer Managers and financial advisors) upon commencement
of the Cendant Offer a fee of $250,000 and (a) in the case of Lehman
Brothers, an additional fee of $1,750,000 contingent upon the execution of a
definitive agreement providing for the acquisition of American Bankers by
Cendant and a further fee of $6,000,000 upon the consummation of an
acquisition of American Bankers by Cendant within 2 years of the rentention
of Lehman Brothers and (b) in the case of Merrill Lynch, an additional fee of
$1,750,000 contingent upon the execution of a definitive agreement providing
for the acquisition of a 35% or greater interest in or a substantial portion
of the business of American Bankers by Cendant or an affiliate of Cendant,
and a further additional fee of $6,000,000 if Cendant or an affiliate of
Cendant acquires a 35% or greater interest in or a substantial portion of the
business of American Bankers within 2 years of the retention of Merrill
Lynch. Cendant has also agreed to reimburse the Dealer Managers (in their
capacities as Dealer Managers and financial advisors) for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and expenses of their
legal counsel, incurred in connection with their engagement, and to indemnify
such firms and certain related persons against certain liabilities and
expenses in connection with their engagement, including certain liabilities
under the Federal securities laws. In connection with the engagement of the
Dealer Managers as financial advisors, Cendant anticipates that certain
employees of the Dealer Managers may communicate in person, by telephone or
otherwise with a limited number of institutions, brokers or other persons who
are shareholders of American Bankers for the purpose of soliciting proxies
for the Special Meetings. The Dealer Managers will not receive any fee for or
in connection with such solicitation activities apart from the fees which
they are otherwise entitled to receive as described above. The Dealer
Managers have rendered various investment banking and other advisory services
to Cendant and its affiliates in the past and are expected to continue to
render such services, for which they have received and will continue to
receive customary compensation from Cendant and its affiliates. In the
ordinary course of business, the Dealer Managers and their respective
affiliates may actively trade or hold the securities of American Bankers and
Cendant for their own account or for the account of customers and,
accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such
securities. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, Lehman Brothers and its
affiliates own 302,000 Common Shares and 94,800 Preferred Shares for their
own account.
The following employees of Lehman Brothers may solicit proxies: Steven B.
Wolitzer, Michael J. O'Hanlon, James J. Stewart, Simon K. Adamiyatt, Steven
Hurwitz, Thomas P. Gybel, Jasmine K. Belanger, Matthew Epstein, Matthew
Friedman and Scott C. Werner. The following employees of Merrill Lynch may
solicit proxies: Jack Levy, David M. Johnson, George C. Johns, David B.
Wyshner, Robert Giammarco and Christopher Ezbiansky. None of the foregoing
persons owns any securities of American Bankers.
CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT CENDANT
Cendant is a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices
located at 6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054. Cendant is one of the
foremost consumer and business services companies in the world. Cendant was
created through the merger of CUC and HFS in December 1997 and provides all
of the services formerly provided by each of CUC and HFS, including
technology-driven, membership-based consumer services, travel services, real
estate services, residential mortgage services, tax prepara-
17
tion services and multimedia software products. Cendant also administers
insurance package programs in connection with certain discount shopping and
travel programs. Cendant is subject to the information and reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act, and is required to file reports and other
information with the SEC relating to its business, financial condition and
other matters.
Season Acquisition Corp. is a newly incorporated New Jersey corporation
organized in connection with the Cendant transaction and has not carried on
any activities other than in connection with the Cendant transaction. The
principal offices of Season Acquisition Corp. are located at 6 Sylvan Way,
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054. Season Acquisition Corp. is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Cendant. Until immediately prior to the time that Season
Acquisition Corp. will purchase Common Shares pursuant to the Cendant Offer,
it is not expected that Season Acquisition Corp. will have any significant
assets or liabilities or engage in activities other than those incident to
its formation and capitalization and the transactions contemplated by the
Cendant transaction. Because Season Acquisition Corp. is newly formed and has
minimal assets and capitalization, no meaningful financial information
regarding Season Acquisition Corp. is available.
OTHER INFORMATION
The information concerning American Bankers and the Proposed AIG Merger
contained herein has been taken from, or based upon, publicly available
documents on file with the SEC and other publicly available information.
Cendant does not take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of
such information or for any failure by American Bankers to disclose events
that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of any
such information. Cendant has not to date had access to the books and records
of American Bankers.
The information contained in this Proxy Statement concerning the Cendant
Offer is taken from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full
text of the Cendant Offer to Purchase.
Cendant is not aware of any other matter to be considered at the Special
Meetings. However, if any other matter properly comes before the Special
Meetings, Cendant will vote all proxies held by it as Cendant, in its sole
discretion, may determine.
According to American Bankers' Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual
Meeting, shareholder proposals submitted for inclusion in the American
Bankers Proxy Statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, needed
to have been received by American Bankers not later than December 19, 1997.
* * *
CENDANT
Dated: February , 1998
18
SCHEDULE I
PURCHASES OF COMMON SHARES BY CENDANT
The following table sets forth information concerning transactions in
Common Shares during the past 60 days by Cendant. All transactions involved
open-market purchases of Common Shares.
TRANSACTION NUMBER OF PRICE PER
DATE COMMON SHARES COMMON SHARE
---- ------------- ------------
January 16, 1998 25,000 $45.9375
January 16, 1998 142,600 45.8750
January 16, 1998 10,000 45.8125
January 20, 1998 25,000 46.0000
January 20, 1998 3,600 45.9375
January 21, 1998 31,500 46.0000
January 21, 1998 50,000 46.1250
January 22, 1998 21,900 46.0000
January 22, 1998 48,100 46.0625
January 23, 1998 13,500 46.0625
-------
Totals 371,200
The following table sets forth information concerning transactions in
Preferred Shares during the past 60 days by Cendant. All transactions
involved open-market purchases of Preferred Shares.
TRANSACTION NUMBER OF PRICE PER
DATE PREFERRED SHARES PREFERRED SHARE
---- ---------------- ---------------
January 26, 1998 22,200 $95.2500
January 26, 1998 6,000 95.5000
January 26, 1998 6,700 95.6875
January 26, 1998 40,000 95.7500
January 26, 1998 10,000 96.0000
January 26, 1998 15,000 96.1250
------
Totals 99,900
I-1
SCHEDULE II
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS,
DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT OF AMERICAN BANKERS
According to the AIG Merger Agreement, as of November 3, 1997, there were
outstanding 41,535,807 Common Shares and 2,300,000 Preferred Shares. Pursuant
to the AIG Lockup Option Agreement, American Bankers granted AIG an option to
purchase up to 8,265,626 Common Shares.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table and notes thereto, which are based on American
Bankers' Proxy Statement for the 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, dated
April 11, 1997 (the "American Bankers Annual Proxy Statement"), sets forth
the only persons who on March 7, 1997, to the knowledge of American Bankers,
owned beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding voting stock of American
Bankers. (Numbers reflect 2-for-1 stock split effected on August 29, 1997.)
PERCENTAGE OF
AMOUNT AND COMMON SHARES
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NATURE OF OUTSTANDING AND
TITLE OF CLASS BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP ENTITLED TO VOTE
- --------------- ------------------------------ -------------------- ----------------
$1.00 Par Value FMR Corp. 5,162,292(a) 12.51%
Common Stock 82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Barnett Banks Trust Co., N.A. 3,518,686(b) 8.52%
as Trustee of American
Bankers' Leveraged Employee
Stock Ownership Trust
9000 South Side Boulevard
Building 100
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
R. Kirk Landon 3,052,520(c) 7.40%
11222 Quail Roost Drive
Miami, Florida 33157-6596
- ------------
(a) Based upon information supplied to American Bankers, FMR Corp. and
certain affiliates ("FMR") beneficially own 5,162,292 Common Shares and
have sole dispositive power over these Common Shares. FMR has sole
voting power with respect to 554,150 of the Common Shares and no voting
power with respect to the remaining Common Shares. Power to vote the
remaining Common Shares resides with the Boards of Trustees of the
investment companies for which FMR acts as investment advisor.
(b) American Bankers' Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Trust is the
beneficial owner of 3,518,686 Common Shares. The Trustee, Barnett Banks
Trust Co., N.A., has sole voting power with respect to 787,242 Common
Shares and shared voting power with respect to 2,731,244 Common Shares.
(c) Includes 803,052 Common Shares owned by Mr. Landon directly; 81,000
restricted Common Shares under the 1991 Stock Option Restricted Stock
Award Plan owned by Mr. Landon directly; 1,370,450 owned by the Landon
Corporation, of which Mr. Landon is the controlling shareholder;
220,000 Common Shares owned by Mr. Landon's spouse; 82,000 Common
Shares owned by R. Kirk/B. Landon Foundation, of which Mr. Landon is a
director; 129,844 Common Shares owned directly by the R. Kirk Landon
Revocable Trust, for which Mr. Landon is the trustee; 12,126 Common
Shares allocated under American Bankers' Leveraged Employee Stock
Ownership Plan; 165,686 options to purchase Common Shares granted under
the 1987 Executive Stock Option/Dividend Accrual Plan; 27,302 Common
Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and Restated Directors'
Deferred Compensation Plan; 160,000 Common Shares acquirable upon
conversion of a convertible debenture due May 24, 1999 under the 1994
ABIG Key Executive Debenture Plan. Includes 40,000 Common Shares
subject to option exercise granted by Mr. Landon to Jack Kemp on May
24, 1995. The options are exercisable at $29.00 per Common Share and
expire on May 24, 2000. Excludes 461,400 Common Shares held by a trust
established pursuant to the Last Will and Testament of Dorothy P.
Landon, of which Mr. Landon (together with Northern Trust Co., Chicago,
Illinois) is trustee because neither Mr. Landon nor a member of his
immediate family have a pecuniary interest in the Common Shares held by
the Trust.
II-1
OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table and notes thereto, which are based on the American
Bankers Annual Proxy Statement, set forth the amount of Common Shares
beneficially owned or acquirable within 60 days by each director, director
emeritus, named executive officers, and directors and executive officers of
American Bankers as a group as of March 7, 1997 (Numbers reflect 2-for-1
stock split effected on August 29, 1997):
AMOUNT OF
COMMON SHARES PERCENTAGE OF
NAME BENEFICIALLY OWNED OWNERSHIP
- ---- ------------------ ---------
William H. Allen, Jr. .......................... 11,180(a) *
Nicholas A. Buoniconti ......................... 14,146(b) *
Armando M. Codina .............................. 42,204(c) *
Peter J. Dolara ................................ 11,122(d) *
Gerald N. Gaston ............................... 637,908(e) 1.55%
Daryl L. Jones ................................. 5,806(f) *
James F. Jorden ................................ 11,700(g) *
Jack F. Kemp ................................... 40,000(h) *
Bernard P. Knoth ............................... --(i) *
R. Kirk Landon ................................. 3,052,520(j) 7.40%
Malcolm G. MacNeill** .......................... 75,434(k) *
Eugene M. Matalene, Jr. ........................ 10,000(l) *
Albert H. Nahmad ............................... 66,414(m) *
Nicholas J. St. George ......................... 15,166(n) *
Robert C. Strauss .............................. 14,420(o) *
George E. Williamson II ........................ 36,468(p) *
Eugene E. Becker ............................... 211,912(q) *
Jay R. Fuchs ................................... 82,076(r) *
Jason J. Israel ................................ 61,984(s) *
Bernard Janis*** ............................... 4,718 *
John P. Laborde*** ............................. 1,000 *
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group****
(25 persons including those named above) ..... 4,613,932(t) 11.8%
- ------------
(a) Includes 1,180 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 2,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(b) Includes 6,146 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 6,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(c) Includes 22,204 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 6,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(d) Includes 2,122 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 4,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
II-2
(e) Includes 273,164 Common Shares owned by Mr. Gaston directly; 66,000
restricted Common Shares under the 1991 Stock Option Restricted Stock
Award Plan owned by Mr. Gaston directly; 2,266 Common Shares owned by
Mr. Gaston's son; 13,206 Common Shares allocated under American
Bankers' Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan; 143,372 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1987 Executive Stock Option/Dividend Accrual Plan;
and 140,000 Common Shares acquirable upon conversion of a convertible
debenture due May 24, 1999 under the 1994 ABIG Key Executive Debenture
Plan.
(f) Includes 3,806 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 2,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(g) Includes 440 Common Shares held indirectly by an Individual Retirement
Account Trust and 6,000 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994
Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(h) Includes 40,000 Common Shares acquirable by Mr. Kemp upon the exercise
of options granted by Mr. Landon to Mr. Kemp. See footnote (c) under
"Principal Shareholders" of this Schedule II.
(i) Director Elect.
(j) See footnote (c) under "Principal Shareholders" of this Schedule II,
which sets forth Common Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially
owned by Mr. Landon.
(k) Includes 12,000 Common Shares owned by Mr. MacNeill's wife; 970 Common
Shares owned by his daughter; and 37,100 Common Shares acquirable under
the 1994 Amended and Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.
(l) Includes 6,000 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee
Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(m) Includes 52,000 Common Shares owned by Watsco, Inc.; 20 Common Shares
owned by Mr. Nahmad's son; 6,394 Common Shares acquirable under the
1994 Amended and Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan; and
6,000 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors'
Stock Option Plan.
(n) Includes 7,146 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 6,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(o) Includes 6,420 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 6,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(p) Includes 30,468 Common Shares acquirable under the 1994 Amended and
Restated Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and 6,000 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1994 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan.
(q) Includes 98,722 Common Shares owned by Mr. Becker directly; 17,200
restricted Common Shares under the 1994 Senior Management Stock Option
Plan owned by Mr. Becker directly; 6,000 restricted Common Shares under
the 1991 Stock Option Restricted Stock Award Plan owned by Mr. Becker
directly; 9,798 Common Shares owned by Mr. Becker's wife; 9,062 Common
Shares allocated under American Bankers' Leveraged Employee Stock
Ownership Plan; and 69,370 Common Shares acquirable under the 1987
Executive Stock Option/Dividend Accrual Plan.
(r) Includes 48,600 Common Shares owned by Mr. Fuchs directly; 13,200
restricted Common Shares under the 1994 Senior Management Stock Option
Plan owned by Mr. Fuchs directly; 12,000 restricted Common Shares under
the 1991 Stock Option Restricted Stock Award Plan owned by Mr. Fuchs
directly; and 8,276 Common Shares allocated under American Bankers'
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
(s) Includes 18,530 Common Shares owned by Mr. Israel directly; 9,600
restricted Common Shares under the 1994 Senior Management Stock Option
Plan owned by Mr. Israel directly; 6,000 restricted Common Shares under
the 1991 Stock Option Restricted Stock Award Plan owned by Mr. Israel
directly; 7,304 Common Shares allocated under American Bankers'
Leveraged Employee Stock Ownership Plan; and 20,730 Common Shares
acquirable under the 1987 Executive Stock Option/Dividend Accrual Plan.
(t) The 40,000 Common Shares subject to an option granted by Mr. Landon to
Mr. Kemp have only been counted once in determining the total number of
amount of Common Shares beneficially owned and percentage of ownership
by the Directors and Executive Officers as a group. See footnote (h)
above and footnote (c) under "Principal Shareholders" of this Schedule
II.
* Denotes less than 1% ownership.
** Retiring.
*** Director Emeritus.
**** Information regarding the Executive Officers of the Company is
contained in American Bankers' 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Additional information relating to the number of Common Shares
beneficially owned by executive officers and directors of American Bankers
should be contained in American Bankers' Proxy Statement for the Special
Meeting.
II-3
IMPORTANT
If your shares are held in your own name, please sign, date and return the
enclosed [COLOR] proxy card today. If your shares are held in "Street-Name"
only your broker or bank can vote your shares and only upon receipt of your
specific instructions. Please return the enclosed [COLOR] proxy card to
your broker or bank and contact the person responsible for your account to
ensure that a [COLOR] proxy is voted on your behalf.
Do not sign any [color] proxy card you may receive from American Bankers.
If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares, please
call:
Innisfree M&A Incorporated
501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10022
CALL TOLL-FREE: (888) 750-5834
Banks and Brokers call collect: (212) 750-5833
II-4
PRELIMINARY COPY--SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 10, 1998
[FORM OF PROXY CARD-[COLOR]]
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY CENDANT CORPORATION
FOR AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC. SPECIAL MEETING
The undersigned, a holder of record of shares of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share ("Common Shares"), of American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc.
("American Bankers") acknowledges receipt of the Proxy Statement of Cendant
Corporation dated February , 1998, and the undersigned revokes all prior
proxies delivered in connection with the Special Meeting to approve the AIG
Merger Agreement and appoints James E. Buckman and Michael P. Monaco, or each
of them, proxies for the undersigned to vote all Common Shares of American
Bankers which the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the Special
Meeting of Shareholders and any adjournments, postponements or reschedulings
thereof, and instructs said proxies to vote as follows:
1. To approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
December 21, 1997, as amended and restated as of January 7, 1998, among
American International Group, Inc. ("AIG"), AIGF, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of AIG, and American Bankers and the transactions
contemplated thereby.
[ ] AGAINST [ ] FOR [ ] ABSTAIN
IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS,
POSTPONEMENTS OR RESCHEDULINGS THEREOF ON BEHALF OF THE UNDERSIGNED.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS MADE. IF NO
SPECIFICATIONS ARE MADE AND YOU HAVE SIGNED AND DATED THIS PROXY CARD, THIS
PROXY WILL REVOKE ANY PRIOR PROXY DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE AIG MERGER
AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN ITEM 1 ABOVE AND WILL BE VOTED "AGAINST" THE AIG
MERGER AGREEMENT.
Dated: , 1998
------------------------------
------------------------------------------
Signature of Shareholder (Title, if any)
------------------------------------------
Signature of Shareholder (if held jointly)
Please sign exactly as your name or names
appear hereon. If shares are held jointly,
each shareholder should sign. When signing
as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by president
or authorized officers. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by
authorized person.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE
PRELIMINARY COPY--SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 10, 1998
[FORM OF PROXY CARD-[COLOR]]
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
PROXY SOLICITED BY CENDANT CORPORATION
FOR AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC. SPECIAL MEETING
The undersigned, a holder of record of shares of $3.125 Series B
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, no par value ("Preferred Shares"), of
American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. ("American Bankers") acknowledges
receipt of the Proxy Statement of Cendant Corporation dated February ,
1998, and the undersigned revokes all prior proxies delivered in connection
with the Special Meeting to approve the AIG Merger Agreement and appoints
James E. Buckman and Michael P. Monaco, or each of them, proxies for the
undersigned to vote all Preferred Shares of American Bankers which the
undersigned would be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting of Shareholders
and any adjournments, postponements or reschedulings thereof, and instructs
said proxies to vote as follows:
1. To approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
December 21, 1997, as amended and restated as of January 7, 1998, among
American International Group, Inc. ("AIG"), AIGF, Inc., a wholly owned
subsidiary of AIG, and American Bankers and the transactions
contemplated thereby.
[ ] AGAINST [ ] FOR [ ] ABSTAIN
IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER
BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS,
POSTPONEMENTS OR RESCHEDULINGS THEREOF ON BEHALF OF THE UNDERSIGNED.
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS MADE. IF NO
SPECIFICATIONS ARE MADE AND YOU HAVE SIGNED AND DATED THIS PROXY CARD, THIS
PROXY WILL REVOKE ANY PRIOR PROXY DELIVERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE AIG MERGER
AGREEMENT REFERRED TO IN ITEM 1 ABOVE AND WILL BE VOTED "AGAINST" THE AIG
MERGER AGREEMENT.
Dated: , 1998
------------------------------
------------------------------------------
Signature of Shareholder (Title, if any)
------------------------------------------
Signature of Shareholder (if held jointly)
Please sign exactly as your name or names
appear hereon. If shares are held jointly,
each shareholder should sign. When signing
as attorney, executor, administrator,
trustee or guardian, please give full
title as such. If a corporation, please
sign in full corporate name by president
or authorized officers. If a partnership,
please sign in partnership name by
authorized person.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.