SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Filed by the Registrant {X} Filed by a Party other than the Registrant {_} Check the appropriate box: {_} Preliminary Proxy Statement {_} Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) {_} Definitive Proxy Statement {X} Definitive Additional Materials { } Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12 GREAT WESTERN FINANCIAL CORPORATION ----------------------------------------- (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) ----------------------------------------- (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. -------- {_} 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: __________________________________________ (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: ____________________ (3) Filing Party: ____________________________________________________ (4) Date Filed: ______________________________________________________ [PRESS RELEASE] [GREAT WESTERN LOGO] NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 4, 1997 Contact: Ian Campbell 818-775-3773 Charlie Coleman 818-775-3766 GREAT WESTERN STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO AHMANSON'S ------------------------------------------------- WITHDRAWAL ---------- CHATSWORTH, Calif. - Great Western Financial Corporation (NYSE: GWF) today issued the following statement in response to H.F. Ahmanson & Company's withdrawal of its unsolicited merger proposal: "We are pleased that Ahmanson has withdrawn its merger proposal and has ended this disruptive and contentious period. We look forward to the vote on the Washington Mutual merger on June 13. With stockholder approval and regulatory approval, which is expected by late June or early July, the merger could close in a matter of weeks and Great Western stockholders could begin to enjoy the economic benefits of the Washington Mutual/Great Western combination. "Great Western urges stockholders to sign, date and return the green and gold proxy cards as soon as possible." With assets of $42.9 billion, Great Western Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company operating more than 1,150 mortgage lending, retail banking, and consumer finance offices nationwide. Great Western's principal subsidiary, Great Western Bank, is a mortgage-oriented consumer bank with banking branch networks in California and Florida. # # #