EXHIBIT 99.1 Contact: Mark Dombrowski, Corporate Communications 814-870-2285 or 1-800-458-0811, extension 2285 mark.dombrowski@erieinsurance.com --------------------------------- Erie Indemnity Company Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2003 Results Erie, Pa., Feb. 25, 2004 - Erie Indemnity Company (Nasdaq: ERIE) today announced results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2003. For the fourth quarter: o Net income increased to $43.1 million, up 27.1 percent from $33.9 million for the same period in 2002. o Net income per share increased to $.61 per share, compared to $.48 per share in the comparable quarter for 2002. o Management fee revenue grew by 13.7 percent. The increase in fourth quarter net income was due to a combination of management fee growth and a significant improvement in investment performance compared to the same period in 2002. For the full-year 2003 results, Erie Indemnity reported: o Net income was up by 16.0 percent to $199.7 million, from $172.1 million at the end of 2002. o Net income per share increased to $2.81 per share at December 31, 2003, from $2.42 at year-end 2002. The Company's financial results were affected by several non-cash adjustments recorded in the fourth quarter. A charge to net income of $.07 per share reduced the Company's deferred acquisition cost (DAC) asset. The principle component of DAC is the management fee paid to the Company by its wholly owned property and casualty insurance subsidiaries, resulting from the inter-company reinsurance pool. Prior to the fourth quarter 2003, these costs were deferred at the full amount of the management fee incurred by the Indemnity Company's insurance subsidiaries, which included a profit component. During the fourth quarter 2003, the DAC was adjusted to reflect only the underlying policy acquisition costs, excluding the profit component. The Company also recorded an adjustment to true-up deferred income taxes during the fourth quarter, which reduced fourth quarter earnings by $.05 per share. 4 The adjustment was made to reflect future tax obligations that will arise when earnings from the Company's equity investment in Erie Family Life Insurance Company (EFL) are distributed. As required by GAAP, the deferred tax provision assumes undistributed earnings of EFL will be distributed in the form of dividends. "Erie Indemnity Company continues to generate strong earnings while we focus on improving the Property & Casualty Group's underwriting profitability," noted Jeffrey A. Ludrof, president and chief executive officer. "Our revised underwriting guidelines have had the expected results of moderating new policy and new premium growth rates from the accelerated rates of 2002. Ultimately, we believe this will have a favorable impact on the steady, long-term growth and profitability of the Company," Mr. Ludrof said. The Company disclosed in its third quarter 2003 Form 10Q it believed, under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), that the Erie Insurance Exchange (Exchange) was a variable interest entity (VIE). The Company also concluded that, under the interpretation, it was the primary beneficiary of the Exchange and, therefore, must consolidate the financial results of the Exchange with those of the Company. The Company re-evaluated its position in response to revisions made by the FASB to FIN 46 in December 2003. The FASB revised FIN 46 to provide that only the variability in decision-maker fees should be included in the calculation of the primary beneficiary of a VIE. Prior to the change, FIN 46 required that the gross fees paid to the decision maker should be included in the expected residual returns computation in determination of the primary beneficiary. As a result of our re-computation in accordance with the revision of FIN 46, we have concluded that the Company is not the primary beneficiary of the Exchange. Consequently, under FIN 46 the results of the Exchange are not to be consolidated with the results of the Company. The following analysis is presented on a business segment basis used internally by management to monitor and evaluate results. Details of Fourth Quarter 2003 Results - Segment Basis - ------------------------------------------------------ Management operations - Segment basis - ------------------------------------- Management fee revenue increased 13.7 percent to $206.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, from $181.8 million for the same period one year ago. The property and casualty direct written premiums of the Erie Insurance Group, upon which management fee revenue is calculated, grew 11.3 percent to $862.3 million in the fourth quarter 2003, from $774.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. Management fee revenue growth was affected by a reduction in the management fee rate to 24 percent in 2003 versus the 25 percent management fee rate in 2002. In December 2003, the Company's Board of Directors voted to reduce the management fee rate beginning in 2004 to 23.5 percent. The Company's Board of Directors has the authority to change the management fee rate at its discretion; however, the maximum fee rate permissible by agreement is 25 percent. This action was taken after the Board 's consideration and review of the relative financial position of the Erie Insurance Exchange and the Erie Indemnity Company. 5 The fourth quarter-to-quarter comparison of management fee revenue was affected by the reduction in fourth quarter 2002 management fee revenue of $11.9 million due to the initial recording of an allowance for returned management fees. As an expected consequence of the focus on improving underwriting profitability, the Company has experienced a reduction in the twelve-month growth rate of policies in force due to a decline in new policies written and a lower retention rate. Policy and premium growth in 2002 were positively affected by a yearlong agency incentive contest. The year-over-year growth in polices in force was 6.7 percent at December 31, 2003, down from 9.0 percent at September 30, 2003, and 12.8 percent at December 31, 2002. New premium written declined 32.8 percent to $98.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 from $146.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2002. Personal lines new premium written declined 25.3 percent, while commercial lines new premium written declined 46.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002. The year-over-year policy retention rate declined to 90.2 percent at December 31, 2003, from 90.6 percent at September 30, 2003, and 91.2 at December 31, 2002. In 2003, the Company suspended new agency appointments. In 2004, the Company plans to appoint about 50 new agencies. Service Agreement revenue was down 48.6 percent to $1.7 million on $27.6 million in non-affiliated assumed reinsurance premiums in the fourth quarter of 2003, compared to $3.2 million on $46.0 million in non-affiliated assumed reinsurance premium recorded in the fourth quarter of 2002. Service charge revenue rose 30.0 percent to $5.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 versus $4.2 million for the same period in 2002. The cost of management operations increased 15.9 percent to $158.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2003, from $136.3 million for the same period in 2002. Commission costs increased 18.4 percent to $113.3 million, from $95.7 million in the fourth quarter 2002.Commission costs in the fourth quarter of 2002 were affected by the initial recording of an allowance for returned management fees, which also required a reduction in commission expense on the returned fees. This adjustment reduced commission expense in the fourth quarter 2002 by $5.8 million. Fourth quarter costs of management operations, excluding commissions, increased 10.0 percent to $44.7 million in 2003 from $40.6 million in 2002. Personnel costs totaled $25.9 million for the fourth quarter 2003 versus $21.8 million in the same period in 2002, an increase of 18.3 percent. Salaries and wages rose 12.3 percent to $19.3 million in the quarter. In response to lower policy production, as a result of the Company's underwriting profitability initiatives, the Company has substantially slowed hiring of personnel in 2004. Retirement benefit costs increased to $1.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2003 from $1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2002 due to increased pension expense as a result of a lower discount rate assumption in the pension plan. Retirement benefit costs are expected to increase about $3.1 million in 2004 over 2003 levels related to a further reduction in the discount rate assumption for the pension plan. 6 Insurance underwriting operations - Segment basis - ------------------------------------------------- The Company's insurance underwriting operations recorded losses of $8.0 million and $11.2 million in the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2002, respectively. The statutory combined ratio for the Property & Casualty Group for the fourth quarter was 102.1, compared to 139.9 for the fourth quarter of 2002. Results for the fourth quarter 2002 include the effect of reserve strengthening of prior year loss reserves. The Company's GAAP combined ratio was 115.8 for the quarter versus 125.3 for the same quarter in 2002. The $7.6 million adjustment to the Company's DAC is reflected in the policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses of the Insurance Underwriting Operations segment of the Company. The Company's share of catastrophe losses totaled $0.8 million and $1.6 million for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Recoveries under the excess-of-loss reinsurance agreement with the Exchange reversed by $.7 million in the fourth quarter 2003 versus $6.8 million in additional recoverables recorded during the fourth quarter 2002. Included in the Company's policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses is the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries' share of software development costs related to the eCommerce initiative. Costs associated with the eCommerce initiative totaled $0.5 million and $0.9 million for the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2002, respectively. These costs will continue to be incurred as the program develops. Investment operations - Segment basis - ------------------------------------- Net revenue from investment operations for the fourth quarter of 2003 reflects income of $21.8 million, compared to $8.0 million in income for the same period in 2002. The performance of investment operations continues to benefit from improvements in the fixed income and equity markets. Net investment income increased by 3.7 percent to $15.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2003, from $14.7 million for the same period in 2002. Net realized gains on investments of $4.6 million were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2003 compared to net realized losses of $2.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2002. Equity in losses of limited partnerships generated losses of $0.6 and $4.8 million for the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2002, respectively. The Company's earnings from its 21.6 percent equity ownership of EFL increased to $2.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2003 from $0.6 million in the fourth quarter 2002. Erie Family Life benefited from improved margins on interest-sensitive products and improved investment results. 7 Details of 2003 Year-end Results - Segment Basis - ------------------------------------------------ Management operations - Segment basis - ------------------------------------- Management fee revenue for 2003 was up 13.2 percent from a year earlier to $878.4 million. For the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the property and casualty direct written premiums of the Erie Insurance Group totaled $3.7 billion and $3.2 billion, respectively, an increase of 16.6 percent. As an expected result of the focus on underwriting profitability, the Company has experienced a reduction in the twelve-month growth rate of policies in force due to a decline in new policies written in 2003. Total new premium written declined 13.7 percent to $501.9 million in 2003 from $581.5 million in 2002. Personal lines new premium written declined 8.6 percent to $333.3 million in 2003, while commercial lines new premium written declined 22.3 percent to $168.4 million in 2003. The average premium per policy increased 9.3 percent to $981 in 2003 from $898 in 2002. For personal auto, the average premium per policy increased 7.7 percent to $1,122 in 2003 from $1,042 in 2002. For commercial lines, the average premium per policy increased 9.5 percent to $2,326 in 2003 from $2,124 in 2002. Firming pricing for commercial and personal insurance over the last several years has allowed the Erie Insurance Group to more adequately price its products. Premium increases anticipated in 2004 due to pricing actions contemplated, filed and awaiting approval, or approved through December 31, 2003, amount to approximately $320.3 million in premium for the Erie Insurance Group, down from $343.3 million estimated at September 30, 2003. Projected increases have been tempered as a result of changes in the Company's competitive position in some markets. Costs of management operations increased by 17.0 percent during 2003. Commission costs to independent agencies - which make up over half of the Company's expenses - rose 19.2 percent to $474.8 million in 2003 from $398.3 million for 2002. The cost of management operations, excluding commissions, increased 11.5 percent in 2003 to $177.5 million from $159.1 million in 2002, due primarily to increases in personnel costs. Personnel costs increased 13.4 percent in 2003 compared to 2002 as a result of increased employee staffing levels and increased employee benefit costs. Salaries and wages rose 7.8 percent, while employee benefit costs rose 46.7 percent. Employee benefit costs rose as health plan costs increased 29.3 percent in 2003, while retirement plan costs rose 89 percent to $6.7 million in 2003 from $3.5 million in 2003 as a result of a lower assumed discount rate assumption for retirement plan obligations. Information technology hardware and infrastructure expenditures related to the eCommerce program are included in the cost of management operations. These costs totaled $0.5 million in 2003 and $2.6 million in 2002. 8 Insurance underwriting operations - Segment basis - ------------------------------------------------- The Company's 5.5 percent share of Erie Insurance Group's underwriting losses totaled $24.9 million in 2003 compared to $27.1 million in 2002, yielding a GAAP combined ratio of 113.0 for 2003 compared to 116.5 in 2002. Although improved on a year-to-year basis, underwriting losses continued to be adversely impacted by greater than average catastrophe losses, including losses associated with Hurricane Isabel. The statutory combined ratio for the Property & Casualty Group was 109.5 for 2003, compared to 118.5 for 2002. Reserve strengthening recorded in 2002 and 2001 appears to have been adequate as almost no adverse development of prior year loss reserves was experienced in 2003. Management's emphasis on controlling exposure growth and improving underwriting risk selection contributed to the lower 2003 result. The Group's 2003 underwriting losses resulted primarily from increases in current claims severity and catastrophe losses. The Company's share of catastrophe losses totaled $10.0 million and $7.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Recoveries under an excess-of-loss reinsurance agreement with the Exchange for the year totaled $6.5 million and $8.8 million for 2003 and 2002, respectively. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company's policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses were also impacted by the property and casualty insurance subsidiaries' share of costs related to the eCommerce initiative. These costs totaled $2.5 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Costs in the program will continue to be incurred in 2004. In addition to the impact of the development of eCommerce on expenses, the 2004 rollout of the new agency interface system, ERIEConnection, will require significant training and orientation for agencies. During this orientation, an impact on new business production is expected as agency resources are getting acquainted with the new interface to the ERIE. Investment operations - Segment basis - ------------------------------------- For the year ended December 31, 2003, net revenue from investment operations increased by 75.4 percent to $74.2 million compared to $42.3 million for the same period in 2002. Net realized gains on investments were $10.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to net realized losses of $11.2 million at December 31, 2002. In 2003, impairment charges amounted to $6.0 million. In 2002, net realized losses included $25.4 million in impairment charges related primarily to bonds in the communications and energy segments. Of the $25.4 million in impairments, $4.8 million were related to equity securities and $20.6 million were related to fixed income securities. 9 Net investment income totaled $58.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, and $55.4 million for 2002, up 5.2 percent from 2002. Included in net investment income are primarily interest and dividends on the Company's fixed maturity and equity security portfolios. For the year ended December 31, 2003, equity in losses in limited partnerships amounted to $2.0 million, compared to losses of $3.7 million 2002. Equity in earnings of Erie Family Life was $7.4 million in 2003, compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2002. The higher earnings from Erie Family Life resulted from significant increases in realized gains, reduced levels of realized losses on investments and continued premium growth. During 2003, John M. Petersen, former CEO and CFO of the Company, retired as equity portfolio manager for the Erie Insurance Group. The Company completed the transition of investment management responsibilities to an initial group of new equity portfolio managers, including Mellon Capital Management, Pzena Investment Management, Alliance Capital Management, Advisory Research, Private Capital Management, Artisan Partners, TCW Asset Management and Wellington Management. At its regular December 2003 meeting, the Board of Directors made a number of decisions related to the Company's sound financial condition, including the authorization of a $250 million stock repurchase plan of the Company's outstanding Class A common stock through December 31, 2006. Erie Indemnity Company provides management services to the member companies of the Erie Insurance Group, which includes the Erie Insurance Exchange, Flagship City Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Company, Erie Insurance Property and Casualty Company, Erie Insurance Company of New York and Erie Family Life Insurance Company. According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 16th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 20th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has more than 3.7 million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia. News releases and more information about Erie Insurance Group are available at http://www.erieinsurance.com - ---------------------------- 10 "Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain forward-looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties. These statements include certain discussions relating to underwriting, premium and investment income volume, business strategies, profitability and business relationships and the Company's other business activities during 2003 and beyond. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "predict," "potential" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views about future events, are based on assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from those anticipated in those statements. Many of the factors that will determine future events or achievements are beyond our ability to control or predict. STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION AND OTHER INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW 11 ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Amounts in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended December 31, Twelve months ended December 31, 2003 2002 2003 2002 -------------------------------- ------------------------------- OPERATING REVENUE: Management fee revenue $ 195,284 $ 171,805 $ 830,069 $ 733,036 Premiums earned 50,833 44,134 191,592 163,958 Service agreement revenue 7,113 7,419 27,127 23,729 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total operating revenue $ 253,230 $ 223,358 $1,048,788 $ 920,723 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- OPERATING EXPENSES: Cost of management operations $ 149,351 $ 128,849 $ 616,382 $ 526,785 Losses and loss expenses incurred 37,397 40,794 152,984 139,225 Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses 18,810 12,021 51,112 39,861 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total operating expenses $ 205,558 $ 181,664 $ 820,478 $ 705,871 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSES: Investment income, net of expenses $ 15,283 $ 14,735 $ 58,298 $ 55,440 Realized gains (losses) on investments 4,630 (2,609) 10,445 (11,237) Equity in losses of limited partnerships (566) (4,764) (2,000) (3,654) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total other income and expenses $ 19,347 $ 7,362 $ 66,743 $ 40,549 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of Erie Family Life Insurance Company $ 67,019 $ 49,056 $ 295,053 $ 255,401 Less: Provision for income taxes 26,130 15,716 102,237 84,886 Equity in earnings of Erie Family Life Insurance Company, net of tax $ 2,241 $ 596 $ 6,909 $ 1,611 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income $ 43,130 $ 33,936 $ 199,725 $ 172,126 ========== ========== ========== ========== Net income per share (basic & diluted) $ 0.61 $ 0.48 $ 2.81 $ 2.42 ========== ========== ========== ========== Weighted average shares outstanding 70,997 70,097 70,997 71,081 ========== ========== ========== ========== DIVIDENDS DECLARED Class A non-voting common $ 0.215 $ 0.190 $ 0.785 $ 0.700 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Class B common $ 32.25 $ 28.50 $ 117.75 $ 105.00 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 12 Erie Indemnity Company CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - SEGMENT BASIS (Amounts in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended December 31, Twelve months ended December 31, 2003 2002 2003 2002 ------------------------------- ------------------------------ MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS Management fee revenue $ 206,651 $ 181,805 $ 878,380 $ 775,700 Service agreement revenue 7,113 7,419 27,127 23,729 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total revenue from management operations $ 213,764 $ 189,224 $ 905,507 $ 799,429 Cost of management operations 158,044 136,348 652,256 557,445 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income from management operations $ 55,720 $ 52,876 $ 253,251 $ 241,984 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- INSURANCE UNDERWRITING OPERATIONS Premiums earned $ 50,833 $ 44,134 $ 191,592 $ 163,958 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred $ 37,397 $ 40,794 $ 152,984 $ 139,225 Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses 21,484 14,522 63,549 51,865 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total losses and expenses $ 58,881 $ 55,316 $ 216,533 $ 191,090 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Underwriting loss $ (8,048) $ (11,182) $ (24,941) $ (27,132) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- INVESTMENT OPERATIONS Net investment income $ 15,283 $ 14,735 $ 58,298 $ 55,440 Net realized gains (losses) on investments 4,630 (2,609) 10,445 (11,237) Equity in earnings (losses) of limited partnerships (566) (4,764) (2,000) (3,654) Equity in earnings of Erie Family Life Insurance Company 2,410 641 7,429 1,732 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net revenue from investment operations $ 21,757 $ 8,003 $ 74,172 $ 42,281 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Income before income taxes $ 69,429 $ 49,697 $ 302,482 $ 257,133 Provision for income taxes 26,299 15,761 102,757 85,007 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net income $ 43,130 $ 33,936 $ 199,725 $ 172,126 ========== ========== ========== ========== Net income per share (basic & diluted) $ 0.61 $ 0.48 $ 2.81 $ 2.42 ========== ========== ========== ========== WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 70,997 70,997 70,997 71,081 ========== ========== ========== ========== 13 Erie Indemnity Company CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Amounts in thousands, except per share data) December 31, December 31, 2003 2002 ----------- ----------- ASSETS Investments Fixed maturities $ 879,361 $ 708,068 Equity securities Preferred stock 148,952 157,563 Common stock 40,451 36,515 Other invested assets 116,400 96,613 ----------- ----------- Total investments $ 1,185,164 $ 998,759 Cash and cash equivalents $ 87,192 $ 85,712 Equity in Erie Family Life Insurance Company 56,072 48,545 Premiums receivable from policyholders 266,957 239,704 Receivables from affiliates 984,146 829,049 Other assets 175,076 155,907 ----------- ----------- Total assets $ 2,754,607 $ 2,357,676 =========== =========== LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Liabilities Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses $ 845,536 $ 717,015 Unearned premiums 449,606 393,091 Other liabilities 295,295 260,198 ----------- ----------- Total liabilities $ 1,590,437 $ 1,370,304 Total shareholders' equity $ 1,164,170 $ 987,372 ----------- ----------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 2,754,607 $ 2,357,676 =========== =========== Book value per share $16.40 $13.91 Shares outstanding 70,997 70,997 14 Erie Indemnity Company Segment Information Management fee revenue by line of business - Segment basis: Three months ended December 31, % Twelve months ended December 31, % 2003 2002 Change 2003 2002 Change (In thousands) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Private passenger auto $ 106,408 $ 100,640 5.7% $ 450,227 $ 414,426 8.6% Commercial auto 16,906 16,213 4.3 74,022 67,097 10.3 Homeowners 37,706 31,943 18.0 148,197 123,960 19.6 Commercial multi-peril 21,797 21,603 0.9 96,370 83,974 14.8 Workers' compensation 15,790 15,678 0.7 77,134 67,851 13.7 All other lines of business 8,344 7,628 9.4 35,430 30,292 17.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total $ 206,951 $ 193,705 6.8 $ 881,380 $ 787,600 11.9 Allowance for management fee returned on cancelled policies (300) (11,900) (97.5) (3,000) (11,900) (74.8) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total management fee revenue $ 206,651 $ 181,805 13.7% $ 878,380 $ 775,700 13.2% ================================================================================= Growth rate of policies in force for Property and Casualty Group insurance operations: All other Private 12-mth. 12-mth. lines of 12-mth. Total 12-mth. passenger growth growth personal growth Personal growth Date auto rate Homeowners rate business rate Lines rate - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12/31/2001 1,432,747 7.1% 1,075,816 9.0% 215,134 11.5% 2,723,697 8.2% 03/31/2002 1,469,617 8.3 1,104,806 10.1 222,061 12.2 2,796,484 9.3 06/30/2002 1,512,335 9.4 1,146,639 11.4 231,951 13.4 2,890,925 10.5 09/30/2002 1,554,425 10.4 1,190,651 13.1 240,410 14.4 2,985,486 11.8 12/31/2002 1,591,161 11.1 1,230,895 14.4 249,544 16.0 3,071,600 12.8 03/31/2003 1,623,429 10.5 1,263,118 14.3 257,327 15.9 3,143,874 12.4 06/30/2003 1,650,225 9.1 1,293,575 12.8 264,423 14.0 3,208,223 11.0 09/30/2003 1,666,285 7.2 1,316,775 10.6 269,640 12.2 3,252,700 9.0 12/31/2003 1,672,621 5.1 1,327,842 7.9 272,547 9.2 3,273,010 6.6 All other 12-mth. CML* 12-mth. 12-mth. CML* 12-mth. Total 12-mth. CML* growth multi- growth Workers' growth lines of growth CML* growth Date auto rate peril rate comp. rate business rate Lines rate - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/31/2001 96,100 9.7% 166,214 11.6% 52,033 10.3% 71,539 9.9% 385,886 10.7% 03/31/2002 98,926 10.7 171,283 12.5 53,320 10.8 73,392 10.7 396,921 11.5 06/30/2002 102,447 11.6 179,761 13.9 55,607 11.9 75,884 11.7 413,699 12.6 09/30/2002 105,353 11.8 185,608 14.4 57,375 12.5 78,131 11.5 426,467 13.0 12/31/2002 108,069 12.5 190,787 14.8 58,930 13.3 79,772 11.5 437,558 13.4 03/31/2003 109,963 11.2 194,911 13.8 60,104 12.7 81,356 10.9 446,334 12.4 06/30/2003 112,911 10.2 201,614 12.2 61,932 11.4 83,826 10.5 460,283 11.3 09/30/2003 114,339 8.5 205,127 10.5 62,396 8.8 85,789 9.8 467,651 9.7 12/31/2003 115,171 6.6 206,533 8.3 62,282 5.7 86,409 8.3 470,395 7.5 12-mth. Total growth Date All lines rate - ------------------------------- 12/31/2001 3,109,583 8.5% 03/31/2002 3,193,405 9.6 06/30/2002 3,304,624 10.8 09/30/2002 3,411,953 11.9 12/31/2002 3,509,158 12.8 03/31/2003 3,590,208 12.4 06/30/2003 3,668,506 11.0 09/30/2003 3,720,351 9.0 12/31/2003 3,743,405 6.7 *CML = Commercial 15 Policy retention trends for Property and Casualty Group insurance operations: Private All other passenger CML* CML* Workers' lines of Date auto auto Homeowners multi-peril comp. business Total - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12/31/2001 92.2% 90.5% 90.2% 88.0% 88.4% 88.2% 90.9% 03/31/2002 92.3 90.9 90.2 88.8 89.3 88.1 90.9 06/30/2002 92.4 91.1 90.4 89.0 89.5 88.3 91.0 09/30/2002 92.5 90.8 90.5 88.7 89.5 88.2 91.1 12/31/2002 92.6 91.0 90.5 88.7 89.4 88.5 91.2 03/31/2003 92.5 91.3 90.6 89.1 90.2 88.5 91.2 06/30/2003 92.2 91.1 90.5 88.4 89.4 88.4 91.0 09/30/2003 91.9 90.4 90.1 88.0 88.9 88.4 90.6 12/31/2003 91.6 89.8 89.5 87.5 88.1 88.2 90.2 *CML = Commercial Selected financial data of Erie Insurance Exchange: The selected financial data below is derived from the Erie Insurance Exchange's financial statements prepared in accordance with Statutory Accounting Principles. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting only of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The financial data set forth below is only a summary. Three months ended Twelve months ended -------------------------- -------------------------- (In thousands) December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, Statutory Accounting Basis 2003 2002 2003 2002 -------------------------- -------------------------- Premiums earned $ 870,654 $ 771,621 $ 3,372,308 $ 2,912,147 -------------------------- -------------------------- Losses and loss adjustment expenses $ 656,112 $ 839,672 $ 2,772,940 $ 2,566,724 Insurance underwriting and other expenses 226,757 250,716 983,354 969,597 -------------------------- -------------------------- Net underwriting loss $ (12,215) $ (318,767) $ (383,986) $ (624,174) -------------------------- -------------------------- Net investment income 60,364 49,463 232,677 216,031 Net realized gains (losses) 579,941 (64,050) 734,848 (182,381) Federal income tax expense (benefit) 201,645 (104,137) 142,106 (173,062) -------------------------- -------------------------- Net income (loss) $ 426,445 $ (229,217) $ 441,433 $ (417,462) ========================== ========================== As of (In thousands) December 31, December 31, Statutory Accounting Basis 2003 2002 ------------ ------------ Cash and invested assets $ 7,024,796 $ 5,967,051 Total assets 8,045,626 7,007,803 =========== =========== Claims and unearned premium reserves 4,616,687 3,962,218 Total liabilities 5,616,541 4,892,032 =========== =========== Policyholders' surplus $ 2,429,085 $ 2,115,771 =========== =========== 16