Erie Indemnity Reports Third Quarter 2013 Results

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Erie Indemnity Company

Oct 31, 2013, 04:15 ET

ERIE, Pa., Oct. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

3Q 2013 Highlights - Indemnity Shareholder Interest

Net income attributable to Indemnity per share-diluted was $0.87 per share in the third quarter of 2013, compared to net income per share-diluted of $0.96 per share in the third quarter of 2012.
Operating income attributable to Indemnity per share-diluted (excluding net realized gains or losses, impairments on investments and related taxes) was $0.86 per share in the third quarter of 2013, compared to operating income per share-diluted of $0.93 per share in the third quarter of 2012.
Indemnity's management operations pretax income totaled $60 million for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $66 million for the third quarter of 2012. The gross margin from management operations was 17.7 percent in the third quarter of 2013, compared to 20.9 percent in the third quarter of 2012.
Indemnity's investment operations pretax income totaled $10 million for the third quarter of 2013, compared to $12 million for the third quarter of 2012.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 Highlights - Indemnity Shareholder Interest

Net income attributable to Indemnity per share-diluted was $2.41 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to net income per share-diluted of $2.43 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Operating income attributable to Indemnity per share-diluted (excluding net realized gains or losses, impairments on investments and related taxes) was $2.40 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to operating income per share-diluted of $2.38 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Indemnity's management operations pretax income totaled $168 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $171 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. The gross margin from management operations was 17.1 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to 18.8 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.
Indemnity's investment operations pretax income totaled $25 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, compared to $26 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012.

Erie Indemnity Company (NASDAQ: ERIE) today announced third quarter 2013 earnings of $46 million, compared to earnings of $51 million in the third quarter of 2012. Operating income was $45 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to $50 million in the third quarter of 2012.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20041112/ERIELOGO )

Erie Indemnity Company also announced plans to expand the property and casualty and life insurance operations of the Erie Insurance Group into the Commonwealth of Kentucky by early 2015.

3Q 2013 Results of the Erie Insurance Group's Operations⁽¹⁾

	Indemnity shareholder interest				Noncontrolling interest (Exchange)				Elimination of related party transactions				Erie Insurance Group
(dollars in millions)	3Q'13		3Q'12		3Q'13		3Q'12		3Q'13		3Q'12		3Q'13		3Q'12
Management operations	$	60	$	66	$	—	$	—	$	(52)	$	(58)	$	8	$	8
Property and casualty insurance operations⁽²⁾	—		—		24		(101)		55		61		79		(40)
Life insurance operations⁽²⁾	—		—		10		12		(1)		0		9		12
Investment operations	10		12		294		281		(2)		(3)		302		290
Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	70		78		328		192		—		—		398		270
Provision for income taxes	24		27		107		59		—		—		131		86
Net income	$	46	$	51	$	221	$	133	$	—	$	—	$	267	$	184

(1)

The consolidated financial statements of Erie Indemnity Company ("Indemnity") reflect the consolidated results of Indemnity and the Erie Insurance Exchange ("Exchange"), which we refer to collectively as the "Erie Insurance Group." Indemnity, or Indemnity shareholder interest, refers to the interest in Erie Indemnity Company owned by the Class A and Class B shareholders. The Exchange refers to the noncontrolling interest held for the interest of the subscribers (policyholders), and includes its interest in its property and casualty subsidiaries and Erie Family Life Insurance Company ("EFL").

(2)

All property and casualty and life insurance results accrue to the interest of the subscribers (policyholders) of the Exchange, or noncontrolling interest.

The following tables and discussion show the operating results attributable to the Indemnity shareholder interest in the Erie Indemnity Company owned by the Class A and Class B shareholders for the third quarter of 2013.

Management Operations

	Indemnity shareholder interest
(dollars in millions)	3Q'13			3Q'12
Management fee revenue, net	$	333		$	305
Service agreement revenue	8			8
Total revenue from management operations	$	341		$	313
Cost of management operations	281			247
Income from management operations before taxes	$	60		$	66
Gross margin	17.7		%	20.9		%

The management fee rate was 25 percent for both the third quarters of 2013 and 2012. Direct written premium of the property and casualty insurance operations, upon which the management fee is calculated, increased 9.6 percent in the third quarter of 2013, due to a 4.7 percent increase in policies in force and a 4.7 percent increase in the year-over-year average premium per policy for all lines of business at September 30, 2013.
Commissions increased $24 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012. Base commissions increased due to the 9.6 percent increase in direct written premium of the property and casualty insurance operations. Agent bonuses also increased due to an increase in the profitability component of the bonus as a result of factoring in the most recent year's underwriting results and the increased premium levels of the property and casualty insurance operations.
Non-commission expense increased $10 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to the third quarter of 2012. Sales, policy issuance, advertising, and underwriting costs increased $2 million. Personnel costs increased $4 million as a result of a $1 million increase in salaries, a $1 million increase in pension costs, and a $2 million increase in the estimate for incentive plan compensation related to growth and underwriting performance. All other operating costs increased $4 million.

Investment Operations

	Indemnity shareholder interest
(dollars in millions)	3Q'13		3Q'12
Net investment income	$	4	$	4
Net realized gains on investments	1		2
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0		0
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships	5		6
Income from investment operations before taxes	$	10	$	12

Income from investment operations before taxes were $10 million in the third quarter of 2013, compared to $12 million in the third quarter of 2012. Net realized gains on investments and equity in earnings of limited partnerships each decreased $1 million.

Share Repurchase Program

In the third quarter of 2013, we repurchased 76,063 shares of our outstanding Class A nonvoting common stock at a total cost of $5.7 million, based upon trade date, in conjunction with our current stock repurchase program. For the year through October 18, 2013, we repurchased 328,987 shares under this program at a total cost of $23.9 million. In October 2011, our Board of Directors approved a continuation of the current stock repurchase program for a total of $150 million, with no time limitation. This repurchase authority included, and was not in addition to, any unspent amounts remaining under the prior authorization. As of October 18, 2013, we had approximately $44 million in repurchase authority remaining under the program.

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 14th largest homeowners insurer and 12th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 18th 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 nearly 4.7 million policies in force and operates in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group is a FORTUNE 500 and Barron's 500 company. Erie Insurance is proud to have received the J.D. Power and Associates' award for "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Small Business Commercial Insurance" and "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Purchase Experience" in 2013, and to be a J.D. Power and Associates' 2012 Customer Service Champion. ERIE is one of only 50 U.S. companies so named. Erie Insurance is also recognized on the list of Ward's 50 Group of top performing insurance companies, which analyzes the financial performance of 3,000 property and casualty companies and recognizes the top performers for achieving outstanding results in safety, consistency and financial performance over a five-year period (2008-2012).

News releases and more information about Erie Insurance Group are available at www.erieinsurance.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:
Statements contained herein that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements and, as such, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ, perhaps materially, from those discussed herein. Forward-looking statements relate to future trends, events or results and include, without limitation, statements and assumptions on which such statements are based that are related to our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources. Examples of forward-looking statements are discussions relating to premium and investment income, expenses, operating results, agency relationships, and compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Among the risks and uncertainties, in addition to those set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that could cause actual results and future events to differ from those set forth or contemplated in the forward-looking statements include the following:

Risk factors related to the Indemnity shareholder interest:

dependence on Indemnity's relationship with the Exchange and the management fee under the agreement with the subscribers at the Exchange;
costs of providing services to the Exchange under the subscriber's agreement;
ability to attract and retain talented management and employees;
ability to maintain uninterrupted business operations, including information technology systems;
factors affecting the quality and liquidity of Indemnity's investment portfolio;
credit risk from the Exchange;
Indemnity's ability to meet liquidity needs and access capital; and
outcome of pending and potential litigation against Indemnity.

Risk factors related to the non-controlling interest owned by the Exchange, which includes the Property and Casualty Group and EFL:

general business and economic conditions;
dependence upon the independent agency system;
ability to maintain our reputation for customer service;
factors affecting insurance industry competition;
changes in government regulation of the insurance industry;
premium rates and reserves must be established from forecasts of ultimate costs;
emerging claims, coverage issues in the industry, and changes in reserve estimates related to the property and casualty business;
changes in reserve estimates related to the life business;
severe weather conditions or other catastrophic losses, including terrorism;
the Exchange's ability to acquire reinsurance coverage and collectability from reinsurers;
factors affecting the quality and liquidity of the Exchange's investment portfolio;
the Exchange's ability to meet liquidity needs and access capital;
the Exchange's ability to maintain acceptable financial strength rating;
outcome of pending and potential litigation against the Exchange; and
dependence upon the service provided by Indemnity.

A forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and reflects Indemnity's analysis only as of that date. Indemnity undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, or otherwise.

Erie Indemnity Company
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
(dollars in millions, except per share data)

	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012
Revenues
Premiums earned	$	1,241	$	1,137	$	3,631	$	3,333
Net investment income	109		105		316		326
Net realized investment gains	191		169		501		358
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(9)		0		(10)		0
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships	37		41		112		99
Other income	8		8		24		24
Total revenues	1,577		1,460		4,574		4,140
Benefits and expenses
Insurance losses and loss expenses	868		912		2,571		2,571
Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses	311		278		906		835
Total benefits and expenses	1,179		1,190		3,477		3,406
Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	398		270		1,097		734
Provision for income taxes	131		86		363		234
Net income	$	267	$	184	$	734	$	500

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange	221		133		607		370
Net income attributable to Indemnity	$	46	$	51	$	127	$	130

Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to Indemnity per share
Class A common stock – basic	$	0.98	$	1.08	$	2.71	$	2.73
Class A common stock – diluted	$	0.87	$	0.96	$	2.41	$	2.43
Class B common stock – basic and diluted	$	147	$	162	$	406	$	411

Weighted average shares outstanding attributable to Indemnity – Basic
Class A common stock	46,656,911		47,188,741		46,707,971		47,476,693
Class B common stock	2,542		2,544		2,542		2,544

Weighted average shares outstanding attributable to Indemnity – Diluted
Class A common stock	52,851,250		53,374,846		52,902,310		53,662,798
Class B common stock	2,542		2,544		2,542		2,544

Dividends declared per share
Class A common stock	$	0.5925	$	0.5525	$	1.7775	$	1.6575
Class B common stock	$	88.8750	$	82.8750	$	266.6250	$	248.6250

Erie Indemnity Company
Results of the Erie Insurance Group's Operations by Interest (Unaudited)
(in millions)

	Indemnity shareholder interest				Noncontrolling interest (Exchange)				Eliminations of related party transactions				Erie Insurance Group
	Three months ended September 30,				Three months ended September 30,				Three months ended September 30,				Three months ended September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
Management operations:
Management fee revenue, net	$	333	$	305	$	—	$	—	$	(333)	$	(305)	$	—	$	—
Service agreement revenue	8		8		—		—		—		—		8		8
Total revenue from management operations	341		313		—		—		(333)		(305)		8		8
Cost of management operations	281		247		—		—		(281)		(247)		—		—
*Income from management operations before taxes*	60		66		—		—		(52)		(58)		8		8
Property and casualty insurance operations:
Net premiums earned	—		—		1,221		1,118		—		—		1,221		1,118
Losses and loss expenses	—		—		841		890		(1)		(2)		840		888
Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses	—		—		356		329		(54)		(59)		302		270
Income (loss) from property and casualty insurance operations before taxes	—		—		24		(101)		55		61		79		(40)
Life insurance operations: ⁽¹⁾
Total revenue	—		—		47		44		(1)		0		46		44
Total benefits and expenses	—		—		37		32		0		0		37		32
*Income from life insurance operations before taxes*	—		—		10		12		(1)		0		9		12
Investment operations:
Net investment income	4		4		83		81		(2)		(3)		85		82
Net realized gains on investments	1		2		188		165		—		—		189		167
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0		0		(9)		0		—		—		(9)		0
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships	5		6		32		35		—		—		37		41
*Income from investment operations before taxes*	10		12		294		281		(2)		(3)		302		290
Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	70		78		328		192		—		—		398		270
Provision for income taxes	24		27		107		59		—		—		131		86
Net income	$	46	$	51	$	221	$	133	$	—	$	—	$	267	$	184

(1)

Earnings on life insurance related invested assets are integral to the evaluation of the life insurance operations because of the long duration of life products. On that basis, for presentation purposes, the life insurance operations in the table above include life insurance related investment results.

Erie Indemnity Company
Results of the Erie Insurance Group's Operations by Interest (Unaudited)
(in millions)

	Indemnity shareholder interest				Noncontrolling interest (Exchange)				Eliminations of related party transactions				Erie Insurance Group
	Nine months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012		2013		2012
Management operations:
Management fee revenue, net	$	965	$	882	$	—	$	—	$	(965)	$	(882)	$	—	$	—
Service agreement revenue	23		23		—		—		—		—		23		23
Total revenue from management operations	988		905		—		—		(965)		(882)		23		23
Cost of management operations	820		734		—		—		(820)		(734)		—		—
*Income from management operations before taxes*	168		171		—		—		(145)		(148)		23		23
Property and casualty insurance operations:
Net premiums earned	—		—		3,573		3,279		—		—		3,573		3,279
Losses and loss expenses	—		—		2,495		2,501		(4)		(4)		2,491		2,497
Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses	—		—		1,032		963		(151)		(153)		881		810
Income (loss) from property and casualty insurance operations before taxes	—		—		46		(185)		155		157		201		(28)
Life insurance operations: ⁽¹⁾
Total revenue	—		—		139		133		(2)		(1)		137		132
Total benefits and expenses	—		—		105		99		0		0		105		99
*Income from life insurance operations before taxes*	—		—		34		34		(2)		(1)		32		33
Investment operations:
Net investment income	11		12		243		251		(8)		(8)		246		255
Net realized gains on investments	1		4		492		348		—		—		493		352
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	0		0		(9)		0		—		—		(9)		0
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships	13		10		98		89		—		—		111		99
*Income from investment operations before taxes*	25		26		824		688		(8)		(8)		841		706
Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	193		197		904		537		—		—		1,097		734
Provision for income taxes	66		67		297		167		—		—		363		234
Net income	$	127	$	130	$	607	$	370	$	—	$	—	$	734	$	500

(1)

Erie Indemnity Company
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Net Income (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of operating income to net income
We disclose operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure, to enhance our investors' understanding of our performance related to the Indemnity shareholder interest. Our method of calculating this measure may differ from those used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.

Indemnity defines operating income as net income excluding realized capital gains and losses, impairment losses and related federal income taxes.

Indemnity uses operating income to evaluate the results of its operations. It reveals trends that may be obscured by the net effects of realized capital gains and losses including impairment losses. Realized capital gains and losses, including impairment losses, may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by business decisions and economic developments such as capital market conditions which are not related to our ongoing operations. We are aware that the price to earnings multiple commonly used by investors as a forward-looking valuation technique uses operating income as the denominator. Operating income should not be considered as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and does not reflect Indemnity's overall profitability.

The following table reconciles operating income and net income for the Indemnity shareholder interest:

		Indemnity Shareholder Interest
		Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
(in millions, except per share data)		2013		2012		2013		2012
		(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
Operating income attributable to Indemnity	$	45	$	50	$	126	$	128
Net realized gains and impairments on investments		1		2		1		4
Income tax expense		0		(1)		0		(2)
Realized gains and impairments, net of income taxes		1		1		1		2
Net income attributable to Indemnity	$	46	$	51	$	127	$	130

Per Indemnity Class A common share-diluted:
Operating income attributable to Indemnity	$	0.86	$	0.93	$	2.40	$	2.38
Net realized gains and impairments on investments		0.01		0.05		0.01		0.08
Income tax expense		0.00		(0.02)		0.00		(0.03)
Realized gains and impairments, net of income taxes		0.01		0.03		0.01		0.05
Net income attributable to Indemnity	$	0.87	$	0.96	$	2.41	$	2.43

Erie Indemnity Company
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
(in millions)

	September 30, 2013		December 31, 2012
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Investments – Indemnity
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
Fixed maturities	$	499	$	452
Equity securities	48		55
Limited partnerships	158		180
Other invested assets	1		1
Investments – Exchange
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
Fixed maturities	7,921		7,707
Equity securities	849		945
Trading securities, at fair value	2,945		2,417
Limited partnerships	979		1,037
Other invested assets	20		20
Total investments	13,420		12,814

Cash and cash equivalents (Exchange portion of $502 and $388, respectively)	535		400
Premiums receivable from policyholders – Exchange	1,203		1,062
Reinsurance recoverable – Exchange	174		168
Deferred income taxes – Indemnity	42		37
Deferred acquisition costs – Exchange	574		504
Other assets (Exchange portion of $329 and $339, respectively)	436		456
Total assets	$	16,384	$	15,441

Liabilities and shareholders' equity
Liabilities
Indemnity liabilities
Other liabilities	$	574	$	515
Exchange liabilities
Losses and loss expense reserves	3,712		3,598
Life policy and deposit contract reserves	1,754		1,708
Unearned premiums	2,654		2,365
Deferred income taxes	368		365
Other liabilities	123		99
Total liabilities	9,185		8,650

Indemnity's shareholders' equity	657		642

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange	6,542		6,149
Total equity	7,199		6,791
Total liabilities, shareholders' equity and noncontrolling interest	$	16,384	$	15,441