ERIE 10-Q 09.30.2014
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014
 
Commission file number 0-24000
 
 
ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
 
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
PENNSYLVANIA
 
25-0466020
 
 
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
 
 
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)
 
 
 
100 Erie Insurance Place, Erie, Pennsylvania
 
16530
 
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(814) 870-2000
 
 
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
Not applicable
 
 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
 
  
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes  X   No ___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes  X   No ___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes  X   No ___
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large Accelerated Filer  X    Accelerated Filer ___ Non-Accelerated Filer ___ Smaller Reporting Company ___
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes          No   X
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock as of the latest practicable date, with no par value and a stated value of $0.0292 per share, was 46,189,068 at October 17, 2014.
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock as of the latest practicable date, with no par value and a stated value of $70 per share, was 2,542 at October 17, 2014.


Table of Contents

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(dollars in millions, except per share data)

 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Premiums earned
 
$
1,355

 
$
1,241

 
$
3,962

 
$
3,631

Net investment income
 
115

 
109

 
335

 
316

Net realized investment (losses) gains
 
(85
)
 
191

 
104

 
501

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
(1
)
 
(9
)
 
(1
)
 
(10
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
34

 
37

 
111

 
112

Other income
 
8

 
8

 
24

 
24

Total revenues
 
1,426

 
1,577

 
4,535

 
4,574

Benefits and expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Insurance losses and loss expenses
 
935

 
868

 
3,095

 
2,571

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 
341

 
311

 
987

 
906

Total benefits and expenses
 
1,276

 
1,179

 
4,082

 
3,477

Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest
 
150

 
398

 
453

 
1,097

Provision for income taxes
 
42

 
131

 
133

 
363

Net income
 
$
108

 
$
267

 
$
320

 
$
734

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange
 
61

 
221

 
178

 
607

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
47

 
$
46

 
$
142

 
$
127

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings Per Share
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Net income attributable to Indemnity per share
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Class A common stock – basic
 
$
1.01

 
$
0.98

 
$
3.05

 
$
2.71

Class A common stock – diluted
 
$
0.90

 
$
0.87

 
$
2.71

 
$
2.41

Class B common stock – basic
 
$
151

 
$
147

 
$
458

 
$
406

Class B common stock – diluted
 
$
151

 
$
147

 
$
457

 
$
406

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding attributable to Indemnity – Basic
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Class A common stock
 
46,189,068

 
46,656,911

 
46,267,694

 
46,707,971

Class B common stock
 
2,542

 
2,542

 
2,542

 
2,542

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding attributable to Indemnity – Diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Class A common stock
 
52,387,164

 
52,851,250

 
52,465,790

 
52,902,310

Class B common stock
 
2,542

 
2,542

 
2,542

 
2,542

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dividends declared per share
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Class A common stock
 
$
0.6350

 
$
0.5925

 
$
1.9050

 
$
1.7775

Class B common stock
 
$
95.2500

 
$
88.8750

 
$
285.7500

 
$
266.6250

 
 
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 12. "Indemnity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss," for amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  See Note 15. “Indemnity Supplemental Information,” for supplemental statements of operations information.

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ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
(in millions)

 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Net income
 
$
108

 
$
267

 
$
320

 
$
734

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Change in unrealized holding (losses) gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax benefit (expense) of $32, $12, $(48), and $123, respectively
 
(59
)
 
(23
)
 
89

 
(229
)
Reclassification adjustment for gross (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax benefit (expense) of $1, $(12), $8, and $(5), respectively
 
(4
)
 
21

 
(15
)
 
8

Other comprehensive (loss) income
 
(63
)
 
(2
)
 
74

 
(221
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income
 
$
45

 
$
265

 
$
394

 
$
513

Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange
 
(1
)
 
221

 
249

 
393

Total comprehensive income – Indemnity
 
$
46

 
$
44

 
$
145

 
$
120

 
 
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 12. "Indemnity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss," for supplemental statements of comprehensive income (loss) information.

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ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(dollars in millions, except per share data)

 
 
September 30,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Assets
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Investments – Indemnity
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities (amortized cost of $551 and $518, respectively)
 
$
563

 
$
526

Equity securities (cost of $24 and $50, respectively)
 
25

 
50

Limited partnerships (cost of $107 and $123, respectively)
 
134

 
146

Other invested assets
 
1

 
1

Investments – Exchange
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities (amortized cost of $8,435 and $7,801, respectively)
 
8,902

 
8,162

Equity securities (cost of $853 and $778, respectively)
 
917

 
819

Trading securities, at fair value (cost of $2,237 and $2,198, respectively)
 
3,125

 
3,202

Limited partnerships (cost of $757 and $790, respectively)
 
939

 
940

Other invested assets
 
20

 
20

Total investments
 
14,626

 
13,866

 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents (Exchange portion of $334 and $403, respectively)
 
379

 
452

Premiums receivable from policyholders – Exchange
 
1,323

 
1,167

Reinsurance recoverable – Exchange
 
165

 
172

Deferred income taxes – Indemnity
 
2

 
2

Deferred acquisition costs – Exchange
 
603

 
566

Other assets (Exchange portion of $366 and $337, respectively)
 
480

 
451

Total assets
 
$
17,578

 
$
16,676

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
Indemnity liabilities
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
$
482

 
$
476

Exchange liabilities
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss expense reserves
 
3,933

 
3,747

Life policy and deposit contract reserves
 
1,801

 
1,758

Unearned premiums
 
2,896

 
2,598

Deferred income taxes
 
465

 
450

Other liabilities
 
165

 
97

Total liabilities
 
9,742

 
9,126

 
 
 
 
 
Indemnity shareholders’ equity
 
 
 
 
Class A common stock, stated value $0.0292 per share; 74,996,930 shares authorized; 68,299,200 shares issued; 46,189,068 and 46,461,125 shares outstanding, respectively
 
2

 
2

Class B common stock, convertible at a rate of 2,400 Class A shares for one Class B share, stated value $70 per share; 3,070 shares authorized; 2,542 shares issued and outstanding
 
0

 
0

Additional paid-in-capital
 
16

 
16

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(56
)
 
(59
)
Retained earnings
 
1,955

 
1,902

Total contributed capital and retained earnings
 
1,917

 
1,861

Treasury stock, at cost, 22,110,132 and 21,838,075 shares, respectively
 
(1,146
)
 
(1,127
)
Total Indemnity shareholders’ equity
 
771

 
734

 
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange
 
7,065

 
6,816

Total equity
 
7,836

 
7,550

Total liabilities, shareholders’ equity, and noncontrolling interest
 
$
17,578

 
$
16,676

 
 
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  See Note 15. “Indemnity Supplemental Information,” for supplemental consolidating statements of financial position information.

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ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(in millions)

 
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Premiums collected
 
$
4,106

 
$
3,780

Net investment income received
 
362

 
337

Limited partnership distributions
 
95

 
125

Service agreement fee received
 
23

 
23

Commissions and bonuses paid to agents
 
(576
)
 
(521
)
Losses paid
 
(2,438
)
 
(2,039
)
Loss expenses paid
 
(378
)
 
(343
)
Other underwriting and acquisition costs paid
 
(519
)
 
(465
)
Income taxes paid
 
(126
)
 
(208
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
549

 
689

 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Purchase of investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
(1,825
)
 
(2,157
)
Preferred stock
 
(382
)
 
(94
)
Common stock
 
(766
)
 
(1,021
)
Limited partnerships
 
(82
)
 
(66
)
Sales/maturities of investments:
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturity sales
 
490

 
716

Fixed maturity calls/maturities
 
685

 
881

Preferred stock
 
331

 
84

Common stock
 
944

 
1,057

Sale of and returns on limited partnerships
 
100

 
125

Net purchase of property and equipment
 
(29
)
 
(24
)
Net collections on agent loans
 
2

 
1

Net distributions on life policy loans
 
(1
)
 
0

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(533
)
 
(498
)
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Annuity deposits and interest
 
66

 
68

Annuity surrenders and withdrawals
 
(62
)
 
(58
)
Universal life deposits and interest
 
25

 
20

Universal life surrenders
 
(9
)
 
(8
)
Purchase of treasury stock
 
(20
)
 
(22
)
Dividends paid to shareholders
 
(89
)
 
(56
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(89
)
 
(56
)
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
(73
)
 
135

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
452

 
400

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
379

 
$
535

 
 
See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 15. “Indemnity Supplemental Information,” for supplemental cash flow information.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
 
Note 1.  Nature of Operations
 
Erie Indemnity Company (“Indemnity”) is a publicly held Pennsylvania business corporation that has been the managing attorney-in-fact for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Erie Insurance Exchange (“Exchange”) since 1925.  The Exchange is a subscriber-owned, Pennsylvania-domiciled reciprocal insurer that writes property and casualty insurance.
 
Indemnity’s primary function is to perform certain services for the Exchange relating to the sales, underwriting and issuance of policies on behalf of the Exchange.  This is done in accordance with a subscriber’s agreement (a limited power of attorney) executed by each subscriber (policyholder), which appoints Indemnity as their common attorney-in-fact to transact business on their behalf and to manage the affairs of the Exchange.  Pursuant to the subscriber’s agreement and for its services as attorney-in-fact, Indemnity earns a management fee calculated as a percentage of the direct premiums written by the Exchange and the other members of the Property and Casualty Group (defined below), which are assumed by the Exchange under an intercompany pooling arrangement.
 
Indemnity has the power to direct the activities of the Exchange that most significantly impact the Exchange’s economic performance by acting as the common attorney-in-fact and decision maker for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Exchange.
 
The Exchange, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, Erie Insurance Company (“EIC”), Erie Insurance Company of New York (“ENY”), Erie Insurance Property and Casualty Company (“EPC”), and Flagship City Insurance Company (“Flagship”), operate as a property and casualty insurer and are collectively referred to as the “Property and Casualty Group”.  The Property and Casualty Group operates in 11 Midwestern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states and the District of Columbia.
 
Erie Family Life Insurance Company (“EFL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Exchange, operates as a life insurer that underwrites and sells individual and group life insurance policies and fixed annuities.
 
Indemnity expects to begin writing personal passenger automobile, home insurance, personal excess liability insurance, and life insurance and annuity products in Kentucky for the Erie Insurance Group in the fourth quarter of 2014.
 
All property and casualty and life insurance operations are owned by the Exchange and Indemnity functions solely as the management company.
 
The consolidated financial statements of Erie Indemnity Company reflect the results of Indemnity and its variable interest entity, the Exchange, which we refer to collectively as the “Erie Insurance Group” (“we,” “us,” “our”).
 
“Indemnity shareholder interest” refers to the interest in Erie Indemnity Company owned by the Class A and Class B shareholders.  “Noncontrolling interest” refers to the interest in the Erie Insurance Exchange held for the subscribers (policyholders).
 
Note 2.  Significant Accounting Policies
 
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of Indemnity together with its affiliate companies in which Indemnity holds a majority voting or economic interest.
 
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods have been included.  Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2014.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.


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Principles of consolidation
We consolidate the Exchange as a variable interest entity for which Indemnity is the primary beneficiary.  All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  The required presentation of noncontrolling interests is reflected in the consolidated financial statements.  Noncontrolling interests represent the ownership interests of the Exchange, all of which are held by parties other than Indemnity (i.e. the Exchange’s subscribers (policyholders)).  Noncontrolling interests also include the Exchange subscribers’ ownership interest in EFL.
 
Presentation of assets and liabilities – While the assets of the Exchange are presented separately in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, the Exchange’s assets can only be used to satisfy the Exchange’s liabilities or for other unrestricted activities.  Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation, does not require separate presentation of the Exchange’s assets; however, because the shareholders of Indemnity have no rights to the assets of the Exchange and, conversely, the Exchange has no rights to the assets of Indemnity, we have presented the invested assets of the Exchange separately on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position along with the remaining consolidated assets reflecting the Exchange’s portion parenthetically.  Liabilities are required under ASC 810, Consolidation, to be presented separately for the Exchange on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as the Exchange’s creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Indemnity.
 
Rights of shareholders of Indemnity and subscribers (policyholders) of the Exchange – The shareholders of Indemnity, through the management fee, have a controlling financial interest in the Exchange; however, they have no other rights to or obligations arising from assets and liabilities of the Exchange.  The shareholders of Indemnity own its equity but have no rights or interest in the Exchange’s (noncontrolling interest) income or equity.  The noncontrolling interest equity represents the Exchange’s equity held for the interest of its subscribers (policyholders), who have no rights or interest in the Indemnity shareholder interest income or equity.
 
All intercompany assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses between Indemnity and the Exchange have been eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Pending accounting pronouncements
In January 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-01, Accounting for Investments in Qualified Affordable Housing Projects.  This guidance permits reporting entities to make an accounting policy election to account for their investments in qualified affordable housing projects using the proportional amortization method if certain conditions are met.  Generally, investors in qualified affordable housing project investments expect to receive substantially all of their return through the receipt of tax credits and other tax benefits.  ASU No. 2014-01 allows for the recording of the investment performance net of taxes as a component of income tax expense to more fairly represent the economics of the investments and provide users with a better understanding of the returns from such investments.  The qualifications to make this accounting election were also made less restrictive.  ASU No. 2014-01 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with early adoption permitted.  While we are currently evaluating whether to make the accounting election and whether the election would be made for early adoption, such election is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU No. 2014-09 clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and provides a common revenue standard for GAAP. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Insurance contracts are not within the scope of this guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early application is not permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 related to the management fee and service agreement revenue to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.



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Note 3.  Indemnity Earnings Per Share
 
Class A and Class B basic earnings per share and Class B diluted earnings per share are calculated under the two-class method. The two-class method allocates earnings to each class of stock based upon its dividend rights.  Class B shares are convertible into Class A shares at a conversion ratio of 2,400 to 1. See Note 11. “Indemnity Capital Stock”.

Class A diluted earnings per share are calculated under the if-converted method, which reflects the conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares. Diluted earnings per share calculations include the effect of any potential common shares. Potential common shares include outstanding vested and not yet vested awards related to our outside directors’ stock compensation plan and any employee stock based awards.

A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in the basic and diluted per-share computations is presented as follows for each class of Indemnity common stock:
 
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
Allocated net income (numerator)
 
Weighted shares (denominator)
 
Per-share amount
 
Allocated net income (numerator)
 
Weighted shares (denominator)
 
Per-share amount
Class A – Basic EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to Class A stockholders
 
$
47

 
46,189,068

 
$
1.01

 
$
46

 
46,656,911

 
$
0.98

Dilutive effect of stock-based awards
 
0

 
97,296

 

 
0

 
93,539

 

Assumed conversion of Class B shares
 
0

 
6,100,800

 

 
0

 
6,100,800

 

Class A – Diluted EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to Class A stockholders on Class A equivalent shares
 
$
47

 
52,387,164

 
$
0.90

 
$
46

 
52,851,250

 
$
0.87

Class B – Basic and diluted EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to Class B stockholders
 
$
0

 
2,542

 
$
151

 
$
0

 
2,542

 
$
147

  
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
Allocated net income (numerator)
 
Weighted shares (denominator)
 
Per-share amount
 
Allocated net income (numerator)
 
Weighted shares (denominator)
 
Per-share amount
Class A – Basic EPS:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income available to Class A stockholders
 
$
141

 
46,267,694

 
$
3.05

 
$
126

 
46,707,971

 
$
2.71

Dilutive effect of stock-based awards
 
0

 
97,296

 

 
0

 
93,539

 

Assumed conversion of Class B shares
 
1

 
6,100,800

 

 
1

 
6,100,800

 

Class A – Diluted EPS:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income available to Class A stockholders on Class A equivalent shares
 
$
142

 
52,465,790

 
$
2.71

 
$
127

 
52,902,310

 
$
2.41

Class B – Basic EPS:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Income available to Class B stockholders
 
$
1

 
2,542

 
$
458

 
$
1

 
2,542

 
$
406

Class B – Diluted EPS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to Class B stockholders
 
$
1

 
2,542

 
$
457

 
$
1

 
2,542

 
$
406


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Note 4.  Variable Interest Entity
 
Erie Insurance Exchange
The Exchange is a reciprocal insurance exchange domiciled in Pennsylvania, for which Indemnity serves as attorney-in-fact.  Indemnity holds a variable interest in the Exchange due to the absence of decision-making capabilities by the equity owners (subscribers/policyholders) of the Exchange and due to the significance of the management fee the Exchange pays to Indemnity as its decision maker.  As a result, Indemnity is deemed to have a controlling financial interest in the Exchange and is considered to be its primary beneficiary.
 
Consolidation of the Exchange’s financial results is required given the significance of the management fee to the Exchange and because Indemnity has the power to direct the activities of the Exchange that most significantly impact the Exchange’s economic performance.  The Exchange’s anticipated economic performance is the product of its underwriting results combined with its investment results.  The fees paid to Indemnity under the subscriber’s agreement impact the anticipated economic performance attributable to the Exchange’s results.  Indemnity earns a management fee from the Exchange for the services it provides as attorney-in-fact.  Indemnity’s management fee revenues are based upon all premiums written or assumed by the Exchange.  Indemnity’s Board of Directors determines the management fee rate to be paid by the Exchange to Indemnity.  This rate cannot exceed 25% of the direct and assumed written premiums of the Exchange, as defined by the subscriber’s agreement signed by each policyholder.  Management fee revenues and management fee expenses are eliminated upon consolidation.
 
The shareholders of Indemnity have no rights to the assets of the Exchange and no obligations arising from the liabilities of the Exchange.  Indemnity has no obligation related to any underwriting and/or investment losses experienced by the Exchange.  Indemnity would, however, be adversely impacted if the Exchange incurred significant underwriting and/or investment losses.  If the surplus of the Exchange were to decline significantly from its current level, its financial strength ratings could be reduced and, as a consequence, the Exchange could find it more difficult to retain its existing business and attract new business.  A decline in the business of the Exchange would have an adverse effect on the amount of the management fees Indemnity receives.  In addition, a decline in the surplus of the Exchange from its current level may impact the management fee rate received by Indemnity.  Indemnity also has an exposure to a concentration of credit risk related to the unsecured receivables due from the Exchange for its management fee. If any of these events occurred, Indemnity’s financial position, financial performance, and/or cash flows could be adversely impacted.
 
All property and casualty and life insurance operations are owned by the Exchange, and Indemnity functions solely as the management company.
 
Indemnity has not provided financial or other support to the Exchange for any of the reporting periods presented.  At September 30, 2014, there are no explicit or implicit arrangements that would require Indemnity to provide future financial support to the Exchange.  Indemnity is not liable if the Exchange was to be in violation of its debt covenants or was unable to meet its obligation for unfunded commitments to limited partnerships.

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Note 5. Segment Information
 
Our reportable segments include management operations, property and casualty insurance operations, life insurance operations, and investment operations.  Accounting policies for segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.  See Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.  Assets are not allocated to the segments, but rather, are reviewed in total for purposes of decision-making.  No single customer or agent provides 10% or more of revenues.
 
Management operations
Our management operations segment consists of Indemnity serving as attorney-in-fact for the Exchange.  Indemnity operates in this capacity solely for the Exchange.  We evaluate profitability of our management operations segment principally on the gross margin from management operations.  Indemnity earns a management fee from the Exchange for providing sales, underwriting, and policy issuance services.  Management fee revenue, which is eliminated upon consolidation, is calculated as a percentage not to exceed 25% of all the direct premiums written by the Exchange and the other members of the Property and Casualty Group, which are assumed by the Exchange under an intercompany pooling arrangement.  The Property and Casualty Group issues policies with annual terms only.  Management fees are recorded upon policy issuance or renewal, as substantially all of the services required to be performed by Indemnity have been satisfied at that time.  Certain activities are performed and related costs are incurred by us subsequent to policy issuance in connection with the services provided to the Exchange; however, these activities are inconsequential and perfunctory.  Although these management fee revenues and expenses are eliminated upon consolidation, the amount of the fee directly impacts the allocation of our consolidated net income between the noncontrolling interest, which bears the management fee expense and represents the interests of the Exchange subscribers (policyholders), and Indemnity’s interest, which earns the management fee revenue and represents the Indemnity shareholder interest in net income.
 
Property and casualty insurance operations
Our property and casualty insurance operations segment includes personal and commercial lines.  Personal lines consist primarily of personal auto and homeowners and are marketed to individuals.  Commercial lines consist primarily of commercial multi-peril, commercial auto, and workers compensation and are marketed to small- and medium-sized businesses.  Our property and casualty policies are sold by independent agents.  Our property and casualty insurance underwriting operations are conducted through the Exchange and its subsidiaries and include assumed voluntary reinsurance from nonaffiliated domestic and foreign sources, assumed involuntary, and ceded reinsurance business.  The Exchange exited the assumed voluntary reinsurance business effective December 31, 2003, and therefore unaffiliated assumed voluntary reinsurance includes only run-off activity of the previously assumed voluntary reinsurance business.  We evaluate profitability of the property and casualty insurance operations principally based upon net underwriting results represented by the combined ratio.
 
Life insurance operations
Our life insurance operations segment includes traditional and universal life insurance products and fixed annuities marketed to individuals using the same independent agency force utilized by our property and casualty insurance operations.  We evaluate profitability of the life insurance segment principally based upon segment net income, including investments, which for segment purposes are reflected in the investment operations segment.  At the same time, we recognize that investment-related income is integral to the evaluation of the life insurance segment because of the long duration of life products.  For the third quarters of 2014 and 2013, investment activities on life insurance related assets generated revenues of $26 million resulting in EFL reporting income before income taxes of $10 million for both periods, before intercompany eliminations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2013, investment activities on life insurance related assets generated revenues of $79 million and $78 million, respectively, resulting in EFL reporting income before income taxes of $33 million and $34 million, respectively, before intercompany eliminations.
 
Investment operations
The investment operations segment includes returns from our fixed maturity, equity security and limited partnership investment portfolios to support our underwriting business.  The Indemnity and Exchange portfolios are managed with the objective of maximizing after-tax returns on a risk-adjusted basis, while the EFL portfolio is managed to be closely aligned to its liabilities and to maintain a sufficient yield to meet profitability targets.  Management actively evaluates the portfolios for impairments. We record impairment writedowns on investments in instances where the fair value of the investment is substantially below cost, and we conclude that the decline in fair value is other-than-temporary.  Investment related income for the life operations is included in the investment segment results.


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Table of Contents

The following tables summarize the components of the Consolidated Statements of Operations by reportable business segment:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30, 2014
 
 
Management
operations
 
Property
and casualty
insurance
operations
 
Life
insurance
operations
 
Investment
operations
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Premiums earned/life policy revenue
 
 
 
$
1,333

 
$
22

 
 
 
$
0

 
$
1,355

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
118

 
(3
)
 
115

Net realized investment losses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(85
)
 
 
 
(85
)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
 
(1
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34

 
 
 
34

Management fee revenue
 
$
362

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(362
)
 

Service agreement and other revenue
 
8

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
 
 
8

Total revenues
 
370

 
1,333

 
22

 
66

 
(365
)
 
1,426

Cost of management operations
 
308

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(308
)
 

Insurance losses and loss expenses
 
 
 
908

 
28

 
 
 
(1
)
 
935

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 
 
 
387

 
10

 
 
 
(56
)
 
341

Total benefits and expenses
 
308

 
1,295

 
38

 

 
(365
)
 
1,276

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
62

 
38

 
(16
)
 
66

 

 
150

Provision for income taxes
 
22

 
13

 
(5
)
 
12

 

 
42

Net income (loss)
 
$
40

 
$
25

 
$
(11
)
 
$
54

 
$

 
$
108

 
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30, 2013
 
 
Management
operations
 
Property
and casualty
insurance
operations
 
Life
insurance
operations
 
Investment
operations
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Premiums earned/life policy revenue
 
 
 
$
1,221

 
$
21

 
 
 
$
(1
)
 
$
1,241

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
111

 
(2
)
 
109

Net realized investment gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
191

 
 
 
191

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(9
)
 
 
 
(9
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
37

 
 
 
37

Management fee revenue
 
$
333

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(333
)
 

Service agreement and other revenue
 
8

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
 
 
8

Total revenues
 
341

 
1,221

 
21

 
330

 
(336
)
 
1,577

Cost of management operations
 
281

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(281
)
 

Insurance losses and loss expenses
 
 
 
841

 
28

 
 
 
(1
)
 
868

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 
 
 
356

 
9

 
 
 
(54
)
 
311

Total benefits and expenses
 
281

 
1,197

 
37

 

 
(336
)
 
1,179

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
60

 
24

 
(16
)
 
330

 

 
398

Provision for income taxes
 
21

 
8

 
(5
)
 
107

 

 
131

Net income (loss)
 
$
39

 
$
16

 
$
(11
)
 
$
223

 
$

 
$
267



12

Table of Contents

 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2014
 
 
Management
operations
 
Property
and casualty
insurance
operations
 
Life
insurance
operations
 
Investment
operations
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Premiums earned/life policy revenue
 
 
 
$
3,899

 
$
64

 
 
 
$
(1
)
 
$
3,962

Net investment income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
346

 
(11
)
 
335

Net realized investment gains
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
104

 
 
 
104

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1
)
 
 
 
(1
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
111

 
 
 
111

Management fee revenue
 
$
1,047

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,047
)
 

Service agreement and other revenue
 
23

 
 
 
1

 
 
 
 
 
24

Total revenues
 
1,070

 
3,899

 
65

 
560

 
(1,059
)
 
4,535

Cost of management operations
 
882

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(882
)
 

Insurance losses and loss expenses
 
 
 
3,016

 
83

 
 
 
(4
)
 
3,095

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 
 
 
1,132

 
28

 
 
 
(173
)
 
987

Total benefits and expenses
 
882

 
4,148

 
111

 

 
(1,059
)
 
4,082

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
188

 
(249
)
 
(46
)
 
560

 

 
453

Provision for income taxes
 
66

 
(87
)
 
(16
)
 
170

 

 
133

Net income (loss)
 
$
122

 
$
(162
)
 
$
(30
)
 
$
390

 
$

 
$
320

 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2013
 
 
Management operations
 
Property
and casualty
insurance
operations
 
Life insurance operations
 
Investment operations
 
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Premiums earned/life policy revenue
 
 

 
$
3,573

 
$
60

 
 

 
$
(2
)
 
$
3,631

Net investment income
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
$
324

 
(8
)
 
316

Net realized investment gains
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
501

 
 

 
501

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(10
)
 
 

 
(10
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
112

 
 

 
112

Management fee revenue
 
$
965

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(965
)
 

Service agreement and other revenue
 
23

 
 

 
1

 
 

 
 

 
24

Total revenues
 
988

 
3,573

 
61

 
927

 
(975
)
 
4,574

Cost of management operations
 
820

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
(820
)
 

Insurance losses and loss expenses
 
 

 
2,495

 
80

 
 

 
(4
)
 
2,571

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 
 

 
1,032

 
25

 
 

 
(151
)
 
906

Total benefits and expenses
 
820

 
3,527

 
105

 

 
(975
)
 
3,477

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
168

 
46

 
(44
)
 
927

 

 
1,097

Provision for income taxes
 
59

 
16

 
(15
)
 
303

 

 
363

Net income (loss)
 
$
109

 
$
30

 
$
(29
)
 
$
624

 
$

 
$
734

 
 


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Table of Contents

Note 6. Fair Value
 
Our available-for-sale and trading securities are recorded at fair value, which is the price that would be received to sell the asset in an orderly transaction between willing market participants as of the measurement date.
 
Valuation techniques used to derive the fair value of our available-for-sale and trading securities are based upon observable and unobservable inputs.  Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources.  Unobservable inputs reflect our own assumptions regarding fair market value for these securities.  Although the majority of our prices are obtained from third party sources, we also perform an internal pricing review for securities with low trading volumes under current market conditions. Financial instruments are categorized based upon the following characteristics or inputs to the valuation techniques:
 
Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity can access at the measurement date.

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
 
Estimates of fair values for our investment portfolio are obtained primarily from a nationally recognized pricing service.  Our Level 1 category includes those securities valued using an exchange traded price provided by the pricing service.  The methodologies used by the pricing service that support a Level 2 classification of a financial instrument include multiple verifiable, observable inputs including benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data.  Pricing service valuations for Level 3 securities are based upon proprietary models and are used when observable inputs are not available or in illiquid markets.
 
In limited circumstances we adjust the price received from the pricing service when, in our judgment, a better reflection of fair value is available based upon corroborating information and our knowledge and monitoring of market conditions such as a disparity in price of comparable securities and/or non-binding broker quotes.  In other circumstances, certain securities are internally priced because prices are not provided by the pricing service.
 
We perform continuous reviews of the prices obtained from the pricing service.  This includes evaluating the methodology and inputs used by the pricing service to ensure that we determine the proper classification level of the financial instrument.  Price variances, including large periodic changes, are investigated and corroborated by market data.  We have reviewed the pricing methodologies of our pricing service as well as other observable inputs, such as data, and transaction volumes and believe that their prices adequately consider market activity in determining fair value.  Our review process continues to evolve based upon accounting guidance and requirements.
 
When a price from the pricing service is not available, values are determined by obtaining broker/dealer quotes and/or market comparables.  When available, we obtain multiple quotes for the same security.  The ultimate value for these securities is determined based upon our best estimate of fair value using corroborating market information.  Our evaluation includes the consideration of benchmark yields, reported trades, issuer spreads, two-sided markets, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data.
 
For certain securities in an illiquid market, there may be no prices available from a pricing service and no comparable market quotes available.  In these situations, we value the security using an internally-developed, risk-adjusted discounted cash flow model.


14

Table of Contents

The following table represents our consolidated fair value measurements on a recurring basis by asset class and level of input at September 30, 2014:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
 
Fair value measurements using:
(in millions)
 
 
Total
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for identical assets
Level 1
 
Observable inputs
Level 2
 
Unobservable inputs
Level 3
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States & political subdivisions
 
$
231

 
$
0

 
$
231

 
$
0

Corporate debt securities
 
242

 
0

 
241

 
1

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
10

 
0

 
10

 
0

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
49

 
0

 
46

 
3

Collateralized debt obligations
 
24

 
0

 
24

 
0

Other debt securities
 
7

 
0

 
7

 
0

Total fixed maturities
 
563

 
0

 
559

 
4

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
12

 
2

 
10

 
0

Common stock
 
13

 
13

 
0

 
0

Total available-for-sale securities
 
588

 
15

 
569

 
4

Other investments (1)
 
19

 
0

 
0

 
19

Total – Indemnity
 
$
607

 
$
15

 
$
569

 
$
23

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury
 
$
6

 
$
0

 
$
6

 
$
0

Government sponsored enterprises
 
4

 
0

 
4

 
0

States & political subdivisions
 
1,483

 
0

 
1,483

 
0

Foreign government securities
 
15

 
0

 
15

 
0

Corporate debt securities
 
7,161

 
0

 
7,090

 
71

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
119

 
0

 
119

 
0

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
33

 
0

 
33

 
0

Collateralized debt obligations
 
11

 
0

 
11

 
0

Other debt securities
 
70

 
0

 
68

 
2

Total fixed maturities
 
8,902

 
0

 
8,829

 
73

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
720

 
334

 
378

 
8

Common stock
 
197

 
197

 
0

 
0

Total available-for-sale securities
 
9,819

 
531

 
9,207

 
81

Trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
3,125

 
3,110

 
0

 
15

Total trading securities
 
3,125

 
3,110

 
0

 
15

Other investments (1)
 
103

 
0

 
0

 
103

Total – Exchange
 
$
13,047

 
$
3,641

 
$
9,207

 
$
199

Total – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
13,654

 
$
3,656

 
$
9,776

 
$
222


(1)          Other investments measured at fair value represent four real estate funds included on the balance sheet as limited partnership investments that are reported under the fair value option. These investments can never be redeemed with the funds. Instead, distributions are received when liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds occur. It is estimated that the underlying assets will generally be liquidated between 5 and 10 years from the inception of the funds. The fair value of these investments is based on the net asset value (NAV) information provided by the general partner. Fair value is based on our proportionate share of the NAV based on the most recent partners' capital statements received from the general partners, which is generally one quarter prior to our balance sheet date. These values are then analyzed to determine if they represent the NAV at our balance sheet date, with adjustment being made where appropriate. We consider observable market data and perform a review validating the appropriateness of the NAV at each balance sheet date. It is likely that all of the investments will be redeemed at a future date for an amount different than the NAV of our ownership interest in partners' capital as of September 30, 2014. During the nine months ended September 30, 2014, Indemnity made no contributions and received distributions totaling $2.6 million, and the Exchange made no contributions and received distributions totaling $9.7 million for these investments. As of September 30, 2014, the amount of unfunded commitments related to the investments was $0.9 million for Indemnity and $2.8 million for the Exchange.



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Table of Contents

Level 3 Assets – Quarterly Change:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
 
Beginning balance at June 30, 2014
 
Included in
earnings (1)
 
Included
in other comprehensive
income
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Transfers
in and (out) of
Level 3 (2)
 
Ending balance at September 30, 2014
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
3

 
0

 
0

 
3

Collateralized debt obligations
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total fixed maturities
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
3

 
0

 
0

 
4

Total available-for-sale securities
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
3

 
0

 
0

 
4

Other investments
 
18

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
19

Total Level 3 assets – Indemnity
 
$
19

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
3

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
23

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
25

 
$
0

 
$
(1
)
 
$
25

 
$
(1
)
 
$
23

 
$
71

Collateralized debt obligations
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Other debt securities
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
2

 
2

Total fixed maturities
 
25

 
0

 
(1
)
 
25

 
(1
)
 
25

 
73

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
7

 
8

Total available-for-sale securities
 
26

 
0

 
(1
)
 
25

 
(1
)
 
32

 
81

Trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
15

Total trading securities
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
15

Other investments
 
102

 
4

 
0

 
0

 
(3
)
 
0

 
103

Total Level 3 assets – Exchange
 
$
143

 
$
4

 
$
(1
)
 
$
25

 
$
(4
)
 
$
32

 
$
199

Total Level 3 assets – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
162

 
$
5

 
$
(1
)
 
$
28

 
$
(4
)
 
$
32

 
$
222

 
(1)
These amounts are reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. There is $5 million included in equity in earnings of limited partnerships for the three months ended September 30, 2014 on Level 3 securities.
 
(2)
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are attributable to changes in the availability of market observable information for individual securities within the respective categories. Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at the start of the period.
 

We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period.  Transfers between hierarchy levels may occur due to changes in the available market observable inputs.  Transfers in and out of level classifications are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfers occurred.

For Indemnity, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 or between Level 2 and Level 3 for the three months ended September 30, 2014.

For the Exchange, there were no Level 1 to Level 2 transfers, and Level 2 to Level 1 transfers totaled $25 million due to trading activity levels for three preferred stock holdings for the three months ended September 30, 2014. Level 2 to Level 3 transfers totaled $43 million for seven fixed maturity holdings and one preferred stock holding due to the use of unobservable inputs to determine the fair value. Level 3 to Level 2 transfers totaled $11 million for one fixed maturity holding due to the use of observable inputs to determine the fair value at September 30, 2014.



16

Table of Contents

Level 3 Assets – Year-to-Date Change:

 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
 
Beginning balance at December 31, 2013
 
Included in
earnings (1)
 
Included
in other comprehensive
income
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Transfers
in and (out) of
Level 3 (2)
 
Ending balance at September 30, 2014
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
3

 
0

 
0

 
3

Collateralized debt obligations
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(1
)
 
0

 
0

Total fixed maturities
 
2

 
0

 
0

 
3

 
(1
)
 
0

 
4

Total available-for-sale securities
 
2

 
0

 
0

 
3

 
(1
)
 
0

 
4

Other investments
 
18

 
3

 
0

 
0

 
(2
)
 
0

 
19

Total Level 3 assets – Indemnity
 
$
20

 
$
3

 
$
0

 
$
3

 
$
(3
)
 
$
0

 
$
23

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
26

 
$
0

 
$
(1
)
 
$
25

 
$
(2
)
 
$
23

 
$
71

Collateralized debt obligations
 
5

 
1

 
(1
)
 
0

 
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
0

Other debt securities
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
2

 
2

Total fixed maturities
 
31

 
1

 
(2
)
 
25

 
(5
)
 
23

 
73

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
1

 
0

 
7

 
8

Total available-for-sale securities
 
31

 
1

 
(2
)
 
26

 
(5
)
 
30

 
81

Trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
15

Total trading securities
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
15

Other investments
 
98

 
15

 
0

 
0

 
(10
)
 
0

 
103

Total Level 3 assets – Exchange
 
$
144

 
$
16

 
$
(2
)
 
$
26

 
$
(15
)
 
$
30

 
$
199

Total Level 3 assets – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
164

 
$
19

 
$
(2
)
 
$
29

 
$
(18
)
 
$
30

 
$
222

 
(1)
These amounts are reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. There is $1 million included in net realized investment gains (losses) and $18 million included in equity in earnings of limited partnerships for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 on Level 3 securities.
 
(2)
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are attributable to changes in the availability of market observable information for individual securities within the respective categories. Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at the start of the period.


For Indemnity, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 or between Level 2 and Level 3 for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.

For the Exchange, Level 1 to Level 2 transfers totaled $14 million due to trading activity levels for two preferred stock holdings, and Level 2 to Level 1 transfers totaled $25 million due to trading activity levels for three preferred stock holdings for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Level 2 to Level 3 transfers totaled $43 million for seven fixed maturity holdings and one preferred stock holding due to the use of unobservable inputs to determine the fair value. Level 3 to Level 2 transfers totaled $13 million for two fixed maturity holdings due to the use of observable inputs to determine the fair value at September 30, 2014.


17

Table of Contents

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Unobservable Inputs
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
September 30, 2014
  (dollars in millions)
 
Fair
value
 
 
Valuation techniques
 
Unobservable input
 
Range
 
Weighted
average
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
1

 
 
Market approach
 
Non-binding broker quote (4)
 
111
 
 
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
3

 
 
Market approach
 
Non-binding broker quote (4)
 
100
 
 
Other investments (3)
 
19

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Level 3 assets – Indemnity
 
$
23

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
71

 
 
Market approach
 
Non-binding broker quote (4)
 
90-121
 
105
 
 


 
 
 
 
Comparable transaction EBITDA multiples (1)
 
8.0 - 12.1x
 
8.0x
 
 


 
 
 
 
Comparable security yield (1)
 
6%
 
 
Other debt securities 
 
2

 
 
Market approach
 
Non-binding broker quote (4)
 
100
 
 
Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
8

 
 
Market approach
 
Held at cost (2)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-binding broker quote (4)
 
89
 
 
Common stock
 
15

 
 
Market approach
 
Comparable transaction EBITDA multiples (1)
 
8.0 - 12.1x
 
8.0x
 
 


 
 
 
 
Discount for lack of marketability
 
5 - 30%
 
10%
Other investments (3)
 
103

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Level 3 assets – Exchange
 
$
199

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Level 3 assets – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
(1)
Common stock investments and Corporate debt securities – The unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of direct private equity common stock investments and certain corporate debt securities are comparable private transaction earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) multiples, the average EBITDA multiple for comparable publicly traded companies and the amount of discount applied to the price due to the illiquidity of the securities being valued.  Significant changes in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement.
 
(2)
Nonredeemable preferred stock - Represents a private security where cost was determined to be the best estimate of fair value.

(3)
Other investments – Other investments represent certain limited partnerships that are recorded at fair value and are based upon net asset value (NAV) provided by the general partner where the unobservable inputs are not reasonably available to us.

(4)
When a non-binding broker quote was the only input available, it was considered unobservable.


Securities valued using unobservable inputs shown above totaled $222 million at September 30, 2014. In total, Level 3 assets represent less than 1.6% of the total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the Erie Insurance Group.


18

Table of Contents

The following table represents our consolidated fair value measurements on a recurring basis by asset class and level of input at December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
Fair value measurements using:
(in millions)
 
 
Total
 
Quoted prices in
active markets for
identical assets
Level 1
 
Observable
inputs
Level 2
 
Unobservable
inputs
Level 3
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States & political subdivisions
 
$
243

 
$
0

 
$
243

 
$
0

Corporate debt securities
 
282

 
0

 
281

 
1

Collateralized debt obligations
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
1

Total fixed maturities
 
526

 
0

 
524

 
2

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
25

 
2

 
23

 
0

Common stock
 
25

 
25

 
0

 
0

Total available-for-sale securities
 
576

 
27

 
547

 
2

Other investments (1)
 
18

 
0

 
0

 
18

Total – Indemnity
 
$
594

 
$
27

 
$
547

 
$
20

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government & agencies
 
$
172

 
$
0

 
$
172

 
$
0

States & political subdivisions
 
1,470

 
0

 
1,470

 
0

Foreign government securities
 
15

 
0

 
15

 
0

Corporate debt securities
 
6,211

 
0

 
6,185

 
26

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
156

 
0

 
156

 
0

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
47

 
0

 
47

 
0

Collateralized debt obligations
 
16

 
0

 
11

 
5

Other debt securities
 
75

 
0

 
75

 
0

Total fixed maturities
 
8,162

 
0

 
8,131

 
31

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
621

 
242

 
379

 
0

Common stock
 
198

 
198

 
0

 
0

Total available-for-sale securities
 
8,981

 
440

 
8,510

 
31

Trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
3,202

 
3,187

 
0

 
15

Total trading securities
 
3,202

 
3,187

 
0

 
15

Other investments (1)
 
98

 
0

 
0

 
98

Total – Exchange
 
$
12,281

 
$
3,627

 
$
8,510

 
$
144

Total – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
12,875

 
$
3,654

 
$
9,057

 
$
164


(1)          Other investments measured at fair value represent four real estate funds included on the balance sheet as limited partnership investments that are reported under the fair value option. These investments can never be redeemed with the funds. Instead, distributions are received when liquidation of the underlying assets of the funds occur. It is estimated that the underlying assets will generally be liquidated between 5 and 10 years from the inception of the funds. The fair value of these investments is based on the net asset value (NAV) information provided by the general partner. Fair value is based on our proportionate share of the NAV based on the most recent partners' capital statements received from the general partners, which is generally one quarter prior to our balance sheet date. These values are then analyzed to determine if they represent the NAV at our balance sheet date, with adjustment being made where appropriate. We consider observable market data and perform a review validating the appropriateness of the NAV at each balance sheet date. It is likely that all of the investments will be redeemed at a future date for an amount different than the NAV of our ownership interest in partners' capital as of December 31, 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2013, Indemnity made no contributions and received distributions totaling $2.4 million, and the Exchange made no contributions and received distributions totaling $21.7 million for these investments. As of December 31, 2013, the amount of unfunded commitments related to the investments was $1.5 million for Indemnity and $4.5 million for the Exchange.
 
 

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Table of Contents

Level 3 Assets – Quarterly Change:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
 
Beginning balance at June 30, 2013
 
Included in
earnings (1)
 
Included
in other
comprehensive
income
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Transfers
in and (out) of
Level 3 (2)
 
Ending balance at September 30, 2013
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

Collateralized debt obligations
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
1

Total fixed maturities
 
2

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
2

Total available-for-sale securities
 
2

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
2

Other investments
 
20

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(1
)
 
0

 
19

Total Level 3 assets – Indemnity
 
$
22

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
(1
)
 
$
0

 
$
21

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
33

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
(7
)
 
$
26

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
4

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(4
)
 
0

Collateralized debt obligations
 
12

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(3
)
 
0

 
9

Total fixed maturities
 
49

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(3
)
 
(11
)
 
35

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
7

 
0

 
(3
)
 
0

 
(4
)
 
0

 
0

Total available-for-sale securities
 
56

 
0

 
(3
)
 
0

 
(7
)
 
(11
)
 
35

Trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
7

 
3

 
0

 
4

 
0

 
0

 
14

Total trading securities
 
7

 
3

 
0

 
4

 
0

 
0

 
14

Other investments
 
113

 
3

 
0

 
0

 
(16
)
 
0

 
100

Total Level 3 assets – Exchange
 
$
176

 
$
6

 
$
(3
)
 
$
4

 
$
(23
)
 
$
(11
)
 
$
149

Total Level 3 assets – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
198

 
$
6

 
$
(3
)
 
$
4

 
$
(24
)
 
$
(11
)
 
$
170

 
(1)
These amounts are reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. There is $3 million included in net realized investment gains (losses) and $3 million included in equity in earnings of limited partnerships for the three months ended September 30, 2013 on Level 3 securities.
 
(2)
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are attributable to changes in the availability of market observable information for individual securities within the respective categories. Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at the start of the period.
 

  
We review the fair value hierarchy classifications each reporting period.  Transfers between hierarchy levels may occur due to changes in the available market observable inputs.  Transfers in and out of level classifications are reported as having occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfers occurred.

For Indemnity, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 or between Level 2 and Level 3 for the three months ended September 30, 2013.

For the Exchange, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 or from Level 2 to Level 3 for the three months ended September 30, 2013. Level 3 to Level 2 transfers totaled $11 million for two fixed maturity holdings. These transfers out of Level 3 were primarily the result of using observable market data to determine the fair value at September 30, 2013.



20

Table of Contents

Level 3 Assets – Year-to-Date Change:

 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
 
Beginning balance at December 31, 2012
 
Included in
earnings (1)
 
Included
in other
comprehensive
income
 
Purchases
 
Sales
 
Transfers
in and (out) of
Level 3 (2)
 
Ending balance at September 30, 2013
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

Collateralized debt obligations
 
3

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(2
)
 
0

 
1

Total fixed maturities
 
4

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(2
)
 
0

 
2

Total available-for-sale securities
 
4

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(2
)
 
0

 
2

Other investments
 
19

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
(1
)
 
0

 
19

Total Level 3 assets – Indemnity
 
$
23

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
(3
)
 
$
0

 
$
21

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate debt securities
 
$
43

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
(3
)
 
$
(15
)
 
$
26

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(1
)
 
1

 
0

Collateralized debt obligations
 
16

 
2

 
0

 
0

 
(10
)
 
1

 
9

Total fixed maturities
 
59

 
2

 
0

 
1

 
(14
)
 
(13
)
 
35

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
0

 
2

 
(1
)
 
4

 
(10
)
 
5

 
0

Total available-for-sale securities
 
59

 
4

 
(1
)
 
5

 
(24
)
 
(8
)
 
35

Trading securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
4

 
(5
)
 
0

 
14

Total trading securities
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
4

 
(5
)
 
0

 
14

Other investments
 
109

 
9

 
0

 
0

 
(18
)
 
0

 
100

Total Level 3 assets – Exchange
 
$
183

 
$
13

 
$
(1
)
 
$
9

 
$
(47
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
149

Total Level 3 assets – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
206

 
$
14

 
$
(1
)
 
$
9

 
$
(50
)
 
$
(8
)
 
$
170

 
(1)
These amounts are reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. There is $4 million of losses included in net realized investment (losses) and $10 million included in equity in earnings of limited partnerships for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 on Level 3 securities.
 
(2)
Transfers in and out of Level 3 are attributable to changes in the availability of market observable information for individual securities within the respective categories. Transfers in and out of levels are recognized at the start of the period.


For Indemnity, there were no Level 1 to Level 2 transfers for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Level 2 to Level 1 transfers totaled $1 million, due to trading activity levels related to one preferred stock holding, and there were no transfers between Levels 2 and 3.

For the Exchange, Level 1 to Level 2 transfers totaled $6 million and Level 2 to Level 1 transfers totaled $51 million due to trading activity levels related to one preferred stock holding and five preferred stock holdings, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Level 2 to Level 3 transfers totaled $39 million for seven fixed maturity holdings and one preferred stock holding, and Level 3 to Level 2 transfers totaled $47 million for six fixed maturity holdings. These transfers in and out of Level 3 were primarily the result of using non-binding and binding broker quotes, respectively, to determine the fair value at September 30, 2013.


21

Table of Contents

The following table presents our consolidated fair value measurements on a recurring basis by pricing source at September 30, 2014:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2014
 
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via pricing services
 
$
557

 
$
0

 
$
557

 
$
0

Priced via market comparables/broker quotes (1)
 
6

 
0

 
2

 
4

Priced via internal modeling
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total fixed maturities
 
563

 
0

 
559

 
4

Nonredeemable preferred stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via pricing services
 
10

 
2

 
8

 
0

Priced via market comparables/broker quotes (1)
 
2

 
0

 
2

 
0

Total nonredeemable preferred stock
 
12

 
2

 
10

 
0

Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via pricing services
 
13

 
13

 
0

 
0

Total common stock
 
13

 
13

 
0

 
0

Other investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via unobservable inputs (2)
 
19

 
0

 
0

 
19

Total other investments
 
19

 
0

 
0

 
19

Total – Indemnity
 
$
607

 
$
15

 
$
569

 
$
23

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via pricing services
 
$
8,763

 
$
0

 
$
8,763

 
$
0

Priced via market comparables/broker quotes (1)
 
132

 
0

 
66

 
66

Priced via internal modeling
 
7

 
0

 
0

 
7

Total fixed maturities
 
8,902

 
0

 
8,829

 
73

Nonredeemable preferred stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via pricing services
 
697

 
334

 
363

 
0

Priced via market comparables/broker quotes (1)
 
22

 
0

 
15

 
7

Priced via internal modeling
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
1

Total nonredeemable preferred stock
 
720

 
334

 
378

 
8

Common stock:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via pricing services
 
3,307

 
3,307

 
0

 
0

Priced via internal modeling
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
15

Total common stock
 
3,322

 
3,307

 
0

 
15

Other investments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Priced via unobservable inputs (2)
 
103

 
0

 
0

 
103

Total other investments
 
103

 
0

 
0

 
103

Total – Exchange
 
$
13,047

 
$
3,641

 
$
9,207

 
$
199

Total – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
13,654

 
$
3,656

 
$
9,776

 
$
222

 
(1)
When a non-binding broker quote was the only price available, the security was classified as Level 3.
 
(2)
Other investments measured at fair value represent real estate funds included on the balance sheet as limited partnership investments that are reported under the fair value option. The fair value of these investments is based on the net asset value (NAV) information provided by the general partner.
 
 
There were no assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.


22

Table of Contents

Note 7.  Investments
 
Available-for-sale securities
The following table summarizes the cost and fair value of our available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2014:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
September 30, 2014
 (in millions)
 
Amortized
cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Estimated fair value
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States & political subdivisions
 
$
219

 
$
12

 
$
0

 
$
231

Corporate debt securities
 
241

 
2

 
1

 
242

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
10

 
0

 
0

 
10

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
50

 
0

 
1

 
49

Collateralized debt obligations
 
24

 
0

 
0

 
24

Other debt securities
 
7

 
0

 
0

 
7

Total fixed maturities
 
551

 
14

 
2

 
563

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
11

 
1

 
0

 
12

Common stock
 
13

 
0

 
0

 
13

Total available-for-sale securities – Indemnity
 
$
575

 
$
15

 
$
2

 
$
588

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury
 
$
6

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
6

Government sponsored enterprises
 
3

 
1

 
0

 
4

States & political subdivisions
 
1,400

 
84

 
1

 
1,483

Foreign government securities
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
15

Corporate debt securities
 
6,788

 
399

 
26

 
7,161

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
117

 
3

 
1

 
119

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
31

 
2

 
0

 
33

Collateralized debt obligations
 
6

 
5

 
0

 
11

Other debt securities
 
69

 
2

 
1

 
70

Total fixed maturities
 
8,435

 
496

 
29

 
8,902

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
657

 
66

 
3

 
720

Common stock
 
196

 
2

 
1

 
197

Total available-for-sale securities – Exchange
 
$
9,288

 
$
564

 
$
33

 
$
9,819

Total available-for-sale securities – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
9,863

 
$
579

 
$
35

 
$
10,407

 
 

23

Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the cost and fair value of our available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2013:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
December 31, 2013
(in millions)
 
Amortized
cost
 
Gross unrealized gains
 
Gross unrealized losses
 
Estimated fair value
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States & political subdivisions
 
$
237

 
$
7

 
$
1

 
$
243

Corporate debt securities
 
280

 
2

 
0

 
282

Collateralized debt obligations
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
1

Total fixed maturities
 
518

 
9

 
1

 
526

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
24

 
2

 
1

 
25

Common stock
 
26

 
0

 
1

 
25

Total available-for-sale securities – Indemnity
 
$
568

 
$
11

 
$
3

 
$
576

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government & agencies
 
$
171

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
172

States & political subdivisions
 
1,430

 
55

 
15

 
1,470

Foreign government securities
 
15

 
0

 
0

 
15

Corporate debt securities
 
5,902

 
354

 
45

 
6,211

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
157

 
3

 
4

 
156

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
45

 
2

 
0

 
47

Collateralized debt obligations
 
8

 
8

 
0

 
16

Other debt securities
 
73

 
3

 
1

 
75

Total fixed maturities
 
7,801

 
426

 
65

 
8,162

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
577

 
55

 
11

 
621

Common stock
 
201

 
0

 
3

 
198

Total available-for-sale securities – Exchange
 
$
8,579

 
$
481

 
$
79

 
$
8,981

Total available-for-sale securities – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
9,147

 
$
492

 
$
82

 
$
9,557

 
 
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturities at September 30, 2014 are shown below by remaining contractual term to maturity.  Mortgage-backed securities are allocated based upon their stated maturity dates.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
September 30, 2014
(in millions)
 
Amortized
 
Estimated
 
 
cost
 
fair value
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
61

 
$
61

Due after one year through five years
 
237

 
239

Due after five years through ten years
 
146

 
151

Due after ten years
 
107

 
112

Total fixed maturities – Indemnity
 
$
551

 
$
563

Exchange
 
 
 
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
380

 
$
387

Due after one year through five years
 
3,236

 
3,419

Due after five years through ten years
 
3,262

 
3,417

Due after ten years
 
1,557

 
1,679

Total fixed maturities – Exchange
 
$
8,435

 
$
8,902

Total fixed maturities – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
8,986

 
$
9,465




24

Table of Contents

Available-for-sale securities in a gross unrealized loss position at September 30, 2014 are as follows.  Data is provided by length of time for securities in a gross unrealized loss position.
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
September 30, 2014
(dollars in millions)
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
 
Total
Indemnity
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized losses
 
Fair
 value
 
Unrealized losses
 
No. of holdings
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States & political subdivisions
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
8

 
$
0

 
$
8

 
$
0

 
3

Corporate debt securities
 
89

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
89

 
1

 
262

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
7

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
7

 
0

 
4

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
42

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
42

 
1

 
23

Collateralized debt obligations
 
17

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
17

 
0

 
6

Other debt securities
 
5

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
5

 
0

 
2

Total fixed maturities
 
160

 
2

 
8

 
0

 
168

 
2

 
300

Common stock
 
0

 
0

 
13

 
0

 
13

 
0

 
1

Total available-for-sale securities – Indemnity
 
$
160

 
$
2

 
$
21

 
$
0

 
$
181

 
$
2

 
301

Quality breakdown of fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
 
$
97

 
$
1

 
$
8

 
$
0

 
$
105

 
$
1

 
46

Non-investment grade
 
63

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
63

 
1

 
254

Total fixed maturities – Indemnity
 
$
160

 
$
2

 
$
8

 
$
0

 
$
168

 
$
2

 
300

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. treasury
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
3

States & political subdivisions
 
45

 
0

 
64

 
1

 
109

 
1

 
25

Foreign government securities
 
0

 
0

 
5

 
0

 
5

 
0

 
1

Corporate debt securities
 
1,190

 
20

 
205

 
6

 
1,395

 
26

 
730

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
15

 
0

 
27

 
1

 
42

 
1

 
8

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
1

 
0

 
1

Other debt securities
 
13

 
0

 
7

 
1

 
20

 
1

 
4

Total fixed maturities
 
1,265

 
20

 
308

 
9

 
1,573

 
29

 
772

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
102

 
2

 
33

 
1

 
135

 
3

 
20

Common stock
 
0

 
0

 
131

 
1

 
131

 
1

 
2

Total available-for-sale securities – Exchange
 
$
1,367

 
$
22

 
$
472

 
$
11

 
$
1,839

 
$
33

 
794

Quality breakdown of fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
 
$
790

 
$
8

 
$
294

 
$
7

 
$
1,084

 
$
15

 
203

Non-investment grade
 
475

 
12

 
14

 
2

 
489

 
14

 
569

Total fixed maturities – Exchange
 
$
1,265

 
$
20

 
$
308

 
$
9

 
$
1,573

 
$
29

 
772



The above securities for Indemnity and the Exchange have been evaluated and determined to be temporary impairments for which we expect to recover our entire principal plus interest.  The primary components of this analysis include a general review of market conditions and financial performance of the issuer along with the extent and duration at which fair value is less than cost.  Any securities that we intend to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell before recovery are included in other-than-temporary impairments with the impairment charges recognized in earnings.


25

Table of Contents

Available-for-sale securities in a gross unrealized loss position at December 31, 2013 are as follows.  Data is provided by length of time for securities in a gross unrealized loss position.

 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
December 31, 2013
(dollars in millions)
 
Less than 12 months
 
12 months or longer
 
Total
Indemnity
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
Fair
value
 
Unrealized
losses
 
No. of
holdings
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
States & political subdivisions
 
$
58

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
58

 
$
1

 
21

Corporate debt securities
 
54

 
0

 
10

 
0

 
64

 
0

 
11

Total fixed maturities
 
112

 
1

 
10

 
0

 
122

 
1

 
32

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
5

 
1

 
3

 
0

 
8

 
1

 
4

Common stock
 
12

 
1

 
13

 
0

 
25

 
1

 
2

Total available-for-sale securities – Indemnity
 
$
129

 
$
3

 
$
26

 
$
0

 
$
155

 
$
3

 
38

Quality breakdown of fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
 
$
112

 
$
1

 
$
10

 
$
0

 
$
122

 
$
1

 
32

Non-investment grade
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total fixed maturities – Indemnity
 
$
112

 
$
1

 
$
10

 
$
0

 
$
122

 
$
1

 
32

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government & agencies
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
2

States & political subdivisions
 
408

 
13

 
18

 
2

 
426

 
15

 
100

Foreign government securities
 
5

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
5

 
0

 
1

Corporate debt securities
 
1,251

 
43

 
36

 
2

 
1,287

 
45

 
237

Residential mortgage-backed securities
 
71

 
4

 
8

 
0

 
79

 
4

 
12

Commercial mortgage-backed securities
 
5

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
5

 
0

 
1

Other debt securities
 
30

 
1

 
0

 
0

 
30

 
1

 
5

Total fixed maturities
 
1,771

 
61

 
62

 
4

 
1,833

 
65

 
358

Nonredeemable preferred stock
 
182

 
10

 
13

 
1

 
195

 
11

 
27

Common stock
 
97

 
3

 
101

 
0

 
198

 
3

 
3

Total available-for-sale securities – Exchange
 
$
2,050

 
$
74

 
$
176

 
$
5

 
$
2,226

 
$
79

 
388

Quality breakdown of fixed maturities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment grade
 
$
1,707

 
$
57

 
$
62

 
$
4

 
$
1,769

 
$
61

 
344

Non-investment grade
 
64

 
4

 
0

 
0

 
64

 
4

 
14

Total fixed maturities – Exchange
 
$
1,771

 
$
61

 
$
62

 
$
4

 
$
1,833

 
$
65

 
358

 
 
The above securities for Indemnity and the Exchange have been evaluated and determined to be temporary impairments for which we expect to recover our entire principal plus interest.  The primary components of this analysis include a general review of market conditions and financial performance of the issuer along with the extent and duration at which fair value is less than cost.  Any securities that we intend to sell or will more likely than not be required to sell before recovery are included in other-than-temporary impairments with the impairment charges recognized in earnings.


26

Table of Contents

Net investment income
Interest and dividend income are recognized as earned and recorded to net investment income.  Investment income, net of expenses, was generated from the following portfolios:

 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Indemnity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities
 
$
4

 
$
3

 
$
10

 
$
9

Equity securities
 
0

 
1

 
1

 
2

Cash equivalents and other
 
0

 
0

 
1

 
1

Total investment income
 
4

 
4

 
12

 
12

Less: investment expenses
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
1

Investment income, net of expenses – Indemnity
 
$
4

 
$
4

 
$
12

 
$
11

Exchange
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

Fixed maturities
 
$
90

 
$
83

 
$
261

 
$
249

Equity securities
 
30

 
29

 
89

 
80

Cash equivalents and other
 
0

 
1

 
1

 
1

Total investment income
 
120

 
113

 
351

 
330

Less: investment expenses
 
9

 
8

 
28

 
25

Investment income, net of expenses – Exchange
 
$
111

 
$
105

 
$
323

 
$
305

Investment income, net of expenses – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
115

 
$
109

 
$
335

 
$
316

 
 

27

Table of Contents

Realized investment gains (losses)
Realized gains and losses on sales of securities are recognized in income based upon the specific identification method. Realized gains (losses) on investments were as follows:

 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Indemnity
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
1

Gross realized losses
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Net realized gains
 
0

 
1

 
0

 
1

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
 
0

 
0

 
1

 
0

Gross realized losses
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Net realized gains
 
0

 
0

 
1

 
0

Net realized investment gains – Indemnity
 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

Exchange
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Available-for-sale securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
 
$
8

 
$
4

 
$
18

 
$
26

Gross realized losses
 
(2
)
 
(20
)
 
(3
)
 
(25
)
Net realized gains (losses)
 
6

 
(16
)
 
15

 
1

Equity securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
 
0

 
0

 
10

 
4

Gross realized losses
 
0

 
(9
)
 
(2
)
 
(9
)
Net realized gains (losses)
 
0

 
(9
)
 
8

 
(5
)
Trading securities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Common stock:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gross realized gains
 
89

 
90

 
211

 
246

Gross realized losses
 
(5
)
 
(8
)
 
(15
)
 
(23
)
(Decreases) increases in fair value(1)
 
(175
)
 
133

 
(116
)
 
281

Net realized (losses) gains
 
(91
)
 
215

 
80

 
504

Net realized investment (losses) gains – Exchange
 
$
(85
)
 
$
190

 
$
103

 
$
500

Net realized investment (losses) gains – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
(85
)
 
$
191

 
$
104

 
$
501

 
(1)
The fair value on our common stock portfolio is based upon exchange traded prices provided by a nationally recognized pricing service.



28

Table of Contents

Net impairment losses
The components of other-than-temporary impairments on investments are included below:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions)
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Equity securities
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total other-than-temporary impairments
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Portion recognized in other comprehensive income
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings – Indemnity
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
0

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(2
)
Equity securities
 
0

 
(8
)
 
0

 
(8
)
Total other-than-temporary impairments
 
(1
)
 
(9
)
 
(1
)
 
(10
)
Portion recognized in other comprehensive income
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings – Exchange
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(10
)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(9
)
 
$
(1
)
 
$
(10
)
 
In considering if fixed maturity securities were credit-impaired, some of the factors considered include: potential for the default of interest and/or principal, level of subordination, collateral of the issue, compliance with financial covenants, credit ratings and industry conditions.  We have the intent to sell all credit-impaired fixed maturity securities, therefore the entire amount of the impairment charges were included in earnings and no non-credit impairments were recognized in other comprehensive income.

Limited partnerships
Limited partnership investments, excluding certain real estate limited partnerships recorded at fair value, are generally reported on a one-quarter lag, therefore our year-to-date limited partnership results through September 30, 2014 are comprised of partnership financial results for the fourth quarter of 2013 and first six months of 2014.  Given the lag in reporting, our limited partnership results do not reflect the market conditions of the third quarter of 2014.  Cash contributions made to and distributions received from the partnerships are recorded in the period in which the transaction occurs.
 
Amounts included in equity in earnings of limited partnerships by method of accounting are included below:
 
(in millions)
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships accounted for under the equity method
 
$
3

 
$
5

 
$
10

 
$
12

Change in fair value of limited partnerships accounted for under the fair value option
 
1

 
0

 
3

 
1

Equity in earnings of limited partnerships – Indemnity
 
$
4

 
$
5

 
$
13

 
$
13

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships accounted for under the equity method
 
$
26

 
$
29

 
$
83

 
$
89

Change in fair value of limited partnerships accounted for under the fair value option
 
4

 
3

 
15

 
10

Equity in earnings of limited partnerships – Exchange
 
$
30

 
$
32

 
$
98

 
$
99

Equity in earnings of limited partnerships – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
34

 
$
37

 
$
111

 
$
112




29

Table of Contents

We have provided summarized financial information in the following tables for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and for the year ended December 31, 2013.  Amounts provided in the tables are presented using the latest available financial statements received from the partnerships for the respective periods.  Limited partnership financial information has been presented based upon the investment percentage in the partnerships for the Erie Insurance Group consistent with how management evaluates the investments.
 
As these investments are generally reported on a one-quarter lag, our limited partnership results through September 30, 2014 include partnership financial results for the fourth quarter of 2013 and the first two quarters of 2014.
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
As of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014
(dollars in millions)
 
Investment percentage in limited partnerships
 
Number of
partnerships
 
Asset
recorded
 
Income (loss)
recognized
due to valuation
adjustments by
the partnerships
 
Income
(1oss)
recorded
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
24

 
$
37

 
$
(4
)
 
$
5

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
18

 
3

 
0

Greater than 50%
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total private equity
 
27

 
55

 
(1
)
 
5

Mezzanine debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
11

 
11

 
0

 
2

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
5

 
0

 
0

Greater than 50%
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total mezzanine debt
 
15

 
16

 
0

 
2

Real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
11

 
43

 
4

 
1

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
14

 
2

 
(1
)
Greater than 50%
 
2

 
6

 
0

 
1

Total real estate
 
16

 
63

 
6

 
1

Total limited partnerships – Indemnity
 
58

 
$
134

 
$
5

 
$
8

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
43

 
$
371

 
$
(3
)
 
$
34

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
76

 
14

 
2

Greater than 50%
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total private equity
 
46

 
447

 
11

 
36

Mezzanine debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
21

 
114

 
(1
)
 
13

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
4

 
24

 
(2
)
 
3

Greater than 50%
 
3

 
29

 
1

 
2

Total mezzanine debt
 
28

 
167

 
(2
)
 
18

Real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
21

 
220

 
15

 
12

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
6

 
80

 
5

 
1

Greater than 50%
 
2

 
25

 
(15
)
 
17

Total real estate
 
29

 
325

 
5

 
30

Total limited partnerships – Exchange
 
103

 
$
939

 
$
14

 
$
84

Total limited partnerships – Erie Insurance Group
 
 
 
$
1,073

 
$
19

 
$
92

 
 
Per the limited partnership financial statements, total partnership assets were $45 billion and total partnership liabilities were $5 billion at September 30, 2014 (as recorded in the June 30, 2014 limited partnership financial statements).  For the nine months period comparable to that presented in the preceding table (fourth quarter of 2013 and first two quarters of 2014), total partnership valuation adjustment losses were $0.3 billion and total partnership net income was $6 billion.


30

Table of Contents

As these investments are generally reported on a one-quarter lag, our limited partnership results through December 31, 2013 include partnership financial results for the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first three quarters of 2013.
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
As of and for the year ended December 31, 2013
(dollars in millions) 
 
Investment percentage in limited partnerships
 
Number of
partnerships
 
Asset
recorded
 
Income (loss)
recognized
due to valuation
adjustments by
the partnerships
 
Income
(1oss)
recorded
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
26

 
$
46

 
$
(6
)
 
$
9

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
16

 
3

 
0

Greater than 50%
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total private equity
 
29

 
62

 
(3
)
 
9

Mezzanine debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
11

 
14

 
0

 
1

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
6

 
0

 
2

Greater than 50%
 
1

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total mezzanine debt
 
15

 
20

 
0

 
3

Real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
12

 
44

 
0

 
5

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
14

 
(1
)
 
4

Greater than 50%
 
2

 
6

 
1

 
4

Total real estate
 
17

 
64

 
0

 
13

Total limited partnerships – Indemnity
 
61

 
$
146

 
$
(3
)
 
$
25

Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
44

 
$
396

 
$
(24
)
 
$
79

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
3

 
67

 
13

 
2

Greater than 50%
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Total private equity
 
47

 
463

 
(11
)
 
81

Mezzanine debt:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
19

 
117

 
1

 
13

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
4

 
23

 
(3
)
 
7

Greater than 50%
 
3

 
32

 
1

 
3

Total mezzanine debt
 
26

 
172

 
(1
)
 
23

Real estate:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less than 10%
 
22

 
211

 
(10
)
 
34

Greater than or equal to 10% but less than 50%
 
6

 
71

 
(2
)
 
10

Greater than 50%
 
2

 
23

 
(1
)
 
16

Total real estate
 
30

 
305

 
(13
)
 
60

Total limited partnerships – Exchange
 
103

 
$
940

 
$
(25
)
 
$
164

Total limited partnerships – Erie Insurance Group
 
 
 
$
1,086

 
$
(28
)
 
$
189



Per the limited partnership financial statements, total partnership assets were $50 billion and total partnership liabilities were $5 billion at December 31, 2013 (as recorded in the September 30, 2013 limited partnership financial statements).  For the twelve month period comparable to that presented in the preceding table (fourth quarter of 2012 and first three quarters of 2013), total partnership valuation adjustment gains were $2 billion and total partnership net income was $7 billion.
 
See also Note 14. “Commitments and Contingencies,” for investment commitments related to limited partnerships.

31

Table of Contents

Note 8.  Bank Line of Credit
 
As of September 30, 2014, Indemnity has access to a $100 million bank revolving line of credit with a $25 million letter of credit sublimit that expires on November 3, 2018. As of September 30, 2014, a total of $98.2 million remains available under the facility due to $1.8 million outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the availability for letters of credit to $23.2 million.  Indemnity had no borrowings outstanding on its line of credit as of September 30, 2014.  Bonds with a fair value of $112 million were pledged as collateral on the line at September 30, 2014.
 
As of September 30, 2014, the Exchange has access to a $300 million bank revolving line of credit with a $25 million letter of credit sublimit that expires on October 25, 2018. As of September 30, 2014, a total of $298.9 million remains available under the facility due to $1.1 million outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the availability for letters of credit to $23.9 million.  The Exchange had no borrowings outstanding on its line of credit as of September 30, 2014.  Bonds with a fair value of $329 million were pledged as collateral on the line at September 30, 2014.
 
Both lines have securities pledged as collateral that have no trading restrictions and are reported as available-for-sale fixed maturities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2014.  The banks require compliance with certain covenants, which include leverage ratios for Indemnity’s line of credit and statutory surplus and risk based capital ratios for the Exchange’s line of credit.  We are in compliance with all covenants at September 30, 2014.
 

Note 9.  Income Taxes
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns.  Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
 
At September 30, 2014, we recorded a net deferred tax liability of $463 million on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  Of this amount, $2 million is a net deferred tax asset attributable to Indemnity and $465 million is a net deferred tax liability attributable to the Exchange.  There was no deferred tax valuation allowance recorded at September 30, 2014.  Our effective tax rate is calculated after consideration of permanent differences related to our investment revenues.  Given that these amounts represent over 98% of the total permanent differences, the effective tax rate is approximately 35% for both Indemnity and the Exchange when the investment related permanent differences are excluded.
 


32

Table of Contents

Note 10.   Postretirement Benefits
 
Pension plans
Our pension plans consist of a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all employees and an unfunded supplemental employee retirement plan for certain members of executive and senior management of the Erie Insurance Group.  The gross liability for postretirement benefits is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as part of other liabilities.  A portion of annual expenses related to our postretirement benefit plans is allocated to related entities within the Erie Insurance Group. Although Indemnity is the sponsor of these postretirement plans and records the funded status of these plans, the Exchange and EFL reimburse Indemnity for approximately 56% of the annual benefit expense of these plans, which represents pension benefits for Indemnity employees performing claims and EFL functions.
 
A $15 million contribution was made to the defined benefit pension plan in the first quarter of 2014.  An additional $8 million contribution was made to the plan in the third quarter of 2014.

Prior to 2003, the employee pension plan purchased annuities from EFL for certain plan participants that were receiving benefit payments under the pension plan. These are nonparticipating annuity contracts under which EFL has unconditionally contracted to provide specified benefits to beneficiaries; however, the pension plan remains the primary obligor to the beneficiaries and a contingent liability, $25 million at September 30, 2014, exists in the event EFL does not honor the annuity contracts.
 
The cost of our pension plans are as follows:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Service cost for benefits earned
 
$
6

 
$
7

 
$
17

 
$
20

Interest cost on benefits obligation
 
7

 
6

 
21

 
19

Expected return on plan assets
 
(8
)
 
(8
)
 
(24
)
 
(23
)
Prior service cost amortization
 
0

 
0

 
1

 
1

Net actuarial loss amortization
 
2

 
4

 
5

 
11

Pension plan cost (1)
 
$
7

 
$
9

 
$
20

 
$
28

 
(1)
Pension plan costs represent the total cost for the Erie Insurance Group before reimbursements to Indemnity from the Exchange and EFL.


Note 11.  Indemnity Capital Stock
 
Class A and B common stock
Holders of Class B shares may, at their option, convert their shares into Class A shares at the rate of 2,400 Class A shares per Class B share.  There were no conversions of Class B shares to Class A shares during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and the year ended December 31, 2013. There is no provision for conversion of Class A shares to Class B shares, and, Class B shares surrendered for conversion cannot be reissued.
 
Stock repurchase program
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.  Indemnity had approximately $18 million of repurchase authority remaining under this program at September 30, 2014.
 


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Note 12.  Indemnity Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
Changes in Indemnity's accumulated other comprehensive loss by component attributable to the Indemnity shareholder interest is presented as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:
 
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
(in millions) 
 
 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
 
Postretirement plans(2)
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
6

 
$
(65
)
 
$
(59
)
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications, net of tax
 
4

 
0

 
4

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(1)
 
(1
)
 
0

 
(1
)
Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
3

 
0

 
3

Balance at September 30, 2014
 
$
9

 
$
(65
)
 
$
(56
)
 
(1)
See the following table for details about these reclassifications.
(2)
There are no amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to postretirement plan items during interim periods.
 
 
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) and the related affected line item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations where net income is presented are as follows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30, 2014
 
September 30, 2014
(in millions)
 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(1)
 
 
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities:
 
 
 
 
Net realized investment gains
 
$
6

 
$
24

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest
 
5

 
23

Provision for income taxes
 
1

 
8

Net income
 
4

 
15

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange
 
4

 
14

Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
0

 
$
1

 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of postretirement plan items(2):
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
0

 
$
1

 
(1)
Positive amounts indicate net income, while negative amounts indicate net loss.
(2)
There are no amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss related to postretirement plan items during interim periods.

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Note 13.  Indemnity Shareholders’ Equity and Noncontrolling Interest
 
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of Indemnity's shareholders’ equity and the noncontrolling interest is presented as follows for the year ended December 31, 2013 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2014:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions, except per share data)
 
Indemnity
shareholder
interest
 
Exchange
noncontrolling
interest
 
Erie
Insurance
Group
Balance at December 31, 2012
 
$
642

 
$
6,149

 
$
6,791

Net income
 
163

 
885

 
1,048

Change in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
74

 
(218
)
 
(144
)
Net purchase of treasury stock
 
(32
)
 

 
(32
)
Dividends declared:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A $2.4125 per share
 
(112
)
 

 
(112
)
Class B $361.875 per share
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Balance at December 31, 2013
 
$
734

 
$
6,816

 
$
7,550

Net income
 
142

 
178

 
320

Change in other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
3

 
71

 
74

Net purchase of treasury stock
 
(19
)
 

 
(19
)
Dividends declared:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A $1.905 per share
 
(88
)
 

 
(88
)
Class B $285.75 per share
 
(1
)
 

 
(1
)
Balance at September 30, 2014
 
$
771

 
$
7,065

 
$
7,836

 

Note 14.  Commitments and Contingencies
 
Indemnity has contractual commitments to invest up to $25 million related to its limited partnership investments at September 30, 2014.  These commitments are split among private equity securities of $11 million, mezzanine debt securities of $9 million, and real estate activities of $5 million.  These commitments will be funded as required by the partnership agreements.
 
The Exchange, including EFL, has contractual commitments to invest up to $454 million related to its limited partnership investments at September 30, 2014.  These commitments are split among private equity securities of $151 million, mezzanine debt securities of $194 million, and real estate activities of $109 million.  These commitments will be funded as required by the partnership agreements.

We are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of conducting business.  In accordance with current accounting standards for loss contingencies and based upon information currently known to us, we establish reserves for litigation when it is probable that a loss associated with a claim or proceeding has been incurred and the amount of the loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.  When no amount within the range of loss is a better estimate than any other amount, we accrue the minimum amount of the estimable loss.  To the extent that such litigation against us may have an exposure to a loss in excess of the amount we have accrued, we believe that such excess would not be material to our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.  Legal fees are expensed as incurred.  We believe that our accruals for legal proceedings are appropriate and, individually and in the aggregate, are not expected to be material to our consolidated financial condition, operations, or cash flows.

We review all litigation on an ongoing basis when making accrual and disclosure decisions.  For certain legal proceedings, we cannot reasonably estimate losses or a range of loss, if any, particularly for proceedings that are in their early stages of development or where the plaintiffs seek indeterminate damages.  Various factors, including, but not limited to, the outcome of potentially lengthy discovery and the resolution of important factual questions, may need to be determined before probability can be established or before a loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.  If the loss contingency in question is not both probable and reasonably estimable, we do not establish an accrual and the matter will continue to be monitored for any developments that would make the loss contingency both probable and reasonably estimable.  In the event that a legal proceeding results in a substantial judgment against, or settlement by, us, there can be no assurance that any resulting liability or financial commitment would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows of the Indemnity shareholder interest or the consolidated financial statements of Erie Indemnity Company.
 

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We are subject to escheatment laws and regulations requiring the identification, reporting and payment to the state of unclaimed or abandoned funds of our policyholders, annuitants, claimants and shareholders. We are also subject to audit and examination for compliance with these requirements.

In August 2012, we were notified that we would be subject to an audit of our compliance with the unclaimed property laws of a number of jurisdictions both within and outside our operating territory. The audit commenced in April 2013 and is ongoing. Additionally, EFL has been named in a lawsuit filed by the State Treasurer of West Virginia. The Complaint alleges that EFL has failed to comply with the West Virginia Uniform Unclaimed Property Act. EFL filed a motion to dismiss and a favorable decision was rendered in December 2013 with the Court dismissing the Complaint with prejudice. The State Treasurer appealed the dismissal of the lawsuit in January 2014.

It is probable that ongoing inquiries, audits, and other regulatory activity will result in the payment of additional death claims and escheatment of funds, as well as possible fines. EFL will incur expenses to identify death claims, confirm that benefits are due and notify the beneficiaries. At this time, we are not able to reasonably estimate the possible loss or range of loss related to this issue due to the early stage of development.


Note 15.  Indemnity Supplemental Information
 
Consolidating Statement of Financial Position
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
At September 30, 2014
(in millions)
 
Indemnity
shareholder
interest
 
Exchange
noncontrolling
interest
 
Reclassifications
and
eliminations
 
Erie
Insurance
Group
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
563

 
$
8,902

 
$

 
$
9,465

Equity securities
 
25

 
917

 

 
942

Trading securities, at fair value
 

 
3,125

 

 
3,125

Limited partnerships
 
134

 
939

 

 
1,073

Other invested assets
 
1

 
20

 

 
21

Total investments
 
723

 
13,903

 

 
14,626

Cash and cash equivalents
 
45

 
334

 

 
379

Premiums receivable from policyholders
 

 
1,323

 

 
1,323

Reinsurance recoverable
 

 
165

 

 
165

Deferred income tax asset
 
2

 
0

 

 
2

Deferred acquisition costs
 

 
603

 

 
603

Other assets
 
114

 
366

 

 
480

Receivables from the Exchange and other affiliates
 
343

 

 
(343
)
 

Note receivable from EFL
 
25

 

 
(25
)
 

Total assets
 
$
1,252

 
$
16,694

 
$
(368
)
 
$
17,578

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss expense reserves
 
$

 
$
3,933

 
$

 
$
3,933

Life policy and deposit contract reserves
 

 
1,801

 

 
1,801

Unearned premiums
 

 
2,896

 

 
2,896

Deferred income tax liability
 
0

 
465

 

 
465

Other liabilities
 
481

 
534

 
(368
)
 
647

Total liabilities
 
481

 
9,629

 
(368
)
 
9,742

Shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Indemnity shareholders’ equity
 
771

 

 

 
771

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange
 

 
7,065

 

 
7,065

Total equity
 
771

 
7,065

 

 
7,836

Total liabilities, shareholders’ equity, and noncontrolling interest
 
$
1,252

 
$
16,694

 
$
(368
)
 
$
17,578


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Table of Contents

Consolidating Statement of Financial Position 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
At December 31, 2013
(in millions)
 
Indemnity
shareholder
interest
 
Exchange
noncontrolling
interest
 
Reclassifications
and
eliminations
 
Erie
Insurance
Group
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Available-for-sale securities, at fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
526

 
$
8,162

 
$

 
$
8,688

Equity securities
 
50

 
819

 

 
869

Trading securities, at fair value
 

 
3,202

 

 
3,202

Limited partnerships
 
146

 
940

 

 
1,086

Other invested assets
 
1

 
20

 

 
21

Total investments
 
723

 
13,143

 

 
13,866

Cash and cash equivalents
 
49

 
403

 

 
452

Premiums receivable from policyholders
 

 
1,167

 

 
1,167

Reinsurance recoverable
 

 
172

 

 
172

Deferred income tax asset
 
2

 
0

 

 
2

Deferred acquisition costs
 

 
566

 

 
566

Other assets
 
114

 
337

 

 
451

Receivables from the Exchange and other affiliates
 
300

 

 
(300
)
 

Note receivable from EFL
 
25

 

 
(25
)
 

Total assets
 
$
1,213

 
$
15,788

 
$
(325
)
 
$
16,676

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Losses and loss expense reserves
 
$

 
$
3,747

 
$

 
$
3,747

Life policy and deposit contract reserves
 

 
1,758

 

 
1,758

Unearned premiums
 

 
2,598

 

 
2,598

Deferred income tax liability
 
0

 
450

 

 
450

Other liabilities
 
479

 
419

 
(325
)
 
573

Total liabilities
 
479

 
8,972

 
(325
)
 
9,126

Shareholders’ equity and noncontrolling interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Indemnity shareholders’ equity
 
734

 

 

 
734

Noncontrolling interest in consolidated entity – Exchange
 

 
6,816

 

 
6,816

Total equity
 
734

 
6,816

 

 
7,550

Total liabilities, shareholders’ equity, and noncontrolling interest
 
$
1,213

 
$
15,788

 
$
(325
)
 
$
16,676

 
 
Receivables from the Exchange and EFL and concentrations of credit risk – Financial instruments could potentially expose Indemnity to concentrations of credit risk, including unsecured receivables from the Exchange.  A majority of Indemnity’s revenue and receivables are from the Exchange and affiliates.  See also Note 4, “Variable Interest Entity.”

Management fees and expense allocation amounts due from the Exchange were $340 million and $296 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.  The receivable from EFL for expense allocations and interest on the surplus note totaled $3 million and $4 million at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Note receivable from EFL – Indemnity is due $25 million from EFL in the form of a surplus note that was issued in 2003.  The note may be repaid only out of unassigned surplus of EFL.  Both principal and interest payments are subject to prior approval by the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner.  The note bears an annual interest rate of 6.7% and will be payable on demand on or after December 31, 2018, with interest scheduled to be paid semi-annually, subject to prior approval by the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner.  For each of the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, Indemnity recognized interest income on the note of $1.3 million.


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Table of Contents

Income attributable to Indemnity shareholder interest 
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Management operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Management fee revenue, net
 
$
362

 
$
333

 
$
1,047

 
$
965

Service agreement revenue
 
8

 
8

 
23

 
23

Total revenue from management operations
 
370

 
341

 
1,070

 
988

Cost of management operations
 
308

 
281

 
882

 
820

Income from management operations before taxes
 
62

 
60

 
188

 
168

Investment operations:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net investment income
 
4

 
4

 
12

 
11

Net realized gains on investments
 
0

 
1

 
1

 
1

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
4

 
5

 
13

 
13

Income from investment operations before taxes
 
8

 
10

 
26

 
25

Income from operations before income taxes
 
70

 
70

 
214

 
193

Provision for income taxes
 
23

 
24

 
72

 
66

Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
47

 
$
46

 
$
142

 
$
127

 
 
Indemnity’s components of direct cash flows as included in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
(in millions)
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
Management fee received
 
$
1,011

 
$
933

Service agreement fee received
 
23

 
23

Net investment income received
 
16

 
16

Limited partnership distributions
 
12

 
18

Decrease in reimbursements collected from affiliates
 
(7
)
 
(8
)
Commissions and bonuses paid to agents
 
(576
)
 
(521
)
Salaries and wages paid
 
(116
)
 
(110
)
Pension contribution and employee benefits paid
 
(42
)
 
(33
)
General operating expenses paid
 
(140
)
 
(124
)
Income taxes paid
 
(70
)
 
(62
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
111

 
132

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(6
)
 
(33
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(109
)
 
(78
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
(4
)
 
21

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
49

 
12

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
45

 
$
33



Note 16.  Subsequent Events
 
No items were identified in the period subsequent to the financial statement date that required adjustment or disclosure.

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Table of Contents

ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion of financial condition and results of operations highlights significant factors influencing the Erie Insurance Group (“we,” “us,” “our”).  This discussion should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Item 1. “Financial Statements” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and with Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for the year ended December 31, 2013, as contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.
 
 
INDEX
 
Page Number
 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
 
“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 Erie Indemnity Company (“Indemnity”) shareholder interest:
 
dependence upon 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;
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.


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Table of Contents

Risk factors related to the non-controlling interest owned by the Erie Insurance Exchange (“Exchange”), which includes the Property and Casualty Group and Erie Family Life Insurance Company:
 
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 an 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 our analysis only as of that date.  We undertake 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.


RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
See Item 1. “Financial Statements - Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies,” contained within this report for a discussion of adopted and/or pending accounting pronouncements, none of which are expected to have a material impact on our future financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

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Table of Contents

OPERATING OVERVIEW
 
Overview
The Erie Insurance Group represents the consolidated results of Indemnity and the results of its variable interest entity, the Exchange.  The Erie Insurance Group operates predominantly as a property and casualty insurer through its regional insurance carriers that write a broad range of personal and commercial coverages.  Our property and casualty insurance companies include the Exchange and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Erie Insurance Company (“EIC”), Erie Insurance Company of New York (“ENY”), Erie Insurance Property and Casualty Company (“EPC”), and Flagship City Insurance Company (“Flagship”).  These entities operate collectively as the “Property and Casualty Group.”  The Erie Insurance Group also operates as a life insurer through the Exchange’s wholly owned subsidiary, Erie Family Life Insurance Company (“EFL”), which underwrites and sells individual and group life insurance policies and fixed annuities.
 
The Exchange is a reciprocal insurance exchange organized under Article X of Pennsylvania's Insurance Company Law of 1921 under which individuals, partnerships, and corporations are authorized to exchange reciprocal or inter-insurance contracts with each other, or with individuals, partnerships, and corporations of other states and countries, providing indemnity among themselves from any loss which may be insured against under any provision of the insurance laws except life insurance.  Each applicant for insurance to the Exchange signs a subscriber’s agreement, which contains an appointment of Indemnity as their attorney-in-fact to transact the business of the Exchange on their behalf.

Pursuant to the subscriber’s agreement and for its services as attorney-in-fact, Indemnity earns a management fee calculated as a percentage of the direct premiums written by the Exchange and the other members of the Property and Casualty Group, which are assumed by the Exchange under an intercompany pooling arrangement.
 
The Indemnity shareholder interest includes Indemnity’s equity and income, but not the equity or income of the Exchange.  The Exchange’s equity, which is comprised of its retained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income, is held for the interest of its subscribers (policyholders) and meets the definition of a noncontrolling interest, which is reflected as such in our consolidated financial statements.
 
“Indemnity shareholder interest” refers to the interest in Erie Indemnity Company owned by the Class A and Class B shareholders.  “Noncontrolling interest” refers to the interest in the Erie Insurance Exchange held for the interest of the subscribers (policyholders).
 
The Indemnity shareholder interest in income comprises:
 
a management fee of up to 25% of all property and casualty insurance premiums written or assumed by the Exchange, less the costs associated with the sales, underwriting, and issuance of these policies;
 
net investment income and results on investments that belong to Indemnity; and
 
other income and expenses, including income taxes, that are the responsibility of Indemnity.

The Exchange’s or the noncontrolling interest in income comprises:
 
a 100% interest in the net underwriting results of the property and casualty insurance operations;
 
a 100% interest in the net earnings of EFL's life insurance operations;
 
net investment income and results on investments that belong to the Exchange and its subsidiaries; and
 
other income and expenses, including income taxes, that are the responsibility of the Exchange and its subsidiaries.

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Table of Contents

Results of the Erie Insurance Group’s Operations by Interest (Unaudited)
The following tables represent a breakdown of the composition of the income attributable to the Indemnity shareholder interest and the income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (Exchange).  For purposes of this discussion, EFL’s investments are included in the life insurance operations.

Three months ended September 30,
 
 
Indemnity
shareholder interest
 
Noncontrolling interest (Exchange)
 
Eliminations of
related party
transactions
 
Erie Insurance Group
 (in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Management operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management fee revenue, net
 
$
362

 
$
333

 
$

 
$

 
$
(362
)
 
$
(333
)
 
$

 
$

Service agreement revenue
 
8

 
8

 

 

 

 

 
8

 
8

Total revenue from management operations
 
370

 
341

 

 

 
(362
)
 
(333
)
 
8

 
8

Cost of management operations
 
308

 
281

 

 

 
(308
)
 
(281
)
 

 

Income from management operations before taxes
 
62

 
60

 

 

 
(54
)
 
(52
)
 
8

 
8

Property and casualty insurance operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 

 

 
1,333

 
1,221

 

 

 
1,333

 
1,221

Losses and loss expenses
 

 

 
908

 
841

 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
907

 
840

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 

 

 
387

 
356

 
(56
)
 
(54
)
 
331

 
302

Income from property and casualty insurance operations before taxes
 

 

 
38

 
24

 
57

 
55

 
95

 
79

Life insurance operations:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue
 

 

 
48

 
47

 
0

 
(1
)
 
48

 
46

Total benefits and expenses
 

 

 
38

 
37

 
0

 
0

 
38

 
37

Income from life insurance operations before taxes
 

 

 
10

 
10

 
0

 
(1
)
 
10

 
9

Investment operations:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
 
4

 
4

 
90

 
83

 
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
91

 
85

Net realized gains (losses) on investments
 
0

 
1

 
(88
)
 
188

 

 

 
(88
)
 
189

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(9
)
 

 

 
0

 
(9
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
4

 
5

 
30

 
32

 

 

 
34

 
37

Income from investment operations before taxes
 
8

 
10

 
32

 
294

 
(3
)
 
(2
)
 
37

 
302

Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest
 
70

 
70

 
80

 
328

 

 

 
150

 
398

Provision for income taxes
 
23

 
24

 
19

 
107

 

 

 
42

 
131

Net income
 
$
47

 
$
46

 
$
61

 
$
221

 
$

 
$

 
$
108

 
$
267

 
(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.  However, the life insurance investment results are included in the investment operations segment discussion as part of the Exchange’s investment results.
 
 
Net income in the third quarter of 2014 was primarily impacted by lower earnings from our investment operations, offset somewhat by improved results from our property and casualty insurance operations, compared to the third quarter of 2013.

Our investment operations generated realized losses in the third quarter of 2014 compared to realized gains in the third quarter of 2013, primarily due to decreases in fair value of common stocks compared to increases in fair value of common stocks during the third quarter of 2013, offset somewhat by a decrease in impairment losses and an increase in net investment income.

Losses from the Exchange’s property and casualty insurance operations increased in the third quarter of 2014 due to a few large commercial property claims combined with less favorable development on prior accident year loss reserves, offset somewhat by a decrease in catastrophe losses. The Exchange’s property and casualty insurance operations experienced a 9.2% increase in earned premium in the third quarter of 2014, driven by increases in policies in force and the average premium per policy.


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Table of Contents

Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
Indemnity
shareholder interest
 
Noncontrolling interest (Exchange)
 
Eliminations of 
related party 
transactions
 
Erie Insurance Group
 (in millions)
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Management operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Management fee revenue, net
 
$
1,047

 
$
965

 
$

 
$

 
$
(1,047
)
 
$
(965
)
 
$

 
$

Service agreement revenue
 
23

 
23

 

 

 

 

 
23

 
23

Total revenue from management operations
 
1,070

 
988

 

 

 
(1,047
)
 
(965
)
 
23

 
23

Cost of management operations
 
882

 
820

 

 

 
(882
)
 
(820
)
 

 

Income from management operations before taxes
 
188

 
168

 

 

 
(165
)
 
(145
)
 
23

 
23

Property and casualty insurance operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net premiums earned
 

 

 
3,899

 
3,573

 

 

 
3,899

 
3,573

Losses and loss expenses
 

 

 
3,016

 
2,495

 
(4
)
 
(4
)
 
3,012

 
2,491

Policy acquisition and underwriting expenses
 

 

 
1,132

 
1,032

 
(173
)
 
(151
)
 
959

 
881

(Loss) income from property and casualty insurance operations before taxes
 

 

 
(249
)
 
46

 
177

 
155

 
(72
)
 
201

Life insurance operations:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total revenue
 

 

 
144

 
139

 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
143

 
137

Total benefits and expenses
 

 

 
111

 
105

 
0

 
0

 
111

 
105

Income from life insurance operations before taxes
 

 

 
33

 
34

 
(1
)
 
(2
)
 
32

 
32

Investment operations:(1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment income
 
12

 
11

 
263

 
243

 
(11
)
 
(8
)
 
264

 
246

Net realized gains on investments
 
1

 
1

 
95

 
492

 

 

 
96

 
493

Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
(9
)
 

 

 
0

 
(9
)
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
13

 
13

 
97

 
98

 

 

 
110

 
111

Income from investment operations before taxes
 
26

 
25

 
455

 
824

 
(11
)
 
(8
)
 
470

 
841

Income from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest
 
214

 
193

 
239

 
904

 

 

 
453

 
1,097

Provision for income taxes
 
72

 
66

 
61

 
297

 

 

 
133

 
363

Net income
 
$
142

 
$
127

 
$
178

 
$
607

 
$

 
$

 
$
320

 
$
734

 
(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.  However, the life insurance investment results are included in the investment operations segment discussion as part of the Exchange’s investment results.


Net income in the first nine months of 2014 was primarily impacted by lower earnings from our investment operations
and losses experienced in our property and casualty insurance operations, compared to gains in the first nine months of 2013.

Our investment operations generated lower levels of net realized gains on investments during the first nine months of 2014, primarily due to decreases in fair value of common stocks compared to increases in fair value of common stocks in the first nine months of 2013, offset somewhat by an increase in net investment income and a decrease in impairment losses.

Losses from the Exchange’s property and casualty insurance operations increased in the first nine months of 2014 due to a higher volume of non-catastrophe weather related claims and an increase in catastrophe losses. The Exchange’s property and casualty insurance operations experienced a 9.2% increase in earned premium in the first nine months of 2014, driven by increases in policies in force and the average premium per policy.




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Table of Contents

Reconciliation of Operating Income to Net Income (Unaudited)
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
(in millions, except per share data)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
Operating income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
47

 
$
45

 
$
141

 
$
126

Net realized gains and impairments on investments
 
0

 
1

 
1

 
1

Income tax expense
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
0

Realized gains and impairments, net of income taxes
 
0

 
1

 
1

 
1

Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
47

 
$
46

 
$
142

 
$
127

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

Per Indemnity Class A common share-diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
0.90

 
$
0.86

 
$
2.70

 
$
2.40

Net realized gains and impairments on investments
 
0.00

 
0.01

 
0.02

 
0.01

Income tax expense
 
0.00

 
0.00

 
(0.01
)
 
0.00

Realized gains and impairments, net of income taxes
 
0.00

 
0.01

 
0.01

 
0.01

Net income attributable to Indemnity
 
$
0.90

 
$
0.87

 
$
2.71

 
$
2.41

 

Summary of Results – Indemnity Shareholder Interest
 
Three months ended September 30,
Net income attributable to Indemnity Class A per share-diluted was $0.90 per share in the third quarter of 2014, compared to $0.87 per share in the third quarter of 2013.
 
Operating income attributable to Indemnity Class A per share-diluted (excluding net realized gains or losses, impairments on investments, and related taxes) was $0.90 per share in the third quarter of 2014, compared to $0.86 per share in the third quarter of 2013.

Nine months ended September 30,
Net income attributable to Indemnity Class A per share-diluted was $2.71 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $2.41 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
Operating income attributable to Indemnity Class A per share-diluted (excluding net realized gains or losses, impairments on investments, and related taxes) was $2.70 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to $2.40 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.




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Table of Contents

Operating Segments
Our reportable segments include management operations, property and casualty insurance operations, life insurance operations and investment operations.
 
Management operations
Management operations generate internal management fee revenue, which accrues to the Indemnity shareholder interest, as Indemnity provides services relating to the sales, underwriting, and issuance of policies on behalf of the Exchange.  Management fee revenue is based upon all premiums written or assumed by the Exchange and the management fee rate, which is not to exceed 25%.  Our Board of Directors establishes the management fee rate at least annually, generally in December for the following year, and considers factors such as the relative financial strength of Indemnity and the Exchange and projected revenue streams.  The management fee rate was set at 25% for both 2014 and 2013.  Management fee revenue is eliminated upon consolidation.
 
Property and casualty insurance operations
The property and casualty insurance business is driven by premium growth, the combined ratio, and investment returns.  The property and casualty insurance industry is cyclical, with periods of rising premium rates and shortages of underwriting capacity followed by periods of substantial price competition and excess capacity.  The cyclical nature of the insurance industry has a direct impact on the direct written premium of the Property and Casualty Group.
 
The property and casualty insurance operation’s premium growth strategy focuses on growth by expansion of existing operations including a careful agency selection process and increased market penetration in existing operating territories.  Expanding the size of our existing agency force of over 2,200 independent agencies, with nearly 10,900 licensed property and casualty representatives, will contribute to future growth as new agents build their books of business with the Property and Casualty Group.

Geographic expansion is also a component of the Property and Casualty Group's premium growth strategy. The Property and Casualty Group expects to begin writing personal passenger automobile, home insurance, and personal excess liability insurance in Kentucky for the Erie Insurance Group in the fourth quarter of 2014.
 
The property and casualty insurance operations insure preferred and standard risks while maintaining a disciplined underwriting approach.  Based upon direct written premium in 2013, 44% of our premiums were derived from personal auto, 26% from homeowners and 29% from commercial lines.  Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio made up 75% of the property and casualty lines insurance business 2013 direct written premium.
 
Members of the Property and Casualty Group pool their underwriting results under an intercompany pooling agreement.  Under the pooling agreement, the Exchange retains a 94.5% interest in the net underwriting results of the Property and Casualty Group, while EIC retains a 5.0% interest, and ENY retains a 0.5% interest.
 
The key measure of underwriting profitability traditionally used in the property and casualty insurance industry is the combined ratio, which is expressed as a percentage.  It is the sum of the ratio of losses and loss expenses to premiums earned (loss ratio) plus the ratio of policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses to premiums earned (expense ratio).  When the combined ratio is less than 100%, underwriting results are generally considered profitable; when the combined ratio is greater than 100%, underwriting results are generally considered unprofitable.
 
Factors affecting losses and loss expenses include the frequency and severity of losses, the nature and severity of catastrophic losses, the quality of risks underwritten, and underlying claims and settlement expenses.
 
Investments held by the Property and Casualty Group are reported in the investment operations segment, separate from the underwriting business.
 
Life insurance operations
EFL generates revenues through the sale of its individual and group life insurance policies and fixed annuities.  These products provide our property and casualty agency force an opportunity to cross-sell both personal and commercial accounts.  EFL’s profitability depends principally on the ability to develop, price, and distribute insurance products, attract and retain deposit funds, generate investment returns, and manage expenses.  Other drivers include mortality and morbidity experience, persistency experience to enable the recovery of acquisition costs, maintenance of interest spreads over the amounts credited to deposit funds, and the maintenance of strong ratings from rating agencies. EFL expects to begin writing life insurance and annuity products in Kentucky for the Erie Insurance Group in the fourth quarter of 2014.


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Table of Contents

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 segment discussion includes the life insurance related investment results.  However, also for presentation purposes, the segment footnote and the investment operations segment discussion include the life insurance investment results as part of the Exchange’s investment results.

Investment operations
We generate revenues from our fixed maturity, equity security, and limited partnership investment portfolios to support our underwriting business.  The Indemnity and Exchange portfolios are managed with the objective of maximizing after-tax returns on a risk-adjusted basis, while the EFL portfolio is managed to be closely aligned to its liabilities and to maintain a sufficient yield to meet profitability targets.  Management actively evaluates the portfolios for impairments.  We record impairment writedowns on investments in instances where the fair value of the investment is substantially below cost, and we conclude that the decline in fair value is other-than-temporary, which includes consideration for intent to sell.
 
General Conditions and Trends Affecting Our Business
Economic conditions
Unfavorable changes in economic conditions, including declining consumer confidence, inflation, high unemployment, and the threat of recession, among others, may lead the Property and Casualty Group’s customers to modify coverage, not renew policies, or even cancel policies, which could adversely affect the premium revenue of the Property and Casualty Group, and consequently Indemnity’s management fee.  These conditions could also impair the ability of customers to pay premiums when due, and as a result, the Property and Casualty Group’s bad debt write-offs could increase.  Our key challenge is to generate profitable revenue growth in a highly competitive market that continues to experience the effects of uncertain economic conditions.
 
Financial market volatility
Our portfolio of fixed income, preferred and common stocks, and limited partnerships are subject to market volatility especially in periods of instability in the worldwide financial markets.  Over time, net investment income could also be impacted by volatility and by the general level of interest rates, which impact reinvested cash flow from the portfolio and business operations.  Depending upon market conditions, which are unpredictable and remain uncertain, considerable fluctuation could exist in our reported total investment income, which could have an adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

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Table of Contents

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The information that follows is presented on a segment basis prior to eliminations.
 
Management Operations
Indemnity earns management fee revenue from providing services relating to the sales, underwriting, and issuance of policies on behalf of the Exchange as a result of its attorney-in-fact relationship, which is eliminated upon consolidation. A summary of the results of our management operations is as follows:
 
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Management fee revenue, net
 
$
362

 
$
333

 
8.8

%
 
$
1,047

 
$
965

 
8.5

%
Service agreement revenue
 
8

 
8

 
NM

 
 
23

 
23

 
NM

 
Total revenue from management operations
 
370

 
341

 
8.5

 
 
1,070

 
988

 
8.3

 
Cost of management operations
 
308

 
281

 
10.0

 
 
882

 
820

 
7.7

 
Income from management operations – Indemnity (1)
 
$
62

 
$
60

 
1.3

%
 
$
188

 
$
168

 
11.2

%
Gross margin
 
16.5
%
 
17.7
%
 
(1.2
)
pts.
 
17.5
%
 
17.1
%
 
0.4

pts.
 
(1)
The Indemnity shareholder interest retains 100% of the income from the management operations.
 

Management fee revenue
Management fee revenue is based upon all premiums written or assumed by the Exchange and the management fee rate, which is determined by our Board of Directors at least annually. Management fee revenue is calculated by multiplying the management fee rate by the direct premiums written by the Exchange and the other members of the Property and Casualty Group, which are assumed by the Exchange under an intercompany pooling agreement. The following table presents the calculation of management fee revenue:
 
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Property and Casualty Group direct written premium
 
$
1,449

 
$
1,332

 
8.8
%
 
$
4,202

 
$
3,873

 
8.5
%
Management fee rate
 
25
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
 
25
%
 
25
%
 
 
 
Management fee revenue, gross
 
363

 
333

 
8.8
 
 
1,051

 
968

 
8.5
 
Change in allowance for management fee returned on cancelled policies (1)
 
(1
)
 
0

 
NM 
 
 
(4
)
 
(3
)
 
NM 
 
Management fee revenue, net of allowance
 
$
362

 
$
333

 
8.8
%
 
$
1,047

 
$
965

 
8.5
%
 
NM = not meaningful
 
(1)
Management fees are returned to the Exchange when policies are cancelled mid-term and unearned premiums are refunded.  We record an estimated allowance for management fees returned on mid-term policy cancellations.
 

Management fee revenue increased $29 million, or 8.8%, in the third quarter of 2014, and $82 million, or 8.5%, in the first nine months of 2014, compared to the same respective periods in 2013. Direct written premium of the Property and Casualty Group increased 8.8% in the third quarter of 2014 and 8.5% in the first nine months of 2014, compared to the same respective periods in 2013, due to a 4.5% increase in policies in force and a 4.1% increase in the year-over-year average premium per policy for all lines of business.  The year-over-year policy retention ratio was 90.5% at September 30, 2014, 90.6% at December 31, 2013, and 90.7% at September 30, 2013.  See the “Property and Casualty Insurance Operations” segment that follows for a complete discussion of property and casualty direct written premium, which has a direct bearing on Indemnity’s management fee.
 
The management fee rate was set at 25%, the maximum rate, for both 2014 and 2013.  Changes in the management fee rate can affect the Indemnity shareholder interest's revenue and net income from this segment significantly.

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Table of Contents

Service agreement revenue
Service agreement revenue includes service charges Indemnity collects from policyholders for providing extended payment terms on policies written by the Property and Casualty Group and late payment and policy reinstatement fees.   The service charges are fixed dollar amounts per billed installment.  Service agreement revenue totaled $8 million in both the third quarters of 2014 and 2013, and $23 million in both the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.  The consistency in the service fee revenue compared to the growth in policies in force reflects the continued shift in policies to the monthly direct debit payment plan, which does not incur service charges, and the no-fee single payment plan, which offers a premium discount.  The shift to these plans is driven by the consumers’ desire to avoid paying service charges and to take advantage of the discount in pricing offered for paid-in-full policies.
 
Cost of management operations
 
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Commissions:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total commissions
 
$
208

 
$
187

 
11.5
%
 
$
587

 
$
538

 
9.3
 %
Non-commission expense:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sales and advertising
 
$
15

 
$
15

 
NM

 
$
45

 
$
44

 
1.3

Underwriting and policy processing
 
31

 
29

 
5.0

 
95

 
89

 
6.4

Information technology
 
32

 
28

 
14.2

 
91

 
81

 
12.4

Customer service
 
7

 
6

 
NM

 
20

 
17

 
16.0

Administrative and other
 
15

 
16

 
NM

 
44

 
51

 
(12.5
)
Total non-commission expense
 
100

 
94

 
7.1

 
295

 
282

 
4.5

Total cost of management operations
 
$
308

 
$
281

 
10.0
%
 
$
882

 
$
820

 
7.7
 %
 
 
Commissions – Commissions increased $21 million in the third quarter of 2014 and $49 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the same respective periods in 2013. These increases were primarily a result of the 8.8% and 8.5%, respectively, increase in direct written premiums of the Property and Casualty Group. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, commission growth outpaced direct premium written growth primarily due to an increase in agent incentive costs.

Non-commission expense – Non-commission expense increased $6 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to the third quarter of 2013.  Sales and advertising costs remained flat compared to the third quarter of 2013. Underwriting and policy processing costs increased $2 million due to the increased cost of underwriting reports and increased postage and printing costs. Information technology costs increased $4 million, which included $2 million of personnel costs and $2 million of professional fees. Customer service costs increased $1 million due to credit card processing fees.  Administrative and other expenses decreased $1 million due to a decrease in personnel costs, primarily from decreased employee incentive plan costs related to underwriting performance and decreased pension costs.

Non-commission expense increased $13 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013.  Sales and advertising costs increased $1 million due to advertising costs. Underwriting and policy processing costs increased $6 million due to the increased cost of underwriting reports, postage expense and personnel costs. Information technology costs increased $10 million, which included $5 million in professional fees, $3 million in personnel costs, and $2 million in hardware costs. Customer service costs increased $3 million due to an increase of $2 million in credit card processing fees and $1 million in personnel costs.  Administrative and other expenses decreased $7 million due to a $5 million decrease in personnel costs, primarily from decreased employee incentive plan costs related to underwriting performance and decreased pension costs, and a $2 million decrease in professional fees.

Gross margin
The gross margin in the third quarter of 2014 was 16.5%, compared to 17.7% in the third quarter of 2013, and was 17.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 17.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.



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Table of Contents

Property and Casualty Insurance Operations
The Property and Casualty Group operates in 11 Midwestern, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeastern states and the District of Columbia and primarily writes private passenger automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, commercial automobile, and workers compensation lines of insurance.  A summary of the results of our property and casualty insurance operations is as follows:

 
 
Property and Casualty Group
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Premiums:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct written premium
 
$
1,449

 
$
1,332

 
8.8

%
 
$
4,202

 
$
3,873

 
8.5

%
Reinsurance premium – assumed and ceded
 
(5
)
 
(7
)
 
NM

 
 
(21
)
 
(23
)
 
10.6

 
Net written premium
 
1,444

 
1,325

 
9.0

 
 
4,181

 
3,850

 
8.6

 
Change in unearned premium
 
(111
)
 
(104
)
 
(6.5
)
 
 
(282
)
 
(277
)
 
(1.6
)
 
Net premiums earned
 
1,333

 
1,221

 
9.2

 
 
3,899

 
3,573

 
9.2

 
Losses and loss expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current accident year, excluding catastrophe losses
 
888

 
815

 
8.8

 
 
2,681

 
2,372

 
13.0

 
Current accident year catastrophe losses
 
51

 
70

 
NM

 
 
388

 
142

 
NM

 
Prior accident years, including prior year catastrophe losses
 
(31
)
 
(44
)
 
29.9

 
 
(53
)
 
(19
)
 
NM

 
Losses and loss expenses
 
908

 
841

 
7.9

 
 
3,016

 
2,495

 
20.9

 
Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses
 
387

 
356

 
8.7

 
 
1,132

 
1,032

 
9.7

 
Total losses and expenses
 
1,295

 
1,197

 
8.1

 
 
4,148

 
3,527

 
17.6

 
Underwriting income (loss) – Exchange(1)
 
$
38

 
$
24

 
62.4

%
 
$
(249
)
 
$
46

 
NM

%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss and loss expense ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current accident year loss ratio, excluding catastrophe losses
 
66.6
 %
 
66.8
 %
 
(0.2
)
pts.
 
68.7
 %
 
66.3
 %
 
2.4

pts.
Current accident year catastrophe loss ratio
 
3.8

 
5.7

 
(1.9
)
 
 
10.0

 
4.0

 
6.0

 
Prior accident year loss ratio, including prior year catastrophe losses
 
(2.3
)
 
(3.6
)
 
1.3

 
 
(1.4
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(0.9
)
 
Total loss and loss expense ratio
 
68.1

 
68.9

 
(0.8
)
 
 
77.3

 
69.8

 
7.5

 
Policy acquisition and other underwriting expense ratio
 
29.0

 
29.2

 
(0.2
)
 
 
29.0

 
28.9

 
0.1

 
Combined ratio
 
97.1
 %
 
98.1
 %
 
(1.0
)
pts.
 
106.3
 %
 
98.7
 %
 
7.6

pts.
 
NM = not meaningful
 
(1)          The Exchange retains 100% of the income from the property and casualty insurance operations.
 
 
We measure profit or loss from our property and casualty insurance segment based upon its underwriting results, which are represented by net premiums earned less losses and loss expenses and policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses on a pre-tax basis.  The loss and loss expense ratio and combined ratio are key performance indicators that we use to assess business trends and to make comparisons to industry results.  The investment results related to our property and casualty insurance operations are included in our investment operations segment discussion.
 
Premiums
Direct written premium – Direct written premium of the Property and Casualty Group increased 8.8% to $1.4 billion in the third quarter of 2014, from $1.3 billion in the third quarter of 2013, driven by an increase in policies in force and increases in average premium per policy.  Year-over-year policies in force for all lines of business increased by 4.5% in the third quarter of 2014 as the result of continuing strong policyholder retention and an increase in new policies written, compared to an increase of 4.7% in the third quarter of 2013.  The year-over-year average premium per policy for all lines of business increased 4.1% at September 30, 2014, compared to 4.7% at September 30, 2013

Premiums generated from new business increased 8.8% to $189 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to an increase of 21.8% in the third quarter of 2013.  Underlying the trend in new business premiums was a 5.6% increase in new business

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policies written in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 19.4% in the third quarter of 2013, while the year-over-year average premium per policy on new business increased 1.9% at September 30, 2014, compared to 3.3% at September 30, 2013.
 
Premiums generated from renewal business increased 8.8% to $1.3 billion in the third quarter of 2014, compared to an increase of 8.0% to $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2013.  Underlying the trend in renewal business premiums were increases in average premium per policy and steady policy retention ratios.  The renewal business year-over-year average premium per policy increased 4.4% at September 30, 2014, compared to 5.0% at September 30, 2013.  The Property and Casualty Group’s year-over-year policy retention ratio was 90.5% at September 30, 2014, 90.6% at December 31, 2013, and 90.7% at September 30, 2013.
 
Personal lines – Total personal lines premiums written increased 8.2% to $1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2014, from $984 million in the third quarter of 2013, driven by an increase of 4.4% in the total personal lines policies in force and an increase of 3.6% in the total personal lines year-over-year average premium per policy.
 
New business premiums written on personal lines increased 7.1% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 28.4% in the third quarter of 2013, driven by increases in new business policies written seen across all major personal lines of business and average premium per policy.  Personal lines new business policies written increased 5.3% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 21.1% in the third quarter of 2013, while the year-over-year average premium per policy on personal lines new business increased 3.2% at September 30, 2014, compared to 5.2% at September 30, 2013.
 
Private passenger auto new business premiums written increased 8.7% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 32.3% in the third quarter of 2013.  New business policies written for private passenger auto increased 6.2% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 27.1% in the third quarter of 2013, while the new business year-over-year average premium per policy for private passenger auto increased 3.5% at September 30, 2014, compared to 3.3% at September 30, 2013.
 
Homeowners new business premiums written increased 3.2% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 22.9% in the third quarter of 2013.  New business policies written for homeowners increased 0.9% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to an increase of 16.3% in the third quarter of 2013.  The new business year-over-year average premium per policy for homeowners increased 3.7% at September 30, 2014, compared to 7.2% at September 30, 2013.

Renewal premiums written on personal lines increased 8.3% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 6.7% in the third quarter of 2013, driven by increases in average premium per policy and steady policy retention ratios.  The year-over-year average premium per policy on personal lines renewal business increased 3.7% at September 30, 2014, compared to 3.9% at September 30, 2013.  The personal lines year-over-year policy retention ratio was 91.0% at September 30, 2014, 91.2% at December 31, 2013, and 91.3% at September 30, 2013.
 
Private passenger auto renewal premiums written increased 6.6% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 4.1% in the third quarter of 2013.  The year-over-year average premium per policy on private passenger auto renewal business increased 1.8% at September 30, 2014, compared to 1.6% at September 30, 2013.  The private passenger auto year-over-year policy retention ratio was 91.8% at September 30, 2014, and 92.1% at December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013.
 
Homeowners renewal premiums written increased 10.9% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 11.0% in the third quarter of 2013.  The year-over-year average premium per policy on homeowners renewal business increased 7.3% at September 30, 2014, compared to 8.6% at September 30, 2013.  The homeowners year-over-year policyholder retention ratio was 89.9% at September 30, 2014, 90.1% at December 31, 2013, and 90.3% at September 30, 2013.
 
Commercial lines – Total commercial lines premiums written increased 10.6% to $385 million in the third quarter of 2014, from $348 million in the third quarter of 2013, driven by a 4.6% increase in the total commercial lines policies in force and a 5.2% increase in the total commercial lines year-over-year average premium per policy.
 
New business premiums written on commercial lines increased 12.4% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to an increase of 9.8% in the third quarter of 2013, driven by increases in new business policies written seen across all major commercial lines of business and average premium per policy. Commercial lines new business policies written increased 7.7% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to an increase of 10.2% in the third quarter of 2013, while the year-over-year average premium per policy on commercial lines new business increased 0.9% at September 30, 2014, compared to an increase of 5.9% at September 30, 2013.


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Renewal premiums for commercial lines increased 10.2% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to an increase of 12.0% in the third quarter of 2013, driven by increases in average premium per policy and steady policy retention ratios.  The combined impact of these increases was seen primarily in the commercial multi-peril, commercial auto and workers compensation lines of business.  The year-over-year average premium per policy on commercial lines renewal business increased 5.9% at September 30, 2014, compared to 6.9% at September 30, 2013.  The year-over-year policy retention ratio for commercial lines was 86.7% at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and 86.5% at September 30, 2013.
 
Future trends — premium revenue – We plan to continue our efforts to grow Property and Casualty Group premiums and improve our competitive position in the marketplace.  Expanding the size of our agency force through a careful agency selection process and increased market penetration in our existing operating territories will contribute to future growth as existing and new agents build their books of business with the Property and Casualty Group. At September 30, 2014, we had over 2,200 agencies with nearly 10,900 licensed property and casualty representatives. The Property and Casualty Group expects to begin writing personal passenger automobile, home insurance, and personal excess liability insurance in Kentucky for the Erie Insurance Group in the fourth quarter of 2014.
 
Changes in premium levels attributable to the growth in policies in force and rate changes directly affect the profitability of the Property and Casualty Group and have a direct bearing on Indemnity’s management fee.  Our continued focus on underwriting discipline and the maturing of our pricing sophistication models have contributed to the Property and Casualty Group’s growth in new policies in force, steady policy retention ratios, and increased average premium per policy.
 
Losses and loss expenses
Current accident year, excluding catastrophe losses – The current accident year loss and loss expense ratio for all lines of business, excluding catastrophe losses, was 66.6% in the third quarter of 2014, compared to 66.8% in the third quarter of 2013, and was 68.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 66.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The higher ratio for the first nine months of 2014 was driven primarily by a higher volume of non-catastrophe weather related claims resulting from more severe winter weather experienced in the first quarter and a few large commercial property claims, compared to the first nine months of 2013.
 
Current accident year catastrophe losses – Catastrophic events, destructive weather patterns, or changes in climate conditions are an inherent risk of the property and casualty insurance business and can have a material impact on our property and casualty insurance underwriting results.  In addressing this risk, we employ what we believe are reasonable underwriting standards and monitor our exposure by geographic region.  The Property and Casualty Group’s definition of catastrophes includes those weather-related or other loss events that we consider significant to our geographic footprint which, individually or in the aggregate, may not reach the level of a national catastrophe as defined by the Property Claim Service (“PCS”).  The Property and Casualty Group maintains property catastrophe reinsurance coverage from unaffiliated reinsurers to mitigate future potential catastrophe loss exposures and no longer participates in the voluntary assumed reinsurance business, which lowers the variability of the Property and Casualty Group’s underwriting results.
 
Catastrophe losses for the current accident year, as defined by the Property and Casualty Group, totaled $51 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to $70 million in the third quarter of 2013, and contributed 3.8 points and 5.7 points, respectively, to the loss ratios. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, catastrophe losses for the current accident year totaled $388 million, compared to $142 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013, and contributed 10.0 points and 4.0 points, respectively, to the loss ratios. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, catastrophe losses primarily resulted from many smaller events across our footprint and one large hail event in Pennsylvania.
 
Prior accident years, including prior accident year catastrophe losses – The following table provides a breakout of our property and casualty insurance operation’s prior year loss reserve development, including prior accident year catastrophe loss reserves, by type of business:
 
 
Property and Casualty Group
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
Direct business, including reserves for catastrophe losses and salvage and subrogation
 
$
(35
)
 
$
(45
)
 
$
(62
)
 
$
(16
)
Assumed reinsurance business
 
2

 
2

 
12

 
5

Ceded reinsurance business
 
2

 
(1
)
 
(3
)
 
(8
)
Total prior year loss development
 
$
(31
)
 
$
(44
)
 
$
(53
)
 
$
(19
)
 
Negative amounts represent a redundancy (decrease in reserves), while positive amounts represent a deficiency (increase in reserves).

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Direct business, including reserves for catastrophe losses and salvage and subrogation – In the third quarter of 2014, the Property and Casualty Group experienced favorable development on direct prior accident year loss reserves of $35 million that improved the combined ratio by 2.6 points, compared to favorable development of $45 million in the third quarter of 2013 that contributed 3.7 points to the combined ratio. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, favorable development of direct prior accident year loss reserves totaled $62 million and improved the combined ratio by 1.6 points, compared to favorable development of $16 million that contributed 0.5 points for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
The favorable development in the first nine months of 2014 was primarily due to the workers compensation, commercial multi-peril and personal auto lines of business, offset somewhat by adverse development in the commercial auto line of business. In the first nine months of 2013, the favorable development was primarily related to the homeowners and personal auto lines of business.
 
Assumed reinsurance – The Property and Casualty Group experienced adverse development on prior accident year loss reserves for its assumed reinsurance business totaling $2 million in the third quarter of 2014 and 2013. In the first nine months of 2014, adverse development on prior accident year loss reserves for the assumed reinsurance business totaled $12 million, compared to adverse development of $5 million in the first nine months of 2013.
 
Ceded reinsurance – The Property and Casualty Group’s ceded reinsurance reserve recoveries decreased by $2 million in the third quarter of 2014 and increased by $1 million in the third quarter of 2013, and increased by $3 million and $8 million in the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.  An increase in ceded recoveries is reflected as favorable loss development as it represents an increase in recoveries resulting from adverse development on our direct loss reserves, while a decrease in ceded recoveries is reflected as adverse loss development as it represents a decrease in recoveries resulting from favorable development on our direct loss reserves.  In the first nine months of 2014, the increase in ceded recoveries was primarily due to adverse development related to the commercial multi-peril line of business, whereas the increase in the first nine months of 2013 was primarily due to adverse development related to the pre-1986 automobile massive injury claims and in the commercial multi-peril and business catastrophe liability lines of business.
 
Policy acquisition and other underwriting expenses – Our policy acquisition and other underwriting expense ratio decreased 0.2 points to 29.0% in the third quarter of 2014, from 29.2% in the third quarter of 2013, and increased 0.1 points to 29.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, from 28.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The management fee rate was 25% for the periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2013.

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Life Insurance Operations
EFL is a Pennsylvania-domiciled life insurance company which underwrites and sells individual and group life insurance policies and fixed annuities and operates in 10 states and the District of Columbia.  EFL expects to begin writing life insurance and annuity products in Kentucky for the Erie Insurance Group in the fourth quarter of 2014. A summary of the results of our life insurance operations is as follows:
 
 
 
Erie Family Life Insurance Company
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
(in millions)
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Individual and group life premiums, gross
 
$
31

 
$
30

 
6.3
%
 
$
93

 
$
90

 
4.9
%
Reinsurance premiums – ceded
 
(9
)
 
(9
)
 
NM
 
 
(29
)
 
(30
)
 
2.1
 
Individual and group life premiums, net
 
22

 
21

 
11.1
 
 
64

 
60

 
8.4
 
Other revenue
 
0

 
0

 
NM
 
 
1

 
1

 
NM
 
Total net policy revenue
 
22

 
21

 
10.7
 
 
65

 
61

 
8.4
 
Net investment income
 
24

 
24

 
NM
 
 
71

 
70

 
1.5
 
Net realized gains on investments
 
3

 
2

 
49.1
 
 
8

 
8

 
NM
 
Impairment losses recognized in earnings
 
(1
)
 
0

 
NM
 
 
(1
)
 
(1
)
 
NM
 
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
 
0

 
0

 
NM
 
 
1

 
1

 
NM
 
Total revenues
 
48

 
47

 
7.9
 
 
144

 
139

 
4.5
 
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
 
28

 
28

 
1.2
 
 
83

 
80

 
4.0
 
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs
 
4

 
3

 
6.3
 
 
10

 
9

 
5.4
 
Other operating expenses
 
6

 
6

 
NM
 
 
18

 
16

 
13.2
 
Total benefits and expenses
 
38

 
37

 
3.1
 
 
111

 
105

 
5.5
 
Income before taxes – Exchange(1)
 
$
10

 
$
10

 
NM
%
 
$
33

 
$
34

 
NM
%
 
NM = not meaningful
 
(1)
The Exchange retains 100% of the income from the life insurance operations.
 
 
Policy revenue
Gross policy revenues increased 6.3% to $31 million in the third quarter 2014, from $30 million in the third quarter of 2013.  EFL uses, and has used, a variety of reinsurance programs to reduce claims volatility and for other financial benefits.  While the amount of risk that EFL retains can vary based upon the type of policy issued and the year it was issued, EFL generally does not retain more than $1 million of risk on any individual life.  Ceded reinsurance premiums totaled $9 million in both the third quarters of 2014 and 2013. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to 2013, gross policy revenues totaled $93 million and $90 million, respectively, while ceded reinsurance premiums totaled $29 million and $30 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
 
Annuity and universal life premiums that are recorded as deposits totaled $18 million and $13 million in the third quarters of 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $50 million and $45 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and therefore are not reflected in individual and group life premiums in the table above.

Investment revenue
EFL's investment revenue remained relatively flat in the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2013. See the “Investment Operations” segment discussion that follows for further information.
 
Benefits and expenses
In the third quarter and first nine months of 2014, total benefits and expenses were primarily impacted by an increase in death benefits and future life policy benefits, offset somewhat by a decrease in interest expense on annuity deposits compared to the third quarter and first nine months of 2013.

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Investment Operations
The investment results related to our life insurance operations are included in the investment operations segment discussion as part of the Exchange’s investment results.  A summary of the results of our investment operations is as follows:
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
 
2014
 
2013
 
% Change
Indemnity
(Unaudited)
 
 

 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 

 
Net investment income
$
4

 
$
4

 
NM

%
 
$
12

 
$
11

 
10.5

%
Net realized gains on investments
0

 
1

 
NM

 
 
1

 
1

 
NM

 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
0

 
0

 
NM

 
 
0

 
0

 
NM

 
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
4

 
5

 
(37.1
)
 
 
13

 
13

 
NM

 
Net revenue from investment operations – Indemnity
$
8

 
$
10

 
(22.8
)
%
 
$
26

 
$
25

 
5.0

%
Exchange
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
Net investment income
$
114

 
$
107

 
6.3

%
 
$
334

 
$
313

 
6.6

%
Net realized (losses) gains on investments
(85
)
 
190

 
NM

 
 
103

 
500

 
(79.5
)
 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
(1
)
 
(9
)
 
(90.4
)
 
 
(1
)
 
(10
)
 
(87.7
)
 
Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
30

 
32

 
(4.4
)
 
 
98

 
99

 
(0.5
)
 
Net revenue from investment operations – Exchange(1)
$
58

 
$
320

 
(81.7
)
%
 
$
534

 
$
902

 
(40.9
)
%
NM = not meaningful
 
(1) 
The Exchange’s investment results for the third quarters of 2014 and 2013 include net investment revenues from EFL’s operations of $26 million for both periods. The Exchange’s investment results for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013 include net investment revenues from EFL’s operations of $79 million and $78 million, respectively
 
 
Net investment income
Net investment income primarily includes interest and dividends on our fixed maturity and equity security portfolios net of investment expenses.  Indemnity’s net investment income was unchanged in the third quarter of 2014, compared to the third quarter of 2013, while the Exchange’s net investment income increased $7 million.  Indemnity's net investment income increased $1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, while the Exchange's net investment income increased $21 million. The increase in net investment income for Indemnity was primarily due to higher invested balances, while the increases for the Exchange were primarily due to higher invested balances which more than offset lower investment yields.
 
Net realized gains on investments
Net realized gains and losses on investments include the changes in fair value of common stocks designated as trading securities, and gains and losses resulting from the actual sales of all security categories.  Indemnity generated net realized gains of $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to gains of $1 million in the third quarter of 2013, while the Exchange generated net realized losses of $85 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to gains of $190 million in the third quarter of 2013. Indemnity generated net realized gains of $1 million for both the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, while the Exchange generated net realized gains of $103 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to gains of $500 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
Net realized gains for Indemnity during these periods primarily represented modest gains from sales of fixed maturity and equity securities. Net realized losses for the Exchange in the third quarter of 2014 were primarily due to decreases in fair value of common stocks compared to increases in fair value during the third quarter of 2013 reflecting the market conditions experienced during the periods. Similarly, net realized gains for the Exchange decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily due to decreases in fair value of common stocks compared to increases in fair value of common stocks during the nine months ended September 30, 2013.
 
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings
Net impairment losses recorded in earnings for Indemnity were less than $0.1 million for the third quarter of 2014, and $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to net impairment losses of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2013, and $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. Net impairment losses recorded in earnings for the Exchange were $1 million for both the third quarter of 2014 and the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to net impairment losses of $9 million for the third quarter of 2013, and $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The impairment activity in 2013 for the Exchange was primarily due to an equity security in an unrealized loss position that we

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intended to sell prior to an expected recovery of fair value to cost. As a result an impairment charge was recorded in earnings during the third quarter of 2013.

Equity in earnings of limited partnerships
Indemnity’s equity in earnings of limited partnerships decreased $1 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to the third quarter of 2013, while the Exchange’s equity in earnings of limited partnerships decreased $2 million.  Indemnity's equity in earnings of limited partnerships was unchanged for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2013, while the Exchange's equity in earnings of limited partnerships decreased $1 million. The decrease in earnings for both Indemnity and the Exchange during the third quarter of 2014 was due to lower earnings from mezzanine debt investments. The decrease in earnings for the Exchange during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was due to lower earnings from mezzanine debt investments partially offset by modest increases in earnings from private equity and real estate investments.

A breakdown of our net realized gains (losses) on investments is as follows: 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Indemnity
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
Securities sold:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities
 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
1

Equity securities
 
0

 
0

 
1

 
0

Total net realized gains – Indemnity(1)
 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
1

 
$
1

Exchange
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Securities sold:
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities
 
$
6

 
$
(16
)
 
$
15

 
$
1

Equity securities
 
0

 
(9
)
 
8

 
(5
)
Common stock equity securities
 
84

 
82

 
196

 
223

Common stock (decreases) increases in fair value(2)
 
(175
)
 
133

 
(116
)
 
281

Total net realized gains – Exchange(1) (3)
 
$
(85
)
 
$
190

 
$
103

 
$
500

 

(1)
See Item 1. “Financial Statements – Note 7. Investments,” contained within this report for additional disclosures regarding net realized gains (losses) on investments.

(2)
The fair value on our common stock portfolio is based upon exchange traded prices provided by a nationally recognized pricing service.
 
(3)
The Exchange’s results for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013 include net realized gains from EFL’s operations of $3 million and $2 million, respectively. The Exchange’s results for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013 include net realized gains from EFL’s operations of $8 million for both periods.
 
 
The components of equity in earnings (losses) of limited partnerships are as follows:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2014
 
2013
 
2014
 
2013
Indemnity
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Unaudited)
Private equity
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
4

 
$
2

Mezzanine debt
 
1

 
2

 
2

 
3

Real estate
 
3

 
3

 
7

 
8

Total equity in earnings of limited partnerships – Indemnity
 
$
4

 
$
5

 
$
13

 
$
13

Exchange
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Private equity
 
$
14

 
$
14

 
$
47

 
$
46

Mezzanine debt
 
5

 
7

 
16

 
19

Real estate
 
11

 
11

 
35

 
34

Total equity in earnings of limited partnerships – Exchange (1)
 
$
30

 
$
32

 
$
98

 
$
99

 
(1)
The Exchange’s results for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013 include equity in earnings of limited partnerships from EFL's operations of $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The Exchange’s results for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013 include equity in earnings of limited partnerships from EFL's operations of $1 million for both periods.

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Limited partnership earnings pertain to investments in U.S. and foreign private equity, mezzanine debt, and real estate partnerships.  Valuation adjustments are recorded to reflect the changes in fair value of the underlying investments held by the limited partnerships.  These adjustments are recorded as a component of equity in earnings of limited partnerships in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Limited partnership earnings tend to be cyclical based upon market conditions, the age of the partnership, and the nature of the investments.  Generally, limited partnership earnings are recorded on a quarter lag from financial statements we receive from our general partners.  As a consequence, earnings from limited partnerships reported at September 30, 2014 reflect investment valuation changes resulting from the financial markets and the economy in the fourth quarter of 2013 and first two quarters of 2014.

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FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
Investments
We generate revenues from our fixed maturity, equity security, and limited partnership investment portfolios to support our underwriting business.  The Indemnity and Exchange portfolios are managed with the objective of maximizing after-tax returns on a risk-adjusted basis, while the EFL portfolio is managed to be closely aligned to its liabilities and to maintain a sufficient yield to meet profitability targets.  Management actively evaluates the portfolios for impairments.  We record impairment writedowns on investments in instances where the fair value of the investment is substantially below cost, and we conclude that the decline in fair value is other-than-temporary, which includes consideration for intent to sell.
 
Distribution of investments
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
Carrying value at
 
 
 
Carrying value at
 
 
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2014
 
% to total
 
December 31, 2013
 
% to total
Indemnity
 
(Unaudited)
 
 

 
 

Fixed maturities
 
$
563

 
78
%
 
$
526

 
73
%
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
 
12

 
2

 
25

 
3

Common stock
 
13

 
2

 
25

 
3

Limited partnerships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private equity
 
55

 
7

 
62

 
9

Mezzanine debt
 
16

 
2

 
20

 
3

Real estate
 
63

 
9

 
64

 
9

Real estate mortgage loans
 
1

 
0

 
1

 
0

Total investments – Indemnity
 
$
723

 
100
%
 
$
723

 
100
%
Exchange
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed maturities
 
$
8,902

 
64
%
 
$
8,162

 
62
%
Equity securities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
 
720

 
5

 
621

 
5

Common stock
 
3,322

 
24

 
3,400

 
26

Limited partnerships:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Private equity
 
447

 
3

 
463

 
4

Mezzanine debt
 
167

 
1

 
172

 
1

Real estate
 
325

 
3

 
305

 
2

Life policy loans
 
18

 
0

 
17

 
0

Real estate mortgage loans
 
2

 
0

 
3

 
0

Total investments – Exchange
 
$
13,903

 
100
%
 
$
13,143

 
100
%
Total investments – Erie Insurance Group
 
$
14,626

 
 
 
$
13,866

 
 
 
 
We continually review our investment portfolio to evaluate positions that might incur other-than-temporary declines in value.  For all investment holdings, general economic conditions and/or conditions specifically affecting the underlying issuer or its industry, including downgrades by the major rating agencies, are considered in evaluating impairment in value.  In addition to specific factors, other factors considered in our review of investment valuation are the length of time the fair value is below cost and the amount the fair value is below cost.
 
We individually analyze all positions with emphasis on those that have, in management’s opinion, declined significantly below cost.  In compliance with impairment guidance for debt securities, we perform further analysis to determine if a credit-related impairment has occurred.  Some of the factors considered in determining whether a debt security is credit impaired include potential for the default of interest and/or principal, level of subordination, collateral of the issue, compliance with financial covenants, credit ratings and industry conditions.  We have the intent to sell all credit-impaired debt securities, therefore the entire amount of the impairment charges are included in earnings and no impairments are recorded in other comprehensive income.  For available-for-sale equity securities, a charge is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for positions that have experienced other-than-temporary impairments.  (See the “Investment Operations” section contained within this report for further information.)  Management believes its investment valuation philosophy and accounting practices result in appropriate and timely measurement of value and recognition of impairment.

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Fixed maturities
Under our investment strategy, we maintain a fixed maturity portfolio that is of high quality and well diversified within each market sector.  This investment strategy also achieves a balanced maturity schedule.  Our fixed maturity portfolio is managed with the goal of achieving reasonable returns while limiting exposure to risk.  Our municipal bond portfolio accounts for $231 million, or 41%, of the total fixed maturity portfolio for Indemnity and $1.5 billion, or 17%, of the fixed maturity portfolio for the Exchange at September 30, 2014.  The overall credit rating of the municipal portfolio without consideration of the underlying insurance is AA.
 
Fixed maturities classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, net of deferred taxes, included in shareholders’ equity.  Indemnity’s net unrealized gains on fixed maturities, net of deferred taxes, amounted to $8 million at September 30, 2014, compared to $5 million at December 31, 2013.  At September 30, 2014, the Exchange had net unrealized gains on fixed maturities of $304 million, compared to $234 million at December 31, 2013.
 
The following table presents a breakdown of the fair value of our fixed maturity portfolio by sector and rating for Indemnity and the Exchange, respectively:
 
 
Erie Insurance Group(1)
 
 
At September 30, 2014
(in millions)
 
(Unaudited)
Industry Sector
 
AAA
 
AA
 
A
 
BBB
 
Non- investment
grade
 
Fair
value
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic materials
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
3

 
$
3

 
$
4

 
$
10

Communications
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
15

 
8

 
23

Consumer
 
0

 
0

 
10

 
16

 
25

 
51

Energy
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
9

 
9

 
18

Financial
 
0

 
8

 
46

 
40

 
7

 
101

Government-municipal
 
104

 
98

 
28

 
1

 
0

 
231

Industrial
 
0

 
0

 
1

 
5

 
8

 
14

Structured securities(2)
 
28

 
25

 
20

 
17

 
1

 
91

Technology
 
0

 
0

 
0

 
4

 
3

 
7

Utilities
 
0

 
0

 
9

 
7

 
1

 
17

Total – Indemnity
 
$
132

 
$
131

 
$
117

 
$
117

 
$
66

 
$
563

Exchange
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic materials
 
$
0

 
$
0

 
$
59

 
$
199

 
$
71

 
$
329

Communications
 
0

 
0

 
237

 
328

 
89

 
654

Consumer
 
0

 
35

 
347

 
736

 
176

 
1,294

Diversified
 
0

 
0

 
14

 
0

 
2

 
16

Energy
 
7

 
67

 
131

 
463

 
85

 
753

Financial
 
1

 
157

 
998

 
1,653

 
173

 
2,982

Foreign government
 
0

 
10

 
5

 
0

 
0

 
15

Government-municipal
 
424

 
852

 
182

 
25

 
0

 
1,483

Government sponsored entity
 
0

 
4

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
4

Industrial
 
0

 
11

 
69

 
277

 
59

 
416

Structured securities(2)
 
46

 
130

 
32

 
25

 
0

 
233

Technology
 
0

 
33

 
61

 
90

 
22

 
206

U.S. Treasury
 
0

 
6

 
0

 
0

 
0

 
6

Utilities
 
0

 
3

 
137

 
342

 
29

 
511

Total – Exchange
 
$
478

 
$
1,308

 
$
2,272

 
$
4,138

 
$
706

 
$
8,902

 
(1)
 Ratings are supplied by S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch.  The table is based upon the lowest rating for each security.
 
(2)
Structured securities include asset-backed securities, collateral, lease and debt obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and residential mortgage-backed securities.






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Equity securities
Our equity securities consist of common stock and nonredeemable preferred stock.  Investment characteristics of common stock and non-redeemable preferred stock differ from one another.  Our nonredeemable preferred stock portfolio provides a source of current income that is competitive with investment-grade bonds.
 
The following table presents an analysis of the fair value of our preferred and common stock securities by sector for Indemnity and Exchange, respectively:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
Fair value at:
(in millions)
 
September 30, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
Industry sector
 
Preferred
stock
 
Common
stock
 
Preferred
stock
 
Common
stock
Indemnity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Communications
 
$
1

 
$
0

 
$
1

 
$
0

Diversified
 
0

 
0

 
3

 
0

Financial
 
7

 
0

 
16

 
0

Funds (1)
 
0

 
13

 
0

 
25

Utilities
 
4

 
0

 
5

 
0

Total – Indemnity
 
$
12

 
$
13

 
$
25

 
$
25

Exchange
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic materials
 
$
0

 
$
78

 
$
0

 
$
86

Communications
 
6

 
281

 
6

 
352

Consumer
 
16

 
947

 
6

 
968

Diversified
 
0

 
18

 
2

 
14

Energy
 
0

 
219

 
0

 
205

Financial
 
595

 
579

 
518

 
538

Funds (1)
 
0

 
436

 
0

 
479

Government
 
0

 
0

 
2

 
0

Industrial
 
0

 
443

 
0

 
457

Technology
 
1

 
260

 
0

 
240

Utilities
 
102

 
61

 
87

 
61

Total – Exchange
 
$
720

 
$
3,322

 
$
621

 
$
3,400

 
(1)
 Includes certain exchange traded funds with underlying holdings of fixed maturity securities totaling $13 million for Indemnity and $197 million for the Exchange at September 30, 2014, and $25 million for Indemnity and $198 million for the Exchange at December 31, 2013. These securities meet the criteria of a common stock under U.S. GAAP, and are included on the balance sheet as available-for-sale equity securities. Remaining common stock investments are classified as trading securities.
 
 
Equity securities classified as available-for-sale include preferred and certain common stock securities, and are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position with all changes in unrealized gains and losses reflected in other comprehensive income.  The unrealized gain on equity securities classified as available-for-sale, net of deferred taxes, for Indemnity was $0.6 million at September 30, 2014, compared to an unrealized loss of less than $0.1 million at December 31, 2013. The net unrealized gain on equity securities classified as available-for-sale for the Exchange was $41 million at September 30, 2014, compared to an unrealized gain of $26 million at December 31, 2013.
 
Our common stocks classified as trading securities are measured at fair value with all changes in unrealized gains and losses reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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Limited partnerships
In the third quarter of 2014, investments in limited partnerships decreased for Indemnity and were nearly unchanged for the Exchange from the investment levels at December 31, 2013.  Changes in partnership values are a function of contributions and distributions, adjusted for market value changes in the underlying investments. The decrease in limited partnership investments for Indemnity was due to net distributions received from the partnerships which were partially offset by partnership earnings.  Indemnity has made no new limited partnership commitments since 2006, and the balance of its limited partnership investments is expected to decline over time as additional distributions are received. The results from our limited partnerships are based upon financial statements received from our general partners, which are generally received on a quarter lag.  As a result, the market values and earnings recorded during the third quarter of 2014 reflect the partnership activity experienced in the second quarter of 2014.
 
The components of limited partnership investments are as follows:
 
 
 
Erie Insurance Group
(in millions)
 
At September 30, 2014
 
At December 31, 2013
Indemnity
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Private equity
 
$
55

 
$
62

Mezzanine debt
 
16

 
20

Real estate
 
63

 
64

Total limited partnerships – Indemnity
 
$
134

 
$
146

Exchange
 
 

 
 

Private equity
 
$
447

 
$
463

Mezzanine debt
 
167

 
172

Real estate
 
325

 
305

Total limited partnerships – Exchange
 
$
939

 
$
940


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Liabilities

Property and casualty losses and loss expense reserves
Loss reserves are established to account for the estimated ultimate costs of losses and loss expenses for claims that have been reported but not yet settled and claims that have been incurred but not reported.  While we exercise professional diligence to establish reserves at the end of each period that are fully reflective of the ultimate value of all claims incurred, these reserves are, by their nature, only estimates and cannot be established with absolute certainty.
 
The factors which may potentially cause the greatest variation between current reserve estimates and the actual future paid amounts include unforeseen changes in statutory or case law altering the amounts to be paid on existing claim obligations, new medical procedures and/or drugs with costs significantly different from those seen in the past, inflation, and claims patterns on current business that differ significantly from historical claims patterns.
 
Losses and loss expense reserves are presented on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position on a gross basis.  The following table represents the direct and assumed losses and loss expense reserves by major line of business for our property and casualty insurance operations.  The reinsurance recoverable amount represents the related ceded amounts which results in the net liability attributable to the Property and Casualty Group.
 
 
 
Property and Casualty Group
(in millions)
 
At September 30, 2014
 
At December 31, 2013
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
Gross reserve liability(1):
 
 

 
 

Personal auto
 
$
1,232

 
$
1,217

Automobile massive injury
 
334

 
345

Homeowners
 
327

 
271

Workers compensation
 
635

 
604

Workers compensation massive injury
 
86

 
94

Commercial auto
 
384

 
371

Commercial multi-peril
 
665

 
587

All other lines of business
 
181

 
170

Assumed reinsurance
 
89

 
88

Gross reserves
 
3,933

 
3,747

Less: reinsurance recoverable
 
146

 
156

Net reserve liability — Exchange
 
$
3,787

 
$
3,591

 
(1)  
Loss reserves are set at estimated ultimate costs, except for workers compensation loss reserves which have been discounted using an interest rate of 2.5%.  This discounting reduced unpaid losses and loss expenses by $87 million at September 30, 2014 and $85 million at December 31, 2013.

 
The reserves that have the greatest potential for variation are the massive injury lifetime medical claim reserves.  The Property and Casualty Group is currently reserving for 243 claimants requiring lifetime medical care, of which 95 involve massive injuries.  The reserve carried by the Property and Casualty Group for the massive injury claimants, which includes automobile massive injury and workers compensation massive injury reserves, totaled $280 million at September 30, 2014, which is net of $140 million of anticipated reinsurance recoverables, compared to $291 million at December 31, 2013, which is net of $148 million of anticipated reinsurance recoverables.
 
Life insurance reserves
EFL’s primary commitment is its obligation to pay future policy benefits under the terms of its life insurance and annuity contracts.  To meet these future obligations, EFL establishes life insurance reserves based upon the type of policy, the age, gender, and risk class of the insured, and the number of years the policy has been in force.  EFL also establishes annuity and universal life reserves based upon the amount of policyholder deposits (less applicable insurance and expense charges) plus interest earned on those deposits.  Life insurance and annuity reserves are supported primarily by EFL’s long-term, fixed income investments as the underlying policy reserves are generally also of a long-term nature.

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IMPACT OF INFLATION
 
Property and casualty insurance premiums are established before losses occur and before loss expenses are incurred, and therefore, before the extent to which inflation may impact such costs is known. Consequently, in establishing premium rates, we attempt to anticipate the potential impact of inflation, including medical cost inflation, construction and auto repair cost inflation and tort issues.  Medical costs are a broad element of inflation that impacts personal and commercial auto, general liability, workers compensation, and commercial multi-peril lines of insurance written by the Property and Casualty Group.  Inflation assumptions take the form of explicit numerical values in the survival ratio, individual claim, and massive injury lifetime medical reserving methods.  Inflation assumptions are implicitly derived through the selection of applicable loss development patterns for all other reserving methods.  Occasionally, unusual aberrations in loss development patterns are caused by external and internal factors such as changes in claim reporting, settlement patterns, unusually large losses, process changes, legal or regulatory changes, and other influences.  In these instances, analyses of alternate development factor selections are performed to evaluate the effect of these factors and actuarial judgment is applied to make appropriate assumptions needed to develop a best estimate of ultimate losses.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
Sources and Uses of Cash
Liquidity is a measure of a company’s ability to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the short- and long-term cash requirements of its business operations and growth needs.  Our liquidity requirements have been met primarily by funds generated from premiums collected and income from investments.  Our insurance operations provide liquidity in that premiums are collected in advance of paying losses under the policies purchased with those premiums.  Cash outflows for the property and casualty insurance business are generally variable since settlement dates for liabilities for unpaid losses and the potential for large losses, whether individual or in the aggregate, cannot be predicted with absolute certainty.  Accordingly, after satisfying our operating cash requirements, excess cash flows are used to build our investment operation’s portfolios in order to increase future investment income, which then may be used as a source of liquidity if cash from our insurance operations would not be sufficient to meet our obligations.  Cash provided from these sources is used primarily to fund losses and policyholder benefits, fund the costs of our management operations including commissions, salaries and wages, pension plans, share repurchases, dividends to shareholders, and the purchase and development of information technology.  We expect that our operating cash needs will be met by funds generated from operations.
 
Volatility in the financial markets presents challenges to us as we do occasionally access our investment portfolio as a source of cash.  Some of our fixed income investments, despite being publicly traded, are illiquid.  Volatility in these markets could impair our ability to sell certain of our fixed income securities or cause such securities to sell at deep discounts.  Additionally, our limited partnership investments are significantly less liquid.  We believe we have sufficient liquidity to meet our needs from other sources even if market volatility persists throughout 2014.
 
Cash flow activities — Erie Insurance Group
The following table provides condensed consolidated cash flow information for the nine months ended September 30:
 
(in millions)
 
Erie Insurance Group
 
 
2014
 
2013
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
549

 
$
689

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(533
)
 
(498
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(89
)
 
(56
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(73
)
 
$
135

 

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $549 million and $689 million for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Decreased cash from operating activities for the first nine months of 2014 was driven primarily by increases in losses paid and loss expenses paid, commissions and bonuses paid to agents, and other underwriting and acquisition costs, combined with a decrease in limited partnership distributions received. Somewhat offsetting this decrease in cash provided was an increase in premiums collected by the Exchange, driven by the increase in premiums written, and an increase in net investment income received, combined with a decrease in income taxes paid, compared to the first nine months of 2013.

At September 30, 2014, we recorded a net deferred tax asset of $2 million attributable to Indemnity and a net deferred tax liability of $465 million attributable to the Exchange.  There was no deferred tax valuation allowance recorded at

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September 30, 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, Indemnity received a tax refund of $1 million related to the 2006-2009 Internal Revenue Audit. Our capital gain and loss strategies take into consideration our ability to offset gains and losses in future periods, carry-back of capital loss opportunities to the three preceding years, and capital loss carry-forward opportunities to apply against future capital gains over the next five years.

Net cash used in investing activities totaled $533 million and $498 million for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively.  Investing activities in the first nine months of 2014 primarily included an increase in certain preferred stock purchases and limited partnership contributions, combined with decreased cash generated from fixed maturity, common stock and limited partnership sales and maturities, offset somewhat by a decrease in fixed maturity and common stock purchases combined with increased cash generated from preferred stock sales, compared to the first nine months of 2013.  At September 30, 2014, we had contractual commitments to invest up to $479 million related to our limited partnership investments to be funded as required by the partnerships’ agreements.  Of this amount, the total remaining commitment to fund limited partnerships that invest in private equity securities was $162 million, mezzanine debt securities was $203 million, and real estate activities was $114 million.
 
For a discussion of net cash used in financing activities, see the following section “Cash flow activities — Indemnity,” for the primary drivers of the financing cash flows related to the Indemnity shareholder interest.
 
Cash flow activities — Indemnity
The following table is a summary of cash flows for Indemnity for the nine months ended September 30:
 
(in millions)
 
Indemnity Shareholder Interest
 
 
2014
 
2013
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
111

 
$
132

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(6
)
 
(33
)
Net cash used in financing activities
 
(109
)
 
(78
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
(4
)
 
$
21

 
 
See Item 1. “Financial Statements - Note 15. Indemnity Supplemental Information,” contained within this report for more detail on Indemnity’s cash flows.
 
Net cash provided by Indemnity’s operating activities totaled $111 million for the first nine months of 2014, compared to $132 million for the first nine months of 2013.  Decreased cash from operating activities for the first nine months of 2014 was primarily due to increases in commissions and bonuses paid to agents, general operating expenses, and employee wage and benefit costs. Somewhat offsetting this decrease in cash was an increase in management fee revenue received compared to the first nine months of 2013. Management fee revenues were higher reflecting the increase in the premiums written or assumed by the Exchange.  Cash paid for agent commissions and bonuses increased to $576 million in the first nine months of 2014, compared to $521 million for the first nine months of 2013, as a result of an increase in cash paid for scheduled commissions and bonus awards.  Indemnity made a $15 million contribution to its pension plan in the first quarter of 2014 and an additional $8 million contribution during the third quarter of 2014, compared to $17 million in the first quarter of 2013.  Indemnity’s policy for funding its pension plan is generally to contribute an amount equal to the greater of the IRS minimum required contribution or the target normal cost for the year plus interest to the date the contribution is made.  Indemnity is generally reimbursed approximately 56% of the net periodic benefit cost of the pension plan from its affiliates, which represents pension benefits for Indemnity employees performing claims and EFL functions.
 
At September 30, 2014, Indemnity recorded a net deferred tax asset of $2 million.  There was no deferred tax valuation allowance recorded at September 30, 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, Indemnity received a tax refund of $1 million related to the 2006-2009 Internal Revenue Audit.
 
Net cash used in Indemnity’s investing activities totaled $6 million for the first nine months of 2014, compared to $33 million for the first nine months of 2013.  Indemnity’s first nine months of 2014 investing activities primarily included increased cash generated from the fixed maturity and equity security sales, somewhat offset by an increase in purchases of fixed maturities combined with decreased cash generated from fixed maturity calls, compared to the first nine months of 2013.  Also impacting Indemnity's future investing activities are limited partnership commitments, which totaled $25 million at September 30, 2014, and will be funded as required by the partnerships’ agreements.  Of this amount, the total remaining commitment to fund limited partnerships that invest in private equity securities was $11 million, mezzanine debt securities was $9 million, and real estate activities was $5 million.

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Net cash used in Indemnity’s financing activities totaled $109 million for the first nine months of 2014, compared to $78 million for the first nine months of 2013.  The increase in cash used in financing activities for the first nine months of 2014 was driven by an increase in the cash outlay for dividends paid to shareholders and share repurchases. Dividends paid to shareholders totaled $89 million for the first nine months of 2014, compared to $56 million dividends paid for the first nine months of 2013.  Normally, the regular quarterly dividend declared by the Board at its December meeting of the previous year is paid in January, as it was in 2014. In 2013 however, the payment of the regular dividend normally made in January was accelerated and paid in December 2012, due to the potential significant increases in tax rates on 2013 dividend income pending at the time of declaration. Additionally, Indemnity increased both its Class A and Class B shareholder quarterly dividends by 7.2% for 2014, compared to 2013.  There are no regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends to Indemnity’s shareholders.

Indemnity repurchased 1,217 shares of its Class A nonvoting common stock in conjunction with its stock repurchase program at a total cost of $0.1 million, based upon settlement date, in the third quarter of 2014.  During the first nine months of 2014, shares repurchased under this program totaled 276,390 at a total cost of $19.5 million. In the first nine months of 2013, shares repurchased under this program totaled 296,896 at a total cost of $21.5 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 includes, and is not in addition to, any unspent amounts remaining under the prior authorization.  Indemnity had approximately $18 million of repurchase authority remaining under this program at September 30, 2014, based upon trade date.
 
Additionally, in January 2014, we repurchased 2,800 shares of our outstanding Class A nonvoting common stock outside of our publicly announced share repurchase program at a total cost of $201,411, or $71.93 per share, for the vesting of stock-based awards for executive management. These shares were delivered to executive management in January 2014.

In May 2014, we repurchased 7,227 shares of our outstanding Class A nonvoting common stock outside of our publicly announced share repurchase program at a total cost of $552,503, or $76.45 per share, for the vesting of stock-based awards for a former outside director. These shares were delivered in May 2014.

In May and June 2014, we repurchased 54,371 shares of our outstanding Class A nonvoting common stock outside of our publicly announced share repurchase program at a total cost of $4,143,544, or $76.21 per share, for the vesting of stock-based awards in conjunction with our long-term incentive plan. These shares were delivered to plan participants in June 2014.

In January and June 2013, Indemnity purchased 444 and 3,033 shares, respectively, of our outstanding Class A nonvoting common stock outside of our publicly announced share repurchase program at a total cost of $30,927, or $69.65 per share, and $224,527 or $74.03 per share, to settle payments due to a retired executive under our long-term incentive plan. These shares were delivered to the plan participant in January and July 2013, respectively.
 
Capital Outlook
We regularly prepare forecasts evaluating the current and future cash requirements of Indemnity and the Exchange for both normal and extreme risk events.  Should an extreme risk event result in a cash requirement exceeding normal cash flows, we have the ability to meet our future funding requirements through various alternatives available to us.
 
Indemnity
Outside of Indemnity’s normal operating and investing cash activities, future funding requirements could be met through: 1) Indemnity’s cash and cash equivalents, which total approximately $45 million at September 30, 2014, 2) a $100 million bank revolving line of credit held by Indemnity, and 3) liquidation of assets held in Indemnity’s investment portfolio, including common stock, preferred stock, and investment grade bonds which totaled approximately $410 million at September 30, 2014.  Volatility in the financial markets could impair Indemnity’s ability to sell certain of its fixed income securities or cause such securities to sell at deep discounts.  Additionally, Indemnity has the ability to curtail or modify discretionary cash outlays such as those related to shareholder dividends and share repurchase activities.
 
As of September 30, 2014, Indemnity has access to a $100 million bank revolving line of credit with a $25 million letter of credit sublimit that expires on November 3, 2018. As of September 30, 2014, a total of $98.2 million remains available under the facility due to $1.8 million outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the availability for letters of credit to $23.2 million.  Indemnity had no borrowings outstanding on its line of credit as of September 30, 2014. Bonds with a fair value of $112 million were pledged as collateral on the line at September 30, 2014. These securities have no trading restrictions and are reported as available-for-sale fixed maturities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  The bank requires compliance with certain covenants, which include leverage ratios for Indemnity.  Indemnity was in compliance with its bank covenants at September 30, 2014.

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Exchange
Outside of the Exchange’s normal operating and investing cash activities, future funding requirements could be met through: 1) the Exchange’s cash and cash equivalents, which total approximately $334 million at September 30, 2014, 2) a $300 million bank revolving line of credit held by the Exchange, and 3) liquidation of assets held in the Exchange’s investment portfolio, including common stock, preferred stock, and investment grade bonds which totaled approximately $11.9 billion at September 30, 2014.  Volatility in the financial markets could impair the Exchange’s ability to sell certain of its fixed income securities or cause such securities to sell at deep discounts.
 
As of September 30, 2014, the Exchange has access to a $300 million bank revolving line of credit with a $25 million letter of credit sublimit that expires on October 25, 2018. As of September 30, 2014, a total of $298.9 million remains available under the facility due to $1.1 million outstanding letters of credit, which reduce the availability for letters of credit to $23.9 million.  The Exchange had no borrowings outstanding on its line of credit as of September 30, 2014.  Bonds with a fair value of $329 million were pledged as collateral on the line at September 30, 2014. These securities have no trading restrictions and are reported as available-for-sale fixed maturities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.  The bank requires compliance with certain covenants, which include statutory surplus and risk based capital ratios for the Exchange.  The Exchange was in compliance with its bank covenants at September 30, 2014.
 
Indemnity has no rights to the assets, capital, or line of credit of the Exchange and, conversely, the Exchange has no rights to the assets, capital, or line of credit of Indemnity.  We believe we have the funding sources available to us to support our cash flow requirements in 2014

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Off-balance sheet arrangements include those with unconsolidated entities that may have a material current or future effect on our financial condition or results of operations, including material variable interests in unconsolidated entities that conduct certain activities.  We have no material off-balance sheet obligations or guarantees, other than limited partnership investment commitments. 

Surplus Notes
Indemnity holds a surplus note for $25 million from EFL that is payable on demand on or after December 31, 2018; however, no principal or interest payments may be made without prior approval of the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner.  Interest payments are scheduled to be paid semi-annually.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, Indemnity recognized interest income on the note of $1.3 million.
 
The Exchange holds a surplus note for $20 million from EFL that is payable on demand on or after December 31, 2025; however, no principal or interest payments may be made without prior approval of the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner.  Interest payments are scheduled to be paid semi-annually.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the Exchange recognized interest income on the note of $0.9 million.
 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
We make estimates and assumptions that have a significant effect on the amounts and disclosures reported in the financial statements.  The most significant estimates relate to the property and casualty insurance losses and loss expense reserves, life insurance and annuity policy reserves, investment valuation, deferred acquisition costs related to life insurance and investment-type contracts, deferred taxes, and retirement benefit plans for employees.  While management believes its estimates are appropriate, the ultimate amounts may differ from estimates provided.  Our most critical accounting estimates are described in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” for the year ended December 31, 2013 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.  See Item 1. “Financial Statements - Note 6. Fair Value,” contained within this report for additional information on our valuation of investments.
 


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ITEM 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Our exposure to market risk is primarily related to fluctuations in prices and interest rates.  Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk resulting from changes in prices, interest rates, and other risk exposures for the year ended December 31, 2013 are included in Item 7A. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.

There have been no material changes that impact our portfolio or reshape our periodic investment reviews of asset allocations during the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  For a recent discussion of conditions surrounding our investment portfolio, see the “Operating Overview,” “Investment Operations,” and “Financial Condition, Investments” discussions contained in Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contained within this report.


ITEM 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
We carried out an evaluation, with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
 
Our management evaluated, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, any change in our internal control over financial reporting and determined there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the nine months ended September 30, 2014 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

State Court Lawsuit Against Erie Indemnity Company
Erie Indemnity Company (“Indemnity”) was named as a defendant in a complaint filed on August 1, 2012 by alleged subscribers of the Erie Insurance Exchange (the “Exchange”) in the Court of Common Pleas Civil Division of Fayette County, Pennsylvania captioned Erie Insurance Exchange, an unincorporated association, by Joseph S. Sullivan and Anita Sullivan, Patricia R. Beltz, and Jenna L. DeBord, trustees ad litem v. Erie Indemnity Co. (the “Sullivan” lawsuit).
As subsequently amended, the complaint alleges that, beginning on September 1, 1997, Indemnity retained “Service Charges” (installment fees) and “Added Service Charges” (late fees and policy reinstatement charges) on policies written by the Exchange and its insurance subsidiaries, which allegedly should have been paid to the Exchange, in the amount of approximately $308 million. In addition to their claim for monetary relief on behalf of the Exchange, the plaintiffs seek an accounting of all so-called intercompany transactions between Indemnity and the Exchange from 1996 to date. Plaintiffs allege that Indemnity breached its contractual, fiduciary, and equitable duties by retaining Service Charges and Added Service Charges that should have been retained by the Exchange. Plaintiffs bring these same claims under three separate derivative-type theories. First, plaintiffs purport to bring suit as members of the Exchange on behalf of the Exchange. Second, plaintiffs purport to bring suit as trustees ad litem on behalf of the Exchange. Third, plaintiffs purport to bring suit on behalf of the Exchange pursuant to Rule 1506 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure, which allows shareholders to bring suit derivatively on behalf of a corporation or similar entity.
Indemnity filed a motion in the state court in November 2012 seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. On December 19, 2013, the court granted Indemnity’s motion in part, holding that the Pennsylvania Insurance Holding Company Act “provides the [Pennsylvania Insurance] Department with special competence to address the subject matter of plaintiff’s claims” and referring “all issues” in the Sullivan lawsuit to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (the “Department”) for “its views and any determination.” The court stayed all further proceedings and reserved decision on all other grounds for dismissal raised by Indemnity. Plaintiffs sought reconsideration of the court’s order, and on January 13, 2014, the court entered a revised order affirming its prior order and clarifying that the Department “shall decide any and all issues within its jurisdiction.” On January 30, 2014, Plaintiffs asked the court to certify its order to permit an immediate appeal to the Superior Court and to stay any proceedings in the Department pending completion of any appeal. On February 18, 2014, the court issued an order denying Plaintiffs’ motion. On March 20, 2014, Plaintiffs filed a petition for review with the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Indemnity filed an answer to the petition on April 3, 2014. On May 5, 2014, the Superior Court denied Plaintiffs’ petition for review.
The Sullivan matter is currently proceeding before the Department and has been assigned to an Administrative Judge for determination. The parties agreed that an evidentiary hearing was not required and they entered into a stipulated record. The record in the Department is now closed and the Administrative Judge has entered a scheduling order requiring briefing to be completed by December 19, 2014. Oral argument before the Administrative Judge is scheduled for January 6, 2015.
Indemnity believes that it has meritorious legal and factual defenses and intends to vigorously defend against all allegations and requests for relief.
Federal Court Lawsuit Against Directors
On February 6, 2013, a lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, captioned Erie Insurance Exchange, an unincorporated association, by members Patricia R. Beltz, Joseph S. Sullivan and Anita Sullivan, and Patricia R. Beltz, on behalf of herself and others similarly situate v. Richard L. Stover; J. Ralph Borneman, Jr; Terrence W. Cavanaugh; Jonathan Hirt Hagen; Susan Hirt Hagen; Thomas B. Hagen; C. Scott Hartz; Claude C. Lilly, III; Lucian L. Morrison; Thomas W. Palmer; Martin P. Sheffield; Elizabeth H. Vorsheck; and Robert C. Wilburn (the “Beltz” lawsuit), by alleged policyholders of the Exchange who are also the plaintiffs in the Sullivan lawsuit. The individuals named as defendants in the Beltz lawsuit were the then-current Directors of Indemnity.
As subsequently amended, the Beltz lawsuit asserts many of the same allegations and claims for monetary relief as in the Sullivan lawsuit. Plaintiffs purport to sue on behalf of all policyholders of the Exchange, or, alternatively, on behalf of the Exchange itself. Indemnity filed a motion to intervene as a Party Defendant in the Beltz lawsuit in July 2013, and the Directors filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in August 2013. On February 10, 2014, the court entered an order granting Indemnity’s motion to intervene and permitting Indemnity to join the Directors’ motion to dismiss; granting in part the Directors’ motion to dismiss; referring the matter to the Department to decide any and all issues within its jurisdiction; denying all other relief sought in the Directors’ motion as moot; and dismissing the case without prejudice. To avoid duplicative proceedings and

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expedite the Department’s review, the Parties have stipulated that only the Sullivan action will proceed before the Department and any final and non-appealable determinations made by the Department in the Sullivan action will be applied to the Beltz action. On March 7, 2014, Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Indemnity filed a motion to dismiss the appeal on April 3, 2014. The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has not yet rendered a decision on either Plaintiffs’ appeal or Indemnity’s motion to dismiss the appeal.
Indemnity believes that it has meritorious legal and factual defenses and intends to vigorously defend against all allegations and requests for relief in the Beltz lawsuit. The Directors have also advised Indemnity that they intend to vigorously defend against the claims in the Beltz lawsuit and have sought indemnification and advancement of expenses from the Company in connection with the Beltz lawsuit.

ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
 
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2014.


ITEM 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table summarizes Indemnity’s Class A common stock repurchased each month, based upon trade date, during the quarter ended September 30, 2014:
 
(dollars in millions, except per
 share data)
                                           Period 
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
 
Average
Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Program
 
Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet be Purchased Under the Program
July 1 – 31, 2014
 
0

 
$
0.00

 
0

 
$18
August 1 – 31, 2014
 
0

 
0.00

 
0

 
18
September 1 – 30, 2014
 
0

 
0.00

 
0

 
18
Total
 
0

 
 
 
0

 
 
 
 
In October 2011, our Board of Directors approved a continuation of the current stock repurchase program, authorizing repurchases 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.






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ITEM 6.
EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit
 
 
Number
 
Description of Exhibit
 
 
 
31.1
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
31.2
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
32
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document.
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
Erie Indemnity Company
 
 
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:
October 30, 2014
By:
/s/ Terrence W. Cavanaugh
 
 
 
 
Terrence W. Cavanaugh, President & CEO
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Marcia A. Dall
 
 
 
 
Marcia A. Dall, Executive Vice President & CFO
 

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