ERIE INDEMNITY CO
10-Q, 1998-11-13
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
Previous: KENMAR PERFORMANCE PARTNERS LP, 10-Q, 1998-11-13
Next: TENERE GROUP INC, NT 10-Q, 1998-11-13









                                 FORM 10-Q

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington, D.C.  20549

             QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                   THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For quarter ended September 30, 1998

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 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 periods
         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  the  number of  shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's
         classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date.

                  Class    A Common Stock, no par value,  with a stated value of
                           $.0292 per  share--  67,032,000  shares as of October
                           31, 1998.

                  Class    B Common Stock, no par value,  with a stated value of
                           $70.00 per  share--  3,070  shares as of October  31,
                           1998.

         The common stock is the only class of stock the Registrant is presently
authorized to issue.


<PAGE>


                                                           INDEX

                                                  ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.           Financial Statements (Unaudited)

         Consolidated Statements of Financial Position--September 30, 1998      
         and December 31, 1997

         Consolidated Statements of Operations--Three and nine months ended 
         September 30, 1998 and 1997

         Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income--Three and nine months
         ended September 30, 1998 and 1997

         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows--Nine months ended
         September 30, 1998 and 1997

         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements--September 30, 1998

Item 2.           Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
                  Condition and Results of Operations


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings
Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


SIGNATURES

                                       2
<PAGE>


PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                                   ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                           September 30,               December 31,
                  ASSETS                                                       1998                        1997
                                                                       -------------------         -----------------
                                                                          (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                    <C>                         <C>    
INVESTMENTS
   Fixed Maturities Available-for-Sale at fair value
     (amortized cost of $375,840,267 and
     $333,135,959, respectively)                                       $       396,336,782         $     349,972,703
   Equity Securities (cost of $179,827,248 and
     $144,123,112, respectively)                                               193,319,712               165,132,504
   Real Estate Mortgage Loans                                                    8,300,585                 8,392,518
   Other Invested Assets                                                        14,743,278                 7,932,571
                                                                       -------------------         -----------------

        Total Investments                                              $       612,700,357         $     531,430,296

   Cash and Cash Equivalents                                                    54,029,787                53,148,495
   Equity in Erie Family Life
     Insurance Company                                                          36,831,896                34,687,640
   Accrued Investment Income                                                     8,047,596                 6,128,725
   Premiums Receivable from Policyholders                                      115,966,607               108,057,986
   Prepaid Federal Income Tax                                                            0                 1,681,573
   Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs                                            11,224,416                10,283,372
   Receivables from Erie Insurance Exchange
     and Affiliates                                                            527,365,776               495,861,158
   Note Receivable from Erie Family
     Life Insurance Company                                                     15,000,000                15,000,000
   Property and Equipment                                                       11,381,458                10,130,230
   Other Assets                                                                 33,142,382                26,134,306
                                                                       -------------------         -----------------

        Total Assets                                                   $     1,425,690,275         $   1,292,543,781
                                                                       ===================         =================
</TABLE>

                                       3 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


<PAGE>


                                   ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                         September 30,                December 31,
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                          1998                       1997
                                                                       -------------------         -----------------
                                                                           (Unaudited)
<S>                                                                    <C>                         <C>   
LIABILITIES
   Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses                          $       432,947,191         $      413,408,941
   Unearned Premiums                                                           239,276,780                219,210,522
   Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses                                        13,898,948                  9,785,773
   Accrued Commissions                                                          87,054,569                 81,150,931
   Accrued Vacation and Sick Pay                                                 4,692,813                  5,322,327
   Deferred Compensation                                                         2,395,223                  1,933,020
   Dividends Payable                                                             7,255,444                  7,255,444
   Deferred Income Taxes                                                         7,950,658                  7,101,371
   Federal Income Tax Payable                                                    2,285,355                          0
   Accrued Benefit Obligations                                                  10,520,421                  7,992,300
                                                                       -------------------         ------------------

          Total Liabilities                                            $       808,277,402         $      753,160,629
                                                                       -------------------         ------------------

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
   Capital Stock
     Class A Common, stated value $.0292
       per share; authorized 74,996,930 shares;
       issued and outstanding 67,032,000 shares                        $         1,955,100         $        1,955,100
     Class B Common, stated value $70.00
       per share; authorized 3,070 shares;
       issued and outstanding 3,070 shares                                         214,900                    214,900
   Additional Paid-In Capital                                                    7,830,000                  7,830,000
   Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
     net of deferred taxes of $14,320,365 and
     $15,626,105, respectively                                                  25,954,553                 29,024,573
   Retained Earnings                                                           581,458,320                500,358,579
                                                                       -------------------         ------------------

          Total Shareholders' Equity                                   $       617,412,873         $      539,383,152
                                                                       -------------------         ------------------

          Total Liabilities and
          Shareholders' Equity                                         $     1,425,690,275         $    1,292,543,781
                                                                       ===================         ==================
</TABLE>

                                       4       

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


<PAGE>


                                   ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                             Three Months Ended                        Nine Months Ended
                                                                September 30                               September 30
                                                          -------------------------------------  -----------------------------------
MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS:                                             1998               1997              1998                 1997
<S>                                                       <C>                <C>                 <C>                 <C>  

  Management Fee Revenue                                  $     129,046,712  $      122,875,909  $      376,555,339  $   360,124,010
  Service Agreement Revenue                                       3,944,646           1,830,528           9,886,891        4,158,813
  Other Operating Revenue                                           369,086             352,841           1,116,876        1,414,073
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Total Revenue from Management Operations                    133,360,444         125,059,278         387,559,106      365,696,896

  Cost of Management Operations                                  93,313,277          88,518,472         274,686,379      262,039,214
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Net Revenue From
      Management Operations                               $      40,047,167  $       36,540,806  $      112,872,727  $   103,657,682
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

INSURANCE UNDERWRITING OPERATIONS:

  Premiums Earned                                         $      28,387,446  $       27,099,189  $       83,995,073  $    79,838,028

  Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses Incurred                   19,653,955          19,790,114          58,604,908       59,015,371
  Policy Acquisition and Other Underwriting
    Expenses                                                      8,830,200           7,608,033          24,366,116       21,952,443
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Total Losses and Expenses                                    28,484,155          27,398,147          82,971,024       80,967,814
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Underwriting (Loss) Gain                              $         (96,709) $         (298,958) $        1,024,049  $   (1,129,786)
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

INVESTMENT OPERATIONS:

  Equity in Earnings of Erie Family
    Life Insurance Company                                $         792,289  $        1,195,419  $        3,401,333  $     3,145,218
  Net Investment Income                                           9,824,865           8,348,099          27,900,142       23,675,896
  Realized Gain on Investments                                    1,230,011           2,205,947           5,416,377        4,703,031
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Revenue from Investment Operations                           11,847,165          11,749,465          36,717,852       31,524,145
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Income Before Income Taxes                                   51,797,623          47,991,313         150,614,628      134,052,041

  Provision for Income Taxes                                     16,101,086          15,863,037          47,748,551       43,269,202
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------

    Net Income                                            $      35,696,537  $       32,128,276  $      102,866,077  $    90,782,839
                                                          =================  ==================  ==================  ===============

    Net Income per Share                                  $            0.48  $             0.43  $             1.38  $          1.22
                                                          =================  ==================  ==================  ===============

  Dividends Declared per Share:

    Class A non-voting Common                             $          0.1075  $            0.095  $           0.3225  $         0.285
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------
    Class B Common                                        $          16.125  $            14.25  $           48.375  $         42.75
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  ---------------
</TABLE>

                                       5

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


<PAGE>


                                   ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                    Three Months Ended                  Nine Months Ended
                                                                       September 30                       September 30
                                                          -------------------------------------  -----------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>                <C>                 <C>                 <C>  
   
                                                                   1998                1997                1998            1997

Net Income                                                $      35,696,537  $       32,128,276  $      102,866,077  $   90,782,839
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  --------------
  Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities:
    Unrealized Holding (Losses) Gains Arising
      During Period                                             (16,780,584)         16,174,344             693,271      26,200,086
    Less:  Reclassification Adjustment for
      Gains Included in Net Income                                1,230,011           2,205,947           5,416,377       4,703,031
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  --------------
      Net Unrealized Holding (Losses) Gains
        Arising During Period                             $     (18,010,595) $       13,968,397  $       (4,723,106) $   21,497,055
  Income Tax Benefit (Expense) Related to
    Unrealized Gains or Losses                                    6,303,708          (4,888,939)          1,653,087      (7,523,969)
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  --------------
  Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income, Net of Tax           $     (11,706,887) $        9,079,458  $       (3,070,019) $   13,973,086
                                                          -----------------  ------------------  ------------------  --------------
  Comprehensive Income                                    $      23,989,650  $       41,207,734  $       99,796,058  $  104,755,925
                                                          =================  ==================  ==================  ==============
</TABLE>

                                       6 


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


<PAGE>


                                   ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                        Nine Months Ended           Nine Months Ended
                                                                        September 30, 1998          September 30, 1997
                                                                        ------------------          ------------------
<S>                                                                     <C>                         <C>    
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
   Net income                                                           $      102,866,077          $       90,782,839
   Adjustment to reconcile net income
     to net cash provided by (used in)
     operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization                                               1,512,252                   1,366,444
     Deferred income tax expense                                                 1,973,432                   1,099,882
     Realized gain on investments                                               (5,416,377)                 (4,703,031)
     Amortization of bond discount                                                (100,054)                   (103,771)
     Undistributed earnings of Erie Family Life                                 (2,481,579)                 (2,317,438)
     Deferred compensation                                                         462,203                     203,960
   Increase in accrued investment income                                        (1,918,871)                 (1,155,486)
   Increase in receivables                                                     (39,159,997)                (40,286,641)
   Policy acquisition costs deferred                                           (16,843,061)                (16,010,661)
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                            15,902,016                  14,943,583
   Increase in prepaid expenses and
     other assets                                                               (6,880,040)                 (6,299,488)
   Increase in accounts payable and
     accrued expenses                                                            6,011,782                   1,384,177
   Increase in accrued commissions                                               5,903,638                   8,119,998
   Increase in income taxes payable                                              3,966,928                   3,895,709
   Increase in loss reserves                                                    19,538,250                  23,861,937
   Increase in unearned premiums                                                20,066,258                  13,036,317
                                                                        ------------------           -----------------
       Net cash provided by operating
         activities                                                     $      105,402,857           $      87,818,330

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   Purchase of investments:
     Fixed maturities                                                          (68,532,043)                (50,847,456)
     Equity securities                                                         (63,385,866)                (47,168,709)
     Mortgage loans                                                                      0                  (1,183,667)
     Other invested assets                                                      (9,847,958)                   (860,241)
   Sales/maturities of investments                       
     Fixed maturities                                                           26,707,619                  27,946,620
     Equity securities                                                          32,267,890                  39,449,450
     Mortgage loans                                                                 92,124                      94,319
     Other invested assets                                                       3,087,762                     290,538
   Purchase of property and equipment                                             (340,834)                    (34,469)
   Purchase of computer software                                                (2,422,645)                 (1,265,422)
   Loans to Agents                                                              (1,452,913)                 (1,043,025)
   Collections on Agent loans                                                    1,071,634                     902,497
                                                                        ------------------           -----------------
       Net cash used in investing activities                            $      (82,755,230)          $     (33,719,565)

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
   Dividends paid to shareholders                                       $      (21,766,335)          $     (19,235,364)
                                                                        ------------------           ------------------
       Net cash used in financing activities                            $      (21,766,335)          $     (19,235,364)
                                                                        ------------------           ------------------
   Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                       881,292                  34,863,401
   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                             53,148,495                  18,719,624
                                                                        ------------------           -----------------
   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                           $       54,029,787           $      53,583,025
                                                                        ==================           =================
</TABLE>

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the nine months  ended  September  30, 1998 and 1997 for income
taxes was $45,016,115 and $39,920,994 respectively.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

                                       7    

<PAGE>


                                   ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

                       NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

NOTE A -- BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements,  which include the
accounts of the Erie Indemnity  Company and its' wholly owned  subsidiaries Erie
Insurance  Company,  Erie  Insurance  Company  of New York  and  Erie  Insurance
Property & Casualty  Company,  have been prepared in accordance  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles for interim financial  information and with the
instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do
not include all of the information and footnotes  required by generally accepted
accounting  principles  for  complete  financial  statements.  In the opinion of
management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered
necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  Operating results for the
nine-month period ended September 30, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for the year ending  December 31, 1998. For further
information,  refer  to the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  footnotes
thereto  included in the  Company's  Form 10-K for the year ended  December  31,
1997.


NOTE B --  RECLASSIFICATIONS

Certain  amounts as previously  reported in the 1997 financial  statements  have
been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation.


NOTE C -- EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings  per share is based on the  weighted  average  number of Class A shares
outstanding  (67,032,000 as retroactively  stated in 1997), giving effect to the
conversion of the weighted average number of Class B shares  outstanding  (3,070
in 1998 and 1997) at a rate of 2,400 Class A shares for one Class B share as set
out in the  Articles  of  Incorporation.  Equivalent  shares  outstanding  total
74,400,000.


NOTE D -- INVESTMENTS

Management  considers all fixed  maturities  and  marketable  equity  securities
available-for-sale. Marketable equity securities consist primarily of common and
nonredeemable  preferred  stocks  while  fixed  maturities  consist of bonds and
notes.  Available-for-sale  securities  are  stated  at  fair  value,  with  the
unrealized  gains and losses,  net of tax,  reported as a separate  component of
shareholders' equity.  Management  determines the appropriate  classification of
fixed  maturities at the time of purchase and reevaluates such designation as of
each statement of financial position date.

                                       8

<PAGE>


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (Continued)

The following is a summary of available-for-sale securities:

                                   Available-for-Sale Securities
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Gross               Gross
                                                   Amortized           Unrealized          Unrealized           Fair
(In Thousands)                                       Cost                Gains               Losses             Value
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>                  <C>               <C>    
September 30, 1998
U.S. Treasuries & Agencies                      $      13,018        $        838         $           0     $      13,856
States & Political Subdivisions                        41,662               3,380                     0            45,042
Special Revenue                                       123,951               7,975                     0           131,926
Public Utilities                                       12,353                 335                     0            12,688
Industrial & Miscellaneous                            177,706               9,007                   640           186,073
Foreign Governments                                     1,990                   0                   464             1,526
Foreign Industrial & Miscellaneous                      5,160                 168                   102             5,226
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------
   Total Fixed Maturities                       $     375,840        $     21,703         $       1,206     $     396,337
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------

Common Stock                                    $      69,239        $     23,508         $      13,712     $      79,035
Preferred Stock                                       110,588               5,090                 1,393           114,285
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------
   Total Equity Securities                      $     179,827        $     28,598         $      15,105     $     193,320
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------
                                                $     555,667        $     50,301         $      16,311     $     589,657
                                                =============        ============         =============     =============
</TABLE>


                                   Available-for-Sale Securities
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         Gross                Gross
                                                   Amortized           Unrealized           Unrealized           Fair
(In Thousands)                                       Cost                Gains                Losses             Value
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>                  <C>               <C>    
 
December 31, 1997
U.S. Treasuries & Agencies                      $      12,771        $        432         $           3     $      13,200
States & Political Subdivisions                        41,931               2,840                     0            44,771
Special Revenue                                       116,052               7,850                     1           123,901
Public Utilities                                        7,171                 160                     0             7,331
U.S. Industrial & Miscellaneous                       150,666               6,317                   401           156,582
Foreign Governments                                     1,989                   0                   418             1,571
Foreign Industrial & Miscellaneous                      2,556                  61                     0             2,617
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------
  Total Fixed Maturities                        $     333,136        $     17,660         $         823     $     349,973
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------

Common Stock                                    $      64,762        $     23,082         $       7,674     $      80,170
Preferred Stock                                        79,361               5,603                     1            84,963
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------
   Total Equity Securities                      $     144,123        $     28,685         $       7,675     $     165,133
                                                -------------        ------------         -------------     -------------
                                                $     477,259        $     46,345         $       8,498     $     515,106
                                                =============        ============         =============     =============
</TABLE>

                                       9 

<PAGE>


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (Continued)

Mortgage  loans on real estate are  recorded at unpaid  balances,  adjusted  for
amortization  of premium or  discount.  A valuation  allowance  is provided  for
impairment in net realizable value based on periodic  valuations.  The change in
the  allowance is reflected on the income  statement in realized  gain (loss) on
investments.

Other   invested   assets   (primarily   investments   in  real  estate  limited
partnerships) are recorded under the equity method of accounting. 


NOTE E -- SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION OF AFFILIATE

The Company has a 21.63%  investment in Erie Family Life Insurance Company (EFL)
and  accounts  for this  investment  using  the  equity  method.  The  following
represents summarized financial statement information for EFL:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Nine Months Ended            Nine Months Ended
                                                                             September 30, 1998           September 30, 1997
                                                                             ------------------           ------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                          <C>   
                                                                            
Revenues                                                                     $       70,773,994           $       67,366,531
Benefits and expenses                                                                46,230,129                   44,725,322
                                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Income before income taxes                                                           24,543,865                   22,641,209
Income taxes                                                                          8,818,793                    8,100,211
                                                                             ------------------           ------------------
Net income                                                                   $       15,725,072           $       14,540,998
                                                                             ==================           ==================

Dividends paid to shareholders                                               $        4,110,752           $        3,732,756
                                                                             ==================           ==================

Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on
  investment securities at September 30, net of
  deferred taxes                                                             $       18,876,966           $       17,662,865
                                                                             ==================           ==================
</TABLE>


NOTE F -- NOTE RECEIVABLE FROM ERIE FAMILY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

On December  29,  1995,  EFL issued a surplus  note to the Company in return for
cash of $15  million.  The note bears an annual  interest  rate of 6.45% and all
payments  of  interest  and  principal  of the  note may be  repaid  only out of
unassigned  surplus of EFL and are subject to prior approval of the Pennsylvania
Insurance  Commissioner.  Interest on the surplus  note is  scheduled to be paid
semi-annually. The note will be payable on demand on or after December 31, 2005.


                                       10


<PAGE>


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following  discussion and analysis  should be read in  conjunction  with the
financial  statements  and related notes found on pages 3 through 10, since they
contain  important  information  that is helpful  in  evaluating  the  Company's
operating results and financial condition.


OPERATING RESULTS

Financial Overview

Consolidated  net  income  increased  by 11.1% for the third  quarter of 1998 to
$35,696,537,  or $.48 per share,  from  $32,128,276  or $.43 per share,  for the
third  quarter  of  1997.  The  improved  management   operations  were  largely
responsible for the increase in net income for the quarter.

For the nine months ended  September  30, 1998,  net income  increased  13.3% to
$102,866,077  or $1.38 per share,  from  $90,782,839 or $1.22 per share reported
for the same  period  in 1997.  Management  operations  improved  as  growth  in
management  fee revenue  outpaced the cost of management  operations.  Insurance
underwriting operations improved in the first nine months of 1998 as a result of
generally favorable underwriting trends and claims and underwriting  initiatives
recently begun. Revenue from investment operations grew 16.5% to $36,717,852 for
the  nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998 as the  Company's  cash  flow was
invested.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Analysis of Management Operations

Management fee revenue  derived from the  management  operations of the Company,
which serves as attorney-in-fact for the Erie Insurance Exchange (the Exchange),
increased  5.0% to  $129,046,712  for the three months ended  September 30, 1998
from $122,875,909 for the three months ended September 30, 1997.  Management fee
revenue increased 4.6% to $376,555,339 in the first nine months of 1998 compared
to $360,124,010 for the same period in 1997.

The  direct  and  affiliated  assumed  premiums  of  the  Exchange,  upon  which
management fee is based, grew by 3.9% for the third quarter of 1998 compared to
the third  quarter of 1997.  The rate of growth in  management  fee  revenue was
greater than the rate of growth in direct and affiliated  assumed premium of the
Exchange  because the  management  fee rate  charged  the  Exchange in the third
quarter  of 1998 was  24.25%  compared  to a rate of 24%  charged  in the  third
quarter of 1997.  The  Company's  Board of Directors has the authority to change
the management fee rate at its discretion,  but cannot exceed a rate of 25%. The
personal lines automobile market continues to be extremely  competitive and rate
pressures have increased in many of the Exchange's  operating  territories.  The
Exchange's  overall  premium  growth was also  negatively  influenced  by a rate
reduction  in  Pennsylvania  workers  compensation  resulting  from  legislative
reforms and competitive pressures in workers compensation  insurance in general.
The Exchange's involuntary automobile premiums have also decreased over the last
year as a result of fewer assignments from the Pennsylvania  assigned risk plan.
Involuntary automobile business is written on substandard risks and historically
has  produced   underwriting   results  much  worse  than  the  preferred  risks
voluntarily written by the Exchange. When the effect of the workers compensation
premium decrease and involuntary automobile insurance premium decrease are
excluded, the direct and affiliated assumed premiums of the Exchange increased
5.1% for the three months ended September 30,1998 when compared to the same
period in 1997.

On July 31, 1998 the Erie Insurance  Group filed to lower its private  passenger
auto insurance rates in Pennsylvania  beginning  January 1, 1999. This reduction
was  sought  as a result  of  favorable  loss  experience  in  Pennsylvania.  On
October 27, 1998,  the Pennsylvania  Insurance  Department  approved this 
filing.  The overall effect of this filing is an estimated $53.2 million 
reduction in premium in 1999.  This rate decrease  will

                                       11
<PAGE>

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
         AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

reduce the  Company's  net revenue from  management  operations  by about
$7 million in 1999, assuming no change in the current management fee rate.

Service  agreement  revenue  totaled  $3,944,646  and $1,830,528 for the quarter
ended September 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Beginning September 1, 1997 the
Company  was  reimbursed  by the  Exchange  for a  portion  of  service  charges
collected by the property/casualty  insurers of the Group from Policyholders for
the costs  incurred  by the  Company  in  providing  extended  payment  terms on
policies written by them. These reimbursements  totaled $2,145,313 for the three
months ended  September 30, 1998 compared to $461,199  during the same period in
1997.

The cost of management  operations  increased 5.4% for the third quarter of 1998
to $93,313,277 from $88,518,472 during the third quarter of 1997.

Commissions are the largest component of the cost of management operations.  The
Company is responsible for the payment of commissions to the independent  Agents
who sell insurance products for the Company's subsidiaries and the Exchange, and
its subsidiary,  Flagship City Insurance Company. The Agents receive commissions
based on fixed  percentage  fee schedules  with  different  commission  rates by
product line of insurance.  Also included in commission expense are the costs of
promotional   incentives  for  Agents  and  Agent  contingency   awards.   Agent
contingency  awards  are  based  upon  the  underwriting  profitability  of  the
insurance  written and serviced by the Agent within the Erie Insurance  Group of
companies.

Commission  costs  totaled  $64,704,256  for the third  quarter of 1998,  a 6.8%
increase over the $60,560,557 reported in the third quarter of 1997.  Commission
costs grew faster than the rate of growth in written  premiums  due to increased
provisions  for  agent  contingency  awards resulting from the improved
underwriting results experienced in 1998 and agent promotional incentives. The 
growth in premiums  written on a quarterly and  year-to-date  basis were 3.9%
and 3.5%,respectively.

The cost of management operations excluding commission costs, increased 2.3% for
the three  months  ended  September  30, 1998 to  $28,609,021  from  $27,957,915
recorded in the third quarter of 1997 as  productivity  improvements  and modest
growth in operating costs continued.

Personnel costs,  including salaries,  employee benefits, and payroll taxes, are
the second  largest  component in cost of  operations,  after  commissions.  The
Company's  personnel costs totaled  $16,635,552 for the three month period ended
September  30,  1998,  compared to  $17,173,201  for the same period in 1997,  a
decrease  of  3.1%.  The  1998  decline  is  the  result  of  increased  expense
reimbursements  from the Exchange.  As  attorney-in-fact  for the Exchange,  the
Company pays almost all expenses of the Group and  allocates  those costs to the
respective  Company   responsible  for  them  in  accordance  with  intercompany
agreements.  Increased reimbursements in 1998 to the Company for personnel costs
of the loss  adjustment  function was the result of an increased  percentage  of
loss adjustment personnel to total personnel.  The increased percentage resulted
in a larger  share of staff  department  overhead  being  allocated  to the loss
adjustment function resulting in higher reimbursements to the Company.

Net  revenue  from  the  Company's  management   operations  increased  9.6%  to
$40,047,167 for the three months ended  September 30, 1998 from  $36,540,806 for
the same  period in 1997.  For the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998 net
revenue from management  operations  totaled  $112,872,727,  an increase of 8.9%
when compared to the first nine months of 1997.

Analysis of Insurance Underwriting Operations

Insurance  underwriting  results are produced  from the  Company's  property and
casualty  insurance  subsidiaries,  Erie  Insurance  Company and Erie  Insurance
Company of New York,  which  together  assume a 5.5%  share of the  underwriting
results of the Erie Insurance  Group under an intercompany  reinsurance  pooling
arrangement.  Insurance underwriting operations improved to a loss of $96,709 in
the third quarter of

                                       12
<PAGE>

 ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
          RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

1998  compared to a loss of $298,958 in the third  quarter of 1997. In the third
quarter of 1998,  premiums  earned  increased  4.8% to  $28,387,446  compared to
$27,099,189 for the same period in 1997.  Losses,  loss adjustment  expenses and
other  underwriting  expenses incurred  increased at a slower rate than premiums
earned, up 4.0% for the third quarter of 1998 amounting to $28,484,155  compared
to  $27,398,147  for the prior  year's third  quarter.  Claims and  underwriting
initiatives  recently enacted by the Company  combined with generally  favorable
underwriting trends,  contributed positively to the underwriting results for the
first three quarters of 1998.  For the nine months ended  September 30, 1998 the
Company posted an  underwriting  gain of $1,024,049  compared to an underwriting
loss of  $1,129,786  for the  same  period  in  1997.  Catastrophic  losses,  as
classified by the Company were $911,000 in the third quarter of 1998 compared to
$318,000  in the third  quarter  of 1997.  Included  in the  other  underwriting
expenses are assessments made by state insurance  guaranty  associations.  These
assessments  are mandated by statute and are used by the various state insurance
guaranty  associations  to  guarantee  the  property  and  casualty  policies of
companies  that have  become  insolvent.  These  mandatory  assessments  totaled
$670,500 in the third quarter of 1998 compared to $6,200 in the third quarter of
1997.

The GAAP  combined  ratio for the  Company's  property  and  casualty  insurance
operations  improved  to 98.8% for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998
compared  to a ratio of 101.4% for the same  period in 1997.  The GAAP  combined
ratio  represents the ratio of loss,  loss  adjustment,  acquisition,  and other
underwriting expenses incurred to premiums earned.

Analysis of Investment Operations

Revenue  from  investment  operations  for the third  quarter of 1998  increased
slightly to $11,847,165 from $11,749,465 in the third quarter of 1997. Growth in
net revenue from  investment  operations  in the third  quarter of 1998 resulted
from a 17.7%  increase in net investment  income.  This increase was offset by a
decrease in the equity in earnings of Erie Family Life  Insurance  Company,  the
Company's life insurance affiliate, and decreased realized gains on investments.
The Company records income from its 21.63%  investment in Erie Family Life under
the equity  method of  accounting.  The earnings  recognized  from the Company's
investment  in Erie Family Life  totaled  $792,289 in the third  quarter of 1998
compared to $1,195,419  recorded in the third quarter of 1997. Realized gains on
investments  were $1,230,011 in the third quarter of 1998 compared to $2,205,947
in the third quarter of 1997. The earnings recognized from the investment in EFL
increased  to  $3,401,333  for the nine  months  ended  September  30, 1998 from
$3,145,218 for the same period in 1997.


FINANCIAL CONDITION

Investments

The Company's  investment  strategy  takes a long-term  perspective  emphasizing
investment quality, diversification and superior investment returns. Investments
are  managed on a total  return  approach  that  focuses  on current  income and
capital  appreciation.  The  Company's  investment  strategy  also  provides for
liquidity  to meet the  short  and  long-term  commitments  of the  Company.  At
September  30, 1998,  the  Company's  investment  portfolio of  investment-grade
bonds,  common stock and preferred stock,  all of which are readily  marketable,
and cash and short-term  investments,  totaled $644 million,  or 45.1%, of total
assets.  These  resources  provide the  liquidity  the Company  requires to meet
demands on its funds.

At September 30, 1998,  96.2% of total  investments  consist of fixed maturities
and equity securities. Mortgage loans and other invested assets represented only
3.8%  of  total  investments  at that  date.  Mortgage  loans  and  real  estate
investments  have the  potential for higher  returns,  but also carry more risk,
including less liquidity and greater uncertainty in the rate of return.

                                       13
<PAGE>


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

The Company's investments are subject to certain risks,  including interest rate
and  reinvestment  risk.  Fixed  maturity and preferred  stock  security  values
generally  fluctuate  inversely with movements in interest rates.  The Company's
corporate  and  municipal  bond  investments  may contain  call and sinking fund
features which may result in early redemptions. Declines in interest rates could
cause  early  redemptions  or  prepayments  which  could  require the Company to
reinvest at lower rates.

At September 30, 1998, the Company's five largest  investments in corporate debt
securities  totaled  $25.9  million,  none of which  individually  exceeded $6.4
million. These investments had a market value of $27.8 million.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity is a measure of the  Company's  ability to secure  enough cash to meet
its  contractual  obligations  and  operating  needs.  Operating  cash flows are
generated from management  operations as the  attorney-in-fact for the Exchange,
the net cash flow from the Erie  Insurance  Company's 5% and the Erie  Insurance
Company of New  York's  .5%  participation  in the  underwriting  results of the
reinsurance  pool with the Exchange,  and the Company's  investment  income from
affiliated and  non-affiliated  investments.  With respect to the management fee
cash  flow,  funds  are  generally  received  from the  Exchange  on a  premiums
collected  basis, as the Company pays  commissions on premiums  collected rather
than written premiums.  The Company generates  sufficient net positive cash flow
from  its  operations  to fund  its  commitments  and to  build  its  investment
portfolio,  thereby  increasing  future  investment  returns.  The Company  also
maintains a high degree of liquidity in its investment  portfolio in the form of
readily marketable fixed maturities, common stocks and short-term investments.

Net cash flows  provided  by  operating  activities  for the nine  months  ended
September 30, 1998 and 1997, were $105,402,857 and $87,818,330 respectively.

Dividends  declared and paid to shareholders in the three months ended September
30, 1998 and 1997,  totaled $7,255,444 and $6,411,787,  respectively.  There are
state  law   restrictions  on  the  payment  of  dividends  from  the  insurance
subsidiaries  to the  Company.  No  dividends  were paid to the Company from its
property/casualty insurance subsidiaries during the first nine months of 1998.

Temporary  differences  between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax
bases of assets  and  liabilities  that give rise to  deferred  tax  assets  and
liabilities  resulted in net deferred tax  liabilities  at September 30, 1998 of
$7,950,658 and at December 31, 1997 of $7,101,371.

The  National  Association  of  Insurance   Commissioners  (NAIC)  standard  for
measuring the solvency of insurance companies, referred to as Risk Based Capital
(RBC), is a method of measuring the minimum amount of capital appropriate for an
insurance company to support its overall business operations in consideration of
its size and risk profile. The RBC formula is used by state insurance regulators
as an early warning tool to identify,  for the purpose of initiating  regulatory
action,  insurance companies that potentially are inadequately  capitalized.  In
addition, the formula defines minimum capital standards that will supplement the
current  system of low fixed  minimum  capital  and  surplus  requirements  on a
state-by-state  basis.  At December  31, 1997,  the  Company'  property/casualty
insurance subsidiaries' financial statements prepared under Statutory Accounting
Practices  are  all  substantially  in  excess  of  levels  that  would  require
regulatory action.

At September 30, 1998 and December 31, 1997, the Company's  receivables from its
affiliates   totaled   $527,365,776  and   $495,861,158,   respectively.   These
receivables, primarily due from the Exchange, as a result of the management fee,
expense reimbursements and the intercompany reinsurance pool, potentially expose
the Company to concentrations of credit risk.
                                       
                                       14
<PAGE>


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)


ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

SOP 98-1 - Software Costs

During  the first  quarter of 1998,  the  Company  adopted  AICPA  Statement  of
Position (SOP) 98-1 "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software  Developed or
Obtained  for  Internal  Use".  In  accordance  with SOP 98-1 the Company  began
capitalizing  internal  use  software  costs.  The  adoption  of this  statement
resulted in an immaterial impact on 1998 net income.


YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE

As financial  services  enterprises,  Erie Indemnity  Company and the property &
casualty insurance  companies it manages are dependent on information systems to
conduct business.  Like all companies with information and systems dependencies,
the  Company  is  continually  faced  with  significant  information  technology
challenges.  Among these  challenges  is the  so-called  "Year 2000  Issue," the
inability of many computer  systems to recognize  dates  beginning with the year
2000 and subsequent  dates.  References to the Company in the description  below
pertain  to the Company and the property & casualty  insurance  companies  under
its' management.

The effect of the Year 2000 Issue cannot be exactly  measured with certainty and
any  forecasts  about  the  effect  of  the  Year  2000  Issue  and  remediation
projections  are necessarily  forward-looking  statements and are subject to the
risks and uncertainties noted on page 17.

Company's State of Readiness

Work on correcting the Company's internal systems for Year 2000 began in the mid
1990's.  The  Company  categorizes  internal  systems as general  administration
systems,  core property and casualty policy  processing and core claims systems.
Management has also developed plans for personal computer (PC)  applications
and embedded microchip technology to  avoid  complications that could occur if
these systems or adjunct  applications  were to fail.  Finally, management is
developing test plans to assure external business contacts will be ready for
Year 2000 and in some cases, contingency plans to deal with any foreseeable
failures of any mission critical systems.

Internal Systems: Many of the Company's mission critical general  administration
systems  have been  replaced  over the past four years to take  advantage of new
technology  and to  accommodate  growth and  related  information  needs.  These
systems (and the completion dates of their  replacement) were as follows:  Human
Resources  (1995);   Payroll   Administration  (1995);  General  Ledger  (1997);
Investment  Accounting (1996); and Accounts Payable (projected December,  1998).
Each of these new systems is vendor certified to be fully Year 2000 compliant.

As of  September  30,  1998,  approximately  98  percent of the  Company's  core
insurance  policy  processing  system  code has been  modified  to be Year  2000
compliant.  The remaining program  modifications are expected to be completed by
the end of 1998 on this internally developed system. As program  modifications
are completed,  they are being tested individually  and qualified to be
performing  acceptably.  Integrated  business testing involving the entire
system is planned for the first quarter of 1999.

The  Company's  Claims  System  was  developed  and  written  in  house.  It was
implemented  in 1994.  The system was  designed to  accommodate  four digit date
fields and is  fully year 2000 compliant.  Testing of it's operating
environment and interfaces are planned for the first quarter of 1999.


                                       15

<PAGE>


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Personal  Computers & Embedded  Microchip  Technology:  The Company completed an
inventory of all  microcomputers,  software and  embedded  microchip  systems in
1997.  Since that time,  measures  have been taken to remediate  known Year 2000
compliance  issues,  principally  by replacement  of  non-compliant  devices and
software.  The inventory is scheduled for update before year-end 1998 and action
plans for remediation of any remaining non-compliant devices or software will be
in place before  December 31, 1998.  Final  remedial  actions  planned are to be
completed  before  March 31,  1999,  including  testing  of  and/or  contingency
planning for any applications or devices considered to be mission critical.

External  Business  Contacts:  During the first four months of 1998,  a complete
inventory  of  external  parties  who  conduct  business  with the  Company  was
developed.  The  inventory  was used as a basis to request  certifications  from
outside  parties  as to their  year  2000  readiness.  Substantially  all of the
critical  external parties  contacted have confirmed that they will be compliant
within time frames that are acceptable to the Company.

During the fourth  quarter of 1998,  the Company will focus  efforts on a second
inventory  of key outside  parties  whom  management  believes  support  mission
critical operations of the Company. Dialogue with these vendors has been ongoing
throughout   1998.   For  this  category  of  outside   party,   more  extensive
qualification  of their year 2000 readiness will be  established.  Qualification
will include some combination of testing and contingency planning depending upon
the  circumstances  and  management's  relative  comfort  level with the outside
parties state of readiness.

Cost to Address Year 2000 Issues

The Company did not establish a specific  budget to address the Year 2000 Issue.
By  including  Year 2000  changes in the scope of each  system  development  and
maintenance  project,  the solution to the  Company's  Year 2000 Issue became an
extension of all system projects.  Initial  estimates for remedial programs were
less than 9,000  hours.  This does not  include  the  effort to  replace  entire
software  applications as those  replacements  were not done solely to solve the
Year 2000 problems.

Based upon known  factors and the measures  taken to date,  management  does not
anticipate  significant  future  costs in order to address  the Year 2000 Issue.
Costs  anticipated  include  personnel  costs (to test  internal  systems,  test
external party  interfaces,  develop  contingency plans and replace software and
hardware devices that are not year 2000 compliant),  personal  computer software
and  hardware.  Costs  that have been  incurred  to date,  have been  charged to
operations  as  incurred.  Estimates  of both  the  cost  incurred  to date  and
future costs are not material to the financial position and results of
operations of the Company.

Risk of the Company's Year 2000 Issues

The proper  functioning of the Company's  computer  systems and  applications is
critical to the continued operations of the Company. By addressing the Year 2000
Issue over  several  years in the  ordinary  course of  business,  the costs and
uncertainty  associated  with it have  been  reduced  significantly.  Management
believes  that  all  systems  and  applications  will  be  Year  2000  compliant
sufficiently  in advance of January 1, 2000,  and  therefore, will not adversely
affect the operations of the Company.

It is possible  that certain key external  parties will certify their systems as
year 2000  compliant  when in fact they are not. The inability of the Company to
respond to  uncontrollable  circumstances is always a concern.  For example,  if
numerous key third parties are unable to support the  operations of the Company,
operations  could be  adversely  affected.  The Company as part of overall  risk
management  will be preparing  contingency  plans during the first six months of
1999 in response to the possibility of key third party failure.  Management does
not anticipate,  nor would management  characterize these scenarios, as having a
greater than remote possibility of occurrence.

                                       16

<PAGE>


ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 
         RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued)

Company's Contingency Plans if a Vendor or the Company fail to Address Year
2000 Issues

This risk described above will be addressed through  contingency  planning.  The
level of contingency  planning will be commensurate with the relative importance
of the external  party to the  operations  of the Company and the relative  risk
that  the  party  will  be  unable  to  operate  satisfactorily  in  2000.  Such
contingency  plans are being  developed and will be finalized  during the second
and third quarter of 1999.



The statements herein are forward-looking  statements  containing the beliefs of
management that involve risks and  uncertainties.  These risks and uncertainties
include but are not limited to, human or mechanical  errors in  correcting  Year
2000 Issues; incorrect or improper (intentional or otherwise) representations by
third parties as to their  compliance  or  remediation  efforts;  the failure of
third parties to follow through on their  remediation  efforts and the inability
to  identify  and/or  locate  processing  chips  that are  subject  to Year 2000
problems.



    ***********************************************************************






"Safe Harbor"  Statement Under the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of
1995:  Statements  contained herein expressing the beliefs of management such as
those contained in the "Financial  Condition - Investments",  and the "Liquidity
and Capital  Resources"  sections hereof, and the other statements which are not
historical  facts contained in this report are forward  looking  statements that
involve risks and uncertainties.  These risks and uncertainties  include but are
not limited to:  legislative,  judicial and  regulatory  changes,  the impact of
competitive  products and pricing,  product  development,  geographic  spread of
risk, weather and weather-related  events,  other types of catastrophic  events,
securities   markets   fluctuations,    and   technological   difficulties   and
advancements.


                                       17  

<PAGE>


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings

The H.O.  Hirt Trusts  collectively  own 2,340 shares of the  Company's  Class B
Common Stock. The Company's Class B Common Stock has the exclusive right to vote
in the election of directors of the Company.  Since such shares represent 76.22%
of the outstanding shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock, the vote of the
H.O.  Hirt Trusts is  sufficient  to  determine  the outcome of any  election of
directors. The trustees of the H.O. Hirt Trusts are F. William Hirt, Chairman of
the Board of the Company,  a director of the Company, a beneficial owner of more
than 10% of the Company's  outstanding Class A Common Stock and a beneficiary of
one of the two H.O. Hirt Trusts; his sister, Susan Hirt Hagen, a director of the
Company, a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Company's  outstanding Class
A Common Stock and a beneficiary of the other H.O. Hirt Trust,  and Mellon Bank,
N.A. ("Mellon"). Under the provisions of the H.O. Hirt Trusts, the shares of the
Company's  Class B Common Stock held by the H.O.  Hirt Trusts are to be voted as
directed by a majority of the three trustees.

Under the  Pennsylvania  Insurance  Company Law and the Company's  By-laws,  the
candidates  for  election as  directors  of the Company are to be nominated by a
committee  consisting solely of persons who are not officers or employees of the
Company or of any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the Company and who are not beneficial  owners of a controlling  interest in the
voting securities of the Company. On March 11, 1998, the Nominating Committee of
the Company's Board of Directors nominated 12 persons as candidates for election
as directors of the Company at the  Company's  April 28, 1998 annual  meeting of
shareholders.  The 12 persons  nominated  did not include  Thomas B. Hagen,  the
husband of Susan Hirt Hagen,  as a candidate  for  election as a director of the
Company at such annual meeting.  Thomas B. Hagen had served as a director of the
Company since 1979.

On April 2, 1998,  Susan Hirt Hagen, a director of the Company,  filed petitions
in the  Orphan's  Court  Division of the Court of Common  Pleas of Erie  County,
Pennsylvania  (the "Court") seeking the removal of Mellon as a co-trustee of the
H.O. Hirt Trust with respect to Susan Hirt Hagen and as a co-trustee of the H.O.
Hirt Trust with respect to F. William Hirt.  Among the relief requested by Susan
Hirt Hagen in the petitions was the grant of a  preliminary  injunction  against
Mellon from voting the Class B Common Stock held by the H.O. Hirt Trusts for the
purpose of the  election of  directors  at the  Company's  April 28, 1998 annual
meeting  of  shareholders.  Because  of the  potential  substantial  harm to the
Company if the preliminary injunction were granted, the Company filed a petition
to intervene in the preliminary  injunction  proceedings which the Court granted
on April 20, 1998.  Following a hearing on April 20,  1998,  the Court issued an
opinion on April 21, 1998 and an order denying Susan Hirt Hagen's  request for a
preliminary injunction.  On April 28, 1998, the Company's 1998 annual meeting of
shareholders  was held as scheduled and each of the candidates for election as a
director of the Company named in the Company's April 1, 1998 proxy statement was
elected as a director of the Company.

On June 3, 1998, the Company, because of its substantial interest in the outcome
of any matter  involving a change in Mellon's status as a co-trustee of the H.O.
Hirt  Trusts,  petitioned  the Court to  intervene  in the  trial of the  issues
remaining  under Susan Hirt Hagen's  petitions to remove Mellon as a co-trustee.
On June 24, 1998,  the court  denied the  Company's  petition,  and, on July 13,
1998,  the  Company  appealed  the  Court's  denial  to the  Superior  Court  of
Pennsylvania which appeal remains pending.  On August 5, 1998, Susan Hirt Hagen,
a  director  of  the  Company,  filed  a  motion  with  the  Superior  Court  of
Pennsylvania  to quash the  Company's  appeal.  On August 17, 1998,  the Company
filed its response to Susan Hirt Hagen's  motion to quash the Company's  appeal.
On October 19, 1998, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania denied without prejudice
Susan Hirt Hagen's motion to quash the Company's appeal,  and the Superior Court
of  Pennsylvania  established  a schedule  for the  submission  of briefs on the
merits of the Company's appeal.

During June and July 1998, substantial discovery took place involving Susan Hirt
Hagen's petitions to remove Mellon as co-trustee.  In the ten days preceding the
scheduled  trial date of July 30, 1998,  discussions  took place between counsel
for Mellon and  counsel  for Susan Hirt Hagen  concerning  a possible  basis for
settlement  of  the  pending   litigation.   These   discussions   involved  the
circumstances  under which Mellon might resign as  co-trustee  of the H.O.  Hirt
Trusts and the establishment of procedures pursuant to which a successor trustee
would be  appointed by the Court or by agreement of Susan Hirt Hagen and F.

                                       18
<PAGE>

Item 1. Legal Proceedings (Continued)

William Hirt.  After a hearing  conducted on July 30, 1998,  the Court by letter
advised  counsel for all parties that the Court would not approve the settlement
proposal  that had been  presented  during the July 30, 1998  hearing,  and that
Mellon was to advise the Court on or before  August 21,  1998  whether a revised
settlement proposal would be submitted or whether the petitions to remove Mellon
as  co-trustee  should  be  scheduled  for  trial by the  Court  for some  later
unspecified date.

On August 4, 1998,  the Company filed a further  petition with the Court seeking
the right to  intervene  in the  proceedings  insofar as the  proceedings  would
entail the possible approval of any settlement of the petitions to remove Mellon
as co-trustee or the  appointment of a successor  trustee to Mellon.  On October
21, 1998,  Mellon  submitted  to the Court a Petition to Resign  Pursuant to and
upon the Fulfillment of Certain Conditions Precedent (the "Mellon Petition"). On
October 29,  1998,  the Court  conducted  a hearing at which  time,  among other
things,  the  Court  heard  testimony  from two  potential  successor  corporate
trustees to Mellon, each of which potential  successors,  the Court was advised,
had the approval of Mellon,  Susan Hirt Hagen and F. William  Hirt.  During that
same hearing,  the Court  indicated that it would accept the Mellon Petition and
would in the future  enter an order  providing  for the  granting  of the Mellon
Petition, in conjunction with a further hearing on the matter of the appointment
of a successor  corporate  co-trustee and the final Court approval  thereof.  On
November  2, 1998,  the Court  scheduled  such a further  hearing for January 6,
1999.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule

All other exhibits for which provision is made in the applicable accounting
regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the
related instructions or are applicable, and therefore, have been omitted.

The Company did not file any reports on Form 8-K during the three month period
ending September 30, 1998.


                                       19 

<PAGE>


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:  November 13, 1998                        
                               /s/Stephen A. Milne
                               -------------------
                               (Stephan A. Milne, President & CEO)


                                                   
                               /s/Philip A. Garcia
                               -------------------  
                              (Philip A. Garcia, Executive Vice President & CFO)


                                       20





<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
     THIS FDS CONTAINS INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF  
 THE ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS 
 QUALIFIED IN REFERENCE TO THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-Q
</LEGEND>
<CIK>   0000922621                      
<NAME>  ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY            
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000                                     
       
<S>                             <C>                    <C>

<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                  9-MOS                                                                   
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1998            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1998            SEP-30-1997 
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                396,337                334,053 
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     0                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       0                      0
<EQUITIES>                          193,320                161,246                
<MORTGAGE>                            8,301                  8,383                  
<REAL-ESTATE>                             0                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                      612,700                511,246                 
<CASH>                               54,030                 53,583                 
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                      (11)                   121                    
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>               11,224                 10,608                 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    1,425,690              1,290,024              
<POLICY-LOSSES>                     432,947                410,287                           
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                 239,277                229,974                 
<POLICY-OTHER>                            0                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                     0                      0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                           0                      0
                     0                      0
                               0                      0
<COMMON>                              2,170                  2,170
<OTHER-SE>                          607,413                511,279                
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      1,425,690              1,290,024              
                           83,995                 79,838                                            
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                  31,301                 26,821                                            
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                    5,416                  4,703                 
<OTHER-INCOME>                            0                      0 
<BENEFITS>                           58,605                 59,015 
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>          24,366                 21,952                                    
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                      0                      0                 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     150,615                134,052                
<INCOME-TAX>                         47,749                 43,269                 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                       0                      0
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                      0
<CHANGES>                                 0                      0
<NET-INCOME>                        102,866                 90,783                          
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          1.38                   1.22                           
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0                      0     
<RESERVE-OPEN>                            0                      0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                       0                      0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         0                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                        0                      0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                          0                      0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                           0                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   0                      0
        





</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission