Erie Indemnity 10-Q 2025-03-31

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 March 31, 2025

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period fromto

Commission file number 0-24000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock as of the latest practicable date was 46,189,068 at April 18, 2025.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock as of the latest practicable date was 2,542 at April 18, 2025.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 12, "Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)", for amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 12, "Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)", for amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

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The following discussion of financial condition and results of operations highlights significant factors influencing Erie Indemnity Company ("Indemnity", "we", "us", "our"). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Part I, 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, 2024, as contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2025.

INDEX

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 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:

• dependence upon our relationship with the Erie Insurance Exchange ("Exchange") and the management fee under the agreement with the subscribers at the Exchange;

• dependence upon our relationship with the Exchange and the growth of the Exchange, including:

◦general business and economic conditions;

◦factors impacting the timing of premium rates charged for policies;

◦factors affecting insurance industry competition, including technological innovations;

◦dependence upon the independent agency system; and

◦ability to maintain our brand, including our reputation for customer service;

• dependence upon our relationship with the Exchange and the financial condition of the Exchange, including:

◦the Exchange's ability to maintain acceptable financial strength ratings;

◦factors affecting the quality and liquidity of the Exchange's investment portfolio;

◦changes in government regulation of the insurance industry;

◦litigation and regulatory actions;

◦emergence of significant unexpected events, including pandemics, economic or social inflation, and changes in tariff policies;

◦emerging claims and coverage issues in the industry; and

◦severe weather conditions or other catastrophic losses, including terrorism;

• costs of providing policy issuance and renewal services to the subscribers at the Exchange under the subscriber's agreement;

• ability to attract and retain talented management and employees;

• ability to ensure system availability and effectively manage technology initiatives;

• difficulties with technology, data or network security breaches, including cyber attacks;

• ability to maintain uninterrupted business operations;

• compliance with complex and evolving laws and regulations and outcome of pending and potential litigation;

• factors affecting the quality and liquidity of our investment portfolio; and

• ability to meet liquidity needs and access capital.

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 STANDARDS AND DISCLOSURE RULES

See Part I, Item 1. "Financial Statements - Note 2, Significant Accounting Policies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" contained within this report for a discussion of recently adopted and issued accounting standards and disclosure rules, and the impact on our consolidated financial statements if known.

OPERATING OVERVIEW

Overview

We serve as the attorney-in-fact for the subscribers (policyholders) at the Exchange, a reciprocal insurer that writes property and casualty insurance. Our primary function as attorney-in-fact is to perform policy issuance and renewal services on behalf of the subscribers at the Exchange. We also act as attorney-in-fact on behalf of the subscribers at the Exchange, as well as the service provider for the Exchange's insurance subsidiaries, with respect to all administrative services.

The Exchange is a reciprocal insurance exchange, which is an unincorporated association of individuals, partnerships and corporations that agree to insure one another. Each applicant for insurance (a subscriber) 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. In accordance with the subscriber’s agreement for acting as attorney-in-fact in these two capacities, we retain a management fee calculated as a percentage of the direct and affiliated assumed premiums written by the Exchange.

Our earnings are primarily driven by the management fee revenue generated for the services we provide on behalf of the subscribers at the Exchange. The policy issuance and renewal services we provide are related to the sales, underwriting and issuance of policies. The sales related services we provide include agent compensation and certain sales and advertising support services. Agent compensation includes scheduled commissions to agents based upon premiums written as well as incentive compensation, which is earned by achieving targeted measures. Agent compensation generally comprises approximately two-thirds of our policy issuance and renewal expenses. The underwriting services we provide include underwriting and policy processing. The remaining services we provide include customer service and administrative support. We also provide information technology services that support all the functions listed above. Included in these expenses are allocation

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Our exposure to market risk is primarily related to fluctuations in interest rates and prices. Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk resulting from changes in interest rates, prices and other risk exposures for the year ended December 31, 2024 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, 2025.

The uncertain tariff, inflationary and interest rate environment, ongoing geopolitical risks and a potential economic slowdown may create future volatility; however, there have been no material changes that impacted our portfolio or reshaped our periodic investment reviews of asset allocations during the three months ended March 31, 2025. We continue to closely monitor the economic environment and financial markets and will take appropriate measures, when necessary, to minimize potential risk exposure to our cash and investment balances. For a recent discussion of conditions surrounding our investment portfolio, see the "Operating Overview", "Results of Operations" and "Financial Condition" discussions contained in Part I, Item 2. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained within this report.

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 three months ended March 31, 2025 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Erie Indemnity Company ("Indemnity") was named as a defendant in a complaint filed on August 24, 2021, by alleged subscribers of the Erie Insurance Exchange (the "Exchange") in the Court of Common Pleas Civil Division of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania captioned TROY STEPHENSON, CHRISTINA STEPHENSON, SUSAN RUBEL and STEVEN BARNETT, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated (Plaintiffs) v. Erie Indemnity Company (Defendant).

The complaint seeks relief for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty by Indemnity in connection with the setting of the management fee it receives, in accordance with the terms of the Subscribers Agreement executed between Indemnity and all policyholders of the Exchange, as compensation for acting as the attorney-in-fact in the management of the Exchange. The relief sought is for the period beginning two years prior to the date of the filing of the complaint and continuing through 2021.

The complaint seeks (i) a finding that Indemnity has breached its fiduciary duties; (ii) an award of damages in an amount to be determined at trial; and (iii) such other relief, including disgorgement of profits or other injunctive relief, that the Court deems just and proper.

Service of the complaint was effectuated on September 20, 2021. A Notice of Removal to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania was filed on October 20, 2021. On November 2, 2021, Plaintiffs filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal. As a result, the action was dismissed without prejudice.

On December 6, 2021, another Complaint was filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania captioned ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE, an unincorporated association, by TROY STEPHENSON, CHRISTINA STEPHENSON and STEVEN BARNETT, trustees ad litem, and alternatively, ERIE INSURANCE EXCHANGE, by TROY STEPHENSON, CHRISTINA STEPHENSON and STEVEN BARNETT, (Plaintiff), v. ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY, (Defendant).

This most recent complaint has the same allegation of breach of fiduciary duty by Indemnity in connection with the setting of the management fee it receives, in accordance with the terms of the Subscribers Agreement executed between Indemnity and all policyholders of the Exchange, as compensation for acting as the attorney-in-fact in the management of the Exchange.

This most recent complaint seeks the same relief, specifically, (i) a finding that Indemnity has breached its fiduciary duties; (ii) an award of damages in an amount to be determined at trial; and (iii) such other relief, including disgorgement of profits or other injunctive relief, that the Court deems just and proper.

A Notice of Removal to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania was filed on January 27, 2022. Indemnity intends to vigorously defend against all of the allegations and requests for relief in the complaint.

By Memorandum Opinion and Order dated September 28, 2022, the Court granted the Motion for Remand and directed the case be remanded to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On September 30, 2022, Indemnity filed a Motion to Stay the Remand Order pending an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. On October 3, 2022, the Court granted the Stay. On October 11, 2022, Indemnity filed a Petition for Permission to Appeal the Remand Order with the Third Circuit. By Order dated November 7, 2022, a three judge panel of the Court denied the Petition to Appeal.

On November 21, 2022, Indemnity filed a Petition for Rehearing requesting that the Third Circuit permit the appeal. By Order dated January 9, 2023, the Court granted the petition for rehearing and vacated the prior Order of October 7, 2022, denying permission to appeal. On April 20, 2023, argument was held before a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit. By Opinion dated May 22, 2023, the Court affirmed the decision of the District Court finding that there was no basis for federal court jurisdiction and that the matter had been properly remanded to state court. On June 5, 2023, Indemnity filed a Petition for Panel Rehearing or Rehearing En Banc. By Order dated June 22, 2023, the Court denied the Petition. The United States District Court thereafter extended its stay of the issuance of the remand order through the conclusion of any proceedings in the United States Supreme Court challenging the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that no federal jurisdiction exists in this case.

On October 20, 2023, Indemnity filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States. The Petition sought a determination from the Court that the lower courts improperly denied federal jurisdiction. By order dated February 26, 2024, the United States Supreme Court denied Indemnity's Petition for Writ of Certiorari.

Separately, Indemnity filed a Complaint in Federal Court to invoke certain provisions of the “All Writs Act” and the “Anti-Injunction Act.” By filing this complaint, Indemnity seeks to protect the federal court’s prior binding, final judgments in favor of Indemnity and thereby foreclose further litigation of the claims and issues pertaining to the compensation practices that were the subject of the prior judgments. After the denial of certiorari, the district court, by Opinion and Order dated February 28, 2024, granted Indemnity’s motion for a preliminary injunction under the All Writs Act after determining that the gravamen of the plaintiff’s state court action “is the same” as two actions previously dismissed in federal court, that Indemnity would be irreparably harmed if it is forced to relitigate those same issues in state court, plaintiffs had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the same issues in prior litigation, and that an injunction would serve the public interest. The Court’s order preliminarily enjoined the named plaintiffs from pursuing the Erie Ins. Exch. v. Erie Indem. Co. action and enjoined the state court from conducting further proceedings in that action. The court ordered Indemnity to file a motion to convert the preliminary injunction into a permanent injunction. In the meantime, plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. As a result of the filing of the appeal, the trial court stayed the order issuing an injunction.

The appeal has been briefed and oral argument was held on October 29, 2024, before a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit. The parties are currently awaiting a decision.

Indemnity intends to vigorously defend the district court’s order on appeal and to otherwise defend against all allegations and requests for relief sought by plaintiffs.

For additional information on contingencies, see Part I, Item 1. "Financial Statements - Note 14, Commitment and Contingencies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements".

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, 2024 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2025.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

In 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.

The following table provides information regarding our Class A nonvoting common stock share repurchases during the quarter ending March 31, 2025:

*(1)*Represents shares purchased on the open market for stock-based awards in conjunction with our equity compensation plan.

+ Filed herewith.

++ Furnished herewith.

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.