8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): December 10, 2019

ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Pennsylvania	0-24000	25-0466020
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.)

100 Erie Insurance Place,	Erie,	Pennsylvania	16530
(Address of principal executive offices)			(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 814 870-2000

Not applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

Class A common stock,	stated value $0.0292 per share	ERIE	NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC
(Title of each class)		(Trading Symbol)	(Name of each exchange on which registered)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Emerging growth company ☐

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. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Erie Indemnity Company (the “Company”) issued a press release regarding the December 10, 2019 Board of Directors meeting, where the Board set the management fee rate charged by the Company to Erie Insurance Exchange and approved an increase in shareholder dividends. The Company's Board of Directors also declared the following quarterly dividend on shares of Erie Indemnity Company Class A common stock. See the Press Release attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Dividend Number: 357

Class A Rate Per Share: $0.965

Declaration Date: December 10, 2019

Ex-Dividend Date: January 6, 2020

Record Date: January 7, 2020

Payable Date: January 22, 2020

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated December 13, 2019

Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release dated December 13, 2019
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

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 hereunto duly authorized.

	Erie Indemnity Company
December 13, 2019	By:	/s/ Brian W. Bolash
		Name: Brian W. Bolash
		Title: SVP, Secretary & General Counsel

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

CONTACT: Scott Beilharz, Erie Insurance

814/870-7312, scott.beilharz@erieinsurance.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Erie Indemnity Approves Management Fee Rate and Dividend Increase, Declares Quarterly Dividend

ERIE, Pa. (Dec. 13, 2019) - At its regular meeting held Dec. 10, 2019, the Board of Directors of Erie Indemnity Company (NASDAQ: ERIE) set the management fee rate charged to Erie Insurance Exchange, approved an increase in shareholder dividends and declared the quarterly dividend.

The Board agreed to maintain the current management fee rate paid to Erie Indemnity Company by Erie Insurance Exchange at 25 percent, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The management fee rate was 25 percent for the period Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2019. The Board has the authority under the agreement with the subscribers (policyholders) at Erie Insurance Exchange to set the management fee rate at its discretion; however, the maximum fee rate permissible by the agreement is 25 percent. This action was taken based on the Board’s consideration and review of the relative financial positions of Erie Insurance Exchange and Erie Indemnity Company.

The Board also agreed to increase the regular quarterly cash dividend from $0.90 to $0.965 on each Class A share and from $135.00 to $144.75 on each Class B share. This represents a 7.2 percent increase in the payout per share over the current dividend rate. The next quarterly dividend is payable Jan. 22, 2020, to shareholders of record as of Jan. 7, 2020, with a dividend ex-date of Jan. 6, 2020. Erie Indemnity Company has paid regular shareholder dividends since 1933.

About Erie Insurance

According to A.M. Best Company, Erie Insurance Group, based in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the 9th largest homeowners insurer and 12th largest automobile insurer in the United States based on direct premiums written and the 16th largest property/casualty insurer in the United States based on total lines net premium written. The Group, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company, has more than 5 million policies in force and operates in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Erie Insurance Group is a FORTUNE 500 company.

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

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

Statements contained herein that are not historical fact are forward-looking statements and, as such, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ, perhaps materially, from those discussed herein.  Forward-looking statements relate to future trends, events or results and include, without limitation, statements and assumptions on which such statements are based that are related to our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions, and adequacy of resources.  Examples of forward-looking statements are discussions relating to premium and investment income, expenses, operating results, 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 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 affecting insurance industry competition;

◦ dependence upon the independent agency system; and

◦ ability to maintain 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;

◦ 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 Exchange under the subscriber's agreement;

• credit risk from the Exchange;

• ability to attract and retain talented management and employees;

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

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

• ability to maintain uninterrupted business operations;

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

• our ability to meet liquidity needs and access capital; and

• outcome of pending and potential litigation.

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.

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XML

Document and Entity Information	Dec. 10, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 10, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	PA
Entity File Number	0-24000
Entity Tax Identification Number	25-0466020
Entity Address, Address Line One	100 Erie Insurance Place,
Entity Address, City or Town	Erie,
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	16530
City Area Code	814
Local Phone Number	870-2000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A common stock,
Trading Symbol	ERIE
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000922621
Amendment Flag	false