2008 Annual Meeting Speeches

April 22, 2008

Executive Vice President and CFO Phil Garcia

Good morning, and thank you for showing your support by attending today’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

Today, John and I will review ERIE’s 2007 results. We’ll be releasing the financial results of our 1st quarter 2008 on Wednesday, April 30, after the close of the market, and conducting our 1st quarter earnings conference call the next day, May 1, at 10 in the morning. Therefore, today’s remarks will be focused on our 2007 results only.

We’ve had a longstanding philosophy here at ERIE: If we treat our Policyholders the right way, our shareholders will benefit. H.O. Hirt, our founder, set that path for Erie Indemnity back in 1925 and we’ve maintained that business principle ever since. It’s proven itself over and over again.

We have retention rates that are the envy of the industry. Our customers are happy with us; they’re loyal and they repeatedly spread the word, helping us grow – a very powerful advantage for us.  Combine that with the best agency force in the business, and highly engaged, productive Employees -- and you’ve got a winning formula. As shareholders, you understand that and look to us to create long-term value. Read the full speech

 

President and CEO John J. Brinling, Jr.

Good morning and thank you for joining us. It’s wonderful to be here.

What a difference a year makes. At this time last year, as you know, I was busy getting accustomed to retirement. In the presidential campaign, Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards were still contenders. And at the gas pump, the price of gas was still below 3 dollars a gallon.

And at this time last year, ERIE Employees and Agents – here and throughout the field – came to work dressed in maroon and orange – Hokie colors. It was a sign of respect and support for our ERIE family – in the Roanoke Branch and on the nearby campus of Virginia Tech. At this very meeting, then Chairman Bill Hirt led a moment of silence for the 32 victims of the shooting that had occurred at Virginia Tech a day earlier.

What a difference a year makes. The ERIE family knows that well. Read the full speech

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