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): March 3, 2003 ERIE INDEMNITY COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) PENNSYLVANIA 0-24000 25-0466020 ------------------------------- ------------- ------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer 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 1 ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT On September 10, 2002, the Erie Indemnity Company's (Company) Audit Committee selected Ernst & Young, LLP to be the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2003. Malin, Bergquist & Company, LLP (M,B&C) continued as the Company's independent auditors for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. On March 3, 2003 Ernst & Young, LLP will succeed M,B&C as the Company's independent auditors. The Audit Committee of the Company annually considers the selection of the Company's independent auditors. In previous years, the Audit Committee would recommend the appointment of the independent auditors to the Company's Board of Directors for shareholder ratification. At its meeting of September 9, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors amended the Bylaws of the Company consistent with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to give the Audit Committee sole authority to engage the Company's independent auditors. M,B&C's reports on the Company's consolidated financial statements for the past two years did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, nor were they qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this Form 8-K, there were no disagreements with M,B&C on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to M,B&C's satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter in connection with their report on the Company's consolidated financial statements for such years; and there were no reportable events, as listed in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K. The Company provided M,B&C with a copy of the foregoing disclosures. Attached as Exhibit 16.1 is a copy of M,B&C's letter, dated March 3, 2003, stating its agreement with such statements. During the Company's two most recent fiscal years and through the date of this Form 8-K, the Company did not consult Ernst & Young, LLP with respect to the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company's consolidated financial statements, or any other matters or reportable events listed in Items 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation S-K. 2 ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS c) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this document: Exhibit Number Description -------------- ----------- 16.1 Letter from Malin, Bergquist & Company, LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated March 3, 2003 3 EXHIBIT 16.1 [LETTERHEAD OF MALIN, BERGQUIST & COMPANY, LLP] March 3, 2003 Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 We were previously Independent Auditors for Erie Indemnity Company, Inc. and on February 7, 2003 we reported on the consolidated financial statements of Erie Indemnity Company, Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002. We have read Erie Indemnity Company, Inc.'s statements included in Item 4 of Form 8-K dated March 3, 2003 and we agree with such statements. Very truly yours, /S/MALIN, BERGQUIST & COMPANY, LLP Certified Public Accountants 4 SIGNATURE 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 Erie Indemnity Company ------------------------------ (Registrant) Date: March 3, 2003 /s/ Philip A. Garcia ------------------------------- (Philip A. Garcia, Executive Vice President & CFO) 5