UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-K

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004
or

For the transition period from ___________ to _____________

Commission File Number 0-19289

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (614) 464-5000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

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

Common Shares, without par value

          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 þ     No o

          Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.       o

          Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

          As of June 30, 2004, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value (based on the closing sales price on that date) of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $348,077,023.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

1.	Portions of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement relating to the annual meeting of shareholders to be held May 11, 2005 (the “2005 Proxy Statement”), which will be filed within 120 days of December 31, 2004, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

Index to Form 10-K Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2004

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

          All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Form 10-K”) of State Auto Financial Corporation (“State Auto Financial” or “STFC”) or incorporated herein by reference, including, without limitation, statements regarding State Auto Financial’s future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, goals and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements speak only as the date the statements were made. Although State Auto Financial believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements have a reasonable basis, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties that could cause State Auto Financial’s actual results to differ materially from those projected, see “Forward-Looking Statements; Certain Factors Affecting Future Results” in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Except to the limited extent required by applicable law, State Auto Financial undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

PART I

Item 1. Business

(a) General Development of Business

          State Auto Financial is an insurance holding company formed in 1990 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. STFC engages primarily in the property and casualty insurance business through its 100% owned subsidiaries, State Auto Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“State Auto P&C”), Milbank Insurance Company (“Milbank”), Farmers Casualty Insurance Company (“Farmers”), State Auto Insurance Company of Ohio (“SA Ohio”), and State Auto National Insurance Company (“SA National”). Farmers formerly owned 100% of the outstanding common shares of Mid-Plains Insurance Company (“Mid-Plains”), a property-casualty insurer. Mid-Plains was dissolved in December 2004 and its insurance liabilities were assumed by SA National pursuant to an assumption reinsurance agreement.

          Approximately 65% of State Auto Financial’s outstanding common shares are owned by State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (“Mutual”), an Ohio mutual property and casualty insurance company organized in 1921. Mutual owns 100% of State Auto Florida Insurance Company (“SA Florida”) and State Auto Insurance Company of Wisconsin (“SA Wisconsin”), property-casualty insurers. Mutual also owns 100% of Meridian Insurance Group, Inc. (“MIGI”), an insurance holding company. MIGI owns 100% of Meridian Security Insurance Company (“Meridian Security”), a property-casualty insurer. In 2001, Mutual merged with Meridian Mutual Insurance Company (“Meridian Mutual”), with Mutual continuing as the surviving corporation, and in a substantially concurrent transaction Mutual acquired the outstanding shares of MIGI. MIGI is also a party to an affiliation agreement with Meridian Citizens Mutual Insurance Company (“Meridian Citizens Mutual”), a property-casualty insurer. Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual are hereafter referred to collectively as the “MIGI Insurers,” and together with MIGI, the “MIGI Companies.”

          STFC owns 100% of Stateco Financial Services, Inc. (“Stateco”), which provides investment management services to affiliated insurance companies. STFC also owns 100% of Strategic Insurance Software, Inc. (“S.I.S.”), a developer and seller of insurance-related software. 518 Property Management and Leasing, LLC (“518 PML”), whose members are State Auto P&C and Stateco, owns and leases real and personal property to affiliated companies. The results of the operations of S.I.S. and 518 PML are not material to the total operations of STFC.

          State Auto Financial, State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers, SA Ohio, SA National, Mid-Plains, Stateco, S.I.S., and 518 PML are hereafter referred to collectively as the “Company.”

          State Auto P&C has participated in a quota share reinsurance pooling arrangement with Mutual since 1987 (the “Pooling Arrangement”). At year end, the participants in the Pooling Arrangement were State Auto P&C, Mutual, Milbank, SA Wisconsin, Farmers, SA Ohio and SA Florida. As of January 1, 2005, Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual were added to the Pooling Arrangement. State Auto P&C, Mutual, Milbank, SA Wisconsin, Farmers, SA Ohio, SA Florida, Meridian Security (as of January 1, 2005) and Meridian Citizens Mutual (as of January 1, 2005) are hereafter referred to collectively as the “Pooled Companies.” State Auto P&C, Milbank, Farmers and SA Ohio are hereafter referred to collectively as the “STFC Pooled Companies.” See “Pooling Arrangement” in the “Narrative Description of Business.” The Pooled Companies and SA National are hereafter referred to as the “State Auto Group.”

          The insurers in the State Auto Group write a broad line of property and casualty insurance, such as standard personal and commercial automobile, nonstandard personal automobile, homeowners, commercial multi-peril, workers’ compensation, general liability and fire insurance, through approximately 22,500 independent insurance agents associated with approximately 3,250 agencies in 26 states. The State Auto Group’s insurance products are marketed primarily in the central and eastern parts of the United States, excluding New York, New Jersey and the New England States.

1

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

          The Company considers one of its key strengths to be its core values, which are to (i) fairly price and ethically sell useful insurance products, (ii) treat every transaction with absolute honesty and integrity, (iii) extend dignity and respect to everyone, (iv) encourage innovation, and (v) fully utilize every person’s talents. These core values are reflected in, among other things, the long-term strategic business plan adopted by the Boards of Directors of Mutual and STFC. This strategic business plan provides that the long-term goal of the State Auto Group is to continue to be a premier, independent property and casualty insurer by consistently performing in the top quartile of its peer group of companies. The Company believes its underwriting and pricing discipline, as well as its commitment to delivering its products as effectively and efficiently as possible, have been key factors in the Company’s underwriting results over the last several years.

(b) Financial Information about Segments

          The Company currently operates in three segments: State Auto standard insurance, State Auto nonstandard insurance, and investment management services. Prior to 2003, it operated in the following four insurance segments: the State Auto standard insurance segment, consisting of the business operations of the STFC Pooled Companies; the State Auto nonstandard segment, consisting of the business operations of SA National and Mid-Plains; the Meridian standard segment, consisting of the standard insurance business of the former Meridian Mutual; and the Meridian nonstandard segment, consisting of the nonstandard business of the former Meridian Mutual. As of January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2003, the Meridian standard and nonstandard segments, respectively, were included in the State Auto standard and nonstandard segments because these Meridian segments no longer met the quantitative thresholds for separate presentation as reportable segments. Financial information about all these segments is set forth in Note 15 of the Notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Additional information regarding the Company’s insurance and non-insurance segments is provided in “Narrative Description of Business.”

(c) Narrative Description of Business

Property and Casualty Insurance

Pooling Arrangement

          The Pooled Companies are parties to an intercompany Pooling Arrangement. The Pooling Arrangement was governed by the reinsurance pooling agreement known as the “2000 Pooling Agreement” prior to January 1, 2005, and by the reinsurance pooling agreement known as the “2005 Pooling Agreement” on and after that date. The Pooling Arrangement covers all the property and casualty insurance written by the parties, except voluntary assumed reinsurance written by Mutual, Mutual Middle Market Insurance (as defined in the 2005 Pooling Agreement) and intercompany catastrophe reinsurance written by State Auto P&C. Under the Pooling Arrangement each participant cedes premiums, losses and expenses on all of their business to Mutual, and Mutual in turn cedes to each participant a specified portion of premiums, losses and expenses based on each participant’s pooling percentage. Mutual then retains the balance of the pooled business. Mutual, SA Wisconsin, SA Florida, Meridian Security and Meridian Citizens Mutual are hereafter referred to collectively as the “Mutual Pooled Companies.”

          The following table sets forth a chronology of the participants and their participation percentage changes that have occurred in the Pooling Arrangement since January 1, 2000:

*

Time period is for the year ended December 31, unless otherwise noted.

2

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

          The following table sets forth a summary of the Pooling Arrangement participant percentages of STFC and Mutual, aggregating their respective 100% owned subsidiaries:

*

Time period is for the year ended December 31, unless otherwise noted.

          Prior to 2001, the pooling percentages were reviewed by management at least annually, and more often if deemed appropriate by management or the Board of Directors of each company, to determine whether any adjustments should be made. As a result of the changes made to the pooling percentages in 2001, it is not management’s current intention to recommend an adjustment to the STFC Pooled Companies aggregate participation percentage in the foreseeable future. Under revised procedures, management of each of the Pooled Companies would make recommendations to a standing independent committee of the Board of both Mutual and STFC. These independent committees would review and evaluate such factors as they deem relevant and recommend any appropriate pooling change to the Boards of both Mutual and STFC. See “Management Agreement” in the “Narrative Description of Business.” The Pooling Arrangement is terminable by any party on 90 days’ notice or by mutual agreement of the parties. None of the Pooled Companies currently intends to terminate the Pooling Arrangement.

          Under the terms of the Pooling Arrangement, all premiums, incurred losses, loss expenses and other underwriting expenses are prorated among the companies party to the agreement on the basis of their participation in the pool. By spreading the underwriting risk among each of the participants, the Pooling Arrangement is designed to produce more uniform and stable underwriting results for each of the Pooled Companies than any one company would experience individually. One effect of the Pooling Arrangement is to provide each participant with an identical mix of pooled property and casualty insurance business on a net basis.

          The 2005 Pooling Agreement and the 2000 Pooling Agreement both contain a provision excluding catastrophic losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred by the parties in the amount of $100.0 million in excess of $120.0 million, as well as the premium for such exposures. State Auto P&C reinsures each insurer in the State Auto Group for this layer of reinsurance under a Catastrophe Assumption Agreement. No losses were paid by State Auto P&C under the Catastrophe Assumption Agreement in 2004, 2003 or 2002. See “Reinsurance” in the “Narrative Description of Business.”

          Prior to January 1, 2005, the direct business of the MIGI Insurers was not included in the Pooling Arrangement and to that extent was not included in the insurance operations of the Company for periods ending prior to January 1, 2005. If State Auto P&C had been required to pay catastrophe losses of the MIGI Insurers under the above referenced Catastrophe Assumption Agreement, those losses would have impacted the Company’s results.

          Also, excluded from both the 2000 Pooling Agreement and the 2005 Pooling Agreement is Mutual Middle Market Insurance. If State Auto P&C were required to pay catastrophe losses of the Mutual Middle Market Insurance under the above referenced Catastrophe Assumption Agreement, these losses would impact the Company’s results.

Nonstandard Auto Insurance

          The Company writes nonstandard auto insurance through SA National. See “Marketing” in “Narrative Description of Business.” This business is not part of the Pooling Arrangement. See also “Reportable Segments” in “Narrative Description of Business.”

Management Agreement

          State Auto P&C’s employees provide all organizational, operational and management functions for all insurance affiliates within the State Auto Group through management and cost sharing agreements. Through December 31, 2004, for the performance of its services under two of the management agreements, State Auto P&C was paid a quarterly management and operations services fee based on formulas outlined in the agreements. Under the “2000 Midwest Management Agreement” among State Auto P&C, Mutual and SA Wisconsin, SA Wisconsin pays 0.75% of direct written premium for management and operation services performed by employees of State Auto P&C. Under the “MIGI Management Agreement” among State Auto P&C, MIGI and the MIGI Insurers, each of the MIGI Companies paid State Auto P&C a management fee of 10% of all State Auto P&C’s employee-related costs in exchange for the services of those employees, in addition to reimbursing State Auto P&C for the actual costs of such services. Mutual provides facilities for all the insurance affiliates under management or cost sharing agreements, including the “2000 Management Agreement” to which State Auto P&C and Mutual are parties, among other affiliates. Subject to regulatory approval, the 2000 Management Agreement has been amended and restated as of January 1, 2005, known as the “2005 Management Agreement,” and the MIGI Companies and Farmers will become parties. The Company anticipates terminating

3

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

separate management agreements that had been in place among State Auto P&C and the MIGI Companies and Farmers, respectively, upon the 2005 Management Agreement taking effect.

          Each of the affiliated management and cost sharing agreements, except the MIGI Management Agreement, has a ten-year term and automatically renews for an additional ten-year period unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms. If the 2005 Management Agreement is terminated for any reason, the Company would have to locate facilities to continue its operations, although the Company does not anticipate such termination.

Reportable Segments

          See Note 15, Reportable Segments of the Notes to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K, and Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

Marketing

          The State Auto Group markets its products in 26 states through approximately 22,500 insurance agents associated with approximately 3,250 independent insurance agencies. None of the companies in the State Auto Group has any contracts with managing general agencies.

          SA National markets nonstandard products in 21 states exclusively through the Company’s network of independent agents. Mid-Plains wrote nonstandard auto insurance in Iowa and Kansas through the agency network of Farmers in those states. In December 2004, Mid-Plains was dissolved and its insurance liabilities were assumed by SA National. See “Nonstandard Auto Insurance” in the “Narrative Description of Business.”

          Because independent insurance agents significantly influence which insurance company their customers select, management views the Company’s independent insurance agents as its primary customers. Management strongly supports the independent agency system and believes that maintenance of a strong agency system is essential for the Company’s present and future success. As such, the Company continually develops programs and procedures to enhance agency relationships, including the following: regular travel by senior management and branch office staff to meet with agents, in person, in their home states; training opportunities; travel incentives related to profit and growth; and an agent stock purchase plan.

          The Company actively helps its agencies develop professional sales skills within their staff. The training programs include both products and sales training in concentrated programs conducted in the Company’s home office. Further, the training programs include disciplined follow-up and coaching for an extended time. Other targeted training sessions are held in the Company’s branch office locations from time to time.

          The Company has made continuing efforts to use technology to make it easier for its agents to do business with the Company. The Company offers internet-based rating, policy application submission and execution of endorsements for certain products. In addition, the Company provides its agents with the opportunity to maintain policyholder records electronically, avoiding the expense of preparing and storing paper records. Software developed by S.I.S. also enhances the ability of the Company and its agents to take advantage of electronic data submission. The Company believes that, since agents and their customers realize better service and efficiencies through automation, they value their relationship with the Company. Automation can make it easier for the agent to do business with the Company, which attracts prospective agents and enhances the existing agencies’ relationships with the Company.

          The Company shares the cost of approved advertising with selected agencies. The Company provides agents with certain travel and cash incentives if they achieve certain sales and underwriting profit levels. Further, the Company recognizes its very top agencies – measured by consistent profitability, achievement of written premium thresholds and growth — as Inner Circle Agencies. Inner Circle Agencies are rewarded with additional trip and financial incentives, including additional profit sharing bonus and additional contributions to their Inner Circle Agent Stock Purchase Plan, a part of the Agent Stock Purchase Plan described below.

          To strengthen agency commitment to producing profitable business and further develop its agency relationships, the Company’s Agent Stock Purchase Plan offers its agents the opportunity to use commission income to purchase the Company’s stock. The Company’s transfer agent administers the plan using commission dollars assigned by the agents to purchase shares on the open market through a stockbroker. The Company also makes available to certain top performing agents the opportunity to vest grants of options in the Company’s common shares provided the participants meet performance targets described in the Agent Stock Option Plan.

          The Company receives premiums on products marketed in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. During 2004, the seven states that contributed the greatest percentage of the Company’s direct premiums written were as follows: Ohio (18.6%), Kentucky (11.5%), Tennessee (6.9%), Minnesota (6.4%), Pennsylvania (5.2%), Maryland (4.7%) and Indiana (4.2%).

4

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

Claims

          Insurance claims on policies written by the Company are usually investigated and settled by staff claims adjusters. The Company’s claims division emphasizes timely investigation of claims, settlement of meritorious claims for equitable amounts, maintenance of adequate reserves for claims, and control of external claims adjustment expenses. Achievement of these goals supports the Company’s marketing efforts by providing agents and policyholders with prompt and effective service.

          Claim settlement authority levels are established for each adjuster, supervisor and manager based on his or her level of expertise and experience. The claims division is responsible for reviewing the claim, obtaining necessary documentation and establishing loss and expense reserves of certain claims. Generally, property or casualty claims estimated to reach $150,000 or above are sent to the home office to be supervised by claims division specialists. Branches with small volumes of large claims report claims to the home office at a lower dollar threshold. In territories in which there is not sufficient volume to justify having full-time adjusters, the Company uses independent appraisers and adjusters to evaluate and settle claims under the supervision of claims division personnel.

          The Company attempts to minimize claims adjusting costs by settling as many claims as possible through its internal claims staff and, if possible, by settling disputes regarding automobile physical damage and property insurance claims (first party claims) through arbitration. In addition, selected agents have authority to settle small first party claims, which improves claims service.

          Claim representatives use third party, proprietary bodily injury evaluation software to help them value bodily injury claims, except for the most severe injury cases. This software continues to be a valuable tool for the Company. The Claims Contact Centers allow the Company to improve claims efficiency and economy by concentrating the handling of smaller, less complex claims in a centralized environment. The Company provides 24 hour, seven days a week claim service, either through associates in the Claims Contact Centers, which are located in Des Moines, Iowa and Columbus, Ohio, or, for a few overnight hours, through a third party service provider.

Reserves

          Loss reserves are management’s best estimates at a given point in time of what the Company expects to pay to claimants, based on facts, circumstances and historical trends then known. During the loss settlement period, additional facts regarding individual claims may become known, and consequently it often becomes necessary to refine and adjust the estimates of liability. The Company’s results of operations and financial condition could be impacted, perhaps significantly, in the future if the ultimate payments required to settle claims vary from the liability currently recorded.

          The Company maintains reserves for the eventual payment of losses and loss expenses for both reported claims and incurred claims that have not yet been reported. Loss expense reserves are intended to cover the ultimate costs of settling all losses, including investigation, litigation and in-house claims processing costs from such losses.

          Reserves for reported losses are initially established on either a case-by-case or formula basis depending on the type and circumstances of the loss. The case-by-case reserve amounts are determined based on the Company’s reserving practices, which take into account the type of risk, the circumstances surrounding each claim and policy provisions relating to types of loss. The formula reserves are based on historical paid loss data for similar claims with provisions for trend changes caused by inflation. Loss and loss expense reserves for incurred claims that have not yet been reported are estimated based on many variables including historical and statistical information, changes in exposure units, inflation, legal developments, storm loss estimates, and economic conditions. Case and formula basis loss reserves are reviewed on a regular basis. As new data becomes available, estimates are updated resulting in adjustments to loss reserves. Generally, reported losses initially reserved on a formula basis which have not settled after six months, are case reserved at that time. Although management uses many resources to calculate reserves, there is no precise method for determining the ultimate liability. The Company does not discount loss reserves for financial statement purposes. Additional information regarding the Company’s reserves is included in Item 7 of this Form 10-K in the Losses and Loss Expenses Payable section included therein.

          Mutual has guaranteed the adequacy of State Auto P&C’s loss and loss expense reserves as of December 31, 1990. Pursuant to the guarantee, Mutual has agreed to reimburse State Auto P&C for any losses and loss expenses in excess of State Auto P&C’s December 31, 1990 reserves ($65.5 million) that may develop from claims that have occurred on or prior to that date. This guarantee ensures that any deficiency in the reserves of State Auto P&C as of December 31, 1990, under the Pooling Arrangement percentages effective on December 31, 1990 will be reimbursed by Mutual. As of December 31, 2004, there has been no adverse development of these reserves. In the event Mutual becomes financially impaired, and subject to regulatory restrictions, it may be unable to make any such reimbursement.

5

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

          The following table presents one-year development information on changes in the reserve for loss and loss expenses of the Company for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004:

(1)		Includes amounts due from affiliates of $5.7 million, $4.3 million, and $8.9 million, respectively.
(2)		Includes net amounts assumed from affiliates of $303.9 million, $304.0 million and $280.0 million, respectively.
(3)		This line item shows increases (decreases) in the current calendar year in the provision for losses and loss expenses attributable to claims occurring in prior years. The decrease of $22.2 million and $1.8 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively, and the increase of $12.4 million in 2002 for claims occurring in prior years is well within normal expectations for reserve development and claim settlement uncertainty.
(4)		Includes amounts due from affiliates of $5.7 million for 2004 and 2003 and $4.3 million for 2002.
(5)		Includes net amounts assumed from affiliates of $296.9 million, $303.9 million, and $304.0 million, respectively.

          The following table sets forth the development of reserves for losses and loss expenses from 1994 through 2004 for the Company. “Net liability for losses and loss expenses payable” sets forth the estimated liability for unpaid losses and loss expenses recorded at the balance sheet date, net of reinsurance recoverables, for each of the indicated years. This liability represents the estimated amount of losses and loss expenses for claims arising in the current and all prior years that are unpaid at the balance sheet date, including losses incurred but not reported to the Company.

          The lower portion of the table shows the re-estimated amounts of the previously reported reserve based on experience as of the end of each succeeding year. The estimate is increased or decreased as more information becomes known about the claims incurred.

          The upper section of the table shows the cumulative amounts paid with respect to the previously reported reserve as of the end of each succeeding year. For example, through December 31, 2004, the Company had paid 68.8% of the currently estimated losses and loss expenses that had been incurred, but not paid, as of December 31, 1995.

          The amounts on the “cumulative redundancy (deficiency)” line represent the aggregate change in the estimates over all prior years. For example, the 1995 calendar year reserve has developed a $33.0 million or 16.0% redundancy through December 31, 2004. That amount has been included in operations over the ten years and did not have a significant effect on income in any one year. The effects on income caused by changes in estimates of the reserves for losses and loss expenses for the most recent three years are shown in the foregoing three-year loss development table.

          In evaluating the information in the table, it should be noted that each amount includes the effects of all changes in amounts for prior periods. For example, the amount of the redundancy related to losses settled in 1997, but incurred in 1994, will be included in the cumulative redundancy amount for years 1994, 1995 and 1996. The table does not present accident or policy year development data, which readers may be more accustomed to analyzing. Conditions and trends that have affected the development of the liability in the past may not necessarily occur in the future. Accordingly, it may not be appropriate to extrapolate future redundancies or deficiencies based on this table.

6

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)

          In 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, the Pooling Arrangement was amended to increase the Company’s share of premiums, losses and expenses. An amount of assets equal to the increase in net liabilities was transferred to the Company from Mutual in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 in conjunction with each year’s respective pooling change. The amount of the assets transferred from Mutual in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 has been netted against and has reduced the cumulative amounts paid for years prior to 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, respectively.

[See table on following page.]

7

STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
(a majority-owned subsidiary of State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company)