BROWN & BROWN, INC. - Quarter Report: 2008 September (Form 10-Q)

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BROWN & BROWN, INC.

 

INDEX

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

(in thousands, except per share data)		For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
		2008				2007				2008				2007
REVENUES
Commissions and fees		$	243,766			$	225,421			$	736,129			$	701,456
Investment income			1,228				3,286				5,136				27,855
Other income, net			2,035				8,577				4,199				13,130
Total revenues			247,029				237,284				745,464				742,441
EXPENSES
Employee compensation and benefits			122,172				110,491				363,873				333,937
Non-cash stock-based compensation			1,819				1,491				5,563				4,327
Other operating expenses			36,405				32,928				101,993				96,409
Amortization			12,281				10,331				34,789				29,798
Depreciation			3,391				3,213				9,929				9,492
Interest			3,867				3,395				11,045				10,445
Total expenses			179,935				161,849				527,192				484,408
Income before income taxes			67,094				75,435				218,272				258,033
Income taxes			26,501				29,219				85,521				100,078
Net income		$	40,593			$	46,216			$	132,751			$	157,955
Net income per share:
Basic		$	0.29			$	0.33			$	0.94			$	1.13
Diluted		$	0.29			$	0.33			$	0.94			$	1.12
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic			141,073				140,593				140,834				140,401
Diluted			141,606				141,288				141,395				141,209
Dividends declared per share		$	0.07			$	0.06			$	0.21			$	0.18

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

(in thousands, except per share data)		September 30, 2008				December 31, 2007
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	-			$	38,234
Restricted cash and investments			240,616				254,404
Short-term investments			7,287				2,892
Premiums, commissions and fees receivable			256,479				240,680
Deferred income taxes			-				17,208
Other current assets			35,846				33,964
Total current assets			540,228				587,382
Fixed assets, net			63,673				62,327
Goodwill			995,720				846,433
Amortizable intangible assets, net			493,737				443,224
Other assets			13,943				21,293
Total assets		$	2,107,301			$	1,960,659
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Premiums payable to insurance companies		$	390,616			$	394,034
Premium deposits and credits due customers			48,352				41,211
Accounts payable			16,814				18,760
Accrued expenses			77,488				90,599
Current portion of long-term debt			7,703				11,519
Total current liabilities			540,973				556,123
Long-term debt			253,655				227,707
Deferred income taxes, net			83,972				65,736
Other liabilities			11,912				13,635
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share;
authorized 280,000 shares; issued and
outstanding 141,412 at 2008 and 140,673 at 2007			14,141				14,067
Additional paid-in capital			247,988				231,888
Retained earnings			954,647				851,490
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of related income tax
effect of $8 at 2008 and $8 at 2007			13				13
Total shareholders' equity			1,216,789				1,097,458
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	2,107,301			$	1,960,659

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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 BROWN & BROWN, INC.

CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

		For the nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands)		2008				2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	132,751			$	157,955
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Amortization			34,789				29,798
Depreciation			9,929				9,492
Non-cash stock-based compensation			5,563				4,327
Deferred income taxes			33,750				12,368
Net (gain) on sales of investments, fixed
assets and customer accounts			(235	)			(30,198	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect
from acquisitions and divestitures:
Restricted cash and investments decrease			13,788				15,041
Premiums, commissions and fees receivable (increase) decrease			(12,010	)			13,623
Other assets decrease			9,432				4,107
Premiums payable to insurance companies (decrease)			(6,826	)			(42,596	)
Premium deposits and credits due customers increase			7,067				5,072
Accounts payable (decrease) increase			(7,758	)			2,912
Accrued expenses (decrease)			(14,503	)			(14,701	)
Other liabilities (decrease)			(1,672	)			(710	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			204,065				166,490
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to fixed assets			(11,115	)			(24,848	)
Payments for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired			(221,616	)			(148,365	)
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets and customer accounts			3,881				6,059
Purchases of investments			(7,874	)			(2,629	)
Proceeds from sales of investments			4,080				21,594
Net cash used in investing activities			(232,644	)			(148,189	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt			25,000				-
Payments on long-term debt			(15,672	)			(23,351	)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility			2,180				18,130
Payments on revolving credit facility			(2,180	)			(18,130	)
Income tax benefit from issuance of common stock			-				4,539
Issuances of common stock for employee stock benefit plans			10,611				11,321
Cash dividends paid			(29,594	)			(25,275	)
Net cash (used in) financing activities			(9,655	)			(32,766	)
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(38,234	)			(14,465	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			38,234				88,490
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$	-			$	74,025

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 1 · Nature of Operations

Brown & Brown, Inc., a Florida corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we” “Brown & Brown” or the “Company”) is a diversified insurance agency, wholesale brokerage, programs, and services organization that markets and sells to its customers insurance products and services, primarily in the property and casualty, and employee benefits arenas. Brown & Brown's business is divided into four reportable segments: the Retail Division, which provides a broad range of insurance products and services to commercial, public and quasi-public entities, professional and individual customers; the Wholesale Brokerage Division, which markets and sells excess and surplus commercial and personal lines insurance and reinsurance, primarily through independent agents and brokers; the National Programs Division, which is comprised of two units - Professional Programs, which provides professional liability and related package products for certain professionals delivered through nationwide networks of independent agents, and Special Programs, which markets targeted products and services designed for specific industries, trade groups, public and quasi-public entities and market niches; and the Services Division, which provides insurance-related services, including third-party claims administration and comprehensive medical utilization management services in both the workers’ compensation and all-lines liability arenas, as well as Medicare set-aside services.

 

NOTE 2 · Basis of Financial Reporting

 

The accompanying unaudited, condensed, consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These unaudited, condensed, consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. 

 

Results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008.

 

NOTE 3 · Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash and Investments

In its capacity as an insurance agent or broker, Brown & Brown typically collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its authorized commissions, remits the net premiums to the appropriate insurance companies. Accordingly, as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, “premiums” are receivable from insureds. Unremitted net insurance premiums are held in a fiduciary capacity until disbursed by Brown & Brown. Brown & Brown invests these unremitted funds only in cash, money market accounts, tax-free variable-rate demand bonds and commercial paper held for a short term, and reports such amounts as restricted cash and investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In certain states where Brown & Brown operates, the use and investment alternatives for these funds are prescribed by law.  As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the amount of funds in state-mandated “premium trust accounts” was $130.7 million and $132.3 million, respectively.  All cash and investments that will ultimately be used to pay premiums to insurance companies are recorded as restricted cash and investments.

 

 

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NOTE 4 · Net Income Per Share

 

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income available to shareholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Basic net income per share excludes dilution. Diluted net income per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted to common stock.

 

The following table sets forth the computation of basic net income per share and diluted net income per share:

		For the three months ended September 30,								For the nine months ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)		2008				2007				2008				2007
Net income		$	40,593			$	46,216			$	132,751			$	157,955
Weighted average number of common shares
outstanding			141,073				140,593				140,834				140,401
Dilutive effect of stock options using the
treasury stock method			533				695				561				808
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding			141,606				141,288				141,395				141,209
Net income per share:
Basic		$	0.29			$	0.33			$	0.94			$	1.13
Diluted		$	0.29			$	0.33			$	0.94			$	1.12

 

NOTE 5 · New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Fair Value Measurements — In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157,  Fair Value Measurements  (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 establishes a framework for the measurement of assets and liabilities that uses fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 will apply whenever another GAAP standard requires (or permits) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value, but does not expand the use of fair value to any new circumstances. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and for all interim periods within those fiscal years.  The adoption of SFAS 157 did not have any impact on the amounts reported on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115  (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on assets and liabilities for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company elected not to report any financial assets or liabilities at fair value under SFAS 159.

 

Business Combinations — In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R requires an acquirer to recognize 100% of the fair values of acquired assets, including goodwill and assumed liabilities, with only limited exceptions, upon initially obtaining control of an acquired entity even if the acquirer has not acquired 100% of its target. Additionally, the fair value of contingent consideration arrangements (such as “earn-out” purchase arrangements) at the acquisition date must be included in the purchase price consideration. Transaction costs will be expensed as incurred. SFAS 141R also modifies the recognition of pre-acquisition contingencies, such as environmental or legal issues, restructuring plans and acquired research and development value in purchase accounting. SFAS 141R amends SFAS No. 109,  Accounting for Income Taxes, to require the acquirer to recognize changes in the amount of its deferred tax benefits that are recognizable because of a business combination, either in income from continuing operations in the period of the combination or directly in contributed capital, depending on the circumstances. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted. The Company expects to adopt SFAS 141R on January 1, 2009 and is currently assessing the impact that the adoption could have on the Company’s financial statements.

 

 

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Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,  Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements  (“SFAS 160”), an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51 (“ARB 51”). SFAS 160 clarifies the classification of noncontrolling interests in consolidated statements of financial position and the accounting for, and reporting of, transactions between the reporting entity and holders of such noncontrolling interests. Under SFAS 160, noncontrolling interests are considered equity and should be reported as an element of consolidated equity. Net income will encompass the total income of all consolidated subsidiaries and there will be separate disclosure in the income statement of the attribution of that income between the controlling and noncontrolling interests; increases and decreases in the noncontrolling ownership interest amount will be accounted for as equity transactions.  SFAS 160 is required to be adopted prospectively in the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008, except for reclassifying noncontrolling interests to equity separate from the parent’s shareholders’ equity  in the consolidated statement of financial position and the recasting of consolidated net income (loss) to include net income (loss) attributable to both controlling and noncontrolling interests, both of which are required to be adopted retrospectively. Because all of the Company’s subsidiaries are 100% owned, the Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 160 to have any impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

NOTE 6 · Business Combinations

 

Acquisitions in 2008

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, Brown & Brown acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of 28 insurance intermediaries, the stock of two insurance intermediaries and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price of these acquisitions was $233,988,000, including $215,126,000 of net cash payments, the issuance of $5,213,000 in notes payable and the assumption of $13,649,000 of liabilities. All of these acquisitions were acquired primarily to expand Brown & Brown's core businesses and to attract and hire high-quality individuals. Acquisition purchase prices are typically based on a multiple of average annual operating profits earned over a one- to three-year period within a minimum and maximum price range. The initial asset allocation of an acquisition is based on the minimum purchase price, and any subsequent contingent consideration (earn-out payment) is allocated to goodwill. Acquisitions are initially recorded at preliminary fair values. Subsequently, the Company completes the final fair value allocations and any adjustments to assets or liabilities acquired are recorded in the current period.

All of these acquisitions have been accounted for as business combinations and are as follows:

(in thousands)   Name		Business Segment		2008 Date of Acquisition		Net Cash Paid				Notes Payable				Recorded Purchase Price
LDP Consulting Group, Inc.		Retail		January 24			39,241				-				39,241
Powers & Effler Insurance Brokers		Retail		April 1			25,036				-				25,036
HBA Insurance Group, Inc.		Retail		June 1			48,306				2,000				50,306
Fullerton & Company, Inc.		Retail		August 1			17,399				-				17,399
Other		Various		Various			85,144				3,213				88,357
Total						$	215,126			$	5,213			$	220,339

 

The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the aggregate assets and liabilities acquired as of the date of each acquisition:

(in thousands)		LDP				Powers				HBA				Fullerton				Other				Total
Fiduciary cash		$	173			$	-			$	-			$	1,541			$	-			$	1,714
Other current assets			1,121				75				-				1,242				1,804				4,242
Fixed assets			19				353				652				41				504				1,569
Goodwill			21,857				17,227				35,158				15,029				49,128				138,399
Purchased customer accounts			21,225				7,545				14,390				5,105				38,421				86,686
Noncompete agreements			55				11				141				80				420				707
Other assets			11				-				-				644				16				671
Total assets acquired			44,461				25,211				50,341				23,682				90,293				233,988
Other current liabilities			(5,220	)			(175	)			(35	)			(4,589	)			(1,936	)			(11,955	)
Deferred income taxes			-				-				-				(1,694	)			-				(1,694	)
Total liabilities assumed			(5,220	)			(175	)			(35	)			(6,283	)			(1,936	)			(13,649	)
Net assets acquired		$	39,241			$	25,036			$	50,306			$	17,399			$	88,357			$	220,339

The weighted average useful lives for the above acquired amortizable intangible assets are as follows: purchased customer accounts, 15.0 years and noncompete agreements, 5.0 years.

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Goodwill of $138,399,000, of which $123,797,000 is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes, was assigned to the Retail, Wholesale Brokerage, National Programs and Services Divisions in the amounts of $134,576,000, $3,503,000, $320,000 and nil, respectively.

 

The results of operations for the acquisitions completed during 2008 have been combined with those of the Company since their respective acquisition dates. If the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of each period, the Company's results of operations would be as shown in the following table. These unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisitions actually been made at the beginning of the respective periods.

  

		For the three months								For the nine months
(UNAUDITED)		ended September 30,								ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data)		2008				2007				2008				2007
Total revenues		$	248,448			$	260,223			$	775,833			$	813,676
Income before income taxes			67,561				83,081				228,296				281,641
Net income			40,875				50,901				138,847				172,408
Net income per share:
Basic		$	0.29			$	0.36			$	0.99			$	1.23
Diluted		$	0.29			$	0.36			$	0.98			$	1.22
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic			141,073				140,593				140,834				140,401
Diluted			141,606				141,288				141,395				141,209

Additional contingent consideration paid to sellers as a result of purchase price “earn-out” provisions are recorded as adjustments to intangible assets when the contingencies are settled. The net additional consideration paid by the Company in 2008 as a result of these adjustments totaled $14,642,000, of which $14,560,000 was allocated to goodwill, $30,000 to noncompete agreements and $52,000 represented net liabilities that were forgiven. Of the $14,642,000 net additional consideration paid, $8,204,000 was paid in cash and $6,438,000 was issued in notes payable. As of September 30, 2008, the maximum future contingency payments related to acquisitions totaled $233,370,000.

Acquisitions in 2007

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, Brown & Brown acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of 25 insurance intermediaries, the stock of three insurance intermediaries and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price of these acquisitions was $163,485,000, including $144,022,000 of net cash payments, the issuance of $4,961,000 in notes payable and the assumption of $14,502,000 of liabilities. All of these acquisitions were acquired primarily to expand Brown & Brown's core businesses and to attract and hire high-quality individuals. Acquisition purchase prices are typically based on a multiple of average annual operating profits earned over a one- to three-year period within a minimum and maximum price range. The initial asset allocation of an acquisition is based on the minimum purchase price, and any subsequent earn-out payment is allocated to goodwill. Acquisitions are initially recorded at preliminary fair values. Subsequently, the Company completes the final fair value allocations and any adjustments to assets or liabilities acquired are recorded in the current period.

All of these acquisitions have been accounted for as business combinations and are as follows:

(in thousands)   Name		Business Segment		2007 Date of Acquisition		Net Cash Paid				Notes Payable				Recorded Purchase Price
ALCOS, Inc.		Retail		March 1		$	30,906			$	3,563			$	34,469
Grinspec, Inc.		Retail		April 1			31,939				-				31,939
Sobel Affiliates, Inc.		Retail		April 1			33,047				-				33,047
The Combined Group, Inc. et al		Wholesale Brokerage		August 1			24,046				-				24,046
Other		Various		Various			24,084				1,398				25,482
Total						$	144,022			$	4,961			$	148,983

 

 

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The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the aggregate assets and liabilities acquired as of the date of each acquisition:

(in thousands)		ALCOS				Grinspec				Sobel				Combined				Other				Total
Fiduciary cash		$	627			$	-			$	-			$	2,686			$	716			$	4,029
Other current assets			1,224				669				286				-				800				2,979
Fixed assets			720				-				50				212				214				1,196
Goodwill			26,863				19,235				19,653				16,320				17,817				99,888
Purchased customer accounts			10,046				12,498				13,129				7,448				11,710				54,831
Noncompete agreements			130				-				31				66				210				437
Other assets			115				-				-				-				10				125
Total assets acquired			39,725				32,402				33,149				26,732				31,477				163,485
Other current liabilities			(2,173	)			(463	)			(102	)			(1,383	)			(5,246	)			(9,367	)
Deferred income taxes			(3,083	)			-				-				-				(749	)			(3,832	)
Other liabilities			-				-				-				(1,303	)			-				(1,303	)
Total liabilities assumed			(5,256	)			(463	)			(102	)			(2,686	)			(5,995	)			(14,502	)
Net assets acquired		$	34,469			$	31,939			$	33,047			$	24,046			$	25,482			$	148,983

ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION UPDATES THE MD&A CONTAINED IN THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED IN 2007, AND THE TWO DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE READ TOGETHER.

 

GENERAL

 

We are a diversified insurance agency, wholesale brokerage, programs and services organization with origins dating from 1939, headquartered in Daytona Beach and Tampa, Florida. We market and sell to our customers insurance products and services, primarily in the property and casualty, and employee benefits areas. As an agent and broker, we do not assume underwriting risks. Instead, we provide our customers with quality insurance contracts, as well as other targeted, customized risk management products and services.

 

Our commissions and fees revenue is comprised of commissions paid by insurance companies and fees paid directly by customers. Commission revenues generally represent a percentage of the policy premium paid by the insured and are materially affected by fluctuations in both premium rate levels charged by insurance companies and the insureds' underlying “insurable exposure units,” which are units that insurance companies use to measure or express insurance exposed to risk (such as property values, sales and payroll levels) in order to determine what premium to charge an insured. These premium rates are established by insurance companies based upon many factors, including reinsurance rates paid by insurance carriers, none of which we control. Beginning in 1986 and continuing through 1999, commission revenues were adversely influenced by a consistent decline in premium rates resulting from intense competition among property and casualty insurance companies for market share. This condition of a prevailing decline in premium rates, commonly referred to as a “soft market,” generally resulted in flat to reduced commissions on renewal business. Additionally, in a “soft market” standard carriers generally become more aggressive in their underwriting “appetites” and underwrite risks that are traditionally placed with excess and surplus lines carriers, thereby negatively impacting our wholesale brokerage operations.  The effect of this softness in rates on our commission revenues was somewhat offset by our acquisitions and net new business production. As a result of increasing “loss ratios” (the comparison of incurred losses plus adjustment expenses against earned premiums) of insurance companies through 1999, there was a general increase in premium rates beginning in the first quarter of 2000 and continuing into 2003.  During 2003, the increases in premium rates began to moderate, and in certain lines of insurance, premium rates decreased. In 2004, as general premium rates continued to moderate, the insurance industry experienced the worst hurricane season since 1992 (when Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida). The insured losses from the 2004 hurricane season were absorbed relatively easily by the insurance industry and the general insurance premium rates continued to soften during 2005. During the third quarter of 2005, the insurance industry experienced the worst hurricane season ever recorded. As a result of the significant losses incurred by insurance carriers due to these hurricanes, the insurance premium rates in 2006 increased on coastal property, primarily in the southeastern region of the United States. In other regions of the United States, insurance premium rates generally declined during 2006.  In addition to significant insurance pricing declines in the State of Florida, as discussed below in the “Florida Insurance Overview”, insurance premium rates continued a gradual decline during 2007 and the first nine months of 2008 in most of the other regions of the United States. One industry segment that was hit especially hard during 2007 was the home-building industry in southern California, and, to a lesser extent, in Nevada, Arizona and Florida. We have a wholesale brokerage operation that focuses on placing property and casualty insurance products for that home-building segment and a program operation that places errors and omissions professional liability coverages for title agents. Both of these operations’ revenues were negatively affected by these national economic trends in 2007 and throughout the first nine months of 2008.  Additionally, the continuing “soft market” during 2008 has negatively impacted our other wholesale brokerage operations, primarily as a result of the movement of risks that are traditionally placed with excess and surplus lines carriers to standard carriers.

The volume of business from new and existing insured customers, fluctuations in insurable exposure units and changes in general economic and competitive conditions further affect our revenues. For example, the increasing costs of litigation settlements and awards have caused some customers to seek higher levels of insurance coverage. Conversely, general declines in economic activity could decrease the values of insurable exposure units. Historically, our revenues have continued to grow as a result of an intense focus on net new business growth and acquisitions. However, in 2007, substantial governmental involvement in the Florida insurance marketplace resulted in a substantial loss of revenues. We anticipate that results of operations will continue to be influenced by these competitive and economic conditions through the fourth quarter of 2008 and into 2009.

 

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We also earn “profit-sharing contingent commissions,” which are profit-sharing commissions based primarily on underwriting results, but may also reflect considerations for volume, growth and/or retention. These commissions are primarily received in the first and second quarters of each year, based on underwriting results and other aforementioned considerations for the prior year(s). Therefore, as an insurance company's loss ratio increases, the less profits are earned by that insurance company which will result in less profit-sharing contingent comissions for us. Over the last three years profit-sharing contingent commissions have averaged approximately 5.8% of the previous year's total commissions and fees revenue. Profit-sharing contingent commissions are primarily included in our total commissions and fees in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the year received. The term “core commissions and fees” excludes profit-sharing contingent commissions and therefore represents the revenues earned directly from specific insurance policies sold, and specific fee-based services rendered. Recently, six national insurance carriers announced the replacement of the current loss-ratio-based profit-sharing contingent commission calculation with a fixed-based methodology referred to as “Guaranteed Supplemental Commissions” (“GSCs”). Since these new GSCs are not subject to the uncertainty of loss ratios, they are accrued throughout the year based on actual premiums written.  For the first nine months of 2008, $9.7 million of GSCs were earned, of which $3.2 million were earned for the three months ended September 30, 2008.  For the first nine months of 2007, $5.0 million of GSCs were earned, of which $1.7 million were earned for the three months ended September 30, 2007. 

Fee revenues are generated primarily by: (1) our Services Division, which provides insurance-related services, including third-party claims administration and comprehensive medical utilization management services in both the workers’ compensation and all-lines liability arenas, as well as Medicare set-aside services; and (2) our Wholesale Brokerage and National Program Divisions, which earn fees primarily for the issuance of insurance policies on behalf of insurance carriers. In each of the past three years, fee revenues have increased as a percentage of our total commissions and fees, from 13.6% in 2005 to 14.3% in 2007.

 

Investment income historically consists primarily of interest earnings on premiums and advance premiums collected and held in a fiduciary capacity before being remitted to insurance companies. Our policy is to invest available funds in high-quality, short-term fixed income investment securities in accordance with applicable law. Investment income also includes gains and losses realized from the sale of investments. In 2007, we sold our investment in Rock-Tenn Company which we had owned for over 25 years, for a net gain of $18.7 million.

 

Other income consists primarily of gains and losses from the sale and disposition of assets. Although we are not in the business of selling customer accounts, we periodically will sell an office or a book of business (one or more customer accounts) that does not produce reasonable margins or demonstrate a potential for growth.

 

Florida Insurance Overview

 

Many states have established “Residual Markets”, which are governmental or quasi-governmental insurance facilities that provide coverage to individuals and/or businesses that cannot buy insurance in the private marketplace, i.e., “insurers of last resort”. These facilities can be for any type of risk or exposure; however, the most common are usually automobile or high-risk property coverage. Residual Markets can also be referred to as: “FAIR Plans,” “Windstorm Pools,” “Joint Underwriting Associations,” or may even be given names styled after the private sector, such as “Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.”

 

In August 2002, the Florida Legislature created Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”) to be the “insurer of last resort” in Florida. As such, Citizens charged insurance rates that were higher than those prevailing in the private insurance marketplace. In each of 2004 and 2005, four major hurricanes made landfall in Florida, and as a result of the significant insurance property losses caused by these storms, property insurance rates generally increased in 2006. To counter the increased property insurance rates, the State of Florida caused Citizens to essentially reduce its property insurance rates by half beginning in January 2007. By state law, Citizens has guaranteed its rates through January 1, 2010. As a result, Citizens became the most competitive risk-bearer on commercial habitational coastal property exposures, such as condominiums, apartments, and certain assisted living facilities. Additionally, Citizens became the only insurance market for certain homeowners’ policies throughout Florida. By the end of 2007, Citizens was the largest single underwriter of coastal property in Florida.

 

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Because Citizens became the principal direct competitor of the risk-bearers that participate in our Florida Intracoastal Underwriters (“FIU”) condominium program and the excess and surplus lines insurers that are represented by our wholesale brokerage operations offering property coverages such as our Hull & Company subsidiary, these programs and operations lost significant amounts of revenue to Citizens during 2007.  Citizens’ impact on our Florida Retail Division was less pronounced because to our Retail Division offices, Citizens simply became another risk-bearer with which to write business, although at slightly lower commission rates and with more onerous requirements for placing coverage. In 2008, the insurance rates charged by Citizens have so far been, and are expected to continue to be, similar to the 2007 rates and therefore, the sequential year impact of Citizens’ rates on our results may not be as significant as they were in 2007.  Even though the Citizens’ rates may be flat, however, the property insurance premium rates charged by the excess and surplus lines carriers with which our wholesale brokerage operations do business continue to decline, which in turn continues to have a significant negative impact on our wholesale brokerage operations.

 

In the second half of 2007, the standard insurance companies started to become more competitive in the casualty (liability) business, including workers’ compensation business. The rates in the Florida casualty market began to drop as much as 20%-25% compared with 2006 rates. These competitive rates are likely to continue throughout the remainder of 2008 and into 2009. 

  

Company Overview – Third Quarter of 2008

 

 For the third quarter of 2008, our total core commissions and fees decreased $11.0 million, or 5.1%, primarily because of the continued “soft” insurance marketplace in the United States, governmental involvement in the Florida insurance marketplace and the negative impact of the economy on the home-building industry. Offsetting the negative internal revenue growth was an active quarter of 9 acquisitions (as well as several book of business purchases) with estimated annual revenues of $17.6 million, which contributed to the $30.9 million of total core commissions and fees related to acquisitions that had no comparable operations in the same period of 2007.

 

Acquisitions

 During the third quarter of 2008, we acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of eight insurance intermediary operations, the stock of one insurance intermediary and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price was $39.5 million, including $32.4 million of net cash payments, the issuance of $0.5 million in notes payable and the assumption of $6.6 million of liabilities. These acquisitions had estimated aggregate annualized revenues of $17.6 million.

During the second quarter of 2008, we acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of 12 insurance intermediary operations (inadvertly reported as 13 in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008) and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price was $115.0 million, including $111.2 million of net cash payments, the issuance of $2.7 million in notes payable and the assumption of $1.1 million of liabilities. These acquisitions had estimated aggregate annualized revenues of $47.5 million.

During the first quarter of 2008, we acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of eight insurance intermediary operations, the stock of one insurance intermediary and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price was $79.4 million, including $71.5 million of net cash payments, the issuance of $2.0 million in notes payable and the assumption of $5.9 million of liabilities. These acquisitions had estimated aggregate annualized revenues of $30.2 million.

During the third quarter of 2007, we acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of 16 insurance intermediary operations and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price was $41.4 million, including $33.4 million of net cash payments, the issuance of $0.9 million in notes payable and the assumption of $7.1 million of liabilities. These acquisitions had estimated aggregate annualized revenues of $22.4 million.

During the second quarter of 2007, we acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of two insurance intermediary operations, the stock of one insurance intermediary and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price was $68.7 million, including $68.2 million of net cash payments, and the assumption of $0.5 million of liabilities. These acquisitions had estimated aggregate annualized revenues of $22.9 million.

During the first quarter of 2007, we acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of seven insurance intermediary operations, the stock of two insurance intermediaries and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price was $53.4 million, including $42.6 million of net cash payments, the issuance of $4.0 million in notes payable and the assumption of $6.8 million of liabilities. These acquisitions had estimated aggregate annualized revenues of $25.5 million.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. We continually evaluate our estimates, which are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. These estimates form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of our assets and liabilities, which values are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

We believe that of our significant accounting and reporting policies, the more critical policies include our accounting for revenue recognition, business acquisitions and purchase price allocations, intangible asset impairments, reserves for litigation and derivative interests. In particular, the accounting for these areas requires significant judgments to be made by management.  Different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in our consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations. Refer to Note 1 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional information regarding our critical and significant accounting policies.

 

 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 AND 2007

 

The following discussion and analysis regarding results of operations and liquidity and capital resources should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes.

Financial information relating to our Condensed Consolidated Financial Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

		For the three months												For the nine months
		ended September 30,												ended September 30,
										%												%
		2008				2007				Change				2008				2007				Change
REVENUES
Commissions and fees		$	234,036			$	216,546				8.1	%		$	684,640			$	645,778				6.0	%
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			9,730				8,875				9.6	%			51,489				55,678				(7.5	)%
Investment income			1,228				3,286				(62.6	)%			5,136				27,855				(81.6	)%
Other income, net			2,035				8,577				(76.3	)%			4,199				13,130				(68.0	)%
Total revenues			247,029				237,284				4.1	%			745,464				742,441				0.4	%
EXPENSES
Employee compensation and benefits			122,172				110,491				10.6	%			363,873				333,937				9.0	%
Non-cash stock-based compensation			1,819				1,491				22.0	%			5,563				4,327				28.6	%
Other operating expenses			36,405				32,928				10.6	%			101,993				96,409				5.8	%
Amortization			12,281				10,331				18.9	%			34,789				29,798				16.7	%
Depreciation			3,391				3,213				5.5	%			9,929				9,492				4.6	%
Interest			3,867				3,395				13.9	%			11,045				10,445				5.7	%
Total expenses			179,935				161,849				11.2	%			527,192				484,408				8.8	%
Income before income taxes			67,094				75,435				(11.1	)%			218,272				258,033				(15.4	)%
Income taxes			26,501				29,219				(9.3	)%			85,521				100,078				(14.5	)%
NET INCOME		$	40,593			$	46,216				(12.2	)%		$	132,751			$	157,955				(16.0	)%
Net internal growth rate – core commissions and fees			(5.1	)%			(3.0	)%							(5.8	)%			(1.9	)%
Employee compensation and benefits ratio			49.5	%			46.6	%							48.8	%			45.0	%
Other operating expenses ratio			14.7	%			13.9	%							13.7	%			13.0	%
Capital expenditures		$	2,921			$	4,848							$	11,115			$	24,848
Total assets at September 30,														$	2,107,301			$	1,915,359

 

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Commissions and Fees 

Commissions and fees, including profit-sharing contingent commissions, for the third quarter of 2008 increased $18.3 million, or 8.1%, over the same period in 2007. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the third quarter of 2008 increased $0.9 million over the third quarter of 2007, to $9.7 million. “Core commissions and fees” are our commissions and fees, less (i) profit-sharing contingent commissions and (ii) divested business (commissions and fees generated from offices, books of business or niches sold or terminated). Core commissions and fees revenue for the third quarter of 2008 increased $19.9 million on a net basis, of which approximately $30.9 million represents core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable operations in the same period of 2007. After divested business of $2.4 million, the remaining net decrease of $11.0 million represents net lost business, which reflects a (5.1)% internal growth rate for core commissions and fees.

Commissions and fees, including profit-sharing contingent commissions, for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $34.7 million, or 4.9%, over the same period in 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, profit-sharing contingent commissions decreased $4.2 million from the comparable period in 2007, to $51.5 million. Core commissions and fees revenue for the first nine months of 2008 increased $46.5 million on a net basis, of which approximately $83.3 million of the total increase represents core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable operations in the same period of 2007. After divested business of $7.7 million, the remaining $36.8 million represents net lost business, which reflects a (5.8)% internal growth rate for core commissions and fees.

 

Investment Income

Investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased $2.1 million, or 62.6%, from the same period in 2007. This decrease was primarily due to a reduction in invested funds as a result of increased acquisition activity, as well as lower investment yields. Investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased $22.7 million, or 81.6%, from the same period in 2007. This decrease is primarily due to the sale of our investment in Rock-Tenn Company which we had owned for over 25 years, for a net gain of approximately $18.7 million in 2007.  The remaining net decrease of $4.0 million was primarily due to a reduction in invested funds as a result of increased acquisition activity, as well as lower investment yields.

 

Other Income, net

 

Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased $6.5 million, or 76.3%, from the same period in 2007. Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased $8.9 million, or 68.0%, from the same period in 2007. Other income consists primarily of gains and losses from the sale and disposition of assets. Although we are not in the business of selling customer accounts, we periodically will sell an office or a book of business (one or more customer accounts) that does not produce reasonable margins or demonstrate a potential for growth.

 

Employee Compensation and Benefits

 

Employee compensation and benefits for the third quarter of 2008 increased $11.7 million, or 10.6%, over the same period in 2007.  This increase is primarily related to the addition of new employees from acquisitions completed since August 1, 2007. Employee compensation and benefits as a percentage of total revenue increased to 49.5% for the third quarter of 2008, from 46.6% for the third quarter of 2007. This increase in the expense percentage represents approximately $11.7 million in net additional costs, of which $13.4 million relates to acquisitions that had no comparable operations in the same period of 2007.  Therefore, excluding the impact of acquisitions of stand-alone offices, there was a net reduction of $1.7 million in employee compensation and benefits primarily related to lower producer commissions and accrued bonuses.

Employee compensation and benefits for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $29.9 million, or 9.0%, over the same period in 2007.  This increase is primarily related to the addition of new employees from acquisitions completed during 2007 and 2008. Employee compensation and benefits as a percentage of total revenue increased to 48.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from 45.0 % for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Excluding the impact of the gain on the sale of our Rock-Tenn Company stock in 2007, employee compensation and benefits as a percentage of total revenues increased to 48.8% from 46.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. This increase in the expense percentage represents approximately $29.9 million in net additional costs, of which $36.0 million relates to acquisitions that were stand-alone offices and that had no comparable operations in the same period of 2007. Therefore, excluding the impact of acquisitions of stand-alone offices, there was a net reduction of $6.0 million in employee compensation and benefits primarily related to lower producer commissions and accrued bonuses.

  

Non-Cash Stock-Based Compensation

Non-cash stock-based compensation for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased approximately $0.3 million, or 22.0%, over the same period in 2007. For the entire year of 2008, we expect the total non-cash stock-based compensation expense to be approximately $7.5 million to $8.0 million, as compared with the total cost of $5.7 million in 2007. The increased annual estimated cost primarily relates to new grants of performance stock and incentive stock options issued in February 2008.

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Other Operating Expenses

 

Other operating expenses for the third quarter of 2008 increased $3.5 million, or 10.6%, over the same period in 2007. Other operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 14.7% for the third quarter of 2008, from 13.9% for the third quarter of 2007. Acquisitions since August 1, 2007 that resulted in stand-alone offices accounted for approximately $3.8 million of the increased other operating expenses.  Therefore, there was a net reduction in other operating expenses of approximately $0.3 million with respect to offices in existence in the third quarters of both 2008 and 2007. 

Other operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $5.6 million, or 5.8%, over the same period in 2007.  Other operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue increased to 13.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, from 13.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Excluding the impact of the gain on the sale of our Rock-Tenn Company stock in 2007, other operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased to 13.7% from 13.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Acquisitions since February 1, 2007 that resulted in stand-alone offices accounted for approximately $9.4 million of the increased other operating expenses.  Therefore, there was a net reduction in other operating expenses of approximately $3.8 million with respect to offices in existence in the first nine months of both 2008 and 2007.  Of this reduction, $2.4 million was the result of decreased expenses and reserves for errors and omissions, while the remaining savings were attributable to various other expense categories.

  

Amortization

 

Amortization expense for the third quarter of 2008 increased $1.9 million, or 18.9%, over the third quarter of 2007.  Amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $5.0 million, or 16.7%, over the same period of 2007. These increases were primarily due to the amortization of additional intangible assets as the result of new acquisitions.

  

Depreciation

 

Depreciation expense for the third quarter of 2008 increased $0.2 million, or 5.5%, over the third quarter of 2007.  Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $0.4 million, or 4.6%, over the same period of 2007.  These increases were due primarily to the purchase of new computers, related equipment and software, and the depreciation associated with acquisitions completed since February 1, 2007.

 

Interest Expense

  

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2008 increased $0.5 million, or 13.9%, over the same period in 2007. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, interest expense increased $0.6 million, or 5.7%, over the same period in 2007. These increases were primarily due to the additional $25.0 million of unsecured Series D Senior Notes issued in the first quarter of 2008.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

As discussed in Note 14 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we operate in four reportable segments: the Retail, Wholesale Brokerage, National Programs and Services Divisions. On a divisional basis, increases in amortization, depreciation and interest expenses are the result of acquisitions within a given division in a particular year. Likewise, other income in each division primarily reflects net gains on sales of customer accounts and fixed assets. As such, in evaluating the operational efficiency of a division, management places emphasis on the net internal growth rate of core commissions and fees revenue, the gradual improvement of the ratio of employee compensation and benefits to total revenues, and the gradual improvement of the percentage of other operating expenses to total revenues.

 

The internal growth rates for our core commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, by divisional units, are as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

2008		For the three months ended September 30,
		2008				2007				Total Net Change				Total Net Growth %				Less Acquisition Revenues				Internal Net Growth $				Internal Net Growth %
Florida Retail		$	40,087			$	39,088			$	999				2.6	%		$	4,620			$	(3,621	)			(9.3	)%
National Retail			77,172				60,958				16,214				26.6	%			16,802				(588	)			(1.0	)%
Western Retail			27,293				23,752				3,541				14.9	%			5,473				(1,932	)			(8.1	)%
Total Retail(1)			144,552				123,798				20,754				16.8	%			26,895				(6,141	)			(5.0	)%
Wholesale    Brokerage			36,491				39,328				(2,837	)			(7.2	)%			3,831				(6,668	)			(17.0	)%
Professional Programs			11,643				11,200				443				4.0	%			-				443				4.0	%
Special Programs			33,433				30,411				3,022				9.9	%			210				2,812				9.2	%
Total National    Programs			45,076				41,611				3,465				8.3	%			210				3,255				7.8	%
Services			7,917				9,390				(1,473	)			(15.7	)%			-				(1,473	)			(15.7	)%
Total Core   Commissions   and Fees		$	234,036			$	214,127			$	19,909				9.3	%		$	30,936			$	(11,027	)			(5.1	)%

The reconciliation of the above internal growth schedule to the total Commissions and Fees included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

		For the three months ended September 30,
		2008				2007
Total core commissions and fees		$	234,036			$	214,127
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			9,730				8,875
Divested business			—				2,419
Total commission and fees		$	243,766			$	225,421

 

(1)

The Retail segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 14 which includes corporate and consolidation items.

 

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2007		For the three months ended September 30,
		2007				2006				Total Net Change				Total Net Growth %				Less Acquisition Revenues				Internal Net Growth $				Internal Net Growth %
Florida Retail		$	39,286			$	43,871			$	(4,585	)			(10.5	)%		$	797			$	(5,382	)			(12.3	)%
National Retail			62,237				51,948				10,289				19.8	%			10,685				(396	)			(0.8	)%
Western Retail			24,668				26,139				(1,471	)			(5.6	)%			75				(1,546	)			(5.9	)%
Total Retail(1)			126,191				121,958				4,233				3.5	%			11,557				(7,324	)			(6.0	)%
Wholesale   Brokerage			39,354				36,017				3,337				9.3	%			4,400				(1,063	)			(3.0	)%
Professional Programs			11,200				10,696				504				4.7	%			119				385				3.6	%
Special Programs			30,411				26,736				3,675				13.7	%			2,029				1,646				6.2	%
Total National   Programs			41,611				37,432				4,179				11.2	%			2,148				2,031				5.4	%
Services			9,390				9,164				226				2.5	%			-				226				2.5	%
Total Core   Commissions   and Fees		$	216,546			$	204,571			$	11,975				5.9	%		$	18,105			$	(6,130	)			(3.0	)%

The reconciliation of the above internal growth schedule to the total Commissions and Fees included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

		For the three months ended September 30,
		2007				2006
Total core commissions and fees		$	216,546			$	204,571
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			8,875				2,092
Divested business			—				1,895
Total commission and fees		$	225,421			$	208,558

 

(1)

The Retail segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 14 which includes corporate and consolidation items.

 

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The internal growth rates for our core commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007, by divisional units, are as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

2008		For the nine months ended September 30,
		2008				2007				Total Net Change				Total Net Growth %				Less Acquisition Revenues				Internal Net Growth $				Internal Net Growth %
Florida Retail		$	127,528			$	133,837			$	(6,309	)			(4.7	)%		$	8,368			$	(14,677	)			(11.0	)%
National Retail			221,777				176,506				45,271				25.6	%			51,037				(5,766	)			(3.3	)%
Western Retail			73,585				70,076				3,509				5.0	%			9,322				(5,813	)			(8.3	)%
Total Retail(1)			422,890				380,419				42,471				11.2	%			68,727				(26,256	)			(6.9	)%
Wholesale   Brokerage			117,892				121,964				(4,072	)			(3.3	)%			14,104				(18,176	)			(14.9	)%
Professional Programs			31,381				30,718				663				2.2	%			-				663				2.2	%
Special Programs			88,645				77,494				11,151				14.4	%			488				10,663				13.8	%
Total National   Programs			120,026				108,212				11,814				10.9	%			488				11,326				10.5	%
Services			23,832				27,528				(3,696	)			(13.4	)%			-				(3,696	)			(13.4	)%
Total Core   Commissions   and Fees		$	684,640			$	638,123			$	46,517				7.3	%		$	83,319			$	(36,802	)			(5.8	)%

The reconciliation of the above internal growth schedule to the total Commissions and Fees included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

		For the nine months ended September 30,
		2008				2007
Total core commissions and fees		$	684,640			$	638,123
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			51,489				55,678
Divested business			—				7,655
Total commission and fees		$	736,129			$	701,456

 

(1)

The Retail segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 14 which includes corporate and consolidation items.

 

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2007		For the nine months ended September 30,
		2007				2006				Total Net Change				Total Net Growth %				Less Acquisition Revenues				Internal Net Growth $				Internal Net Growth %
Florida Retail		$	134,080			$	129,858			$	4,222				3.3	%		$	2,126			$	2,096				1.6	%
National Retail			180,521				154,527				25,994				16.8	%			25,358				636				0.4	%
Western Retail			73,447				77,593				(4,146	)			(5.3	)%			356				(4,502	)			(5.8	)%
Total Retail(1)			388,048				361,978				26,070				7.2	%			27,840				(1,770	)			(0.5	)%
Wholesale   Brokerage			121,990				113,896				8,094				7.1	%			11,767				(3,673	)			(3.2	)%
Professional Programs			30,718				29,887				831				2.8	%			376				455				1.5	%
Special Programs			77,494				80,220				(2,726	)			(3.4	)%			5,347				(8,073	)			(10.1	)%
Total National   Programs			108,212				110,107				(1,895	)			(1.7	)%			5,723				(7,618	)			(6.9	)%
Services			27,528				23,859				3,669				15.4	%			2,328				1,341				5.6	%
Total Core   Commissions   and Fees		$	645,778			$	609,840			$	35,938				5.9	%		$	47,658			$	(11,720	)			(1.9	)%

The reconciliation of the above internal growth schedule to the total Commissions and Fees included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

		For the nine months ended September 30,
		2007				2006
Total core commissions and fees		$	645,778			$	609,840
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			55,678				40,163
Divested business			—				3,897
Total commission and fees		$	701,456			$	653,900

 

(1)

The Retail segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 14 which includes corporate and consolidation items.

 

 

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Retail Division

The Retail Division provides a broad range of insurance products and services to commercial, public and quasi-public, professional and individual insured customers. More than 96.1% of the Retail Division’s commissions and fees revenues are commission-based.  Since the majority of our operating expenses do not change as premiums fluctuate, we believe that most of any fluctuation in the commissions net of related compensation that we receive will be reflected in our pre-tax income.

Financial information relating to Brown & Brown's Retail Division for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages): 

		For the three months												For the nine months
		ended September 30,												ended September 30,
										%												%
		2008				2007				Change				2008				2007				Change
REVENUES
Commissions and fees		$	144,909			$	127,108				14.0	%		$	422,599			$	388,833				8.7	%
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			1,795				2,359				(23.9	)%			25,704				33,348				(22.9	)%
Investment income			129				65				98.5	%			878				164				435.4	%
Other income (loss), net			(330	)			7,327				(104.5	)%			1,778				11,889				(85.0	)%
Total revenues			146,503				136,859				7.0	%			450,959				434,234				3.9	%
EXPENSES
Employee compensation and benefits			73,604				64,059				14.9	%			217,961				197,502				10.4	%
Non-cash stock-based compensation			900				809				11.2	%			2,719				2,431				11.8	%
Other operating expenses			22,310				22,338				(0.1	)%			68,725				65,624				4.7	%
Amortization			7,268				5,654				28.5	%			19,943				15,885				25.5	%
Depreciation			1,559				1,415				10.2	%			4,518				4,255				6.2	%
Interest			8,285				5,474				51.4	%			21,864				15,217				43.7	%
Total expenses			113,926				99,749				14.2	%			335,730				300,914				11.6	%
Income before income taxes		$	32,577			$	37,110				(12.2	)%		$	115,229			$	133,320				(13.6	)%
Net internal growth rate – core commissions and fees			(5.0	)%			(6.0	)%							(6.9	)%			(0.5	)%
Employee compensation and benefits ratio			50.2	%			46.8	%							48.3	%			45.5	%
Other operating expenses ratio			15.2	%			16.3	%							15.2	%			15.1	%
Capital expenditures		$	1,061			$	1,666							$	3,218			$	4,591
Total assets at September 30, 2008 and 2007														$	1,636,519			$	1,285,096

  

The Retail Division's total revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased 7.0%, or $9.6 million, over the same period in 2007, to $146.5 million. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the third quarter of 2008 decreased $0.6 million, or 23.9%, from the third quarter of 2007. Of the net increase in commissions and fees, approximately $26.9 million related to the core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2007. Commissions and fees recorded in the third quarter of 2007 from business divested during 2008 was $2.4 million. The remaining net decrease is primarily due to net lost business of $6.1 million in core commissions and fees. The Retail Division's internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (5.0)% for the third quarter of 2008 and was driven primarily by continuing declines of insurance premium rates, although at rates of decline that seem to be slowing in many parts of the United States.  However, in most parts of the United States the economy is also showing signs of declining insurable exposure units, such as sales and payroll levels.  Additionally, other income for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased $7.7 million from the same period in 2007 as a result of fewer gains from sales of books of business.

 

Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 12.2 %, or $4.5 million from the same period in 2007, to $32.6 million. This decrease is primarily due to net lost business and lower other income.

 

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The Retail Division's total revenues during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased 3.9%, or $16.7 million, to $451.0 million. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, decreased $7.6 million from the same period in 2007. Of the increase in commissions and fees, approximately $68.7 million related to the core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2007. Commissions and fees recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 from business divested during 2008 was $7.7 million.  The remaining net decrease of $26.3 million is primarily due to net lost business in core commissions and fees. The Retail Division's internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (6.9)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and was driven primarily by declining insurance property and casualty rates in the southeastern United States but was also affected by the continued softening of insurance premium rates in other regions of the United States.  Additionally, other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased $10.1 million from the same period in 2007 as a result of fewer gains from the sales of books of business.

 Income before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 13.6%, or $18.1 million, to $115.2 million. This decrease is primarily due to net lost business, lower profit-sharing contingent commission revenues and lower other income.

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 Wholesale Brokerage Division

 

The Wholesale Brokerage Division markets and sells excess and surplus commercial and personal lines insurance and reinsurance, primarily through independent agents and brokers. Like the Retail and National Programs Divisions, the Wholesale Brokerage Division's revenues are primarily commission-based.

Financial information relating to our Wholesale Brokerage Division for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages): 

 

		For the three months												For the nine months
		ended September 30,												ended September 30,
										%												%
		2008				2007				Change				2008				2007				Change
REVENUES
Commissions and fees		$	36,491			$	39,354				(7.3	)%		$	117,892			$	121,990				(3.4	)%
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			7,833				6,515				20.2	%			17,969				17,685				1.6	%
Investment income			399				799				(50.1	)%			1,223				2,262				(45.9	)%
Other income, net			64				626				(89.8	)%			385				607				(36.6	)%
Total revenues			44,787				47,294				(5.3	)%			137,469				142,544				(3.6	)%
EXPENSES
Employee compensation and benefits			21,819				21,713				0.5	%			67,358				66,593				1.1	%
Non-cash stock-based compensation			220				198				11.1	%			617				593				4.0	%
Other operating expenses			9,603				7,816				22.9	%			26,289				23,281				12.9	%
Amortization			2,613				2,293				14.0	%			7,646				6,759				13.1	%
Depreciation			725				713				1.7	%			2,169				1,974				9.9	%
Interest			4,443				4,815				(7.7	)%			13,756				14,197				(3.1	)%
Total expenses			39,423				37,548				5.0	%			117,835				113,397				3.9	%
Income before income taxes		$	5,364			$	9,746				(45.0	)%		$	19,634			$	29,147				(32.6	)%
Net internal growth rate – core commissions and fees			(17.0	)%			(3.0	)%							(14.9	)%			(3.2	)%
Employee compensation and benefits ratio			48.7	%			45.9	%							49.0	%			46.7	%
Other operating expenses ratio			21.4	%			16.5	%							19.1	%			16.3	%
Capital expenditures		$	886			$	425							$	4,148			$	2,425
Total assets at September 30, 2008 and 2007														$	629,145			$	649,610

 

The Wholesale Brokerage Division's total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 5.3%, or $2.5 million, from the same period in 2007, to $44.8 million.  Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the third quarter of 2008 increased $1.3 million over the same quarter of 2007. Of the net decrease in core commissions and fees, approximately $3.8 million related to core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2007. The remaining net decrease is primarily due to $6.7 million of net lost business in core commissions and fees. As such, the Wholesale Brokerage Division's internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (17.0)% for the third quarter of 2008. The continuing net lost business is broad-based and negatively impacted nearly all of our wholesale brokerage operations.  The lost business is the result of continuing soft property and casualty rates, the slowing residential home-building market and the movement of accounts from the excess and surplus lines market to standard carriers.

Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 45.0%, or $4.4 million from the same period in 2007, to $5.4 million, primarily due to net lost business.

 

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The Wholesale Brokerage Division's total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 3.6%, or $5.1 million, to $137.5 million from the same period in 2007. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $0.3 million from the same period in 2007. Of the decrease in core commissions and fees, approximately $14.1 million related to core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2007.  The remaining net decrease is primarily due to net lost business of $18.2 million in core commissions and fees. As such, the Wholesale Brokerage Division's internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (14.9)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  The majority of the net lost business was attributable to the $4.4 million impact of decreasing property and casualty rates in Florida, the $2.3 million impact of the soft reinsurance marketplace on our reinsurance brokerage operation, and the $4.0 million impact of the slowing residential home-builders’ market on one of our Wholesale Brokerage operations that focuses on that industry in the southwestern region of the United States.  Our Wholesale Brokerage operations in other parts of the country are being negatively affected by a combination of declining insurance rates and increased competition from the standard lines carriers.

 Income before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 32.6%, or $9.5 million, to $19.6 million from the same period in 2007, primarily due to net lost business. 

 

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National Programs Division

 

The National Programs Division is comprised of two units: Professional Programs, which provides professional liability and related package products for certain professionals delivered through nationwide networks of independent agents; and Special Programs, which markets targeted products and services designated for specific industries, trade groups, governmental entities and market niches. Like the Retail and Wholesale Brokerage Divisions, the National Programs Division's revenues are primarily commission-based.

Financial information relating to our National Programs Division for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):  

    

		For the three months												For the nine months
		ended September 30,												ended September 30,
										%												%
		2008				2007				Change				2008				2007				Change
REVENUES
Commissions and fees		$	45,076			$	41,611				8.3	%		$	120,026			$	108,212				10.9	%
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			102				1				NMF	%			7,816				4,645				68.3	%
Investment income			77				136				(43.4	)%			263				377				(30.2	)%
Other income (loss), net			(15	)			30				(150.0	)%			36				19				89.5	%
Total revenues			45,240				41,778				8.3	%			128,141				113,253				13.1	%
EXPENSES
Employee compensation and benefits			17,678				16,275				8.6	%			50,229				46,321				8.4	%
Non-cash stock-based compensation			198				197				0.5	%			600				602				(0.3	)%
Other operating expenses			6,882				6,321				8.9	%			20,015				18,221				9.8	%
Amortization			2,275				2,259				0.7	%			6,825				6,779				0.7	%
Depreciation			695				680				2.2	%			2,017				2,088				(3.4	)%
Interest			1,834				2,473				(25.8	)%			5,890				7,694				(23.4	)%
Total expenses			29,562				28,205				4.8	%			85,576				81,705				4.7	%
Income before income taxes		$	15,678			$	13,573				15.5	%		$	42,565			$	31,548				34.9	%
Net internal growth rate – core commissions and fees			7.8	%			5.4	%							10.5	%			(6.9	)%
Employee compensation and benefits ratio			39.1	%			39.0	%							39.2	%			40.9	%
Other operating expenses ratio			15.2	%			15.1	%							15.6	%			16.1	%
Capital expenditures		$	612			$	510							$	1,980			$	1,516
Total assets at September 30, 2008 and 2007														$	615,028			$	553,453

Total revenues for National Programs for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased 8.3%, or $3.5 million, over the same period in 2007, to $45.2 million.  Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the third quarter of 2008 increased $0.1 million over the third quarter of 2007. Included within the net increase in core commissions and fees is approximately $0.2 million related to core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2007. The remaining net increase of approximately $3.3 million is primarily due to net new business. Therefore, the National Programs Division's internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was 7.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2008.   The Professional Programs Unit within the National Programs Division had a 4.0% internal growth rate due to continued stabilizing professional liability rates. Additionally, the Special Programs Unit had a 9.2% internal growth rate, primarily due to approximately $1.8 million of net new business generated by our Proctor Financial Services subsidiary and to the approximately $0.5 million net increase in core commissions and fees in our condominium program at our FIU subsidiary. 

Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2008 increased 15.5%, or $2.1 million, over the same period in 2007, to $15.7 million.  This increase is primarily due to net new business.

 

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Total revenues for National Programs for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased 13.1%, or $14.9 million, to $128.1 million. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased $3.2 million over the same period in 2007. Of the net increase in core commissions and fees, approximately $0.5 million related to core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2007. The remaining net increase of approximately $11.3 million is primarily due to net new business. Therefore, the National Programs Division's internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was 10.5%. The Professional Programs Unit within the National Programs Division had a 2.2% internal growth rate due to stabilizing professional liability rates. Additionally, the Special Programs Unit had a 13.8% internal growth rate, primarily due to approximately $10.5 million of net new business generated by our Proctor Financial Services subsidiary and to the approximately $0.9 million net increase in core commissions and fees in our FIU subsidiary. 

Income before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 increased 34.9%, or $11.0 million, to $42.6 million, over the same period in 2007. This increase is primarily due to net new business generated by our Proctor Financial Services subsidiary.

 

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Services Division

The Services Division provides insurance-related services, including third-party claims administration and comprehensive medical utilization management services in both the workers' compensation and all-lines liability areas, as well as Medicare set-aside services. Unlike our other segments, approximately 98% of the Services Division's 2008 commissions and fees revenue is generated from fees, which are not significantly affected by fluctuations in general insurance premiums.

Financial information relating to our Services Division for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

		For the three months												For the nine months
		ended September 30,												ended September 30,
										%												%
		2008				2007				Change				2008				2007				Change
REVENUES
Commissions and fees		$	7,917			$	9,390				(15.7	)%		$	23,832			$	27,528				(13.4	)%
Profit-sharing contingent commissions			-				-				-				-				-				-
Investment income			7				8				(12.5	)%			6				25				(76.0	)%
Other income (loss), net			(4	)			(144	)			(97.2	)%			(7	)			(144	)			(95.1	)%
Total revenues			7,920				9,254				(14.4	)%			23,831				27,409				(13.1	)%
EXPENSES
Employee compensation and benefits			4,437				4,704				(5.7	)%			13,474				14,810				(9.0	)%
Non-cash stock-based compensation			35				35				-				105				105				-
Other operating expenses			1,270				1,348				(5.8	)%			3,684				4,108				(10.3	)%
Amortization			115				115				-				346				346				-
Depreciation			97				125				(22.4	)%			317				420				(24.5	)%
Interest			193				194				(0.5	)%			559				526				6.3	%
Total expenses			6,147				6,521				(5.7	)%			18,485				20,315				(9.0	)%
Income before income taxes		$	1,773			$	2,733				(35.1	)%		$	5,346			$	7,094				(24.6	)%
Net internal growth rate – core commissions and fees			(15.7	)%			2.5	%							(13.4	)%			5.6	%
Employee compensation and benefits ratio			56.0	%			50.8	%							56.5	%			54.0	%
Other operating expenses ratio			16.0	%			14.6	%							15.5	%			15.0	%
Capital expenditures		$	34			$	42							$	160			$	283
Total assets at September 30, 2008 and 2007														$	43,238			$	38,926

 

The Services Division's total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 14.4%, or $1.3 million, from the same period in 2007, to $7.9 million. Core commissions and fees reflect an internal growth rate of (15.7)% for the third quarter of 2008, primarily due to the loss of one of our largest third-party administration clients in August 2007.

Income before income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 35.1%, or $1.0 million, from the same period in 2007 to $1.8 million, primarily due to net lost business.

 

The Services Division's total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 13.1%, or $3.6 million, to $23.8 million from the same period in 2007. Core commissions and fees reflect an internal growth rate of (13.4)% for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to the loss of one of our largest third-party administration clients in August 2007.

Income before income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 decreased 24.6%, or $1.7 million, to $5.3 million from the same period in 2007, primarily due to net lost business.

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Other

As discussed in Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the “Other” column in the Segment Information table includes any income and expenses not allocated to reportable segments, and corporate-related items, including the inter-company interest expense charged to the reporting segment.

Investment income included in the “Other” column in the Segment Information table reflects a realized gain from the sale of our common stock investment in Rock-Tenn Company.  For the year 2007, we recognized a total gain on the sale of the Rock-Tenn investment of $18.7 million.  As of June 30, 2007, we no longer owned any shares of Rock-Tenn Company.

 

 LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

As discussed in Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we report all cash that will ultimately be used to pay premiums to insurance companies as “Restricted cash and investments”, regardless of whether the cash is held in legally restricted state-mandated premium trust accounts or in unrestricted commingled operating cash accounts.  Since $221.6 million of cash has been used for acquisitions during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, all of the $240.6 million of our cash at September 30, 2008 has been recorded as restricted cash and investment, though only $130.7 million of these funds are held in legally restricted state-mandated premium trust accounts.

Our cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2008 was $0.0 million reflecting a net use of cash and cash equivalents of $38.2 million from the $38.2 million cash and cash equivalents balance at December 31, 2007.  For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008, $204.1 million of cash was provided from operating activities. Also during this period, $221.6 million of cash was used for acquisitions, $11.1 million was used for additions to fixed assets, $15.7 million was used for payments on long-term debt and $29.6 million was used for payment of dividends.  Additionally, on February 1, 2008 we borrowed $25.0 million pursuant to our Master Agreement described below.  As of September 30, 2008, we have $150.0 million and $50.0 million immediately available from our Master Agreement and Loan Agreement described below.

Our ratio of current assets to current liabilities (the “current ratio”) was 1.00 and 1.10 at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

Contractual Cash Obligations

As of September 30, 2008, our contractual cash obligations were as follows:

 

		Payments Due by Period
						Less Than											After 5
(in thousands)		Total				1 Year				1-3 Years				4-5 Years			Years
Long-term debt		$	261,317			$	7,664			$	103,653			$	-		$	150,000
Capital lease obligations			41				39				2				-			-
Other long-term liabilities			11,912				9,624				352				462			1,474
Operating leases			97,172				25,478				39,494				19,583			12,617
Interest obligations			71,922				14,510				28,625				17,675			11,112
Unrecognized tax benefits			471				-				471				-			-
Maximum future acquisition contingency payments			233,370				67,923				161,364				4,083			-
Total contractual cash obligations		$	676,205			$	125,238			$	333,961			$	41,803		$	175,203

 

 

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 In July 2004, we completed a private placement of $200.0 million of unsecured senior notes (the “Notes”). The $200.0 million is divided into two series: Series A, for $100.0 million due in 2011 and bearing interest at 5.57% per year; and Series B, for $100.0 million due in 2014 and bearing interest at 6.08% per year. The closing on the Series B Notes occurred on July 15, 2004. The closing on the Series A Notes occurred on September 15, 2004. Brown & Brown has used the proceeds from the Notes for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and repayment of existing debt. As of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 there was an outstanding balance of $200.0 million on the Notes.

On December 22, 2006, we entered into a Master Shelf and Note Purchase Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) with a national insurance company (the “Purchaser”). The Purchaser also purchased Notes issued by the Company in 2004. The Master Agreement provides for a $200.0 million private uncommitted “shelf” facility for the issuance of senior unsecured notes over a three-year period, with interest rates that may be fixed or floating and with such maturity dates, not to exceed ten years, as the parties may determine. The Master Agreement includes various covenants, limitations and events of default similar to the Notes issued in 2004. The initial issuance of notes under the Master Agreement occurred on December 22, 2006, through the issuance of $25.0 million in Series C Senior Notes due December 22, 2016, with a fixed interest rate of 5.66% per annum. On February 1, 2008, we issued $25.0 million in Series D Senior Notes due January 15, 2015, with a fixed interest rate of 5.37% per annum. As of September 30, 2008, there was an outstanding balance of $50.0 million under the Master Agreement.

 

On June 12, 2008, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with a national banking institution that was dated as of June 3, 2008, amending and restating the existing Revolving Loan Agreement dated September 29, 2003, as amended (the “Revolving Agreement”), in order to increase the lending commitment to $50.0 million (subject to potential increases up to $100.0 million) and extend the maturity date from December 20, 2011 to June 3, 2013.  The Revolving Agreement initially provided for a revolving credit facility in the maximum principal amount of $75.0 million.  After a series of amendments that provided covenant exceptions for the notes issued or to be issued under the Master Agreement, and relaxed or deleted certain other covenants, the maximum principal amount was reduced to $20.0 million.  The calculation of interest and fees is generally based on the Company's quarterly ratio of funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock-based compensation.  Interest is charged at a rate equal to 0.50% to 1.00% above the London Interbank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) or 1.00% below the base rate, each as more fully defined in the Loan Agreement.  Fees include an upfront fee, an availability fee of 0.10% to 0.20%, and a letter of credit usage fee of 0.50% to 1.00%.  The Loan Agreement contains various covenants, limitations, and events of default customary for similar facilities for similar borrowers.  The 90-day LIBOR was 4.05% and 4.70% as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. There were no borrowings against this facility at September 30, 2008 or December 31, 2007.

 

In January 2001, we entered into a $90.0 million unsecured seven-year term loan agreement with a national banking institution, bearing an interest rate based upon the 30-, 60- or 90-day LIBOR plus 0.50% to 1.00%, depending upon Brown & Brown’s quarterly ratio of funded debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash stock-based compensation. The loan was fully funded on January 3, 2001 and was to be repaid in equal quarterly installments of $3,200,000 through December 2007. As of December 31, 2007 the outstanding balance had been paid in full.

 

All four of these credit agreements require us to maintain certain financial ratios and comply with certain other covenants. We were in compliance with all such covenants as of September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

 

Neither we nor our subsidiaries has ever incurred off-balance sheet obligations through the use of, or investment in, off-balance sheet derivative financial instruments or structured finance or special purpose entities organized as corporations, partnerships or limited liability companies or trusts.

 

We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investment portfolio and funds generated from operations, together with our Master Agreement and Loan Agreement described above, will be sufficient to satisfy our normal liquidity needs through at least the next 12 months. Additionally, we believe that funds generated from future operations will be sufficient to satisfy our normal liquidity needs, including the required annual principal payments on our long-term debt.

 

Historically, much of our cash has been used for acquisitions. If additional acquisition opportunities should become available that exceed our current cash flow, we believe that given our relatively low debt-to-total-capitalization ratio, we would have the ability to raise additional capital through either the private or public debt markets.

 

In December 2001, a universal “shelf” registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) covering the public offering and sale, from time to time, of an aggregate of up to $250.0 million of debt and/or equity securities, was declared effective. The net proceeds from the sale of such securities could be used to fund acquisitions and for general corporate purposes, including capital expenditures, and to meet working capital needs. A common stock follow-on offering of 5,000,000 shares in March 2002 was made pursuant to this “shelf” registration statement. As of December 31, 2007, approximately $90.0 million of the universal “shelf” registration remains available. This universal “shelf” registration statement will expire on December 1, 2008, so if we should need to publicly raise additional funds, we may need to register additional securities with the SEC.

 

 

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Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

We make “forward-looking statements” within the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 throughout this report and in the documents we incorporate by reference into this report. You can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan” and “continue” or similar words. We have based these statements on our current expectations about future events. Although we believe that our expectations reflected in or suggested by our forward-looking statements are reasonable, our actual results may differ materially from what we currently expect. Important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this report include:

 

	●	material adverse changes in economic conditions in the markets we serve;
	●	future regulatory actions and conditions in the states in which we conduct our business;
	●	competition from others in the insurance agency and brokerage business;
	●	a significant portion of business written by Brown & Brown is for customers located in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. Accordingly, the occurrence of adverse economic conditions, an adverse regulatory climate, or a disaster in any of these states could have a material adverse effect on our business, although no such conditions have been encountered in the past;
	●	the integration of our operations with those of businesses or assets we have acquired or may acquire in the future and the failure to realize the expected benefits of such integration; and
	●	other risks and uncertainties as may be detailed from time to time in our public announcements and SEC filings.

 

You should carefully read this report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements.

 

We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

	BROWN & BROWN, INC.
	/s/ CORY T. WALKER
Date: November 10, 2008	Cory T. Walker Sr. Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (duly authorized officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

 

 

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