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BROWN & BROWN, INC. - Quarter Report: 2010 March (Form 10-Q)

FORM 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010

Or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-13619

 

 

BROWN & BROWN, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Florida  

 

LOGO

 

  59-0864469

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

   

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

220 South Ridgewood Avenue,

Daytona Beach, FL

    32114
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (386) 252-9601

Registrant’s Website: www.bbinsurance.com

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  x     No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).     Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $.10 par value, outstanding as of May 3, 2010 was 142,150,278.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

BROWN & BROWN, INC.

INDEX

 

     PAGE NO.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
   Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited):   
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009    4
      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009    5
      Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009    6
      Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements    7
   Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    17
   Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    29
   Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    30
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   
   Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    31
   Item1A.    Risk Factors    31
   Item 6.    Exhibits    31
SIGNATURE    32

 

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Table of Contents

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Brown & Brown, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (collectively, “we,” “Brown & Brown” or the “Company”), makes “forward-looking statements” within the “safe harbor” provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, 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,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimate,” “plan” and “continue” or similar words. We have based these statements on our current expectations about future events. Although we believe the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-Q and those reports, statements, information and announcements incorporated by reference are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business, a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements, whether oral or written, made by us or on our behalf. Many of these factors have previously been identified in filings or statements made by us or on our behalf. Important factors which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this report include the following items, in addition to those matters described in Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”:

 

   

Material adverse changes in economic conditions in the markets we serve and in the general economy;

 

   

Future regulatory actions and conditions in the states in which we conduct our business;

 

   

Competition from others in the insurance agency, wholesale brokerage, insurance programs and service business;

 

   

A significant portion of business written by Brown & Brown is for customers located in California, Florida, Indiana, 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;

 

   

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 Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings.

Forward-looking statements that we make or that are made by others on our behalf are based on a knowledge of our business and the environment in which we operate, but because of the factors listed above, among others, actual results may differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Consequently, these cautionary statements qualify all of the forward-looking statements we make herein. We cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that those results or developments will yield the expected consequences for us or affect us, our business or our operations in the way we expect. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. We assume no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements.

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM  1 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

BROWN & BROWN, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
(in thousands, except per share data)    2010     2009  

REVENUES

    

Commissions and fees

   $ 250,674      $ 263,964   

Investment income

     331        310   

Other income (loss), net

     1,268        (694 )
                

Total revenues

     252,273        263,580   

EXPENSES

    

Employee compensation and benefits

     122,183        127,341   

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     1,955        1,816   

Other operating expenses

     36,333        35,864   

Amortization

     12,553        12,385   

Depreciation

     3,253        3,333   

Interest

     3,608        3,634   

Change in estimated acquisition earn-out payable

     (696     —     
                

Total expenses

     179,189        184,373   
                

Income before income taxes

     73,084        79,207   

Income taxes

     28,956        31,195   
                

Net income

   $ 44,128      $ 48,012   
                

Net income per share:

    

Basic

   $ 0.31      $ 0.34   
                

Diluted

   $ 0.31      $ 0.34   
                

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

    

Basic

     137,623        136,935   
                

Diluted

     137,791        137,220   
                

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.0775      $ 0.075   
                

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

(in thousands, except per share data)    March 31,
2010
   December 31,
2009

ASSETS

     

Current Assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 228,805    $ 197,113

Restricted cash and investments

     146,360      155,257

Short-term investments

     8,345      8,213

Premiums, commissions and fees receivable

     211,897      209,462

Deferred income taxes

     —        11,791

Other current assets

     30,717      31,863
             

Total current assets

     626,124      613,699

Fixed assets, net

     60,325      61,467

Goodwill

     1,091,791      1,074,397

Amortizable intangible assets, net

     465,290      468,862

Other assets

     5,907      5,801
             

Total assets

   $ 2,249,437    $ 2,224,226
             

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current Liabilities:

     

Premiums payable to insurance companies

   $ 327,281    $ 310,296

Premium deposits and credits due customers

     31,314      37,715

Accounts payable

     29,353      17,431

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     61,686      96,387

Current portion of long-term debt

     6,015      17,124
             

Total current liabilities

     455,649      478,953

Long-term debt

     250,030      250,209

Deferred income taxes, net

     119,184      115,609

Other liabilities

     19,177      9,581

Shareholders’ Equity:

     

Common stock, par value $0.10 per share; authorized 280,000 shares; issued and outstanding 142,128 at 2010 and 142,076 at 2009

     14,213      14,208

Additional paid-in capital

     270,261      267,856

Retained earnings

     1,120,918      1,087,805

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of related income tax effect of $3 at 2010 and $3 at 2009

     5      5
             

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,405,397      1,369,874
             

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 2,249,437    $ 2,224,226
             

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
(in thousands)    2010     2009  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 44,128      $ 48,012   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Amortization

     12,553        12,385   

Depreciation

     3,253        3,333   

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     1,955        1,816   

Change in acquisition earn-out payable

     (696 )     —     

Deferred income taxes

     15,366        17,325   

Net (gain) loss on sales of investments, fixed assets, and customer accounts

     (635 )     1,007   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect from acquisitions and divestitures:

    

Restricted cash and investments decrease

     8,897        3,910   

Premiums, commissions and fees receivable (increase) decrease

     (2,435 )     15,504   

Other assets decrease

     1,677        6,029   

Premiums payable to insurance companies increase

     16,949        9,603   

Premium deposits and credits due customers (decrease) increase

     (6,401     1,431   

Accounts payable increase

     11,912        12,825   

Accrued expenses (decrease)

     (34,764     (41,022

Other liabilities increase

     2,032        1,002   
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     73,791        93,160   

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Additions to fixed assets

     (2,054     (3,158

Payments for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired

     (17,204     (27,970

Proceeds from sales of fixed assets and customer accounts

     241        32   

Purchases of investments

     (509     (544

Proceeds from sales of investments

     383        562   
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (19,143     (31,078

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Payments on long-term debt

     (12,396     (4,078

Issuances of common stock for employee stock benefit plans

     455        496   

Cash dividends paid

     (11,015     (10,618
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (22,956     (14,200
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     31,692        47,882   

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     197,113        78,557   
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 228,805      $ 126,439   
                

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC.

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, insurance programs and services organization that markets and sells to its customers insurance products and services, primarily in the property and casualty area. 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 National Programs Division, which is composed 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, public and quasi-public entities and market niches; the Wholesale Brokerage Division, which markets and sells excess and surplus commercial insurance and reinsurance, primarily through independent agents and brokers; 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 (“U.S. 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 U.S. 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, 2009.

Results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2010.

NOTE 3· Net Income Per Share

Effective in 2009, the Company adopted new Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) authoritative guidance, which states that unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents are participating securities and, therefore, are included in computing earnings per share (“EPS”) pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating securities according to dividends or dividend equivalents and their respective participation rights in undistributed earnings. Performance stock shares granted to employees under the Company’s Performance Stock Plan are considered participating securities as they receive non-forfeitable dividend equivalents at the same rate as common stock. This new guidance was adopted via retroactive application for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, resulting in no change in either basic or diluted EPS for periods presented.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

Basic EPS is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is computed based on the weighted average common shares issued and outstanding plus equivalent shares assuming exercise of stock options. The dilutive effect of stock options is computed by application of the treasury stock method. For the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, the impact of outstanding options to purchase shares of common stock of 1,457,000 and 0 shares, respectively, were antidilutive and were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share. The following is a reconciliation between basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31:

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
(in thousands, except per share data)    2010     2009  

Net income

   $ 44,128      $ 48,012   

Net income attributable to unvested awarded performance stock

     (1,394     (1,568
                

Net income attributable to common shares

   $ 42,734      $ 46,444   
                

Weighted average basic number of common shares outstanding

     142,112        141,558   

Less unvested awarded performance stock included in weighted average basic share outstanding

     (4,489     (4,623
                

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for basic earnings per common share

     137,623        136,935   

Dilutive effect of stock options

     168        285   
                

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     137,791        137,220   
                

Net income per share:

    

Basic

   $ 0.31      $ 0.34   
                

Diluted

   $ 0.31      $ 0.34   
                

NOTE 4· New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance establishing two levels of U.S. GAAP — authoritative and nonauthoritative — and making the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) the source of authoritative, nongovernmental U.S. GAAP, except for rules and interpretive releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). This guidance, which was incorporated into ASC Topic 105 — Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, was effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption changed certain disclosure references to U.S. GAAP, but did not have any other impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Subsequent Events — In May 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance establishing general standards of accounting for, and disclosures of, events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This guidance, which was incorporated into ASC Topic 855 — Subsequent Events, was effective on a prospective basis for interim or annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, and was adopted on June 1, 2009.

Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date and time the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were issued on May 6, 2010. No material subsequent events have occurred since March 31, 2010 that required recognition or disclosure in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

International Accounting Standards — International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) are a set of standards and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board. The SEC is currently considering a potential IFRS adoption process in the United States, which could, in the near term, provide domestic issuers with an alternative accounting method and which could ultimately replace U.S. GAAP reporting requirements with IFRS reporting requirements. We are currently investigating the implications should we be required to adopt IFRS in the future.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 5· Business Combinations

Acquisitions in 2010

For the three months ended March 31, 2010, Brown & Brown acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of five insurance intermediaries and several books of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price of these acquisitions was $25,602,000, including $17,059,000 of net cash payments, the issuance of notes payable of $175,000, the assumption of $109,000 of liabilities, and $8,259,000 of recorded earn-out payables. 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 profit earned over a one- to three-year period, within a minimum and maximum price range. The recorded purchase prices for all acquisitions consummated after January 1, 2009 includes an estimation of the fair value of liabilities associated with any potential earn-out provisions. Subsequent changes in the fair value of earn-out obligations will be recorded in the consolidated statement of income when incurred.

The fair value of earn-out obligations is based on the present value of the expected future payments to be made to the sellers of the acquired businesses in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective purchase agreements. In determining fair value, the acquired business’s future performance is estimated using financial projections developed by management for the acquired business and reflects market participant assumptions regarding revenue growth and/or profitability. The expected future payments are estimated on the basis of the earn-out formula and performance targets specified in each purchase agreement compared with the associated financial projections. These payments are then discounted to present value using a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration the likelihood that the forecasted earn-out payments will be made.

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

 

(in thousands)                                   

Name

   Business
Segment
   2010
Date of
Acquisition
   Net
Cash
Paid
   Note
Payable
   Recorded
Earn-out
Payable
   Recorded
Purchase
Price
   Maximum
Potential
Earn-out
Payable

DiMartino Associates, Inc.

   Retail    March 1    $ 7,047    $ —      $ 3,402    $ 10,449    $ 5,637

Other

   Various    Various      10,012      175      4,857      15,044      9,044
                                        

Total

         $ 17,059    $ 175    $ 8,259    $ 25,493    $ 14,681
                                        

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

 

(in thousands)    DiMartino    Other     Total  

Fiduciary cash

   $ —      $ —        $ —     

Other current assets

     —        —          —     

Fixed assets

     21      92        113   

Goodwill

     7,027      9,288        16,315   

Purchased customer accounts

     3,380      5,714        9,094   

Noncompete agreements

     21      59        80   

Other assets

     —        —          —     
                       

Total assets acquired

     10,449      15,153        25,602   

Other current liabilities

     —        (109     (109
                       

Total liabilities assumed

     —        (109     (109
                       

Net assets acquired

   $ 10,449    $ 15,044      $ 25,493   
                       

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.

Goodwill of $16,315,000, of which $8,107,000 is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes, was assigned to the Retail and Services Divisions in the amounts of $10,917,000 and $5,398,000, respectively.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

The results of operations for the acquisitions completed during 2010 have been combined with those of the Company since their respective acquisition dates. The total revenues and income before income taxes from the acquisitions completed through March 31, 2010 included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 were $1,787,000 and $372,000, respectively. If the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of the 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.

 

(UNAUDITED)    For the three months
ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)    2010    2009

Total revenues

   $ 253,808    $ 266,227

Income before income taxes

     73,572      80,044

Net income

     44,423      48,519

Net income per share:

     

Basic

   $ 0.31    $ 0.34

Diluted

   $ 0.31    $ 0.34

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

     

Basic

     137,623      136,935

Diluted

     137,791      137,220

Acquisitions in 2009

For the three months ended March 31, 2009, Brown & Brown acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of two insurance intermediaries and a book of business (customer accounts). The aggregate purchase price of these acquisitions was $29,256,000, including $26,343,000 of net cash payments, the assumption of $726,000 of liabilities and $2,187,000 of recorded earn-out payables. 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 profit earned over a one- to three-year period within a minimum and maximum price range. The recorded purchase prices for all acquisitions consummated after January 1, 2009 includes an estimation of the fair value of liabilities associated with any potential earn-out provisions. Subsequent changes in the fair value of earn-out obligations will be recorded in the consolidated statements of income when incurred.

The fair value of earn-out obligations is based on the present value of the expected future payments to be made to the sellers of the acquired businesses in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective purchase agreements. In determining fair value, the acquired business’s future performance is estimated using financial projections developed by management for the acquired business and reflects market participant assumptions regarding revenue growth and/or profitability. The expected future payments are estimated on the basis of the earn-out formula and performance targets specified in each purchase agreement compared with the associated financial projections. These payments are then discounted to present value using a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration the likelihood that the forecasted earn-out payments will be made.

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

 

(in thousands)                                   

Name

   Business
Segment
   2009
Date of
Acquisition
   Net
Cash
Paid
   Note
Payable
   Recorded
Earn-out
Payable
   Recorded
Purchase
Price
   Maximum
Potential
Earn-out
Payable

Conner Strong Companies — Small Business Unit

   Retail    January 2    $ 23,621    $ —      $ —      $ 23,621    $ —  

Other

   Various    Various      2,722      —        2,187      4,909      2,187
                                        

Total

         $ 26,343    $ —      $ 2,187    $ 28,530    $ 2,187
                                        

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

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

 

(in thousands)    Conner
Strong
    Other     Total  

Fiduciary cash

   $ —        $ —        $ —     

Other current assets

     556        1,271        1,827   

Fixed assets

     52        10        62   

Goodwill

     15,192        2,002        17,194   

Purchased customer accounts

     7,970        2,194        10,164   

Noncompete agreements

     —          11        11   

Other assets

     —          (2 )     (2 )
                        

Total assets acquired

     23,770        5,486        29,256   

Other current liabilities

     (149     (577     (726
                        

Total liabilities assumed

     (149     (577     (726
                        

Net assets acquired

   $ 23,621      $ 4,909      $ 28,530   
                        

The weighted average useful lives for the above acquired amortizable intangible assets are as follows: purchased customer accounts, 14.9 years; and noncompete agreements, 5.0 years.

Goodwill of $17,194,000, all of which is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes, was assigned to the Retail and Wholesale Brokerage Divisions in the amounts of $17,101,000 and $93,000, respectively.

The results of operations for the acquisitions completed during 2009 have been combined with those of the Company since their respective acquisition dates. The total revenues and income before income taxes from acquisitions completed through March 31, 2009 included in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 were $3,005,000 and $826,000, respectively. 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.

 

(UNAUDITED)    For the three months
ended March 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)    2009    2008

Total revenues

   $ 263,814    $ 259,632

Income before income taxes

   $ 79,294    $ 85,560

Net income

   $ 48,065    $ 52,357

Net income per share:

     

Basic

   $ 0.34    $ 0.37

Diluted

   $ 0.34    $ 0.37

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

     

Basic

     136,935      136,018

Diluted

     137,220      136,641

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

For acquisitions consummated prior to January 1, 2009, additional 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 2010 as a result of these adjustments totaled $1,079,000, all of which was allocated to goodwill. Of the $1,079,000 net additional consideration paid, $145,000 was paid in cash and $934,000 was issued in notes payable. The net additional consideration paid by the Company in 2009 as a result of these adjustments totaled $3,881,000, of which $3,851,000 was allocated to goodwill and $30,000 to noncompete agreements. Of the $3,881,000 net additional consideration paid, $1,627,000 was paid in cash and $2,254,000 was issued in notes payable. As of March 31, 2010, the maximum future contingency payments related to all acquisitions totaled $155,139,000, of which $123,134,000 relates to acquisitions consummated prior to January 1, 2009 and $32,005,000 relates to acquisitions consummated subsequent to January 1, 2009.

For acquisitions consummated after January 1, 2009, $15,486,000 was initially recorded as the estimated earn-out payable. As of March 31, 2010, the fair value of the estimated earn-out payable was re-evaluated and reduced by $837,000, which resulted in a credit to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income. Additionally, the interest expense accretion to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $140,000 and 0, respectively. As of March 31, 2010, the estimated earn-out payable was $14,883,000, of which $1,862,000 is recorded as current liabilities and $13,021,000 is recorded as non-current liabilities.

NOTE 6· Goodwill

Goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment by applying a fair value-based test. Brown & Brown completed its most recent annual assessment as of November 30, 2009 and identified no impairment as a result of the evaluation.

The changes in goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2010 are as follows:

 

(in thousands)    Retail    National
Programs
   Wholesale
Brokerage
   Services    Total

Balance as of January 1, 2010

   $ 656,108    $ 152,601    $ 256,418    $ 9,270    $ 1,074,397

Goodwill of acquired businesses

     11,996      —        —        5,398      17,394

Goodwill disposed of relating to sales of businesses

     —        —        —        —        —  
                                  

Balance as of March 31, 2010

   $ 668,104    $ 152,601    $ 256,418    $ 14,668    $ 1,091,791
                                  

NOTE 7· Amortizable Intangible Assets

Amortizable intangible assets at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following:

 

     March 31, 2010    December 31, 2009
(in thousands)    Gross
Carrying
Value
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Value
   Weighted
Average
Life
(years)
   Gross
Carrying Value
   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Carrying
Value
   Weighted
Average
Life
(years)

Purchased customer accounts

   $ 756,566    $ (292,781   $ 463,785    14.9    $747,717    $ (280,473   $ 467,244    14.9

Noncompete agreements

     24,801      (23,296     1,505    7.3    24,721      (23,103     1,618    7.3
                                               

Total

   $ 781,367    $ (316,077   $ 465,290       $772,438    $ (303,576   $ 468,862   
                                               

Amortization expense for other amortizable intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 is estimated to be $50,182,000, $48,814,000, $48,171,000, $47,271,000, and $46,085,000, respectively.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 8· Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 consisted of the following:

 

(in thousands)    2010     2009  

Unsecured senior notes

   $ 250,000      $ 250,000   

Acquisition notes payable

     6,011        17,289   

Revolving credit facility

     —          —     

Other notes payable

     34        44   
                

Total debt

     256,045        267,333   

Less current portion

     (6,015     (17,124
                

Long-term debt

   $ 250,030      $ 250,209   
                

In July 2004, the Company completed a private placement of $200.0 million of unsecured senior notes (the “Notes”). The $200.0 million is divided into two series: (1) Series A, which closed on September 15, 2004, for $100.0 million due in 2011 and bearing interest at 5.57% per year; and (2) Series B, which closed on July 15, 2004, for $100.0 million due in 2014 and bearing interest at 6.08% per year. Brown & Brown has used the proceeds from the Notes for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and repayment of existing debt. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, there was an outstanding balance of $200.0 million on the Notes.

On December 22, 2006, the Company 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 10 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 year. On February 1, 2008, $25.0 million in Series D Senior Notes due January 15, 2015, with a fixed interest rate of 5.37% per year, were issued. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 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 to 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 0.29% and 0.25% as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. There were no borrowings against this facility at March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009.

All three of these credit agreements require Brown & Brown to maintain certain financial ratios and comply with certain other covenants. Brown & Brown was in compliance with all such covenants as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

Acquisition notes payable represent debt incurred to former owners of certain insurance operations that the Company acquired. These notes and future contingent payments are payable in monthly, quarterly and annual installments through April 2011, including interest in the range from 0.0% to 6.0%.

NOTE 9· Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information and Non-Cash Financing and Investing Activities

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
(in thousands)    2010    2009

Cash paid during the period for:

     

Interest

   $ 6,157    $ 6,171

Income taxes

   $ 2,993    $ 5,950

Brown & Brown’s significant non-cash investing and financing activities are summarized as follows:

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
(in thousands)    2010    2009  

Unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax benefit of $8 for 2009

   $ —      $ (14 )

Notes payable issued or assumed for purchased customer accounts

   $ 1,109    $ 66   

Estimated acquisition earn-out payable and related changes

   $ 8,259    $ 2,187   

Notes receivable on the sale of fixed assets and customer accounts

   $ 637    $ (1,012 )

NOTE 10· Comprehensive Income

The components of comprehensive income, net of related income tax effects, are as follows:

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
(in thousands)    2010    2009  

Net income

   $ 44,128    $ 48,012   

Net unrealized holding loss on available-for-sale securities

     —        (14 )
               

Comprehensive income

   $ 44,128    $ 47,998   
               

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 11· Legal and Regulatory Proceedings

Legal Proceedings

The Company is involved in numerous pending or threatened proceedings by or against Brown & Brown, Inc. or one or more of its subsidiaries that arise in the ordinary course of business. The damages that may be claimed against the Company in these various proceedings are in some cases substantial, including in many instances claims for punitive or extraordinary damages. Some of these claims and lawsuits have been resolved, others are in the process of being resolved and others are still in the investigation or discovery phase. The Company will continue to respond appropriately to these claims and lawsuits and to vigorously protect its interests.

Although the ultimate outcome of such matters cannot be ascertained and liabilities in indeterminate amounts may be imposed on Brown & Brown, Inc. or its subsidiaries, on the basis of present information, availability of insurance and legal advice, it is the opinion of management that the disposition or ultimate determination of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position. However, as (i) one or more of the Company’s insurance carriers could take the position that portions of these claims are not covered by the Company’s insurance, (ii) to the extent that payments are made to resolve claims and lawsuits, applicable insurance policy limits are eroded and (iii) the claims and lawsuits relating to these matters are continuing to develop, it is possible that future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by unfavorable resolutions of these matters.

Governmental Investigations Regarding Compensation Practices

As disclosed in prior years, offices of the Company are parties to profit-sharing contingent commission agreements with certain insurance companies, including agreements providing for potential payment of revenue-sharing commissions by insurance companies based primarily on the overall profitability of the aggregate business written with those insurance companies and/or additional factors such as retention ratios and the overall volume of business that an office or offices place with those insurance companies. Additionally, to a lesser extent, some offices of the Company are parties to override commission agreements with certain insurance companies, which provide for commission rates in excess of standard commission rates to be applied to specific lines of business, such as group health business, and which are based primarily on the overall volume of business that such office or offices placed with those insurance companies. The Company has not chosen to discontinue receiving profit-sharing contingent commissions or override commissions.

Governmental agencies such as departments of insurance and offices of attorneys general, in a number of states have looked or are looking into issues related to compensation practices in the insurance industry, and the Company continues to respond to written and oral requests for information and/or subpoenas seeking information related to this topic. The Company is currently in litigation commenced by the Company against the Attorney General’s Office in Connecticut in an effort to protect the confidentiality of information sought by, or produced in response to, a subpoena. In addition, agencies in Arizona, Virginia, Washington and Florida have concluded their respective investigations of subsidiaries of Brown & Brown, Inc. based in those states.

The Company cannot currently predict the impact or resolution of the various governmental inquiries or related matters and thus cannot reasonably estimate a range of possible loss, which could be material, or whether the resolution of these matters may harm the Company’s business and/or lead to a decrease in or elimination of profit-sharing contingent commissions and override commissions, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition.

For a more complete discussion of the foregoing matters, please see Item 3 of Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 and Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of Part II thereof.

 

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BROWN & BROWN, INC

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 12· Segment Information

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, and to professional and individual customers; 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; the Wholesale Brokerage Division, which markets and sells excess and surplus commercial and personal lines insurance, and reinsurance, primarily through independent agents and brokers; 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. Brown & Brown conducts all of its operations within the United States of America, except for one wholesale brokerage operation based in London, England that commenced business in March 2008. This operation earned $2.6 million and $1.0 million of total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Additionally, this operation earned $6.6 million of total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Summarized financial information concerning Brown & Brown’s reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is shown in the following table. The “Other” column includes any income and expenses not allocated to reportable segments and corporate-related items, including the inter-company interest expense charge to the reporting segment.

 

     For the three months ended March 31, 2010
(in thousands)    Retail    National
Programs
   Wholesale
Brokerage
   Services    Other     Total

Total revenues

   $ 149,252    $ 54,999    $ 38,424    $ 9,010    $ 588      $ 252,273

Investment income

   $ 60    $ 1    $ 5    $ 5    $ 260      $ 331

Amortization

   $ 7,535    $ 2,305    $ 2,557    $ 146    $ 10      $ 12,553

Depreciation

   $ 1,400    $ 764    $ 715    $ 71    $ 303      $ 3,253

Interest

   $ 7,011    $ 988    $ 3,002    $ 214    $ (7,607   $ 3,608

Income before income taxes

   $ 35,477    $ 24,761    $ 4,164    $ 1,466    $ 7,216      $ 73,084

Total assets

   $ 1,802,467    $ 635,246    $ 632,165    $ 56,680    $ (877,121   $ 2,249,437

Capital expenditures

   $ 784    $ 228    $ 493    $ 56    $ 493      $ 2,054

 

     For the three months ended March 31, 2009
(in thousands)    Retail    National
Programs
   Wholesale
Brokerage
   Services    Other     Total

Total revenues

   $ 158,050    $ 57,921    $ 38,981    $ 8,091    $ 537      $ 263,580

Investment income

   $ 64    $ 1    $ 29    $ 6    $ 210      $ 310

Amortization

   $ 7,432    $ 2,269    $ 2,559    $ 115    $ 10      $ 12,385

Depreciation

   $ 1,544    $ 660    $ 716    $ 100    $ 313      $ 3,333

Interest

   $ 8,523    $ 1,469    $ 3,901    $ 193    $ (10,452   $ 3,634

Income before income taxes

   $ 38,040    $ 26,394    $ 2,989    $ 1,722    $ 10,062      $ 79,207

Total assets

   $ 1,727,803    $ 616,140    $ 635,991    $ 45,526    $ (878,144   $ 2,147,316

Capital expenditures

   $ 1,146    $ 1,083    $ 1,044    $ 7    $ (122   $ 3,158

 

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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 2009, AND THE TWO DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE READ TOGETHER.

GENERAL

Brown & Brown, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we” or the “Company”) are a diversified insurance agency, wholesale brokerage and services organization headquartered in Daytona Beach and Tampa, Florida. As an insurance intermediary, our principal sources of revenue are commissions paid by insurance companies and, to a lesser extent, fees paid directly by customers. Commission revenues generally represent a percentage of the premium paid by an 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), to determine what premium to charge the insured. Insurance companies establish these premium rates based upon many factors, including reinsurance rates paid by such insurance companies, none of which we control.

The volume of business from new and existing insured customers, fluctuations in insurable exposure units and changes in general economic and competitive conditions all affect our revenues. For example, level rates of inflation or a continuing general decline in economic activity could limit increases in the values of insurable exposure units. Conversely, the increasing costs of litigation settlements and awards have caused some customers to seek higher levels of insurance coverage. Historically, our revenues have typically grown as a result of an intense focus on net new business growth and acquisitions.

We foster a strong, decentralized sales culture with a goal of consistent, sustained growth over the long term. In 2009, our senior leadership group included nine executive officers with regional responsibility for oversight of designated operations within the Company. In July 2009, J. Powell Brown, who serves as President of Brown & Brown, Inc., succeeded his father, J. Hyatt Brown, as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Hyatt Brown continues to serve as Chairman of the Board, and remains actively involved with acquisitions and recruitment. As previously announced, Jim W. Henderson, our Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, will retire from the Company in August 2010.

We increased revenues every year from 1993 to 2008. However, in 2009, our revenues declined from the prior year to $967.9 million. Our revenue growth from 1993 to 2009 reflects a compound annual growth rate of 15.6%. In the same period, we increased net income from $8.0 million to $153.3 million in 2009, a compound annual growth rate of 20.3%.

The past three years have posed significant challenges for us and for our industry in the form of a prevailing decline in insurance premium rates, commonly referred to as a “soft market;” increased significant governmental involvement in the Florida insurance marketplace since 2007, resulting in a substantial loss of revenues for us; and, beginning in the second half of 2008 and throughout 2009, increased pressure on the values of insurable exposure units as the consequence of the general weakening of the economy in the United States.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2007 through the first quarter of 2010, we experienced negative internal revenue growth each quarter. This was due primarily to the “soft market,” and, beginning in the second half of 2008 and through the first quarter of 2010, the decline in insurable exposure units, which further reduced our commissions and fees revenues. Part of the decline in 2007 was the result of the increased governmental involvement in the Florida insurance marketplace, as described below in “Florida Insurance Overview.” One industry segment that was hit especially hard during these years 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 homebuilding segment and a program operation that places errors and omissions professional liability coverages for title agents. These operations’ revenues were negatively affected by these national economic trends primarily in 2007 and 2008, but continuing into 2010.

While insurance premium rates continued to decline for most lines of coverage during 2009 and into 2010, the rate of decline appears to be slowing. Since 2008, continued declining exposure units had a greater negative impact on our commissions and fees revenues than declining insurance premium rates. Even though we do not anticipate significant additional declines in exposure units or pricing in 2010, we currently do not see any indications of improvement in these areas.

 

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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 the aforementioned considerations for the prior year(s). Over the last three years, profit-sharing contingent commissions have averaged approximately 5.9% of the previous year’s total commissions and fees revenue. Profit-sharing contingent commissions are typically 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. In recent years, five national insurance companies have replaced the loss-ratio based profit-sharing contingent commission calculation with a guaranteed fixed-based methodology, referred to as “Guaranteed Supplemental Commissions” (“GSCs”). Since these GSCs are not subject to the uncertainty of loss ratios, they are accrued throughout the year based on actual premiums written. As of December 31, 2009, we earned $15.9 million from GSCs during 2009, most of which was collected in the first quarter of 2010. For the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, we earned $3.0 million and $4.4 million, respectively, from GSCs.

Fee revenues relate to fees negotiated in lieu of commissions, which are recognized as services are rendered. 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 National Programs and Wholesale Brokerage Divisions, which earn fees primarily for the issuance of insurance policies on behalf of insurance companies. These services are provided over a period of time, typically one year. Fee revenues, as a percentage of our total commissions and fees, represented 13.3% in 2009 and 13.7% in 2008.

Historically, investment income has consisted 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. As a result of the bank liquidity and solvency issues in the United States in the last quarter of 2008, we moved substantial amounts of our cash into non-interest bearing checking accounts so that they would be fully insured by the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or into money-market investment funds (a portion of which recently became FDIC-insured) of SunTrust Bank and Wells Fargo Bank, two large national banks. Investment income also includes gains and losses realized from the sale of investments.

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 designed to cover any type of risk or exposure; however, the exposures most commonly subject to such facilities are automobile or high-risk property exposures. 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 Florida.

In August 2002, the Florida Legislature created “Citizens Property Insurance Corporation” (“Citizens”) to be the “insurer of last resort” in Florida. Initially, Citizens charged insurance rates that were higher than those generally prevailing in the private insurance marketplace. In each of 2004 and 2005, four major hurricanes made landfall in Florida. As a consequence of the resulting significant insurance property losses, Florida property insurance rates increased in 2006. To counter the increased property insurance rates, the State of Florida instructed Citizens to essentially reduce its property insurance rates by one-half beginning in January 2007. By state law, Citizens guaranteed these rates through January 1, 2010. As a result, Citizens became one of the most, if not the most, competitive risk-bearers for a large percentage of Florida’s commercial habitational coastal property exposures, such as condominiums, apartments, and certain assisted living facilities. Additionally, Citizens became the only insurance market for certain homeowner policies throughout Florida. Today, Citizens is one of the largest underwriters of coastal property exposures in Florida. Effective January 1, 2010, Citizens raised its insurance rates, on average, 10% for properties with values of less than $10 million, and more than 10% for properties with values in excess of $10 million. As a result, the impact of Citizens should continue to decline in 2010.

In 2007, Citizens became the principal direct competitor of the insurance companies that underwrite the condominium program administered by one of our indirect subsidiaries, Florida Intracoastal Underwriters, Limited Company (“FIU”), and the excess and surplus lines insurers represented by our wholesale brokers such as Hull & Company, Inc., another of our subsidiaries. Consequently, these operations lost significant amounts of revenue to Citizens. During 2008, 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, FIU’s revenues were relatively flat and therefore, Citizens’ impact was not as dramatic as in 2007. Citizens continued to be competitive with the excess and surplus lines insurers, and therefore negatively affected the revenues of our Florida-based wholesale brokerage operations, such as Hull & Company, Inc., from 2007 through the first quarter of 2010. However, with Citizens’ increased insurance rates effective January 1, 2010, certain excess and surplus lines insurers may be more competitive with Citizens.

 

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Citizens’ impact on our Florida Retail Division was less severe than on our National Program and Wholesale Brokerage Divisions, because our retail offices have the ability to place business with Citizens, although at slightly lower commission rates and with greater difficulty in placing coverage.

Company Overview — First Quarter of 2010

For the thirteenth consecutive quarter, we recorded negative internal revenue growth of our commissions and fees revenues as a result of the continuing “soft market,” the competitiveness of Citizens’ rates, and the general weakness of the economy since the second half of 2008. Our total commissions and fees revenues, excluding the effect of recent acquisitions, profit-sharing contingencies and sales of books of businesses for the three months ended March 31, 2010, had a negative internal growth rate of (8.6)%, which represented $20.2 million of net lost business. Of the $20.2 million of net lost business, $8.3 million related to Proctor Financial, Inc. (“Proctor”), our subsidiary that provides lender-placed insurance for financial institutions that service mortgage loans, which was primarily the result of several of Proctor’s clients going out of business. Excluding the impact of Proctor, our negative internal growth rate for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was (5.6)%.

Employee compensation and benefits, and other operating expenses for the first quarter of 2010 decreased, on a net basis, approximately 2.9%, or $4.7 million, from the same period in 2009. However, within that net decrease were $1.8 million of new costs related to new acquisitions that were stand-alone offices. Therefore, employee compensation and benefits, and other operating expenses from those offices that existed in the same three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (including the new acquisitions that folded into those offices) decreased by $6.4 million. The net reductions from these offices were primarily related to a reduction in salaries and bonuses of $4.6 million, a reduction in our group health insurance cost of $1.1 million, and broad-based reductions in occupancy costs, supplies, travel and entertainment expenses and bad debt write-offs, but those other operating expense savings were partially offset by a $2.4 million increase in legal expenses, and errors and omissions reserves.

Acquisitions

Approximately 18,000 independent insurance agencies currently operate in the United States. Part of our continuing business strategy is to attract high-quality insurance agencies to join our operations. Acquisition activity slowed in 2009, in part because potential sellers were dissatisfied with reduced agency valuations that resulted from lower revenues and operating profits due to the continuing “soft market” and decreasing exposure units, and therefore opted to defer the sales of their insurance agencies. However, even though the overall acquisition environment in 2010 has not changed significantly from 2009, and we acquired operations with approximately the same amount of annualized revenues during both the first quarter of 2010 and 2009, we consummated the acquisition of five operations in the first quarter of 2010, compared with two acquisitions consummated in the first quarter of 2009.

A summary of our acquisitions for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in millions, except for number of acquisitions):

 

     Number of Acquisitions    Estimated
Annual
Revenues
   Net Cash
Paid
   Notes
Issued
   Liabilities
Assumed
   Recorded
Earn-out
Payable
   Aggregate
Purchase
Price
     Asset    Stock                  

2010

   5    —      $ 11.8    $ 17.0    $ 0.2    $ 0.1    $ 8.3    $ 25.6

2009

   2    —      $ 11.4    $ 26.4    $    $ 0.7    $ 2.2    $ 29.3

Critical Accounting Policies

Our Condensed 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 and reserves for litigation. 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, 2009 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for details regarding our critical and significant accounting policies.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2010 AND 2009

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

Financial information relating to our Consolidated Financial Results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2009     %
Change
 

REVENUES

      

Commissions and fees

   $ 218,438      $ 234,038      (6.7 )% 

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     32,236        29,926      7.7

Investment income

     331        310      6.8

Other income (loss), net

     1,268        (694 )   —     
                  

Total revenues

     252,273        263,580      (4.3 )% 

EXPENSES

      

Employee compensation and benefits

     122,183        127,341      (4.1 )% 

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     1,955        1,816      7.7

Other operating expenses

     36,333        35,864      1.3

Amortization

     12,553        12,385      1.4

Depreciation

     3,253        3,333      (2.4 )% 

Interest

     3,608        3,634      (0.7 )% 

Change in estimated acquisition earn-out payable

     (696 )     —        —     
                  

Total expenses

     179,189        184,373      (2.8 )% 

Income before income taxes

     73,084        79,207      (7.7 )% 

Income taxes

     28,956        31,195      (7.2 )% 
                  

NET INCOME

   $ 44,128      $ 48,012      (8.0 )% 
                  

Net internal growth rate — core commissions and fees

     (8.6 )%      (2.2 )%   

Employee compensation and benefits ratio

     48.4     48.3  

Other operating expenses ratio

     14.4     13.6  

Capital expenditures

   $ 2,054      $ 3,158     

Total assets at March 31, 2010 and 2009

   $ 2,249,437      $ 2,147,316     

Commissions and Fees

Commissions and fees, including profit-sharing contingent commissions, for the first quarter of 2010 decreased $13.3 million, or 5.0%, from the same period in 2009. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the first quarter of 2010 increased $2.3 million over the first quarter of 2009, to $32.2 million due primarily to a $6.1 million increase in profit-sharing contingent commissions at Proctor as a result of their revenue growth and profitability in 2009 over the 2008 levels. The increased profit-sharing contingent commissions at Proctor was partially offset by a $4.8 million reduction in profit-sharing contingent commissions in our retail and wholesale brokerage divisions that occurred primarily due to the insurance carriers’ lower profitability in 2009 as compared with 2008. 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 first quarter of 2010 decreased $15.3 million on a net basis, of which approximately $4.9 million represented core commissions and fees from agencies acquired since the first quarter of 2009. After divested business of $0.3 million, the remaining net decrease of $20.2 million represented net lost business, which reflects a (8.6%) internal growth rate for core commissions and fees. Excluding the decline in the core commissions and fees at Proctor, our internal revenue growth rate for the first quarter of 2010 is (5.6)%, an improvement from the (8.3)% internal growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2009.

 

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Investment Income

Investment income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 was essentially flat as compared with the same period in 2009 as a result of lower investment yields on higher average invested balances.

Other Income (Loss), net

Other income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2010 reflected income of $1.3 million, compared with a loss of $0.7 million in the same period in 2009. 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 first quarter of 2010 decreased, on a net basis, approximately 4.1%, or $5.2 million, from the same period in 2009. However, within that net decrease were $1.5 million of new compensation costs related to new acquisitions that were stand-alone offices. Therefore, employee compensation and benefits from those offices that existed in the same three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 (including the new acquisitions that folded into those offices) decreased by $6.6 million. The employee compensation and benefit reductions from these offices were primarily related to a reduction in salaries and bonuses of $4.6 million and a reduction in our group health insurance cost of $1.1 million. Employee compensation and benefits as a percentage of total revenue increased slightly to 48.4% for the first quarter of 2010, from 48.3% for the first quarter of 2009.

Non-Cash Stock-Based Compensation

The Company grants stock options and non-vested stock awards to its employees. Compensation expense for all share-based awards is recognized in the financial statements based upon the grant-date fair value of those awards. Non-cash stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased approximately $0.1 million, or 7.7%, over the same period in 2009. For the entire year of 2010, we expect the total non-cash stock-based compensation expense to be approximately $7.8 million, as compared with the total cost of $7.4 million for the year 2009. The increased annual estimated cost primarily relates to new grants of performance stock (PSP).

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses for the first quarter of 2010 increased $0.5 million, or 1.3%, over the same period in 2009, of which $0.3 million related to acquisitions that joined as stand-alone offices since April 1, 2009. The remaining net $0.2 million increase from the offices in existence in both the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, including the new acquisitions that “folded into” those existing offices, related primarily to a $2.4 million increase in legal expenses, and errors and omissions reserves, but was partially offset by broad-based reductions in occupancy costs, supplies, travel and entertainment expenses and bad debt write-offs.

Amortization

Amortization expense for the first quarter of 2010 increased $0.2 million, or 1.4%, over the first quarter of 2009. This increase is primarily due to the amortization of additional intangible assets as the result of acquisitions completed since April 1, 2009.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense for the first quarter of 2010 decreased $0.1 million, or 2.4%, from the first quarter of 2009. This decrease is due primarily to lower acquisition activity during 2009.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the first quarter of 2010 decreased less than $0.1 million, or 0.7%, from the same period in 2009 as a result of a slight reduction in debt outstanding.

Change in estimated acquisition earn-out payable

For acquisitions consummated after January 1, 2009, $15.9 million was initially recorded as estimated acquisition earn-out payable. As of March 31, 2010, the fair value of the estimated acquisition earn-out payable was re-evaluated and reduced by $0.8 million, which resulted in a credit to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income. Additionally, the interest expense accretion to the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 was $0.1 million and 0, respectively.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — SEGMENT INFORMATION

As discussed in Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we operate four reportable segments or divisions: the Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services Divisions. On a divisional basis, increases in amortization, depreciation and interest expenses result from completed 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 total employee compensation and benefits to total revenues, and the gradual improvement of the ratio of other operating expenses to total revenues.

Total core commissions and fees are our total commissions and fees, less (i) profit-sharing contingent commissions (revenue derived from special revenue-sharing commissions from insurance companies based upon the volume and the growth and/or profitability of the business placed with such companies during the prior year), and (ii) divested business (commissions and fees generated from offices, books of business or niches sold by the Company or terminated).

The internal growth rates for our core commissions and fees for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, by divisional units are as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

2010

   For the three months
ended March 31,
   Total Net
Change
    Total Net
Growth %
    Less
Acquisition
Revenues
   Internal
Net
Growth $
    Internal
Net
Growth %
 
     2010    2009            

Florida Retail

   $ 37,376    $ 40,079    $ (2,703   (6.7 )%    $ 14    $ (2,717   (6.8 )% 

National Retail

     77,905      77,474      431      0.6     2,140      (1,709   (2.2 )% 

Western Retail

     21,960      25,068      (3,108   (12.4 )%      926      (4,034   (16.1 )% 
                                         

Total Retail(1)

     137,241      142,621      (5,380   (3.8 )%      3,080      (8,460   (5.9 )% 
                                         

Professional Programs

     9,826      10,729      (903   (8.4 )%      —        (903   (8.4 )% 

Special Programs

     28,573      37,811      (9,238   (24.4 )%      552      (9,790   (25.9 )% 
                                         

Total National Programs

     38,399      48,540      (10,141   (20.9 )%      552      (10,693   (22.0 )% 
                                         

Wholesale Brokerage

     33,802      34,462      (660   (1.9 )%      419      (1,079   (3.1 )% 

Services

     8,996      8,085      911      11.3     886      25      0.3
                                         

Total Core Commissions and Fees

   $ 218,438    $ 233,708    $ (15,270   (6.5 )%    $ 4,937    $ (20,207   (8.6 )% 
                                         

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 March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
     2010    2009

Total core commissions and fees

   $ 218,438    $ 233,708

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     32,236      29,926

Divested business

     —        330
             

Total commission & fees

   $ 250,674    $ 263,964
             

 

(1) The Retail segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, which includes corporate and consolidation items.

 

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2009

   For the three months
ended March 31,
   Total Net
Change
    Total Net
Growth %
    Less
Acquisition
Revenues
   Internal
Net
Growth $
    Internal
Net
Growth %
 
     2009    2008            

Florida Retail

   $ 40,131    $ 41,227    $ (1,096   (2.7 )%    $ 3,667    $ (4,763   (11.6 )% 

National Retail

     77,527      70,156      7,371      10.5     11,443      (4,072   (5.8 )% 

Western Retail

     25,293      21,087      4,206      19.9     7,566      (3,360   (15.9 )% 
                                         

Total Retail(1)

     142,951      132,470      10,481      7.9     22,676      (12,195   (9.2 )% 
                                         

Professional Programs

     10,572      10,245      327      3.2     —        327      3.2

Special Programs

     37,968      27,800      10,168      36.6     —        10,168      36.6
                                         

Total National Programs

     48,540      38,045      10,495      27.6     —        10,495      27.6
                                         

Wholesale Brokerage

     34,462      36,878      (2,416   (6.6 )%      718      (3,134   (8.5 )% 

Services

     8,085      7,933      152      1.9     —        152      1.9
                                         

Total Core Commissions and Fees

   $ 234,038    $ 215,326    $ 18,712      8.7   $ 23,394    $ (4,682   (2.2 )% 
                                         

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 March 31, 2009 and 2008 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
     2009    2008

Total core commissions and fees

   $ 234,038    $ 215,326

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     29,926      36,347

Divested business

     —        1,855
             

Total commission & fees

   $ 263,964    $ 253,528
             

 

(1) The Retail segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 12 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, 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 96.0% 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-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2009     %
Change
 

REVENUES

      

Commissions and fees

   $ 137,072      $ 142,681      (3.9 )% 

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     11,322        16,170      (30.0 )% 

Investment income

     60        64      (6.3 )% 

Other income (loss), net

     798        (865 )   —     
                  

Total revenues

     149,252        158,050      (5.6 )% 

EXPENSES

      

Employee compensation and benefits

     73,657        76,580      (3.8 )% 

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     888        1,190      (25.4 )% 

Other operating expenses

     24,026        24,741      (2.9 )% 

Amortization

     7,535        7,432      1.4

Depreciation

     1,400        1,544      (9.3 )% 

Interest

     7,011        8,523      (17.7 )% 

Change in estimated acquisition earn-out payable

     (742 )     —        —     
                  

Total expenses

     113,775        120,010      (5.2 )% 
                  

Income before income taxes

   $ 35,477      $ 38,040      (6.7 )% 
                  

Net internal growth rate — core commissions and fees

     (5.9 )%      (9.2 )%   

Employee compensation and benefits ratio

     49.4     48.5  

Other operating expenses ratio

     16.1     15.7  

Capital expenditures

   $ 784      $ 1,146     

Total assets at March 31, 2010 and 2009

   $ 1,802,467      $ 1,727,803     

The Retail Division’s total revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 5.6%, or $8.8 million, from the same period in 2009, to $149.3 million. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the first quarter of 2010 decreased $4.9 million, or 30.0%, from the first quarter of 2009, primarily due to increased loss ratios resulting in lower profitability for insurance companies in 2009. The $5.6 million net decrease in commissions and fees resulted from the following factors: (i) an increase of approximately $3.1 million related to the core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2009, (ii) a decrease of $0.3 million related to commissions and fees recorded in the first quarter of 2009 from business divested during 2010, and (iii) the remaining net decrease of $8.5 million is primarily related to net lost business. The Retail Division’s internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (5.9)% for the first quarter of 2010, and was driven by lower insurance property rates and reduced insurable exposure units in most areas of the United States.

Income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 6.7%, or $2.6 million, from the same period in 2009, to $35.5 million. This decrease is primarily due to net lost business and less profit-sharing contingent commissions, but partially offset by net gains on the sales of a few books of businesses.

 

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Table of Contents

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, public and quasi-public 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-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months ended
March 31,
 
     2010     2009     %
Change
 

REVENUES

      

Commissions and fees

   $ 38,399      $ 48,540      (20.9 )% 

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     16,595        9,386      76.8

Investment income

     1        1      —     

Other income (loss), net

     4        (6 )   —     
                  

Total revenues

     54,999        57,921      (5.0 )% 

EXPENSES

      

Employee compensation and benefits

     19,093        19,622      (2.7 )% 

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     202        253      (20.2 )% 

Other operating expenses

     6,881        7,254      (5.1 )% 

Amortization

     2,305        2,269      1.6

Depreciation

     764        660      15.8

Interest

     988        1,469      (32.7 )% 

Change in acquisition earn-out payable

     5        —        —     
                  

Total expenses

     30,238        31,527      (4.1 )% 
                  

Income before income taxes

   $ 24,761      $ 26,394      (6.2 )% 
                  

Net internal growth rate — core commissions and fees

     (22.0 )%      27.6  

Employee compensation and benefits ratio

     34.7     33.9  

Other operating expenses ratio

     12.5     12.5  

Capital expenditures

   $ 228      $ 1,083     

Total assets at March 31, 2010 and 2009

   $ 635,246      $ 616,140     

Total revenues for National Programs for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 5.0%, or $2.9 million, from the same period in 2009, to $55.0 million. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the first quarter of 2010 increased $7.2 million over the first quarter of 2009, of which $6.1 million of that increase related to Proctor. Proctor’s increased profit-sharing contingent commissions were the direct result of the substantial premium growth generated by Proctor in 2009. Of the $10.1 million net decrease in commissions and fees for National Programs: (i) an increase of approximately $0.6 million related to the core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2009, and (ii) the remaining net decrease of $10.7 million is primarily related to net lost business. Therefore, the National Programs Division’s internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (22.0)% for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Of the $10.7 million of net lost business, $8.3 million related to Proctor, which was primarily the result of several of Proctor’s clients going out of business, and $1.2 million related to our public entity business. It is expected that Proctor’s commissions and fees for the second quarter of 2010 will be down $6.0 million to $8.0 million from the second quarter of 2009.

Income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 6.2%, or $1.6 million, from the same period in 2009, to $24.8 million. This decrease is primarily due to a net decrease in income before income taxes at Proctor.

 

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Table of Contents

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-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2009     %
Change
 

REVENUES

      

Commissions and fees

   $ 33,802      $ 34,462      (1.9 )% 

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     4,319        4,370      (1.2 )% 

Investment income

     5        29      (82.8 )% 

Other income, net

     298        120      148.3 %
                  

Total revenues

     38,424        38,981      (1.4 )% 

EXPENSES

      

Employee compensation and benefits

     19,956        20,507      (2.7 )% 

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     173        253      (31.6 )% 

Other operating expenses

     7,843        8,056      (2.6 )% 

Amortization

     2,557        2,559      (0.1 )% 

Depreciation

     715        716      (0.1 )% 

Interest

     3,002        3,901      (23.0 )% 

Change in acquisition earn-out payable

     14        —        —     
                  

Total expenses

     34,260        35,992      (4.8 )% 
                  

Income before income taxes

   $ 4,164      $ 2,989      39.3
                  

Net internal growth rate — core commissions and fees

     (3.1 )%      (8.5 )%   

Employee compensation and benefits ratio

     51.9     52.6  

Other operating expenses ratio

     20.4     20.7  

Capital expenditures

   $ 493      $ 1,044     

Total assets at March 31, 2010 and 2009

   $ 632,165      $ 635,991     

The Wholesale Brokerage Division’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 1.4%, or $0.6 million, from the same period in 2009, to $38.4 million. Profit-sharing contingent commissions for the first quarter of 2010 decreased $0.1 million from the same quarter of 2009. Of the $0.7 million net decrease in commissions and fees: (i) an increase of approximately $0.4 million related to core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2009, and (ii) the remaining net decrease of $1.1 million is primarily due to net lost business. As such, the Wholesale Brokerage Division’s internal growth rate for core commissions and fees was (3.1)% for the first quarter of 2010. The bulk of the net lost business was due to lower insurance rates and reduced exposure units in most areas of the United States.

Income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased 39.3%, or $1.2 million, over the same period in 2009, to $4.2 million, primarily due to a net reduction in the inter-company interest expense allocation of $0.9 million and continued improved efficiencies relating to employee compensation costs.

 

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Table of Contents

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 arenas, as well as Medicare set-aside services. Unlike our other segments, approximately 98.9% of the Services Division’s 2009 commissions and fees revenues are generated from fees, which are not significantly affected by fluctuations in general insurance premiums.

Financial information relating to our Services Division for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is as follows (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     For the three months
ended March 31,
 
     2010     2009     %
Change
 

REVENUES

      

Commissions and fees

   $ 8,996      $ 8,085      11.3

Profit-sharing contingent commissions

     —          —        —     

Investment income

     5        6      (16.7 )% 

Other income, net

     9        —        —     
                  

Total revenues

     9,010        8,091      11.4

EXPENSES

      

Employee compensation and benefits

     5,397        4,767      13.2

Non-cash stock-based compensation

     22        41      (46.3 )% 

Other operating expenses

     1,667        1,153      44.6

Amortization

     146        115      27.0 %

Depreciation

     71        100      (29.0 )% 

Interest

     214        193      10.9

Change in acquisition earn-out payable

     27        —        —     
                  

Total expenses

     7,544        6,369      18.4
                  

Income before income taxes

   $ 1,466      $ 1,722      (14.9 )% 
                  

Net internal growth rate — core commissions and fees

     0.3     1.9  

Employee compensation and benefits ratio

     59.9     58.9  

Other operating expenses ratio

     18.5     14.3  

Capital expenditures

   $ 56      $ 7     

Total assets at March 31, 2010 and 2009

   $ 56,680      $ 45,526     

The Services Division’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2010 increased 11.4%, or $0.9 million, over the same period in 2009, to $9.0 million, which was almost exclusively due to an acquisition that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2009. Core commissions and fees reflect an internal growth rate of 0.3% for the first quarter of 2010, primarily due to net new business at our Medicare set-aside services business, which was partially offset by reduced revenues in our comprehensive medical utilization management services.

Income before income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2010 decreased 14.9%, or $0.3 million, from the same period in 2009 to $1.5 million, primarily due to $0.1 million of additional salaries relating to increased staffing on a new contract and $0.2 million in increased legal fees.

Other

As discussed in Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed 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 charges to reporting segments.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our cash and cash equivalents of $228.8 million at March 31, 2010 reflected an increase of $31.7 million over the $197.1 million balance at December 31, 2009. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2010, $73.8 million of cash was provided from operating activities. Also during this period, $17.2 million of cash was used for acquisitions, $2.1 million was used for additions to fixed assets, $12.4 million was used for payments on long-term debt and $11.0 million was used for payment of dividends.

Our ratio of current assets to current liabilities (the “current ratio”) was 1.37 and 1.28 at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Contractual Cash Obligations

As of March 31, 2010, our contractual cash obligations were as follows:

 

     Payments Due by Period
(in thousands)    Total    Less Than
1 Year
   1-3 Years    4-5 Years    After 5
Years

Long-term debt

   $ 256,045    $ 6,015    $ 100,030    $ 100,000    $ 50,000

Other long-term liabilities

     27,294      8,730      12,552      4,875      1,137

Operating leases

     98,966      24,301      37,178      21,457      16,030

Interest obligations

     50,182      14,423      20,228      13,089      2,442

Unrecognized tax benefits

     694      —        694      —        —  

Maximum future acquisition earn-out payments

     138,518      60,090      78,428      —        —  
                                  

Total contractual cash obligations

   $ 571,699    $ 113,559    $ 249,110    $ 139,421    $ 69,609
                                  

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. We have used the proceeds from the Notes for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions and repayment of existing debt. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, 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 us 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, $25.0 million in Series D Senior Notes due January 15, 2015, with a fixed interest rate of 5.37% per annum were issued. As of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 there was an outstanding balance of $50.0 million under the Master Agreement.

On June 12, 2008, we 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 to 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 our 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 0.29% and 0.25% as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. There were no borrowings against this facility at March 31, 2010 or December 31, 2009.

 

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All three 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 March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009.

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 the Loan Agreement described above, will be sufficient to satisfy our normal liquidity needs through at least the end of 2010. 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 be able to raise additional capital through either the private or public debt markets.

In addition, we currently have a shelf registration statement with the SEC registering the potential sale of an indeterminate amount of debt and equity securities in the future, from time to time, to augment our liquidity and capital resources.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates and equity prices. We are exposed to market risk through our investments, revolving credit line and term loan agreements.

Our invested assets are held as cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments, available-for-sale marketable equity securities, non-marketable equity securities and certificates of deposit. These investments are subject to interest rate risk and equity price risk. The fair values of our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments, and certificates of deposit at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 approximated their respective carrying values due to their short-term duration and therefore such market risk is not considered to be material.

We do not actively invest or trade in equity securities. In addition, we generally dispose of any significant equity securities received in conjunction with an acquisition shortly after the acquisition date.

 

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We carried out an evaluation (the “Evaluation”) required by Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act (“Disclosure Controls”) as of March 31, 2010. Based on the Evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that the design and operation of our Disclosure Controls were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our senior management, including our CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Changes in Internal Controls

There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the Evaluation that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Inherent Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls and internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control.

The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

CEO and CFO Certifications

Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 are the Certifications of the CEO and the CFO, respectively. The Certifications are supplied in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Section 302 Certifications”). This Item 4 of this Report is the information concerning the Evaluation referred to in the Section 302 Certifications and this information should be read in conjunction with the Section 302 Certifications for a more complete understanding of the topics presented.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

In Item 3 of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2009, certain information concerning certain legal proceedings and other matters was disclosed. Such information was current as of the date of filing. During the Company’s fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2010, no new legal proceedings, or material developments with respect to existing legal proceedings, occurred which require disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There were no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Report:

 

  3.1    Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (adopted April 24, 2003) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003), and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999).
  3.2    Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3b to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002).
10.1    Registrant’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.
31.1    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant.
31.2    Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant.
32.1    Section 1350 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant.
32.2    Section 1350 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant.

 

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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: May 6, 2010    

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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