COVID-19 remains dynamic, with uncertainty around its duration and broader impact. We are monitoring and assessing the situation and will continue to adapt our business practices over the coming quarters to serve our customers and protect our employees. The pandemic has reduced, and is expected to continue to negatively impact, the volume of business from new customers and insurable exposure units for existing customers.
We have increased revenues every year from 1993 to 2020, with the exception of 2009, when our revenues declined 1.0%. Our revenues grew from $95.6 million in 1993 to $2.6 billion in 2020, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 13.0%. In the same 27-year period, we increased net income from $8.1 million to $480.5 million in 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 16.3%.
The volume of business from new and existing customers, fluctuations in insurable exposure units, changes in premium rate levels, changes in general economic and competitive conditions, a health pandemic, and the occurrence of catastrophic weather events all affect our revenues. For example, level rates of inflation or a general decline in economic activity could limit increases in the values of insurable exposure units. Conversely, increasing costs of litigation settlements and awards could cause some customers to seek higher levels of insurance coverage. Historically, our revenues have typically grown as a result of our focus on net new business growth and acquisitions. We foster a strong, decentralized sales and service culture with the goal of consistent, sustained growth over the long-term.
Certain insurance companies offer guaranteed fixed-base agreements, referred to as “Guaranteed Supplemental Commissions” (“GSCs”) in lieu of profit-sharing contingent commissions. GSCs are accrued throughout the year based upon actual premiums written. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we had earned $16.2 million of GSCs, of which $11.9 million remained accrued at December 31, 2020 and most of this will be collected over the first and second quarters of 2021. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, we earned $16.2 million and $23.1 million, respectively, from GSCs.
For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, our commissions and fees growth rate was 9.3% and 18.7%, respectively, and our consolidated Organic Revenue growth rate was 3.8% and 3.6%, respectively.
In the discussion and analysis of our results of operations, in addition to reporting financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we provide references to the following non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G of SEC rules: Organic Revenue, Organic Revenue growth, EBITDAC and EBITDAC Margin. We view these non-GAAP financial measures as important indicators when assessing and evaluating our performance on a consolidated basis and for each of our segments because they allow us to determine a more comparable, but non-GAAP, measurement of revenue growth and operating performance that is associated with the revenue sources that were a part of our business in both the current and prior year. We believe that Organic Revenue provides a meaningful representation of our operating performance and view Organic Revenue growth as an important indicator when assessing and evaluating the performance of our four segments. Organic Revenue can be expressed as a dollar amount or a percentage rate when describing Organic Revenue growth. We also use Organic Revenue growth and EBITDAC Margin for incentive compensation determinations for executive officers and other key employees. We view EBITDAC and EBITDAC Margin as important indicators of operating performance, because they allow us to determine more comparable, but non-GAAP, measurements of our operating margins in a meaningful and consistent manner by removing the significant non-cash items of depreciation, amortization and the change in estimated acquisition earn-out payables, and also interest expense and taxes, which are reflective of investment and financing activities, not operating performance.
Part of our business strategy is to attract high-quality insurance intermediaries and service organizations to join our operations. From 1993 through the fourth quarter of 2020, we acquired 561 insurance intermediary operations.
The majority of our revenue is commissions derived from our performance as agents and brokers, acting on behalf of insurance carriers to sell products to customers that are seeking to transfer risk, and conversely, acting on behalf of those customers in negotiating with insurance carriers seeking to acquire risk in exchange for premiums. In the majority of these arrangements, our performance obligation is complete upon the effective date of the bound policy, as such, that is when the associated revenue is recognized. In some arrangements, where we are compensated through commissions, we also perform other services for our customer beyond the binding of coverage. In those arrangements we apportion the commission between the binding of coverage and other services based on their relative fair value and recognize the associated revenue as those performance obligations are satisfied. Where the Company’s performance obligations have been completed, but the final amount of compensation is unknown due to variable factors, we estimate the amount of such compensation. We refine those estimates upon our receipt of additional information or final settlement, whichever occurs first.
Please see Note 2 “Revenues” in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for additional information regarding the nature and timing of our revenues.
Our business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. In connection with these acquisitions, we record the estimated value of the net tangible assets purchased and the value of the identifiable intangible assets purchased, which typically consist of purchased customer accounts and non-compete agreements. Purchased customer accounts include the physical records and files obtained from acquired businesses that contain information about insurance policies, customers and other matters essential to policy renewals of delivery of services. However, they primarily represent the present value of the underlying cash flows expected to be received over the estimated future renewal periods of the insurance policies comprising those purchased customer accounts. The valuation of purchased customer accounts involves significant estimates and assumptions concerning matters such as cancellation frequency, expenses and discount rates. Any change in these assumptions could affect the carrying value of purchased customer accounts. Non-compete agreements are valued based upon their duration and any unique features of the particular agreements. Purchased customer accounts and non-compete agreements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the related estimated lives and contract periods, which range from 3 to 15 years. The excess of the purchase price of an acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets is assigned to goodwill and is not amortized.
Management assesses the recoverability of our goodwill and our amortizable intangibles and other long-lived assets annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. Any of the following factors, if present, may trigger an impairment review: (i) a significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, (ii) a significant negative industry or economic trend, and (iii) a significant decline in our market capitalization. If the recoverability of these assets is unlikely because of the existence of one or more of the above-referenced factors, an impairment analysis is performed. Management must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of these assets. If these estimates or related assumptions change in the future, we may be required to revise the assessment and, if appropriate, record an impairment charge. We completed our most recent evaluation of impairment for goodwill as of November 30, 2020 and determined that the fair value of goodwill exceeded the carrying value of such assets. Additionally, there have been no impairments recorded for amortizable intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.
During the first quarter of 2021, the performance conditions for approximately 1.2 million shares of the Company’s common stock granted under the Company’s 2010 SIP and approximately 22,000 shares of the Company’s common stock granted under the Company’s 2019 SIP were determined by the Compensation Committee to have been satisfied relative to performance-based grants issued in 2018 and 2020. These grants had a performance measurement period that concluded on December 31, 2020. The vesting condition for these grants requires continuous employment for a period of up to five years from the 2018 grant date and four years from the 2020 grant date in order for the awarded shares to become fully vested and nonforfeitable. As a result of the awarding of these shares, the grantees will be eligible to receive payments of dividends and exercise voting privileges after the awarding date, and the awarded shares will be included as issued and outstanding common stock shares and included in the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 AND 2019
Commissions and fees, including profit-sharing contingent commissions and GSCs for 2020, increased $221.4 million to $2,606.1 million, or 9.3% over 2019. Core commissions and fees in 2020 increased $216.5 million, composed of (i) $141.1 million from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2019; (ii) an offsetting decrease of $12.1 million related to commissions and fees revenue from business divested in the preceding twelve months; and (iii) approximately $87.5 million of net new and renewal business, which reflects an Organic Revenue growth rate of 3.8%. Profit-sharing contingent commissions and GSCs for 2020 increased by $4.9 million, or 6.0%, compared to the same period in 2019. The net increase of $4.9 million was mainly driven by: (i) cash received for profit-sharing contingent commissions in the first and second quarters of 2020 being somewhat higher than the amount accrued as of December 31, 2019 for the estimate of contingents earned in 2019; (ii) growth associated with acquisitions completed over the last twelve months; and (iii) partially offset by a GSC of approximately $9 million recorded in the second quarter of 2019 for the National Programs Segment that will not recur in the future as the associated multi-year contract ended in 2019.
Investment income decreased to $2.8 million in 2020, compared with $5.8 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to lower interest rates as compared to the prior year.
Employee compensation and benefits expense increased 9.8%, or $128.2 million, in 2020 compared to 2019. This increase included $48.0 million of compensation costs related to stand-alone acquisitions that had no comparable costs in the same period of 2019. Therefore, employee compensation and benefits expense attributable to those offices that existed in the same time periods of 2020 and 2019 increased by $80.2 million or 6.2%. This underlying employee compensation and benefits expense increase was primarily related to (i) an increase in staff salaries attributable to salary inflation; (ii) an increase in non-cash stock-based compensation expense; (iii) increased producer compensation due to higher revenue; and (iv) higher accrued performance bonuses. Employee compensation and benefits expense as a percentage of total revenues was 55.0% for 2020 as compared to 54.7% for the year ended December 31, 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, the fair values of the estimated acquisition earn-out payables were re-evaluated and measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) as defined in ASC 820-Fair Value Measurement. The resulting net changes, as well as the interest expense accretion on the estimated acquisition earn-out payables, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
As discussed in Note 17 “Segment Information” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, we operate four reportable segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage and Services. On a segmented basis, changes in amortization, depreciation and interest expenses generally result from activity associated with acquisitions. Likewise, other income in each segment reflects net gains primarily from legal settlements and miscellaneous income. As such, in evaluating the operational efficiency of a segment, management focuses on the Organic Revenue growth rate of core commissions and fees, the ratio of total employee compensation and benefits to total revenues, and the ratio of other operating expenses to total revenues.
The Retail Segment includes commissions and fees reported in the “Other” column of the Segment Information in Note 17 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which includes corporate and consolidation items.
EBITDAC for 2020 increased 11.5%, or $44.6 million, from the same period in 2019, to $433.3 million. EBITDAC Margin for 2020 increased to 29.4% from 28.4% in the same period in 2019. EBITDAC Margin was impacted by (i) the net increase in revenue and COVID-19 related expense savings, as described above, (ii) higher profit-sharing contingent commissions and guaranteed supplemental commissions; partially offset by, (iii) increased non-stock cash compensation costs and intercompany IT charges.
Financial information relating to our National Programs Segment for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
“Income Before Income Taxes Margin” is defined as income before income taxes divided by total revenues
Income before income taxes for 2020 increased 27.2%, or $39.2 million, from the same period in 2019, to $182.9 million. The increase was the result of strong total revenue growth and a decrease in estimated acquisition earn-out payables of $9.7 million.
EBITDAC for 2020 increased 19.2%, or $36.9 million, from the same period in 2019, to $228.8 million. EBITDAC Margin for 2020 increased to 37.5% due to (i) leveraging revenue growth and scaling of a number of our programs; (ii) new acquisitions in 2020, and (iii) lower variable costs in response to COVID-19.
Financial information relating to our Wholesale Brokerage Segment for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
Income before income taxes for 2020 increased 13.1%, or $10.9 million, over 2019, to $93.6 million, primarily due to the following: (i) the net increase in total revenues as described above, and (ii) a decrease in amortization expense; offset by (iii) an increase in intercompany interest expense, (iv) an increase in employee compensation and benefits of $26.5 million, related to additional teammates from acquisitions completed in the past 12 months and growth to support increased transaction volumes, compensation increases for existing teammates, and additional non-cash stock-based compensation expense, and (v) a net $1.3 million increase in other operating expenses, primarily acquisition related.
Financial information relating to our Services Segment for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
The Services Segment’s total revenues for 2020 decreased 10.2%, or $19.8 million, from 2019, to $174.0 million. The $19.6 million decrease in core commissions and fees was driven primarily by a decrease of $21.1 million related to net new and renewal business that was driven by lower claims volume in our Social Security advocacy businesses; (i) the effect a prior year terminated customer contract in one of our claims processing businesses; and (ii) lower weather-driven claims; partially offset by (iii) $1.5 million related to the core commissions and fees from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2019. Total commissions and fees decreased 10.1%, and Organic Revenue decreased 10.9% in 2020, both as compared to 2019.
Income before income taxes for 2020 decreased 30.6%, or $12.3 million, from 2019, to $28.0 million due to a combination of: (i) lower revenue as described above; (ii) a $5.5 million decrease in the change in estimated acquisition earn-out payables; partially offset by (iii) a decline in other operating expenses driven by management of our costs in response to COVID-19.
Our cash and cash equivalents of $817.4 million at December 31, 2020 reflected an increase of $275.2 million from the $542.2 million balance at December 31, 2019. During 2020, $721.6 million of cash was generated from operating activities, representing an increase of 6.4%. During this period, $694.8 million of cash was used for new acquisitions, $29.5 million was used for acquisition earn-out payments, $70.7 million was used to purchase additional fixed assets, $100.6 million was used for payment of dividends, $55.1 million was used for share repurchases and $55.0 million was used to pay outstanding principal balances owed on long-term debt.
We hold approximately $34.3 million in cash outside of the U.S., which we currently have no plans to repatriate in the near future.
Our cash and cash equivalents of $542.2 million at December 31, 2019 reflected an increase of $103.2 million from the $439.0 million balance at December 31, 2018. During 2019, $678.2 million of cash was generated from operating activities, representing an increase of 19.5%. During this period, $353.0 million of cash was used for new acquisitions, $9.9 million was used for acquisition earn-out payments, $73.1 million was used to purchase additional fixed assets, $91.3 million was used for payment of dividends, $38.7 million was used for share repurchases and $50.0 million was used to pay outstanding principal balances owed on long-term debt.
Our ratio of current assets to current liabilities (the “current ratio”) was 1.26 and 1.22 for December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
As of December 31, 2020, our contractual cash obligations were as follows:
Includes $5.0 million of future lease commitments expected to commence in 2021.
affiliates, to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2018.
Total debt at December 31, 2020 was $2,095.9 million net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, which was an increase of $540.6 million compared to December 31, 2019. The increase includes: (i) incremental borrowings of $700.0 million related to the Company's 2.375% Senior Notes due 2031 issued on September 24, 2020; (ii) net of the amortization of discounted debt related to our various unsecured Senior Notes, and debt issuance cost amortization of $2.3 million; offset by (iii) the repayment of the principal balance of $55.0 million for scheduled principal amortization balances related to our various existing floating rate debt term notes; (iv) the net repayment of $100.0 million under the revolving credit facility; and (v) an additional $6.7 million including debt issuance costs and the portion of discount applied to the proceeds issued under the incremental borrowings related to the Company's 2.375% Senior Notes due 2031 issued on September 24, 2020.
On April 30, 2020, the Company borrowed $250.0 million under the revolving credit facility. The proceeds were used in conjunction with the payment of the purchase price for the previously announced acquisition of LP Insurance Services LLC and for additional liquidity to further strengthen the Company’s financial position and balance sheet in the event cash receipts from customers or carrier partners are delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 30, 2020, the Company repaid $150.0 million on the revolving credit facility. On September 24, 2020, the Company repaid the total outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility of $200.0 million using the proceeds received from the borrowings under the Company's 2.375% Senior Notes due 2031.
On March 11, 2019, the Company completed the issuance of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Company's 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029. The Senior Notes were given investment grade ratings of BBB-/Baa3 with a stable outlook. The notes are subject to certain covenant restrictions which are customary for credit-rated obligations. At the time of funding, the proceeds were offered at a discount to the notional amount which also excluded an underwriting fee discount. The net proceeds received from the issuance were used to repay a portion of the outstanding balance of $350.0 million on the revolving credit facility, utilized in connection with financing related to our acquisition of Hays, and for other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2019, there was an outstanding debt balance of $350.0 million exclusive of the associated discount balance.
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018
In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2020-04, "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting." The amendments provide optional guidance for a limited time to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform. The new guidance provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts and hedging relationships that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. These amendments are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2022. We are currently evaluating our contracts and the available expedients provided by the new standard; however, the Company can assert there is no impact to any carrying value of assets or liabilities aside from our floating-rate debt instruments that are indexed to LIBOR and are carried at amortized cost. Any further impact of adoption will be in determining the new periodic floating interest rate indexed to our floating-rate debt instruments with no impact on the balance sheet upon adoption.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which provides guidance for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). ASU 2018-15 became effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company adopted ASU 2018-15 effective January 1, 2020. The impact of adoption of this standard on our consolidated financial statements, including accounting policies, processes, and systems, was not material.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. The new guidance adds an impairment model, known as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. These amendments require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable forward-looking information, which is intended to result in more timely recognition of such losses. All related guidance has been codified into, and is now known as, ASC 326 - Financial Instruments-Credit Losses. The new standard is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods therein. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020 and has determined there is not a material impact on the Company’s Financial Statements given that historical trend analysis and assessments for forward-looking qualitative analysis are already integrated into financial assessments for the Company.
Cash and cash equivalents principally consist of demand deposits with financial institutions and highly liquid investments with quoted market prices having maturities of three months or less when purchased. Included in cash and cash equivalents are unrestricted premium from insureds before it is remitted to the appropriate insurance company or companies, net of any commissions we are due.
In our capacity as an insurance agent or broker, the Company typically collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting the authorized commissions, remits the net premiums to the appropriate insurance company or companies. Accordingly, premiums that are receivable from insureds are reported within Premiums, commissions, and fee receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unremitted net insurance premiums are held in a fiduciary capacity until the Company disburses them, and the use of such funds is restricted by laws in certain states in which our subsidiaries operate, or restricted due to our contracts with a certain insurance company or companies in which we hold premiums in a fiduciary capacity. Where allowed by law, the Company invests these unremitted funds only in cash, money market accounts, tax-free variable-rate demand bonds and commercial paper held for a short-term. In certain states in which the Company operates, the use and investment alternatives for these funds are regulated and restricted by various state laws and agencies. These restricted funds are reported as restricted cash and investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The interest income earned on these unremitted funds, where allowed by state law, is reported as investment income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.
Fixed assets, including leasehold improvements, are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for improvements are capitalized, and expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed to operations as incurred. Upon sale or retirement, the cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in other income. Depreciation has been determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 3 to 39 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the useful life of the improvement or the term of the related lease.
All of our business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. Acquisition purchase prices are typically based upon a multiple of average annual EBITDA, operating profit and/or core revenue earned over a period of 3 years within a minimum and maximum price range. The recorded purchase prices for acquisitions include 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 are recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income when incurred.
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents; restricted cash and short-term investments; investments; premiums, commissions and fees receivable; reinsurance recoverable; prepaid reinsurance premiums; premiums payable to insurance companies; losses and loss adjustment reserve; unearned premium; premium deposits and credits due customers and accounts payable, at December 31, 2020 and 2019, approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt approximates fair value at December 31, 2020 and 2019 as our fixed-rate borrowings of $1,548.2 million approximate their values using market quotes of notes with the similar terms as ours, which we deem a close approximation of current market rates. The estimated fair value of our variable floating rate debt agreements is $560.0 million currently outstanding approximates the carrying value due to the variable interest rate based upon adjusted LIBOR. See Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for the fair values related to the establishment of intangible assets and the establishment and adjustment of earn-out payables. See Note 6 for information on the fair value of investments and Note 9 for information on the fair value of long-term debt.
Incentive commissions include additional commissions over base commissions received from insurance carriers based on predetermined production levels mutually agreed upon by both parties.
The balances of contract assets and contract liabilities arising from contracts with customers as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:
Unbilled receivables (contract assets) arise when the Company recognizes revenue for amounts which have not yet been billed in our systems. Deferred revenue (contract liabilities) relates to payments received in advance of performance under the contract before the transfer of a good or service to the customer.
As of December 31, 2020, deferred revenue consisted of $54.0 million as current portion to be recognized within one year and $27.0 million in long-term to be recognized beyond one year. As of December 31, 2019, deferred revenue consisted of $41.2 million as current portion to be recognized within one year and $16.9 million in long-term deferred revenue to be recognized beyond one year.
Contract assets and contract liabilities arising from acquisitions in 2020 were approximately $11.5 million and $20.0 million, respectively. Contract assets and contract liabilities arising from acquisitions in 2019 were approximately $6.5 million and $9.3 million, respectively.
Incremental cost to obtain - The Company defers certain costs to obtain customer contracts primarily as they relate to commission-based compensation plans in the Retail Segment, in which the Company pays an incremental amount of compensation on new business. These incremental costs are deferred and amortized over a 15-year period. The cost to obtain balance within the Other assets caption in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $42.2 million and $26.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. For the 12 months ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company deferred $17.8 million and $15.1 million of incremental cost to obtain customer contracts, respectively. The Company expensed $2.5 million and $1.4 million of the incremental cost to obtain customer contracts for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
The fair value of earn-out obligations is based upon 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 to 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.
For the acquisitions completed during 2020, the results of operations since the acquisition dates have been combined with those of the Company. The total revenues from the acquisitions completed through December 31, 2020 included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $93.9 million. The income before income taxes, including the intercompany cost of capital charge, from the acquisitions completed through December 31, 2020 included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $7.5 million. If the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of the respective periods, the Company’s results of operations would be as shown in the following table. These unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisitions actually been made at the beginning of the respective periods.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, several adjustments were made within the permitted measurement period that resulted in an increase in the aggregate purchase price of the affected acquisitions of $4.1 million, relating to the assumption of certain liabilities.
For the acquisitions completed during 2019, the results of operations since the acquisition dates have been combined with those of the Company. The total revenues from the acquisitions completed through December 31, 2019 included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2019 were $49.1 million. The income before income taxes, including the intercompany cost of capital charge, from the acquisitions completed through December 31, 2019 included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $3.4 million. If the acquisitions had occurred as of the beginning of the respective periods, the Company’s results of operations would be as shown in the following table. These unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred had the acquisitions actually been made at the beginning of the respective periods.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, several adjustments were made within the permitted measurement period that resulted in a decrease in the aggregate purchase price of the affected acquisitions of $21.4 thousand, relating to the assumption of certain liabilities.
Goodwill of $717.7 million was allocated to the Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage and Services Segments in the amounts of $676.9 million, $18.7 million, $5.5 million and $16.5 million, respectively. Of the total goodwill of $717.7 million, $640.3 million is currently deductible for income tax purposes. The remaining $77.4 million relates to the recorded earn-out payables and will not be deductible until it is earned and paid.
ASC 805 is the authoritative guidance requiring an acquirer to recognize 100% of the fair values of acquired assets, including goodwill, and assumed liabilities (with only limited exceptions) upon initially obtaining control of an acquired entity. Additionally, the fair value of contingent consideration arrangements (such as earn-out purchase arrangements) at the acquisition date must be included in the purchase price consideration. As a result, the recorded purchase prices for acquisitions include an estimation of the fair value of liabilities associated with any potential earn-out provisions. Subsequent changes in these earn-out obligations will be recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Income when incurred. Potential earn-out obligations are typically based upon future earnings of the acquired entities, usually between one and three years.
Amortizable intangible assets at December 31, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:
Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 is estimated to be $113.8 million, $109.4 million, $102.4 million, $98.5 million and $96.1 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2020, the Company held $28.8 million in fixed income securities composed of U.S Treasury securities, securities issued by U.S. Government agencies and municipalities, and $7.4 million issued by corporations with investment-grade ratings. Of the total, $11.3 million is classified as short-term investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as maturities are less than one year in duration. Additionally, the Company holds $7.0 million in short-term investments, which are related to time deposits held with various financial institutions.
The unrealized losses from corporate issuers were caused by interest rate increases. At December 31, 2020, the Company had 3 securities in an unrealized loss position. The corporate securities are highly rated securities with no indicators of potential impairment. Based upon the ability and intent of the Company to hold these investments until recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, the bonds were not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2020.
Proceeds from the sales and maturity of the Company’s investment in fixed maturity securities were $8.6 million. This along with maturing time deposits yielded total cash proceeds from the sale of investments of $11.0 million in the period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. These proceeds, along with other sources of cash were used to purchase an additional $14.2 million of fixed maturity securities and to fund certain general corporate purposes. The gains and losses realized on those sales for the period from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 were insignificant.
Proceeds from the sales and maturity of the Company’s investment in fixed maturity securities were $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This along with maturing time deposits yielded total cash proceeds from the sale of investments of $8.5 million in the period of January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. These proceeds were used to purchase an additional $17.5 million of fixed maturity securities and to fund certain general corporate purposes. The gains and losses realized on those sales for the period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 were insignificant.
The Lease liability is the current portion of the Operating lease liabilities as reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019.
Long-term debt at December 31, 2020 and 2019 consisted of the following:
On June 28, 2017, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) with the lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and certain other banks as co-syndication agents and co-documentation agents. The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement amended and restated the credit agreement dated April 17, 2014, among such parties (the “Original Credit Agreement”). The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement extends the applicable maturity date of the existing revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) of $800.0 million to June 28, 2022 and re-evidences unsecured term loans at $400.0 million while also extending the applicable maturity date to June 28, 2022. The quarterly term loan principal amortization schedule was reset. At the time of the execution of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, $67.5 million of principal from the original unsecured term loans was repaid using operating cash balances, and the Company added an additional $2.8 million in debt issuance costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company also expensed to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income $0.2 million of debt issuance costs related to the Original Credit Agreement due to certain lenders exiting prior to execution of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Company also carried forward $1.6 million on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets the remaining unamortized portion of the Original Credit Agreement debt issuance costs, which will be amortized over the term of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2020, there was an outstanding debt balance issued under the term loan of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $290.0 million and no borrowings outstanding against the Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2019, there was an outstanding debt balance issued under the term loan of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of $330.0 million with $100.0 million in borrowings outstanding against the Revolving Credit Facility.
On December 21, 2018, the Company entered into a term loan credit agreement (the “Term Loan Credit Agreement”) with the lenders named therein, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and certain other banks as co-syndication agents and as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. The Term Loan Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured term loan in the initial amount of $300.0 million, which may, subject to lenders’ discretion, potentially be increased up to an aggregate amount of $450.0 million (the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan is repayable over the five-year term from the effective date of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, which was December 21, 2018. Based on the Company’s net debt leverage ratio or a non-credit enhanced senior unsecured long-term debt rating as determined by Moody’s Investor Service and Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, the rates of interest charged on the term loan are 1.000% to 1.750%, above the adjusted 1-Month LIBOR rate. On December 21, 2018, the Company borrowed $300.0 million under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used $250.0 million of the proceeds to reduce indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2020, there was an outstanding debt balance issued under the Term Loan of $270.0 million. As of December 31, 2019, there was an outstanding debt balance issued under the Term Loan of $285.0 million.
The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Term Loan Credit Agreement require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios and comply with certain other covenants. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants as of December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
The 30-day Adjusted LIBOR Rate for the term loan of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Term Loan Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2020 was 0.188%.
Income taxes paid in 2020, 2019 and 2018 were $132.9 million, $110.0 million and $110.6 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2020, the Company had no net operating loss carryforwards for federal purposes and $36.0 million net operating loss carryforwards for state income tax reporting purposes, portions of which expire in the years 2021 through indefinite. The state carryforward amount is derived from the operating results of certain subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward in Canada of $6.4 million.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 the Company had $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $0.2 million of accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, respectively.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized was $1.3 million as of December 31, 2020, $1.1 million as of December 31, 2019 and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2018. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions. The Company is also subject to taxation in the United Kingdom and Canada. In the United States, federal returns for fiscal years 2016 through 2020 remain open and subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company files and remits state income taxes in various states where the Company has determined it is required to file state income taxes. The Company’s filings with those states remain open for audit for the fiscal years 2016 through 2020. In the United Kingdom, the Company’s filings remain open for audit for the fiscal years 2019 and 2020. In Canada, the Company’s filings remain open for audit for the fiscal years 2016 through 2020. The Company also operates in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. The Company is not subject to any income taxes in these countries.
During 2019, the Company settled the previously disclosed State of Colorado income tax audit for the fiscal years 2013-2016, the State of Kansas income tax audit for the fiscal years 2014-2016, and the State of New York income tax audit for the fiscal years 2015-2017. The Company is currently under audit in the states of California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Wisconsin for the fiscal years 2015 through 2017. In addition, the Company is under audit in the state of Wisconsin for the fiscal year 2018.
In general, it is our practice and intention to reinvest the earnings of our non-U.S. subsidiaries in those operations. The Company has determined it is not practical to determine the unrecognized deferred tax liabilities on the undistributed earnings from the Company’s international subsidiaries as such earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested.
At December 31, 2020, 10,217,232 shares had been granted, net of forfeitures, under the PSP. As of December 31, 2020, 909,828 shares had met the first condition of vesting and had been awarded, and 9,307,404 shares had satisfied both conditions of vesting and had been distributed to participants. Of the shares that have not vested as of December 31, 2020, the initial stock prices ranged from $8.30 to $10.31.
A summary of PSP activity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows:
On April 28, 2010, the shareholders of the Company, Inc. approved the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (“2010 SIP”), which was suspended on May 1, 2019. On May 1, 2019, the shareholders of the Company, Inc. approved the 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (“2019 SIP”) that provides for the granting of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards to employees and directors contingent on performance-based and/or time-based criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. In addition, the 2019 SIP provides for a limited delegation of authority of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to grant awards to individuals who are not subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The principal purpose of the 2019 SIP is to attract, incentivize and retain key employees by offering those persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the Company’s operations and future success. The number of shares of stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 SIP is 2,283,475 shares, plus any shares that are authorized for issuance under the 2010 SIP (described below), and not already subject to grants under the 2010 SIP, and that were outstanding as of May 1, 2019, the date of suspension of the 2010 SIP, together with PSP shares, 2010 SIP shares and 2019 SIP shares forfeited after that date. As of May 1, 2019, 6,957,897 shares were available for issuance under the 2010 SIP, which were then transferred to the 2019 SIP.
Non-employee members of the Board of Directors received shares annually issued pursuant to the 2010 SIP and 2019 SIP as part of their annual compensation. A total of 26,620 shares were issued in January 2018, 27,885 shares were issued in April 2019 and 16,490 shares were issued in May 2020.
At December 31, 2020, 8,624,668 shares were available for future grants under the 2019 SIP. This amount is calculated assuming the maximum payout for all restricted stock grants.
The Company has a shareholder-approved Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) with a total of 34,000,000 authorized shares of which 5,378,467 were available for future subscriptions as of December 31, 2020. Employees of the Company who regularly work 20 hours or more per week are eligible to participate in the ESPP. Participants, through payroll deductions, may allot up to 10% of their compensation towards the purchase of a maximum of $25,000 worth of Company stock between August 1st of each year and the following July 31st (the “Subscription Period”) at a cost of 85% of the lower of the stock price as of the beginning or end of the Subscription Period.
As of December 31, 2020, the Company estimates there to be $112.6 million of unamortized compensation expense related to all non-vested stock-based compensation arrangements granted under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, based upon current projections of grant measurement against performance criteria. That expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.29 years.
Our Restricted Cash balance is composed of funds held in separate premium trust accounts as required by state law or, in some cases, per agreement with our carrier partners. The following is a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents inclusive of restricted cash as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which is primarily composed of the initial lease liability, plus any initial direct costs incurred, less any lease incentives received. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the minimum lease payments through the term of the lease. Minimum lease payments are discounted to present value using the incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date, which approximates the rate of interest the Company expects to be paid on a secured borrowing in an amount equal to the lease payments for the underlying asset under similar terms and economic conditions. The Company elected not to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that have a total term of 12 months or less. The effect of short-term leases on the Company’s right-of-use asset and lease liability would not be significant. The balances and classification of operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
As of December 31, 2020, the Company has entered into future lease agreements expected to commence in 2021 consisting of undiscounted lease liabilities of $5.0 million.
The expense recognition for operating leases under Topic 842 is substantially consistent with Topic 840. Therefore, there was no significant impact to Company’s results of operations presented in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income as a result of adopting ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019.
Lease expense for operating leases consists of the lease payments, inclusive of lease incentives, plus any initial direct costs, and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Included in lease expense are any variable lease payments incurred in the period that were not included in the initial lease liability. Variable lease cost is lease payments that are based on an index or similar rate. They are initially measured using the index or rate in effect at lease commencement and are based on the minimum payments stated in the lease. Additional payments based on the change in an index or rate, or payments based on a change in the Company's portion of the operating expenses, including real estate taxes and insurance, are recorded as a period expense when incurred.
Maturities of the operating lease liabilities by fiscal year at December 31, 2020 for the Company's operating leases are as follows:
Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments 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 intercompany interest expense charge to the reporting segment. In addition, the total assets balance in “Other” is negative, reflecting the historical accumulation of the purchase price for acquisitions which are funded at the Corporate level, net of a portion returned to Corporate through intercompany interest charges, as well as the historical accumulation of payments for income taxes, dividends, and share repurchases which are paid by Corporate, but not pushed down to the segments.
During 2018, the Company entered into accelerated share repurchase agreement (“ASR”) with an investment bank to purchase an aggregate $100.0 million of the Company’s common stock. As part of the ASR, the company received an initial share delivery of 2,910,150 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair market value of approximately $80.0 million in 2018. On May 17, 2019, this agreement was completed with the delivery of 566,599 shares of the Company’s common stock, which in total all shares purchased under this ASR represented an average price of $28.76 per share. In addition to the settlement of the ASR, during 2019, the Company made share repurchases in the open market of 1,087,914 shares at a total cost of $38.7 million, at an average price of $35.55 per share. During 2020, the Company repurchased 1,234,417 shares at an average price of $44.63 for a total cost of $55.1 million under the current share repurchase authorization. At December 31, 2020, the remaining amount authorized by our Board of Directors for share repurchases was approximately $406.2 million. Under the authorized repurchase programs, the Company has repurchased a total of approximately 16.7 million shares for an aggregate cost of approximately $591.3 million between 2014 and 2020.
In determining fair value of the earn-out obligation, the acquired business’s future performance is estimated using financial projections of future earnings developed by management that are discounted to a present value using a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration the likelihood that the forecasted earn-out obligation will be paid. The earn-out obligation balance was $258.9 million as of December 31, 2020 and the potential maximum earn-out obligation was $544.7 million. Of the total earn-out obligation balance, $79.2 million is recorded as accounts payable and $179.7 million is recorded as other non-current liability.
We identified the earn-out obligation as a critical audit matter because of the increased auditor judgment and extent of effort required to evaluate whether an adjustment is required for the earn-out obligation in periods after the acquisition. Specifically, there was a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort to audit the reasonableness of management’s assumptions related to projections of future earnings of the acquired businesses.
We tested the effectiveness of controls over management’s earn-out obligation calculation, including those controls over management’s determination of future earnings.
We read the asset/stock purchase agreements and associated addenda and agreed the provisions of the contracts to the earn-out obligation models for our testing selections.
We evaluated the reasonableness of projections of future earnings for the earn-out obligation models by comparing the projections to historical results and assessing management’s key assumptions for our testing selections.
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Brown & Brown, Inc. (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
As described in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Special Risk Insurance Managers Ltd., Texas All Risk General Agency, Inc. et al, The Colonial Group, Inc. et al, RLA Insurance Intermediaries, LLC, Buiten & Associates, LLC, Amity Insurance Agency, Inc., BrookStone Insurance Group, LLC, VAS GenPar, LLC, J.E. Brown & Associates Insurance Services, Inc., CoverHound, Inc. and CyberPolicy, Inc., South & Western General Agency, Inc., and Berry Insurance Group, Inc. which were acquired in 2020 and whose financial statements constitute approximately (0.22) and 8.44 percent of net and total assets, respectively, 2.3 percent of revenues, and (0.75) percent of net income of the consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting of these acquired entities.