We lease our executive offices, which are located at 220 South Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. We lease offices at each of our 241 locations. We own an airplane hangar in Daytona Beach, Florida, which sits upon land leased from Volusia County, Florida. There are no outstanding mortgages on this owned property. Our operating leases expire on various dates. These leases generally contain renewal options and rent escalation clauses based upon increases in the lessors’ operating expenses and other charges. We expect that most leases will be renewed or replaced upon expiration. We believe that our facilities are suitable and adequate for present purposes, and that the productive capacity in such facilities is substantially being utilized. From time to time, we may have unused space and seek to sublet such space to third parties, depending on the demand for office space in the locations involved. In the future, we may need to purchase, build or lease additional facilities to meet the requirements projected in our long-term business plan. See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our lease commitments.
The term “Organic Revenue”, a non-GAAP measure, is our core commissions and fees less (i) the core commissions and fees earned for the first twelve months by newly-acquired operations and (ii) divested business (core commissions and fees generated from offices, books of business or niches sold or terminated during the comparable period). The term “core commissions and fees” excludes profit-sharing contingent commissions and guaranteed supplemental commissions, and therefore represents the revenues earned directly from specific insurance policies sold, and specific fee-based services rendered. “Organic Revenue” is reported in this manner in order to express the current year’s core commissions and fees on a comparable basis with the prior year’s core commissions and fees. The resulting net change reflects the aggregate changes attributable to (i) net new and lost accounts, (ii) net changes in our customers’ exposure units, (iii) net changes in insurance premium rates or the commission rate paid to us by our carrier partners; and (iv) the net change in fees paid to us by our customers. Organic Revenue is reported in the Results of Operations and in the Results of Operations - Segment sections of this form 10-K.
We also earn “profit-sharing contingent commissions,” which are profit-sharing commissions based primarily on underwriting results, but which 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 upon the aforementioned considerations for the prior year(s). Over the last three years, profit-sharing contingent commissions have averaged approximately 3.6% of the previous year’s total commissions and fees revenue. Profit-sharing contingent commissions are included in our total commissions and fees in the Consolidated Statement of Income in the year received.
Certain insurance companies offer guaranteed fixed-base agreements, referred to as “Guaranteed Supplemental Commissions” (“GSCs”) in lieu of profit-sharing contingent commissions. Since GSCs are not subject to the uncertainty of loss ratios, they are accrued throughout the year based upon actual premiums written. For the year ended December 31, 2016, we had earned $11.5 million of GSCs, of which $9.2 million remained accrued at December 31, 2016 as most of this will be collected in the first quarter of 2017. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, we earned $11.5 million, $10.0 million and $9.9 million, respectively, from GSCs.
Fee revenues relate to fees negotiated in lieu of commissions, which are recognized as services are rendered. Fee revenues have historically been generated primarily by: (1) our Services Segment, 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, Social Security disability and Medicare benefits advocacy services, and claims adjusting services; (2) our National Programs and Wholesale Brokerage Segments, which earn fees primarily for the issuance of insurance policies on behalf of insurance companies and to a lesser extent (3) our Retail Segment in our large-account customer base. Our services are provided over a period of time, which is typically one year. Fee revenues, on a consolidated basis, as a percentage of our total commissions and fees, represented 31.3% in 2016, 30.6% in 2015 and 30.6% in 2014.
Part of our continuing business strategy is to attract high-quality insurance intermediaries to join our operations. From 1993 through the fourth quarter of 2016, we acquired 479 insurance intermediary operations, excluding acquired books of business (customer accounts). During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of seven insurance intermediaries, all of the stock of one insurance intermediary and three books of business (customer accounts). Collectively, these acquired business that had annualized revenues of approximately $56 million.
We believe that of our significant accounting and reporting policies, the more critical policies include our accounting for revenue recognition, business combinations and purchase price allocations, intangible asset impairments, non-cash stock-based compensation and reserves for litigation. In particular, the accounting for these areas requires significant use of judgment 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”.
Commission revenues are recognized as of the effective date of the insurance policy or the date on which the policy premium is processed into our systems and invoiced to the customer, whichever is later. Commission revenues related to installment billings are recognized on the later of the date effective or invoiced, with the exception of our Arrowhead business which follows a policy of recognizing on the later of the date effective or processed into our systems regardless of the billing arrangement. Management determines the policy cancellation reserve based upon historical cancellation experience adjusted in accordance with known circumstances. Subsequent commission adjustments are recognized upon our receipt of notification from insurance companies concerning matters necessitating such adjustments. Profit-sharing
All of our business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 have been 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. 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.
Acquisition purchase prices are typically based upon 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 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 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 contained 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 this estimate 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 estimates are then discounted to a present value using a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration the likelihood that the forecasted earn-out payments will be made.
As a percentage of total revenues, other operating expenses represented 14.9% in 2016, 15.1% in 2015, and 14.9% in 2014. Other operating expenses in 2016 increased $11.8 million, or 4.7%, over 2015, of which $9.5 million was related to acquisitions that had no comparable costs in the same period of 2015. The other operating expenses for those offices that existed in the same periods in both 2016 and 2015 increased by $2.3 million or 0.9%, which was primarily attributable to increased data processing related to the information technology spend for our multi-year investment program, partially offset by the receipt of certain premium tax refunds by our National Flood Program business.
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the fair value of estimated earn-out payables was re-evaluated and increased by $6.3 million, $13.0 thousand and $7.4 million, respectively, which resulted in charges to the Consolidated Statement of Income.
As of December 31, 2016, the estimated acquisition earn-out payables equaled $63.8 million, of which $31.8 million was recorded as accounts payable and $32.0 million was recorded as other non-current liability. As of December 31, 2015, the estimated acquisition earn-out payables equaled $78.4 million, of which $25.3 million was recorded as accounts payable and $53.1 million was recorded as other non-current liability.
The reconciliation of total commissions and fees, included in the Consolidated Statement of Income, to organic revenue for the years ended December 31, 2016, and 2015, is as follows:
The growth rates for organic revenue, a non-GAAP measure as defined in the General section of this MD&A, for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 by Segment, are as follows:
There would have been a 3.5% Organic Growth rate when excluding the $18.3 million of revenues recorded at our Colonial Claims operation in the first half of 2013 related to Superstorm Sandy.
The Retail Segment’s total revenues in 2016 increased 5.4%, or $47.1 million, over the same period in 2015, to $917.4 million. The $44.3 million increase in core commissions and fees revenue was driven by the following: (i) approximately $31.2 million related to the core commissions and fees revenue from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2015; (ii) $15.7 million related to net new business; and (iii) an offsetting decrease of $2.6 million related to commissions and fees revenue from business divested in 2015 and 2016. Profit-sharing contingent commissions and GSCs in 2016 increased 15.3%, or $4.7 million, over 2015, to $35.0 million. The Retail Segment’s organic revenue growth rate for core organic commissions and fees revenue was 1.9% for 2016 and was driven by revenue from net new business written during the preceding twelve months along with modest increases in commercial auto rates and underlying exposure unit values that drive insurance premiums, and partially offset by rate reductions in most lines of coverage, other than commercial auto, with the most pronounced declines realized for insurance premium rates for properties in catastrophe-prone areas.
The Retail Segment’s total revenues in 2015 increased 5.7%, or $46.7 million, over the same period in 2014, to $870.3 million. The $43.6 million increase in core commissions and fees revenue was driven by the following: (i) approximately $35.6 million related to the core commissions and fees revenue from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in the same period of 2014; (ii) $11.0 million related to net new business; and (iii) an offsetting decrease of $3.0 million related to commissions and fees revenue recorded from business divested in 2014 and 2015. Profit-sharing contingent commissions and GSCs in 2015 increased 3.4%, or $1.0 million, over 2014, to $30.3 million. The Retail Segment’s organic revenue growth rate for core organic commissions and fees revenue was 1.4% for 2015 and was driven by revenue from net new business written during the preceding twelve months along with modest increases in commercial auto rates, and partially offset by: (i) terminated association health plans in the State of Washington; (ii) continued pressure on the small employee benefits business as some accounts adopt alternative plan designs and move to a per employee/per month payment model due to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act; and (iii) reductions in property insurance premium rates specifically in catastrophe-prone areas.
Income before income taxes for 2015 increased 15.5%, or $24.4 million, over the same period in 2014, to $181.9 million. The primary factors affecting this increase were: (i) the net increase in revenue as described above; (ii) a 7.1%, or $29.4 million increase in employee compensation and benefits due primarily to the year on year impact of new teammates related to acquisitions completed in the past twelve months in addition to incremental investments in revenue producing teammates; and (iii) operating expenses which increased by $3.8 million or 2.9%, due to increased travel and value added consulting services; offset by (iv) a reduction in the change in estimated acquisition earn-out payables of $5.5 million, or 73.1% to $2.0 million; and (v) a $4.2 million, or 25.7% reduction in non-cash stock-based compensation to $12.1 million due to the forfeiture of certain grants where performance conditions were not fully achieved.
The National Programs Segment’s organic revenue growth rate for core commissions and fees revenue was 1.8% for 2015. This organic revenue growth rate was mainly due to the Arrowhead Personal Property program, which continued to produce more written premium, the Arrowhead Automotive Aftermarket program which received a commission rate increase from their carrier partner, growth in our Wright Specialty education program and the on-boarding of new customers by Proctor Financial. Growth in these businesses was partially offset by certain programs that have been affected by lower rates.
The Wholesale Brokerage Segment’s total revenues for 2015, increased 2.4%, or $5.1 million, over 2014, to $217.0 million. The $6.7 million net increase in core commissions and fees revenue was driven by the following: (i) $11.1 million related to net new business; (ii) $2.5 million related to the core commissions and fees revenue from acquisitions that had no comparable revenues in 2014; and (iii) an offsetting decrease of $6.9 million related to commissions and fees revenue recorded in 2014 from businesses divested in the past year. Contingent
Income before income taxes for 2015, increased $56.4 million, over 2014, to $64.7 million, primarily due to the following: (i) the $47.4 million net pretax loss on disposal of the Axiom Re business in 2014; (ii) the net increase in revenue as described above and (iii) the impact of the Axiom Re business divested in 2014 that reported lower margins than the Wholesale Brokerage Segment’s average.
The Services Segment’s total revenues for 2015 increased 6.4%, or $8.8 million, over 2014, to $145.4 million. The $8.9 million increase in core commissions and fees revenue primarily resulted from growth in our advocacy businesses driven by new customers and growth in several of our claims processing units related to new customer relationships. The Services Segment’s organic revenue growth rate for core commissions and fees revenue was 6.8% for 2015.
Income before income taxes for 2015 increased 10.3%, or $1.8 million, over 2014, to $19.7 million due to a combination of: (i) organic revenue growth noted above; (ii) the continued efficient operation of our businesses; and (iii) a decrease in the intercompany interest expense charge. The impact from the sale of the Colonial Claims business on 2015 revenues and income before income taxes was immaterial.
The Company seeks to maintain a conservative balance sheet and liquidity profile. Our capital requirements to operate as an insurance intermediary are low and we have been able to grow and invest in our business principally through cash that has been generated from operations. We have the ability to access the use of our revolving credit facility, which provides up to $800.0 million in available cash, and we believe that we have access to additional funds, if needed, through the capital markets to obtain further debt financing under the current market conditions. The Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investment portfolio and funds generated from operations, together with the funds available under the credit facility, will be sufficient to satisfy our normal liquidity needs, including principal payments on our long-term debt, for at least the next twelve months.
Our cash and cash equivalents of $443.4 million at December 31, 2015 reflected a decrease of $26.6 million from the $470.0 million balance at December 31, 2014. During 2015, $411.8 million of cash was generated from operating activities. During this period, $136.0 million of cash was used for acquisitions, $36.8 million was used for acquisition earn-out payments, $18.4 million was used for additions to fixed assets, $64.1 million was used for payment of dividends, $175.0 million was used as part of accelerated share repurchase programs, and $45.6 million was used to pay outstanding principal balances owed on long-term debt.
Total debt at December 31, 2016 was $1,073.9 million, which was a decrease of $70.9 million compared to December 31, 2015. The decrease includes the repayment of $73.1 million in principal, net of the amortization of discounted debt related to our 4.200% Notes due 2024 and debt issuance cost amortization of $1.7 million plus the addition of $0.5 million in a short-term note payable related to the recent acquisition of Social Security Advocates for the Disabled, LLC.
As of December 31, 2016, the Company satisfied the sixth installment of scheduled quarterly principal payments on the Credit Facility term loan. The Company has satisfied $68.8 million in total principal payments through December 31, 2016 since the inception of the note. Scheduled quarterly principal payments are expected to be made until maturity. The balance of the Credit Facility term loan was $481.3 million as of December 31, 2016. Of the total amount, $55.0 million is classified as current portion of long-term debt in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as the date of maturity is less than one year.
During 2015, the $25.0 million of 5.660% Notes due December 2016 were classified as short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as the date of maturity is less than one year. On December 22, 2016, the Series C notes were retired at maturity and settled with cash.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)": Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force) ("ASU 2016-15"), which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified and applies to all entities, including both business entities and not-for-profit entities that are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. ASU 2016-15 will take effect for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company has evaluated the impact of ASU 2016-15 and has determined the impact to be immaterial. The Company already presents cash paid on contingent consideration in business combination as prescribed by ASU 2016-15 and does not, at this time, engage in the other activities being addressed.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Improvements to Employee Share Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"), which amends guidance issued in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years and early adoption is permitted. The Company has evaluated the impact of adoption of the ASU on its Consolidated Financial Statements. The principal impact will be that the tax benefit or expense from stock compensation will be presented in the income tax line of the Statement of Income rather than the current presentation as a component of equity on the Balance Sheet. Also the tax benefit or expense will be presented as activity in Cash Flow from Operating Activity rather than the current presentation as Cash Flow from Financing Activity in the Statement of Cash Flows. The Company will also continue to estimate forfeitures of stock grants as allowed by ASU 2016-09.
value of the remaining lease payments be presented as a liability on the Balance Sheet as well as an asset of similar value representing the “Right of Use” for those leased properties. As detailed in Note 13, the undiscounted contractual cash payments remaining on leased properties is $213 million as of December 31, 2016.
In May 2014, FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”), which provides guidance for revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of non-financial assets, and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance. The standard’s core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. Specifically in situations where multiple performance obligations exist within the contract, the use of estimates is required to allocate the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. Historically 70% or more of the Company’s revenue is in the form of commissions paid by insurance carriers. Commission are earned upon the effective date of bound coverage and no significant performance obligation remains in those arrangements after coverage is bound. The Company is currently evaluating the approximately 30% of revenue earned in the form of fees against the requirements of this pronouncement. Fees are predominantly in our National Programs and Services Segments, and to a lesser extent in the large accounts business within our Retail Segment. At the conclusion of this evaluation it may be determined that fee revenue from certain agreements will be recognized in earlier periods under the new guidance in comparison to our current accounting policies and others will be recognized in later periods. Based upon the work completed to date, management does not expect the overall impact to be significant.
We do not anticipate a material change in our internal control framework necessitated by the adoption of ASU 2014-09.
Commission revenues are recognized as of the effective date of the insurance policy or the date on which the policy premium is processed into our systems and invoiced to the customer, whichever is later. Commission revenues related to installment billings are recognized on the latter of effective or invoiced date, with the exception of our Arrowhead business which follows a policy of recognizing on the latter of effective or processed date into our systems, regardless of the billing arrangement. Management determines the policy cancellation reserve based upon historical cancellation experience adjusted for any known circumstances. Subsequent commission adjustments are recognized upon our receipt of notification from insurance companies concerning matters necessitating such adjustments. Profit-sharing contingent commissions are recognized when determinable, which is generally when such commissions are received from insurance companies, or when we receive formal notification of the amount of such payments. Fee revenues and commissions for workers’ compensation programs are recognized as services are rendered.
In our capacity as an insurance agent or broker, the Company typically collects premiums from insureds and, after deducting its authorized commissions, remits the net premiums to the appropriate insurance company or companies. Accordingly, as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, “premiums” are receivable from insureds. Unremitted net insurance premiums are held in a fiduciary capacity until Brown & Brown disburses them. Where allowed by law, Brown & Brown invests these unremitted funds only in cash, money market accounts, tax-free variable-rate demand bonds and commercial paper held for a short term. In certain states in which Brown & Brown 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 three to 15 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.
The excess of the purchase price of an acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and amortizable intangible assets is assigned to goodwill. While goodwill is not amortizable, it is subject to assessment at least annually, and more frequently in the presence of certain circumstances, for impairment by application of a fair value-based test. The Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying amount to determine if there is potential impairment of goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the fair value of the goodwill within the reporting unit is less than its carrying value.
Fair value is estimated based upon multiples of earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and change in estimated acquisition earn-out payables (“EBITDAC”), or on a discounted cash flow basis. Brown & Brown completed its most recent annual assessment as of November 30, 2016 and determined that the fair value of goodwill exceeded the carrying value of such assets. In addition, as of December 31, 2016, there are no accumulated impairment losses.
The Company granted stock options and grants non-vested stock awards to its employees, officers and directors. The Company uses the modified-prospective method to account for share-based payments. Under the modified-prospective method, compensation cost is recognized for all share-based payments granted on or after January 1, 2006 and for all awards granted to employees prior to January 1, 2006 that remained unvested on that date. The Company uses the alternative-transition method to account for the income tax effects of payments made related to stock-based compensation.
The Company protects itself from claims-related losses by reinsuring all claims risk exposure. The only line of insurance the Company underwrites is flood insurance associated with the Wright National Flood Insurance Company (“WNFIC”), which is part of our National Programs Segment. However, all exposure is reinsured with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) for basic admitted policies conforming to the National Flood Insurance Program. For excess flood insurance policies, all exposure is reinsured with a reinsurance carrier with an AM Best Company rating of “A” or better. Reinsurance does not legally discharge the ceding insurer from the primary liability for the full amount due under the reinsured policies. Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursement and reserves related to ceded business are accounted for on a basis consistent with the accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of reinsurance contracts. Premiums earned and losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred are reported net of reinsurance amounts. Other underwriting expenses are shown net of earned ceding commission income. The liabilities for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses and unearned premiums are reported gross of ceded reinsurance recoverable.
Premiums are recognized as income over the coverage period of the related policies. Unearned premiums represent the portion of premiums written that relate to the unexpired terms of the policies in force and are determined on a daily pro rata basis. The income is recorded to the commissions and fees line of the income statement.
During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of seven insurance intermediaries, all of the stock of one insurance intermediary and three books of business (customer accounts). Additionally, miscellaneous adjustments were recorded to the purchase price allocation of certain prior acquisitions completed within the last twelve months as permitted by Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805 - Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Such adjustments are presented in the “Other” category within the following two tables. All of these businesses were acquired primarily to expand Brown & Brown’s core business and to attract and hire high-quality individuals. The recorded purchase price for all acquisitions consummated after January 1, 2009 included 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.
Based upon the acquisition date and the complexity of the underlying valuation work, certain amounts included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements may be provisional and thus subject to further adjustments within the permitted measurement period, as defined in ASC 805. For the year ended December 31, 2016, several adjustments were made within the permitted measurement period that resulted in a decrease in the aggregate purchase price of the affected acquisitions of $917,497 relating to the assumption of certain liabilities. These measurement period adjustments have been reflected as current period adjustments for the year ended December 31, 2016 in accordance with the guidance in ASU 2015-16 “Business Combinations.” The measurement period adjustments impacted goodwill, with no effect on earnings or cash in the current period.
For the acquisitions completed during 2016, 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, 2016, included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2016, were $34.2 million. The income before income taxes, including the intercompany cost of capital charge, from the acquisitions completed through December 31, 2016, included in the Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2016, was $4.3 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.
During the year ended December 31, 2015, Brown & Brown acquired the assets and assumed certain liabilities of thirteen insurance intermediaries and four books of business (customer accounts). The cash paid for these acquisitions was $136.0 million. Additionally, miscellaneous adjustments were recorded to the purchase price allocation of certain prior acquisitions completed within the last twelve months as permitted by Accounting Standards Codification Topic 805 - Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). Such adjustments are presented in ‘Other’ within the following two tables. All of these businesses were acquired primarily to expand Brown & Brown’s core business and to attract and hire high-quality individuals.
For the year ended December 31, 2014, several adjustments were made within the permitted measurement period that resulted in a decrease in the aggregate purchase price of the affected acquisitions of $25,941 relating to the assumption of certain liabilities.
Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for the years ending December 31, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 is estimated to be $84.9 million, $79.6 million, $75.1 million, $67.8 million, and $64.5 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2016, the Company’s amortized cost and fair values of fixed maturity securities are summarized as follows:
At December 31, 2016, the Company held $26.28 million in fixed income securities composed of U.S Treasury securities, securities issued by U.S. Government agencies and Municipalities, and $2.4 million issued by corporations with investment grade ratings. Of the total, $5.6 million is classified as short-term investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as maturities are less than one year in duration. Additionally, the Company holds $9.5 million in short-term investments which are related to time deposits held with various financial institutions.
For securities in a loss position, the following table shows the investments’ gross unrealized loss and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2016:
The following table shows the investments’ gross unrealized loss and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2015:
Realized gains and losses are reported on the Consolidated Statement of Income, with the cost of securities sold determined on a specific identification basis.
At December 31, 2016, investments with a fair value of approximately $4.0 million were on deposit with state insurance departments to satisfy regulatory requirements.
Depreciation and amortization expense for fixed assets amounted to $21.0 million in 2016, $20.9 million in 2015, and $20.9 million in 2014.
On April 17, 2014, the Company entered into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and certain other banks as co-syndication agents and co-documentation agents (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement in the amount of $1,350.0 million provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) in the initial amount of $800.0 million and unsecured term
On September 18, 2014, the Company issued $500.0 million of 4.200% unsecured senior notes due in 2024. The senior notes were given investment grade ratings of BBB-/Baa3 with a stable outlook. The notes are subject to certain covenant restrictions and regulations which are customary for credit rated obligations. At the time of funding, the proceeds were offered at a discount of the original note amount which also excluded an underwriting fee discount. The net proceeds received from the issuance were used to repay the outstanding balance of $475.0 million on the revolving Credit Facility and for other general corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, there was an outstanding debt balance of $500.0 million exclusive of the associated discount balance.
The Master Agreement, Wells Fargo Agreement and the Credit Agreement all 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, 2016 and 2015.
Interest paid in 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $37.7 million, $37.5 million, and $25.1 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2016, maturities of long-term debt were $55.5 million in 2017, $155.0 million in 2018, $371.3 million in 2019, and $500.0 million in 2024.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had $86,191 and $102,171 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 $750,258 as of December 31, 2016 and $583,977 as of December 31, 2015. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.
As a result of a 2006 Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit, the Company agreed to accrue at each December 31, for tax purposes only, a known amount of profit-sharing contingent commissions represented by the actual amount of profit-sharing contingent commissions received in the first quarter of the related year, with a true-up adjustment to the actual amount received by the end of the following March. Since this method for tax purposes differs from the method used for book purposes, it will result in a current deferred tax asset as of December 31 each year which will reverse by the following March 31 when the related profit-sharing contingent commissions are recognized for financial accounting purposes.
The federal income tax returns of The Wright Insurance Group are currently under IRS audit for the short period ended May 1, 2014. Also during 2016, the Company settled the previously disclosed State of Kansas audit for fiscal years 2012 through 2014 in the amount of $204,695. The Company and one of its subsidiaries, The Advocator Group, LLC, is currently under examination by the State of Massachusetts for the fiscal year 2013 through 2014. There are no other federal or state income tax audits as of December 31, 2016.
In 1996, Brown & Brown adopted and the shareholders approved a performance stock plan, under which until the suspension of the plan in 2010, up to 14,400,000 Performance Stock Plan (“PSP”) shares could be granted to key employees contingent on the employees’ future years of service with Brown & Brown and other performance-based criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Before participants may take full title to Performance Stock, two vesting conditions must be met. Of the grants currently outstanding, specified portions satisfied the first condition for vesting based upon 20% incremental increases in the 20-trading-day average stock price of Brown & Brown’s common stock from the price on the business day prior to date of grant. Performance Stock that has satisfied the first vesting condition is considered “awarded shares.” Awarded shares are included as issued and outstanding common stock shares and are included in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS. Dividends are paid on awarded shares and participants may exercise voting privileges on such shares. Awarded shares satisfy the second condition for vesting on the earlier of a participant’s: (i) 15 years of continuous employment with Brown & Brown from the date shares are granted to the participants (or, in the case of the July 2009 grant to Powell Brown, 20 years); (ii) attainment of age 64 (on a prorated basis corresponding to the number of years since the date of grant); or (iii) death or disability. On April 28, 2010, the PSP was suspended and any remaining authorized, but unissued shares, as well as any shares forfeited in the future, will be reserved for issuance under the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “SIP”).
On April 28, 2010, the shareholders of Brown & Brown, Inc. approved the Stock Incentive Plan (“SIP”) that provides for the granting of stock options, stock, restricted stock units, and/or stock appreciation rights to employees and directors contingent on criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. The principal purpose of the 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 SIP includes a sub-plan applicable to Decus Insurance Brokers Limited (“Decus”) which, is a subsidiary of Decus Holdings (U.K.) Limited. The shares of stock reserved for issuance under the SIP are any shares that are authorized for issuance under the PSP and not already subject to grants under the PSP, and that were outstanding as of April 28, 2010, the date of suspension of the PSP, together with PSP shares and SIP shares forfeited after that date. As of April 28, 2010, 6,046,768 shares were available for issuance under the PSP, which were then transferred to the SIP. In addition, in May 2016 our shareholders approved an amendment to the SIP to increase the shares available for issuance by an additional 1,200,000.
In 2013, 3,719,974 shares were granted under the SIP. Of the shares granted in 2013, 891,399 shares will vest upon the grantees’ completion of between three and seven years of service with the Company, and because grantees have the right to vote the shares and receive dividends immediately after the date of grant these shares are considered awarded and outstanding under the two-class method.
In 2014, 422,572 shares were granted under the SIP. Of the shares granted in 2014, 113,088 shares will vest upon the grantees’ completion of between three and six years of service with the Company, and because grantees have the right to vote the shares and receive dividends immediately after the date of grant these shares are considered awarded and outstanding under the two-class method.
Additionally, non-employee members of the Board of Directors received shares annually issued pursuant to the SIP as part of their annual compensation. A total of 36,919 SIP shares were issued to these directors in 2011 and 2012, of which 11,682 were issued in January 2011, 12,627 in January 2012, and 12,610 in December 2012. The shares issued in December 2012 were issued at that earlier time rather than in January 2013 pursuant to action of the Board of Directors. No additional shares were granted or issued to the non-employee members of the Board of Directors in 2013. A total of 9,870 shares were issued to these directors in January 2014, 15,700 shares were issued in January 2015 and 16,860 shares were issued in January 2016.
At December 31, 2016, 3,729,566 shares were available for future grants. This amount is calculated assuming the maximum payout for all restricted stock grants. The payout for 321,955 shares of our outstanding performance-based restricted stock grants may be increased up to 200% of the target or decreased to zero, subject to the level of performance attained.
The Company has a shareholder-approved Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) with a total of 17,000,000 authorized shares of which 4,680,263 were available for future subscriptions as of December 31, 2016. Employees of the Company who regularly work more than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in the ESPP. Participants, through payroll deductions, may allot up to 10% of their compensation, up to a maximum of $25,000, to purchase 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.
The Company estimates the fair value of an ESPP share option as of the beginning of the Subscription Period as the sum of: (1) 15% of the quoted market price of the Company’s stock on the day prior to the beginning of the Subscription Period, and (2) 85% of the value of a one-year stock option on the Company stock using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The estimated fair value of an ESPP share option as of the Subscription Period beginning in August 2016 was $7.61. The fair values of an ESPP share option as of the Subscription Periods beginning in August 2015 and 2014, were $6.43 and $6.39, respectively.
For the five months ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 (portions of the 2016-2017, 2015-2016 and 2014-2015 plan years), 247,023; 231,803; and 235,794 shares of common stock (from authorized but unissued shares), respectively, were subscribed to by ESPP participants for proceeds of approximately $7.7 million, $6.8 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2016:
The Company’s accruals for legal matters that were probable and estimable were not material at December 31, 2016 and 2015. We continue to assess certain litigation and claims to determine the amounts, if any, that management believes will be paid as a result of such claims and litigation and, therefore, additional losses may be accrued and paid in the future, which could adversely impact the Company’s operating results, cash flows and overall liquidity. The Company maintains third-party insurance policies to provide coverage for certain legal claims, in an effort to mitigate its overall exposure to unanticipated claims or adverse decisions. 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. Based upon the AM Best Company ratings of these third-party insurers, management does not believe there is a substantial risk of an insurer’s material non-performance related to any current insured claims.
The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 1. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based upon revenues and income before income taxes. Inter-segment revenues are eliminated.
Segment results for prior periods have been recast to reflect the current year segmental structure. Certain reclassifications
have been made to the prior year amounts reported in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in order to conform to the current year
All premiums written by WNFIC under the National Flood Insurance Program are 100% ceded to FEMA, for which WNFIC received a 30.9% expense allowance from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company ceded $589.5 million and $598.4 million of written premiums, respectively.
WNFIC maintains capital in excess of minimum statutory amount of $7.5 million as required by regulatory authorities. The statutory capital and surplus of WNFIC was $23.5 million as of December 31, 2016 and $15.1 million as of December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, WNFIC generated statutory net income of $8.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively.
On March 5, 2015, the Company entered into an 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 delivery of 2,667,992 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair market value of approximately $85.0 million. On August 6, 2015, the Company was notified by its investment bank that the March 5, 2015 ASR agreement between the Company and the investment bank had been completed in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
On July 20, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $400.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. With this authorization, the Company had total available approval to repurchase up to $450.0 million, in the aggregate, of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
On November 11, 2015, the Company entered into a third ASR with an investment bank to purchase an aggregate $75.0 million of the Company’s common stock. The Company received an initial delivery of 1,985,981 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair market value of approximately $63.8 million. On January 6, 2016 this agreement was completed by the investment bank with the delivery of 363,209 shares of the Company’s common stock. After completion of this third ASR, the Company has approval to repurchase up to $375.0 million, in the aggregate, of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Brown & Brown, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Brown & Brown, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 24, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.