The Management of Brown & Brown, Inc. and subsidiaries (Brown & Brown) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including Brown & Brown’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, Brown & Brown conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
In conducting Brown & Brown’s evaluation of this effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting, Brown & Brown has excluded the following acquisitions completed by Brown & Brown during 2004: Eugene W. Pashley Agency, Inc., J. Gregory Brown & Company, Inc. Insurance & Financial Services, Doyle Consulting Group, Inc., et al., Statfeld Vantage Insurance Group L.L.C., et al., Waldor Agency, Inc., Title Pac, Inc., et al., Proctor Financial Inc., Balcones-Southwest, Inc., Insurance Marketing Group, L.L.C., The McDuffee Insurance Agency, Inc., Wiita Insurance Agency, Inc., et al., International E&S Insurance Brokers, Inc., et al. and C.F. Lake Limited. Collectively, these acquisitions represented 18.9% of total assets as of December 31, 2004, 9.5% of total revenue and 4.8% of net income for the year ended. Refer to Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of these acquisitions and their impact on Brown & Brown’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Based on Brown & Brown’s evaluation under the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework, management concluded that internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2004. Management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
REPORT OF Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Brown & Brown Inc.
Daytona Beach, Florida
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Financial Statements and Internal Controls, that Brown & Brown, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As described in Management’s Report on Financial Statements and Internal Controls, management excluded from their assessment the internal control over financial reporting at Eugene W. Pashley Agency, Inc., J. Gregory Brown & Company, Inc. Insurance & Financial Services, Doyle Consulting Group, Inc., et al., Statfeld Vantage Insurance Group L.L.C., et al., Waldor Agency, Inc., Title Pac, Inc., et al., Proctor Financial Inc., Balcones-Southwest, Inc., Insurance Marketing Group, L.L.C., The McDuffee Insurance Agency, Inc., Wiita Insurance Agency, Inc., et al., International E&S Insurance Brokers, Inc., et al., and C.F. Lake Limited (collectively the “2004 Excluded Acquisitions”), which were acquired during 2004 and whose financial statements reflect total assets and revenues constituting 18.9% and 9.5%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at the 2004 Excluded Acquisitions. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 of the Company and our report dated March 14, 2005, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
![MESSAGE](https://capedge.com/proxy/10-K/0001145443-05-000591/deloittesign.jpg)
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Certified Public Accountants |
Jacksonville, Florida |
March 14, 2005 |
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On February 10, 2005 we issued a press release relating to our fourth quarter earnings release which included a preliminary unaudited balance sheet as of December 31, 2004, and we filed a Form 8-K relating to the press release on February 11, 2005. Subsequently, we made a reclassification entry to reflect a decrease in premium deposits and credits due customers of 7.3%, or $2.6 million, a decrease in premiums, commissions, and fees receivables of .58%, or $1.0 million, and a net increase in premiums payable to insurance companies of .66% or $1.6 million.
PART III
The information required by this item regarding directors and executive officers is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the close of our fiscal year, in connection with our 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2005 Proxy Statement”) under the headings “Management,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting.” We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and controller. A copy of our Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers is on our Internet website, at www.bbinsurance.com and is also available upon request. Requests for copies of our Code of Ethics for Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers should be directed in writing to Corporate Secretary, Brown & Brown, Inc., 401 E. Jackson Street, Suite 1700, Tampa, Florida 33602, or by telephone to (813) 222-4277.
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the 2005 Proxy Statement under the heading “Executive Compensation.”
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the 2005 Proxy Statement under the heading “Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners.”
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the 2005 Proxy Statement under the heading “Management-Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to the 2005 Proxy Statement under the heading “Fees Paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP.”
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PART IV
(a) | The following documents are filed as part of this Report: |
| 1. | Consolidated Financial Statements of Brown & Brown, Inc. consisting of: |
| (a) | Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. |
| | |
| (b) | Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003. |
| | |
| (c) | Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. |
| | |
| (d) | Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. |
| | |
| (e) | Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| | |
| (f) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statements. |
| | |
| (g) | Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. |
| | |
| (h) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. |
| 2. | Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules. |
| All required Financial Statement Schedules are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. |
| The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Report: |
| 3.1 | Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (adopted April 24, 2003) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003), and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999). |
| | |
| 3.2 | Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3b to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002). |
| | |
| 4.1 | Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2004, among the Company and the listed Purchasers of the 5.57% Series A Senior Notes due September 15, 2011 and 6.08% Series B Senior Notes due July 15, 2014. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
57
| 4.2 | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving and Term Loan Agreement dated and effective July 15, 2004, by and between Brown & Brown, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| | |
| 4.3 | Second Amendment to Revolving Loan Agreement dated and effective July 15, 2004, by and between Brown & Brown, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| | |
| 4.4 | Rights Agreement, dated as of July 30, 1999, between the Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on August 2, 1999). |
| | |
| 10.1(a) | Amended and Restated Revolving and Term Loan Agreement dated January 3, 2001 by and between the Registrant and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4a to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2 |
| | |
| 10.1(b) | Extension of the Term Loan Agreement between the Registrant and SunTrust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10b to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000). |
| | |
| 10.2 | Lease Agreement for office space at Riedman Tower, Rochester, New York, dated January 3, 2001, between Riedman Corporation, as landlord, and the Registrant, as tenant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10b(3) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001). |
| | |
| 10.3 | Indemnity Agreement dated January 1, 1979, among the Registrant, Whiting National Management, Inc., and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association Insurance Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10g to Registration Statement No. 33-58090 on Form S-4). |
| | |
| 10.4 | Agency Agreement dated January 1, 1979 among the Registrant, Whiting National Management, Inc., and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association Insurance Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10h to Registration Statement No. 33-58090 on Form S-4). |
| | |
| 10.5(a) | Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated May 6, 1998, between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Hill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10l to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998). |
| | |
| 10.5(b) | Letter Agreement, dated May 6, 1998, between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Hill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10m to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998). |
| | |
| 10.6 | Employment Agreement, dated as of July 29, 1999, between the Registrant and J. Hyatt Brown (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10f to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999). |
| | |
| 10.7 | Portions of Employment Agreement, dated April 28, 1993 between the Registrant and Jim W. Henderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10m to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993). |
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| 10.8 | Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1998 between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Hill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10k to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998). |
| | |
| 10.9 | Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2001 between the Registrant and John R. Riedman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10l to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000). |
| | |
| 10.10(a) | Registrant’s 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 333-43018 on Form S-8 filed on August 3, 2000). |
| | |
| 10.10(b) | Registrant’s Stock Performance Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 333-14925 on Form S-8 filed on October 28, 1996). |
| | |
| 10.12 | International Swap Dealers Association, Inc. Master Agreement dated as of December 5, 2001 between SunTrust Bank and the Registrant and letter agreement dated December 6, 2001, regarding confirmation of interest rate transaction (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10p to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001). |
| | |
| 10.13 | Revolving Loan Agreement Dated as of September 29, 2003 By and Among Brown & Brown, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10a on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003). |
| | |
| 21 | Subsidiaries of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 23 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
| | |
| 24 | Powers of Attorney pursuant to which this Form 10-K has been signed on behalf of certain directors and officers of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 32.1 | Section 1350 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 32.2 | Section 1350 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| BROWN & BROWN, INC. | |
| Registrant | |
| | |
| By: | * | |
| |
| |
| | J. Hyatt Brown | |
| | Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: March 16, 2005
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature | | Title | | Date |
| |
| |
|
| | | | |
* | | Chairman of the Board and | | March 16, 2005 |
| | Chief Executive Officer | | |
J. Hyatt Brown | | (Principal Executive Officer) | | |
| | | | |
* | | President and Chief Operating Officer,® Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Jim W. Henderson | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Sr. Vice President, Treasurer | | March 16, 2005 |
| | and Chief Financial Officer | | |
Cory T. Walker | | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Samuel P. Bell, III | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Hugh M. Brown | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Bradley Currey, Jr. | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Theodore J. Hoepner | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
David H. Hughes | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
John R. Riedman | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Jan E. Smith | | | | |
| | | | |
* | | Director | | March 16, 2005 |
| | | | |
Chilton D. Varner | | | | |
| /S/ LAUREL L. GRAMMIG | |
*By: |
| |
| Laurel L. Grammig | |
| Attorney-in-Fact | |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| 3.1 | Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation (adopted April 24, 2003) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003), and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999). |
| | |
| 3.2 | Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3b to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002). |
| | |
| 4.1 | Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2004, among the Company and the listed Purchasers of the 5.57% Series A Senior Notes due September 15, 2011 and 6.08% Series B Senior Notes due July 15, 2014. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| | |
| 4.2 | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Revolving and Term Loan Agreement dated and effective July 15, 2004, by and between Brown & Brown, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| | |
| 4.3 | Second Amendment to Revolving Loan Agreement dated and effective July 15, 2004, by and between Brown & Brown, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| | |
| 4.4 | Rights Agreement, dated as of July 30, 1999, between the Company and First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed on August 2, 1999). |
| | |
| 10.1(a) | Amended and Restated Revolving and Term Loan Agreement dated January 3, 2001 by and between the Registrant and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4a to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2 |
| | |
| 10.1(b) | Extension of the Term Loan Agreement between the Registrant and SunTrust (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10b to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000). |
| | |
| 10.2 | Lease Agreement for office space at Riedman Tower, Rochester, New York, dated January 3, 2001, between Riedman Corporation, as landlord, and the Registrant, as tenant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10b(3) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001). |
| | |
| 10.3 | Indemnity Agreement dated January 1, 1979, among the Registrant, Whiting National Management, Inc., and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association Insurance Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10g to Registration Statement No. 33-58090 on Form S-4). |
| | |
| 10.4 | Agency Agreement dated January 1, 1979 among the Registrant, Whiting National Management, Inc., and Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association Insurance Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10h to Registration Statement No. 33-58090 on Form S-4). |
61
| 10.5(a) | Deferred Compensation Agreement, dated May 6, 1998, between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Hill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10l to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998). |
| | |
| 10.5(b) | Letter Agreement, dated May 6, 1998, between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Hill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10m to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998). |
| | |
| 10.6 | Employment Agreement, dated as of July 29, 1999, between the Registrant and J. Hyatt Brown (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10f to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999). |
| | |
| 10.7 | Portions of Employment Agreement, dated April 28, 1993 between the Registrant and Jim W. Henderson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10m to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993). |
| | |
| 10.8 | Employment Agreement, dated May 6, 1998 between the Registrant and Kenneth E. Hill (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10k to Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998). |
| | |
| 10.9 | Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality Agreement, effective as of January 1, 2001 between the Registrant and John R. Riedman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10l to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000). |
| | |
| 10.10(a) | Registrant’s 2000 Incentive Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 333-43018 on Form S-8 filed on August 3, 2000). |
| | |
| 10.10(b) | Registrant’s Stock Performance Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 333-14925 on Form S-8 filed on October 28, 1996). |
| | |
| 10.12 | International Swap Dealers Association, Inc. Master Agreement dated as of December 5, 2001 between SunTrust Bank and the Registrant and letter agreement dated December 6, 2001, regarding confirmation of interest rate transaction (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10p to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001). |
| | |
| 10.13 | Revolving Loan Agreement Dated as of September 29, 2003 By and Among Brown & Brown, Inc. and SunTrust Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10a on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003). |
| | |
| 21 | Subsidiaries of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 23 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. |
| | |
| 24 | Powers of Attorney pursuant to which this Form 10-K has been signed on behalf of certain directors and officers of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 31.1 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 31.2 | Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 32.1 | Section 1350 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant. |
| | |
| 32.2 | Section 1350 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant. |
62