Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

NOTE 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Operations

Brown & Brown, Inc., a Florida corporation, and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Brown & Brown” or the “Company”) is a diversified insurance agency, wholesale brokerage, insurance programs and service organization that markets and sells insurance products and services, primarily in the property, casualty and employee benefits areas. Brown & Brown’s business is divided into four reportable segments. The Retail segment provides a broad range of insurance products and services to commercial, public and quasi-public entities, professional and individual insured customers, and non-insurance risk-mitigating products through our automobile and recreational vehicle dealer services (“F&I”) businesses. The National Programs segment, which acts as a managing general agent (“MGA”), provides professional liability and related package products for certain professionals, a range of insurance products for individuals, flood coverage, and targeted products and services designated for specific industries, trade groups, governmental entities and market niches, all of which are delivered through a nationwide network of independent agents, including Brown & Brown retail agents. The Wholesale Brokerage segment markets and sells excess and surplus commercial and personal lines insurance, primarily through independent agents and brokers, as well as Brown & Brown retail agents. The Services segment 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.

The Company primarily operates as an agent or broker not assuming underwriting risks. However, we operate a write-your-own flood insurance carrier, Wright National Flood Insurance Company (“WNFIC”). WNFIC’s underwriting business consists of policies written pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”), the program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) to which premiums and underwriting exposure are ceded and excess flood and private flood policies which are fully reinsured in the private market. The Company also participates in two capitalized captive insurance facilities (the "Captives") for the purpose of facilitating additional underwriting capacity, generating incremental revenues and participating in underwriting results.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("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 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 the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), or another reference rate expected to be discontinued due to reference rate reform. These amendments, along with the amendments within ASU 2022-06 "Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848" that extended the period of time preparers can utilize the reference rate reform relief guidance in Topic 848, are effective immediately and may be applied prospectively to contract modifications made and hedging relationships entered into or evaluated on or before December 31, 2024. 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.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” The standard removes specific exceptions in the current rules and eliminates the need for an organization to analyze whether the following apply in a given period: (a) exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation; (b) exceptions to accounting for basis differences when there are ownership changes in foreign investments and (c) exception in interim period income tax accounting for year-to-date losses that exceed anticipated losses. The standard also is designed to improve financial statement preparers’ application of income tax-related guidance and simplify GAAP for (a) franchise taxes that are partially based on income; (b) transactions with a government that result in a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill; (c) separate financial statements of legal entities that are not subject to tax and (d) enacted changes in tax laws in interim periods. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 effective January 1, 2021. The impact of adopting this standard was not material to the presentation of the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Brown & Brown, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated in the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Revenue Recognition

The Company earns commissions paid by insurance carriers for the binding of insurance coverage. Commissions are earned at a point in time upon the effective date of bound insurance coverage, as no performance obligation exists after coverage is bound. If there are other services within the contract, the Company estimates the stand-alone selling price for each separate performance obligation, and the corresponding apportioned revenue is recognized over a period of time as the performance obligations are fulfilled. The Company earns fee revenue by receiving negotiated fees in lieu of a commission and from services other than securing insurance coverage. Fee revenues from certain agreements are recognized depending on when the services within the contract are satisfied and when we have transferred control of the related services to the customer. In situations where multiple performance obligations exist within a fee contract, in some instances the use of estimates is required to allocate the transaction price on a relative stand-alone selling price basis to each separate performance obligation. Other supplemental commissions represent a form of variable consideration which includes additional commissions over base commissions received from insurance carriers based on predetermined production levels mutually agreed upon by both parties. Profit-sharing contingent commissions represent a form of variable consideration associated with the placement of coverage, for which we earn commissions. Profit-sharing contingent commissions and other supplemental commissions are estimated with a constraint applied and accrued relative to the recognition of the corresponding core commissions based on the amount of consideration that will be received in the coming year such that a significant reversal of revenue is not probable. Guaranteed supplemental commissions, a form of variable consideration within other supplemental commissions, represent guaranteed fixed-base agreements in lieu of profit-sharing contingent commissions.

Management determines the policy cancellation reserve based upon historical cancellation experience adjusted for any known circumstances.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, as well as disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

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.

Fiduciary Cash, Commissions, Fees and Other Receivables, Fiduciary Receivables, and Fiduciary Liabilities

Beginning January 1, 2022 the Company is presenting certain assets and liabilities that arise from activities in which the Company engages as an intermediary, where we collect premiums from insureds to remit to insurance companies, hold funds from insurance companies to distribute to insureds for claims on covered losses and hold refunds due to customers as fiduciary assets and fiduciary liabilities.

Uncollected premiums are no longer presented in the same caption with commissions, fees and other receivables, but rather represented in a separate caption as fiduciary receivables. Likewise, payables to insurance companies and premium deposits due customers are now combined into a new caption as fiduciary liabilities.

The caption “restricted cash” is now reflected as “fiduciary cash” along with non-restricted fiduciary cash balances previously reported within “cash and cash equivalents.” Fiduciary cash represents funds in the Company's possession collected from customers to be remitted to insurance companies and funds from insurance companies to be distributed to insureds for the settlement of claims or refunds. The net change in fiduciary cash is represented by the net change in fiduciary liabilities and fiduciary receivables and is presented as cash flows from financing activities in the statement of cash flows. Previously the net change in cash balances held to remit to insurance carriers or to return to customers was presented as cash flows from operating activities.

All prior periods included in these financial statements have been recast to conform to this basis of presentation. The relevant balance sheet captions and how the December 31, 2021 balances as presented under the prior method relate to the current presentation are reflected in the tables below. Certain liabilities reported as premiums payable to insurance companies or within premiums deposits and credits due customers were deemed not to be fiduciary in nature and have been included within accounts payable in the current presentation. Likewise, a small component of accounts payable was deemed to be fiduciary in nature and is now included within fiduciary liabilities.


December 31, 2021
(in millions)	As reported		Change in presentation			As revised
Cash and cash equivalents	$	887.0	$	(193.8	)	$	693.2
Restricted cash and investments		583.2		(583.2	)		—
Fiduciary cash		—		777.0			777.0
Total		1,470.2		—			1,470.2

Premiums, commissions and fees receivables		1,216.3		(1,216.3	)		—
Commissions, fees and other receivables		—		522.6			522.6
Fiduciary receivables		—		693.7			693.7
Total		1,216.3		—			1,216.3

Premium payable to insurance companies		1,384.6		(1,384.6	)		—
Premium deposits and credits due customers		122.4		(122.4	)		—
Accounts payable		206.4		36.3			242.7
Fiduciary liabilities		—		1,470.7			1,470.7
Total	$	1,713.4	$	—		$	1,713.4


For the year ended December 31, 2021
(in millions)	As reported			Change in presentation			As revised
Cash flows from operating activities:
Premiums, commissions and fees receivable (1)	$	(72.8	)	$	10.9		$	(61.9	)
Premiums payable to insurance companies		128.0			(128.0	)		—
Premium deposits and credits due customers		19.6			(19.6	)		—
Accounts payable		51.4			3.0			54.4

Cash flows from financing activities:
Fiduciary receivables and liabilities, net		—			133.7			133.7
Total represented changes in cash flows	$	126.2		$	—		$	126.2

(1)

The caption of "Premiums, commissions and fees receivable" is now shown as "Commissions, fees and other receivables" in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.


For the year ended December 31, 2020
(in millions)	As reported			Change in presentation			As revised
Cash flows from operating activities:
Premiums, commissions and fees receivable (1)	$	(135.4	)	$	133.4		$	(2.0	)
Premiums payable to insurance companies		158.8			(158.8	)		—
Premium deposits and credits due customers		(12.9	)		12.9			—
Accounts payable		107.8			3.8			111.6

Cash flows from financing activities:
Fiduciary receivables and liabilities, net		—			8.7			8.7
Total represented changes in cash flows	$	118.3		$	—		$	118.3

(1)

The caption of "Premiums, commissions and fees receivable" is now shown as "Commissions, fees and other receivables" in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

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 jurisdictions 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. The interest income earned on these unremitted funds, where allowed by state law, is reported as investment income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

In other circumstances, the insurance companies collect the premiums directly from the insureds and remit the applicable commissions to the Company. Accordingly, as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, commissions are receivables from insurance companies. Fees are primarily receivables due from customers.

Investments

Certificates of deposit, and other securities, having maturities of more than three months when purchased are reported at cost and are adjusted for other-than-temporary market value declines. The Company’s investment holdings include U.S. Government securities, municipal bonds, domestic corporate and foreign corporate bonds as well as short-duration fixed income funds. Investments within the portfolio or funds are held as available-for-sale and are carried at their fair value. Any gain/loss applicable from the fair value change is recorded, net of tax, as other comprehensive income within the equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains and losses are reported as investment income on the Consolidated Statements of Income, with the cost of securities sold determined on a specific identification basis.

Fixed Assets

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. Depreciation has been determined using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from 3 to 40 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.

Goodwill and Amortizable Intangible Assets

All of our business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. Acquisition purchase prices are typically based upon a multiple of average annual EBITDAC (defined below), and/or 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 Statements 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’ 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 present value using a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration the likelihood that the forecast earn-out payments will be made.

Amortizable intangible assets are stated at cost, less accumulated amortization, and consist of purchased customer accounts and non-compete agreements. Purchased customer accounts and non-compete agreements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the related estimated lives and contract periods, which typically range from 3 to 15 years. Purchased customer accounts represent the value of the customer relationship, but also consist of records and files that contain information about insurance policies and the related insured parties that are essential to policy renewals.

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. The Company may elect to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that a reporting unit is impaired. If the Company does not perform a qualitative assessment, or as a result of the qualitative assessment, it is not determined that the fair value of the reporting unit more likely than not exceeds the carrying amount, the Company will calculate the fair value of the reporting unit for comparison against the carrying value. 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. The Company completed its most recent annual assessment as of November 30, 2022 and determined that the fair value of goodwill exceeded the carrying value of such assets. In addition, as of December 31, 2022, there are no accumulated impairment losses.

The carrying value of amortizable intangible assets attributable to each business or asset group comprising the Company is periodically reviewed by management to determine if there are events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that its carrying amount may not be recoverable. Accordingly, if there are any such changes in circumstances during the year, the Company assesses the carrying value of its amortizable intangible assets by considering the estimated future undiscounted cash flows generated by the corresponding business or asset group. Any impairment identified through this assessment may require that the carrying value of related amortizable intangible assets be adjusted after determining the fair value of the amortizable intangible assets. There were no impairments recorded for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020.

Income Taxes

The Company records income tax expense using the asset-and-liability method of accounting for deferred income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement carrying values and the income tax bases of the Company’s assets and liabilities.

The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return and has elected to file consolidated returns in certain states. Deferred income taxes are provided for in the Consolidated Financial Statements and relate principally to expenses charged to income for financial reporting purposes in one period and deducted for income tax purposes in other periods.

Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares (including participating securities) issued and outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed based on the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding plus equivalent shares, assuming the issuance of all potentially issuable common shares. The dilutive effect of potentially issuable common shares is computed by application of the treasury stock method.

The following is a reconciliation between basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the years ended December 31:


(in millions, except per share data)	2022			2021			2020
Net income	$	671.8		$	587.1		$	480.5
Net income attributable to unvested awarded performance stock		(12.7	)		(12.9	)		(15.2	)
Net income attributable to common shares	$	659.1		$	574.2		$	465.3
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		282.9			282.2			283.3
Less unvested awarded performance stock included in weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		(5.4	)		(6.2	)		(9.0	)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding for basic earnings per common share		277.5			276.0			274.3
Dilutive effect of stock options		1.1			1.4			1.5
Weighted average number of shares outstanding – diluted		278.6			277.4			275.8
Net income per share:
Basic	$	2.38		$	2.08		$	1.70
Diluted	$	2.37		$	2.07		$	1.69

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents; fiduciary cash; short-term investments; investments; fiduciary receivables, commissions, fees and other receivables; reinsurance recoverable; prepaid reinsurance premiums; fiduciary liabilities; losses and loss adjustment reserve; unearned premium; accounts payable and accrued expenses and other liabilities, at December 31, 2022 and 2021, 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, 2022 and 2021 as our fixed-rate borrowings of $2,738.8 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 $1,225.6 million which approximates the carrying value due to the variable interest rate based upon adjusted LIBOR and SOFR. 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.

Non-Cash Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has stock-based compensation plans that provide for grants of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and other stock-based awards to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. In addition, the Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan which allows employees to purchase shares in the Company. The Company expenses stock-based compensation, which is included in Employee compensation and benefits in the Consolidated Statements of Income over the requisite service period. The significant assumptions underlying our expense calculations include the fair value of the award on the date of grant, the estimated achievement of any performance targets and estimated forfeiture rates.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes valuation model for valuing all stock options and shares purchased under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). Compensation for non-vested stock awards is measured at fair value on the grant date based upon the number of shares expected to vest. Compensation cost for all awards is recognized in earnings, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

Reinsurance

The Company acts in a risk-bearing capacity for flood insurance associated with the Wright National Flood Insurance Company (“WNFIC”), which is part of our National Programs segment. The Company protects itself from claims-related losses by reinsuring all claims risk exposure. However, for basic admitted policies conforming to the National Flood Insurance Program all exposure is reinsured with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”). For excess flood and private 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.

Balances due from reinsurers on unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses, including an estimate of such that is recoverable related to reserves for incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) losses, are reported as assets and are included in reinsurance recoverable even though amounts due on unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense are not recoverable from the reinsurer until such losses are paid. The Company does not believe it is exposed to any material credit risk through its reinsurance as the reinsurer is FEMA for basic admitted flood policies and national reinsurance carriers for private flood policies, which has an AM Best Company rating of “A” or better. Historically, no amounts due from reinsurance carriers have been written off as uncollectible.

The Company also participates in two Captives for the purpose of facilitating additional underwriting capacity, generating additional revenues and participating in underwriting results. One Captive operates on a quota share basis, currently focused on property insurance for earthquake and wind exposed properties for policies placed by certain of our MGA businesses. This Captive buys reinsurance, limiting, but not fully eliminating the Company's exposure to claims expenses. The other Captive operates through an-excess of loss or reinsurance layers associated with placements made by one of our MGA businesses focused on residential property primarily in the southeastern United States. This Captive has capped exposure through contractual aggregate limits on the reinsurance participations it assumes with one layer of per risk excess reinsurance and three layers of catastrophe per occurrence reinsurance. All four layers have limited reinstatements and therefore have capped, maximum aggregate limits.

Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Reserve

Unpaid losses and loss adjustment reserve includes amounts determined on individual claims and other estimates based upon the past experience and the policyholders for IBNR claims, less anticipated salvage and subrogation recoverable. The methods of making such estimates and for establishing the resulting reserves are continually reviewed and updated, and any adjustments resulting therefrom are reflected in operations currently.

The Company engages the services of outside actuarial consulting firms (the “Actuaries”) to assist on an annual basis to render an opinion on the sufficiency of the Company’s estimates for unpaid losses and related loss adjustment reserve. The Actuaries utilize both industry experience and the Company’s own experience to develop estimates of those amounts as of year-end. These estimated liabilities are subject to the impact of future changes in claim severity, frequency and other factors. In spite of the variability inherent in such estimates, management believes that the liabilities for unpaid losses and related loss adjustment reserve are adequate.

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 Consolidated Statements of Income.