UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended
or
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
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Identification No.) |
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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Trading symbol(s) |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b‑2 of the Exchange Act.
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Accelerated filer |
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Non-accelerated filer |
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Smaller reporting company |
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Emerging growth company |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, $1.00 par value, as of March 31, 2024 was approximately
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain statements related to future results, or states our intentions, beliefs and expectations or predictions for the future of Arthur J Gallagher & Co. and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to herein as we, our, us, Gallagher or the company, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward‑looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. Such statements use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “contemplate,” “forecast,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” and other similar terms, and future or conditional tense verbs like “could,” “may,” “might,” “see,” “should,” “will” and “would.” You can also identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. For example, we may use forward-looking statements when addressing topics such as: the impact of general economic conditions, including significant inflation, interest rates and market uncertainty; the effects of geopolitical volatility, including repercussions from the war in Ukraine and the Middle East; market and industry conditions, including competitive and pricing trends; acquisition strategy including the expected size of our acquisition program; the expected impact of acquisitions and dispositions and integrating recent acquisitions, including comments regarding the expected benefits of our acquisition of the Willis Towers Watson plc treaty reinsurance brokerage operations (which we refer to as Willis Re), BCHR Holdings, L.P., and its subsidiaries, dba Buck (which we refer to as Buck), Cadence Insurance, Inc. (which we refer to as Cadence Insurance), Eastern Insurance Group, LLC (which we refer to as Eastern Insurance), My Plan Manager Group Pty Ltd (which we refer to as My Plan Manager), and other acquisitions larger than our typical tuck-in acquisitions and the expected duration and costs of integrating such large acquisitions; the development and performance of our services and products; changes in the composition or level of our revenues or earnings; our cost structure and the size and outcome of cost-saving or restructuring initiatives; future capital expenditures; future debt levels and anticipated actions to be taken in connection with maturing debt; future debt to earnings ratios; the outcome of contingencies; dividend policy; pension obligations; cash flow and liquidity; capital structure and financial losses; future actions by regulators; the outcome of existing regulatory actions, audits, reviews or litigation; the impact of changes in accounting rules; financial markets; interest rates; foreign exchange rates; matters relating to our operations; income taxes; expectations regarding our investments, human capital management, including diversity and inclusion initiatives; and environmental, social and governance matters, including climate-resilience and climate-advising products and services and carbon emissions. These forward‑looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors.
Potential factors that could impact results include:
- 2 -
- 3 -
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risk factors referred to above. Our future performance and actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of, and are based on information available to us on, the date of the applicable document. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date that they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any such statements or release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect new information, future or unexpected events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. In addition, historical, current and forward-looking sustainability-related or ESG-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future.
A detailed discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our published expectations is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any other reports we file with the SEC in the future.
- 4 -
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Index
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Page No. |
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Part I. |
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Item 1. |
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Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the Three-month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 |
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6 |
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7 |
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Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 |
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8 |
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Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the Three-month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 |
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9 |
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10-11 |
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12-32 |
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Item 2. |
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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33-56 |
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Item 3. |
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56-57 |
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Item 4. |
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57-58 |
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Part II. |
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Item 1. |
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58 |
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Item 1A. |
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58 |
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Item 2. |
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58-59 |
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Item 6. |
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59 |
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60 |
- 5 -
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
(Unaudited - in millions, except per share data)
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Three-month period ended |
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March 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Commissions |
$ |
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$ |
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Fees |
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Supplemental revenues |
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Contingent revenues |
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Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income |
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Revenues before reimbursements |
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Reimbursements |
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Total revenues |
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Compensation |
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Operating |
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Reimbursements |
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Interest |
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Depreciation |
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Amortization |
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Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables |
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Total expenses |
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Earnings before income taxes |
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Provision for income taxes |
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Net earnings |
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Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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Net earnings attributable to controlling interests |
$ |
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$ |
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Basic net earnings per share |
$ |
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$ |
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Diluted net earnings per share |
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Dividends declared per common share |
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See notes to consolidated financial statements.
- 6 -
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Earnings
(Unaudited - in millions)
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Three-month period ended |
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March 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Net earnings |
$ |
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$ |
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Change in pension liability, net of taxes |
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Foreign currency translation, net of taxes |
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( |
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Change in fair value of derivative investments, |
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Comprehensive earnings |
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Comprehensive earnings attributable to |
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— |
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Comprehensive earnings attributable to |
$ |
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$ |
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See notes to consolidated financial statements.
- 7 -
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Unaudited - in millions)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
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$ |
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Fiduciary assets |
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Accounts receivable, net |
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Other current assets |
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Total current assets |
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Fixed assets - net |
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Deferred income taxes (includes tax credit carryforwards of $ |
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Other noncurrent assets |
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Right-of-use assets |
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Goodwill |
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Amortizable intangible assets - net |
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Total assets |
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$ |
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$ |
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Fiduciary liabilities |
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$ |
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$ |
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Accrued compensation and other current liabilities |
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Deferred revenue - current |
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Premium financing debt |
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Corporate related borrowings - current |
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Total current liabilities |
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Corporate related borrowings - noncurrent |
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Deferred revenue - noncurrent |
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Lease liabilities - noncurrent |
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Other noncurrent liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Stockholders' equity: |
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Common stock - issued and outstanding |
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Capital in excess of par value |
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Retained earnings |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
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( |
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Stockholders' equity attributable to controlling interests |
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Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests |
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Total stockholders' equity |
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Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
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$ |
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$ |
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See notes to consolidated financial statements.
- 8 -
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited - in millions)
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Three-month period ended |
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March 31, |
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2024 |
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2023 |
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Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Net earnings |
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$ |
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$ |
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Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables |
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( |
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Amortization of deferred compensation and restricted stock |
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Stock-based and other noncash compensation expense |
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Payments on acquisition earnouts in excess of original estimates |
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( |
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Provision for deferred income taxes |
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Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates |
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( |
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Net change in accounts receivable, net |
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( |
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( |
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Net change in deferred revenue |
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Net change in other current assets |
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( |
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Net change in accrued compensation and other accrued liabilities |
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Net change in income taxes payable |
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( |
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Net change in other noncurrent assets and liabilities |
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( |
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( |
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Net cash provided by operating activities |
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Cash flows from investing activities: |
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Capital expenditures |
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( |
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( |
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Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired |
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( |
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( |
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Net proceeds from sales of operations/books of business |
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Net funding of investment transactions |
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Net funding of premium finance loans |
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Net cash used by investing activities |
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( |
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( |
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Cash flows from financing activities: |
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Payments on acquisition earnouts |
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( |
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( |
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Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
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Payments to noncontrolling interests |
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( |
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( |
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Dividends paid |
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( |
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( |
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Net change in fiduciary assets and liabilities |
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( |
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Net borrowings on premium financing debt facility |
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( |
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( |
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Borrowings on line of credit facility |
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Repayments on line of credit facility |
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( |
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( |
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Net borrowings of corporate related long-term debt |
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Debt acquisition costs |
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( |
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( |
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Settlements on terminated interest rate swaps |
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( |
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Net cash (used) provided by financing activities |
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( |
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Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, |
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( |
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( |
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Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and fiduciary cash |
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Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and fiduciary cash at beginning of period |
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Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and fiduciary cash at end of period |
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$ |
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$ |
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See notes to consolidated financial statements.
- 9 -
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
(Unaudited - in millions)
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Accumulated |
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Capital in |
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Other |
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Common Stock |
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Excess of |
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Retained |
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Comprehensive |
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Noncontrolling |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Par Value |
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Earnings |
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Loss |
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Interests |
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Total |
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Balance at December 31, 2023 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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Net earnings |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Net purchase of subsidiary shares |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Dividends paid to noncontrolling |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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( |
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Net change in pension asset/ |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Foreign currency translation |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
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Change in fair value of derivative |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
) |
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— |
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( |
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Compensation expense related to |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Common stock issued in: |
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Seven purchase transactions |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Stock option plans |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Employee stock purchase plan |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Shares issued to benefit plans |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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Deferred compensation and |
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( |
) |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
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Cash dividends declared on |
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— |
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— |
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— |
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( |
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— |
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— |
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( |
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Balance at March 31, 2024 |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
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$ |
( |
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$ |
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$ |
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See notes to consolidated financial statements.
- 10 -
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
(Unaudited - in millions)
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Accumulated |
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Capital in |
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Other |
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Common Stock |
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Excess of |
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Retained |
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Comprehensive |
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Noncontrolling |
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Shares |
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Amount |
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Par Value |
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Earnings |
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Loss |
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Interests |
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|
Total |
|
|||||||
Balance at December 31, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||||
Net earnings |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net purchase of subsidiary shares |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Dividends paid to noncontrolling |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net change in pension asset/ |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign currency translation |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
||
Change in fair value of derivative |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Compensation expense related to |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Common stock issued in: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Four purchase transactions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Stock option plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Employee stock purchase plan |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Shares issued to benefit plans |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||||
Deferred compensation and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
||
Cash dividends declared on |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Balance at March 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
- 11 -
Notes to March 31, 2024 Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Terms Used in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ASC - Accounting Standards Codification.
ASU - Accounting Standards Update.
FASB - The Financial Accounting Standards Board.
GAAP - U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
IRC - Internal Revenue Code.
IRS - Internal Revenue Service.
Underwriting enterprises - Insurance companies, reinsurance companies and various other forms of risk-taking entities, including intermediaries of underwriting enterprises.
Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to herein as we, our, us, Gallagher or the company, provide insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting and third party claims settlement and administration services to both domestic and international entities. We have
Our brokerage segment operations provide brokerage and consulting services to entities of all types, including commercial, nonprofit, public sector entities, and, to a lesser extent, individuals, in the areas of insurance and reinsurance placements, risk of loss management, and management of employer sponsored benefit programs. Our risk management segment operations provide contract claim settlement, claim administration, loss control services and risk management consulting for commercial, nonprofit, captive and public sector entities, and various other organizations that choose to self-insure property/casualty coverages or choose to use a third‑party claims management organization rather than the claim services provided by underwriting enterprises. The corporate segment reports the financial information related to our debt and other corporate costs, clean energy investments, external acquisition‑related expenses and the impact of foreign currency translation.
We do not assume insurance underwriting risk on a net basis, other than with respect to de minimis amounts necessary to provide minimum or regulatory capital to organize captives, pools, specialized underwriters or risk-retention groups. Rather, capital necessary for covering losses is provided by underwriting enterprises.
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income are primarily generated from our premium financing operations, our invested cash and restricted cash we hold on behalf of our clients, as well as clean energy investments. In addition, our share of the net earnings related to partially owned entities that are accounted for using the equity method is included in other income.
We are a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. We provide these services in approximately
- 12 -
Use of Estimates
The preparation of our unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These accounting principles require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our unaudited consolidated financial statements. We periodically evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those relating to the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, right-of-use assets, investments, income taxes, revenue recognition, deferred costs, stock-based compensation, claims handling obligations, retirement plans, litigation and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and various assumptions that we believe to be reasonable based on specific circumstances. Such estimates and assumptions could change in the future as more information becomes known, which could impact the amounts reported and disclosed in the notes herein.
- 13 -
2. Effect of New Accounting Pronouncements
Segment Reporting
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires that an entity report segment information in accordance with Topic 280, Segment Reporting. The amendment in the ASU is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements which is expected to result in enhanced disclosures.
Income Taxes
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires that an entity, on an annual basis, disclose additional income tax information, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The amendment in the ASU is intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in this update are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on our consolidated financial statements which is expected to result in enhanced disclosures.
Climate Risk Disclosures
In March 2024, the SEC issued final climate-related disclosure rules that will require disclosure of material climate-related risks and material direct greenhouse gas emissions from operations owned or controlled (Scope 1) and/or material indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased energy consumed in owned or controlled operations (Scope 2). Additionally, the rules require disclosure in the notes to the financial statements of the effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions, subject to certain materiality thresholds. The disclosure requirements will begin phasing in for annual reports and registration statements including financial information with respect to annual periods beginning in calendar year 2025. On April 4, 2024, the SEC issued an order staying the rules during the pendency of a number of legal challenges to the rules’ validity. We are continuing to monitor these developments while evaluating the impact of the rules on our consolidated financial statements, which are expected to result in additional disclosures.
3. Business Combinations
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we acquired substantially all of the ownership interest or net assets, as applicable, of the following firms in exchange for our common stock and/or cash. These acquisitions have been accounted for using the acquisition method for recording business combinations (in millions, except share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
Maximum |
|
||||||||
|
|
Common |
|
|
Common |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recorded |
|
|
Recorded |
|
|
Potential |
|
||||||||
Name and Effective |
|
Shares |
|
|
Share |
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued |
|
|
Escrow |
|
|
Earnout |
|
|
Purchase |
|
|
Earnout |
|
||||||||
Date of Acquisition |
|
Issued |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Cash Paid |
|
|
Liability |
|
|
Deposited |
|
|
Payable |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Payable |
|
||||||||
|
|
(000s) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Ericson Insurance Services, LLC |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|||||||
The Rowley Agency, LLC |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|||
Ten other acquisitions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Common shares issued in connection with acquisitions are valued at closing market prices as of the effective date of the applicable acquisition or on the days when the shares are issued, if purchase consideration is deferred. We record escrow deposits that are returned to us as a result of adjustments to net assets acquired as reductions of goodwill when the escrows are settled. The maximum potential earnout payables disclosed in the foregoing table represent the maximum amount of additional consideration that could be paid pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement for the applicable acquisition. The amounts recorded as earnout payables, which are primarily based upon the estimated future operating results of the acquired entities over a two- to three-year period subsequent to the acquisition date, are measured at fair value as of the acquisition date and are included on that basis in the recorded purchase price consideration in the foregoing table. We will record subsequent changes in these estimated earnout obligations, including the accretion of discount, in our consolidated statement of earnings when incurred.
- 14 -
The fair value of these earnout obligations is generally based on the present value of the expected future payments to be made to the sellers of the acquired entities in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective purchase agreements, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement (discounted cash flow method of the income approach). In determining fair value, we estimated the acquired entity’s future performance using financial projections developed by management for the acquired entity and market participant assumptions that were derived for revenue growth and/or profitability. Revenue growth rates generally ranged from
During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $
The following is a summary of the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired at the date of each acquisition made in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Other |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
EIS |
|
|
TRA |
|
|
Acquisitions |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Fiduciary assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Other current assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Fixed assets |
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Noncurrent assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Goodwill |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Expiration lists |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Non-compete agreements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total assets acquired |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Fiduciary liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total liabilities assumed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total net assets acquired |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Among other things, these acquisitions allow us to expand into desirable geographic locations, further extend our presence in the retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage markets and increase the volume of general services currently provided. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the tangible net assets acquired at the acquisition date was allocated to goodwill, expiration lists and non-compete agreements in the amounts of $
- 15 -
Provisional estimates of fair value are established at the time of each acquisition and are subsequently reviewed and finalized within the first year of operations subsequent to the acquisition date to determine the necessity for adjustments. During this period, we may use independent third-party valuation specialists to assist us in finalizing the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Fair value adjustments, if any, are most common to the values established for amortizable intangible assets, including expiration lists, non‑compete agreements and trade names, as well as for acquired software, and earnout liabilities, with the offset to goodwill, net of any income tax effect.
The fair value of the tangible assets and liabilities for each applicable acquisition at the acquisition date approximated their carrying values. In general, the fair value of expiration lists was established using the excess earnings method, which is an income approach based on estimated financial projections developed by management for each acquired entity using market participant assumptions. We estimate the fair value as the present value of the benefits anticipated from ownership of the subject expiration list in excess of returns required on the investment in contributory assets necessary to realize those benefits. The rate used to discount the net benefits was based on a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration market-based rates of return and reflects the risk of the asset relative to the acquired business. The fair value of non-compete agreements was established using the profit differential method, which is an income approach based on estimated financial projections developed by management for the acquired company using market participant assumptions and various non-compete scenarios.
Expiration lists, non-compete agreements and trade names related to our acquisitions are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives ( to for expiration lists, to
Of the $
Our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 include the operations of the entities acquired in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 from their respective acquisition dates.
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
March 31, |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Total revenues |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Net earnings attributable to controlling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic net earnings per share |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Diluted net earnings per share |
|
|
|
|
|
The unaudited pro forma results above have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted had these acquisitions occurred at January 1, 2023, nor are they necessarily indicative of future operating results. Annualized revenues of entities acquired during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 totaled approximately $
- 16 -
4. Contracts with Customers
Contract Assets and Liabilities/Contract Balances
Information about unbilled receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers is as follows (in millions):
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
Unbilled receivables |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Deferred contract costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Deferred revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The unbilled receivables, which are included in accounts receivable in our consolidated balance sheet, primarily relate to our rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at the reporting date. These are transferred to the receivables when the client is billed. The deferred contract costs represent the costs we incur to fulfill a new or renewal contract with our clients prior to the effective date of the contract. These costs are expensed on the contract effective date. The deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheet includes amounts that represent the remaining performance obligations under our contracts and amounts collected related to advanced billings and deposits received from customers that may or may not ultimately be recognized as revenues in the future. Deposits received from customers could be returned to the customers based on lesser actual transactional volume than originally billed volume.
Significant changes in the deferred revenue balances, which include foreign currency translation adjustments, during the period are as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Risk |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Management |
|
|
Total |
|
|||
Deferred revenue at December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
Incremental deferred revenue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Revenue recognized during the three-month period ended |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net change in collected billings/deposits received from customers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Impact of change in foreign exchange rates |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Deferred revenue recognized from business acquisitions |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Deferred revenue at March 31, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Revenue recognized during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 in the table above included revenue from 2023 acquisitions that would not be reflected in prior periods.
Remaining Performance Obligations
Remaining performance obligations represent the portion of the contract price for which work has not been performed. As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate amount of the contract price allocated to remaining performance obligations was $
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Risk |
|
|
Total |
|
|||
(remaining nine months) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Deferred Contract Costs
We capitalize costs incurred to fulfill contracts as deferred contract costs which are included in other current assets in our consolidated balance sheet. Deferred contract costs were $
- 17 -
deferred contract costs was $
We have applied the practical expedient to recognize the incremental costs of obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the assets that we otherwise would have recognized is one year or less for our brokerage segment. These costs are included in compensation and operating expenses in our consolidated statement of earnings.
5. Intangible Assets
The carrying amount of goodwill at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 allocated by domestic and foreign operations is as follows (in millions):
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Risk |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
At March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
United States |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Canada |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
New Zealand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other foreign |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total goodwill |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
At December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
United States |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|||
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Canada |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
New Zealand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other foreign |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total goodwill |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 are as follows (in millions):
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Risk |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Goodwill acquired during the period |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Goodwill true-ups due to appraisals and other acquisition |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Foreign currency translation adjustments during the period |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
( |
) |
Balance as of March 31, 2024 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Major classes of amortizable intangible assets at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 consist of the following (in millions):
|
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Expiration lists |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Accumulated amortization - expiration lists |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Non-compete agreements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accumulated amortization - non-compete agreements |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Trade names |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accumulated amortization - trade names |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net amortizable assets |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
- 18 -
Estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years and thereafter is as follows (in millions):
2024 (remaining nine months) |
|
$ |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
|
|
2026 |
|
|
|
|
2027 |
|
|
|
|
2028 |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
$ |
|
- 19 -
6. Credit and Other Debt Agreements
The following is a summary of our corporate and other debt (in millions): |
|
March 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Senior Notes: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
Total Senior Notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Note Purchase Agreements: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Semi-annual payments of interest, fixed rate of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total Note Purchase Agreements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Credit Agreement: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Periodic payments of interest and principal, prime or SOFR plus up |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Premium Financing Debt Facility - expires |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Facility B |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
AUD denominated tranche, interbank rates plus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
NZD denominated tranche, interbank rates plus |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Facility C and D |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
AUD denominated tranche, interbank rates plus |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
NZD denominated tranche, interbank rates plus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total Premium Financing Debt Facility |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total corporate and other debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Less unamortized debt acquisition costs on Senior Notes and Note Purchase Agreements |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Less unamortized discount on Bonds Payable |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Net corporate and other debt |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Senior Notes - On February 12, 2024, we closed and funded an offering of $
- 20 -
entered into a pre-issuance interest rate hedging transaction related to these notes. We realized a net cash loss of approximately $
7. Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net earnings per share (in millions, except per share data):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
March 31, |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Net earnings attributable to controlling interests |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Dilutive effect of stock options using the treasury |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted average number of common and common |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic net earnings per share |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Diluted net earnings per share |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Anti-dilutive stock-based awards of
8. Stock Option Plans
On May 10, 2022, our stockholders approved the Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (which we refer to as the LTIP), which replaced our previous stockholder-approved Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (which we refer to as the 2017 LTIP). The LTIP term began May 10, 2022 and terminates on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders in 2032, unless terminated earlier by our board of directors. All of our officers, employees and non-employee directors are eligible to receive awards under the LTIP. The compensation committee of our board of directors determines the annual number of shares delivered under the LTIP. The LTIP provides for non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, any or all of which may be made contingent upon the achievement of performance criteria.
Shares of our common stock available for issuance under the LTIP include authorized and unissued shares of common stock or authorized and issued shares of common stock reacquired and held as treasury shares or otherwise, or a combination thereof. The number of available shares will be reduced by the aggregate number of shares that become subject to outstanding awards granted under the LTIP. A maximum of
The maximum number of shares available under the LTIP for restricted stock, restricted stock unit awards and performance unit awards settled with stock (i.e., all awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights) was
The LTIP provides for the grant of stock options, which may be either tax-qualified incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights. The compensation committee determines the period for the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, tax-qualified incentive stock option or stock appreciation right, provided that no option can be exercised later than
- 21 -
Upon exercise, the option exercise price may be paid in cash, by the delivery of previously owned shares of our common stock, through a net-exercise arrangement, or through a broker-assisted cashless exercise arrangement. The compensation committee determines all of the terms relating to the exercise, cancellation or other disposition of an option or stock appreciation right upon a termination of employment, whether by reason of disability, retirement, death or any other reason. Stock option and stock appreciation right awards under the LTIP are non-transferable.
On March 1, 2024, the compensation committee granted
During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $
For purposes of expense recognition, the estimated fair values of the stock option grants are amortized to expense over the options’ vesting period. We estimated the fair value of stock options at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Expected dividend yield |
|
|
% |
|
|
% |
||
Expected risk-free interest rate |
|
|
% |
|
|
% |
||
Volatility |
|
|
% |
|
|
% |
||
Expected life (in years) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. The Black-Scholes option pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. The weighted average fair value per option for all options granted during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, as determined on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, was $
The following is a summary of our stock option activity and related information for 2024 (in millions, except exercise price and year data):
|
|
Three-month period ended March 31, 2024 |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Average |
|
|
Contractual |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
||||
|
|
Under |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
Term |
|
|
Intrinsic |
|
||||
|
|
Option |
|
|
Price |
|
|
(in years) |
|
|
Value |
|
||||
Beginning balance |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Granted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Exercised |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Forfeited or canceled |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Ending balance |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Exercisable at end of period |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
||||
Ending unvested and expected to vest |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
Options with respect to
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $
- 22 -
Other information regarding stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2024 is summarized as follows (in millions, except exercise price and year data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options Outstanding |
|
|
Options Exercisable |
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractual |
|
|
Average |
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
|
||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
|
Term |
|
|
Exercise |
|
|
Number |
|
|
Exercise |
|
||||||||
Range of Exercise Prices |
|
|
Outstanding |
|
|
(in years) |
|
|
Price |
|
|
Exercisable |
|
|
Price |
|
||||||||||||
$ |
|
|
— |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|||||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|||||
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|||||
$ |
|
|
— |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
9. Deferred Compensation
We have a Deferred Equity Participation Plan (which we refer to as the DEPP), which is a non-qualified plan that generally provides for distributions to certain of our key executives when they reach
Our common stock that is issued to or purchased by the rabbi trust as a contribution under the DEPP is valued at historical cost, which equals its fair market value at the date of grant or date of purchase. When common stock is issued, we record an unearned deferred compensation obligation as a reduction of capital in excess of par value in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, which is amortized to compensation expense ratably over the vesting period of the participants. Future changes in the fair market value of our common stock owed to the participants do not have any impact on the amounts recorded in our unaudited consolidated financial statements.
In the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, the compensation committee approved $
In the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, the compensation committee approved $
- 23 -
At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we recorded $
We have a Deferred Cash Participation Plan (which we refer to as the DCPP), which is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for certain key employees, other than executive officers, that generally provides for vesting and/or distributions no sooner than five years from the date of awards. Under the provisions of the DCPP, we typically contribute cash in an amount approved by the compensation committee to the rabbi trust on behalf of the executives participating in the DCPP, and instruct the trustee to acquire a specified number of shares of our common stock on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions based on participant elections. In the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, the compensation committee approved $
10. Restricted Stock, Performance Share and Cash Awards
Restricted Stock Awards
As discussed in Note 8 to these unaudited consolidated financial statements, on May 10, 2022, our stockholders approved the LTIP, which replaced our previous stockholder-approved 2017 LTIP. The LTIP provides for the grant of a stock award either as restricted stock or as restricted stock units to officers, employees and non-employee directors. In either case, the compensation committee may determine that the award will be subject to the attainment of performance measures over an established performance period. Stock awards and the related dividend equivalents are non-transferable and subject to forfeiture if the holder does not remain continuously employed with us during the applicable restriction period or, in the case of a performance-based award, if applicable performance measures are not attained. The compensation committee will determine all of the terms relating to the satisfaction of performance measures and the termination of a restriction period, or the forfeiture and cancellation of a restricted stock award upon a termination of employment, whether by reason of disability, retirement, death or any other reason.
The agreements awarding restricted stock units under the LTIP will specify whether such awards may be settled in shares of our common stock, cash or a combination of shares and cash and whether the holder will be entitled to receive dividend equivalents, on a current or deferred basis, with respect to such award. Prior to the settlement of a restricted stock unit, the holder of a restricted stock unit will have no rights as a stockholder of the company. The maximum number of shares available under the LTIP for restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance unit awards settled with stock (i.e., all awards other than stock options and stock appreciation rights) is
In the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, we granted
We account for restricted stock awards at historical cost, which equals its fair market value at the date of grant, which is amortized to compensation expense ratably over the vesting period of the participants. Future changes in the fair market value of our common stock that is owed to the participants do not have any impact on the amounts recorded in our unaudited consolidated financial statements. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $
- 24 -
Performance Share Awards
On March 1, 2024 and March 15, 2023, pursuant to the LTIP, respectively, the compensation committee approved
Cash Awards
Pursuant to our Performance Unit Program (which we refer to as the Program), there were
On March 15, 2022, pursuant to the Program, the compensation committee approved provisional cash awards of $
On March 16, 2021, pursuant to the Program, the compensation committee approved provisional cash awards of $
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, cash awards related to the 2021 provisional award with an aggregate fair value of $
- 25 -
11. Derivatives and Hedging Activity
We are exposed to market risks, including changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. To manage the risk related to these exposures, we enter into various derivative instruments that reduce these risks by creating offsetting exposures. We generally do not enter into derivative transactions for trading or speculative purposes.
Foreign Exchange Risk Management
We are exposed to foreign exchange risk when we earn revenues, pay expenses, or enter into monetary intercompany transfers denominated in a currency that differs from our functional currency, or other transactions that are denominated in a currency other than our functional currency. We use foreign exchange derivatives, typically forward contracts and options, to reduce our overall exposure to the effects of currency fluctuations on cash flows. These exposures are hedged, on average, for less than three years.
Interest Rate Risk Management
We enter into various long-term debt agreements. We use interest rate derivatives, typically swaps, to reduce our exposure to the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the forecasted interest rates for up to three years into the future.
We have not received or pledged any collateral related to derivative arrangements at March 31, 2024.
The notional and fair values of derivatives designated as hedging instruments are as follows at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Derivative Assets |
|
|
|
|
Derivative Liabilities |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Notional |
|
|
Balance Sheet |
|
Fair |
|
|
Balance Sheet |
|
Fair |
|
|||
Instrument |
|
Amount |
|
|
Classification |
|
Value |
|
|
Classification |
|
Value |
|
|||
At March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest rate contracts |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Other current assets |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
— |
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
— |
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts (1) |
|
|
|
|
Other current assets |
|
|
|
|
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|||
At December 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest rate contracts |
|
$ |
|
|
Other current assets |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities |
|
$ |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
— |
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
— |
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts (1) |
|
|
|
|
Other current assets |
|
|
|
|
Accrued compensation and other current liabilities |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent assets |
|
|
|
|
Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
- 26 -
The effect of cash flow hedge accounting on accumulated other comprehensive loss for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
Amount of |
|
|
Gain |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
Gain (Loss) |
|
|
Recognized |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Amount of |
|
|
Reclassified |
|
|
in Earnings |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Gain (Loss) |
|
|
from |
|
|
Related to |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Recognized in |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Other |
|
|
Excluded |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Other |
|
|
Comprehensive |
|
|
from |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Comprehensive |
|
|
Loss into |
|
|
Effectiveness |
|
|
Statement of Earnings |
|||
Instrument |
|
Loss (1) |
|
|
Earnings |
|
|
Testing |
|
|
Classification |
|||
Three-month period ended March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest rate contracts |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
||
Foreign exchange contracts |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
Three-month period ended March 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest rate contracts |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
|
Foreign exchange contracts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
e |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||
Total |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
|
We estimate that approximately $
12. Commitments, Contingencies and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In connection with our investing and operating activities, we have entered into certain contractual obligations and commitments.
|
|
Payments Due by Period |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations |
|
2024 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2027 |
|
|
2028 |
|
|
Thereafter |
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||
Senior Notes |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Note Purchase Agreements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Credit Agreement |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Premium Financing Debt Facility |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Interest on debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total debt obligations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Operating lease obligations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Less sublease arrangements |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
Outstanding purchase obligations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total contractual obligations |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
The amounts presented in the table above may not necessarily reflect our actual future cash funding requirements, because the actual timing of the future payments made may vary from the stated contractual obligation.
- 27 -
Senior Notes, Note Purchase Agreements, Credit Agreement and Premium Financing Debt Facility - See Note 6 to these unaudited consolidated financial statements for a summary of the amounts outstanding under the Senior Notes, Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreement and Premium Financing Debt Facility.
Operating Lease Obligations - Our corporate segment’s executive offices and certain subsidiary and branch facilities of our brokerage and risk management segments are located in a building we own at 2850 Golf Road, Rolling Meadows, Illinois, where we have approximately
We generally operate in leased premises at our other locations. Certain of these leases have options permitting renewals for additional periods. In addition to minimum fixed rentals, a number of leases contain annual escalation clauses which are generally related to increases in an inflation index.
We have leased certain office space to several non-affiliated tenants under operating sublease arrangements. In the normal course of business, we expect that certain of these leases will not be renewed or replaced. We adjust charges for real estate taxes and common area maintenance annually based on actual expenses, and we recognize the related revenues in the year in which the expenses are incurred. These amounts are not included in the minimum future rentals to be received in the contractual obligations table above.
Outstanding Purchase Obligations - The amount disclosed in the contractual obligations table above represents the aggregate amount of unrecorded purchase obligations that we had outstanding at March 31, 2024. These obligations represent agreements to purchase goods or services that were executed in the normal course of business.
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments - Our total unrecorded commitments associated with outstanding letters of credit, and financial guarantees as of March 31, 2024 were as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|||||||
|
|
Amount of Commitment Expiration by Period |
|
|
Amounts |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments |
|
2024 |
|
|
2025 |
|
|
2026 |
|
|
2027 |
|
|
2028 |
|
|
Thereafter |
|
|
Committed |
|
|||||||
Letters of credit |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Financial guarantees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total commitments |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Since commitments may expire unused, the amounts presented in the table above do not necessarily reflect our actual future cash funding requirements. See the Off‑Balance Sheet Debt section below for a discussion of our letters of credit. All of the letters of credit represent multiple year commitments that have annual, automatic renewing provisions and are classified by the latest commitment date.
Since January 1, 2002, we have acquired
Off-Balance Sheet Debt - Our unconsolidated investment portfolio includes investments in enterprises where our ownership interest is between
At March 31, 2024, we had posted
- 28 -
funds held in a fiduciary capacity by a recent acquisition and
Litigation, Regulatory and Taxation Matters - We routinely are involved in legal proceedings, claims, disputes, regulatory matters and governmental inspections or investigations arising in the ordinary course of or incidental to our business, including those noted below in this section. We record accruals in the unaudited consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. For the matters we disclose that do not include an estimate of the amount of loss or range of losses, such an estimate is not possible or is immaterial, and we may be unable to estimate the possible loss or range of losses that could potentially result from the application of non-monetary remedies, unless disclosed below. We currently believe that the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will not materially harm our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, legal proceedings and government investigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings or other adverse events could occur, including the payment of substantial monetary damages or an injunction or other order prohibiting us from selling one or more products at all or in particular ways, precluding particular business practices or requiring other remedies, which may result in a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial position.
As previously disclosed, our IRC 831(b) (or “micro-captive”) advisory services business has been under audit by the IRS since 2013. Among other matters, the IRS is investigating whether we have been acting as a tax shelter promoter in connection with these operations. Additionally, the IRS is conducting a criminal investigation related to IRC 831(b) micro-captive underwriting enterprises. We have been advised that we are not a target of the criminal investigation. We are fully cooperating with both matters.
Contingent Liabilities - We purchase insurance to provide protection from errors and omissions (which we refer to as E&O) claims that may arise during the ordinary course of business. Currently we retain the first $
Tax-advantaged Investments No Longer Held - Between 1996 and 2007, we developed and then sold portions of our ownership in various energy related investments, many of which qualified for tax credits under IRC Section 29. We recorded tax benefits in connection with our ownership in these investments. At March 31, 2024, we had exposure on $
Due to the contingent nature of this exposure and our related assessment of its likelihood, no reserve has been recorded in our March 31, 2024 consolidated balance sheet related to this exposure.
13. Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information
|
|
Three-month period ended March 31, |
|
|||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information (in millions): |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Interest paid |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Income taxes paid, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 29 -
The following is a reconciliation of our end of period cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and fiduciary cash balances as presented in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in millions):
|
|
March 31, |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents - non-restricted cash |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Fiduciary cash |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and fiduciary cash |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Fiduciary cash is included in fiduciary assets in our consolidated balance sheet.
We have a qualified contributory savings and thrift 401(k) plan covering the majority of our domestic employees. For eligible employees who have met the plan’s age and service requirements to receive matching contributions, we historically have matched
14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The after-tax components of our accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to controlling interests consist of the following (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign |
|
|
Fair Value of |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
||||
|
|
Pension |
|
|
Currency |
|
|
Derivative |
|
|
Comprehensive |
|
||||
|
|
Liability |
|
|
Translation |
|
|
Investments |
|
|
Loss |
|
||||
Balance as of December 31, 2023 |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
Net change in period |
|
|
|
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
|
( |
) |
|
Balance as of March 31, 2024 |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
( |
) |
The foreign currency translation during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 relates to the net impact of changes in the value of the local currencies relative to the U.S. dollar for our operations in the Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, India, New Zealand, the U.K. and other non-U.S. locations. The reporting currency for our financial statements is the U.S. dollar. Certain of our assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar and New Zealand dollar. To prepare our unaudited consolidated financial statements, we must translate those assets, liabilities, expenses and revenues into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rates. Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. dollar functional currency operations are translated into U.S. dollars at end-of-period exchange rates while revenues, expenses and cash flows are translated at average monthly exchange rates over the period. Equity is translated at historical exchange rates and the resulting cumulative translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheet. The net change in the foreign currency translation during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 primarily relates to goodwill (see Note 5 for the impact on goodwill) and amortizable intangible assets held by operations with a non-USD functional currency.
During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, $
- 30 -
15. Segment Information
We have
The brokerage segment is primarily comprised of our retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage operations. The brokerage segment (which comprises our retail property/casualty, wholesale, reinsurance, benefits and captive operations) generates revenues through commissions paid by underwriting enterprises and through fees charged to our clients. Our brokers, agents and administrators act as intermediaries between underwriting enterprises and our clients and we do not assume net underwriting risks.
The risk management segment provides contract claim settlement and administration services for commercial, nonprofit, captive and public sector entities, and various organizations that choose to self-insure some or all of their property/casualty coverages and for underwriting enterprises that choose to outsource some or all of their property/casualty claims departments. These operations also provide claims management, loss control consulting and insurance property appraisal services. Revenues are principally generated on a negotiated per-claim or per-service fee basis. Our risk management segment also provides risk management consulting services that are recognized as the services are delivered.
The corporate segment manages our clean energy and other investments. In addition, the corporate segment reports the financial information related to our debt and other corporate costs, external acquisition-related expenses and the impact of foreign currency remeasurements.
Allocations of interest income and certain expenses are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates primarily using revenue, headcount and other information. We allocate the provision for income taxes to the brokerage and risk management segments using the local country statutory rates. Reported operating results by segment would change if different methods were applied.
Financial information relating to our segments for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 as follows
(in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Brokerage |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Earnings before income taxes |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2024 and 2023 |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Risk Management |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Earnings before income taxes |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2024 and 2023 |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Corporate |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Loss before income taxes |
$ |
( |
) |
|
$ |
( |
) |
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2024 and 2023 |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Total |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Earnings before income taxes |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2024 and 2023 |
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Disaggregation of Revenue
We disaggregate our revenue from contracts with clients by type and geographic location for each of our segments, as we believe it best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of our revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
- 31 -
Revenues by type and segment for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 are as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Management |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commissions |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Supplemental revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Contingent revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Revenues before reimbursements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Reimbursements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Revenues by geographical location and segment for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 are as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Management |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
United States |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Canada |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
New Zealand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other foreign |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Revenues by type and segment for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 are as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Management |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Commissions |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
|
||
Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Supplemental revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Contingent revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other net revenues |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Revenues before reimbursements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Reimbursements |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
Revenues by geographical location and segment for the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 are as follows (in millions):
|
|
|
|
|
Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
Brokerage |
|
|
Management |
|
|
Corporate |
|
|
Total |
|
||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
United States |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
||||
United Kingdom |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Australia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Canada |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
New Zealand |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|||
Other foreign |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
||
Total revenues |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
- 32 -
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The discussion and analysis that follows relates to our financial condition and results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. Readers should review this information in conjunction with the March 31, 2024 unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes included in Item 1 of Part I of this quarterly report on Form 10‑Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2023.
Prior Year Discussion of Results and Comparisons
For Information on fiscal first quarter 2023 results and similar comparisons, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our Form 10-Q for the fiscal three-month period ended March 31, 2023.
Information Regarding Non-GAAP Measures and Other
In the discussion and analysis of our results of operations that follows, in addition to reporting financial results in accordance with GAAP, we provide information regarding EBITDAC, EBITDAC margin, adjusted EBITDAC, adjusted EBITDAC margin, diluted net earnings per share, as adjusted (adjusted EPS), adjusted revenue, adjusted compensation and operating expenses, adjusted compensation expense ratio, adjusted operating expense ratio and organic revenue. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, the GAAP information provided in this quarterly report on Form 10‑Q. We believe that these presentations provide useful information to management, analysts and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our results of operations and financial condition or because they provide investors with measures that our chief operating decision makers use when reviewing the company’s performance. See further below for definitions and additional reasons each of these measures is useful to investors. Our industry peers may provide similar supplemental non-GAAP information with respect to one or more of these measures, although they may not use the same or comparable terminology and may not make identical adjustments. The non-GAAP information we provide should be used in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the GAAP information provided. As disclosed in our most recent Proxy Statement, we make determinations regarding certain elements of executive officer incentive compensation, performance share awards and annual cash incentive awards, partly on the basis of measures related to adjusted EBITDAC.
Adjusted Non-GAAP presentation - We believe that the adjusted non-GAAP presentation of the current and prior period information presented on the following pages provides stockholders and other interested persons with useful information regarding certain financial metrics that may assist such persons in analyzing our operating results as they develop a future earnings outlook for us. The after-tax amounts related to the adjustments were computed using the normalized effective tax rate for each respective period.
- 33 -
Non-GAAP Earnings Measures
We believe that the presentation of EBITDAC, EBITDAC margin, adjusted EBITDAC, adjusted EBITDAC margin, adjusted EPS and adjusted net earnings for the brokerage and risk management segments, each as defined below, provides a meaningful representation of our operating performance. Adjusted EPS is a performance measure and should not be used as a measure of our liquidity. We also consider EBITDAC and EBITDAC margin as ways to measure financial performance on an ongoing basis. In addition, adjusted EBITDAC, adjusted EBITDAC margin and adjusted EPS for the brokerage and risk management segments are presented to improve the comparability of our results between periods by eliminating the impact of the items that have a high degree of variability.
Organic Revenues (a non-GAAP measure) - For the brokerage segment, organic change in base commission and fee revenues, supplemental revenues and contingent revenues exclude the first twelve months of such revenues generated from acquisitions and such revenues related to divested operations in each year presented. These revenues are excluded from organic revenues in order to help interested persons analyze the revenue growth associated with the operations that were a part of our business in both the current and prior period. In addition, organic change in base commission and fee revenues, supplemental revenues and contingent revenues excludes the period‑over‑period impact of foreign currency translation to improve the comparability of our results between periods. For the risk management segment, organic change in fee revenues excludes the first twelve months of such revenues generated from acquisitions and such revenues related to divested operations in each year presented. In addition, change in organic growth in fee revenues excludes the period-over-period impact of foreign currency translation to improve the comparability of our results between periods.
These revenue items are excluded from organic revenues in order to determine a comparable, but non-GAAP, measurement of revenue growth that is associated with the revenue sources that are expected to continue in the current year and beyond, as well as eliminating the impact of the items that have a high degree of variability. We have historically viewed organic revenue growth as an important indicator when assessing and evaluating the performance of our brokerage and risk management segments. We also believe that using
- 34 -
this non‑GAAP measure allows readers of our financial statements to measure, analyze and compare the growth from our brokerage and risk management segments in a meaningful and consistent manner.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Information Presented to GAAP Measures - This quarterly report on Form 10‑Q includes tabular reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures, as follows: for EBITDAC (on pages 41 and 47), for adjusted revenues, adjusted EBITDAC and adjusted diluted net earnings per share (on page 37), for organic revenue measures (on pages 42 and 47), respectively, for the brokerage and risk management segments, for adjusted compensation and operating expenses and adjusted EBITDAC margin, (on pages 43 and 44 for the brokerage segment and (on pages 48 and 49) for the risk management segment.
Other Information - Allocations of investment income and certain expenses are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates primarily using revenue, headcount and other information. We allocate the provision for income taxes to the brokerage and risk management segments using local statutory rates. We anticipate reporting an effective tax rate of approximately 24.5% to 26.5% in the brokerage segment and 25.0% to 27.0% in the risk management segment for the foreseeable future. Reported operating results by segment would change if different allocation methods were applied.
In the discussion that follows regarding our results of operations, we also provide the following ratios with respect to our operating results: pretax profit margin, compensation expense ratio and operating expense ratio. Pretax profit margin represents pretax earnings divided by total revenues. The compensation expense ratio is compensation expense divided by total revenues. The operating expense ratio is operating expense divided by total revenues.
Overview and First Quarter 2024 Highlights
We are engaged in providing insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, consulting services, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to entities and individuals around the world. In the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we generated approximately 66% of our revenues for the combined brokerage and risk management segments domestically and 34% internationally, primarily in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the U.K. We have three reportable segments: brokerage, risk management and corporate. The brokerage and risk management segments contributed approximately 88% and 12%, respectively, to revenues during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. The corporate segment did not generate revenues in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. Our major sources of operating revenues are commissions, fees and supplemental and contingent revenues from brokerage operations and fees from risk management operations. Interest income is earned on cash, cash equivalents and fiduciary cash and revenues are generated from premium financing.
We use the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (which we refer to as CIAB) insurance pricing quarterly survey as an indicator of the insurance rate environment. The CIAB represents the leading domestic and international insurance brokers, who write approximately 85% of the commercial property/casualty premiums in the U.S. The first quarter 2024 survey had not been published as of the filing date of this report. The fourth quarter 2023 survey indicated that commercial property/casualty rates increased by 7.0% on average and we expect a similar trend to be noted when the CIAB's first quarter 2024 survey report is issued, which would indicate overall continued price firming and hardening in most lines of business.
We believe increases in property/casualty rates will continue for the remainder of 2024 due to rising loss costs, a firm reinsurance market, increased frequency of catastrophe losses, prior year reserve volatility and social inflation. If loss trends deteriorate over the coming quarters, including due to the impact of natural catastrophes, or if profitability concerns on casualty lines increase, it could lead to a more difficult rate and conditions environment in certain lines. The combination of increasing insurable values (due in large part to inflation, including wage inflation), a tight labor market and lower unemployment is likely contributing to increases in client insured exposures. Additionally, we expect that our history of strong new business generation, solid retentions and enhanced value‑added services for our carrier partners should all result in further organic growth opportunities around the world. Overall, we believe that in a positive rate environment with increasing exposures, our professionals can demonstrate their expertise and high‑quality, value-added capabilities by strengthening our clients’ insurance portfolios and delivering insurance and risk management solutions within our clients’ budgets. Based on our experience, insurance and reinsurance carriers appear to be making rational pricing decisions and are providing adequate capacity in the market for nearly all lines of coverage.
- 35 -
Summary of Financial Results - Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
See the reconciliations of non-GAAP measures on page 38.
(In millions, except per share data) |
|
1st Quarter 2024 |
|
|
1st Quarter 2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
Reported |
|
|
Adjusted |
|
|
Reported |
|
|
Adjusted |
|
|
Reported |
|
|
Adjusted |
|
||||||
|
|
GAAP |
|
|
Non-GAAP |
|
|
GAAP |
|
|
Non-GAAP |
|
|
GAAP |
|
|
Non-GAAP |
|
||||||
Brokerage Segment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Revenues |
|
$ |
2,864.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,838.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,375.2 |
|
|
$ |
2,380.2 |
|
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
Organic revenues |
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,526.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,320.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.9 |
% |
|||
Net earnings |
|
$ |
652.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
515.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
27 |
% |
|
|
|
|||
Net earnings margin |
|
|
22.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
21.7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
+ 109 bpts |
|
|
|
|
||||
Adjusted EBITDAC |
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,132.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
957.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18 |
% |
|||
Adjusted EBITDAC margin |
|
|
|
|
|
39.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
40.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
- 34 bpts |
|
||||
Diluted net earnings per share |
|
$ |
2.92 |
|
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
|
$ |
2.37 |
|
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
|
|
23 |
% |
|
|
16 |
% |
Risk Management Segment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Revenues before reimbursements |
|
$ |
352.8 |
|
|
$ |
353.0 |
|
|
$ |
297.6 |
|
|
$ |
296.4 |
|
|
|
19 |
% |
|
|
19 |
% |
Organic revenues |
|
|
|
|
$ |
330.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
291.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
13.3 |
% |
|||
Net earnings |
|
$ |
39.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
33.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
% |
|
|
|
|||
Net earnings margin (before reimbursements) |
|
|
11.1 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
11.3 |
% |
|
|
|
|
- 12 bpts |
|
|
|
|
||||
Adjusted EBITDAC |
|
|
|
|
$ |
72.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
56.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
28 |
% |
|||
Adjusted EBITDAC margin (before reimbursements) |
|
|
|
|
|
20.6 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
19.2 |
% |
|
|
|
|
+ 139 bpts |
|
||||
Diluted net earnings per share |
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
|
|
20 |
% |
|
|
25 |
% |
Corporate Segment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Diluted net loss per share |
|
$ |
(0.36 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.34 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.27 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total Company |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Diluted net earnings per share |
|
$ |
2.74 |
|
|
$ |
3.49 |
|
|
$ |
2.24 |
|
|
$ |
3.02 |
|
|
|
22 |
% |
|
|
16 |
% |
Total Brokerage and Risk Management Segment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Diluted net earnings per share |
|
$ |
3.10 |
|
|
$ |
3.83 |
|
|
$ |
2.52 |
|
|
$ |
3.29 |
|
|
|
23 |
% |
|
|
16 |
% |
The following provides information that management believes is helpful when comparing revenues before reimbursements, net earnings, EBITDAC and diluted net earnings per share for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 with the same period in 2023. In addition, these tables provide reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures for adjusted revenues, adjusted EBITDAC and adjusted diluted net earnings per share. Reconciliations of EBITDAC for the brokerage and risk management segments are provided on pages 41 and 47, respectively, of this filing.
- 36 -
For the Three-Month Periods Ended March 31 Reported GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Reconciliation:
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Revenues Before |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted Net Earnings |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Reimbursements |
|
|
Net Earnings (Loss) |
|
|
EBITDAC |
|
|
(Loss) Per Share |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment |
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Chg |
|
|||||||||
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Brokerage, as reported |
|
$ |
2,864.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,375.2 |
|
|
$ |
652.6 |
|
|
$ |
515.3 |
|
|
$ |
1,048.7 |
|
|
$ |
880.6 |
|
|
$ |
2.92 |
|
|
$ |
2.37 |
|
|
|
23 |
% |
Net (gains) losses on divestitures |
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition integration |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
36.4 |
|
|
|
39.7 |
|
|
|
48.7 |
|
|
|
51.2 |
|
|
|
0.16 |
|
|
|
0.18 |
|
|
|
|
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
11.8 |
|
|
|
11.6 |
|
|
|
15.4 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
|
(26.0 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(8.3 |
) |
|
|
25.6 |
|
|
|
23.8 |
|
|
|
11.4 |
|
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
116.7 |
|
|
|
89.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.53 |
|
|
|
0.41 |
|
|
|
|
|
Effective income tax rate impact |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(2.5 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5.2 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Brokerage, as adjusted * |
|
|
2,838.4 |
|
|
|
2,380.2 |
|
|
|
805.7 |
|
|
|
677.9 |
|
|
|
1,132.3 |
|
|
|
957.5 |
|
|
|
3.63 |
|
|
|
3.13 |
|
|
|
16 |
% |
Risk Management, as reported |
|
|
352.8 |
|
|
|
297.6 |
|
|
|
39.3 |
|
|
|
33.5 |
|
|
|
70.5 |
|
|
|
55.9 |
|
|
|
0.18 |
|
|
|
0.15 |
|
|
|
20 |
% |
Net (gains) losses on divestitures |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition integration |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Risk Management, as adjusted * |
|
|
353.0 |
|
|
|
296.4 |
|
|
|
45.4 |
|
|
|
35.4 |
|
|
|
72.7 |
|
|
|
56.9 |
|
|
|
0.20 |
|
|
|
0.16 |
|
|
|
25 |
% |
Corporate, as reported |
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
(79.2 |
) |
|
|
(62.2 |
) |
|
|
(62.7 |
) |
|
|
(61.6 |
) |
|
|
(0.36 |
) |
|
|
(0.28 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Transaction-related costs |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate, as adjusted* |
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
(76.5 |
) |
|
|
(58.9 |
) |
|
|
(59.5 |
) |
|
|
(57.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.34 |
) |
|
|
(0.27 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Total Company, as reported |
|
$ |
3,218.1 |
|
|
$ |
2,672.9 |
|
|
$ |
612.7 |
|
|
$ |
486.6 |
|
|
$ |
1,056.5 |
|
|
$ |
874.9 |
|
|
$ |
2.74 |
|
|
$ |
2.24 |
|
|
|
22 |
% |
Total Company, as adjusted * |
|
$ |
3,191.8 |
|
|
$ |
2,676.7 |
|
|
$ |
774.6 |
|
|
$ |
654.4 |
|
|
$ |
1,145.5 |
|
|
$ |
957.2 |
|
|
$ |
3.49 |
|
|
$ |
3.02 |
|
|
|
16 |
% |
Total Brokerage & Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Management, as reported |
|
$ |
3,217.7 |
|
|
$ |
2,672.8 |
|
|
$ |
691.9 |
|
|
$ |
548.8 |
|
|
$ |
1,119.2 |
|
|
$ |
936.5 |
|
|
$ |
3.10 |
|
|
$ |
2.52 |
|
|
|
23 |
% |
Total Brokerage & Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Management, as adjusted * |
|
$ |
3,191.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,676.6 |
|
|
$ |
851.1 |
|
|
$ |
713.3 |
|
|
$ |
1,205.0 |
|
|
$ |
1,014.4 |
|
|
$ |
3.83 |
|
|
$ |
3.29 |
|
|
|
16 |
% |
*For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, the pretax impact of the brokerage segment adjustments totals $204.7 million, mostly due to non-cash period expenses related to intangible amortization, with a corresponding adjustment to the provision for income taxes of $51.6 million relating to these items. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, the pretax impact of the risk management segment adjustments totals $8.5 million, with a corresponding adjustment to the provision for income taxes of $2.4 million relating to these items. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, the pretax impact of the corporate segment adjustments totals $3.2 million, with a corresponding adjustment to the benefit for income taxes of $0.5 million. A detailed reconciliation of the 2024 provision (benefit) for income taxes is shown on page 38.
*For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, the pretax impact of the brokerage segment adjustments totals $219.0 million, with a corresponding adjustment to the provision for income taxes of $56.4 million relating to these items. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, the pretax impact of the risk management segment adjustments totals $2.6 million, with a corresponding adjustment to the provision for income taxes of $0.7 million relating to these items. For the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, the pretax impact of the corporate segment adjustments totals $4.4 million, with a corresponding adjustment to the benefit for income taxes of $1.1 million. A detailed reconciliation of the 2023 provision (benefit) for income taxes is shown on page 38.
- 37 -
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures - Pre-tax Earnings and Diluted Net Earnings per Share
(In millions except share and per share data) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
Earnings |
|
|
Provision |
|
|
|
|
|
Net Earnings (Loss) |
|
|
Net Earnings (Loss) |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
(Loss) |
|
|
(Benefit) |
|
|
|
|
|
Attributable to |
|
|
Attributable to |
|
|
Diluted Net |
|
||||||
|
|
Before Income |
|
|
for Income |
|
|
Net Earnings |
|
|
Noncontrolling |
|
|
Controlling |
|
|
Earnings (Loss) |
|
||||||
|
|
Taxes |
|
|
Taxes |
|
|
(Loss) |
|
|
Interests |
|
|
Interests |
|
|
per Share |
|
||||||
Quarter Ended March 31, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Brokerage, as reported |
|
$ |
876.1 |
|
|
$ |
223.5 |
|
|
$ |
652.6 |
|
|
$ |
4.3 |
|
|
$ |
648.3 |
|
|
$ |
2.92 |
|
Net (gains) on divestitures |
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
|
48.7 |
|
|
|
12.3 |
|
|
|
36.4 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
36.4 |
|
|
|
0.16 |
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
|
11.6 |
|
|
|
2.9 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
|
(11.1 |
) |
|
|
(2.8 |
) |
|
|
(8.3 |
) |
|
|
(3.0 |
) |
|
|
(5.3 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
156.0 |
|
|
|
39.3 |
|
|
|
116.7 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
116.7 |
|
|
|
0.53 |
|
Brokerage, as adjusted |
|
$ |
1,080.8 |
|
|
$ |
275.1 |
|
|
$ |
805.7 |
|
|
$ |
1.3 |
|
|
$ |
804.4 |
|
|
$ |
3.63 |
|
Risk Management, as reported |
|
$ |
53.2 |
|
|
$ |
13.9 |
|
|
$ |
39.3 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
39.3 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
Net losses on divestitures |
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4.5 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
Risk Management, as adjusted |
|
$ |
61.7 |
|
|
$ |
16.3 |
|
|
$ |
45.4 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
45.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
Corporate, as reported |
|
$ |
(156.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(77.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(79.2 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(79.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.36 |
) |
Transaction-related costs |
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
Corporate, as adjusted |
|
$ |
(153.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(76.9 |
) |
|
$ |
(76.5 |
) |
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
(76.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.34 |
) |
Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Brokerage, as reported |
|
$ |
690.9 |
|
|
$ |
175.6 |
|
|
$ |
515.3 |
|
|
$ |
0.8 |
|
|
$ |
514.5 |
|
|
$ |
2.37 |
|
Net (gains) on divestitures |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
|
51.2 |
|
|
|
11.5 |
|
|
|
39.7 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
39.7 |
|
|
|
0.18 |
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
|
15.5 |
|
|
|
3.7 |
|
|
|
11.8 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
11.8 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
|
33.4 |
|
|
|
7.8 |
|
|
|
25.6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
25.6 |
|
|
|
0.12 |
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
120.2 |
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
|
89.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
89.1 |
|
|
|
0.41 |
|
Effective income tax rate impact |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2.5 |
|
|
|
(2.5 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(2.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.01 |
) |
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Brokerage, as adjusted |
|
$ |
909.9 |
|
|
$ |
232.0 |
|
|
$ |
677.9 |
|
|
$ |
0.8 |
|
|
$ |
677.1 |
|
|
$ |
3.13 |
|
Risk Management, as reported |
|
$ |
45.5 |
|
|
$ |
12.0 |
|
|
$ |
33.5 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
33.5 |
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
Net (gains) on divestitures |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Amortization of intangible assets |
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Risk Management, as adjusted |
|
$ |
48.1 |
|
|
$ |
12.7 |
|
|
$ |
35.4 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
35.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.16 |
|
Corporate, as reported |
|
$ |
(130.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(68.4 |
) |
|
$ |
(62.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(61.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
Transaction-related costs |
|
|
4.4 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
Corporate, as adjusted |
|
$ |
(126.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(67.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(58.9 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(58.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.27 |
) |
- 38 -
Results of Operations
Brokerage
The brokerage segment accounted for 88% of our revenues during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. Our brokerage segment is primarily comprised of retail, wholesale and Gallagher Re. Our brokerage segment generates revenues by:
The primary source of revenues for our brokerage services is commissions from underwriting enterprises, based on a percentage of premiums paid by our clients, or fees received from clients based on an agreed level of service usually in lieu of commissions. Commissions are fixed at the contract effective date and generally are based on a percentage of premiums for insurance coverage or employee headcount for employer sponsored benefit plans. Commissions depend upon a large number of factors, including the type of risk being placed, the particular underwriting enterprise’s demand, the expected loss experience of the particular risk of coverage, and historical benchmarks surrounding the level of effort necessary for us to place and service the insurance contract. Rather than being tied to the amount of premiums, fees are most often based on an expected level of effort to provide our services. In addition, under certain circumstances, both retail brokerage and wholesale brokerage services receive supplemental and contingent revenues. Supplemental revenue is revenue paid by an underwriting enterprise that is above the base commission paid, is determined by the underwriting enterprise and is established annually in advance of the contractual period based on historical performance criteria. Contingent revenue is revenue paid by an underwriting enterprise based on the overall profit and/or volume of the business placed with that underwriting enterprise during a particular calendar year and is determined after the contractual period.
Litigation, Regulatory and Taxation Matters
As previously disclosed, our IRC 831(b) (or “micro-captive”) advisory services business has been under audit by the IRS since 2013. Among other matters, the IRS is investigating whether we have been acting as a tax shelter promoter in connection with these operations. Additionally, the IRS is conducting a criminal investigation related to IRC 831(b) micro-captive underwriting enterprises. We have been advised that we are not a target of the criminal investigation. We are fully cooperating with both matters.
- 39 -
Financial information relating to our brokerage segment results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, is as follows (in millions, except per share, percentages and workforce data):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||||||
Statement of Earnings |
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Commissions |
$ |
1,993.6 |
|
|
$ |
1,747.4 |
|
|
$ |
246.2 |
|
Fees |
|
606.7 |
|
|
|
412.7 |
|
|
|
194.0 |
|
Supplemental revenues |
|
93.9 |
|
|
|
81.6 |
|
|
|
12.3 |
|
Contingent revenues |
|
86.0 |
|
|
|
71.8 |
|
|
|
14.2 |
|
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income |
|
84.7 |
|
|
|
61.7 |
|
|
|
23.0 |
|
Total revenues |
|
2,864.9 |
|
|
|
2,375.2 |
|
|
|
489.7 |
|
Compensation |
|
1,476.8 |
|
|
|
1,206.1 |
|
|
|
270.7 |
|
Operating |
|
339.4 |
|
|
|
288.5 |
|
|
|
50.9 |
|
Depreciation |
|
32.8 |
|
|
|
27.9 |
|
|
|
4.9 |
|
Amortization |
|
156.0 |
|
|
|
120.2 |
|
|
|
35.8 |
|
Change in estimated acquisition |
|
(16.2 |
) |
|
|
41.6 |
|
|
|
(57.8 |
) |
Total expenses |
|
1,988.8 |
|
|
|
1,684.3 |
|
|
|
304.5 |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
876.1 |
|
|
|
690.9 |
|
|
|
185.2 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
223.5 |
|
|
|
175.6 |
|
|
|
47.9 |
|
Net earnings |
|
652.6 |
|
|
|
515.3 |
|
|
|
137.3 |
|
Net earnings attributable to |
|
4.3 |
|
|
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
3.5 |
|
Net earnings attributable to |
$ |
648.3 |
|
|
$ |
514.5 |
|
|
$ |
133.8 |
|
Diluted net earnings per share |
$ |
2.92 |
|
|
$ |
2.37 |
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
Other Information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Change in diluted net earnings |
|
23 |
% |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Growth in revenues |
|
21 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Organic change in commissions and |
|
9 |
% |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Compensation expense ratio |
|
52 |
% |
|
|
51 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Operating expense ratio |
|
12 |
% |
|
|
12 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Effective income tax rate |
|
26 |
% |
|
|
25 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Workforce at end of period (includes |
|
39,989 |
|
|
|
33,623 |
|
|
|
|
|
Identifiable assets at March 31 |
$ |
56,371.6 |
|
|
$ |
40,919.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDAC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net earnings |
$ |
652.6 |
|
|
$ |
515.3 |
|
|
$ |
137.3 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
223.5 |
|
|
|
175.6 |
|
|
|
47.9 |
|
Depreciation |
|
32.8 |
|
|
|
27.9 |
|
|
|
4.9 |
|
Amortization |
|
156.0 |
|
|
|
120.2 |
|
|
|
35.8 |
|
Change in estimated acquisition |
|
(16.2 |
) |
|
|
41.6 |
|
|
|
(57.8 |
) |
EBITDAC |
$ |
1,048.7 |
|
|
$ |
880.6 |
|
|
$ |
168.1 |
|
- 40 -
The following provides information that management believes is helpful when comparing EBITDAC and adjusted EBITDAC for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 (in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Net earnings, as reported |
$ |
652.6 |
|
|
$ |
515.3 |
|
|
|
27 |
% |
Provision for income taxes |
|
223.5 |
|
|
|
175.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
32.8 |
|
|
|
27.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization |
|
156.0 |
|
|
|
120.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in estimated acquisition |
|
(16.2 |
) |
|
|
41.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDAC |
|
1,048.7 |
|
|
|
880.6 |
|
|
|
19 |
% |
Net (gains) on divestitures |
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Acquisition integration |
|
48.7 |
|
|
|
51.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
11.6 |
|
|
|
15.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
23.8 |
|
|
|
11.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.9 |
) |
|
|
|
|
EBITDAC, as adjusted |
$ |
1,132.3 |
|
|
$ |
957.5 |
|
|
|
18 |
% |
Net earnings margin, as reported |
|
22.8 |
% |
|
|
21.7 |
% |
|
+ 109 bpts |
|
|
EBITDAC margin, as adjusted |
|
39.9 |
% |
|
|
40.2 |
% |
|
- 34 bpts |
|
|
Reported revenues |
$ |
2,864.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,375.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted revenues - see page 37 |
$ |
2,838.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,380.2 |
|
|
|
|
Commissions and fees - The aggregate increase in base commissions and fees for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, was due to revenues associated with acquisitions that were made in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024 ($244.2 million), and to the organic change in base commissions and fee revenues. The organic change in base commissions and fee revenues were 8.8% and 9.5% for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
In our property/casualty brokerage operations, during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 we saw continued strong customer retention, higher new business generation and increasing renewal premiums (premium rates and exposures). We believe these favorable trends should continue for the remainder of 2024; however, if economic conditions worsen or premium rate increases slow, we could see our revenue growth soften.
- 41 -
Items excluded from organic revenue computations yet impacting revenue comparisons for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include the following (in millions):
|
Three-Month Period Ended |
|
|||||||||
Organic Revenues (Non-GAAP) |
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Base Commissions and Fees |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Commission and fees, as reported |
$ |
2,600.3 |
|
|
$ |
2,160.1 |
|
|
|
20.4 |
% |
Less commission and fee revenues from acquisitions |
|
(244.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
6.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Organic base commission and fees |
$ |
2,356.1 |
|
|
$ |
2,166.1 |
|
|
|
8.8 |
% |
Supplemental revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Supplemental revenues, as reported |
$ |
93.9 |
|
|
$ |
81.6 |
|
|
|
15.1 |
% |
Less supplemental revenues from acquisitions |
|
(2.3 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Organic supplemental revenues |
$ |
91.6 |
|
|
$ |
82.0 |
|
|
|
11.7 |
% |
Contingent revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Contingent revenues, as reported |
$ |
86.0 |
|
|
$ |
71.8 |
|
|
|
19.8 |
% |
Less contingent revenues from acquisitions |
|
(7.2 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Organic contingent revenues |
$ |
78.8 |
|
|
$ |
72.0 |
|
|
|
9.4 |
% |
Total reported commissions, fees, supplemental |
$ |
2,780.2 |
|
|
$ |
2,313.5 |
|
|
|
20.2 |
% |
Less commissions, fees, supplemental revenues and |
|
(253.7 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
6.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total organic commissions, fees, supplemental |
$ |
2,526.5 |
|
|
$ |
2,320.1 |
|
|
|
8.9 |
% |
The following is a summary of brokerage segment acquisition activity for 2024 and 2023:
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Number of acquisitions closed |
|
12 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Estimated annualized revenues acquired (in millions) |
$ |
69.2 |
|
|
$ |
69.0 |
|
In the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 we issued 357,000 shares of our common stock at the request of sellers and/or in connection with tax-free exchange acquisitions. In the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, we issued 131,000 shares of our common stock at the request of sellers and/or in connection with tax-free exchange acquisitions.
- 42 -
Supplemental and contingent revenues - Reported supplemental and contingent revenues recognized in 2024, 2023 and 2022 by quarter are as follows (in millions):
|
|
First |
|
|
Second |
|
|
Third |
|
|
Fourth |
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
Quarter |
|
|
YTD |
|
|||||
2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Reported supplemental revenues |
|
$ |
93.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
93.9 |
|
|||
Reported contingent revenues |
|
|
86.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86.0 |
|
|||
Reported supplemental and contingent revenues |
|
$ |
179.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
179.9 |
|
|||
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Reported supplemental revenues |
|
$ |
81.6 |
|
|
$ |
71.2 |
|
|
$ |
64.7 |
|
|
|
80.0 |
|
|
$ |
297.5 |
|
Reported contingent revenues |
|
|
71.8 |
|
|
|
54.2 |
|
|
|
52.4 |
|
|
|
40.2 |
|
|
|
218.6 |
|
Reported supplemental and contingent revenues |
|
$ |
153.4 |
|
|
$ |
125.4 |
|
|
$ |
117.1 |
|
|
$ |
120.2 |
|
|
$ |
516.1 |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Reported supplemental revenues |
|
$ |
74.3 |
|
|
$ |
65.7 |
|
|
$ |
64.7 |
|
|
|
80.0 |
|
|
$ |
284.7 |
|
Reported contingent revenues |
|
|
71.6 |
|
|
|
43.1 |
|
|
|
52.4 |
|
|
|
40.2 |
|
|
|
207.3 |
|
Reported supplemental and contingent revenues |
|
$ |
145.9 |
|
|
$ |
108.8 |
|
|
$ |
117.1 |
|
|
$ |
120.2 |
|
|
$ |
492.0 |
|
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income - This primarily represents interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents and fiduciary cash and revenues from premium financing, income from equity investments and net gains related to divestitures and sales of books of business.
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to increases in interest income on our own and fiduciary funds.
The following table provides a reconciliation of brokerage segment interest income, premium finance revenues and other income, as reported in our consolidated financial statements to interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents and fiduciary cash (in millions):
|
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Interest income, premium finance revenues and other income |
|
$ |
84.7 |
|
|
$ |
61.7 |
|
Less: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net (gains) on divestitures |
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
Premium financing revenues and net earnings from equity interests |
|
|
(21.5 |
) |
|
|
(20.2 |
) |
Interest income from cash, cash equivalents and fiduciary cash |
|
$ |
62.7 |
|
|
$ |
41.3 |
|
Compensation expense - The following provides non-GAAP information that management believes is helpful when comparing compensation expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 with the same period in 2023 (in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Compensation expense, as reported |
$ |
1,476.8 |
|
|
$ |
1,206.1 |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
(24.5 |
) |
|
|
(34.1 |
) |
Workforce and lease termination related charges |
|
(10.4 |
) |
|
|
(13.4 |
) |
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
(49.8 |
) |
|
|
(11.4 |
) |
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
5.7 |
|
Compensation expense, as adjusted |
$ |
1,392.1 |
|
|
$ |
1,152.9 |
|
Reported compensation expense ratios |
|
51.6 |
% |
|
|
50.8 |
% |
Adjusted compensation expense ratios |
|
49.0 |
% |
|
|
48.4 |
% |
Reported revenues |
$ |
2,864.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,375.2 |
|
Adjusted revenues - see page 37 |
$ |
2,838.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,380.2 |
|
The $270.7 million increase in compensation expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to compensation associated with the acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024 ‑ $134.6 million, increases in base compensation related to the hiring of producers and other roles to service and support organic
- 43 -
growth - $110.3 million in the aggregate, and acquisition related adjustments - $38.4 million, partially offset by reduced acquisition integration costs - $9.6 million, and workforce related charges - $3.0 million.
Operating expense - The following provides non-GAAP information that management believes is helpful when comparing operating expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 with the same period in 2023 (in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Operating expense, as reported |
$ |
339.4 |
|
|
$ |
288.5 |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
(24.2 |
) |
|
|
(17.1 |
) |
Workforce and lease termination related charges |
|
(1.2 |
) |
|
|
(2.0 |
) |
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
Operating expense, as adjusted |
$ |
314.0 |
|
|
$ |
269.8 |
|
Reported operating expense ratios |
|
11.9 |
% |
|
|
12.2 |
% |
Adjusted operating expense ratios |
|
11.1 |
% |
|
|
11.3 |
% |
Reported revenues |
$ |
2,864.9 |
|
|
$ |
2,375.2 |
|
Adjusted revenues - see page 37 |
$ |
2,838.4 |
|
|
$ |
2,380.2 |
|
The $50.9 million increase in operating expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to expenses associated with the acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024 ‑ $28.4 million, increases in acquisition integration costs - $7.1 million and $16.2 million in the aggregate from the underlying inflation of expenses such as travel and entertainment, increased professional fees and additional investments in technology, partially offset by reduced lease termination related charges - $0.8 million.
Depreciation - Depreciation expense increased in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 by $4.9 million. The increase in depreciation expense in 2024 compared to 2023 was due primarily to the purchases of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements related to office consolidations and moves, and expenditures related to upgrading computer systems. Also contributing to the increase in depreciation expense was the depreciation expense associated with acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024.
Amortization - The increase in amortization expense in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 was primarily due to the impact of amortization expense of intangible assets associated with acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024. Based on the results of impairment reviews during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 no impairments were noted. Based on the results of impairment reviews during the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 we wrote off $0.1 million of amortizable assets. We review all of our intangible assets for impairment periodically (at least annually for goodwill) and whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. We perform such impairment reviews at the division (i.e., reporting unit) level with respect to goodwill and at the business unit level for amortizable intangible assets. In reviewing intangible assets, if the undiscounted future cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the respective (or underlying) asset, an indicator of impairment would exist and further analysis would be required to determine whether or not a loss would need to be charged against current period earnings as a component of amortization expense. Expiration lists, non‑compete agreements and trade names are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives (two to fifteen years for expiration lists, two to six years for non-compete agreements and two to fifteen years for trade names).
Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables - The change in the expense from the change in estimated acquisition earnout payables in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to adjustments made to the estimated fair value of earnout obligations related to revised assumptions due to rising interest rates and increased market volatility and projections of future performance. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $18.7 million and $19.6 million, respectively, of expense related to the accretion of the discount recorded for earnout obligations in connection with our acquisitions made in the period from 2020 to 2024. In addition, during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $34.9 million of income and $22.0 million of expense, respectively, related to net adjustments in the estimated fair value of earnout obligations in connection with revised assumptions due to changes in interest rates, volatility and other assumptions and projections of future performance for 37 and 22 acquisitions, respectively.
The amounts initially recorded as earnout payables for our 2020 to 2024 acquisitions were measured at fair value as of the acquisition date and are primarily based upon the estimated future operating results of the acquired entities over a two- to-three-year period subsequent to the acquisition date. The fair value of these earnout obligations is based on the present value of the expected future
- 44 -
payments to be made to the sellers of the acquired entities in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective purchase agreements. In determining fair value, we estimate the acquired entity’s future performance using financial projections developed by management for the acquired entity and market participant assumptions that were derived for revenue growth and/or profitability. We estimate future earnout payments using the earnout formula and performance targets specified in each purchase agreement and these financial projections. Subsequent changes in the underlying financial projections or assumptions will cause the estimated earnout obligations to change and such adjustments are recorded in our consolidated statement of earnings when incurred. Increases in the earnout payable obligations will result in the recognition of expense and decreases in the earnout payable obligations will result in the recognition of income.
Provision for income taxes - The brokerage segment’s effective income tax rates for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, were 25.5% and 25.4%, respectively. We anticipate reporting an effective tax rate of approximately 24.5% to 26.5% in our brokerage segment based on known changes in tax rates in future periods.
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - The amounts reported in this line for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, include noncontrolling interest earnings of $4.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively.
Risk Management
The risk management segment accounted for 12% of our revenue during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. Our risk management segment operations provide contract claim settlement, claim administration, loss control services and risk management consulting for commercial, nonprofit, captive and public sector entities, and various other organizations that choose to self-insure property/casualty coverages or choose to use a third-party claims management organization rather than the claim services provided by underwriting enterprises. Revenues for our risk management segment are comprised of fees generally negotiated (i) on a per-claim or per-service basis, (ii) on a cost-plus basis, or (iii) as performance-based fees. We also provide risk management consulting services that are recognized as the services are delivered.
Financial information relating to our risk management segment results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023, is as follows (in millions, except per share, percentages and workforce data):
- 45 -
Statement of Earnings |
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Fees |
$ |
344.5 |
|
|
$ |
293.0 |
|
|
$ |
51.5 |
|
Interest income and other income |
|
8.3 |
|
|
|
4.6 |
|
|
|
3.7 |
|
Revenues before reimbursements |
|
352.8 |
|
|
|
297.6 |
|
|
|
55.2 |
|
Reimbursements |
|
38.6 |
|
|
|
33.2 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
Total revenues |
|
391.4 |
|
|
|
330.8 |
|
|
|
60.6 |
|
Compensation |
|
213.9 |
|
|
|
179.8 |
|
|
|
34.1 |
|
Operating |
|
68.4 |
|
|
|
61.9 |
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
Reimbursements |
|
38.6 |
|
|
|
33.2 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
Depreciation |
|
10.9 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
Amortization |
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
4.8 |
|
Change in estimated acquisition |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
Total expenses |
|
338.2 |
|
|
|
285.3 |
|
|
|
52.9 |
|
Earnings before income taxes |
|
53.2 |
|
|
|
45.5 |
|
|
|
7.7 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
13.9 |
|
|
|
12.0 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
Net earnings |
|
39.3 |
|
|
|
33.5 |
|
|
|
5.8 |
|
Net earnings attributable to |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Net earnings attributable to |
$ |
39.3 |
|
|
$ |
33.5 |
|
|
$ |
5.8 |
|
Diluted net earnings per share |
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
Other information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Change in diluted net earnings per share |
|
20 |
% |
|
|
36 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Growth in revenues (before |
|
19 |
% |
|
|
15 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Organic change in fees (before |
|
13 |
% |
|
|
14 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Compensation expense ratio (before |
|
61 |
% |
|
|
60 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Operating expense ratio (before |
|
19 |
% |
|
|
21 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Effective income tax rate |
|
26 |
% |
|
|
26 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Workforce at end of period (includes |
|
9,832 |
|
|
|
8,804 |
|
|
|
|
|
Identifiable assets at March 31 |
$ |
1,673.5 |
|
|
$ |
1,126.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDAC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net earnings |
$ |
39.3 |
|
|
$ |
33.5 |
|
|
$ |
5.8 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
13.9 |
|
|
|
12.0 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
Depreciation |
|
10.9 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
Amortization |
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
4.8 |
|
Change in estimated acquisition |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
EBITDAC |
$ |
70.5 |
|
|
$ |
55.9 |
|
|
$ |
14.6 |
|
- 46 -
The following provides non-GAAP information that management believes is helpful when comparing EBITDAC and adjusted EBITDAC for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 to the same period in 2023 (in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Net earnings, as reported |
$ |
39.3 |
|
|
$ |
33.5 |
|
|
|
17 |
% |
Provision for income taxes |
|
13.9 |
|
|
|
12.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
10.9 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization |
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Change in estimated acquisition |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total EBITDAC |
|
70.5 |
|
|
|
55.9 |
|
|
|
26 |
% |
Net (gains) losses on divestitures |
|
0.2 |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Acquisition integration |
|
0.7 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Workforce and lease termination |
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
EBITDAC, as adjusted |
$ |
72.7 |
|
|
$ |
56.9 |
|
|
|
28 |
% |
Net earnings margin (before |
|
11.1 |
% |
|
|
11.3 |
% |
|
- 12 bpts |
|
|
EBITDAC margin (before |
|
20.6 |
% |
|
|
19.2 |
% |
|
+ 139 bpts |
|
|
Reported revenues (before |
$ |
352.8 |
|
|
$ |
297.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted revenues (before |
$ |
353.0 |
|
|
$ |
296.4 |
|
|
|
|
Fees - In our risk management operations, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, new core workers' compensation and general liability claims arising improved from existing clients and new clients coming on board in 2023 and 2024. We believe these favorable new arising claim trends should continue for the remainder of 2024 however, worsening economic conditions or a reversal in the number of workers employed could cause fewer new liability and core workers' compensation claims to arise in future quarters. Organic change in fee revenues for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 was 13.3% compared to 14.3% for the same period in 2023.
Items excluded from organic fee computations yet impacting revenue comparisons for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include the following (in millions):
|
Three-Month Period Ended |
|
|||||||||
Organic Revenues (Non-GAAP) |
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Fees |
$ |
341.9 |
|
|
$ |
288.8 |
|
|
|
18.4 |
% |
International performance bonus fees |
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Fees as reported |
|
344.5 |
|
|
|
293.0 |
|
|
|
17.6 |
% |
Less fees from acquisitions |
|
(13.7 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Organic fees |
$ |
330.8 |
|
|
$ |
291.9 |
|
|
|
13.3 |
% |
Reimbursements - Reimbursements represent amounts received from clients reimbursing us for certain third-party costs associated with providing our claims management services. In certain service partner relationships, we are considered a principal because we direct the third party, control the specified service and combine the services provided into an integrated solution. Given this principal relationship, we are required to recognize revenue on a gross basis and service partner vendor fees in the operating expense line in our consolidated statement of earnings.
- 47 -
Interest income and other income - Interest income and other income primarily represents interest income earned on cash, cash equivalents and fiduciary cash. Interest income and other income in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 increased compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to increases in interest income from increases in interest rates earned on fiduciary cash.
Compensation expense - The following provides non-GAAP information that management believes is helpful when comparing compensation expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 with the same period in 2023 (in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Compensation expense, as reported |
$ |
213.9 |
|
|
$ |
179.8 |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
(0.6 |
) |
|
|
(0.6 |
) |
Workforce and lease termination related charges |
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
Acquisition related adjustments |
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.8 |
) |
Compensation expense, as adjusted |
$ |
212.4 |
|
|
$ |
177.9 |
|
Reported compensation expense ratios (before |
|
60.6 |
% |
|
|
60.4 |
% |
Adjusted compensation expense ratios (before |
|
60.2 |
% |
|
|
60.0 |
% |
Reported revenues (before reimbursements) |
$ |
352.8 |
|
|
$ |
297.6 |
|
Adjusted revenues (before reimbursements) - |
$ |
353.0 |
|
|
$ |
296.4 |
|
The $34.1 million increase in compensation expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to increases in base compensation and hiring to support organic growth and associated benefits - $28.1 million in the aggregate, compensation associated with the acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024 ‑ $5.6 million, and workforce related charges - $0.4 million.
Operating expense - The following provides non-GAAP information that management believes is helpful when comparing operating expense for the three-month ended March 31, 2024 with the same period in 2023 (in millions):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||
Operating expense, as reported |
$ |
68.4 |
|
|
$ |
61.9 |
|
Acquisition integration |
|
(0.1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Workforce and lease termination related charges |
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
Levelized foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.1 |
) |
Operating expense, as adjusted |
$ |
67.9 |
|
|
$ |
61.6 |
|
Reported operating expense ratios (before |
|
19.4 |
% |
|
|
20.8 |
% |
Adjusted operating expense ratios (before |
|
19.2 |
% |
|
|
20.8 |
% |
Reported revenues (before reimbursements) |
$ |
352.8 |
|
|
$ |
297.6 |
|
Adjusted revenues (before reimbursements) - |
$ |
353.0 |
|
|
$ |
296.4 |
|
- 48 -
The $6.5 million increase in operating expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to $3.9 million in the aggregate from increases in various operational costs and additional investments in technology as well as expenses associated with the acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024 - $2.6 million.
Depreciation - Depreciation increased in the three-month ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 by $2.2 million which reflects expenditures related to upgrading computer systems, partially offset by the impact of office consolidations that occurred as leases expired in 2023 and 2022 (less depreciation associated with furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements). Also contributing to the increase in depreciation expense was the depreciation expense associated with acquisitions completed in the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2024.
Amortization - The amortization expense increased compared to the same period in 2023 by $4.8 million, primarily due to the acquisition of My Plan Manager in December 2023. Based on the results of impairment reviews during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, no impairments were noted.
Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables - The change in expense from the change in estimated acquisition earnout payables in the three-month ended March 31, 2024 to the same period in 2023, was due to accretion of the discount. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of expense in each period, related to the accretion of the discount recorded for earnout obligations in connection with our acquisitions.
Provision for income taxes - The risk management segment’s effective income tax rates for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, were 26.1% and 26.4%, respectively. We anticipate reporting an effective tax rate on adjusted results of approximately 25.0% to 27.0% in our risk management segment based on known changes in tax rates in future periods.
- 49 -
Corporate
The corporate segment reports the financial information related to our clean energy and other investments, our debt, certain corporate and acquisition-related activities and the impact of foreign currency remeasurement. For a detailed discussion of the nature of these investments, see Note 14 to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10‑K as of December 31, 2023. For a detailed discussion of the nature of our debt, see Note 6 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included herein as of March 31, 2024 and in Note 8 to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10‑K as of December 31, 2023.
Financial information relating to our corporate segment results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 is as follows (in millions, except per share):
|
Three-month period ended |
|
|||||||||
Statement of Earnings |
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
|
Change |
|
|||
Other income |
$ |
0.4 |
|
|
$ |
0.1 |
|
|
$ |
0.3 |
|
Total revenues |
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
Compensation |
|
35.2 |
|
|
|
29.6 |
|
|
|
5.6 |
|
Operating |
|
27.9 |
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
|
(4.2 |
) |
Interest |
|
92.2 |
|
|
|
67.9 |
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
Depreciation |
|
1.7 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
Total expenses |
|
157.0 |
|
|
|
130.7 |
|
|
|
26.3 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
(156.6 |
) |
|
|
(130.6 |
) |
|
|
(26.0 |
) |
Benefit for income taxes |
|
(77.4 |
) |
|
|
(68.4 |
) |
|
|
(9.0 |
) |
Net loss |
|
(79.2 |
) |
|
|
(62.2 |
) |
|
|
(17.0 |
) |
Net loss attributable to |
|
— |
|
|
|
(0.7 |
) |
|
|
0.7 |
|
Net loss attributable to |
$ |
(79.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(61.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(17.7 |
) |
Diluted net loss per share |
$ |
(0.36 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.28 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.08 |
) |
Identifiable assets at March 31 |
$ |
2,930.8 |
|
|
$ |
3,047.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDAC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net loss |
$ |
(79.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(62.2 |
) |
|
$ |
(17.0 |
) |
Benefit for income taxes |
|
(77.4 |
) |
|
|
(68.4 |
) |
|
|
(9.0 |
) |
Interest |
|
92.2 |
|
|
|
67.9 |
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
Depreciation |
|
1.7 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
0.6 |
|
EBITDAC |
$ |
(62.7 |
) |
|
$ |
(61.6 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.1 |
) |
Revenues - Revenues in the corporate segment primarily consist of income from the run-off of legacy investments.
Compensation expense - Compensation expense in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, includes salary, incentive compensation, and associated benefit expenses of $35.2 million and $29.6 million, respectively. The change in compensation expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 was primarily due to increased costs associated with stock-based benefits.
Operating expense - Operating expense in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, includes banking and related fees of $0.9 million, external professional fees and other due diligence costs related to acquisitions of $3.8 million, which includes transaction-related costs as described on page 52 in note (2), other corporate and clean energy related expenses, including litigation matters, technology and other professional fees, of $23.8 million, partially offset by a net unrealized foreign exchange remeasurement gain of $0.6 million.
Operating expense in the three-month period ended March 31, 2023 includes banking and related fees $0.8 million, external professional fees and other due diligence costs related to acquisitions of $8.4 million, which includes $4.4 million of transaction‑related costs as described on page 52 in note (2), other corporate and clean energy related expenses, including litigation matters, costs associated with a triennial corporate-wide meeting, technology and professional fees, of $22.8 million, and a net unrealized foreign exchange remeasurement loss of $(0.1) million.
- 50 -
Interest expense - The increase in interest expense for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was due to the following:
Change in interest expense related to: |
Three-month period ended |
|
|
Interest on borrowings from our Credit Agreement |
$ |
1.1 |
|
Interest on the maturity of the Series H notes |
|
(1.2 |
) |
Interest on the maturity of the Series E notes |
|
(0.3 |
) |
Interest on the maturity of the Series N notes |
|
(2.1 |
) |
Interest on the prepayment of the Series CC notes |
|
(0.8 |
) |
Interest on the maturity of the Series HH notes |
|
(0.6 |
) |
Interest on the $950.0 million notes funded on |
|
9.2 |
|
Interest on the $1,000.0 million senior notes funded on |
|
16.8 |
|
Interest on the $1,000.0 million senior notes funded on |
|
7.1 |
|
Amortization of hedge gains/losses |
|
(4.9 |
) |
Net change in interest expense |
$ |
24.3 |
|
Depreciation - Depreciation expense in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 relates to corporate home office related assets.
Benefit for income taxes - We allocate the provision for income taxes to the brokerage and risk management segments using local country statutory rates. Our consolidated effective tax rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 was 20.7% compared to 19.7% for the same period in 2023.
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests - The amounts reported in this line for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 include noncontrolling interest loss of zero and $(0.7) million, respectively, related to our investment in Chem-Mod LLC. As of March 31, 2024, we held a 46.5% controlling interest in Chem-Mod LLC. Also included in net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests are offsetting amounts related to non-Gallagher owned interests in several clean energy investments.
The following provides non-GAAP information that we believe is helpful when comparing our operating results for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 for the corporate segment (in millions):
|
|
2024 |
|
|
2023 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Earnings |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Income |
|
|
(Loss) |
|
|
|
|
|
Income |
|
|
(Loss) |
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Tax |
|
|
Attributable to |
|
|
|
|
|
Tax |
|
|
Attributable to |
|
||||||
|
|
Pretax |
|
|
(Provision) |
|
|
Controlling |
|
|
Pretax |
|
|
(Provision) |
|
|
Controlling |
|
||||||
Three-Month Periods Ended March 31, |
|
Loss |
|
|
Benefit |
|
|
Interests |
|
|
Loss |
|
|
Benefit |
|
|
Interests |
|
||||||
Interest and banking costs |
|
$ |
(93.1 |
) |
|
$ |
24.2 |
|
|
$ |
(68.9 |
) |
|
$ |
(68.7 |
) |
|
$ |
17.9 |
|
|
$ |
(50.8 |
) |
Clean energy related (1) |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
(1.4 |
) |
|
|
(2.2 |
) |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
(1.6 |
) |
Acquisition costs (2) |
|
|
(4.7 |
) |
|
|
0.8 |
|
|
|
(3.9 |
) |
|
|
(9.5 |
) |
|
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
(8.0 |
) |
Corporate (3) |
|
|
(56.9 |
) |
|
|
51.9 |
|
|
|
(5.0 |
) |
|
|
(49.5 |
) |
|
|
48.4 |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
Corporate, as reported |
|
|
(156.6 |
) |
|
|
77.4 |
|
|
|
(79.2 |
) |
|
|
(129.9 |
) |
|
|
68.4 |
|
|
|
(61.5 |
) |
Adjustments |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Transaction-related costs (2) |
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
(0.5 |
) |
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
|
|
3.3 |
|
Components of Corporate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Interest and banking costs |
|
|
(93.1 |
) |
|
|
24.2 |
|
|
|
(68.9 |
) |
|
|
(68.7 |
) |
|
|
17.9 |
|
|
|
(50.8 |
) |
Clean energy related (1) |
|
|
(1.9 |
) |
|
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
(1.4 |
) |
|
|
(2.2 |
) |
|
|
0.6 |
|
|
|
(1.6 |
) |
Acquisition costs |
|
|
(1.5 |
) |
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
(1.2 |
) |
|
|
(5.1 |
) |
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
(4.7 |
) |
Corporate (3) |
|
|
(56.9 |
) |
|
|
51.9 |
|
|
|
(5.0 |
) |
|
|
(49.5 |
) |
|
|
48.4 |
|
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
Adjusted three months |
|
$ |
(153.4 |
) |
|
$ |
76.9 |
|
|
$ |
(76.5 |
) |
|
$ |
(125.5 |
) |
|
$ |
67.3 |
|
|
$ |
(58.2 |
) |
- 51 -
Interest and banking costs and debt - Interest and banking costs includes expenses related to our debt.
Clean energy - For 2024, this consists of the operating results related to our investments in new clean energy projects.
Acquisition costs - Consists mostly of external professional fees and other due diligence costs related to our acquisitions. On occasion, we enter into forward currency hedges for the purchase price of committed, but not yet funded, acquisitions with funding requirements in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The gains or losses, if any, associated with these hedge transactions are also included in acquisition costs.
Corporate - Consists of overhead allocations mostly related to corporate staff compensation, other corporate level activities, and net unrealized foreign exchange remeasurement. In addition, it includes the tax expense related to partial taxation of foreign earnings, nondeductible executive compensation and entertainment expenses, the tax benefit from vesting of employee equity awards, as well as other permanent or discrete tax items not reflected in the provision for income taxes in the brokerage and risk management segments. The income tax benefit of stock-based awards that vested or were settled in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, was $46.4 million and $29.9 million, respectively, and is included in the table above in the Corporate line.
Clean energy investments - Please refer to our filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, including Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” on pages 11 through 30 of our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, for a more detailed discussion of these and other factors that could impact the information above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity describes the ability of a company to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of its business operations. The insurance brokerage and risk management industries are not capital intensive. Historically, our capital requirements have primarily included dividend payments on our common stock, repurchases of our common stock, funding of our investments, acquisitions of brokerage and risk management operations and capital expenditures, including investments being made in IT software development projects.
On April 3, 2023, we acquired the partnership interests of Buck. We funded the transaction using free cash flow and funds received from an unsecured senior notes offering. The acquired Buck business is a leading provider of retirement, human resources and employee benefits consulting and administration services. Total expected expense to integrate Buck into our operations is approximately $125.0 million.
Operating Cash Flows
Historically, we have depended on our ability to generate positive cash flow from operations to meet a substantial portion of our cash requirements. We believe that our cash flows from operations and borrowings under our Credit Agreement (as defined below) will provide us with adequate resources to meet our liquidity needs in the foreseeable future. To fund acquisitions made during 2023 and for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we relied on a combination of net cash flows from operations, proceeds from borrowings under our Credit Agreement, and proceeds from issuances of senior unsecured notes and issuance of our common stock.
Cash provided by operating activities was $789.3 million and $428.5 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operating activities during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, was primarily due to growth in our core brokerage and risk management operations and timing differences between periods with cash receipts and disbursements related to accounts receivables and accrued compensation and other current liabilities compared to the same period in 2023.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 employee matching contributions to the 401(k) plan of $86.0 million relating to 2023 were funded using common stock. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, employee matching contributions to the 401(k) plan of $73.8 million relating to 2022 were funded using common stock.
When assessing our overall liquidity, we believe that the focus should be on net earnings as reported in our consolidated statement of earnings, adjusted for non‑cash items (i.e., EBITDAC), and cash provided by operating activities in our consolidated statement of cash
- 52 -
flows. Consolidated EBITDAC was $1,056.5 million and $874.9 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Net earnings attributable to controlling interests were $608.4 million and $486.5 million for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. We believe that EBITDAC items are indicators of trends in liquidity.
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Our policy for funding our defined benefit pension plan is to contribute amounts at least sufficient to meet the minimum funding requirements under the IRC. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (which we refer to as ERISA), could impose a minimum funding requirement for our plan. We are not required to make any minimum contributions to the plan for the 2024 plan year, nor were we required to make any minimum contributions to the plan for the 2023 plan year. Funding requirements are based on the plan being frozen and the aggregate amount of our historical funding. The plan’s actuaries determine contribution rates based on our funding practices and requirements. Funding amounts may be influenced by future asset performance, the level of discount rates and other variables impacting the assets and/or liabilities of the plan. In addition, amounts funded in the future, to the extent not due under regulatory requirements, may be affected by alternative uses of our cash flows, including dividends, acquisitions and common stock repurchases. We did not make any discretionary contributions to the plan during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. We are not considering making any discretionary contributions to the plan in 2024, but may be required to make minimum contributions to the plan in future periods.
Investing Cash Flows
Capital Expenditures - Capital expenditures were $29.7 million for each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. In 2024, we expect total expenditures for capital improvements to be approximately $175.0 million, part of which is related to expenditures on office moves and investments being made in IT and software development projects. Capital expenditures are flat in 2024 compared to 2023 primarily due to investments in information technology, offset by the movement of information technology to cloud computing based technology from in‑house hosted environments. Expenditures made related to cloud computing based technology are accounted for as deferred costs versus fixed assets, which would reduce capital expenditures.
Acquisitions - Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired, was $251.2 million and $311.4 million in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In addition, during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we issued 0.4 million shares ($88.3 million) of our common stock as payment for a portion of the total consideration paid for 2024 acquisitions and earnout payments made in 2024. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2023, we issued 1.0 million shares ($185.5 million) of our common stock as payment for consideration paid for 2023 acquisitions and earnout payments made in 2023. We completed twelve and ten acquisitions in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Annualized revenues of businesses acquired in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 totaled approximately $69.2 million and $69.0 million, respectively. For the remainder of 2024, we expect to use new debt, our Credit Agreement, cash from operations and our common stock, or a combination thereof to fund all of the acquisitions we complete.
If liquidity concerns arise, we may be more likely to issue common stock to fund acquisitions.
Dispositions - During each of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we sold several books of business and recognized net gains of $0.3 million. We received net cash proceeds of $0.1 million related in each of the 2024 and 2023 transactions.
Financing Cash Flows
At March 31, 2024, we had $4,550.0 million of Senior Notes, $3,523.0 million of corporate related borrowings outstanding, $108.2 million of borrowings outstanding under our Credit Agreement, $184.3 million of borrowings outstanding under our Premium Financing Debt Facility and a cash and cash equivalent balance of $1,762.6 million.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we settled approximately $1.4 million of interest rate contracts hedges with a notional value of $150.0 million that will be amortized into interest expense in future periods.
The Senior Notes, Note Purchase Agreements, the Credit Agreement and the Premium Financing Debt Facility contain various financial covenants that require us to maintain specified financial ratios. We were in compliance with these covenants at March 31, 2024.
Senior Notes - On February 12, 2024, we closed and funded an offering of $1,000.0 million of unsecured senior notes in two tranches. The $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.45% Senior Notes is due in 2034 (which we refer to as the 2034 July Notes) and $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes is due in 2054 (which we refer to as the 2054 July Notes). The weighted average interest rate is 5.71% per annum after giving effect to underwriting costs and a net hedge loss. During 2023, we entered into a pre-issuance interest rate hedging transaction related to these notes. We realized a net cash loss of approximately $1.4 million on the hedging transactions that will be recognized on a pro rata basis as an increase to our reported interest expense over
- 53 -
ten years. We used the proceeds of these offerings to fund acquisitions, earnout payments related to acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
On November 2, 2023, we closed and funded an offering of $1,000.0 million of unsecured senior notes in two tranches. The $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Senior Notes is due in 2034 (which we refer to as the 2034 Notes) and $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% Senior Notes is due in 2054 (which we refer to as the 2054 Notes). The weighted average interest rate is 5.97% per annum after giving effect to underwriting costs and a net hedge gain. During 2021 through 2023, we entered into a pre-issuance interest rate hedging transaction related to these notes. We realized a net cash gain of approximately $128.0 million on the hedging transactions that will be recognized on a pro rata basis as a decrease to our reported interest expense over ten years. We used the proceeds of these offerings to fund acquisitions, earnout payments related to acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
On March 2, 2023, we closed and funded an offering of $950.0 million of unsecured senior notes in two tranches. The $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% Senior Notes is due in 2033 (which we refer to as the 2033 Notes) and $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes is due in 2053 (which we refer to as the 2053 Notes). The weighted average interest rate is 5.05% per annum after giving effect to underwriting costs and a net hedge gain. During 2019 through 2022, we entered into a pre‑issuance interest rate hedging transaction related to these notes. We realized a net cash gain of approximately $112.7 million on the hedging transactions that will be recognized on a pro rata basis as a decrease to our reported interest expense over ten years. We used the proceeds of these offerings to fund acquisitions, earnout payments related to acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
Note Purchase Agreement - During February 2024, we used operating cash to fund the $100.0 million Series HH note maturity that had a fixed rate of 4.72% that was due February 13, 2024.
During February 2024, we used operating cash to fund the $325.0 million Series H note maturity that had a fixed rate of 4.58% that was due February 27, 2024.
During June 2023, we used operating cash to fund the $200.0 million Series N note maturity that had a fixed rate of 4.13% that was due June 24, 2023.
During June 2023, we used operating cash to fund the prepayment of the $50.0 million Series CC note that had a floating rate of 90 day LIBOR plus 1.40%, balloon that was originally due on June 13, 2024.
During February 2023, we used operating cash to fund the $50.0 million Series E note maturity that had a fixed rate of 5.49% that was due February 10, 2023.
Credit Agreement - There were $108.2 million of borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2024. Due to the outstanding borrowing and letters of credit, $1,580.2 million remained available for potential borrowings under the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2024.
We use the Credit Agreement to post letters of credit and to borrow funds to supplement our operating cash flows from time to time. In the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we borrowed an aggregate of $1,078.2 million and repaid $1,215.0 million under our Credit Agreement. Principal uses of the 2024 and 2023 borrowings under the Credit Agreement were to fund acquisitions, earnout payments related to acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
Premium Financing Debt Facility - On October 31, 2023, we entered into an amendment to our revolving loan facility (which we refer to as the Premium Financing Debt Facility), that provides funding for the three Australian (AU) and New Zealand (NZ) premium finance subsidiaries. The Premium Financing Debt Facility is comprised of: (i) Facility B, which is separated into AU$390.0 million and NZ$25.0 million tranches (the NZ$ tranche will be decreased as of May 1, 2024 to NZ$10.0 million), (ii) Facility C, which is an AU$60.0 million equivalent multi-currency overdraft tranche and (iii) Facility D, which is a NZ$15.0 million equivalent multi-currency overdraft tranche.
At March 31, 2024, AU$270.0 million of borrowings were outstanding under Facility B, with no borrowings outstanding under the NZ$ tranche of Facility B. There were no borrowings outstanding under Facility C and NZ$13.6 million of borrowings were outstanding under Facility D, which in aggregate amount to US$184.3 million of borrowings outstanding under the Premium Financing Debt Facility.
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Dividends - Our board of directors determines our dividend policy. Our board of directors determines dividends on our common stock on a quarterly basis after considering our available cash from earnings, our anticipated cash needs and current conditions in the economy and financial markets.
In the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, we declared $132.0 million in cash dividends on our common stock, or $0.60 per common share, a 9% increase over the three-month period ended March 31, 2023. On April 24, 2024, we announced a quarterly dividend for first quarter 2024 of $0.60 per common share. This dividend level in 2024 will result in annualized net cash used by financing activities in 2024 of approximately $522.7 million (based on the number of outstanding shares as of March 31, 2024) or an anticipated increase in cash used of approximately $49.1 million compared to 2023. We make no assurances regarding the amount of any future dividend payments.
Shelf Registration Statement - On February 12, 2024, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC, registering the offer and sale from time to time, of an indeterminate amount of debt securities, guarantees, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, depositary shares, purchase contracts, or units. The availability of the potential liquidity under this shelf registration statement depends on investor demand, market conditions and other factors. We make no assurances regarding when, or if, we will issue any securities under this registration statement. On November 15, 2022, we filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-4 with the with the SEC, registering 7.0 million shares of our common stock that we may offer and issue from time to time in connection with future acquisitions of other businesses, assets or securities. At March 31, 2024, 5.8 million shares remained available for issuance under this registration statement.
Common Stock Repurchases - We have in place a common stock repurchase plan approved by our board of directors in July 2021, that authorizes the repurchase of up to $1.5 billion of common stock. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we did not repurchase shares of our common stock. The plan authorizes the repurchase of our common stock at such times and prices, as we may deem advantageous, in transactions on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. We are under no commitment or obligation to repurchase any particular number of shares, and the plan may be suspended at any time at our discretion. Funding for share repurchases may come from a variety of sources, including cash from operations, short-term or long‑term borrowings under our Credit Agreement or other sources. See “Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” below for more information regarding shares repurchased during the quarter.
At-the-Market Equity Program - On March 14, 2024, we entered into an updated Equity Distribution Agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time, up to 3,000,000 shares of our common stock through Morgan Stanley as sales agent. We intend to use the net proceeds of sales under this program to fund future acquisitions from time to time or for general corporate purposes. Pursuant to the agreement, shares may be sold by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, including on the New York Stock Exchange, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed upon by us and Morgan Stanley. During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, we did not sell shares of our common stock under the program.
Common Stock Issuances - Another source of liquidity to us is the issuance of our common stock pursuant to our stock option and employee stock purchase plans. Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under these plans for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, were $52.0 million and $30.3 million, respectively. On May 10, 2022, our stockholders approved the 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (which we refer to as the LTIP), which replaced our previous stockholder-approved 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan. All of our officers, employees and non-employee directors are eligible to receive awards under the LTIP. Awards that may be granted under the LTIP include non-qualified and incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and performance units, any or all of which may be made contingent upon the achievement of performance criteria. Stock options with respect to 10.8 million shares (less any shares of restricted stock issued under the LTIP - 2.5 million shares of our common stock were available for this purpose as of March 31, 2024) were available for grant under the LTIP at March 31, 2024. Our employee stock purchase plan allows our employees to purchase our common stock at 95% of its fair market value. Proceeds from the issuance of our common stock related to these plans have contributed favorably to net cash provided by financing activities in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, and we believe this favorable trend will continue in the foreseeable future.
We have a qualified contributory savings and thrift 401(k) plan covering the majority of our domestic employees. For eligible employees who have met the plan’s age and service requirements to receive matching contributions, we historically have matched 100% of pre-tax and Roth elective deferrals up to a maximum of 5.0% of eligible compensation, subject to federal limits on plan contributions and not in excess of the maximum amount deductible for federal income tax purposes. Beginning with the match paid in 2021, the amount matched by the company will be discretionary and annually determined by management. Employees must be employed and eligible for the plan on the last day of the plan year to receive a matching contribution, subject to certain exceptions enumerated in the plan document. Matching contributions are subject to a five-year graduated vesting schedule and can be funded in cash or company stock. We expensed (net of plan forfeitures) $26.1 million and $21.0 million related to the plan in the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During 2023, our board of directors authorized the 5.0% employer matching
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contribution on eligible compensation to the 401(k) plan for the 2023 plan year to be funded with our common stock, which we funded in February 2024. During 2022, our board of directors authorized the 5.0% employer matching contribution on eligible compensation to the 401(k) plan for the 2022 plan year to be funded with our common stock, which we funded in February 2023.
Outlook - We believe that we have sufficient capital and access to additional capital to meet our short- and long-term cash flow needs.
Critical Accounting Estimates
There have been no changes in our critical accounting estimates, which include revenue recognition, income taxes and intangible assets/earnout obligations, as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Business Combinations and Dispositions
See Note 3 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for a discussion of our business combinations during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. We did not have any material dispositions during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to various market risks in our day to day operations. Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest and foreign currency exchange rates and equity prices. The following analyses present the hypothetical loss in fair value of the financial instruments held by us at March 31, 2024 that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The range of changes in interest rates used in the analyses reflects our view of changes that are reasonably possible over a one‑year period. This discussion of market risks related to our consolidated balance sheet includes estimates of future economic environments caused by changes in market risks. The effect of actual changes in these market risk factors may differ materially from our estimates. In the ordinary course of business, we also face risks that are either nonfinancial or unquantifiable, including credit risk and legal risk. These risks are not included in the following analyses.
Our invested assets are primarily held as cash and cash equivalents, which are subject to various market risk exposures such as interest rate risk. The fair value of our portfolio of cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2024 approximated its carrying value due to its short‑term duration. We estimated market risk as the potential decrease in fair value resulting from a hypothetical one‑percentage point increase in interest rates for the instruments contained in the cash and cash equivalents investment portfolio. The resulting fair values were not materially different from their carrying values at March 31, 2024.
At March 31, 2024, we had $8,073.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our various senior notes and note purchase agreements. The aggregate estimated fair value of these borrowings at March 31, 2024 was $7,323.5 million due to their long‑term duration and fixed interest rates associated with these debt obligations. No active or observable market exists for our private placement long-term debt. Therefore, the estimated fair value of this debt is based on the income valuation approach, which is a valuation technique that converts future amounts (for example, cash flows or income and expenses) to a single current (that is, discounted) amount. The fair value measurement is determined on the basis of the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. Because our debt issuances generate a measurable income stream for each lender, the income approach was deemed to be an appropriate methodology for valuing the private placement long-term debt. The methodology used calculated the original deal spread at the time of each debt issuance, which was equal to the difference between the yield of each issuance (the coupon rate) and the equivalent benchmark treasury yield at that time. The market spread as of the valuation date was calculated, which is equal to the difference between an index for investment grade insurers and the equivalent benchmark treasury yield today. An implied premium or discount to the par value of each debt issuance based on the difference between the origination deal spread and market as of the valuation date was then calculated. The index we relied on to represent investment graded insurers was the Bloomberg Valuation Services (BVAL) U.S. Insurers BBB index. This index is comprised primarily of insurance brokerage firms and was representative of the industry in which we operate. For the purpose of our analysis, the average BBB rate was assumed to be the appropriate borrowing rate for us.
We estimated market risk as the potential impact on the value of the debt recorded in our consolidated balance sheet based on a hypothetical one‑percentage point decrease in our weighted average borrowing rate at March 31, 2024 and the resulting fair values would have been $75.3 million lower than their carrying value (or $7,997.7 million). We estimated market risk as the potential impact on the value of the debt recorded in our consolidated balance sheet resulting from a hypothetical one‑percentage point increase in our weighted average borrowing rate at March 31, 2024 and the resulting fair values would have been $1,328.7 million lower than their carrying value (or $6,744.3 million).
At March 31, 2024, we had $108.2 million of borrowings outstanding under our Credit Agreement and $184.3 million of borrowings outstanding under our Premium Financing Debt Facility. The fair value of these borrowings approximate their carrying value due to their short‑term duration and variable interest rates associated with these debt obligations. Market risk is estimated as the potential
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increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical one‑percentage point decrease in our weighted average short-term borrowing rate at March 31, 2024, and the resulting fair value is not materially different from their carrying value.
We are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk primarily from one of our larger U.K. based brokerage subsidiaries that incurs expenses denominated primarily in British pounds while receiving a substantial portion of its revenues in U.S. dollars. Please see Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for additional information regarding potential foreign exchange rate risks arising from Brexit. In addition, we are subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk from our Australian, Canadian, Indian, Jamaican, New Zealand, Norwegian, Singaporean and various Caribbean and Latin American operations because we transact business in their local denominated currencies. Foreign currency gains (losses) related to this market risk are recorded in earnings before income taxes as transactions occur. Assuming a hypothetical adverse change of 10% in the average foreign currency exchange rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 (a weakening of the U.S. dollar), earnings before income taxes would have increased by approximately $25.6 million. Assuming a hypothetical favorable change of 10% in the average foreign currency exchange rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 (a strengthening of the U.S. dollar), earnings before income taxes would have decreased by approximately $28.7 million. We are also subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with the translation of local currencies of our foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. We manage the balance sheets of our foreign subsidiaries, where practical, such that foreign liabilities are matched with equal foreign assets, maintaining a “balanced book” which minimizes the effects of currency fluctuations. However, our consolidated financial position is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk related to intra-entity loans between our U.S. based subsidiaries and our non-U.S. based subsidiaries that are denominated in the respective local foreign currency. A transaction that is in a foreign currency is first remeasured at the entity’s functional (local) currency, where applicable, (which is an adjustment to consolidated earnings) and then translated to the reporting (U.S. dollar) currency (which is an adjustment to consolidated stockholders’ equity) for consolidated reporting purposes. If the transaction is already denominated in the foreign entity’s functional currency, only the translation to U.S. dollar reporting is necessary. The remeasurement process required by U.S. GAAP for such foreign currency loan transactions will give rise to a consolidated unrealized foreign exchange gain or loss, which could be material, that is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss).
Historically, we have not entered into derivatives or other similar financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. However, with respect to managing foreign currency exchange rate risk in India, Norway and the U.K., we have periodically purchased financial instruments to minimize our exposure to this risk. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we had several monthly forward contracts and options in place with an external financial institution that are designed to hedge a significant portion of our future Norway and the U.K. currency revenues through various future payment dates. In addition, during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we had several monthly put/call options in place with an external financial institution that were designed to hedge a significant portion of our Indian currency disbursements through various future payment dates. Although these hedging strategies were designed to protect us against significant India, Norway and the U.K. currency exchange rate movements, we are still exposed to some foreign currency exchange rate risk for the portion of the payments and currency exchange rate that are unhedged. All of these hedges are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging”, and periodically are tested for effectiveness in accordance with such guidance. In the scenario where such hedge does not pass the effectiveness test, the hedge will be re‑measured at the stated point and the appropriate loss, if applicable, would be recognized. In the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 there has been no such effect on our financial presentation. The impact of these hedging strategies was not material to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024. See Note 11 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the changes in fair value of these derivative instruments reflected in comprehensive earnings at March 31, 2024.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation required by the Exchange Act, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and to provide reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
During the most recent fiscal quarter, there has not occurred any change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives as specified above. Management does not expect, however, that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent or detect all errors and fraud. Any
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control system, no matter how well designed and operated, is based upon certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that its objectives will be met. Further, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected.
Part II - Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Please see the information set forth in Note 12 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements, included herein, under “Litigation, Regulatory and Taxation Matters.”
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The risk factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 should be considered alongside the information contained in this report.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table shows the purchases of our common stock made by or on behalf of us or any “affiliated purchaser” (as such term is defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) for each fiscal month in the three-month period ended March 31, 2024:
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Value of Shares |
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Total Number of |
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that May Yet be |
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Total |
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Shares Purchased |
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Purchased |
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Number of |
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Average |
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as Part of Publicly |
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Under the |
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Shares |
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Price Paid |
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Announced Plans |
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Plans or |
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Purchased (1) |
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per Share (2) |
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or Programs (3) |
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Programs (3) (4) |
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January 1 through January 31, 2024 |
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8,106 |
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$ |
227.71 |
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— |
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$ |
1,500 |
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February 1 through February 29, 2024 |
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3,090 |
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240.83 |
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— |
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1,500 |
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March 1 through March 31, 2024 |
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160,048 |
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244.03 |
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— |
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1,500 |
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Total |
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171,244 |
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$ |
243.20 |
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— |
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Item 5. Other Information
During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, no director or officer
Item 6. Exhibits
Filed with this Form 10‑Q
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3.1.1 |
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3.2 |
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31.1 |
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31.2 |
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32.1 |
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32.2 |
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101.INS |
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Inline XBRL Instance Document. The instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document. |
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101.SCH |
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Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema with embedded linkbases document. |
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104 |
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Cover Page Interactive Data File formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101). |
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Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. |
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Date: May 1, 2024 |
By: |
/s/ Douglas K. Howell |
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Douglas K. Howell Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and duly authorized officer) |
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