Brown & Brown Inc.: 10-K Risk Factor Changes

We are subject to risks related to Accession’s business and assumed its insurance policies and other obligations. Accession’s ownership of one or more captive insurance companies subjects us to underwriting risk through such ownership and/or participation and may also subject us to certain liabilities and expenses, including those subject to the indemnification provisions of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Accession, the Company, Encore Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and Kelso RSC (Investor), L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, solely in its capacity as the equityholder representative. Accession also manages one or more protected cells in certain captive insurance companies for the purpose of facilitating underwriting capacity for certain of its customers. While Accession’s underwriting risk through any such captive insurance company would generally be limited (absent any regulatory requirement for the contribution of additional capital or contractual obligation to fund any underwriting losses in excess of contributed capital), we may be subject to claims expenses associated with any losses from these customers or programs to the extent not covered by any reinsurance. Our results of operations may be negatively impacted if any such captive insurance company incurs claims expenses. Relatedly, we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of the litigation pending against Accession’s subsidiary, Oxford Risk Management Group LLC, with respect to the 2024 restructuring of the domicile of certain financial guarantee and final judgment preservation policies for segregated captive cells (the “FG Policies”), including remedies, damage awards or adverse results in such litigation, and any similar proceedings could have a material adverse effect on us. Our results of operations would be negatively impacted if the costs of the claims relating to the FG Policies exceed the value of the cash within the captives, as well as the cash and stock held in the indemnity escrow fund pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. 12 12 In addition, Accession has an advisory services business that assists certain customers with the establishment of captive insurance companies, for their own purposes, which leverage the benefits of Section 831(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and which are subject to audit and oversight from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS has conducted investigations, and may be conducting investigations, of certain peers of Accession that also provide similar services, with respect to whether or not such third parties are acting as a tax shelter promoter in connection with those operations. If the IRS were to disallow 831(b) elections, modify its guidance around 831(b) elections, or otherwise investigate our business and conclude that we are not in compliance with IRS regulations, whether or not merited, those events could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.Furthermore, where our businesses overlap, any risks we face may be intensified due to the Transaction. This may exacerbate the risks we already undertake, as described in this Item 1A.Risks Related to Our BusinessOUR INABILITY TO HIRE, RETAIN AND DEVELOP QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS THE LOSS OF ANY OF OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OR OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES, COULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN EXISTING BUSINESS, GENERATE NEW BUSINESS AND/OR INNOVATE.Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain and develop skilled and experienced personnel. There is significant competition within the insurance industry and from businesses outside the industry for exceptional employees, especially in key positions. If we are not able to successfully attract, retain, develop and motivate our employees, our business, financial results and reputation could be materially and adversely affected.Our success and future performance depend in part upon the continued services of our executive officers, senior management, and other highly skilled personnel. Losing employees who manage or support substantial customer relationships or possess substantial experience or expertise could adversely affect our ability to secure and complete customer engagements and/or innovate, which would adversely affect our results of operations. This risk may be increased by remote or hybrid working arrangements, which may make our employees more vulnerable to solicitations by competing firms. Competition for skilled professionals remains intense, and employers are implementing new offerings to attract talent, including increasing compensation, enhancing health and wellness solutions, and providing in-office and remote work options. We may be unable to retain our employees if we do not offer employment terms that are competitive with the rest of the labor market. We may have to devote significant resources to attract and retain talent, which could negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our employees have been, and may continue to be, subject to poaching efforts by our competitors.Also, if any of our key employees were to join a competitor or form a competing company, some of our customers could choose to use the services of that competitor instead of our services, which has occurred in the past and may occur again. While our key employees are generally prohibited by contract from soliciting our employees and customers for a two-year period following separation from employment with us, they are not prohibited from competing with us. Similarly, if an employee joins us from a competitor and is subject to enforceable restrictive covenants, we may be delayed in optimizing the employee’s potential. In addition, regulation or legislation impacting the workforce or the ability to enforce employment-related restrictive covenants (due to applicable laws or regulations), may lead to increased uncertainty and competition for talent. Our key personnel, including our executive officers, may be subject to targeted cybersecurity or physical threats, which, if realized, could adversely affect our business. In addition to the potential impact to us if these risks are realized, which may include reputational harm, the loss of such key personnel or their inability to continue their service with us, we may incur additional expenses to offer monitoring or protection for such key personnel against these threats. In addition, we could be adversely affected if we fail to adequately plan for the succession of our senior leaders and key executives, fail to successfully execute such plan, or if such plans are not well-received by our investors, customers, business partners or employees. The succession plans and employment arrangements we have in place with certain key executives do not guarantee that the services of these executives will continue to be available to us. The loss of our senior leaders or other key employees, or our inability to continue to identify, recruit and retain such personnel, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. A CYBERSECURITY ATTACK, OR ANY OTHER INTERRUPTION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND/OR DATA SECURITY THAT MAY IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS OR THE OPERATIONS OF THIRD PARTIES THAT SUPPORT US, COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND REPUTATION. We rely on information technology and third-party vendors to provide effective and efficient service to our customers, process claims, and timely and accurately report information to carriers, which often involves secure processing of confidential, sensitive, proprietary and other types of information. We face potential threats due to new and increasingly sophisticated methods of attack. Cybersecurity breaches of any of the systems we rely on may result from circumvention of security systems, denial-of-service attacks or other cyber-attacks, software bugs, malicious or destructive code, hacking, social engineering attacks (including “phishing” attacks, business email compromise and digital or telephonic impersonation), computer viruses, ransomware, malware, employee or insider error or threats, malfeasance, social engineering, physical breaches or other actions, any of which could expose us to unauthorized access, exfiltration, manipulation, corruption, loss or In addition, Accession has an advisory services business that assists certain customers with the establishment of captive insurance companies, for their own purposes, which leverage the benefits of Section 831(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and which are subject to audit and oversight from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). The IRS has conducted investigations, and may be conducting investigations, of certain peers of Accession that also provide similar services, with respect to whether or not such third parties are acting as a tax shelter promoter in connection with those operations. If the IRS were to disallow 831(b) elections, modify its guidance around 831(b) elections, or otherwise investigate our business and conclude that we are not in compliance with IRS regulations, whether or not merited, those events could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, where our businesses overlap, any risks we face may be intensified due to the Transaction. This may exacerbate the risks we already undertake, as described in this Item 1A.