8-K/A
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K/A
 
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 1, 2008
 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
     
001-16503   98-0352587
(Commission file number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
c/o Willis Group Limited
51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ, England

(Address of principal executive offices)
(011) 44-20-3124-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

Amendment No. 1
This Form 8-K/A is filed as an amendment (“Amendment No. 1”) to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed under Items 1.01, 2.01, 2.03 and 9.01 on October 6, 2008 (the “Initial 8-K”), which reported the completion of the acquisition of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company (“HRH”) by Willis Group Holdings Limited (“Willis”) through the merger of HRH with and into Hermes Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Willis, and the financing arranged by Willis in connection with the acquisition. Pursuant to this Amendment No. 1, Willis hereby amends and supplements Item 9.01 of the Initial 8-K to file the historical financial statements of HRH under Item 9.01(a) and the pro forma financial information under 9.01(b) not filed with the Initial 8-K and to update the consent of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
     (a) Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
     Pursuant to paragraph (a)(4) of Item 9.01 of Form 8-K, the attached audited financial statements of HRH were omitted from the disclosure contained in the Initial 8-K. The audited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 are being incorporated herein by reference from HRH’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 29, 2008 and included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
     The unaudited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the interim periods ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 are being incorporated by reference from HRH’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, as filed with the SEC on May 2, 2008 and August 11, 2008, respectively, and included as Exhibits 99.2 and 99.3 respectively to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
     (b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
     The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Willis, giving effect to the acquisition of HRH, as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2007 is filed as Exhibit 99.4.
     The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for informational purposes only. The pro forma data is not necessarily indicative of the financial results that would have been attained had the acquisition of HRH by Willis occurred on the dates referenced above and should not be viewed as indicative of the operations or financial position of the combined company in future periods.
     (d) Exhibits
     
Exhibit No.   Description
23.1
  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
   
99.1
  Audited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (incorporated by reference to the Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 000-15981) filed on February 29, 2008)
 
   
99.2
  Unaudited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 (incorporated by reference to the Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 (File No. 000-15981) filed on May 2, 2008)
 
   
99.3
  Unaudited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008 (incorporated by reference to the Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 (File No. 000-15981) filed on August 11, 2008)
 
   
99.4
  Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Willis as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2007

2


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  Willis Group Holdings Limited
 
 
  By:   /s/ Patrick C. Regan    
    Patrick C. Regan   
    Group Chief Operating Officer and
Group Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
Date: October 21, 2008

3


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Exhibit No.   Description
23.1
  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
 
   
99.1
  Audited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (incorporated by reference to the Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 000-15981) filed on February 29, 2008)
 
   
99.2
  Unaudited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2008 (incorporated by reference to the Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 (File No. 000-15981) filed on May 2, 2008)
 
   
99.3
  Unaudited consolidated financial statements of HRH for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008 (incorporated by reference to the Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008 (File No. 000-15981) filed on August 11, 2008)
 
   
99.4
  Unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information of Willis as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and for the year ended December 31, 2007

4

EX-23.1
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-153769 and No. 333-135176) and S-8 (No. 333-153770, No. 333-153202, No. 333-63186 and No. 333-62780) of Willis Group Holdings Limited of our report dated February 28, 2008, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2007, included and incorporated by reference in this Current Report on Form 8-K/A of Willis Group Holdings Limited, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Richmond, Virginia
October 17, 2008

 

EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial Statements
Shareholders and Board of Directors
Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company
     We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
     We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Richmond, Virginia
February 28, 2008

 


 

HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
                 
    December 31,  
(in thousands)   2007     2006  
ASSETS
               
CURRENT ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents, including $109,330 and $59,821, respectively, of restricted funds
  $ 294,407     $ 254,811  
Receivables:
               
Premiums and commissions, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,972 and $3,713, respectively
    319,025       273,523  
Other
    47,190       34,169  
 
           
 
    366,215       307,692  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    42,200       33,869  
 
           
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    702,822       596,372  
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    26,023       22,178  
GOODWILL
    794,007       636,997  
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET
    258,271       148,657  
 
           
 
    1,052,278       785,654  
OTHER ASSETS
    36,303       33,943  
 
           
 
  $ 1,817,426     $ 1,438,147  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Premiums payable to insurance companies
  $ 453,850     $ 385,556  
Accounts payable
    32,380       22,572  
Accrued expenses
    54,290       70,703  
Premium deposits and credits due customers
    69,284       38,760  
Current portion of long-term debt
    14,705       9,060  
 
           
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    624,509       526,651  
LONG-TERM DEBT
    412,432       231,957  
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    50,524       32,231  
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    46,758       43,939  
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Common Stock, no par value; authorized 100,000 shares; outstanding 36,749 and 36,312 shares, respectively
    271,263       250,359  
Retained earnings
    409,443       350,084  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
               
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps, net of deferred tax benefit (expense) of $651 and $(404), respectively
    (1,018 )     636  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    3,515       2,290  
 
           
 
    683,203       603,369  
 
           
 
  $ 1,817,426     $ 1,438,147  
 
           
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

2


 

HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2007     2006     2005  
REVENUES
                       
Core commissions and fees
  $ 731,572     $ 651,885     $ 609,467  
Contingent commissions
    48,378       44,156       48,545  
Investment income
    14,213       10,506       6,581  
Other
    5,501       4,298       9,292  
 
                 
 
    799,664       710,845       673,885  
 
                       
OPERATING EXPENSES
                       
Compensation and employee benefits
    455,070       397,323       365,481  
Other operating expenses
    152,705       123,304       127,702  
Depreciation
    8,827       8,268       8,410  
Amortization of intangibles
    33,037       21,516       18,755  
Interest expense
    23,554       18,368       16,243  
Regulatory charge and related costs
    (5,725 )           42,320  
Integration costs
    1,134       (243 )     764  
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    72       897        
Severance charge
                1,303  
 
                 
 
    668,674       569,433       580,978  
 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    130,990       141,412       92,907  
Income taxes
    52,865       54,381       36,707  
 
                 
NET INCOME
  $ 78,125     $ 87,031     $ 56,200  
 
                 
 
                       
Net Income Per Share:
                       
Basic
  $ 2.14     $ 2.42     $ 1.57  
Assuming Dilution
  $ 2.11     $ 2.39     $ 1.55  
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3


 

HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                         
                    ACCUMULATED  
                    OTHER  
    COMMON     RETAINED     COMPREHENSIVE  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   STOCK     EARNINGS     INCOME (LOSS)  
Balance at January 1, 2005
  $ 233,785     $ 240,125     $ 1,393  
Issuance of 682 shares of Common Stock
    17,279                  
Repurchase of 613 shares of Common Stock
    (21,848 )                
Stock-based compensation
    2,097                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    1,979                  
Payment of dividends ($0.450 per share)
            (16,138 )        
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax expense of $428
                    643  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    (1,111 )
Net income
            56,200          
 
                 
Balance at December 31, 2005
    233,292       280,187       925  
Issuance of 990 shares of Common Stock
    30,221                  
Repurchase of 633 shares of Common Stock
    (24,967 )                
Stock-based compensation
    9,097                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    2,716                  
Payment of dividends ($0.475 per share)
            (17,134 )        
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax expense of $96
                    174  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    1,827  
Net income
            87,031          
 
                 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    250,359       350,084       2,926  
Issuance of 795 shares of Common Stock
    25,681                  
Repurchase of 358 shares of Common Stock
    (15,210 )                
Stock-based compensation
    6,914                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    3,519                  
Payment of dividends ($0.510 per share)
            (18,766 )        
Unrealized loss on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax benefit of $1,055
                    (1,654 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    1,225  
Net income
            78,125          
 
                 
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 271,263     $ 409,443     $ 2,497  
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


 

HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
(in thousands)   2007     2006     2005  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                       
Net income
  $ 78,125     $ 87,031     $ 56,200  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Regulatory charge and related costs
    (5,725 )           42,320  
Integration costs
    1,134       (243 )     764  
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    72       897        
Severance charge
                1,303  
Depreciation
    8,827       8,268       8,410  
Amortization of intangibles
    33,037       21,516       18,755  
Stock-based compensation
    6,914       9,097       2,097  
Provision for losses on receivables
    1,981       502       753  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    3,382       5,926       (4,115 )
Gain on sale of assets
    (2,032 )     (1,087 )     (5,104 )
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
                1,979  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of effects from regulatory charge and related costs, integration costs, loss on extinguishment of debt, severance charge and insurance agency acquisitions and dispositions:
                       
(Increase) decrease in receivables
    15,614       (42,567 )     (10,238 )
Decrease in prepaid expenses
    178       3,647       2,046  
Increase (decrease) in premiums payable to insurance companies
    (36,324 )     25,744       21,670  
Increase (decrease) in premium deposits and credits due customers
    26,648       (1,694 )     (7,833 )
Increase in accounts payable
    5,127       5,045       2,611  
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses
    (15,572 )     11,210       (6,737 )
Decrease in regulatory charge accrual
    (10,435 )     (3,145 )     (22,264 )
Other operating activities
    3,690       (4,885 )     (452 )
 
                 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    114,641       125,262       102,165  
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                       
Purchase of property and equipment
    (10,147 )     (5,720 )     (9,224 )
Purchase of insurance agencies, net of cash acquired
    (200,606 )     (60,024 )     (23,797 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    15,951       11,004       7,738  
Purchase of investments
                (13,800 )
Sale of investments
          13,800        
Other investing activities
    (2,347 )     1,496       2,462  
 
                 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (197,149 )     (39,444 )     (36,621 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                       
Proceeds from long-term debt
    289,131       250,625        
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (148,975 )     (272,611 )     (14,297 )
Debt issuance costs
    (1,077 )     (1,819 )     (204 )
Repurchase of Common Stock
    (15,210 )     (24,967 )     (21,848 )
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock, net of tax payments for options exercised
    13,482       7,712       944  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    3,519       2,716        
Dividends
    (18,766 )     (17,134 )     (16,138 )
 
                 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    122,104       (55,478 )     (51,543 )
 
                 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    39,596       30,340       14,001  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    254,811       224,471       210,470  
 
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR
  $ 294,407     $ 254,811     $ 224,471  
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5


 

HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2007
     Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company, a Virginia corporation, operates offices located in 30 states and in London, England as well as branch locations in Russia, South Africa and Australia. Its principal activity is the performance of insurance and risk management intermediary services which involves placing various types of insurance, including property and casualty, employee benefits, professional liability and other areas of specialized exposure, with insurance underwriters on behalf of its clients.
NOTE A—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
     Principles of Consolidation—The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain amounts for the prior years have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s reportable segment structure.
     Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
     Revenues—Commission income (and fees in lieu of commission) as well as the related premiums receivable from clients and premiums payable to insurance companies are recorded as of the effective date of insurance coverage or the billing date, whichever is later. Commissions on premiums billed and collected directly by insurance companies on middle-market and major accounts property and casualty business are recorded as revenue on the later of the billing date or effective date. Commissions on premiums billed and collected directly by insurance companies on other property and casualty and employee benefits business are recorded as revenue when received which, in many cases, is the Company’s first notification of amounts earned due to the lack of policy and renewal information. Supplemental commissions are recorded on an accrual basis when data becomes available which generally represents a one-month lag. Supplemental commissions relate to supplemental commission agreements between the Company’s branches and certain underwriters which have replaced contingent commission arrangements that previously existed with these underwriters. Supplemental commissions are a percentage of the premium paid by the client when the Company’s branch has served as an agent of the underwriter rather than as a broker of the client.
     Contingent commissions are recorded as revenue when received. Contingent commissions are commissions paid by insurance underwriters and are based on the estimated profit, growth and/or overall volume of business placed with the underwriter. The data necessary for the calculation of contingent commissions cannot be reasonably obtained prior to receipt of the commission which, in many cases, is the Company’s first notification of amounts earned.
     The Company carries a reserve for policy cancellations which is periodically evaluated and adjusted as necessary. Miscellaneous premium and commission adjustments are recorded as they occur. The policy cancellation reserve as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $2.9 million and $2.6 million, respectively. For 2007, the cancellation reserve activity was primarily related to new reserves related to acquisitions.
     Service fee revenue is recorded on a pro rata basis as the services are provided. Service fee revenue typically relates to claims management and loss control services, program administration and workers compensation consultative services which are provided over a period of time, typically one year.
     Investment income is recorded as earned. The Company’s investment policy provides for the investment of premiums between the time they are collected from the client and remitted (net of commission) to the underwriter. Typically, premiums are due to the underwriters 45 days after the end of the month in which the policy renews. This investment activity is part of normal operations and, accordingly, investment income earned is reported in revenues.
     Cash Equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the date of acquisition to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts reported on the balance sheet approximate the fair values.
     Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its clients to make required payments. The Company monitors its allowance utilizing accounts receivable aging data as the basis to support the estimate.
     Property and Equipment—Property and equipment are stated on the basis of cost. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives (generally 3 to 7 years for furniture and equipment). Leasehold improvements are generally amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the term of the related lease or the estimated useful life of the corresponding asset.

6


 

NOTE A—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES—Continued
     Intangible Assets—The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statements No. 141, “Business Combinations,” and No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (Statement 142). Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of businesses acquired and accounted for under the purchase method. The fair value of identifiable intangible assets is typically estimated based upon discounted future cash flow projections.
     Goodwill is tested for impairment annually in the fourth quarter, or sooner if impairment indicators arise. In reviewing goodwill for impairment, potential impairment is identified by comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. The fair value of a reporting unit is estimated by applying valuation multiples to the reporting unit’s revenues and operating profits. The selection of multiples is dependent upon assumptions regarding future levels of operating performance as well as business trends, prospects and market and economic conditions. When the fair value is less than the carrying value of the net assets of a reporting unit, including goodwill, an impairment loss may be recognized. See Note J for additional information. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their useful lives and, when indicators of impairment are present, are reviewed for recoverability using estimated future undiscounted cash flows related to those assets.
     Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—At December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, the Company had three stock-based compensation plans. These plans are described more fully in Note H.
     Through December 31, 2005, the Company accounted for its stock options using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (APB 25), and related interpretations. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (Statement 123R) and accounted for the adoption using the modified-prospective method. The revised standard requires all companies to recognize compensation costs related to all share-based payments (including stock options) in their financial statements at fair value, thereby, upon adoption, eliminating the use of pro forma disclosures to report such amounts.
     In applying the modified-prospective method at adoption, effective January 1, 2006, the Company recognized compensation cost based upon fair value for only (i) those share-based awards granted or modified with an effective date subsequent to January 1, 2006 and (ii) share-based awards issued in prior periods that remained unvested at January 1, 2006. No prior period results were restated. In 2005, no stock-based compensation cost for stock options was reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation cost relating to restricted stock awards was recognized in both the current and prior periods.
     For valuation purposes, the Company uses a Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards. Determining the Black-Scholes fair value of stock options necessitates the development of certain key assumptions. The volatility factor was estimated based on the Company’s historical volatility over the contractual term of the options. The Company also used historical data to derive the option’s expected life and employee forfeiture rates within the valuation model. The risk-free interest rate is based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of grant. The dividend yield is predicated on the current annualized dividend payment and the average stock price over the year prior to the grant date.
     The Company’s stock options vest and become fully exercisable at various periods up to five years. Statement 123R provides that compensation cost, related to awards with a graded vesting schedule, may be recognized on either (a) a straight-line basis for the entire award or (b) an accelerated basis by applying a straight-line method to each separate vesting portion of the award. Effective with the Company’s adoption on January 1, 2006, the Company’s policy is to recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis for the entire award for all awards granted after January 1, 2006. For compensation costs related to awards issued prior to January 1, 2006 and that were unvested at that date, the Company will continue to follow its previous policy of recognizing the related compensation cost on an accelerated basis as described above.
     As a result of adopting Statement 123R and no longer accounting for stock-based compensation under APB 25, the Comny’s income before income taxes and net income were reduced for 2007 by $4.8 million and $2.8 million, respectively, and for 2006 by $6.6 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Basic and diluted net income per share were lower by $0.08 in 2007 and $0.11 in 2006 due to the Company’s adoption of Statement 123R.
     Prior to the adoption of Statement 123R, the Company presented all tax benefits of deductions resulting from the exercise of stock options as operating cash flows in the Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows. Statement 123R requires the cash flows resulting from the benefits of tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation costs be reported as financing cash flows. The $3.5 million

7


 

NOTE A—SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES—Continued
and $2.7 million excess tax benefits classified as financing cash inflows for 2007 and 2006 would have been classified as operating cash inflows if the Company had not adopted Statement 123R.
     Rent Expense—Minimum rental expenses are recognized over the term of the lease. When a lease contains a predetermined fixed escalation of the minimum rent, the related rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis. Lease incentives are amortized as a reduction to rent expense over the lease term. Contingent rent and rent escalations are included in rent expense when it is probable that the expense will be incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated.
     Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The carrying amounts of financial instruments reported in the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, other assets, premiums payable to insurance companies, accounts payable, accrued expenses, premium deposits and credits due customers, and variable interest rate long-term debt approximate those assets’ and liabilities’ fair values. The fair value of the Company’s $100.0 million fixed interest rate long-term debt at December 31, 2007 was $98.2 million. Fair values for derivative instruments are based on third-party pricing models or formulas using current assumptions. Fair values for interest rate swaps are disclosed in Note D. Fair value for currency contracts is disclosed in the “Derivatives” section of this note.
     Derivatives—The Company accounts for derivative and hedging instruments in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (Statement 133), as amended. Statement 133 requires the Company to recognize all derivatives as either assets or liabilities on the balance sheet at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from changes in fair value must be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge criteria are met. If a derivative is a hedge, depending upon the nature of the hedge, a change in its fair value is offset against the change in the fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments either through earnings or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (OCI) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. Any difference between fair value of the hedge and the item being hedged, known as the ineffective portion, is immediately recognized in earnings.
     The Company’s use of derivative instruments includes the use of interest rate swap agreements to modify the interest characteristics for a portion of its outstanding variable rate debt. These interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges and are structured so that there is no ineffectiveness.
     The change in value of the interest rate swaps is reported as a component of the Company’s OCI and reclassified into interest expense in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Derivative instruments are carried at fair value on the balance sheet in the applicable line item, other non-current assets or other non-current liabilities.
     Termination of an interest rate swap agreement would result in the amount previously recorded in OCI being reclassified to interest expense related to the debt over the remaining term of the original contract life of the terminated swap agreement. In the event of the early extinguishment of a debt obligation, any amounts in OCI relating to designated hedge transactions of the extinguished debt would be reclassified to earnings coincident with the extinguishment.
     The Company also utilizes forward sales currency contracts to minimize the exposure to variability in foreign currency exchange rates in its International segment. These contracts have not been designated as hedges for Statement 133 purposes. At December 31, 2007, the fair value of these contracts was less than $0.1 million. Future changes in the fair value of these contracts will be recorded in earnings as a component of other income.
     Income Taxes—The Company (except for its foreign subsidiaries) files a consolidated federal income tax return with its subsidiaries. Deferred taxes result from temporary differences between the income tax and financial statement bases of assets and liabilities and are based on tax laws as currently enacted. The Company evaluates its ability to realize deferred tax assets in the future and records a valuation allowance when necessary.
     Foreign Currency Translation—The accounts of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are measured using local currency as the functional currency. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at period-end exchange rates, and income and expense are translated at average monthly exchange rates. Net exchange gains or losses resulting from such translations are excluded from net earnings and accumulated as a separate component of OCI. The Company does not provide income taxes on such gains and losses.
     Accrued Expenses—Accrued expenses included compensation and employee benefits of $36.1 million and $36.7 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

8


 

NOTE B—RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
     In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a minimum recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on measurement, derecognition and classification and additional disclosure requirements. As required, the Company adopted FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. See Note F for more information on income taxes.
     In September 2006, FASB issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157-2,” which delayed the effective date of the statement for nonfinancial assets and liabilities to fiscal years ending after November 15, 2008. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement 157 for its financial assets and liabilities. The Company continues to evaluate the application of Statement 157 for non-financial assets and liabilities but does not believe that it will significantly impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations.
     In December 2007, FASB issued Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (Statement 141R). Statement 141R requires that an acquirer (i) recognize, with certain exceptions, 100% of the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired; (ii) include contingent consideration arrangements in the purchase price consideration at their acquisition date fair values; and (iii) expense all acquisition-related transaction costs as incurred. Statement 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted.
NOTE C—PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
     Property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheet consists of the following:
                 
(in thousands)   2007     2006  
Furniture and equipment
  $ 66,125     $ 60,139  
Leasehold improvements
    14,063       11,448  
 
           
 
    80,188       71,587  
Less accumulated depreciation
    54,165       49,409  
 
           
 
  $ 26,023     $ 22,178  
 
           
NOTE D—LONG-TERM DEBT
     Long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheet consists of the following:
                 
(in thousands)   2007     2006  
Credit facility, 6.33% interest at December 31, 2007
  $ 295,625     $ 229,875  
Prudential Series A Notes, 6.44% interest at December 31, 2007
    100,000        
Installment notes payable primarily incurred in acquisitions of insurance agencies, 1.46% to 8.0% due in various installments to 2011
    31,512       11,142  
 
           
 
    427,137       241,017  
Less current portion
    14,705       9,060  
 
           
 
  $ 412,432     $ 231,957  
 
           
     Maturities of long-term debt for the years ending after December 31, 2008 are $11.5 million in 2009, $5.3 million in 2010, $295.6 million in 2011, none in 2012, and $100.0 million thereafter.
     Interest paid was $21.2 million, $18.4 million and $16.1 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
     As of December 31, 2006, the Company had under its Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders (the Credit Agreement), outstanding term loans of $99.3 million and outstanding revolving credit facility borrowings of $130.6 million. On September 10, 2007, the Company entered into (i) a Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement (the Note Purchase Agreement) with

9


 

NOTE D—LONG-TERM DEBT—Continued
The Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential) and (ii) Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement and Joinder Agreement (the Amendment and Joinder Agreement) with Bank of America, N.A. and other lenders.
     Under the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company issued $100.0 million of Senior Secured Notes, Series A (the Series A Notes) to Prudential. The Series A Notes will mature on August 27, 2017 and bear interest at an annual fixed rate of 6.44%. The proceeds from the Series A Notes issuance were primarily used to prepay the $98.8 million of term loans outstanding under the Credit Agreement. The Note Purchase Agreement also provides for an uncommitted shelf facility by which the Company may issue, over the next three years, up to $100.0 million of Senior Secured Notes to Prudential at a fixed interest rate and with a maturity date not to exceed ten years. The interest rate will be based on the Treasury Rate available at the time of borrowing plus a negotiated spread. The Note Purchase Agreement provides, among other terms, requirements for maintaining certain financial ratios and specific limits or restrictions on foreign acquisitions, indebtedness, investments, payment of dividends, and repurchases of common stock. In addition, under certain prepayment events, the Company may be required to pay additional fees as part of a prepayment.
     The Amendment and Joinder Agreement amended the Credit Agreement to (i) permit entry into the Note Purchase Agreement, (ii) increase the aggregate principal amount of the revolving credit facility from $325.0 million to $445.0 million, (iii) permit the Company to request additional aggregate principal amounts up to $125.0 million for the revolving credit facility, and (iv) consents to the acquisition of Banc of America Corporate Insurance Agency, LLC and allows its exclusion from the acquisition limitation covenant of the Credit Agreement. Subsequent to the Amendment and Joinder Agreement, the Company increased the aggregate principal amount of the revolving credit facility by $5.0 million to a total of $450.0 million.
     In 2007, the Company recognized losses of $0.1 million related to the extinguishment of the outstanding term loans under the Credit Agreement. This loss on extinguishment included various financing and professional costs previously deferred in connection with the financing of the Credit Agreement.
     In April 2006, the Company entered into the Credit Agreement which provided for a revolving credit facility of $325.0 million and a term loan facility of $100.0 million. Upon entry into the Credit Agreement, the Company borrowed $140.6 million under the revolving credit facility and $100.0 million under the term loan facility. The Company used these proceeds to repay its outstanding borrowings under a previous credit agreement.
     The Credit Agreement provides that a portion of the revolving credit facility will be available for the issuance of letters of credit. Borrowings bear interest at variable rates based on LIBOR plus a negotiated spread (1.50% at December 31, 2007). In addition, the Company pays commitment fees (0.30% at December 31, 2007) on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. The principal balance of the revolving credit facility is due and payable on the April 26, 2011 maturity date. The Credit Agreement represents senior secured indebtedness and contains, among other provisions, requirements for maintaining certain financial ratios and specific limits or restrictions on acquisitions, indebtedness, investments, payment of dividends and repurchases of Common Stock.
     In 2006, the Company recognized losses of $0.9 million related to the extinguishment of the debt outstanding under a prior credit agreement. This loss on extinguishment primarily included various financing and professional costs previously deferred in connection with the financing of the prior credit agreement and certain lending fees paid in obtaining the Credit Agreement.
     In December 2004, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $20.0 million and a maturity date of December 31, 2010. In December 2005, the Company entered into a second interest rate swap agreement with a notional amount of $50.0 million and a maturity date of December 31, 2010. The Company has designated all of its interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges under Statement 133. The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage interest costs and cash flows associated with variable interest rates, primarily short-term changes in LIBOR; changes in cash flows of the interest rate swaps offset changes in the interest payments on the covered portion of the Company’s credit facility. The notional amounts of the interest rate swap agreements are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. The credit risk to the Company would be a counterparty’s inability to pay the differential in the fixed rate and variable rate in a rising interest rate environment. The Company’s exposure to credit loss on its interest rate swap agreements in the event of non-performance by a counterparty is believed to be remote due to the Company’s requirement that a counterparty have a strong credit rating. The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates.
     Under the current interest rate swap agreements, the Company makes payments based on fixed pay rates of approximately 4.7% and receives payments based on the counterparties’ variable LIBOR pay rates. At the end of the year, the variable rate was approximately 4.8% for each agreement. In connection with these interest rate swap agreements, the Company recorded after-tax income (loss) in other comprehensive income of $(1.7) million, $0.2 million and $0.6 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

10


 

NOTE D—LONG-TERM DEBT—Continued
There was no impact on net income due to ineffectiveness. The fair market value of the interest rate swaps resulted in a liability of $1.7 million at December 31, 2007, which is included in other long-term liabilities, and in an asset of $1.0 million at December 31, 2006, which is included in other non-current assets.
NOTE E—RETIREMENT PLANS
     The Company sponsors the HRH Retirement Savings Plan (the Retirement Savings Plan) which covers substantially all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Retirement Savings Plan, which may be amended or terminated by the Company at any time, provides that the Company shall contribute a matching contribution of up to 3% of a participant’s eligible compensation and any additional amounts as the Board of Directors shall determine to a trust fund.
     Prior to merger with the Company, certain of the other merged companies had separate profit sharing or benefit plans. These plans were terminated or frozen at the time of merger with the Company.
     The total expense recorded by the Company under the Retirement Savings Plan for 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $6.7 million, $6.1 million and $5.9 million, respectively.
     The Company has the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the Plan) for key executives. The Plan provides that participants shall be credited each year with an amount that is calculated by determining the total Company match and profit sharing contribution that the participant would have received under the Retirement Savings Plan absent the compensation limitation that applies to such plan, reduced by the amount of actual Company match and profit sharing contributions to such plan. The Plan also provides for the crediting of interest to participant accounts. Expense recognized by the Company in 2007, 2006 and 2005 related to these Plan provisions amounted to $1.1 million, $1.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company’s accrued liability for benefits under the Plan was $5.6 million and $5.0 million, respectively, and is included in other long-term liabilities.
NOTE F—INCOME TAXES
     The components of income taxes shown in the statement of consolidated income are as follows:
                         
(in thousands)   2007     2006     2005  
Current expense
                       
Federal
  $ 42,186     $ 40,647     $ 35,405  
State
    7,297       7,808       5,417  
 
                 
 
    49,483       48,455       40,822  
 
                       
Deferred expense (benefit)
                       
Federal
    1,836       4,199       (3,156 )
State
    1,546       1,727       (959 )
 
                 
 
    3,382       5,926       (4,115 )
 
                 
 
  $ 52,865     $ 54,381     $ 36,707  
 
                 
     The Company operates in multiple tax jurisdictions and its tax returns are subject to audit by various taxing authorities. The Company believes that adequate accruals have been made for all tax returns subject to audit. Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
     The effective income tax rate varied from the statutory federal income tax rate as follows:
                         
    2007   2006   2005
Statutory federal income tax rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
Tax exempt investment income
    (0.8 )     (0.8 )     (0.6 )
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit
    4.2       4.0       3.2  
Basis difference on sale of insurance accounts
    1.5       (0.1 )     0.1  
Nondeductible portion of regulatory charge
    (0.5 )     0.1       0.9  
Other
    1.0       0.3       0.9  
 
                       
Effective income tax rate
    40.4 %     38.5 %     39.5 %
 
                       
     Income taxes paid were $48.2 million, $37.2 million and $38.1 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

11


 

NOTE F—INCOME TAXES—Continued
     Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets on the consolidated balance sheet are as follows:
                 
(in thousands)   2007     2006  
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Intangible assets
  $ 49,868     $ 35,404  
Unrealized gain on interest rate swaps
          291  
Other
    564       1,204  
 
           
Total deferred tax liabilities
    50,432       36,899  
Deferred tax assets:
               
Deferred compensation
    15,373       14,815  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    1,232       1,317  
Deferred rent and income
    3,579       3,392  
Foreign loss carryforwards and other tax attributes
    4,573        
Regulatory charge and related costs
    300       4,397  
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps
    758        
Retirement benefits
    195       159  
Other
    1,192       1,021  
 
           
Total deferred tax assets
    27,202       25,101  
 
           
Net deferred tax liabilities
  $ 23,230     $ 11,798  
 
           
     The net current deferred tax asset, which is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets, was $27.3 million and $20.4 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
     A reconciliation of the beginning and ending balance of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
         
Balance at January 1, 2007
  $ 1,571  
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
    383  
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    492  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
    (248 )
 
     
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 2,198  
 
     
     The Company accrues interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits in its income tax provision. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized income tax benefits of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. At December 31, 2007, the amount of unrecognized tax benefits, that if recognized would affect the effective tax rate, is $1.7 million.
     The Company and its subsidiaries operate in multiple jurisdictions including the U.S. Federal, various states, and other foreign countries. The Company’s U.S. Federal tax returns are subject to audit for calendar years 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Company’s state tax returns are subject to audit for calendar years subsequent to 2002. The Company’s United Kingdom tax returns are subject to audit for calendar years 2005 and 2006.
NOTE G—LEASES
     The Company and its subsidiaries have noncancellable lease contracts for office space, equipment and automobiles which expire at various dates through the year 2018 and generally include escalation clauses for increases in lessors’ operating expenses and increased real estate taxes.
     Future minimum rental payments required under such operating leases are summarized as follows (in thousands):
         
2008
  $ 30,859  
2009
    24,519  
2010
    21,224  
2011
    16,660  
2012
    12,558  
Thereafter
    17,763  
 
     
 
  $ 123,583  
 
     

12


 

NOTE G—LEASES—Continued
     Rental expense for all operating leases in 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $31.3 million, $28.3 million and $28.2 million, respectively. Included in rental expense for 2007, 2006 and 2005 is approximately $1.8 million, $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, which was paid to employees or related parties.
NOTE H—SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
     The Company has adopted and the shareholders have approved the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended and restated in 2003) and the Non-employee Directors Stock Incentive Plan, which provide for the granting of stock awards to purchase up to an aggregate of approximately 7,557,000 and 5,557,000 shares of common stock as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. There were 2,547,000 and 945,000 shares available for future grants under these plans as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Stock options granted have seven to ten year terms and vest and become fully exercisable at various periods up to five years. Stock option activity under the plans was as follows:
                         
                    Weighted Average
            Weighted Average   Contractual Term
    Shares   Exercise Price   (Years)
Outstanding at December 31, 2006
    3,641,421     $ 34.52          
Granted
    452,052       42.68          
Exercised
    (537,522 )     29.39          
Expired
    (116,465 )     37.91          
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    3,439,486       36.28       3.7  
 
                       
Exercisable at December 31, 2007
    2,123,396       34.99       2.9  
     The aggregate intrinsic values for shares outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2007 were $16.7 million and $13.0 million, respectively. The total intrinsic values of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $10.8 million, $7.5 million and $5.1 million, respectively.
     The fair value of options granted during 2007 and 2006 was estimated at the grant date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for each respective period: risk free rates of 4.80% and 4.66%; dividend yields of 1.11% and 1.17%; volatility factors of 0.275 and 0.276; and an expected life of approximately five years. The weighted average fair value per option granted in 2007 and 2006 was $12.83 and $11.67, respectively.
     No compensation expense related to stock options was recognized in operations for 2005. As disclosed in Note A, the Company accounted for its stock options using the intrinsic value method prescribed in APB 25. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and net income per share as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement 123 to stock-based compensation prior to 2006. The 2005 net expense of $3.3 million includes a $1.7 million net expense reduction for stock options that were forfeited prior to vesting. These stock option forfeitures relate to stock options granted from 2002 through 2004.
         
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2005  
Share-based compensation, net of tax—as reported
  $ 1,269  
 
     
Net Income—as reported
  $ 56,200  
Deduct: Total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    (3,264 )
 
     
Pro forma net income
  $ 52,936  
 
     
 
       
Net Income Per Share:
       
Basic—as reported
  $ 1.57  
Basic—pro forma
  $ 1.48  
Assuming Dilution—as reported
  $ 1.55  
Assuming Dilution—pro forma
  $ 1.46  
     The fair value of these options for 2005 was estimated at the grant date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions: risk free rate of 3.72%; dividend yield of 1.27%; volatility factor of 0.293; and an expected life of approximately five years. The weighted average fair value per option granted in 2005 was $9.71.

13


 

NOTE H—SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY—Continued
     Restricted shares are also awarded to certain employees under the 2007 and 2000 Stock Incentive Plans. Restricted shares generally vest ratably over a four year period beginning in the second year of continued employment. Stock activity under this portion of the Company’s share-based compensation arrangements is as follows:
                 
            Weighted Average
    Shares   Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested restricted shares at January 1, 2007
    249,808     $ 35.79  
Granted
    68,500       42.66  
Vested
    (70,756 )     34.48  
Forfeited
    (10,538 )     39.58  
 
               
Non-vested restricted shares at December 31, 2007
    237,014       38.00  
     The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $3.1 million, $2.5 million and $3.2 million, respectively.
     At December 31, 2007, there was $7.8 million and $4.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and non-vested restricted shares, respectively. These costs are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.
NOTE I—NET INCOME PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:
                         
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2007     2006     2005  
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per share
                       
Net Income
  $ 78,125     $ 87,031     $ 56,200  
Denominator
                       
Weighted average shares
    36,521       35,782       35,522  
Effect of guaranteed future shares to be issued in connection with agency acquisitions
    64       113       234  
 
                 
Denominator for basic net income per share
    36,585       35,895       35,756  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                       
Employee stock options
    308       292       308  
Employee non-vested stock
    130       130       139  
Contingent stock—acquisitions
    37       52       111  
 
                 
Dilutive potential common shares
    475       474       558  
 
                 
Denominator for diluted net income per share—adjusted weighted average shares
    37,060       36,369       36,314  
 
                 
 
                       
Net Income Per Share:
                       
Basic
  $ 2.14     $ 2.42     $ 1.57  
Assuming Dilution
  $ 2.11     $ 2.39     $ 1.55  
NOTE J—INTANGIBLE ASSETS
     The Company accounts for goodwill and other intangible assets as disclosed in Note A. In accordance with Statement 142, the Company performed the annual impairment tests of goodwill in 2007, 2006 and 2005. No impairment charge resulted from these tests.
     Intangible assets on the consolidated balance sheet consist of the following:
                                                 
    2007     2006  
                    Weighted                     Weighted  
    Gross             Average     Gross             Average  
    Carrying     Accumulated     Life     Carrying     Accumulated     Life  
(in thousands)   Amount     Amortization     (Years)     Amount     Amortization     (Years)  
Amortizable intangible assets:
                                               
Customer relationships
  $ 274,905     $ 68,399       9.8     $ 164,681     $ 46,489       9.8  
Noncompete/nonpiracy agreements
    71,413       31,177       10.6       52,409       23,399       12.0  
Insurance underwriter relationships
    7,178       580       13.7                    
Tradename
    5,619       1,768       9.3       2,368       913       8.8  
Proprietary software/technology
    1,440       360       4.0                    
 
                                       
Total
  $ 360,555     $ 102,284             $ 219,458     $ 70,801          
 
                                       

14


 

NOTE J—INTANGIBLE ASSETS — Continued
                 
    Net Carrying   Net Carrying
    Amount   Amount
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
               
Goodwill
  $ 794,007     $ 636,997  
     Aggregate amortization expense for 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $33.0 million, $21.5 million and $18.8 million, respectively.
Future amortization expense is estimated as follows (in thousands):
         
2008
  $ 38,500  
2009
    37,591  
2010
    35,484  
2011
    33,365  
2012
    30,423  
     The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for 2006 and 2007 are as follows (in thousands):
                                         
    Domestic     Excess and                    
    Retail     Surplus     International     All Other     Total  
Balance at January 1, 2006
  $ 502,516     $ 36,656     $ 7,702     $ 34,872     $ 581,746  
Goodwill acquired
    54,467       3,771       5,513       723       64,474  
Goodwill disposed
    (9,223 )                       (9,223 )
 
                             
Balance at December 31, 2006
    547,760       40,427       13,215       35,595       636,997  
Goodwill acquired
    102,811       7,389       58,539             168,739  
Goodwill disposed
    (5,499 )     (94 )           (6,136 )     (11,729 )
 
                             
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 645,072     $ 47,722     $ 71,754     $ 29,459     $ 794,007  
 
                             
NOTE K—ACQUISITIONS
     During 2007, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of ten insurance agencies and other accounts for $284.1 million ($247.0 million in cash, $29.3 million in guaranteed future cash and Common Stock payments and approximately 181,000 shares of Common Stock). The combined purchase price may be increased by $21.1 million in 2008, $21.8 million in 2009 and $8.8 million in 2010 based upon revenues earned or net profits realized. For certain acquisitions, the allocation of purchase price is preliminary and subject to refinement as the valuations of certain intangible assets are not final.
     Significant agencies acquired in 2007 were:
    Banc of America Corporate Insurance Agency, LLC, headquartered in Cranford, New Jersey, with 15 locations in seven states, focuses on employee benefits and specializes in the public sector and private equity arenas.
 
    The Resource Group, L.C., located in Overland Park, Kansas, specializes in group health insurance, ancillary benefits, retirement programs, executive insurance and financial services.
 
    Brown/Raynor Corporation, located in Denver, Colorado, is a property and casualty agency, specializing in coverage for home builders.
 
    Charlton Manley, Inc., with three locations in Lawrence, Topeka and Overland Park, Kansas, specializes in construction, medical professional liability, truckers’ liability, schools and school athletic programs.
 
    The Urman Company, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, a retail employee benefits and property and casualty brokerage specializing in insurance programs for public educational entities and municipalities.
 
    Global Special Risks, L.L.C., with offices in New Orleans and Houston, is an excess and surplus lines wholesale broker and managing general agency specializing in the energy and non-marine property fields.
 
    Investigative Solutions, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a provider of high-level risk management consulting and investigative solutions.

15


 

NOTE K—ACQUISITIONS — Continued
    Nevin, Works & Associates, Inc. and thinc USA, LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, primarily focuses on small group insurance sales and service.
 
    Glencairn Group Limited (Glencairn), with offices in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Russia and Australia, provides a broad spectrum of products and services largely in the property, casualty, reinsurance, financial, professional, accident & health, and specialty areas, including political risks and cargo, through both wholesale and retail operations.
 
    Loan Protector General Agency, Inc. and Loan Protector Tracking Services, Inc. (collectively known as Loan Protector Insurance Services), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, provide specialized insurance products to financial institutions.
     Goodwill recognized for these transactions was approximately $138.8 million. Of this amount, $133.6 million is fully deductible for tax purposes. Approximately $96.5 million was assigned to the Domestic Retail segment and $42.3 million was assigned to the International segment. All acquired goodwill has an indefinite life.
     Intangible assets related to these acquisitions is as follows:
                 
            Weighted  
    Gross     Average  
    Carrying     Life  
(in thousands)   Amount     (Years)  
Amortizable intangible assets:
               
Customer relationships
  $ 112,559       9.9  
Noncompete/nonpiracy agreements
    18,389       6.1  
Insurance underwriter relationships
    7,178       13.7  
Tradename
    3,135       10.0  
Proprietary software/technology
    1,440       4.0  
 
             
Total
  $ 142,701          
 
             
     There is no residual value associated with the acquired intangible assets.
     The following unaudited, condensed pro forma results of operations assumes the acquisitions above, had been completed as of January 1 for each of the fiscal years below.
                 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2007     2006  
Pro Forma Revenues
  $ 867,341     $ 855,197  
 
           
Pro Forma Net Income
    79,235       88,192  
 
           
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (Basic)
  $ 2.17     $ 2.44  
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (Assuming Dilution)
  $ 2.14     $ 2.41  
     Pro forma data may not be indicative of the results that would have been obtained had these events actually occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, nor does it intend to be a projection of future results.
     During 2006, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of three insurance agencies and other accounts for $75.0 million ($58.9 million in cash, $2.4 million in guaranteed future cash and Common Stock payments and approximately 340,000 shares of Common Stock). Assets acquired include intangible assets of $73.8 million at the date of purchase. The combined purchase price increased by $5.4 million in 2007, and may be increased by $17.7 million in 2008 and $0.3 million in 2009 based upon revenues earned or net profits realized.
     During 2005, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of four insurance agencies and other accounts for $15.0 million ($10.7 million in cash, $1.9 million in guaranteed future cash and Common Stock payments, and approximately 69,000 shares of Common Stock). Assets acquired include intangible assets of $14.5 million at the date of purchase. The combined purchase price increased by $2.8 million in 2007 and $2.4 million in 2006, and may be increased by $1.5 million in 2008 based upon revenues earned or net profits realized.
     The financial statements of the Company reflect the combined operations of the Company and each acquisition from the respective closing date of each acquisition.

16


 

NOTE L—SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER GAINS
     During 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company disposed of certain insurance accounts and other assets resulting in net gains of $2.0 million, $1.1 million and $5.1 million, respectively. These amounts are included in other revenues in the Statement of Consolidated Income. Income taxes related to these gains were $1.9 million, $0.2 million and $2.2 million in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Revenues, expenses and assets of these operations were not material to the consolidated financial statements.
NOTE M—REGULATORY CHARGE AND RELATED MATTERS
     The Company and certain other companies in the insurance intermediary industry have been subject to investigations and inquiries by various governmental authorities regarding business practices and broker compensation arrangements. On August 31, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement (the Agreement) with the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut (the Attorney General) and the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Connecticut (the Commissioner) to resolve all issues related to investigations conducted by the Attorney General and the Commissioner into certain insurance brokerage and insurance agency practices (the Investigations) and to settle an action commenced on August 31, 2005 by the Attorney General in the Connecticut Superior Court alleging violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act (the Action).
     Following is a summary of the material terms of the Agreement:
  1.   The Company will pay $30.0 million into a fund (the Fund) in two installments to be distributed to certain eligible U.S. policyholder clients (the Affected Policyholders). These payments are in full satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under the Agreement, and the Attorney General and the Commissioner have agreed not to impose any other financial obligation or liability on the Company related to the Investigations and/or the Action, except for the fine as provided for in the Stipulation and Consent Order with the Commissioner (see below for additional detail). The Company is not permitted to seek or accept, directly or indirectly, indemnification for payments made by the Company pursuant to the Agreement and the fine described below to the State of Connecticut Insurance Department. No portion of the payments by the Company for the Fund is considered a fine or penalty. The Company will make payments into the Fund as follows:
    On or before February 1, 2006, the Company shall pay $20.0 million into the Fund,
 
    On or before August 1, 2007, the Company shall pay $10.0 million into the Fund.
  2.   The Fund, plus interest, will be used to compensate the Affected Policyholders according to procedures set forth in the Agreement.
 
  3.   Affected Policyholders are a) all Company U.S. brokerage business clients on whose insurance placements, renewals, consultations or service the Company was eligible to receive Contingent Compensation (as defined in the Agreement) between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2004 (the Broker Clients); b) all Company U.S. agency clients on whose insurance placements, renewals, consultations or service the Company was eligible to receive Contingent Compensation pursuant to a National Override Agreement between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2004 (the National Override Clients); and c) all Company U.S. agency clients, other than National Override Clients, on whose insurance placements, renewals, consultations or service the Company was eligible to receive Contingent Compensation between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2004 (the Agent Clients).
 
      The Fund will be allocated $19.5 million between Broker Clients and National Override Clients (the Broker/Override Fund) and $10.5 million to Agent Clients (the Agency Fund), and an Affected Policyholder arising from an acquisition by the Company after December 31, 2000 shall be included only as of the date of acquisition by the Company.
 
      National Override Agreements, as defined in the Agreement, mean corporate-wide compensation agreements negotiated by the Company with those certain insurance companies on behalf of all of the Company’s offices to receive commissions in lieu of standard contingent compensation arrangements with each office of the Company.
 
  4.   By August 21, 2006, the Company will send notice to each client setting forth the amount it will be paid from the Fund if it elects to participate. Clients will have until November 21, 2006 to make an election to receive distributions from the Fund.
 
  5.   The Company will make distributions from the Fund on January 15, 2007 and, if necessary, January 15, 2008 to participating clients that elected to receive a distribution.
 
  6.   In the event that any Affected Policyholder elects not to participate or otherwise does not respond (the Non-Participating Policyholders), that Affected Policyholder’s allocated share may be used by the Company to satisfy any pending or other claims of policyholders relating to the matters covered by the Agreement. The funds attributable to Non-Participating Policyholders also may be used to reimburse the Company for any payments made to policyholders between September 1,

17


 

NOTE M—REGULATORY CHARGE AND RELATED MATTERS—Continued
     6. Continued
      2005 and April 15, 2008 for claims related to this Agreement. In no event shall a distribution be made from the Fund to any Non-Participating Policyholder or as reimbursement to the Company for prior payments to any Non-Participating Policyholder until all participating clients have been paid the full aggregate amount due, nor shall total payments to any Non-Participating Policyholder exceed 80% of that Non-Participating Policyholder’s original allocated share. If any funds remain in the Fund as of April 15, 2008, such funds will be distributed pro rata to the participating policyholders and clients. In no event shall any of the monies in or from the Fund be used to pay attorney fees.
 
  7.   Within 60 days of executing the Agreement, the Company will undertake the implementation of certain business reforms for both brokerage business and agency business. These reforms include:
    to not accept or request contingent compensation on brokerage business,
 
    to make enhanced disclosures to clients regarding compensation and customer rights,
 
    to accept certain types of compensation only after disclosing such compensation to a client,
 
    to adopt additional corporate governance practices.
     In conjunction with executing the Agreement, the Company entered into a Stipulation and Consent Order with the Commissioner to resolve all issues relating to the Commissioner’s investigation into the placement or attempted placement of professional liability insurance in Connecticut. Pursuant to the Stipulation and Consent Order, the Company paid an administrative fine of $250,000 to the State of Connecticut Insurance Department. The cost of this fine is included in the 2005 regulatory charge of $42.3 million described below.
     In 2005, the Company recorded a $42.3 million charge, and related income tax benefit of $16.0 million, primarily relating to the Agreement with the Attorney General and the Commissioner. This charge included the $30.0 million national fund established by the Agreement; $5.1 million of estimated legal and administrative costs to be incurred related to the Fund and complying with the Agreement’s other provisions; and $1.4 million of legal costs relating to the Agreement incurred in the 2005 third quarter. The regulatory charge also included $5.8 million of estimated costs for pending regulatory matters. These estimated costs represented the Company’s best estimate of the probable outcomes of the various pending regulatory matters and included related legal and administrative costs incurred or expected to be incurred for these regulatory matters. Since incurring the charge, the Company has made related payments of $30.0 million into the national fund and various amounts for legal and administrative matters.
     These pending regulatory matters relate to subpoenas issued and/or inquiries made by state attorneys general and insurance departments into, among other things, the industry’s commission payment practices. The Company has received subpoenas and/or requests for information from attorneys general and/or insurance departments in fourteen states. In addition to the original regulatory inquiries, the Company has received subsequent subpoenas and/or requests for information from certain of these states, and the Company may receive additional subpoenas and/or requests for information in the future from attorneys general and/or insurance departments of these and/or other states. The Company will continue to evaluate and monitor all such subpoenas and requests.
     In 2007, the Company reduced the accrual for the previously recognized regulatory charge by $5.7 million. This reduction was due to new factors concerning the estimated (i) legal and administrative costs to be incurred related to the Fund and (ii) costs for pending regulatory matters.
     The current liability portion of this charge as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 is $0.7 million and $15.2 million, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses. The remaining liability is included in other long-term liabilities.
     A summary of the activity with respect to the regulatory charge liability is as follows (in thousands):
         
Balance at December 31, 2004
  $  
Regulatory charge
    42,320  
Payments into the Fund
    (20,000 )
Payments-legal and administrative
    (2,264 )
 
     
Balance at December 31, 2005
    20,056  
Payments-legal and administrative
    (3,145 )
 
     
Balance at December 31, 2006
    16,911  
Accrual reduction
    (5,725 )
Payments into the Fund
    (10,000 )
Payments-legal and administrative
    (435 )
 
     
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 751  
 
     

18


 

NOTE N—INTEGRATION COSTS
     In January 2007, the Company acquired Glencairn. As part of Glencairn’s integration, the Company recognized in 2007 integration costs of $1.1 million and a related income tax benefit of $0.3 million. This amount represented facility and lease termination costs and severance.
     In 2002, the Company acquired Hobbs Group, LLC (Hobbs). The Company began the integration of Hobbs with the rest of the Company subsequent to June 30, 2003 with the completion of the Hobbs earn-out. Relating to this integration, the Company recognized integration costs of $0.8 million and a related income tax benefit of $0.3 million in 2005. This amount represented facility and lease termination costs. In 2006, there were no new Hobbs integration costs; however, the Company reduced the accrual for the previously recognized integration costs by $0.2 million due to new factors regarding a lease termination. The income tax effect related to the accrual reduction was $0.1 million.
     
NOTE O—SEVERANCE CHARGE
     In May 2005, Robert B. Lockhart, the Company’s former president and chief operating officer, resigned. In connection with Mr. Lockhart’s resignation, the Company recorded a severance charge of $1.3 million, and related income tax benefit of $0.5 million, representing estimated payments due to Mr. Lockhart under the terms of his employment agreement.
NOTE P—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
     Included in cash and cash equivalents and premium deposits and credits due customers are $1.4 million and $0.8 million of funds held in escrow at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. In addition, premiums collected from insureds but not yet remitted to insurance companies are restricted as to use by laws in certain states in which the Company operates. The amount of cash and cash equivalents so restricted was approximately $107.9 million and $59.1 million at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Industry Litigation
     The Company has been named as a defendant in certain legal proceedings against brokers and insurers relating to broker compensation arrangements and other business practices.
MDL 1663 Class Action
     In August 2004, OptiCare Health Systems Inc. filed a putative class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 04-CV-06954) against a number of the country’s largest insurance brokers and several large commercial insurers. The Company was named as a defendant in the OptiCare suit in November 2004. In December 2004, two other purported class actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, by Stephen Lewis (Case No. 04-C-7847) and Diane Preuss (Case No. 04-C-7853), respectively, against certain insurance brokers, including the Company, and several large commercial insurers. On February 17, 2005, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the Panel) ordered that the OptiCare suit, along with three other purported antitrust class actions filed in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania against industry participants, be centralized and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (District Court of New Jersey). In addition, by Conditional Transfer Order dated March 10, 2005, the Panel conditionally transferred the Lewis and Preuss cases to the District Court of New Jersey. The transfer subsequently became effective and as a result of the Panel’s transfer orders, the OptiCare, Lewis and Preuss cases are proceeding on a consolidated basis with other purported class action suits styled as In re: Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1663).
     On August 1, 2005, the plaintiffs in MDL 1663 filed a First Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint (the Commercial Complaint) in the District Court of New Jersey (Civil No. 04-5184) against the Company and certain other insurance brokers and insurers. In addition, the plaintiffs in MDL 1663 also filed on August 1, 2005 a First Consolidated Amended Employee Benefits Class Action Complaint (the Employee Benefits Complaint) in the District Court of New Jersey (Civil No. 05-1079) against the Company; Frank F. Haack & Associates, Inc.; O’Neill, Finnegan & Jordan Insurance Agency Inc.; and certain other insurance brokers and insurers.
     The Company, along with other defendants, filed a motion to dismiss both the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint. Also, on February 13, 2006, the plaintiffs filed their motions for class certification in each case. On May 5, 2006, the defendants filed their oppositions to the motions for class certification. On May 31, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a reply brief in support of their motions for class certification.
     On October 3, 2006, the District Court of New Jersey denied in part the motion to dismiss the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint and ordered that plaintiffs provide supplemental information regarding each of their consolidated complaints by October 25, 2006. The plaintiffs filed the supplemental pleadings and the Company, along with other defendants, filed

19


 

NOTE P—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES—Continued
renewed motions to dismiss. On February 12, 2007, MDL 1663 was transferred to Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr., Chief Judge of the District Court of New Jersey.
     On April 5, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint without prejudice. On May 22, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a Second Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint (the Second Amended Commercial Complaint) and a Second Consolidated Amended Employee Benefits Class Action Complaint (the Second Amended Employee Benefits Complaint).
     The Second Amended Employee Benefits Complaint does not contain allegations against the Company; Frank F. Haack & Associates, Inc.; O’Neill, Finnegan & Jordan Insurance Agency Inc.; or any of the Company’s other subsidiaries or affiliates, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates are, therefore, no longer defendants in the Employee Benefits case, Civil No. 05-1079.
     In the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, the named plaintiffs purport to represent a class consisting of all persons or entities who between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 engaged the services of any one of the broker defendants, including the Company, or any one of their subsidiaries or affiliates, in connection with the purchase or renewal of insurance or reinsurance from an insurer.
     Plaintiff Tri-State Container Corporation (Tri-State) purports to represent a class consisting of all persons or entities who between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 engaged the services of the Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates, in connection with the purchase or renewal of insurance from an insurer. Certain other plaintiffs purport to represent classes of persons and entities with claims against other broker and insurer defendants. The plaintiffs allege in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, among other things, that the broker defendants engaged in improper steering of clients to the insurer defendants for the purpose of obtaining undisclosed additional compensation in the form of contingent commissions from insurers; that certain of the defendants were engaged in a bid-rigging scheme involving the submission of false and/or inflated bids from insurers to clients; that certain of the broker defendants improperly placed their clients’ insurance business with insurers through related wholesale entities where an intermediary was unnecessary for the purpose of generating additional commissions from insurers; that certain of the broker defendants entered into unlawful tying arrangements to obtain reinsurance business from the defendant insurers; and that certain of the broker defendants created centralized internal departments for the purpose of monitoring, facilitating and advancing the collection of contingent commissions, payments and other improper fees. The plaintiffs allege violations of federal and state antitrust laws, violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) and (d) (RICO), breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, including treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, restitution, interest, attorneys’ fees and expenses, costs and other relief; however, no actual dollar amounts have been stated as being sought.
     On June 21, 2007, the Company, along with other defendants, filed motions to dismiss the Second Amended Commercial Complaint and to strike the addition of certain allegations and parties, including the addition of Tri-State as a named plaintiff. On July 19, 2007, the plaintiffs filed oppositions to the motions to dismiss and to strike and cross-moved for leave to amend the Second Amended Commercial Complaint to add allegations and parties, including Tri-State. On July 31, 2007, the defendants filed reply briefs.
     On August 31, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed all federal antitrust claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint. On September 28, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed all federal RICO claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint with prejudice. The District Court of New Jersey further declined to exercise jurisdiction over state law claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, dismissed those state law claims without prejudice and dismissed Civil No. 04-5184 in its entirety. The District Court of New Jersey also dismissed as moot all other motions pending in Civil No. 04-5184 as of September 28, 2007.
     On October 10, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Third Circuit) relating to the District Court of New Jersey’s order dismissing Civil No. 04-5184 and all other adverse orders and decisions in Civil No. 04-5184. The plaintiffs filed an opening brief in support of their appeal on February 19, 2008. Defendants will file an opposition brief 30 days thereafter and plaintiffs will then file a reply brief. No oral argument date is yet set, and it is not possible to state when a decision will be rendered by the Third Circuit.
     On February 13, 2007, a lawsuit was filed in the District Court of New Jersey by Avery Dennison Corporation (Avery) (Civil No. 07-757) against the Company, certain Marsh & McLennan companies, and several large commercial insurers making factual and legal claims similar to those raised in the Opticare, Preuss and Lewis cases. Avery seeks treble and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses, forfeiture of compensation paid to the broker defendants, restitution, general damages, interest and injunctive relief;

20


 

NOTE P—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES—Continued
however, no actual dollar amounts have been stated as being sought. This is not a putative class action. Pursuant to the procedures promulgated by the District Court of New Jersey in MDL 1663, the case has been consolidated with the other actions pending before the District Court of New Jersey in MDL 1663. Avery was stayed pending the District Court of New Jersey’s ruling on the dispositive pleadings filed in response to the amended complaints filed by the plaintiffs in the consolidated actions. All dispositive pleadings filed in response to the amended complaints are now resolved, and the District Court of New Jersey is currently considering a request by most defendants, including the Company, to continue the stay in the Avery and certain other cases pending resolution of the appeal to the Third Circuit by the plaintiffs of the order dismissing Civil No. 04-5184. Avery has opposed this request and seeks an order to lift the stay. The District Court of New Jersey has yet to resolve whether the stay will remain in place.
     The Company believes it has substantial defenses in these cases and intends to defend itself vigorously. However, due to the uncertainty of these cases, the Company is unable to estimate a range of possible loss at this time. In addition, the Company cannot predict the outcome of these cases or their effects on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Securities Class Action
     In June 2005, the Iron Workers Local 16 Pension Fund filed a putative class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Case No. 1:05-CV-00735-GBL-TCB) against the Company and Andrew L. Rogal, Martin L. Vaughan, III, Timothy J. Korman, Carolyn Jones, Robert W. Blanton, Jr. and Robert B. Lockhart. The plaintiff alleged violations by each of the defendants of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and violations by the individual defendants of Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In October 2005, the appointed Lead Plaintiff filed an amended putative class action complaint. On April 27, 2006, an order was entered granting the defendants’ motion and dismissing the amended complaint in its entirety with prejudice. On May 23, 2006, the plaintiff appealed this order to the Fourth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals. On May 22, 2007, the Fourth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals entered an order dismissing the plaintiff’s appeal.
Lockhart Suit
     On August 16, 2006, Robert B. Lockhart filed a complaint against the Company in the Circuit Court for the County of Henrico, Virginia (Civil Action No. CL06 — 2141). The plaintiff was the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer from August 2003 until May 25, 2005. In the complaint, the plaintiff alleges, among other things, that the Company made defamatory public statements arising out of the investigation and settlement of an action by the Connecticut Attorney General. The plaintiff sought a judgment against the Company in an amount not less than $30.0 million, including an award for presumed, compensatory punitive damages and costs. On October 24, 2006, the court submitted the matters set forth in the complaint to arbitration, where the plaintiff raised an additional claim of breach of contract with the Company. On March 14, 2007, the parties entered into a settlement agreement that resolved all claims between the parties relating to the complaint and the arbitration. The settlement is effective without court approval. The amount of the settlement is not material to the Company.
Other
     There are in the normal course of business various other outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities. Management does not anticipate material losses as a result of such matters.
NOTE Q—SEGMENT INFORMATION
     In 2005 and 2006, the Company’s business consisted of two reportable segments, Domestic Retail and Excess and Surplus, as well as an All Other category for the remaining profit centers. In 2007, the Company began reporting an additional segment, International, due to the January 2007 acquisition of Glencairn, which expanded the Company’s foreign operations.
     The Domestic Retail segment places insurance products for risk areas including property and casualty, employee benefits, professional liability and personal lines through a nationwide network of offices. Domestic Retail is organized into (i) seven United States regional operating units which oversee individual profit centers (Retail Profit Centers) and (ii) coordinated national resources providing marketing and specialized industry or product expertise, which further enhance the service capacity of Retail Profit Centers to larger and more complex clients.
     The Excess and Surplus segment represents a group of domestic profit centers that focus on providing excess and surplus lines insurance through retail insurance brokers.
     The International segment is principally located in London, England with branch locations in Russia, South Africa and Australia. The International operating units provide various insurance products and have a focus towards wholesale and reinsurance brokerage. Prior to 2007, the International operating units were reported in the All Other category.

21


 

NOTE Q— SEGMENT INFORMATION—Continued
     The Company’s remaining profit centers comprise the All Other category. These profit centers include the Company’s Managing General Agencies/Underwriters and other specialized business units.
     The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based upon operating profits. Operating profit is defined as income before taxes, excluding the impact of gains/losses on sale of assets, amortization of intangibles, interest expense, minority interest expense, and special charges. A reconciliation of operating profit to income before taxes is as follows:
                         
(in thousands)   2007     2006     2005  
Operating profit
  $ 182,221     $ 181,577     $ 167,900  
Gain on sale of assets
    2,032       1,087       5,104  
Amortization of intangibles
    (33,037 )     (21,516 )     (18,755 )
Interest expense
    (23,554 )     (18,368 )     (16,243 )
Minority interest expense
    (1,191 )     (714 )     (712 )
Regulatory charge and related costs
    5,725             (42,320 )
Severance charge
                (1,303 )
Integration costs
    (1,134 )     243       (764 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
    (72 )     (897 )      
 
                 
Income before taxes
  $ 130,990     $ 141,412     $ 92,907  
 
                 
     The accounting policies of the reportable segments are consistent with those described in Note A. Each segment has been allocated a portion of the Company’s corporate overhead based upon a percentage of total revenues, excluding any gains/losses on the sales of assets. Interest income and expense includes intercompany balances allocated to the individual segments through the Company’s internal cash management program. The “Corporate/Elimination” column consists of certain intercompany revenue eliminations; unallocated interest income and expense; certain corporate compensation costs, legal, compliance, and claims expenditures, and other miscellaneous operating expenses not included in the allocation of corporate overhead; and special charges. Total assets for “Corporate/Eliminations” primarily consist of intercompany elimination and reclassification adjustment balances. Summarized information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following tables:
                                                 
    2007
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 683,251     $ 40,798     $ 57,173     $ 27,271     $ (8,829 )   $ 799,664  
Investment income
    16,463       1,361       2,556       1,869       (8,036 )     14,213  
Depreciation
    6,621       481       632       212       881       8,827  
Operating profit
    180,391       12,448       7,472       8,766       (26,856 )     182,221  
Amortization of intangibles
    22,072       3,212       4,979       1,933       841       33,037  
Interest expense
    1,388       63       4,066       1,178       16,859       23,554  
Total assets
    1,482,779       131,124       243,434       63,447       (103,358 )     1,817,426  
                                                 
    2006
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 629,571     $ 38,177     $ 17,693     $ 30,601     $ (5,197 )   $ 710,845  
Investment income
    11,067       662       1,193       2,073       (4,489 )     10,506  
Depreciation
    6,607       449       83       223       906       8,268  
Operating profit
    169,520       13,349       6,902       10,065       (18,259 )     181,577  
Amortization of intangibles
    14,986       2,603       69       3,017       841       21,516  
Interest expense
    1,394       4       200       1,236       15,534       18,368  
Total assets
    1,222,601       100,291       67,906       98,266       (50,917 )     1,438,147  

22


 

NOTE Q—SEGMENT INFORMATION—Continued
                                                 
    2005
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 599,118     $ 34,657     $ 13,265     $ 32,292     $ (5,447 )   $ 673,885  
Investment income
    9,204       476       604       1,799       (5,502 )     6,581  
Depreciation
    6,845       427       83       227       828       8,410  
Operating profit
    160,129       11,487       3,914       10,497       (18,127 )     167,900  
Amortization of intangibles
    12,507       2,449       66       2,892       841       18,755  
Interest expense
    1,602       10       9       1,058       13,564       16,243  
Total assets
    1,070,496       92,741       56,611       96,304       (31,389 )     1,284,763  
     The Company generated the following total revenues by line of business:
                         
(in thousands)   2007     2006     2005  
Commercial property and casualty
  $ 472,556     $ 415,983     $ 385,391  
Employee benefits
    165,591       142,999       136,798  
Wholesale
    68,904       64,577       61,229  
Personal lines
    51,162       45,822       48,338  
Other
    41,451       41,464       42,129  
 
                 
Consolidated total
  $ 799,664     $ 710,845     $ 673,885  
 
                 

23

EX-99.2
Exhibit 99.2
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2008     2007  
REVENUES
               
Core commissions and fees
  $ 179,126     $ 159,069  
Contingent commissions
    24,163       33,119  
Investment income
    2,658       3,037  
Other
    882       2,968  
 
           
 
    206,829       198,193  
 
OPERATING EXPENSES
               
Compensation and employee benefits
    123,434       109,118  
Other operating expenses
    38,705       33,022  
Depreciation
    2,340       2,113  
Amortization of intangibles
    9,841       7,414  
Interest expense
    7,078       5,491  
 
           
 
    181,398       157,158  
 
           
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    25,431       41,035  
Income taxes
    9,908       15,813  
 
           
NET INCOME
  $ 15,523     $ 25,222  
 
           
 
Net Income Per Share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.43     $ 0.70  
Assuming Dilution
  $ 0.42     $ 0.69  
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

2


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
(in thousands)   (UNAUDITED)          
ASSETS
               
CURRENT ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents, including $102,174 and $109,330, respectively, of restricted funds
  $ 282,702     $ 294,407  
Receivables:
               
Premiums and commissions, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,604 and $3,972, respectively
    280,402       319,025  
Other
    38,981       47,190  
 
           
 
    319,383       366,215  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    38,571       42,200  
 
           
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    640,656       702,822  
 
               
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    25,492       26,023  
 
               
GOODWILL
    806,252       794,007  
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
    365,943       360,555  
Less accumulated amortization
    112,124       102,284  
 
           
 
    1,060,071       1,052,278  
OTHER ASSETS
    37,186       36,303  
 
           
 
  $ 1,763,405     $ 1,817,426  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Premiums payable to insurance companies
  $ 407,143     $ 453,850  
Accounts payable
    42,271       32,380  
Accrued expenses
    37,573       54,290  
Premium deposits and credits due customers
    60,362       69,284  
Current portion of long-term debt
    14,655       14,705  
 
           
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    562,004       624,509  
 
               
LONG-TERM DEBT
    422,095       412,432  
 
               
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    50,112       50,524  
 
               
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    49,029       46,758  
 
               
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Common Stock, no par value; authorized 100,000 shares; outstanding 36,391 and 36,749 shares, respectively
    258,785       271,263  
Retained earnings
    420,215       409,443  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
               
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps, net of deferred tax benefit of $1,505 and $651, respectively
    (2,229 )     (1,018 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    3,394       3,515  
 
           
 
    680,165       683,203  
 
           
 
  $ 1,763,405     $ 1,817,426  
 
           
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3


 

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
                         
                    Accumulated  
                    Other  
    Common     Retained     Comprehensive  
    Stock     Earnings     Income (Loss)  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)                        
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 271,263     $ 409,443     $ 2,497  
Issuance of 124 shares of Common Stock
    626                  
Repurchase of 482 shares of Common Stock
    (14,990 )                
Stock-based compensation
    1,608                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    278                  
Payment of dividends ($0.13 per share)
            (4,751 )        
Unrealized loss on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax benefit
                    (1,211 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    (121 )
Net income
            15,523          
 
                 
Balance at March 31, 2008
  $ 258,785     $ 420,215     $ 1,165  
 
                 
Balance at January 1, 2007
  $ 250,359     $ 350,084     $ 2,926  
Issuance of 349 shares of Common Stock
    8,680                  
Stock-based compensation
    1,823                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    1,765                  
Payment of dividends ($0.12 per share)
            (4,386 )        
Unrealized loss on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax benefit
                    (299 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    100  
Net income
            25,222          
 
                 
Balance at March 31, 2007
  $ 262,627     $ 370,920     $ 2,727  
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


 

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2008     2007  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
               
Net income
  $ 15,523     $ 25,222  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    2,340       2,113  
Amortization of intangibles
    9,841       7,414  
Stock-based compensation
    1,608       1,823  
Provision for losses on receivables
    (260 )     214  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    554       851  
Gain on sale of assets
    (402 )     (2,284 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of effects from insurance agency acquisitions and dispositions:
               
Decrease in receivables
    47,326       64,990  
Decrease in prepaid expenses
    3,639       2,494  
Decrease in premiums payable to insurance companies
    (46,727 )     (80,029 )
Increase (decrease) in premium deposits and credits due customers
    (8,923 )     9,696  
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable
    1,442       (7,734 )
Decrease in accrued expenses
    (16,901 )     (18,518 )
Decrease in regulatory charge accrual
    (9 )     (160 )
Other operating activities
    (49 )     (729 )
 
           
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
    9,002       5,363  
 
               
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Purchase of property and equipment
    (1,822 )     (2,268 )
Purchase of insurance agencies, net of cash acquired
    (7,328 )     (59,136 )
Purchase of investments
    (1,130 )      
Proceeds from sale of assets
    433       10,109  
Other investing activities
    196       (36 )
 
           
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (9,651 )     (51,331 )
 
               
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds from long-term debt
    10,000       66,402  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (1,645 )     (29,068 )
Repurchase of Common Stock
    (14,990 )      
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock, net of tax payments for options exercised
    52       7,612  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    278       1,765  
Dividends
    (4,751 )     (4,386 )
 
           
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
    (11,056 )     42,325  
 
           
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (11,705 )     (3,643 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    294,407       254,811  
 
           
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ 282,702     $ 251,168  
 
           
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5


 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2008
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE A—BASIS OF PRESENTATION
     The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain amounts for the prior period have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
NOTE B—RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
     In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157-2,” which delayed the effective date of the statement for certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement 157 for its financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of Statement 157 for financial assets and liabilities did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company continues to evaluate the application of Statement 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities but does not believe that it will significantly impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations. See Note F for more information on Statement 157.
     In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (Statement 141R). Statement 141R requires that an acquirer (i) recognize, with certain exceptions, 100% of the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired; (ii) include contingent consideration arrangements in the purchase price consideration at their acquisition date fair values; and (iii) expense all acquisition-related transaction costs as incurred. Statement 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of Statement 141R will have on its financial position and results of operations.
     In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (Statement 161). Statement 161 changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring entities to provide enhanced disclosures about (i) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (ii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and its related interpretations and (iii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, performance and cash flows. Statement 161 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.
NOTE C—INCOME TAXES
     Deferred taxes result from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company’s effective rate varies from the statutory federal income tax rate primarily due to a mix of state and foreign tax rates.
     There are no material changes in the March 31, 2008 amounts of (i) unrecognized tax benefits, that if recognized would affect the effective tax rate, or (ii) the interest and penalties related to those unrecognized tax benefits from the amounts disclosed at December 31, 2007.

6


 

NOTE D—ACQUISITIONS
     During the first three months of 2008, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of two insurance agencies and other accounts. These acquisitions, individually or in aggregate, were not material to the consolidated financial statements. For certain acquisitions, the allocations of purchase price are preliminary and subject to refinement as the valuations of certain tangible and intangible assets are not final.
     During 2007, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of ten insurance agencies and other accounts. For certain acquisitions, the allocation of purchase price is preliminary and subject to refinement as the valuations of certain intangible assets are not final.
     The following unaudited, condensed pro forma results of operations assumes the acquisitions occurring in 2007 had been completed as of January 1, 2007.
         
    Three Months Ended  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   March 31, 2007  
Pro Forma Revenues
  $ 221,685  
 
     
Pro Forma Net Income
  $ 24,952  
 
     
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (Basic)
  $ 0.69  
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (Assuming Dilution)
  $ 0.68  
     Pro forma data may not be indicative of the results that would have been obtained had these events actually occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, nor does it intend to be a projection of future results.
NOTE E—SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER GAINS
     During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company sold certain offices, accounts and other assets resulting in gains of $0.4 million and $2.3 million, respectively. These amounts are included in other revenues in the Statement of Consolidated Income. Income taxes related to these gains were $0.2 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Revenues, expenses and assets related to these dispositions were not material to the consolidated financial statements.
NOTE F—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
     On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement 157, which required the categorization of financial assets and liabilities based upon the level of judgments associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels—defined by Statement 157 and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs used to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities—are as follows:
    Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date
 
    Level 2—Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the assets or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life
 
    Level 3—Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.

7


 

NOTE F—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS—Continued
     Each major category of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the tables below based upon the lowest level of significant input to the valuations.
                                 
    March 31, 2008  
(in thousands)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets at Fair Value
                               
Fixed-income securities
  $     $ 31,720     $     $ 31,720  
Money market funds
    64,355       5,657             70,012  
Mutual fund investments
    2,571                   2,571  
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 66,926     $ 37,377     $     $ 104,303  
 
                       
Liabilities at Fair Value
                               
Derivative liabilities
  $     $ 4,002     $     $ 4,002  
 
                       
Total liabilities
  $     $ 4,002     $     $ 4,002  
 
                       
     Substantially all investments in fixed-income securities and money market funds are cash equivalents.
NOTE G—NET INCOME PER SHARE
     The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:
                 
    Three Months  
    Ended March 31,  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2008     2007  
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per share
               
Net Income
  $ 15,523     $ 25,222  
Denominator
               
Weighted average shares
    36,428       36,163  
Effect of guaranteed future shares to be issued in connection with agency acquisitions
    86       51  
 
           
Denominator for basic net income per share
    36,514       36,214  
Effect of dilutive securities:
               
Employee stock options
    75       348  
Employee non-vested stock
    86       135  
Contingent stock—acquisitions
    81       27  
 
           
Dilutive potential common shares
    242       510  
 
           
Denominator for diluted net income per share—adjusted weighted average shares
    36,756       36,724  
 
           
Net Income Per Share:
               
Basic
  $ 0.43     $ 0.70  
Assuming Dilution
  $ 0.42     $ 0.69  
NOTE H—REGULATORY CHARGE AND RELATED MATTERS
     The Company and certain other companies in the insurance intermediary industry have been subject to investigations and inquiries by various governmental authorities regarding business practices and broker compensation arrangements. On August 31, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement (the Agreement) with the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut (the Attorney General) and the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Connecticut (the Commissioner) to resolve all issues related to investigations conducted by the Attorney General and the Commissioner into certain insurance brokerage and insurance agency practices (the Investigations) and to settle an action commenced on August 31, 2005 by the Attorney General in the Connecticut Superior Court alleging violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act (the Action). In the Agreement, the Company agreed to take certain actions including establishing a $30.0 million national fund (the Fund) for distribution to certain clients, enhancing disclosure practices for agency and broker clients, and to not accept or request contingent compensation on brokerage business.

8


 

NOTE H—REGULATORY CHARGE AND RELATED MATTERS—Continued
     In 2005, the Company recorded a $42.3 million charge, and related income tax benefit of $16.0 million, primarily relating to the Agreement with the Attorney General and the Commissioner. This charge included the Fund established by the Agreement; estimated costs for pending regulatory matters; and various legal and administrative costs to be incurred related to the Fund and complying with the Agreement’s other provisions. Since incurring the charge, the Company has made related payments of $30.0 million into the Fund and various amounts for legal and administrative matters. The total regulatory charge liability as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The current portion of this liability as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses. The remaining liability is included in other long-term liabilities.
     These pending regulatory matters relate to subpoenas issued and/or inquiries made by state attorneys general and insurance departments into, among other things, the industry’s commission payment practices. The Company has received subpoenas and/or requests for information from attorneys general and/or insurance departments in fourteen states. In addition to the original regulatory inquiries, the Company has received subsequent subpoenas and/or requests for information from certain of these states, and the Company may receive additional subpoenas and/or requests for information in the future from attorneys general and/or insurance departments of these and/or other states. The Company will continue to evaluate and monitor all such subpoenas and requests.
NOTE I—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Industry Litigation
     The Company has been named as a defendant in certain legal proceedings against brokers and insurers relating to broker compensation arrangements and other business practices.
MDL 1663 Class Action
     In August 2004, OptiCare Health Systems Inc. filed a putative class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 04-CV-06954) against a number of the country’s largest insurance brokers and several large commercial insurers. The Company was named as a defendant in the OptiCare suit in November 2004. In December 2004, two other purported class actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, by Stephen Lewis (Case No. 04-C-7847) and Diane Preuss (Case No. 04-C-7853), respectively, against certain insurance brokers, including the Company, and several large commercial insurers. On February 17, 2005, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the Panel) ordered that the OptiCare suit, along with three other purported antitrust class actions filed in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania against industry participants, be centralized and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (District Court of New Jersey). In addition, by Conditional Transfer Order dated March 10, 2005, the Panel conditionally transferred the Lewis and Preuss cases to the District Court of New Jersey. The transfer subsequently became effective and as a result of the Panel’s transfer orders, the OptiCare, Lewis and Preuss cases are proceeding on a consolidated basis with other purported class action suits styled as In re: Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1663).
     On August 1, 2005, the plaintiffs in MDL 1663 filed a First Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint (the Commercial Complaint) in the District Court of New Jersey (Civil No. 04-5184) against the Company and certain other insurance brokers and insurers. In addition, the plaintiffs in MDL 1663 also filed on August 1, 2005 a First Consolidated Amended Employee Benefits Class Action Complaint (the Employee Benefits Complaint) in the District Court of New Jersey (Civil No. 05-1079) against the Company; Frank F. Haack & Associates, Inc.; O’Neill, Finnegan & Jordan Insurance Agency Inc.; and certain other insurance brokers and insurers.
     The Company, along with other defendants, filed a motion to dismiss both the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint. Also, on February 13, 2006, the plaintiffs filed their motions for class certification in each case. On May 5, 2006, the defendants filed their oppositions to the motions for class certification. On May 31, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a reply brief in support of their motions for class certification.
     On October 3, 2006, the District Court of New Jersey denied in part the motion to dismiss the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint and ordered that plaintiffs provide supplemental information regarding each of their consolidated complaints by October 25, 2006. The plaintiffs filed the supplemental pleadings and the Company, along with other defendants, filed renewed motions to dismiss. On February 12, 2007, MDL 1663 was transferred to Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr., Chief Judge of the District Court of New Jersey.
     On April 5, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint without prejudice. On May 22, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a Second Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint (the Second Amended Commercial Complaint) and a Second Consolidated Amended Employee Benefits Class Action Complaint (the Second Amended Employee Benefits Complaint).

9


 

NOTE I—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES — Continued
     The Second Amended Employee Benefits Complaint does not contain allegations against the Company; Frank F. Haack & Associates, Inc.; O’Neill, Finnegan & Jordan Insurance Agency Inc.; or any of the Company’s other subsidiaries or affiliates, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates are, therefore, no longer defendants in the Employee Benefits case, Civil No. 05-1079.
     In the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, the named plaintiffs purport to represent a class consisting of all persons or entities who between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 engaged the services of any one of the broker defendants, including the Company, or any one of their subsidiaries or affiliates, in connection with the purchase or renewal of insurance or reinsurance from an insurer.
     Plaintiff Tri-State Container Corporation (Tri-State) purports to represent a class consisting of all persons or entities who between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 engaged the services of the Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates, in connection with the purchase or renewal of insurance from an insurer. Certain other plaintiffs purport to represent classes of persons and entities with claims against other broker and insurer defendants. The plaintiffs allege in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, among other things, that the broker defendants engaged in improper steering of clients to the insurer defendants for the purpose of obtaining undisclosed additional compensation in the form of contingent commissions from insurers; that certain of the defendants were engaged in a bid-rigging scheme involving the submission of false and/or inflated bids from insurers to clients; that certain of the broker defendants improperly placed their clients’ insurance business with insurers through related wholesale entities where an intermediary was unnecessary for the purpose of generating additional commissions from insurers; that certain of the broker defendants entered into unlawful tying arrangements to obtain reinsurance business from the defendant insurers; and that certain of the broker defendants created centralized internal departments for the purpose of monitoring, facilitating and advancing the collection of contingent commissions, payments and other improper fees. The plaintiffs allege violations of federal and state antitrust laws, violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) and (d) (RICO), breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, including treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, restitution, interest, attorneys’ fees and expenses, costs and other relief; however, no actual dollar amounts have been stated as being sought.
     On June 21, 2007, the Company, along with other defendants, filed motions to dismiss the Second Amended Commercial Complaint and to strike the addition of certain allegations and parties, including the addition of Tri-State as a named plaintiff. On July 19, 2007, the plaintiffs filed oppositions to the motions to dismiss and to strike and cross-moved for leave to amend the Second Amended Commercial Complaint to add allegations and parties, including Tri-State. On July 31, 2007, the defendants filed reply briefs.
     On August 31, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed all federal antitrust claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint. On September 28, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed all federal RICO claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint with prejudice. The District Court of New Jersey further declined to exercise jurisdiction over state law claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, dismissed those state law claims without prejudice and dismissed Civil No. 04-5184 in its entirety. The District Court of New Jersey also dismissed as moot all other motions pending in Civil No. 04-5184 as of September 28, 2007.
     On October 10, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Third Circuit) relating to the District Court of New Jersey’s order dismissing Civil No. 04-5184 and all other adverse orders and decisions in Civil No. 04-5184. The plaintiffs filed an opening brief in support of their appeal on February 19, 2008. Defendants filed an opposition brief on April 7, 2008 and plaintiffs filed a reply brief on April 24, 2008. No oral argument date is yet set, and it is not possible to state when a decision will be rendered by the Third Circuit.
     On February 13, 2007, a lawsuit was filed in the District Court of New Jersey by Avery Dennison Corporation (Avery) (Civil No. 07-757) against the Company, certain Marsh & McLennan companies, and several large commercial insurers making factual and legal claims similar to those raised in the Opticare, Preuss and Lewis cases. Avery seeks treble and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses, forfeiture of compensation paid to the broker defendants, restitution, general damages, interest and injunctive relief; however, no actual dollar amounts have been stated as being sought. This is not a putative class action. Pursuant to the procedures promulgated by the District Court of New Jersey in MDL 1663, the case has been consolidated with the other actions pending before the District Court of New Jersey in MDL 1663. Avery was stayed pending the District Court of New Jersey’s ruling on the dispositive pleadings filed in response to the amended complaints filed by the plaintiffs in the consolidated actions. All dispositive pleadings filed in response to the amended complaints are now resolved, and the District Court of New Jersey is currently considering a request by most defendants, including the Company, to continue the stay in the Avery and certain other cases pending resolution of the appeal to the Third Circuit by the plaintiffs of the order dismissing Civil No. 04-5184. Avery has opposed this request and seeks an order to lift the stay. The District Court of New Jersey has yet to resolve whether the stay will remain in place.
     The Company believes it has substantial defenses in these cases and intends to defend itself vigorously. However, due to the uncertainty of these cases, the Company is unable to estimate a range of possible loss at this time. In addition, the Company cannot predict the outcome of these cases or their effects on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

10


 

NOTE I — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES — Continued
Other
     There are in the normal course of business various other outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities. Management does not anticipate material losses as a result of such matters.
NOTE J—SEGMENT INFORMATION
     The Company’s business consists of three reportable segments, Domestic Retail, Excess and Surplus, and International, as well as an All Other category for the remaining profit centers.
     The Domestic Retail segment places insurance products for risk areas including property and casualty, employee benefits, professional liability and personal lines through a nationwide network of offices. Domestic Retail is organized into (i) seven United States regional operating units which oversee individual profit centers (Retail Profit Centers) and (ii) coordinated national resources providing marketing and specialized industry or product expertise, which further enhance the service capacity of Retail Profit Centers to larger and more complex clients.
     The Excess and Surplus segment represents a group of domestic profit centers that focus on providing excess and surplus lines insurance through retail insurance brokers.
     The International segment is principally located in London, England with branch locations in Russia, South Africa and Australia. The International operating units provide various insurance products and have a focus towards wholesale and reinsurance brokerage.
     The Company’s remaining profit centers comprise the All Other category. These profit centers include the Company’s Managing General Agencies/Underwriters and other specialized business units.
     The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based upon operating profits. Operating profit is defined as income before taxes, excluding the impact of gains/losses on sale of assets, amortization of intangibles, interest expense, minority interest expense, gains/losses on foreign currency remeasurement, and special charges. A reconciliation of operating profit to income before taxes is as follows:
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,  
(in thousands)   2008     2007  
Operating profit
  $ 42,232     $ 51,552  
Gain on sale of assets
    402       2,284  
Amortization of intangibles
    (9,841 )     (7,414 )
Interest expense
    (7,078 )     (5,491 )
Minority interest expense
    (127 )     104  
Loss on foreign currency remeasurement
    (157 )      
 
           
Income before income taxes
  $ 25,431     $ 41,035  
 
           
     Each segment has been allocated a portion of the Company’s corporate overhead based upon a percentage of total revenues, excluding any gains/losses on the sales of assets. Interest income and expense includes intercompany balances allocated to the individual segments through the Company’s internal cash management program. The “Corporate/Elimination” column consists of certain intercompany revenue eliminations; unallocated interest income and expense; certain corporate compensation costs, legal, compliance, and claims expenditures, and other miscellaneous operating expenses not included in the allocation of corporate overhead; and special charges.

11


 

NOTE J — SEGMENT INFORMATION — Continued
     Summarized information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following tables:
                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 180,910     $ 11,059     $ 11,796     $ 6,419     $ (3,355 )   $ 206,829  
Investment income
    4,543       369       380       428       (3,062 )     2,658  
Depreciation
    1,736       140       162       66       236       2,340  
Operating profit
    39,937       3,406       2,014       2,050       (5,175 )     42,232  
Amortization of intangibles
    7,108       858       1,241       424       210       9,841  
Interest expense
    428       2       976       220       5,452       7,078  
                                                 
    Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 169,215     $ 10,216     $ 12,516     $ 8,783     $ (2,537 )   $ 198,193  
Investment income
    3,842       211       680       516       (2,212 )     3,037  
Depreciation
    1,603       113       147       46       204       2,113  
Operating profit
    47,470       3,908       1,656       2,249       (3,731 )     51,552  
Amortization of intangibles
    4,793       680       1,105       626       210       7,414  
Interest expense
    355       41       1,016       329       3,750       5,491  

12

EX-99.3
Exhibit 99.3
STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,     June 30,  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
REVENUES
                               
Core commissions and fees
  $ 195,606     $ 187,391     $ 374,732     $ 346,460  
Contingent commissions
    12,033       8,456       36,196       41,575  
Investment income
    1,994       3,123       4,652       6,160  
Other
    995       1,121       1,877       4,089  
 
                       
 
    210,628       200,091       417,457       398,284  
 
                               
OPERATING EXPENSES
                               
Compensation and employee benefits
    118,205       111,554       241,639       220,672  
Other operating expenses
    42,290       36,837       80,995       69,859  
Depreciation
    2,269       2,189       4,609       4,302  
Amortization of intangibles
    10,038       7,095       19,879       14,509  
Interest expense
    6,182       5,154       13,260       10,645  
Intangible asset impairment charge
    18,439             18,439        
Merger costs
    798             798        
 
                       
 
    198,221       162,829       379,619       319,987  
 
                       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    12,407       37,262       37,838       78,297  
Income taxes
    11,284       15,050       21,192       30,863  
 
                       
NET INCOME
  $ 1,123     $ 22,212     $ 16,646     $ 47,434  
 
                       
 
                               
Net Income Per Share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.03     $ 0.61     $ 0.46     $ 1.30  
Assuming Dilution
  $ 0.03     $ 0.60     $ 0.46     $ 1.29  
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 


 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
                 
    June 30,     December 31,  
    2008     2007  
(in thousands)   (UNAUDITED)          
ASSETS
               
CURRENT ASSETS
               
Cash and cash equivalents, including $100,122 and $109,330 respectively, of restricted funds
  $ 277,781     $ 294,407  
Receivables:
               
Premiums and commissions, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,509 and $3,972, respectively
    306,508       319,025  
Other
    39,474       47,190  
 
           
 
    345,982       366,215  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    41,139       42,200  
 
           
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    664,902       702,822  
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
    26,089       26,023  
 
               
GOODWILL
    789,823       794,007  
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
    364,670       360,555  
Less accumulated amortization
    122,162       102,284  
 
           
 
    1,032,331       1,052,278  
OTHER ASSETS
    37,312       36,303  
 
           
 
  $ 1,760,634     $ 1,817,426  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Premiums payable to insurance companies
  $ 431,877     $ 453,850  
Accounts payable
    31,013       32,380  
Accrued expenses
    38,334       54,290  
Premium deposits and credits due customers
    50,062       69,284  
Current portion of long-term debt
    17,888       14,705  
 
           
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    569,174       624,509  
 
               
LONG-TERM DEBT
    407,082       412,432  
 
               
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES
    52,181       50,524  
 
               
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    51,054       46,758  
 
               
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Common Stock, no par value; authorized 100,000 shares; outstanding 36,435 and 36,749 shares, respectively
    262,685       271,263  
Retained earnings
    416,254       409,443  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
               
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps, net of deferred tax benefit of $661 and $651, respectively
    (909 )     (1,018 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    3,113       3,515  
 
           
 
    681,143       683,203  
 
           
 
  $ 1,760,634     $ 1,817,426  
 
           
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

2


 

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
                         
                    Accumulated  
                    Other  
    Common     Retained     Comprehensive  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   Stock     Earnings     Income (Loss)  
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 271,263     $ 409,443     $ 2,497  
Issuance of 342 shares of Common Stock
    7,543                  
Repurchase of 656 shares of Common Stock
    (20,320 )                
Stock-based compensation
    3,614                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    585                  
Payment of dividends ($0.27 per share)
            (9,835 )        
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax expense
                    109  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    (402 )
Net income
            16,646          
 
                 
Balance at June 30, 2008
  $ 262,685     $ 416,254     $ 2,204  
 
                 
Balance at January 1, 2007
  $ 250,359     $ 350,084     $ 2,926  
Issuance of 544 shares of Common Stock
    16,586                  
Stock-based compensation
    3,526                  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    2,233                  
Payment of dividends ($0.25 per share)
            (9,179 )        
Unrealized gain on derivative contracts, net of deferred tax expense
                    231  
Foreign currency translation adjustments
                    888  
Net income
            47,434          
 
                 
Balance at June 30, 2007
  $ 272,704     $ 388,339     $ 4,045  
 
                 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3


 

STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
(UNAUDITED)
                 
    Six Months Ended  
    June 30,  
(in thousands)   2008     2007  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
               
Net income
  $ 16,646     $ 47,434  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Intangible asset impairment charge
    18,439        
Merger costs
    798        
Depreciation
    4,609       4,302  
Amortization of intangibles
    19,879       14,509  
Stock-based compensation
    3,614       3,526  
Provision for losses on receivables
    185       993  
Provision for deferred income taxes
    1,980       4,025  
Gain on sale of assets
    (513 )     (2,542 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities net of effects from insurance agency acquisitions and dispositions:
               
(Increase) decrease in receivables
    20,445       (14,970 )
Decrease in prepaid expenses
    937       3,947  
Increase (decrease) in premiums payable to insurance companies
    (21,999 )     29,667  
Increase (decrease) in premium deposits and credits due customers
    (19,242 )     5,292  
Decrease in accounts payable
    (2,963 )     (7,196 )
Decrease in accrued expenses
    (16,108 )     (24,046 )
Decrease in regulatory charge accrual
    (19 )     (309 )
Other operating activities
    3,161       904  
 
           
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
    29,849       65,536  
 
               
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Purchase of property and equipment
    (5,618 )     (4,387 )
Purchase of insurance agencies, net of cash acquired
    (14,256 )     (64,851 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
    614       14,878  
Other investing activities
    536       (2,617 )
 
           
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
    (18,724 )     (56,977 )
 
               
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds from long-term debt
    10,000       66,401  
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (13,155 )     (31,089 )
Repurchase of Common Stock
    (20,320 )      
Proceeds from issuance of Common Stock, net of tax payments for options exercised
    4,974       12,178  
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options
    585       2,233  
Dividends
    (9,835 )     (9,179 )
 
           
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
    (27,751 )     40,544  
 
           
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (16,626 )     49,103  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    294,407       254,811  
 
           
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD
  $ 277,781     $ 303,914  
 
           
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HILB ROGAL & HOBBS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
June 30, 2008
(UNAUDITED)
NOTE A—BASIS OF PRESENTATION
     The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by United States generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain amounts for the prior period have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. Operating results for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2008. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.
NOTE B—PROPOSED MERGER WITH HERMES ACQUISITION CORP.
     As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company, Willis Group Holdings Limited (“Willis”) and Hermes Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned merger subsidiary of Willis (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 7, 2008 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, merge (the “Merger”) with and into Merger Sub, with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving company.
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, if the Merger is completed, the Company’s Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive cash and/or Willis common stock with a value of $46.00 per share, subject to the collar described in the Merger Agreement and subject to potential proration and adjustment if either form of merger consideration is oversubscribed. In addition, if not exercised prior to completion of the Merger, outstanding stock options and other stock-based awards will vest and be converted into stock options and stock-based awards with respect to shares of Willis common stock on otherwise substantially similar terms, with adjustments to reflect the exchange ratio. Upon consummation of the Merger, each share of restricted stock then outstanding will vest and be converted in the Merger into shares of Willis common stock on the same terms as all other shares of the Company’s Common Stock.
     Consummation of the Merger, which is currently anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2008, is subject to certain conditions, including, among others, approval by the Company’s shareholders; governmental filings and regulatory approvals and expiration of applicable waiting periods; accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party and compliance by the other party with its obligations under the Merger Agreement; and receipt by each party of customary opinions from its counsel that the Merger will qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes.
     The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for the Company and Willis, as the case may be, applicable upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement provides that, in connection with the termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances, the Company may be required to pay Willis a termination fee equal to $74 million.
NOTE C—RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
     In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (Statement 157). Statement 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. In February 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157-2,” which delayed the effective date of the statement for certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement 157 for its financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of Statement 157 for financial assets and liabilities did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company continues to evaluate the application of Statement 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities but does not believe that it will significantly impact the Company’s financial position and results of operations. See Note G for more information on Statement 157.

5


 

NOTE C — RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS — Continued
     In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (Statement 141R). Statement 141R requires that an acquirer (i) recognize, with certain exceptions, 100% of the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired; (ii) include contingent consideration arrangements in the purchase price consideration at their acquisition date fair values; and (iii) expense all acquisition-related transaction costs as incurred. Statement 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Adoption is prospective and early adoption is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the potential impact that the adoption of Statement 141R will have on its financial position and results of operations.
     In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement No. 161, “Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (Statement 161). Statement 161 changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring entities to provide enhanced disclosures about (i) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (ii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and its related interpretations and (iii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, performance and cash flows. Statement 161 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008.
NOTE D—INCOME TAXES
     Deferred taxes result from temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The income tax rate for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2008 varied from the statutory rate primarily due to the intangible asset impairment charge, which is not deductible for tax purposes.
     There are no material changes in the June 30, 2008 amounts of (i) unrecognized tax benefits, that if recognized would affect the effective tax rate, or (ii) the interest and penalties related to those unrecognized tax benefits from the amounts disclosed at December 31, 2007.
NOTE E—ACQUISITIONS
     During the first six months of 2008, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of two insurance agencies and other accounts. These acquisitions, individually and in aggregate, were not material to the consolidated financial statements. For certain acquisitions, the allocations of purchase price are preliminary and subject to refinement as the valuations of certain tangible and intangible assets are not final.
     During 2007, the Company acquired certain assets and liabilities of ten insurance agencies and other accounts. For certain acquisitions, the allocation of purchase price is preliminary and subject to refinement as the valuations of certain intangible assets are not final.
     The following unaudited, condensed pro forma results of operations assumes the acquisitions occurring in 2007 had been completed as of January 1, 2007.
                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   June 30, 2007     June 30, 2007  
Pro Forma Revenues
  $ 221,503     $ 443,188  
 
           
Pro Forma Net Income
  $ 22,183     $ 47,135  
 
           
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (Basic)
  $ 0.60     $ 1.29  
Pro Forma Net Income Per Share (Assuming Dilution)
  $ 0.60     $ 1.27  
     Pro forma data may not be indicative of the results that would have been obtained had these events actually occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, nor does it intend to be a projection of future results.
NOTE F—SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER GAINS
     During the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, the Company sold certain offices, accounts and other assets resulting in gains of $0.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively. These amounts are included in other revenues in the Statement of Consolidated Income. Income taxes related to these gains were $0.2 million and $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Revenues, expenses and assets related to these dispositions were not material to the consolidated financial statements.

6


 

NOTE G—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
     On January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement 157, which required the categorization of financial assets and liabilities based upon the level of judgments associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels—defined by Statement 157 and directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs used to determine the fair value of financial assets and liabilities—are as follows:
    Level 1—Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date
 
    Level 2—Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the assets or liabilities through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the instrument’s anticipated life
 
    Level 3—Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.
     Each major category of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are categorized in the tables below based upon the lowest level of significant input to the valuations.
                                 
    June 30, 2008  
(in thousands)   Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Assets at Fair Value
                               
Fixed-income securities
  $     $ 25,015     $     $ 25,015  
Money market funds
    100,786       5,697             106,483  
Mutual fund investments
    2,421                   2,421  
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 103,207     $ 30,712     $     $ 133,919  
 
                       
 
                               
Liabilities at Fair Value
                               
Derivative liabilities
  $     $ 1,645     $     $ 1,645  
 
                       
Total liabilities
  $     $ 1,645     $     $ 1,645  
 
                       
     Substantially all investments in fixed-income securities and money market funds are cash equivalents.
NOTE H—NET INCOME PER SHARE
     The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,     June 30,  
(in thousands, except per share amounts)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
Numerator for basic and diluted net income per share
                               
Net Income
  $ 1,123     $ 22,212     $ 16,646     $ 47,434  
Denominator
                               
Weighted average shares
    36,087       36,530       36,257       36,346  
Effect of guaranteed future shares to be issued in connection with agency acquisitions
    48       52       67       52  
 
                       
Denominator for basic net income per share
    36,135       36,582       36,324       36,398  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Employee stock options
    91       312       83       330  
Employee non-vested stock
    77       134       82       135  
Contingent stock—acquisitions
    11       39       46       33  
 
                       
Dilutive potential common shares
    179       485       211       498  
 
                       
Denominator for diluted net income per share—adjusted weighted average shares
    36,314       37,067       36,535       36,896  
 
                       
Net Income Per Share:
                               
Basic
  $ 0.03     $ 0.61     $ 0.46     $ 1.30  
Assuming Dilution
  $ 0.03     $ 0.60     $ 0.46     $ 1.29  

7


 

NOTE I—REGULATORY CHARGE AND RELATED MATTERS
     The Company and certain other companies in the insurance intermediary industry have been subject to investigations and inquiries by various governmental authorities regarding business practices and broker compensation arrangements. On August 31, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement (the Agreement) with the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut (the Attorney General) and the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Connecticut (the Commissioner) to resolve all issues related to investigations conducted by the Attorney General and the Commissioner into certain insurance brokerage and insurance agency practices (the Investigations) and to settle an action commenced on August 31, 2005 by the Attorney General in the Connecticut Superior Court alleging violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act (the Action). In the Agreement, the Company agreed to take certain actions including establishing a $30.0 million national fund (the Fund) for distribution to certain clients, enhancing disclosure practices for agency and broker clients, and to not accept or request contingent compensation on brokerage business.
     In 2005, the Company recorded a $42.3 million charge, and related income tax benefit of $16.0 million, primarily relating to the Agreement with the Attorney General and the Commissioner. This charge included the Fund established by the Agreement; estimated costs for pending regulatory matters; and various legal and administrative costs to be incurred related to the Fund and complying with the Agreement’s other provisions. Since incurring the charge, the Company has made related payments of $30.0 million into the Fund and various amounts for legal and administrative matters. The total regulatory charge liability as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is $0.7 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The current portion of this liability as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007 is $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively, and is included in accrued expenses. The remaining liability is included in other long-term liabilities.
     These pending regulatory matters relate to subpoenas issued and/or inquiries made by state attorneys general and insurance departments into, among other things, the industry’s commission payment practices. The Company has received subpoenas and/or requests for information from attorneys general and/or insurance departments in fourteen states. In addition to the original regulatory inquiries, the Company has received subsequent subpoenas and/or requests for information from certain of these states, and the Company may receive additional subpoenas and/or requests for information in the future from attorneys general and/or insurance departments of these and/or other states. The Company will continue to evaluate and monitor all such subpoenas and requests.
NOTE J—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Industry Litigation
     The Company has been named as a defendant in certain legal proceedings against brokers and insurers relating to broker compensation arrangements and other business practices.
MDL 1663 Class Action
     In August 2004, OptiCare Health Systems Inc. filed a putative class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 04-CV-06954) against a number of the country’s largest insurance brokers and several large commercial insurers. The Company was named as a defendant in the OptiCare suit in November 2004. In December 2004, two other purported class actions were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, by Stephen Lewis (Case No. 04-C-7847) and Diane Preuss (Case No. 04-C-7853), respectively, against certain insurance brokers, including the Company, and several large commercial insurers. On February 17, 2005, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the Panel) ordered that the OptiCare suit, along with three other purported antitrust class actions filed in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania against industry participants, be centralized and transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (District Court of New Jersey). In addition, by Conditional Transfer Order dated March 10, 2005, the Panel conditionally transferred the Lewis and Preuss cases to the District Court of New Jersey. The transfer subsequently became effective and as a result of the Panel’s transfer orders, the OptiCare, Lewis and Preuss cases are proceeding on a consolidated basis with other purported class action suits styled as In re: Insurance Brokerage Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1663).
     On August 1, 2005, the plaintiffs in MDL 1663 filed a First Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint (the Commercial Complaint) in the District Court of New Jersey (Civil No. 04-5184) against the Company and certain other insurance brokers and insurers. In addition, the plaintiffs in MDL 1663 also filed on August 1, 2005 a First Consolidated Amended Employee Benefits Class Action Complaint (the Employee Benefits Complaint) in the District Court of New Jersey (Civil No. 05-1079) against the Company; Frank F. Haack & Associates, Inc.; O’Neill, Finnegan & Jordan Insurance Agency Inc.; and certain other insurance brokers and insurers.
     The Company, along with other defendants, filed a motion to dismiss both the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint. Also, on February 13, 2006, the plaintiffs filed their motions for class certification in each case. On May 5, 2006, the defendants filed their oppositions to the motions for class certification. On May 31, 2006, the plaintiffs filed a reply brief in support of their motions for class certification.
     On October 3, 2006, the District Court of New Jersey denied in part the motion to dismiss the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint and ordered that plaintiffs provide supplemental information regarding each of their consolidated

8


 

NOTE J — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES — Continued
complaints by October 25, 2006. The plaintiffs filed the supplemental pleadings and the Company, along with other defendants, filed renewed motions to dismiss. On February 12, 2007, MDL 1663 was transferred to Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr., Chief Judge of the District Court of New Jersey.
     On April 5, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed the Commercial Complaint and the Employee Benefits Complaint without prejudice. On May 22, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a Second Consolidated Amended Commercial Class Action Complaint (the Second Amended Commercial Complaint) and a Second Consolidated Amended Employee Benefits Class Action Complaint (the Second Amended Employee Benefits Complaint).
     The Second Amended Employee Benefits Complaint does not contain allegations against the Company; Frank F. Haack & Associates, Inc.; O’Neill, Finnegan & Jordan Insurance Agency Inc.; or any of the Company’s other subsidiaries or affiliates, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates are, therefore, no longer defendants in the Employee Benefits case, Civil No. 05-1079.
     In the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, the named plaintiffs purport to represent a class consisting of all persons or entities who between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 engaged the services of any one of the broker defendants, including the Company, or any one of their subsidiaries or affiliates, in connection with the purchase or renewal of insurance or reinsurance from an insurer.
     Plaintiff Tri-State Container Corporation (Tri-State) purports to represent a class consisting of all persons or entities who between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2004 engaged the services of the Company, including its subsidiaries and affiliates, in connection with the purchase or renewal of insurance from an insurer. Certain other plaintiffs purport to represent classes of persons and entities with claims against other broker and insurer defendants. The plaintiffs allege in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, among other things, that the broker defendants engaged in improper steering of clients to the insurer defendants for the purpose of obtaining undisclosed additional compensation in the form of contingent commissions from insurers; that certain of the defendants were engaged in a bid-rigging scheme involving the submission of false and/or inflated bids from insurers to clients; that certain of the broker defendants improperly placed their clients’ insurance business with insurers through related wholesale entities where an intermediary was unnecessary for the purpose of generating additional commissions from insurers; that certain of the broker defendants entered into unlawful tying arrangements to obtain reinsurance business from the defendant insurers; and that certain of the broker defendants created centralized internal departments for the purpose of monitoring, facilitating and advancing the collection of contingent commissions, payments and other improper fees. The plaintiffs allege violations of federal and state antitrust laws, violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) and (d) (RICO), breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, including treble damages, injunctive and declaratory relief, restitution, interest, attorneys’ fees and expenses, costs and other relief; however, no actual dollar amounts have been stated as being sought.
     On June 21, 2007, the Company, along with other defendants, filed motions to dismiss the Second Amended Commercial Complaint and to strike the addition of certain allegations and parties, including the addition of Tri-State as a named plaintiff. On July 19, 2007, the plaintiffs filed oppositions to the motions to dismiss and to strike and cross-moved for leave to amend the Second Amended Commercial Complaint to add allegations and parties, including Tri-State. On July 31, 2007, the defendants filed reply briefs.
     On August 31, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed all federal antitrust claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint. On September 28, 2007, the District Court of New Jersey dismissed all federal RICO claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint with prejudice. The District Court of New Jersey further declined to exercise jurisdiction over state law claims in the Second Amended Commercial Complaint, dismissed those state law claims without prejudice and dismissed Civil No. 04-5184 in its entirety. The District Court of New Jersey also dismissed as moot all other motions pending in Civil No. 04-5184 as of September 28, 2007.
     On October 10, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Third Circuit) relating to the District Court of New Jersey’s order dismissing Civil No. 04-5184 and all other adverse orders and decisions in Civil No. 04-5184. The plaintiffs filed an opening brief in support of their appeal on February 19, 2008. Defendants filed an opposition brief on April 7, 2008 and plaintiffs filed a reply brief on April 24, 2008. On July 2, 2008, the Third Circuit issued an order granting joint motions by plaintiffs and defendant Marsh & McLennan and various of its affiliates (the Marsh entities) to dismiss the appeal as to the Marsh entities and partially remanded the case to the District Court for the district court to consider a motion to approve a settlement agreement between plaintiffs and the Marsh entities. Furthermore, the Third Circuit stayed the appeal pending these further proceedings by the District Court and ordered that status reports be filed monthly until those proceedings are completed at which time the parties are to file a statement outlining the remaining appeal issues. On July 10, 2008, plaintiffs filed with the Third Circuit a motion to vacate the stay order. On July 30, 2008 the Third Circuit granted plaintiffs’ motion to vacate the stay order and lifted the stay. On July 31, 2008, the Third Circuit tentatively listed Civil No. 04-5184 for consideration by the merits panel on April 20, 2009. The Third Circuit’s notice states that it may become necessary to move the date to another day within the week of April 20, 2009 and that the parties will be advised no later than one week prior to this disposition date if oral argument will be required. It is not possible to state when a decision will be rendered by the Third Circuit.

9


 

NOTE J — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES — Continued
     On February 13, 2007, a lawsuit was filed in the District Court of New Jersey by Avery Dennison Corporation (Avery) (Civil No. 07-757) against the Company, certain Marsh & McLennan companies, and several large commercial insurers making factual and legal claims similar to those raised in the Opticare, Preuss and Lewis cases. Avery seeks treble and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and expenses, forfeiture of compensation paid to the broker defendants, restitution, general damages, interest and injunctive relief; however, no actual dollar amounts have been stated as being sought. This is not a putative class action. Pursuant to the procedures promulgated by the District Court of New Jersey in MDL 1663, the case has been consolidated with the other actions pending before the District Court of New Jersey in MDL 1663. Avery was stayed pending the District Court of New Jersey’s ruling on the dispositive pleadings filed in response to the amended complaints filed by the plaintiffs in the consolidated actions. All dispositive pleadings filed in response to the amended complaints are now resolved, and the District Court of New Jersey is currently considering a request by most defendants, including the Company, to continue the stay in the Avery and certain other cases pending resolution of the appeal to the Third Circuit by the plaintiffs of the order dismissing Civil No. 04-5184. Avery has opposed this request and seeks an order to lift the stay. The District Court of New Jersey has yet to resolve whether the stay will remain in place.
     The Company believes it has substantial defenses in these cases and intends to defend itself vigorously. However, due to the uncertainty of these cases, the Company is unable to estimate a range of possible loss at this time. In addition, the Company cannot predict the outcome of these cases or their effects on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Other
     There are in the normal course of business various other outstanding commitments and contingent liabilities. Management does not anticipate material losses as a result of such matters.
NOTE K—IMPAIRMENT OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
     In the 2008 second quarter, certain key producers departed HRH Reinsurance Brokers Limited (“HRH Re”), a London-based reinsurance subsidiary. These producers were responsible for a significant portion of the subsidiary’s revenue and their departure represented a goodwill impairment indicator. Consistent with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” the Company performed an impairment test of the HRH Re goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. Based on the results of the impairment test, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $18.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2008.
NOTE L—SUBSEQUENT EVENT—SETTLEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANT LITIGATION
     On July 10, 2008, the Company and its subsidiary, Hilb Rogal & Hobbs of Massachusetts, LLC, entered into a settlement agreement with Kinloch Holdings, Inc., Kinloch Partners, Inc., Kinloch Consulting Group, Inc. and several former employees of the Company (collectively, “Defendants”) related to restrictive covenant litigation brought against the Defendants in the Superior Court of Massachusetts.
     Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Defendants are enjoined from directly or indirectly (i) soliciting or accepting the business of, or providing any insurance brokerage or consulting services to, any customer to which or on behalf of which Hilb Rogal & Hobbs of Massachusetts, LLC provided or sold any products or services at any time during 2007, with the exception of certain clients named in the settlement agreement; and (ii) hiring, employing, or soliciting for hire any individual who was an employee of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs of Massachusetts, LLC, the Company, or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates during the two years ending July 2, 2010. In addition, the Defendants paid $9.8 million of damages to the Company in July 2008 under the settlement agreement’s terms.
NOTE M—SEGMENT INFORMATION
     The Company’s business consists of three reportable segments, Domestic Retail, Excess and Surplus, and International, as well as an All Other category for the remaining profit centers.
     The Domestic Retail segment places insurance products for risk areas including property and casualty, employee benefits, professional liability and personal lines through a nationwide network of offices. Domestic Retail is organized into (i) seven United States regional operating units which oversee individual profit centers (Retail Profit Centers) and (ii) coordinated national resources providing marketing and specialized industry or product expertise, which further enhance the service capacity of Retail Profit Centers to larger and more complex clients.
     The Excess and Surplus segment represents a group of domestic profit centers that focus on providing excess and surplus lines insurance through retail insurance brokers.
     The International segment is principally located in London, England with branch locations in Russia, South Africa and Australia. The International operating units provide various insurance products and have a focus towards wholesale and reinsurance brokerage.
     The Company’s remaining profit centers comprise the All Other category. These profit centers include the Company’s Managing General Agencies/Underwriters and other specialized business units.

10


 

NOTE M — SEGMENT INFORMATION — Continued
     The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based upon operating profits. Operating profit is defined as income before taxes, excluding the impact of gains/losses on sale of assets, amortization of intangibles, interest expense, minority interest expense, gains/losses on foreign currency remeasurement, and special charges. A reconciliation of operating profit to income before income taxes is as follows:
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
    June 30,     June 30  
(in thousands)   2008     2007     2008     2007  
Operating profit
  $ 48,539     $ 49,927     $ 90,771     $ 101,479  
Gain on sale of assets
    111       258       513       2,542  
Amortization of intangibles
    (10,038 )     (7,095 )     (19,879 )     (14,509 )
Interest expense
    (6,182 )     (5,154 )     (13,260 )     (10,645 )
Minority interest expense
    (1,044 )     (523 )     (1,171 )     (419 )
Intangible asset impairment charge
    (18,439 )           (18,439 )      
Merger costs
    (798 )           (798 )      
Gain (loss) on foreign currency remeasurement
    258       (151 )     101       (151 )
 
                       
Income before income taxes
  $ 12,407     $ 37,262     $ 37,838     $ 78,297  
 
                       
     Each segment has been allocated a portion of the Company’s corporate overhead based upon a percentage of total revenues, excluding any gains/losses on the sales of assets. Interest income and expense includes intercompany balances allocated to the individual segments through the Company’s internal cash management program. The “Corporate/Elimination” column consists of certain intercompany revenue eliminations; unallocated interest income and expense; certain corporate compensation costs, legal, compliance, and claims expenditures, and other miscellaneous operating expenses not included in the allocation of corporate overhead; and special charges. Summarized information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following tables:
                                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2008
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 182,495     $ 10,678     $ 14,574     $ 5,632     $ (2,751 )   $ 210,628  
Investment income
    3,431       238       291       323       (2,289 )     1,994  
Depreciation
    1,662       132       173       62       240       2,269  
Operating profit
    44,478       3,319       3,944       1,330       (4,532 )     48,539  
Amortization of intangibles
    7,218       840       1,240       530       210       10,038  
Interest expense
    488       6       710       185       4,793       6,182  
                                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2007
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 168,522     $ 10,674     $ 15,116     $ 6,500     $ (721 )   $ 200,091  
Investment income
    3,485       252       546       425       (1,585 )     3,123  
Depreciation
    1,627       121       153       67       221       2,189  
Operating profit
    45,446       3,673       3,869       2,314       (5,375 )     49,927  
Amortization of intangibles
    4,561       759       1,104       461       210       7,095  
Interest expense
    376       13       1,007       299       3,459       5,154  

11


 

NOTE M — SEGMENT INFORMATION — Continued
                                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 363,405     $ 21,737     $ 26,369     $ 12,051     $ (6,105 )   $ 417,457  
Investment income
    7,973       607       671       752       (5,351 )     4,652  
Depreciation
    3,398       272       335       128       476       4,609  
Operating profit
    84,415       6,725       5,959       3,379       (9,707 )     90,771  
Amortization of intangibles
    14,326       1,698       2,482       953       420       19,879  
Interest expense
    917       8       1,686       405       10,244       13,260  
                                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2007
    Domestic   Excess &           All   Corporate/    
(in thousands)   Retail   Surplus   International   Other   Eliminations   Total
Total revenues
  $ 337,737     $ 20,890     $ 27,633     $ 15,282     $ (3,258 )   $ 398,284  
Investment income
    7,327       463       1,227       940       (3,797 )     6,160  
Depreciation
    3,230       235       300       112       425       4,302  
Operating profit
    92,917       7,581       5,526       4,562       (9,107 )     101,479  
Amortization of intangibles
    9,354       1,439       2,209       1,087       420       14,509  
Interest expense
    731       53       2,023       628       7,210       10,645  

12

EX-99.4
Exhibit 99.4
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF
WILLIS
The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on the historical financial statements of Willis and HRH after giving effect to Willis’ acquisition of HRH on October 1, 2008, together with the related financing and other assumptions and adjustments as described in the accompanying notes. The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is prepared using the purchase method of accounting, as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board, “FASB”, Statement No. 141, Business Combinations, with Willis treated as the acquirer.
The preliminary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2008 is presented as if the merger and the borrowings used to finance the merger occurred on June 30, 2008. The preliminary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the six months ended June 30, 2008 are presented as if the merger and the related borrowings used to finance the merger occurred on January 1, 2007.
The allocation of the purchase price used in the preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on preliminary estimates. The estimates and assumptions are subject to change during the purchase price allocation period (generally one year from the acquisition date) as Willis finalizes its valuations of the net tangible liabilities and intangible assets of HRH. Accordingly, the final purchase accounting adjustments may be materially different from the preliminary unaudited adjustments presented here.
Certain historical balances of HRH have been reclassified to conform to the pro forma combined presentation. Additionally, Willis management will continue to assess HRH’s accounting policies for any additional adjustments that may be required to conform HRH’s accounting policies to those of Willis.
The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of Willis that would have been reported had the merger been completed as of the dates described above, and should not be taken as indicative of any future consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations. The preliminary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statements do not reflect any revenue or cost savings from synergies that may be achieved with respect to the combined companies, or the impact of non-recurring items, including restructuring liabilities, directly related to the merger.
The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Willis and HRH included in their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (except for items 7 and 8 for Willis which are incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 11, 2008) and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods presented. The HRH filings are incorporated by reference to this current Form 8-K/A. Willis’ filings are available online at www.sec.gov or at willis’ website www.willis.com.

 


 

WILLIS
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
as at June 30, 2008
                                         
                    Pro Forma            
    Historical     Historical     Adjustments             Pro Forma  
    Willis     HRH     (Note 3)             Combined  
            (millions)                  
            (unaudited)                  
ASSETS
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 205     $ 178     $             $ 383  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
    1,767       100                     1,867  
Short-term investments
    37                           37  
Accounts receivable, net
    11,013       340                     11,353  
Fixed assets, net
    344       26                     370  
Goodwill
    1,667       790       630   A           3,087  
Other intangible assets, net
    72       243       511   B           826  
Investments in associates
    247                           247  
Pension benefits asset
    497                           497  
Other assets
    373       84       48   C           505  
 
                               
 
                                       
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 16,222     $ 1,761     $ 1,189             $ 19,172  
 
                               
 
                                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                                       
Accounts payable
  $ 12,216     $ 478     $             $ 12,694  
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
    331       67                     398  
Net deferred tax liabilities
    22       52       (32 ) D           42  
Income taxes payable
    72       3                     75  
Long-term debt
    1,460       425       1,009   E           2,894  
Liability for pension benefits
    42                           42  
Other liabilities
    584       55       80   F           719  
 
                               
 
                                       
Total liabilities
    14,727       1,080       1,057               16,864  
 
                               
 
                                       
MINORITY INTEREST
    53                           53  
 
                                       
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    1,442       681       132   G           2,255  
 
                               
 
                                       
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 16,222     $ 1,761     $ 1,189             $ 19,172  
 
                               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.

2


 

WILLIS
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED INCOME STATEMENT
for the six months ended June 30, 2008
                                         
                    Pro Forma                
    Historical     Historical     Adjustments             Pro Forma  
    Willis     HRH     (Note 3)             Combined  
    (millions, except per share data)  
    (unaudited)  
REVENUES
                                       
Commissions and fees
  $ 1,413     $ 411     $             $ 1,824  
Investment income
    42       4                     46  
Other income
    1       2                     3  
 
                               
Total revenues
    1,456       417                     1,873  
 
                               
EXPENSES
                                       
Salaries and benefits
    (839 )     (242 )                   (1,081 )
Other operating expenses
    (290 )     (82 )                   (372 )
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets
    (33 )     (24 )     (19 ) B           (76 )
Intangible asset impairment charge
          (18 )     18   A            
Gain on disposal of London headquarters
    8                           8  
 
                               
Total expenses
    (1,154 )     (366 )     (1 )             (1,521 )
 
                               
OPERATING INCOME
    302       51       (1 )             352  
Interest expense
    (37 )     (13 )     (43 ) E           (93 )
 
                               
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES, INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES AND MINORITY INTEREST
    265       38       (44 )             259  
Income taxes
    (72 )     (21 )     25   H           (68 )
 
                               
INCOME BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES AND MINORITY INTEREST
    193       17       (19 )             191  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
    23                           23  
Minority interest, net of tax
    (11 )                         (11 )
 
                               
NET INCOME
  $ 205     $ 17     $ (19 )           $ 203  
 
                               
 
                                       
EARNINGS PER SHARE
                                       
—Basic
  $ 1.44     $ 0.46                     $ 1.22  
—Diluted
  $ 1.43     $ 0.46                     $ 1.21  
AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
                                       
—Basic
    142       36                       166  
—Diluted
    143       37                       168  
 
                                 
 
                                       
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 0.52     $ 0.27                     $ 0.52  
 
                                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.

3


 

WILLIS
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED INCOME STATEMENT
for the year ended December 31, 2007
                                         
                    Pro Forma                
    Historical     Historical     Adjustments             Pro Forma  
    Willis     HRH     (Note 3)             Combined  
            (millions, except per share data)                  
            (unaudited)                  
REVENUES
                                       
Commissions and fees
  $ 2,463     $ 780     $             $ 3,243  
Investment income
    96       14                     110  
Other income
    19       6                     25  
 
                               
Total revenues
    2,578       800                     3,378  
 
                               
EXPENSES
                                       
Salaries and benefits
    (1,448 )     (455 )                   (1,903 )
Other operating expenses
    (460 )     (154 )                   (614 )
HRH release of regulatory charge previously accrued
          6                     6  
Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets
    (66 )     (42 )     (51 ) B           (159 )
Gain on disposal of London headquarters
    14                           14  
Net gain on disposal of operations
    2                           2  
 
                               
Total expenses
    (1,958 )     (645 )     (51 )             (2,654 )
 
                               
OPERATING INCOME
    620       155       (51 )             724  
Interest expense
    (66 )     (24 )     (87 ) E           (177 )
 
                               
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES, INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES AND MINORITY INTEREST
    554       131       (138 )             547  
Income taxes
    (144 )     (53 )     56   H           (141 )
 
                               
INCOME BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES AND MINORITY INTEREST
    410       78       (82 )             406  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
    16                           16  
Minority interest, net of tax
    (17 )                         (17 )
 
                               
NET INCOME
  $ 409     $ 78     $ (82 )           $ 405  
 
                               
 
                                       
EARNINGS PER SHARE
                                       
—Basic
  $ 2.82     $ 2.14                     $ 2.40  
—Diluted
  $ 2.78     $ 2.11                     $ 2.34  
AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
                                       
—Basic
    145       37                       169  
—Diluted
    147       37                       173  
 
                                 
 
                                       
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
  $ 1.00     $ 0.51                     $ 1.00  
 
                                 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
information.

4


 

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
OF WILLIS
1.   Basis of pro forma presentation
The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on the historical financial statements of Willis and HRH after giving effect to Willis’ acquisition of HRH on October 1, 2008, together with the related financing and other assumptions and adjustments as described in the accompanying notes. The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is prepared using the purchase method of accounting, as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board, “FASB”, Statement No. 141, Business Combinations, with Willis treated as the acquirer.
The preliminary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2008 is presented as if the merger and the borrowings used to finance the merger occurred on June 30, 2008. The preliminary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the six months ended June 30, 2008 are presented as if the merger and the related borrowings used to finance the merger occurred on January 1, 2007. The preliminary pro forma adjustments reflect an exchange ratio of 1.4510 shares of Willis common stock for every share of HRH common stock, based on the average of the closing sales price for Willis common stock for the ten trading day period ending on September 29, 2008.
The allocation of the purchase price used in the preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is based on preliminary estimates. The estimates and assumptions are subject to change during the purchase price allocation period (generally one year from the acquisition date) as Willis finalizes its valuations of the net tangible liabilities and intangible assets of HRH. In particular, the final valuation of intangible assets and the assessment of their useful lives may change significantly from the preliminary estimates, which could result in a material change to the amortization of intangible assets.
Certain historical balances of HRH have been reclassified to conform to the pro forma combined presentation. Additionally, Willis management will continue to assess HRH’s accounting policies for any additional adjustments that may be required to conform HRH’s accounting policies to those of Willis.
The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of Willis that would have been reported had the merger been completed as of the dates described above, and should not be taken as indicative of any future consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations. The preliminary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Income Statements do not reflect any revenue or cost savings from synergies that may be achieved with respect to the combined companies, or the impact of non-recurring items, including restructuring liabilities, directly related to the merger.
The preliminary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Willis and HRH included in their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (except for items 7 and 8 for Willis which are incorporated by reference from the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 11, 2008) and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods presented. The HRH filings are incorporated by reference to this current Form 8-K/A. Willis’ filings are available online at www.sec.gov or at Willis’ website www.willis.com.
2.   Purchase price
Willis and HRH entered into a plan of merger on June 7, 2008. Willis completed the acquisition of HRH on October 1, 2008. The stock price used to determine the preliminary estimated purchase price was based on the average of the closing prices of Willis common stock for the five trading days through October 1, 2008, the date of the merger. The preliminary estimated purchase price also includes the fair value of Willis stock options that were issued in exchange for HRH’s existing stock options and other costs of the transaction.

5


 

The calculation of the preliminary estimated purchase price is as follows:
Calculation of shares of Willis common stock to be issued:
         
Number of shares of HRH common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2008 (i)
  37.28 million
Agreed consideration per share
      $46  
Total consideration payable to HRH shareholders
  $1,715 million
Exchange ratio based on the average of the closing share price for Willis common stock for the ten trading days through September 29, 2008
    1.4510  
Number of shares of Willis common stock issued based on final election results and applying the proration provisions as per the merger agreement
  24.38 million
         
Calculation of preliminary estimated purchase price:   (millions)  
Fair value of 24.38 million shares of Willis common stock (ii)
  $ 791  
Unrecognized stock-based compensation relating to 241,145 non-vested HRH restricted shares(iii)
    3  
Cash issued to HRH shareholders – 20.48 million shares at $46 per share
    942  
Estimated fair value of 2,643,454 fully vested HRH stock options (iv)
    19  
Estimated Willis transaction costs (v)
    34  
 
     
Preliminary estimated total purchase price
  $ 1,789  
 
     
 
(i)   Includes 241,145 restricted shares of HRH common stock that fully vested immediately prior to the merger and will have received the merger consideration of $46 per share.
 
(ii)   The fair value per share is based on the average of the closing prices of shares of Willis common stock for the five trading days through October 1, 2008, the date of the merger.
 
(iii)   Represents unrecognized compensation cost, less deferred tax, on HRH restricted stock that fully vested after the merger.
 
(iv)   Represents the estimated fair value, less deferred tax, of the 2,643,454 stock options outstanding as at September 30, 2008 under HRH’s equity incentive plans. See “Stock options” below.
 
(v)   Transaction costs include Willis’s estimate of investment banking, legal and accounting fees and other external costs directly related to the merger.
Stock options
Under the terms of the merger, upon completion on October 1, 2008, the 2,643,454 stock options outstanding under HRH’s equity incentive plans were exchanged for Willis stock options at the exchange ratio of 1.4510, which was calculated based on the average of the closing sales price for Willis common stock for the ten trading day period ending on September 29, 2008.
The fair value of the HRH stock options included in the purchase consideration at the date of the merger was based on the fair value of a Willis stock option as of October 1, 2008, adjusted by the exchange ratio of 1.4510. The fair value of the Willis stock option was calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and a share price of Willis common stock of $32.12 and the following assumptions:
         
Expected option life in years
    1.5  
Volatility
    30 %
Risk-free rate
    3.43 %
Dividend yield
    2.50 %
Willis believes the fair value of Willis stock options, adjusted for the exchange ratio, approximates the fair value of HRH stock options. Accordingly, the fair value of the HRH stock options was recognized

6


 

as a component of purchase price and no additional amounts have been recognized as compensation expense.
Allocation of the preliminary estimated purchase price
The preliminary estimated purchase price has been allocated as follows based upon purchase accounting adjustments as of June 30, 2008:
         
    (millions)  
HRH net tangible liabilities(i)
  $ (352 )
Adjustments re HRH long term debt(ii)
    (19 )
Change of control payments(iii)
    (46 )
Intangible asset(iv)
    754  
Net deferred tax adjustment(v)
    32  
Goodwill
    1,420  
 
     
Allocated purchase price
  $ 1,789  
 
     
 
(i)   Reflects HRH’s net assets at fair value of $681 million at June 30, 2008, less HRH’s historical goodwill of $790 million and intangible assets of $243 million.
 
(ii)   Represents a $19 million contractual early redemption penalty relating to the agreed refinancing of HRH’s long-term debt.
 
(iii)   Represents estimated payments due under change of control clauses in certain senior management employment contracts. Estimated payments include cash severance benefits and additional payments due in the event an excise tax is imposed.
 
(iv)   Represents identified finite life intangible assets; primarily relates to customer relationships and non-compete contracts for key producers.
 
(v)   Represents net deferred tax assets associated with fair value adjustments to the fair value of assets and liabilities included in this table with the exception of goodwill.
3.   Pro forma adjustments
 
A.   Net adjustment to eliminate HRH’s historical goodwill of $790 million and HRH’s 2008 intangible asset impairment charge of $18 million; and to record the preliminary fair value of goodwill arising on the transaction of $1,420 million. Goodwill arising from the merger is not amortized but will be assessed for impairment at least annually.
 
B.   Net adjustment to eliminate HRH’s historical identifiable intangible assets of $243 million and related amortization of $20 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and $33 million for the year ended December 31, 2007; and to record identifiable intangible assets arising from the merger at their preliminary estimated fair value and the related amortization. Fair values have been estimated using an income approach. Amortization expense has been calculated over the estimated useful life using a straight line method, with the exception of customer relationships which has been calculated using a reducing balance method.
                                 
                    Year ended     Six months  
            Estimated     December     ended June 30,  
    Preliminary     useful life     31, 2007     2008  
    fair value     in years     amortization     amortization  
    (millions)             (millions)  
Customer relationships
  $ 674       12     $ 67     $ 31  
Non-compete agreements
    61       5       12       6  
Trade names
    19       4       5       2  
 
                         
Total pro forma adjustments
  $ 754             $ 84     $ 39  
 
                         
C.   Adjustment to record estimated deferred debt issuance costs. These costs will be amortized over the life of the debt, using the effective interest rate method.
D.   Net adjustment to reduce the net deferred tax liability, including the benefit of tax relief

7


 

    acquired with HRH intangible assets. Estimated deferred tax assets and liabilities have been calculated using the statutory tax rate of 40%.
 
E.   Net adjustment to record Willis’s borrowing, and related interest, to finance the estimated $942 million cash due to HRH shareholders, the refinancing of HRH’s $396 million of long-term bank debt and other financing costs associated with the merger; partly offset by an adjustment to record the repayment of HRH’s long-term bank debt and the elimination of HRH’s related interest expense of $11 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and $21 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
    The following shows the breakdown of debt used in preparing the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information:
                                 
    Anticipated     Estimated     Annual     Six month  
    borrowing(i)     interest rate(ii)     interest(iii)     interest(iii)  
    (millions, except for interest rates)  
Interim credit facility
  $ 1,000       5.25-6.25 %   $ 81     $ 39  
Bank debt
    405       5.25-6.25 %     27       15  
 
                         
Total long-term debt
  $ 1,405             $ 108     $ 54  
 
                         
 
(i)   These pro formas have been prepared assuming a draw down on the interim credit facility for the full 18 month period shown, with the remaining funds required financed by bank debt. Willis anticipates refinancing the interim credit facility and so the amount and the terms of the financing may differ from those set out above.
 
(ii)   The estimated interest rate is based on current assumptions regarding LIBOR and the amount of bank debt raised to finance the transaction. The actual interest rates will vary and may fluctuate over the period. An increase or decrease of 12.5 basis points held constant over the relevant period would increase or decrease, respectively, the total annual interest by $1.8 million and the quarterly interest by $0.4 million.
 
(iii)   Includes the amortization of the related debt issuance costs.
F.   Adjustment to record liabilities for: payments of $46 million due under change of control clauses in certain senior management employment contracts; and Willis’ estimated merger transaction costs of $34 million.
 
G.   Adjustment to record the estimated stock consideration of $791 million, the estimated $3 million fair value of HRH non-vested restricted shares and the estimated $19 million fair value of HRH stock options converted to Willis stock options, less the elimination of HRH’s stockholders’ equity of $681 million.
 
H.   To record the federal and state income tax effects on the pro forma adjustments. Income tax effects have been calculated using the statutory tax rate of 40% for its U.S operations.

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