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Business Combinations | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2023
Business Combinations [Abstract] |
Business Combinations | 3. Business Combinations During 2023, we acquired substantially all of the ownership interests or net assets, as applicable, of the following firms in exchange for our common stock and/or cash. These acquisitions have been accounted for using the acquisition method for recording business combinations (in millions, except share data):
Name and Effective Date of Acquisition |  | Common Shares Issued |  |  | Common Share Value |  |  | Cash Paid |  |  | Accrued Liability |  |  | Escrow Deposited |  |  | Recorded Earnout Payable |  |  | Total Recorded Purchase Price |  |  | Maximum Potential Earnout Payable |
|  | (000s) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
First Ireland Risk Management Ltd. January 1, 2023 (FIR) |  |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 86.4 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5.3 |  |  | $ | 6.1 |  |  | $ | 97.8 |  |  | $ | 6.6 |
BCHR Holdings, L.P. dba Buck April 1, 2023 (BCHR) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 600.8 |  |  |  | 0.5 |  |  |  | 19.5 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 620.8 |  |  |  | — |
Boley-Featherston-Huffman & Deal Co. April 1, 2023 (BFH) |  |  | 243 |  |  |  | 45.2 |  |  |  | 8.8 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 6.0 |  |  |  | 9.3 |  |  |  | 69.3 |  |  |  | 15.0 |
Tay River Holdings Limited April 1, 2022 (TRH) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 40.3 |  |  |  | 4.3 |  |  |  | 2.4 |  |  |  | 32.0 |  |  |  | 79.0 |  |  |  | 88.7 |
Insurance by Ken Brown May 1, 2023 (IKB) |  |  | 273 |  |  |  | 53.9 |  |  |  | 1.8 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 2.9 |  |  |  | 11.3 |  |  |  | 69.9 |  |  |  | 17.5 |
RHP General Agency May 1, 2023 (RHP) |  |  | 335 |  |  |  | 65.7 |  |  |  | 1.3 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 5.0 |  |  |  | 4.4 |  |  |  | 76.4 |  |  |  | 11.0 |
Clements & Co October 1, 2023 (CLM) |  |  | 193 |  |  |  | 43.3 |  |  |  | 7.1 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3.0 |  |  |  | 30.9 |  |  |  | 84.3 |  |  |  | 70.0 |
Eastern Insurance Group, LLC October 31, 2023 (EIG) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 511.4 |  |  |  | 3.7 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 515.1 |  |  |  | — |
Cadence Insurance, Inc. November 30, 2023 (CDI) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 880.1 |  |  |  | 5.9 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 886.0 |  |  |  | — |
My Plan Manager December 1, 2023 (MPM) |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 298.6 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3.0 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 301.6 |  |  |  | — |
Forty-one other acquisitions completed in 2023 |  |  | 450 |  |  |  | 98.0 |  |  |  | 671.6 |  |  |  | 11.7 |  |  |  | 47.6 |  |  |  | 113.5 |  |  |  | 942.4 |  |  |  | 191.4 |
|  |  | 1,494 |  |  | $ | 306.1 |  |  | $ | 3,108.2 |  |  | $ | 26.1 |  |  | $ | 94.7 |  |  | $ | 207.5 |  |  | $ | 3,742.6 |  |  | $ | 400.2 |
On December 6, 2023, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of My Plan Manager Group Pty Ltd (which we refer to as My Plan Manager). We funded the transaction using free cash flow and borrowings under our Credit Agreement. The acquired My Plan Manager is the leading provider of plan management services to participants in Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme. On November 30, 2023, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Cadence Insurance, Inc. (which we refer to as Cadence Insurance). We funded the transaction using free cash flow and funds received from an unsecured senior notes offering. The acquired Cadence Insurance business offers a full suite of commercial property/casualty, employee benefits and personal lines products to clients from 34 offices spanning nine states across the Southeast, including Texas. On October 31, 2023, we acquired the net assets of Eastern Insurance Group, LLC (which we refer to as Eastern Insurance). We funded the transaction using free cash flow and funds received from an unsecured senior notes offering. The acquired Eastern Insurance business offers comprehensive commercial property/casualty and personal lines products as well as employee benefits consulting to clients throughout the Northeastern U.S. On April 3 2023, we acquired the partnership interests of BCHR holdings, L.P. and its subsidiaries dba Buck (which we refer to as Buck). We funded the transaction using free cash flow and funds received from an unsecured senior notes offering. The acquired Buck business is a leading provider of retirement, human resources and employee benefits consulting and administration services operating for more than 100 years and has a diverse client base by both size and industry. Immediately prior to closing, Buck had over 2,300 employees, including more than 220 credentialed actuaries, primarily serving customers throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Common shares issued in connection with acquisitions are valued at closing market prices as of the effective date of the applicable acquisition or on the days when the shares are issued, if purchase consideration is deferred. We record escrow deposits that are returned to us as a result of adjustments to net assets acquired as reductions of goodwill when the escrows are settled. The maximum potential earnout payables disclosed in the foregoing table represent the maximum amount of additional consideration that could be paid pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement for the applicable acquisition. The amounts recorded as earnout payables, which are primarily based upon the estimated future operating results of the acquired entities over a two- to three-year period subsequent to the acquisition date, are measured at fair value as of the acquisition date and are included on that basis in the recorded purchase price consideration in the foregoing table. We will record subsequent changes in these estimated earnout obligations, including the accretion of discount, in our consolidated statement of earnings when incurred. The fair value of these earnout obligations is based on the present value of the expected future payments to be made to the sellers of the acquired entities in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective purchase agreements, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement. In determining fair value, we estimated the acquired entity’s future performance using financial projections developed by management for the acquired entity and market participant assumptions that were derived for revenue growth and/or profitability. Revenue growth rates generally ranged from 5.0% to 20.0% for our 2023 acquisitions. We estimated future payments using the earnout formula and performance targets specified in each purchase agreement and the financial projections just described. We then discounted these payments to present value using a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration market‑based rates of return that reflect the ability of the acquired entity to achieve the targets. The discount rates generally ranged from 6.7% to 9.6% for our 2023 acquisitions. Changes in financial projections, market participant assumptions for revenue growth and/or profitability, or the risk-adjusted discount rate, would result in a change in the fair value of recorded earnout obligations. During 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized $76.6 million, $61.0 million and $35.7 million respectively, of expense in our consolidated statement of earnings related to the accretion of the discount recorded for earnout obligations in connection with our acquisitions. In addition, during 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized $300.7 million, $22.0 million and $83.9 million of expense, respectively, related to net adjustments in the estimated fair value of the liability for earnout obligations in connection with revised assumptions due to changes in interest rates volatility and other assumptions and projections of future performance for 80, 89 and 99 acquisitions, respectively. The net adjustments during 2023, include changes made to the estimated fair value of the Willis Re acquisition earnout and reflect updated assumptions as of December 31, 2023. The aggregate amount of maximum earnout obligations related to acquisitions made in 2020 and subsequent years was $2,009.8 million as of December 31, 2023, of which $1,294.2 million was recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as of that date based on the estimated fair value of the expected future payments to be made, of which approximately $564.8 million can be settled in cash or stock at our option and $729.4 million must be settled in cash. The aggregate amount of maximum earnout obligations related to acquisitions made in 2019 and subsequent years was $1,946.2 million as of December 31, 2022, of which $1,077.3 million was recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as of that date based on the estimated fair value of the expected future payments to be made, of which approximately $734.0 million can be settled in cash or stock at our option and $343.3 million must be settled in cash. The following is a summary of the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired at the date of each acquisition made in 2023 (in millions):
|  | FIR |  |  | BCHR |  |  | BFH |  |  | TRH |  |  | IKB |  |  | RHP |  |  | CLM |  |  | EIG |  |  | CDI |  |  | MPM |  |  | Forty-one Other Acquisitions |  |  | Total |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 13.0 |  |  | $ | 25.8 |  |  | $ | 0.6 |  |  | $ | 5.3 |  |  | $ | 2.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 0.5 |  |  | $ | 58.7 |  |  | $ | 5.0 |  |  | $ | 35.1 |  |  | $ | 146.0 |
Fiduciary assets |  |  | 13.8 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3.7 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.5 |  |  |  | 3.0 |  |  |  | 15.8 |  |  |  | 22.9 |  |  |  | 42.3 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 88.4 |  |  |  | 190.4 |
Other current assets |  |  | 1.4 |  |  |  | 60.9 |  |  |  | 1.4 |  |  |  | 8.3 |  |  |  | 2.6 |  |  |  | 1.5 |  |  |  | 3.3 |  |  |  | 20.4 |  |  |  | 40.7 |  |  |  | 5.5 |  |  |  | 31.2 |  |  |  | 177.2 |
Fixed assets |  |  | 0.8 |  |  |  | 36.8 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.2 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 1.5 |  |  |  | 0.1 |  |  |  | 12.3 |  |  |  | 59.6 |  |  |  | 0.8 |  |  |  | 112.1 |
Noncurrent assets |  |  | 8.6 |  |  |  | 35.0 |  |  |  | 0.2 |  |  |  | 0.2 |  |  |  | 0.5 |  |  |  | 0.3 |  |  |  | 4.0 |  |  |  | 1.5 |  |  |  | 16.0 |  |  |  | 4.8 |  |  |  | 14.5 |  |  |  | 85.6 |
Goodwill |  |  | 63.8 |  |  |  | 366.8 |  |  |  | 50.6 |  |  |  | 61.9 |  |  |  | 49.8 |  |  |  | 43.7 |  |  |  | 59.9 |  |  |  | 191.1 |  |  |  | 314.7 |  |  |  | 121.8 |  |  |  | 465.1 |  |  |  | 1,789.2 |
Expiration lists |  |  | 25.9 |  |  |  | 207.6 |  |  |  | 22.7 |  |  |  | 7.5 |  |  |  | 22.3 |  |  |  | 43.5 |  |  |  | 34.5 |  |  |  | 322.0 |  |  |  | 499.5 |  |  |  | 88.0 |  |  |  | 447.5 |  |  |  | 1,721.0 |
Non-compete agreements |  |  | 0.1 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.5 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | 1.0 |  |  |  | 1.6 |  |  |  | 14.7 |  |  |  | 11.4 |  |  |  | 30.5 |
Trade names |  |  | 0.4 |  |  |  | 2.6 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.4 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.2 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 58.7 |  |  |  | 2.0 |  |  |  | 64.3 |
Total assets acquired |  |  | 127.8 |  |  |  | 735.5 |  |  |  | 79.8 |  |  |  | 83.6 |  |  |  | 78.4 |  |  |  | 92.2 |  |  |  | 119.6 |  |  |  | 559.5 |  |  |  | 985.8 |  |  |  | 358.1 |  |  |  | 1,096.0 |  |  |  | 4,316.3 |
Fiduciary liabilities |  |  | 13.8 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 3.7 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 0.5 |  |  |  | 3.0 |  |  |  | 15.8 |  |  |  | 22.9 |  |  |  | 42.3 |  |  |  | — |  |  |  | 88.4 |  |  |  | 190.4 |
Current liabilities |  |  | 3.9 |  |  |  | 50.4 |  |  |  | 0.6 |  |  |  | 2.6 |  |  |  | 1.7 |  |  |  | 1.3 |  |  |  | 3.8 |  |  |  | 20.4 |  |  |  | 38.6 |  |  |  | 4.8 |  |  |  | 21.7 |  |  |  | 149.8 |
Noncurrent liabilities |  |  | 12.3 |  |  |  | 64.3 |  |  |  | 6.2 |  |  |  | 2.0 |  |  |  | 6.3 |  |  |  | 11.5 |  |  |  | 15.7 |  |  |  | 1.1 |  |  |  | 18.9 |  |  |  | 51.7 |  |  |  | 43.5 |  |  |  | 233.5 |
Total liabilities assumed |  |  | 30.0 |  |  |  | 114.7 |  |  |  | 10.5 |  |  |  | 4.6 |  |  |  | 8.5 |  |  |  | 15.8 |  |  |  | 35.3 |  |  |  | 44.4 |  |  |  | 99.8 |  |  |  | 56.5 |  |  |  | 153.6 |  |  |  | 573.7 |
Total net assets acquired |  | $ | 97.8 |  |  | $ | 620.8 |  |  | $ | 69.3 |  |  | $ | 79.0 |  |  | $ | 69.9 |  |  | $ | 76.4 |  |  | $ | 84.3 |  |  | $ | 515.1 |  |  | $ | 886.0 |  |  | $ | 301.6 |  |  | $ | 942.4 |  |  | $ | 3,742.6 |
Among other things, these acquisitions allow us to expand into desirable geographic locations, further extend our presence in the retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage markets and increase the volume of general services currently provided. The excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the tangible net assets acquired at the acquisition date was allocated to goodwill, expiration lists, non-compete agreements and trade names in the amounts of $1,789.2 million, $1,721.0 million, $30.5 million and $64.3 million, respectively, within the brokerage and risk management segments. The fair value of the tangible assets and liabilities for each applicable acquisition at the acquisition date approximated their carrying values. In general, the fair value of expiration lists was established using the excess earnings method, which is an income approach based on estimated financial projections developed by management for each acquired entity using market participant assumptions. Revenue growth and attrition rates generally ranged from 3.0% to 5.0% and 5.0% to 25.5% for our 2023 and 2022 acquisitions, respectively, for which valuations were performed in 2023. We estimate the fair value as the present value of the benefits anticipated from ownership of the subject expiration list in excess of returns required on the investment in contributory assets necessary to realize those benefits. The rate used to discount the net benefits was based on a risk-adjusted rate that takes into consideration market-based rates of return and reflects the risk of the asset relative to the acquired business. These discount rates generally ranged from 9.0% to 15.0% for our 2023 and 2022 acquisitions, for which valuations were performed in 2023. The fair value of non-compete agreements was established using the profit differential method, which is an income approach based on estimated financial projections developed by management for the acquired company using market participant assumptions and various non-compete scenarios. Provisional estimates of fair value are established at the time of each acquisition and are subsequently reviewed and finalized within the first year of operations subsequent to the acquisition date to determine the necessity for adjustments. During this period, we may use independent third-party valuation specialists to assist us in finalizing the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Fair value adjustments, if any, are most common to the values established for amortizable intangible assets, including expiration lists, non‑compete agreements, acquired software, and for earnout liabilities, with the offset to goodwill, net of any income tax effect. Provisional estimates of fair value were used by us to initially record the acquisition of Willis Re as of the December 1, 2021 acquisition date. We used independent third-party valuation specialists to assist us in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed for this transaction. As of December 31, 2022, the specialists completed their analysis and the fair value estimates have been finalized. Based on the work performed in 2022, we made adjustments to the amounts initially recorded for expiration lists, acquired software and for earnout liability. As a result of these adjustments, the amount allocated to expiration lists decreased by $608.0 million, the amount allocated to acquired software increased by $59.1 million and the fair value of the earnout liability as of the acquisition date decreased by $1.6 million. In addition, a net working capital adjustment of $106.0 million was recorded in 2022, related to this transaction, which resulted in a decrease in the initial purchase price consideration paid. These non-cash adjustments resulted in a net increase in goodwill of $441.3 million. The reason for the lower value allocated to expiration lists is due to receipt of additional information regarding average customer lives and the higher value allocated to the acquired software which is a result of the incorporation of additional information related to the licensing of certain software applications. Expiration lists, non-compete agreements and trade names related to our acquisitions are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives (two to fifteen years for expiration lists, two to six years for non-compete agreements and two to fifteen years for trade names), while goodwill is not subject to amortization. We use the straight-line method to amortize these intangible assets because the pattern of their economic benefits cannot be reasonably determined with any certainty. We review all of our identifiable intangible assets for impairment periodically (at least annually) and whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. In reviewing identifiable intangible assets, if the undiscounted future cash flows were less than the carrying amount of the respective (or underlying) asset, an indicator of impairment would exist and further analysis would be required to determine whether or not a loss would need to be charged against current period earnings as a component of amortization expense. Based on the results of impairment reviews in 2023, 2022 and 2021, we wrote off $3.5 million, $2.0 million and $17.6 million, respectively, of amortizable intangible assets related to the brokerage and risk management segments. Of the $1,721.0 million of expiration lists, $30.5 million of non-compete agreements and $64.3 million of trade names related to the 2023 acquisitions, $580.0 million, $22.9 million and $62.8 million, respectively, is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Accordingly, we recorded a deferred tax liability of $172.0 million, and a corresponding amount of goodwill, in 2023 related to the nondeductible amortizable intangible assets. Our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 include the operations of the acquired entities from their respective acquisition dates. The following is a summary of the unaudited pro forma historical results, as if these entities had been acquired at January 1, 2022 (in millions, except per share data):
|  | Year Ended December 31, |
|  | 2023 |  |  | 2022 |
Total revenues |  | $ | 10,579.8 |  |  | $ | 9,390.7 |
Net earnings attributable to controlling interests |  |  | 954.4 |  |  |  | 1,091.5 |
Basic net earnings per share |  |  | 4.42 |  |  |  | 5.15 |
Diluted net earnings per share |  |  | 4.33 |  |  |  | 5.05 |
The unaudited pro forma results above have been prepared for comparative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations which actually would have resulted had these acquisitions occurred at January 1, 2022, nor are they necessarily indicative of future operating results. Annualized revenues of entities acquired in 2023 totaled approximately $885.1 million. Total revenues and net loss recorded in our consolidated statement of earnings for 2023 related to the 2023 acquisitions in the aggregate, were $394.0 million and $(21.4) million, respectively.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Topic 805 -SubTopic 20 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (b) -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147479907/805-20-50-5 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Topic 805 -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Publisher FASB -URI https://asc.fasb.org//805/tableOfContent + Details
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