Segment Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Information

23.  Segment Information

We have three reportable segments: brokerage, risk management and corporate.  

The brokerage segment is primarily comprised of our retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations.  The brokerage segment generates revenues through commissions paid by underwriting enterprises and through fees charged to our clients.  Our brokers, agents and administrators act as intermediaries between underwriting enterprises and our clients and we do not assume net underwriting risks.  

The risk management segment provides contract claim settlement and administration services for enterprises and public entities that choose to self-insure some or all of their property/casualty coverages and for underwriting enterprises that choose to outsource some or all of their property/casualty claims departments.  These operations also provide claims management, loss control consulting and insurance property appraisal services.  Revenues are principally generated on a negotiated per-claim or per-service fee basis.  Our risk management segment also provides risk management consulting services that are recognized as the services are delivered.

The corporate segment manages our clean energy and other investments.  In addition, the corporate segment reports the financial information related to our debt and other corporate costs, external acquisition-related expenses and the impact of foreign currency translation.

Allocations of investment income and certain expenses are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates primarily using revenue, headcount and other information.  We allocate the provision for income taxes to the brokerage and risk management segments using the local country statutory rates.  Reported operating results by segment would change if different methods were applied.

Financial information relating to our segments for 2020, 2019 and 2018 is as follows (in millions):

Year Ended December 31, 2020	Brokerage			Risk Management			Corporate			Total
Revenues:
Commissions	$	3,591.9		$	—		$	—		$	3,591.9
Fees		1,136.9			821.0			—			1,957.9
Supplemental revenues		221.9			—			—			221.9
Contingent revenues		147.0			—			—			147.0
Investment income		75.2			0.7			—			75.9
Net losses on divestitures		(5.8	)		—			—			(5.8	)
Revenue from clean coal activities		—			—			863.5			863.5
Other net losses		—			—			(0.4	)		(0.4	)
Revenues before reimbursements		5,167.1			821.7			863.1			6,851.9
Reimbursements		—			151.7			—			151.7
Total revenues		5,167.1			973.4			863.1			7,003.6
Compensation		2,882.5			517.5			66.5			3,466.5
Operating		687.2			162.6			56.7			906.5
Reimbursements		—			151.7			—			151.7
Cost of revenues from clean coal activities		—			—			882.1			882.1
Interest		—			—			196.4			196.4
Depreciation		73.5			49.4			22.2			145.1
Amortization		411.3			6.0			—			417.3
Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables		(29.7	)		(3.2	)		—			(32.9	)
Total expenses		4,024.8			884.0			1,223.9			6,132.7
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		1,142.3			89.4			(360.8	)		870.9
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		276.3			22.5			(286.0	)		12.8
Net earnings (loss)		866.0			66.9			(74.8	)		858.1
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		4.9			—			34.4			39.3
Net earnings (loss) attributable to controlling interests	$	861.1		$	66.9		$	(109.2	)	$	818.8
Net foreign exchange loss	$	(2.6	)	$	(0.1	)	$	(0.2	)	$	(2.9	)
Revenues:
United States	$	3,369.4		$	816.4		$	863.1		$	5,048.9
United Kingdom		993.7			40.7			—			1,034.4
Australia		216.1			98.4			—			314.5
Canada		243.8			5.3			—			249.1
New Zealand		141.8			12.6			—			154.4
Other foreign		202.3			—			—			202.3
Total revenues	$	5,167.1		$	973.4		$	863.1		$	7,003.6
At December 31, 2020
Identifiable assets:
United States	$	8,897.9		$	716.2		$	2,172.2		$	11,786.3
United Kingdom		6,135.1			139.2			—			6,274.3
Australia		1,373.3			89.6			—			1,462.9
Canada		1,053.6			4.8			—			1,058.4
New Zealand		766.0			24.1			—			790.1
Other foreign		959.4			—			—			959.4
Total identifiable assets	$	19,185.3		$	973.9		$	2,172.2		$	22,331.4
Goodwill - net	$	6,053.6		$	70.5		$	2.9		$	6,127.0
Amortizable intangible assets - net		2,376.3			23.6			—			2,399.9

Year Ended December 31, 2019	Brokerage			Risk Management			Corporate			Total
Revenues:
Commissions	$	3,320.6		$	—		$	—		$	3,320.6
Fees		1,074.2			836.9			—			1,911.1
Supplemental revenues		210.5			—			—			210.5
Contingent revenues		135.6			—			—			135.6
Investment income		85.3			1.6			—			86.9
Net gains on divestitures		75.3			—			—			75.3
Revenue from clean coal activities		—			—			1,319.3			1,319.3
Other net losses		—			—			(2.9	)		(2.9	)
Revenues before reimbursements		4,901.5			838.5			1,316.4			7,056.4
Reimbursements		—			138.6			—			138.6
Total revenues		4,901.5			977.1			1,316.4			7,195.0
Compensation		2,745.9			515.7			77.9			3,339.5
Operating		796.5			184.9			87.1			1,068.5
Reimbursements		—			138.6			—			138.6
Cost of revenues from clean coal activities		—			—			1,352.8			1,352.8
Interest		—			—			179.8			179.8
Depreciation		66.6			46.2			27.6			140.4
Amortization		329.1			4.9			—			334.0
Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables		16.9			(1.6	)		—			15.3
Total expenses		3,955.0			888.7			1,725.2			6,568.9
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		946.5			88.4			(408.8	)		626.1
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		229.2			22.2			(341.1	)		(89.7	)
Net earnings (loss)		717.3			66.2			(67.7	)		715.8
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		17.2			—			29.8			47.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to controlling interests	$	700.1		$	66.2		$	(97.5	)	$	668.8
Net foreign exchange loss	$	(1.0	)	$	(0.1	)	$	(5.6	)	$	(6.7	)
Revenues:
United States	$	3,234.3		$	828.4		$	1,316.4		$	5,379.1
United Kingdom		921.8			41.6			—			963.4
Australia		211.3			87.3			—			298.6
Canada		221.4			4.6			—			226.0
New Zealand		145.6			15.2			—			160.8
Other foreign		167.1			—			—			167.1
Total revenues	$	4,901.5		$	977.1		$	1,316.4		$	7,195.0
At December 31, 2019
Identifiable assets:
United States	$	8,132.3		$	655.6		$	1,994.8		$	10,782.7
United Kingdom		4,964.5			126.6			—			5,091.1
Australia		1,217.9			90.0			—			1,307.9
Canada		913.6			3.1			—			916.7
New Zealand		695.9			22.8			—			718.7
Other foreign		817.7			—			—			817.7
Total identifiable assets	$	16,741.9		$	898.1		$	1,994.8		$	19,634.8
Goodwill - net	$	5,548.9		$	66.6		$	3.0		$	5,618.5
Amortizable intangible assets - net		2,289.9			28.8			—			2,318.7

Year Ended December 31, 2018	Brokerage		Risk Management			Corporate			Total
Revenues:
Commissions	$	2,920.7	$	—		$	—		$	2,920.7
Fees		958.5		797.8			—			1,756.3
Supplemental revenues		189.9		—			—			189.9
Contingent revenues		98.0		—			—			98.0
Investment income		69.6		0.5			—			70.1
Net gains on divestitures		10.2		—			—			10.2
Revenue from clean coal activities		—		—			1,746.3			1,746.3
Other net gains		—		—			0.9			0.9
Revenues before reimbursements		4,246.9		798.3			1,747.2			6,792.4
Reimbursements		—		141.6			—			141.6
Total revenues		4,246.9		939.9			1,747.2			6,934.0
Compensation		2,447.1		489.7			89.5			3,026.3
Operating		673.5		174.6			55.6			903.7
Reimbursements		—		141.6			—			141.6
Cost of revenues from clean coal activities		—		—			1,816.0			1,816.0
Interest		—		—			138.4			138.4
Depreciation		60.9		38.7			28.2			127.8
Amortization		286.9		4.3			—			291.2
Change in estimated acquisition earnout payables		14.3		(4.7	)		—			9.6
Total expenses		3,482.7		844.2			2,127.7			6,454.6
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		764.2		95.7			(380.5	)		479.4
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		191.0		25.3			(412.8	)		(196.5	)
Net earnings		573.2		70.4			32.3			675.9
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		10.7		-			31.7			42.4
Net earnings attributable to controlling interests	$	562.5	$	70.4		$	0.6		$	633.5
Net foreign exchange gain	$	-	$	-		$	2.9		$	2.9
Revenues:
United States	$	2,840.9	$	789.7		$	1,747.2		$	5,377.8
United Kingdom		738.5		35.4			—			773.9
Australia		195.9		94.7			—			290.6
Canada		181.1		4.3			—			185.4
New Zealand		141.7		15.8			—			157.5
Other foreign		148.8		—			—			148.8
Total revenues	$	4,246.9	$	939.9		$	1,747.2		$	6,934.0
At December 31, 2018
Identifiable assets:
United States	$	6,865.4	$	571.4		$	1,800.8		$	9,237.6
United Kingdom		3,758.5		103.8			—			3,862.3
Australia		1,096.1		47.2			—			1,143.3
Canada		783.1		4.4			—			787.5
New Zealand		688.5		21.3			—			709.8
Other foreign		593.5		—			—			593.5
Total identifiable assets	$	13,785.1	$	748.1		$	1,800.8		$	16,334.0
Goodwill - net	$	4,573.6	$	49.3		$	2.7		$	4,625.6
Amortizable intangible assets - net		1,753.7		19.3			—			1,773.0