FORM 10-Q
             	SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                	Washington, D.C.  20549
	                                    

[ X ]	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
     	For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998.
                                                	or

[  ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
      	For the transition period from ______________ to _______________

Commission file number 0-7201.


                           	POE & BROWN, INC.
	                                                   
           	(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

       Florida                         				       59-0864469            
  _______________________________          ________________________________
   	(State or other jurisdiction of	       		(I.R.S. Employer Identification
     	incorporation or organization)			        Number)

	220 S. Ridgewood Ave., Daytona Beach, FL		            32114   
__________________________________________          _______________
(Address of principal executive offices)             		(Zip Code)



     	Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (904) 252-9601


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past ninety (90) days.    Yes  X    No 
                                                               ____     ____

The number of shares of the Registrant's common stock, $.10 par value,
outstanding as of May 1, 1998, was 13,367,019.



POE & BROWN, INC. Index to Form 10-Q For The Quarter Ended March 31, 1998 Page PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997 3 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997 4 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and 1997 5 Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements 6 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 7 Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 8 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 1. Legal Proceedings 9 Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 9 Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 10 SIGNATURES 10
ITEM 1: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS POE & BROWN, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)
For the three months ended March 31, 1998 1997 REVENUES Commissions and fees $36,022 $32,713 Investment income 775 807 Other income (168) 462 _______ _______ Total revenues 36,629 33,982 EXPENSES Employee compensation and benefits 18,043 16,838 Other operating expenses 7,067 7,157 Interest and amortization 1,341 1,353 ________ ________ Total expenses 26,451 25,348 ________ ________ Income before income taxes 10,178 8,634 Income taxes 4,020 3,410 ________ _______ NET INCOME $ 6,158 $ 5,224 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized loss on securities: Unrealized holding (loss) arising during period, net of tax benefit of $993 in 1998 and $636 in 1997 $ (1,553) $(1,109) _________ ________ COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $ 4,605 $ 4,115 ======== ======= Basic and diluted earnings per share $ .47 $ 0.40 ======== ======= Dividends declared per share $ .10 $ .0867 ======== ======= Weighted average number of shares outstanding 13,117 12,998
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
POE & BROWN, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited) (Audited) March 31, December 31, 1998 1997 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 44,766 $ 47,726 Short-term investments 1,146 1,299 Premiums, commissions and fees receivable 59,902 62,148 Other current assets 6,498 6,507 ________ ________ Total current assets 112,312 117,680 Fixed assets, net 12,180 11,863 Intangible assets, net 56,658 49,593 Investments 8,925 11,480 Other assets 4,034 3,513 ________ ________ Total assets $194,109 $194,129 ======== ======== LIABILITIES Premiums payable to insurance companies $ 83,453 $ 74,598 Premium deposits and credits due customers 7,429 7,035 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 15,701 15,826 Current portion of long-term debt 1,818 5,339 ________ ________ Total current liabilities 108,401 102,798 Long-term debt 3,787 4,093 Deferred income taxes 2,958 3,951 Other liabilities 5,212 6,145 _________ ________ Total liabilities 120,358 116,987 _________ ________ SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, par value $.10 per share: authorized 18,000 shares; issued 13,073 shares at 1998 and 13,107 at 1997 1,307 1,311 Additional paid-in capital - - Retained earnings 67,253 69,087 Net unrealized appreciation of available-for-sale securities, net of tax effect of $3,319 in 1998 and $4,312 in 1997 5,191 6,744 ________ _______ Total shareholders' equity 73,751 77,142 ________ _______ Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $194,109 $194,129 ======== ========
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
POE & BROWN, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (In thousands) For the three months ended March 31, 1998 1997 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 6,158 $ 5,224 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 1,999 1,903 Net losses (gains) on sales of investments, fixed assets and customer accounts 201 (429) Premiums, commissions and fees receivable, decrease 2,285 7,923 Other assets, decrease 368 538 Premiums payable to insurance companies, increase 8,650 2,487 Premium deposits and credits due customers, increase (decrease) 394 (290) Accounts payable and accrued expenses, (decrease) increase (125) 1,752 Other liabilities, (decrease) increase (933) 162 ________ ________ NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 18,997 19,270 ________ ________ CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Additions to fixed assets (1,071) (713) Payments for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired (9,237) (1,646) Proceeds from sales of fixed assets and customer accounts 42 238 Purchases of investments (12) (29) Proceeds from sales of investments 174 - ________ ________ NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (10,104) (2,150) ________ ________ CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Payment on long-term debt (3,827) (78) Net exercise of stock options and repurchases of stock (6,710) (8) Cash dividends paid (1,316) (1,125) ________ ________ NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES (11,853) (1,211) ________ ________ Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (2,960) 15,909 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 47,726 31,786 ________ _______ CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $44,766 $47,695 ======= =======
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements. NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) Note 1 - Basis of Financial Reporting The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by 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 presntation have been included. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. Certain amounts at December 31, 1997 have been reclassified to be consistent with the current period presentation. Results of operations for the three-month period ended March 31, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 1998. Note 2 - Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share All share and per-share information in the financial statements have been adjusted to give effect to the 3-for-2 common stock split which became effective on February 27, 1998. Basic earnings per share is based upon the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is adjusted for the dilutive effect of stock options. Earnings per share is the same on both a basic and a diluted basis. In February, 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 "Earnings Per Share," (SFAS 128). SFAS 128 establishes new standards for computing and presenting earnings per share (EPS). Specifically, SFAS 128 replaces the presentation of primary EPS with a presentation of basic EPS, requires dual presentation of basic and diluted EPS on the face of the income statement for all entities with complex capital structures and requires a reconciliation of the numerator and denominatory of the basic EPS computation to the numerator and denominator of the diluted EPS computation. As of December 31, 1997, the Company adopted SFAS No. 128. All prior-period EPS information is required to be restated. The Company's basic and diluted EPS for the period ended March 31, 1997 computed under SFAS No. 128 is not different than previously computed. Note 3 - Acquisitions During the first quarter of 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Arizona General Insurance of Tucson, Arizona, Boynton Brothers Insurance of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Great Northern Insurance of Phoenix, Arizona, and the Heine-Miles Insurance Agency of Phoenix, Arizona. During the first quarter of 1997, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Dade Underwriters Insurance Agency of Aventura, Florida and Willits Insurance Agency of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. These acquisitions have been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting. Pro forma results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1998 and March 31, 1997 resulting from these acquisitions were not materially different from the results of operations as reported. The results of operations for the acquired companies have been combined with those of the Company since their respective acquisition dates. Additionally, during the first quarter of 1998, the Company issued 22,500 shares of its common stock for all of the outstanding stock of Thim Insurance Agency, Inc., an Arizona corporation. This acquisition has been accounted for as a pooling-of-interests; however, due to the immaterial nature of the transaction, the Company's consolidated financial statements have not been restated for all periods prior to the transaction. The separate company operating results of Thim Insurance Agency, Inc. for periods prior to the acquisition are not material to the Company's consolidated operating results. Note 4 - Long-Term Debt The Company continues to maintain its credit agreement with a major insurance company under which $4 million (the maximum amount available for borrowings) was outstanding at March 31, 1998, at an interest rate equal to the prime lending rate plus one percent. The available amount will decrease by $1 million each August, as described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. In November 1994, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility with a national banking institution which provides for available borrowings of up to $10 million. As of March 31, 1998, there were no borrowings against this line of credit. Note 5 - Contingencies The Company is not a party to any legal proceedings other than various claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business. Management of the Company does not believe that any such claims or lawsuits will have a material effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations. ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Results of Operations Net Income. Net income for the first quarter of 1998 was $6,158,000, or $.47 per share, compared with net income in the first quarter of 1997 of $5,224,000, or $.40 per share, an 18% increase. Commissions and Fees. Commissions and fees for the first quarter of 1998 increased $3,309,000, or 10% from the same period in 1997. Approximately $1,742,000 of this increase represents revenues from acquired agencies with the remainder due to new business production. Investment Income. Investment income for the first quarter of 1998 decreased $32,000 from the same period in 1997 primarily due to reductions in available cash to invest. Other Income. Other income primarily includes gains and losses from the sale of customer accounts and other assets. Other income for the three-month period ended March 31, 1998 decreased $630,000 over the same period in 1997 primarily due to the disposition of the assets related to the Company's Charlotte, North Carolina office which resulted in a loss of $490,000. Employee Compensation and Benefits. Employee compensation and benefits increased 7% during the first quarter of 1998 over the same period in 1997. This increase primarily relates to a net increase in commissions and fees and merit pay increases. Employee compensation and benefits as a percentage of total revenue decreased 1% to 49% in the first quarter of 1998 compared with 50% incurred in the same period in 1997. Other Operating Expenses. Other operating expenses for the first quarter of 1998 decreased $90,000, or 1%, over the same period in 1997 primary due to a one-time charge in 1997 relating to the merger of the Company's two offices in New Jersey and a reduction of general reserves. Other operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue declined to 19% in the first quarter of 1998 compared with 21% incurred in the same period in 1997. Liquidity and Capital Resources The Company's cash and cash equivalents of $44,766,000 at March 31, 1998 decreased by $2,960,000 from $47,726,000 at December 31, 1997. During the first quarter of 1998, $18,997,000 of cash was provided from operating activities. Of this amount, $9,237,000 was used to acquire businesses, $6,710,000 for net purchases of the Company's stock, $3,827,000 for payments on long-term debt, $1,071,000 for additions to fixed assets, and the remainder primarily to pay dividends on the Company's common stock. The curent ratio at March 31, 1998 was 1.04 compared to 1.14 as of December 31, 1997. The Company has a revolving credit agreement with a major insurance company under which up to $4 million presently may be borrowed at an interest rate equal to the prime lending rate plus one percent. The amount of available credit decreases by $1 million each August through the year 2001, when it will expire. As of March 31, 1998, the maximum amount of borrowing was outstanding. In November 1994, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility with a national banking institution that provides for available borrowings of up to 10 million. As of March 31, 1998, there were no borrowings against this line of credit. The Company believes that its existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments portfolio, funds generated from operations, and available credit facility borrowings are sufficient to satisfy its normal financial needs. ITEM 3: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Not Applicable. POE & BROWN, INC. PART II - OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company is involved in various pending or threatened proceedings by or against the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries which involve routine litigation relating to insurance risks placed by the Company and other contractual matters. The Company's management does not believe that any of such pending or threatened proceedings will have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations. ITEM 2 - CHANGE IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS Effective February 28, 1998, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Thim Insurance Agency, Inc. an Arizona corporation ("Thim"). In exchange for all of the outstanding common stock of the insurance agency, the Company issued a total of 22,500 shares of the Company's common stock to the former shareholder of Thim. The Company's shares were offered and sold privately, and no underwriter was involved in the transaction. The Company issued the shares without registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The Company relied upon the exemptions set forth in Section 4(2) of the Act and Rule 505 of Regulation D, promulgated thereunder. The shares were offered privately by the issuer to one person in a business combination transaction in which the dollar value of the transaction was less than $1 million. The Company (i) made available to the purchaser the information required by Rule 502(b) of Regulation D, (ii) did not offer the shares by means of any advertisement, general solicitation or other means proscribed by Rule 502(c) of Regulation D, (iii) informed the purchaser of the limitations on resale of the shares and placed an appropriate restrictive legend on the share certificates, and (iv) filed a notice on Form D with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 15 days after the sale. ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) EXHIBITS Exhibit 3a - Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3a to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994) Exhibit 3b - Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3b to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996) Exhibit 11 - Statement re: Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule (for SEC use only) (b) There were no reports filed on Form 8-K during the quarter ended March 31, 1998. 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 thereunto duly authorized. POE & BROWN, INC. Date: May 6, 1998 /s/ WILLIAM A. ZIMMER _________________________________ Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (duly authorized officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)
 

5 This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the finanical statements of Poe & Brown, Inc. for the three months ended March 31, 1998, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statement. 3-MOS DEC-31-1998 MAR-31-1998 44,766 1,146 59,902 0 0 112,312 27,915 15,735 194,109 108,401 0 0 0 1,307 72,444 194,109 0 36,629 0 26,451 0 0 110 10,178 4,020 6,158 0 0 0 6,158 .47 .47
Exhibit 11 - Statement Re: Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 1997 BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE Net Income $ 6,158 $ 5,224 ======== ======== Weighted average number of shares outstanding 13,105 12,983 ======== ======== Basic earnings per share $ .47 $ .40 ======== ======== DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE Weighted average number of shares outstanding 13,105 12,983 Net effect of dilutive stock options, based on the treasury stock method 12 15 _________ _________ Total diluted shares used in computation 13,117 12,998 ========= ========== Diluted earnings per share $ .47 $ .40 ========= ==========