UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):  February 28, 2012

 


Brown & Brown, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 


 

 

Florida

001-13619

59-0864469

(State or Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

220 South Ridgewood Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (386) 252-9601

 

                      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:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


 


 

Item 5.03              Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On February 28, 2012, the Board of Directors of Brown & Brown, Inc. (the "Company") amended the Company's Bylaws effective as of such date to change the voting standard for the election of directors in uncontested elections from a plurality to a majority voting standard.  This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Bylaws, included as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01              Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits.

 

The following exhibit is filed herewith:

 

Exhibit No.    Description

3.2                    Bylaws of Brown & Brown, Inc., as amended on February 28, 2012

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

                                                                                                        Brown & Brown, Inc.              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                                  /S/ CORY T. WALKER                                                   

March 2, 2012                                                                             By:                                                                                  

                                                                                                                Cory T. Walker                                                                    

                                                                                                                Sr. Vice President, Treasurer and

                                                                                                                Chief Financial Officer

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.    Description

3.2                    Bylaws of Brown & Brown, Inc., as amended on February 28, 2012.

AS AMENDED EFFECTIVE AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2012

BY-LAWS

BROWN & BROWN, INC.

ARTICLE I

SHAREHOLDERS

Section 1.         Annual Meetings of Shareholders

            The annual meeting of the Shareholders for the election of the Board of Directors and the transaction of such further business as may come before the meeting shall be held at the Company's offices on the fourth Thursday of April each year (or in the event such day is a legal holiday, on the day next following which is not a legal holiday), unless by resolution of the Board of Directors in any year a different time is designated.  Meetings of the shareholders may be held either within or without the State of Florida.

Section 2.         Special Meetings of Shareholders

            Special meetings of the shareholders may be called by the President or the Board of Directors whenever he or they deem it proper and shall be called by the President or by the Board of Directors upon the written request of shareholders holding a majority of common stock outstanding.  Such meetings may be held either within or without the State.

Section 3.         Notice of Meetings of Shareholders

            A notice of each meeting of shareholders, signed by the Secretary, shall be mailed to each shareholder having the right and entitled to vote at such meeting, at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date set for the meeting.  If any such shareholder's address is unknown, notice shall be given by advertising once, in some newspaper published in Tampa, Florida within the time above specified for served or mailed notice.  If any shareholder shall transfer any of his stock after notice, it shall not be necessary to notify the transferee.  Any shareholder, however, may waive notice of any meeting, either before, at or after such meeting.

Section 4.         Qualification of Voters

            The directors may fix a date not more than 70 days prior to the date set for such meeting as the record date of which the shareholders of record who have the right to and are entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any adjournment thereof shall be determined.

Section 5.         Proxy and Voting

            Shareholders who are qualified to vote may vote at any meeting, either in person or, if absent, by proxy in writings which shall be filed with the Secretary of the meeting before being voted.  Each common shareholder shall be entitled to as many votes as he  holds shares of stock.

Each director to be elected by shareholders shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and actually cast with respect to the director; provided, however, that if the board of directors determines that the election is contested then directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For the purposes of this Section 5 of Article I, a "majority of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and actually cast" shall mean that the number of shares voted "for" a director's election exceeds 50% of the number of votes actually cast with respect to that director's election. Votes actually cast shall include votes where the authority to cast a vote for the director's election is explicitly withheld and exclude abstentions with respect to that director's election.

If a nominee for director who is an incumbent director is not elected and no successor has been elected at such meeting, the director shall promptly tender his or her conditional resignation following certification of the shareholder vote. The nominating/corporate governance committee shall consider the resignation offer and recommend to the board of directors whether to accept it. The nominating/corporate governance committee and the board of directors may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept a director's resignation. The board of directors will endeavor to act on the nominating/corporate governance committee's recommendation within 90 days following the nominating/corporate governance committee's recommendation. Thereafter, the board of directors will promptly disclose its decision whether to accept the director's resignation offer (and the reasons for rejecting the resignation offer, if applicable) in a Report on Form 8-K or by a press release disseminated in the manner that company press releases typically are distributed. Any director who tenders his or her resignation pursuant to this provision shall not participate in the nominating/corporate governance committee recommendation or board of directors action regarding whether to accept the resignation offer. However, if each member of the nominating/corporate governance committee received a majority withheld vote at the same uncontested election, then the independent directors who did not receive a majority withheld vote shall appoint a committee amongst themselves to consider the resignation offer and recommend to the board of directors whether to accept them. However, if the only directors who did not receive a majority withheld vote in the same election constitute three or fewer directors, all directors may participate in the action regarding whether to accept the resignation offers. If a director's resignation is accepted by the board of directors pursuant to this Section 5 of Article I, or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the board of directors, in its sole discretion, may fill any resulting vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of Article II of these bylaws or may decrease the size of the board of directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 1 of Article II of these bylaws.

Section 6.         Quorum

            At any meeting of the shareholders a majority in interest of all the common stock issued and outstanding represented by shareholders of record in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  A less interest may adjourn any meeting and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, provided however, that directors shall not be elected at meetings so adjourned.  Any question may be considered and acted upon at an annual meeting of the shareholders, but no question not stated in the call for a special meeting shall be acted upon thereat except by the written consent to the holders of a majority of the outstanding common stock, said consent to be filed with the records of the Corporation. 

ARTICLE II

  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1.         Number and Qualifications of Directors

            The Board of Directors shall consist of nine (9) in number to be elected annually at the meeting of the shareholders by a majority of the shares voted.  The number may be increased or diminished from time to time, by resolution of the Board of Directors, but shall never be less than three (3).  It shall not be necessary for directors to be shareholders, but all directors shall be of full age and at least one shall be a citizen of the United States.  A director shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified.

Section 2.         Meetings of Directors

            The Board of Directors shall hold its regular and its special meetings at such times and places, within or without the state, as they deem to be to the best interest of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors shall fix the time and place of its regular meetings.  The President or any two directors may call special meetings of the Board of Directors but the President shall call a special meeting or meetings whenever requested in writing so to do by the holders of a majority of the stock then outstanding.  The Board of Directors may conduct meetings by means of a conference telephone hookup.

Section 2A.      Action by Written Consent

            Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a Committee may be taken by written consent, without a meeting, if the action is taken by all of the members of the Board or the Committee.  The action shall be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken and shall be signed by each director or Committee member.

Section 3.         Notice of Meetings of Board of Directors

            After the Board of Directors has determined the time and place for regular meetings no notice thereof need be given.  Notice of special meetings, stating the time and place thereof, shall be given to each director by mailing the same special delivery and, if it will expedite the notice, airmail, at his residence or business address at least two (2) days before the meeting, or by delivering the same to him personally or telegraphing or telecopying the same to him at his residence or business address not later than the day before the day on which the meeting is to be held, unless in case of emergency the President shall prescribe a shorter notice to be given personally, by telephone, telegram  or by telecopy.  The meeting of the Board of Directors for the election of officers may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of the shareholders and at the same place.  Any director may waive notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors either before, at or after such meeting.

Section 4.         Powers of Directors

            The Board of Directors shall have the entire management of the business of the Corporation.  In the management and control of the property, business and affairs of the Corporation, the Board of Directors is hereby vested with all the powers possessed by the Corporation itself, so far as this delegation of authority is not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Florida, with the Certificate of Incorporation or with these By-Laws.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to determine what constitutes net earnings, profits, and surplus, respectively, what amount shall be reserved for working capital and for any other purposes and what amount shall be declared as dividends, and such determination by the Board of Directors shall be final and conclusive.  The Board of Directors shall also have power to determine what amounts, if any, shall be borrowed by the Corporation and upon what terms, conditions or security and shall be authorized to incur such indebtedness as they may deem necessary and to authorize the execution thereof by the officers of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution, designate two or more of their number to constitute an executive committee, who, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors.

Section 5.         Vacancies

            When for any reason the office of a director shall become vacant, the remaining directors shall by a majority vote elect a successor who shall hold office until his successor is elected and has qualified.  Vacancies resulting from an increase in the number of directors may be filled in the same manner.

Section 6.         Quorum of Directors

            A majority of the members of the Board of Directors is required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lesser number  (not less than two) may adjourn any meeting and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.  When a quorum is present at any meeting, the act of the majority of the directors present shall be the act of f the Board of Directors and this shall be true even if no notice of such meeting shall have been given, provided a majority of the Board shall waive, as hereinabove provided, the giving of such notice.

Section 7.         Resignation or Removal

            Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if the time not be specified therein, upon its acceptance by the Board of Directors.  The shareholders at any meeting called for the purpose by vote of a majority of the common stock issued and outstanding may remove from office any director elected by the shareholders or Board of Directors and elect his successor.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 1.         Election and Qualification

            The Officers of this Corporation shall consist of a Chairman of the Board, a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and one of more additional Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers or such other officers as the Board of Directors may provide.  All of such officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors immediately after the annual meeting of the shareholders.  None of the officers need be directors.  The same person may hold more than one office, except those of President and Secretary or Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fill any vacancy in any office.

             The Board of Directors shall have full authority to fix the compensation of all officers.  All officers shall hold office until their successors are elected and have qualified.

Section 2.         Chairman of the Board

            The Chairman of the Board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board, President or Vice President, unless some other person is specifically authorized by vote of the Board of Directors, shall sign all Certificates of stocks, bonds, deeds, mortgages, leases, or any other written instruments of the Corporation.  He shall perform all the duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall designate.

Section 2A.      President

            The President shall preside at meetings of the shareholders and/or directors in the absence, sickness or other disability of the Chairman of the Board. The President shall perform all the duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall designate.

Section 3.         Vice President

            The Vice President shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President (other than those as specified as duties of the Chairman of the Board) during the absence, sickness, or other disability of the President.  In addition, he shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate.

Section 4.         Secretary

            The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors and shall perform all the duties commonly incident to his office and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate.  The Secretary shall have charge of the Corporate Seal and shall, if requested to do so, attest written instruments of the Corporation executed by the President or the Chairman the Board and affix the Corporate Seal thereto.  In the absence of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary shall perform the aforesaid duties.

Section 5.         Treasurer

            The Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the care and custody of the money, funds, valuable papers and documents of the Corporation and shall have and exercise under the supervision of the Board of Directors all the powers and duties commonly incident to his office.  He shall keep accurate accounts of the Corporation's transactions which shall be the property of the Corporation.

Section 6.         Resignation and Removal

            Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary of the Corporation.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or if the time be not specified therein upon its acceptance by the Board of Directors.  The shareholders at any meeting called for the purpose by vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding may remove from office any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors and elect or appoint his successor.  The Board of Directors by vote of not less than a majority of the entire Board may remove from office any officer or agent elected or appointed by it. 

ARTICLE IV

STOCK

Section 1.         Certificate of Stock

            Certificates shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or the President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and sealed with the seal of the Corporation.  The seal may be facsimile, engraved or printed.  When such Certificate is signed by a transfer agent or by a registrar, the signature of any of those officers named herein may be facsimile.  Shares of stock may be transferable only by the registered holder thereof in person or by his attorney duly authorized in writing at the office of an authorized transfer agent of the Corporation upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares.

Section 2.         Stock Register

            A stock book, stock records or register shall be kept at the office of the Corporation in Florida, or in the office of one or more of its transfer agents or registrars, containing the names, alphabetically arranged, with the address, of every shareholder, showing the number of shares of stock held of record by him.  If the stock records are kept in the office of a transfer agent or registrar, the Corporation shall keep at its office in Florida copies of the stock list prepared from the stock records and sent to it from time to time by said transfer agent or registrar.

Section 3.         Defaced or Mutilated Stock Certificates

            A new certificate may be issued in lieu of any certificate previously issued that may be defaced or mutilated, upon surrender for cancellation of the part of the old certificate sufficient, in the opinion of the Secretary, to protect the Corporation against loss or liability.

Section 4.         Loss of Stock Certificates

            In case of loss of any certificate of stock, the owner, before obtaining a duplicate thereof, shall be required to make affidavit that the stock has been lost, stolen or destroyed, describing the same accurately, which affidavit shall be filed with the Treasurer and shall be further required to give to the Corporation a bond or indemnity agreement satisfactory to the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V

SEAL

Section 1.         Description of Seal

            The corporate seal of the Corporation shall bear the words BROWN & BROWN, INC., and the word "FLORIDA", which shall be between two concentric circles, and on the inside the inner circle shall be the words "CORPORATE SEAL" and figures "1959", an impression of the said seal appearing on the margin hereof.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENTS

Section 1.         Method of Amendment or Change

            These By-Laws may be amended or repealed and additional By-Laws added or adopted by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors so long as the proposed action is not inconsistent with any By-Laws which may have been adopted by any shareholders meeting by a vote of the majority of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Corporation.  These By-Laws may be amended or repealed at any shareholders meeting by a vote of the majority of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.         Indemnification of Directors and Officers

            Every person who now is or hereafter may be a director or officer of this Corporation, or a director or officer of any other corporation serving as such at the request of this Corporation because of this Corporation's interest as a shareholder or creditor of such other corporation, shall be indemnified by this Corporation against all costs and amounts of liability therefor and expenses, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him in connection with or resulting from any action, suit, proceeding or claim of whatever nature to which he is or shall be made a party by reason of his being or having been a director or officer of this Corporation or for such other corporation (whether or not he is such director or such officer at the time he is made a party to such action, suit, proceeding or claim or at the time such costs, expenses, amounts or liability therefor are incurred by or imposed upon him), provide that such indemnification shall not apply with respect to any matter as to which such director or officer shall be finally adjudged in such action, suit, proceeding or claim to have been individually guilty of gross negligence or wilful malfeasance in the performance of his duty as such director or officer and provided further that the indemnification herein provided shall, with respect to any settlement of any such suit, action, proceeding or claim, include reimbursement of any amounts paid and expenses reasonably incurred in settling any such suit, action, proceeding or claim when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors of this Corporation, such settlement and reimbursement appeared to be for the best interests of this Corporation.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of any and all other rights as to which any such director or officer may be entitled under any agreement, vote of shareholders or others.

Section 2.         Validity of Certain Contracts

            No contract other transaction between this Corporation and any other association, firm corporation (whether or not a majority of the ownership or capital stock of such other association, firm or corporation shall be owned by this Corporation), shall in any way be affected or invalidated by the fact that any of the directors or officers this Corporation are pecuniarily or otherwise interest in, or are directors or officer such other association, firm or corporation; any director of officer of this Corporation, individually, may be a party to or may be pecuniarily or otherwise interested in any contract or transaction of this Corporation; and any director of this Corporation who is also a director of officer of such other corporation, or who is so interested, may be counted in determinate into existence of a quorum at the meeting of the Board Directors of this Corporation which shall authorize or confirm any such contract or transaction and may vote thereat to authorize or confirm any such contract or transaction with like force and effect as if he were not such director officer of such other corporation or not so interested; and each and every person who may become a director or officer of this Corporation is hereby relieve from any liability that might otherwise exist from thus contracting with this Corporation of the benefit of himself or any person, firm, association or corporation in which he may be in any way - interested; provided, however, in any said contract or transaction there shall be an absence of actual fraud.