RYAN SPECIALTY HOLDINGS, INC. (RYAN) FY 2024 MD&A
This page reproduces the company's own Item 7 MD&A text from the linked SEC filing. It is filer text, not grepcent analysis, scoring, or investment advice.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating
results, financial condition, liquidity, and cash flows of the Company as of and for the periods presented below. The
following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the
related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The discussion contains forward-looking statements
that are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our
management. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in or implied by forward-looking statements as a
result of various factors, including those discussed below and in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Information
Concerning Forward-Looking Statements”.
The following discussion provides commentary on the financial results derived from our audited financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition,
we regularly review the following Non-GAAP measures when assessing performance: Organic revenue growth rate,
Adjusted compensation and benefits expense, Adjusted compensation and benefits expense ratio, Adjusted general and
administrative expense, Adjusted general and administrative expense ratio, Adjusted EBITDAC, Adjusted EBITDAC
margin, Adjusted net income, Adjusted net income margin, and Adjusted diluted earnings per share. See “Non-GAAP
Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators” for further information.
Overview
Founded by Patrick G. Ryan in 2010, we are a service provider of specialty products and solutions for insurance
brokers, agents, and carriers. We provide distribution, underwriting, product development, administration, and risk
management services by acting as a wholesale broker and a managing underwriter or a program administrator with
delegated authority from insurance carriers. Our mission is to provide industry-leading innovative specialty insurance
solutions for insurance brokers, agents, and carriers.
For retail insurance agents and brokers, we assist in the placement of complex or otherwise hard-to-place risks.
For insurance carriers, we work with retail and wholesale insurance brokers to source, onboard, underwrite, and service
these same types of risks. A significant majority of the premiums we place are bound in the E&S market, which includes
Lloyd’s of London. There is often significantly more flexibility in terms, conditions, and rates in the E&S market relative
to the Admitted or “standard” insurance market. We believe that the additional freedom to craft bespoke terms and
conditions in the E&S market allows us to best meet the needs of our trading partners, provide unique solutions, and drive
innovation. We believe our success has been achieved by providing best-in-class intellectual capital, leveraging our trusted
and long-standing relationships and developing differentiated solutions at a scale unmatched by many of our competitors.
Significant Events and Transactions
Corporate Structure
We are a holding company and our sole material asset is a controlling equity interest in New LLC, which is also
a holding company and its sole material asset is a controlling equity interest in the LLC. The Company operates and
controls the business and affairs of, and consolidates the financial results of, the LLC through New LLC. We conduct our
business through the LLC. As the LLC is substantively the same as New LLC, for the purpose of this discussion, we will
refer to both New LLC and the LLC as the “LLC.”
The LLC is a limited liability company taxed as a partnership for income tax purposes, and its taxable income
or loss is passed through to its members, including the Company. The LLC is subject to income taxes on its taxable income
in certain foreign countries, in certain state and local jurisdictions that impose income taxes on partnerships, and on the
taxable income of its U.S. corporate subsidiaries. As a result of our ownership of LLC Common Units, we are subject to
U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income of the LLC and are
taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates. We intend to cause the LLC to make distributions in an amount sufficient to
allow us to pay our tax obligations and operating expenses, including distributions to fund any ordinary course payments
due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Tax Receivable Agreement” for
additional information about the TRA.
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ACCELERATE 2025 Program
During the first quarter of 2023, we initiated the ACCELERATE 2025 program to enable continued growth,
drive innovation, and deliver sustainable productivity improvements over the long term. The program concluded in the
fourth quarter of 2024 and resulted in $108.1 million of cumulative one-time charges through December 31, 2024, funded
through operating cash flow. Restructuring costs were primarily included in Compensation and benefits expense,
predominantly relating to third-party contractor and other workforce-related costs. The remaining costs were incurred
through General and administrative expense, relating to third-party professional services, lease and contract terminations
costs, and other expenses. As of December 31, 2024, we undertook actions that we expect to generate annual savings of
approximately $60 million in 2025. See “Note 5, Restructuring” in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements in
this Annual Report for further discussion.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, we incurred restructuring costs of $59.7 million. Combined with
restructuring costs incurred during 2023, we have incurred restructuring costs of $108.1 million since the inception of this
restructuring plan in the first quarter of 2023. Of the cumulative $108.1 million in costs, $62.5 million was Compensation
and benefits expense with the remaining balance consisted of General and administrative expense. The final results of the
ACCELERATE 2025 program were in line with previously communicated expectations.
Acquisitions
On May 1, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of the MGU platform Castel Underwriting Agencies
Limited (“Castel”). Castel is headquartered in London, England, with additional offices and operations in the Netherlands,
Belgium, and Singapore.
On August 30, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of US Assure Insurance Services of Florida, Inc.
(“US Assure”), a program specializing in builder’s risk insurance headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
On September 1, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of certain assets of Greenhill Underwriting
Insurance Services, LLC (“Greenhill”), an MGU focused on the allied health industry headquartered in Houston, Texas.
On September 13, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of the Property and Casualty (“P&C”) MGUs
owned by Ethos Specialty Insurance, LLC (“Ethos P&C”). Ethos P&C is composed of eight programs which underwrite on
behalf of insurance carriers.
On October 1, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of certain assets of EverSports & Entertainment
Insurance, Inc. (“EverSports”), an MGU focused on sports, leisure and entertainment risks based in Carmel, Indiana.
On October 2, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of certain assets of Geo Underwriting Europe BV
(“Geo”), a financial lines MGA based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with operations in Germany.
On November 4, 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of Innovisk Capital Partners (“Innovisk”), a
portfolio of seven specialty MGUs with a focus on environmental, transactional liability, US and international financial
lines, professional liability for lawyers, commercial auto liability, and UK professional indemnity and P&C. Innovisk is
headquartered in London, England, and also has offices in the United States and India.
On February 3, 2025, the Company completed the acquisition of Velocity Risk Underwriters, LLC
(“Velocity”), an MGU specializing in first-party insurance coverage for catastrophe exposed properties based in Nashville,
Tennessee.
We believe these acquisitions complement our product capabilities, enhance our human capital, expand our
total addressable market, and provide us access to new markets in new geographies. See “Note 4, Mergers and
Acquisitions” in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for further discussion.
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Key Factors Affecting Our Performance
Our historical financial performance has been, and we expect our financial performance in the future to be,
driven by our ability to:
Pursue Strategic Acquisitions
We have successfully integrated businesses complementary to our own to increase both our distribution reach
and our product and service capabilities. We continuously evaluate acquisitions and intend to further pursue targeted
acquisitions that complement our product and service capabilities or provide us access to new markets. We have previously
made, and intend to continue to make, acquisitions with the objective of enhancing our human capital and product and
service capabilities, entering natural adjacencies, and expanding our geographic presence. Our ability to successfully
pursue strategic acquisitions is dependent upon a number of factors, including sustained execution of a disciplined and
selective acquisition strategy which requires acquisition targets to have a cultural and strategic fit, competition for these
assets, purchase price multiples that we deem appropriate and our ability to effectively integrate targeted companies or
assets and grow our business. We do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions at this time.
Deepen and Broaden our Relationships with Retail Broker Trading Partners
We have deep engagement with our retail broker trading partners, and we believe we have the ability to transact
in even greater volume with nearly all of them. For example, in 2024, our revenue derived from the Top 100 firms (as
ranked by Business Insurance) expanded faster than our Organic revenue growth rate of 12.8%. Our ability to deepen and
broaden relationships with our retail broker trading partners and increase sales is dependent upon a number of factors,
including client satisfaction with our distribution reach and our product capabilities, retail brokers continuing to require or
desire our services, competition, pricing, economic conditions, and spending on our product offerings.
Build Our Delegated Authority Business
We believe there is substantial opportunity to continue to grow our Delegated Authority business, which
includes both our Binding Authority Specialty and Underwriting Management Specialty. We believe that both M&A
consolidation and panel consolidation are in nascent stages for Binding Authority. We believe that both M&A
consolidation and the use and reliance on scaled delegated Underwriting Management will continue to grow. Our ability to
grow this business is dependent upon a number of factors, including a continuing ability to secure sufficient capital support
from insurers, the quality of our services and product offerings, marketing and sales efforts to drive new business prospects
and execution, new product offerings, the pricing and quality of our competitors’ offerings, and the growth in demand for
the insurance products.
Invest in Operation and Growth
We have invested heavily in building a durable business that is able to adapt to the continuously evolving E&S
market and intend to continue to do so. We are focused on enhancing the breadth of our product and service offerings as
well as developing and launching new solutions to address the evolving needs of the specialty insurance industry and
markets. Our future success is dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to successfully develop, market,
and sell existing and new products and services to both new and existing trading partners.
Generate Commission Regardless of the State of the E&S Market
We earn commissions, which are calculated as a percentage of the total insurance policy premium, and fees.
Changes in the insurance market or specialty lines that are our focus, characterized by a period of increasing (or declining)
premium rates, could positively (or negatively) impact our profitability.
Managing Changing Macroeconomic Conditions
Growth in certain lines of business, such as project-based construction and M&A transactional liability
insurance, is partially dependent on a variety of macroeconomic factors inasmuch as binding the underlying insurance
coverage is subject to the underlying activity occurring. In light of the recent geopolitical developments, we could
experience macroeconomic uncertainty and volatility that could lead to an unexpected impact to our business. In periods of
economic growth and liquid credit markets, this underlying activity can accelerate and provide tailwinds to our growth. In
periods of economic decline and tight credit markets, this underlying activity can slow or be delayed and provide
headwinds to our growth. We believe over the long term these lines of business will continue to grow.
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Leverage the Growth of the E&S Market
The growing relevance of the E&S market has been driven by the rapid emergence of large, complex, high-
hazard, and otherwise hard-to-place risks across many lines of insurance. This trend continued in 2024, with $110 billion of
insured catastrophe losses, driven by over $50 billion of insured losses related to severe convective storms (“SCS”) with 17
SCS events above $1 billion in losses, which together accounted for the second-highest annual total for insured losses on
record for SCS events. The year also included ice storms across the country and continued wildfire-related losses. In
addition to the SCS events, Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused over $35 billion in insured losses. Additionally, these
risks include the potential for more severe hurricanes that occur with greater frequency, more devastating wildfires, more
frequent flooding, escalating jury verdicts and social inflation, geographic shifts in population density, a proliferation of
cyber threats, novel health risks, risks associated with large sports and entertainment venues, building and labor cost
inflation relative to insured value, and the transformation of the economy to a “digital first” mode of doing business. We
believe that as the complexity of the E&S market continues to escalate, wholesale brokers and managing underwriters that
do not have sufficient scale, or the financial and intellectual capital to invest in the required specialty capabilities, will
struggle to compete effectively. This will further the trend of market share consolidation among the wholesale firms that do
have these capabilities. We will continue to invest in our intellectual capital to innovate and offer custom solutions and
products to better address these evolving market fundamentals.
Although we believe this growth will continue, we recognize that the growth of the E&S market might not be
linear as risks can and do shift between the E&S and non-E&S markets as market factors change and evolve. For example,
we benefited from a rapid increase in both the flow of property risks into the wholesale channel and the premium rate
charged for those risks in 2023 as the frequency and severity of catastrophe losses, attritional losses, and losses from
secondary perils such as severe convective storms, economic inflation, concentration of exposures, higher retentions of
risk, and higher reinsurance costs applied pressure to insurers and capacity tightened. In the second half of 2024, the E&S
market experienced a shift in these trends as insurance capacity for these property risks increased, particularly at the end of
the year, which resulted in a decline in property premium rates. We believe these factors have also created opportunities for
retailers to place some of that coverage directly.
Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Net Commissions and Fees
Net commissions and fees are derived primarily from our three Specialties and are paid for our role as an
intermediary in facilitating the placement of coverage for our retail and wholesale broker clients in the insurance
distribution chain. Net commissions and policy fees are generally calculated as a percentage of the total insurance policy
premium placed, although fees can often be a fixed amount irrespective of the premium, and we also receive supplemental
commissions based on the volume placed or profitability of a book of business. We share a portion of these net
commissions and policy fees with the retail insurance broker and recognize revenue on a net basis. Additionally, carriers
may also pay us a contingent commission or volume-based commission, both of which represent forms of contingent or
supplemental consideration associated with the placement of coverage and are based primarily on underwriting results, but
may also contain considerations for only volume, growth, and/or retention. Although we have compensation arrangements
called contingent commissions in all three Specialties that are based in whole or in part on the underwriting performance,
we do not take any direct insurance risk other than through our equity method investment in Geneva Re through Ryan
Investment Holdings, LLC. We also receive loss mitigation and other fees, some of which are not dependent on the
placement of a risk.
In our Wholesale Brokerage and Binding Authority Specialties, we generally work with retail insurance brokers
to secure insurance coverage for their clients, who are the ultimate insured party. Our Wholesale Brokerage and Binding
Authority Specialties generate revenues through commissions and fees from clients, as well as through supplemental
commissions, which may be contingent commissions or volume-based commissions from carriers. Commission rates and
fees vary depending upon several factors, which may include the amount of premium, the type of insurance coverage
provided, the particular services provided to a client or carrier, and the capacity in which we act. Payment terms are
consistent with current industry practice.
In our Underwriting Management Specialty, we utilize delegated underwriting authority granted to us by
carriers and generally work with retail and wholesale insurance brokers, including our own Wholesale Brokerage, to secure
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insurance coverage for the ultimate insured party. Our Underwriting Management Specialty generates revenues through
commissions and fees from clients and through contingent commissions from carriers. Commission rates and fees vary
depending upon several factors including the premium, the type of coverage, and additional services provided to the client.
Payment terms are consistent with current industry practice.
Fiduciary Investment Income
Fiduciary investment income consists of interest earned on insurance premiums and surplus lines taxes that are
held in a fiduciary capacity, in cash and cash equivalents, until disbursed.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits is our largest expense. It consists of (i) salary, incentives and benefits to employees,
and commissions to our producers and (ii) equity-based compensation associated with the grants of awards to employees,
executive officers, and directors. We operate in competitive markets for human capital and we need to maintain
competitive compensation levels in order to maintain and grow our talent base.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense includes travel and entertainment expenses, office expenses, accounting,
foreign exchange, legal, insurance and other professional fees, and other costs associated with our operations. Our
occupancy-related costs and professional services expenses, in particular, generally increase or decrease in relative
proportion to the number of our employees and the overall size and scale of our business operations.
Amortization
Amortization expense consists primarily of amortization related to intangible assets we acquired in connection
with our acquisitions. Intangible assets consist of customer relationships, trade names, and internally developed software.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net consists of interest payable on indebtedness, amortization of the Company’s interest rate
cap, imputed interest on contingent consideration, and amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, offset by interest
income on the Company’s Cash and cash equivalents balances and payments received in relation to the interest rate cap.
Other Non-Operating Loss
For the year ended December 31, 2024, Other non-operating loss included expense related to Term Loan
modifications and TRA contractual interest and related charges offset by income related to a decrease in our blended state
tax rates and foreign tax credit impact on the TRA remeasurement and sublease income. For the years ended December 31,
2023 and 2022, Other non-operating loss included charges related to the change in the TRA liability caused by a change in
our blended state tax rates.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense includes tax on the Company’s allocable share of any net taxable income from the LLC,
from certain state and local jurisdictions that impose taxes on partnerships, as well as earnings from our foreign
subsidiaries and C-Corporations subject to entity level taxation.
Non-Controlling Interest
Net income and Other comprehensive income (loss) are attributed to the non-controlling interests based on the
weighted-average LLC Common Units outstanding during the period and is presented on the Consolidated Statements of
Income. Refer to “Note 10, Stockholders’ Equity” of the audited consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for
more information.
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Results of Operations
Below is a summary table of the financial results and Non-GAAP measures that we find relevant to our
business operations:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages and per share data) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Revenue | |||||
| Net commissions and fees | $2,455,671 | $2,026,596 | $1,711,861 | ||
| Fiduciary investment income | 60,039 | 50,953 | 13,332 | ||
| Total revenue | $2,515,710 | $2,077,549 | $1,725,193 | ||
| Expenses | |||||
| Compensation and benefits | 1,591,077 | 1,321,029 | 1,128,981 | ||
| General and administrative | 352,050 | 276,181 | 196,971 | ||
| Amortization | 157,845 | 106,799 | 103,601 | ||
| Depreciation | 9,785 | 9,038 | 5,690 | ||
| Change in contingent consideration | (22,859) | 5,421 | 442 | ||
| Total operating expenses | $2,087,898 | $1,718,468 | $1,435,685 | ||
| Operating income | $427,812 | $359,081 | $289,508 | ||
| Interest expense, net | 158,448 | 119,507 | 104,829 | ||
| Loss (income) from equity method investment in related party | (18,231) | (8,731) | 414 | ||
| Other non-operating loss | 15,041 | 10,380 | 5,073 | ||
| Income before income taxes | $272,554 | $237,925 | $179,192 | ||
| Income tax expense | 42,641 | 43,445 | 15,935 | ||
| Net income | $229,913 | $194,480 | $163,257 | ||
| GAAP financial measures | |||||
| Revenue | $2,515,710 | $2,077,549 | $1,725,193 | ||
| Compensation and benefits | 1,591,077 | 1,321,029 | 1,128,981 | ||
| General and administrative | 352,050 | 276,181 | 196,971 | ||
| Net income | 229,913 | 194,480 | 163,257 | ||
| Total revenue growth rate | 21.1% | 20.4% | 20.4% | ||
| Compensation and benefits expense ratio (1) | 63.2% | 63.6% | 65.4% | ||
| General and administrative expense ratio (2) | 14.0% | 13.3% | 11.4% | ||
| Net income margin (3) | 9.1% | 9.4% | 9.5% | ||
| Earnings per share (4) | $0.78 | $0.53 | $0.57 | ||
| Diluted earnings per share (4) | $0.71 | $0.52 | $0.52 | ||
| Non-GAAP financial measures* | |||||
| Organic revenue growth rate | 12.8% | 15.4% | 16.8% | ||
| Adjusted compensation and benefits expense | $1,426,674 | $1,222,342 | $1,021,823 | ||
| Adjusted compensation and benefits expense ratio | 56.7% | 58.8% | 59.2% | ||
| Adjusted general and administrative expense | $277,813 | $230,467 | $185,956 | ||
| Adjusted general and administrative expense ratio | 11.0% | 11.1% | 10.8% | ||
| Adjusted EBITDAC | $811,223 | $624,740 | $517,414 | ||
| Adjusted EBITDAC margin | 32.2% | 30.1% | 30.0% | ||
| Adjusted net income | $493,521 | $375,582 | $311,991 | ||
| Adjusted net income margin | 19.6% | 18.1% | 18.1% | ||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | $1.79 | $1.38 | $1.15 |
(1)Compensation and benefits expense ratio is defined as Compensation and benefits expense divided by Total revenue.
(2)General and administrative expense ratio is defined as General and administrative expense divided by Total revenue.
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(3)Net income margin is defined as Net income divided by Total revenue.
(4)See “Note 12, Earnings Per Share” in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for
further discussion of how these metrics are calculated.
* These measures are Non-GAAP. Please refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key
Performance Indicators” below for definitions and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measure.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Revenue
Total Revenue
Total revenue increased by $438.2 million, or 21.1%, from $2,077.5 million to $2,515.7 million, for the year
ended December 31, 2024, as compared to the prior year. The following were the principal drivers of the increase:
•$252.2 million, or 12.1%, of the period-over-period change in Total revenue was due to
organic revenue growth in Net commissions and fees. Organic revenue growth represents
the change in Net commissions and fees revenue, as compared to the same period for the
year prior, adjusted for Net commissions and fees attributable to recent acquisitions during
the first twelve months of Ryan Specialty’s ownership, and other adjustments such as the
removal of the impact of contingent commissions and the impact of changes in foreign
exchange rates. In aggregate, our net commission rates were consistent period-over-period.
Also, we grew our client relationships, in aggregate, within each of our three Specialties.
The growth of these relationships is due to the combination of a growing E&S market and
winning new business from competitors. Growth for the year was balanced across our
property and casualty portfolios within our three Specialties, driven by an increase in the
flow of risks into the E&S market. This growth was partially offset by a number of factors,
none of which were individually significant such as (i) a continued decline throughout the
year in Net commissions and fees generated from the placement of public company D&O
insurance policies, related to a slow-down in IPO activity and an associated rapid premium
rate decrease and (ii) in the second half of 2024 a shift in property trends as capacity
become more readily available, which resulted in a decline in property premium rates. We
believe these factors have also created opportunities for retailers to place some of these
property risk coverages directly.
•$142.0 million, or 6.8%, of the period-over-period change in Total revenue was due to the
2023 and 2024 acquisitions related to our first twelve months of ownership;
•$34.9 million, or 1.7%, of the period-over-period change in Net commissions and fees was
due to changes in contingent commissions and the impact of foreign exchange rates on our
Net commissions and fees; and
•$9.1 million, or 0.5%, of the period-over-period change in Total revenue was due to an
increase in Fiduciary investment income, caused by a rise in fiduciary cash balances
compared to the prior year.
| Year Ended December 31, | Period over Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | % oftotal | 2023 | % oftotal | Change | ||||||
| Wholesale Brokerage | $1,489,077 | 60.6% | $1,319,056 | 65.1% | $170,021 | 12.9% | |||||
| Binding Authority | 320,379 | 13.0 | 275,961 | 13.6 | 44,418 | 16.1 | |||||
| Underwriting Management | 646,215 | 26.3 | 431,579 | 21.3 | 214,636 | 49.7 | |||||
| Total Net commissions and fees | $2,455,671 | $2,026,596 | $429,075 | 21.2% |
Wholesale Brokerage net commissions and fees increased by $170.0 million, or 12.9%, period-over-period,
primarily due to strong organic growth within the Specialty.
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Binding Authority net commissions and fees increased by $44.4 million, or 16.1%, period-over-period,
primarily due to strong organic growth within the Specialty.
Underwriting Management net commissions and fees increased by $214.6 million, or 49.7%, period-over-
period, primarily due to strong organic growth within the Specialty as well as contributions from the AccuRisk, Castel, US
Assure, Greenhill, Ethos P&C, EverSports, Geo, and Innovisk acquisitions.
The following table sets forth our revenue by type of commission and fees:
| Year Ended December 31, | Period over Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | % oftotal | 2023 | % oftotal | Change | ||||||
| Net commissions and policy fees | $2,310,384 | 94.1% | $1,935,851 | 95.5% | $374,533 | 19.3% | |||||
| Supplemental and contingent commissions | 88,842 | 3.6 | 56,375 | 2.8 | 32,467 | 57.6 | |||||
| Loss mitigation and other fees | 56,445 | 2.3 | 34,370 | 1.7 | 22,075 | 64.2 | |||||
| Total Net commissions and fees | $2,455,671 | $2,026,596 | $429,075 | 21.2% |
Net commissions and policy fees grew $374.5 million, or 19.3%, period-over-period, slightly lower than the
overall net commissions and fee revenue growth of 21.2% for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the prior
year. The main drivers of this growth continue to be the acquisition of new business and expansion of ongoing client
relationships in response to the increasing demand for new E&S products as well as the inflow of risks from the Admitted
market into the E&S market. In aggregate, we experienced stable commission rates period over period.
Supplemental and contingent commissions increased $32.5 million, or 57.6%, period-over-period driven by the
performance of risks placed on eligible business earning profit-based or volume-based commissions as well as profit
commissions recognized from acquisitions completed in 2024.
Loss mitigation and other fees grew $22.1 million, or 64.2%, period-over-period primarily due to increased
capital markets activity, additional captive management and other risk management services fees from the placement of
alternative risk insurance solutions as well as growth in certain fees related to the ACE, Point6, and AccuRisk acquisitions
completed in the second half of 2023.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits expense increased by $270.0 million, or 20.4%, from $1,321.0 million to
$1,591.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the prior year. The following were the principal
drivers of this increase:
•Commissions increased $91.1 million, or 14.7%, period-over-period, driven by the 21.2%
increase in total Net commissions and fees discussed above;
•An increase of $29.3 million was driven by Acquisition related long-term incentive
compensation expense associated with recent acquisitions;
•An increase of $17.3 million was driven by Restructuring and related expense associated
with the ACCELERATE 2025 program;
•An increase of $11.2 million was driven by Acquisition-related expense associated with
recent acquisitions;
•A net increase of $9.3 million was driven by equity-based compensation, caused by an
increase of $21.0 million in normal course equity-based compensation expense offset by a
decrease of $11.7 million of IPO related expenses; and
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•An increase of $111.8 million was driven by (i) the addition of 938 employees compared to
the prior year, inclusive of acquired employees, and (ii) growth in the business. Overall
headcount increased to 5,295 full-time employees as of December 31, 2024, from 4,357 as
of December 31, 2023.
The net impact of revenue growth and the factors above resulted in a Compensation and benefits expense ratio
decrease of 0.4% from 63.6% to 63.2% period-over-period.
In general, we expect to continue experiencing a rise in commissions, salaries, incentives, and benefits expense
commensurate with our expected growth in business volume, revenue, and headcount.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense increased by $75.9 million, or 27.5%, from $276.2 million to
$352.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 2023. The following were the principal drivers of
this increase:
•$47.4 million was driven by growth in the business. Expenses incurred to accommodate
both organic and inorganic revenue growth include IT, travel and entertainment, occupancy,
and insurance;
•$35.4 million of increased Acquisition-related expense associated with recent and
prospective acquisitions; and
•These increases were partially offset by a $6.9 million decrease compared to the prior year
in Restructuring and related expense associated with the ACCELERATE 2025 program.
The net impact of revenue growth and the factors listed above resulted in a General and administrative expense ratio
increase of 0.7% from 13.3% to 14.0% period-over-period.
Amortization
Amortization expense increased by $51.0 million, or 47.8%, from $106.8 million to $157.8 million for the year
ended December 31, 2024, compared to the prior year. The main driver of the increase was the amortization of intangible
assets from recent acquisitions. Our Customer relationships and Other intangible assets increased by $865.1 million when
comparing the balance as of December 31, 2024, to the balance as of December 31, 2023, the largest individual increase
generated by the US Assure acquisition.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net increased $38.9 million, or 32.6%, from $119.5 million to $158.4 million for the year
ended December 31, 2024, compared to the prior year. The main driver of the increase in Interest expense, net for the year
ended December 31, 2024, was an increase in debt from recent acquisition activity. For the years ended December 31, 2024
and 2023, the reduction to Interest expense, net related to our interest rate cap was $17.8 million and $15.9 million,
respectively. Interest earned on the Company’s Cash and cash equivalents balances offsets Interest expense, net. For the
years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company earned interest income of $21.5 million and $32.0 million,
respectively.
Other Non-Operating Loss
Other non-operating loss increased by $4.6 million from $10.4 million in the prior year to $15.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2024, Other non-operating loss consisted of
$18.1 million of expense related to Term Loan modifications and $1.3 million of TRA contractual interest and related
charges offset by $3.4 million of income related to a decrease in our blended state tax rates and foreign tax credit impact on
the TRA remeasurement and $0.5 million of sublease income. For the year ended December 31, 2023, Other non-operating
loss included a $10.4 million charge related to the change in the TRA liability caused by a change in our blended state tax
rates.
Income Before Income Taxes
Due to the factors above, Income before income taxes increased $34.6 million, or 14.6%, from $237.9 million
to $272.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to the prior year.
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Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense decreased $0.8 million from $43.4 million to $42.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2024, as compared to the prior year primarily due to a $13.9 million deferred tax benefit in 2024 from
equity-based compensation and a $8.8 million decrease in Deferred income tax expense recognized as a result of the
Common Control Reorganizations (“CCRs”) subsequent to the Socius and AccuRisk acquisitions in the second half of
2023 and Innovisk in the fourth quarter of 2024. These CCRs were discrete, non-cash expenses incurred at Ryan Specialty
Holdings, Inc., and the Company’s annual effective tax rate is unaffected. The decrease was partially offset by an increase
in pre-tax book income allocated to the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024, and a decrease in the Company’s
blended state tax rate during 2024 which resulted in increased tax expense recognized related to the change in our Deferred
tax assets.
Net Income
Net income increased $35.4 million, or 18.2%, from $194.5 million to $229.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2024, compared to the prior year as a result of the factors described above.
Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
Revenue
Total Revenue
Total revenue increased by 352.3 million, or 20.4%, from $1,725.2 million to $2,077.5 million, for the year
ended December 31, 2023 as compared to the prior year. The following were the principal drivers of the increase:
•$259.5 million, or 15.0%, of the period-over-period change in Total revenue was due to
organic revenue growth in Net commissions and fees. Organic revenue growth represents
the change in Net commissions and fees revenue, as compared to the same period for the
year prior, adjusted for Net commissions and fees attributable to recent acquisitions during
the first twelve months of Ryan Specialty’s ownership, and other adjustments such as the
removal of the impact of contingent commissions and the impact of changes in foreign
exchange rates. In aggregate, our net commission rates were consistent period-over-period.
Also, we grew our client relationships, in aggregate, within each of our three Specialties.
The growth of these relationships is due to the combination of a growing E&S market and
winning new business from competitors. The largest growth factor in the period was our
property portfolio across our three Specialties, driven by an increase in the pricing for
property insurance as well as an increase in the flow of property risks into the E&S market.
We also experienced growth across the majority of our casualty lines. This growth was
partially offset by a number of factors, none of which were individually significant such as
(i) a decline in Net commissions and fees generated from the placement of public company
D&O insurance policies, related to a slow-down in IPO activity and an associated rapid
premium rate decrease and (ii) a decrease in Net commissions and fees generated from large
commercial construction projects and M&A activity related to a slow-down in underlying
activity during the year;
•$48.2 million, or 2.8%, of the period-over-period change in Total revenue was due to the
acquisitions of Griffin, Centurion, Socius, Point6, and ACE related to their first twelve
months of ownership; and
•$37.6 million, or 2.2%, of the period-over-period change in Total revenue was due to an
increase in Fiduciary investment income, caused by a rise in interest rates compared to the
prior year.
•$7.0 million, or 0.4%, of the period-over-period change in Net commissions and fees was
due to changes in contingent commissions and the impact of foreign exchange rates on our
Net commissions and fees.
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| Year Ended December 31, | Period over Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2023 | % oftotal | 2022 | % oftotal | Change | ||||||
| Wholesale Brokerage | $1,319,056 | 65.1% | $1,129,241 | 66.0% | $189,815 | 16.8% | |||||
| Binding Authority | 275,961 | 13.6 | 231,048 | 13.5 | 44,913 | 19.4 | |||||
| Underwriting Management | 431,579 | 21.3 | 351,572 | 20.5 | 80,007 | 22.8 | |||||
| Total Net commissions and fees | $2,026,596 | $1,711,861 | $314,735 | 18.4% |
Wholesale Brokerage net commissions and fees increased by $189.8 million, or 16.8%, period-over-period,
primarily due to strong organic growth within the Specialty as well as contributions from the Griffin, Centurion, and Socius
acquisitions. Centurion contributed to organic growth starting in November of 2023.
Binding Authority net commissions and fees increased by $44.9 million, or 19.4%, period-over-period,
primarily due to strong organic growth within the Specialty as well as contributions from the Griffin acquisition.
Underwriting Management net commissions and fees increased by $80.0 million, or 22.8%, period-over-period,
primarily due to strong organic growth within the Specialty as well as contributions from the ACE and Point6 acquisitions.
The following table sets forth our revenue by type of commission and fees:
| Year Ended December 31, | Period over Period | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2023 | % oftotal | 2022 | % oftotal | Change | ||||||
| Net commissions and policy fees | $1,935,851 | 95.5% | $1,633,325 | 95.4% | $302,526 | 18.5% | |||||
| Supplemental and contingent commissions | 56,375 | 2.8 | 50,005 | 2.9 | 6,370 | 12.7 | |||||
| Loss mitigation and other fees | 34,370 | 1.7 | 28,531 | 1.7 | 5,839 | 20.5 | |||||
| Total Net commissions and fees | $2,026,596 | $1,711,861 | $314,735 | 18.4% |
Net commissions and policy fees grew $302.5 million, or 18.5%, period-over-period, slightly higher than the
overall net commissions and fee revenue growth of 18.4% for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior
year. The main drivers of this growth continue to be the acquisition of new business and expansion of ongoing client
relationships in response to the increasing demand for new, complex E&S products as well as the inflow of risks from the
Admitted market into the E&S market. In aggregate, we experienced stable commission rates period over period.
Supplemental and contingent commissions increased $6.4 million, or 12.7%, period-over-period driven by the
performance of risks placed on eligible business earning profit-based or volume-based commissions.
Loss mitigation and other fees grew $5.8 million, or 20.5%, period-over-period primarily due to captive
management and other risk management services fees from the placement of alternative risk insurance solutions, and
certain fees related to the acquisitions completed in the second half of 2023.
Expenses
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits expense increased by $192.0 million, or 17.0%, from $1,129.0 million to $1,321.0
million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year. The following were the principal drivers of this
increase:
•Commissions increased $90.5 million, or 17.1%, period-over-period, driven by the 18.4%
increase in total Net commissions and fees discussed above;
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•An increase of $21.9 million was driven by Restructuring and related expense associated
with the ACCELERATE 2025 program;
•An increase of $121.4 million was driven by (i) the addition of 507 employees compared to
the prior year, inclusive of acquired employees, and (ii) growth in the business. Overall
headcount increased to 4,357 full-time employees as of December 31, 2023 from 3,850 as
of December 31, 2022;
•These increases were partially offset by a $26.4 million decrease compared to the prior year
in Acquisition related long-term incentive compensation related to the payoff of the All
Risks LTIP plan in 2022 and a $15.4 million decrease compared to the prior year in IPO
related compensation expense, which reflects charges associated with both the revaluation
of existing equity grants at the time of our IPO as well as expense related to the new awards
issued in connection with the IPO. The expense associated with both the revaluation of
existing awards as well as the issuance of new equity awards both relate directly to the
Organizational Transactions and IPO, however, amounts related to each will continue to be
expensed over future periods as the underlying awards vest.
The net impact of revenue growth and the factors above resulted in a Compensation and benefits expense ratio
decrease of 1.8% from 65.4% to 63.6% period-over-period.
In general, we expect to continue experiencing a rise in commissions, salaries, incentives, and benefits expense
commensurate with our expected growth in business volume, revenue, and headcount.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense increased by $79.2 million, or 40.2%, from $197.0 million to $276.2
million for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to 2022. The following were the principal drivers of this
increase:
•$21.6 million of increased Restructuring and related expense associated with the
ACCELERATE 2025 program;
•$17.1 million of increased travel and entertainment expense compared to the prior year
which was the result of business travel returning to a normalized level;
•$15.7 million of professional services mostly related to service arrangements in connection
with revenue generating activities within our Ryan Re and Keystone operations;
•$14.6 million of increased Acquisition-related expense associated with recent and
prospective acquisitions; and
•The remaining increase of $10.2 million was driven by growth in the business. Such
expenses incurred to accommodate both organic and inorganic revenue growth include IT,
occupancy, and insurance.
The net impact of revenue growth and the factors listed above resulted in a General and administrative expense ratio
increase of 1.9% from 11.4% to 13.3% period-over-period.
Amortization
Amortization expense increased by $3.2 million, or 3.1%, from $103.6 million to $106.8 million for the year
ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year. The main driver for the increase was the amortization of intangible
assets from recent acquisitions. Our Customer relationships and Other intangible assets increased by $124.2 million when
comparing the balance as of December 31, 2023 to the balance as of December 31, 2022.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net increased $14.7 million, or 14.0%, from $104.8 million to $119.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year. The main drivers of the change in Interest expense, net for the year
ended December 31, 2023 were an increase in the floating rate applied to our Term Loan on account of the rising interest
rate environment and the issuance of $400.0 million of Senior Secured Notes on February 3, 2022. Interest earned on the
Company’s Cash and cash equivalents balances offsets Interest expense, net. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and
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2022 the Company earned interest income of $32.0 million and $10.6 million, respectively. On April 7, 2022, the Company
entered into an interest rate cap agreement to manage its exposure to interest rate fluctuations related to the Company’s
Term Loan. The interest rate cap has a $1,000.0 million notional amount, 2.75% strike, and terminates on December 31,
2025. For the year ended December 31, 2023, the net reduction to Interest expense, net related to the cap was $15.9
million.
Other Non-Operating Loss
Other non-operating loss increased by $5.3 million from $5.1 million in the prior year to $10.4 million for the
year ended December 31, 2023. Other non-operating loss included a $10.4 million and $5.6 million charge for the years
ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, related to the change in the TRA liability caused by a change in our
blended state tax rates.
Income Before Income Taxes
Due to the factors above, Income before income taxes increased $58.7 million, or 32.8%, from $179.2 million
to $237.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense increased $27.5 million from $15.9 million to $43.4 million for the year ended December
31, 2023 as compared to the prior year primarily due to $18.4 million of Deferred income tax expense recognized as a
result of the Common Control Reorganizations (“CCRs”) subsequent to the Socius and AccuRisk acquisitions in the
second half of 2023. These CCRs were discrete, non-cash expenses incurred at Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. and the
Company’s annual effective tax rate is unaffected. The remaining increase is due to the increase in pre-tax book income
allocated to the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023. This increase was partially offset by an increase in the
Company’s state tax rate during 2023 which resulted in a tax benefit recognized related to the increase in our Deferred tax
assets.
Net Income
Net income increased $31.2 million, or 19.1%, from $163.3 million to $194.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2023 compared to the prior year as a result of the factors described above.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators
In assessing the performance of our business, we use non-GAAP financial measures that are derived from our
consolidated financial information, but which are not presented in our consolidated financial statements prepared in
accordance with GAAP. We consider these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and
investors to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period by excluding potential differences caused
by variations in capital structures, tax positions, depreciation, amortization, and certain other items that we believe are not
representative of our core business. We use the following non-GAAP measures for business planning purposes, in
measuring our performance relative to that of our competitors, to help investors to understand the nature of our growth, and
to enable investors to evaluate the run-rate performance of the Company. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed
as supplementing, and not as an alternative or substitute for, the consolidated financial statements prepared and presented
in accordance with GAAP. The footnotes to the reconciliation tables below should be read in conjunction with the audited
consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report. Industry peers may provide similar supplemental information but
may not define similarly named metrics in the same way we do and may not make identical adjustments.
Organic Revenue Growth Rate
Organic Revenue Growth Rate is defined as the percentage change in Net commissions and fees, as compared
to the same period for the prior year, adjusted to eliminate revenue attributable to acquisitions for the first twelve months of
Ryan Specialty’s ownership, and other items such as contingent commissions and the impact of changes in foreign
exchange rates.
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For the avoidance of doubt, prior period references in the tables below represent the same period in the prior
year. A reconciliation of Organic revenue growth rate to Net commissions and fees growth rate, the most directly
comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated is as follows (in percentages):
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Current period Net commissions and fees revenue | $2,455,671 | $2,026,596 | $1,711,861 | ||
| Less: Current period contingent commissions | (73,175) | (39,028) | (30,788) | ||
| Net Commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions | $2,382,496 | $1,987,568 | $1,681,073 | ||
| Prior period Net commissions and fees revenue | $2,026,596 | $1,711,861 | $1,432,179 | ||
| Less: Prior period contingent commissions | (39,028) | (30,788) | (22,995) | ||
| Prior period Net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions | $1,987,568 | $1,681,073 | $1,409,184 | ||
| Change in Net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions | $394,928 | $306,494 | $271,890 | ||
| Less: Mergers and acquisitions Net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions | (141,972) | (46,496) | (39,992) | ||
| Impact of change in foreign exchange rates | (791) | (479) | 4,561 | ||
| Organic revenue growth (Non-GAAP) | $252,165 | $259,519 | $236,459 | ||
| Net commissions and fees revenue growth rate (GAAP) | 21.2 % | 18.4 % | 19.5 % | ||
| Less: Impact of contingent commissions (1) | (1.3) | (0.2) | (0.2) | ||
| Net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions growth rate (2) | 19.9 % | 18.2 % | 19.3 % | ||
| Less: Mergers and acquisitions Net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions (3) | (7.1) | (2.8) | (2.8) | ||
| Impact of change in foreign exchange rates (4) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | ||
| Organic Revenue Growth Rate (Non-GAAP) | 12.8 % | 15.4 % | 16.8 % |
(1)Calculated by subtracting Net commissions and fees revenue growth rate from net commissions and fees
revenue excluding contingent commissions growth rate.
(2)Calculated by dividing the change in Total net commissions & fees revenue excluding contingent commissions
by prior year net commissions and fees excluding contingent commissions.
(3)Calculated by taking the mergers and acquisitions net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent
commissions, representing the first 12 months of net commissions and fees revenue generated from
acquisitions, divided by prior period net commissions and fees revenue excluding contingent commissions.
(4)Calculated by taking the change in foreign exchange rates divided by prior period net commissions and fees
revenue excluding contingent commissions.
Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense and Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense Ratio
We define Adjusted compensation and benefits expense as Compensation and benefits expense adjusted to
reflect items such as (i) equity-based compensation, (ii) acquisition and restructuring related compensation expense, and
(iii) other exceptional or non-recurring items, as applicable. The most comparable GAAP financial metric is Compensation
and benefits expense. Adjusted compensation and benefits expense ratio is defined as Adjusted compensation and benefits
expense as a percentage of Total revenue. The most comparable GAAP financial metric is Compensation and benefits
expense ratio.
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A reconciliation of Adjusted compensation and benefits expense and Adjusted compensation and benefits
expense ratio to Compensation and benefits expense and Compensation and benefits expense ratio, the most directly
comparable GAAP measures, for each of the periods indicated, is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Total Revenue | $2,515,710 | $2,077,549 | $1,725,193 | ||
| Compensation and Benefits Expense | $1,591,077 | $1,321,029 | $1,128,981 | ||
| Acquisition-related expense | (15,373) | (4,186) | (122) | ||
| Acquisition related long-term incentive compensation (1) | (24,946) | 4,334 | (22,093) | ||
| Restructuring and related expense | (39,929) | (22,651) | (724) | ||
| Amortization and expense related to discontinued prepaid incentives | (5,160) | (6,441) | (6,738) | ||
| Equity-based compensation | (52,038) | (31,047) | (23,390) | ||
| IPO related expenses | (26,957) | (38,696) | (54,091) | ||
| Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense (2) | $1,426,674 | $1,222,342 | $1,021,823 | ||
| Compensation and Benefits Expense Ratio | 63.2% | 63.6% | 65.4% | ||
| Adjusted Compensation and Benefits Expense Ratio | 56.7% | 58.8% | 59.2% |
(1)In 2023, Acquisition related long-term incentive compensation includes a $6.8 million expense reversal
related to the claw back of an All Risks LTIP payment from a terminated employee.
(2)Adjustments to Compensation and benefits expense are described in the definition of Adjusted EBITDAC to
Net income in “Adjusted EBITDAC and Adjusted EBITDAC Margin”.
Adjusted General and Administrative Expense and Adjusted General and Administrative Expense Ratio
We define Adjusted general and administrative expense as General and administrative expense adjusted to
reflect items such as (i) acquisition and restructuring general and administrative related expense and (ii) other exceptional
or non-recurring items, as applicable. The most comparable GAAP financial metric is General and administrative expense.
Adjusted general and administrative expense ratio is defined as Adjusted general and administrative expense as a
percentage of Total revenue. The most comparable GAAP financial metric is General and administrative expense ratio.
A reconciliation of Adjusted general and administrative expense and Adjusted general and administrative
expense ratio to General and administrative expense and General and administrative expense ratio, the most directly
comparable GAAP measures, for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Total Revenue | $2,515,710 | $2,077,549 | $1,725,193 | ||
| General and Administrative Expense | $352,050 | $276,181 | $196,971 | ||
| Acquisition-related expense | (54,469) | (19,088) | (4,477) | ||
| Restructuring and related expense | (19,768) | (26,626) | (4,993) | ||
| IPO related expenses | — | — | (1,545) | ||
| Adjusted General and Administrative Expense (1) | $277,813 | $230,467 | $185,956 | ||
| General and Administrative Expense Ratio | 14.0% | 13.3% | 11.4% | ||
| Adjusted General and Administrative Expense Ratio | 11.0% | 11.1% | 10.8% |
(1)Adjustments to General and administrative expense are described in the definition of Adjusted EBITDAC to
Net income in “Adjusted EBITDAC and Adjusted EBITDAC Margin”.
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Adjusted EBITDAC and Adjusted EBITDAC Margin
We define Adjusted EBITDAC as Net income before Interest expense, net, Income tax expense, Depreciation,
Amortization, and Change in contingent consideration, adjusted to reflect items such as (i) equity-based compensation, (ii)
acquisition and restructuring related expenses, and (iii) other exceptional or non-recurring items, as applicable.
Acquisition-related expense includes one-time diligence, transaction-related, and integration costs. For the year
ended December 31, 2024, Acquisition-related expense included a $4.5 million charge related to a deal-contingent foreign
exchange forward contract associated with the Castel acquisition. The remaining charges in the three years presented
represent typical one-time diligence, transaction-related, and integration costs. Acquisition-related long-term incentive
compensation arises from changes to long-term incentive plans associated with acquisitions. Restructuring and related
expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, consisted of compensation and benefits, occupancy, contractors,
professional services, and license fees related to the ACCELERATE 2025 program. The compensation and benefits
expense included severance as well as employment costs related to services rendered between the notification and
termination dates and other termination payments. See “Note 5, Restructuring” of the annual audited consolidated financial
statements for further discussion of ACCELERATE 2025. The remaining costs that preceded the restructuring plan were
associated with professional services costs related to program design and licensing costs. For the year ended December 31,
2022, Restructuring and related expense represented costs associated with the 2020 restructuring plan. Amortization and
expense is composed of charges related to discontinued prepaid incentive programs. For the year ended December 31,
2024, Other non-operating loss consisted of $18.1 million of expense related to Term Loan modifications and $1.3 million
of TRA contractual interest and related charges offset by $3.4 million of income related to a decrease in our blended state
tax rates and foreign tax credit impact on the TRA remeasurement and $0.5 million of sublease income. Other non-
operating loss included a $10.4 million and $5.6 million charge for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022,
respectively, related to the change in the TRA liability caused by a change in our blended state tax rates. Equity-based
compensation reflects non-cash equity-based expense. For the year ended December 31, 2024, Equity-based compensation
included $4.6 million of expense associated with the removal of equity transfer restrictions for an executive officer of the
Company. IPO related expenses include compensation-related expense primarily related to the expense for new awards
issued at IPO as well as expense related to the revaluation of existing equity awards at IPO.
Total revenue less Adjusted compensation and benefits expense and Adjusted general and administrative
expense is equivalent to Adjusted EBITDAC. For a breakout of compensation and general and administrative costs for each
addback, refer to the Adjusted compensation and benefits expense and Adjusted general and administrative expense tables
above. The most directly comparable GAAP financial metric to Adjusted EBITDAC is Net income. Adjusted EBITDAC
margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDAC as a percentage of Total revenue. The most comparable GAAP financial metric is
Net income margin.
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A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDAC and Adjusted EBITDAC margin to Net income and Net income
margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Total Revenue | $2,515,710 | $2,077,549 | $1,725,193 | ||
| Net Income | $229,913 | $194,480 | $163,257 | ||
| Interest expense, net | 158,448 | 119,507 | 104,829 | ||
| Income tax expense | 42,641 | 43,445 | 15,935 | ||
| Depreciation | 9,785 | 9,038 | 5,690 | ||
| Amortization | 157,845 | 106,799 | 103,601 | ||
| Change in contingent consideration (1) | (22,859) | 5,421 | 442 | ||
| EBITDAC | $575,773 | $478,690 | $393,754 | ||
| Acquisition-related expense | 69,842 | 23,274 | 4,599 | ||
| Acquisition related long-term incentive compensation (2) | 24,946 | (4,334) | 22,093 | ||
| Restructuring and related expense | 59,697 | 49,277 | 5,717 | ||
| Amortization and expense related to discontinued prepaid incentives | 5,160 | 6,441 | 6,738 | ||
| Other non-operating loss | 15,041 | 10,380 | 5,073 | ||
| Equity-based compensation | 52,038 | 31,047 | 23,390 | ||
| IPO related expenses | 26,957 | 38,696 | 55,636 | ||
| Loss (income) from equity method investments in related party | (18,231) | (8,731) | 414 | ||
| Adjusted EBITDAC | $811,223 | $624,740 | $517,414 | ||
| Net Income Margin | 9.1% | 9.4% | 9.5% | ||
| Adjusted EBITDAC Margin | 32.2% | 30.1% | 30.0% |
(1)For the year ended December 31, 2024, Change in contingent consideration included a $25.5 million decrease
in valuation of the US Assure contingent consideration as a result of increased loss ratios impacting projected
profit commissions.
(2)For the year ended December 31, 2023, Acquisition related long-term incentive compensation includes a $6.8
million expense reversal related to the claw back of an All Risks LTIP payment from a terminated employee.
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income Margin
We define Adjusted net income as tax-effected earnings before amortization and certain items of income and
expense, gains and losses, equity-based compensation, acquisition related long-term incentive compensation, acquisition-
related expenses, costs associated with the IPO, and certain exceptional or non-recurring items. The most comparable
GAAP financial metric is Net income. Adjusted net income margin is calculated as Adjusted net income as a percentage of
Total revenue. The most comparable GAAP financial metric is Net income margin.
Following the IPO, the Company is subject to United States federal income taxes, in addition to state, local, and
foreign taxes, with respect to our allocable share of any net taxable income of the LLC. For comparability purposes, this
calculation incorporates the impact of federal and state statutory tax rates on 100% of our adjusted pre-tax income as if the
Company owned 100% of the LLC.
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A reconciliation of Adjusted net income and Adjusted net income margin to Net income and Net income
margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in thousands, except percentages) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Total Revenue | $2,515,710 | $2,077,549 | $1,725,193 | ||
| Net Income | $229,913 | $194,480 | $163,257 | ||
| Income tax expense | 42,641 | 43,445 | 15,935 | ||
| Amortization | 157,845 | 106,799 | 103,601 | ||
| Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs (1) | 23,930 | 12,172 | 12,054 | ||
| Change in contingent consideration | (22,859) | 5,421 | 442 | ||
| Acquisition-related expense | 69,842 | 23,274 | 4,599 | ||
| Acquisition related long-term incentive compensation | 24,946 | (4,334) | 22,093 | ||
| Restructuring and related expense | 59,697 | 49,277 | 5,717 | ||
| Amortization and expense related to discontinued prepaid incentives | 5,160 | 6,441 | 6,738 | ||
| Other non-operating loss | 15,041 | 10,380 | 5,073 | ||
| Equity-based compensation | 52,038 | 31,047 | 23,390 | ||
| IPO related expenses | 26,957 | 38,696 | 55,636 | ||
| Loss (income) loss from equity method investments in related party | (18,231) | (8,731) | 414 | ||
| Adjusted Income before Income Taxes (2) | $666,920 | $508,367 | $418,949 | ||
| Adjusted tax expense (3) | (173,399) | (132,785) | (106,958) | ||
| Adjusted Net Income | $493,521 | $375,582 | $311,991 | ||
| Net Income Margin | 9.1% | 9.4% | 9.5% | ||
| Adjusted Net Income Margin | 19.6% | 18.1% | 18.1% |
(1)Interest expense, net includes amortization of deferred debt issuance costs.
(2)Adjustments to Net income are described in the definition of Adjusted EBITDAC to Net income in “Adjusted
EBITDAC and Adjusted EBITDAC Margin.”
(3)The Company is subject to United States federal income taxes, in addition to state, local, and foreign taxes,
with respect to our allocable share of any net taxable income of the LLC. For the year ended December 31,
2024, this calculation of adjusted tax expense is based on a federal statutory rate of 21% and a combined state
income tax rate net of federal benefits of 5.00% on 100% of our adjusted income before income taxes as if the
Company owned 100% of the LLC. For the year ended December 31, 2023, this calculation of adjusted tax
expense is based on a federal statutory rate of 21% and a combined state income tax rate net of federal
benefits of 5.12% on 100% of our adjusted income before income taxes as if the Company owned 100% of
the LLC. For the year ended December 31, 2022, this calculation of adjusted tax expense is based on a federal
statutory rate of 21% and a combined state income tax rate net of federal benefits of 4.53% on 100% of our
adjusted income before income taxes as if the Company owned 100% of the LLC.
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
We define Adjusted diluted earnings per share as Adjusted net income divided by diluted shares outstanding
after adjusting for the effect if 100% of the outstanding LLC Common Units (together with the shares of Class B common
stock), vested Class C Incentive Units, and unvested equity awards were exchanged into shares of Class A common stock
as if 100% of unvested equity awards were vested. The most directly comparable GAAP financial metric is Diluted
earnings per share.
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A reconciliation of Adjusted diluted earnings per share to Diluted earnings per share, the most directly
comparable GAAP measure, for each of the periods indicated is as follows:
| Year Ended December 31, | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Earnings per share of Class A common stock – diluted | $0.71 | $0.52 | $0.52 | ||
| Less: Net income attributed to dilutive shares and substantively vested RSUs (1) | — | (0.03) | (0.29) | ||
| Plus: Impact of all LLC Common Units exchanged for Class A shares (2) | 0.14 | 0.24 | 0.38 | ||
| Plus: Adjustments to Adjusted net income (3) | 0.97 | 0.67 | 0.56 | ||
| Plus: Dilutive impact of unvested equity awards (4) | (0.03) | (0.02) | (0.02) | ||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | $1.79 | $1.38 | $1.15 | ||
| (Share count in ’000s) | |||||
| Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding – diluted | 132,891 | 125,745 | 265,750 | ||
| Plus: Impact of all LLC Common Units exchanged for Class A shares (2) | 138,980 | 142,384 | — | ||
| Plus: Dilutive impact of unvested equity awards (4) | 4,417 | 4,137 | 4,731 | ||
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share diluted share count | 276,288 | 272,266 | 270,481 |
(1)Adjustment removes the impact of Net income attributed to dilutive awards and substantively vested RSUs to
arrive at Net income attributable to Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. For the years ended December 31, 2024,
2023, and 2022, this removes $0.3 million, $4.2 million, and $76.3 million of Net income, respectively, on
132.9 million, 125.7 million, and 265.8 million Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock
outstanding - diluted, respectively. See “Note 12, Earnings Per Share” in the footnotes to the consolidated
financial statements in this Annual Report.
(2)For comparability purposes, this calculation incorporates the Net income that would be outstanding if all LLC
Common Units (together with shares of Class B common stock) and vested Class C Incentive units were
exchanged for shares of Class A common stock. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022,
this includes $135.2 million, $133.4 million, and $102.2 million of Net income (loss), respectively, on
271.9 million, 268.1 million, and 265.8 million Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock
outstanding - diluted, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, 144.0 million weighted average
outstanding LLC Common Units were considered dilutive and included in the 265.8 million Weighted-
average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted within Diluted EPS. See “Note 12, Earnings
Per Share” in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report.
(3)Adjustments to Adjusted net income are described in the footnotes of the reconciliation of Adjusted net
income to Net income in “Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Net Income Margin” on 271.9 million,
268.1 million, and 265.8 million Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding - diluted
years ended December 31, 2024, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
(4)For comparability purposes and to be consistent with the treatment of the adjustments to arrive at Adjusted
net income, the dilutive effect of unvested equity awards is calculated using the treasury stock method as if
the weighted average unrecognized cost associated with the awards was $0 over the period, less any unvested
equity awards determined to be dilutive within the Diluted EPS calculation disclosed in “Note 12, Earnings
Per Share” of the audited consolidated financial statements. For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023,
and 2022, 4.4 million, 4.1 million, and 4.7 million shares were added to the calculation, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity describes the ability of a company to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of
its business operations. We believe that the balance sheet and strong cash flow profile of our business provides adequate
liquidity. The primary sources of liquidity are Cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, cash flows
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provided by operations, and debt capacity available under our Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, and Senior Secured
Notes. The primary uses of liquidity are operating expenses, seasonal working capital needs, business combinations, capital
expenditures, obligations under the TRA, taxes, distributions to LLC Unitholders, and dividends to Class A common
stockholders. We believe that Cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations, and amounts available under our
Revolving Credit Facility will be sufficient to meet liquidity needs, including principal and interest payments on debt
obligations, capital expenditures, and anticipated working capital requirements, for the next 12 months and beyond. Our
future capital requirements will depend on many factors including continuance of historical working capital levels and
capital expenditure needs, investment in de novo offerings, and the flow of deals in our merger and acquisition program.
On February 20, 2025, our Board declared and increased the Company’s regular quarterly dividend by 9.1% to
$0.12 per share on the outstanding Class A common stock. $0.07 of the regular quarterly dividend is to be funded by
current and prior tax distributions from the LLC that are in excess of both the corporate income taxes payable by the
Company as well as the Company’s obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement. The remaining $0.05 of the
regular quarterly dividend was funded by free cash flow from the LLC and paid to all holders of the Class A common stock
and LLC Common Units.
We may be required to seek additional equity or debt financing. In the event that additional financing is
required from outside sources, we may not be able to raise it on terms acceptable to us or at all. If we are unable to raise
additional capital or generate cash flows necessary to expand our operations, this could reduce our ability to compete
successfully and harm the results of our operations.
Cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheets include funds available for general corporate
purposes. Fiduciary cash and receivables cannot be used for general corporate purposes. Insurance premiums, claims funds,
and surplus lines taxes are held in a fiduciary capacity and the obligation to remit these funds are recorded as Fiduciary
liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recognize fiduciary amounts due to others as Fiduciary liabilities and
fiduciary amounts collectible and held on behalf of others, including insurance carriers, other insurance intermediaries,
surplus lines taxing authorities, clients, and insurance policy holders, as Fiduciary cash and receivables on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets.
In our capacity as an insurance broker or agent, we collect premiums from insureds and, after deducting our
commission, remit the premiums to the respective insurance markets and carriers. We also collect claims prefunding or
refunds from carriers on behalf of insureds, which are then returned to the insureds, and surplus lines taxes, which are then
remitted to surplus lines taxing authorities. Insurance premiums, claim funds, and surplus lines taxes are held in a fiduciary
capacity. The levels of Fiduciary cash and receivables and Fiduciary liabilities can fluctuate significantly depending on
when we collect the premiums, claims prefunding, and refunds, make payments to markets, carriers, surplus lines taxing
authorities, and insureds, and collect funds from clients and make payments on their behalf, and upon the impact of foreign
currency movements. Fiduciary cash, because of its nature, is generally invested in very liquid securities with a focus on
preservation of principal. To minimize investment risk, we maintain cash holdings pursuant to an investment policy which
contemplates all relevant rules established by states with regard to fiduciary cash and is approved by our Board of
Directors. The policy requires broad diversification of holdings across a variety of counterparties utilizing limits set by our
Board of Directors, primarily based on credit rating and type of investment. Fiduciary cash and receivables included cash
of $1,140.6 million and $917.5 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and fiduciary receivables of
$2,599.1 million and $2,214.1 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. While we may earn interest income
on fiduciary cash held in cash and investments, the fiduciary cash may not be used for general corporate purposes. Of the
$540.2 million of Cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2024, $100.8 million
was held in fiduciary accounts representing collected revenue and was available to be transferred to operating accounts and
used for general corporate purposes.
Credit Facilities
We expect to have sufficient financial resources to meet our business requirements for the next 12 months.
Although cash from operations is expected to be sufficient to service our activities, including servicing our debt and
contractual obligations, and financing capital expenditures, we have the ability to borrow under our Revolving Credit
Facility to accommodate any timing differences in cash flows. Additionally, under current market conditions, we believe
that we could access capital markets to obtain debt financing for longer-term funding, if needed.
On February 3, 2022, the LLC issued $400.0 million of 8-year Senior Secured Notes. The notes have a 4.375%
interest rate and will mature on February 1, 2030. These notes remained outstanding as of December 31, 2024.
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On January 19, 2024, we entered into the Fifth Amendment (the “Repricing Amendment”) to the Credit
Agreement. As a result of the Repricing Amendment, the applicable interest rate of the Term Loan was reduced from
Adjusted Term SOFR + 3.00% to Adjusted Term SOFR + 2.75% and is no longer subject to a credit spread adjustment. All
other material provisions remain unchanged.
On July 30, 2024, the Company entered into the Sixth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, which provided for
an increase in borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility from $600.0 million to $1,400.0 million. The
amendment also extended the maturity date of the Revolving Credit Facility to July 30, 2029, and reduced the applicable
interest rate from Adjusted Term SOFR plus a margin of 2.50% to 3.00% to Adjusted Term SOFR plus a margin of 2.00%
to 2.50%, based on the first lien net leverage ratio defined in the Credit Agreement.
On September 13, 2024, the Company entered into the Seventh Amendment to the Credit Agreement, which
refinanced the existing Term Loan in the aggregate principal amount of $1,588.1 million outstanding as of June 30, 2024,
and increased the size of the Term Loan by $111.9 million to $1,700.0 million as of September 30, 2024. In addition to
increasing the size of the Term Loan, the Seventh Amendment reduced the applicable interest rate of the Term Loan from
Adjusted Term SOFR plus a margin of 2.75% to Adjusted Term SOFR plus a margin of 2.25% and lowered the 75 basis
point floor on Adjusted Term SOFR to a 0 basis point floor. Upon achievement of a stable (or better) corporate family
rating from Moody’s of Ba3 or better, the applicable interest rate of the Term Loan will be reduced to Adjusted Term
SOFR plus a margin of 2.00%.
On September 19, 2024, the LLC issued $600.0 million of its 2032 Senior Secured Notes. On December 9,
2024, the LLC issued an additional $600.0 million of its 2032 Senior Secured Notes as “additional notes” under a
supplement to the indenture dated as of September 2024. All of the 2032 Senior Secured Notes carry a 5.875% interest rate
and will mature on August 1, 2032.
As of December 31, 2024, the interest rate on the Term Loan was 2.25% plus Adjusted Term SOFR.
As of December 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all of the covenants under our debt facilities and there
were no events of default for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Tax Receivable Agreement
The Company is party to a TRA with current and certain former LLC Unitholders. The TRA provides for the
payment by the Company, to current and certain former LLC Unitholders, of 85% of the net cash savings, if any, in U.S.
federal, state, and local income taxes that the Company realizes (or is deemed to realize in certain circumstances) as a result
of (i) certain increases in the tax basis of the assets of the LLC resulting from purchases or exchanges of LLC Common
Units (“Exchange Tax Attributes”), (ii) certain tax attributes of the LLC that existed prior to the IPO (“Pre-IPO M&A Tax
Attributes”), (iii) certain favorable “remedial” partnership tax allocations to which the Company becomes entitled to (if
any), and (iv) certain other tax benefits related to the Company entering into the TRA, including tax benefits attributable to
payments that the Company makes under the TRA (“TRA Payment Tax Attributes”). The Company recognizes a liability
on the Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the undiscounted estimated future payments under the TRA.
Due to the uncertainty of various factors, we cannot precisely quantify the likely tax benefits we will realize as
a result of the LLC Common Unit exchanges and the resulting amounts we are likely to pay out to current and certain
former LLC Unitholders pursuant to the TRA; however, we estimate that such tax benefits and the related TRA payments
may be substantial. As set forth in the table below, and assuming no changes in the relevant tax law and that we earn
sufficient taxable income to realize all cash tax savings that are subject to the TRA, we expect future payments under the
TRA to be $436.3 million in aggregate as of December 31, 2024. Future payments in respect to subsequent exchanges
would be in addition to these amounts and are expected to be substantial. The foregoing amounts are merely estimates and
the actual payments could differ materially. In the highly unlikely event of an early termination of the TRA (e.g., a default
by the Company or a Change of Control) the Company is required to pay to each holder of the TRA an early termination
payment equal to the discounted present value of all unpaid TRA payments. The Company has not made, and is not likely
to make, an election for an early termination. We expect to fund future TRA payments with tax distributions from the LLC
that come from cash on hand and cash generated from operations.
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| (in thousands) | Exchange Tax Attributes | Pre-IPO M&A Tax Attributes | TRA Payment Tax Attributes | TRA Liabilities | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $194,668 | $85,814 | $78,416 | $358,898 | |||
| Exchange of LLC Common Units | 73,433 | 5,660 | 21,982 | 101,075 | |||
| Remeasurement – change in state rate | (932) | (391) | (1,183) | (2,506) | |||
| Remeasurement – foreign tax credits | (895) | — | — | (895) | |||
| Interest expense | — | — | 1,302 | 1,302 | |||
| Payments | (13,041) | (7,668) | (869) | (21,578) | |||
| Balance at December 31, 2024 | $253,233 | $83,415 | $99,648 | $436,296 |
Total expected estimated tax savings from each of the tax attributes associated with the TRA as of
December 31, 2024 were $513.3 million consisting of (i) Exchange Tax Attributes of $297.9 million, (ii) Pre-IPO M&A
Tax Attributes of $98.1 million, and (iii) TRA Payment Tax Attributes of $117.2 million. The Company will retain the
benefit of 15% of these cash savings.
Comparison of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
Cash and cash equivalents decreased $298.6 million from $838.8 million at December 31, 2023, to $540.2
million at December 31, 2024. A summary of our cash flows provided by and used for ongoing operations from operating,
investing, and financing activities is as follows:
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2024, increased $37.7 million
from the year ended December 31, 2023, to $514.9 million. Strong organic revenue growth along with the Castel, US
Assure, Greenhill, Ethos P&C, EverSports, and GEO acquisitions drove operating cash flow period-over-period. Net
income increased $35.4 million, an increase of $51.0 million in Amortization, an increase in the change in Net
commissions and fees receivable, net of $22.2 million, and an increase of $18.6 million in Prepaid and deferred
compensation drove the year-over-year increase, which was partially offset by the change in Other current and non-current
assets and liabilities of $108.9 million. The increase in both Amortization and Prepaid and deferred compensation is
primarily associated with the recently completed acquisitions. The change in Other current and non-current liabilities was
primarily driven by an increase in acquisition-related contingent payments.
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2024, were $1,755.7 million, an
increase of $1,279.5 million compared to the $476.2 million of cash flows used for investing activities during the year
ended December 31, 2023. The main drivers of the cash flows used for investing activities for the year ended December 31,
2024, were $1,708.7 million of acquisition payments made for the Castel, US Assure, Greenhill, Ethos P&C, EverSports,
and Geo acquisitions and $47.0 million of Capital expenditures. The main drivers of the cash flows used for investing
activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, were $446.7 million of acquisition payments related to the Griffin, ACE,
Point6, Socius, and AccuRisk acquisitions and $29.8 million of capital expenditures.
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Cash flows provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2024, were $1,166.9 million,
an increase of $1,179.5 million compared to cash flows used in financing activities of $12.6 million during the year ended
December 31, 2023. The main drivers of cash flows provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31,
2024, were $1,187.4 million of Proceeds from Senior Secured Notes, $114.0 million Net change in fiduciary liabilities, and
$107.6 million of Proceeds from term debt, offset by $82.7 million of Tax distributions to non-controlling LLC
Unitholders, $80.2 million of Dividends paid to Class A common shareholders, $25.5 million of Debt issuance costs paid,
$22.2 million of Distributions to non-controlling LLC Unitholders, and $21.6 million of Payment of Tax Receivable
Agreement liabilities during the year. The main drivers of cash flows used in financing activities during the year ended
December 31, 2023, were $71.7 million of Tax distributions to non-controlling LLC Unitholders, the Repayment of term
debt of $16.5 million, and the Payment of Tax Receivable Agreement liabilities of $16.2 million, offset by $97.2 million
Net change in fiduciary liabilities.
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
Our principal commitments consist of contractual obligations in connection with investing and operating
activities. These obligations are described within “Note 8, Leases” and “Note 9, Debt” in the notes to our audited
consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report and provide further description on provisions that create, increase
or accelerate obligations, or other pertinent data to the extent necessary for an understanding of the timing and amount of
the specified contractual obligations.
The Company recognized a liability for employee deferrals, inclusive of changes in the value of deferred
amounts held, of $5.2 million and $36.5 million in Current accrued compensation and Non-current accrued compensation,
respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024, and $3.5 million and $22.4 million in Current
accrued compensation and Non-current accrued compensation, respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
December 31, 2023.
Within Current accrued compensation and Non-current accrued compensation we have various long-term
incentive compensation agreements accrued for. These agreements are typically associated with an acquisition. Below we
have outlined the liabilities accrued as of December 31, 2024, the projected future expense, and the projected timing of
future cash outflows associated with these arrangements.
| Long-term Incentive Compensation Agreements | |
|---|---|
| (in thousands) | December 31, 2024 |
| Current accrued compensation | $11,055 |
| Non-current accrued compensation | 11,854 |
| Total liability | $22,909 |
| Projected future expense | 7,757 |
| Total projected future cash outflows | $30,666 |
| Projected Future Cash Outflows | |
| (in thousands) | |
| 2025 | $13,763 |
| 2026 | 6,053 |
| 2027 | 10,698 |
| 2028 | 51 |
| Thereafter | $101 |
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Within “Note 4, Mergers and Acquisitions” and “Note 15, Fair Value Measurements” in the notes to our audited
consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report we outline various contingent consideration arrangements and their
impact. Below we have outlined the liabilities accrued as of December 31, 2024, the projected future expense, and the
projected timing of future cash outflows associated with these contingent consideration agreements.
| Contingent Consideration | |
|---|---|
| (in thousands) | December 31, 2024 |
| Current accounts payable and accrued liabilities | $48,164 |
| Other non-current liabilities | 80,895 |
| Total liability | $129,059 |
| Projected future expense | 13,115 |
| Total projected future cash outflows | $142,174 |
| Projected Future Cash Outflows | |
| (in thousands) | |
| 2025 | $48,945 |
| 2026 | 416 |
| 2027 | 92,813 |
| 2028 | — |
| Thereafter | $— |
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The methods, assumptions, and estimates that we use in applying the accounting policies may require us to
apply judgments regarding matters that are inherently uncertain. We consider an accounting policy to be a critical estimate
if (i) the Company must make assumptions that were uncertain when the judgment was made and (ii) changes in the
estimate assumptions or selection of a different estimate methodology could have a significant impact on our financial
position and the results that we report in the consolidated financial statements. While we believe that the estimates,
assumptions, and judgments are reasonable, they are based on information available when the estimate was made. Refer to
“Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for
further information on the critical accounting estimates and policies.
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for transactions that represent business combinations under the acquisition method
of accounting, which requires us to allocate the total consideration transferred for each acquisition to the assets we acquire
and liabilities we assume based on their fair values as of the date of acquisition, including identifiable intangible assets.
The allocation of the consideration utilizes significant estimates in determining the fair values of identifiable assets
acquired, which mainly consist of customer relationship intangible assets. The significant assumptions used in determining
the fair value of customer relationships include estimated revenue growth, attrition rates, operating margins, and weighted
average cost of capital. These estimates directly impact the amount of identified intangible assets recognized and the
related amortization expense in future periods. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, an aggregate of $1,392.0 million and
$572.4 million, respectively, of Customer relationships was recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The excess of purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as
goodwill. We may refine our estimates and make adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed over a
measurement period, not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition.
Acquired Customer Relationships
We review acquired intangible assets that are being amortized for impairment whenever events or changes
in circumstance indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. We have not made any material changes in the
accounting methodology used to evaluate the impairment of goodwill or amortizable intangible assets during the last three
fiscal years. Qualitative factors considered include any adverse developments in regulation, unfavorable market conditions,
or the extent to which an asset will be utilized. As we continue to experience revenue growth driven by the increase in
complexity and inflow of risks into the E&S market, we do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood there will be a
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material change in the estimates or assumptions used to calculate impairments or useful lives of amortizable intangible
assets. However, if actual results are not consistent with our estimates and assumptions, we may be exposed to an
acceleration of amortization or impairment losses that could be material.
Contingent Consideration
The Company recognizes contingent consideration liabilities and contingently returnable consideration
resulting from certain business combinations. We estimate the fair value of these contingent consideration arrangements
using Level 3 inputs that require the use of numerous assumptions and Monte Carlo simulations, which may change based
on the occurrence of future events and lead to increased or decreased operating income in future periods. Estimating the
fair value at the acquisition date and in subsequent periods involves significant judgments, including projecting the future
financial performance of the acquired businesses. The Company updates its assumptions each reporting period based on
new developments and records such amounts at fair value based on the revised assumptions. For significant acquisitions we
may use independent third-party valuation specialists to assist us in determining the fair value of assets acquired and
liabilities assumed. Refer to “Note 15, Fair Value Measurements” in the consolidated financial statements in this Annual
Report for further information on the assumptions used in the fair value of contingent consideration.
As of December 31, 2024, the Company had eight contingent consideration liability arrangements
outstanding, with an aggregate fair value of $129.1 million. If remaining targets were to be met for these contingent
consideration arrangements, the maximum amount of the liability would be $563.1 million as of December 31, 2024, and
the additional expense would be recorded over the next 3.3 years in Change in contingent consideration within the
Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had one contingently returnable consideration
arrangement outstanding for $5.5 million. The maximum amount of the asset would be $18.8 million as of December 31,
2024, if certain targets were not achieved, and the additional income would be recorded over the next 2.3 years in Change
in contingent consideration within the Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to “Note 4, Mergers and Acquisitions” in
the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report for further information on business combinations and
contingent consideration.
Income Taxes
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, $448.3 million and $383.8 million, respectively, of Deferred tax assets
were recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the expected future tax
consequences attributable to temporary differences between the carrying amount of the existing tax assets and liabilities
and their respective tax basis. The primary item giving rise to temporary differences is the Company’s investment in the
LLC. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company’s deferred tax asset in the Company’s investment in the LLC was
$429.9 million and $375.2 million, respectively.
In determining the provision for income taxes, we make estimates and judgments which affect our
evaluation of the carrying value of our deferred tax assets as well as our calculation of certain tax liabilities. We evaluate
these assets on a quarterly basis to conclude whether they are more likely than not to be realized. In completing this
evaluation related to the Company’s deferred tax asset in the investment in the LLC, we consider all available positive and
negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income,
tax-planning strategies, carryback potential if permitted under the applicable tax law, and results of recent operations.
Projected future taxable income is based on Board-approved budgets and long-term assumptions, which include revenue
growth and operating margins, among other factors. Estimating future taxable income is inherently uncertain and requires
judgment. We exclude any projected M&A activity from this evaluation.
To the extent we do not generate sufficient federal taxable income to realize a deferred tax asset in any
given year, it would result in a federal net operating loss (“NOL”) that is available to us to utilize over an indefinite
carryforward period to fully realize the deferred tax assets. Given our historical ability to generate federal taxable income
and our projected future taxable income, and the indefinite carryforward period available for federal NOLs, we consider it
more likely than not that we will realize this deferred tax asset. If we determine in the future that we will not be able to
fully utilize all or part of this deferred tax asset, we would record a valuation allowance through earnings in the period the
determination was made, which would have an adverse effect on our results of operations and earnings in those future
periods.
Changes in tax laws and rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future.
Other than those potential impacts, we do not believe there is a reasonable likelihood there will be a material change in our
tax related balances or valuation allowances. However, due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate
resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of the tax liabilities
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Tax Receivable Agreement Liabilities
In connection with the Organizational Transactions and IPO, the Company entered into a TRA with current
and certain former LLC Unitholders. Amounts payable under the TRA are contingent upon, among other things, (i) the
generation of future taxable income over the term of the TRA and (ii) future changes in tax laws, including tax rate
changes. If we do not generate sufficient taxable income in the aggregate over the term of the TRA to utilize the tax
benefits, then we would not be required to make the related TRA payments. Therefore, we only recognize a liability for
TRA payments if we determine it is probable that we will generate sufficient future taxable income over the term of the
TRA to utilize the related tax benefits. Projecting future taxable income is inherently uncertain and requires judgment. In
projecting future taxable income, we consider our historical results and incorporate assumptions from our Board-approved
budgets and longer-term assumptions, which include revenue growth and operating margins, among other factors. We
exclude any projected M&A activity from this evaluation.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $436.3 million and $358.9 million, respectively, of
liabilities relating to our obligations under the TRA, after concluding that it was probable that we would have sufficient
future taxable income to utilize the related tax benefits. There were no transactions subject to the TRA for which we did not
recognize the related liability, as we concluded that we would have sufficient future taxable income to utilize all of the
related tax benefits that have been generated since the IPO. If a valuation allowance is recorded against the deferred tax
assets subject to the TRA in a future period, the corresponding TRA liability may not be considered probable, resulting in
the liability being removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheets and recorded in Other non-operating loss on the
Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to “Note 18, Income Taxes” in the consolidated financial statements in this
Annual Report for further information on the estimates involved in income taxes and the TRA liability.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
For a description of recently issued accounting pronouncements see “Note 2, Summary of Significant
Accounting Policies” in the footnotes to the consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report.
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