BROWN & BROWN, INC.

ANNOUNCES AN 8.1% INCREASE IN COMMISSIONS AND FEES REVENUES

(Daytona Beach and Tampa, Florida) . . . Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) today announced its net income and net income per share for the third quarter of 2008.  Additionally, it announced that its total commissions and fees revenues for the third quarter of 2008 increased 8.1% over the third quarter of 2007.

Net income for the third quarter of 2008 was $40,593,000, or $0.29 per share, compared with $46,216,000, or $0.33 per share for the same quarter of 2007.  Total revenues for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 were $247,029,000, compared with 2007 third-quarter revenue of $237,284,000. 

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 were $745,464,000, compared with the total revenues for the first nine months of 2007 of $742,441,000.  Excluding the non-recurring gain of $18,664,000 on the sale of shares of Rock-Tenn Company in the first nine months of 2007, total revenues for the nine-month period of 2008 increased 3.0% over the adjusted total revenues in the corresponding period of 2007, which equaled $723,778,000.  Net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 was $132,751,000, or $0.94 per share, compared with $157,955,000, or $1.12 per share for the same period of 2007. Excluding the non-recurring gain of $18,664,000 on the sale of shares of Rock-Tenn Company in the first nine months of 2007, net income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2008 was $132,751,000 compared to the adjusted net income for the comparable period in 2007 of $146,542,000.

J. Hyatt Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, noted, "We are pleased with our third-quarter results as our industry continues to stare into the abyss of falling rates for property and casualty coverages.  The joker in the deck on a forward-looking basis is the economy.  Notwithstanding the course of recent events, we remain optimistic about the future."

Jim W. Henderson, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, added, "Since the second quarter of 2008 we closed on 14 transactions, representing $22.4 million in estimated annualized revenues.  For the year, we have closed 44 transactions with estimated annualized revenues of $100.2 million.  Soft market conditions and a challenging economy are factors prompting a favorable increase in M&A activity."

Brown & Brown, Inc. and its subsidiaries offer a broad range of insurance and reinsurance products and services, as well as risk management, third party administration, managed health care, and Medicare set-aside services and programs. Providing service to business, public entity, quasi-public entity, individual, trade and professional association clients nationwide, the Company is ranked by Business Insurance magazine as the United States' seventh largest independent insurance intermediary. The Company's Web address is www.bbinsurance.com. 

This press release may contain certain statements relating to future results which are forward-looking statements, including those relating to future financial results and to acquisition opportunities. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's current belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results, financial condition and achievements may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results, financial condition and achievements contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results and condition, as well as its other achievements, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Some factors include: general economic conditions around the country; downward commercial property and casualty premium pressures; the effects of recent legislative and regulatory changes in Florida pertaining to the insurance industry, including those relating to coastal property coverages; the competitive environment; the integration of the Company's operations with those of businesses or assets the Company has acquired or may acquire in the future and the failure to realize the expected benefits of such integration; the potential occurrence of a disaster that affects certain areas of the States of California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and/or Washington, where significant portions of the Company's business are concentrated; and the cost and impact on the Company of previously disclosed regulatory inquiries regarding industry and Company practices with respect to compensation received from insurance carriers. All forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which the Company hereafter becomes aware. 

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(1)

Total core commissions and fees are our total commissions and fees less (i) profit-sharing contingent commissions (revenue derived from special revenue-sharing commissions from insurance companies based upon the volume and the growth and/or profitability of the business placed with such companies during the prior year), and (ii) divested business (commissions and fees generated from offices, books of business or niches sold by the Company or terminated).