DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- J. Scott Penny, chief acquisitions officer of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO), and Paul Bender, the owner of The Protectorate Group Insurance Agency, Inc., doing business as American Adventure Insurance ("American Adventure"), today announced that Brown & Brown Dealer Services ("BBDS") has acquired the assets of American Adventure.

American Adventure specializes in providing insurance solutions at the dealership for all types of vehicles, including motor homes, travel trailers, campers, boats, personal watercrafts, motorcycles and more. American Adventure also provides F&I products to automotive dealers and commercial insurance solutions. American Adventure is led by Paul Bender, who has over 30 years of experience partnering with dealers to provide on-the-spot insurance products for their customers. The American Adventure team will join Brown & Brown Dealer Services and continue to operate nationwide. Paul and the team will report to Mike Neal, president of BBDS.

Mike Neal, president of BBDS, stated, "Paul is a recognized authority in enabling his dealer partners by providing best-in-class insurance products for their shared customers. The American Adventure team will expand and enhance BBDS's capabilities and provide us with additional innovative solutions for our dealers across the country. We look forward to Paul and the team joining Brown & Brown."

Paul Bender said, "I've been building this dealer-centric model since 1992, American Adventure is what that original DNA looks like today—move quickly, take care of dealers and their customers. Our network of more than 1,500 dealerships, combined with Brown & Brown's depth of products and expertise, gives our people and partners a platform built to help us scale without losing our edge, and I couldn't be more excited to build the next chapter with Mike and the BBDS team."

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is a leading insurance brokerage firm delivering comprehensive and customized insurance solutions and specialization since 1939. With a global presence spanning 700+ locations and a team of more than 23,000 professionals, we are dedicated to delivering scalable, innovative strategies for our customers at every step of their growth journey. Learn more at bbrown.com.

This press release may contain certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements, including those associated with this acquisition. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Brown & Brown's current belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Brown & Brown's control. It is possible that Brown & Brown's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning Brown & Brown and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect Brown & Brown's financial results and condition, as well as its other achievements, is contained in Brown & Brown's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors include those factors relevant to Brown & Brown's consummation and integration of the announced acquisition, including any matters analyzed in the due diligence process and material adverse changes in the business and financial condition of the seller, the buyer, or both, and their respective customers. All forward-looking statements made herein are made only as of the date of this release, and Brown & Brown 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 Brown & Brown hereafter becomes aware.

For more information:

R. Andrew Watts

Chief financial officer

(386) 239-5770

Brown & Brown, Inc. acquires the assets of The Protectorate Group Insurance Agency, Inc., doing business as American Adventure Insurance