Brown & Brown, One of the Top Ten Brokers in the U.S., Endorses Applied Systems as Its Preferred Technology Solutions Provider.

Business Editors, High-Tech Writers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2002

Applied Systems, Inc and leading insurance broker Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO) have made a joint commitment in providing a technology solution, which is available to Brown & Brown and its more than 2,000 retail employees located in over 120 offices in 29 states.

"Applied has successfully converted more than 80 Brown & Brown retail offices from existing vendor products onto Applied's leading product, The Agency Manager (TAM) in recent years," according to Rick Morgan, Vice President of Applied's Corporate and International Division.

"Considering the culture and philosophy of Brown & Brown, where individual offices typically make their own decision in choosing an automation vendor, I think this speaks a great deal to our ability to provide the right products and services for their organization," Morgan alleged.

Rich Freebourn, Director of Internal Operations of Brown & Brown, pointed to the agency's aggressive growth strategy of acquiring agencies.

"As we look to identify suitable acquisition candidates, complete acquisitions, integrate acquired business into our operations and expand into new markets, we must continue to implement and improve our technology for operations, financial and management information," Freebourn said. "Most of our retail offices choose to manage their clients' information using The Agency Manager solution by Applied Systems."

James P. Kellner, Chairman and CEO of Applied Systems, Inc., added, "We are extremely proud of how our relationship has grown over the past several years to the point where Applied is considered their vendor of choice. We're looking forward to many years of continued service with Brown & Brown."

About Brown & Brown: Brown & Brown, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide a broad range of insurance and reinsurance products and services, as well as risk management, employee benefit administration, and managed health care services through offices located across the United States. The company is ranked by Business Insurance magazine as the nation's sixth largest independent insurance intermediary organization. Brown & Brown's web address is http://www.bbinsurance.com.

About Applied Systems: Applied Systems is a leading provider of automation solutions for the property and casualty insurance industry. Since 1983, Applied has developed software for independent insurance agents, brokers, managing general agents, insurance companies and other financial institutions with insurance operations, such as banks. Applied has helped over 10,000 clients take their operations to new levels of success with leading management systems - The Agency Manager(R) and Vision Series(TM). The Diamond System(TM), a policy processing system for insurance companies, and the success in Electronic Data Interchange have propelled Applied Systems as the technology frontrunner of the industry. Combined with their consulting services, rating solutions and third party integration, Applied has the ability to automate the insurance transaction at every level of the distribution system. Applied Systems, Inc. web address is http://www.appliedsystems.com.

This press release may contain certain statements relating to future results which are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's 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 and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, 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 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; and the potential occurrence of a disaster that affects certain areas of the States of Arizona, Florida and/or New York, where significant portions of the Company's business are concentrated. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware.