UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 9, 2007
Willis Group Holdings Limited
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Bermuda
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
001-16503 98-0352587
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
c/o Willis Group Limited
Ten Trinity Square
London EC3P 3AX, England
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(44) (20) 7488-8111
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02(e) Amendment of Agreements with Principal Executive Officer
On March 9, 2007, the employment contract of Joseph J. Plumeri, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, was extended by a further year
to October 15, 2009.
On June 20, 2006 the Company granted to approximately 140 Associates
including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph J. Plumeri,
options to purchase Willis shares at $32.78 per share, being the closing
price of the Company's shares quoted on the New York Stock Exchange on the
date of grant. Mr. Plumeri received an option grant to purchase 500,000
Willis shares and provided his employment is maintained, the option vests
in equal tranches on the second to fifth anniversaries of the date of grant
and remains exercisable until the eighth anniversary of the date of grant.
On March 9, 2007, the option agreement was amended to change the definition
of `Retirement' or `Retired' to be the same as the definition that Mr.
Plumeri had in his previous option agreements and his employment agreements
since June 2003.
Further, the option agreement was amended to the effect that, on
termination of employment as a result of retirement, if at that time a
successor Chief Executive Officer has been appointed by the Board, the
option shall become fully vested and exercisable for a period of two years
following such termination. In the event Mr. Plumeri continues his
employment as Executive Chairman after a successor Chief Executive Officer
has been appointed, and afterwards ends his employment as a result of
retirement, the same option schedule would apply.
Item 8.01 Other Events
On March 12, 2007, Willis Group Holdings Limited ("WGHL") issued a press
release (the "Press Release") announcing that it has amended the employment
agreement with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph J. Plumeri,
to extend its term for an additional year. The employment agreement, which
was scheduled to expire October 15, 2008, will now expire October 15, 2009.
A copy of the Press Release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report on
Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release of WGHL dated March 12, 2007.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
Date: March 12, 2007. By: /s/ Mary E. Caiazzo
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Name: Mary E. Caiazzo
Title: Deputy General Counsel
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press Release of WGHL dated March 12, 2007
Exhibit 99.1
Willis Group Holdings Extends Chairman's Contract
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 2007--Willis Group Holdings
Limited (NYSE: WSH), the global insurance broker, announced today that
it has amended the employment agreement with its Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, Joseph J. Plumeri, to extend its term for an
additional year. The employment agreement, which was scheduled to
expire October 15, 2008, will now expire October 15, 2009.
In announcing the extension of Mr. Plumeri's employment agreement,
the Board of Directors issued the following statement, "For more than
six years, Joe Plumeri and his team have instilled passion, discipline
and a common sense of purpose throughout Willis. This has clearly been
reflected in the outstanding earnings and share price performance of
the Group over the same timeframe. We are pleased that Joe has agreed
to extend his contract and we look forward to his continuing
leadership."
"I am proud to be associated with Willis, and I am as passionate
today about the company as I was on the day I started. My commitment
to the company, my colleagues, our clients and our shareholders is
unwavering," said Plumeri. "There is still a lot of work to be done in
order to achieve our goals and I am excited about leading our team
into the future."
Willis Group Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance
broker, developing and delivering professional insurance, reinsurance,
risk management, financial and human resource consulting and actuarial
services to corporations, public entities and institutions around the
world. Including our Associates, we have over 300 offices in some 100
countries, with a global team of approximately 16,000 employees
serving clients in some 190 countries. Additional information on
Willis may be found on its Web site www.willis.com.
CONTACT: Willis Group Holdings Limited
Investors:
Kerry K. Calaiaro, +1 212-837-0880
kerry.calaiaro@willis.com
or
Media:
Dan Prince, +1 212-837-0806
dan.prince@willis.com