Document
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
___________________________________________________
(Mark One)
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x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016
OR
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¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-16503
___________________________________________________
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________________________________________
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Ireland (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | 98-0352587 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
c/o Willis Group Limited 51 Lime Street, London EC3M 7DQ, England (Address of principal executive offices) | | (011) 44-20-3124-6000 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) |
___________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of ‘large accelerated filer’, ‘accelerated filer’ and ‘smaller reporting company’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer þ | | Accelerated filer ¨ | | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
| | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No þ
As of November 2, 2016, there were outstanding 136,746,409 ordinary shares, nominal value $0.000304635 per share, of the registrant.
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
INDEX TO FORM 10-Q
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Certain Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout this quarterly report unless the context requires otherwise:
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‘We’, ‘Us’, ‘Company’, ‘Willis Towers Watson’, ‘Our’, ‘Willis Towers Watson plc’ or ‘WTW’ | | Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, a company organized under the laws of Ireland, and its subsidiaries |
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‘shares’ | | The ordinary shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, nominal value $0.000304635 per share |
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‘Legacy Willis’, ‘Willis’, or ‘LW’ | | Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and its subsidiaries, predecessor to Willis Towers Watson, prior to the Merger |
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‘Legacy Towers Watson’, ‘Towers Watson’, or ‘LTW’ | | Towers Watson & Co. and its subsidiaries |
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‘Merger’ | | Merger of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and Towers Watson & Co. pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 29, 2015, as amended on November 19, 2015, and completed on January 4, 2016 |
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‘Gras Savoye’ | | GS & Cie Groupe |
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‘Miller’ | | Miller Insurance Services LLP and its subsidiaries |
Disclaimer Regarding Forward-looking Statements
We have included in this document ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by those laws. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our operations. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future, including such things as our outlook, future capital expenditures, growth in commissions and fees, business strategies and planned acquisitions, competitive strengths, goals, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of our business and operations, plans and references to future successes, and the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Legacy Towers Watson and Legacy Willis, including our combined future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions are forward-looking statements. Also, when we use words such as ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘would’, ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘probably’, or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking disclosure is speculative by its nature.
There are important risks, uncertainties, events and factors that could cause our actual results or performance to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained in this document, including the following:
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• | changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; |
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• | consolidation in or conditions affecting the industries in which we operate; |
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• | any changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate; |
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• | our ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes; |
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• | our ability to successfully integrate the Towers Watson, Gras Savoye and Legacy Willis businesses, operations and employees, and realize anticipated growth, synergies and cost savings; |
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• | the potential impact of the Merger on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, clients and competitors; |
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• | significant competition that we face and the potential for loss of market share and/or profitability; |
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• | compliance with extensive government regulation; |
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• | our ability to make divestitures or acquisitions and our ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses; |
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• | the risk that we may not be able to repurchase our intended number of outstanding shares due to M&A activity or investment opportunities, market or business conditions, or other factors; |
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• | expectations, intentions and outcomes relating to outstanding litigation; |
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• | the risk that the Stanford litigation settlement will not be approved, the risk that the bar order may be challenged in other jurisdictions, and the deductibility of the charge relating to the settlement; |
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• | the risk of material adverse outcomes on existing litigation matters; |
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• | the diversion of time and attention of our management team while the Merger and other acquisitions are being integrated; |
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• | doing business internationally, including the impact of exchange rates; |
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• | the potential impact of the United Kingdom’s (‘U.K.’) vote in favor of the U.K. leaving the European Union (‘E.U.’); |
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• | the federal income tax consequences of the Merger and the enactment of additional state, federal, and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations, including changes in tax rates; |
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• | our capital structure, including indebtedness amounts, the limitations imposed by the covenants in the documents governing such indebtedness and the maintenance of the financial and disclosure controls and procedures of each; |
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• | our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all; |
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• | adverse changes in our credit ratings; |
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• | the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the Merger cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; |
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• | our ability to retain and hire key personnel; |
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• | a decline in the defined benefit pension plan market; |
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• | various claims, government inquiries or investigations or the potential for regulatory action; |
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• | failure to protect client data or breaches of information systems; |
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• | disasters or business continuity problems; |
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• | clients choosing to reduce or terminate the services provided by us; |
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• | fluctuation in revenues against our relatively fixed expenses; |
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• | management of client engagements; |
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• | the inability to protect intellectual property rights, or the potential infringement upon the intellectual property rights of others; |
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• | increases in the price of, or difficulty of obtaining, insurance; |
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• | fluctuations in our pension liabilities; |
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• | loss of, failure to maintain, or dependence on certain relationships with insurance carriers; |
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• | changes and developments in the United States healthcare system; |
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• | the availability of tax-advantaged consumer-directed benefits to employers and employees; |
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• | reliance on third-party services; |
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• | our holding company structure could prevent us from being able to receive dividends or other distributions in needed amounts from our subsidiaries; |
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• | changes in accounting estimates and assumptions; and |
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• | changes in the market price of our shares. |
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and new factors may emerge from time to time that could also affect actual performance and results. For more information, please see Item 1A - Risk Factors in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies are available online at http://www.sec.gov or www.willistowerswatson.com.
Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of these assumptions, and therefore also the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions, could themselves prove to be inaccurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included in this document, our inclusion of this information is not a representation or guarantee by us that our objectives and plans will be achieved.
Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and we will not update these forward-looking statements unless the securities laws require us to do so. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this document may not occur, and we caution you against relying on these forward-looking statements.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Note | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | | $ | 1,761 |
| | $ | 841 |
| | $ | 5,874 |
| | $ | 2,839 |
|
Interest and other income | | | 16 |
| | 5 |
| | 86 |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | | | 1,777 |
| | 846 |
| | 5,960 |
| | 2,855 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | | | 1,119 |
| | 570 |
| | 3,519 |
| | 1,698 |
|
Other operating expenses | | | 370 |
| | 177 |
| | 1,171 |
| | 516 |
|
Depreciation | | | 45 |
| | 25 |
| | 132 |
| | 70 |
|
Amortization | 7 |
| | 157 |
| | 23 |
| | 443 |
| | 53 |
|
Restructuring costs | 5 |
| | 49 |
| | 24 |
| | 115 |
| | 93 |
|
Integration expenses | | | 36 |
| | — |
| | 117 |
| | — |
|
Total costs of providing services | | | 1,776 |
| | 819 |
| | 5,497 |
| | 2,430 |
|
Income from operations | | | 1 |
| | 27 |
| | 463 |
| | 425 |
|
Interest expense | | | 45 |
| | 35 |
| | 138 |
| | 103 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | | | 14 |
| | (9 | ) | | 26 |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | | | (58 | ) | | 1 |
| | 299 |
| | 348 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | 6 |
| | (26 | ) | | (112 | ) | | 11 |
| | (37 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | | | (32 | ) | | 113 |
| | 288 |
| | 385 |
|
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | | | 1 |
| | 3 |
| | 2 |
| | 17 |
|
NET (LOSS)/INCOME | | | (31 | ) | | 116 |
| | 290 |
| | 402 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | | | (1 | ) | | 1 |
| | (12 | ) | | (5 | ) |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | | | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | 117 |
| | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 397 |
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| | | | | | | | | |
(LOSS)/EARNINGS PER SHARE (i) | | | | | | | | | |
Basic (loss)/earnings per share | 15 |
| | $ | (0.23 | ) | | $ | 1.72 |
| | $ | 2.03 |
| | $ | 5.84 |
|
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share | 15 |
| | $ | (0.23 | ) | | $ | 1.70 |
| | $ | 2.00 |
| | $ | 5.75 |
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| | | | | | | | | |
Cash dividends declared per share (i) | | | $ | 0.48 |
| | $ | 0.82 |
| | $ | 1.44 |
| | $ | 2.46 |
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(i) | Basic and diluted earnings per share, and cash dividends declared per share, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
(Unaudited)
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Note | | Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME | | | $ | (31 | ) | | $ | 116 |
| | $ | 290 |
| | $ | 402 |
|
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax: | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign currency translation | 14 |
| | (38 | ) | | (76 | ) | | (127 | ) | | (118 | ) |
Defined pension and post-retirement benefit costs | 14 |
| | 3 |
| | 20 |
| | 6 |
| | 233 |
|
Gains and losses on cash flow hedges | 14 |
| | (7 | ) | | (30 | ) | | (73 | ) | | (10 | ) |
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax, before non-controlling interests | | | (42 | ) | | (86 | ) | | (194 | ) | | 105 |
|
Comprehensive (loss)/income before non-controlling interests | | | (73 | ) | | 30 |
| | 96 |
| | 507 |
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Less: Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest | | | 1 |
| | 5 |
| | (2 | ) | | 2 |
|
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | | | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 509 |
|
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In millions of U.S. dollars, except share data)
(Unaudited) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| Note | | September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
ASSETS | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | | $ | 767 |
| | $ | 532 |
|
Fiduciary assets | | | 11,604 |
| | 10,458 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | 13 |
| | 2,043 |
| | 1,258 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 13 |
| | 319 |
| | 255 |
|
Total current assets | | | 14,733 |
| | 12,503 |
|
Fixed assets, net | | | 811 |
| | 563 |
|
Goodwill | 7 |
| | 10,483 |
| | 3,737 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | 7 |
| | 4,589 |
| | 1,115 |
|
Pension benefits assets | | | 857 |
| | 623 |
|
Other non-current assets | 13 |
| | 328 |
| | 298 |
|
Total non-current assets | | | 17,068 |
| | 6,336 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | | | $ | 31,801 |
| | $ | 18,839 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | | | $ | 11,604 |
| | $ | 10,458 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | | | 1,282 |
| | 752 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 9 |
| | 519 |
| | 988 |
|
Other current liabilities | 13 |
| | 812 |
| | 603 |
|
Total current liabilities | | | 14,217 |
| | 12,801 |
|
Long-term debt | 9 |
| | 3,267 |
| | 2,278 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | | | 1,089 |
| | 279 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | | | 1,137 |
| | 240 |
|
Provision for liabilities | | | 593 |
| | 295 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | 13 |
| | 544 |
| | 533 |
|
Total non-current liabilities | | | 6,630 |
| | 3,625 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | | | 20,847 |
| | 16,426 |
|
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | 12 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | | | 53 |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | |
Ordinary shares, $0.000304635 nominal value; Authorized: 1,510,003,775; Issued 137,206,851 shares in 2016 and 68,624,892 in 2015 | | | — |
| | — |
|
Ordinary shares, €1 nominal value; Authorized: 40,000; Issued 40,000 shares in 2016 and 2015 | | | — |
| | — |
|
Preference shares, $0.000115 nominal value; Authorized: 1,000,000,000; Issued nil shares in 2016 and 2015 | | | — |
| | — |
|
Additional paid-in capital | | | 10,536 |
| | 1,672 |
|
Retained earnings | | | 1,455 |
| | 1,597 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax | 14 |
| | (1,221 | ) | | (1,037 | ) |
Treasury shares, at cost, 17,519 shares in 2016 and 2015, and 40,000 shares, €1 nominal value, in 2016 and 2015 | | | (3 | ) | | (3 | ) |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | | | 10,767 |
| | 2,229 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | | | 134 |
| | 131 |
|
Total equity | | | 10,901 |
| | 2,360 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | $ | 31,801 |
| | $ | 18,839 |
|
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In millions of U.S. dollars)
(Unaudited) |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| Note | | 2016 | | 2015 |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | | | | | |
NET INCOME | | | $ | 290 |
| | $ | 402 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to total net cash from operating activities: | | | | | |
Depreciation | | | 132 |
| | 70 |
|
Amortization | 7 |
| | 443 |
| | 53 |
|
Net periodic benefit of defined benefit pension plans | | | (68 | ) | | (54 | ) |
Provision for doubtful receivables from clients | | | 25 |
| | 3 |
|
Benefit from deferred income taxes | | | (120 | ) | | (71 | ) |
Share-based compensation | | | 94 |
| | 46 |
|
Non-cash foreign exchange (gain)/loss | | | (23 | ) | | 34 |
|
Net gain on disposal of operations and fixed and intangible assets | | | — |
| | (30 | ) |
Other, net | | | 15 |
| | (13 | ) |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from purchase of subsidiaries: | | | | | |
Accounts receivable | | | 20 |
| | (55 | ) |
Fiduciary assets | | | (1,076 | ) | | (1,109 | ) |
Fiduciary liabilities | | | 1,076 |
| | 1,109 |
|
Other assets | | | (211 | ) | | (107 | ) |
Other liabilities | | | (61 | ) | | (157 | ) |
Movement on provisions | | | 72 |
| | (8 | ) |
Net cash from operating activities | | | 608 |
| | 113 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | | | (151 | ) | | (100 | ) |
Capitalized software costs | | | (64 | ) | | — |
|
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | | | 476 |
| | (293 | ) |
Net proceeds from sale of operations | | | — |
| | 45 |
|
Other, net | | | 22 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | | | 283 |
| | (348 | ) |
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | | | (389 | ) | | 420 |
|
Senior notes issued | | | 1,606 |
| | — |
|
Proceeds from issue of other debt | | | 404 |
| | — |
|
Debt issuance costs | | | (14 | ) | | (1 | ) |
Repayments of debt | | | (1,861 | ) | | (159 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | | | (222 | ) | | (82 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | | | 44 |
| | 100 |
|
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions | | | (64 | ) | | — |
|
Dividends paid | | | (133 | ) | | (165 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | | | (17 | ) | | (19 | ) |
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | | | (646 | ) | | 94 |
|
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | | | 245 |
| | (141 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | | | (10 | ) | | (28 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | | | 532 |
| | 635 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | | | $ | 767 |
| | $ | 466 |
|
|
| | | | | | | |
Supplemental disclosures: | | | |
Cash paid for interest | $ | 135 |
| | $ | 123 |
|
Cash paid for income taxes, net | $ | 139 |
| | $ | 67 |
|
Issuance of shares and assumed awards in connection with the Merger | $ | 8,723 |
| | $ | — |
|
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(In millions of U.S. dollars and numbers of shares in thousands)
(Unaudited) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Shares outstanding (i)(thousands) | | Ordinary shares and APIC (ii) | | Retained Earnings | | Treasury Shares | | AOCL (iii) | | Total WTW shareholders’ equity | | Noncontrolling Interests | | Total Equity | | | | Redeemable Noncontrolling interests (iv) | | Total |
Balance as of December 31, 2014 | 67,460 |
| | $ | 1,524 |
| | $ | 1,530 |
| | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | (1,066 | ) | | $ | 1,985 |
| | $ | 22 |
| | $ | 2,007 |
| | | | $ | 59 |
| | |
Shares repurchased | (646 | ) | | — |
| | (82 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (82 | ) | | — |
| | (82 | ) | | | | — |
| | |
Net income | — |
| | — |
| | 397 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 397 |
| | 3 |
| | 400 |
| | | | 2 |
| | $ | 402 |
|
Dividends | — |
| | — |
| | (168 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (168 | ) | | (10 | ) | | (178 | ) | | | | (5 | ) | | |
Other comprehensive income/(loss) | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 112 |
| | 112 |
| | (3 | ) | | 109 |
| | | | (4 | ) | | $ | 105 |
|
Issue of shares under employee stock compensation plans (related tax benefit of $4) | 1,135 |
| | 100 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 100 |
| | — |
| | 100 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Share-based compensation | — |
| | 46 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 46 |
| | — |
| | 46 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Additional noncontrolling interest | — |
| | (3 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (3 | ) | | 81 |
| | 78 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Foreign currency translation | — |
| | 6 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 6 |
| | — |
| | 6 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Balance as of September 30, 2015 | 67,949 |
| | $ | 1,673 |
| | $ | 1,677 |
| | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | (954 | ) | | $ | 2,393 |
| | $ | 93 |
| | $ | 2,486 |
| | | | $ | 52 |
| | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance as of December 31, 2015 | 68,625 |
| | $ | 1,672 |
| | $ | 1,597 |
| | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | (1,037 | ) | | $ | 2,229 |
| | $ | 131 |
| | $ | 2,360 |
| | | | $ | 53 |
| | |
Shares repurchased | (1,791 | ) | | — |
| | (222 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (222 | ) | | — |
| | (222 | ) | | | | — |
| | |
Net income | — |
| | — |
| | 278 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 278 |
| | 6 |
| | 284 |
| | | | 6 |
| | $ | 290 |
|
Dividends | — |
| | — |
| | (198 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (198 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (206 | ) | | | | (4 | ) | | |
Other comprehensive (loss)/income | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (184 | ) | | (184 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (192 | ) | | | | (2 | ) | | $ | (194 | ) |
Issue of shares under employee stock compensation plans (related tax benefit of $1) | 873 |
| | 44 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 44 |
| | — |
| | 44 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Issue of shares for acquisitions | 69,500 |
| | 8,686 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 8,686 |
| | — |
| | 8,686 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Replacement share-based compensation awards issued on acquisition | — |
| | 37 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 37 |
| | — |
| | 37 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Share-based compensation | — |
| | 94 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 94 |
| | — |
| | 94 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Additional noncontrolling interests | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| | 13 |
| | 18 |
| | | | — |
| | |
Foreign currency translation | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (2 | ) | | | | — |
| | |
Balance as of September 30, 2016 | 137,207 |
| | $ | 10,536 |
| | $ | 1,455 |
| | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | (1,221 | ) | | $ | 10,767 |
| | $ | 134 |
| | $ | 10,901 |
| | | | $ | 53 |
| | |
_____________________________________________
| |
(i) | The nominal value of the ordinary shares and the number of ordinary shares issued in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
| |
(ii) | Additional paid-in capital (‘APIC’) |
| |
(iii) | Additional other comprehensive loss, net of tax (‘AOCL’) |
| |
(iv) | In accordance with the requirements of Accounting Standards Codification 480-10-S99-3A, we have determined that the noncontrolling interest in Max Matthiessen Holding AB should be disclosed as a redeemable noncontrolling interest and presented within mezzanine or temporary equity. |
See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular amounts are in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Note 1 — Nature of Operations
Willis Towers Watson is a global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. The Company provides both specialized risk management advisory, broking and consulting services on a global basis to clients engaged in specific industrial and commercial activities, and services to small, medium and large corporations through its retail operations. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. We help organizations improve performance through effective people, risk and financial management by focusing on providing human capital and financial consulting services.
In our capacity as an advisor and insurance and reinsurance broker, the Company acts as an intermediary between clients and insurance carriers by advising clients on risk management requirements, helping clients determine the best means of managing risk, and negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through the Company’s global distribution network.
In our capacity as a consultant, technology and solutions provider and private exchange company, we help our clients enhance business performance by improving their ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees. We focus on delivering consulting services that help organizations anticipate, identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in human capital management as well as investment advice to help our clients develop disciplined and efficient strategies to meet their investment goals. We operate the largest private Medicare exchange in the United States. Through this exchange, we help our clients move to a more sustainable economic model by capping and controlling the costs associated with retiree healthcare benefits.
We believe our broad perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas - the dynamic formula that drives business performance.
See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for information related to our Merger with Towers Watson.
Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements of Willis Towers Watson and our subsidiaries are presented in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (‘GAAP’). We have reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to current period presentation. In the opinion of management, these condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated financial statements and results for the interim periods. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read together with the Willis Towers Watson audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016, which may be accessed via EDGAR on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.
The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected for the entire year. The results reflect certain estimates and assumptions made by management including those estimates used in calculating acquisition consideration and fair value of tangible and intangible assets and liabilities, professional liability claims, estimated bonuses, valuation of billed and unbilled receivables, and anticipated tax liabilities that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes.
Significant Accounting Policies
The significant accounting policies listed below are an enhancement of the accounting policies disclosed in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 10, 2016. These policies and estimates have been added or amended due to the Merger.
Accounts Receivable — Accounts receivable includes both billed and unbilled receivables and is stated at estimated net realizable values. Allowances for billed receivables are recorded, when necessary, in an amount considered by management to be sufficient to meet probable future losses related to uncollectible accounts. Accrued and unbilled receivables are stated at net realizable value which includes an allowance for accrued and unbillable amounts.
Revenue Recognition — Revenue includes insurance commissions, fees in lieu of commission, fees for consulting services rendered, hosted and delivered software, survey sales, investment income and other income.
Revenue recognized in excess of billings is recorded as unbilled accounts receivable. Cash collections in excess of revenue recognized are recorded as deferred revenue until the revenue recognition criteria are met. Client reimbursable expenses, including those relating to travel, other out-of-pocket expenses and any third-party costs, are included in revenue, and an equivalent amount of reimbursable expenses is included in other operating expenses.
Commissions and fees
Commissions revenue. Brokerage income and fees negotiated in lieu of brokerage are recognized at the later of the policy inception date or when the policy placement is complete. In situations in which our fees are not fixed and determinable due to the uncertainty of the commission fee per policy, we recognize revenue as the fees are determined. Commissions on additional premiums and adjustments are recognized when approved by or agreed between the parties and collectability is reasonably assured.
Consulting revenue. The majority of our consulting revenue consists of fees earned from providing consulting services. We recognize revenue from these consulting engagements when hours are worked, either on a time-and-expense basis or on a fixed-fee basis, depending on the terms and conditions defined at the inception of an engagement with a client. We have engagement letters with our clients that specify the terms and conditions upon which the engagements are based. These terms and conditions can only be changed upon agreement by both parties. Individual billing rates are principally based on a multiple of salary and compensation costs.
Revenue for fixed-fee arrangements is based upon the proportional performance method to the extent estimates can be made of the remaining work required under the arrangement. If we do not have sufficient information to estimate proportional performance, we recognize the fees straight-line over the contract period. We typically have four types of fixed-fee arrangements: annual recurring projects, projects of a short duration, stand-ready obligations and non-recurring system projects:
| |
• | Annual recurring projects and projects of short duration. These projects are typically straightforward and highly predictable in nature. As a result, the project manager and financial staff are able to identify, as the project status is reviewed and bills are prepared monthly, the occasions when cost overruns could lead to the recording of a loss accrual. |
| |
• | Stand-ready obligations. Where we are entitled to fees (whether fixed or variable based on assets under management or a per-participant per-month basis) regardless of the hours, we generally recognize this revenue on either a straight-line basis or as the variable fees are calculated. |
| |
• | Non-recurring system projects. These projects are longer in duration and subject to more changes in scope as the project progresses. Certain software or outsourced administration contracts generally provide that, if the client terminates a contract, we are entitled to payment for services performed through termination. |
Revenue recognition for fixed-fee engagements is affected by a number of factors that change the estimated amount of work required to complete the project such as changes in scope, the staffing on the engagement and/or the level of client participation. The periodic engagement evaluations require us to make judgments and estimates regarding the overall profitability and stage of project completion that, in turn, affect how we recognize revenue. We recognize a loss on an engagement when estimated revenue to be received for that engagement is less than the total estimated costs associated with the engagement. Losses are recognized in the period in which the loss becomes probable and the amount of the loss is reasonably estimable. We have experienced certain costs in excess of estimates from time to time.
Hosted software. We have developed various software programs and technologies that we provide to clients in connection with consulting services. In most instances, such software is hosted and maintained by us and ownership of the technology and rights to the related code remain with us. We defer costs for software developed to be utilized in providing services to a client, but for which the client does not have the contractual right to take possession, during the implementation stage. We recognize these deferred costs from the go live date, signaling the end of the implementation stage, until the end of the initial term of the contract with the client. We determined that the system implementation and customized ongoing administrative services are one combined service. Revenue is recognized over the service period, after the go live date, in proportion to the services performed. As a result, we do not recognize revenue during the implementation phase of an engagement.
Delivered software. We deliver software under arrangements with clients that take possession of our software. The maintenance associated with the initial software fees is a fixed percentage which enables us to determine the stand-alone value of the delivered software separate from the maintenance. We recognize the initial software fees as software is delivered to the client and we recognize the maintenance ratably over the contract period based on each element’s relative fair value. For software arrangements in which initial fees are received in connection with mandatory maintenance for the initial software license to remain active, we determined that the initial maintenance period is substantive. Therefore, we recognize the fees for the initial license and maintenance bundle ratably over the initial contract term, which is generally one year. Each subsequent renewal fee is recognized ratably over the contractually stated renewal period.
Surveys. We collect, analyze and compile data in the form of surveys for our clients who have the option of participating in the survey. The surveys are published online via a web tool that provides simplistic functionality. We have determined that the web tool is inconsequential to the overall arrangement. We record the survey revenue when the results are delivered online and made available to our clients that have a contractual right to the data. If the data is updated more frequently than annually, we recognize the survey revenue ratably over the contractually stated period.
Interest and other income
Investment income. Investment income is recognized as earned.
Other Income. Other income comprises gains on disposal of intangible assets, which primarily arise from settlements through enforcing non-compete agreements in the event of losing accounts through producer defection or the disposal of books of business.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Not yet adopted
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘FASB’) issued Accounting Standard Update (‘ASU’) No. 2014-09 ‘Revenue From Contracts With Customers’. The new standard supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance and eliminates industry-specific guidance. The ASU is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new standard. Additional ASUs have since been issued, all of which provide additional guidance and examples for the implementation of ASU No. 2014-09. The guidance is effective for the Company at the beginning of its 2018 fiscal year, with early adoption permitted.
While we are still in the process of analyzing our various revenue streams to determine the full impact this standard will have on our revenue recognition, cost deferral, systems and processes, the Company has determined the following:
| |
• | The Company will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective approach on January 1, 2018. |
| |
• | We expect certain revenue streams to have accelerated revenue recognition timing. In particular, the revenue recognition for our Retiree Medicare Exchange is expected to move from monthly ratable recognition over the policy period to the recognition, upon placement of the policy during the Company’s fourth quarter of the preceding calendar year, of one year of expected commissions. Therefore, upon adoption, we will reflect an adjustment to retained earnings for the revenue that would otherwise have been recognized during our 2018 calendar year since our earnings process will have been completed during the fourth quarter of 2017. |
| |
• | We expect our accounting for deferred costs will change. First, for those portions of the business that currently defer costs (related to system implementation activities), the length of time over which we amortize those costs is expected to extend to a longer estimated contract term. Currently these costs are amortized over a typical period of 3-5 years in accordance with the initial stated terms of the customer agreement. Second, we believe there may be other types of arrangements with associated costs that do not meet the rules for cost deferral under current U.S. GAAP but do meet the rules under the new standard. We are still evaluating the types of arrangements that might now have cost deferral impacts. |
The Company continues to update our assessment of the impact of the standard and related updates to the consolidated financial statements, and will note material impacts when known.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 ‘Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities’, which, among other things, amends the classification and measurement requirements for investments in equity securities and amends the presentation requirements for certain fair value changes for certain financial liabilities measured at fair value. The ASU becomes effective for the Company at the beginning of the 2018 fiscal year; only partial early adoption is permitted. The Company is required to apply a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 ‘Leases’, which requires a lessee to recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The ASU becomes effective for the Company at the beginning of the 2019 fiscal year; early adoption is permitted. In transition, the Company is required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach, which includes a number of optional practical expedients. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07 ‘Investments - Equity Method and Joint Venture’, which simplifies the accounting for equity method investments. The amendments in the ASU eliminate the requirement that an entity retroactively adopt the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The amendments require that the equity method investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor’s previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The ASU becomes effective for the Company at the beginning of the 2017 fiscal year; early adoption is permitted. The ASU is to be applied prospectively. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 ‘Compensation - Stock Compensation’, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The ASU becomes effective for the Company at the beginning of the 2017 fiscal year; early adoption is permitted. Certain applications of the ASU are to be applied prospectively or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13 ‘Financial Instruments - Credit Losses’, which amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost and available-for-sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, the ASU eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP, and instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. It broadens the information that an entity must consider beyond past events and current conditions, but allows reversion to historical loss information that is reflective of the contractual term for periods that are beyond the time frame for which the entity is able to develop reasonable and supportable forecasts. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of the financial assets to present the net amount expected to be collected. For available-for-sale debt securities, credit losses should be measured in a manner similar to the current GAAP requirement that credit losses be presented as an allowance rather than as a write-down. The ASU becomes effective for the Company at the beginning of 2020; earliest adoption is the beginning of 2019. The effects of the ASU are to be applied through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective (that is, a modified-retrospective approach). The Company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15 ‘Statement of Cash Flows - Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments’, which amends guidance on presentation and classification of eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing diversity in practice. The ASU becomes effective for the Company at the beginning of 2018. Early adoption is permitted and any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The Company is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.
Adopted
In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12 ‘Stock Compensation’, which sets out the guidance where share-based payment awards granted to employees required specific performance targets to be achieved in order for employees to become eligible to vest in the awards and such performance targets could be achieved after an employee completes the requisite service period. The amendment in this update requires a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period to be treated as a performance condition. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2016. The adoption has no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16 ‘Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments’ in relation to business combinations, which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified in the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2016. Adjustments made to provisional amounts related to business combinations are reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements and disclosed in Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions and Note 7 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions
Merger
On January 4, 2016, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 29, 2015, as amended on November 19, 2015, between Willis, Towers Watson, and Citadel Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis formed for the purpose of facilitating this transaction (‘Merger Sub’), Merger Sub merged with and into Towers Watson, with Towers Watson continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis.
Towers Watson was a leading global professional services firm operating throughout the world, dating back more than 100 years. The Merger allows the combined firm to go to market with complementary strategic product and services offerings.
At the effective time of the Merger (the ‘Effective Time’), each issued and outstanding share of Towers Watson common stock (the ‘Towers Watson shares’), was converted into the right to receive 2.6490 validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable ordinary shares of Willis (the ‘Willis ordinary shares’), $0.000115 nominal value per share, other than any Towers Watson shares owned by Towers Watson, Willis or Merger Sub at the Effective Time and the Towers Watson shares held by stockholders who are entitled to and who properly exercised dissenter’s rights under Delaware law.
Immediately following the Merger, Willis effected (i) a consolidation (i.e., a reverse stock split under Irish law) of Willis ordinary shares whereby every 2.6490 Willis ordinary shares were consolidated into one Willis ordinary share $0.000304635 nominal value per share and (ii) an amendment to its Constitution and other organizational documents to change its name from Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.
On December 29, 2015, the third business day immediately prior to the closing date of the Merger, Towers Watson declared and paid the Towers Watson pre-merger special dividend, in an amount of $10.00 per share of Towers Watson common stock, approximately $694 million in the aggregate based on approximately 69 million Towers Watson shares issued and outstanding at December 29, 2015.
On December 30, 2015, all Towers Watson treasury stock was canceled.
The Merger was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting with Willis considered the accounting acquirer of Towers Watson.
The table below presents the preliminary calculation of aggregate Merger Consideration. |
| | | | |
| | January 4, 2016 |
Number of shares of Towers Watson common stock outstanding as of January 4, 2016 | | 69 million |
|
Exchange ratio | | 2.6490 |
|
Number of Willis Group Holdings shares issued (prior to reverse stock split) | | 184 million |
|
Willis Group Holdings price per share on January 4, 2016 | | $ | 47.18 |
|
Fair value of 184 million Willis ordinary shares | | $ | 8,686 |
|
Value of equity awards assumed (i) | | 37 |
|
Preliminary estimated aggregate Merger Consideration | | $ | 8,723 |
|
______________________________
| |
(i) | See the section below titled “Acquired Share-Based Compensation Plans” for a description of these awards and their impact on Merger Consideration. |
A summary of the preliminary fair values of the identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, of Towers Watson at January 4, 2016 are summarized in the following table. |
| | | | |
| | January 4, 2016 |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 476 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | | 825 |
|
Other current assets | | 95 |
|
Fixed assets, net | | 204 |
|
Goodwill | | 6,753 |
|
Other intangible assets | | 3,991 |
|
Pension benefits assets | | 67 |
|
Other non-current assets | | 83 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | | (1,123 | ) |
Liability for pension benefits | | (914 | ) |
Other current liabilities (i) | | (702 | ) |
Other non-current liabilities (ii) | | (276 | ) |
Long term debt, including current portion (iii) | | (740 | ) |
Net assets acquired | | 8,739 |
|
Noncontrolling interests acquired | | (16 | ) |
Allocated Aggregate Merger Consideration | | $ | 8,723 |
|
______________________________ | |
(i) | Includes $347 million in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and deferred revenue, $351 million in employee-related liabilities and $4 million in other current liabilities. |
| |
(ii) | Includes acquired contingent liabilities of $242 million. See Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies for a discussion of our material acquired contingencies related to Legacy Towers Watson. |
| |
(iii) | Represents both debt due upon change of control of $400 million, borrowed to repay both Towers Watson’s term loan ($188 million) and revolving credit facility ($212 million), and an additional draw down in December 2015 under a new term loan of $340 million. The $400 million debt was repaid by Willis borrowings under the 1-year term loan facility on January 4, 2016. The $340 million new term loan (noted above) partially funded the $694 million Towers Watson pre-merger special dividend. |
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the preliminary assessment outlined above was updated to reflect changes in the initial estimates of the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired, including the following material changes: a decrease to intangible assets of $120 million, a decrease to deferred tax liabilities of $51 million, and a decrease to the liability for pension benefits of $27 million. Goodwill increased by $51 million for the residual amount of the changes. The cumulative impact to amortization expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was an increase of $9 million as a result of the adjusted intangible asset values.
Goodwill is calculated as the difference between the aggregate merger consideration and the acquisition date fair value of the net assets acquired, and represents the value of the Legacy Towers Watson assembled workforce and the future economic benefits that we expect to achieve as a result of the Merger. None of the goodwill recognized on the transaction is tax deductible.
The acquired intangible assets are attributable to the following categories: |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Valuation Methodology | | Amortization basis | | Fair Value | | Weighted Average Useful Life |
Customer relationships | Multiple period excess earnings | | In line with underlying cash flows | | $ | 2,221 |
| | 15.0 |
Software - income approach | Multiple period excess earnings | | In line with underlying cash flows or straight line basis | | 567 |
| | 6.4 |
Software - cost approach | Cost of reproduction | | Straight line basis | | 108 |
| | 4.9 |
Product | Multiple period excess earnings | | In line with underlying cash flows | | 42 |
| | 20.5 |
IPR&D (i) | Multiple period excess earnings or cost of reproduction | | n/a | | 39 |
| | n/a |
Trade name | Relief from royalty | | Straight line basis | | 1,003 |
| | 25.0 |
Favorable lease agreements | Market approach | | Straight line basis | | 11 |
| | 6.5 |
| | | | | $ | 3,991 |
| | |
______________________________ | |
(i) | Represents software not yet placed in service as of the acquisition date. Once placed into service, each in process research and development (‘IPR&D’) software component will be reclassified into finite-lived software intangible assets and amortized in line with the underlying cash flows or straight line basis. |
The Company continues to review the net assets acquired and the inputs and assumptions used to value certain acquired assets and assumed liabilities, and therefore our accounting for the Merger remains preliminary.
The following pro forma financial information is unaudited and is intended to reflect the impact of the Merger on Willis Towers Watson’s condensed consolidated financial statements as if the Merger had taken place on January 1, 2015 and presents the results of operations of Willis Towers Watson based on the historical financial statements of Willis and Towers Watson after giving effect to the Merger and pro forma adjustments. Pro forma adjustments are included only to the extent they are (i) directly attributable to the Merger, (ii) factually supportable and (iii) with respect to the consolidated statement of operations, expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results. The accompanying unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for illustrative purposes only and has not been adjusted to give effect to certain expected financial benefits of the Merger, such as revenue synergies, tax savings and cost synergies, or the anticipated costs to achieve these benefits, including the cost of integration activities. The unaudited pro forma results are not indicative of what would have occurred had the Merger taken place on the indicated date.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| As reported | | Pro Forma | | As reported | | Pro Forma |
| 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Total revenues | $ | 1,777 |
| | $ | 1,749 |
| | $ | 5,960 |
| | $ | 5,569 |
|
Net (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | 209 |
| | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 568 |
|
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share | $ | (0.23 | ) | | $ | 1.51 |
| | $ | 2.00 |
| | $ | 4.12 |
|
The above pro forma financial information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 does not reflect the impact of the Gras Savoye acquisition, had the Gras Savoye transaction, in addition to the Merger, taken place on January 1, 2015, as the effects of the Gras Savoye acquisition on Willis Towers Watson’s condensed consolidated financial statements were not material.
Revenue attributable to Towers Watson for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $909 million and $2.7 billion, respectively. Income from operations attributable to Towers Watson for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $46 million and $108 million, respectively.
Acquired Share-Based Compensation Plans
In connection with our Merger with Towers Watson on January 4, 2016, we assumed certain stock options and restricted share units (‘RSU’) issued under the Towers Watson & Co. 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan (‘LTIP’), the Liazon Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, and the Extend Health, Inc. 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.
Stock Options. The outstanding unvested employee stock options were converted into 592,486 Willis Towers Watson stock options using the conversion ratios stated in the agreement for the number of options. The fair value of the stock options was calculated using the Black-Scholes model with a volatility and risk-free interest rate over the expected term of each group of options using the fair value share price of Willis Towers Watson’s closing share price on the date of acquisition. We determined the fair value of the portion of the outstanding options related to pre-acquisition employee service using Willis Towers Watson straight-line expense methodology from the date of grant to the acquisition date to be $7 million, which was added to the transaction consideration. The fair value of the remaining portion of options related to the post-acquisition employee services was $13 million, and will be recorded over the future vesting periods.
Restricted Share Units. The outstanding unvested restricted share units were converted into 597,307 Willis Towers Watson restricted share units using the conversion ratios stated in the agreement. The fair value of these restricted share units was calculated using the fair value share price of Willis Towers Watson’s closing share price on the date of acquisition. We determined the fair value of the portion of the outstanding RSUs related to pre-acquisition employee service using Willis Towers Watson straight-line expense methodology from the date of grant to the acquisition date to be $30 million which was added to the transaction consideration. The fair value of the remaining portion of RSUs related to the post-acquisition employee services was $32 million, and will be recorded over the future vesting periods.
Gras Savoye Acquisition
On December 29, 2015, Legacy Willis completed the transaction to acquire substantially all of the remaining 70% of the outstanding share capital of Gras Savoye, the leading insurance broker in France, for total consideration of €544 million ($592 million) of which $582 million in cash was paid at closing. Additionally, the previously held equity interest in Gras Savoye was remeasured to a fair value of €221 million ($241 million) giving a total fair value on a 100% basis of €765 million ($833 million).
The union combines the Company’s global insurance broking footprint with Gras Savoye’s particularly strong presence in France, Central and Eastern Europe, and across Africa. Gras Savoye’s expertise in high-growth markets and industry sectors complements the Company’s global strengths, creating value for clients.
The Company funded the cash consideration with a 1-year term loan. The term loan was repaid in its entirety on May 26, 2016, from the proceeds from the issuance of new senior notes discussed in Note 9 — Debt to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
Deferred consideration is payable on the first and second anniversary of the acquisition. The discounted fair value of the deferred consideration is $10 million. None of the goodwill recognized on the transaction is tax deductible.
The following table presents the Company’s preliminary allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values: |
| | | |
| December 29, 2015 |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 87 |
|
Fiduciary assets | 625 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | 89 |
|
Goodwill | 583 |
|
Intangible assets | 440 |
|
Other assets | 55 |
|
Fiduciary liabilities | (625 | ) |
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | (80 | ) |
Short and long-term debt | (80 | ) |
Net deferred tax liabilities | (86 | ) |
Other liabilities | (178 | ) |
Net assets acquired | 830 |
|
Decrease in paid in capital for purchase of noncontrolling interest | 43 |
|
Noncontrolling interest acquired | (40 | ) |
Preliminary purchase price allocation | $ | 833 |
|
The purchase price allocation as of the date of acquisition was based on a preliminary valuation and is subject to revision within the purchase price allocation period as more detailed analysis is completed and additional information about the value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed becomes available. During the quarter ended September 30, 2016, the preliminary assessment outlined above was updated to reflect changes in the initial estimates of the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired, including the following material changes: the fair value of the equity acquired in noncontrolling interest was reassessed and reduced by $7 million with a corresponding increase to goodwill of $7 million. There were no further material revisions to the purchase price allocation during the quarter, and the purchase price allocation remains preliminary.
The acquired intangible assets are attributable to the following categories: |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Valuation methodology | | Amortization basis | | Fair Value | | Weighted Average Useful Life |
Customer relationships | Multiple period excess earnings | | In line with underlying cash flows | | $ | 339 |
| | 20 |
Software and other intangibles | Cost of reproduction | | Straight line basis | | 66 |
| | 5 |
Trade name | Relief from royalty | | Straight line basis | | 35 |
| | 14 |
| | | | | $ | 440 |
| | |
Miller Insurance Services LLP Acquisition
On May 31, 2015, Legacy Willis completed the transaction to acquire an 85 percent interest in Miller, a leading London wholesale specialist insurance broking firm, for total consideration of $401 million including cash consideration of $232 million.
Deferred consideration is payable at the first, second and third anniversaries of the acquisition. Contingent consideration is payable at the third anniversary of the acquisition and is contingent on meeting certain earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (‘EBITDA’) performance targets. The discounted fair value of the deferred and contingent consideration at acquisition, based on best estimates, was $124 million and $29 million, respectively.
The purchase price allocation as of the date of acquisition was based on a valuation of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and contingent consideration associated with the acquisition. The purchase price allocation was finalized during the second quarter of 2016.
Note 4 — Segment Information
During the second quarter of 2016, we began managing our business across four integrated reportable operating segments. As a result, the Company has changed the way it manages and reports segment revenue and operating income, resulting in a change in the Company’s reportable segments from eight reportable segments, formerly known as Willis International; Willis North America; Willis Capital, Wholesale & Reinsurance; Willis GB; Towers Watson Benefits; Towers Watson Exchange Solutions; Towers Watson Risk and Financial Services; and Towers Watson Talent and Rewards, into four reportable segments: Human Capital and Benefits; Corporate Risk and Broking; Investment, Risk and Reinsurance; and Exchange Solutions.
Descriptions of our new segments are as follows:
Human Capital and Benefits
The Human Capital & Benefits (‘HCB’) segment provides an array of advice, broking, solutions and software for our clients. HCB is the largest segment of the Company. The segment is focused on addressing our clients’ employee and risk needs so that they can deliver sustainable employee experiences. This segment also delivers full outsourcing solutions to employers outside of the United States.
Corporate Risk and Broking
The Corporate Risk and Broking (‘CRB’) segment provides a broad range of risk advice, insurance broking and consulting services to clients worldwide ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations. The segment delivers innovative, integrated global solutions tailored to client needs and underpinned by data and analytics. CRB operates as an integrated global team comprising both functional and geographic leadership. In these operations, we have extensive specialized experience handling diverse lines of coverage, including complex insurance programs. A key objective is to assist clients in reducing their overall cost of risk.
Investment, Risk and Reinsurance
The Investment, Risk and Reinsurance (‘IRR’) segment uses a sophisticated approach to risk which helps clients free up capital and manage investment complexity. The segment works closely with investors, reinsurers and insurers to manage the equation between risk and return. Blending advanced analytics with deep institutional knowledge, IRR identifies new opportunities to maximize performance. IRR provides investment consulting services and insurance-specific services and solutions through reserves opinions, software, ratemaking, usage-based insurance, risk underwriting, and reinsurance broking.
Exchange Solutions
The Exchange Solutions (‘ES’) segment provides primary medical and ancillary benefit exchange and outsourcing services to active employees and retirees across both the group and individual markets. ES services individual populations via its ‘group to individual’ technology platform, which tightly integrates patented call routing technology, an efficient quoting and enrollment engine, a custom-developed Customer Relationship Management system and comprehensive insurance carrier connectivity. This segment also delivers group benefit exchanges and full outsourcing solutions serving the active employees of employers across the United States. ES uses Software as a Service (‘SaaS’)-based technology and related services to deliver consumer-driven health care and reimbursement accounts, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts and other consumer-directed accounts.
Under the new segment structure and for internal and segment reporting, Willis Towers Watson segment revenue includes commissions and fees, interest and other income. U.S. GAAP revenue includes amounts that were directly incurred on behalf of our clients and reimbursed by them (reimbursable expenses), which are removed from segment revenue. Segment operating income excludes certain costs, including (i) amortization of intangibles; (ii) restructuring costs; (iii) certain integration and transaction expenses; (iv) certain litigation provisions; and (v) to the extent that the actual expense based upon which allocations are made differs from the forecast/budget amount, a reconciling item created between internally allocated expenses and the actual expense that we report for U.S. GAAP purposes. Segment revenue and operating income both include revenue that was deferred by Towers Watson at the time of the Merger, and eliminated due to purchase accounting. The impact of the elimination from purchase accounting (which is the reduction to 2016 consolidated revenues and operating income) has been included in the reconciliation to our consolidated results in order to provide the actual revenues the segments would have recognized on an unadjusted basis.
The table below presents segment commissions and fees, segment interest and other income, segment revenues, and segment operating income for our reportable segments for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three months ended September 30, |
| HCB | | CRB | | IRR | | ES | | Total |
| 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Segment commissions and fees | $ | 747 |
| | $ | 139 |
| | $ | 546 |
| | $ | 519 |
| | $ | 292 |
| | $ | 183 |
| | $ | 161 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,746 |
| | $ | 841 |
|
Segment interest and other income | — |
| | — |
| | 8 |
| | 4 |
| | 7 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 15 |
| | 5 |
|
Segment revenues | $ | 747 |
| | $ | 139 |
| | $ | 554 |
| | $ | 523 |
| | $ | 299 |
| | $ | 184 |
| | $ | 161 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,761 |
| | $ | 846 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment operating income | $ | 121 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 59 |
| | $ | 76 |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 20 |
| | $ | 19 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 224 |
| | $ | 102 |
|
The table below presents segment commissions and fees, segment interest and other income, segment revenues, and segment operating income for our reportable segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine months ended September 30, |
| HCB | | CRB | | IRR | | ES | | Total |
| 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Segment commissions and fees | $ | 2,459 |
| | $ | 548 |
| | $ | 1,807 |
| | $ | 1,622 |
| | $ | 1,122 |
| | $ | 670 |
| | $ | 478 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,866 |
| | $ | 2,840 |
|
Segment interest and other income | 8 |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| | 13 |
| | 55 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 85 |
| | 15 |
|
Segment revenues | $ | 2,467 |
| | $ | 548 |
| | $ | 1,828 |
| | $ | 1,635 |
| | $ | 1,177 |
| | $ | 672 |
| | $ | 479 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,951 |
| | $ | 2,855 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Segment operating income | $ | 531 |
| | $ | 153 |
| | $ | 298 |
| | $ | 268 |
| | $ | 302 |
| | $ | 218 |
| | $ | 88 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,219 |
| | $ | 639 |
|
The table below presents a reconciliation of the information reported by segment to the consolidated amounts reported for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Revenues: |
| |
| | | | |
Total segment revenues | $ | 1,761 |
| | $ | 846 |
| | $ | 5,951 |
| | $ | 2,855 |
|
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | — |
| | — |
| | (58 | ) | | — |
|
Reimbursable expenses and other | 16 |
| | — |
| | 67 |
| | — |
|
Total revenues | $ | 1,777 |
| | $ | 846 |
| | $ | 5,960 |
| | $ | 2,855 |
|
|
| |
| | | | |
Total segment operating income | $ | 224 |
| | $ | 102 |
| | $ | 1,219 |
| | $ | 639 |
|
Differences in allocation methods (i) | 20 |
| | (13 | ) | | 25 |
| | (46 | ) |
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | — |
| | — |
| | (58 | ) | | — |
|
Amortization | (157 | ) | | (23 | ) | | (443 | ) | | (53 | ) |
Restructuring costs | (49 | ) | | (24 | ) | | (115 | ) | | (93 | ) |
Integration and transaction expenses | (36 | ) | | (14 | ) | | (117 | ) | | (20 | ) |
Provision for the Stanford litigation | — |
| | — |
| | (50 | ) | | — |
|
Other, net | (1 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 2 |
| | (2 | ) |
Income from operations | 1 |
| | 27 |
| | 463 |
| | 425 |
|
Interest expense | 45 |
| | 35 |
| | 138 |
| | 103 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 14 |
| | (9 | ) | | 26 |
| | (26 | ) |
(Loss)/income from continuing operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 299 |
| | $ | 348 |
|
________________________ | |
| (i) Includes certain costs, primarily those related to corporate functions, leadership and projects, and certain differences between budgeted expenses determined at the beginning of the fiscal year and actual expenses that we report for GAAP purposes. |
The Company does not currently provide asset information by reportable segment as it does not routinely evaluate the total asset position by segment.
Note 5 — Restructuring Costs
Operational Improvement Program - In April 2014, Legacy Willis announced a multi-year operational improvement program designed to strengthen our client service capabilities and to deliver future cost savings (‘OIP’). The main elements of the program, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2017, include the following:
| |
• | movement of more than 3,500 support roles from higher cost locations to facilities in lower cost locations, bringing the ratio of employees in higher cost versus lower cost near-shore and off-shore centers at Legacy Willis from approximately 80:20 to approximately 60:40; |
| |
• | net workforce reductions in support positions; |
| |
• | lease consolidation in real estate and reductions in ratios of seats per employee and square footage of floor space per employee; and |
| |
• | information technology systems simplification and rationalization. |
The Company recognized restructuring costs of $36 million and $98 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and $24 million and $93 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, related to the OIP. The Company expects to incur an additional $180 million through the end of 2017 related to the OIP.
Business Restructure Program - In the second quarter of 2016, we began planning targeted staffing reductions in certain portions of the business due to a reduction in business demand or change in business focus (hereinafter referred to as the Business Restructure Program, the ‘BRP’). The main element of the program is expected to include workforce reductions, and
is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. The Company recognized restructuring costs of $13 million and $17 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and expects to incur an additional $23 million related to the BRP through the end of 2016.
An analysis of the total cost for restructuring recognized in the statement of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 by segment, is as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HCB | | CRB | | IRR | | ES | | Corporate | | Total |
Three months ended September 30, 2016 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 16 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | — |
| | 23 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 9 |
| | 33 |
|
Total | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 26 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 49 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Three months ended September 30, 2015 (i) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 4 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | — |
| | 8 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 12 |
| | 20 |
|
Total | $ | — |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 15 |
| | $ | 24 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| HCB | | CRB | | IRR | | ES | | Corporate | | Total |
Nine months ended September 30, 2016 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | 14 |
| | $ | 11 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 30 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | — |
| | 60 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| | 85 |
|
Total | $ | 14 |
| | $ | 71 |
| | $ | 5 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 115 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Nine months ended September 30, 2015 (i) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | — |
| | $ | 21 |
| | $ | 7 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 34 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | — |
| | 33 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
| | 59 |
|
Total | $ | — |
| | $ | 54 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 31 |
| | $ | 93 |
|
__________________________________
| |
(i) | The prior period comparatives have been retrospectively reclassified to take into account our segment reorganization. See Note 4 — Segment Information for further details. |
| |
(ii) | Other includes salary and benefits, premises, and other expenses incurred to support the ongoing management and facilitation of the program and its initiatives. |
An analysis of the total cumulative restructuring costs recognized for the OIP from commencement to September 30, 2016 by segment is as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HCB | | CRB | | IRR | | ES | | Corporate | | Total |
2014 (i) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | — |
| | $ | 15 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 16 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 17 |
| | 20 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
2015 (i) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 24 |
| | $ | 7 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 36 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | 1 |
| | 57 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 30 |
| | 90 |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | |
2016 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 11 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 13 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | — |
| | 60 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| | 85 |
|
Total | | | | | | | | | | | |
Termination benefits | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 50 |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 65 |
|
Professional services and other (ii) | 1 |
| | 120 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 70 |
| | 195 |
|
Total | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 170 |
| | $ | 13 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 73 |
| | $ | 260 |
|
__________________________________ | |
(i) | The prior period comparatives have been retrospectively reclassified to take into account our segment reorganization. See Note 4 — Segment Information for further details. |
| |
(ii) | Other includes salary and benefits, premises, and other expenses incurred to support the ongoing management and facilitation of the program and its initiatives. |
At September 30, 2016, the Company’s liability under the OIP is as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Termination Benefits | | Professional Services and Other | | Total |
Balance at January 1, 2014 | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
|
Charges incurred | 16 |
| | 20 |
| | 36 |
|
Cash payments | (11 | ) | | (14 | ) | | (25 | ) |
Balance at December 31, 2014 | 5 |
| | 6 |
| | 11 |
|
Charges incurred | 36 |
| | 90 |
| | 126 |
|
Cash payments | (26 | ) | | (85 | ) | | (111 | ) |
Balance at December 31, 2015 | 15 |
| | 11 |
| | 26 |
|
Charges incurred | 13 |
| | 85 |
| | 98 |
|
Cash payments | (20 | ) | | (80 | ) | | (100 | ) |
Balance at September 30, 2016 | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 24 |
|
Note 6 — Income Taxes
The Company had a tax benefit from income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2016 of $26 million and a provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 of $11 million, compared to a tax benefit of $112 million and $37 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The effective tax rates were 45.9% and 3.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 were not meaningful. These effective tax rates are calculated using extended values from our condensed consolidated statement of operations, and are therefore more precise tax rates than can be calculated from rounded values. The change in the (benefit from)/provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily due to an income tax benefit from the partial release of a U.S. valuation allowance in the prior year and a current year income tax benefit resulting from the enacted statutory tax rate reduction in the U.K. In the prior year, the Company was able to release a portion of the valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets due to an increase in actual and forecast U.S. earnings. The (benefit from)/provision for income taxes was also affected by shifts in the
global mix of income as a result of the Merger. This shift creates additional deductions in jurisdictions with high statutory income tax rates, which reduces the global effective tax rate.
Historically, we have not provided deferred taxes on cumulative earnings of our subsidiaries that have been reinvested indefinitely. As a result of the Merger, we recorded a deferred tax liability through goodwill on a portion of certain acquired Towers Watson foreign subsidiaries’ unremitted earnings. We continue to assert that the historical cumulative earnings of our other subsidiaries are reinvested indefinitely and we do not provide deferred tax liabilities on these amounts.
The Company records valuation allowances against net deferred tax assets based on whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.
We have liabilities for uncertain tax positions under Accounting Standards Codification (‘ASC’) 740, Income Taxes of $55 million, excluding interest and penalties. The Company believes the outcomes that are reasonably possible within the next 12 months may result in a reduction in the liability for uncertain tax positions in the range of approximately $3 million to $12 million, excluding interest and penalties.
Note 7 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of businesses acquired over the fair market value of identifiable net assets at the dates of acquisition. Goodwill is not amortized but is subject to impairment testing annually and whenever facts or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Goodwill is allocated to our reporting units primarily based on the original purchase price allocation for acquisitions within the reporting units, or relative fair value when an acquisition covers multiple reporting units. When a business entity is sold, goodwill is allocated to the entity disposed of based on the relative fair value of that entity compared with the fair value of the reporting unit in which it is included.
During the second quarter of 2016, the Company changed the way it manages and reports operating results, resulting in a change in the Company’s operating and reportable segments from the Legacy Company platforms into four integrated reportable operating segments: Human Capital and Benefits; Corporate Risk and Broking; Investment, Risk and Reinsurance; and Exchange Solutions. See Note 4 — Segment Information for a description of our segments.
The components of goodwill are outlined below for the nine months ended September 30, 2016: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HCB | | CRB | | IRR | | ES | | Total |
Balance at December 31, 2015 (i) | | | | | | |
| | |
Goodwill, gross | $ | 991 |
| | $ | 2,207 |
| | $ | 1,031 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 4,229 |
|
Accumulated impairment losses | (130 | ) | | (362 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (492 | ) |
Goodwill, net | 861 |
| | 1,845 |
| | 1,031 |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
|
Purchase price allocation adjustments | 8 |
| | 5 |
| | (6 | ) | | — |
| | 7 |
|
Goodwill acquired during the period (ii) | 3,450 |
| | — |
| | 770 |
| | 2,535 |
| | 6,755 |
|
Goodwill disposed of during the period | — |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (5 | ) |
Foreign exchange | 12 |
| | (1 | ) | | (22 | ) | | — |
| | (11 | ) |
Balance at September 30, 2016 | | | | | | |
| | |
Goodwill, gross | 4,461 |
| | 2,206 |
| | 1,773 |
| | 2,535 |
| | 10,975 |
|
Accumulated impairment losses | (130 | ) | | (362 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (492 | ) |
Goodwill, net | $ | 4,331 |
| | $ | 1,844 |
| | $ | 1,773 |
| | $ | 2,535 |
| | $ | 10,483 |
|
__________________________________
| |
(i) | The prior period comparatives have been retrospectively reclassified on a preliminary basis to take into account our segment reorganization. See Note 4 — Segment Information for further details. |
| |
(ii) | Goodwill acquired consists primarily of Merger-related goodwill. |
The following table reflects changes in the net carrying amount of the components of finite-lived intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2016: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance as of December 31, 2015 | | Intangible assets acquired | | Intangible assets disposed | | Amortization | | Foreign Exchange | | Balance as of September 30, 2016 |
Client relationships | $ | 920 |
| | $ | 2,224 |
| | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | (296 | ) | | $ | (33 | ) | | $ | 2,809 |
|
Management contracts | 62 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (3 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 58 |
|
Software (i) | 77 |
| | 663 |
| | — |
| | (107 | ) | | (17 | ) | | 616 |
|
Trademark and trade name | 50 |
| | 1,004 |
| | — |
| | (33 | ) | | (1 | ) | | 1,020 |
|
Product | — |
| | 42 |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | (5 | ) | | 35 |
|
Favorable agreements | 2 |
| | 11 |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | 12 |
|
Other | 4 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | 1 |
| | 3 |
|
Total amortizable intangible assets | $ | 1,115 |
| | $ | 3,944 |
| | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | (444 | ) | | $ | (56 | ) | | $ | 4,553 |
|
_____________________________ | |
(i) | In process research and development intangible assets of $36 million have not yet been placed in service and are not included in this presentation. |
We recorded amortization related to our finite-lived intangible assets, exclusive of the amortization of our favorable lease agreements, of $157 million and $443 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $23 million and $53 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Our acquired unfavorable lease liabilities, net of amortization, were $29 million and $23 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and are recorded in the other noncurrent liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.
The following table reflects the carrying value of finite-lived intangible assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
| Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization | | Gross Carrying Amount | | Accumulated Amortization |
Client relationships | $ | 3,459 |
| | $ | (650 | ) | | $ | 1,293 |
| | $ | (373 | ) |
Management contracts | 65 |
| | (7 | ) | | 67 |
| | (5 | ) |
Software | 722 |
| | (106 | ) | | 77 |
| | — |
|
Trademark and trade name | 1,055 |
| | (35 | ) | | 52 |
| | (2 | ) |
Product | 37 |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | — |
|
Favorable agreements | 13 |
| | (1 | ) | | 2 |
| | — |
|
Other | 6 |
| | (3 | ) | | 8 |
| | (4 | ) |
Total finite-lived intangible assets | $ | 5,357 |
| | $ | (804 | ) | | $ | 1,499 |
| | $ | (384 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
Unfavorable agreements | $ | 34 |
| | $ | (5 | ) | | $ | 23 |
| | $ | — |
|
Total finite-lived intangible liabilities | $ | 34 |
| | $ | (5 | ) | | $ | 23 |
| | $ | — |
|
The weighted average remaining life of amortizable intangible assets and liabilities at September 30, 2016 was 14.1 years.
The table below reflects the future estimated amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets and the rent offset resulting from amortization of the net favorable and unfavorable lease intangible assets and liabilities for the remainder of 2016 and for subsequent years:
|
| | | | | | | |
Year ending December 31, | Amortization | | Rent offset |
Remainder of 2016 | $ | 150 |
| | $ | (1 | ) |
2017 | 574 |
| | (3 | ) |
2018 | 525 |
| | (3 | ) |
2019 | 467 |
| | (2 | ) |
2020 | 415 |
| | (2 | ) |
Thereafter | 2,410 |
| | (6 | ) |
Total | $ | 4,541 |
| | $ | (17 | ) |
Note 8 — Derivative Financial Instruments
We are exposed to certain interest rate and foreign currency risks. Where possible, we identify exposures in our business that can be offset internally. Where no natural offset is identified, we may choose to enter into various derivative transactions. These instruments have the effect of reducing our exposure to unfavorable changes in interest and foreign currency rates. The Company’s Board of Directors reviews and approves policies for managing each of these risks as summarized below.
Interest Rate Risk - Investment Income
As a result of the Company’s operating activities, the Company holds fiduciary funds. The Company earns interest on these funds, which is included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements as interest and other income. These funds are regulated in terms of access as are the instruments in which they may be invested, most of which are short-term in nature.
During 2015, in order to manage interest rate risk arising from these financial assets, the Company entered into interest rate swaps to receive a fixed rate of interest and pay a variable rate of interest. These derivatives were designated as hedging instruments and as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 had a total notional amount of $300 million and net fair values of $1 million and nil, respectively.
Foreign Currency Risk
A number of our non-U.S. subsidiaries receive revenues and incur expenses in currencies other than their functional currency and, as a result, the foreign subsidiary’s functional currency revenues will fluctuate as the currency rates change. Additionally, our London brokerage market operations forecast of Pound sterling expenses may exceed Pound sterling revenues, and may also hold a significant net sterling asset or liability position in the balance sheet. To reduce the variability, we use foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge this foreign exchange risk.
These derivatives were designated as hedging instruments and as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 had a total notional amount of $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, and net fair value liabilities of $110 million and $28 million, respectively.
At September 30, 2016, the Company estimates, based on current interest and exchange rates, there will be $61 million of net derivative losses reclassified from accumulated comprehensive income into earnings within the next 12 months as the forecast transactions affect earnings. At September 30, 2016, our longest outstanding maturity was 2.8 years.
The effects of the foreign exchange forward derivative instruments that are designated as hedging instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Three Months Ended September 30, | | Loss recognized in OCI (effective portion) | | Location of (loss)/gain reclassified from OCI into income (effective portion) | | (Loss)/gain reclassified from OCI into income | | Location of gain recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) | | Gain recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Foreign exchange forwards | | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | (44 | ) | | Other expense/(income), net | | $ | (14 | ) | | $ | 5 |
| | Interest expense | | $ | — |
| | $ | 1 |
|
Total | | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | (44 | ) | | | | $ | (14 | ) | | $ | 5 |
| | | | $ | — |
| | $ | 1 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nine Months Ended September 30, | | Loss recognized in OCI (effective portion) | | Location of (loss)/gain reclassified from OCI into income (effective portion) | | (Loss)/gain reclassified from OCI into income | | Location of loss recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) | | Loss recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Foreign exchange forwards | | $ | (81 | ) | | $ | (19 | ) | | Other expense/(income), net | | $ | (28 | ) | | $ | 5 |
| | Interest expense | | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | — |
|
Total | | $ | (81 | ) | | $ | (19 | ) | | | | $ | (28 | ) | | $ | 5 |
| | | | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | — |
|
We also enter into other foreign currency transactions, primarily to hedge certain intercompany loans. These derivatives are not generally designated as hedging instruments and at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 we had notional amounts of $401 million and $574 million, respectively, and net fair value liabilities of $5 million and $3 million, respectively.
The related net gains/(losses) for these derivatives were recorded within other expense/(income), net, and were $4 million and $(6) million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $(1) million and $(2) million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.
Note 9 — Debt
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt consists of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
1-year term loan facility matures 2016 | $ | — |
| | $ | 587 |
|
4.125% senior notes due 2016 | — |
| | 300 |
|
6.200% senior notes due 2017 | 394 |
| | — |
|
Current portion of 7-year term loan facility expires 2018 | 22 |
| | 22 |
|
Current portion of term loan expires 2019 | 85 |
| | — |
|
Short-term borrowing under bank overdraft arrangement | 18 |
| | 79 |
|
| $ | 519 |
| | $ | 988 |
|
Long-term debt consists of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
Revolving $800 million credit facility | $ | 85 |
| | $ | 467 |
|
6.200% senior notes due 2017 | — |
| | 394 |
|
7-year term loan facility expires 2018 | 202 |
| | 218 |
|
Term loan expires 2019 | 190 |
| | — |
|
7.000% senior notes due 2019 | 186 |
| | 186 |
|
5.750% senior notes due 2021 | 496 |
| | 495 |
|
3.500% senior notes due 2021 | 446 |
| | — |
|
2.125% senior notes due 2022 | 601 |
| | — |
|
4.625% senior notes due 2023 | 247 |
| | 247 |
|
4.400% senior notes due 2026 | 543 |
| | — |
|
6.125% senior notes due 2043 | 271 |
| | 271 |
|
| $ | 3,267 |
| | $ | 2,278 |
|
Senior Notes
On May 26, 2016, Trinity Acquisition plc issued €540 million ($609 million) of 2.125% senior notes due 2022 (‘2022 Euro Bonds’). The 2022 Euro Bonds are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson. The effective interest rate of these senior notes is 2.154%, which includes the impact of the discount upon issuance. The 2022 Euro Bonds will mature on May 26, 2022. Interest accrues on the notes from May 26, 2016 and will be paid in cash on May 26 of each year, commencing May 26, 2017. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, were €535 million ($600 million). We used the net proceeds of this offering to repay Tranche A of the 1-year term loan and related accrued interest.
On March 22, 2016, Trinity Acquisition plc issued $450 million of 3.500% senior notes due 2021 (‘2021 Notes’) and $550 million of 4.400% senior notes due 2026 (‘2026 Notes’). The 2021 Notes and the 2026 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Towers Watson. The effective interest rates of these senior notes are 3.707% and 4.572%, respectively, which includes the impact of the discount upon issuance. The 2021 Notes and the 2026 Notes will mature on September 15, 2021 and March 15, 2026, respectively. Interest accrues on the notes from March 22, 2016 and is paid in cash on March 15 and September 15 of each year, commencing September 15, 2016. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, were $988 million. We used the net proceeds of this offering as follows: to repay $300 million principal under our $800 million revolving credit facility and related accrued interest, which was drawn to repay our 4.125% senior notes on March 15, 2016; to repay $400 million principal on Tranche B under our 1-year term loan facility and related accrued interest; and to pay down a portion of the remaining principal amount outstanding under our $800 million revolving credit facility and related accrued interest.
$800 million revolving credit facility
Drawings under the $800 million revolving credit facility bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 2.00%, or alternatively the base rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 1.00% based upon the Company’s guaranteed senior unsecured long-term debt rating; a 1.375% margin applies while the Company’s debt rating remains BBB/Baa3. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, $85 million and $467 million was outstanding under this revolving credit facility, respectively.
7-year term loan facility
The 7-year term loan facility expiring 2018 bears interest at the same rate as applicable to the $800 million revolving credit facility and is repayable in quarterly installments of $6 million with a final repayment of $186 million due in the third quarter of 2018.
1-year term loan facility
On November 20, 2015, Legacy Willis entered into a 1-year term loan facility. The 1-year term loan had two tranches: Tranche A was for €550 million, of which €544 million ($592 million) was drawn on December 19, 2015 and used to finance the acquisition of Gras Savoye. Tranche B was for $400 million and was drawn on January 4, 2016 and used to re-finance debt held by Legacy Towers Watson which became due on acquisition. Tranche A was repaid in its entirety on May 26, 2016 from the proceeds from the issuance of our 2022 Euro Bonds discussed above. Tranche B was repaid in its entirety on March 22,
2016 from a portion of the proceeds from the issuance of our senior notes discussed above. The amount outstanding as of December 31, 2015 was $592 million, gross of $5 million in related debt fees.
WSI revolving credit facility
Advances under the Willis Securities, Inc. (‘WSI’) revolving credit facility bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 2.00%, or alternatively the base rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 1.00%, based upon the Company’s guaranteed senior-unsecured long-term debt rating. A margin of 1.50% applies while the Company’s debt rating remains BBB/Baa3.
As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there were no borrowings outstanding under the WSI revolving credit facility. On April 27, 2016, the end date of the credit period was extended to April 28, 2017 and the repayment date was extended to April 28, 2018. There were no other significant changes in the terms of this credit facility.
The agreements relating to the $800 million revolving credit facility, the 7-year term loan facility, and the 1-year term loan contain requirements that we are not to exceed certain levels of consolidated funded indebtedness in relation to consolidated EBITDA and we are to maintain at least a minimum level of consolidated EBITDA to consolidated cash interest expense, subject to certain adjustments. In addition, the agreements relating to our facilities and senior notes include, in the aggregate, covenants relating to the delivery of financial statements, reports and notices, limitations on liens, limitations on sales and other disposals of assets, limitations on indebtedness and other liabilities, limitations on sale and leaseback transactions, limitations on mergers and other fundamental changes, maintenance of property, maintenance of insurance, nature of business, compliance with applicable laws, maintenance of corporate existence and rights, payment of taxes and access to information and properties. At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with all financial covenants.
Term Loan Due December 2019
On January 4, 2016, we acquired a $340 million term loan in connection with the Merger. On November 20, 2015, Towers Watson Delaware Inc. entered into a four-year amortizing term loan agreement for up to $340 million with a consortium of banks to help fund the pre-Merger special dividend. On December 28, 2015, Towers Watson Delaware Inc. borrowed the full $340 million.
The interest rate on the term loan is based on the Company’s choice of one, two, three or six-month LIBOR plus a spread of 1.25% to 1.75%, or alternatively the bank base rate plus 0.25% to 0.75%. The spread to each index is dependent on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio. The weighted-average interest rate on this term loan for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was 1.76%. The term loan amortizes at a rate of $21 million per quarter, beginning in March 2016, with a final maturity date of December 2019. The Company has the right to prepay a portion or all of the outstanding term loan balance on any interest payment date without penalty. At September 30, 2016, the balance outstanding on the term loan was $276 million, gross of $1 million in debt issuance fees.
The agreements associated with this financing contain customary representations and warranties and affirmative and negative covenants. The term loan requires Towers Watson Delaware Inc., as a consolidated entity, to maintain certain financial covenants that include a minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio and a maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio (which terms in each case are defined in the term loan agreement). In addition, the term loan contains restrictions on the ability of Towers Watson Delaware Inc. to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness; pay dividends; make distributions; create liens on assets; make acquisitions; dispose of property; engage in sale-leaseback transactions; engage in mergers or consolidations, liquidations and dissolutions; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and make changes in lines of businesses. Additionally, Towers Watson Delaware Inc. is prohibited from providing guarantees of debt outside of the Towers Watson Delaware Inc. consolidated entity. At September 30, 2016, we were in compliance with all financial covenants.
Note 10 — Fair Value Measurements
The Company has categorized its assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis into a three-level fair value hierarchy, based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine fair value as follows:
| |
• | Level 1: refers to fair values determined based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets; |
| |
• | Level 2: refers to fair values estimated using observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data; and |
| |
• | Level 3: includes fair values estimated using unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data. |
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosure for financial instruments:
The fair values of long-term debt instruments (excluding related fair value hedges) are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are based on quoted market values and are classified as Level 1 measurements, with the exception of the 7-year term loan facility, drawings under our $800 million revolving credit facility and our 2019 term loan, where fair value is determined using observable market data for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities (Level 2 measure).
Derivative financial instruments - Market values have been used to determine the fair value of interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts based on estimated amounts the Company would receive or have to pay to terminate the agreements, taking into account the current interest rate environment or current foreign currency forward rates. Such financial instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Available-for-sale securities are classified as Level 1 and we generally use quoted market prices in determining the fair value of our available-for-sale securities.
The following presents our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance Sheet Location | | Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at September 30, 2016 |
| | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | |
Available-for-sale securities: | | | | | | | | | |
Mutual funds / exchange traded funds | Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets | | $ | 37 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 37 |
|
Derivatives: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative financial instruments (i) | Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets | | $ | — |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2 |
|
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative financial instruments (i) | Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities | | $ | — |
| | $ | 116 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 116 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Balance Sheet Location | | Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at December 31, 2015 |
| | Level 1 | | Level 2 | | Level 3 | | Total |
Assets: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative financial instruments (i) | Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets | | $ | — |
| | $ | 26 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 26 |
|
Liabilities: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives: | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative financial instruments (i) | Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities | | $ | — |
| | $ | 57 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 57 |
|
_________________________ | |
(i) | See Note 8 — Derivative Financial Instruments for further information on our derivative instruments. |
The following presents our liabilities whose carrying value differs from the fair value and that are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
| Carrying Value | | Fair Value | | Carrying Value | | Fair Value |
Liabilities: | | | | | | | |
Current portion of long term debt | $ | 519 |
| | $ | 529 |
| | $ | 988 |
| | $ | 998 |
|
Long-term debt | $ | 3,267 |
| | $ | 3,503 |
| | $ | 2,278 |
| | $ | 2,394 |
|
The remeasurement of goodwill is classified as non-recurring Level 3 fair value assessment due to the significance of unobservable inputs developed using company-specific information, see Note 7 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets.
Note 11 — Retirement Benefits
Defined Benefit Plans and Post-retirement Welfare Plan
Willis Towers Watson sponsors both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement welfare plans (‘PRW’) throughout the world. The majority of our plan assets and obligations are in the United States and the United Kingdom. We have also included disclosures related to defined benefit plans in certain other countries, which include Canada, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands. Together, these disclosed funded and unfunded plans represented 99% of Willis Towers Watson’s pension and PRW obligations and are disclosed herein for 2016. The prior year disclosures of net periodic benefit (credit)/cost represent the entire legacy Willis pension plan obligations.
On January 4, 2016, in connection with the Merger, we acquired additional defined benefit pension, PRW, and defined contribution plans. Total plan assets of approximately $3.7 billion and projected benefit obligations of approximately $4.6 billion were acquired. The funded status for each of the acquired plans has been included in the preliminary values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions and are recorded as $67 million in pension benefits assets and $914 million in liability for pension benefits.
Significant plans acquired are described below:
United States
Legacy Towers Watson U.S. defined benefit pension plan – Prior to December 31, 2010, employees earned benefits under their original plan formulas, which were frozen on December 31, 2011. Beginning January 1, 2012, all Legacy Towers Watson employees, including named executive officers, accrue qualified and non-qualified benefits under a stable value pension design.
The Legacy Towers Watson U.S. Defined Contribution Plan allows eligible Towers Watson U.S. employees to participate in a savings plan design that provides for 100% match on the first 2% of employee contributions and 50% match on the next 4% of employee contributions. Employees vest in the employer match upon two years of service.
United Kingdom
Legacy Towers Watson U.K. defined benefit pension plan – Benefit accruals earned under a Legacy Watson Wyatt defined benefit plan (predominantly pension benefits) ceased on February 28, 2015, although benefits earned prior to January 1, 2008 retain a link to salary until the employee leaves the Company. Benefit accruals earned under a Legacy Towers Perrin defined benefit plan (predominantly lump sum benefits) were frozen on March 31, 2008. All employees now accrue defined contribution benefits.
The Legacy Towers Watson U.K. defined contribution plan has a money purchase feature to which we make core contributions plus additional contributions matching those of the participating employees up to a maximum rate. Contribution rates depend on the age of the participant and whether or not they arise from salary sacrifice arrangements through which the associate has elected to receive contributions in lieu of additional salary.
Other
In addition to the Legacy Towers Watson U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension plans, we acquired smaller defined benefit pension plans in Canada, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Post-retirement Welfare Plan
Legacy Towers Watson Post-retirement Benefits – We provide certain health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees in the U.S. The principal plans cover employees in the U.S. who have met certain eligibility requirements. Our principal post-retirement benefit plans are primarily unfunded. Retiree medical benefits provided under our U.S. post-retirement benefit plans were closed to new hires effective January 1, 2011. Life insurance benefits under the plans were frozen with respect to service, eligibility and amounts as of January 1, 2012 for active employees.
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost for Defined Benefit Pension and Post-retirement Welfare Plans
The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s most material defined benefit pension and post-retirement welfare plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| U.S. | | U.K. | | Other | | PRW | | U.S. | | U.K. | | Other | | PRW |
Service cost | $ | 15 |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 5 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 7 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | — |
|
Interest cost | 34 |
| | 26 |
| | 6 |
| | 1 |
| | 10 |
| | 25 |
| | 3 |
| | — |
|
Expected return on plan assets | (61 | ) | | (58 | ) | | (8 | ) | | — |
| | (14 | ) | | (56 | ) | | (4 | ) | | — |
|
Amortization of net loss/(gain) | 3 |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | 9 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost | — |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | — |
|
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost | $ | (9 | ) | | $ | (21 | ) | | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 1 |
| | $ | (1 | ) | | $ | (20 | ) | | $ | 1 |
| | $ | — |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| U.S. | | U.K. | | Other | | PRW | | U.S. | | U.K. | | Other | | PRW |
Service cost | $ | 44 |
| | $ | 19 |
| | $ | 14 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 25 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
|
Interest cost | 102 |
| | 83 |
| | 20 |
| | 3 |
| | 30 |
| | 77 |
| | 6 |
| | — |
|
Expected return on plan assets | (180 | ) | | (186 | ) | | (26 | ) | | — |
| | (43 | ) | | (169 | ) | | (6 | ) | | — |
|
Settlement | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Amortization of net loss/(gain) | 8 |
| | 32 |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 9 |
| | 27 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost | — |
| | (15 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (13 | ) | | — |
| | — |
|
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost | $ | (26 | ) | | $ | (67 | ) | | $ | 11 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | (4 | ) | | $ | (53 | ) | | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
|
Employer Contributions to Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Company made contributions of $50 million to its U.S. plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and does not anticipate making additional contributions for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Company made contributions of $76 million to its U.K. plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and anticipates making additional contributions of $20 million for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Company made contributions of $20 million to its other plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and anticipates making additional contributions of $17 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company made contributions to its defined contribution plans of $37 million and $118 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and $20 million and $58 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.
Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies
Pensions
The Company’s pension funding obligations are described in Note 11 — Retirement Benefits.
Operating Leases
The Company leases certain land, buildings and equipment under various operating lease commitments. The total amount of the minimum rent is expensed on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.
The Company has assumed gross real estate operating lease obligations related to the Merger with Towers Watson of approximately $459 million.
Other Contractual Obligations
On October 1, 2015, Legacy Towers Watson made a capital commitment of $40 million to Longitude Holdings Limited in exchange for 48,322 common shares outstanding representing 24.2% of outstanding equity ownership. As of September 30, 2016, approximately $5 million of capital contributions had been made towards this commitment.
Indemnification Agreements
Willis Towers Watson has various agreements which provide that it may be obligated to indemnify the other party to the agreement with respect to certain matters. Generally, these indemnification provisions are included in contracts arising in the normal course of business and in connection with the purchase and sale of certain businesses. Although it is not possible to predict the maximum potential amount of future payments that may become due under these indemnification agreements because of the conditional nature of Willis Towers Watson’s obligations and the unique facts of each particular agreement, Willis Towers Watson does not believe any potential liability that might arise from such indemnity provisions is probable or material. There are no provisions for recourse to third parties, nor are any assets held by any third parties that any guarantor can liquidate to recover amounts paid under such indemnities.
Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to various actual and potential claims, lawsuits, and other proceedings. Some of the claims, lawsuits and other proceedings seek damages in amounts which could, if assessed, be significant. We do not expect the impact of claims or demands not described below to be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company also receives subpoenas in the ordinary course of business and, from time to time, receives requests for information in connection with governmental investigations.
Errors and omissions claims, lawsuits, and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business are covered in part by professional indemnity or other appropriate insurance. The terms of this insurance vary by policy year. Regarding self-insured risks, the Company has established provisions which are believed to be adequate in the light of current information and legal advice, or, in certain cases, where a range of loss exists, the Company accrues the minimum amount in the range if no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount. The Company adjusts such provisions from time to time according to developments.
On the basis of current information, the Company does not expect that the actual claims, lawsuits and other proceedings to which the Company is subject, or potential claims, lawsuits, and other proceedings relating to matters of which it is aware, will ultimately have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Nonetheless, given the large or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these actions, and the inherent unpredictability of litigation and disputes with insurance companies, it is possible that an adverse outcome or settlement in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in particular quarterly or annual periods.
The Company provides for contingent liabilities based on ASC 450, Contingencies, when it is determined that a liability, inclusive of defense costs, is probable and reasonably estimable. The contingent liabilities recorded are primarily developed actuarially. Litigation is subject to many factors which are difficult to predict so there can be no assurance that, in the event of a material unfavorable result in one or more claims, we will not incur material costs.
In re Towers Watson & Co. Stockholders Litigation
Five putative class action complaints challenging the Merger were filed in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware, captioned New Jersey Building Laborers’ Statewide Annuity Fund v. Towers Watson & Co., et al., C.A. No. 11270-CB (filed on July 9, 2015), Stein v. Towers Watson & Co., et al., C.A. No. 11271-CB (filed on July 9, 2015), City of Atlanta Firefighters’ Pension Fund v. Ganzi, et al., C.A. No. 11275-CB (filed on July 10, 2015), Cordell v. Haley, et al., C.A. No. 11358-CB (filed on July 31, 2015), and Mills v. Towers Watson & Co., et al., C.A. No. 11423-CB (filed on August 24, 2015). The Stein action was voluntarily dismissed on July 28, 2015. These complaints were filed by purported stockholders of Towers Watson on behalf of a putative class comprised of all Towers Watson stockholders. The complaints sought, among other things, to enjoin the Merger, and generally alleged that Towers Watson’s directors breached their fiduciary duties to Towers Watson stockholders by agreeing to merge Towers Watson with Willis through an inadequate and unfair process, which led to inadequate and unfair consideration, and by agreeing to unfair deal protection devices. The complaints also alleged that Willis and the Merger Sub formed for purposes of consummating the Merger aided and abetted the alleged breaches of fiduciary duties by Towers Watson directors. On August 17, 2015, the court consolidated the New Jersey Building Laborers’ Statewide Annuity Fund, City of Atlanta Firefighters’ Pension Fund, and Cordell actions (the Mills action had not yet been filed) and any other actions then pending or thereafter filed arising out of the same issues of fact under the caption In re Towers Watson & Co. Stockholders
Litigation, Consolidated C.A. No. 11270-CB. On September 9, 2015, the plaintiffs in the consolidated action and in Mills filed a consolidated amended complaint, which, among other things, added claims for alleged misstatements and omissions from a preliminary proxy statement and prospectus for the Merger dated August 27, 2015. On September 17, 2015, plaintiffs filed a motion for expedited proceedings and a motion for a preliminary injunction, which motions plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew on October 19, 2015. On December 14, 2015, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint. On April 1, 2016, the court consolidated the Mills action into the consolidated action. On April 18, 2016, the court dismissed the consolidated action as moot, set a briefing schedule for plaintiffs’ application for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses, and scheduled a hearing on plaintiffs’ fee and expense application for June 28, 2016. On April 27, 2016, plaintiffs filed a petition for an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses, requesting an aggregate fee and expense award of at least $1.7 million. On June 8, 2016, defendants filed their opposition to the petition. After negotiations, the parties agreed in principle to resolve the petition for a payment of $250,000 to plaintiffs’ counsel by the Company. On July 29, 2016, the court entered a proposed order submitted by the parties closing the consolidated action for all purposes.
Merger-related Appraisal demands
Between November 12, 2015 and December 10, 2015, in connection with the then-proposed Merger, Towers Watson received demands for appraisal under Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law on behalf of ten purported beneficial owners of an aggregate of approximately 2.4% of the shares of Towers Watson common stock outstanding at the time of the Merger. Between March 3, 2016 and March 23, 2016, three appraisal petitions were filed in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware on behalf of three purported beneficial owners of an aggregate of 1,354,338 shares of Towers Watson common stock, captioned Rangeley Capital LLC v. Towers Watson & Co., C.A. No. 12063-CB, Merion Capital L.P. v. Towers Watson & Co., C.A. No. 12064-CB, and College Retirement Equities Fund v. Towers Watson & Co., C.A. No. 12126-CB. The appraisal petitions seek, among other things, a determination of the fair value of the appraisal petitioners’ shares at the time of the Merger; an order that Towers Watson pay that value to the appraisal petitioners, together with interest at the statutory rate; and an award of costs, attorneys’ fees, and other expenses. Towers Watson answered the appraisal petitions between March 24, 2016 and April 18, 2016. On May 9, 2016, the court consolidated the three pending appraisal proceedings under the caption In re Appraisal of Towers Watson & Co., Consolidated C.A. No. 12064-CB. Based on all of the information to date, the Company is currently unable to estimate what the court would determine, following trial, to be the fair value of the appraisal petitioners’ shares. It is possible that the court could determine that fair value was the same as, less than or greater than the value received by shareholders in the Merger. Therefore, we are unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss as to such value. The Company intends to vigorously defend against the appraisal proceedings.
Stanford Financial Group
The Company has been named as a defendant in 15 similar lawsuits relating to the collapse of The Stanford Financial Group (‘Stanford’), for which Willis of Colorado, Inc. acted as broker of record on certain lines of insurance. The complaints in these actions generally allege that the defendants actively and materially aided Stanford’s alleged fraud by providing Stanford with certain letters regarding coverage that they knew would be used to help retain or attract actual or prospective Stanford client investors. The complaints further allege that these letters, which contain statements about Stanford and the insurance policies that the defendants placed for Stanford, contained untruths and omitted material facts and were drafted in this manner to help Stanford promote and sell its allegedly fraudulent certificates of deposit.
The 15 actions are as follows:
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• | Troice, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:9-CV-1274-N, was filed on July 2, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and a Willis associate, among others. On April 1, 2011, plaintiffs filed the operative Third Amended Class Action Complaint individually and on behalf of a putative, worldwide class of Stanford investors, adding Willis Limited as a defendant and alleging claims under Texas statutory and common law and seeking damages in excess of $1 billion, punitive damages and costs. On May 2, 2011, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the Third Amended Class Action Complaint, arguing, inter alia, that the plaintiffs’ claims are precluded by the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1998 (‘SLUSA’). |
On May 10, 2011, the court presiding over the Stanford-related actions in the Northern District of Texas entered an order providing that it would consider the applicability of SLUSA to the Stanford-related actions based on the decision in a separate Stanford action not involving a Willis entity, Roland v. Green, Civil Action No. 3:10-CV-0224-N (‘Roland’). On August 31, 2011, the court issued its decision in Roland, dismissing that action with prejudice under SLUSA.
On October 27, 2011, the court in Troice entered an order (i) dismissing with prejudice those claims asserted in the Third Amended Class Action Complaint on a class basis on the grounds set forth in the Roland decision discussed
above and (ii) dismissing without prejudice those claims asserted in the Third Amended Class Action Complaint on an individual basis. Also on October 27, 2011, the court entered a final judgment in the action.
On October 28, 2011, the plaintiffs in Troice filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Subsequently, Troice, Roland and a third action captioned Troice, et al. v. Proskauer Rose LLP, Civil Action No. 3:09-CV-01600-N, which also was dismissed on the grounds set forth in the Roland decision discussed above and on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, were consolidated for purposes of briefing and oral argument. Following the completion of briefing and oral argument, on March 19, 2012, the Fifth Circuit reversed and remanded the actions. On April 2, 2012, the defendants-appellees filed petitions for rehearing en banc. On April 19, 2012, the petitions for rehearing en banc were denied. On July 18, 2012, defendants-appellees filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court regarding the Fifth Circuit’s reversal in Troice. On January 18, 2013, the Supreme Court granted our petition. Opening briefs were filed on May 3, 2013 and the Supreme Court heard oral argument on October 7, 2013. On February 26, 2014, the Supreme Court affirmed the Fifth Circuit’s decision.
On March 19, 2014, the plaintiffs in Troice filed a Motion to Defer Resolution of Motions to Dismiss, to Compel Rule 26(f) Conference and For Entry of Scheduling Order.
On March 25, 2014, the parties in Troice and the Janvey, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al. action discussed below stipulated to the consolidation of the two actions for pre-trial purposes under Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. On March 28, 2014, the Court ‘so ordered’ that stipulation and, thus, consolidated Troice and Janvey for pre-trial purposes under Rule 42(a).
On September 16, 2014, the court (a) denied the plaintiffs’ request to defer resolution of the defendants’ motions to dismiss, but granted the plaintiffs’ request to enter a scheduling order; (b) requested the submission of supplemental briefing by all parties on the defendants’ motions to dismiss, which the parties submitted on September 30, 2014; and (c) entered an order setting a schedule for briefing and discovery regarding plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, which schedule, among other things, provided for the submission of the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification (following the completion of briefing and discovery) on April 20, 2015.
On December 15, 2014, the court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motions to dismiss. On January 30, 2015, the defendants except Willis Group Holdings plc answered the Third Amended Class Action Complaint.
On April 20, 2015, the plaintiffs filed their motion for class certification, the defendants filed their opposition to plaintiffs’ motion, and the plaintiffs filed their reply in further support of the motion. Pursuant to an agreed stipulation also filed with the court on April 20, 2015, the defendants on June 4, 2015 filed sur-replies in further opposition to the motion. The Court has not yet scheduled a hearing on the motion.
On June 19, 2015, Willis Group Holdings plc filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction. On November 17, 2015, Willis Group Holdings plc withdrew the motion.
On March 31, 2016, the parties in the Troice and Janvey actions entered into a settlement in principle that is described in more detail below.
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• | Ranni v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 9-22085, was filed on July 17, 2009 against Willis Group Holdings plc and Willis of Colorado, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint was filed on behalf of a putative class of Venezuelan and other South American Stanford investors and alleges claims under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and Rule 10b-5 thereunder) and Florida statutory and common law and seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial. On October 6, 2009, Ranni was transferred, for consolidation or coordination with other Stanford-related actions (including Troice), to the Northern District of Texas by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the ‘JPML’). The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in Ranni. On August 26, 2014, the plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice. |
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• | Canabal, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:9-CV-1474-D, was filed on August 6, 2009 against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate named as a defendant in Troice, among others, also in the Northern District of Texas. The complaint was filed individually and on behalf of a putative class of Venezuelan Stanford investors, alleged claims under Texas statutory and common law and sought damages in excess of $1 billion, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. On December 18, 2009, the parties in Troice and Canabal stipulated to the consolidation of those actions (under the Troice civil action number), and, on December 31, 2009, the plaintiffs in Canabal filed a notice of dismissal, dismissing the action without prejudice. |
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• | Rupert, et al. v. Winter, et al., Case No. 2009C115137, was filed on September 14, 2009 on behalf of 97 Stanford investors against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate, among others, in Texas state court (Bexar County). The complaint alleges claims under the Securities Act of 1933, Texas and Colorado statutory law and Texas common law and seeks special, consequential and treble damages of more than $300 million, attorneys’ fees and costs. On October 20, 2009, certain defendants, including Willis of Colorado, Inc., (i) removed Rupert to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, (ii) notified the JPML of the pendency of this related action and (iii) moved to stay the action pending a determination by the JPML as to whether it should be transferred to the Northern District of Texas for consolidation or coordination with the other Stanford-related actions. On April 1, 2010, the JPML issued a final transfer order for the transfer of Rupert to the Northern District of Texas. On January 24, 2012, the court remanded Rupert to Texas state court (Bexar County), but stayed the action until further order of the court. On August 13, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a motion to lift the stay, which motion was denied by the court on September 16, 2014. On October 10, 2014, the plaintiffs appealed the court’s denial of their motion to lift the stay to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On January 5, 2015, the Fifth Circuit consolidated the appeal with the appeal in the Rishmague, et ano. v. Winter, et al. action discussed below, and the consolidated appeal, was fully briefed as of March 24, 2015. Oral argument on the consolidated appeal was held on September 2, 2015. On September 16, 2015, the Fifth Circuit affirmed. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in Rupert. |
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• | Casanova, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:10-CV-1862-O, was filed on September 16, 2010 on behalf of seven Stanford investors against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis Limited, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate, among others, also in the Northern District of Texas. The complaint alleges claims under Texas statutory and common law and seeks actual damages in excess of $5 million, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 13, 2015, the parties filed an Agreed Motion for Partial Dismissal pursuant to which they agreed to the dismissal of certain claims pursuant to the motion to dismiss decisions in the Troice action discussed above and the Janvey action discussed below. Also on February 13, 2015, the defendants except Willis Group Holdings plc answered the complaint in the Casanova action. On June 19, 2015, Willis Group Holdings plc filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction. Plaintiffs have not opposed the motion. |
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• | Rishmague, et ano. v. Winter, et al., Case No. 2011CI2585, was filed on March 11, 2011 on behalf of two Stanford investors, individually and as representatives of certain trusts, against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis of Colorado, Inc., Willis of Texas, Inc. and the same Willis associate, among others, in Texas state court (Bexar County). The complaint alleges claims under Texas and Colorado statutory law and Texas common law and seeks special, consequential and treble damages of more than $37 million and attorneys’ fees and costs. On April 11, 2011, certain defendants, including Willis of Colorado, Inc., (i) removed Rishmague to the Western District of Texas, (ii) notified the JPML of the pendency of this related action and (iii) moved to stay the action pending a determination by the JPML as to whether it should be transferred to the Northern District of Texas for consolidation or coordination with the other Stanford-related actions. On August 8, 2011, the JPML issued a final transfer order for the transfer of Rishmague to the Northern District of Texas, where it is currently pending. On August 13, 2012, the plaintiffs joined with the plaintiffs in the Rupert action in their motion to lift the court’s stay of the Rupert action. On September 9, 2014, the court remanded Rishmague to Texas state court (Bexar County), but stayed the action until further order of the court and denied the plaintiffs’ motion to lift the stay. On October 10, 2014, the plaintiffs appealed the court’s denial of their motion to lift the stay to the Fifth Circuit. On January 5, 2015, the Fifth Circuit consolidated the appeal with the appeal in the Rupert action, and the consolidated appeal was fully briefed as of March 24, 2015. Oral argument on the consolidated appeal was held on September 2, 2015. On September 16, 2015, the Fifth Circuit affirmed. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in Rishmague. |
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• | MacArthur v. Winter, et al., Case No. 2013-07840, was filed on February 8, 2013 on behalf of two Stanford investors against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis of Colorado, Inc., Willis of Texas, Inc. and the same Willis associate, among others, in Texas state court (Harris County). The complaint alleges claims under Texas and Colorado statutory law and Texas common law and seeks actual, special, consequential and treble damages of approximately $4 million and attorneys’ fees and costs. On March 29, 2013, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and Willis of Texas, Inc. (i) removed MacArthur to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and (ii) notified the JPML of the pendency of this related action. On April 2, 2013, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and Willis of Texas, Inc. filed a motion in the Southern District of Texas to stay the action pending a determination by the JPML as to whether it should be transferred to the Northern District of Texas for consolidation or coordination with the other Stanford-related actions. Also on April 2, 2013, the court presiding over MacArthur in the Southern District of Texas transferred the action to the Northern District of Texas for consolidation or coordination with the other Stanford-related actions. On September 29, 2014, the parties stipulated to the remand (to Texas state court (Harris County)) and stay of MacArthur until further order of the court (in accordance with the court’s September 9, 2014 decision in Rishmague (discussed above)), which stipulation |
was ‘so ordered’ by the court on October 14, 2014. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in MacArthur.
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• | Florida suits: On February 14, 2013, five lawsuits were filed against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis Limited and Willis of Colorado, Inc. in Florida state court (Miami-Dade County) alleging violations of Florida common law. The five suits are: (1) Barbar, et al. v. Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, et al., Case No. 13-05666CA27, filed on behalf of 35 Stanford investors seeking compensatory damages in excess of $30 million; (2) de Gadala-Maria, et al. v. Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, et al., Case No. 13-05669CA30, filed on behalf of 64 Stanford investors seeking compensatory damages in excess of $83.5 million; (3) Ranni, et ano. v. Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, et al., Case No. 13-05673CA06, filed on behalf of two Stanford investors seeking compensatory damages in excess of $3 million; (4) Tisminesky, et al. v. Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, et al., Case No. 13-05676CA09, filed on behalf of 11 Stanford investors seeking compensatory damages in excess of $6.5 million; and (5) Zacarias, et al. v. Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company, et al., Case No. 13-05678CA11, filed on behalf of 10 Stanford investors seeking compensatory damages in excess of $12.5 million. On June 3, 2013, Willis of Colorado, Inc. removed all five cases to the Southern District of Florida and, on June 4, 2013, notified the JPML of the pendency of these related actions. On June 10, 2013, the court in Tisminesky issued an order sua sponte staying and administratively closing that action pending a determination by the JPML as to whether it should be transferred to the Northern District of Texas for consolidation and coordination with the other Stanford-related actions. On June 11, 2013, Willis of Colorado, Inc. moved to stay the other four actions pending the JPML’s transfer decision. On June 20, 2013, the JPML issued a conditional transfer order for the transfer of the five actions to the Northern District of Texas, the transmittal of which was stayed for seven days to allow for any opposition to be filed. On June 28, 2013, with no opposition having been filed, the JPML lifted the stay, enabling the transfer to go forward. |
On September 30, 2014, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motion to remand in Zacarias, and, on October 3, 2014, the court denied the plaintiffs’ motions to remand in Tisminesky and de Gadala Maria. On December 3, 2014 and March 3, 2015, the court granted the plaintiffs’ motions to remand in Barbar and Ranni, respectively, remanded both actions to Florida state court (Miami-Dade County) and stayed both actions until further order of the court. On January 2, 2015 and April 1, 2015, the plaintiffs in Barbar and Ranni, respectively, appealed the court’s December 3, 2014 and March 3, 2015 decisions to the Fifth Circuit. On April 22, 2015 and July 22, 2015, respectively, the Fifth Circuit dismissed the Barbar and Ranni appeals sua sponte for lack of jurisdiction. We believe the dismissals were in error and that appeals are likely to be reinstated. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaints in Ranni or Barbar.
On April 1, 2015, the defendants except Willis Group Holdings plc filed motions to dismiss the complaints in Zacarias, Tisminesky and de Gadala-Maria. On June 19, 2015, Willis Group Holdings plc filed motions to dismiss the complaints in Zacarias, Tisminesky and de Gadala-Maria for lack of personal jurisdiction. On July 15, 2015, the court dismissed the complaint in Zacarias in its entirety with leave to replead within 21 days. On July 21, 2015, the court dismissed the complaints in Tisminesky and de Gadala-Maria in their entirety with leave to replead within 21 days. On August 6, 2015, the plaintiffs in Zacarias, Tisminesky and de Gadala-Maria filed amended complaints (in which, among other things, Willis Group Holdings plc was no longer named as a defendant). On September 11, 2015, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the amended complaints. The motions await disposition by the court.
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• | Janvey, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:13-CV-03980-D, was filed on October 1, 2013 also in the Northern District of Texas against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis Limited, Willis North America Inc., Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate. The complaint was filed (i) by Ralph S. Janvey, in his capacity as Court-Appointed Receiver for the Stanford Receivership Estate, and the Official Stanford Investors Committee (the ‘OSIC’) against all defendants and (ii) on behalf of a putative, worldwide class of Stanford investors against Willis North America Inc. Plaintiffs Janvey and the OSIC allege claims under Texas common law and the court’s Amended Order Appointing Receiver, and the putative class plaintiffs allege claims under Texas statutory and common law. Plaintiffs seek actual damages in excess of $1 billion, punitive damages and costs. As alleged by the Stanford Receiver, the total amount of collective losses allegedly sustained by all investors in Stanford certificates of deposit is approximately $4.6 billion. |
On November 15, 2013, plaintiffs in Janvey filed the operative First Amended Complaint, which added certain defendants unaffiliated with Willis. On February 28, 2014, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the First Amended Complaint, which motions, other than with respect to Willis Group Holding plc’s motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction, were granted in part and denied in part by the court on December 5, 2014. On December 22, 2014, Willis filed a motion to amend the court’s December 5 order to certify an interlocutory appeal to the Fifth Circuit, and, on December 23, 2014, Willis filed a motion to amend and, to the extent necessary, reconsider the court’s
December 5 order. On January 16, 2015, the defendants answered the First Amended Complaint. On January 28, 2015, the court denied Willis’s motion to amend the court’s December 5 order to certify an interlocutory appeal to the Fifth Circuit. On February 4, 2015, the court granted Willis’s motion to amend and, to the extent necessary, reconsider the December 5 order.
As discussed above, on March 25, 2014, the parties in Troice and Janvey stipulated to the consolidation of the two actions for pre-trial purposes under Rule 42(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. On March 28, 2014, the Court ‘so ordered’ that stipulation and, thus, consolidated Troice and Janvey for pre-trial purposes under Rule 42(a).
On January 26, 2015, the court entered an order setting a schedule for briefing and discovery regarding the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, which schedule, among other things, provided for the submission of the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification (following the completion of briefing and discovery) on July 20, 2015. By letter dated March 4, 2015, the parties requested that the court consolidate the scheduling orders entered in Troice and Janvey to provide for a class certification submission date of April 20, 2015 in both cases. On March 6, 2015, the court entered an order consolidating the scheduling orders in Troice and Janvey, providing for a class certification submission date of April 20, 2015 in both cases, and vacating the July 20, 2015 class certification submission date in the original Janvey scheduling order.
On November 17, 2015, Willis Group Holdings plc withdrew its motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.
On March 31, 2016, the parties in the Troice and Janvey actions entered into a settlement in principle that is described in more detail below.
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• | Martin v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., Case No. 201652115, was filed on August 5, 2016, on behalf of one Stanford investor against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis Limited, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate in Texas state court (Harris County). The complaint alleges claims under Texas statutory and common law and seeks actual damages of less than $100,000, exemplary damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. On September 12, 2016, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which added five more Stanford investors as plaintiffs and seeks damages in excess of $1 million. The defendants have not yet responded to the amended complaint in Martin. |
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• | Abel, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 3:16-cv-2601, was filed on September 12, 2016, on behalf of more than 300 Stanford investors against Willis Group Holdings plc, Willis Limited, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate, also in the Northern District of Texas. The complaint alleges claims under Texas statutory and common law and seeks actual damages in excess of $135 million, exemplary damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in Abel. |
The plaintiffs in Janvey and Troice and the other actions above seek overlapping damages, representing either the entirety or a portion of the total alleged collective losses incurred by investors in Stanford certificates of deposit, notwithstanding the fact that Legacy Willis acted as broker of record for only a portion of time that Stanford issued certificates of deposit. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a $70 million litigation provision for loss contingencies relating to the Stanford matters based on its ongoing review of a variety of factors as required by accounting standards.
On March 31, 2016, the Company entered into a settlement in principle for $120 million relating to this litigation, and we have therefore increased our provisions by $50 million. Further details on this settlement in principle are given below.
The settlement is contingent on a number of conditions, including court approval of the settlement and a bar order prohibiting any continued or future litigation against Willis related to Stanford, which may not be given. Therefore, the ultimate resolution of these matters may differ from the amount provided for. The Company continues to dispute the allegations and, to the extent litigation proceeds, to defend the lawsuits vigorously.
Settlement. On March 31, 2016, the Company entered into a settlement in principle, as reflected in a Settlement Term Sheet, relating to the Stanford litigation matter. The Company agreed to the Settlement Term Sheet to eliminate the distraction, burden, expense and uncertainty of further litigation. In particular, if the settlement and the related bar orders described below are approved by the Court and become effective, the Company (a newly-combined firm) would be able to conduct itself with the bar orders’ protection from the continued overhang of matters alleged to have occurred approximately a decade ago. Further, the Settlement Term Sheet provided that the parties understood and agreed that there was no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the Company. The Company expressly denies any liability or wrongdoing with respect to the matters alleged in the Stanford litigation. Specifically, the parties to the Settlement Term Sheet are Ralph S. Janvey (in his capacity as the Court-appointed receiver (the ‘Receiver’) for The Stanford Financial Group and its affiliated entities in receivership (collectively, ‘Stanford’)), the Official Stanford Investors Committee, Samuel Troice, Martha Diaz, Paula Gilly-Flores, Punga Punga Financial, Ltd., Manuel Canabal, Daniel Gomez Ferreiro and Promotora Villa Marina, C.A. (collectively, ‘Plaintiffs’), on the
one hand, and Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (formerly Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company), Willis Limited, Willis North America Inc. and Willis of Colorado, Inc. (collectively, ‘Defendants’), on the other hand.
Under the terms of the Settlement Term Sheet, the parties agreed in principle to settle and dismiss the Janvey and Troice actions (collectively, the ‘Actions’) and all current or future claims arising from or related to Stanford. If the settlement, including the bar orders described below, is approved by the Court and is not subject to further appeal, Willis North America Inc. will make a one-time cash payment of $120 million to the Receiver to be distributed to all Stanford investors who have claims recognized by the Receiver pursuant to the distribution plan in place at the time the payment is made.
The Settlement Term Sheet also provided the parties’ agreement to seek the Court’s entry of bar orders prohibiting any continued or future litigation against the Defendants and their related parties of claims relating to Stanford, whether asserted to date or not. The terms of the bar orders therefore would prohibit all Stanford-related litigation described above, and not just the Actions, including any pending matters and any actions that may be brought in the future. Final Court approval of these bar orders is a condition of the settlement.
On or about August 31, 2016, the parties to the settlement signed a formal Settlement Agreement memorializing the terms of the settlement as originally set forth in the Settlement Term Sheet. On September 7, 2016, the plaintiffs in the Troice and Janvey actions filed with the Court a motion to approve the settlement. On October 19, 2016, the Court preliminarily approved the settlement. A hearing to consider final approval of the settlement is scheduled for January 20, 2017. The Actions are stayed pending final approval of the settlement. The timing of any final decision is subject to the discretion of the Court and any appeal, and the Court may decide not to approve the settlement.
City of Houston
On August 1, 2014, the City of Houston (‘plaintiff’) filed suit against Legacy Towers Watson in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. On March 8, 2016, plaintiff filed its First Amended Complaint.
In the amended complaint, plaintiff alleges various deficiencies in pension actuarial work-product and advice stated to have been provided by Legacy Towers Watson’s predecessor firm, Towers Perrin, in its capacity as principal actuary to the Houston Firefighters’ Relief and Retirement Fund (the ‘Fund’). Towers Perrin is stated to have acted in this capacity between “the early 1980s until 2003”.
In particular, the amended complaint alleges “misrepresentations and miscalculations” in valuation reports allegedly issued by Towers Perrin from 2000 through 2002 upon which plaintiff claims to have relied. Plaintiff asserts that Towers Perrin assigned a new team of actuaries to the Fund in 2002 “to correct Towers’ own earlier mistakes” and that the new team “altered” certain calculations which “increased the actuarial accrued liability by $163 million.” Plaintiff claims that the reports indicated that the City’s minimum contribution percentages to the Fund would remain in place through at least 2019; and that existing benefits under the Fund could be increased, and new benefits could be added, without increasing plaintiff’s financial burden, and without increasing plaintiff’s rate of annual contributions to the Fund. The amended complaint alleges that plaintiff relied on these reports when supporting a new benefit package for the Fund. These reports, and other advice, are alleged, among other things, to have been negligent, to have misrepresented the present and future financial condition of the Fund and the contributions required to be made by plaintiff to support those benefits. Plaintiff asserts that, but for Towers Perrin’s alleged negligence and misrepresentations, plaintiff would not have supported the benefit increase, and that such increased benefits would not and could not have been approved or enacted. It is further asserted that Towers Perrin’s alleged “negligence and misrepresentations damaged the City to the tune of tens of millions of dollars in annual contributions.”
Plaintiff seeks the award of punitive damages, actual damages, exemplary damages, special damages, attorney’s fees and expenses, costs of suit, pre- and post- judgment interest at the maximum legal rate, and other unspecified legal and equitable relief. Plaintiff has not yet quantified fully its asserted damages.
On October 10, 2014, Legacy Towers Watson filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s entire complaint on the basis that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. On November 21, 2014, the City filed its response in opposition to Legacy Towers Watson’s motion to dismiss. On September 23, 2015, Legacy Towers Watson’s motion to dismiss was denied by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The court entered a scheduling order setting trial for May 30, 2017. On June 20, 2016, the Court entered an amended scheduling order setting trial for October 31, 2017.
Given the stage of the proceedings, the Company is currently unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss. The Company disputes the allegations, and intends to defend the lawsuit vigorously.
British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme
On September 4, 2014, Towers Watson Limited (‘TWL’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legacy Towers Watson, received a Letter of Claim (the ‘Demand Letter’) on behalf of Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Trustees Limited (the ‘Trustee’), trustee of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme (the ‘Scheme’). The Demand Letter was sent under the Professional Negligence Pre-Action Protocol, a pre-action dispute resolution procedure which applies in England and Wales.
In the Demand Letter, it is asserted that the Trustee has a claim against TWL in respect of allegedly negligent investment consulting advice provided to it by Watson Wyatt Limited, in the United Kingdom, in particular with regard to a currency hedge that was implemented in connection with the Scheme’s investment of £250 million in a Bluebay local currency emerging market debt fund in August 2008 (the ‘Investment’). It is alleged that the currency hedge has caused a substantial loss to the Scheme, compensatory damages for which losses are quantified at £47.5 million, for the period August 2008 to October 2012.
TWL sent a Letter of Response on December 23, 2014.
On November 11, 2015, the Trustee issued a claim form in the English High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Commercial Court, in which TWL is named defendant. The Trustee asserts that, in breach of retainer, or of a duty of care alleged to have been owed under contract or at common law, TWL acted negligently and/or provided negligent advice in connection with the Investment and/or in relation to the monitoring of the performance of the Investment. The Trustee asserts that, but for the alleged breaches, the Scheme would have achieved a return on the Investment that was approximately £47.5 million greater than the return on the Investment which it ultimately achieved, in the period between August 2008 and 28 September 2012. The claim form was not served on TWL within the validity period.
Based on current information, the Company does not anticipate any further developments, and considers the matter to be closed.
Meriter Health Services
On January 6, 2015, Meriter Health Services, Inc. (‘Meriter’), plan sponsor of the Meriter Health Services Employee Retirement Plan (the ‘Plan’) filed a complaint in Wisconsin state court against Towers Watson Delaware Inc. (‘TWDE’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and against its former lawyers, individual actuaries, and insurers.
In the Third Amended Complaint, served on April 12, 2016, Meriter alleges that Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby, Inc. (‘TPFC’) and Davis, Conder, Enderle & Sloan, Inc. (‘DCES’), and other entities and individuals, including Meriter’s former lawyers, acted negligently concerning the benefits consulting advice provided to Meriter, including TPFC and the lawyers’ involvement in the Plan design and drafting of the Plan document in 1987 by TPFC, and DCES and the lawyers’ Plan review, Plan redesign, Plan amendment, and drafting of ERISA section 204(h) notices in the early 2000s. Additionally, Meriter asserts that TPFC, DCES, and the individual actuary defendants breached alleged fiduciary duties to advise Meriter regarding the competency of Meriter’s then ERISA counsel. Meriter also has asserted causes of action for contribution, indemnity, and equitable subrogation related to amounts paid to settle a class action lawsuit related to the Plan that was filed by Plan participants against Meriter in 2010, alleging a number of ERISA violations and related claims. Meriter settled that lawsuit in 2015 for $82 million. Meriter seeks damages in the amount of approximately $190 million, which includes amounts it claims to have paid to settle and defend the class action litigation, and amounts it claims to have incurred as a result of improper plan design. Meriter seeks to recover these alleged damages from TWDE and the other defendants.
On January 12, 2016, TWDE and the other defendants filed a motion for partial summary judgment seeking dismissal of Meriter’s negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims. On April 18, 2016, TWDE and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the contribution, indemnification, and equitable subrogation claims. On May 4, 2016, the parties appeared for oral argument on the motion for partial summary judgment, which the court granted in part and denied in part. The court dismissed the fiduciary duty claims, but not the negligence claims. Meriter subsequently moved for reconsideration of the dismissal of its breach of fiduciary duty claims, which was denied as to TWDE on August 16, 2016. On June 22, 2016, the court granted in part TWDE’s motion to dismiss, and dismissed the contribution and equitable subrogation claims, but denied the motion as to Meriter’s indemnification claim without prejudice to the right of any defendant to raise the issue again by later motion. Based on all of the information to date, and given the stage of the matter, TWDE is currently unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss. TWDE disputes the allegations, and intends to defend the matter vigorously.
Elma Sanchez, et. al
On August 6, 2013, three individual plaintiffs filed a putative class action suit against the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (‘CalPERS’) in Los Angeles County Superior Court. On January 10, 2014, plaintiffs filed an amended
complaint, which added as defendants several members of CalPERS’ Board of Administration and three Legacy Towers Watson entities, Towers Watson & Co., Towers Perrin, and Tillinghast-Towers Perrin (‘Towers Perrin’).
Plaintiffs’ claims all relate to a self-funded, non-profit Long Term Care Program that CalPERS established in 1995 (the ‘LTC Program’). Plaintiffs’ claims seek unspecified damages allegedly resulting from CalPERS’ 2012 decision to implement in 2015 and 2016 an 85 percent increase in the premium rates of certain of the long term care policies it issued between 1995 and 2004 (the ‘85% Increase’).
The amended complaint alleges claims against CalPERS for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. It also includes a single cause of action against Towers Perrin for professional negligence relating to actuarial services Towers Perrin provided to CalPERS relating to the LTC Program between 1995 and 2004.
Plaintiffs principally allege that CalPERS mismanaged the LTC Program and its investment assets in multiple respects and breached its contractual and fiduciary duties to plaintiffs and other class members by impermissibly imposing the 85% Increase to make up for investment losses. Plaintiffs also allege that Towers Perrin recommended inadequate initial premium rates at the outset of the LTC Program and used unspecified inappropriate assumptions in its annual valuations for CalPERS. Plaintiffs claim that Towers Perrin’s allegedly negligent acts and omissions, prior to the end of its retainer in 2004, contributed to the need for the 85% Increase.
In May 2014, the court denied the motions to dismiss filed by CalPERS and Towers Perrin addressed to the sufficiency of the complaint. On January 28, 2016, the court granted plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. The certified class as currently defined includes those long term care policy holders whose policies were “subject to” the 85% Increase. The court thereafter set an October 2, 2017 trial date.
In May 2016, the case was reassigned to a different judge. The court has agreed that Towers Perrin may file a motion for summary judgment which will be heard on February 3, 2017. The court has also agreed to consider potential motions by Towers Perrin and CalPERS to decertify or modify the class.
To date, the plaintiffs have not identified any amount of damages or any basis for calculating damages they are seeking against defendants, including Towers Perrin. For this reason and given the stage of the proceedings, the Company is currently unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss. The Company disputes the allegations and intends to continue to defend the lawsuit vigorously.
Note 13 — Supplementary Information for Select Balance Sheet Accounts
There are variances of greater than 10% between our December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016 Balance Sheets. All variances with the exception of fiduciary assets and liabilities are primarily due to our Merger with Towers Watson. The fair values recorded, and their location on our balance sheet, are described in Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions to these condensed consolidated financial statements. The increase in fiduciary assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2016 is primarily due to the acquisition of Gras Savoye, timing issues around specific fiduciary receivables and payables, and the cyclical nature of our business. Additional details of specific accounts are detailed below:
Accounts receivable, net consists of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
Billed, net of allowance for doubtful receivables from clients of $42 million and $22 million | $ | 1,689 |
| | $ | 1,051 |
|
Accrued and unbilled, at estimated net realizable value | 354 |
| | 207 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | $ | 2,043 |
| | $ | 1,258 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets consist of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
Prepayments and accrued income | $ | 126 |
| | $ | 86 |
|
Derivatives and investments | 27 |
| | 29 |
|
Deferred compensation plan assets | 19 |
| | 20 |
|
Retention incentives | 12 |
| | 14 |
|
Corporate income and other taxes | 72 |
| | 66 |
|
Other current assets | 63 |
| | 40 |
|
Total prepaid and other current assets | $ | 319 |
| | $ | 255 |
|
Other non-current assets consist of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
Prepayments and accrued income | $ | 17 |
| | $ | 23 |
|
Deferred compensation plan assets | 104 |
| | 102 |
|
Deferred tax assets | 37 |
| | 76 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | 26 |
| | 30 |
|
Other investments | 29 |
| | 42 |
|
Other non-current assets | 115 |
| | 25 |
|
Total other non-current assets | $ | 328 |
| | $ | 298 |
|
Other current liabilities consist of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
Accounts payable | $ | 121 |
| | $ | 75 |
|
Income and other taxes payable | 79 |
| | 45 |
|
Contingent and deferred consideration on acquisition | 56 |
| | 68 |
|
Payroll related liabilities | 175 |
| | 82 |
|
Derivatives | 72 |
| | 31 |
|
Third party commissions | 204 |
| | 177 |
|
Other current liabilities | 105 |
| | 125 |
|
Total other current liabilities | $ | 812 |
| | $ | 603 |
|
Other non-current liabilities consist of the following: |
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
Incentives from lessors | $ | 140 |
| | $ | 175 |
|
Deferred compensation plan liability | 104 |
| | 102 |
|
Contingent and deferred consideration on acquisition | 99 |
| | 156 |
|
Derivatives | 51 |
| | 27 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | 150 |
| | 73 |
|
Total other non-current liabilities | $ | 544 |
| | $ | 533 |
|
Note 14 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss/Income
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of non-controlling interests and net of tax, are provided in the following table. The difference between the amounts presented in this table and the amounts presented in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income are the corresponding components attributable to non-controlling interests, which are not material for further disclosure. Amounts related to available-for-sale securities are immaterial. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Foreign currency translation (i) | | Gains and losses on cash flow hedges (i) | | Defined pension and post-retirement benefit costs (ii) | | Total |
As of December 31, 2014 | $ | (191 | ) | | $ | 18 |
| | $ | (893 | ) | | $ | (1,066 | ) |
Other comprehensive (loss)/income before reclassifications | (111 | ) | | (13 | ) | | 212 |
| | 88 |
|
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (net of income tax of $3) | — |
| | 3 |
| | 21 |
| | 24 |
|
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss)/income | (111 | ) | | (10 | ) | | 233 |
| | 112 |
|
As of September 30, 2015 | $ | (302 | ) | | $ | 8 |
| | $ | (660 | ) | | $ | (954 | ) |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2015 | $ | (314 | ) | | $ | (10 | ) | | $ | (713 | ) | | $ | (1,037 | ) |
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | (120 | ) | | (56 | ) | | (26 | ) | | (202 | ) |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income (net of income tax of $3) | — |
| | (14 | ) | | 32 |
| | 18 |
|
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss)/income | (120 | ) | | (70 | ) | | 6 |
| | (184 | ) |
As of September 30, 2016 | $ | (434 | ) | | $ | (80 | ) | | $ | (707 | ) | | $ | (1,221 | ) |
________________________
| |
(i) | Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income are primarily included in other expense/(income), net for foreign currency translation and gains and losses on cash flow hedges. See Note 8 — Derivative Financial Instruments for additional details regarding the reclassification adjustments for the hedge settlements. |
| |
(ii) | Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive income are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 11 — Retirement Benefits) which is included in salaries and benefits in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. |
Note 15 — (Loss)/Earnings Per Share
Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson by the average number of ordinary shares outstanding during each period. The computation of diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities and other contracts to issue shares were exercised or converted into shares or resulted in the issuance of shares that then shared in the net income of the Company. In periods where losses are reported, the weighted average shares outstanding exclude potentially issuable shares described below, because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
At September 30, 2016 and 2015, there were 1.3 million and 1.7 million time-based share options; 1.2 million and 0.7 million performance based options; and 1.6 million and 1.2 million restricted share units outstanding, respectively. The number of options and share units for 2015 has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split effected on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details.
Basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Net (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | 117 |
| | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 397 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Basic average number of shares outstanding (i) | 138 |
| | 68 |
| | 137 |
| | 68 |
|
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares (i) | — |
| | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | 1 |
|
Diluted average number of shares outstanding (i) | 138 |
| | 69 |
| | 139 |
| | 69 |
|
| | | | | | | |
Basic (loss)/earnings per share (i) | $ | (0.23 | ) | | $ | 1.72 |
| | $ | 2.03 |
| | $ | 5.84 |
|
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares (i) | — |
| | (0.02 | ) | | (0.03 | ) | | (0.09 | ) |
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (i) | $ | (0.23 | ) | | $ | 1.70 |
| | $ | 2.00 |
| | $ | 5.75 |
|
____________________________ | |
(i) | Shares outstanding, potentially issuable shares, basic and diluted earnings per share, and the dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split effected on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
All options and RSUs were excluded from the computation of the dilutive effect for the three months ended September 30, 2016, because the Company reported a loss. Options to purchase 0.6 million shares were excluded from the computation of the dilutive effect of stock options for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Options to purchase 0.6 million and 0.5 million shares were not included in the computation of the dilutive effect of stock options for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, because their effects were anti-dilutive. The number of options for 2015 has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details.
Note 16 — Financial Information for Parent Guarantor, Other Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Willis North America Inc. (‘Willis North America’) had $148 million senior notes outstanding that were issued on July 1, 2005 that were subsequently repaid on July 1, 2015 and has $394 million of senior notes issued on March 28, 2007 and $187 million of senior notes issued on September 29, 2009.
All direct obligations under the senior notes are jointly and severally, irrevocably and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited), Willis Group Limited and additionally, effective from March 9, 2016, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited and WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., collectively the ‘Other Guarantors’, and with Willis Towers Watson, the ‘Guarantor Companies’.
The debt securities that were issued by Willis North America and guaranteed by the entities described above, and for which the disclosures set forth below relate and are required under applicable SEC rules, were issued under an effective registration statement.
Presented below is condensed consolidating financial information for:
| |
(i) | Willis Towers Watson, which is a guarantor, on a parent company only basis; |
| |
(ii) | the Other Guarantors, which are all 100 percent directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries of the parent and are all direct or indirect parents of the issuer; |
| |
(iii) | the Issuer, Willis North America; |
| |
(iv) | Other, which are the non-guarantor subsidiaries, on a combined basis; |
| |
(v) | Consolidating adjustments; and |
| |
(vi) | the Consolidated Company. |
The equity method has been used for investments in subsidiaries in the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of September 30, 2016 of Willis Towers Watson, the Other Guarantors and the Issuer.
The entities included in the Other Guarantors column as of September 30, 2016 are Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited) and Willis Group Limited.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5 |
| | $ | 1,756 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,761 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| | 1,772 |
| | — |
| | 1,777 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | — |
| | — |
| | 14 |
| | 1,105 |
| | — |
| | 1,119 |
|
Other operating expenses | 1 |
| | 27 |
| | 10 |
| | 332 |
| | — |
| | 370 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 1 |
| | 4 |
| | 40 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 157 |
| | — |
| | 157 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 7 |
| | 7 |
| | 35 |
| | — |
| | 49 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | 1 |
| | 5 |
| | 30 |
| | — |
| | 36 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 1 |
| | 36 |
| | 40 |
| | 1,699 |
| | — |
| | 1,776 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (1 | ) | | (36 | ) | | (35 | ) | | 73 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (126 | ) | | (61 | ) | | (34 | ) | | 221 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 13 |
| | 48 |
| | 160 |
| | (221 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 8 |
| | 22 |
| | 10 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 14 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (9 | ) | | 55 |
| | (32 | ) | | (72 | ) | | — |
| | (58 | ) |
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (9 | ) | | (10 | ) | | (7 | ) | | — |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (9 | ) | | 64 |
| | (22 | ) | | (65 | ) | | — |
| | (32 | ) |
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | (23 | ) | | (82 | ) | | (29 | ) | | — |
| | 134 |
| | — |
|
NET (LOSS)/INCOME | (32 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (51 | ) | | (64 | ) | | 134 |
| | (31 | ) |
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | (18 | ) | | $ | (51 | ) | | $ | (65 | ) | | $ | 134 |
| | $ | (32 | ) |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive (loss)/income before non-controlling interests | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | (77 | ) | | $ | (91 | ) | | $ | 225 |
| | $ | (73 | ) |
Less: Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | (77 | ) | | $ | (90 | ) | | $ | 225 |
| | $ | (72 | ) |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 835 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 841 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 1 |
| | 6 |
| | 839 |
| | — |
| | 846 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | — |
| | 1 |
| | 18 |
| | 551 |
| | — |
| | 570 |
|
Other operating expenses | 2 |
| | 24 |
| | 13 |
| | 138 |
| | — |
| | 177 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 1 |
| | 4 |
| | 20 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | 23 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| | 24 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 2 |
| | 29 |
| | 35 |
| | 753 |
| | — |
| | 819 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (2 | ) | | (28 | ) | | (29 | ) | | 86 |
| | — |
| | 27 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (58 | ) | | (66 | ) | | (33 | ) | | 157 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 8 |
| | 53 |
| | 96 |
| | (157 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 11 |
| | 10 |
| | 9 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 35 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (8 | ) | | 1 |
| | (9 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (13 | ) | | 14 |
| | (25 | ) | | 26 |
| | (1 | ) | | 1 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (4 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (100 | ) | | — |
| | (112 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (13 | ) | | 18 |
| | (17 | ) | | 126 |
| | (1 | ) | | 113 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 130 |
| | 112 |
| | 106 |
| | — |
| | (348 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 117 |
| | 133 |
| | 89 |
| | 126 |
| | (349 | ) | | 116 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 117 |
| | $ | 133 |
| | $ | 89 |
| | $ | 127 |
| | $ | (349 | ) | | $ | 117 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 92 |
| | $ | 54 |
| | $ | (202 | ) | | $ | 30 |
|
Less: Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 92 |
| | $ | 59 |
| | $ | (202 | ) | | $ | 35 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 5,858 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,874 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 85 |
| | — |
| | 86 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 1 |
| | 16 |
| | 5,943 |
| | — |
| | 5,960 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 38 |
| | 3,479 |
| | — |
| | 3,519 |
|
Other operating expenses | 4 |
| | 84 |
| | 82 |
| | 1,001 |
| | — |
| | 1,171 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 3 |
| | 11 |
| | 118 |
| | — |
| | 132 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 443 |
| | — |
| | 443 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 18 |
| | 23 |
| | 74 |
| | — |
| | 115 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | 13 |
| | 15 |
| | 89 |
| | — |
| | 117 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 5 |
| | 119 |
| | 169 |
| | 5,204 |
| | — |
| | 5,497 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (5 | ) | | (118 | ) | | (153 | ) | | 739 |
| | — |
| | 463 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (367 | ) | | (177 | ) | | (104 | ) | | 648 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 53 |
| | 134 |
| | 461 |
| | (648 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 25 |
| | 65 |
| | 29 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | 138 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 1 |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | 27 |
| | — |
| | 26 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (31 | ) | | 133 |
| | (139 | ) | | 336 |
| | — |
| | 299 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (32 | ) | | (41 | ) | | 84 |
| | — |
| | 11 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (31 | ) | | 165 |
| | (98 | ) | | 252 |
| | — |
| | 288 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 309 |
| | 124 |
| | 92 |
| | — |
| | (525 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 278 |
| | 289 |
| | (6 | ) | | 254 |
| | (525 | ) | | 290 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (12 | ) | | — |
| | (12 | ) |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 289 |
| | $ | (6 | ) | | $ | 242 |
| | $ | (525 | ) | | $ | 278 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive (loss)/income before non-controlling interests | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 104 |
| | $ | (107 | ) | | $ | 88 |
| | $ | (83 | ) | | $ | 96 |
|
Less: Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (2 | ) |
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 104 |
| | $ | (107 | ) | | $ | 86 |
| | $ | (83 | ) | | $ | 94 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 2,829 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2,839 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 15 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 1 |
| | 10 |
| | 2,844 |
| | — |
| | 2,855 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1 |
| | 1 |
| | 60 |
| | 1,636 |
| | — |
| | 1,698 |
|
Other operating expenses | 11 |
| | 79 |
| | 24 |
| | 402 |
| | — |
| | 516 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 4 |
| | 12 |
| | 54 |
| | — |
| | 70 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 17 |
| | 13 |
| | 63 |
| | — |
| | 93 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 12 |
| | 101 |
| | 109 |
| | 2,208 |
| | — |
| | 2,430 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (12 | ) | | (100 | ) | | (99 | ) | | 636 |
| | — |
| | 425 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (168 | ) | | (178 | ) | | (82 | ) | | 428 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 23 |
| | 142 |
| | 263 |
| | (428 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 32 |
| | 28 |
| | 31 |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | 103 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 8 |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (32 | ) | | — |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (52 | ) | | 19 |
| | (94 | ) | | 475 |
| | — |
| | 348 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (21 | ) | | (30 | ) | | 14 |
| | — |
| | (37 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (52 | ) | | 40 |
| | (64 | ) | | 461 |
| | — |
| | 385 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | 7 |
| | — |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | 17 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 449 |
| | 398 |
| | 202 |
| | — |
| | (1,049 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 397 |
| | 445 |
| | 138 |
| | 471 |
| | (1,049 | ) | | 402 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | (5 | ) |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 397 |
| | $ | 445 |
| | $ | 138 |
| | $ | 466 |
| | $ | (1,049 | ) | | $ | 397 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 147 |
| | $ | 600 |
| | $ | (1,308 | ) | | $ | 507 |
|
Less: Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 147 |
| | $ | 602 |
| | $ | (1,308 | ) | | $ | 509 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
|
Fiduciary assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 11,604 |
| | — |
| | 11,604 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| | 2,038 |
| | — |
| | 2,043 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 2 |
| | 69 |
| | 20 |
| | 283 |
| | (55 | ) | | 319 |
|
Amounts due from group undertakings | 7,431 |
| | 5,567 |
| | 1,189 |
| | 2,374 |
| | (16,561 | ) | | — |
|
Total current assets | 7,433 |
| | 5,636 |
| | 1,214 |
| | 17,066 |
| | (16,616 | ) | | 14,733 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | 3,900 |
| | 8,319 |
| | 5,945 |
| | — |
| | (18,164 | ) | | — |
|
Fixed assets, net | — |
| | 33 |
| | 31 |
| | 747 |
| | — |
| | 811 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 10,483 |
| | — |
| | 10,483 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | — |
| | 64 |
| | — |
| | 4,589 |
| | (64 | ) | | 4,589 |
|
Pension benefits assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 857 |
| | — |
| | 857 |
|
Other non-current assets | — |
| | 2 |
| | 54 |
| | 273 |
| | (1 | ) | | 328 |
|
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings | — |
| | 918 |
| | 823 |
| | — |
| | (1,741 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current assets | 3,900 |
| | 9,336 |
| | 6,853 |
| | 16,949 |
| | (19,970 | ) | | 17,068 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 11,333 |
| | $ | 14,972 |
| | $ | 8,067 |
| | $ | 34,015 |
| | $ | (36,586 | ) | | $ | 31,801 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 11,604 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 11,604 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | 1 |
| | 15 |
| | 23 |
| | 1,307 |
| | (64 | ) | | 1,282 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 22 |
| | 394 |
| | 103 |
| | — |
| | 519 |
|
Other current liabilities | 69 |
| | 67 |
| | 4 |
| | 727 |
| | (55 | ) | | 812 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 8,686 |
| | 2,140 |
| | 5,735 |
| | (16,561 | ) | | — |
|
Total current liabilities | 70 |
| | 8,790 |
| | 2,561 |
| | 19,476 |
| | (16,680 | ) | | 14,217 |
|
Long-term debt | 496 |
| | 2,395 |
| | 186 |
| | 190 |
| | — |
| | 3,267 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,089 |
| | — |
| | 1,089 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,138 |
| | (1 | ) | | 1,137 |
|
Provision for liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | 120 |
| | 473 |
| | — |
| | 593 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | — |
| | 45 |
| | 15 |
| | 480 |
| | 4 |
| | 544 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | — |
| | 518 |
| | 1,223 |
| | (1,741 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current liabilities | 496 |
| | 2,440 |
| | 839 |
| | 4,593 |
| | (1,738 | ) | | 6,630 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 566 |
| | 11,230 |
| | 3,400 |
| | 24,069 |
| | (18,418 | ) | | 20,847 |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | 10,767 |
| | 3,742 |
| | 4,667 |
| | 9,759 |
| | (18,168 | ) | | 10,767 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 134 |
| | — |
| | 134 |
|
Total equity | 10,767 |
| | 3,742 |
| | 4,667 |
| | 9,893 |
| | (18,168 | ) | | 10,901 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 11,333 |
| | $ | 14,972 |
| | $ | 8,067 |
| | $ | 34,015 |
| | $ | (36,586 | ) | | $ | 31,801 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of December 31, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 527 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 532 |
|
Fiduciary assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 10,458 |
| | — |
| | 10,458 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | — |
| | — |
| | 7 |
| | 1,251 |
| | — |
| | 1,258 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 1 |
| | 49 |
| | 18 |
| | 194 |
| | (7 | ) | | 255 |
|
Amounts due from group undertakings | 3,423 |
| | 1,684 |
| | 822 |
| | 1,259 |
| | (7,188 | ) | | — |
|
Total current assets | 3,427 |
| | 1,735 |
| | 847 |
| | 13,689 |
| | (7,195 | ) | | 12,503 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | — |
| | 3,208 |
| | 832 |
| | — |
| | (4,040 | ) | | — |
|
Fixed assets, net | — |
| | 23 |
| | 35 |
| | 505 |
| | — |
| | 563 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,115 |
| | — |
| | 1,115 |
|
Pension benefits assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 623 |
| | — |
| | 623 |
|
Other non-current assets | — |
| | 8 |
| | 2 |
| | 288 |
| | — |
| | 298 |
|
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings | — |
| | 518 |
| | 785 |
| | — |
| | (1,303 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current assets | — |
| | 3,757 |
| | 1,654 |
| | 6,268 |
| | (5,343 | ) | | 6,336 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 3,427 |
| | $ | 5,492 |
| | $ | 2,501 |
| | $ | 19,957 |
| | $ | (12,538 | ) | | $ | 18,839 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,458 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,458 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | 1 |
| | 13 |
| | 55 |
| | 683 |
| | — |
| | 752 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 300 |
| | 609 |
| | — |
| | 79 |
| | — |
| | 988 |
|
Other current liabilities | 15 |
| | 38 |
| | 23 |
| | 534 |
| | (7 | ) | | 603 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 4,141 |
| | 1,545 |
| | 1,502 |
| | (7,188 | ) | | — |
|
Total current liabilities | 316 |
| | 4,801 |
| | 1,623 |
| | 13,256 |
| | (7,195 | ) | | 12,801 |
|
Long-term debt | 495 |
| | 1,203 |
| | 580 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2,278 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 279 |
| | — |
| | 279 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 239 |
| | — |
| | 240 |
|
Provision for liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 295 |
| | — |
| | 295 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | 387 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (387 | ) | | — |
|
Other non-current liabilities | — |
| | 21 |
| | 15 |
| | 497 |
| | — |
| | 533 |
|
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | — |
| | 518 |
| | 785 |
| | (1,303 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current liabilities | 882 |
| | 1,225 |
| | 1,113 |
| | 2,095 |
| | (1,690 | ) | | 3,625 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 1,198 |
| | 6,026 |
| | 2,736 |
| | 15,351 |
| | (8,885 | ) | | 16,426 |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | 2,229 |
| | (534 | ) | | (235 | ) | | 4,422 |
| | (3,653 | ) | | 2,229 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 131 |
| | — |
| | 131 |
|
Total equity | 2,229 |
| | (534 | ) | | (235 | ) | | 4,553 |
| | (3,653 | ) | | 2,360 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 3,427 |
| | $ | 5,492 |
| | $ | 2,501 |
| | $ | 19,957 |
| | $ | (12,538 | ) | | $ | 18,839 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | 6 |
| | $ | (130 | ) | | $ | (175 | ) | | $ | 976 |
| | $ | (69 | ) | | $ | 608 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | — |
| | (76 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (131 | ) | | 64 |
| | (151 | ) |
Capitalized software costs | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (64 | ) | | — |
| | (64 | ) |
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 476 |
| | — |
| | 476 |
|
Other, net | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | 16 |
| | 5 |
| | 22 |
|
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities | 47 |
| | 47 |
| | — |
| | 18 |
| | (112 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany investing activities | (4,015 | ) | | (3,953 | ) | | — |
| | (805 | ) | | 8,773 |
| | — |
|
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries | 4,600 |
| | 3,600 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (8,200 | ) | | — |
|
Additional investment in subsidiaries | — |
| | (4,600 | ) | | — |
| | (3,600 | ) | | 8,200 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | $ | 632 |
| | $ | (4,982 | ) | | $ | (7 | ) | | $ | (4,090 | ) | | $ | 8,730 |
| | $ | 283 |
|
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | — |
| | (389 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (389 | ) |
Senior notes issued | — |
| | 1,606 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,606 |
|
Proceeds from issue of other debt | — |
| | 400 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 404 |
|
Debt issuance costs | — |
| | (14 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (14 | ) |
Repayments of debt | (300 | ) | | (1,032 | ) | | — |
| | (529 | ) | | — |
| | (1,861 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | (222 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (222 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | 44 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 44 |
|
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (64 | ) | | — |
| | (64 | ) |
Dividends paid | (133 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (133 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (17 | ) | | — |
| | (17 | ) |
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities | — |
| | 4,557 |
| | 199 |
| | 4,017 |
| | (8,773 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany financing activities | (30 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (17 | ) | | (47 | ) | | 112 |
| | — |
|
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | $ | (641 | ) | | $ | 5,110 |
| | $ | 182 |
| | $ | 3,364 |
| | $ | (8,661 | ) | | $ | (646 | ) |
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (3 | ) | | (2 | ) | | — |
| | 250 |
| | — |
| | 245 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (10 | ) | | — |
| | (10 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 3 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 527 |
| | — |
| | 532 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
NET CASH (USED IN)/FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | 96 |
| | $ | 5 |
| | $ | 28 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 113 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | — |
| | (5 | ) | | (6 | ) | | (89 | ) | | — |
| | (100 | ) |
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (293 | ) | | — |
| | (293 | ) |
Net proceeds from sale of operations | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 45 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities | 160 |
| | 49 |
| | 82 |
| | 149 |
| | (440 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany investing activities | — |
| | (268 | ) | | — |
| | (269 | ) | | 537 |
| | — |
|
Additional investment in subsidiaries | — |
| | (274 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | 274 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | $ | 160 |
| | $ | (498 | ) | | $ | 76 |
| | $ | (457 | ) | | $ | 371 |
| | $ | (348 | ) |
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | — |
| | 420 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 420 |
|
Debt issuance costs | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) |
Repayments of debt | — |
| | (11 | ) | | (148 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (159 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | (82 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (82 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | 95 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 279 |
| | (274 | ) | | 100 |
|
Dividends paid | (165 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (165 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (19 | ) | | — |
| | (19 | ) |
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities | — |
| | 202 |
| | 67 |
| | 268 |
| | (537 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany financing activities | — |
| | (208 | ) | | — |
| | (232 | ) | | 440 |
| | — |
|
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | $ | (152 | ) | | $ | 403 |
| | $ | (81 | ) | | $ | 295 |
| | $ | (371 | ) | | $ | 94 |
|
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (8 | ) | | 1 |
| | — |
| | (134 | ) | | — |
| | (141 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (28 | ) | | — |
| | (28 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 9 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 624 |
| | — |
| | 635 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 462 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 466 |
|
Note 17 — Financial Information for Parent Issuer, Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
On March 17, 2011, the Company issued senior notes totaling $800 million in a registered public offering. On March 15, 2016, $300 million of these senior notes was repaid leaving $500 million outstanding. These debt securities were issued by Willis Towers Watson (‘WTW Debt Securities’) and are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. Therefore, the Company is providing the condensed consolidating financial information below. The following wholly owned subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) fully and unconditionally guarantee the WTW Debt Securities on a joint and several basis: Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited), Willis Group Limited, Willis North America, and additionally, effective from March 9, 2016, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited and WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. (the ‘Guarantors’).
The guarantor structure described above differs from the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes issued by Willis North America (the ‘Willis North America Debt Securities’) (and for which condensed consolidating financial information is presented in Note 16) in that Willis Towers Watson is the Parent Issuer and Willis North America is a subsidiary guarantor.
Presented below is condensed consolidating financial information for:
| |
(i) | Willis Towers Watson, which is the Parent Issuer; |
| |
(ii) | the Guarantors, which are all 100 percent directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries of the parent; |
| |
(iii) | Other, which are the non-guarantor subsidiaries, on a combined basis; |
| |
(iv) | Consolidating adjustments; and |
| |
(v) | the Consolidated Company. |
The equity method has been used for investments in subsidiaries in the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of September 30, 2016 of Willis Towers Watson and the Guarantors.
The entities included in the Other Guarantors column as of September 30, 2016 are Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited), Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 5 |
| | $ | 1,756 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,761 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 5 |
| | 1,772 |
| | — |
| | 1,777 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | — |
| | 14 |
| | 1,105 |
| | — |
| | 1,119 |
|
Other operating expenses | 1 |
| | 37 |
| | 332 |
| | — |
| | 370 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 5 |
| | 40 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | 157 |
| | — |
| | 157 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 14 |
| | 35 |
| | — |
| | 49 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | 6 |
| | 30 |
| | — |
| | 36 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 1 |
| | 76 |
| | 1,699 |
| | — |
| | 1,776 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (1 | ) | | (71 | ) | | 73 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (159 | ) | | (34 | ) | | 193 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 33 |
| | 160 |
| | (193 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 8 |
| | 32 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | — |
| | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 14 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (9 | ) | | 23 |
| | (72 | ) | | — |
| | (58 | ) |
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (19 | ) | | (7 | ) | | — |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (9 | ) | | 42 |
| | (65 | ) | | — |
| | (32 | ) |
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | (23 | ) | | (60 | ) | | — |
| | 83 |
| | — |
|
NET (LOSS)/INCOME | (32 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (64 | ) | | 83 |
| | (31 | ) |
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | (18 | ) | | $ | (65 | ) | | $ | 83 |
| | $ | (32 | ) |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive (loss)/income before non-controlling interests | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | (91 | ) | | $ | 148 |
| | $ | (73 | ) |
Less: Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | (90 | ) | | $ | 148 |
| | $ | (72 | ) |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | 835 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 841 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 7 |
| | 839 |
| | — |
| | 846 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | — |
| | 19 |
| | 551 |
| | — |
| | 570 |
|
Other operating expenses | 2 |
| | 37 |
| | 138 |
| | — |
| | 177 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 5 |
| | 20 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | 23 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 3 |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| | 24 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 2 |
| | 64 |
| | 753 |
| | — |
| | 819 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (2 | ) | | (57 | ) | | 86 |
| | — |
| | 27 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (97 | ) | | (33 | ) | | 130 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 34 |
| | 96 |
| | (130 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 11 |
| | 19 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 35 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | — |
| | (2 | ) | | (8 | ) | | 1 |
| | (9 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (13 | ) | | (11 | ) | | 26 |
| | (1 | ) | | 1 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (12 | ) | | (100 | ) | | — |
| | (112 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (13 | ) | | 1 |
| | 126 |
| | (1 | ) | | 113 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 130 |
| | 129 |
| | — |
| | (259 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 117 |
| | 133 |
| | 126 |
| | (260 | ) | | 116 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 117 |
| | $ | 133 |
| | $ | 127 |
| | $ | (260 | ) | | $ | 117 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 54 |
| | $ | (110 | ) | | $ | 30 |
|
Less: Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 59 |
| | $ | (110 | ) | | $ | 35 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | 5,858 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,874 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | 85 |
| | — |
| | 86 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 17 |
| | 5,943 |
| | — |
| | 5,960 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1 |
| | 39 |
| | 3,479 |
| | — |
| | 3,519 |
|
Other operating expenses | 4 |
| | 166 |
| | 1,001 |
| | — |
| | 1,171 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 14 |
| | 118 |
| | — |
| | 132 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | 443 |
| | — |
| | 443 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 41 |
| | 74 |
| | — |
| | 115 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | 28 |
| | 89 |
| | — |
| | 117 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 5 |
| | 288 |
| | 5,204 |
| | — |
| | 5,497 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (5 | ) | | (271 | ) | | 739 |
| | — |
| | 463 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (461 | ) | | (104 | ) | | 565 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 104 |
| | 461 |
| | (565 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 25 |
| | 94 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | 138 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 1 |
| | (2 | ) | | 27 |
| | — |
| | 26 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (31 | ) | | (6 | ) | | 336 |
| | — |
| | 299 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (73 | ) | | 84 |
| | — |
| | 11 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (31 | ) | | 67 |
| | 252 |
| | — |
| | 288 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 309 |
| | 222 |
| | — |
| | (531 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 278 |
| | 289 |
| | 254 |
| | (531 | ) | | 290 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | (12 | ) | | — |
| | (12 | ) |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 289 |
| | $ | 242 |
| | $ | (531 | ) | | $ | 278 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 104 |
| | $ | 88 |
| | $ | (190 | ) | | $ | 96 |
|
Less: Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (2 | ) |
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 104 |
| | $ | 86 |
| | $ | (190 | ) | | $ | 94 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 2,829 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2,839 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | 15 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 11 |
| | 2,844 |
| | — |
| | 2,855 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1 |
| | 61 |
| | 1,636 |
| | — |
| | 1,698 |
|
Other operating expenses | 11 |
| | 103 |
| | 402 |
| | — |
| | 516 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 16 |
| | 54 |
| | — |
| | 70 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 30 |
| | 63 |
| | — |
| | 93 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 12 |
| | 210 |
| | 2,208 |
| | — |
| | 2,430 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (12 | ) | | (199 | ) | | 636 |
| | — |
| | 425 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (264 | ) | | (82 | ) | | 346 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 83 |
| | 263 |
| | (346 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 32 |
| | 59 |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | 103 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 8 |
| | (2 | ) | | (32 | ) | | — |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (52 | ) | | (75 | ) | | 475 |
| | — |
| | 348 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (51 | ) | | 14 |
| | — |
| | (37 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (52 | ) | | (24 | ) | | 461 |
| | — |
| | 385 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | 7 |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | 17 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 449 |
| | 462 |
| | — |
| | (911 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 397 |
| | 445 |
| | 471 |
| | (911 | ) | | 402 |
|
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | (5 | ) |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 397 |
| | $ | 445 |
| | $ | 466 |
| | $ | (911 | ) | | $ | 397 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 600 |
| | $ | (1,161 | ) | | $ | 507 |
|
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 602 |
| | $ | (1,161 | ) | | $ | 509 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
|
Fiduciary assets | — |
| | — |
| | 11,604 |
| | — |
| | 11,604 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | — |
| | 5 |
| | 2,038 |
| | — |
| | 2,043 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 2 |
| | 89 |
| | 283 |
| | (55 | ) | | 319 |
|
Amounts due from group undertakings | 7,431 |
| | 5,496 |
| | 2,374 |
| | (15,301 | ) | | — |
|
Total current assets | 7,433 |
| | 5,590 |
| | 17,066 |
| | (15,356 | ) | | 14,733 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | 3,900 |
| | 9,596 |
| | — |
| | (13,496 | ) | | — |
|
Fixed assets, net | — |
| | 64 |
| | 747 |
| | — |
| | 811 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | 10,483 |
| | — |
| | 10,483 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | — |
| | 64 |
| | 4,589 |
| | (64 | ) | | 4,589 |
|
Pension benefits assets | — |
| | — |
| | 857 |
| | — |
| | 857 |
|
Other non-current assets | — |
| | 56 |
| | 273 |
| | (1 | ) | | 328 |
|
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings | — |
| | 1,223 |
| | — |
| | (1,223 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current assets | 3,900 |
| | 11,003 |
| | 16,949 |
| | (14,784 | ) | | 17,068 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 11,333 |
| | $ | 16,593 |
| | $ | 34,015 |
| | $ | (30,140 | ) | | $ | 31,801 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 11,604 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 11,604 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | 1 |
| | 38 |
| | 1,307 |
| | (64 | ) | | 1,282 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 416 |
| | 103 |
| | — |
| | 519 |
|
Other current liabilities | 69 |
| | 71 |
| | 727 |
| | (55 | ) | | 812 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 9,566 |
| | 5,735 |
| | (15,301 | ) | | — |
|
Total current liabilities | 70 |
| | 10,091 |
| | 19,476 |
| | (15,420 | ) | | 14,217 |
|
Long-term debt | 496 |
| | 2,581 |
| | 190 |
| | — |
| | 3,267 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | — |
| | — |
| | 1,089 |
| | — |
| | 1,089 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | 1,138 |
| | (1 | ) | | 1,137 |
|
Provision for liabilities | — |
| | 120 |
| | 473 |
| | — |
| | 593 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | — |
| | 59 |
| | 480 |
| | 5 |
| | 544 |
|
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | — |
| | 1,223 |
| | (1,223 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current liabilities | 496 |
| | 2,760 |
| | 4,593 |
| | (1,219 | ) | | 6,630 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 566 |
| | 12,851 |
| | 24,069 |
| | (16,639 | ) | | 20,847 |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | | | | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | 10,767 |
| | 3,742 |
| | 9,759 |
| | (13,501 | ) | | 10,767 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | 134 |
| | — |
| | 134 |
|
Total equity | 10,767 |
| | 3,742 |
| | 9,893 |
| | (13,501 | ) | | 10,901 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 11,333 |
| | $ | 16,593 |
| | $ | 34,015 |
| | $ | (30,140 | ) | | $ | 31,801 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of December 31, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | 527 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 532 |
|
Fiduciary assets | — |
| | — |
| | 10,458 |
| | — |
| | 10,458 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | — |
| | 7 |
| | 1,251 |
| | — |
| | 1,258 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 1 |
| | 67 |
| | 194 |
| | (7 | ) | | 255 |
|
Amounts due from group undertakings | 3,423 |
| | 1,257 |
| | 1,259 |
| | (5,939 | ) | | — |
|
Total current assets | 3,427 |
| | 1,333 |
| | 13,689 |
| | (5,946 | ) | | 12,503 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | — |
| | 4,275 |
| | — |
| | (4,275 | ) | | — |
|
Fixed assets, net | — |
| | 58 |
| | 505 |
| | — |
| | 563 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | — |
| | — |
| | 1,115 |
| | — |
| | 1,115 |
|
Pension benefits assets | — |
| | — |
| | 623 |
| | — |
| | 623 |
|
Other non-current assets | — |
| | 10 |
| | 288 |
| | — |
| | 298 |
|
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings | — |
| | 785 |
| | — |
| | (785 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current assets | — |
| | 5,128 |
| | 6,268 |
| | (5,060 | ) | | 6,336 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 3,427 |
| | $ | 6,461 |
| | $ | 19,957 |
| | $ | (11,006 | ) | | $ | 18,839 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,458 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,458 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | 1 |
| | 68 |
| | 683 |
| | — |
| | 752 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 300 |
| | 609 |
| | 79 |
| | — |
| | 988 |
|
Other current liabilities | 15 |
| | 61 |
| | 534 |
| | (7 | ) | | 603 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 4,437 |
| | 1,502 |
| | (5,939 | ) | | — |
|
Total current liabilities | 316 |
| | 5,175 |
| | 13,256 |
| | (5,946 | ) | | 12,801 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | 387 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (387 | ) | | — |
|
Long-term debt | 495 |
| | 1,783 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2,278 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | — |
| | — |
| | 279 |
| | — |
| | 279 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | — |
| | 1 |
| | 239 |
| | — |
| | 240 |
|
Provision for liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | 295 |
| | — |
| | 295 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | — |
| | 36 |
| | 497 |
| | — |
| | 533 |
|
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | — |
| | 785 |
| | (785 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current liabilities | 882 |
| | 1,820 |
| | 2,095 |
| | (1,172 | ) | | 3,625 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 1,198 |
| | 6,995 |
| | 15,351 |
| | (7,118 | ) | | 16,426 |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | | | | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | 2,229 |
| | (534 | ) | | 4,422 |
| | (3,888 | ) | | 2,229 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | 131 |
| | — |
| | 131 |
|
Total equity | 2,229 |
| | (534 | ) | | 4,553 |
| | (3,888 | ) | | 2,360 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 3,427 |
| | $ | 6,461 |
| | $ | 19,957 |
| | $ | (11,006 | ) | | $ | 18,839 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | 6 |
| | $ | (305 | ) | | $ | 976 |
| | $ | (69 | ) | | $ | 608 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | — |
| | (84 | ) | | (131 | ) | | 64 |
| | (151 | ) |
Capitalized software costs | — |
| | — |
| | (64 | ) | | — |
| | (64 | ) |
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | — |
| | — |
| | 476 |
| | — |
| | 476 |
|
Other, net | — |
| | 1 |
| | 16 |
| | 5 |
| | 22 |
|
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities | 47 |
| | 30 |
| | 18 |
| | (95 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany investing activities | (4,015 | ) | | (3,953 | ) | | (805 | ) | | 8,773 |
| | — |
|
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries | 4,600 |
| | 3,600 |
| | — |
| | (8,200 | ) | | — |
|
Additional investment in subsidiaries | — |
| | (4,600 | ) | | (3,600 | ) | | 8,200 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | $ | 632 |
| | $ | (5,006 | ) | | $ | (4,090 | ) | | $ | 8,747 |
| | $ | 283 |
|
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | — |
| | (389 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (389 | ) |
Senior notes issued | — |
| | 1,606 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,606 |
|
Proceeds from issue of other debt | — |
| | 400 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 404 |
|
Debt issuance costs | — |
| | (14 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (14 | ) |
Repayments of debt | (300 | ) | | (1,032 | ) | | (529 | ) | | — |
| | (1,861 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | (222 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (222 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | 44 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 44 |
|
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions | — |
| | — |
| | (64 | ) | | — |
| | (64 | ) |
Dividends paid | (133 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (133 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | (17 | ) | | — |
| | (17 | ) |
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities | — |
| | 4,756 |
| | 4,017 |
| | (8,773 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany financing activities | (30 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (47 | ) | | 95 |
| | — |
|
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | $ | (641 | ) | | $ | 5,309 |
| | $ | 3,364 |
| | $ | (8,678 | ) | | $ | (646 | ) |
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (3 | ) | | (2 | ) | | 250 |
| | — |
| | 245 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | — |
| | (10 | ) | | — |
| | (10 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 3 |
| | 2 |
| | 527 |
| | — |
| | 532 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson — the Parent Issuer | | The Guarantors | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
NET CASH (USED IN)/FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | 101 |
| | $ | 28 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 113 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | — |
| | (11 | ) | | (89 | ) | | — |
| | (100 | ) |
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | — |
| | — |
| | (293 | ) | | — |
| | (293 | ) |
Net proceeds from sale of operations | — |
| | — |
| | 45 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities | 160 |
| | 131 |
| | 149 |
| | (440 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany investing activities | — |
| | (268 | ) | | (269 | ) | | 537 |
| | — |
|
Additional investment in subsidiaries | — |
| | (274 | ) | | — |
| | 274 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | $ | 160 |
| | $ | (422 | ) | | $ | (457 | ) | | $ | 371 |
| | $ | (348 | ) |
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | — |
| | 420 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 420 |
|
Debt issuance costs | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) |
Repayments of debt | — |
| | (159 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (159 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | (82 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (82 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | 95 |
| | — |
| | 279 |
| | (274 | ) | | 100 |
|
Dividends paid | (165 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (165 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | (19 | ) | | — |
| | (19 | ) |
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities | — |
| | 269 |
| | 268 |
| | (537 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany financing activities | — |
| | (208 | ) | | (232 | ) | | 440 |
| | — |
|
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | $ | (152 | ) | | $ | 322 |
| | $ | 295 |
| | $ | (371 | ) | | $ | 94 |
|
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (8 | ) | | 1 |
| | (134 | ) | | — |
| | (141 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | — |
| | (28 | ) | | — |
| | (28 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 9 |
| | 2 |
| | 624 |
| | — |
| | 635 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 462 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 466 |
|
Note 18 — Financial Information for Issuer, Parent Guarantor, Other Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited) has $2.1 billion of senior notes outstanding, of which $525 million were issued on August 15, 2013, $1.0 billion were issued on March 15, 2016 and €540 million ($609 million) were issued on May 26, 2016.
All direct obligations under the senior notes were jointly and severally, irrevocably and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc., and additionally, effective from March 9, 2016, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited and WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd., collectively the ‘Other Guarantors’, and with Willis Towers Watson, the ‘Guarantor Companies’.
The guarantor structure described above differs from the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes issued by the Company and Willis North America (the ‘Willis North America Debt Securities’) in that Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited) is the issuer and not a subsidiary guarantor, and Willis North America Inc. is a subsidiary guarantor.
Presented below is condensed consolidating financial information for:
| |
(i) | Willis Towers Watson, which is a guarantor, on a parent company only basis; |
| |
(ii) | the Other Guarantors, which are all wholly owned subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) of the parent. Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V, Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, TA I Limited and WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. are all direct or indirect parents of the issuer and Willis Group Limited and Willis North America Inc., are direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or the issuer; |
| |
(iii) | Trinity Acquisition plc (formerly Trinity Acquisition Limited), which is the issuer and is a 100 percent indirectly owned subsidiary of the parent; |
| |
(iv) | Other, which are the non-guarantor subsidiaries, on a combined basis; |
| |
(v) | Consolidating adjustments; and |
| |
(vi) | the Consolidated Company. |
The equity method has been used for investments in subsidiaries in the condensed consolidating balance sheets as of September 30, 2016 of Willis Towers Watson, the Other Guarantors and the Issuer.
The entities included in the Other Guarantors column as of September 30, 2016 are Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Limited, Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V., Willis Investment U.K. Holdings Limited, Willis North America Inc., TA I Limited, WTW Bermuda Holdings Ltd. and Willis Group Limited.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 5 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,756 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,761 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 1,772 |
| | — |
| | 1,777 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 1,105 |
| | — |
| | 1,119 |
|
Other operating expenses | 1 |
| | 37 |
| | — |
| | 332 |
| | — |
| | 370 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 40 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 157 |
| | — |
| | 157 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 35 |
| | — |
| | 49 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | 6 |
| | — |
| | 30 |
| | — |
| | 36 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 1 |
| | 76 |
| | — |
| | 1,699 |
| | — |
| | 1,776 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (1 | ) | | (71 | ) | | — |
| | 73 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (155 | ) | | (34 | ) | | (34 | ) | | 223 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 57 |
| | 6 |
| | 160 |
| | (223 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 8 |
| | 10 |
| | 22 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 14 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (9 | ) | | 17 |
| | 6 |
| | (72 | ) | | — |
| | (58 | ) |
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (19 | ) | | — |
| | (7 | ) | | — |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (9 | ) | | 36 |
| | 6 |
| | (65 | ) | | — |
| | (32 | ) |
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | (23 | ) | | (54 | ) | | (55 | ) | | — |
| | 132 |
| | — |
|
NET (LOSS)/INCOME | (32 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (49 | ) | | (64 | ) | | 132 |
| | (31 | ) |
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | (18 | ) | | $ | (49 | ) | | $ | (65 | ) | | $ | 132 |
| | $ | (32 | ) |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive (loss)/income before non-controlling interests | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | (59 | ) | | $ | (91 | ) | | $ | 207 |
| | $ | (73 | ) |
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | (72 | ) | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | (59 | ) | | $ | (90 | ) | | $ | 207 |
| | $ | (72 | ) |
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 6 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 835 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 841 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 7 |
| | — |
| | 839 |
| | — |
| | 846 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | — |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | 551 |
| | — |
| | 570 |
|
Other operating expenses | 2 |
| | 37 |
| | — |
| | 138 |
| | — |
| | 177 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 20 |
| | — |
| | 25 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | 23 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 21 |
| | — |
| | 24 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total costs of providing services | 2 |
| | 64 |
| | — |
| | 753 |
| | — |
| | 819 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (2 | ) | | (57 | ) | | — |
| | 86 |
| | — |
| | 27 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (96 | ) | | (24 | ) | | (33 | ) | | 153 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 58 |
| | (1 | ) | | 96 |
| | (153 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 11 |
| | 9 |
| | 10 |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 35 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (8 | ) | | 1 |
| | (9 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (13 | ) | | (26 | ) | | 15 |
| | 26 |
| | (1 | ) | | 1 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (14 | ) | | 2 |
| | (100 | ) | | — |
| | (112 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (13 | ) | | (12 | ) | | 13 |
| | 126 |
| | (1 | ) | | 113 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 130 |
| | 142 |
| | 114 |
| | — |
| | (386 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 117 |
| | 133 |
| | 127 |
| | 126 |
| | (387 | ) | | 116 |
|
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 1 |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 117 |
| | $ | 133 |
| | $ | 127 |
| | $ | 127 |
| | $ | (387 | ) | | $ | 117 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 48 |
| | $ | 54 |
| | $ | (158 | ) | | $ | 30 |
|
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 5 |
|
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 35 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 48 |
| | $ | 59 |
| | $ | (158 | ) | | $ | 35 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 16 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,858 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 5,874 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 85 |
| | — |
| | 86 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 17 |
| | — |
| | 5,943 |
| | — |
| | 5,960 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1 |
| | 39 |
| | — |
| | 3,479 |
| | — |
| | 3,519 |
|
Other operating expenses | 4 |
| | 166 |
| | — |
| | 1,001 |
| | — |
| | 1,171 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 118 |
| | — |
| | 132 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 443 |
| | — |
| | 443 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 41 |
| | — |
| | 74 |
| | — |
| | 115 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | 28 |
| | — |
| | 89 |
| | — |
| | 117 |
|
Total costs of providing services | 5 |
| | 288 |
| | — |
| | 5,204 |
| | — |
| | 5,497 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (5 | ) | | (271 | ) | | — |
| | 739 |
| | — |
| | 463 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (451 | ) | | (98 | ) | | (104 | ) | | 653 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 173 |
| | 19 |
| | 461 |
| | (653 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 25 |
| | 28 |
| | 66 |
| | 19 |
| | — |
| | 138 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 1 |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | 27 |
| | — |
| | 26 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (31 | ) | | (19 | ) | | 13 |
| | 336 |
| | — |
| | 299 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (74 | ) | | 1 |
| | 84 |
| | — |
| | 11 |
|
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (31 | ) | | 55 |
| | 12 |
| | 252 |
| | — |
| | 288 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 309 |
| | 234 |
| | 57 |
| | — |
| | (600 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 278 |
| | 289 |
| | 69 |
| | 254 |
| | (600 | ) | | 290 |
|
(Income) attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (12 | ) | | — |
| | (12 | ) |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 289 |
| | $ | 69 |
| | $ | 242 |
| | $ | (600 | ) | | $ | 278 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 104 |
| | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | 88 |
| | $ | (187 | ) | | $ | 96 |
|
Less: Comprehensive (income) attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (2 | ) |
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 94 |
| | $ | 104 |
| | $ | (3 | ) | | $ | 86 |
| | $ | (187 | ) | | $ | 94 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Revenues | | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | $ | — |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2,829 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 2,839 |
|
Interest and other income | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 15 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
|
Total revenues | — |
| | 11 |
| | — |
| | 2,844 |
| | — |
| | 2,855 |
|
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1 |
| | 61 |
| | — |
| | 1,636 |
| | — |
| | 1,698 |
|
Other operating expenses | 11 |
| | 103 |
| | — |
| | 402 |
| | — |
| | 516 |
|
Depreciation | — |
| | 16 |
| | — |
| | 54 |
| | — |
| | 70 |
|
Amortization | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
Restructuring costs | — |
| | 30 |
| | — |
| | 63 |
| | — |
| | 93 |
|
Integration expenses | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total costs of providing services | 12 |
| | 210 |
| | — |
| | 2,208 |
| | — |
| | 2,430 |
|
(Loss)/income from operations | (12 | ) | | (199 | ) | | — |
| | 636 |
| | — |
| | 425 |
|
Income from Group undertakings | — |
| | (276 | ) | | (69 | ) | | (82 | ) | | 427 |
| | — |
|
Expenses due to Group undertakings | — |
| | 151 |
| | 13 |
| | 263 |
| | (427 | ) | | — |
|
Interest expense | 32 |
| | 30 |
| | 29 |
| | 12 |
| | — |
| | 103 |
|
Other expense/(income), net | 8 |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (32 | ) | | — |
| | (26 | ) |
(LOSS) INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (52 | ) | | (102 | ) | | 27 |
| | 475 |
| | — |
| | 348 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | — |
| | (56 | ) | | 5 |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | (37 | ) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | (52 | ) | | (46 | ) | | 22 |
| | 461 |
| | — |
| | 385 |
|
Interest in earnings/(loss) of associates, net of tax | — |
| | 7 |
| | — |
| | 10 |
| | — |
| | 17 |
|
Equity account for subsidiaries | 449 |
| | 484 |
| | 375 |
| | — |
| | (1,308 | ) | | — |
|
NET INCOME/(LOSS) | 397 |
| | 445 |
| | 397 |
| | 471 |
| | (1,308 | ) | | 402 |
|
(Income) attributable to non-controlling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (5 | ) | | — |
| | (5 | ) |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 397 |
| | $ | 445 |
| | $ | 397 |
| | $ | 466 |
| | $ | (1,308 | ) | | $ | 397 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 522 |
| | $ | 600 |
| | $ | (1,683 | ) | | $ | 507 |
|
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 509 |
| | $ | 559 |
| | $ | 522 |
| | $ | 602 |
| | $ | (1,683 | ) | | $ | 509 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
|
Fiduciary assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 11,604 |
| | — |
| | 11,604 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | — |
| | 5 |
| | — |
| | 2,038 |
| | — |
| | 2,043 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 2 |
| | 94 |
| | 2 |
| | 283 |
| | (62 | ) | | 319 |
|
Amounts due from group undertakings | 7,431 |
| | 4,549 |
| | 1,750 |
| | 2,374 |
| | (16,104 | ) | | — |
|
Total current assets | 7,433 |
| | 4,648 |
| | 1,752 |
| | 17,066 |
| | (16,166 | ) | | 14,733 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | 3,900 |
| | 9,401 |
| | 8,141 |
| | — |
| | (21,442 | ) | | — |
|
Fixed assets, net | — |
| | 64 |
| | — |
| | 747 |
| | — |
| | 811 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 10,483 |
| | — |
| | 10,483 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | — |
| | 64 |
| | — |
| | 4,589 |
| | (64 | ) | | 4,589 |
|
Pension benefits assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 857 |
| | — |
| | 857 |
|
Other non-current assets | — |
| | 56 |
| | — |
| | 273 |
| | (1 | ) | | 328 |
|
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings | — |
| | 1,253 |
| | 918 |
| | — |
| | (2,171 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current assets | 3,900 |
| | 10,838 |
| | 9,059 |
| | 16,949 |
| | (23,678 | ) | | 17,068 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 11,333 |
| | $ | 15,486 |
| | $ | 10,811 |
| | $ | 34,015 |
| | $ | (39,844 | ) | | $ | 31,801 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 11,604 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 11,604 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | 1 |
| | 36 |
| | 2 |
| | 1,307 |
| | (64 | ) | | 1,282 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 394 |
| | 22 |
| | 103 |
| | — |
| | 519 |
|
Other current liabilities | 69 |
| | 62 |
| | 16 |
| | 727 |
| | (62 | ) | | 812 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 10,369 |
| | — |
| | 5,735 |
| | (16,104 | ) | | — |
|
Total current liabilities | 70 |
| | 10,861 |
| | 40 |
| | 19,476 |
| | (16,230 | ) | | 14,217 |
|
Long-term debt | 496 |
| | 186 |
| | 2,395 |
| | 190 |
| | — |
| | 3,267 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,089 |
| | — |
| | 1,089 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,138 |
| | (1 | ) | | 1,137 |
|
Provision for liabilities | — |
| | 120 |
| | — |
| | 473 |
| | — |
| | 593 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | — |
| | 59 |
| | — |
| | 480 |
| | 5 |
| | 544 |
|
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 518 |
| | 430 |
| | 1,223 |
| | (2,171 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current liabilities | 496 |
| | 883 |
| | 2,825 |
| | 4,593 |
| | (2,167 | ) | | 6,630 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 566 |
| | 11,744 |
| | 2,865 |
| | 24,069 |
| | (18,397 | ) | | 20,847 |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | 10,767 |
| | 3,742 |
| | 7,946 |
| | 9,759 |
| | (21,447 | ) | | 10,767 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 134 |
| | — |
| | 134 |
|
Total equity | 10,767 |
| | 3,742 |
| | 7,946 |
| | 9,893 |
| | (21,447 | ) | | 10,901 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 11,333 |
| | $ | 15,486 |
| | $ | 10,811 |
| | $ | 34,015 |
| | $ | (39,844 | ) | | $ | 31,801 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| As of December 31, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 2 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 527 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 532 |
|
Fiduciary assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 10,458 |
| | — |
| | 10,458 |
|
Accounts receivable, net | — |
| | 7 |
| | — |
| | 1,251 |
| | — |
| | 1,258 |
|
Prepaid and other current assets | 1 |
| | 72 |
| | — |
| | 194 |
| | (12 | ) | | 255 |
|
Amounts due from group undertakings | 3,423 |
| | 951 |
| | 1,538 |
| | 1,259 |
| | (7,171 | ) | | — |
|
Total current assets | 3,427 |
| | 1,032 |
| | 1,538 |
| | 13,689 |
| | (7,183 | ) | | 12,503 |
|
Investments in subsidiaries | — |
| | 4,069 |
| | 3,092 |
| | — |
| | (7,161 | ) | | — |
|
Fixed assets, net | — |
| | 58 |
| | — |
| | 505 |
| | — |
| | 563 |
|
Goodwill | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
| | — |
| | 3,737 |
|
Other intangible assets, net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,115 |
| | — |
| | 1,115 |
|
Pension benefits assets | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 623 |
| | — |
| | 623 |
|
Other non-current assets | — |
| | 9 |
| | 1 |
| | 288 |
| | — |
| | 298 |
|
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings | — |
| | 785 |
| | 518 |
| | — |
| | (1,303 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current assets | — |
| | 4,921 |
| | 3,611 |
| | 6,268 |
| | (8,464 | ) | | 6,336 |
|
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 3,427 |
| | $ | 5,953 |
| | $ | 5,149 |
| | $ | 19,957 |
| | $ | (15,647 | ) | | $ | 18,839 |
|
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fiduciary liabilities | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,458 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 10,458 |
|
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses | 1 |
| | 68 |
| | — |
| | 683 |
| | — |
| | 752 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 300 |
| | — |
| | 609 |
| | 79 |
| | — |
| | 988 |
|
Other current liabilities | 15 |
| | 50 |
| | 16 |
| | 534 |
| | (12 | ) | | 603 |
|
Amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 5,234 |
| | 435 |
| | 1,502 |
| | (7,171 | ) | | — |
|
Total current liabilities | 316 |
| | 5,352 |
| | 1,060 |
| | 13,256 |
| | (7,183 | ) | | 12,801 |
|
Investment in subsidiaries | 387 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (387 | ) | | — |
|
Long-term debt | 495 |
| | 580 |
| | 1,203 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 2,278 |
|
Liability for pension benefits | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 279 |
| | — |
| | 279 |
|
Deferred tax liabilities | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 239 |
| | — |
| | 240 |
|
Provision for liabilities | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 295 |
| | — |
| | 295 |
|
Other non-current liabilities | — |
| | 36 |
| | — |
| | 497 |
| | — |
| | 533 |
|
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings | — |
| | 518 |
| | — |
| | 785 |
| | (1,303 | ) | | — |
|
Total non-current liabilities | 882 |
| | 1,135 |
| | 1,203 |
| | 2,095 |
| | (1,690 | ) | | 3,625 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 1,198 |
| | 6,487 |
| | 2,263 |
| | 15,351 |
| | (8,873 | ) | | 16,426 |
|
REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 53 |
| | — |
| | 53 |
|
EQUITY | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | 2,229 |
| | (534 | ) | | 2,886 |
| | 4,422 |
| | (6,774 | ) | | 2,229 |
|
Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 131 |
| | — |
| | 131 |
|
Total equity | 2,229 |
| | (534 | ) | | 2,886 |
| | 4,553 |
| | (6,774 | ) | | 2,360 |
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | $ | 3,427 |
| | $ | 5,953 |
| | $ | 5,149 |
| | $ | 19,957 |
| | $ | (15,647 | ) | | $ | 18,839 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | 6 |
| | $ | (314 | ) | | $ | 9 |
| | $ | 976 |
| | $ | (69 | ) | | $ | 608 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | — |
| | (84 | ) | | — |
| | (131 | ) | | 64 |
| | (151 | ) |
Capitalized software costs | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (64 | ) | | — |
| | (64 | ) |
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 476 |
| | — |
| | 476 |
|
Other, net | — |
| | 1 |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| | 5 |
| | 22 |
|
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities | 47 |
| | 42 |
| | 17 |
| | 18 |
| | (124 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany investing activities | (4,015 | ) | | (3,386 | ) | | (567 | ) | | (805 | ) | | 8,773 |
| | — |
|
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries | 4,600 |
| | 3,600 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (8,200 | ) | | — |
|
Additional investment in subsidiaries | — |
| | (4,600 | ) | | — |
| | (3,600 | ) | | 8,200 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | $ | 632 |
| | $ | (4,427 | ) | | $ | (550 | ) | | $ | (4,090 | ) | | $ | 8,718 |
| | $ | 283 |
|
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | — |
| | — |
| | (389 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (389 | ) |
Senior notes issued | — |
| | — |
| | 1,606 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 1,606 |
|
Proceeds from issue of other debt | — |
| | — |
| | 400 |
| | 4 |
| | — |
| | 404 |
|
Debt issuance costs | — |
| | — |
| | (14 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (14 | ) |
Repayments of debt | (300 | ) | | — |
| | (1,032 | ) | | (529 | ) | | — |
| | (1,861 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | (222 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (222 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | 44 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 44 |
|
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (64 | ) | | — |
| | (64 | ) |
Dividends paid | (133 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (133 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (17 | ) | | — |
| | (17 | ) |
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities | — |
| | 4,756 |
| | — |
| | 4,017 |
| | (8,773 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany financing activities | (30 | ) | | (17 | ) | | (30 | ) | | (47 | ) | | 124 |
| | — |
|
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | $ | (641 | ) | | $ | 4,739 |
| | $ | 541 |
| | $ | 3,364 |
| | $ | (8,649 | ) | | $ | (646 | ) |
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (3 | ) | | (2 | ) | | — |
| | 250 |
| | — |
| | 245 |
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (10 | ) | | — |
| | (10 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 3 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 527 |
| | — |
| | 532 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 767 |
|
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | The Other Guarantors | | The Issuer | | Other | | Consolidating adjustments | | Consolidated |
NET CASH (USED IN)/FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | $ | (16 | ) | | $ | 93 |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 28 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 113 |
|
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | — |
| | (11 | ) | | — |
| | (89 | ) | | — |
| | (100 | ) |
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (293 | ) | | — |
| | (293 | ) |
Net proceeds from sale of operations | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 45 |
| | — |
| | 45 |
|
Other, net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities | 160 |
| | 131 |
| | — |
| | 149 |
| | (440 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany investing activities | — |
| | — |
| | (268 | ) | | (269 | ) | | 537 |
| | — |
|
Additional investment in subsidiaries | — |
| | (274 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | 274 |
| | — |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | $ | 160 |
| | $ | (154 | ) | | $ | (268 | ) | | $ | (457 | ) | | $ | 371 |
| | $ | (348 | ) |
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net (repayments)/borrowings on revolving credit facility | — |
| | — |
| | 420 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 420 |
|
Debt issuance costs | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) |
Repayments of debt | — |
| | (148 | ) | | (11 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | (159 | ) |
Repurchase of shares | (82 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (82 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of shares and excess tax benefit | 95 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 279 |
| | (274 | ) | | 100 |
|
Dividends paid | (165 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (165 | ) |
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (19 | ) | | — |
| | (19 | ) |
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities | — |
| | 269 |
| | — |
| | 268 |
| | (537 | ) | | — |
|
Repayments of intercompany financing activities | — |
| | (59 | ) | | (149 | ) | | (232 | ) | | 440 |
| | — |
|
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | $ | (152 | ) | | $ | 62 |
| | $ | 260 |
| | $ | 295 |
| | $ | (371 | ) | | $ | 94 |
|
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (8 | ) | | 1 |
| | — |
| | (134 | ) | | — |
| | (141 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (28 | ) | | — |
| | (28 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 9 |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 624 |
| | — |
| | 635 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 3 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 462 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 466 |
|
ITEM 2: MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion includes references to non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’). We present such non-GAAP financial measures, specifically, adjusted, constant currency and organic non-GAAP financial measures, as we believe such information is of interest to the investment community because it provides additional meaningful methods of evaluating certain aspects of the Company’s operating performance from period to period on a basis that may not be otherwise apparent on a GAAP basis, and these provide a measure against which our businesses may be assessed in the future.
Please see ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’ below for further discussion of our adjusted, constant currency and organic non-GAAP financial measures.
Please see ‘Disclaimer Regarding Forward-looking Statements’ for certain cautionary information regarding forward-looking statements and a list of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted in those statements.
Executive Overview
Business Overview
Willis Towers Watson is a global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. With roots dating to 1828, Willis Towers Watson has approximately 39,000 employees in more than 120 countries. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. We believe our unique perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas - the dynamic formula that drives business performance.
We bring together professionals from around the world - experts in their areas of specialty - to deliver the perspectives that give organizations a clear path forward. We do this by offering risk management, insurance broking, consulting, technology and solutions and private exchanges.
In our capacity as a consultant, technology and solutions provider, and private exchange company, we help our clients enhance business performance by improving their ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees. We focus on delivering consulting services that help organizations anticipate, identify and capitalize on emerging opportunities in human capital management as well as investment advice to help our clients develop disciplined and efficient strategies to meet their investment goals. We operate the largest private Medicare exchange in the U.S. Through this exchange, we help our clients move to a more sustainable economic model by capping and controlling the costs associated with retiree healthcare benefits.
In our capacity as risk advisor and insurance broker, we act as an intermediary between our clients and insurance carriers by advising our clients on their risk management requirements, helping clients determine the best means of managing risk, and negotiating and placing insurance with insurance carriers through our global distribution network. We also offer clients a broad range of services to help them to identify and control their risks. These services range from strategic risk consulting (including providing actuarial analysis), to a variety of due diligence services, to the provision of practical on-site risk control services (such as health and safety or property loss control consulting) as well as analytical and advisory services (such as hazard modeling and reinsurance optimization studies). We assist clients in planning how to manage incidents or crises when they occur. These services include contingency planning, security audits and product tampering plans. We are not an insurance company and therefore we do not underwrite insurable risks for our own account.
We derive the majority of our revenue from commissions and fees for broking and consulting services. No single client represented a significant concentration of our consolidated revenues for any of the periods presented.
Our shares are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.
Market Conditions
Due to the cyclical nature of the insurance market and the impact of other market conditions on insurance premiums, commission revenues may vary widely between accounting periods. A period of low or declining premium rates, generally known as a ‘soft’ or ‘softening’ market, generally leads to downward pressure on commission revenues and can have a material adverse impact on our commission revenues and operating margin. A ‘hard’ or ‘firming’ market, during which premium rates rise, generally has a favorable impact on our commission revenues and operating margin. Rates, however, vary by geography, industry and client segment. As a result, and due to the global and diverse nature of our business, we view rates in the aggregate.
Market conditions in our broking industry are generally defined by factors such as the strength of the economies in the various geographic regions in which we serve around the world, insurance rate movements, and insurance and reinsurance buying patterns of our clients.
Management has considered the United Kingdom’s (‘U.K.’) referendum vote on June 23, 2016 (‘Brexit’) to depart from the European Union (‘E.U.’) and the uncertainties about the near-term and longer-term effects of the U.K.’s exit from the E.U. on the Company. The vote in the U.K. to leave the E.U. could adversely affect us. The terms of the U.K. exit from the E.U., and its impact, are highly uncertain. For a further discussion of the risks of Brexit to the Company, please see Part II, Item 1A- Risk Factors. However, we currently believe that Brexit should have a modest impact on the economy.
Typically, our business benefits from regulatory change, political risk or economic uncertainty. Insurance broking generally tracks the economy, but demand for both insurance broking and consulting services usually remains steady during times of uncertainty. We believe that the U.K. has good long-term growth opportunities and, given that, we believe the impact to Willis Towers Watson will be neutral to slightly positive over the next couple of years, with some periods of increase and decrease in that time frame. We have some businesses, such as our health and benefits and administration businesses, which can be counter cyclical during the early period of a significant economic change.
Although approximately 20% of our revenues are generated in the U.K. on an annual basis, only about 12% of revenues are denominated in Pounds sterling as much of the insurance business is transacted in U.S. dollars. Approximately 20% of our expenses are denominated in Pounds sterling, thus we generally benefit from a weakening Pound in our income from operations. However, we have a company hedging strategy for this aspect of our business, where revenues are generated in currencies different from the currency of the related expenses, which is designed to mitigate significant fluctuations in currency.
The market for our consulting, technology and solutions, and private exchange services is subject to change as a result of economic, regulatory and legislative changes, technological developments, and increased competition from established and new competitors. Regulatory and legislative actions, along with continuously evolving technological developments, will likely have the greatest impact on the overall market for our exchange products. We believe the primary factors in selecting a human resources or risk management consulting firm include reputation, the ability to provide measurable increases to shareholder value and return on investment, global scale, quality of service and the ability to tailor services to clients’ unique needs. With regard to the market for exchanges, we believe that clients base their decisions on a variety of factors that include the ability of the provider to deliver measurable cost savings for clients, a strong reputation for efficient execution, a provider's capability in delivering a broad number of configurations to serve various population segments and financing options, and an innovative service delivery model and platform.
See Items 1A - Risk Factors in this 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016, for discussions of risks that may affect our ability to compete.
Business Strategy
Willis Towers Watson sees that a unified approach to people and risk can be a path to growth for our clients. Our integrated teams bring together our understanding of risk strategies and market analytics. This helps clients around the world to achieve their objectives.
We operate in attractive markets - both growing and mature - with a diversified platform across geographies, industries, segments and lines of business. We aim to create and become the premier advisory, broking and solutions company of choice globally. We design and deliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of capital to protect and strengthen institutions and individuals. We will also help organizations improve performance through effective people, risk and financial management by focusing on providing human capital and financial consulting services.
We believe we can achieve this by:
| |
• | Delivering a powerful client proposition with an integrated global platform. Our highly complementary offerings provide comprehensive advice, analytics, specialty capabilities and solutions covering benefits, exchange solutions, brokerage and advisory, risk and capital management, and talent and rewards; |
| |
• | Leveraging our combined distribution strength and global footprint to enhance market penetration and provide a platform for further innovation; and |
| |
• | Underpinning this growth through continuous operational improvement initiatives that help make us more effective and efficient and drive cost synergies. We do this by: |
| |
◦ | continuing to modernize the way we run our business to better serve our clients, enable the skills of our staff, and lower our costs of doing business; we do this through an operational improvement program that is making changes to our processes, our IT, our real estate and locations of our workforce; and |
| |
◦ | targeting and delivering identified, highly achievable cost savings as a direct consequence of the merger of Willis and Towers Watson. |
We care as much about how we work as we do about the impact that we make. This means commitment to our aligned cultures and shared values and behaviors of our legacy companies, a framework that guides how we run our business and serve clients.
Through these strategies we aim to accelerate revenue, cash flow, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (‘EBITDA’) and earnings growth and generate compelling returns for investors, by delivering tangible revenue growth and capitalizing on the identified cost synergies.
Merger with Towers Watson
On January 4, 2016, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 29, 2015, as amended on November 19, 2015, between Willis, Towers Watson, and Citadel Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis formed for the purpose of facilitating this transaction (‘Merger Sub’), Merger Sub merged with and into Towers Watson, with Towers Watson continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis.
At the effective time of the Merger (the ‘Effective Time’), each issued and outstanding share of Towers Watson common stock (the ‘Towers Watson shares’), was converted into the right to receive 2.6490 validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable ordinary shares of Willis (the ‘Willis ordinary shares’), $0.000115 nominal value per share, other than any Towers Watson shares owned by Towers Watson, Willis or Merger Sub at the Effective Time and the Towers Watson shares held by stockholders who are entitled to and who properly exercised dissenter’s rights under Delaware law.
Immediately following the Merger, Willis effected (i) a consolidation (i.e., a reverse stock split under Irish law) of Willis ordinary shares whereby every 2.6490 Willis ordinary shares were consolidated into one Willis ordinary share $0.000304635 nominal value per share and (ii) an amendment to its Constitution and other organizational documents to change its name from Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company.
We are continuing our integration of Legacy Willis and Legacy Towers Watson, creating a unified platform for global growth, including positioning the Company to leverage our mutual distribution strength to enhance market penetration, expand our global footprint and create a strong platform for further innovation.
During the second quarter of 2016, we began managing our business and reporting our segmental results across four integrated reportable operating segments: Human Capital and Benefits; Corporate Risk and Broking; Investment, Risk and Reinsurance; and Exchange Solutions.
As Reported Financial Information
The table below sets forth our condensed consolidated statements of operations and data as a percentage of revenue for the periods indicated.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, | | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 |
Total revenues | $ | 1,777 |
| | 100% | | $ | 846 |
| | 100% | | $ | 5,960 |
| | 100% | | $ | 2,855 |
| | 100% |
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1,119 |
| | 63% | | 570 |
| | 67% | | 3,519 |
| | 59% | | 1,698 |
| | 59% |
Other operating expenses | 370 |
| | 21% | | 177 |
| | 21% | | 1,171 |
| | 20% | | 516 |
| | 18% |
Depreciation | 45 |
| | 3% | | 25 |
| | 3% | | 132 |
| | 2% | | 70 |
| | 2% |
Amortization | 157 |
| | 9% | | 23 |
| | 3% | | 443 |
| | 7% | | 53 |
| | 2% |
Restructuring costs | 49 |
| | 3% | | 24 |
| | 3% | | 115 |
| | 2% | | 93 |
| | 3% |
Integration expenses | 36 |
| | 2% | | — |
| | —% | | 117 |
| | 2% | | — |
| | —% |
Total costs of providing services | 1,776 |
| | | | 819 |
| | | | 5,497 |
| | | | 2,430 |
| | |
Income from operations | 1 |
| | —% | | 27 |
| | 3% | | 463 |
| | 8% | | 425 |
| | 15% |
Interest expense | 45 |
| | 3% | | 35 |
| | 4% | | 138 |
| | 2% | | 103 |
| | 4% |
Other expense/(income), net | 14 |
| | 1% | | (9 | ) | | (1)% | | 26 |
| | —% | | (26 | ) | | (1)% |
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | (26 | ) | | (1)% | | (112 | ) | | (13)% | | 11 |
| | —% | | (37 | ) | | (1)% |
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | 1 |
| | —% | | 3 |
| | —% | | 2 |
| | —% | | 17 |
| | 1% |
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | (1 | ) | | | | 1 |
| | | | (12 | ) | | | | (5 | ) | | |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | (32 | ) | | (2)% | | $ | 117 |
| | 14% | | $ | 278 |
| | 5% | | $ | 397 |
| | 14% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share | $ | (0.23 | ) | | | | $ | 1.70 |
| | | | $ | 2.00 |
| | | | $ | 5.75 |
| | |
Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.8 billion, compared to $846 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, an increase of $931 million, or 110%. This growth in revenues was driven by our Merger with Towers Watson and our acquisition of Gras Savoye.
Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $6.0 billion, compared to $2.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, an increase of $3.1 billion, or 109%. This growth in revenues was driven by our Merger with Towers Watson and our acquisitions of Gras Savoye and Miller.
Our revenues can be materially impacted by changes in currency conversions, which can fluctuate significantly over the course of a calendar year. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, currency translation decreased our consolidated revenue by $25 million and $73 million, respectively, on our as reported revenue. The primary currency driving the changes was the Pound sterling, which weakened against the U.S. dollar during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Shown below are Willis Towers Watson’s top five markets based on percentage of consolidated revenue from the countries where work is performed. These figures do not represent the currency of the related revenue, which is presented in the table following this one. |
| | |
| Nine Months Ended |
| September 30, 2016 |
United States | 48 | % |
United Kingdom | 23 | % |
France | 5 | % |
Canada | 3 | % |
Germany | 3 | % |
The table below gives our revenues and expenses by transactional currency for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollars | | Pounds sterling | | Euros | | Other currencies |
Revenues | 56% | | 14% | | 14% | | 16% |
Expenses (i) | 48% | | 20% | | 13% | | 19% |
______________________ | |
(i) | These percentages exclude certain expenses for significant items which will not be settled in cash, or which we believe to be items that are not core to our current or future operations. These items include Merger-related amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, and integration and transaction expenses. |
The components of the change in revenue generated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | As Reported Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | (in millions) | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 1,777 |
| | $ | 846 |
| | 110% | | (6)% | | 116% | | 119% | | (3)% |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | As Reported Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | (in millions) | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 5,960 |
| | $ | 2,855 |
| | 109% | | (6)% | | 115% | | 115% | | —% |
Definitions of Constant Currency Change and Organic Change are included in the section entitled Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-Q.
Total costs of providing services for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.8 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively, compared to $819 million and $2.4 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The growth in expenses was primarily driven by the Merger and our acquisitions of Gras Savoye and Miller.
Restructuring costs for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $49 million ($36 million relating to the Operational Improvement Program and $13 million relating to the Business Restructure Program), an increase of $25 million compared to $24 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 (relating to the Operational Improvement Program). Restructuring costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $115 million ($98 million relating the Operational Improvement Program and $17 million relating to the Business Restructure Program), an increase of $22 million compared to $93 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 (relating to the Operational Improvement Program). See our discussion in the Operational Improvement Program section and Note 5 — Restructuring Costs herein for additional details about these expenses.
Our integration expenses include fees and charges associated with our mergers and acquisitions and principally consist of integration consultants and contract termination fees, as well as legal, accounting, marketing, and information technology integration expenses. These costs also include certain retention and severance costs and the write-off of software development as a direct consequence of the Merger. Integration expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $36
million and $117 million, respectively. These expenses related primarily to the Merger ($34 million and $106 million, respectively), with the remainder relating to the integration of Gras Savoye.
Income from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $1 million compared to $27 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $26 million, or 96%. While our third quarter is typically our seasonally weakest quarter, this decline in income from operations was primarily driven by the intangible asset amortization and integration costs arising from our Merger and our acquisition of Gras Savoye. Income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $463 million, compared to $425 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, an increase of $38 million, or 9%. This growth in income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to that of 2015 was primarily driven by our Merger and our acquisitions of Gras Savoye and Miller, partially offset by the $50 million increase in the provision in relation to the Stanford Financial Group litigation during the first quarter of 2016.
Net loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $32 million, a decrease of $149 million compared to net income of $117 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This decrease was primarily driven by the decrease of $26 million in income from operations, a decrease in the benefit from income taxes of $86 million, a $10 million increase in interest expense and $23 million additional expense in other expense/(income), net. The additional expense in other expense/(income), net, was primarily related to gain on disposal of assets in the prior year, partially offset by foreign currency movements.
Net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $278 million, a decrease of $119 million compared to $397 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. This decrease was primarily driven by additional expense of $52 million in other expense/(income), net, an increase in the provision for income taxes of $48 million, an increase in interest expense of $35 million, which was partially offset by an increase in income from operations of $38 million. While the other expense/(income), net reflects a net expense incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the prior year expenses were more than offset by a gain on disposal of assets and foreign currency movements.
Supplementary Pro Forma Financial Information
To assist the reader in understanding our comparative analysis, we have included discussion and analysis of pro forma financial information for Willis Towers Watson as if the Towers Watson Merger had occurred on January 1, 2015.
The pro forma financial information for the three months ended September 30, 2015 combines: (i) the historical consolidated statement of operations of Willis for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and (ii) the historical consolidated statement of operations of Towers Watson for the three months ended September 30, 2015.
The pro forma financial information for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 combines: (i) the historical consolidated statement of operations of Willis for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and (ii) the historical consolidated statement of operations of Towers Watson for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 less the historical consolidated statement of operations of Towers Watson for the six months ended December 31, 2014 plus the historical consolidated statement of operations of Towers Watson for the three months ended September 30, 2015.
The pro forma financial information is only for Willis and Towers Watson and does not include Gras Savoye or other merger or acquisition activity on a pro forma basis.
Pro forma financial information is for illustrative purposes only, and is based on adjustments that are preliminary and based upon available information and certain assumptions that Willis Towers Watson management believes are reasonable under the circumstances, as described in Pro Forma Adjustments below. The pro forma financial information has not been adjusted to give effect to certain expected financial benefits of the Merger, such as revenue synergies, tax savings and cost synergies, or the anticipated costs to achieve these benefits, including the cost of integration activities. The pro forma financial information does not purport to represent what the actual consolidated results of operations of Willis Towers Watson would have been had the Merger occurred on the date indicated, nor is it necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations. The actual results of operations will differ, potentially significantly, from the pro forma amounts reflected herein due to a variety of factors, including access to additional information, changes in value not currently identified and changes in operating results following the date of the unaudited pro forma financial information.
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis | | Legacy Towers Watson | | Pro Forma Adjustments | | Pro Forma Willis Towers Watson |
Total revenues | $ | 1,777 |
| | 100% | | $ | 846 |
| | $ | 903 |
| b | $ | — |
| a | | $ | 1,749 |
| | 100% |
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 1,119 |
| | 63% | | 570 |
| | 543 |
| | (12 | ) | c, d | | 1,101 |
| | 63% |
Other operating expenses | 370 |
| | 21% | | 177 |
| | 175 |
| b | (10 | ) | a, e, l | | 342 |
| | 20% |
Depreciation | 45 |
| | 3% | | 25 |
| | 27 |
| | (12 | ) | f | | 40 |
| | 2% |
Amortization | 157 |
| | 9% | | 23 |
| | 18 |
| | 96 |
| g | | 137 |
| | 8% |
Restructuring costs | 49 |
| | 3% | | 24 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | | 24 |
| | 1% |
Integration expenses | 36 |
| | 2% | | — |
| | 9 |
| | (8 | ) | l | | 1 |
| | —% |
Total costs of providing services | 1,776 |
| | 100% | | 819 |
| | 772 |
| | 54 |
| | | 1,645 |
| | 94% |
Income from operations | 1 |
| | —% | | 27 |
| | 131 |
| | (54 | ) | | | 104 |
| | 6% |
Interest expense | 45 |
| | 3% | | 35 |
| | 2 |
| | 3 |
| h | | 40 |
| | 2% |
Other expense/(income), net | 14 |
| | 1% | | (9 | ) | | (55 | ) | | — |
| | | (64 | ) | | (4)% |
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | (26 | ) | | (1)% | | (112 | ) | | 61 |
| | (26 | ) | i | | (77 | ) | | (4)% |
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | 1 |
| | —% | | 3 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | | 3 |
| | —% |
Net (loss)/income | (31 | ) | | (2)% | | 116 |
| | 123 |
| | (31 | ) | | | 208 |
| | 12% |
(Income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests | (1 | ) | | —% | | 1 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | | 1 |
| | —% |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | (32 | ) | | (2)% | | $ | 117 |
| | $ | 123 |
| | $ | (31 | ) | | | $ | 209 |
| | 12% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic (loss)/earnings per share (i) | $ | (0.23 | ) | | | | $ | 1.72 |
| | $ | 1.78 |
| | | | | $ | 1.53 |
| | j, k |
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (i) | $ | (0.23 | ) | | | | $ | 1.70 |
| | $ | 1.78 |
| | | | | $ | 1.51 |
| | j, k |
_______________________ | |
(i) | Basic and Diluted earnings per share for Legacy Willis, for the three months ended September 30, 2015, have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
Pro Forma Adjustments
The unaudited pro forma financial information reflects the following adjustments:
| |
a. | Intercompany trading. Adjustments to eliminate trading between Willis and Towers Watson of nil for the three months ended September 30, 2015. |
| |
b. | Conforming reclassifications and adjustments. Certain reclassifications have been made to amounts in the Towers Watson historical statement of operations to conform to Willis’ presentation, including reclassifying certain contra revenue accounts and Towers Watson’s professional and subcontracted services, occupancy and general and administrative expenses within the relevant Willis captions. |
| |
c. | Pension and post-retirement benefit amortization. Adjustments to remove the net periodic benefit costs of $11 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 associated with the amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits/costs for Towers Watson’s pension plans. |
| |
d. | Share-based compensation. Adjustments to recognize Towers Watson share-based payments in accordance with Willis accounting policies of $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. |
| |
e. | Rent. Adjustment to eliminate $1 million of historical rent expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015 offset by amortization of our favorable and unfavorable lease agreements. |
| |
f. | Depreciation. Adjustment related to depreciation on internally developed software of $14 million partially offset by an increase of $2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 due to a preliminary estimated fair value increase for leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and computer hardware and software. |
| |
g. | Amortization. Historical amortization expense for Legacy Towers Watson of $18 million was removed and amortization expense of $114 million has been recorded to reflect the preliminary estimated fair values of Towers Watson’s identifiable intangible assets and related amortization that management has determined based on estimates and assumptions that it considers to be reasonable. Additional information related to the intangible assets and related amortization is detailed in Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions and Note 7 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets. |
| |
h. | Interest Expense. Net adjustments to interest expense include additional interest and amortization of related deferred debt issuance costs. $3 million of incremental interest expense was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2015 related to borrowing under a $340 million term loan as part of the funding for the pre-Merger special dividend on December 29, 2015 and the portion of the senior notes issuance used to repay Towers Watson’s existing debt at the time of the Merger. |
| |
i. | Income taxes. Adjustments to record the income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments. The income tax expense was calculated based on the U.S. and foreign statutory rates applicable to adjustments made. Where applicable, a U.S. statutory rate of 40% was used. Pro forma adjustments for income tax purposes have been determined without regard to potential tax planning strategies that may result from the Merger. |
| |
j. | Willis ordinary shares issuance. Approximately 184 million Willis ordinary shares (prior to the reverse stock split) were issued to Towers Watson stockholders as the Merger Consideration in connection with the Merger, based on Towers Watson shares of common stock outstanding as of January 4, 2016, at a per share price of $47.18, which was the closing share price on that date, for a total value of approximately $8.7 billion. |
| |
k. | Earnings per share. The pro forma consolidated basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2015 is calculated as follows: |
|
| | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| (Millions, except per share data) |
Willis historic average basic shares in issue | 68 |
|
Shares issued for Towers Watson (i) | 69 |
|
Willis historic average basic shares in issue | 137 |
|
Dilutive effect of securities | 1 |
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 138 |
|
Pro forma net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 209 |
|
Basic earnings per share | $ | 1.53 |
|
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 1.51 |
|
____________________ | |
(i) | Shares issued for Towers Watson based on approximately 69 million Towers Watson shares outstanding at January 4, 2016. |
| |
l. | Transaction and integration costs. Transaction and integration costs related to the Merger have been eliminated. |
Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis | | Legacy Towers Watson | | Pro Forma Adjustments | | Pro Forma Willis Towers Watson |
Total revenues | $ | 5,960 |
| | 100% | | $ | 2,855 |
| | $ | 2,716 |
| b | $ | (2 | ) | a | | $ | 5,569 |
| | 100% |
Costs of providing services | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Salaries and benefits | 3,519 |
| | 59% | | 1,698 |
| | 1,613 |
| | (22 | ) | c, d | | 3,289 |
| | 59% |
Other operating expenses | 1,171 |
| | 20% | | 516 |
| | 532 |
| b | (12 | ) | a, e, l | | 1,036 |
| | 19% |
Depreciation | 132 |
| | 2% | | 70 |
| | 80 |
| | (30 | ) | f | | 120 |
| | 2% |
Amortization | 443 |
| | 7% | | 53 |
| | 49 |
| | 294 |
| g | | 396 |
| | 7% |
Restructuring costs | 115 |
| | 2% | | 93 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | | 93 |
| | 2% |
Integration expenses | 117 |
| | 2% | | — |
| | 16 |
| | (13 | ) | l | | 3 |
| | —% |
Total costs of providing services | 5,497 |
| | 92% | | 2,430 |
| | 2,290 |
| | 217 |
| | | 4,937 |
| | 89% |
Income from operations | 463 |
| | 8% | | 425 |
| | 426 |
| | (219 | ) | | | 632 |
| | 11% |
Interest expense | 138 |
| | 2% | | 103 |
| | 7 |
| | 9 |
| h | | 119 |
| | 2% |
Other expense/(income), net | 26 |
| | —% | | (26 | ) | | (57 | ) | | — |
| | | (83 | ) | | (1)% |
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes | 11 |
| | —% | | (37 | ) | | 161 |
| | (84 | ) | i | | 40 |
| | 1% |
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax | 2 |
| | —% | | 17 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | | 17 |
| | —% |
Net income/(loss) | 290 |
| | 5% | | 402 |
| | 315 |
| | (144 | ) | | | 573 |
| | 10% |
Income attributable to non-controlling interests | (12 | ) | | —% | | (5 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | | (5 | ) | | —% |
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 278 |
| | 5% | | $ | 397 |
| | $ | 315 |
| | $ | (144 | ) | | | $ | 568 |
| | 10% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Basic earnings per share (i) | $ | 2.03 |
| | | | $ | 5.84 |
| | $ | 4.57 |
| | | | | $ | 4.15 |
| | j, k |
Diluted earnings per share (i) | $ | 2.00 |
| | | | $ | 5.75 |
| | $ | 4.57 |
| | | | | $ | 4.12 |
| | j, k |
_______________________ | |
(i) | Basic and Diluted earnings per share for Legacy Willis, for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
Pro Forma Adjustments
The unaudited pro forma financial information reflects the following adjustments:
| |
a. | Intercompany trading. Adjustments to eliminate trading between Willis and Towers Watson of $2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. |
| |
b. | Conforming reclassifications and adjustments. Certain reclassifications have been made to amounts in the Towers Watson historical statement of operations to conform to Willis’ presentation, including reclassifying certain contra revenue accounts and Towers Watson’s professional and subcontracted services, occupancy and general and administrative expenses within the relevant Willis captions. |
| |
c. | Pension and post-retirement benefit amortization. Adjustments to remove the net periodic benefit costs of $22 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 associated with the amortization of net actuarial losses and prior service credits/costs for Towers Watson’s pension plans. |
| |
d. | Share-based compensation. Adjustments to recognize Towers Watson share-based payments in accordance with Willis accounting policies of nil for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. |
| |
e. | Rent. Adjustment to eliminate $4 million of historical rent expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 offset by amortization of our favorable and unfavorable lease agreements. |
| |
f. | Depreciation. Adjustment related to depreciation on internally developed software of $40 million partially offset by an increase of $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 due to a preliminary estimated fair value increase for leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures and computer hardware and software. |
| |
g. | Amortization. Historical amortization expense for Legacy Towers Watson of $49 million was removed and amortization expense of $343 million has been recorded to reflect the preliminary estimated fair values of Towers Watson’s identifiable intangible assets and related amortization that management has determined based on estimates and assumptions that it considers to be reasonable. Additional information related to the intangible assets and related amortization is detailed in Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions and Note 7 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets. |
| |
h. | Interest Expense. Net adjustments to interest expense include additional interest and amortization of related deferred debt issuance costs. $9 million of incremental interest expense was recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 related to borrowing under a $340 million term loan as part of the funding for the pre-Merger special dividend on December 29, 2015 and the portion of the senior notes issuance used to repay Towers Watson’s existing debt at the time of the Merger. |
| |
i. | Income taxes. Adjustments to record the income tax impact of the pro forma adjustments. The income tax expense was calculated based on the U.S. and foreign statutory rates applicable to adjustments made. Where applicable, a U.S. statutory rate of 40% was used. Pro forma adjustments for income tax purposes have been determined without regard to potential tax planning strategies that may result from the Merger. |
| |
j. | Willis ordinary shares issuance. Approximately 184 million Willis ordinary shares (prior to the reverse stock split) were issued to Towers Watson stockholders as the Merger Consideration in connection with the Merger, based on Towers Watson shares of common stock outstanding as of January 4, 2016, at a per share price of $47.18, which was the closing share price on that date, for a total value of approximately $8.7 billion. |
| |
k. | Earnings per share. The pro forma consolidated basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 is calculated as follows: |
|
| | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| (Millions, except per share data) |
Willis historic average basic shares in issue | 68 |
|
Shares issued for Towers Watson (i) | 69 |
|
Willis historic average basic shares in issue | 137 |
|
Dilutive effect of securities | 1 |
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 138 |
|
Pro forma net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson | $ | 568 |
|
Basic earnings per share | $ | 4.15 |
|
Diluted earnings per share | $ | 4.12 |
|
____________________ | |
(i) | Shares issued for Towers Watson based on approximately 69 million Towers Watson shares outstanding at January 4, 2016. |
| |
l. | Transaction and integration costs. Transaction and integration costs related to the Merger have been eliminated. |
Consolidated Revenues
Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.8 billion, compared to $1.7 billion for the pro forma total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015, an increase of $28 million, or 2%. This growth was driven by a 4% increase, primarily due to our acquisition of Gras Savoye and 1% organic revenue growth, partially offset by adverse foreign currency exchange movements of 3%. The primary drivers of our organic growth were within our Human Capital and Benefits and Exchange Solutions segments. See our segment revenue analysis for a further discussion of our segment results.
Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $6.0 billion, compared to $5.6 billion for the pro forma total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, an increase of $391 million, or 7%. This growth was driven by a 9% increase, primarily due to our acquisitions of Gras Savoye and Miller, partially offset by adverse foreign currency exchange movements of 3%. Our revenue increased 1% on an organic basis.
Our results can be materially impacted by changes in currency conversions, which can fluctuate significantly over the course of a calendar year. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, currency translation decreased our consolidated revenue by $51 million and $135 million, respectively, on a constant currency basis from the pro forma three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The primary currencies driving the change were the Pound sterling, the Euro and the Canadian dollar.
The components of the change in revenue generated for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 are as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | | $ | 1,777 |
| | $ | 1,749 |
| | 2% | | (3)% | | 5% | | 4% | | 1% |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Revenue | | $ | 5,960 |
| | $ | 5,569 |
| | 7% | | (3)% | | 10% | | 9% | | 1% |
The organic change presented above includes the reduction to revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 related to the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue made during purchase accounting for the Merger. If this revenue had not been reduced, the constant currency change would have been an increase of 11% and the organic change would have been an increase of 2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Definitions of Constant Currency Change and Organic Change are included in the section entitled Non-GAAP Financial Measures in this Form 10-Q.
Segment Revenue Analysis
We are continuing our integration of Legacy Willis and Legacy Towers Watson, creating a unified platform for global growth, including to position the Company to leverage the Legacy Companies’ mutual distribution strength to enhance market penetration, expand our global footprint and create a strong platform for further innovation. During the second quarter of 2016, we began managing our business and reporting our segmental results across four integrated reportable operating segments: Corporate Risk and Broking; Exchange Solutions; Human Capital and Benefits; and Investment, Risk and Reinsurance. All prior period segment revenue information has been recast from our historically reported filings to conform to the current reportable segment structure.
Segment revenues exclude amounts that were directly incurred on behalf of our clients and reimbursed by them (reimbursed expenses); however, these amounts are included in consolidated revenues.
Human Capital and Benefits
The Willis Towers Watson Human Capital & Benefits (‘HCB’) segment provides an array of advice, broking, solutions and software for employee benefit plans, the HR organization and the management teams of our clients.
HCB is the largest segment of the Company, generating approximately 41% of our revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Organized into four primary offerings - Retirement; Health & Benefits; Talent & Rewards; and Technology and Administration Solutions, the segment is focused on addressing our clients’ people and risk needs to help them tackle the challenges of operating in a global marketplace.
HCB is further strengthened with teams of international consultants that provide support in each of these areas to the global headquarters of multinational clients and their foreign subsidiaries.
Retirement — The Retirement business provides actuarial support, plan design, and administrative services for traditional pension and retirement savings plans. Our colleagues help our clients assess the costs and risks of retirement plans on cash flow, earnings and the balance sheet, the effects of changing workforce demographics on their retirement plans and retiree benefit adequacy and security. We offer clients a full range of integrated retirement consulting services to meet the needs of all types of employers - including those that continue to offer defined benefit plans and those that are reexamining their retirement benefit strategies. We bring a particular in-depth data analysis and perspective to their decision process, because we have tracked the retirement designs of the largest public companies around the world over many years.
For clients that want to outsource some or all of their pension plan management, we offer integrated solutions that combine investment consulting, pension administration, core actuarial services, and communication and change management assistance.
Our retirement consulting relationships are generally long-term in nature, and client retention rates for this business are high. A significant portion of the revenue in this business is from recurring work, with multi-year contracts that are driven by the heavily regulated nature of employee benefits plans and our clients’ annual needs for these services. Revenue for the Retirement business is somewhat seasonal, as much of our work pertains to calendar-year plan administration and reporting and compliance related to the completion of pension plan valuations; thus, the first quarter of the fiscal year is typically our strongest quarter. Major revenue growth drivers in this business include changes in regulations, capital market conditions, increased global demand and increased market share.
Health and Benefits — The Health & Benefits (‘H&B’) business provides plan management consulting, broking and administration across the full spectrum of health and group benefit programs, including medical, dental, disability, life and other coverage. As a result of the Merger, our H&B reach extends from small/mid-market clients to large market clients, across the full geographic footprint of the Company, and to most industries. We can address our clients’ insured needs in more than 160 countries.
Our consultants help clients make strategic decisions on topics such as optimizing program spend; evaluating emerging coverage options (including publicly-subsidized health insurance exchanges and private exchanges in the U.S.); and dealing with above-inflation-rate increases in health care costs. In addition to our consulting services, we manage a number of collective purchasing initiatives (e.g., pharmacy, stop-loss) that allow employers to realize greater value from third-party service providers than they can achieve on their own.
With Global Benefits Solutions, our suite of global services supporting medical, dental and risk (life, accident and disability) programs, we have a tailored offering for multinationals. That offering includes a flexible set of “ready-made” offerings, industrial-strength and proven technology, efficient operational structure and an integrated approach to service delivery that translates to a globally consistent, high-quality experience for our clients.
Finally, H&B supports OneExchange Active, our private health insurance exchange for active employees. This offering is integrated with other health insurance exchange offerings, OneExchange Retiree and OneExchange Access, which are offered within the Exchange Solutions segment.
Talent & Rewards — Our Talent & Rewards (‘T&R’) business covers three areas of specialty: Executive Compensation (‘EC’); Rewards, Talent & Communication (‘RTC’); and Data, Surveys and Technology (‘DST’). T&R provides advice, data, software and products to address clients’ total rewards and talent issues. T&R has operations across the globe, including centralized software development and analytics teams that support the efficient delivery of services to clients.
Within our EC practice, we advise our clients’ management and boards of directors on all aspects of executive pay programs, including base pay, annual bonuses, long-term incentives, perquisites and other benefits. Our focus is on aligning pay plans with the organization’s business strategy and driving desired performance.
RTC offers services focused on designing and implementing rewards and talent management programs and processes which help companies attract and deploy talent, engage them over time, manage and reward their performance, develop their skills, provide them with relevant career paths, communicate with them and manage organizational change initiatives.
Our DST offerings include market benchmarking data, employee insight and listening tools, talent assessment tools and services, and Human Resource (‘HR’) software to help companies administer and manage their talent management and reward programs and analyze talent trends.
Revenue for the Talent & Rewards business is partly seasonal in nature, with a meaningful amount of heightened activity in the second half of the calendar year during the annual compensation, benefits and survey cycles. While T&R enjoys long-term relationships with many clients, work in several practices is often project-based and can be sensitive to economic changes. The business benefits from regulatory changes that require strategic advice, program change and communication such as CEO pay
ratio disclosure and Fair Labor Standards Act changes in the U.S., by which swaths of employees will be newly-eligible for overtime pay. Additional areas of growth for T&R include evolving views on effective individual performance measurement and management, focus on workforce productivity improvements and labor cost reductions, globalization and digitization of the workforce, merger and acquisition (‘M&A’) activity, technology-enabled approaches for measuring and understanding workforce engagement, and the opportunity to leverage HR software to improve the design, management and implementation of HR processes and programs.
Technology and Administration Solutions — Our Technology and Administration Solutions (‘TAS’) business provides benefits outsourcing services to hundreds of clients across multiple industries. Our TAS team focuses on clients outside of the U.S. where our services are supported by high quality administration teams using robust technology platforms. We have high client retention rates and we are the leading administrator among the 200 largest pension plans in the U.K. as well as a leader in Germany.
For both our defined benefit and defined contribution administration services, we use highly-automated processes and web technology to enable benefit plan members to access and manage their records, perform self-service functions and improve their understanding of their benefits. Our technology also provides trustees and human resources teams with timely management information to monitor activity and service levels and reduce administration costs.
The following table sets out the components of HCB revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 747 |
| | $ | 736 |
| | 2% | | (3)% | | 5% | | 3% | | 2% |
Interest and other income | | — |
| | 5 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 747 |
| | $ | 741 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
HCB total segment revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $747 million, compared to pro forma $741 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015; and HCB commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $747 million, compared to pro forma $736 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Retirement revenues were up slightly as the work associated with U.S. Bulk Lump Sum and pension administration projects increased. The Talent and Rewards business saw growth as a result of an increase of executive compensation projects across all regions and the successful delivery of global data surveys. Talent and Rewards is generally a stronger business in the second half of the calendar year. Healthcare consulting continued to see solid growth led by success in the large client market. The Technology and Administration Great Britain business had growth driven by new administration clients and project activity.
The following table sets out the components of HCB revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 2,459 |
| | $ | 2,372 |
| | 4% | | (3)% | | 7% | | 6% | | 1% |
Interest and other income | | 8 |
| | 16 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 2,467 |
| | $ | 2,388 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
HCB total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $2.5 billion, compared to pro forma $2.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015; and commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $2.5 billion, compared to pro forma $2.4 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Pro forma and constant currency revenue growth were driven by the acquisition of Gras Savoye, which occurred on December 29, 2015. Retirement revenues were flat, representing strong growth in Great Britain related to defined benefit and defined contribution project activity offset by softer activity in the Netherlands market. The Health and Benefits North America consulting business continued to see demand for plan design projects and increased product revenue. The Talent and Rewards advisory business
was down period-over-period as the M&A market softened. The Technology and Administration Solutions Great Britain business had strong performance, led by increased project and administration activity along with new clients. Internationally, Global Wealth Solutions has been negatively impacted by adverse conditions in the Greater China market.
Corporate Risk and Broking
Our Corporate Risk & Broking (‘CRB’) segment provides a broad range of risk advice, insurance brokerage and consulting services to clients worldwide ranging from small businesses to multinational corporations. We deliver integrated global solutions tailored to client needs and underpinned by data and analytics.
CRB generated 31% of Willis Towers Watson revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, and places more than $20 billion of premium into the insurance markets, annually.
CRB operates as an integrated global team comprising both functional and geographic leadership. In addition there are five global offerings, which aim to leverage capabilities across geographies, including Property and Casualty, Financial Lines, Transport, Affinity and Facultative. In these operations, we have extensive specialized experience handling diverse lines of coverage, including complex insurance programs. A key objective is to assist clients in reducing their overall cost of risk.
Property and Casualty — Property and Casualty provides property and liability insurance brokerage services across a wide range of industries including Construction, Real Estate, Healthcare, and Natural Resources. Our Construction practice provides risk management advice and brokerage services for a wide range of international construction activities. Clients of the construction practice include contractors, project owners, project managers, consultants and financiers. Our Natural Resources practice encompasses the oil and gas, mining, power and utilities sectors; and provides services including property damage, offshore construction liability and other services to global clients.
Financial Lines — Financial Lines specializes in brokerage services for financial, political and credit risks. Our clients include financial institutions and professional services firms from around the globe that require coverage for areas ranging from business risks, like trade credit, Directors and Officers and Medical Malpractice, to external threats, like cyberattacks and terrorism.
Transport — Transport provides specialist expertise to the Transportation industry and Aerospace, Marine and Inspace practices. Our Aerospace business provides insurance brokerage and risk management services to Aerospace clients worldwide, including the world’s leading airlines, aircraft manufacturers, air cargo handlers and other airport and general aviation companies. Our Marine business provides insurance brokerage services, including hull, cargo, protection and indemnity and general marine liabilities. Our Marine clients include ship owners, ship builders, logistics operations, port authorities, traders and shippers. The specialist Inspace team is also prominent in providing insurance and risk management services to the space industry.
Affinity — Affinity arranges the insurance products and services for our client partners to offer to their customers, employees or members alongside, or in addition to, their principal business activities. Products include: extended warranties, accidental damage of personal mobile devices, creditor payment protection, accident and health, and personal lines.
Facultative — Facultative serves as a broker or intermediary for insurance companies looking to arrange reinsurance solutions across classes of risk, which enable them to deliver differentiated outcomes to their direct insureds, which in many situations are also clients of the wider Willis Towers Watson business. The facultative business also works closely with our treaty reinsurance business to structure reinsurance solutions that deliver capital and strategic benefits to insurance company clients.
The following table sets out the components of CRB revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 546 |
| | $ | 519 |
| | 5% | | (3)% | | 8% | | 8% | | —% |
Interest and other income | | 8 |
| | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 554 |
| | $ | 523 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
CRB total segment revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $554 million, compared to pro forma $523 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015; and commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $546 million, compared to pro forma $519 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The quarter’s growth was largely driven by the acquisition of Gras Savoye, which occurred on December 29, 2015. Great Britain led organic growth for the second quarter in a row as a result of strong growth in all lines of business. Western Europe also had strong organic growth primarily in large client accounts and energy. North America organic revenue declined slightly. International organic revenues declined primarily as a result of economic and political issues in Asia and Brazil.
The following table sets out the components of CRB revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 1,807 |
| | $ | 1,622 |
| | 11% | | (4)% | | 15% | | 15% | | —% |
Interest and other income | | 21 |
| | 13 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 1,828 |
| | $ | 1,635 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
CRB total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.8 billion, compared to pro forma $1.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015; and commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.8 billion, compared to pro forma $1.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The growth for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was due to the acquisition of Gras Savoye, which occurred on December 29, 2015. Great Britain led organic growth with solid growth across all lines of business. Western Europe contributed to organic growth with softness in Denmark offset by the growth in Iberia. North America was flat with strong retention offset by lower new business. International organic revenue declined as a result of lower revenues in Asia, Brazil and Australasia, partially offset by better performance in CEEMEA.
Investment, Risk and Reinsurance
The Willis Towers Watson Investment, Risk and Reinsurance (‘IRR’) segment applies a sophisticated approach to risk which helps clients free up capital and manage investment complexity. The segment works closely with investors, reinsurers and insurers to manage the equation between risk and return. Blending advanced analytics with deep institutional knowledge, IRR helps identify new opportunities to maximize performance. IRR provides investment consulting services and insurance specific services and solutions through reserves opinions, software, ratemaking, usage-based insurance, risk underwriting, and reinsurance broking.
This segment is our third largest segment and generated approximately 20% of revenues for the Company for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. With approximately 80% of the revenues for this segment split between North America and the U.K., this segment includes the following businesses and offerings: Willis Re; Willis Capital Markets & Advisory; Wholesale Insurance Broking; Willis Portfolio and Underwriting Services; Risk Consulting and Software; and Investment.
Willis Re — Willis Re provides reinsurance industry clients with an understanding of how risk affects capital and financial performance and advises on the best ways to manage related outcomes. We operate this business on a global basis and provide a complete range of transactional capabilities, including, in conjunction with Capital Markets & Advisory, a wide variety of capital markets-based products to both insurance and reinsurance companies. Our services are underpinned by modeling, financial analysis and risk management advice.
Capital Markets & Advisory — Capital Markets & Advisory, with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong and Sydney, provides investment banking-like services to companies involved in the insurance and reinsurance industries for a broad array of merger and acquisition transactions as well as capital markets products, including acting as underwriter for primary issuances, operating a secondary insurance-linked securities trading desk and engaging in strategic advisory work.
Wholesale Insurance Broking — Wholesale provides wholesale and specialist broking services to retail brokers worldwide, through Willis Towers Watson and London based specialist broker Miller Insurance Services LLP.
Portfolio and Underwriting Services — Portfolio and Underwriting Services, with operations in London and North America, brings together our existing set of Managing General Agent underwriting activities for purposes of accelerating their future development. Within Portfolio and Underwriting Services, we act on behalf of our insurance carrier partners and self-insured
entities in product marketing and distribution, risk underwriting and selection, claims management and other general administrative responsibilities.
Risk Consulting and Software — Risk Consulting and Software is a global business that provides advice and technology solutions to the insurance industry, as well as to corporate clients with respect to their insurance programs. We leverage our industry experience, strategic perspective and analytical skills to help clients measure and manage risk and capital, improve business performance and create a sustainable competitive advantage. Our services include software and technology, risk and capital management, products and pricing, financial and regulatory reporting, financial and capital modeling, M&A, outsourcing and business management.
Investment — Investment provides advice to improve investment outcomes for asset owners using a broad and sophisticated framework for managing risk. We provide coordinated investment advice and solutions to some of the world’s largest pension funds and institutional investors based on our expertise in risk assessment, asset-liability modeling, strategic asset allocation policy setting, manager selection and investment execution.
The following table sets out the components of IRR revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 292 |
| | $ | 320 |
| | (9)% | | (4)% | | (5)% | | —% | | (5)% |
Interest and other income | | 7 |
| | 6 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 299 |
| | $ | 326 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
IRR total segment revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $299 million, compared to pro forma $326 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $292 million, compared to pro forma $320 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The decline was driven by a dramatic slowing of transactions in our Capital Markets business and further softness in the North American Reinsurance market, partially offset by Wholesale, Risk Consulting and Investment revenue growth.
The following table sets out the components of IRR revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 1,122 |
| | $ | 1,112 |
| | 1% | | (3)% | | 4% | | 8% | | (4)% |
Interest and other income | | 55 |
| | 11 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 1,177 |
| | $ | 1,123 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
IRR total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.2 billion, compared to pro forma $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Included in total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is a previously disclosed settlement with JLT of £28 million ($41 million) related to the Fine Arts and Jewellery team. Commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.1 billion, compared to pro forma $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The Segment’s pro forma revenue growth was driven by the acquisition of Miller Insurance Services, which was acquired on May 31, 2015. The organic decline was primarily related to the following factors: soft market conditions and renewal factors impacting our Reinsurance and Underwriting services businesses, particularly in North America; a decline in overall insurance industry M&A activity impacting our Capital Markets business after a record year in 2015; and a decline arising from lower demand in risk consulting projects as well as in the Investment advisory business.
Exchange Solutions
The Willis Towers Watson Exchange Solutions (‘ES’) segment provides primary medical and ancillary benefit exchange and outsourcing services to active employees and retirees across both the group and individual markets. ES services individual populations via its ‘group to individual’ technology platform, which tightly integrates patented call routing technology, an efficient quoting and enrollment engine, a Customer Relationship Management system and comprehensive insurance carrier connectivity. This segment also delivers group benefit exchanges and full outsourcing solutions serving the active employees of employers across the United States. ES uses Software as a Service (‘SaaS’)-based technology and related services to deliver consumer-driven health care and reimbursement accounts, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts and other consumer-directed accounts.
A significant portion of the revenue in this segment is recurring in nature, driven by either the commissions from the policies we sell, or from long-term service contracts with our clients that typically range from three to five years. Revenue across this segment may be seasonal, driven by the magnitude and timing of client transition activities, and we typically increase our membership levels significantly effective January 1, after calendar year-end benefits elections.
ES generated approximately 8% of our revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. ES provides services across four integrated or related offerings to customers primarily in the U.S., including Retiree & Access Exchanges; Active Exchanges; Technology and Administration Solutions; and Consumer-Directed Accounts.
Retiree & Access Exchanges — This business provides solutions through a proprietary technology platform, OneExchange Retiree, which enables our employer clients to transition their retirees to individual, defined contribution health plans that provide individuals with a tax-free allowance or 'contribution' to spend on health care services at an annual cost that the employer controls, as opposed to group-based, defined benefit health plans that provide groups of individuals with healthcare benefits at uncertain annual costs.
Active Exchanges — This business is focused on delivering group benefit exchanges, serving the active employees of employers across the United States. Using our proprietary BenefitConnect or Bright Choices exchange platforms, combined with our expertise in creating high-performing benefit plan designs, we believe we are well-positioned to help our clients simplify their benefits delivery, while lowering the total costs of benefits and related administration. We have relationships with more than 400 broker partners to access and service the small to mid-size group market and offer both fully-insured and self-insured exchanges to meet the needs of our employer clients.
Technology and Administration Solutions — Through our proprietary BenefitConnect technology, this business provides a broad suite of health and welfare outsourcing services as well as decision support and modeling tools for pension users. With our disciplined approach to customer service, we offer cost-effective, high-touch service to hundreds of clients across many industries.
Consumer-Directed Accounts — This business uses its SaaS-based technology and related services to deliver consumer-driven health care and reimbursement accounts, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements and other consumer-directed accounts.
The following table sets out the components of ES revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 161 |
| | $ | 128 |
| | 25% | | —% | | 25% | | —% | | 25% |
Interest and other income | | — |
| | 1 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 161 |
| | $ | 129 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
ES total segment revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $161 million, compared to pro forma $129 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015; and commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016 were $161 million, compared to pro forma $128 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Retiree and Access Exchanges commissions and fees increased by 35%, primarily as a result of the record 2016 annual enrollment season. Exchange Other revenues increased by 14%, primarily due to Technology and Administration Solutions adding new clients and experiencing higher project activity.
The following table sets out the components of ES revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine months ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Commissions and fees | | $ | 478 |
| | $ | 340 |
| | 40% | | —% | | 40% | | 3% | | 37% |
Interest and other income | | 1 |
| | 2 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total segment revenues | | $ | 479 |
| | $ | 342 |
| | | | | | | | | | |
ES total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $479 million, compared to pro forma $342 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015; and commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $478 million, compared to pro forma $340 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Retiree and Access Exchanges commissions and fees increased by 44%, primarily as a result of the record 2016 annual enrollment season. Exchange Other commissions and fees increased by 36%, primarily due to Technology and Administration Solutions adding new clients and experiencing higher project activity.
Additional Pro Forma Consolidated Analysis
Salaries and Benefits
Salaries and benefits were $1.1 billion for the third quarter of 2016, an increase of $18 million, or 2%, compared to $1.1 billion in the pro forma third quarter of 2015. The increase includes $59 million of salaries and benefits relating to Gras Savoye, partially offset by a $44 million decrease in incentives (which includes bonus and stock-based compensation).
Salaries and benefits were $3.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $230 million, or 7%, compared to $3.3 billion in the pro forma nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase included $218 million of salaries and benefits relating to Gras Savoye and Miller, a $52 million increase in salaries relating to Legacy Willis and Legacy Towers Watson, partially offset by a $32 million decrease in benefits and incentives.
Other Operating Expenses
Other operating expenses include occupancy, legal, marketing, licenses, royalties, supplies, technology, printing and telephone costs, as well as insurance, including premiums on excess insurance and losses on professional liability claims, non-client-reimbursed travel by colleagues, publications, professional subscriptions and development, recruitment, other professional fees and irrecoverable value added and sales taxes.
Other operating expenses for the third quarter of 2016 were $370 million, compared to $342 million for the pro forma third quarter of 2015, an increase of $28 million or 8%. The increase includes $24 million in other operating expenses relating to Gras Savoye and a $9 million increase in professional services.
Other operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $1.2 billion, compared to $1.0 billion for the pro forma nine months ended September 30 2015, an increase of $135 million or 13%. The increase included $99 million in other operating expenses relating to Gras Savoye and Miller and a $50 million increase in the provision related to the Stanford litigation, partially offset by a $10 million decrease in other general and administrative costs.
Depreciation
Depreciation represents the expense incurred over the useful life of our tangible fixed assets and internally developed software. Depreciation was $45 million for the third quarter of 2016, an increase of $5 million, or 13%, compared to $40 million for the pro forma third quarter of 2015.
Depreciation was $132 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $12 million, or 10%, compared to $120 million for the pro forma nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The increase during the three months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily related to our acquisition of Gras Savoye and our normal capital expenditures. The increase during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily related to our acquisitions of Gras Savoye and Miller and our normal capital expenditures.
Amortization
Amortization includes amortization of acquired intangible assets, including acquired internally developed software. We acquired approximately $671 million in intangible assets in our acquisitions of Miller ($231 million) and Gras Savoye ($440 million) during the second and fourth quarters of 2015, respectively, and approximately $4.0 billion in intangible assets in our Merger with Towers Watson during the first quarter of 2016. These intangible assets are amortized over their expected lives which range from 1 to 25 years. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions and Note 7 — Goodwill and Intangible Assets for additional information about our intangible assets.
Amortization was $157 million for the third quarter of 2016, which was an increase compared to $137 million for the pro forma third quarter of 2015, primarily driven by $13 million of amortization for intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of Gras Savoye.
Amortization was $443 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $47 million, or 12%, compared to $396 million for the pro forma nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase was primarily related to Gras Savoye and Miller, which added $51 million of expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
Consolidated Income from Operations
Consolidated income from operations for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $1 million, compared to $104 million for the pro forma three months ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $103 million. The decrease was primarily due to an increases in integration expenses of $35 million and restructuring costs of $25 million.
Consolidated income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $463 million, compared to $632 million for the pro forma nine months ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $169 million. The decrease was primarily due to an increases in integration expenses of $114 million and restructuring costs of $22 million.
Other Expense/(Income), Net
Other expense/(income), net, includes other gains and losses, including gains and losses on foreign currency transactions.
Other expense/(income), net, for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $14 million of net expense, compared to net income of $64 million for the pro forma three months ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $78 million, which included $69 million related to gains on disposals of operations in the prior year and $11 million of unfavorable foreign currency movements.
Other expense/(income), net, for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $26 million of net expense, compared to $83 million net income for the pro forma nine months ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $109 million, which included $78 million related to gains on disposals of operations in the prior year and $32 million of unfavorable foreign currency movements.
(Benefit from)/Provision for Income Taxes
Benefit from income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was $26 million, compared to $77 million for the pro forma three months ended September 30, 2015, which represents a decrease of tax benefit of $51 million. This decrease in benefit from income tax was driven primarily by the partial release of the U.S. valuation allowance against its U.S. deferred tax assets due to an increase in actual and forecast U.S. earnings in the prior year.
Provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $11 million, compared to the pro forma provision for income taxes of $40 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, a decrease of $29 million. This decrease in the provision for income tax was driven primarily by additional interest expense on debt incurred in connection with the Merger. The provision related to the Stanford Financial Group litigation also reduced the provision for income tax by approximately $20 million.
Net (Loss)/Income (attributable to Willis Towers Watson)
Net loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the third quarter of 2016 was $32 million, a decrease of $241 million compared to net income of $209 million for the pro forma third quarter of 2015. The decrease in net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the third quarter of 2016 was primarily driven by the $103 million decrease in income from operations, the $78 million change in other expense/(income), net, and a $51 million decrease in benefit from income taxes.
Net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $278 million, a decrease of $290 million compared to $568 million for the pro forma nine months ended September 30, 2015. The decrease in net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily driven by the $169 million decrease in income from operations, and the $109 million change in other expense/(income), net.
Operational Improvement Program
Overview
In April 2014, Legacy Willis announced an operational improvement program that would allow it to continue to strengthen its client service, realize operational efficiencies, and invest in new capabilities for growth.
The primary elements of the program include the following:
| |
• | movement of more than 3,500 support roles from higher cost locations to facilities in lower cost locations, bringing the ratio of employees in higher cost versus lower cost near-shore and off-shore centers at Legacy Willis from approximately 80:20 to approximately 60:40; |
| |
• | net workforce reductions in support positions; |
| |
• | lease consolidation in real estate and reductions in ratios of seats per employee and square footage of floor space per employee; and |
| |
• | information technology systems simplification and rationalization. |
The program began in the second quarter of 2014 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. We are expecting to deliver $325 million of annual cost savings by the end of 2017.
The estimated phasing of future cost savings is as follows: up to approximately $150 million in 2016, and up to approximately $250 million in 2017. The estimated cost savings are before any potential reinvestment for future growth.
To achieve these savings, the Company expects to incur cumulative restructuring charges amounting to approximately $440 million through the end of 2017 with approximately $140 million expected for 2016 and $140 million expected for 2017.
Total spend, actual savings, and timing may vary positively or negatively from these estimates due to changes in the scope, underlying assumptions, or execution risk of the restructuring plan throughout its duration. The program cumulative expected savings exclude merger-related savings.
We realized $47 million and $136 million in savings during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, bringing the cumulative program-to-date savings to $259 million.
During the three months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized restructuring costs of $36 million related to the Operational Improvement Program, including $26 million in Corporate Risk and Broking and $9 million in Corporate. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company recognized restructuring costs of $98 million related to the Operational Improvement Program, including $71 million in CRB, $23 million in Corporate, $3 million in IRR, and $1 million in HCB.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Executive Summary
Our principal sources of liquidity are funds generated by operating activities, available cash and cash equivalents and amounts available under revolving credit facilities.
Based on our balance sheets, combined cash flows, current market conditions and information available to us at this time, we believe that Willis Towers Watson has sufficient liquidity, which includes our undrawn revolving credit facilities, to meet our cash needs for the next twelve months, including investing in the business for growth, creating value through the integration of Willis, Towers Watson and Gras Savoye, scheduled debt repayments, dividend payments, and contemplated share repurchases.
Historically, we have not provided deferred taxes on cumulative earnings of our subsidiaries that have been reinvested indefinitely. As a result of the Merger, we recorded a deferred tax liability through goodwill on a portion of certain acquired Towers Watson foreign subsidiaries’ unremitted earnings. We continue to assert that the historical cumulative earnings of our
other subsidiaries are reinvested indefinitely and we do not provide deferred tax liabilities on these amounts. Should the Company repatriate any portion of our cash, it might be required to accrue and pay additional taxes. The Company has no current plans and does not anticipate repatriating cash other than for certain foreign subsidiaries. However, if additional funds are needed for the Company's operations, strategic acquisitions, or capital expenditures, the Company may need to repatriate cash. One of the potential sources of cash may be through settlement of intercompany loans or return of capital distributions in a tax efficient manner.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company restructured some of its debt financing in March and May 2016. We issued (i) $1.0 billion of senior notes ($450 million due 2021 and $550 million due 2026), essentially to: refinance the $300 million senior notes due 2016; refinance $400 million of debt assumed as part of the Merger; and make further repayment on the revolving credit facility, and (ii) €540 million ($609 million) of senior notes to repay Tranche A of the 1-year term loan that was used to finance the acquisition of Gras Savoye.
Events that could change the historical cash flow dynamics discussed above include significant changes in operating results, potential future acquisitions or divestitures, material changes in geographic sources of cash, unexpected adverse impacts from litigation or future pension funding during periods of severe downturn in the capital markets.
Cash and Short-term Investments
Our cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2016 totaled $767 million, compared to $532 million at December 31, 2015. The increase in cash from December 31, 2015 to September 30, 2016 was primarily due to cash acquired in the Merger.
Additionally, at September 30, 2016, $710 million was available to draw under our $800 million revolving credit facility, compared with $333 million at December 31, 2015, and $420 million was available to draw for special purposes under other credit facilities at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.
Included within cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2016 are amounts held for regulatory capital adequacy requirements, including $88 million held within our regulated U.K. entities for regulatory capital adequacy requirements.
Summarized Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows
The following table presents the summarized condensed consolidated cash flow information for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015: |
| | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| (in millions) |
Net cash from/(used in): | | | |
Operating activities | $ | 608 |
| | $ | 113 |
|
Investing activities | 283 |
| | (348 | ) |
Financing activities | (646 | ) | | 94 |
|
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 245 |
| | (141 | ) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | (10 | ) | | (28 | ) |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 532 |
| | 635 |
|
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD | $ | 767 |
| | $ | 466 |
|
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Cash flows from operating activities were $608 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to cash flows from operating activities of $113 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.
The $608 million net cash from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 included net income of $290 million, adjusted for $498 million of non-cash adjustments. Significant cash outflows included $139 million of net cash payments for income taxes and $146 million of defined benefit pension funding contributions. The decreases were partially offset by the non-cash adjustment related to provision increases, including the $50 million recognized in respect of the Stanford litigation.
The $113 million net cash from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 included net income of $402 million, adjusted for $38 million of non-cash adjustments. Significant cash outflows included $413 million cash payments of
incentives, primarily relating to 2014, and $93 million of defined benefit pension funding, which includes salary sacrifice contributions.
The $495 million increase in cash from operations in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015 was primarily due to cash from operations from Legacy Towers Watson and Gras Savoye.
Cash Flows From/(Used In) Investing Activities
Cash flows from investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $283 million, largely driven by $476 million of cash acquired as a result of our Merger with Towers Watson, which was a non-cash transaction as it was consummated through the issuance of shares. Fixed asset purchases and capitalized costs of developing software for internal use totaled $215 million.
Net cash used in investing activities in the first nine months of 2015 was $348 million. This included capital expenditures of $100 million, and cash payments of $293 million for acquisitions, net of cash acquired. This was partially offset by proceeds from the disposal of operations of $45 million, net of cash disposed.
Cash Flows (Used In)/From Financing Activities
Cash flows used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $646 million. The primary drivers during the period were debt issuance of $2.0 billion, debt repayments of $1.9 billion, net repayments on the revolving credit facility of $389 million, dividend payments of $133 million and share repurchases of $222 million.
The debt issuance of $2.0 billion was primarily issuance of $450 million of senior notes due 2021, $550 million of senior notes due 2026, €540 million ($609 million) of senior notes due 2022 and a $400 million drawdown on the 1-year term loan facility.
The debt repayments of $1.9 billion were primarily $300 million repayment of senior notes due 2016, $400 million repayment of Legacy Towers Watson debt and repayments of $592 million and $400 million on the 1-year term loan facility.
Net cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $94 million, primarily due to $420 million drawings on the revolving credit facility and $95 million from the issuance of shares, partially offset by total dividends paid, including dividends paid to noncontrolling interests of $179 million, repurchase of shares of $82 million, and $159 million of mandatory repayments against the term loan and settlement of senior debt in July 2015.
Indebtedness
Total debt, total equity, and the capitalization ratio at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 were as follows (millions, except percentages):
|
| | | | | | | |
| September 30, 2016 | | December 31, 2015 |
| (in millions) |
Long-term debt | $ | 3,267 |
| | $ | 2,278 |
|
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt | 519 |
| | 988 |
|
Total debt | 3,786 |
| | 3,266 |
|
| | | |
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity | $ | 10,767 |
| | $ | 2,229 |
|
| | | |
Capitalization ratio | 26.0 | % | | 59.4 | % |
At September 30, 2016, mandatory debt repayments over the next twelve months include $394 million senior notes due 2017, scheduled repayments of $85 million on our term loan maturing in 2019, scheduled repayments of $22 million on our 7-year term loan and $18 million of short-term borrowing under a bank overdraft arrangement.
On March 22, 2016, we issued $450 million of 3.500% senior notes due 2021 and $550 million of 4.400% senior notes due 2026. We used the net proceeds from this offering to: repay $300 million under our $800 million revolving credit facility (which was drawn to repay our 4.125% senior notes on March 15, 2016); repay the $400 million Tranche B under our 1-year term loan facility; pay down further amounts outstanding under our $800 million revolving credit facility; and pay related accrued interest.
On May 26, 2016, we issued €540 million ($609 million) of 2.125% senior notes due 2022. These 2022 Euro Bonds will mature on May 26, 2022. We used the net proceeds of this offering to repay Tranche A of the 1-year term loan and related accrued interest.
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with all financial covenants.
Fiduciary Funds
As an intermediary, we hold funds generally in a fiduciary capacity for the account of third parties, typically as the result of premiums received from clients that are in transit to insurers and claims due to clients that are in transit from insurers. We report premiums, which are held on account of, or due from, clients as assets with a corresponding liability due to the insurers. Claims held by, or due to, us which are due to clients are also shown as both assets and liabilities.
Fiduciary funds are generally required to be kept in regulated bank accounts subject to guidelines which emphasize capital preservation and liquidity; such funds are not available to service the Company’s debt or for other corporate purposes. Notwithstanding the legal relationships with clients and insurers, the Company is entitled to retain investment income earned on fiduciary funds in accordance with industry custom and practice and, in some cases, as supported by agreements with insureds.
At September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we had fiduciary funds of $2.7 billion and $2.3 billion, respectively.
Share Repurchase Program
The Company is authorized to repurchase shares, by way of redemption, and will consider whether to do so from time to time, based on many factors, including market conditions. At September 30, 2016, approximately $306 million remains on the current open-ended repurchase authority. The maximum number of shares that may be repurchased based on the closing price of our Ordinary Shares on September 30, 2016 of $132.77 was 2,308,448. The Company intends to repurchase up to $78 million in Company shares during the remainder of 2016.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company had the following share repurchase activity: |
| | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
Shares repurchased | 1,488,720 | | 1,791,334 |
Average price per share | $124.07 | | $124.21 |
Aggregate repurchase cost (excluding broker commissions) | $184 million | | $222 million |
Capital Commitments
Capital expenditures for fixed assets and software for internal use and capitalized software costs were $215 million for the first nine months of 2016. Anticipated expenditures of capital funds for fixed assets and capitalized software costs are estimated to be around $70 million for the remainder of 2016. We expect cash from operations to adequately provide for these cash needs. There have been no material changes to our capital commitments since our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016, except as discussed in Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies.
Dividends
Total cash dividends of $133 million were paid during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. In October 2016, the board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.48 per share, which will be paid on or about January 17, 2017, consistent with our annual rate of $1.92 per share.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
Operating Leases. We lease office space and furniture under operating lease agreements with terms typically ranging from three to twenty years. We have determined that there is not a large concentration of leases that will expire in any one fiscal year. Consequently, management anticipates that any increase in future rent expense on leases will be mainly market-driven. We also lease cars and selected computer equipment under operating lease agreements. For acquired operating leases, intangible assets or liabilities have been recognized for the difference between the contractual cash obligations and the estimated market rates at the time of acquisition. These intangibles are amortized to rent expense but do not affect our contractual cash obligations. There have been no material changes to our operating lease obligations since we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC on February 29, 2016, except as discussed in Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies.
Contractual Obligations. Material changes to our contractual obligations since we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC on February 29, 2016 are discussed in Note 9 — Debt, Note 11 — Retirement Benefits, and Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Effective from January 1, 2016, we have made changes to the non-GAAP financial measures that we use to provide additional meaningful methods of evaluating the Company’s financial performance and have replaced our underlying and organic measures with those described below.
These changes have been made as both a direct consequence of the Merger and to simplify and better align these measures with how we internally assess core performance and benchmark our operating results versus competitors.
In order to assist readers of our condensed consolidated financial statements in understanding the core operating results that Willis Towers Watson’s management uses to evaluate the business and for financial planning, we present non-GAAP measures. Willis Towers Watson’s management began using the following measures from the effective date of the Merger: (1) Adjusted Revenues, (2) Constant Currency Change, (3) Organic Change, (4) Adjusted Operating Income, (5) Adjusted EBITDA, (6) Adjusted Net Income, (7) Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, (8) Adjusted Income Before Taxes, (9) Adjusted Income Taxes/Rate and (10) Free Cash Flow. The Company believes these measures are relevant and provide useful information widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in our industry to provide a baseline for evaluating and comparing our operating and liquidity results.
Within these measures, we have adjusted for significant items which will not be settled in cash, or which we believe to be items that are not core to our current or future operations. These items include restructuring costs, integration and transaction expenses, the fair value adjustment to deferred revenue, gains or losses on our disposals of operations, our provision for the Stanford litigation and the Venezuelan currency devaluation.
| |
• | Restructuring, integration and transaction costs - Management believes it is appropriate to adjust for restructuring, integration and transaction costs when they relate to a specific significant program with a defined set of activities and costs that are not expected to continue beyond a defined period of time. We believe the adjustment is necessary to present how the Company is performing, both now and in the future when these programs will have concluded. |
| |
• | Fair value adjustment to deferred revenue - Adjustment to normalize for the deferred revenue written down as part of the purchase accounting for the Merger. |
| |
• | Provision for Stanford litigation - The provision for the Stanford litigation matter, which we consider to be a non-ordinary course litigation matter. |
| |
• | Venezuelan currency devaluation - Foreign exchange losses incurred as a consequence of the Venezuelan government’s enforced changes to exchange rate mechanisms. |
These measures are different than those reported in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016. Historical non-GAAP measures have been recalculated using management’s new metrics for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and are not necessarily the same figures reported in our previous filings.
These non-GAAP measures are not defined in the same manner by all companies and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the information contained within our condensed consolidated financial statements.
The pro forma financial information is only for Willis and Towers Watson and does not include Gras Savoye or other merger or acquisition activity on a pro forma basis.
Adjusted Revenues
We consider Adjusted Revenues to be an important financial measure, which is used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating results against our competitors. Adjusted Revenues presents comparable period-over-period comparisons of revenues by excluding the impact of purchase accounting rules.
Adjusted Revenues is defined as Total revenues adjusted for the fair value adjustment for deferred revenues that would otherwise have been recognized but for the purchase accounting treatment of these transactions. GAAP accounting requires the elimination of this revenue.
We have included the reconciliation of Total revenues to Adjusted Revenues in the table below, together with our reconciliation of the pro forma revenue change to the constant currency and organic changes.
Constant Currency Change and Organic Change
We evaluate our revenue on an as reported, constant currency and organic basis. We believe providing constant currency and organic information provides valuable supplemental information regarding our comparable results, consistent with how we evaluate our performance internally.
| |
• | Constant Currency Change - Represents the year over year change in revenues excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations. To calculate this impact, the prior year local currency results are first translated using the current year monthly average exchange rates. The change is calculated by comparing the prior year revenues, translated at the current year monthly average exchange rates, to the current year as reported revenues, for the same period. We believe constant currency measures provide useful information to investors because they provide transparency to performance by excluding the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on period-over-period comparability given volatility in foreign currency exchange markets. |
| |
• | Organic Change - The organic presentation excludes both the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, as described above, as well as the period-over-period impact of acquisitions and divestitures. We believe that excluding acquisition-related items from our GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental information to our investors, and it is important in illustrating what our core operating results would have been had we not incurred these acquisition-related items, since the nature, size and number of acquisitions can vary from period to period. |
The constant currency and organic change results, and a reconciliation from the as reported results for consolidated revenues are included in the As Reported Financial Information section within this Form 10-Q. These results are also reported by segment in the Segment Revenue Analysis tables presented within this Form 10-Q.
A reconciliation of Total revenues to Adjusted Revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, and a reconciliation of the pro forma revenue change to the constant currency and organic change for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows. There was no fair value adjustment for deferred revenue in the third quarter of 2016. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 1,777 |
| | $ | 1,749 |
| | 2% | | (3)% | | 5% | | 4% | | 1% |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | | Components of Revenue Change |
| | | | Pro Forma | | Pro Forma Change | | Currency Impact | | Constant Currency Change | | Acquisitions/Divestitures | | Organic Change |
| | 2016 | | 2015 | | | | | |
| | (in millions) | | | | | | | | | | |
Total revenues | | $ | 5,960 |
| | $ | 5,569 |
| | 7% | | (3)% | | 10% | | 9% | | 1% |
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | | 58 |
| | — |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted Revenues | | $ | 6,018 |
| | $ | 5,569 |
| | 8% | | (3)% | | 11% | | 9% | | 2% |
Adjusted Operating Income
We consider Adjusted Operating Income to be an important financial measure, which is used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating results against our competitors.
Adjusted Operating Income is defined as Income from Operations adjusted for amortization, restructuring costs, integration and transaction expenses, the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results.
A reconciliation of Income from Operations to Adjusted Operating Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | | Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis | | Pro Forma Towers Watson (i) | | Pro Forma Willis Towers Watson |
| (in millions) |
Income from operations | $ | 1 |
| | $ | 27 |
| | 77 |
| | 104 |
|
Adjusted for certain items: | | | | | | | |
Amortization | 157 |
| | 23 |
| | 114 |
| | 137 |
|
Restructuring costs | 49 |
| | 24 |
| | — |
| | 24 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 36 |
| | 12 |
| | (10 | ) | | 2 |
|
Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 243 |
| | $ | 86 |
| | $ | 181 |
| | $ | 267 |
|
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis | | Pro Forma Towers Watson (i) | | Pro Forma Willis Towers Watson |
| (in millions) |
Income from operations | $ | 463 |
| | $ | 425 |
| | 207 |
| | $ | 632 |
|
Adjusted for certain items: | | | | | | | |
Amortization | 443 |
| | 53 |
| | 343 |
| | 396 |
|
Restructuring costs | 115 |
| | 93 |
| | — |
| | 93 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 117 |
| | 20 |
| | (13 | ) | | 7 |
|
Provision for the Stanford litigation | 50 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | 58 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Adjusted Operating Income | $ | 1,246 |
| | $ | 591 |
| | $ | 537 |
| | $ | 1,128 |
|
__________________________
| |
(i) | Includes pro forma adjustments made in the Supplementary Pro Forma Financial Information section in this Form 10-Q. |
Adjusted Operating Income for the third quarter of 2016 was $243 million, compared to pro forma $267 million for the third quarter of 2015. The decrease in Adjusted Operating Income for the third quarter of 2016 was driven by the performance of our Corporate Risk and Broking, and Investment, Risk and Reinsurance segments, due to revenue pressure.
Adjusted Operating Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.2 billion, compared to pro forma $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in Adjusted Operating Income for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily driven by our acquisition of Gras Savoye, the settlement with JLT of £28 million ($41 million) related to the Fine Arts and Jewellery team, and the performance of our ES segment.
Adjusted EBITDA
We consider Adjusted EBITDA to be an important financial measure, which is used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations, to benchmark our operating results against our competitors, and to evaluate and measure our performance based compensation plans.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net Income adjusted for provision for income taxes, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, restructuring costs, integration and transaction expenses, the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue, gain on disposal of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results.
A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and pro forma three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 is as follows: |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | | Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis | | Pro Forma Towers Watson (i) | | Pro Forma Willis Towers Watson |
| (in millions) |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME | $ | (31 | ) | | $ | 116 |
| | $ | 92 |
| | $ | 208 |
|
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | (26 | ) | | (112 | ) | | 35 |
| | (77 | ) |
Interest expense | 45 |
| | 35 |
| | 5 |
| | 40 |
|
Depreciation | 45 |
| | 25 |
| | 15 |
| | 40 |
|
Amortization | 157 |
| | 23 |
| | 114 |
| | 137 |
|
EBITDA | 190 |
| | 87 |
| | 261 |
| | 348 |
|
Restructuring costs | 49 |
| | 24 |
| | — |
| | 24 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 36 |
| | 12 |
| | (10 | ) | | 2 |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | — |
| | (14 | ) | | (55 | ) | | (69 | ) |
Venezuela currency devaluation | — |
| | 2 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 275 |
| | $ | 111 |
| | $ | 196 |
| | $ | 307 |
|
__________________________
| |
(i) | Includes pro forma adjustments made in the Supplementary Pro Forma Financial Information section in this Form 10-Q. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis | | Pro Forma Towers Watson (i) | | Pro Forma Willis Towers Watson |
| (in millions) |
NET INCOME | $ | 290 |
| | $ | 402 |
| | $ | 171 |
| | $ | 573 |
|
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes | 11 |
| | (37 | ) | | 77 |
| | 40 |
|
Interest expense | 138 |
| | 103 |
| | 16 |
| | 119 |
|
Depreciation | 132 |
| | 70 |
| | 50 |
| | 120 |
|
Amortization | 443 |
| | 53 |
| | 343 |
| | 396 |
|
EBITDA | 1,014 |
| | 591 |
| | 657 |
| | 1,248 |
|
Restructuring costs | 115 |
| | 93 |
| | — |
| | 93 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 117 |
| | 20 |
| | (13 | ) | | 7 |
|
Provision for the Stanford litigation | 50 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | 58 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | (2 | ) | | (25 | ) | | (55 | ) | | (80 | ) |
Venezuela currency devaluation | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 1,352 |
| | $ | 682 |
| | $ | 589 |
| | $ | 1,271 |
|
__________________________ | |
(i) | Includes pro forma adjustments made in the Supplementary Pro Forma Financial Information section in this Form 10-Q. |
Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2016 was $275 million, compared to pro forma $307 million for the third quarter of 2015. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2016 was primarily driven by the performance of our Corporate Risk and Broking, and Investment, Risk and Reinsurance segments, due to revenue pressure.
Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $1.4 billion, compared to pro forma $1.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily driven by our acquisition of Gras Savoye, the settlement with JLT of £28 million ($41 million) related to the Fine Arts and Jewellery team, and the performance of our ES segment. Due to seasonality quarter over quarter, we believe nine months is a more meaningful indicator of performance.
Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share
Adjusted Net Income is defined as Net Income Attributable to Willis Towers Watson adjusted for amortization, restructuring costs, integration and transaction expenses, the fair value adjustment of deferred revenue, gain on disposal of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results and the related tax effect of those adjustments. This measure is used solely for the purpose of calculating adjusted diluted earnings per share.
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share is used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating results against our competitors. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share is defined as Adjusted Net Income divided by the weighted average shares of common stock, diluted.
A reconciliation of net (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson to adjusted diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows: |
| | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis |
| (in millions, except per share amounts) |
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | (32 | ) | | $ | 117 |
|
Adjusted for certain items (i): | | | |
Amortization | 157 |
| | 23 |
|
Restructuring costs | 49 |
| | 24 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 36 |
| | 12 |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | — |
| | (14 | ) |
Venezuela currency devaluation | — |
| | 2 |
|
Deferred tax valuation allowance | — |
| | (110 | ) |
Tax effect on certain items listed above (iii) | (67 | ) | | (16 | ) |
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 143 |
| | $ | 38 |
|
| | | |
Weighted average shares of common stock — diluted (ii) | 138 |
| | 69 |
|
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (ii) | $ | (0.23 | ) | | $ | 1.70 |
|
Adjusted for certain items: | | | |
Amortization | 1.14 |
| | 0.33 |
|
Restructuring costs | 0.36 |
| | 0.35 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 0.26 |
| | 0.17 |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | — |
| | (0.20 | ) |
Venezuela currency devaluation | — |
| | 0.03 |
|
Deferred tax valuation allowance | — |
| | (1.59 | ) |
Tax effect on certain items listed above (iii) | (0.49 | ) | | (0.23 | ) |
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share | $ | 1.04 |
| | $ | 0.56 |
|
__________________________
| |
(i) | In the second quarter of 2016, Willis Towers Watson changed the manner in which adjusted items are presented in the reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income. This change resulted in adjusted items being presented on a pretax basis and the related tax impacts on adjusted items being aggregated into a separate line item. The adjusted items for prior periods presented were updated to conform to the current presentation. |
| |
(ii) | Shares of common stock and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2015 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
| |
(iii) | The tax effect was calculated using the statutory tax rate applicable to the item being adjusted for in the jurisdiction from which each adjustment arises. |
|
| | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis |
| (in millions, except per share amounts) |
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON | $ | 278 |
| | $ | 397 |
|
Adjusted for certain items (i): | | | |
Amortization | 443 |
| | 53 |
|
Restructuring costs | 115 |
| | 93 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 117 |
| | 20 |
|
Provision for the Stanford litigation | 50 |
| | — |
|
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | 58 |
| | — |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | (2 | ) | | (25 | ) |
Venezuela currency devaluation | — |
| | 3 |
|
Deferred tax valuation allowance | — |
| | (110 | ) |
Tax effect on certain items listed above (iii) | (221 | ) | | (42 | ) |
Adjusted Net Income | $ | 838 |
| | $ | 389 |
|
| | | |
Weighted average shares of common stock — diluted (ii) | 139 |
| | 69 |
|
Diluted earnings per share (ii) | $ | 2.00 |
| | $ | 5.75 |
|
Adjusted for certain items: | | | |
Amortization | 3.19 |
| | 0.77 |
|
Restructuring costs | 0.83 |
| | 1.35 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 0.84 |
| | 0.29 |
|
Provision for the Stanford litigation | 0.36 |
| | — |
|
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | 0.42 |
| | — |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | (0.02 | ) | | (0.36 | ) |
Venezuela currency devaluation | — |
| | 0.04 |
|
Deferred tax valuation allowance | — |
| | (1.59 | ) |
Tax effect on certain items listed above (iii) | (1.59 | ) | | (0.61 | ) |
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share | $ | 6.03 |
| | $ | 5.64 |
|
__________________________
| |
(i) | In the second quarter of 2016, Willis Towers Watson changed the manner in which adjusted items are presented in the reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income. This change resulted in adjusted items being presented on a pretax basis and the related tax impacts on adjusted items being aggregated into a separate line item. The adjusted items for prior periods presented were updated to conform to the current presentation. |
| |
(ii) | Shares of common stock and diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions for further details. |
| |
(iii) | The tax effect was calculated using the statutory tax rate applicable to the item being adjusted for in the jurisdiction from which each adjustment arises. |
Adjusted Income Before Taxes and Adjusted Income Taxes/Rate
Adjusted Income Before Taxes is defined as Income from continuing operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates adjusted for amortization, restructuring costs, integration and transaction expenses, the fair value adjustment of deferred revenue, gain on disposal of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results. Adjusted income before taxes is used solely for the purpose of calculating the adjusted income tax rate.
Adjusted Income Tax Rate is defined as Provision for income taxes adjusted for taxes on certain items of amortization, restructuring costs, integration and transaction expenses, the fair value adjustment of deferred revenue, gain on disposal of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results, divided by Adjusted income before taxes. Adjusted income taxes is used solely for the purpose of calculating the Adjusted income tax rate.
Management believes the Adjusted income tax rate presents a rate of tax that is more closely aligned to the rate we would incur if not for the reduction of pretax income of the adjusted items, which are not core to our current and future operations.
A reconciliation of income from continuing operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates to adjusted income and provision for income taxes to adjusted income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows: |
| | | | | | | |
| Three Months Ended September 30, 2016 | | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016 |
| (in millions, except tax rates) |
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | 299 |
|
Adjusted for certain items: | | | |
Amortization | 157 |
| | 443 |
|
Restructuring costs | 49 |
| | 115 |
|
Integration and transaction expenses | 36 |
| | 117 |
|
Provision for the Stanford litigation | — |
| | 50 |
|
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue | — |
| | 58 |
|
Gain on disposal of operations | — |
| | (2 | ) |
Adjusted income before taxes | $ | 184 |
| | $ | 1,080 |
|
| | | |
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes | $ | (26 | ) | | $ | 11 |
|
Tax effect on certain items listed above (i) | 67 |
| | 221 |
|
Adjusted income taxes | $ | 41 |
| | $ | 232 |
|
| | | |
GAAP tax rate (ii) | 45.9 | % | | 3.5 | % |
Adjusted income tax rate (ii) | 22.2 | % | | 21.4 | % |
__________________________ | |
(i) | The tax effect and effective tax rate was calculated using the statutory tax rate applicable to the item being adjusted for in the jurisdiction from which each adjustment arises. |
| |
(ii) | These effective tax rates are calculated using extended values from our condensed consolidated statement of operations or this reconciliation, and are therefore more precise tax rates than can be calculated from rounded values. |
Free Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow is used to evaluate our liquidity, and is defined as cash flows from operating activities less cash used to purchase fixed assets and software for internal use. Free Cash Flow is a liquidity measure and is not meant to represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.
A summary of our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, along with a reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities to Free Cash Flow is as follows:
|
| | | | | | | |
| Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2016 | | 2015 |
| Willis Towers Watson | | Legacy Willis |
| (in millions) |
Net cash from operating activities | $ | 608 |
| | $ | 113 |
|
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities | 283 |
| | (348 | ) |
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities | (646 | ) | | 94 |
|
| | | |
Net cash from operating activities | $ | 608 |
| | $ | 113 |
|
Less: Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use | (151 | ) | | (100 | ) |
Free Cash Flow | $ | 457 |
| | $ | 13 |
|
Free cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was $457 million, compared to free cash flow of $13 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The $495 million increase in cash from operations in the first nine months of 2016 compared to the first nine months of 2015 was the primary driver for the increase in free cash flow period-over-period, and was primarily due to cash from operations from Legacy Towers Watson and Gras Savoye.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The accounting estimates or assumptions that management considers to be the most important to the presentation of our financial condition or operating performance are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Management has identified the following additional information as critical to understanding our estimates recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, primarily related to our Merger with Towers Watson.
Pension Assumptions
On January 4, 2016, in connection with our Merger with Towers Watson, we acquired additional defined benefit and post-retirement welfare plans (‘PRW’). We acquired total plan assets of approximately $3.7 billion and projected benefit obligations of approximately $4.6 billion. The funded status for each of the acquired plans has been included in the preliminary values of identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed as disclosed in Note 3 — Merger and Acquisitions, and represents $67 million of pension assets recorded in pension benefit assets and $914 million of pension liabilities recorded in pension and postretirement liabilities.
Significant plans acquired are described below:
United States
Legacy Towers Watson U.S. defined benefit pension plan – Employees hired prior to December 31, 2010 earned benefits under their legacy plan formulas, which were frozen on December 31, 2011. Beginning January 1, 2012, all Legacy Towers Watson employees, including named executive officers, accrue qualified and non-qualified benefits under a new stable value pension design.
United Kingdom
Legacy Towers Watson U.K. defined benefit pension plan – Benefit accruals earned under a Legacy Watson Wyatt defined benefit plan (predominantly pension benefits) ceased on February 28, 2015, although benefits earned prior to January 1, 2008 retain a link to salary until the employee leaves the Company. Benefit accruals earned under a Legacy Towers Perrin defined benefit plan (predominantly lump sum benefits) were frozen on March 31, 2008. All employees now accrue defined contribution benefits.
Other
In addition to the Legacy Towers Watson U.S. and U.K. defined benefit pension plans, we acquired smaller defined benefit pension plans in Canada, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Post-retirement Welfare Plan
Legacy Towers Watson Post-retirement Benefits – We provide certain health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees. The principal plans cover colleagues in the U.S. and Canada who have met certain eligibility requirements. Our principal post-retirement benefit plans are primarily unfunded. Retiree medical benefits provided under our U.S. post-retirement benefit plans were closed to new hires effective January 1, 2011. Life insurance benefits under the plans were frozen with respect to service, eligibility and amounts as of January 1, 2012 for active employees.
The determination of the Company’s obligations and annual expense under the plans is based on a number of assumptions that, given the longevity of the plans, are long-term in focus. A change in one or a combination of these assumptions could have a material impact on our pension benefit obligation (‘PBO’) and related cost. Any difference between actual and assumed results is amortized into pension cost over the average remaining service period of participating colleagues. Willis Towers Watson considers several factors prior to the start of each fiscal year when determining the appropriate annual assumptions, including economic forecasts, relevant benchmarks, historical trends, portfolio composition and peer company comparisons.
Funding is based on actuarially determined contributions and is limited to amounts that are currently deductible for tax purposes. Since funding calculations are based on different measurements than those used for accounting purposes, pension contributions are not equal to net periodic pension cost.
The assumptions used to determine PBO as of January 4, 2016 and net periodic benefit cost or income for the Legacy Towers Watson Plans for the period from January 5, 2016 through December 31, 2016 are as follows: |
| | | | | | | |
| U.S. | | U.K. | | Other | | PRW |
Discount rate - PBO | 4.23% | | 3.72% | | 3.32% | | 4.20% |
Discount rate - service cost | 4.06% | | N/A | | 3.58% | | 4.12% |
Discount rate - interest cost on PBO | 3.55% | | 3.43% | | 3.03% | | 3.30% |
Discount rate - interest cost on service cost | 3.24% | | N/A | | 3.30% | | 3.53% |
Expected long-term return on plan assets | 7.75% | | 5.25% | | 6.19% | | 2.00% |
Rate of compensation increase | 4.25% | | 3.00% | | 2.23% | | N/A |
The Legacy Towers Watson discount rates related to its PBO and costs were selected using spot rates along a high quality corporate bond yield curve from the respective countries for the same periods.
The expected rates of return assumptions for all plans were supported by an analysis of the weighted-average yield expected to be achieved with the anticipated makeup of investments.
Economic factors and conditions often affect multiple assumptions simultaneously and the effects of changes in key assumptions are not necessarily linear.
The differences in the discount rate and compensation level assumption used for various plans detailed above is attributed to the differing interest rate environments associated with the currencies and economies to which the plans are subject. The differences in the expected return on assets are primarily driven by the respective asset allocation in each plan, coupled with the return expectations for assets in the respective currencies.
Please see our critical accounting policies in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for information related to the Legacy Willis pension plans.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
In applying the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations, amounts assigned to identifiable assets and liabilities acquired were based on estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition, with the remainder recorded as goodwill. Intangible assets are initially valued at fair value using generally accepted valuation methods appropriate for the type of intangible asset. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment if indicators of impairment arise. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually as of October 1, and whenever indicators of impairment exist. The fair value of the intangible assets is compared with their carrying value and an impairment loss would be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of October 1, and whenever indicators of impairment exist. Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, and the Company had seven reporting units effective from our segment reorganization during the second quarter of 2016. See Note 4 — Segment Information for additional information.
Due to the segment reorganization, in addition to our standard quarterly evaluation, we evaluated the reporting units for indicators of impairment through September 30, 2016 and have not identified indicators of possible impairment. We will complete our annual impairment test as of October 1, 2016.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Information regarding new accounting standards and their impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements is set forth in Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies of this Form 10-Q.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We have considered changes in our exposure to market risks during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, including additional exposures to market risks as a consequence of the Merger, and we have determined that there have been no material changes to our exposure to market risks from those described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC on February 29, 2016.
Given the significant change in foreign exchange rates during 2016 caused by the U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union, we are providing certain updated information with regard to our foreign exchange risk as of September 30, 2016:
Foreign Exchange Risk
Because of the large number of countries and currencies we operate in, movements in currency exchange rates may affect our results.
We report our operating results and financial condition in U.S. dollars. Our U.S. operations earn revenue and incur expenses primarily in U.S. dollars. Outside the United States, we predominantly generate revenues and expenses in the local currency with the exception of our London market operations which earn revenues in several currencies but incur expenses predominantly in Pounds sterling.
The table below gives our revenues and expenses by currency for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. |
| | | | | | | |
| U.S. dollars | | Pounds sterling | | Euros | | Other currencies |
Revenues | 56% | | 14% | | 14% | | 16% |
Expenses (i) | 48% | | 20% | | 13% | | 19% |
______________________ | |
(i) | These percentages exclude certain expenses for significant items which will not be settled in cash, or which we believe to be items that are not core to our current or future operations. These items include Merger-related amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, and integration and transaction expenses. |
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of September 30, 2016, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that the information required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The scope of management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2016 includes all of the Company’s consolidated operations except for those disclosure controls and procedures of Gras Savoye that are subsumed by internal control over financial reporting. The Company acquired Gras Savoye on December 29, 2015. Gras Savoye is included in our 2015 consolidated financial statements and represented approximately 10% of our total assets as of December 31, 2015 and 0% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2015.
There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Acquisitions
We excluded Gras Savoye and Miller operations from the scope of our annual assessment of internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2015 in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission guidance. These operations will be included in our annual assessment for the year ending December 31, 2016.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
Management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will necessarily prevent all errors and all fraud. However, management does expect that the control system provides reasonable assurance that its objectives will be met. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. In addition, the design of such internal controls must take into account the costs of designing and maintaining such a control system. Certain inherent limitations exist in control systems to make absolute assurances difficult, including the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake, and that individuals can circumvent controls. The design of any control system is based in part upon existing business conditions and risk assessments. There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in business conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures. As a result, they may require change or revision. Because of the inherent limitations in a control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and may not be detected. Nevertheless, the disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their stated objectives, and the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are a party to various lawsuits, arbitrations or mediations that arise in the ordinary course of business. The disclosure called for by Part II, Item 1, regarding our legal proceedings is incorporated by reference herein from Note 12 — Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings of the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Except as described below, there are no material changes from risk factors as previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016. We urge you to read the risk factors contained in our Annual Report.
The vote in the United Kingdom to leave the European Union could adversely affect us.
On an annual basis, approximately 20% of our revenue is generated in the U.K., although only about 12% of revenues are denominated in Pounds sterling as much of the insurance business is transacted in U.S. dollars. Approximately 20% of our expenses are denominated in Pounds sterling. In a referendum held in June 2016, a majority of voters in the U.K. voted in favor of the U.K. leaving the E.U. At this time, we are not able to predict the impact that the result of this vote will have on the economy; economic, regulatory and political stability; and market conditions in Europe, including in the U.K., or on Pounds sterling, Euro or other European currencies, but any such impacts and others we cannot currently anticipate could materially adversely affect us and our operations. Among other things, we could experience: lower growth in the region due to indecision as businesses hold off on generating new projects or due to adverse market conditions; and reduced reported revenues and earnings because foreign currencies may translate into fewer U.S. dollars due to the fact that we translate revenue denominated in non-U.S. currency such as Pounds sterling into U.S. dollars for our financial statements. In addition, there can be no assurance that our hedging strategies will be effective.
It is expected that the British government will begin negotiating the terms of the U.K.'s future relationship with the E.U. over the next two years. Although it is unknown and we cannot anticipate what those terms will be, they may result in greater restrictions on business between the U.K. and E.U. countries and increased regulatory complexities. There is also uncertainty regarding how the U.K.'s access to the E.U. Single Market and the wider trading, legal, regulatory, tax and labor environments, especially in the U.K. and E.U., will be impacted, including the resulting impact on our business and that of our clients. Any such changes may adversely affect our operations and financial results. For example, any changes to the passporting or other regulations relating to doing business in various E.U. countries by relying on a regulatory permission in the U.K. (or doing business in the U.K. by relying on a regulatory permission in an E.U. country) could increase our costs of doing business, or our ability to do so. As another example, changes in labor laws may impact the ability to hire and retain non-U.K. staff in the U.K. or U.K. staff in the E.U. In addition, the outcome of the referendum has created uncertainty with regard to the regulation of data protection in the U.K. Among other things, it is unclear whether the U.K. will enact legislation similar to the pending European General Data Protection Regulation post-Brexit, and how data transfers to and from the U.K. will be regulated. A change in such regulations, or other regulations, could increase our costs of doing business, or in some cases our ability to do business, and materially adversely impact our operations and financial results.
Data security breaches or improper disclosure of confidential company or personal data could result in material financial loss, loss of human capital, regulatory actions, reputational harm or legal liability.
We depend on information technology networks and systems to process, transmit and store electronic information and to communicate among our locations around the world and with our alliance partners and clients. Additionally, one of our significant responsibilities is to maintain the security and privacy of our clients’ confidential and proprietary information and the personal data of their customers and/or employees. Our information systems, and those of our third-party service providers and vendors, are vulnerable to an increasing threat of continually evolving cybersecurity risks. Computer viruses, hackers and other external hazards, as well as improper or inadvertent staff behavior, could expose confidential company and personal data systems and information to security breaches.
With respect to our commercial arrangements with third-party vendors, we have processes designed to require third-party IT outsourcing, offsite storage and other vendors to agree to maintain certain standards with respect to the storage, protection and transfer of confidential, personal and proprietary information. However, we remain at risk of a data breach due to the intentional or unintentional non-compliance by a vendor’s employee or agent, the breakdown of a vendor’s data protection processes, or a cyber-attack on a vendor’s information systems.
Unauthorized parties may attempt to gain access to our information technology networks and systems or our information through fraud or other means of deceiving our colleagues, third-party service providers or vendors. The methods used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service or sabotage systems are also constantly changing and evolving; continue to become more advanced and complex; and may be difficult to anticipate or detect. We have implemented and regularly review and update processes and procedures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of secured data and to prevent data loss. However, the ever-evolving threats mean we and our third-party service providers and vendors must continually evaluate and adapt our respective systems and processes, and there is no guarantee that they will be adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches or misuses of data. Any future significant compromise or breach of our data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of client, colleague, supplier or Company data, could result in additional significant costs, lost revenue opportunities, fines, lawsuits, and damage to our reputation.
We are subject to numerous U.S. and foreign jurisdiction laws and regulations designed to protect this information, such as the European Union Directive on Data Protection and various U.S. federal and state laws governing the protection of health or other individually identifiable information. Laws and regulations in this area are evolving and generally becoming more stringent. Further, a U.K. exit from the E.U. will increase uncertainty regarding applicable laws and regulations pending more clarity on the terms of that exit. If any person, including any of our colleagues, fails to comply with, disregards or intentionally breaches our established controls with respect to such data or otherwise mismanages or misappropriates that data, we could be subject to monetary damages, fines or criminal prosecution. Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client or employee data, whether through systems failure, accident, employee negligence, fraud or misappropriation, could damage our reputation and cause us to lose clients. Similarly, unauthorized access to or through our information systems or those we develop for our clients, whether by our colleagues or third parties, could result in significant additional expenses (including expenses relating to notification of data security breaches and costs of credit monitoring services), negative publicity, legal liability and damage to our reputation, as well as require substantial resources and effort of management, thereby diverting management’s focus and resources from business operations.
We have experienced a number of data incidents, resulting from human error as well as attempts at unauthorized access to our systems, none of which to our knowledge have been material to our business or our clients. We maintain policies, procedures and technological safeguards designed to protect the security and privacy of this information. However, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of data security breaches, improper access to or disclosure of confidential company or personally identifiable information. Our technology may fail to adequately secure the private information we hold and protect it from theft, computer viruses, hackers or inadvertent loss. In such circumstances, we may be held liable to our clients, which could result in legal liability or impairment to our reputation resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue. Further, data privacy, information security, identity theft, and related computer and internet issues are matters of growing public concern and are subject to frequently changing rules and regulations. Our failure to adhere to or successfully implement processes in response to changing customer expectations and legal or regulatory requirements in this area, including changing legal or regulatory requirements that may be developed or revised due to the vote in the U.K. to leave the E.U., could result in legal liability or impairment to our reputation or business.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
(c) Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company is authorized to repurchase shares, by way of redemption, and will consider whether to do so from time to time, based on many factors, including market conditions.
The following table presents specified information about the Company’s repurchases of ordinary shares in the third quarter and the Company’s repurchase authority. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | Total number of shares purchased | | Average price paid per share | | Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | | Maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (i) |
July 1, 2016 through July 31, 2016 | 435,587 |
| | $ | 123.84 |
| | 435,587 |
| | $ | 3,361,581 |
|
August 1, 2016 through August 31, 2016 | 467,525 |
| | $ | 122.48 |
| | 467,525 |
| | $ | 2,894,056 |
|
September 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016 | 585,608 |
| | $ | 125.51 |
| | 585,608 |
| | $ | 2,308,448 |
|
| 1,488,720 |
| | $ | 124.07 |
| | 1,488,720 |
| | $ | 2,308,448 |
|
____________________
| |
(i) | The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the existing stock repurchase plan is 2,308,448. At September 30, 2016, approximately $306 million remains on the current open-ended repurchase authority. An estimate of the maximum number of shares under the existing authority was determined using the closing price of our Ordinary Shares on September 30, 2016 of $132.77. |
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
Set forth below is a description of a matter reported pursuant to Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (‘ITRA’) and Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act. Concurrently with this quarterly report, we are filing a notice pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act that the matter has been disclosed in this quarterly report.
Since January 1, 2015, Gras Savoye, a non-U.S. affiliate of Willis Towers Watson, has acted as the broker for the Iranian Embassy in Paris, placing health insurance with a local insurance company for the diplomatic staff and handling the related claims administration. The policy renewed automatically on January 1, 2016 for another year. Premium payments are made quarterly, and a premium payment of €57,943 was received by Gras Savoye on September 20, 2016. Gras Savoye will retain a commission of €9,850 from this payment. Health benefits of approximately €44,310 were paid to beneficiaries during the third quarter of 2016. It is anticipated that Gras Savoye will continue these activities to the extent permitted under applicable law for the remainder of 2016.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
| | |
Exhibit Number | | Description of Exhibit |
10.1 | | Willis Towers Watson Non-Qualified Deferred Savings Plan for U.S. Employees (as amended and restated effective January 1, 2017)†* |
10.2 | | Form of Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement for Operating Committee Members under the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan†* |
31.1 | | Certification of the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer, John J. Haley, pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.* |
31.2 | | Certification of the Registrant’s Chief Financial Officer, Roger F. Millay, pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.* |
32.1 | | Certification of the Registrant’s Chief Executive Officer, John J. Haley, and Chief Financial Officer, Roger F. Millay, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
_________________________
* Filed or furnished herewith.
† Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
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 thereunto duly authorized.
|
| | | | |
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company | | |
(Registrant) | | |
| | |
/s/ John J. Haley | | November 7, 2016 |
Name: | | John J. Haley | | Date |
Title: | | Chief Executive Officer | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Roger F. Millay | | November 7, 2016 |
Name: | | Roger F. Millay | | Date |
Title: | | Chief Financial Officer | | |
| | | | |
/s/ Susan D. Davies | | November 7, 2016 |
Name: | | Susan D. Davies | | Date |
Title: | | Principal Accounting Officer and Controller | | |
Exhibit
Exhibit 10.1
Willis Towers Watson Non-Qualified Deferred Savings Plan for U.S. Employees
(as amended and restated effective January 1, 2017)
1.ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN. THE PLAN WAS ORIGINALLY ADOPTED AND ESTABLISHED AS AN UNFUNDED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR A SELECT GROUP OF KEY MANAGEMENT OR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES OF TOWERS WATSON DELAWARE INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION (THE “TOWERS WATSON DELAWARE”) AND ITS PREDECESSORS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS PLC, AN IRISH PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (“WILLIS” OR “COMPANY”), AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TOWERS WATSON & CO., A DELAWARE CORPORATION (“TOWERS WATSON”) AND THE PARENT OF TOWERS WATSON DELAWARE, ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (THE “MERGER AGREEMENT”) DATED JUNE 29, 2015, PROVIDING FOR THE COMBINATION OF WILLIS AND TOWERS WATSON, WITH WILLIS AS THE SURVIVNG COMPANY (THE “MERGER”). ON JANUARY 4, 2016 THE MERGER WAS COMPLETED (THE “MERGER EFFECTIVE DATE”). FURTHER, UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE MERGER, WILLIS CHANGED ITS NAME TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC. IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER AND RELATED RANAMING OF WILLIS AND OTHER SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN, THE PLAN WAS AMENDED AND RESTATED IN ITS ENTIRETY AS THE TOWERS WATSON AMENDED AND RESTATED NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED SAVINGS PLAN AND WAS ASSUMED BY WILLIS AS OF THE MERGER EFFECTIVE DATE. THE PLAN IS HEREBY AMENDED AND RESTATED IN ITS ENTIRETY EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2017 (THE “EFFECTIVE DATE”).
2.PURPOSE OF PLAN. THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN IS TO PROVIDE A SELECT GROUP OF MANAGEMENT OR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTIONS 201(2), 301(A)(3), AND 401(A)(1) OF ERISA) OF THE COMPANY WHO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE FUTURE BUSINESS SUCCESS OF THE COMPANY WITH “TOP-HAT” SUPPLEMENTAL AND DEFERRED COMPENSATION BENEFITS THROUGH THE DEFERRAL OF ELIGIBLE COMPENSATION, ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY COMPANY MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS AND DISCRETIONARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND, FOR CERTAIN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES, THROUGH ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY EXCESS PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTIONS AND AUTOMATIC DEFERRALS OF SECTION 162(M) CONTRIBUTIONS.
3.Definitions.
Section 3.01“Acceleration Events” has the meaning set forth in Section 10 hereof.
Section 3.02 “Account” means a hypothetical bookkeeping account(s) established in the name of each Participant and maintained by the Company to reflect the Participant’s interests under the Plan.
Section 3.03 “Affiliate” means any corporation, trade, or business which is treated as a single employer with the Company under Code Sections 414(b) or 414(c) and any other entity designated by the Committee as an “Affiliate” for purposes of the Plan.
Section 3.04“Applicable Employee Remuneration” means “applicable employee remuneration” as defined in Code Section 162(m)(4).
Section 3.05“Base Salary” means the annual rate of base pay paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Participant for services rendered, including, as applicable, commissions, overtime, bonuses paid to a Participant who passes an actuarial exam, and bonuses paid in lieu of a raise, provided that such amounts are paid on substantially the same terms as base pay.
Section 3.06“Beneficiary” means any person or entity, designated in accordance, with Section 14.6, entitled to receive benefits that are payable upon or after a Participant’s death pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
Section 3.07“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.
Section 3.08“Bonus Compensation” means compensation earned by a Participant for services rendered by a Participant under any bonus or cash incentive plan maintained by the Company relating to a service period of one year or less, which would be included as compensation under the Savings Plan, without regard to the limit under Code Section 401(a)(17).
Section 3.09“Claimant” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.01.
Section 3.10“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute, and the Treasury Regulations and other authoritative guidance issued thereunder.
Section 3.11“Committee” means the committee of members of the Board (or any successor thereto), provided that with respect to the participation of any employee who is not an executive officer (as defined under Rule 3b-7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the Company, “Committee” shall in addition mean the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, who shall have such authority with respect to any or all of the Ordinary Shares issuable under the Company’s equity compensation programs. With respect to matters not required by either Companies Act of 1963 of Ireland or by the corporate governance standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market, to be determined by the committee of members of the Board that administers the Company’s equity compensation programs, the Committee hereby delegates its authority to the Towers Watson U.S. Benefit Plans Administration Committee (or any successor thereto or other committee that is appointed to administer the Plan), which will serve as plan administrator and have all the authority of the Committee with respect to such matters.
Section 3.12“Company” means Willis Towers Watson plc, formerly Willis Group Holdings plc, a company incorporated in Ireland under registered number 475616, or any successor thereto and any Affiliate designated by the Committee as a sponsor of the Plan. Effective as of the Merger Effective Date, sponsorship of the Plan was transferred from Towers Watson Delaware to the Willis Tower Watson plc in connection with the Merger, and effective January 1, 2015, sponsorship of the Plan was transferred from Towers Watson Pennsylvania Inc. to Towers Watson Delaware as a result of the merger of Towers Watson Pennsylvania Inc. into Towers Watson Delaware Inc. All references herein to the “Company” for periods between January 1, 2015 and immediately prior to the Merger Effective Date shall mean Towers Watson Delaware and its Affiliates and for periods before January 1, 2015, shall mean Towers Watson Pennsylvania Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation, and its Affiliates.
Section 3.13“Deferral Election” means an election by an Eligible Employee to defer Eligible Compensation. Any election shall be irrevocable and, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, shall carry over from Plan Year to Plan Year unless changed or revoked during the applicable Election Period.
Section 3.14 “Disability” means that the Participant is determined to be disabled in accordance with the Company’s long-term disability plan.
Section 3.15“Discretionary Contribution” means the amount the Company contributes to the Plan on behalf of any Participant pursuant to Section 6.
Section 3.16“Discretionary Contribution Account” means a separate account maintained for each Eligible Employee to whom a Discretionary Contribution is credited to record the Discretionary Contributions made to the plan pursuant to Section 6.03 and all earnings and losses allocable thereto.
Section 3.17“Dividend Equivalent Rights,” or “DERs,” shall have the meaning set forth in the EIP.
Section 3.18“EIP” means the Willis Towers Watson PLC 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated from time to time, or in the event of a merger, consolidation, or other corporate transaction, the successor to such plan.
Section 3.19“Election Notice” means the notice or notices established from time to time by the Committee for making Deferral Elections under the Plan. The Election Notice includes the amount or percentage of Eligible Compensation to be deferred (subject to any minimum or maximum amounts established by the Committee). Each Election Notice shall become irrevocable as of the last day of the Election Period.
Section 3.20“Election Period” means the period established by the Committee with respect to each Plan Year during which Deferral Elections for such Plan Year must be made in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, as follows:
(a)General Rule. Except as provided in (b) below, the Election Period shall end no later than the last day of the Plan Year immediately preceding the Plan Year in which the services will be rendered to which the Eligible Compensation subject to the Deferral Election relates.
(b)Performance-Based Compensation. If any Bonus Compensation constitutes “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(e), then the Election Period for such amounts shall end no later than six months before the end of the performance period for which the Bonus Compensation is earned (and in no event later than the date on which the amount of the Bonus Compensation becomes readily ascertainable). For the avoidance of doubt, an Employee must be employed by the Company as an Eligible Employee and must have established performance goals in writing, in each case by March 30 of the applicable performance period beginning on January 1, in order to make an election to defer “performance-based compensation” under this subsection (b).
Section 3.21“Elective Deferrals” means deferrals at the election of an Eligible Employee of Eligible Compensation.
Section 3.22“Elective Deferral Account” means a separate account maintained for each Participant to record the Elective Deferrals made to the Plan pursuant to Section 5 and all earnings and losses allocable thereto.
Section 3.23“Eligible Compensation” means the amount of an Eligible Employee’s Base Salary plus Bonus Compensation (or, during the 2017 Plan Year only, for a “legacy Willis” employee, as determined by the Company in its discretion, such Eligible Employee’s Base Salary only) that exceeds the limit under Code Section 401(a)(17) for the applicable Plan Year. In the event that, as of the last day of the Election Period, (i) there is less than six months before the end of the performance period for which Bonus Compensation is earned or (ii) the amount of Bonus Compensation has become readily ascertainable, Eligible Compensation means the amount of an Eligible Employee’s Base Salary only that, when added to the Eligible Employee’s Bonus Compensation paid during the applicable Plan Year, has exceeded the Code Section 401(a)(17) limit for the applicable Plan Year. Eligible Compensation shall not include any commissions and certain bonuses earned for producing, placing, or servicing business paid to the Eligible Employee once the Eligible Employee’s Base Salary (plus Bonus Compensation, to the extent applicable) has exceeded the Code Section 401(a)(17) limit for the applicable Plan Year.
Section 3.24“Eligible Employee” means, unless determined otherwise by the Company in its discretion, an Employee who (a) (i) is an associate at or above Level 50 for the 2017 Plan Year or Willis Towers Watson Level 38 (or the equivalent of a Level 50) for 2018 and later Plan Years, in either case as determined by the Company or (ii) for the 2017 Plan Year only, is a “legacy Willis” employee, as determined by the Company in its discretion; and (b) has Eligible Compensation for the applicable Plan Year; provided that certain employees who are producers with unique compensation arrangements, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company in its sole discretion, shall be excluded from the definition of Eligible Employee. Participation in the Plan is limited to a select group of the Company’s key management or highly compensated employees.
Section 3.25“Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee” means, unless determined otherwise by the Company in its discretion, an Eligible Employee who is eligible for a profit sharing contribution under the Savings Plan.
Section 3.26“Employee” means a U.S. employee of the Company or any Affiliate who is eligible to participate in the Savings Plan.
Section 3.27“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
Section 3.28“Excess Profit Sharing Contribution” means the amount the Company contributes to the Plan on behalf of any Exchange Solutions Participant pursuant to Section 6.02.
Section 3.29“Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account” means a separate account maintained for each Exchange Solutions Participant to record the Excess Profit Sharing Contributions made to the Plan pursuant to Section 6.02, plus all earnings and losses allocable thereto.
Section 3.30“Exchange Solutions Participant” means an Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee who receives an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution into his or her Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account for a Plan Year in accordance with Section 6.02 and any former Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee who continues to be entitled to a benefit under the Plan.
Section 3.31“FICA Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.
Section 3.32“Insider” means any officer or director of the Company who is an “insider” for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or such other officer or director of the Company that is designated by the Committee as an “Insider” for purposes of the Plan.
Section 3.33“Matching Contribution” means the amount the Company contributes to the Plan on behalf of any Participant pursuant to Section 6.
Section 3.34“Matching Contribution Account” means a separate account maintained for each Participant to record the Matching Contributions made to the Plan pursuant to Section 6.01, plus all earnings and losses allocable thereto.
Section 3.35“Ordinary Shares” or “Share” means the ordinary shares of the Company, with a nominal value of $0.000304635.
Section 3.36“Participant” means an Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan by filing an Election Notice in accordance with Section 5.01 and any former Eligible Employee who continues to be entitled to a benefit under the Plan. The term “Participant” shall also include an “Exchange Solutions Participant” and “Section 162(m) Participant” solely for purposes of the general provisions of the Plan as set forth in:
Section 7 Accounts and Investments
Section 9 Distribution of Participant Accounts
Section 10 Permissible Acceleration Events
Section 11 Code Section 162(m)
Section 12 Plan Administration
Section 13 Amendment and Termination
Section 14 Miscellaneous
Section 15 Claims Procedures
Section 3.37“Payment Date” means the first business day of the month on which the NASDAQ Stock Market is open for business following a Payment Event.
Section 3.38“Payment Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.01.
Section 3.39“Plan” means this Willis Towers Watson Non-Qualified Deferred Savings Plan for U.S. Employees, and as assumed by Willis Towers Watson plc as of the Merger Effective Date and as amended from time to time.
Section 3.40“Plan Year” means the twelve -consecutive -month period which begins on January 1 and ends on the following December 31.
Section 3.41“RSUs” means restricted share units granted pursuant to Section 10 of the EIP.
Section 3.42“Savings Plan” means the Towers Watson Savings Plan for U.S. Employees, as amended from time to time.
Section 3.43“Section 162(m) Account” means a hypothetical bookkeeping account established in the name of a Section 162(m) Participant and maintained by the Company to reflect the Section 162(m) Contributions and interest allocable thereto.
Section 3.44“Section 162(m) Contributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04 hereof.
Section 3.45“Section 162(m) Cash Contributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04 hereof.
Section 3.46“Section 162(m) Equity Contributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04 hereof.
Section 3.47“Section 162(m) Participant” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the other three highest compensated officers of the Company determined in accordance with Code Section 162(m) (other than the chief financial officer), to the extent such Chief Executive Officer and/or additional highest compensated officers were employees of Towers Watson or its subsidiaries prior to the Merger Effective Date.
Section 3.48“Separation from Service” has the meaning set forth in Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h).
Section 3.49“State, Local, and Foreign Tax Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.
Section 3.50“Valuation Date” means each day of the Plan Year on which the NASDAQ Stock Market is open for business.
Section 3.51“Year of Service” means each year of service as determined under the Savings Plan.
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4. | Eligibility; Participation. |
Section 4.01Requirements for Participation. Any Eligible Employee may participate in the Plan commencing as of the first day of the Plan Year.
Section 4.02Election to Participate; Benefits of Participation. An Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan by making a Deferral Election in accordance with Section 5. An Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan by making a Deferral Election is eligible to receive Matching Contributions in accordance with Section 6.
Section 4.03Cessation of Participation. If a Participant ceases to be an Eligible Employee during a Plan Year, then the Participant’s Deferral Elections shall no longer be effective as of the end of the Plan Year.
Section 4.04Participation for Exchange Solutions Participants. Any Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee participates in the Plan for purposes of the Excess Profit Sharing Contribution when he or she receives an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution into his or her Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account, without the need for an election to participate in the Plan. An Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee who ceases to be an Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee during the Plan Year shall not be eligible to receive an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution for that Plan Year.
Section 5.01Deferral Election. An Eligible Employee may elect to defer Eligible Compensation as designated by the Committee by completing an Election Notice and submitting it in accordance with Plan procedures during the Election Period. The Election Notice must specify the amount or percentage of Eligible Compensation to be deferred (subject to any minimum and maximum amounts as set forth in Section 5.02).
Section 5.02Elective Deferrals. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, a Participant may elect to defer receipt of up to six percent (6%) of Eligible Compensation. Participant deferrals for any Plan Year must be made in accordance with Deferral Election procedures as set forth in this Section 5. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, Eligible Compensation deferrals shall be credited to a Participant’s Elective Deferral Account at
substantially the same time that elective deferrals and Company matching contributions with respect to the same payroll period are contributed to the Savings Plan.
Section 6.01Company Matching Contributions. Each Plan Year the Company may, but need not, make a Matching Contribution to the Plan on behalf of any Participant. The Matching Contribution may be expressed as a percentage of the Participant’s Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, or Eligible Compensation deferral as determined by the Committee. As of January 1, 2017, the Matching Contribution for a Plan Year shall be an amount equal to (a) one hundred percent (100%) of the Participant’s Elective Deferrals for such Plan Year for the first one percent (1%) of the Participant’s Eligible Compensation that the Participant defers; and (b) fifty percent (50%) of the Participant’s Elective Deferrals in excess of one percent (1%) and not more than six percent (6%) of the Participant’s Eligible Compensation that the Participant defers. The amount of Matching Contributions to be made to the Plan on behalf of any Participant for a Plan Year may be determined or modified by the Committee in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, any Matching Contribution shall be credited to the Participant’s Matching Contribution Account as of the business day that the corresponding Elective Deferrals are credited to the Participant’s Account. The Company is under no obligation to make a Matching Contribution for a Plan Year. Matching Contributions need not be uniform among Participants.
Section 6.02Excess Profit Sharing Contributions. Each Plan Year the Company may, but need not, make an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution to the Plan on behalf of any Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee. The Excess Profit Sharing Contribution may be expressed as a percentage of Eligible Compensation or the ratio of Eligible Compensation of an Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee to the total Eligible Compensation of all Eligible Exchange Solutions Employees eligible for an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution for the Plan Year, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. The amount of the Excess Profit Sharing Contribution to be made to the Plan on behalf of any Eligible Exchange Solutions Employee for a Plan Year may be determined or modified by the Committee in its sole discretion. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee, any Excess Profit Sharing Contribution shall be credited to the Exchange Solutions Participant’s Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account as of the business day that the Exchange Solutions Participant receives a discretionary contribution under the Savings Plan. The Company is under no obligation to make an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution for a Plan Year.
Section 6.03Discretionary Contributions. Each Plan Year, the Company may, but need not, make additional Discretionary Contributions to the Plan on behalf of any Eligible Employee for such Plan Year. The amount of Discretionary Contributions to be made to the Plan on behalf of any Eligible Employee for a Plan Year may be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion (or, with respect to an Insider, the Committee, in its sole discretion), and the Company is under no obligation to make a Discretionary Contribution for a Plan Year. The Discretionary Contribution shall be credited to the Eligible Employee’s Discretionary Contribution Account as of the business day that the Company determines the amount of such Discretionary Contribution. Discretionary Contributions need not be uniform among Eligible Employees.
Section 6.04Section 162(m) Contributions. If a Section 162(m) Participant’s Applicable Employee Remuneration exceeds $1,000,000 for a fiscal year, the amount in excess of $1,000,000 will be deferred under the Plan. Amounts deferred under this Section 6.4 shall be referred to as the “Section 162(m) Contributions.” The provisions of this Plan regarding the requirements to defer amounts pursuant to this Section 6.04 specifically override any contrary provision in any plan, program, arrangement, or agreement of the Company that would require or permit an earlier payment of the Section 162(m) Contributions. The Section 162(m) Contributions for a Section 162(m) Participant during a fiscal year shall be determined pursuant to this Section 6.04, but the Section 162(m) Contributions shall be first taken from the Applicable Employee Remuneration that consists of equity or equity-based compensation (“Section 162(m) Equity Contributions”) and thereafter from base salary that would be otherwise payable to the Section 162(m) Participant (“Section 162(m) Cash Contributions”), and the Committee shall determine any additional items of compensation from which such Section 162(m) Contributions shall be taken. The Section 162(m) Contributions shall be credited to the Section 162(m) Participant’s Section 162(m) Account at the time the Section 162(m) Contributions would have been paid to the Section 162(m) Participant if no deferral were made.
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7. | Accounts and Investments. |
Section 7.01Establishment of Accounts. The Company shall establish and maintain an Account for each Participant. The Company may establish more than one Account on behalf of any Participant as deemed necessary by the Committee for administrative purposes.
Section 7.02Investments. Each Account (other than the Section 162(m) Cash Contributions in a Section 162(m) Account) shall be deemed invested in Ordinary Shares as of the last day of the calendar quarter (ending in March, June, September and December, respectively) in which such deferral or contribution is credited to the Account, or as soon as practicable thereafter. For the period between the time the deferral is credited to the Account and the time the deferral is deemed to be invested in Ordinary Shares, the deferral shall, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, be credited with interest determined based on the prime rate of interest determined as of the first business day of the applicable calendar year. In the event of changes in the outstanding Ordinary Shares or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any share or extraordinary cash dividend, share split, reverse share split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization, the Ordinary Shares credited to each Participant’s Account will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price, or kind of Ordinary Share or other consideration. An adjustment under this provision may have the effect of reducing the price at which Ordinary Shares may be acquired to less than their nominal value (the “Shortfall”), but only if and to the extent that the Board shall be authorized to capitalize from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the Shortfall and to apply that sum in paying up that amount on the Ordinary Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount to be paid up on an Ordinary Share issued pursuant to the Plan may never be less than the nominal value of the Ordinary Share.
Section 7.03Investment Earnings. Each Account (other than the Section 162(m) Cash Contributions in a Section 162(m) Account) shall be adjusted based on the performance of the Ordinary Shares. The Account of a Participant who has ceased to be an Eligible Employee shall continue to be credited with earnings and losses until the applicable Payment Date. The distribution to a Participant on the distribution date shall be based on the value of the Participant’s Account as of the applicable Payment Date, less the nominal value of the Ordinary Shares distributed. Dividends, if any, which are awarded for Ordinary Shares will be credited to Participant Accounts and deemed invested in Ordinary Shares.
Section 7.04Section 162(m) Account. The Section 162(m) Cash Contributions in a Section 162(m) Account shall be credited with interest equal to the prime rate of interest as reported by the Company’s bank from time to time.
Section 7.05Nature of Accounts. Accounts may not actually be invested in Ordinary Shares and Participants do not have any real or beneficial ownership in Ordinary Shares prior to a Payment Event. A Participant’s Account is solely a device for the measurement and determination of the amounts to be paid to the Participant pursuant to the Plan and shall not constitute or be treated as a trust fund of any kind.
Section 7.06Statements. Each Participant shall be provided with statements or access to statements setting out the amounts in his or her Account(s), which shall be delivered or made available at such intervals determined by the Committee, and shall reflect the applicable number of shares and the value of Ordinary Shares on the applicable Valuation Date or the amount of interest accredited to the Account, if applicable.
Section 7.07RSUs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 7.02 and 7.03, a Participant’s Account may be credited with RSUs granted pursuant to the EIP in lieu of notional Ordinary Shares with respect to Elective Deferrals and, if applicable, Matching Contributions, Excess Profit Sharing Contributions, or Discretionary Contributions, all as determined by the Committee, in which case such RSUs shall include DERs that shall be deemed reinvested in additional RSUs unless provided otherwise by the Committee. Such RSUs (including any RSUs credited pursuant to DERs) shall vest as set forth in Section 8 of this Plan and shall be payable at the times and subject to the terms set forth in Sections 9, 10, and 11 of this Plan, and shall be subject to the terms of the EIP. This Plan shall constitute the Award Agreement with respect to any such RSUs and in the event that the Company determines there to be a conflict between the terms of this Plan and the EIP with respect to such RSUs or DERs, the
terms of the Willis Towers Watson 2012 EIP shall control. A Participant shall have no rights in, to, or as a holder of Ordinary Shares with respect to any unissued securities covered by any RSUs until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such securities.
Section 7.08Investments in the Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7, the Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account may be deemed to be invested instead in an interest bearing notional account, as determined by the Committee. In that case, the Excess Profit Sharing Contribution Account shall be deemed to be credited with the interest payable to such fund.
Section 8.01Vesting of Elective Deferrals. Participants shall be fully vested at all times in their Elective Deferrals and any earnings thereon.
Section 8.02Vesting of Matching Contributions. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, Participants shall be vested in their Matching Contributions on the earlier of (a) two (2) Years of Service; (b) death; or (c) Disability. Notwithstanding the preceding provision, a Participant in the Plan who is an Employee on the date preceding the Merger Effective Date, and ceases to be an Employee immediately after the Merger Effective Date, and any Deferred Offeree (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall be fully vested in his or her Matching Contributions under this Plan.
Section 8.03Vesting of Excess Profit Sharing Contributions. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, Exchange Solutions Participants shall be vested in their Excess Profit Sharing Contributions on the earlier of (a) two (2) Years of Service; (b) death; or (c) Disability.
Section 8.04Vesting of Discretionary Contributions. Unless determined otherwise by the Committee, Participants shall be vested in their Discretionary Contributions on the earlier of (a) two (2) Years of Service; (b) death; or (c) Disability.
Section 8.05Vesting of Section 162(m) Contributions. Each Section 162(m) Participant shall be fully vested at all times in the Section 162(m) Contributions and any interest allocated thereto.
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9. | Distribution of Participant Accounts. |
Section 9.01In General. Distribution of a Participant’s vested Account (other than the Section 162(m) Account) shall be made on the Payment Date following the earliest to occur of the following events (each a “Payment Event”):
a.the date that is six (6) months after the Participant’s Separation from Service; or
b.the date that is thirty (30) days after the Participant’s death.
Section 9.02Distribution of Section 162(m) Account. The balance in the Section 162(m) Account shall be paid to the Section 162(m) Participant during the Section 162(m) Participant’s first taxable year in which the Committee reasonably anticipates that the Company’s tax deduction will not be limited or eliminated by the application of Code Section 162(m). The Section 162(m) Equity Contributions shall be paid in Ordinary Shares (with fractional shares paid in cash), and the Section 162(m) Cash Contributions, along with all interest attributed thereto, shall be paid in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of the Section 162(m) Participant’s death, payment of the balance in the Section 162(m) Account shall be made in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable following the Section 162(m) Participant’s death to the beneficiary designated pursuant to Section 14.6.
Section 9.03Timing of Valuation. The value of a Participant’s Account on the Payment Date shall be determined as of the applicable Payment Date.
Section 9.04Forfeiture of Unvested Accounts. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant’s unvested Account balance shall be forfeited upon the occurrence of a Payment Event.
Section 9.05Timing of Distributions. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, distribution shall be made on the Payment Date.
Section 9.06Method of Distribution. The Participant’s vested Account (other than the Section 162(m) Account) shall be paid in Ordinary Shares; provided that, if the Participant’s vested Account balance on such Payment Event has a total value of less than $1,000, the vested Account shall be paid in cash. Fractional shares shall be paid in cash.
10.PERMISSIBLE ACCELERATION EVENTS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THE PLAN TO THE CONTRARY, THE COMMITTEE, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, MAY ACCELERATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF ALL OR A PORTION OF A PARTICIPANT'S VESTED ACCOUNT UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF ANY OF THE EVENTS (“ACCELERATION EVENTS”) SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 10. THE COMMITTEE'S DETERMINATION OF WHETHER DISTRIBUTION MAY BE ACCELERATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION 10 SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH TREAS. REG. SECTION 1.409A-3(J)(4).
Section 10.01Limited Cashouts. The Committee may accelerate distribution of a Participant’s vested Account to the extent that (a) the aggregate amount in the Participant’s Account does not exceed the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B); (b) the distribution results in the termination of the Participant’s entire interest in the Plan and any plans that are aggregated with the Plan pursuant to Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(c)(2); and (c) the Committee’s decision to cash out the Participant’s Account is evidenced in writing no later than the date of distribution.
Section 10.02Payment of Employment Taxes. The Committee may accelerate distribution of all or a portion of a Participant’s vested Account (a) to pay the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax imposed under Code Sections 3101, 3121(a), and 3121(v)(2) (the “FICA Amount”); or (b) to pay the income tax at source on wages imposed under Code Section 3401 or the corresponding withholding provisions of applicable state, local, or foreign tax laws as a result of the payment of the FICA Amount and the additional income tax at source on wages attributable to the pyramiding Section 3401 wages and taxes; provided, however, that the total payment under this Section 10.2 shall not exceed the FICA Amount and the income tax withholding related to the FICA Amount.
Section 10.03Distribution Upon Income Inclusion. The Committee may accelerate distribution of all or a portion of a Participant’s vested Account to the extent that the Plan fails to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, provided that, the amount accelerated shall not exceed the amount required to be included in income as a result of the failure to comply with Code Section 409A.
Section 10.04Termination of the Plan. The Committee may accelerate distribution of all or a portion of a Participant’s vested Account upon termination of the Plan in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).
Section 10.05Payment of State, Local, or Foreign Taxes. The Committee may accelerate distribution of all or a portion of a Participant’s vested Account for:
(a)the payment of state, local, or foreign tax obligations arising from participation in the Plan that relate to an amount deferred under the Plan before the amount is paid or made available to the Participant (the “State, Local, and Foreign Tax Amount”), provided, however, the accelerated payment amount shall not exceed the taxes due as a result of participation in the Plan, and/or
(b)the payment of income tax at source on wages imposed under Code Section 3401 as a result of such payment and the payment of the additional income tax at source on wages imposed under Code Section 3401 attributable to the additional Section 3401 wages and taxes; provided however, the accelerated payment amount shall not exceed the aggregate of the State, Local, and Foreign Tax Amount and the income tax withholding related to such amount.
Section 10.06Certain Offsets. The Committee may accelerate distribution of all or a portion of the Participant’s vested Account to satisfy a debt of the Participant to the Company or an Affiliate incurred in the ordinary course of the service relationship between the Company and the Participant, provided, however, the amount accelerated shall not exceed $5,000 and the distribution shall be made at the same time and in the same amount as the debt otherwise would have been due and collected from the Participant.
11.CODE SECTION 162(M). IF THE COMMITTEE REASONABLY ANTICIPATES THAT, IF A DISTRIBUTION WERE MADE AS SCHEDULED UNDER THE PLAN IT WOULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF THE COMPANY'S TAX DEDUCTION DUE TO THE APPLICATION OF CODE SECTION 162(M), SUCH DISTRIBUTION MAY BE DELAYED AND PAID DURING THE PARTICIPANT'S FIRST TAXABLE YEAR IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE REASONABLY ANTICIPATES THAT THE COMPANY'S TAX DEDUCTION WILL NOT BE LIMITED OR ELIMINATED BY THE APPLICATION OF CODE SECTION 162(M). NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, NO DISTRIBUTION UNDER THE PLAN MAY BE DEFERRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION 11 UNLESS ALL SCHEDULED DISTRIBUTIONS TO THE PARTICIPANT AND ALL SIMILARLY SITUATED PARTICIPANTS THAT COULD BE DELAYED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TREAS. REG. SECTION 1.409A-2(B)(7)(I) ARE ALSO DELAYED.
Section 12.01Administration By Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have the authority to:
(a)construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;
(b)promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;
(c)authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;
(d)determine minimum or maximum amounts, and the types of compensation, that Participants may elect to defer under the Plan;
(e)determine whether any Matching Contributions, Excess Profit Sharing Contributions, or Discretionary Contributions will be made to the Plan with respect to any Plan Year and the amount of any such contributions;
(f)select, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan, those Employees who shall be Eligible Employees;
(g)calculate deemed earnings and losses on Accounts;
(h)interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in, and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument, Election Notice, or agreement relating to the Plan; and
(i)exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
Section 12.02Non-Uniform Treatment. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and any such determinations may be made selectively among Participants. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations with regard to: (a) the terms or conditions of any Elective Deferral; or (b) the amount, terms, or conditions of any Matching Contribution or Discretionary Contribution; or (c) the amount, terms, or conditions of an Excess Profit Sharing Contribution.
Section 12.03Committee Decisions Final. Subject to Section 15, all decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.
Section 12.04Indemnification. No member of the Committee or any designee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination, or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan except for any liability arising from his or her own willful malfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of his or her duties.
13.AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. SUBJECT TO THE APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS OF CODE SECTION 409A, THE BOARD OR THE COMMITTEE, TO THE EXTENT THAT AUTHORITY HAS BEEN DELEGATED TO THE COMMITTEE, MAY, AT ANY TIME, AND IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, ALTER, AMEND, MODIFY, SUSPEND, OR TERMINATE THE PLAN OR ANY PORTION THEREOF, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO SUCH AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, SUSPENSION, OR TERMINATION SHALL, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF A PARTICIPANT, ADVERSELY AFFECT SUCH PARTICIPANT'S RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO AMOUNTS CREDITED TO OR ACCRUED IN HIS OR HER ACCOUNT. THE BOARD MAY ALSO AT ANY TIME TERMINATE THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE AND REASSUME ALL POWERS AND AUTHORITY PREVIOUSLY DELEGATED TO THE COMMITTEE.
14.Miscellaneous.
Section 14.01No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time with or without notice and with or without cause.
Section 14.02Tax Withholding. The Company and its Affiliates shall have the right to deduct from any amounts otherwise payable under the Plan any federal, state, local, or other applicable taxes required to be withheld.
Section 14.03Governing Law. The Plan shall be administered, construed and governed in all respects under and by the laws of Ireland, without reference to the principles of conflicts of law (except and to the extent pre-empted by applicable laws of the United States).
Section 14.04Code Section 409A. The Company intends that the Plan comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and shall be operated and interpreted consistent with that intent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation that the Plan complies with Code Section 409A and shall have no liability to any Participant for any failure to comply with Code Section 409A.
This Plan shall constitute an “account balance plan” as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 31.3121(v)(2)-1(c)(1)(ii)(A). For purposes of Code Section 409A, all amounts deferred under this Plan shall be aggregated with amounts deferred under other account balance plans.
Section 14.05No Warranties. Neither the Company nor the Committee warrants or represents that the value of any Participant’s Account will increase. Each Participant assumes the risk in connection with the deemed investment of his or her Account.
Section 14.06Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive the Participant’s interest in the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. If a Participant fails to designate a beneficiary, then the Participant’s designated beneficiary shall be deemed to be the Participant’s estate.
Section 14.07No Assignment. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate, or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate, or convey any amounts payable hereunder prior to the date that such amounts are paid (except for the designation of beneficiaries pursuant to Section 14.06).
Section 14.08Expenses. The costs of administering the Plan shall be charged to Participant Accounts, unless paid for by the Company, as determined by the Company in its discretion.
Section 14.09Severability. If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent of such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected.
Section 14.10Headings and Subheadings. Headings and subheadings in the Plan are for convenience only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.
15.Claims Procedures.
Section 15.01Filing a Claim. Any Participant or other person claiming an interest in the Plan (the “Claimant”) may file a claim in writing with the Committee. The Committee shall review the claim itself or appoint an individual or entity to review the claim.
Section 15.02Claim Decision. The Claimant shall be notified within ninety (90) days after the claim is filed whether the claim is approved or denied, unless the Committee determines that special circumstances beyond the control of the Plan require an extension of time, in which case the Committee may have up to an additional ninety (90) days to process the claim. If the Committee determines that an extension of time for processing is required, the Committee shall furnish written or electronic notice of the extension to the Claimant before the end of the initial ninety (90)-day period. Any notice of extension shall describe the special circumstances necessitating the additional time and the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision.
Section 15.03Notice of Denial. If the Committee denies the claim, it must provide to the Claimant, in writing or by electronic communication, a notice which includes:
(a)The specific reason(s) for the denial;
(b)Specific reference to the pertinent Plan provisions on which such denial is based;
(c)A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary;
(d)A description of the Plan’s appeal procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following a denial of the claim on appeal; and
(e)If an internal rule was relied on to make the decision, either a copy of the internal rule or a statement that this information is available at no charge upon request.
Section 15.04Appeal Procedures. A request for appeal of a denied claim must be made in writing to the Committee within sixty (60) days after receiving notice of denial. The decision on appeal will be made within sixty (60) days after the Committee’s receipt of a request for appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision will be rendered not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of a request for appeal. A notice of such an extension must be provided to the Claimant within the initial sixty (60)-day period and must explain the special circumstances and provide an expected date of decision. The reviewer shall afford the Claimant an opportunity to review and receive, without charge, all relevant documents, information and records and to submit issues and comments in writing to the Committee. The reviewer shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim regardless of whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.
Section 15.05Notice of Decision on Appeal. If the Committee denies the appeal, it must provide to the Claimant, in writing or by electronic communication, a notice which includes:
(a)The specific reason(s) for the denial;
(b)Specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which such denial is based;
(c)A statement that the Claimant may receive on request all relevant records at no charge;
(d)A description of the Plan’s voluntary procedures and deadlines, if any;
(e)A statement of the Claimant’s right to sue under Section 502(a) of ERISA; and
(f)If an internal rule was relied on to make the decision, either a copy of the internal rule or a statement that this information is available at no charge upon request.
Section 15.06Claims Procedures Mandatory. The internal claims procedures set forth in this Section 15 are mandatory. If a Claimant fails to follow these claims procedures, or to timely file a request for appeal in accordance with this Section 15, the denial of the claim shall become final and binding on all persons for all purposes.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Towers Watson Delaware Inc. has adopted this Plan as of the Effective Date written above.
TOWERS WATSON DELAWARE INC.
By /s/ Susan Fegan
Name: Susan Fegan
Title: Benefits Director, North America
Date: October 31, 2016
Exhibit
Exhibit 10.2
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED
PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AGREEMENT
FOR OPERATING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
THIS PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and any successor thereto (the “Company”) and the individual (the “Associate”) who has signed or electronically accepted this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto) in the manner specified in the Associate’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to carry out the Plan (as hereinafter defined), the terms of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Committee (as defined in the Plan) has determined that it would be to the advantage and best interest of the Company and its shareholders to grant an award of Performance-Based Restricted Share Units (as hereinafter defined) provided for herein to the Associate as an incentive for increased efforts during the Associate’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Plan) or its Designated Associate Companies (as defined in the Plan), and has advised the Company thereof and instructed the undersigned officer to prepare said Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meaning specified in the Plan or below. The masculine pronoun shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular the plural, where the context so indicates.
Section 1.1 - Cause
“Cause” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term or similar term (e.g., “Good Cause”) in the Associate’s employment agreement, if any, with the Company, a Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company, and, in the absence of an employment agreement or such definition in the employment agreement, it shall mean: (i) the Associate’s continued and/or chronic failure to adequately and/or competently perform his material duties with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies having been provided reasonable notice of such failure and a period of at least ten days after the Associate’s receipt of such notice to cure and/or correct such performance failure, (ii) willful misconduct by the Associate in connection with the Associate’s employment which is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies (willful misconduct shall be understood to include, but not be limited to, any breach of the duty of loyalty owed by the Associate to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies), (iii) conviction of any criminal act (other than minor road traffic violations not involving imprisonment), (iv) any breach of the Associate’s restrictive covenants and other obligations as provided in the Associate’s employment agreement (if any), or any other non-compete agreement and/or confidentiality agreement entered into between the Associate and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies (other than an insubstantial, inadvertent and non-recurring breach), or (v) any material violation of any written Company policy after reasonable notice and an opportunity to cure such violation within ten (10) days after the Associate’s receipt of such notice.
Section 1.2 - Earned Date
“Earned Date” shall mean the date that the Committee certifies the attainment of the Performance Objectives.
Section 1.3 - Earned Performance Shares
“Earned Performance Shares” shall mean Shares subject to the PRSUs in respect of which the applicable Performance Objectives have been achieved and shall become eligible for vesting and payment as set out in Section 3.2.
Section 1.4 - Good Reason
“Good Reason” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term or similar term in the employment agreement, if any, with the Company, a Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company; in the absence of an employment agreement or such term in the employment agreement, it shall mean that one or more of the following events has occurred without the Associate’s written consent: (i) a material adverse diminution in the Associate’s position, authority or responsibilities or the assignment to Associate of duties or responsibilities which are materially inconsistent with the Associate’s position; provided, that, a material diminution in the foregoing shall not be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company ceasing to be a public company, so long as the position, authority or responsibilities of the Associate with the Company (or the Subsidiary or Designated Associated Company employing the Associate (the “Employer”) or any successor is not otherwise materially diminished, (ii) a reduction in the Associate’s monthly base salary or target annual incentive plan percentage; or (iii) the Associate is required to relocate the Associate’s office outside a radius of 50 miles from the Associate’s current office location. The Associate may not resign or otherwise terminate the Associate’s employment for any reason set forth above as Good Reason unless the Associate first notifies the Employer in writing describing such Good Reason within 90 days of the first occurrence of such circumstances, and, thereafter, such Good Reason is not corrected by the Employer within 30 days of the Associate’s written notice of such Good Reason, and the Associate actually terminates employment within 90 days following the expiration of the Employer’s 30-day cure period described above.
Section 1.5 - Grant Date
“Grant Date” shall mean the date set forth in a schedule to the Agreement or communicated to the Associate through his online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator.
Section 1.6 - Legacy Company
“Legacy Company” shall mean Towers Watson & Co. or Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and any predecessor companies or affiliates of any of the foregoing.
Section 1.7 - LTIP
“Long-Term Incentive Program” or “LTIP” is a program adopted in calendar 2016 by the Committee under which equity awards and/or cash awards may be granted to certain eligible employees of the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Designated Associate Companies.
Section 1.8 - Nominal Value
“Nominal Value” means $0.00030465 per Share.
Section 1.9 - Performance-Based Restricted Share Units
“Performance-Based Restricted Share Units” or “PRSUs” shall mean a conditional right to receive Shares, pursuant to the terms of the Plan and this Agreement upon vesting and settlement, subject to the attainment of certain Performance Objectives and the Associate’s continued employment through the Vesting Date.
Section 1.10 - Performance Objectives
“Performance Objectives” shall mean the performance objectives that are referenced in Section 3.1(a) and set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement.
Section 1.11 - Performance Period
“Performance Period” shall mean February 26, 2016 - December 31, 2018.
Section 1.12 - Plan
“Plan” shall mean the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
Section 1.13 - Qualifying Retirement
“Qualifying Retirement” shall mean a voluntary Termination of Service by the Associate after the Associate’s attainment of the age of 55 and the Associate’s completion of 15 years of service with the Company, a Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company thereof or a Legacy Company, provided that the Committee has not determined that a basis exists for the Associate’s Termination of Service for Cause at the time of such Termination of Service.
Section 1.14 - Shares
“Shares” shall mean Ordinary Shares of the Company, Nominal Value per Share, which may be authorized but unissued.
Section 1.15 - Termination Date
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, the “Termination Date” shall mean the later of (i) the last day of the Associate’s active employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies or (ii) the last day of any notice period or garden leave, as provided for under the Associate’s employment agreement or local law; provided, however, that in the case of United States taxpayers, the termination date shall mean a date that will allow the PRSUs to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
Section 1.16 - Vesting Date
“Vesting Date” shall mean March 15, 2019; provided however, that if the Vesting Date falls on a date that the Associate is subject to tax withholding on the Vesting Date and the Company determines the Associate is not permitted to sell Shares on the open market for any reason, including under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy (or any successor policy) or as provided in Section 7.15 hereof, then the Vesting Date instead shall be the later of the first business day in the next occurring open “window period” applicable to the Associate or the next business day that the Company determines the Associate is not prohibited from selling Shares on the open market.
ARTICLE II
GRANT OF PERFORMANCE-BASED RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
Section 2.1 - Grant of the Performance-Based Restricted Share Units
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and the additional terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement including any country-specific provisions set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement, and, if applicable, the restrictive covenants set forth in Schedule B to the Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Associate the target number of PRSUs specified in a schedule to the Agreement or as stated in the Associate’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator. In circumstances where the Associate is required to enter into the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations set forth in Schedule B, the Associate
agrees that the grant of PRSUs pursuant to this Agreement is sufficient consideration for the Associate entering into such agreement.
Section 2.2 - PRSU Payment
In accordance with Section 7(d)(ii) of the Plan, the Shares to be issued upon vesting and settlement of the PRSUs must be fully paid up prior to issuance of Shares by payment of the Nominal Value per Share. The Committee shall ensure that payment of the Nominal Value for any Shares underlying the PRSUs is received by it on behalf of the Associate at the time the PRSUs are settled from a non-Irish Subsidiary or other source and shall establish any procedures or protocols necessary to ensure that payment is timely received.
Section 2.3 - Employment or Service Rights
Subject to the terms of the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations, where applicable, the rights and obligations of the Associate under the terms of his office or employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company shall not be affected by his participation in the Plan or any right which he may have to participate in it. The PRSUs and the Associate’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment agreement or service contract with the Company or any Subsidiary or a Designated Associate Company and the terms of any separate employment agreement to which the Associate is a party shall remain in effect and will control to the extent that there are any inconsistencies with this Agreement. The Associate hereby waives any and all rights to compensation or damages in consequence of the Termination of Service for any reason whatsoever insofar as those rights arise or may arise from his ceasing to have rights under or be entitled to earn or vest in his PRSUs as a result of such Termination of Service. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is allowed by a court of competent jurisdiction, then, by participating in the Plan, the Associate shall be deemed irrevocably to have agreed not to pursue such claim and agrees to execute any and all documents necessary to request dismissal or withdrawal of such claims.
Section 2.4 - Adjustments in PRSUs Pursuant to Change of Control or Similar Event, etc.
Subject to Sections 12 and 13 of the Plan, in the event that the outstanding Shares subject to the PRSUs are, from time to time, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of Shares or other securities, by reason of a share split, spin-off, share or extraordinary cash dividend, share combination or reclassification, recapitalization or merger, Change of Control, or similar event, the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, substitute or adjust proportionally (i) the number and kind of Shares subject to the PRSUs; or (ii) the terms and conditions of the PRSUs (including without limitation, any applicable Performance Objectives with respect thereto). An adjustment may have the effect of reducing the price at which Shares may be acquired to less than their Nominal Value (the “Shortfall”), but only if and to the extent that the Committee shall be authorized to capitalize from the reserves of the Company a sum equal to the Shortfall and to apply that sum in paying up that amount on the Shares. Any such adjustment or determination made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Associate, the Company and all other interested persons.
Section 2.5 - Tax Withholding
The Associate acknowledges that, regardless of any action taken by the Employer the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items, is and remains the Associate’s responsibility and may exceed the amount actually withheld by the Company or the Employer. The Associate further acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (1) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the PRSUs, including, but not limited to, the grant, vesting or settlement of the PRSUs, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired pursuant to such settlement and the receipt of any dividends and/or any dividend equivalents; and (2) do not commit to and are under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of the PRSUs to reduce or eliminate the Associate’s liability for Tax-Related Items or achieve any particular tax result. Further, if the Associate is subject to Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction, the Associate acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (or former employer, as applicable) may be required to withhold or account for Tax-Related Items in more than one jurisdiction.
Prior to any relevant taxable or tax withholding event, as applicable, Associate agrees to make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all Tax-Related Items.
In this regard, the Associate authorizes the Company and/or the Employer, or their respective agents, at their discretion, to satisfy the obligations with regard to all Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following (provided the Committee does not indicate that alternative (iii) is unavailable):
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(i) | withholding from the Associate’s wages or other cash compensation paid to the Associate by the Company and/or the Employer; |
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(ii) | withholding from proceeds of the sale of Shares issued upon vesting of the PRSUs either through a voluntary sale or through a mandatory sale arranged by the Company (on the Associate’s behalf pursuant to this authorization without further consent); or |
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(iii) | withholding in Shares to be issued upon settlement of the PRSUs unless the Committee, in its sole discretion, indicates that this method of withholding is not available prior to the applicable taxable or tax withholding event. |
Provided, however, that if the Associate is an officer of the Company under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (“Section 16 Officer”), such Section 16 Officer is entitled to elect the method of withholding from alternatives (i) through (iii) above, provided, that the Committee does not indicate that alternative (iii) is unavailable.
Depending on the withholding method, the Company may withhold or account for Tax-Related Items by considering applicable minimum statutory withholding rates or other applicable withholding rates, including maximum applicable rates, in which case the Associate will receive a refund of any over-withheld amount in cash and will have no entitlement to the Share equivalent. If the obligation for Tax-Related Items is satisfied by withholding in Shares, for tax purposes, the Associate is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the vested PRSUs, notwithstanding that a number of Shares are held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.
Finally, the Associate agrees to pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold or account for as a result of the Associate’s participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Company may refuse to issue or deliver the Shares or the proceeds of the sale of Shares, if the Associate fails to comply with the Associate’s obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items.
Section 2.6 - Dividend Equivalents
As long as the Associate holds PRSUs granted pursuant to this Award, the Company shall accrue for the Associate, on each date that the Company pays a cash dividend to holders of its Ordinary Shares, dividend equivalents equal to the total number of PRSUs credited to the Associate under this Award multiplied by the dollar amount of the cash dividend paid per Share by the Company on such date. Dividend equivalents shall accrue in the form of additional PRSUs paid at the time that such underlying PRSUs are settled. The accrued dividend equivalents shall be subject to the same restrictions as the PRSUs to which the dividend equivalents relate, and the dividend equivalents shall be forfeited in the event that the PRSUs with respect to which such dividend equivalents were credited are forfeited.
Section 2.7 - Clawback Policy
The Company may cancel all or part of the PRSUs or require payment by the Associate to the Company of all or part of any amount or Shares acquired by the Associate upon vesting and settlement of the PRSUs pursuant to the Company’s Clawback Policy as stated in Section 10 of the Plan.
ARTICLE III
PERFORMANCE-BASED AND TIME-BASED VESTING REQUIREMENTS
Section 3.1 - Earned Performance Shares
(a)Subject to Sections 3.1(b) through 3.1(d) below and the terms of the Associate’s employment agreement, if any, the Shares subject to the PRSUs shall become Earned Performance Shares and shall become eligible to vest in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2 as of the Earned Date to the extent the Committee determines (and based on the level of attainment) that the Performance Objectives set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement are attained pursuant to Section 3.1(b).
(b)As of the Earned Date, the Committee shall certify the attainment level of the applicable Performance Objectives, and based on such certification, shall declare the number of Shares subject to the PRSUs that shall become Earned Performance Shares. Anything to the contrary in this Section 3.1 and Schedule C to this Agreement notwithstanding, the Committee retains sole discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to the PRSUs that will become Earned Performance Shares.
(c)The Associate understands and agrees that the terms under which the PRSUs shall become Earned Performance Shares (as described in this Section 3.1 and in Schedule C) is confidential and the Associate agrees not to disclose, reproduce or distribute such confidential information concerning the Company, except as required in the course of the Associate’s employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries or a Designated Associate Company, without the prior written consent of the Company. The Associate’s failure to abide by this condition may result in the immediate cancellation of the PRSUs.
(d)If there is a Change of Control prior to the end of the Performance Period, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, deem the Performance Objectives to be attained at the level determined by the Committee as to all or part of the unearned Shares underlying the PRSUs and deem them to be Earned Performance Shares; provided, however, that the Committee shall not have the authority to accelerate the performance goal vesting requirements or waive the forfeiture of to the extent the PRSUs are intended to constitute Qualified Performance-Based Compensation or if any such acceleration would result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code.
(e)Any Shares subject to the PRSUs that are not declared by the Committee to be Earned Performance Shares on the Earned Date, except as otherwise provided under this Section 3.1, shall be forfeited immediately.
Section 3.2 - Vesting/Settlement
(a)Subject to the Associate’s continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company through the Vesting Date and the other requirements in this Section 3.2, the Earned Performance Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date and become payable in accordance with Section 3.2(k) below.
(b)In the event of the Associate’s Termination of Service, any unvested Earned Performance Shares will be forfeited immediately by the Associate, subject to, and except as otherwise specified in, and subject to the terms and conditions of the other subsections of this Section 3.2.
(c)In the event of the Associate’s Termination of Service on or after January 1, 2017 and prior to the Vesting Date due to a Qualifying Retirement, the Earned Performance Shares shall vest on the Vesting Date, subject to the Associate’s compliance with the restrictive covenants and other obligations contemplated under Article VI of this Agreement.
(d)In the event of the Associate’s Termination of Service prior to the Vesting Date for reasons other than a termination by the Employer for Cause, Good Reason resignation, or Qualifying Retirement, or as otherwise set forth in this Section 3.2, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting of all or a portion of the Earned Performance Shares. If no determination is made as of the Termination Date, then the Earned Performance Shares shall, to the extent not then vested, be immediately forfeited by the Associate.
(e)In the event of the Associate’s (i) Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or (ii) Termination of Service by the Associate for Good Reason, in each case, within the 24-month period following a Change of Control, any Earned Performance Shares shall fully vest.
(f)In the event of the Associate’s (i) Termination of Service without Cause by the Company or (ii) Termination of Service by the Associate for Good Reason prior to a Change of Control or after the 24-month period following a Change of Control, one year of additional service credit will be applied to the Associate’s period of service. If after giving effect to this additional service credit, the Associate would have been employed through the Vesting Date, the Associate will vest in the PRSUs with respect to the Earned Performance Shares.
(g)Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 3.2, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee shall have the sole discretion to accelerate the vesting of unvested Earned Performance Shares without regard to whether the Earned Performance Shares are assumed or substituted by a successor company.
(h)The Associate agrees to execute and deliver or electronically accept, in the manner and within the period specified in the Associate’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Agreement including any applicable schedules thereto.
(i)The Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the PRSUs if the Associate fails to execute and deliver or electronically accept the Agreement and documents within the period set forth in Section 3.2(h).
(j)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 3.1 or 3.2, no PRSUs shall vest prior to the first anniversary of the Grant Date except in the case of the Associate’s Termination of Service resulting from death or Permanent Disability or in connection with a Change of Control.
(k) Earned Performance Shares that become vested in accordance with Section 3.1 and Section 3.2 shall be delivered on the Vesting Date or within 30 days thereafter, or such earlier date that the Earned Performance Shares become vested on an accelerated basis pursuant to Section 3.1 and 3.2 hereof; provided, however, that if the PRSUs are considered non-qualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code (“Deferred Compensation”) as determined in the sole discretion of the Company and the Associate is a U.S. Taxpayer, the Earned Performance Shares that become vested in accordance with this Section 3.2 shall be settled on a date within 30 days of the earliest to occur of (i) the Vesting Date, (ii) the Associate’s “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, (iii) the Associate’s death and (iv) a “change in control event” within the meaning of U.S. Treas. Regs § 1.409A-3(i)(5). In addition, if the PRSUs are Deferred Compensation, the PRSUs are settled upon the Associate’s separation from service, and the Associate is a U.S. Taxpayer and a “specified employee,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, on the date the Associate experiences a separation from service, then the PRSUs shall be settled on the first business day of the seventh month following the Associate’s separation from service, or, if earlier, on the date of the Associate’s death, to the extent such delayed payment is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A of the Code.
Section 3.3 - Conditions to Issuance of Shares
The Earned Performance Shares to be delivered hereunder shall be previously authorized but unissued Shares. Such Shares shall be fully paid. The Company shall not be required to deliver any certificates representing such Shares (or their electronic equivalent) allotted and issued upon the applicable date of the vesting of the PRSUs prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions, and in any event, subject to Section 409A of the Code for United States taxpayers:
(a)The obtaining of approval or other clearance from any state, federal, local or foreign governmental agency which the Committee shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;
(b)The Associate has paid or made arrangements to pay the Tax-Related Items pursuant to Section 2.5; and
(c)No fractional Shares shall be issued under this Agreement.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee may in the case of United States resident employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries require an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to it to the effect that any subsequent transfer of Shares acquired on the vesting of PRSUs does not violate the Exchange Act and may issue stop-transfer orders in the United States covering such Shares.
Section 3.4 - Rights as Shareholder
The Associate shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a shareholder of the Company in respect of any Shares that may be received upon the settlement of the PRSUs unless and until certificates representing such Shares or their electronic equivalent shall have been issued by the Company to the Associate.
Section 3.5 - Limitation on Obligations
The Company’s obligation with respect to the PRSUs granted hereunder is limited solely to the delivery to the Associate of Shares within the period when such Shares are due to be delivered hereunder, and in no event shall the Company become obligated to pay cash in respect of such obligation. The PRSUs shall not be secured by any specific assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies, nor shall any assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Designated Associate Companies be designated as attributable or allocated to the satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall not be liable to the Associate for damages relating to any delays in issuing the share certificates or its electronic equivalent to the Associate (or his designated entities), any loss of the certificates, or any mistakes or errors in the issuance of the certificates (or the electronic equivalent) to the Associate (or his designated entities) or in the certificates themselves.
ARTICLE IV
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PRSUs
Section 4.1 - Nature of Award
In accepting the PRSUs, the Associate acknowledges, understands and agrees that:
(a)the Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, is discretionary in nature and may be amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, to the extent permitted by the Plan;
(b)the PRSU award is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future PRSU awards, or benefits in lieu of PRSU awards, even if PRSUs have been granted in the past;
(c)all decisions with respect to future PRSUs or other grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;
(d)the Associate’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;
(e)the PRSUs and any Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income and the value of same, are not intended to replace any pension rights or compensation under any pension arrangement;
(f)the PRSUs and any Shares acquired under the Plan, and the income and the value of same, are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, dismissal, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments;
(g)unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the PRSUs and the Shares subject to the PRSUs, and the income and value of same, are not granted as consideration for, or in connection with, services the Associate may provide as a director of any Subsidiary or affiliate;
(h)the future value of the Shares underlying the PRSUs is unknown, indeterminable, and cannot be predicted with certainty;
(i)no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from forfeiture of the PRSUs or the underlying Shares resulting from the Associate’s Termination of Service (for any reason whatsoever, whether or not later found to be invalid or in breach of employment laws in the jurisdiction where the Associate is employed or the terms of his or her employment agreement, if any);
(j)unless otherwise provided in the Plan or by the Company in its discretion, the PRSUs and the benefits evidenced by this Agreement do not create any entitlement to have the PRSUs or any such benefits transferred to, or assumed by, another company nor to be exchanged, cashed out or substituted for, in connection with any Change of Control or similar event affecting the Shares of the Company; and
(k)if the Associate is providing services outside the United States, neither the Company, the Employer nor any Subsidiary or Designated Associate Company shall be liable for any foreign exchange rate fluctuation between the Associate’s local currency and the United States Dollar that may affect the value of the PRSUs or of any amounts due to the Associate pursuant to the settlement of the PRSUs or the subsequent sale of any Shares acquired upon settlement.
Section 4.2 - No Advice Regarding Grant
The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding the Associate’s participation in the Plan, the issuance of Shares upon vesting of the PRSUs or sale of the Shares. The Associate should consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.
ARTICLE V
DATA PRIVACY NOTICE AND CONSENT
Section 5.1 - Data Privacy
(a)The Associate hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of the Associate’s personal data as described in this Agreement and any other PRSU materials by and among, as applicable, the Employer, the Company and its Subsidiaries and Designated Associate Companies for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Associate’s participation in the Plan.
(b)The Associate understands that the Company and the Employer may hold certain personal information about the Associate, including, but not limited to, the Associate’s name, home address, telephone number, email address, telephone number, date of birth, passport, social insurance or other identification number (e.g., resident registration number), compensation, nationality, job title, any Shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all PRSUs or any other entitlement to Shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested or outstanding in the Associate’s favor, including the price of the Shares and the date, place and volume of transactions (“Data”), for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Plan.
(c)The Associate understands that Data will be transferred to Computershare or Morgan Stanley or to any other third party assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan. Where required under applicable law, Data also may be disclosed to certain securities or other regulatory authorities where the Company's Shares are listed or traded or regulatory filings are made. The Associate understands that the recipients of Data may be located in the Associate’s country or elsewhere, and that the recipients’ country (e.g., Ireland) may have different data privacy laws and protections from the Associate’s country. The Associate understands that he may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his local human resources representative. The Associate authorizes the Company, Computershare,
Morgan Stanley and any other recipients of Data which may assist the Company (presently or in the future) with implementing, administering and managing the Plan to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the sole purpose of implementing, administering and managing his participation in the Plan. The Associate understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer and manage the Associate’s participation in the Plan. The Associate understands that, he may at any time view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data, require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case without cost, by contacting in writing his local human resources representative. Further, the Associate understands that he is providing the consents herein on a purely voluntary basis. If the Associate does not consent, or if the Associate later seeks to revoke his consent, his service with the Company will not be affected; the only consequence of refusing or withdrawing the Associate’s consent is that the Company would not be able to grant the Associate PRSUs or other equity awards or administer or maintain such awards. Therefore, the Associate understands that refusing or withdrawing his consent may affect the Associate’s ability to participate in the Plan. For more information on the consequences of the Associate’s refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the Associate understands that he may contact his local human resources representative.
ARTICLE VI
AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Section 6.1 - Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations
In consideration of the grant of PRSUs, the Associate shall enter into the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule B. In the event the Associate does not sign and return or electronically accept the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations in the manner specified within 45 days of the receipt of this Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, cancel the PRSUs. If no such agreement is required, Schedule B shall state none or not applicable.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 - Administration
The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Associate, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the PRSUs. In its absolute discretion, the Committee may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan and this Agreement.
Section 7.2 - PRSUs Not Transferable
Neither the PRSUs nor any interest or right therein or part thereof shall be subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of the Associate or his successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that this Section 7.2 shall not prevent transfers made solely for estate planning purposes or under a will or by the applicable laws of inheritance.
Section 7.3 - Binding Effect
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
Section 7.4 - Notices
Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company at the following address:
Willis Towers Watson plc
c/o Matthew S. Furman
General Counsel
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
and any notice to be given to the Associate shall be at his address.
By a notice given pursuant to this Section 7.4, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to him. Any notice that is required to be given to the Associate shall, if the Associate is then deceased, be given to the Associate’s personal representatives if such representatives have previously informed the Company of their status and address by written notice under this Section 7.4. Any notice shall have been deemed duly given when sent by facsimile or enclosed in a properly sealed envelope or wrapper addressed as aforesaid, deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service or the United Kingdom’s Post Office or in the case of a notice given by an Associate resident outside the United States of America or the United Kingdom, sent by facsimile or by a recognized international courier service.
Section 7.5 - Titles
Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
Section 7.6 - Applicability of Plan
The PRSUs and the Shares underlying the PRSUs shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan, to the extent applicable to the PRSUs and the underlying Shares. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall control.
Section 7.7 - Amendment
This Agreement may be amended only by a document executed by the parties hereto, which specifically states that it is amending this Agreement.
Section 7.8 - Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland without regard to its conflicts of law provisions; provided, however, that the Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations as set forth in Schedule B, if applicable, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws specified in that agreement without regard to conflicts of law provisions.
Section 7.9 - Jurisdiction
The state and federal courts located in the County of New York, State of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes, which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and, for such purposes, the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts; provided, however, where applicable that with respect to the
Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations the courts specified in such agreements shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with that agreement.
Section 7.10 - Electronic Delivery and Acceptance
The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to current or future participation in the Plan by electronic means. The Associate hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through an on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or a third party broker/stock plan administrator designated by the Company. Further, to the extent that this Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Company electronically, the Associate accepts the electronic signature of the Company.
Section 7.11 - Choice of Language
By accepting the Agreement providing for the terms and conditions of the Associate’s grant, the Associate confirms having read and understood the documents relating to this grant (the Plan and the Agreement) which were provided in English language. The Associate accepts the terms of those documents accordingly.
Section 7.12 - Severability
The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
Section 7.13 - Schedule A
The PRSUs shall be subject to any special provisions set forth in Schedule A for the Associate’s country of residence, if any. If the Associate relocates to one of the countries included in Schedule A prior to the vesting of the PRSUs, the special provisions for such country shall apply to the Associate, to the extent the Company determines that the application of such provisions is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons. Schedule A constitutes part of this Agreement.
Section 7.14 - Imposition of Other Requirements
The Company reserves the right to impose other requirements on the PRSUs and the Shares acquired upon vesting of the PRSUs, to the extent the Company determines it is necessary or advisable for legal or administrative reasons, and to require the Associate to sign any additional agreements or undertakings that may be necessary to accomplish the foregoing.
Section 7.15 - Insider Trading / Market Abuse Laws
The Associate acknowledges that depending on the Associate's country, the Associate may be subject to insider trading restrictions and/or market abuse laws, which may affect his ability to acquire or sell Shares or rights to Shares (e.g., PRSUs) under the Plan during such times as the Associate is considered to have “inside information” regarding the Company (as defined by the laws in the Associate’s country). Any restrictions under these laws or regulations are separate from and in addition to any restrictions that may be imposed under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy. The Associate acknowledges that it is his responsibility to comply with any applicable restrictions, including those imposed under the Company’s Insider Trading Policy, and the Associate is advised to consult with his own personal legal and financial advisors on this matter before taking any action related to the Plan.
Section 7.16 - Foreign Asset/Account Reporting Requirements and Exchange Controls
The Associate's country may have certain foreign asset and/or foreign account reporting requirements and exchange controls which may affect the Associate's ability to acquire or hold Shares under the Plan or cash received
from participating in the Plan (including from any dividends paid on Shares, sale proceeds resulting from the sale of Shares acquired under the Plan) in a brokerage or bank account outside the Associate's country. The Associate may be required to report such accounts, assets or transactions to the tax or other authorities in the Associate's country. The Associate also may be required to repatriate sale proceeds or other funds received as a result of the Associate's participation in the Plan to the Associate's country through a designated bank or broker within a certain time after receipt. The Associate acknowledges that it is his responsibility to be compliant with such regulations, and the Associate should consult his personal legal advisor for any details.
Section 7.17 - Waiver
The Associate acknowledges that a waiver by the Company of breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, or of any subsequent breach by the Associate or any other Participant of the Plan.
Section 7.18 - Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including by facsimile), each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 7.19 - Code Section 409A
For purposes of United States taxpayers, it is intended that the terms of the PRSUs will comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations relating thereto so as not to subject the Associate to the payment of additional taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code, and this Agreement will be interpreted, operated and administered in a manner that is consistent with this intent. In furtherance of this intent, the Committee may adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, in each case, without the consent of the Associate, that the Committee determines are reasonable, necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related United States Department of Treasury guidance. In that light, the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Designated Associate Companies make no representation or covenant to ensure that the PRSUs that are intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code are not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee with respect thereto. Nothing in the Agreement shall provide a basis for any person to take action against the Company, its Subsidiaries or its Designated Associate Companies based on matters covered by Section 409A of the Code, including the tax treatment of any Shares or other payments made under the PRSUs granted hereunder, and the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Designated Associate Companies shall not under any circumstances have any liability to the Associate or his estate or any other party for any taxes, penalties or interest due on amounts paid or payable under this Agreement, including taxes, penalties or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code.
By the Associate’s execution or electronic acceptance of this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto) in the manner specified in the Associate’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Associate and the Company have agreed that the PRSUs are granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement (including the Schedules attached hereto).
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| WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY By: Name: Title: |
SCHEDULE A
COUNTRY-SPECIFIC APPENDIX TO RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement or the Plan.
Terms and Conditions
This Schedule A includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Award granted to the Associate under the Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time (the “Plan”) and the applicable Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Agreement (the “Agreement”) if the Associate resides in one of the countries listed below.
Notwithstanding Sections 1.13 and 3.2(c) of the Agreement, if the Company receives a legal opinion that there has been a legal judgment and/or legal development in the Associate’s jurisdiction that likely would result in the favorable treatment that applies to the PRSUs as a result of the Associate’s retirement or reaching a certain age being unlawful and/or discriminatory, the favorable treatment contemplated under Sections 1.13 and 3.2(c) shall not apply and Section 3.2 shall apply to the Associate without giving effect to Section 3.2(c).
Notifications
This Schedule A also includes information based on the securities, exchange control and other laws in effect in the Associate’s country as of September 2016. Such laws are often complex and change frequently. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that the Associate not rely on the information noted herein as the only source of information relating to the consequences of the Associate’s participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at the time the PRSUs vest under the Plan.
In addition, the information is general in nature. The Company is not providing the Associate with any tax advice with respect to the PRSUs. The information provided below may not apply to the Associate’s particular situation, and the Company is not in a position to assure the Associate of any particular result. Accordingly, the Associate should seek appropriate professional advice as to how the tax or other laws in the Associate’s country apply to the Associate’s situation.
Finally, if the Associate is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which the Associate is currently residing and/or working, transfers employment and/or residency after the Grant Date, or is considered a resident of another country for local law purposes, the terms and conditions contained herein for the country the Associate is residing and/or working in at the time of grant may not be applicable to the Associate, and the Company shall, in its discretion, determine to what extent the terms and conditions contained herein shall be applicable to the Associate Similarly, the information contained herein may no longer be applicable in the same manner.
IRELAND
Terms and Conditions
PRSU Payment
This provision supplements Section 2.2 of the Agreement:
Notwithstanding any discretion in the Plan or anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the PRSUs do not provide any right for the Associate to receive a cash payment and the PRSUs will be settled in Shares only.
Notifications
Director Reporting Obligation
If the Associate is a director, shadow director (an individual who is not on the board of directors of the Company or an Irish Subsidiary but who has sufficient control so that the board of directors of the Company or Irish Subsidiary, as applicable, acts in accordance with the directions and instructions of the individual) or secretary of the Company or an Irish Subsidiary, he must notify the Company or the Irish Subsidiary in writing if the Associate receives or disposes of an interest exceeding 1% of the Company (e.g., PRSUs, Shares, etc.), if Associate becomes aware of the event giving rise to the notification requirement, or if the Associate becomes a director or secretary if such an interest exists at the time. This notification requirement also applies with respect to the interests of a spouse or minor children (whose interests will be attributed to the director, shadow director or secretary).
UNITED KINGDOM
Terms and Conditions
PRSU Payment
This provision supplements Section 2.2 of the Agreement:
Notwithstanding any discretion in the Plan or anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the PRSUs do not provide any right for the Associate to receive a cash payment and the PRSUs will be settled in Shares only.
Tax Withholding
The following provisions supplement Section 2.5 of the Agreement:
The Associate agrees that if he does not pay, or the Employer or the Company does not withhold from the Associate, the full amount of Tax-Related Items that the Associate owes at vesting, or the release or assignment of the PRSUs for consideration, or the receipt of any other benefit in connection with the PRSUs (the “Taxable Event”), within 90 days of the end of the U.K. tax year in which the Taxable Event occurred, or such other period specified in section 222(1)(c) of the U.K. Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (the “Due Date”), then the amount of the uncollected income tax shall constitute a loan owed by the Associate to the Employer. The Associate agrees that the loan will bear interest at the official rate of HM Revenue & Customs (“HMRC”) and will be immediately due and repayable by the Associate, and the Company and/or the Employer may recover it at any time thereafter by withholding the funds from salary, bonus or any other funds due to the Associate by the Employer, by withholding in Shares issued at vesting or from the cash proceeds from the sale of Shares or by demanding cash or a check from the Associate. The Associate acknowledges that the Company or the Employer may recover any such additional income tax and National Insurance contributions (“NICs”) (including Employer NICs) at any time thereafter by any of the means referred to in Section 2.5 of the Agreement, although the Associate acknowledges that the Associate ultimately will be responsible for reporting any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Associate understands and agrees that if he is an executive officer or Director (as within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act), the Associate will not be eligible for such a loan to cover the income tax. In the event that the Associate is a Director or executive officer and the income tax is not
collected from or paid by him or her by the Due Date, the Associate understands that the amount of any uncollected Tax-Related Items will constitute a benefit to him on which additional income tax and NICs will be payable. The Associate understands and agrees that he will be responsible for reporting and paying any income tax due on this additional benefit directly to HMRC under the self-assessment regime and for reimbursing the Company or the Employer (as appropriate) for the value of any NICs due on this additional benefit.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Notifications
Exchange Control Information
Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), United States taxpayers who hold Shares or rights to acquire Shares (i.e., PRSUs) may be required to report certain information related to their holdings to the extent the aggregate value of the PRSUs/Shares exceeds certain thresholds (depending on the Associate’s filing status) with the Associate’s annual tax return. The Associate should consult with his personal tax or legal advisor regarding any FATCA reporting requirements with respect to the PRSUs or any Shares acquired under the Plan.
SCHEDULE B
AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE UNITED STATES
This Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations for Employees in the United States (the “RCA”) is entered into by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) and the participant (the “Participant”) to be effective as of the date the Participant signs or electronically accepts this RCA.
RECITALS
Whereas, Participant is employed by a Subsidiary of the Company;
Whereas, subject to approval by the Committee or the Company’s Share Award Committee, the Participant has been designated to receive a grant of performance-based restricted share units (“PRSUs” or “Awards”) under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);
Whereas, any Award granted to the Participant is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement evidencing the Participant’s Award (including any country specific terms thereto) and this RCA, and in consideration of the Award, the Participant shall enter into and acknowledge his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement and this RCA; and
Whereas, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she desires to receive the Award and understands and agrees any Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, the applicable award agreement and this RCA.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, in particular the Award, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged in this recital and within Section 6.4 below, the Parties hereto agree, with the intent to be bound, as follows:
Section 1 - Recitals
The Recitals set forth above are an integral part of this RCA, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2 - Definitions
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2.1 | “Award” shall have the meaning as set forth in the recitals. |
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2.2 | “Business” shall mean insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business performed by the Restricted Group. |
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2.3 | “Committee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or the applicable award agreement. |
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2.4 | “Competitor” shall mean any business principally engaged in insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business which is either performed by the Restricted Group or is a business in which the Restricted Group has taken steps toward engaging. |
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2.5 | “Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets and non-public information concerning the financial data, strategic business plans, and other non-public, proprietary, and confidential information of the Restricted Group. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following information: identities of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; identities of companies from which any Subsidiary obtains insurance coverage for Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; policy terms, conditions, rates and expiration dates pertaining to Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; risk characteristics of Relevant Clients and Relevant Prospects; and non-public information of the |
Restricted Group concerning insurance markets for particular risks. Confidential Information shall not include information that is within public domain, provided that Participant was not responsible, directly or indirectly, for such information entering the public domain without the Restricted Group’s consent.
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2.6 | “Directly or indirectly” shall mean the Participant acting either alone or jointly with or on behalf of or by means of or in concert with any other person, firm or company (whether as principal, partner, manager, employee, contractor, director, consultant, investor or similar capacity) or otherwise. |
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2.7 | “Employer” shall mean the Subsidiary that employs the Participant. If the Company ever becomes an employer of the Participant, then the term Employer shall refer to the Company. |
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2.8 | “Employment Agreement” shall mean the contractual terms and conditions which govern the employment of the Participant by Employer. |
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2.9 | “Key Personnel” shall mean any person who is at the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of Employer or was (i) at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to that date employed by the Restricted Group, (ii) an employee with whom Participant had dealings, and (iii) employed by or engaged in the Business in a managerial capacity, or was an employee with insurance, reinsurance or other technical expertise. |
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2.10 | “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals. |
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2.11 | “Relevant Area” shall mean the counties, parishes, districts, municipalities, cities, metropolitan regions, localities and similar geographic and political subdivisions, within and outside of the United States of America, in which the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has carried on Business in which the Participant has been involved or concerned or working on at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer. |
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2.12 | “Relevant Client” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve (12) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer is or was a client or customer of the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or was in the habit and/or practice of dealing under contract with the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and with whom or which the Participant had dealings related to the Business) or for whose relationship with the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the Participant had responsibility at any time during the said period. |
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2.13 | “Relevant Period” shall mean the period of twenty four (24) months following the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer. |
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2.14 | “Relevant Prospect” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of six (6) months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer was an active prospective client of the Employer, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with whom or with which the Participant had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way). |
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2.15 | “Restricted Group” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the Employer, as in existence during the Participant’s employment with Employer and as of the date such employment ceases. |
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2.16 | “Subsidiary” shall mean a direct and/or indirect subsidiary of the Company as well as any associate company which is designated by the Company as being eligible for participation in the Plan. |
Section 3 - Non-Solicit and Other Obligations
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3.1 | The Participant acknowledges that by virtue of his or her management position and as an employee of Employer, the Participant has acquired and will acquire knowledge of Confidential Information of the Restricted Group and their Business. The Participant further acknowledges that the Confidential Information which the Restricted Group has provided and will provide to the Participant would give the Participant a significant advantage if the Participant were to directly or indirectly be engaged in any Business at a Competitor of the Restricted Group. |
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3.2 | Without the Company’s prior written consent, the Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, disclose any Confidential Information and shall use the Participant’s best efforts to prevent the taking or disclosure of any Confidential Information to a Competitor, or otherwise, except as reasonably may be required to be disclosed by the Participant in the ordinary performance of his or her duties for Employer or as required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you understand that if you make a confidential disclosure of a trade secret of the Company or other Confidential Information to a government official or an attorney for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law, or in a court filing under seal, or otherwise engage in activities protected under whistleblower statutes, you shall not be held liable under this Agreement or under any federal or state trade secret law for such a disclosure or engaging of such activity and shall also not be required to notify the Company of any such disclosure or engaging of any such activity. |
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3.3 | The Participant shall not, for the Relevant Period, directly or indirectly for a Competitor or otherwise: |
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3.3.1 | within the Relevant Area, solicit any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group; |
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3.3.2 | within the Relevant Area, accept, perform services for, or deal with any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group; |
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3.3.3 | solicit for employment or entice away from the Restricted Group any Key Personnel; or |
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3.3.4 | employ or engage or endeavour to employ or engage any Key Personnel. |
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3.4 | To the extent the Participant is a party to an Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary that contains post-employment covenants and restrictions, those post-employment covenants and restrictions shall be separate and apart and independent from the covenants and restrictions set forth in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 herein. |
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3.5 | The Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, take any action or make any statement, written or oral, that disparages or criticizes the business or management of the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary or any of its or their respective directors, officers, agents, employees, products or services. Nothing contained herein limits or restricts any rights Participant may have to engage in protected concerted activity under the National Labor Relations Act. |
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3.6 | The Participant recognizes and agrees that the payment of damages will not be an adequate remedy for any breach by Participant of any of the covenants set forth in Section 3 of this RCA. Participant recognizes that irreparable injury will result to Company and/or its Subsidiaries in the event of any such breach and therefore Participant agrees that Company may, in addition to recovering damages, proceed in equity to enjoin Participant from violating any such covenant. |
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3.7 | The Participant acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group. |
Section 4 - Governing Law & Jurisdiction
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4.1 | This RCA shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. |
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4.2 | Any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this RCA shall only be brought in the State and Federal Courts located in the County of New York, State of New York and the Parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally submit accordingly to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action or proceeding. The Participant hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objections he or she may now have or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this RCA in the foregoing courts. The Participant further acknowledges that for purposes of N.Y.C.P.L.R. 327(b) and N.Y. G.O.L. Section 5-1402, the value of the Plan is in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and the Participant hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in the foregoing courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum. |
Section 5 - Consideration, Severability, Beneficiaries & Effect on other agreements
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5.1 | The Parties acknowledge that the provisions of this RCA are severable. If any part or provision of this RCA shall be determined by any court or tribunal to be invalid, then such partial invalidity shall not cause the remainder of this RCA to be or become invalid. If any provision hereof is held unenforceable on the basis that it exceeds what is reasonable for the protection of the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group, but would be valid if part of the wording were modified or deleted, as permitted by applicable law, then such restriction or obligation shall apply with such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make it enforceable. |
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5.2 | The Participant acknowledges that he or she remains bound by any Employment Agreement or any other agreement currently in effect by and between the Participant, on the one hand, and the Employer, the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, including but not limited to any post-employment covenants and restrictions, and this RCA shall be in addition to, and not in place of any such agreements. |
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5.3 | Nothing contained in this RCA constitutes a promise or agreement to employ the Participant for a guaranteed term or otherwise modify the terms and conditions of the Participant’s employment with the Employer. |
Section 6 - Miscellaneous
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6.1 | This RCA, and the provisions hereof, may not be modified, amended, terminated, or limited in any fashion except by written agreement signed by both parties hereto, which specifically states that it is modifying, amending or terminating this RCA. |
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6.2 | The rights and remedies of the Restricted Group under this RCA shall inure to the benefit of any and all of its/their successors, assigns, parent companies, sister companies, subsidiaries and other affiliated corporations, and the successors and assigns of each of them. |
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6.3 | The waiver by either party of any breach of this RCA shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that party’s rights on any subsequent breach. |
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6.4 | The Participant acknowledges that the Award constitutes adequate consideration to support the covenants and promises made by the Participant within this RCA regardless of whether such Award is ultimately beneficial to Participant. |
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6.5 | The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Participant shall be obliged to draw the provisions of Section 3 of this RCA to the attention of any third party who may, at any time before or after the termination of the Participant’s employment with Employer, offer to employ or engage him or her and for or with whom Participant intends to work within the Relevant Period. |
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6.6 | The various section headings contained in this RCA are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of such sections. |
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6.7 | This RCA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document. This RCA will be binding, notwithstanding that either party’s signature is displayed only on a facsimile or electronic copy of the signature page. |
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6.8 | Any provisions which by their nature survive termination of this RCA, including the obligations set forth in Sections 3 and 4, shall survive termination of this RCA. |
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6.9 | This RCA has been executed on behalf of the Company electronically and the Participant accepts the electronic signature of the Company. |
By the Participant’s execution or electronic acceptance of this RCA in the manner specified in the Participant’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Participant and the Company have agreed to the terms and conditions of this RCA in connection with the Participant’s Award.
Signed for and on behalf of
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:
/s/ _________________
Name:
Title:
Participant:
Signature: ___________________________________________
Print Name: __________________________________________
AGREEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES
This Agreement of Restrictive Covenants and Other Obligations for Employees Outside of the United States (the “Non-U.S. RCA”) is entered into by and between Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) and the participant (the “Participant”) to be effective as of the date the Participant signs or electronically accepts this Non-U.S. RCA.
RECITALS
Whereas, Participant is employed by a Subsidiary of the Company;
Whereas, subject to approval by the Committee or the Company’s Share Award Committee, the Participant has been designated to receive a grant of performance-based restricted share units (“PRSUs” or “Awards”) under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);
Whereas, any Award granted to the Participant is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement evidencing the Participant’s Award (including any country specific terms thereto) and this Non-U.S. RCA, and in consideration of the Award, the Participant shall enter into and acknowledge his or her agreement to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the award agreement and this RCA; and
Whereas, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that he or she desires to receive the Award and understands and agrees such Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Plan, the award agreement and this Non-U.S. RCA and such other written agreements and documentation as the Company or the Employer may require.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises contained herein and for other valuable consideration, in particular the Awards, the sufficiency of which is acknowledged in this recital and within Section 5.4 below, the parties hereby agree as follows:
Section 1 - Recitals
The Recitals set forth above are an integral part of this Non-U.S. RCA, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2 - Definitions
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2.1 | “Award” shall have the meaning as set forth in the recitals. |
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2.2 | “Business” shall mean insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business performed by the Restricted Group. |
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2.3 | “Committee” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the Plan or the applicable award agreement. |
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2.4 | “Competitor” shall mean any business principally engaged in insurance brokerage, reinsurance brokerage, surety brokerage, bond brokerage, insurance agency, underwriting agency, managing general agency, risk management, claims administration, self-insurance, risk management consulting or other business which is either performed by the Restricted Group or is a business in which the Restricted Group has taken steps toward engaging. It is further provided that Competitor includes, but is not limited to, the following businesses and their respective subsidiaries and/or other affiliates: Aon Corporation, Arthur J Gallagher & Co and Marsh Incorporated. |
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2.5 | “Confidential Information” shall mean all trade secrets and non-public information concerning the financial data, strategic business plans, and other non-public, proprietary, and confidential information of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. |
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2.6 | “directly or indirectly” shall mean the Participant acting either alone or jointly with or on behalf of or by means of any other person, firm or company (whether as principal, partner, manager, employee, contractor, director, consultant, investor or similar capacity). |
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2.7 | “Employer” shall mean the Subsidiary that employs the Participant. If the Company ever becomes an employer of the Participant, then the term Employer shall refer to the Company. |
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2.8 | “Employment Agreement” shall mean the contractual terms and conditions which govern the employment of the Participant by Employer. |
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2.9 | “Garden Leave” shall mean any period during any notice period where Employer requires the Participant to remain available to respond to questions and requests from the Employer, but not to enter into the office(s) of the Restricted Group without the prior written consent of Employer. |
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2.10 | “Key Personnel” shall mean any person who is at the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of Employer or was at any time during the period of twelve months prior to that date employed by the Restricted Group and who was an employee with whom the Participant had dealings other than in a minimal and non-material way and who was employed by or engaged in the Business in an executive or senior managerial capacity, or was an employee with insurance, reinsurance or other technical expertise. |
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2.11 | “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals. |
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2.12 | “Relevant Area” shall mean: such country or countries in which the Participant has carried on Business on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Participant has been involved or concerned or worked on other than in a minimal and non-material way at any time during the period of 12 months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer. |
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2.13 | “Relevant Client” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer is or was a client or customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or was in the habit and/or practice of dealing under contract with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and with whom or which the Participant had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way) or for whose relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the Participant had responsibility at any time during the said period. |
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2.14 | “Relevant Period” shall mean the period of twelve months following the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer reduced by the length of any period of Garden Leave (if applicable) observed by the Participant at the instruction of Employer. |
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2.15 | “Relevant Prospect” shall mean any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the period of twelve months prior to the date on which the Participant ceases to be employed by Employer was an active prospective client of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with whom or with which the Participant had dealings related to the Business (other than in a minimal and non-material way). |
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2.16 | “Restricted Group” shall mean the Company and its Subsidiaries, as in existence during the Participant’s employment with Employer and as of the date such employment ceases. |
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2.17 | “Subsidiary” shall mean a direct and/or indirect subsidiary of the Company as well as any associate company which is designated by the Company as being eligible for participation in the Plan. |
Section 3 - Non-Solicit and Other Obligations
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3.1 | The Participant acknowledges that by virtue of his or her senior management position and as an employee of Employer, the Participant has acquired and will acquire knowledge of Confidential Information of the Restricted Group and their Business. The Participant further acknowledges that the Confidential Information which the Restricted Group has provided and will provide to the Participant |
would give the Participant a significant advantage if the Participant were to directly or indirectly be engaged in any Business at a Competitor of the Restricted Group.
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3.2 | Without the Company’s prior written consent, the Participant shall not directly or indirectly, at any time during or after the Participant’s employment with any Employer, disclose any Confidential Information and shall use the Participant’s best efforts to prevent the taking or disclosure of any Confidential Information, except as reasonably may be required to be disclosed by the Participant in the ordinary performance of his or her duties for Employer or as required by law. Notwithstanding, you understand that if you make a confidential disclosure of a trade secret of the Company or other Confidential Information to a government official or an attorney for the sole purpose of reporting a suspected violation of law, or in a court filing under seal, or otherwise engage in activities protected under whistleblower statutes, you shall not be held liable under this Agreement or under any federal or state trade secret law for such a disclosure or engaging of such activity and shall also not be required to notify the Company of any such disclosure or engaging of any such activity. |
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3.3 | The Participant shall provide a minimum of three months notice or such notice contained in the Participant’s Employment Agreement, whichever is the longer, in the event of his or her resignation from employment with Employer. The Participant shall provide a written resignation letter to Employer prior to the commencement of any such notice period. To the extent allowed by applicable law, the Participant may be placed on Garden Leave for all or any portion of any notice period. During the notice period, whether or not the Participant is on Garden Leave, the Participant shall remain an employee of Employer and shall continue to receive the Participant’s full salary and benefits. The Company or Employer shall have the discretion to apply a shorter period than the three-month period set forth in 3.3. |
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3.4 | The Participant shall not, for the Relevant Period, directly or indirectly: |
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3.4.1 | within the Relevant Area, solicit any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group; |
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3.4.2 | within the Relevant Area, accept, perform services for, or deal with any Relevant Client or Relevant Prospect for the purposes of any Business which competes or will compete or seeks to compete with the Restricted Group; |
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3.4.3 | solicit for employment or entice away from the Restricted Group any Key Personnel; or |
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3.4.4 | employ or engage or endeavour to employ or engage any Key Personnel. |
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3.5 | To the extent the Participant is a party to an Employment Agreement or other agreement with the Restricted Group that contains post-employment restrictions, those post-employment restrictions shall run concurrently with the post-employment restrictions contained in this Section 3. |
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3.6 | The Participant acknowledges that the provisions of this Section 3 are fair, reasonable and necessary to protect the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group. |
Section 4 - Non-Disparagement
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4.1 | The Employer and Participant agree not to act in any manner detrimental to each other or cause to be made any derogatory statements concerning each other (including an obligation on the Employer and Participant not to make any statement whether oral or in writing which may have the effect of damaging the reputation of the other) including, in Participant’s case, concerning the business, officers, employees, directors (including any non-executive directors or former directors), consultants, agents, distributors, clients or customers (whether former or current) or otherwise of the Restricted Group. |
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4.2 | The Employer and Participant further agree that without the prior written consent of the other party they shall not make, or cause to be made, any statement or comment to the press (whether local, |
national or specialist) or any other media concerning Participant’s employment with the Employer or, where applicable, his or her termination of employment for any reason.
Section 5 - Governing Law & Jurisdiction
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5.1 | This Non-U.S. RCA shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Participant is employed by Employer, without regard to its conflict of laws. |
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5.2 | The courts of the jurisdiction in which the Participant is employed by Employer shall have jurisdiction to hear any suit, action or proceeding and to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with this Non-U.S. RCA and for such purposes the parties hereto irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts. |
Section 6 - Consideration, Severability, Beneficiaries & Effect on other agreements
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6.1 | The Participant acknowledges that the covenants and undertakings he or she has made herein, including those made in Section 3, are being given for the benefit of the Restricted Group, including Employer, and may be enforced by the Company and/or by its Subsidiaries, including for avoidance of doubt, Employer, on behalf of all or any of them and that such Subsidiaries are intended beneficiaries of this Non-U.S. RCA. |
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6.2 | The parties acknowledge that the provisions of this Non-U.S. RCA are severable. If any part or provision of this Non-U.S. RCA shall be determined by any court or tribunal to be invalid, then such partial invalidity shall not cause the remainder of this Non-U.S. RCA to be or become invalid. If any provision hereof is held unenforceable on the basis that it exceeds what is reasonable for the protection of the goodwill and interests of the Restricted Group, but would be valid if part of the wording were modified or deleted, as permitted by applicable law, then such restriction or obligation shall apply with such deletions or modifications as may be necessary to make it enforceable. |
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6.3 | The Participant acknowledges that he or she remains bound by any Employment Agreement or any other agreement entered into by the Participant with the Restricted Group and this Non-U.S. RCA shall be in addition to, and not in place of any such agreements. The Participant further acknowledges that in the event of any breach by the Participant of any provision contained in such agreements or this Non-U.S. RCA, the Company and/or any Subsidiary, including for avoidance of doubt Employer, may, in their discretion, enforce any term and condition of those agreements and/or this Non-U.S. RCA. |
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6.4 | The Participant acknowledges that any Awards, separately and/or together, constitute adequate consideration to support the covenants and promises made by the Participant within this Non-U.S. RCA. |
Section 7 - Miscellaneous
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7.1 | This Non-U.S. RCA may not be modified except by written agreement signed by both parties hereto. |
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7.2 | The rights of the Restricted Group under this Non-U.S. RCA shall inure to the benefit of any and all of its/their successors, assigns, parent companies, sister companies, subsidiaries and other affiliated corporations. |
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7.3 | The waiver by either party of any breach of this Non-U.S. RCA shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of that party’s rights on any subsequent breach. |
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7.4 | The Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Participant shall be obliged to draw the provisions of Section 3 to the attention of any third party who may, at any time before or after the termination of the Participant’s employment with Employer, offer to employ or engage him or her and for or with whom the Participant intends to work within the Relevant Period. |
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7.5 | The various section headings contained in this Non-U.S. RCA are for the purpose of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the contents of such sections. |
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7.6 | This Non-U.S. RCA may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same document. This Non-U.S. RCA will be binding, notwithstanding that either party’s signature is displayed only on a facsimile copy of the signature page. |
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7.7 | Any provisions which by their nature survive termination of this Non-U.S. RCA, including the obligations set forth in Sections 3 and 4 shall survive termination of this Non-U.S. RCA. |
By the Participant’s execution or electronic acceptance of this RCA in the manner specified in the Participant’s online account with the Company’s designated broker/stock plan administrator, the Participant and the Company have agreed to the terms and conditions of this RCA in connection with the Participant’s Award.
Signed for and on behalf of
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company by:
/s/
Name:
Title:
Participant:
Signature: ___________________________________________
Print Name: __________________________________________
Exhibit
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14 AND 15d-14
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, John J. Haley, certify that:
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1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company; |
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2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
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3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
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4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
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(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
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(b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
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(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
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(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
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5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and to the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): |
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(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
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(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
|
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Date: November 7, 2016 | |
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/s/ John J. Haley | |
John J. Haley | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
Exhibit
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT RULES 13a-14 AND 15d-14
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Roger F. Millay, certify that:
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1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company; |
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2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
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3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
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4. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
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(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
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(b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
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(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
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(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and |
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5. | The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and to the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): |
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(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
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(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. |
|
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Date: November 7, 2016 | |
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/s/ Roger F. Millay | |
Roger F. Millay | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
Exhibit
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Each of the undersigned hereby certifies, in his capacity as an officer of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, for purposes of 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to the best of his knowledge:
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• | The Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2016, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
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• | The information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. |
|
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Date: November 7, 2016 | |
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/s/ John J. Haley | |
John J. Haley | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
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/s/ Roger F. Millay | |
Roger F. Millay | |
Chief Financial Officer | |
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and will be retained by Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.