8-K
WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PLC false 0001140536 0001140536 2024-05-22 2024-05-22

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 22, 2024

 

 

Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Ireland   001-16503   98-0352587

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

c/o Willis Group Limited, 51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ, England
(Address, including Zip Code, of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (011) 44-20-3124-6000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange
on which registered

Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.000304635 per share   WTW   NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

 

 


Item 5.07

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On May 22, 2024, Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company (the “Company”) held its 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “2024 AGM”). Proxies for the 2024 AGM were solicited pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and there was no solicitation in opposition to the Company’s solicitation.

A total of 91,841,782 ordinary shares (representing approximately 89.81% of 102,257,774 ordinary shares outstanding and entitled to vote as of March 25, 2024, the record date for the 2024 AGM) were present in person or by proxy, constituted a quorum for the transaction of business, and were voted at the 2024 AGM. As described below, the Company’s shareholders approved each of the proposals considered at the 2024 AGM.

The shareholders elected each of the director nominees, who are named in the table below, to serve as directors effective as of the date of the 2024 AGM until the next annual general meeting of shareholders or until his/her successor is elected and qualified. The table below sets forth the number of votes cast for and against each director, as well as abstentions and broker non-votes:

 

DIRECTOR    FOR    AGAINST    ABSTAIN    BROKER NON-VOTES

Dame Inga Beale

   87,527,910    194,540    66,286    4,053,046

Fumbi Chima

   86,843,548    880,815    64,373    4,053,046

Stephen Chipman

   87,524,863    191,684    72,189    4,053,046

Michael Hammond

   87,459,541    260,487    68,708    4,053,046

Carl Hess

   83,812,467    3,910,459    65,810    4,053,046

Jacqueline Hunt

   86,745,892    971,348    71,496    4,053,046

Paul Reilly

   86,659,094    1,057,256    72,386    4,053,046

Michelle Swanback

   86,516,328    1,204,566    67,842    4,053,046

Paul Thomas

   83,661,442    4,062,088    65,206    4,053,046

Fredric Tomczyk

   86,712,220    1,004,042    72,474    4,053,046

The shareholders ratified, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the selection of (i) Deloitte & Touche LLP to audit the Company’s financial statements and (ii) Deloitte Ireland LLP to audit the Company’s Irish Statutory Accounts, and authorized, in a binding vote, the Company’s Board of Directors, acting through the Audit and Risk Committee, to fix the independent auditors’ remuneration. Of the shares voted, 91,717,077 voted in favor, 64,427 voted against and 60,278 abstained.

The shareholders approved, on an advisory, non-binding basis, the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2024 AGM in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules, including the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” the “Summary Compensation” table and the related tables and disclosure. Of the shares voted, 78,725,921 voted in favor, 8,959,473 voted against, 103,342 abstained and there were 4,053,046 broker non-votes.

The shareholders approved the renewal of the directors’ existing authority to issue shares under Irish law up to approximately 20% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital. Of the shares voted, 90,769,425 voted in favor, 996,157 voted against and 76,200 abstained.

The shareholders approved the renewal of the directors’ existing authority to opt out of statutory pre-emption rights under Irish law for rights issues and, separately, for issuances up to approximately 10% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital. Of the shares voted, 90,578,724 voted in favor, 1,183,038 voted against and 80,020 abstained.

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 24, 2024  

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

    By:  

/s/ Matthew Furman

      Matthew Furman
      General Counsel