UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017

March 31, 2020

OR

¨

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period fromto

Commission File Number: 001-16503

wltwlogo.jpg

WILLIS TOWERS WATSON PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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)

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

WLTW

NASDAQ Global Select Market

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, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of ‘large accelerated filer’, ‘accelerated filer’, ‘smaller reporting company’, and ‘emerging growth company’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer    þ

Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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. ¨

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 1, 2017,April 27, 2020, there were outstanding 132,038,819128,735,691 ordinary shares, nominal value $0.000304635 per share, of the registrant.





WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

For theThree and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

March 31, 2020

Page

Certain Definitions

3

Page

4

6

6

6

7

8

9

10

30

46

46

48

48

48

49

49

49

49

50

51




Certain Definitions

The following definitions apply throughout this quarterly report unless the context requires otherwise:

We,’ ‘Us,’ ‘Company,’We’, ‘Us’, ‘Company’, ‘Willis Towers Watson,’ ‘Our,’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

‘shares’

The ordinary shares of Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company, nominal value $0.000304635 per share

‘Legacy Willis’ or ‘Willis’

Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company and its subsidiaries, predecessor to Willis Towers Watson, prior to the Merger

‘Legacy Towers Watson’ or ‘Towers Watson’

Towers Watson & Co. and its subsidiaries

‘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

Gras Savoye’TRANZACT’

GS & Cie Groupe SAS

CD&R TZ Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, doing business as TRANZACT

‘U.S.’

United States

‘U.K.’

United Kingdom

‘Brexit’

The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, which occurred on January 31, 2020.

‘E.U.’

European Union or European Union 27 (the number of member countries following the United Kingdom’s exit)

‘U.S. GAAP’

United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

‘FASB’

Financial Accounting Standards Board

‘ASU’

Accounting Standards Update

‘ASC’

Accounting Standards Codification

‘SEC’

Securities and Exchange Commission




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, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, our pending business combination with Aon plc, future capital expenditures, ongoing working capital efforts, future share repurchases, growth in commissionsrevenue, the impact of changes to tax laws on our financial results, existing and fees,evolving business strategies and planned acquisitions (including the acquisitions of TRANZACT and Unity Group) and dispositions, demand for our services andcompetitive strengths, goals, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of our business and operations, our ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational and technology changes, including investments in improving systems and processes, and plans and references to future successes, and the benefits of the Merger, including our 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:

our ability to successfully establish, execute and achieve our global business strategy as it evolves;

changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets;

changes in demand for our services, including any decline in consulting services, defined benefit pension plans or the purchasing of insurance;

consolidation in or conditions affecting the industries in which we operate;

changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets;

any changes in the regulatory environment in which the Company operates, including, among other risks, the impact of pending competition law and regulatory investigations;

the risk that the COVID-19 pandemic materially and adversely impacts the demand for our products and services and cash flows, and/or continues to materially impact our business operations;

our ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes;

the risks relating to our pending business combination with Aon plc announced in March 2020, including, among others, our ability to consummate the transaction, including on the terms of the business combination agreement, on the anticipated timeline, and/or with the required shareholder and regulatory approvals;

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;

significant competition that we face and the potential for loss of market share and/or profitability;

the potential impact of the Merger on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, clients and competitors;

the impact of seasonality and differences in timing of renewals;

significant competition that we face and the potential for loss of market share and/or profitability;

the failure to protect client data or breaches of information systems or insufficient safeguards against cybersecurity breaches or incidents;

compliance with extensive government regulation;

the risk of increased liability or new legal claims arising from our new and existing products and services, and expectations, intentions and outcomes relating to outstanding litigation;

our ability to make divestitures or acquisitions and our ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses;

the risk the Stanford litigation settlement approval will be overturned on appeal, the risk that the Stanford bar order may be challenged in other jurisdictions, and the risk that the charge related to the Stanford settlement may not be deductible;

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;

the risk of material adverse outcomes on existing litigation or investigation matters;

expectations, intentions and outcomes relating to outstanding litigation;

changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including, among other risks, the impacts of pending competition law and regulatory investigations;

the impact of seasonality and differences in timing of renewals;

various claims, government inquiries or investigations or the potential for regulatory action;

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;

our ability to make divestitures or acquisitions and our ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses (including the recently-completed acquisitions of TRANZACT and Unity Group);

the risk of material adverse outcomes on existing litigation or investigation matters;

our ability to integrate direct-to-consumer sales and marketing solutions with our existing offerings and solutions;

the diversion of time and attention of our management team while the Merger and other acquisitions are being integrated;

our ability to comply with complex and evolving regulations related to data privacy and cyber security;

doing business internationally, including the impact of exchange rates;

our ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes, including investments in improving systems and processes;

the potential impact of the United Kingdom’s (‘U.K.’) government triggering Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon, giving formal notice of the U.K.’s intention to withdraw from membership in the European Union (‘E.U.’), referred to as Brexit;

disasters or business continuity problems;

the federal income tax consequences of the Merger and the enactment of additional, or the revision of existing, state, federal, and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations, including changes in tax rates;
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;

the impact of Brexit;



our ability to successfully enhance our billing, collection and other working capital efforts, and thereby increase our free cash flow;

our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all;

the potential impact of the change in the method for determining the London Interbank Offered Rate (‘LIBOR’);

adverse changes in our credit ratings;

our ability to properly identify and manage conflicts of interest;

the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the Merger cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

reputational damage, including from association with third parties;

our ability to retain and hire key personnel;

reliance on third-party services;

a decline in the defined benefit pension plan market;

the loss of key employees;

various claims, government inquiries or investigations or the potential for regulatory action;

doing business internationally, including the impact of exchange rates;

failure to protect client data or breaches of information systems;

compliance with extensive government regulation;

reputational damage;

the risk of sanctions imposed by governments, or changes to associated sanction regulations;

disasters or business continuity problems;

our ability to effectively apply technology, data and analytics changes for internal operations, maintaining industry standards and meeting client preferences;

clients choosing to reduce or terminate the services provided by us;

changes and developments in the insurance industry or the U.S. healthcare system, including those related to Medicare;

fluctuation in revenues against our relatively fixed expenses;

the risk that we may not be able to repurchase the intended number of outstanding shares due to M&A activity or investment opportunities, market or business conditions, or other factors;

technological change;

the inability to protect the Company’s intellectual property rights, or the potential infringement upon the intellectual property rights of others;

the inability to protect intellectual property rights, or the potential infringement upon the intellectual property rights of others;

fluctuations in our pension assets and liabilities;

fluctuations in our pension liabilities;

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;

loss of, failure to maintain, or dependence on certain relationships with insurance carriers;

our ability to obtain financing on favorable terms or at all;

changes and developments in the United States healthcare system;

adverse changes in our credit ratings;

reliance on third-party services;

the impact of recent changes to U.S. tax laws, including on our effective tax rate, and the enactment of additional, or the revision of existing, state, federal, and/or foreign regulatory and tax laws and regulations;

our holding company structure could prevent us from being able to receive dividends or other distributions in needed amounts from our subsidiaries; and

U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. persons owning at least 10% of our shares;

changes in accounting estimates and assumptions.

changes in accounting principles, estimates or assumptions;

fluctuation in revenue against our relatively fixed or higher than expected expenses;

the laws of Ireland being different from the laws of the U.S. and potentially affording less protections to the holders of our securities; and

our holding company structure potentially preventing us from being able to receive dividends or other distributions in needed amounts from our subsidiaries.

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.SEC. 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 Comprehensive Income

(In millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Revenue

 

$

2,466

 

 

$

2,312

 

Costs of providing services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

 

1,394

 

 

 

1,348

 

Other operating expenses

 

 

484

 

 

 

418

 

Depreciation

 

 

98

 

 

 

54

 

Amortization

 

 

121

 

 

 

127

 

Transaction and integration expenses

 

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

Total costs of providing services

 

 

2,106

 

 

 

1,953

 

Income from operations

 

 

360

 

 

 

359

 

Interest expense

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(54

)

Other income, net

 

 

92

 

 

 

55

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

391

 

 

 

360

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

(78

)

 

 

(67

)

NET INCOME

 

 

313

 

 

 

293

 

Income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(6

)

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

 

$

305

 

 

$

287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

2.36

 

 

$

2.21

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

2.34

 

 

$

2.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests

 

$

93

 

 

$

315

 

Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

(7

)

 

 

(5

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson

 

$

86

 

 

$

310

 

(Unaudited)
  Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2017
2016 2017 2016
Revenues        
Commissions and fees $1,832
 $1,761
 $6,065
 $5,874
Interest and other income 20
 16
 59
 86
Total revenues 1,852
 1,777
 6,124
 5,960
Costs of providing services        
Salaries and benefits 1,145
 1,119
 3,484
 3,519
Other operating expenses 366
 370
 1,158
 1,171
Depreciation 54
 45
 151
 132
Amortization 141
 157
 441
 443
Restructuring costs 31
 49
 85
 115
Transaction and integration expenses 74
 36
 177
 117
Total costs of providing services 1,811
 1,776
 5,496
 5,497
Income from operations 41
 1
 628

463
Interest expense 47
 45
 139
 138
Other expense, net 29
 14
 79
 26
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES (35) (58) 410
 299
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes 19

(26) 73

11
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES (54) (32) 337
 288
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax 
 1
 2
 2
NET (LOSS)/INCOME (54) (31) 339
 290
Income attributable to non-controlling interests 
 (1) (16) (12)
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON $(54) $(32) $323
 $278
        
EARNINGS PER SHARE     
 
Basic (loss)/earnings per share $(0.40) $(0.23) $2.38
 $2.03
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share $(0.40) $(0.23) $2.36
 $2.00
        
Cash dividends declared per share $0.53
 $0.48
 $1.59
 $1.44
         
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests $34
 $(73) $546
 $96
Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to non-controlling interests 12
 1
 (15) (2)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson $46
 $(72) $531
 $94

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)  

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

898

 

 

$

887

 

Fiduciary assets

 

 

15,589

 

 

 

13,004

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

2,594

 

 

 

2,621

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

 

469

 

 

 

525

 

Total current assets

 

 

19,550

 

 

 

17,037

 

Fixed assets, net

 

 

974

 

 

 

1,046

 

Goodwill

 

 

11,162

 

 

 

11,194

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

 

3,360

 

 

 

3,478

 

Right-of-use assets

 

 

906

 

 

 

968

 

Pension benefits assets

 

 

915

 

 

 

868

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

860

 

 

 

835

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

18,177

 

 

 

18,389

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

37,727

 

 

$

35,426

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiduciary liabilities

 

$

15,589

 

 

$

13,004

 

Deferred revenue and accrued expenses

 

 

1,329

 

 

 

1,784

 

Current debt

 

 

697

 

 

 

316

 

Current lease liabilities

 

 

151

 

 

 

164

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

858

 

 

 

802

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

18,624

 

 

 

16,070

 

Long-term debt

 

 

5,177

 

 

 

5,301

 

Liability for pension benefits

 

 

1,261

 

 

 

1,324

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

501

 

 

 

526

 

Provision for liabilities

 

 

541

 

 

 

537

 

Long-term lease liabilities

 

 

914

 

 

 

964

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

320

 

 

 

335

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

8,714

 

 

 

8,987

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

 

 

27,338

 

 

 

25,057

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITY (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

10,703

 

 

 

10,687

 

Retained earnings

 

 

2,009

 

 

 

1,792

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

(2,446

)

 

 

(2,227

)

Treasury shares, at cost, 17,519 shares in 2020 and 2019, and 40,000 shares,

   €1 nominal value, in 2020 and 2019

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(3

)

Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity

 

 

10,263

 

 

 

10,249

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

126

 

 

 

120

 

Total equity

 

 

10,389

 

 

 

10,369

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

$

37,727

 

 

$

35,426

 

(Unaudited)
  September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
ASSETS    
Cash and cash equivalents $912
 $870
Fiduciary assets 12,206
 10,505
Accounts receivable, net 2,155
 2,080
Prepaid and other current assets 418
 337
Total current assets 15,691
 13,792
Fixed assets, net 937
 839
Goodwill 10,529
 10,413
Other intangible assets, net 4,034
 4,368
Pension benefits assets 649
 488
Other non-current assets 432
 353
Total non-current assets 16,581
 16,461
TOTAL ASSETS $32,272
 $30,253
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY    
Fiduciary liabilities $12,206
 $10,505
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses 1,472
 1,481
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt 85
 508
Other current liabilities 793
 876
Total current liabilities 14,556
 13,370
Long-term debt 4,493
 3,357
Liability for pension benefits 1,207
 1,321
Deferred tax liabilities 856
 864
Provision for liabilities 603
 575
Other non-current liabilities 476
 532
Total non-current liabilities 7,635
 6,649
TOTAL LIABILITIES 22,191
 20,019
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 
 
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST 55
 51
EQUITY (i)
    
Additional paid-in capital 10,501
 10,596
Retained earnings 1,130
 1,452
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (1,676) (1,884)
Treasury shares, at cost, 263,899 shares in 2017 and 795,816 shares in 2016, and 40,000 shares, €1 nominal value, in 2017 and 2016 (40) (99)
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity 9,915
 10,065
Non-controlling interests 111
 118
Total equity 10,026
 10,183
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $32,272
 $30,253

(i)

i.

Equity includes (a) Ordinary shares $0.000304635 nominal value; Authorized 1,510,003,775; Issued 132,529,824 (2017)128,726,263 (2020) and 137,075,068 (2016)128,689,930 (2019); Outstanding 132,283,444 (2017)128,726,263 (2020) and 136,296,771 (2016)128,689,930 (2019); (b) Ordinary shares, €1 nominal value; Authorized and Issued 40,000 shares in 20172020 and 2016;2019; and (c) Preference shares, $0.000115 nominal value; Authorized 1,000,000,000 and Issued noneNaN in 20172020 and 2016.

2019.

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)

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

$

313

 

 

$

293

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to total net cash from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

 

98

 

 

 

54

 

Amortization

 

 

121

 

 

 

127

 

Non-cash lease expense

 

 

34

 

 

 

36

 

Net periodic benefit of defined benefit pension plans

 

 

(46

)

 

 

(32

)

Provision for doubtful receivables from clients

 

 

24

 

 

 

8

 

Benefit from deferred income taxes

 

 

(23

)

 

 

(28

)

Share-based compensation

 

 

(1

)

 

 

10

 

Non-cash foreign exchange (gain)/loss

 

 

(12

)

 

 

8

 

Other, net

 

 

23

 

 

 

4

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from purchase of

   subsidiaries:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(46

)

 

 

(121

)

Fiduciary assets

 

 

(2,873

)

 

 

(2,490

)

Fiduciary liabilities

 

 

2,873

 

 

 

2,490

 

Other assets

 

 

7

 

 

 

(37

)

Other liabilities

 

 

(482

)

 

 

(379

)

Provisions

 

 

13

 

 

 

10

 

Net cash from/(used in) operating activities

 

 

23

 

 

 

(47

)

CASH FLOWS USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use

 

 

(66

)

 

 

(57

)

Capitalized software costs

 

 

(15

)

 

 

(17

)

Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired

 

 

(66

)

 

 

(1

)

Other, net

 

 

(15

)

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(162

)

 

 

(75

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings on revolving credit facility

 

 

396

 

 

 

138

 

Repayments of debt

 

 

(128

)

 

 

(1

)

Proceeds from issuance of shares

 

 

3

 

 

 

22

 

Dividends paid

 

 

(84

)

 

 

(77

)

Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling interests

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

Net cash from financing activities

 

 

186

 

 

 

82

 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED

   CASH

 

 

47

 

 

 

(40

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(36

)

 

 

(1

)

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD (i)

 

 

895

 

 

 

1,033

 

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF PERIOD (i)

 

$

906

 

 

$

992

 

(Unaudited)

(i)

As a result of the acquired TRANZACT collateralized facility, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash included $8 million of restricted cash at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, which is included within prepaid and other current assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. There were 0 restricted cash amounts held at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

  Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2017 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
NET INCOME $339
 $290
Adjustments to reconcile net income to total net cash from operating activities:    
Depreciation 169
 132
Amortization 441
 443
Net periodic benefit of defined benefit pension plans (106) (68)
Provision for doubtful receivables from clients 15
 25
Benefit from deferred income taxes (56) (120)
Share-based compensation 48
 94
Net loss on disposal of operations 10
 
Non-cash foreign exchange loss/(gain) 79
 (23)
Other, net (21) 15
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from purchase of subsidiaries:    
Accounts receivable 31
 20
Fiduciary assets (1,233) (1,076)
Fiduciary liabilities 1,233
 1,076
Other assets (95) (211)
Other liabilities (351) (48)
Provisions 12
 72
Net cash from operating activities 515
 621
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use (198) (151)
Capitalized software costs (52) (64)
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired (13) 476
Other, net 1
 22
Net cash (used in)/from investing activities (262) 283
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
Net borrowings/(payments) on revolving credit facility 675
 (389)
Senior notes issued 650
 1,606
Proceeds from issuance of other debt 32
 404
Debt issuance costs (9) (14)
Repayments of debt (714) (1,861)
Repurchase of shares (462) (222)
Proceeds from issuance of shares 44
 44
Payments related to share cancellation (177) 
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions (43) (64)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares (14) (13)
Dividends paid (209) (133)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling interests (19) (17)
Net cash used in financing activities (246) (659)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 7
 245
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 35
 (10)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 870
 532
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $912
 $767

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 number of shares in thousands)

(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)
 
Shares outstanding (i)
 Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Treasury shares 
AOCL (ii)
 Total WTW shareholders’ equity Non-controlling interests Total equity   
Redeemable Non-controlling interest (iii)
 Total
Balance as of December 31, 201568,625
 $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)
Issuance of shares under employee stock compensation plans873
 44
 
 
 
 44
 
 44
   
  
Issuance of shares for acquisitions69,500
 8,686
 
 
 
 8,686
 
 8,686
   
  
Replacement share-based compensation awards issued on acquisition
 37
 
 
 
 37
 
 37
   
  
Share-based compensation
 94
 
 
 
 94
 
 94
   
  
Additional non-controlling interests
 5
 
 
 
 5
 13
 18
   
  
Foreign currency translation
 (2) 
 
 
 (2) 
 (2)   
  
Balance as of September 30, 2016137,207
 $10,536
 $1,455
 $(3) $(1,221) $10,767
 $134
 $10,901
   $53
  
                      
Balance as of December 31, 2016136,297
 $10,596
 $1,452
 $(99) $(1,884) $10,065
 $118
 $10,183
   $51
  
Adoption of ASU 2016-16 (See Note 2)
 
 (3) 
 
 (3) 
 (3)   
  
Shares repurchased(3,354) 
 (425) (37) 
 (462) 
 (462)   
  
Shares canceled(1,415) (177) 
 96
 
 (81) 
 (81)   
  
Net income
 
 323
 
 
 323
 9
 332
   7
 $339
Dividends
 
 (217) 
 
 (217) (15) (232)   (3)  
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
 
 
 
 208
 208
 (1) 207
   
 $207
Issuance of shares under employee stock compensation plans755
 44
 
 
 
 44
 
 44
   
  
Share-based compensation
 48
 
 
 
 48
 
 48
   
  
Additional non-controlling interests
 (1) 
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)   
  
Foreign currency translation
 (9) 
 
 
 (9) 
 (9)   
  
Balance as of September 30, 2017132,283
 $10,501
 $1,130
 $(40) $(1,676) $9,915
 $111
 $10,026
   $55
  

 

 

Shares outstanding

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

Retained earnings

 

 

Treasury shares

 

 

AOCL (i)

 

 

Total WTW shareholders’ equity

 

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

Total equity

 

 

 

 

Redeemable

non-controlling interest (ii)

 

 

Total

 

Balance as of December 31, 2018

 

 

128,922

 

 

$

10,615

 

 

$

1,201

 

 

$

(3

)

 

$

(1,961

)

 

$

9,852

 

 

$

119

 

 

$

9,971

 

 

 

 

$

26

 

 

 

 

 

Adoption of ASU 2018-02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

287

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

291

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

$

293

 

Dividends declared ($0.65 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(85

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(85

)

 

 

 

 

 

(85

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

22

 

Issuance of shares under employee stock

   compensation plans

 

 

289

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation and net settlements

 

 

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2019

 

 

129,211

 

 

$

10,630

 

 

$

1,439

 

 

$

(3

)

 

$

(1,974

)

 

$

10,092

 

 

$

122

 

 

$

10,214

 

 

 

 

$

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2019

 

 

128,690

 

 

$

10,687

 

 

$

1,792

 

 

$

(3

)

 

$

(2,227

)

 

$

10,249

 

 

$

120

 

 

$

10,369

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

305

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

305

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

313

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

313

 

Dividends declared ($0.68 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(88

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(88

)

 

 

 

 

 

(88

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(219

)

 

 

(219

)

 

 

(1

)

 

 

(220

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

(220

)

Issuance of shares under employee stock

   compensation plans

 

 

36

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share-based compensation and net settlements

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2020

 

 

128,726

 

 

$

10,703

 

 

$

2,009

 

 

$

(3

)

 

$

(2,446

)

 

$

10,263

 

 

$

126

 

 

$

10,389

 

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

_________

(i)

i.
The nominal value of the ordinary shares and the number of ordinary shares issued in the balance as of December 31, 2015 have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on January 4, 2016. See Note 3Merger for further details.
ii.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (‘AOCL’).

(ii)

iii.

The non-controlling interest iswas related to Max Matthiessen Holding AB. The remaining amount was purchased during the three months ended December 31, 2019.

See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements



WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Tabular amounts in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

Note 1 — Nature of Operations

Willis Towers Watson plc was formed upon completion of the Merger on January 4, 2016, between Willis and Towers Watson. See Note 3 — Merger for additional information pertaining to this transaction.

Willis Towers Watson is a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company that helps clients around the world turn risk into a path for growth. The Company has more than 41,00045,000 employees and services clients in more than 140 countriescountries.

We design and territories.

We offer clients a broad rangedeliver solutions that manage risk, optimize benefits, cultivate talent, and expand the power of servicescapital to help them to identifyprotect and control their risks,strengthen institutions and to enhance business performance by improving their ability to attract, retain and engage a talented workforce. individuals.

Our risk controlmanagement services range frominclude 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 orand property loss control consulting), as well asand analytical and advisory services (such as hazard modeling and reinsurance optimization studies). We also assist our clients inwith planning how to managefor addressing incidents or crises when they occur. These services include contingency planning, security audits and product tampering plans.

We help our clients enhance their business performance by delivering consulting services, technology and solutions that help organizations anticipate, identifyoptimize benefits and capitalize on emerging opportunities in human capital managementcultivate talent. Our services and solutions encompass such areas as well asemployee benefits, total rewards, talent and benefits outsourcing. In addition, we provide investment advice to help our clients develop disciplined and efficient strategies to meet their investment goals.

goals and expand the power of capital.

As an insurance broker, we act as an intermediary between our clients and insurance carriers by advising our clients on their risk management requirements, helping clientsthem to determine the best means of managing risk and negotiating and placing insurance with insurance carriers through our global distribution network.

We operate the largesta private Medicare exchangemarketplace in the United States (‘U.S.’). Through this exchange and those for through which, along with our active employees,employee marketplace, we help our clients move to a more sustainable economic model by capping and controlling the costs associated with healthcare benefits.

  Additionally, with the acquisition of TRANZACT in July 2019 (see Note 3 – Acquisitions), we also provide direct-to-consumer sales of Medicare coverage.

We are not an insurance company, and therefore we do not underwrite insurable risks for our own account.

We believe our broad perspective allows us to see the critical intersections between talent, assets and ideas - the dynamic formula that drives business performance.

Proposed Combination with Aon plc

On March 9, 2020, WTW and Aon plc (‘Aon’) issued an announcement disclosing that the respective boards of directors of WTW and Aon had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition of WTW by Aon. Under the terms of the agreement each WTW shareholder will receive 1.08 Aon ordinary shares for each WTW ordinary share. At the time of the announcement, it was estimated that upon completion of the combination, existing Aon shareholders will own approximately 63% and existing WTW shareholders will own approximately 37% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

The transaction is subject to the approval of the shareholders of both WTW and Aon, as well as other customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals. The parties expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2021, subject to satisfaction of these conditions.

Note 2Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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’)SEC for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (‘GAAP’). We have reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to current period presentation due to the adoption of certain updated accounting standards (see below for further discussion).GAAP. 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 Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017,February 26, 2020, and 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, 2017March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected for the entire year. The Company experiences seasonal fluctuations of its commissions and fees revenue. Commissions and fees areRevenue is typically higher during the Company’s first and fourth quarters due primarily to the timing of broking-related activities. 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.



Risks and Uncertainties Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on global commercial activity, including the global supply chain, and has contributed to significant volatility in the financial markets including, among other effects, a decline in the equity markets and reduced liquidity. In light of the potential future disruption to our own business operations and those of our clients, suppliers and other third parties with whom we interact, the Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on our business. This analysis considered our business resilience and continuity plans, financial modeling and stress testing of liquidity and financial resources.

The analysis concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material adverse impact to our financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2020; however, we expect that the impact of COVID-19 on general economic activity could negatively impact our revenue and operating results for the remainder of 2020. We will continue to monitor the situation and assess possible implications to our business and our stakeholders and will take appropriate actions to help mitigate adverse consequences. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our business and financial position will depend on future developments, which are difficult to predict, including the severity and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the types of measures imposed by governmental authorities to contain the virus or address its impact and the duration of those actions and measures.

The Company has considered multiple scenarios, with both positive and negative inputs, as part of the significant estimates and assumptions that are inherent in our financial statements and are based on trends in client behavior and the economic environment throughout the quarter as COVID-19 has moved throughout the geographies in which we operate. These estimates and assumptions include the collectability of billed and unbilled receivables, the estimation of revenue, and the fair value of our reporting units, tangible and intangible assets and contingent consideration. With regard to collectability, the Company believes it will face atypical delays in client payments going forward. In addition, we believe that the demand for certain discretionary lines of business may decrease, and that such decrease will impact our financial results in succeeding periods. Non-discretionary lines of business may also be adversely affected, for example because reduced economic activity or disruption in insurance markets reduces demand for or the extent of insurance coverage. We believe that these trends and uncertainties are comparable to those faced by other registrants as a result of the pandemic.

CARES Act

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (‘CARES’) Act was enacted in the U.S. to provide relief to companies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and to stimulate the economy. The assistance includes tax relief and government loans, grants and investments for entities in affected industries. The Company has reviewed its eligibility requirements under the key provisions of the CARES Act, including if and how they apply and how they will affect the Company, particularly provisions that (i)  eliminate the taxable income limit for certain net operating losses (‘NOLs’) and allow businesses to carry back NOLs arising in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to the five prior tax years; (ii) generally loosen the business interest limitation under section 163(j) from 30 percent to 50 percent; and (iii) fix the ‘retail glitch’ for qualified improvement property. Additionally, the CARES Act offers an employee retention credit to encourage employers to maintain headcounts even if employees cannot report to work because of issues related to COVID-19 as well as a temporary provision allowing companies to defer remitting the employer share of some payroll taxes to the government. The income tax and payroll tax provisions of the CARES Act were not material for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and are currently not expected to be material for calendar year 2020.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Not yet adopted

Yet Adopted

In May 2014,December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which clarifies and amends existing guidance, including removing certain exceptions to the general principles of accounting for income taxes. This ASU becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2021. Some of the changes must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis while others must be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not plan to adopt this ASU early and is assessing the expected impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, 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 recognitionInstruments—Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which amended the guidance and eliminates industry-specific guidance.on the impairment of financial instruments. The ASU added an impairment model (known as the current expected credit loss (‘CECL’) model) that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under the principle thatnew guidance, an entity should recognize revenuerecognizes as an allowance its estimate of lifetime expected credit losses on assets measured at amortized cost, which is intended to depict the transferresult in more timely recognition 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.such losses. The ASU was also requires additional disclosure aboutintended to reduce the nature, amount, timing and uncertaintycomplexity of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments andU.S. GAAP by decreasing the number of credit impairment models that entities use to account for debt instruments. Further, the ASU made targeted 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 approachimpairment model for the adoption of the new standard.available-for-sale debt securities. Additional ASUs have since beenwere subsequently issued which provide


provided amended and additional guidance examples and technical corrections for the implementation of ASU No. 2014-09. The2016-13. All related guidance has been codified into, and is now known as, ASC 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (‘ASC 326’). ASC 326 became 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 to2020, at which time we adopted it. This ASU did not have accelerated revenue recognition timing. In particular, the revenue recognition fora material impact on 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 in the amount 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 will be other types of arrangements with associated costs that do not meet the criteria for cost deferral under current U.S. GAAP but do meet the criteria under the new standard. We are still evaluating the types of arrangements that might now have cost deferral impacts, however we expect this guidance to apply to our broking arrangements and certain consulting engagements.
To prepare for the additional disclosure requirements, we are currently implementing additional tools to support our revenue recognition and data collection processes, which will be in place and effective on January 1, 2018.
The Company continues to update its assessment of the impacts of the accounting standard, and related updates, to its condensed consolidated financial statements, and will note material impacts when known.
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 its 2019 fiscal year, at which time the Company will adopt it, although 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. While the Company continues to assess the impact of the ASU to its condensed consolidated financial statements, the majority of its leases are currently considered operating leases and will be capitalized as a lease asset on its balance sheet with a related lease liability for the obligated lease payments.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 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 its 2018 fiscal year, at which time the Company will adopt it, although early adoption is permitted. 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 still assessing the impact of this ASU, but it believes the impact on its financial statements will be immaterial as it is currently largely in compliance with its requirements.
statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In computing the implied fair value of goodwill under Step 2, currentprevious U.S. GAAP requiresrequired the performance of procedures to determine the fair value at the



impairment testing date of assets and liabilities (including unrecognized assets and liabilities) following the procedure that would beis required in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination. Instead, the amendments under this ASU require the goodwill impairment test to be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge shouldwould be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The ASU becomesbecame effective for the Company on January 1, 2020.2020, at which time we adopted it. The amendments in this ASU should beare applied on a prospective basis. Early adoptionThere is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017, and the Company is still evaluating when to adopt this ASU. The Company does not expect anno immediate impact to itsour condensed consolidated financial statements upon adopting this ASU, sinceuntil such time as the next goodwill impairment test is performed (October 1, 2020, or sooner should circumstances warrant it). The most recent Step 1 goodwill impairment test resulted in fair values in excess of carrying values for all reporting units at October 1, 2016.
2019.

In March 2017,August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Improving2018-13, Disclosure Framework—Changes to the PresentationDisclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement as part of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires entitiesits disclosure framework project. The focus of this project is to (1) disaggregateimprove the current service-cost component from the other componentseffectiveness of net benefit cost (the ‘other components’) and present itdisclosures in the income statement withnotes to the financial statements by facilitating clear communication of the information required by U.S. GAAP that is most important to users of an entity’s financial statements. This ASU removes certain disclosure requirements and adds or modifies other current compensation costs for related employees and (2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. In addition, therequirements. This ASU requires entities to disclose the income statement lines that contain the other components if they are not presented or included in appropriately described separate lines. The ASU becomeswas effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, and should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted as2020, at which time we adopted it. Certain provisions of the beginning ofASU were required to be adopted retrospectively, while others were required to be adopted prospectively. This ASU did not have a financial year. The Company will adopt this standardmaterial impact on January 1, 2018, and is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on itsnotes to our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017,March 2020, the SEC issued a final rule that amends the disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities under SEC Regulation S-X, Rules 3-10 and 3-16 which currently require separate financial statements for subsidiary issuers and guarantors of registered debt securities unless certain exceptions are met, and affiliates that collateralize registered securities offerings if the affiliates’ securities are a substantial portion of the collateral. The final rule is generally effective for filings on or after January 4, 2021, however early application is permitted. The most pertinent portions of the final rule that are currently applicable to the Company include: (i) replacing the previous requirement under Rule 3-10 to provide condensed consolidating financial information in the registrant’s financial statements with a requirement to provide alternative financial disclosures (which include summarized
financial information of the parent and any issuers and guarantors, as well as other qualitative disclosures) in either the registrant’s Management’s Discussion & Analysis section or its financial statements; and, (ii) reducing the periods for which summarized financial information is required to the most recent annual period and year-to-date interim period. The Company elected to early-adopt the provisions of the final rule during the three months ended March 31, 2020.  Further, the new reduced quantitative disclosures and accompanying qualitative disclosures as required by this final rule have been relocated from the notes to the financial statements to Item II,
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations on this Form 10-Q.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, Stock Compensation - Scope2020-04, Facilitation of Modification Accountingthe Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which provides guidance on which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. The ASU requires that an entity should accountoptional expedients and exceptions for the effects of a modification unless the fair value (or calculated value or intrinsic value, if used), vesting conditions and classification (as equity or liability) of the modified award are all the same as for the original award immediately before the modification. The ASU becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, and should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. The Company will adopt this standard on January 1, 2018, and is currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on any awards that are modified once this standard is adopted.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which provides amendments under six specific objectives to better align risk management activities and financial reporting, and to simplify disclosure, presentation, hedging and the testing and measurement of ineffectiveness. The ASU becomes effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. Early adoption is permitted, and any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The Company is currently assessing when it will adopt this standard, and the impact that this standard will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
Adopted
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based paymentcontracts, hedging relationships and other transactions including the income tax consequences, classificationaffected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The amendments apply only to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another reference rate expected to be discontinued because of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Thereference rate reform. This ASU became effective for the Company on March 12, 2020. The Company may apply the changes relating to contracts from January 1, 2017. In accordance2020 or from a later date. The Company has made no contract modifications thus far to transition to a different reference rate, however it will consider this guidance as future modifications are made.

Note 3Acquisitions

TRANZACT Acquisition

On July 30, 2019, the Company acquired TRANZACT, a U.S.-based provider of comprehensive, direct-to-consumer sales and marketing solutions for leading insurance carriers in the U.S. TRANZACT leverages digital, data and direct marketing solutions to deliver qualified leads, fully-provisioned sales and robust customer management systems to brands seeking to acquire and manage large numbers of consumers. Pursuant to the terms of the acquisition agreement, subject to certain adjustments, the consideration consisted of $1.3 billion paid in cash at closing. Additional contingent consideration in the form of a potential earn-out of up to $17 million is to be paid in cash in 2021 based on the achievement of certain financial targets. The acquisition was initially funded in part with a $1.1 billion one-year term loan, with the prospective adoptionremainder being funded from the Company’s existing revolving credit facility. TRANZACT operates as part of our Benefits Delivery and Administration segment and enhances the recognition of excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, we recognized a $3 million and $5 million tax benefit in provision for income taxes during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. In addition, we elected to prospectively adopt the amendment to present excess tax benefits on share-based compensation as an operating activity, resulting in the recognition of a $5 million excess tax benefit as an operating activity in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. We elected to continue to estimate expected forfeitures. WeCompany’s existing Medicare broking offering, while also retrospectively adopted the amendment to present cash payments to tax authorities in connection with shares withheld to meet statutory tax withholding requirements as a financing activity. As a result, this $13 millionuse of cash was reclassified from net cash from operating activities to net cash used in financing activities in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory, which amends guidance regarding the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for intra-entity asset transfers. Current U.S. GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The ASU states that an entity should recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The amendments in this ASU should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of
adding significant direct-to-consumer marketing experience.



the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company elected to early adopt this standard on January 1, 2017, and recorded a cumulative reduction to retained earnings of $3 million.
Note 3 — 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 as 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.
On December 29, 2015, the third business day immediately prior to the closing date of the Merger, Towers Watson declared and paid a pre-merger special dividend of $10.00 per share of its common stock, and 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 final 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 37
Aggregate Merger consideration $8,723


A summary of the preliminary fair values of the identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed, of Towers WatsonTRANZACT at January 4, 2016July 30, 2019 are summarized in the following table.

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

7

 

Restricted cash

 

 

2

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

3

 

Renewal commissions receivable, current (i)

 

 

36

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

 

22

 

Renewal commissions receivable, non-current (i)

 

 

130

 

Fixed assets

 

 

9

 

Intangible assets

 

 

646

 

Goodwill

 

 

722

 

Right-of-use assets

 

 

19

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

2

 

Collateralized facility

 

 

(91

)

Other current liabilities

 

 

(55

)

Deferred tax liabilities, net

 

 

(104

)

Lease liabilities

 

 

(19

)

Net assets acquired

 

$

1,329

 

______________

  January 4, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents $476
Accounts receivable, net 825
Other current assets 82
Fixed assets, net 204
Goodwill 6,783
Intangible assets 3,991
Pension benefits assets 67
Other non-current assets 115
Deferred tax liabilities (1,151)
Liability for pension benefits (923)
Other current liabilities (i)
 (667)
Other non-current liabilities (ii)
 (331)
Long-term debt, including current portion (iii)
 (740)
  Net assets acquired $8,731
  Non-controlling interests acquired (8)
Allocated aggregate Merger consideration $8,723
____________________

(i)

i.Includes $348 million

Renewal commissions receivables arise from direct-to-consumer Medicare broking sales. Cash collections for these receivables are expected to occur over a period of several years. Due to the provisions of ASC 606, these receivables are not discounted for a significant financing component when initially recognized. However, as a result of recognizing the fair value of these receivables in accounts payable, accrued liabilitiesaccordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, these receivables have now been present-valued at the acquisition date. Prior to this fair value adjustment, the carrying value of these receivables was $231 million. The adjusted values of these acquired renewal commissions receivables will be included in prepaid and deferred revenue, $308 million in employee-related liabilities and $11 million in other current liabilities.assets or other non-current assets, as appropriate, on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The acquired renewal commissions receivables will be accounted for prospectively using the cost-recovery method in which future cash receipts will initially be applied against the acquisition date fair value until the value reaches zero. Any cash received in excess of the fair value determined at acquisition will be recorded to earnings when it is received at a future date.

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 under Towers Watson’s term loan ($188 million) and revolving credit facility ($212 million) and a draw down 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 partially funded the $694 million Towers Watson pre-merger special dividend.
The purchase price allocation as

Intangible assets consist primarily of the date$612 million of acquisition was based on a valuationcustomer relationships, with an expected life of the assets15.4 years. Additional intangibles acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition. The purchase price allocation was complete asconsist of December 31, 2016.

domain names.

Goodwill is calculated as the difference between the aggregate Merger consideration and the acquisition date fair value of the net assets acquired, including the intangible assets acquired, and represents the value of the Legacy Towers WatsonTRANZACT’s assembled workforce and the future economic benefits that we expect to realizeachieve as a result of the Merger.acquisition. None of the goodwill recognized on the transaction is tax deductible.

The acquired intangible assets are attributabledeductible, however there is tax deductible goodwill that will be carried forward from previous acquisitions by TRANZACT.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, purchase price allocation adjustments were made primarily to adjust the deferred tax liabilities related to the following categories:

 Amortization basis Fair Value Expected life (years)
Customer relationshipsIn line with underlying cash flows $2,221
 15.0
Software - income approachIn line with underlying cash flows or straight-line basis 567
 6.4
Software - cost approachStraight-line basis 108
 4.9
ProductIn line with underlying cash flows 42
 17.5
IPR&D (i)
n/a 39
 n/a
Trade nameStraight-line basis 1,003
 25.0
Favorable lease agreementsStraight-line basis 11
 6.5
   $3,991
  
____________________
i.Represents individual in-process research and development (‘IPR&D’) software components not placed into service as of the acquisition date. These assets were subsequently placed into service during the three months ended March 31, 2017, were reclassified into finite-lived software intangible assets, and are being amortized in line with underlying cash flows or on a straight-line basis.


Acquired Share-Based Compensation Plans
In connectiondeductibility of goodwill. The purchase price allocation as of the acquisition date related to deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities is not yet complete.

Revenue related to TRANZACT was $95 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Other Acquisitions

Other acquisitions were completed during the three months ended March 31, 2020 for combined cash payments of $71 million and contingent consideration with the Merger, we assumed certain stock options and restricted stock units (‘RSUs’) 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 Merger agreement for the number of options. Thean estimated fair value of $4 million.


Note 4Revenue

Disaggregation of Revenue

The Company reports revenue by segment in Note 5 Segment Information. The following table presents revenue by service offering and segment, as well as a reconciliation to total revenue for the stock optionsthree months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. Along with reimbursable expenses and other, total revenue by service offering represents our revenue from customer contracts.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

HCB

 

 

CRB

 

 

IRR

 

 

BDA

 

 

Corporate (i)

 

 

Total

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Broking

 

$

83

 

 

$

73

 

 

$

648

 

 

$

660

 

 

$

433

 

 

$

405

 

 

$

98

 

 

$

3

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

1,262

 

 

$

1,141

 

Consulting

 

 

582

 

 

 

580

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

31

 

 

 

93

 

 

 

114

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

724

 

 

 

728

 

Outsourced administration

 

 

128

 

 

 

123

 

 

 

25

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

132

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

289

 

 

 

284

 

Other

 

 

47

 

 

 

47

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

83

 

 

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

132

 

 

 

107

 

Total revenue by service offering

 

 

840

 

 

 

823

 

 

 

721

 

 

 

719

 

 

 

612

 

 

 

579

 

 

 

231

 

 

 

135

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

2,407

 

 

 

2,260

 

Reimbursable expenses and other (i)

 

 

15

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

26

 

Total revenue from customer contracts

 

$

855

 

 

$

837

 

 

$

721

 

 

$

719

 

 

$

615

 

 

$

581

 

 

$

234

 

 

$

138

 

 

$

9

 

 

$

11

 

 

$

2,434

 

 

$

2,286

 

Interest and other income (ii)

 

 

10

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

32

 

 

 

26

 

Total revenue

 

$

865

 

 

$

843

 

 

$

739

 

 

$

728

 

 

$

618

 

 

$

591

 

 

$

234

 

 

$

138

 

 

$

10

 

 

$

12

 

 

$

2,466

 

 

$

2,312

 

______________

(i)

Reimbursable expenses and other, as well as Corporate revenue, are excluded from segment revenue, but included in total revenue on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

(ii)

Interest and other income is included in segment revenue and total revenue, however it has been presented separately in the above tables because it does not arise directly from contracts with customers.

Individual revenue streams aggregating to approximately 5% of total revenue from customer contracts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 have been included within the Other line in the tables above.

The following table presents revenue by the geography where our work is performed for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. The reconciliation to total revenue on our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and to segment revenue is shown in the table above.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

HCB

 

 

CRB

 

 

IRR

 

 

BDA

 

 

Corporate

 

 

Total

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

North America

 

$

476

 

 

$

471

 

 

$

233

 

 

$

220

 

 

$

170

 

 

$

164

 

 

$

229

 

 

$

135

 

 

$

2

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

1,110

 

 

$

994

 

Great Britain

 

 

126

 

 

 

118

 

 

 

137

 

 

 

142

 

 

 

321

 

 

 

300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

584

 

 

 

560

 

Western Europe

 

 

156

 

 

 

155

 

 

 

244

 

 

 

239

 

 

 

76

 

 

 

69

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

477

 

 

 

463

 

International

 

 

82

 

 

 

79

 

 

 

107

 

 

 

118

 

 

 

45

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

236

 

 

 

243

 

Total revenue by geography

 

$

840

 

 

$

823

 

 

$

721

 

 

$

719

 

 

$

612

 

 

$

579

 

 

$

231

 

 

$

135

 

 

$

3

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

2,407

 

 

$

2,260

 

Contract Balances

The Company reports accounts receivable, net on the condensed consolidated balance sheet, which includes billed and unbilled receivables and current contract assets. In addition to accounts receivable, net, the Company had the following non-current contract assets and deferred revenue balances at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

Billed receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $55 million and $37 million

 

$

1,870

 

 

$

1,831

 

Unbilled receivables

 

 

442

 

 

 

434

 

Current contract assets

 

 

282

 

 

 

356

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

$

2,594

 

 

$

2,621

 

Non-current accounts receivable, net

 

$

27

 

 

$

30

 

Non-current contract assets

 

$

140

 

 

$

105

 

Deferred revenue

 

$

562

 

 

$

538

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, revenue of approximately $272 million was calculated usingrecognized that was reflected as deferred revenue at December 31, 2019.

During the Black-Scholes model withthree months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized revenue of approximately $6 million related to performance obligations satisfied in a volatility and risk-free interest rate overprior period.


Performance Obligations

The Company has contracts for which performance obligations have not been satisfied as of March 31, 2020 or have been partially satisfied as of this date. The following table shows the expected term of each group of options and Willis Towers Watson’s closing share price ontiming for the date of acquisition. We determined the fair value of the portion of the outstanding options related to pre-acquisition employee service using the 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 valuesatisfaction of the remaining portionperformance obligations. This table does not include contract renewals or variable consideration, which was excluded from the transaction prices in accordance with the guidance on constraining estimates of options relatedvariable consideration.

In addition, in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue From Contracts With Customers (‘ASC 606’), the Company has elected not to disclose the post-acquisition employee services was $13 million, and will be recognized over the future vesting periods.

Restricted Stock Units. The outstanding unvested RSUs were converted into 597,307 Willis Towers Watson RSUs using the conversion ratios as stated in the Merger agreement. The fair value of these RSUs was calculated using Willis Towers Watson’s closing share price on the date of acquisition. We determined the fair valueremaining performance obligations when one or both of the portionfollowing circumstances apply:

Performance obligations which are part of a contract that has an original expected duration of less than one year, and

Performance obligations satisfied in accordance with ASC 606-10-55-18 (‘right to invoice’).

 

 

Remainder of 2020

 

 

2021

 

 

2022 onward

 

 

Total

 

Revenue expected to be recognized on contracts as of March 31, 2020

 

$

384

 

 

$

400

 

 

$

483

 

 

$

1,267

 

Since most of the outstanding RSUs related to pre-acquisition employee service usingCompany’s contracts are cancellable with less than one year’s notice, and have no substantive penalty for cancellation, the straight-line expense methodologymajority of the Company’s remaining performance obligations as of March 31, 2020 have been excluded 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 recognized over the future vesting periods.

table above.

Note 4 5Segment Information

Willis Towers Watson has four4 reportable operating segments or business areas:

Human Capital and Benefits (‘HCB’)
Corporate Risk and Broking (‘CRB’)
Investment, Risk and Reinsurance (‘IRR’)

Human Capital and Benefits (‘HCB’)

Corporate Risk and Broking (‘CRB’)

Investment, Risk and Reinsurance (‘IRR’)

Benefits Delivery and Administration (‘BDA’) - formerly known as Exchange Solutions (i)

____________________
i.This segment and the businesses within the segment were renamed to better reflect the nature of the services we offer.

Willis Towers Watson’s chief operating decision maker is its chief executive officer. We determined that the operational data used by the chief operating decision maker is at the segment level. Management bases strategic goals and decisions on these segments and the data presented below is used to assess the adequacy of strategic decisions and the methodmethods of achieving these strategies and related financial results.

Management evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based on net operating income on a pre-tax basis.

The Company experiences seasonal fluctuations of its commissions and fees revenue. Revenue is typically higher during the Company’s first and fourth quarters due primarily to the timing of broking-related activities.

Beginning in 2017, we made certain changes that affect our segment results. These changes, which are detailed in the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017, include the following:
First, to better align our business within our segments, we moved Max Matthiessen, which specializes in pension investment advice, to Investment, Risk and Reinsurance from Human Capital and Benefits; and moved Fine Art, Jewellery and Specie, which is a specialty broker, to Corporate Risk and Broking from Investment, Risk and Reinsurance.
Second, we recast operating income to better reflect the new segment reporting basis. As part of the further integration of our Willis Towers Watson businesses, we updated our corporate expense allocations to standardize our methodologies and allocate those expenses which are directly related to the business segment operations. Additionally, we revised the presentation of certain adjustments which arose from the purchase accounting for the Merger. Due to the long-term nature of these adjustments, which impact fixed asset and internally-developed software, we aligned the presentation within the respective segments and consolidated operating income, thereby eliminating a reconciling adjustment.
The prior period comparatives reflected in the tables below have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect our current segment presentation.


The following table presents segment commissions and fees, segment interest and other income, segment revenues,revenue and segment operating income for our reportable segments for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016.2019.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

HCB

 

 

CRB

 

 

IRR

 

 

BDA

 

 

Total

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Segment revenue

 

$

850

 

 

$

829

 

 

$

739

 

 

$

728

 

 

$

615

 

 

$

589

 

 

$

231

 

 

$

135

 

 

$

2,435

 

 

$

2,281

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment operating

   income/(loss)

 

$

213

 

 

$

204

 

 

$

127

 

 

$

127

 

 

$

277

 

 

$

252

 

 

$

(11

)

 

$

(21

)

 

$

606

 

 

$

562

 

 Three Months Ended September 30,
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Total
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
Segment commissions and fees$736
 $720
 $581
 $553
 $320
 $312
 $179
 $161
 $1,816
 $1,746
Segment interest and other income
 
 5
 8
 14
 7
 
 
 19
 15
Segment revenues$736
 $720
 $586
 $561
 $334
 $319
 $179
 $161
 $1,835
 $1,761
                    
Segment operating income$143
 $127
 $48
 $46
 $39
 $38
 $36
 $23
 $266
 $234
The following table 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, 2017 and 2016.
 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Total
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
Segment commissions and fees$2,405
 $2,377
 $1,855
 $1,821
 $1,205
 $1,190
 $536
 $478
 $6,001
 $5,866
Segment interest and other income15
 9
 16
 20
 25
 55
 
 1
 56
 85
Segment revenues$2,420
 $2,386
 $1,871
 $1,841
 $1,230
 $1,245
 $536
 $479
 $6,057
 $5,951
                    
Segment operating income$615
 $568
 $270
 $255
 $358
 $360
 $108
 $100
 $1,351
 $1,283



The following table presents a reconciliation of the information reported by segment to the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income amounts reported for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016.2019.

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment revenue

 

$

2,435

 

 

$

2,281

 

Reimbursable expenses and other

 

 

31

 

 

 

31

 

Revenue

 

$

2,466

 

 

$

2,312

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total segment operating income

 

$

606

 

 

$

562

 

Amortization

 

 

(121

)

 

 

(127

)

Transaction and integration expenses (i)

 

 

(9

)

 

 

(6

)

Unallocated, net (ii)

 

 

(116

)

 

 

(70

)

Income from operations

 

 

360

 

 

 

359

 

Interest expense

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(54

)

Other income, net

 

 

92

 

 

 

55

 

Income from operations before income taxes

 

$

391

 

 

$

360

 

 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Revenues:       
Total segment revenues$1,835
 $1,761
 $6,057
 $5,951
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 
 
 (58)
Reimbursable expenses and other17
 16
 67
 67
Total revenues$1,852
 $1,777
 $6,124
 $5,960
        
Total segment operating income$266
 $234
 $1,351
 $1,283
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 
 
 (58)
Amortization(141) (157) (441) (443)
Restructuring costs(31) (49) (85) (115)
Transaction and integration expenses(74) (36) (177) (117)
Provision for the Stanford litigation
 
 
 (50)
Unallocated, net (i)
21
 9
 (20) (37)
Income from operations41
 1
 628
 463
Interest expense47
 45
 139
 138
Other expense, net29
 14
 79
 26
(Loss)/income from operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates$(35) $(58) $410
 $299
________________________

(i)

Includes transaction costs related to the proposed Aon combination and TRANZACT acquisition in 2019.

i.

(ii)

Includes certain costs, primarily related to corporate functions which are not directly related to the segments, and certain differences between budgeted expenses determined at the beginning of the year and actual expenses that we report for U.S. 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
The Company has two major elements of the restructuring costs included in its condensed consolidated financial statements, which are the Operational Improvement Program, continuing through 2017, and the Business Restructure Program, which was fully accrued by the end of 2016.
Operational Improvement Program - In April 2014, Legacy Willis announced a multi-year operational improvement program designed to strengthen its client service capabilities and to deliver future cost savings. The main elements of the program, which will be completed by the end of 2017, include: moving more than 3,500 support roles from higher cost locations to facilities in lower cost locations; net workforce reductions in support positions; lease consolidation in real estate; and information technology systems simplification and rationalization.
The Company recognized restructuring costs of $31 millionand $85 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $36 million and $98 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, related to the Operational Improvement Program.
The Company expects to incur $130 million of restructuring costs related to the Operational Improvement Program during fiscal year 2017, bringing the cumulative restructuring charges for this program to approximately $440 million.
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 main element of the program included workforce reductions, and was completed in 2016.
The Company recognized $13 million and $17 million of restructuring costs related to the Business Restructure Program for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.


An analysis of total restructuring costs recognized in the statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 by segment is as follows:
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Corporate Total
Termination benefits$
 $5
 $
 $
 $1
 $6
Professional services and other1
 20
 2
 
 2
 25
Total$1
 $25
 $2
 $
 $3
 $31
            
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Corporate Total
Termination benefits$12
 $3
 $
 $
 $1
 $16
Professional services and other
 23
 1
 
 9
 33
Total$12
 $26
 $1
 $
 $10
 $49
            
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Corporate Total
Termination benefits$
 $14
 $3
 $
 $2
 $19
Professional services and other2
 50
 4
 
 10
 66
Total$2
 $64
 $7
 $
 $12
 $85
            
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Corporate Total
Termination benefits$14
 $11
 $3
 $
 $2
 $30
Professional services and other
 60
 2
 
 23
 85
Total$14
 $71
 $5
 $
 $25
 $115
            


An analysis of the total cumulative restructuring costs recognized for the Operational Improvement Program from its commencement to September 30, 2017 by segment is as follows:
 HCB CRB IRR BDA Corporate Total
2014           
Termination benefits$
 $15
 $1
 $
 $
 $16
Professional services and other (i)

 3
 
 
 17
 20
2015           
Termination benefits2
 24
 7
 
 3
 36
Professional services and other (i)
1
 57
 2
 
 30
 90
2016           
Termination benefits1
 18
 3
 
 1
 23
Professional services and other (i)
1
 81
 4
 
 36
 122
2017           
Termination benefits
 14
 3
 
 2
 19
Professional services and other (i)
2
 50
 4
 
 10
 66
Total           
Termination benefits3
 71
 14
 
 6
 94
Professional services and other (i)
4
 191
 10
 
 93
 298
Total$7
 $262
 $24
 $
 $99
 $392
____________________
i.Other includes salaries and benefits, premises, and other expenses incurred to support the ongoing management and facilitation of the program.
The changes in the Company’s liability under the Operational Improvement Program from its commencement to September 30, 2017 are as follows:
 Termination Benefits Professional Services and Other Total
Balance at January 1, 2014$
 $
 $
Charges incurred16
 20
 36
Cash payments(11) (14) (25)
Balance at December 31, 20145
 6
 11
Charges incurred36
 90
 126
Cash payments(26) (85) (111)
Balance at December 31, 201515
 11
 26
Charges incurred23
 122
 145
Cash payments(31) (115) (146)
Balance at December 31, 20167
 18
 25
Charges incurred19
 66
 85
Cash payments(16) (78) (94)
Balance at September 30, 2017$10
 $6
 $16


The changes in the Company’s liability under the Business Restructure Program from its commencement to September 30, 2017 are as follows:
 Termination Benefits Professional Services and Other Total
Balance at January 1, 2016$
 $
 $
Charges incurred45
 3
 48
Cash payments(19) (3) (22)
Balance at December 31, 201626
 
 26
Cash payments(21) 
 (21)
Balance at September 30, 2017$5
 $
 $5

Note 6 — Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $19$78 million and $73 million, respectively, compared to a benefit from income taxes of $26 million and a provision for income taxes of $11$67 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.March 31, 2019. The effective tax rate was (53.0)% and 17.7%20.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2020 and 45.9% and 3.5%18.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.March 31, 2019. These effective tax rates are calculated using extended values from our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and are therefore more precise tax rates than can be calculated from rounded values. OurThe prior year effective tax rate is generallywas lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35%. This is primarily due to discrete valuation allowance releases in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions.

On April 7, 2020, U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations on specific aspects of U.S. Tax Reform that are retroactive to tax years beginning after December 20, 2018. These final regulations constitute a subsequent event and will be recognized in the period in which the regulation was issued. This legislation impacts certain positions previously taken with respect to amounts recorded in our global mix of income which creates deductionscondensed consolidated financial statements. We will adjust such amounts to reflect this legislation in jurisdictions with high statutory income tax rates. The (53.0)% effective tax rate forour condensed consolidated financial statements during the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017 was2020. We have estimated the result of a discrete incomepotential adjustment to be between $50 million and $82 million.

The Company recognizes deferred tax charge for an internal reorganization. The increase in tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as comparedbalances related to the three months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily due to an internal restructuring for certain legacy Towers Watson businesses. The increaseundistributed earnings of subsidiaries when it expects that it will recover those undistributed earnings in a taxable manner, such as through receipt of dividends or sale of the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was primarily due to a current year U.S. tax expense resulting from internal reorganizations for certain legacy Towers Watson businesses, and a prior year tax benefit resulting from an enacted statutory tax rate reduction in the U.K.

investments. Historically, we have not provided deferred taxes on cumulative earnings of our subsidiaries that have been reinvested indefinitely. As a result of our planplans to restructure or distribute accumulated earnings of certain acquired Towers Watson foreign operations, we continue to accrue deferred taxes on current year earningshave recorded an estimate of those subsidiaries.foreign withholding and state income taxes. However, we assert that the historical cumulative earnings of our other subsidiaries are reinvested indefinitely, and therefore 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’)ASC 740 Income Taxesof $57$51 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 of approximately $4$3 million to $7 million, excluding interest and penalties.


Note 7Goodwill and Other 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 disposed entity based on the relative fair value of that entity compared with the fair value of the reporting unit in which it was included.


The components of goodwill are outlined below for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017:March 31, 2020:

 

 

HCB

 

 

CRB

 

 

IRR

 

 

BDA

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill, gross

 

$

4,298

 

 

$

2,309

 

 

$

1,795

 

 

$

3,284

 

 

$

11,686

 

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 

(130

)

 

 

(362

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(492

)

Goodwill, net - December 31, 2019

 

 

4,168

 

 

 

1,947

 

 

 

1,795

 

 

 

3,284

 

 

 

11,194

 

Goodwill acquired

 

 

14

 

 

 

27

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

41

 

Acquisition accounting adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(5

)

Foreign exchange

 

 

(27

)

 

 

(21

)

 

 

(20

)

 

 

 

 

 

(68

)

Balance at March 31, 2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill, gross

 

 

4,285

 

 

 

2,315

 

 

 

1,775

 

 

 

3,279

 

 

 

11,654

 

Accumulated impairment losses

 

 

(130

)

 

 

(362

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(492

)

Goodwill, net - March 31, 2020

 

$

4,155

 

 

$

1,953

 

 

$

1,775

 

 

$

3,279

 

 

$

11,162

 

 HCB CRB IRR BDA Total
Balance at December 31, 2016:         
Goodwill, gross$4,412
 $2,178
 $1,758
 $2,557
 $10,905
Accumulated impairment losses(130) (362) 
 
 (492)
Goodwill, net - December 31, 20164,282
 1,816
 1,758
 2,557
 10,413
Goodwill reassigned in segment realignment(i)
(113) 13
 100
 
 
Goodwill acquired during the period
 8
 
 
 8
Goodwill disposed of during the period(31) 
 
 
 (31)
Foreign exchange64
 57
 18
 
 139
Balance at September 30, 2017:
 
 
 
 
Goodwill, gross4,332
 2,256
 1,876
 2,557
 11,021
Accumulated impairment losses(130) (362) 
 
 (492)
Goodwill, net - September 30, 2017$4,202
 $1,894
 $1,876
 $2,557
 $10,529
____________________
i.
Represents the preliminary reallocation of goodwill related to certain businesses which were realigned among the segments as of January 1, 2017. See Note 4Segment Information for further information.

Other Intangible Assets

The following table reflects changes in the net carrying amounts of the components of finite-lived intangible assets for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017:

 Balance at December 31, 2016 Intangible assets acquired Intangible assets disposed 
Amortization(ii)
 Foreign Exchange Balance at September 30, 2017
Client relationships$2,655
 $13
 $(22) $(289) $89
 $2,446
Management contracts54
 
 
 (3) 7
 58
Software (i)
570
 36
 
 (112) 14
 508
Trademark and trade name1,006
 
 (1) (34) 5
 976
Product33
 
 
 (2) 2
 33
Favorable agreements11
 
 
 (1) 1
 11
Other3
 
 
 (1) 
 2
Total amortizable intangible assets$4,332
 $49
 $(23) $(442) $118
 $4,034
i.All in-process research and development intangible assets acquired as part of the Merger on January 4, 2016 of $39 million ($36 million at the date placed into service due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates) have been placed into service during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and have been included as intangible assets acquired in this presentation.
ii.Amortization associated with favorable lease agreements is recorded in Other operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
We recorded amortization related to our finite-lived intangible assets, exclusive of the amortization of our favorable lease agreements, of $141 million and $441 million, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and $157 million and $443 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
Our acquired unfavorable lease liabilities were $27 million and $29 million at September 30, 2017 and DecemberMarch 31, 2016, respectively, and are recorded in other non-current liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.2020:

 

 

Client relationships

 

 

Software

 

 

Trademark and trade name

 

 

Other

 

 

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets, gross

 

$

4,029

 

 

$

753

 

 

$

1,051

 

 

$

134

 

 

$

5,967

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

(1,731

)

 

 

(551

)

 

 

(176

)

 

 

(31

)

 

 

(2,489

)

Intangible assets, net - December 31, 2019

 

 

2,298

 

 

 

202

 

 

 

875

 

 

 

103

 

 

 

3,478

 

Intangible assets acquired

 

 

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

 

 

46

 

Amortization

 

 

(77

)

 

 

(26

)

 

 

(10

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(121

)

Foreign exchange

 

 

(40

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(3

)

 

 

(43

)

Balance at March 31, 2020:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intangible assets, gross

 

 

3,974

 

 

 

743

 

 

 

1,051

 

 

 

151

 

 

 

5,919

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

(1,770

)

 

 

(567

)

 

 

(186

)

 

 

(36

)

 

 

(2,559

)

Intangible assets, net - March 31, 2020

 

$

2,204

 

 

$

176

 

 

$

865

 

 

$

115

 

 

$

3,360

 



The following table reflects the carrying value of finite-lived intangible assets and liabilities at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
 Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization Gross Carrying Amount Accumulated Amortization
Client relationships$3,476
 $(1,030) $3,396
 $(741)
Management contracts69
 (11) 62
 (8)
Software762
 (254) 711
 (141)
Trademark and trade name1,054
 (78) 1,051
 (45)
Product38
 (5) 36
 (3)
Favorable agreements14
 (3) 13
 (2)
Other5
 (3) 6
 (3)
Total finite-lived assets$5,418
 $(1,384) $5,275
 $(943)
        
Unfavorable agreements$34
 $(7) $34
 $(5)
Total finite-lived intangible liabilities$34
 $(7) $34
 $(5)
The weighted averageweighted-average remaining life of amortizable intangible assets and liabilities at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was 14.513.6 years.

The table below reflects the future estimated amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets and the rent offset resulting from amortization of the net lease intangible assets and liabilities for the remainder of 20172020 and for subsequent years:

 

 

Amortization

 

Remainder of 2020

 

$

331

 

2021

 

 

373

 

2022

 

 

315

 

2023

 

 

267

 

2024

 

 

235

 

Thereafter

 

 

1,839

 

Total

 

$

3,360

 


Amortization Rent offset
Remainder of 2017$142
 $(1)
2018536
 (4)
2019478
 (2)
2020427
 (2)
2021348
 (2)
Thereafter2,092
 (5)
Total$4,023
 $(16)

Note 8Derivative 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 risksthis risk 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 Additional information regarding our derivative financial instruments can be found in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements in interestNote 10 — Fair Value Measurements 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.Note 15 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.


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, with total notional amounts of $300 million, were designated as hedging instruments at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and had net fair value liabilities of $1 million and nil, respectively.

Foreign Currency Risk

Certain non-U.S. subsidiaries receive revenuesrevenue and incur expenses in currencies other than their functional currency, and as a result, the foreign subsidiary’s functional currency revenuesrevenue and/or expenses will fluctuate as the currency rates change. Additionally, the forecast Pounds sterling expenses of our London brokerage market operations may exceed their Pounds sterling revenues,revenue, and



they may also hold a significant net Pounds sterlingforeign currency asset or liability positionpositions in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. To reduce such variability, we use foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against this currency risk.

These derivatives were designated as hedging instruments and at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 20162019 had total notional amounts of $776$495 million and $945$499 million, respectively, and had a net fair value liabilitiesliability of $34$14 million and $110a net fair value asset of $8 million, respectively.

At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, the Company estimates, based on current interest and exchange rates, there will be $33$13 million of net derivative losses on forward exchange rates interest rate swaps, and treasury locks reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)loss into earnings within the next twelve months as the forecast transactions affect earnings. At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, our longest outstanding maturity was 2.71.7 years.

The effects of the material derivative instruments that are designated as hedging instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 20162019 are as follows:below. Amounts pertaining to the ineffective portion of hedging instruments and those excluded from effectiveness testing were immaterial for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(Loss)/gain recognized in OCI (effective element)

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Forward exchange contracts

 

$

(24

)

 

$

8

 

Location of gain/(loss) reclassified from Accumulated OCL into income (effective element)

 

Gain/(loss) reclassified from Accumulated OCL into income (effective element)

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Revenue

 

$

 

 

$

1

 

Salaries and benefits

 

 

(2

)

 

 

(5

)

 

 

$

(2

)

 

$

(4

)

Three Months Ended September 30,
Gain/(loss) recognized in OCI
(effective portion)
 Location of loss reclassified from Accumulated OCI into income (effective element) 
Loss reclassified from Accumulated OCI into income
(effective element)
 Location of gain/(loss) recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) Gain/(loss) recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)
 2017 2016   2017 2016   2017 2016
Forward exchange contracts$12
 $(6) Other expense, net $(10) $(14) Interest expense $
 $
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Gain/(loss) recognized in OCI
(effective portion)
 Location of loss reclassified from Accumulated OCI into income (effective element) 
Loss reclassified from Accumulated OCI into income
(effective element)
 Location of gain/(loss) recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing) Gain/(loss) recognized in income (ineffective portion and amount excluded from effectiveness testing)
 2017 2016   2017 2016   2017 2016
Forward exchange contracts$24
 $(81) Other expense, net $(53) $(28) Interest expense $1
 $(1)

We also enter into foreign currency transactions, primarily to hedge certain intercompany loans.loans and other balance sheet exposures in currencies other than the functional currency of a given entity. These derivatives are not generally designated as hedging instruments and at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2016,2019, we had notional amounts of $569 million$1.1 billion and $630$931 million, respectively, and had net fair value liabilitiesassets of $1$5 million and $8$21 million, respectively.

The effects of derivatives that have not been designated as hedging instruments on the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 20162019 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

Loss recognized in income

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

 

Location of loss

recognized in income

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Forward exchange contracts

 

Other income, net

 

$

(12

)

 

$

(10

)

    (Loss)/gain recognized in income
    Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: Location of (loss)/gain
recognized in income
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Forward exchange contracts Other expense, net $(3) $4
 $6
 $(6)


Note 9Debt

Short-term debt and current portion of long-term

Current debt consists of the following:

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Term loan due 2020

 

$

174

 

 

$

292

 

Current portion of collateralized facility

 

 

24

 

 

 

24

 

5.750% senior notes due 2021

 

 

499

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

697

 

 

$

316

 

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
6.200% senior notes due 2017$
 $394
Current portion of 7-year term loan facility
 22
Current portion of term loan due 201985
 85
Short-term borrowing under bank overdraft arrangement
 5
Other debt
 2
 $85
 $508

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Revolving $1.25 billion credit facility

 

$

396

 

 

$

 

Collateralized facility (i)

 

 

53

 

 

 

60

 

5.750% senior notes due 2021

 

 

 

 

 

499

 

3.500% senior notes due 2021

 

 

448

 

 

 

448

 

2.125% senior notes due 2022 (ii)

 

 

590

 

 

 

604

 

4.625% senior notes due 2023

 

 

249

 

 

 

249

 

3.600% senior notes due 2024

 

 

646

 

 

 

646

 

4.400% senior notes due 2026

 

 

546

 

 

 

546

 

4.500% senior notes due 2028

 

 

595

 

 

 

595

 

2.950% senior notes due 2029

 

 

446

 

 

 

446

 

6.125% senior notes due 2043

 

 

271

 

 

 

271

 

5.050% senior notes due 2048

 

 

395

 

 

 

395

 

3.875% senior notes due 2049

 

 

542

 

 

 

542

 

 

 

$

5,177

 

 

$

5,301

 

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
Revolving $1.25 billion credit facility$917
 $
Revolving $800 million credit facility
 238
7-year term loan facility
 196
Term loan due 2019105
 169
7.000% senior notes due 2019186
 186
5.750% senior notes due 2021496
 496
3.500% senior notes due 2021447
 446
2.125% senior notes due 2022 (i)
635
 565
4.625% senior notes due 2023248
 247
3.600% senior notes due 2024645
 
4.400% senior notes due 2026543
 543
6.125% senior notes due 2043271
 271
 $4,493
 $3,357
________________________

(i)

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $119 million and $127 million, respectively, of renewal commissions receivables pledged as collateral for this facility.

i.

(ii)

Notes issued in Euro (€540 million)

Revolving credit facility
On

At March 7, 2017, the Company, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Trinity Acquisition plc (see Note 19 for further information), entered into a $1.25 billion amended and restated revolving credit facility (the ‘RCF’), that will mature on March 7, 2022. The RCF replaced the previous $800 million revolving credit facility. Amounts outstanding under the RCF shall bear interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.00% to 1.75%, or alternatively, the base rate plus a margin of 0.00% to 0.75%, based upon the Company’s guaranteed senior unsecured long-term debt rating.

Borrowings of $409 million and €45 million against the RCF were used to repay all outstanding borrowings against the previous $800 million credit facility and the 7-year term loan due July 23, 2018.
Additionally, on March 28, 2017, $407 million was used to repay the 6.200% senior notes due 2017, including accrued interest.
At September 30, 201731, 2020 and December 31, 2016,2019, we were in compliance with all financial covenants.
Senior notes
On May 16, 2017, the Company, together with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Willis North America Inc. (see Note 17 for further information), completed an offering of $650 million of 3.600% senior notes due 2024 (‘2024 senior notes’). The effective interest rate of the 2024 senior notes is 3.614%, which includes the impact of the discount upon issuance. The 2024 senior notes will mature on May 15, 2024, and interest accrues on the 2024 senior notes from May 16, 2017 and will be paid in cash on May 15 and November 15 of each year. The net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, were $644 million, and were used to pay down amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general corporate purposes.

Note 10Fair 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 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 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.

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:

Available-for-sale securities are classified as Level 1 because we use quoted market prices in determining the fair value of these securities.

Available-for-sale securities are classified as Level 1 because we use quoted market prices in determining the fair value of these securities.

Market values for our derivative instruments have been used to determine the fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts based on estimated amounts the Company would receive or have to pay to terminate the agreements, taking into account observable information about the current foreign currency forward rates. Such financial instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Market values for our derivative instruments 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.

Contingent consideration payable is classified as Level 3, and we estimate fair value based on the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant milestones of each arrangement, applying a probability assessment to each of the potential outcomes, which at times includes the use of a Monte Carlo simulation, and discounting the probability-weighted payout. Typically, milestones are based on revenue or earnings growth for the acquired business.

Contingent consideration payable is classified as Level 3, and we estimate fair value based on the likelihood and timing of achieving the relevant milestones of each arrangement, applying a probability assessment to each of the potential outcomes, and discounting the probability-weighted payout. Typically, milestones are based on revenue or Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (‘EBITDA’) growth for the acquired business.

The following table presentstables present our assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2016:2019:

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at

March 31, 2020

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

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

 

$

6

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

6

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (i)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets

 

$

 

 

$

9

 

 

$

 

 

$

9

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration (ii)

 

Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

21

 

 

$

21

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (i)

 

Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

18

 

 

$

 

 

$

18

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

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

 

$

20

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

20

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (i)

 

Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets

 

$

 

 

$

32

 

 

$

 

 

$

32

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingent consideration (ii)

 

Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

17

 

 

$

17

 

Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments (i)

 

Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

3

 

 

$

 

 

$

3

 

  
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at
September 30, 2017
 Balance Sheet LocationLevel 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets:        
Available-for-sale securities:        
Mutual funds / exchange traded fundsPrepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets$40
 $
 $
 $40
Derivatives:        
Derivative financial instruments (i)
Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets$
 $11
 $
 $11
Liabilities:        
Contingent consideration:        
Contingent consideration (ii)
Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities$
 $
 $44
 $44
Derivatives:        
Derivative financial instruments (i)
Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities$
 $47
 $
 $47

  Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis at December 31, 2016
 Balance Sheet LocationLevel 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Assets:        
Available-for-sale securities: 
 
 
 
Mutual funds / exchange traded fundsPrepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets$37
 $
 $
 $37
Derivatives:        
Derivative financial instruments (i)
Prepaid and other current assets and other non-current assets$
 $15
 $
 $15
Liabilities:        
Contingent consideration:        
Contingent consideration (ii)
Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities$
 $
 $55
 $55
Derivatives:        
Derivative financial instruments (i)
Other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities$
 $133
 $
 $133
_________________________

(i)

i.

See Note 8Derivative Financial Instruments for further information on our derivative investments.

(ii)

ii.

Probability weightings are based on our knowledge of the past and planned performance of the acquired entity to which the contingent consideration applies. The weighted averagefair value weighted-average discount raterates used on our material contingent consideration calculations was 9.39%were 9.80% and 10.76%10.16% at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2016,2019, respectively. The range of these discount rates was 6.98% - 13.00% at March 31, 2020. Using different probability weightings and discount rates could result in an increase or decrease of the contingent consideration payable.

The following table summarizes the change in fair value of the Level 3 liabilities:

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

 

March 31, 2020

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

$

17

 

Obligations assumed

 

 

4

 

Payments

 

 

 

Realized and unrealized losses

 

 

1

 

Foreign exchange

 

 

(1

)

Balance at March 31, 2020

 

$

21

 

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) September 30, 2017
Balance at December 31, 2016 $55
Obligations assumed 
Payments (9)
Realized and unrealized losses (6)
Foreign exchange 4
Balance at September 30, 2017 $44

There were no0 significant transfers between Levels 1, 2to or from Level 3 in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

March 31, 2020.

The following tables present our liabilities not measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2016:2019:

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

 

Carrying Value

 

 

Fair Value

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current debt

 

$

697

 

 

$

704

 

 

$

316

 

 

$

319

 

Long-term debt

 

$

5,177

 

 

$

5,290

 

 

$

5,301

 

 

$

5,694

 

 September 30, 2017 December 31, 2016
 Carrying Value Fair Value Carrying Value Fair Value
Liabilities:       
    Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt$85
 $85
 $508
 $513
    Long-term debt$4,493
 $4,332
 $3,357
 $3,504

The carrying values of our revolving lines of credit facility, collateralized facility and term loansloan approximate their fair values. The fair values above are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company would realize upon disposition nor do they indicate the


Company’s intent or ability to dispose of the financial instrument.instruments. The fair valuevalues of our respective senior notes are considered levelLevel 2 financial instruments as they are corroborated by observable market data.

Note 11Retirement Benefits

Defined Benefit Plans and Post-retirement Welfare Plan

Plans

Willis Towers Watson sponsors both qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans and other post-retirement welfare plans (‘PRW’) plans throughout the world. The majority of our plan assets and obligations are in the United StatesU.S. and



the United Kingdom.U.K. We have also included disclosures related to defined benefit plans in certain other countries, including Canada, France, Germany Ireland and the Netherlands.Ireland. Together, these disclosed funded and unfunded plans represent 99% of Willis Towers Watson’s pension and PRW obligations and are disclosed herein.

Components of Net Periodic Benefit (Income)/Cost for Defined Benefit Pension and Post-retirement Welfare Plans

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic benefit (income)/cost for the Company’s defined benefit pension and PRW plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016:2019:

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

2017 2016

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

U.S. U.K. Other PRW U.S. U.K. Other PRW

 

U.S.

 

 

U.K.

 

 

Other

 

 

PRW

 

 

U.S.

 

 

U.K.

 

 

Other

 

 

PRW

 

Service cost$16
 $8
 $6
 $
 $15
 $6
 $5
 $

 

$

18

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

5

 

 

$

 

 

$

16

 

 

$

4

 

 

$

5

 

 

$

 

Interest cost34
 23
 4
 1
 34
 26
 6
 1

 

 

33

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

40

 

 

 

24

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

1

 

Expected return on plan assets(61) (72) (7) 
 (61) (58) (8) 

 

 

(73

)

 

 

(62

)

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

(64

)

 

 

(63

)

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

Settlement1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of net loss4
 13
 
 
 3
 10
 
 

 

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit
 (4) 
 
 
 (5) 
 

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

 

 

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1

)

Net periodic benefit (income)/cost$(6) $(32) $3
 $1
 $(9) $(21) $3
 $1

 

$

(13

)

 

$

(38

)

 

$

1

 

 

$

 

 

$

(3

)

 

$

(34

)

 

$

3

 

 

$

 

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016
 U.S. U.K. Other PRW U.S. U.K. Other PRW
Service cost$49
 $23
 $15
 $
 $44
 $19
 $14
 $
Interest cost104
 69
 13
 3
 102
 83
 20
 3
Expected return on plan assets(184) (211) (22) 
 (180) (186) (26) 
Settlement1
 
 
 
 
 
 2
 
Amortization of net loss10
 39
 1
 
 8
 32
 1
 
Amortization of prior service credit
 (13) 
 
 
 (15) 
 
Net periodic benefit (income)/cost$(20) $(93) $7
 $3
 $(26) $(67) $11
 $3

Employer Contributions to Defined Benefit Pension Plans

The Company made $50 million0 contributions to its U.S. plans for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and anticipates making no further$60 million in contributions forover the remainder of the fiscal year. The Company made contributions of $45$20 million to its U.K. plans for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and anticipates making additional contributions of $18$55 million for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Company made contributions of $11$14 million to its other plans for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and anticipates making additional contributions of $4$5 million for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Defined Contribution Plans

The Company made contributions to its defined contribution plans of $39$43 million and $118$41 million during the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Note 12Leases

The following table presents lease costs recorded on our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively,March 31, 2020 and $37 million and $118 million for2019, respectively:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Finance lease cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of right-of-use assets

 

$

1

 

 

$

1

 

Interest on lease liabilities

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

 

Operating lease cost

 

 

47

 

 

 

48

 

Short-term lease cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable lease cost

 

 

10

 

 

 

13

 

Sublease income

 

 

(5

)

 

 

(4

)

Total lease cost, net

 

$

54

 

 

$

59

 

The total lease cost is recognized in different locations in our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Amortization of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.finance lease ROU assets is included in depreciation, while the interest cost component of these finance leases is included in interest expense. All other costs are included in other operating expenses.


Note 12 13Commitments and Contingencies

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’sthe Company’s obligations and the unique facts of each particular agreement, the Company doeswe do not believe that any potential liability that mightmay 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 condensed 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 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.

See Note 14 Supplementary Information for Certain Balance Sheet Accounts for the amounts accrued at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

On the basis of current information, the Company does not expect that the actual claims, lawsuits and other proceedings to which the Companyit 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’sits 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. In addition, given the early stages of some litigation or regulatory proceedings described below, it ismay not be possible to predict their outcomeoutcomes or resolution,resolutions, and it is possible that any one or more of these events may have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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.

Merger-related Appraisal Demands
Between

Merger-Related Securities Litigation

On November 12, 2015 and December 10, 2015, in connection with the then-proposed Merger,21, 2017, a purported former stockholder of Legacy Towers Watson received demands for appraisal under Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Lawfiled a putative class action complaint on behalf of ten purported beneficial ownersa putative class consisting of an aggregateall Legacy Towers Watson stockholders as of approximately 2.4%October 2, 2015 against the Company, Legacy Towers Watson, Legacy Willis, ValueAct Capital Management (‘ValueAct’), and certain current and former directors and officers of Legacy Towers Watson and Legacy Willis (John Haley, Dominic Casserley, and Jeffrey Ubben), in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The complaint asserted claims against certain defendants under Section 14(a) of the sharesSecurities Exchange Act of 1934 (the ‘Exchange Act’) for allegedly false and misleading statements in the proxy statement for the Merger; and against other defendants under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act for alleged ‘control person’ liability with respect to such allegedly false and misleading statements. The complaint further contended that the allegedly false and misleading statements caused stockholders of Legacy Towers Watson common stock outstanding atto accept inadequate Merger consideration. The complaint sought damages in an unspecified amount. On February 20, 2018, the timecourt appointed the Regents of the Merger. BetweenUniversity of California (‘Regents’) as Lead Plaintiff and Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman LLP (‘Bernstein’) as Lead Counsel for the putative class, consolidated all subsequently filed, removed, or transferred actions, and captioned the consolidated action ‘In re Willis Towers Watson plc Proxy Litigation,’ Master File No. 1:17-cv-1338-AJT-JFA. On March 3, 20169, 2018, Lead Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint. On April 13, 2018, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the Amended Complaint, and, on July 11, 2018, following briefing and argument, the court granted the motions and dismissed the Amended Complaint in its entirety. On July 30, 2018, Lead Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal from the court’s July 11, 2018 dismissal order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and, on December 6, 2018, the parties completed briefing on the appeal. On May 8, 2019, the parties argued the appeal, and on August 30, 2019, the Fourth Circuit vacated the dismissal order and remanded the case to the Eastern District of Virginia for further proceedings consistent with its decision. On September 13, 2019, the defendants filed a petition for rehearing by the Fourth Circuit en banc, which the Fourth Circuit denied on September 27, 2019. On November 8, 2019, the defendants filed renewed motions to dismiss in the Eastern District of Virginia based upon certain arguments that were advanced in their original motions to dismiss, but undecided by both the district court and the Fourth Circuit. On December


18, 2019, the parties completed briefing on the defendants’ renewed motions, and, on December 20, 2019, the court heard argument on the motions. On January 31, 2020, the court denied the motions.

On February 27, 2018 and March 23, 2016, three appraisal petitions were8, 2018, two additional purported former stockholders of Legacy Towers Watson, City of Fort Myers General Employees’ Pension Fund (‘Fort Myers’) and Alaska Laborers-Employers Retirement Trust (‘Alaska’), filed putative class action complaints on behalf of a putative class of Legacy Towers Watson stockholders against the former members of the Legacy Towers Watson board of directors, Legacy Towers Watson, Legacy Willis and ValueAct, in the Delaware Court of Chancery, for the Statecaptioned City of Delaware on behalf of three purported beneficial owners 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 EquitiesFort Myers General Employees’ Pension Fund v. Towers Watson & Co., et al., C.A. No. 12126-CB.2018-0132, and Alaska Laborers-Employers Retirement Trust v. Victor F. Ganzi, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0155, respectively. Based on similar allegations as the Eastern District of Virginia action described above, the complaints assert claims against the former directors of Legacy Towers Watson for breach of fiduciary duty and against Legacy Willis and ValueAct for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty.

On March 9, 2018, Regents filed a putative class action complaint on behalf of a putative class of Legacy Towers Watson stockholders against the Company, Legacy Willis, ValueAct, and Messrs. Haley, Casserley, and Ubben, in the Delaware Court of Chancery, captioned The appraisal petitions seek, among other things, a determinationRegents of the fair valueUniversity of California v. John J. Haley, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0166. Based on similar allegations as the appraisal petitioners’ shares atEastern District of Virginia action described above, the timecomplaint asserts claims against Mr. Haley for breach of fiduciary duty and against all other defendants for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. Also on March 9, 2018, Regents filed a motion for consolidation of all pending and subsequently filed Delaware Court of Chancery actions, and for appointment as Lead Plaintiff and for the Merger; an order that Towers Watson pay that valueappointment of Bernstein as Lead Counsel for the putative class. On March 29, 2018, Fort Myers and Alaska responded to Regents’ motion and cross-moved for appointment as Co-Lead Plaintiffs and for the appraisal petitioners, together with interest at the statutory rate;appointment of their counsel, Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. and an award of costs, attorneys’ fees, and other expenses. Towers Watson answered the appraisal petitions between March 24, 2016 andKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP as Co-Lead Counsel. On April 18, 2016. On May 9, 2016,2, 2018, the court consolidated the three pending appraisal proceedings underDelaware Court of Chancery actions and all related actions subsequently filed in or transferred to the caption In re AppraisalDelaware Court of Chancery. On June 5, 2018, the court denied Regents’ motion for appointment of Lead Plaintiff and Lead Counsel and granted Fort Myers’ and Alaska’s cross-motion. On June 20, 2018, Fort Myers and Alaska designated the complaint previously filed by Alaska (the ‘Alaska Complaint’) as the operative complaint in the consolidated action. On September 14, 2018, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the Alaska Complaint. On October 31, 2018, Fort Myers and Alaska filed an amended complaint, which, based on similar allegations, asserts claims against the former directors of legacy Towers Watson & Co., Consolidated C.A. No. 12064-CB. A fourth ownerfor breach of fiduciary duty and against ValueAct and Mr. Ubben for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty. On January 11, 2019, the defendants filed an appraisal demand, but did not file an appraisal petition. The aggregate amount of shares subjectmotions to appraisal from these four owners was 1,415,199.dismiss the amended complaint, and on March 29, 2019, the parties completed briefing on the motions. The court provisionally scheduled trialheard argument on the motions on April 11, 2019 and, on July 25, 2019, dismissed the amended complaint in its entirety. On August 22, 2019, Fort Myers and Alaska filed a notice of appeal from the court’s July 25, 2019 dismissal order to the Supreme Court of the State of Delaware. On November 22, 2019, the parties completed briefing on the appeal, which was submitted on April 22, 2020 for decision in lieu of argument. The decision remains pending.

On October 2, 2017. On September 15, 2017,18, 2018, 3 additional purported former stockholders of Legacy Towers Watson, Naya Master Fund LP, Naya 174 Fund Limited and Naya Lincoln Park Master Fund Limited (collectively, ‘Naya’), filed a complaint against the Company, reached a settlement with all shareholders who made demands for appraisal, resolving all claims related toLegacy Towers Watson, Legacy Willis and John Haley, in the appraised shares. Under the termsSupreme Court of the settlement, these shareholders surrendered all rightsState of New York, County of New York, captioned Naya Master Fund LP, et al. v. John J. Haley, et al., Index No. 654968/2018. Based on similar allegations as the Eastern District of Virginia and Delaware actions described above, the complaint asserts claims for common law fraud and negligent misrepresentation. On December 18, 2018, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Towers Watson sharescomplaint, and all potential Merger consideration issuableon March 21, 2019, the parties completed briefing on the motion. On April 23, 2019, the parties filed a Stipulation and Proposed Order Voluntarily Discontinuing Action providing for the legacy shares. In exchange,dismissal of the action with prejudice, which the court entered on April 29, 2019.

The defendants dispute the allegations in these actions and intend to defend the lawsuits vigorously. Given the stage of the proceedings, the Company made a paymentis unable to these shareholders of approximately $211 million, which represented $134.75 per share plus accrued interest at the statutory rate of interest. As a resultprovide an estimate of the settlement, the Court, on September 18, 2017, dismissed all claimsreasonably possible loss or range of loss in the case with prejudice. The Company thereafter canceled allrespect of the Towers Watson common shares at issue in the appraisal proceeding.

complaints.

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:

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

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’).

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 rehearingen 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 Troiceand theJanvey, et al. v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al. action discussed below stipulated to the consolidation of the two2 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 7 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.

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.

Rishmague, et ano. v. Winter, et al., Case No. 2011CI2585, was filed on March 11, 2011 on behalf of 2 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.

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.

MacArthur v. Winter, et al., Case No. 2013-07840, was filed on February 8, 2013 on behalf of 2 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.

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

Florida suits: On February 14, 2013, 5 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 2 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 5 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 4 actions pending the JPML’s transfer decision. On June 20, 2013, the JPML issued a conditional transfer order for the transfer of the 5 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.

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.
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.
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 7 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 appealssua spontefor lack of jurisdiction. 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.

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.

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 Janveyfiled 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.

Martin v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., Case No. 201652115, was filed on August 5, 2016, on behalf of 1 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 5 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.

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.

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. On November 10, 2016, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which, among other things, added several more Stanford investors as plaintiffs. The defendants have not yet responded to the complaint in Abel.

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. On November 10, 2016, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which, among other things, added several more Stanford investors as plaintiffs. 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 increased its provisions by $50 million during that quarter. 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, the settlement and the related bar orders described below, if upheld through any appeals, would enable the Company (a newly-combined firm) 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 is 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.

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. The parties to the Settlement Agreement 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., Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the Willis associate referenced above (collectively, ‘Defendants’), on the other hand. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed to settle and dismiss the Janvey and Troice actions (collectively, the ‘Actions’) and all current or future claims arising from or related to Stanford in exchange for a one-time cash payment to the Receiver by the Company of $120 million 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 Agreement also provides 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, but 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 September 7, 2016, Plaintiffs filed with the Court a motion to approve the settlement. On October 19, 2016, the Court preliminarily approved the settlement. Several of the plaintiffs in the other actions above objected to the settlement, and a hearing to consider final approval of the settlement was held on January 20, 2017, after which the Court reserved decision. On August 23, 2017, the Court approved the settlement, including the bar orders. Several of the objectors have since appealed the settlement approval and bar orders to


the Fifth Circuit. TheOral argument on the appeals are currently pending. was heard on December 3, 2018, and, on July 22, 2019, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the approval of the settlement, including the bar orders. On August 5, 2019, certain of the plaintiff-appellants filed a petition for rehearing by the Fifth Circuit en banc (the ‘Petition’). On August 19, 2019, the Fifth Circuit requested a response to the Petition. On August 29, 2019, the Receiver filed a response to the Petition. On December 19, 2019, the Fifth Circuit granted the Petition (treating it as a petition for panel rehearing), withdrew its July 22, 2019 opinion, and substituted a new opinion that also affirmed the approval of the settlement, including the bar orders. On January 2, 2020, certain of the plaintiff-appellants filed another petition for rehearing by the Fifth Circuit en banc (the ‘Second Petition’), in which the other plaintiff-appellants joined. On January 21, 2020, the Fifth Circuit denied the Second Petition.

The Company will not make the $120 million settlement payment unless and until the appeals are decided in its favor and the settlement is not subject to any further appeal.

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 benefits 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 benefits 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.” The amended complaint 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.
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 a Second Amended Scheduling Order setting trial for October 31, 2017. On March 27, 2017, the Court entered a Third Amended Scheduling Order setting trial for January 16, 2018.
On May 8, 2017, Legacy Towers Watson received the City’s expert’s damages report, which asserted the City has incurred actual damages of approximately $430 million through July 1, 2017, and will incur future damages that have a present value of approximately $400 million as of July 1, 2017 if the Fund pension benefits remain unchanged. On June 30, 2017, Legacy Towers Watson served its expert reports in rebuttal to the City’s expert reports.  Legacy Towers Watson’s experts concluded that Legacy Towers Watson’s work was reasonable and conformed with the actuarial standards of practice, and that Legacy Towers Watson did not cause any damages to the City.  Legacy Towers Watson’s experts also concluded that the City’s damages model is flawed.
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.
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 alleged 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; these allegations concern matters 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 asserted 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 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. In this litigation, Meriter sought damages in a revised 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 sought 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 motion 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. On February 28, 2017, TWDE and the other defendants filed a motion to amend the scheduling order. The motion was granted on March 9, 2017, and the trial was re-scheduled to begin on December 11, 2017.

On June 15, 2017, the Company and Meriter agreed to a settlement to resolve all claims in this case against the actuary defendants. The terms of the settlement are confidential. The settlement amount is not materially in excess of previously accrued amounts. As a result of the settlement, the Court, on July 27, 2017, dismissed all of Meriter’s claims in this case, in their entirety, with prejudice.


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 agreed that Towers Perrin may file a motion for summary judgment which was initially scheduled to be heard on February 3, 2017. The motion was then fully briefed, and the hearing date was thereafter moved to March 8, 2017.
On March 1, 2017, Towers Perrin and Plaintiffs participated in a mediation and reached a settlement in principle. Pursuant to the settlement in principle, in exchange for a dismissal of the claims of all class members and a release of Towers Perrin by all class members, Towers Perrin would pay a total of $9.75 million into an interest-bearing settlement fund, to be used to reimburse class counsel's costs, and for later distribution to class members as approved by the Court. This proposed settlement amount was accrued during the three months ended March 31, 2017. A formal settlement agreement was submitted to the Court for its preliminary approval on May 18, 2017. On October 25, 2017, the Court preliminarily approved the settlement, and set a final fairness and final approval hearing on the settlement for January 26, 2018. The Court also granted the Company’s unopposed motion for a good faith settlement determination. Class members who properly object to the settlement have standing to appeal if the Court orders final approval of the settlement.
Based on the stage of the proceedings, in the event the settlement is not finally approved, the Company is unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss in respect of the plaintiffs’ complaint.
European Commission and FCA Regulatory

Aviation Broking Competition Investigations

In April 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority (‘FCA’) informed Willis Limited, our U.K. broking subsidiary, that it had opened a formal investigation into possible agreements/concerted practices in the aviation broking sector.

In October 2017, the European Commission (‘Commission’) disclosed to us that it has initiated civil investigation proceedings in respect of a suspected infringement of E.U. competition rules involving several broking firms, including our principal U.K. broking subsidiary and one of its parent entities. In particular, the Commission has stated that the civil proceedings concern the exchange of commercially sensitive information between competitors in relation to aviation and aerospace insurance and reinsurance broking products and services in the European Economic Area, as well as possible coordination between competitors. The initiation of proceedings does not mean there has been a finding of infringement, merely that the Commission will investigate the case.

Now that We are providing information to the Commission has initiated proceedings,as requested.

Since 2017, we have become aware that other countries are conducting their own investigations of the FCA has informed us that it has closed its competition act investigation. However, it retains its jurisdiction over broking regulatory matters arising fromsame or similar alleged conduct, including, without limitation, Brazil. In January 2019, the conduct being investigated.



Brazil Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Economica (‘CADE’) launched an administrative proceeding to investigate alleged sharing of competitive and commercially sensitive information in the insurance and reinsurance brokerage industry for aviation and aerospace and related ancillary services. The CADE identified 11 entities under investigation, including Willis Group Limited, one of our U.K. subsidiaries.

Given the status of the investigation,above-noted investigations, the Company is currently unable to assess the terms on which this investigation,they will be resolved, or any other regulatory matter or civil claims emanating from the conduct being investigated, will be resolved, and thus is unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss.

U.K. Investment Consulting Investigation
In September 2017, the FCA announced that it would make a market investigation referral with respect to the investment consulting industry to the U.K. Competition & Markets Authority (the ‘CMA’). The CMA then commenced a market investigation, and the Company is currently cooperating with the investigation.
The CMA investigation of the investment consulting market is expected to take at least 18 months to conclude. Given the early stage of the investigation, the Company is currently unable to assess whether the CMA will find any adverse effects on competition, and, if the CMA does find any adverse effects on competition, what remedies it may impose on the industry. Given this, the Company is unable to provide an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss.

Note 1314 — Supplementary Information for Certain Balance Sheet Accounts

Related Party Transaction - During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company divested its Global Wealth Solutions business through a sale to an employee of the business. As part of that transaction, WTW financed a $50 million note payable from the employee to purchase the business. The note amortizes over 10 years, bears interest at 3% and is guaranteed by $3 million of assets. Following the sale, employees of this business are no longer employees of WTW, and the purchasing employee is no longer considered a related party. The current and non-current portions of the note receivable are included in the tables below as Other current assets and Other non-current assets.

Additional details of specific balance sheet accounts are detailed below.

Accounts receivable, net consists of the following:
 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Billed, net of allowance for doubtful debts of $47 million and $40 million$1,790
 $1,789
Accrued and unbilled, at estimated net realizable value365
 291
Accounts receivable, net$2,155
 $2,080

Prepaid and other current assets consist of the following:

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Prepayments and accrued income

 

$

166

 

 

$

145

 

Deferred contract costs

 

 

72

 

 

 

101

 

Derivatives and investments

 

 

25

 

 

 

49

 

Deferred compensation plan assets

 

 

14

 

 

 

18

 

Retention incentives

 

 

9

 

 

 

11

 

Corporate income and other taxes

 

 

52

 

 

 

56

 

Restricted cash

 

 

8

 

 

 

8

 

Acquired renewal commissions receivable

 

 

23

 

 

 

25

 

Other current assets

 

 

100

 

 

 

112

 

Total prepaid and other current assets

 

$

469

 

 

$

525

 

 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Prepayments and accrued income$162
 $131
Derivatives and investments24
 32
Deferred compensation plan assets18
 15
Retention incentives8
 7
Corporate income and other taxes139
 97
Other current assets67
 55
Total prepaid and other current assets$418
 $337
Other non-current assets consists

Deferred revenue and accrued expenses consist of the following:

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and deferred income

 

$

854

 

 

$

856

 

Accrued discretionary and incentive compensation

 

 

265

 

 

 

727

 

Accrued vacation

 

 

163

 

 

 

137

 

Other employee-related liabilities

 

 

47

 

 

 

64

 

Total deferred revenue and accrued expenses

 

$

1,329

 

 

$

1,784

 

 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Prepayments and accrued income$15
 $15
Deferred compensation plan assets125
 111
Deferred tax assets50
 50
Accounts receivable, net33
 27
Other investments29
 30
Other non-current assets180
 120
Total other non-current assets$432
 $353



Provision for liabilities consists of the following:

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

Claims, lawsuits and other proceedings

 

$

459

 

 

$

456

 

Other provisions

 

 

82

 

 

 

81

 

Total provision for liabilities

 

$

541

 

 

$

537

 

 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Claims, lawsuits and other proceedings$478
 $456
Other provisions125
 119
Total provision for liabilities$603
 $575
Other non-current liabilities consist of the following:
 September 30,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Incentives from lessors$140
 $133
Deferred compensation plan liability127
 111
Contingent and deferred consideration on acquisitions36
 89
Derivatives7
 51
Other non-current liabilities166
 148
Total other non-current liabilities$476
 $532

Note 1415 — Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of non-controlling interests, and net of tax are provided in the following tabletables for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016. This table excludes2019. These tables exclude amounts 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)

 

 

Derivative

instruments (i)

 

 

Defined pension and

post-retirement

benefit costs (ii)

 

 

Total

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Balance at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively

 

$

(538

)

 

$

(616

)

 

$

13

 

 

$

(8

)

 

$

(1,702

)

 

$

(1,337

)

 

$

(2,227

)

 

$

(1,961

)

Other comprehensive (loss)/income before

   reclassifications

 

 

(208

)

 

 

9

 

 

 

(19

)

 

 

6

 

 

 

(4

)

 

 

1

 

 

 

(231

)

 

 

16

 

Loss reclassified from accumulated other

   comprehensive loss (net of income tax benefit of

   $0 and $4, respectively)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

12

 

 

 

7

 

Net current-period other comprehensive (loss)/income

 

 

(208

)

 

 

9

 

 

 

(18

)

 

 

11

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

(219

)

 

 

23

 

Reclassification of tax effects per ASU 2018-02 (iii)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36

)

 

 

 

 

 

(36

)

Balance at March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively

 

$

(746

)

 

$

(607

)

 

$

(5

)

 

$

3

 

 

$

(1,695

)

 

$

(1,370

)

 

$

(2,446

)

 

$

(1,974

)

 
Foreign currency translation (i)
 
Cash flow hedges (i)
 
Defined pension and post-retirement benefit costs (ii)
 Total
 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
Quarter-to-date activity:               
Balance at June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively$(647) $(398) $(39) $(73) $(1,090) $(710) $(1,776) $(1,181)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications78
 (36) 6
 (1) (5) (6) 79
 (43)
Loss/(income) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of income tax benefit of $4 and $1, respectively)
 
 11
 (6) 10
 9
 21
 3
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)78
 (36) 17
 (7) 5
 3
 100
 (40)
Balance at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively$(569) $(434) $(22) $(80) $(1,085) $(707) $(1,676) $(1,221)
                
Year-to-date activity:               
Balance at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively$(650) $(314) $(82) $(10) $(1,152) $(713) $(1,884) $(1,037)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) before reclassifications81
 (120) 15
 (56) 39
 (26) 135
 (202)
Loss/(income) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (net of income tax benefit of $17 and income tax expense of $3, respectively)
 
 45
 (14) 28
 32
 73
 18
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)81
 (120) 60
 (70) 67
 6
 208
 (184)
Balance at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively$(569) $(434) $(22) $(80) $(1,085) $(707) $(1,676) $(1,221)
________________________

(i)

i

Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive loss related to foreign currency translation and cash flow hedgesderivative instruments are included in Other expense, netRevenue and Salaries and benefits in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. See Note 8Derivative Financial Instruments for additional details regarding the reclassification adjustments for the hedgederivative settlements.

(ii)

ii

Reclassification adjustments from accumulated other comprehensive loss are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (see Note 11Retirement Benefits) which isBenefits). These components are included in Salaries and benefitsOther income, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.



(iii)

On January 1, 2019, in accordance with ASU 2018-02, we reclassified to Retained earnings $36 million of defined pension and postretirement costs, representing the ‘stranded’ tax effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate resulting from U.S. Tax Reform.

Note 1516 — Earnings Per Share

Basic and diluted 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.

At September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016,2019, there were 0.90.2 million and 1.30.3 million time-based share options; 1.00.3 million and 1.20.4 million performance-based options; 0.4and 0.3 million and 0.9 million restricted time-based stock units; and 0.6 million and 0.70.5 million restricted performance-based stock units outstanding, respectively.

The Company’s restricted time-based stock units were immaterial at March 31, 2020 and 2019.

Basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson

 

$

305

 

 

$

287

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic average number of shares outstanding

 

 

130

 

 

 

130

 

Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted average number of shares outstanding

 

 

130

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

 

$

2.36

 

 

$

2.21

 

Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares

 

 

(0.02

)

 

 

(0.01

)

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

2.34

 

 

$

2.20

 

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
Net (loss)/income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$(54) $(32) $323
 $278
        
Basic average number of shares outstanding 
134
 138
 136
 137
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares 

 
 1
 2
Diluted average number of shares outstanding 
134
 138
 137
 139
        
Basic (loss)/earnings per share 
$(0.40) $(0.23) $2.38
 $2.03
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares 

 
 (0.02) (0.03)
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share 
$(0.40) $(0.23) $2.36
 $2.00
The dilutive effect of

There were 0 anti-dilutive options or restricted stock options was not computedunits for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016 as the Company reported a net loss within its condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. There were no anti-dilutive options for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Options to purchase 0.6 million shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were not included in the computation of the dilutive effect of stock options because their effect was anti-dilutive.

Note 16 — Subsequent Events
On November 1, 2017, the Company sold a portion of its programs business in North America. The revenue associated with the divested programs represents less than 2% of our IRR segment’s total revenues.
2019.





Note 17 — Financial Information for Parent Guarantor, Other Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Willis North America Inc. (‘Willis North America’) has $837 million senior notes outstanding of which $187 million were issued on September 29, 2009, and $650 million were issued on May 16, 2017. Additionally, Willis North America had $394 million of senior notes issued on March 28, 2007; these were subsequently repaid on March 28, 2017.
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, Willis Group Limited, Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Unlimited Company and Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited, collectively the ‘Other Guarantors’, and with Willis Towers Watson, the ‘Guarantor Companies’.
On August 11, 2017 a newly formed entity, Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited, became the successor to, and assumed all guarantees of, WTW Bermuda Holdings Limited under the outstanding indentures for the senior notes described above. As both entities are direct subsidiaries of TA I Limited, and sub-consolidate within the ‘Other Guarantors’ columns of the financial statements presented herein, there is no significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements from what has previously been disclosed. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2017 for additional information regarding this change.
The guarantor structure described above differs from the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes issued by Willis Towers Watson described in Note 18 and the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes and revolving credit facility issued by Trinity Acquisition plc described in Note 19.
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 of Willis Towers Watson, the Other Guarantors and the Issuer.


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
Revenues           
Commissions and fees$
 $
 $3
 $1,829
 $
 $1,832
Interest and other income
 
 
 20
 
 20
Total revenues
 
 3
 1,849
 
 1,852
Costs of providing services           
Salaries and benefits2
 
 20
 1,123
 
 1,145
Other operating expenses
 30
 6
 330
 
 366
Depreciation
 2
 
 52
 
 54
Amortization
 1
 
 143
 (3) 141
Restructuring costs
 1
 1
 29
 
 31
Transaction and integration expenses
 2
 4
 68
 
 74
Total costs of providing services2
 36
 31
 1,745
 (3) 1,811
(Loss)/income from operations(2) (36) (28) 104
 3
 41
Income from Group undertakings
 (136) (46) (39) 221
 
Expenses due to Group undertakings
 13
 48
 160
 (221) 
Interest expense8
 25
 9
 5
 
 47
Other (income)/expense, net
 (48) 
 (120) 197
 29
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(10) 110
 (39) 98
 (194) (35)
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes(1) 10
 (4) 14
 
 19
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(9) 100
 (35) 84
 (194) (54)
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
Equity account for subsidiaries(45) (142) (248) 
 435
 
NET (LOSS)/INCOME(54) (42) (283) 84
 241
 (54)
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
 
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(54) $(42) $(283) $84
 $241
 $(54)
            
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests$46
 $62
 $(215) $(4) $145
 $34
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest
 
 
 12
 
 12
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson$46
 $62
 $(215) $8
 $145
 $46


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 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 expenses1
 27
 10
 332
 
 370
Depreciation
 1
 4
 40
 
 45
Amortization
 
 
 157
 
 157
Restructuring costs
 7
 7
 35
 
 49
Transaction and integration expenses
 1
 5
 30
 
 36
Total costs of providing services1
 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 expense8
 22
 10
 5
 
 45
Other expense, net
 
 
 14
 
 14
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(9) 55
 (32) (72) 
 (58)
Benefit from income taxes
 (9) (10) (7) 
 (26)
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM 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(32) (18) (51) (64) 134
 (31)
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(32) $(18) $(51) $(65) $134
 $(32)
            
Comprehensive loss before non-controlling interests$(72) $(58) $(77) $(91) $225
 $(73)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest
 
 
 1
 
 1
Comprehensive loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson$(72) $(58) $(77) $(90) $225
 $(72)


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions and fees$
 $
 $14
 $6,051
 $
 $6,065
Interest and other income
 
 
 59
 
 59
Total revenues
 
 14
 6,110
 
 6,124
Costs of providing services

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits4
 
 40
 3,440
 
 3,484
Other operating expenses2
 74
 16
 1,066
 
 1,158
Depreciation
 5
 
 146
 
 151
Amortization
 3
 
 441
 (3) 441
Restructuring costs
 5
 1
 79
 
 85
Transaction and integration expenses
 32
 6
 139
 
 177
Total costs of providing services6
 119
 63
 5,311
 (3) 5,496
(Loss)/income from operations(6) (119) (49) 799
 3
 628
Income from Group undertakings
 (402) (160) (112) 674
 
Expenses due to Group undertakings
 52
 144
 478
 (674) 
Interest expense23
 75
 25
 16
 
 139
Other (income)/expense, net
 (48) 
 (70) 197
 79
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(29) 204
 (58) 487
 (194) 410
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes(2) 19
 (7) 63
 
 73
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(27) 185
 (51) 424
 (194) 337
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 2
 
 2
Equity account for subsidiaries350
 158
 (23) 
 (485) 
NET INCOME/(LOSS)323
 343
 (74) 426
 (679) 339
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (16) 
 (16)
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$323
 $343
 $(74) $410
 $(679) $323
            
Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests$531
 $552
 $68
 $434
 $(1,039) $546
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (15) 
 (15)
Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$531
 $552
 $68
 $419
 $(1,039) $531


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 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 benefits1
 1
 38
 3,479
 
 3,519
Other operating expenses4
 84
 82
 1,001
 
 1,171
Depreciation
 3
 11
 118
 
 132
Amortization
 
 
 443
 
 443
Restructuring costs
 18
 23
 74
 
 115
Transaction and integration expenses
 13
 15
 89
 
 117
Total costs of providing services5
 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 expense25
 65
 29
 19
 
 138
Other expense/(income), net1
 (2) 
 27
 
 26
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM 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 OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(31) 165
 (98) 252
 
 288
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 2
 
 2
Equity account for subsidiaries309
 124
 92
 
 (525) 
NET INCOME/(LOSS)278
 289
 (6) 254
 (525) 290
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (12) 
 (12)
NET INCOME/(LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$278
 $289
 $(6) $242
 $(525) $278
            
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests$94
 $104
 $(107) $88
 $(83) $96
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest
 
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson$94
 $104
 $(107) $86
 $(83) $94


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 As of September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
ASSETS           
Cash and cash equivalents$
 $5
 $
 $907
 $
 $912
Fiduciary assets
 
 
 12,206
 
 12,206
Accounts receivable, net
 
 5
 2,150
 
 2,155
Prepaid and other current assets2
 26
 143
 298
 (51) 418
Amounts due from group undertakings6,131
 1,478
 1,360
 2,576
 (11,545) 
Total current assets6,133
 1,509
 1,508
 18,137
 (11,596) 15,691
Investments in subsidiaries4,357
 8,895
 6,209
 
 (19,461) 
Fixed assets, net
 35
 
 902
 
 937
Goodwill
 
 
 10,529
 
 10,529
Other intangible assets, net
 61
 
 4,034
 (61) 4,034
Pension benefits assets
 
 
 649
 
 649
Other non-current assets
 14
 246
 373
 (201) 432
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings
 4,918
 861
 48
 (5,827) 
Total non-current assets4,357
 13,923
 7,316
 16,535
 (25,550) 16,581
TOTAL ASSETS$10,490
 $15,432
 $8,824
 $34,672
 $(37,146) $32,272
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY           
Fiduciary liabilities$
 $
 $
 $12,206
 $
 $12,206
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses1
 9
 82
 1,380
 
 1,472
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 
 
 85
 
 85
Other current liabilities78
 43
 117
 546
 9
 793
Amounts due to group undertakings
 7,537
 2,402
 1,607
 (11,546) 
Total current liabilities79
 7,589
 2,601
 15,824
 (11,537) 14,556
Long-term debt496
 2,945
 946
 106
 
 4,493
Liability for pension benefits
 
 
 1,207
 
 1,207
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 1,057
 (201) 856
Provision for liabilities
 
 120
 483
 
 603
Other non-current liabilities
 7
 59
 410
 
 476
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings
 
 519
 5,308
 (5,827) 
Total non-current liabilities496
 2,952
 1,644
 8,571
 (6,028) 7,635
TOTAL LIABILITIES575
 10,541
 4,245
 24,395
 (17,565) 22,191
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 
 55
 
 55
EQUITY           
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity9,915
 4,891
 4,579
 10,111
 (19,581) 9,915
Non-controlling interests
 
 
 111
 
 111
Total equity9,915
 4,891
 4,579
 10,222
 (19,581) 10,026
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$10,490
 $15,432
 $8,824
 $34,672
 $(37,146) $32,272


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 As of December 31, 2016
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
ASSETS           
Cash and cash equivalents$
 $
 $
 $870
 $
 $870
Fiduciary assets
 
 
 10,505
 
 10,505
Accounts receivable, net
 
 7
 2,073
 
 2,080
Prepaid and other current assets
 49
 23
 324
 (59) 337
Amounts due from group undertakings7,229
 1,706
 1,190
 2,370
 (12,495) 
Total current assets7,229
 1,755
 1,220
 16,142
 (12,554) 13,792
Investments in subsidiaries3,409
 7,733
 5,480
 
 (16,622) 
Fixed assets, net
 34
 
 805
 
 839
Goodwill
 
 
 10,413
 
 10,413
Other intangible assets, net
 64
 
 4,368
 (64) 4,368
Pension benefits assets
 
 
 488
 
 488
Other non-current assets
 10
 80
 310
 (47) 353
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings
 4,655
 836
 
 (5,491) 
Total non-current assets3,409
 12,496
 6,396
 16,384
 (22,224) 16,461
TOTAL ASSETS$10,638
 $14,251
 $7,616
 $32,526
 $(34,778) $30,253
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY           
Fiduciary liabilities$
 $
 $
 $10,505
 $
 $10,505
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
 15
 27
 1,488
 (49) 1,481
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 22
 394
 92
 
 508
Other current liabilities77
 94
 23
 684
 (2) 876
Amounts due to group undertakings
 8,323
 2,075
 2,097
 (12,495) 
Total current liabilities77
 8,454
 2,519
 14,866
 (12,546) 13,370
Long-term debt496
 2,506
 186
 169
 
 3,357
Liability for pension benefits
 
 
 1,321
 
 1,321
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 1,013
 (149) 864
Provision for liabilities
 
 120
 455
 
 575
Other non-current liabilities
 48
 15
 483
 (14) 532
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings
 
 518
 4,973
 (5,491) 
Total non-current liabilities496
 2,554
 839
 8,414
 (5,654) 6,649
TOTAL LIABILITIES573
 11,008
 3,358
 23,280
 (18,200) 20,019
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 
 51
 
 51
EQUITY           
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity10,065
 3,243
 4,258
 9,077
 (16,578) 10,065
Non-controlling interests
 
 
 118
 
 118
Total equity10,065
 3,243
 4,258
 9,195
 (16,578) 10,183
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$10,638
 $14,251
 $7,616
 $32,526
 $(34,778) $30,253


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES$525
 $(498) $(99) $774
 $(187) $515
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES           
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use
 (6) 
 (192) 
 (198)
Capitalized software costs
 
 
 (52) 
 (52)
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired
 
 
 (13) 
 (13)
Other, net
 
 
 1
 
 1
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities1,102
 336
 10
 223
 (1,671) 
Repayments of intercompany investing activities
 (195) 
 (311) 506
 
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries
 1,148
 
 59
 (1,207) 
Additional investment in subsidiaries(1,000) (207) 
 
 1,207
 
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities$102
 $1,076
 $10
 $(285) $(1,165) $(262)
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES           
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility
 560
 115
 
 
 675
Senior notes issued
 
 650
 
 
 650
Proceeds from issuance of other debt
 
 
 32
 
 32
Debt issuance costs
 (4) (5) 
 
 (9)
Repayments of debt
 (219) (400) (95) 
 (714)
Repurchase of shares(462) 
 
 
 
 (462)
Proceeds from issuance of shares44
 
 
 
 
 44
Payments related to share cancellation
 
 
 (177) 
 (177)
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions
 
 
 (43) 
 (43)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares
 
 
 (14) 
 (14)
Dividends paid(209) 
 (58) (129) 187
 (209)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (19) 
 (19)
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities
 163
 148
 195
 (506) 
Repayments of intercompany financing activities
 (1,073) (361) (237) 1,671
 
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities$(627) $(573) $89
 $(487) $1,352
 $(246)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 5
 
 2
 
 7
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 35
 
 35
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
 
 870
 
 870
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$
 $5
 $
 $907
 $
 $912


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating 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) $989
 $(69) $621
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 activities47
 47
 
 18
 (112) 
Repayments of intercompany investing activities(4,015) (3,953) 
 (805) 8,773
 
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries4,600
 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 payments on revolving credit facility
 (389) 
 
 
 (389)
Senior notes issued
 1,606
 
 
 
 1,606
Proceeds from issuance 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 shares44
 
 
 
 
 44
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions
 
 
 (64) 
 (64)
Dividends paid(133) 
 
 
 
 (133)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares
 
 
 (13) 
 (13)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling 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
 $3,351
 $(8,661) $(659)
(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 PERIOD3
 2
 
 527
 
 532
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$
 $
 $
 $767
 $
 $767


Note 18 — 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, Willis Group Limited, Willis North America Inc., Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Unlimited Company and Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited (the ‘Guarantors’).
On August 11, 2017 a newly formed entity, Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited, became the successor to, and assumed all guarantees of, WTW Bermuda Holdings Limited under the outstanding indentures for the senior notes described above. As both entities are direct subsidiaries of TA I Limited, and sub-consolidate within the ‘Other Guarantors’ columns of the financial statements presented herein, there is no significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements from what has previously been disclosed. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2017 for additional information regarding this change.
The guarantor structure described above differs from the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes issued by Willis North America described in Note 17 and the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes and revolving credit facility issued by Trinity Acquisition plc described in Note 19.
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 of Willis Towers Watson and the Guarantors.


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson —
the Parent
Issuer
 The
Guarantors
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
Revenues         
Commissions and fees$
 $3
 $1,829
 $
 $1,832
Interest and other income
 
 20
 
 20
Total revenues
 3
 1,849
 
 1,852
Costs of providing services         
Salaries and benefits2
 20
 1,123
 
 1,145
Other operating expenses
 36
 330
 

 366
Depreciation
 2
 52
 
 54
Amortization
 1
 143
 (3) 141
Restructuring costs
 2
 29
 
 31
Transaction and integration expenses
 6
 68
 
 74
Total costs of providing services2
 67
 1,745
 (3) 1,811
(Loss)/income from operations(2) (64) 104
 3
 41
Income from Group undertakings
 (155) (39) 194
 
Expenses due to Group undertakings
 34
 160
 (194) 
Interest expense8
 34
 5
 
 47
Other (income)/expense, net
 (48) (120) 197
 29
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(10) 71
 98
 (194) (35)
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes(1) 6
 14
 
 19
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(9) 65
 84
 (194) (54)
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 
 
Equity account for subsidiaries(45) (107) 
 152
 
NET (LOSS)/INCOME(54) (42) 84
 (42) (54)
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(54) $(42) $84
 $(42) $(54)
          
Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests$46
 $62
 $(4) $(70) $34
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 12
 
 12
Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$46
 $62
 $8
 $(70) $46


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 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 expenses1
 37
 332
 
 370
Depreciation
 5
 40
 
 45
Amortization
 
 157
 
 157
Restructuring costs
 14
 35
 
 49
Transaction and integration expenses
 6
 30
 
 36
Total costs of providing services1
 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 expense8
 32
 5
 
 45
Other expense, net
 
 14
 
 14
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(9) 23
 (72) 
 (58)
Benefit from income taxes
 (19) (7) 
 (26)
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM 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(32) (18) (64) 83
 (31)
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 (1) 
 (1)
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(32) $(18) $(65) $83
 $(32)
          
Comprehensive loss before non-controlling interests$(72) $(58) $(91) $148
 $(73)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 1
 
 1
Comprehensive loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson$(72) $(58) $(90) $148
 $(72)


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

Willis
Towers
Watson —
the Parent
Issuer
 The
Guarantors
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Commissions and fees$
 $14
 $6,051
 $
 $6,065
Interest and other income
 
 59
 
 59
Total revenues
 14
 6,110
 
 6,124
Costs of providing services

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits4
 40
 3,440
 
 3,484
Other operating expenses2
 90
 1,066
 
 1,158
Depreciation
 5
 146
 
 151
Amortization
 3
 441
 (3) 441
Restructuring costs
 6
 79
 
 85
Transaction and integration expenses
 38
 139
 
 177
Total costs of providing services6
 182
 5,311
 (3) 5,496
(Loss)/income from operations(6) (168) 799
 3
 628
Income from Group undertakings
 (478) (112) 590
 
Expenses due to Group undertakings
 112
 478
 (590) 
Interest expense23
 100
 16
 
 139
Other (income)/expense, net
 (48) (70) 197
 79
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(29) 146
 487
 (194) 410
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes(2) 12
 63
 
 73
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(27) 134
 424
 (194) 337
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 2
 
 2
Equity account for subsidiaries350
 209
 
 (559) 
NET INCOME323
 343
 426
 (753) 339
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 (16) 
 (16)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$323
 $343
 $410
 $(753) $323
          
Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests$531
 $552
 $434
 $(971) $546
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 (15) 
 (15)
Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$531
 $552
 $419
 $(971) $531


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 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 benefits1
 39
 3,479
 
 3,519
Other operating expenses4
 166
 1,001
 
 1,171
Depreciation
 14
 118
 
 132
Amortization
 
 443
 
 443
Restructuring costs
 41
 74
 
 115
Transaction and integration expenses
 28
 89
 
 117
Total costs of providing services5
 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 expense25
 94
 19
 
 138
Other expense/(income), net1
 (2) 27
 
 26
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM 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 OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(31) 67
 252
 
 288
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 2
 
 2
Equity account for subsidiaries309
 222
 
 (531) 
NET INCOME278
 289
 254
 (531) 290
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 (12) 
 (12)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$278
 $289
 $242
 $(531) $278
          
Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests$94
 $104
 $88
 $(190) $96
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$94
 $104
 $86
 $(190) $94


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 As of September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson —
the Parent
Issuer
 The
Guarantors
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
ASSETS         
Cash and cash equivalents$
 $5
 $907
 $
 $912
Fiduciary assets
 
 12,206
 
 12,206
Accounts receivable, net
 5
 2,150
 
 2,155
Prepaid and other current assets2
 169
 298
 (51) 418
Amounts due from group undertakings6,131
 1,728
 2,576
 (10,435) 
Total current assets6,133
 1,907
 18,137
 (10,486) 15,691
Investments in subsidiaries4,357
 10,524
 
 (14,881) 
Fixed assets, net
 35
 902
 
 937
Goodwill
 
 10,529
 
 10,529
Other intangible assets, net
 61
 4,034
 (61) 4,034
Pension benefits assets
 
 649
 
 649
Other non-current assets
 261
 373
 (202) 432
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings
 5,260
 48
 (5,308) 
Total non-current assets4,357
 16,141
 16,535
 (20,452) 16,581
TOTAL ASSETS$10,490
 $18,048
 $34,672
 $(30,938) $32,272
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY         
Fiduciary liabilities$
 $
 $12,206
 $
 $12,206
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses1
 91
 1,380
 
 1,472
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 
 85
 
 85
Other current liabilities78
 160
 546
 9
 793
Amounts due to group undertakings
 8,829
 1,607
 (10,436) 
Total current liabilities79
 9,080
 15,824
 (10,427) 14,556
Long-term debt496
 3,891
 106
 
 4,493
Liability for pension benefits
 
 1,207
 
 1,207
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 1,057
 (201) 856
Provision for liabilities
 120
 483
 
 603
Other non-current liabilities
 66
 410
 
 476
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings
 
 5,308
 (5,308) 
Total non-current liabilities496
 4,077
 8,571
 (5,509) 7,635
TOTAL LIABILITIES575
 13,157
 24,395
 (15,936) 22,191
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 55
 
 55
EQUITY         
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity9,915
 4,891
 10,111
 (15,002) 9,915
Non-controlling interests
 
 111
 
 111
Total equity9,915
 4,891
 10,222
 (15,002) 10,026
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$10,490
 $18,048
 $34,672
 $(30,938) $32,272


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 As of December 31, 2016
 
Willis
Towers
Watson —
the Parent
Issuer
 
The
Guarantors
 Other 
Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
ASSETS         
Cash and cash equivalents$
 $
 $870
 $
 $870
Fiduciary assets
 
 10,505
 
 10,505
Accounts receivable, net
 7
 2,073
 
 2,080
Prepaid and other current assets
 72
 324
 (59) 337
Amounts due from group undertakings7,229
 1,648
 2,370
 (11,247) 
Total current assets7,229
 1,727
 16,142
 (11,306) 13,792
Investments in subsidiaries3,409
 8,955
 
 (12,364) 
Fixed assets, net
 34
 805
 
 839
Goodwill
 
 10,413
 
 10,413
Other intangible assets, net
 64
 4,368
 (64) 4,368
Pension benefits assets
 
 488
 
 488
Other non-current assets
 90
 310
 (47) 353
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings
 4,973
 
 (4,973) 
Total non-current assets3,409
 14,116
 16,384
 (17,448) 16,461
TOTAL ASSETS$10,638
 $15,843
 $32,526
 $(28,754) $30,253
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY         
Fiduciary liabilities$
 $
 $10,505
 $
 $10,505
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
 42
 1,488
 (49) 1,481
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 416
 92
 
 508
Other current liabilities77
 117
 684
 (2) 876
Amounts due to group undertakings
 9,150
 2,097
 (11,247) 
Total current liabilities77
 9,725
 14,866
 (11,298) 13,370
Long-term debt496
 2,692
 169
 
 3,357
Liability for pension benefits
 
 1,321
 
 1,321
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 1,013
 (149) 864
Provision for liabilities
 120
 455
 
 575
Other non-current liabilities
 63
 483
 (14) 532
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings
 
 4,973
 (4,973) 
Total non-current liabilities496
 2,875
 8,414
 (5,136) 6,649
TOTAL LIABILITIES573
 12,600
 23,280
 (16,434) 20,019
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 51
 
 51
EQUITY         
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity10,065
 3,243
 9,077
 (12,320) 10,065
Non-controlling interests
 
 118
 
 118
Total equity10,065
 3,243
 9,195
 (12,320) 10,183
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$10,638
 $15,843
 $32,526
 $(28,754) $30,253



Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson —
the Parent
Issuer
 The
Guarantors
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES$525
 $(655) $774
 $(129) $515
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES         
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use
 (6) (192) 
 (198)
Capitalized software costs
 
 (52) 
 (52)
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired
 
 (13) 
 (13)
Other, net
 
 1
 
 1
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities1,102
 143
 223
 (1,468) 
Repayments of intercompany investing activities
 (195) (311) 506
 
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries
 1,148
 59
 (1,207) 
Additional investment in subsidiaries(1,000) (207) 
 1,207
 
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities$102
 $883
 $(285) $(962) $(262)
CASH FLOWS USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES         
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility
 675
 
 
 675
Senior notes issued
 650
 
 
 650
Proceeds from issuance of other debt
 
 32
 
 32
Debt issuance costs
 (9) 
 
 (9)
Repayments of debt
 (619) (95) ��
 (714)
Repurchase of shares(462) 
 
 
 (462)
Proceeds from issuance of shares44
 
 
 
 44
Payments related to share cancellation
 
 (177) 
 (177)
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions
 
 (43) 
 (43)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares
 
 (14) 
 (14)
Dividends paid(209) 
 (129) 129
 (209)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 
 (19) 
 (19)
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities
 311
 195
 (506) 
Repayments of intercompany financing activities
 (1,231) (237) 1,468
 
Net cash used in financing activities$(627) $(223) $(487) $1,091
 $(246)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 5
 2
 
 7
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
 35
 
 35
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
 870
 
 870
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$
 $5
 $907
 $
 $912


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating 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) $989
 $(69) $621
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 activities47
 30
 18
 (95) 
Repayments of intercompany investing activities(4,015) (3,953) (805) 8,773
 
       Reduction in investment in subsidiaries4,600
 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 payments on revolving credit facility
 (389) 
 
 (389)
Senior notes issued
 1,606
 
 
 1,606
Proceeds from issuance 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 shares44
 
 
 
 44
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions
 
 (64) 
 (64)
Dividends paid(133) 
 
 
 (133)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares
 
 (13) 
 (13)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling 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
 $3,351
 $(8,678) $(659)
(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 PERIOD3
 2
 527
 
 532
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$
 $
 $767
 $
 $767



Note 19 — Financial Information for Issuer, Parent Guarantor, Other Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Trinity Acquisition plc has $2.1 billion senior notes outstanding of which $525 million were issued on August 15, 2013, $1.0 billion were issued on March 22, 2016, €540 million ($609 million) were issued on May 26, 2016, and $917 million outstanding under the $1.25 billion revolving credit facility issued March 7, 2017.
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, Willis Group Limited, Willis North America Inc., Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Unlimited Company and Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited, collectively the ‘Other Guarantors’, and with Willis Towers Watson, the ‘Guarantor Companies’.
On August 11, 2017 a newly formed entity, Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited, became the successor to, and assumed all guarantees of, WTW Bermuda Holdings Limited under the outstanding indentures for the senior notes described above. As both entities are direct subsidiaries of TA I Limited, and sub-consolidate within the ‘Other Guarantors’ columns of the financial statements presented herein, there is no significant impact on the condensed consolidated financial statements from what has previously been disclosed. Please refer to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2017 for additional information regarding this change.
The guarantor structure described above differs from the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes issued by Willis North America described in Note 17 and the guarantor structure associated with the senior notes issued by Willis Towers Watson described in Note 18.
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 Unlimited Company, 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 of the issuer;
(iii)Trinity Acquisition plc, 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 of Willis Towers Watson, the Other Guarantors and the Issuer.


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
Revenues           
Commissions and fees$
 $3
 $
 $1,829
 $
 $1,832
Interest and other income
 
 
 20
 
 20
Total revenues
 3
 
 1,849
 
 1,852
Costs of providing services           
Salaries and benefits2
 20
 
 1,123
 
 1,145
Other operating expenses
 35
 1
 330
 
 366
Depreciation
 2
 
 52
 
 54
Amortization
 1
 
 143
 (3) 141
Restructuring costs
 2
 
 29
 
 31
Transaction and integration expenses
 6
 
 68
 
 74
Total costs of providing services2
 66
 1
 1,745
 (3) 1,811
(Loss)/income from operations(2) (63) (1) 104
 3
 41
Income from Group undertakings
 (148) (36) (39) 223
 
Expenses due to Group undertakings
 57
 6
 160
 (223) 
Interest expense8
 9
 25
 5
 
 47
Other (income)/expense, net
 (48) 
 (120) 197
 29
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(10) 67
 4
 98
 (194) (35)
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes(1) 6
 
 14
 
 19
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(9) 61
 4
 84
 (194) (54)
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
Equity account for subsidiaries(45) (103) (108) 
 256
 
NET (LOSS)/INCOME(54) (42) (104) 84
 62
 (54)
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 
 
 
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(54) $(42) $(104) $84
 $62
 $(54)
            
Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests$46
 $62
 $2
 $(4) $(72) $34
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 12
 
 12
Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$46
 $62
 $2
 $8
 $(72) $46


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 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 expenses1
 37
 
 332
 
 370
Depreciation
 5
 
 40
 
 45
Amortization
 
 
 157
 
 157
Restructuring costs
 14
 
 35
 
 49
Transaction and integration expenses
 6
 
 30
 
 36
Total costs of providing services1
 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 expense8
 10
 22
 5
 
 45
Other expense, net
 
 
 14
 
 14
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(9) 17
 6
 (72) 
 (58)
Benefit from income taxes
 (19) 
 (7) 
 (26)
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM 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(32) (18) (49) (64) 132
 (31)
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (1) 
 (1)
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(32) $(18) $(49) $(65) $132
 $(32)
            
Comprehensive loss before non-controlling interests$(72) $(58) $(59) $(91) $207
 $(73)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 1
 
 1
Comprehensive loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson$(72) $(58) $(59) $(90) $207
 $(72)


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions and fees$
 $14
 $
 $6,051
 $
 $6,065
Interest and other income
 
 
 59
 
 59
Total revenues
 14
 
 6,110
 
 6,124
Costs of providing services

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits4
 40
 
 3,440
 
 3,484
Other operating expenses2
 89
 1
 1,066
 
 1,158
Depreciation
 5
 
 146
 
 151
Amortization
 3
 
 441
 (3) 441
Restructuring costs
 6
 
 79
 
 85
Transaction and integration expenses
 38
 
 139
 
 177
Total costs of providing services6
 181
 1
 5,311
 (3) 5,496
(Loss)/income from operations(6) (167) (1) 799
 3
 628
Income from Group undertakings
 (457) (108) (112) 677
 
Expenses due to Group undertakings
 180
 19
 478
 (677) 
Interest expense23
 24
 76
 16
 
 139
Other (income)/expense, net
 (48) 
 (70) 197
 79
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(29) 134
 12
 487
 (194) 410
(Benefit from)/provision for income taxes(2) 11
 1
 63
 
 73
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(27) 123
 11
 424
 (194) 337
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 2
 
 2
Equity account for subsidiaries350
 220
 117
 
 (687) 
NET INCOME323
 343
 128
 426
 (881) 339
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (16) 
 (16)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$323
 $343
 $128
 $410
 $(881) $323
            
Comprehensive income before non-controlling interests$531
 $552
 $336
 $434
 $(1,307) $546
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (15) 
 (15)
Comprehensive income attributable to Willis Towers Watson$531
 $552
 $336
 $419
 $(1,307) $531


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income
 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 benefits1
 39
 
 3,479
 
 3,519
Other operating expenses4
 166
 
 1,001
 
 1,171
Depreciation
 14
 
 118
 
 132
Amortization
 
 
 443
 
 443
Restructuring costs
 41
 
 74
 
 115
Transaction and integration expenses
 28
 
 89
 
 117
Total costs of providing services5
 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 expense25
 28
 66
 19
 
 138
Other expense/(income), net1
 (2) 
 27
 
 26
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM 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 OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES(31) 55
 12
 252
 
 288
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
 
 
 2
 
 2
Equity account for subsidiaries309
 234
 57
 
 (600) 
NET INCOME278
 289
 69
 254
 (600) 290
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (12) 
 (12)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$278
 $289
 $69
 $242
 $(600) $278
            
Comprehensive income/(loss) before non-controlling interests$94
 $104
 $(3) $88
 $(187) $96
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (2) 
 (2)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Willis Towers Watson$94
 $104
 $(3) $86
 $(187) $94



Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 As of September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
ASSETS           
Cash and cash equivalents$
 $5
 $
 $907
 $
 $912
Fiduciary assets
 
 
 12,206
 
 12,206
Accounts receivable, net
 5
 
 2,150
 
 2,155
Prepaid and other current assets2
 172
 1
 298
 (55) 418
Amounts due from group undertakings6,131
 1,449
 1,655
 2,576
 (11,811) 
Total current assets6,133
 1,631
 1,656
 18,137
 (11,866) 15,691
Investments in subsidiaries4,357
 10,112
 2,143
 
 (16,612) 
Fixed assets, net
 35
 
 902
 
 937
Goodwill
 
 
 10,529
 
 10,529
Other intangible assets, net
 61
 
 4,034
 (61) 4,034
Pension benefits assets
 
 
 649
 
 649
Other non-current assets
 259
 1
 373
 (201) 432
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings
 4,461
 1,318
 48
 (5,827) 
Total non-current assets4,357
 14,928
 3,462
 16,535
 (22,701) 16,581
TOTAL ASSETS$10,490
 $16,559
 $5,118
 $34,672
 $(34,567) $32,272
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY           
Fiduciary liabilities$
 $
 $
 $12,206
 $
 $12,206
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses1
 91
 
 1,380
 
 1,472
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 
 
 85
 
 85
Other current liabilities78
 150
 14
 546
 5
 793
Amounts due to group undertakings
 9,775
 7
 1,607
 (11,389) 
Total current liabilities79
 10,016
 21
 15,824
 (11,384) 14,556
Long-term debt496
 946
 2,945
 106
 
 4,493
Liability for pension benefits
 
 
 1,207
 
 1,207
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 1,057
 (201) 856
Provision for liabilities
 120
 
 483
 
 603
Other non-current liabilities
 66
 
 410
 
 476
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings
 519
 423
 5,308
 (6,250) 
Total non-current liabilities496
 1,651
 3,368
 8,571
 (6,451) 7,635
TOTAL LIABILITIES575
 11,667
 3,389
 24,395
 (17,835) 22,191
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 
 55
 
 55
EQUITY           
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity9,915
 4,892
 1,729
 10,111
 (16,732) 9,915
Non-controlling interests
 
 
 111
 
 111
Total equity9,915
 4,892
 1,729
 10,222
 (16,732) 10,026
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$10,490
 $16,559
 $5,118
 $34,672
 $(34,567) $32,272


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 As of December 31, 2016
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
ASSETS           
Cash and cash equivalents$
 $
 $
 $870
 $
 $870
Fiduciary assets
 
 
 10,505
 
 10,505
Accounts receivable, net
 7
 
 2,073
 
 2,080
Prepaid and other current assets
 74
 1
 324
 (62) 337
Amounts due from group undertakings7,229
 849
 1,595
 2,370
 (12,043) 
Total current assets7,229
 930
 1,596
 16,142
 (12,105) 13,792
Investments in subsidiaries3,409
 8,621
 7,309
 
 (19,339) 
Fixed assets, net
 34
 
 805
 
 839
Goodwill
 
 
 10,413
 
 10,413
Other intangible assets, net
 64
 
 4,368
 (64) 4,368
Pension benefits assets
 
 
 488
 
 488
Other non-current assets
 90
 
 310
 (47) 353
Non-current amounts due from group undertakings
 4,859
 1,055
 
 (5,914) 
Total non-current assets3,409
 13,668
 8,364
 16,384
 (25,364) 16,461
TOTAL ASSETS$10,638
 $14,598
 $9,960
 $32,526
 $(37,469) $30,253
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY           
Fiduciary liabilities$
 $
 $
 $10,505
 $
 $10,505
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
 41
 1
 1,488
 (49) 1,481
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
 394
 22
 92
 
 508
Other current liabilities77
 87
 33
 684
 (5) 876
Amounts due to group undertakings
 9,946
 
 2,097
 (12,043) 
Total current liabilities77
 10,468
 56
 14,866
 (12,097) 13,370
Long-term debt496
 186
 2,506
 169
 
 3,357
Liability for pension benefits
 
 
 1,321
 
 1,321
Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 1,013
 (149) 864
Provision for liabilities
 120
 
 455
 
 575
Other non-current liabilities
 63
 
 483
 (14) 532
Non-current amounts due to group undertakings
 518
 423
 4,973
 (5,914) 
Total non-current liabilities496
 887
 2,929
 8,414
 (6,077) 6,649
TOTAL LIABILITIES573
 11,355
 2,985
 23,280
 (18,174) 20,019
REDEEMABLE NON-CONTROLLING INTEREST
 
 
 51
 
 51
EQUITY           
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity10,065
 3,243
 6,975
 9,077
 (19,295) 10,065
Non-controlling interests
 
 
 118
 
 118
Total equity10,065
 3,243
 6,975
 9,195
 (19,295) 10,183
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$10,638
 $14,598
 $9,960
 $32,526
 $(37,469) $30,253



Unaudited Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Willis
Towers
Watson
 The Other
Guarantors
 The
Issuer
 Other Consolidating
adjustments
 Consolidated
NET CASH FROM/(USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES$525
 $(649) $50
 $774
 $(185) $515
CASH FLOWS FROM/(USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES           
Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use
 (6) 
 (192) 
 (198)
Capitalized software costs
 
 
 (52) 
 (52)
Acquisitions of operations, net of cash acquired
 
 
 (13) 
 (13)
Other, net
 
 
 1
 
 1
Proceeds from intercompany investing activities1,102
 137
 212
 223
 (1,674) 
Repayments of intercompany investing activities
 (48) (438) (311) 797
 
Reduction in investment in subsidiaries
 1,148
 
 59
 (1,207) 
Additional investment in subsidiaries(1,000) (59) (148) 
 1,207
 
Net cash from/(used in) investing activities$102
 $1,172
 $(374) $(285) $(877) $(262)
CASH FLOWS (USED IN)/FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES           
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility
 115
 560
 
 
 675
Senior notes issued
 650
 
 
 
 650
Proceeds from issuance of other debt
 
 
 32
 
 32
Debt issuance costs
 (5) (4) 
 
 (9)
Repayments of debt
 (400) (219) (95) 
 (714)
Repurchase of shares(462) 
 
 
 
 (462)
Proceeds from issuance of shares44
 
 
 
 
 44
Payments related to share cancellation
 
 
 (177) 
 (177)
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions
 
 
 (43) 
 (43)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares
 
 
 (14) 
 (14)
Dividends paid(209) (56) 
 (129) 185
 (209)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling interests
 
 
 (19) 
 (19)
Proceeds from intercompany financing activities
 602
 
 195
 (797) 
Repayments of intercompany financing activities
 (1,424) (13) (237) 1,674
 
Net cash (used in)/from financing activities$(627) $(518) $324
 $(487) $1,062
 $(246)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 5
 
 2
 
 7
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 35
 
 35
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
 
 870
 
 870
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$
 $5
 $
 $907
 $
 $912


Unaudited Condensed Consolidating 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
 $989
 $(69) $621
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 activities47
 42
 17
 18
 (124) 
Repayments of intercompany investing activities(4,015) (3,386) (567) (805) 8,773
 
Reduction in investment subsidiaries4,600
 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 payments on revolving credit facility
 
 (389) 
 
 (389)
Senior notes issued
 
 1,606
 
 
 1,606
Proceeds from issuance 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 shares44
 
 
 
 
 44
Payments of deferred and contingent consideration related to acquisitions
 
 
 (64) 
 (64)
Dividends paid(133) 
 
 
 
 (133)
Cash paid for employee taxes on withholding shares
 
 
 (13) 
 (13)
Acquisitions of and dividends paid to non-controlling 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
 $3,351
 $(8,649) $(659)
(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 PERIOD3
 2
 
 527
 
 532
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$
 $
 $
 $767
 $
 $767



ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This discussion includes forward-looking statements. 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.

This discussion includes references to non-GAAP financial measures as defined in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’).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 under U.S. GAAP, and these provide a measure against which our businesses may be assessed in the future.

See ‘Non-GAAP Financial Measures’ below for further discussion of our adjusted, constant currency and organic non-GAAP financial measures.

Executive Overview

Proposed Combination with Aon plc

On March 9, 2020, WTW and Aon plc (‘Aon’) issued an announcement disclosing that the respective boards of directors of WTW and Aon had reached agreement on the terms of a recommended acquisition of WTW by Aon. Under the terms of the agreement each WTW shareholder will receive 1.08 Aon ordinary shares for each WTW ordinary share. At the time of the announcement, it was estimated that upon completion of the combination, existing Aon shareholders will own approximately 63% and existing WTW shareholders will own approximately 37% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

The transaction is subject to the approval of the shareholders of both WTW and Aon, as well as other customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals. The parties expect the transaction to close in the first half of 2021, subject to satisfaction of these conditions.

Risks and Uncertainties of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on global commercial activity, including the global supply chain, and has contributed to significant volatility in the financial markets including, among other effects, a decline in the equity markets and reduced liquidity. In light of the potential future disruption to our own business operations and those of our clients, suppliers and other third parties with whom we interact, the Company considered the impact of COVID-19 on our business. This analysis considered our business resilience and continuity plans, financial modeling and stress testing of liquidity and financial resources.

The analysis concluded that the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material adverse impact to our financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2020; however, we expect that the impact of COVID-19 on general economic activity could negatively impact our revenue and operating results for the remainder of 2020. We will continue to monitor the situation and assess possible implications to our business and our stakeholders and will take appropriate actions to help mitigate adverse consequences. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our business and financial position will depend on future developments, which are difficult to predict, including the severity and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the types of measures imposed by governmental authorities to contain the virus or address its impact and the duration of those actions and measures.

The Company has considered multiple scenarios, with both positive and negative inputs, as part of the significant estimates and assumptions that are inherent in our financial statements and are based on trends in client behavior and the economic environment throughout the quarter as COVID-19 has moved throughout the geographies in which we operate. These estimates and assumptions include the collectability of billed and unbilled receivables, the estimation of revenue, and the fair value of our reporting units, tangible and intangible assets and contingent consideration. With regard to collectability, the Company believes it will face atypical delays in client payments going forward. In addition, we believe that the demand for certain discretionary lines of business may decrease, and that such decrease will impact our financial results in succeeding periods. Non-discretionary lines of business may also be adversely affected, for example because reduced economic activity or disruption in insurance markets reduces demand for or the extent of insurance coverage. We believe that these trends and uncertainties are comparable to those faced by other registrants as a result of the pandemic. See also Part II, Item 1A., ‘Risk Factors’ for a discussion of actual and potential impacts of COVID-19 on our business, clients and operations.

We continue to closely monitor the spread and impact of COVID-19 while adhering to government health directives. The Company has implemented restrictions on business travel, office access, meetings and events. We have thorough business continuity and incident management processes in place that have been activated, including split team operations and work-from-home protocols for essential workers which are now globally effective. We are communicating frequently with clients and critical vendors, while meeting our objectives via remote working capabilities, overseen and coordinated by our incident management response team. While no contingency plan can eliminate all risk of temporary service interruption, we continually assess and update our plans to help mitigate


all reasonable risk.  As of the date of this filing, we do not believe our work-from-home protocol has materially adversely impacted our internal controls, financial reporting systems or our operations.  

Market Conditions

Due to the cyclical nature of the insurance market and the impact of other market conditions on insurance premiums, commission revenuesrevenue 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 revenuesrevenue and can have a material adverse impact on our commission revenuesrevenue and operating margin. A ‘hard’ or ‘firming’ market, during which premium rates rise, generally has a favorable impact on our commission revenuesrevenue 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.

Overall, we are currently seeing a modest but definite improvement with pricing in the market.

Market conditions in ourthe broking industry in which we operate 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 U.K. referendum vote on June 23, 2016 to depart from the E.U., the triggering of Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon (providing the right to and procedures for a member to leave the E.U.) on March 29, 2017, the early general election held on June 8, 2017, and the uncertainties about the near-term and longer-term effects of Brexit on the Company.

The terms of Brexit and its impact are highly uncertain.remain uncertain, and the Company is currently in the process of establishing appropriate arrangements for the continued servicing of client business in the countries expected to be most affected. For a further discussion of the risks of Brexit to the Company, see Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017.

February 26, 2020.

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 few 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.

On an annual basis for 2017,2020, although we expect that approximately 22%21% of our revenuesrevenue will be generated in the U.K., we expect that only about 13%approximately 11% of revenuesrevenue will be denominated in Pounds sterling, as much of the insurance business is transacted in U.S. dollars. We expect that approximately 19% of our expenses will be denominated in Pounds sterling; thus, we generally benefit from a weakening Pound sterling in our income from operations. However, westerling. We have a Company hedging strategy for this aspect of our business, which is designed to mitigate significant fluctuations in currency.

The markets for our consulting, technology and solutions, and private exchangemarketplace services are subject to changes as a result ofaffected by economic, regulatory and legislative changes, technological developments, and increased competition from established and new competitors. We believe that 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. In that regard, we are focused on developing and implementing technology, data and analytic solutions for both internal operations and for maintaining industry standards and meeting client preferences. We have made such investments from time to time and may decide, based on perceived business needs, to make investments in the future that may be greater than we currently anticipate. Conversely, particularly given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may make fewer information technology-based investments than previously anticipated, which could potentially create business operational risk.

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 and an innovative service delivery model and platform. Part of the employer sponsoredemployer-sponsored insurance market has matured and become more fragmented while other segments remain in the entry phase. As



these market segments continue to evolve, we may experience growth in intervals, with periods of accelerated expansion balanced by periods of modest growth.
In recent years, growth in the market for exchanges has slowed, and we expect this trend may continue during 2020.

See Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors elsewhere within this Form 10-Q, and Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017February 26, 2020 for a discussion of risks that may affect our ability to compete.


Financial Statement Overview

The table below sets forth our summarized condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and data as a percentage of revenue for the periods indicated.

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions, except per share data)

 

Revenue

 

$

2,466

 

 

 

100

%

 

$

2,312

 

 

 

100

%

Costs of providing services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Salaries and benefits

 

 

1,394

 

 

 

57

%

 

 

1,348

 

 

 

58

%

Other operating expenses

 

 

484

 

 

 

20

%

 

 

418

 

 

 

18

%

Depreciation

 

 

98

 

 

 

4

%

 

 

54

 

 

 

2

%

Amortization

 

 

121

 

 

 

5

%

 

 

127

 

 

 

5

%

Transaction and integration expenses

 

 

9

 

 

 

%

 

 

6

 

 

 

%

Total costs of providing services

 

 

2,106

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,953

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

 

360

 

 

 

15

%

 

 

359

 

 

 

16

%

Interest expense

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(2

)%

 

 

(54

)

 

 

(2

)%

Other income, net

 

 

92

 

 

 

4

%

 

 

55

 

 

 

2

%

Provision for income taxes

 

 

(78

)

 

 

(3

)%

 

 

(67

)

 

 

(3

)%

Income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

(8

)

 

 

%

 

 

(6

)

 

 

%

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

 

$

305

 

 

 

12

%

 

$

287

 

 

 

12

%

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

2.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

2.20

 

 

 

 

 

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 ($ in millions, except per share data)
Total revenues$1,852
 100 % $1,777
 100 % $6,124
 100 % $5,960
 100 %
Costs of providing services               
Salaries and benefits1,145
 62 % 1,119
 63 % 3,484
 57 % 3,519
 59 %
Other operating expenses366
 20 % 370
 21 % 1,158
 19 % 1,171
 20 %
Depreciation54
 3 % 45
 3 % 151
 2 % 132
 2 %
Amortization141
 8 % 157
 9 % 441
 7 % 443
 7 %
Restructuring costs31
 2 % 49
 3 % 85
 1 % 115
 2 %
Transaction and integration expenses74
 4 % 36
 2 % 177
 3 % 117
 2 %
Total costs of providing services1,811
 

 1,776
 

 5,496
   5,497
  
Income from operations41
 2 % 1
  % 628
 10 % 463
 8 %
Interest expense47
 3 % 45
 3 % 139
 2 % 138
 2 %
Other expense, net29
 2 % 14
 1 % 79
 1 % 26
  %
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes19
 1 % (26) (1)% 73
 1 % 11
  %
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
  % 1
  % 2
  % 2
  %
Income attributable to non-controlling interests
  % (1)  % (16)  % (12)  %
NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(54) (3)% $(32) (2)% $323
 5 % $278
 5 %
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share$(0.40)   $(0.23)   $2.36
   $2.00
  

Consolidated Revenues

Revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $1.9 billion, compared to $1.8Revenue

Revenue was $2.5 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2020, compared to $2.3 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $75$154 million, or 4%7%, on both an as reported and constant currencyas-reported basis. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $6.1 billion, compared to $6.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $164 million or 3%. Adjusting for the impactimpacts of foreign currency and acquisitions and disposals, our organic revenue grew bygrowth was 4% for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017.March 31, 2020. The quarterly and year-to-date increasesincrease in revenues wereorganic revenue was driven by strong performances in all segments.

The revenue from acquisitions related primarily to TRANZACT, which generated revenue of $95 million.

Our revenuesrevenue can be materially impacted by changes in currency conversions, which can fluctuate significantly over the course of a calendar year. For the three months ended September 30, 2017, currency translation increased our consolidated revenues by $12 million; for the nine months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, currency translation decreased our consolidated revenuesrevenue by $81$34 million. The primary currencies driving these changesthis change were the Euro and Pound sterling, the Canadian dollar, and the Euro.



sterling.

The following table details our top five markets based on the percentage of consolidated revenuesrevenue (in U.S. dollars) from the countries where work iswas performed for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017.March 31, 2020. These figures do not represent the currency of the related revenue, which is presented in the next table.

Geographic Region

% of Revenue

United States

44

%

Geographic Region

United Kingdom

24

% of Revenues

United States

France

49

6

%

United Kingdom

Germany

22

3

%

France

Canada

5

%
Germany

3

%

Canada3%

The table below details the percentage of our revenuesrevenue and expenses by transactional currency for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017.March 31, 2020.

Transactional CurrencyRevenues 
Expenses (i)

 

Revenue

 

 

Expenses (i)

 

U.S. dollars55% 51%

 

 

53

%

 

 

52

%

Pounds sterling13% 19%

 

 

13

%

 

 

19

%

Euro15% 12%

 

 

19

%

 

 

13

%

Other currencies17% 18%

 

 

15

%

 

 

16

%

____________________

(i)

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 transaction and integration expenses.


The following table sets forth the total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and the components of the change in revenues generatedtotal revenue for the three month and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 areMarch 31, 2020, as follows:compared to the prior year period:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Revenue Change (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

Reported

 

 

Currency

 

 

Currency

 

 

Acquisitions/

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Impact

 

 

Change

 

 

Divestitures

 

 

Change

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

2,466

 

 

$

2,312

 

 

7%

 

 

(2)%

 

 

8%

 

 

4%

 

 

4%

 

  Three Months Ended September 30,   
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  2017 2016 As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  ($ in millions)     
Total revenues $1,852
 $1,777
 4% 1% 4% —% 4%
  Nine Months Ended September 30,   
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  2017 2016 As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  ($ in millions)     
Total revenues $6,124
 $5,960
 3% (1)% 4% —% 4%
____________________

(i)

i.

Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.

Definitions of Constant Currency Change and Organic Change are included under the section entitled Non-GAAP‘Non-GAAP Financial MeasuresMeasures’ elsewhere within Item 2 of this Form 10-Q.

Segment Revenues

Beginning in 2017, we made certain changes that affect our segment results. These changes, which are detailed in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017, include the realignment of certain businesses within our segments, as well as changes to certain allocation methodologies to better reflect the ongoing nature of our businesses. The prior period comparatives reflected in the tables below have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect our current segment presentation. See Part I, Item 1. Note 4Segment Information of this Form 10-Q report for a further discussion of these changes.
Revenue

The segment descriptions below should be read in conjunction with the full descriptions of our businesses contained in Part I, Item 1. Business, contained inwithin our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017, as updated by the Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2017.

February 26, 2020.

The Company experiences seasonal fluctuations ofin its commissions and fees revenue. Revenue is typically higher during the Company’s first and fourth quarters due primarily to the timing of broking-related activities.



Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on our Segments

The COVID-19 pandemic is projected to have an impact on certain of our service offerings. These impacts may be negative in some instances and positive in others, may be material in either event, and primarily impact our revenue. We have preliminarily assessed the expected impact of COVID-19 in part by determining which of our business offerings are discretionary and non-discretionary in nature. Most of the services we provide, including broking for various insurance products, compliance and valuation services, risk mitigation and outsourced administration for both pension and health and welfare plans are considered non-discretionary to our clients and recurring in nature. We expect that these businesses will be the least impacted of our offerings.  

The pandemic is expected to adversely affect certain elements of our business which are more discretionary in nature, such as consultative project work arrangements. Therefore, we expect to experience unpredictable volatility in demand around our discretionary services and solutions. Clients may defer or delay decision-making or planned work or seek to terminate existing agreements for these discretionary services and solutions.

We recognize that the broad, global nature of the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the liquidity of our clients generally and may cause us to not meet our original growth estimates for the year. We are monitoring the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and taking steps to mitigate the risks to us posed by its spread, including by working with our clients, colleagues, suppliers and other stakeholders. Due to the global breadth of the COVID-19 spread and the range of governmental and community reactions thereto, there is uncertainty around its duration, ultimate impact and the timing of recovery. Therefore, the pandemic could lead to an extended disruption of economic activity and the impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows, could be material. Meanwhile, while we cannot predict how long this situation will last, we are focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet, liquidity and financial flexibility.

Human Capital and Benefits (‘HCB’)

The HCB segment provides an array of advice, broking, solutions and software for our clients. HCB is the largest segment of the Company. The segmentCompany and is focused on addressing our clients’ employeepeople and risk needs so that they can deliver sustainable employee experiences.to help them take on the challenges of operating in a global marketplace. This segment also delivers full outsourcing solutionsis further strengthened with teams of international consultants who provide support through each of our business units to employers outsidethe global headquarters of the United States.

multinational clients and their foreign subsidiaries.

The following table sets forth the components of HCB revenuessegment revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively,2019, and the components of the change in commissions and feesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 from the three months ended September 30, 2016.March 31, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Revenue Change (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

Reported

 

 

Currency

 

 

Currency

 

 

Acquisitions/

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Impact

 

 

Change

 

 

Divestitures

 

 

Change

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

850

 

 

$

829

 

 

3%

 

 

(1)%

 

 

4%

 

 

—%

 

 

4%

 

      
Components of Revenue Change (i)
  Three Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $736
 $720
 2% 1% 2% (1)% 3%
Interest and other income 
 
          
Total segment revenues $736
 $720
          
____________________

(i)

i.

Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.


HCB commissions and fees, and total segment revenues,revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016 were $7362019 was $850 million and $720$829 million, respectively. As expected,On an organic basis, Health and Benefits delivered strong revenue growth, driven by increased consulting and brokerage services, growth in specialty products, and continued expansion of our client portfolio for both local and global appointments. Retirement commissions and fees declined slightly in the third quarter due to the expected decrease in bulk lump sum work in the U.S. as compared to the third quarter of 2016. Great Britain’s commissions and fees increase was primarily related to pension legislation in the U.K., and International’s commissions and fees increase was due to higher demand for consulting work. Talent and Rewards commissions and fees were up slightlyrevenue grew moderately as a result of our product offerings and higherincreased project work in Great Britain. The remainder of the segment’s revenue growth was generated by increased demand for change management consulting, offset by a slight declineproject work and product sales in rewards advisory projects. Health and Benefits commissions and fees growth was moderate, as we experienced strong growth in Great Britain and Western Europe, with low growth in North America, and a decline in International due primarily to the sale of our Global Wealth Solutions business. Commissions and fees in the Technology and Administration Solutions business experienced strong growth in all regions as a result of new administration clients and project activity.

The following table sets forth the components of HCB revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
      
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  Nine Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $2,405
 $2,377
 1% (1)% 2% —% 3%
Interest and other income 15
 9
          
Total segment revenues $2,420
 $2,386
          
____________________
i.Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.
HCB commissions and fees, and total segment revenues, for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $2.4 billion. Retirement revenues decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period last year. The decrease occurred in North America and Western Europe and was partially offset by growth in International and Great Britain. The decline in North America was expected as bulk lump sum projects declined year over year. Actuarial consulting projects in Great Britain were strong due to regulation changes. Talent and Rewards experienced a large drop in revenues, primarily in the Rewards, Talent and Communication consulting business in North America. The restructuring program impacted this region the hardest, and as expected, external marketing efforts were impacted during this initiative, which resulted in a lower pipeline for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period last year. Healthcare consulting revenues were up significantly for all markets globally. Revenue in the Technology and Administration Solutions business in Great Britain experienced strong growth as a result of new administration clients and project activity.


businesses.

Corporate Risk and Broking (‘CRB’)

The CRB segment provides a broad range of risk advice, insurance broking and consulting services to our 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 insurance coverage, including complex risk management programs. A key objective is to assist clients in reducing their overall cost of risk.

The following table sets forth the components of CRB revenuesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively,2019, and the components of the change in commissions and feesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 from the three months ended September 30, 2016.March 31, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Revenue Change (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

Reported

 

 

Currency

 

 

Currency

 

 

Acquisitions/

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Impact

 

 

Change

 

 

Divestitures

 

 

Change

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

739

 

 

$

728

 

 

2%

 

 

(2)%

 

 

4%

 

 

—%

 

 

4%

 

      
Components of Revenue Change (i)
  Three Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $581
 $553
 5% 1% 4% —% 4%
Interest and other income 5
 8
          
Total segment revenues $586
 $561
          
____________________

(i)

i.

Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.

CRB total segment revenuesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016 were $5862019 was $739 million and $561$728 million, respectively. Commissions and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $581 million and $553 million, respectively. As expected,On an organic basis, North America commissions and fees produced strong growth, with all sub-regions showing commissions and fees growth. International continued to have strong commissions and fees growth primarily from Russia, South Africa and Asia.led the segment, followed by Western Europe, had solid growth ledprimarily with new business generation along with strong renewals. A gain recorded in connection with a sale in North America also contributed to the segment’s growth. The revenue increase was partially offset by Sweden and Benelux.declines in Great Britain commissions and fees declined slightlyInternational, due to a change in the remuneration model for certain lines of business. This change, which is neutral to operating income, results in lower revenue and an equal reduction to salaries and benefits expense. Absent this change, both Great Britain and International’s revenue increased, primarily as a result of declines in Transport and a strong comparable in the prior-year third quarter.

The following table sets forth the components of CRB revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
      
Components of Revenue Change (i)
  Nine Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $1,855
 $1,821
 2% (1)% 3% —% 3%
Interest and other income 16
 20
          
Total segment revenues $1,871
 $1,841
          
____________________
i.Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.
CRB commissions and fees, and total segment revenues, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, were $1.9 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively. Revenue growth was led by International with additional growth in Great Britain and Western Europe.  International’s and Great Britain’s growth was fueled by solid client retention and strong new business. Western Europe had strong client retention and modest new business growth.

Investment, Risk and Reinsurance (‘IRR’)

The IRR segment uses a sophisticated approach to risk, which helps our clients free up capital and manage investment complexity. TheThis 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. IRRThis segment provides investment consulting and discretionary management services and insurance specificinsurance-specific services and solutions through reserves opinions, software, ratemaking, usage-based insurance, risk underwriting and reinsurance broking.



The following table sets forth the components of IRR revenuesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively,2019, and the components of the change in commissions and feesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 from the three months ended September 30, 2016.March 31, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Revenue Change (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

Reported

 

 

Currency

 

 

Currency

 

 

Acquisitions/

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Impact

 

 

Change

 

 

Divestitures

 

 

Change

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

615

 

 

$

589

 

 

4%

 

 

(1)%

 

 

6%

 

 

1%

 

 

5%

 

      
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  Three Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $320
 $312
 3% —% 2% —% 2%
Interest and other income 14
 7
          
Total segment revenues $334
 $319
          
____________________

(i)

i.

Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.

IRR total segment revenuesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016 were $3342019 was $615 million and $319$589 million, respectively. CommissionsOn an organic basis, all lines of business contributed to the growth. Reinsurance and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2017Wholesale growth was driven by new business wins and 2016 were $320 million and $312 million, respectively.favorable renewal factors while Insurance Consulting and Technology formerly Risk Consulting and Software, led the growth for the segmentrevenue grew from strong technology sales. Max Matthiessen revenue increased as a result of increased project workoverall growth in Great Britain and a soft comparablenet commissions. Revenue growth in Western Europe. Max Matthiessen, Wholesale and the Securities business showed commissions and fees growth, primarily asInvestment businesses was a result of strong sales and increased performance fees. Reinsurance and Investment both experienced revenue growth, but commissions and fees were flat for both groups. The reduction in Portfolio and Underwriting Services commissions and fees was driven by a loss of profit commissions following the Atlantic hurricanes, the cancellation of a key contract, and the divestiture of small programs in the portfolio.client wins.


The following table sets forth the components of IRR revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and the components of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
      
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  Nine Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $1,205
 $1,190
 1% (2)% 3% —% 3%
Interest and other income 25
 55
          
Total segment revenues $1,230
 $1,245
          
____________________
i.Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.
IRR total segment revenues for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $1.2 billion. Total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 included £28 million ($41 million) received for a settlement related to the Fine Arts, Jewellery and Specie Team. Commissions and fees for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $1.2 billion. Wholesale, Investment, Insurance Consulting and Technology, Max Matthiessen, Securities and Reinsurance all posted commissions and fees revenue growth, primarily as a result of strong sales and increased performance fees. The reduction in Portfolio and Underwriting Services commissions and fees was driven by a loss of profit commissions following the Atlantic hurricanes, the cancellation of a key contract, and the divestiture of small programs in the portfolio.

Benefits Delivery and Administration (‘BDA’)

The BDA segment formerly known as Exchange Solutions, provides primary medical and ancillary benefit exchange and outsourcing services to active employees and retirees across both the group and individual markets. 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 enrollment activities, which often occur during the fourth quarter, with increased membership levels typically effective January 1, after calendar year-end benefits elections. On July 30, 2019, the Company acquired TRANZACT, which operates as part of the BDA services individual populations via its ‘groupsegment. TRANZACT experiences seasonally higher revenue during the fourth quarter due primarily 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 employeestiming of employers across the United States. BDA uses Software as a Service (‘SaaS’)-based technology and related services to deliver consumer-driven healthcare and reimbursement accounts, including health savings accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, flexible spending accounts and other consumer-directed accounts.



Federal Medicare Open Enrollment window.

The following table sets forth the components of BDA revenuesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively,2019, and the components of the change in commissions and feesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 from the three months ended September 30, 2016.March 31, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Revenue Change (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

Reported

 

 

Currency

 

 

Currency

 

 

Acquisitions/

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Impact

 

 

Change

 

 

Divestitures

 

 

Change

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment revenue

 

$

231

 

 

$

135

 

 

71%

 

 

—%

 

 

71%

 

 

71%

 

 

1%

 

      
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  Three Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $179
 $161
 11% —% 11% —% 11%
Interest and other income 
 
          
Total segment revenues $179
 $161
          
____________________

(i)

i.

Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.

BDA total segment revenuesrevenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016 were $1792019 was $231 million and $161$135 million, respectively. Individual Marketplace, formerly Retiree and Access Exchanges, commissions and fees increased by 9% and the rest of the segment grew by 15%,BDA’s organic growth continued to be led by Group Marketplace, formerly Active Exchanges,its expanded client base and Benefits Outsourcing, formerly Technology and Administration Solutions. Growthincreased demand for project work in the Individualmid-market and Group Marketplaces was a result oflarge-market spaces. For the additional 2017 enrollments, and Benefit Outsourcing’s growth was a result of new client wins.

The following table sets forth the components of BDA revenues for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and the componentsMarch 31, 2020, TRANZACT generated revenue of the change in commissions and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
      
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  Nine Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Commissions and fees $536
 $478
 12% —% 12% —% 12%
Interest and other income 
 1
          
Total segment revenues $536
 $479
          
____________________
i.Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.
BDA total segment revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $536 million and $479 million, respectively. Individual Marketplace revenues increased by 10%, and the rest of the segment grew by 16%, led by Group Marketplace and Benefits Outsourcing.
BDA revenue growth is expected to slow to around 10% in 2017 due to the stabilization of the retiree enrollments. We continue to expect the Group Marketplace growth to be strong.
$95 million.

Costs of Providing Services

Total costs of providing services for the three months ended March 31, 2020 were $1.8$2.1 billion, compared to $2.0 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $1.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $35$153 million, or 2%8%. Total costs of providing services were $5.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to $5.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $1 million. See the analysis belowfollowing discussion for further information.

details.

Salaries and benefits

Salaries and benefits for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 were $1.1$1.4 billion, compared to $1.1$1.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $26 million. This$46 million, or 3%. The increase was primarily a result of higher incentive accruals as compared to the prior year.

Salariessalaries and benefits foralong with the nine months ended September 30, 2017addition of TRANZACT’s compensation costs in the current quarter. These increases were $3.5 billion, comparedpartially offset by $9 million related to $3.5 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016,share-based compensation arrangements which are adjusted to fair value every quarter, and consequently resulted in a decreasereduction of $35 million. Salaries and benefits costs decreased during the year-to-date periods dueexpense related to savings associated with our integration and restructuring plans, stemming from reduced headcount and shifting work to lower-cost locations.


a lower stock price at March 31, 2020. Whether this trend continues depends on stock market performance. Salaries and benefits, as a percentage of revenue, decreased from 63% to 62%57% for the quarter andthree months ended March 31, 2020 from 59% to 57% year-to-date.
58% for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Other operating expenses

Other operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 were $366$484 million, compared to $370$418 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, a decreaseMarch 31, 2019, an increase of $4$66 million, or 1%16%. This $4 million decreaseincrease was primarily due primarily to lowerthe inclusion of TRANZACT’s operating expenses in the current quarter and higher professional liability costs,fees, partially offset by increased professional services expenses. As a result of this cost decrease, other operating expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased from 21% to 20%.

Other operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $1.2 billion, compared to $1.2 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $13 million, or 1%. This $13 million decrease was due primarily to the Stanford litigation provision of $50 million in the first half of 2016, partially offset by reserves for the CalPERS litigation and increases in other litigation reserves and professional services. Other operating expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased from 20% to 19%.
lower business taxes.

Depreciation

Depreciation for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $54$98 million, compared to $45$54 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $9$44 million, or 20%81%. Depreciation forThe year-over-year increase was primarily due to an acceleration of depreciation of $35 million related to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $151 million, comparedabandonment of an internally-developed software asset prior to $132 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $19 million, or 14%. These increases were due primarily to a higher depreciable base of assets resulting from additional assetsbeing placed in service during 2016.

service.

Amortization

Amortization for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $141$121 million, compared to $157$127 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, a decrease of $16$6 million, or 10%5%. Amortization for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $441 million, compared to $443 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $2 million. Our intangible amortization is more heavily weighted to the initial years of the useful lives of the related intangibles, and therefore amortization related to intangible assets purchased prior to our acquisition of TRANZACT will continue to decrease over time.

Restructuring costs
Restructuring costs for This decrease was partially offset by the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $31 million, comparedadditional amortization resulting from the intangible assets related to $49 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $18 million, or 37%. Restructuring costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $85 million, compared to $115 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a decrease of $30 million, or 26%.TRANZACT acquisition.


These costs were incurred primarily in connection with the Operational Improvement Program, for which the Company expects to incur $130 million of restructuring costs during 2017, the final year of the program, bringing the cumulative restructuring charges for this program to approximately $440 million. Refer to Part 1, Item 1. Note 5Restructuring Costs for additional information regarding these costs.

Transaction and integration expenses

Transaction and integration expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2017 were $74March 31, 2020 is comprised of $9 million of transaction costs related to our proposed combination with Aon and the acquisition of TRANZACT, compared to $6 million of transaction costs related to the then-pending acquisition of TRANZACT for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Income from Operations

Income from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $360 million, compared to $36$359 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $38 million, or 106%. Transaction and integration expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 were $177 million, compared to $117 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $60 million, or 51%. The increase in expenses primarily related to costs associated with the settlement of the Merger-related appraisal demand lawsuit (see Part I, Item 1. Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings for additional information), along with costs associated with our other integration activities.

Income from Operations
Income from operationsfor the three months ended September 30, 2017 was $41 million, compared to $1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $40 million. This increase resulted mostly from an increase to totalhigher revenue across all segments and the addition of $75 million,TRANZACT’s operating results, partially offset by increased costs of providing services of $35 million.
Income from operationsfor the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $628 million, comparedadditional depreciation related to $463 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $165 million, or 36%. This increase resulted primarily from additional revenue of $164 million.


asset abandonment noted above.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $47$61 million, compared to $45$54 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $2$7 million, or 4%13%. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $139 million, compared to $138 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, anThis increase of $1 million, or 1%. The increase in interest expense resulted from higher interest rates associated with our additional senior notes offering during the second half of 2019 and additional levels of indebtedness.

indebtedness in connection with the TRANZACT acquisition.

Other Expense,Income, Net

Other expense,income, net for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $29$92 million, compared to $14$55 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $15 million. Other expense, net$37 million, primarily resulting from favorable foreign exchange activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $79 million, compared to $26 millioncurrent quarter and increased pension income.

Provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $53 million. The additional expense in 2017 as compared to the prior year related to the impact of foreign exchange hedging contracts, unfavorable balance sheet remeasurement and further devaluation of the Venezuelan currency. Additionally, during the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Company recorded a loss of $10 million associated with the disposal of the Global Wealth Solutions business.

Provision for/(Benefit from) Income Taxes

Provision for/(benefit from)for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was a provision of $19$78 million, compared to an income tax benefit of $26$67 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase to income tax expense of $45$11 million. The effective tax rate was (53.0)%20.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, and 45.9%18.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2016. The (53.0)%March 31, 2019. These effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2017 was the resultrates are calculated using extended values from our condensed consolidated statements of a discretecomprehensive income and are therefore more precise tax charge for an internal reorganization. Our effective tax rate is generally lowerrates than the U.S. statutory rate of 35%. This is primarily due to our global mix of income, which results in deductions in jurisdictions with high statutory income tax rates.

Provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $73 million, compared to $11 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, an increase of $62 million.can be calculated from rounded values. The prior year effective tax rate was 17.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, and 3.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The increase in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016 waslower primarily due to a current year U.S. tax expense resulting from internal reorganizations fordiscrete valuation allowance releases in certain legacy Towers Watson businesses, compared with a prior year tax benefit resulting from an enacted statutory tax rate reduction in the U.K.
non-U.S. jurisdictions.

Net (Loss)/Income Attributable to Willis Towers Watson

Net lossincome attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $54$305 million, compared to $32$287 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, a net loss increase of $22 million, or 69%. This additional loss resulted from increases in revenues for the quarter being more than offset by increases in the total costs of providing services, provision for income taxes, and other expenses, net.

Net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $323 million, compared to $278 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016,March 31, 2019, an increase of $45$18 million, or 16%6%. This $45 million increase resulted from additional income from operationswas primarily due to organic revenue growth across all segments and the addition of $165 million,TRANZACT’s operating results, partially offset by increases in provision for income taxesincreased salary and other expenses, net.
benefits costs, the additional depreciation related to the asset abandonment noted above and higher tax expense.

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 our revolving credit facilities or new debt offerings.

offerings, subject to the limitations set forth in the Aon combination agreement.

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to significant volatility in financial markets, including declines in equity markets, changes in interest rates and reduced liquidity on a global basis. Specific to Willis Towers Watson, we believe this may negatively impact work we perform for our clients and cash collections from clients, particularly those in certain harder-hit industries, although to date the impact to our results has not been material. We have also reduced our spending on travel and associated expenses and third-party contractors, and have the ability to reduce spending on discretionary projects and certain capital expenditures.

Based on our current balance sheets, combinedsheet and cash flows, current market conditions and information available to us at this time, we believe that Willis Towers Watson has access to sufficient liquidity, which includes $850 million of capacity on 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 and dividend payments, and contemplated share repurchases, subject to market conditions and other factors.

Historically, we have not provided deferred taxes on cumulative earnings of our subsidiaries that have been reinvested indefinitely.  As a result of our plan to restructure or distribute accumulated earnings of certain acquired Towers Watson foreign operations, we continue to accrue deferred taxes on current year earnings of those subsidiaries. However, we assert that the


historical cumulative earnings of our other subsidiaries are reinvested indefinitely, and therefore do not provide deferred tax liabilities on these amounts. If future events, including material changes in estimates of cash, working capital, long-term investment requirements or U.S. tax reform necessitate that additional earnings be distributed, an incremental provision for income and foreign withholding taxes, net of credits, may be necessary. Other potential sources of cash may be through settlement of intercompany loans or return of capital distributions in a tax-efficient manner.
payments.

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 regulatory matters, or future pension funding during periods of severe downturn.


Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries

The Company recognizes deferred tax balances related to the undistributed earnings of subsidiaries when it expects that it will recover those undistributed earnings in a taxable manner, such as through receipt of dividends or sale of the capital markets.

In May 2017,investments.

We continue to have certain subsidiaries whose earnings have not been deemed permanently reinvested, for which we completed an offering of $650 million of 3.600% Senior Notes due 2024. Net proceeds of $644 million were used to pay down amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes.

In March 2017, we entered into a $1.25 billion revolving credit facility replacing our previous $800 million revolving credit facility. Borrowings against the $1.25 billion facility of $409 million and €45 million were used to repay all outstanding borrowings against the $800 million facility and the 7-year term loan due July 23, 2018.
Additionally in March 2017, the Company repaid the 6.200% senior notes due 2017 totaling $407 million, including accrued interest.
Assets and liabilities associated with non-U.S. entities have been translated into U.S. dollars asaccruing estimates of September 30, 2017 at U.S. dollar ratesthe tax effects of such repatriation. Excluding these certain subsidiaries, we continue to assert that fluctuate compared tothe historical periods. As a result, cash flows derived fromcumulative earnings for the remainder of our subsidiaries have been reinvested indefinitely, and therefore do not provide deferred taxes on these amounts. If future events, including material changes in estimates of cash, working capital, long-term investment requirements or additional legislation relating to U.S. Tax Reform, necessitate that these earnings be distributed, an additional provision for income and foreign withholding taxes, net of credits, may be necessary. Other potential sources of cash may be through the condensed consolidated balance sheets include the impactsettlement of the changeintercompany loans or return of capital distributions in foreign exchange translation rates.
a tax-efficient manner.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 totaled $912$898 million, compared to $870$887 million at December 31, 2016.2019. The increase in cash from December 31, 20162019 to September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was primarily due primarily to foreign currency translation, asnet borrowings against our revolving credit facility and positive cash flows from operating activities were offset by our investing and financing activities.

improved working capital during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Additionally, at September 30, 2017, $329March 31, 2020, $850 million was available to draw against our $1.25 billion revolving credit facility as compared to $557 million,$1.2 billion, which was available to draw against our previous $800 million revolving creditthe facility at December 31, 2016.

2019.

Included within cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 20162019 are amounts held for regulatory capital adequacy requirements, including $89$112 million and $87$114 million, respectively, held within our regulated U.K. entities for regulatory capital adequacy requirements.

entities.

Summarized Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows

The following table presents the summarized condensed consolidated cash flow information for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016:2019:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Net cash from/(used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

23

 

 

$

(47

)

Investing activities

 

 

(162

)

 

 

(75

)

Financing activities

 

 

186

 

 

 

82

 

INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED

   CASH

 

 

47

 

 

 

(40

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(36

)

 

 

(1

)

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD (i)

 

 

895

 

 

 

1,033

 

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH, END OF PERIOD (i)

 

$

906

 

 

$

992

 

(i)

As a result of the acquired TRANZACT collateralized facility, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash included $8 million of restricted cash at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, which is included within prepaid and other current assets on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. There were no restricted cash amounts held at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016
 (in millions)
Net cash from/(used in):   
     Operating activities$515
 $621
     Investing activities(262) 283
     Financing activities(246) (659)
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS7
 245
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents35
 (10)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD870
 532
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$912
 $767

Cash Flows FromFrom/(Used In) Operating Activities

Cash flows from operating activities were $515$23 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, compared to cash flows fromused in operating activities of $621$47 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2016.March 31, 2019. The $515$23 million of net cash from operating activities for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 included net income of $339$313 million adjusted for $579



and $218 million of non-cash adjustments, partially offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $403$508 million. The decreaseThis increase in cash flows from operations in 2017as compared to the prior year was primarily resulteddue to positive cash flows from changes inour improved working capital and higher discretionary compensation payments made in 2017 for the 2016 compensation cycle. These discretionary compensation payments were lower in 2016 because they included only a partial paymentthree months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to Legacy Towers Watson colleagues due to the timing of the Merger.
March 31,2019.

The $621$47 million of net cash flows fromused in operating activities for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2016March 31, 2019 included net income of $290$293 million and $498$187 million of non-cash adjustments, to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities, partially offset by changes in operating assets and liabilities of $167$527 million.

Cash Flows (Used In)/FromUsed In Investing Activities

Cash flows used in investing activities for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2019 were $262$162 million and $75 million, respectively, primarily driven primarily by capital expenditures and capitalized software costs.additions,and an acquisition during the first quarter of 2020.


Cash Flows From Financing Activities

Cash flows from investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 were $283 million, driven primarily by $476 million of cash acquired as a result of the Merger, 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.

Cash Flows Used In Financing Activities
Cash flows used in financing activities for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 were $246$186 million. The significant financing activities included the paymentnet borrowings of $177$268 million, related to the cancellation of Towers Watson shares in connection with the settlement of the Merger-related appraisal demand lawsuit (consisting of the portion of the settlement equal to the value of consideration that would have been due to the shareholders at the closing of the Merger if they had exchanged their shares; see Part I, Item 1. Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings for additional information), share repurchases of $462 million andpartially offset by dividend payments of $209 million, which were partially offset by net borrowings of $634$84 million.

Cash flows used infrom financing activities for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2016March 31, 2019 were $659$82 million. The significant financing activities included net borrowings of $137 million driven primarily by debtand proceeds from the issuance of $2.0 billion, debt repaymentsshares of $1.9 billion, net payments on the revolving credit facility of $389$22 million, partially offset by dividend payments of $133 million, and share repurchases of $222$77 million.

Indebtedness

Total debt, total equity, and the capitalization ratioratios at September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 20162019 were as follows:

 

 

March 31,

2020

 

 

December 31,

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

Long-term debt

 

$

5,177

 

 

$

5,301

 

Current debt

 

 

697

 

 

 

316

 

Total debt

 

$

5,874

 

 

$

5,617

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity

 

$

10,263

 

 

$

10,249

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capitalization ratio

 

 

36.4

%

 

 

35.4

%

 September 30,
2017
 December 31, 2016
 ($ in millions)
Long-term debt$4,493
 $3,357
Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt85
 508
Total debt$4,578
 $3,865
    
Total Willis Towers Watson shareholders’ equity$9,915
 $10,065
    
Capitalization ratio31.6% 27.7%

At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, our material mandatory debt repayments over the next twelve months include scheduled repayments of $85$500 million outstanding on our 5.750% senior notes due 2021, $175 million outstanding on our one-year unsecured term loan, maturing in 2019.

and $24 million outstanding on our collateralized facility assumed as part of our acquisition of TRANZACT.

At September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2016,2019, 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 Fiduciary assets and Fiduciary liabilities on our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

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, 2017March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2016,2019, we had fiduciary funds of $3.1$3.7 billion and $2.5 billion,$3.4 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. There are no expiration dates for our repurchase plans or programs.

On February 26, 2020, the board of directors approved a $251 million increase to the existing share repurchase program, increasing the total remaining authorization to $500 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company had no share repurchase activity. With regards to certain prohibitions under the transaction agreement in connection with our pending business combination with Aon, the board of directors does not expect to repurchase any shares during the remainder of 2020.

At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, approximately $671$500 million remained on the current repurchase authority. The maximum number of shares that could be repurchased based on the closing price of our ordinary shares on September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 of $154.23$169.85 was 4,351,419.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company had the following share repurchase activity:
 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Shares repurchased1,116,645
 3,354,482
Average price per share$148.83 $137.72
Aggregate repurchase cost (excluding broker costs)$166 million $462 million
In addition to the shares reported in the table above, the Company canceled 1,415,199 Towers Watson common shares at issue in the settlement of the Merger-related appraisal demand lawsuit (see Part I, Item 1. Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings for additional information) and an equivalent number of ordinary shares represented in the Company’s issued and outstanding share count up until the settlement date. As a result, the litigation settlement and related share cancellation had a similar impact to a share repurchase in that it reduced the number of outstanding shares of the Company.  However, it did not impact the remaining authority under the share repurchase program.


2,943,774.

Capital Commitments

Capital expenditures for fixed assets and software for internal use were $198$66 million during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017.March 31, 2020. The Company estimates that there will be additional such expenditures of approximately $75$175 million during the remainder of 2017. 2020.


We currently expect cash from operations to adequately provide for these cash needs. There have been no material changes to our capital commitments since December 31, 2016.

2019.

Dividends

Total cash dividends of $209$84 million were paid during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017.March 31, 2020. In September 2017,February 2020, the board of directors declaredapproved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.53$0.68 per share ($2.122.72 per share annualized rate), which was paid on October 16, 2017April 15, 2020 to shareholders of record as of September 30, 2017.

March 31, 2020.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

See Part II, Item 7. ‘Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations’ in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017,February 26, 2020, for a discussion pertaining to off-balance sheet transactions.

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 differences 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 March 1, 2017.

Material changes to our other contractual obligations since we filed our Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC on February 26, 2020.

Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information

As of March 1,31, 2020, Willis Towers Watson has issued the following debt securities (the ‘notes’):

a)

Willis Towers Watson plc (the ‘parent company’) has $500 million senior notes outstanding, which were issued on March 17, 2011;

b)

Willis North America Inc. (‘Willis North America’) has approximately $2.7 billion senior notes outstanding, of which $650 million were issued on May 16, 2017, $1.0 billion were issued on September 10, 2018, and $1.0 billion were issued on September 10, 2019; and $175 million currently outstanding under a one-year unsecured term loan; and

c)

Trinity Acquisition plc has approximately $2.1 billion senior notes outstanding, of which $525 million were issued on August 15, 2013, $1.0 billion were issued on March 22, 2016 and €540 million ($609 million) were issued on May 26, 2016, and $396 million currently outstanding on a consolidated basis under the $1.25 billion revolving credit facility issued on March 7, 2017.

The following table presents a summary of the entities that issue each note and those wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company that guarantee each respective note on a joint and several basis. These subsidiaries are discussedall consolidated by the parent company and together with the parent company comprise the ‘Obligor group’.

Entity

Willis Towers Watson plc Notes

Trinity Acquisition plc Notes

Willis North America Inc. Notes

Willis Towers Watson plc

Issuer

Guarantor

Guarantor

Trinity Acquisition plc

Guarantor

Issuer

Guarantor

Willis North America Inc.

Guarantor

Guarantor

Issuer

Willis Netherlands Holdings B.V.

Guarantor

Guarantor

Guarantor

Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited

Guarantor

Guarantor

Guarantor

TA I Limited

Guarantor

Guarantor

Guarantor

Willis Group Limited

Guarantor

Guarantor

Guarantor

Willis Towers Watson Sub Holdings Unlimited Company

Guarantor

Guarantor

Guarantor

Willis Towers Watson UK Holdings Limited

Guarantor

Guarantor

Guarantor

The notes issued by the parent company, Willis North America and Trinity Acquisition plc:

rank equally with all of the issuer’s existing and future unsubordinated and unsecured debt;

rank equally with the issuer’s guarantee of all of the existing senior debt of the Company and the other guarantors, including any debt under the Revolving Credit Facility;

are senior in right of payment to all of the issuer’s future subordinated debt; and

are effectively subordinated to all of the issuer’s secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

All other subsidiaries of the parent company are non-guarantor subsidiaries (‘the non-guarantor subsidiaries’).

Each member of the Obligor group has only a stockholder’s claim on the assets of the non-guarantor subsidiaries. This stockholder’s claim is junior to the claims that creditors have against those non-guarantor subsidiaries. Holders of the notes will only be creditors of the Obligor group and not creditors of the non-guarantor subsidiaries. As a result, all of the existing and future liabilities of the non-


guarantor subsidiaries, including any claims of trade creditors and preferred stockholders, will be structurally senior to the notes. As of and for the periods ended March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the non-guarantor subsidiaries represented substantially all of the total assets and accounted for substantially all of the total revenue of the Company prior to consolidating adjustments. The non-guarantor subsidiaries have other liabilities, including contingent liabilities that may be significant. Each indenture does not contain any limitations on the amount of additional debt that the Obligor group and the non-guarantor subsidiaries may incur. The amounts of this debt could be substantial, and this debt may be debt of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, in Note 9 — Debtwhich case this debt would be effectively senior in right of payment to the notes.

The notes are obligations exclusively of the Obligor group. Substantially all of the Obligor group’s operations are conducted through its non-guarantor subsidiaries. Therefore, the Obligor group’s ability to service its debt, including the notes, is dependent upon the net cash flows of its non-guarantor subsidiaries and Note 11 — Retirement Benefits.their ability to distribute those net cash flows as dividends, loans or other payments to the Obligor group. Certain laws restrict the ability of these non-guarantor subsidiaries to pay dividends and make loans and advances to the Obligor group. In addition, such non-guarantor subsidiaries may enter into contractual arrangements that limit their ability to pay dividends and make loans and advances to the Obligor group.

Intercompany balances and transactions between members of the Obligor group have been eliminated. All intercompany balances and transactions between the Obligor group and the non-guarantor subsidiaries have been presented in the disclosures below on a net presentation basis, rather than a gross basis, as this better reflects the nature of the intercompany positions and presents the funding or funded position that is to be received or owed.  The intercompany balances and transactions between the Obligor group and non-guarantor subsidiaries, presented below, relate to a number of items including loan funding for acquisitions and other purposes, transfers of surplus cash between subsidiary companies, funding provided for working capital purposes, settlement of expense accounts, transactions related to share-based payment arrangements and share issuances, intercompany royalty arrangements, intercompany dividends and intercompany interest. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the intercompany balances of the Obligor group with non-guarantor subsidiaries were net receivables of $1.1 billion and $4.3 billion, respectively, and net payables of $7.6 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively.

No balances or transactions of non-guarantor subsidiaries are presented in the disclosures other than the intercompany items noted above.

Presented below is certain summarized financial information for the Obligor group.

`

 

As of

March 31, 2020

 

 

As of

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Total current assets

 

$

532

 

 

$

1,210

 

Total non-current assets

 

 

888

 

 

 

3,436

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

4,838

 

 

 

3,993

 

Total non-current liabilities

 

 

8,901

 

 

 

5,387

 

 

 

Three months ended

March 31, 2020

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Revenue

 

$

70

 

Income from operations

 

 

20

 

Loss from operations before income taxes (i)

 

 

(107

)

Net loss

 

 

(89

)

Net loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson

 

 

(89

)

(i)Includes intercompany expense, net of the Obligor group from non-guarantor subsidiaries of $10 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.


Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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 purposes, we present the following non-GAAP measures and their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure:

Most Directly Comparable U.S. GAAP Measure

Non-GAAP Measure

Total revenuesAdjusted revenues

As reported change

Constant currency change

As reported change

Organic change

Income from operationsoperations/margin

Adjusted operating incomeincome/margin

Net incomeincome/margin

Adjusted EBITDAEBITDA/margin

Net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson

Adjusted net income

Diluted earnings per share

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

Income from operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates

Adjusted income before taxes

Provision for income taxes/U.S. GAAP tax rate

Adjusted income taxes/tax rate

Net cash from operating activities

Free cash flow

The Company believes that 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 performance, and in the case of free cash flow, our liquidity results.

Within thesethe measures referred to as ‘adjusted’, we have adjustedadjust 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. Some of these items may not be applicable for the current quarter, however they may be part of our full-year results. These items include the following:

Transaction and integration expenses - Management believes it is appropriate to adjust for transaction and integration expenses 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, or significant acquisition-related transaction expenses. We believe the adjustment is necessary to present how the Company is performing, both now and in the future when the incurrence of these costs will have concluded.

Restructuring costs and transaction and integration expenses - Management believes it is appropriate to adjust for restructuring costs and transaction and integration expenses 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, or one-time Merger-related transaction expenses. 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.

Gains and losses on disposals of operations - Adjustment to remove the gain or loss resulting from disposed operations.


Pension settlement and curtailment gains and losses - Adjustment to remove significant pension settlement and curtailment gains and losses to better present how the Company is performing.


Abandonment of long-lived asset - Adjustment to remove the depreciation expense resulting from internally-developed software that was abandoned prior to being placed into service.

Fair value adjustment to deferred revenue - Adjustment in 2016 to normalize for the deferred revenue written down as part of the purchase accounting for the Merger.

Provisions for significant litigation - We will include provisions for litigation matters which we believe are not representative of our core business operations.

Gains and losses on disposals of operations - Adjustment to remove the gain or loss resulting from disposed operations.

Tax effects of internal reorganization - Relates to the U.S. income tax expense resulting from the completion of internal reorganizations of the ownership of certain businesses that reduced the investments held by our U.S.-controlled subsidiaries.

Provision for Stanford litigation - The 2016 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.
Tax effects of internal reorganization - Relates to the U.S. income tax expense resulting from the completion of an internal reorganization of the ownership of certain businesses that reduced the investments held by our U.S.-controlled subsidiaries.

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.

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 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. U.S. 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 revenues change to the constant currency and organic changes.

Constant Currency Change and Organic Change

We evaluate our revenuesrevenue on an as reported (U.S. GAAP), constant currency and organic basis. We believe providingpresenting 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 revenue 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 revenue, translated at the current year monthly average exchange rates, to the current year as reported revenue, for the same period. We believe constant currency measures provide useful information to investors because they provide transparency to performance by excluding the effects that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on period-over-period comparability given volatility in foreign currency exchange markets.

Constant currency change - Representsthe 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 - Excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates as described above and the period-over-period impact of acquisitions and divestitures on current-year revenue. We believe that excluding transaction-related items from our U.S. GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental information to our investors, and it is important

Organic change - Theorganic 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 transaction-related items from our U.S. 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 transaction-related items, since the nature, size and number of these transaction-related items can vary from period to period.

in illustrating what our core operating results would have been had we not included these transaction-related items, since the nature, size and number of these transaction-related items can vary from period to period.

The constant currency and organic change results, and a reconciliation from the reported results for consolidated revenuesrevenue are included in the Consolidated RevenuesRevenue section within this Form 10-Q. These measures are also reported by segment in the Segment RevenuesRevenue section within this Form 10-Q.



Reconciliations of total revenues to adjusted revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and reconciliations

A reconciliation of the reported changes to the constant currency and organic changes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 areMarch 31, 2020 from the three months ended March 31, 2019 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of Revenue Change (i)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

Reported

 

 

Currency

 

 

Currency

 

 

Acquisitions/

 

 

Organic

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Change

 

 

Impact

 

 

Change

 

 

Divestitures

 

 

Change

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

2,466

 

 

$

2,312

 

 

7%

 

 

(2)%

 

 

8%

 

 

4%

 

 

4%

 

      
Components of Revenue Change(i)
  Three Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Total revenues $1,852
 $1,777
 4% 1% 4% —% 4%
____________________

(i)

i.

Components of revenue change may not add due to rounding.

      Components of Revenue Change
  Nine Months Ended September 30, As Reported Change Currency Impact Constant Currency Change Acquisitions/Divestitures Organic Change
  2017 2016     
  ($ in millions)          
Total revenues $6,124
 $5,960
 3% (1)% 4% —% 4%
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue 
 58
          
Adjusted revenues $6,124
 $6,018
 2% (1)% 3% —% 3%

Adjusting for the impacts of foreign currency and acquisitions and disposals in the calculation of our organic activity, our revenue grew by 4% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. This organic increase in revenue was driven by strong performances in all segments.

Adjusted Operating Income

Income/Margin

We consider adjusted operating incomeincome/margin to be an important financial measure,measures, which isare used internally 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, transaction and integration 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.

Adjusted operating income margin is calculated by dividing adjusted operating income by revenue.

Reconciliations of income from operations to adjusted operating income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 20162019 are as follows:

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(in millions)

 

Income from operations

$

360

 

 

$

359

 

Adjusted for certain items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abandonment of long-lived asset

 

35

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

121

 

 

 

127

 

Transaction and integration expenses

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

Adjusted operating income

$

525

 

 

$

492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations margin

 

14.6

%

 

 

15.5

%

Adjusted operating income margin

 

21.3

%

 

 

21.3

%

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2017 2016
 (in millions)
Income from operations$41
 $1
 $628
 $463
Adjusted for certain items:      
Amortization141
 157
 441
 443
Restructuring costs31
 49
 85
 115
Transaction and integration expenses74
 36
 177
 117
Provision for the Stanford litigation
 
 
 50
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 
 
 58
Adjusted operating income$287
 $243
 $1,331
 $1,246

Adjusted operating income increased for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 to $287$525 million, compared to $243from $492 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016, as a result of strongMarch 31, 2019. This increase was primarily due to organic revenue growth duringacross all segments and the quarter from increased client demand.

Adjustedaddition of TRANZACT’s operating income increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion for the prior year period, an increase of $85 million, or 7%. Income from operations increased by $165 million, largely due to additional client demand and lower salaries and benefits expense resulting from savings associated with our integration and restructuring plans,results, partially offset by an increase in depreciation expense due to a higher depreciable base of assets.


increased salary and benefits costs.

Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA/Margin

We consider adjusted EBITDAEBITDA/margin to be an important financial measure,measures, which isare used internally to 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/(loss)income adjusted for provision for income taxes, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and integration expenses, the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue, (gain)/lossgains and losses on disposaldisposals of operations and non-recurring items that, in management’s judgment, significantly affect the period-over-period assessment of operating results. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing adjusted EBITDA by revenue.


Reconciliations of net (loss)/income to adjusted EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 20162019 are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

NET INCOME

 

$

313

 

 

$

293

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

78

 

 

 

67

 

Interest expense

 

 

61

 

 

 

54

 

Depreciation (i)

 

 

98

 

 

 

54

 

Amortization

 

 

121

 

 

 

127

 

Transaction and integration expenses

 

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

680

 

 

$

601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income margin

 

 

12.7

%

 

 

12.7

%

Adjusted EBITDA margin

 

 

27.6

%

 

 

26.0

%

(i)

Includes abandonment of long-lived asset of $35 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017
2016 2017 2016
 (in millions)
NET (LOSS)/INCOME$(54) $(31) $339
 $290
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes19
 (26) 73
 11
Interest expense47
 45
 139
 138
Depreciation54
 45
 151
 132
Amortization141
 157
 441
 443
Restructuring costs31
 49
 85
 115
Transaction and integration expenses74
 36
 177
 117
Provision for the Stanford litigation
 
 
 50
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 
 
 58
Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations10
 
 10
 (2)
Venezuela currency devaluation
 
 2
 
Adjusted EBITDA$322
 $275
 $1,417
 $1,352

Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 was $322$680 million, compared to $275$601 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. RevenueMarch 31, 2019. This increase was primarily due to organic revenue growth from increased client demand, driven byacross all segments wasand the addition of TRANZACT’s operating results, partially offset by adverse foreign currency movements.

Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2017increased salary and 2016 was $1.4 billion, an increase of $65 million, or 5%. The prior year included settlement income of £28 million ($41 million) related to the Fine Arts, Jewellery and Specie team.
benefits costs.

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

Adjusted net income is defined as net income/(loss)income attributable to Willis Towers Watson adjusted for amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and integration expenses, the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue, (gain)/lossgains and losses on disposaldisposals 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.adjustments and the tax effects of internal reorganizations. This measure is used solely for the purpose of calculating adjusted diluted earnings per share.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share is defined as adjusted net income divided by the weighted averageweighted-average number of shares of common stock, diluted. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is used to internally evaluate and assess our core operations and to benchmark our operating results against our competitors.



Reconciliations of net loss attributable to Willis Towers Watson to adjusted diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are as follows:
 Three Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016
 ($ in millions)
NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$(54) $(32)
Adjusted for certain items:
 
Amortization141
 157
Restructuring costs31
 49
Transaction and integration expenses74
 36
Loss on disposal of operations10
 
Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)
(74) (67)
Tax effects of internal reorganization22
 
Adjusted net income$150
 $143
    
Weighted average shares of common stock — diluted134
 138
    
Diluted loss per share$(0.40) $(0.23)
Adjusted for certain items:   
Amortization1.05
 1.14
Restructuring costs0.23
 0.36
Transaction and integration expenses0.55
 0.26
Loss on disposal of operations0.08
 
Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)
(0.55) (0.49)
Tax effects of internal reorganization0.16
 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$1.12
 $1.04
__________________________
i.The tax effect was calculated using an effective tax rate for each item.
Our adjusted diluted earnings per share increased for the three months ended September 30, 2017 as compared to the prior year primarily due to revenue growth from increased client demand.


Reconciliations of net income attributable to Willis Towers Watson to adjusted diluted earnings per share for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017 March 31, 2020and 2016, respectively,2019 are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON

 

$

305

 

 

$

287

 

Adjusted for certain items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abandonment of long-lived asset

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

 

121

 

 

 

127

 

Transaction and integration expenses

 

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)

 

 

(35

)

 

 

(32

)

Adjusted net income

 

$

435

 

 

$

388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares of common stock — diluted

 

 

130

 

 

 

130

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

2.34

 

 

$

2.20

 

Adjusted for certain items (ii) :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abandonment of long-lived asset

 

 

0.27

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

 

0.93

 

 

 

0.97

 

Transaction and integration expenses

 

 

0.07

 

 

 

0.05

 

Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)

 

 

(0.27

)

 

 

(0.25

)

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

 

$

3.34

 

 

$

2.98

 

 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 2016
 ($ in millions)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS TOWERS WATSON$323
 $278
Adjusted for certain items:
 
Amortization441
 443
Restructuring costs85
 115
Transaction and integration expenses177
 117
Provision for the Stanford litigation
 50
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 58
Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations10
 (2)
Venezuela currency devaluation2
 
Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)
(219) (221)
Tax effects of internal reorganization41
 
Adjusted net income$860
 $838
    
Weighted average shares of common stock — diluted137
 139
    
Diluted earnings per share$2.36
 $2.00
Adjusted for certain items:   
Amortization3.23
 3.19
Restructuring costs0.62
 0.83
Transaction and integration expenses1.30
 0.84
Provision for the Stanford litigation
 0.36
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 0.42
Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations0.07
 (0.02)
Venezuela currency devaluation0.02
 
Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)
(1.60) (1.59)
Tax effects of internal reorganization0.30
 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share$6.30
 $6.03
__________________________

(i)

i.

The tax effect was calculated using an effective tax rate for each item.

As noted above, in analyzing both our adjusted operating income and adjusted EBITDA, the Company experienced additional client demand and lower salaries and benefits expense, partially offset by an increase in depreciation expense.

(ii)

Per share values and totals may differ due to rounding.

Our adjusted diluted earnings per share benefited from thisincreased for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the prior year primarily due to organic revenue growth.growth across all segments and the addition of TRANZACT’s operating results.


Adjusted Income Before Taxes and Adjusted Income Taxes/Tax Rate

Adjusted income before taxes is defined as income from operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates adjusted for amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and integration expenses, the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue, (gain)/lossgains and losses on disposaldisposals 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 taxes/tax rate is defined as the provision for/(benefit from)for income taxes adjusted for taxes on certain items of amortization, restructuring costs, transaction and integration expenses, the fair value adjustment for deferred revenue, (gain)/lossgains and losses on disposaldisposals of operations, the tax effects of internal reorganizationreorganizations 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 that the adjusted income tax rate presents a rate that is more closely aligned to the rate that we would incur if not for the reduction of pre-tax income for the adjusted items and the tax effects of our internal reorganization,reorganizations, which are not core to our current and future operations.

Reconciliations of income/(loss)income from operations before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates to adjusted income before taxes and provision for/(benefit from)for income taxes to adjusted income taxes for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively,2019 are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

$

391

 

 

$

360

 

Adjusted for certain items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abandonment of long-lived asset

 

 

35

 

 

 

 

Amortization

 

 

121

 

 

 

127

 

Transaction and integration expenses

 

 

9

 

 

 

6

 

Adjusted income before taxes

 

$

556

 

 

$

493

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

78

 

 

$

67

 

Tax effect on certain items listed above (i)

 

 

35

 

 

 

32

 

Adjusted income taxes

 

$

113

 

 

$

99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. GAAP tax rate

 

 

20.0

%

 

 

18.8

%

Adjusted income tax rate

 

 

20.4

%

 

 

20.1

%

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017
2016 2017 2016
 ($ in millions)
(LOSS)/INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES$(35) $(58) $410
 $299
Adjusted for certain items:       
Amortization141
 157
 441
 443
Restructuring costs31
 49
 85
 115
Transaction and integration expenses74
 36
 177
 117
Provision for the Stanford litigation
 
 
 50
Fair value adjustment for deferred revenue
 
 
 58
Loss/(gain) on disposal of operations10
 
 10
 (2)
Venezuela currency devaluation
 
 2
 
Adjusted income before taxes$221
 $184
 $1,125
 $1,080
        
Provision for/(benefit from) income taxes$19
 $(26) $73
 $11
Tax effect on certain items listed above(i)
74
 67
 219
 221
Tax effects of internal reorganization(22) 
 (41) 
Adjusted income taxes$71
 $41
 $251
 $232
        
U.S. GAAP tax rate(53.0)% 45.9% 17.7% 3.5%
Adjusted income tax rate32.1 % 22.2% 22.3% 21.4%
__________________________

(i)

i.

The tax effect was calculated using an effective tax rate for each item.

Our U.S. GAAP tax rate is generally lower than the U.S. statutory tax rate of 35%. This is primarily due to our global mix of income, which results in deductions in jurisdictions with high statutory income tax rates. Our U.S. GAAP tax rate was (53.0)%rates were 20.0% and 45.9%18.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively, and 17.7% and 3.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016,2019, respectively.

The prior year effective tax rate was lower primarily due to discrete valuation allowance releases in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions.

Our adjusted income tax rates were 32.1%20.4% and 22.2%20.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 2016, respectively, and 22.3% and 21.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016,2019, respectively. The increase in the adjusted tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to a prior year tax benefit resulting from an enacted statutory tax rate reduction in the U.K.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as cash flows (used in)/from operating activities less cash used to purchase fixed assets and software for internal useuse. Free cash flow is a liquidity measure and is usednot meant to evaluaterepresent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures.

Management believes that free cash flow presents the core operating performance and cash generating capabilities of our liquidity.



business operations.

Reconciliations of cash flows fromfrom/(used in) operating activities to free cash flow for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 20162019 are as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Cash flows from/(used in) operating activities

 

$

23

 

 

$

(47

)

Less: Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use

 

 

(66

)

 

 

(57

)

Free cash flow

 

$

(43

)

 

$

(104

)


 Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2017 
2016(i)
 (in millions)
Cash flows from operating activities$515
 $621
Less: Additions to fixed assets and software for internal use(198) (151)
Free cash flow$317
 $470
__________________________
i.As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, cash flows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 increased by $13 million, increasing free cash flow by the same amount. See Part I, Item 1. Note 2 - Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements of this Form 10-Q report for a further discussion of this change.

The decreasefavorable movement in free cash flows in 20172020 was primarily due to positive cash flows from our improved working capital for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to 2016 primarily resulted from higher capital expenditures, unfavorable changes in working capital and higher discretionary compensation payments made in 2017 for the 2016 compensation cycle. These discretionary compensation payments were lower in 2016 because they included only a partial payment to Legacy Towers Watson colleagues due to the timing of the Merger.

March 31, 2019.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

There were no material changes from the Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates disclosed in our 20162019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2017.February 26, 2020.


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We have considered changes in our exposure to market risks during the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 and 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, 2016,2019, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2020. However, we have provided the following information to supplement or update our disclosures on our Form 10-K.

LIBOR-Related Debt Instruments

In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority, the authority that regulates LIBOR, announced its intention to stop compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The Alternative Reference Rates Committee (‘ARRC’), a group of private-market participants convened by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to help ensure a successful transition from U.S. dollar LIBOR (‘USD-LIBOR’) to a more robust reference rate, has proposed that the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (‘SOFR’) represents the best alternative to USD-LIBOR for use in derivatives and other financial contracts that are currently indexed to USD-LIBOR. ARRC has proposed a transition plan with specific steps and timelines designed to encourage the adoption of SOFR and guide the transition to SOFR from USD-LIBOR. Organizations are currently working on industry-wide and company-specific transition plans related to derivatives and cash markets exposed to USD-LIBOR. Similar efforts are underway to identify suitable replacement reference rates for LIBOR in other major currencies.

As of March 1, 2017.

31, 2020, the Company’s primary exposure is its $1.25 billion revolving credit facility maturing in 2022 and its collateralized facility assumed as part of its acquisition of TRANZACT, which are both priced using rates tied to LIBOR. We anticipate renegotiating the revolving credit facility prior to the potential LIBOR quotation termination date and will renegotiate, or repay, the collateralized facility prior to the end of 2021. In addition, the Company and its subsidiaries have entered into various intercompany notes indexed to LIBOR. The Company expects to amend or replace the LIBOR-based intercompany notes as necessary to reflect new market benchmarks for the relevant loan currencies prior to the 2021 deadline.

We are currently evaluating the LIBOR-related risks that may be inherent elsewhere in our business and are monitoring for further proposals and guidance from the ARRC and other alternative-rate initiatives, with the expectation that we will be prepared for the termination and replacement of the LIBOR benchmarks.

Interest Income on Fiduciary Funds

As described in our Form 10-K, we are exposed to interest rate risk. Specifically, as a result of our operating activities, we receive cash for premiums and claims which we deposit in short-term investments denominated in U.S. dollars and other currencies. We earn interest on these funds, which is included in our condensed consolidated financial statements as interest income. These funds are regulated in terms of access and the instruments in which they may be invested, most of which are short-term in maturity. At March 31, 2020, we held $1.8 billion of fiduciary funds invested in interest-bearing accounts. If short-term interest rates increased or decreased by 25 basis points, interest earned on these invested fiduciary funds, and therefore our interest income recognized, would increase or decrease by approximately $4 million on an annualized basis.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (‘CEO’) and the Chief Financial Officer (‘CFO’), 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 CEO and the CFO 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 CEO and the CFO, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our assessment of, and conclusion on, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal control over financial reporting at TRANZACT. SEC guidance permits management to omit an assessment of an acquired business’ internal control over financial reporting from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting for a period not to exceed one year from the date of acquisition. We are in the process of integrating TRANZACT operations within our internal control structure. Accordingly, management has excluded controls relating to TRANZACT in this quarter’s evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we began to consolidate our legacy enterprise resource planning accounting systems in certain geographies. During this time, the Legacy Willis operations of our North American, U.K., Irish, Australian and New Zealand businesses were migrated to the Legacy Towers Watson global system. The U.K. and Irish businesses were migrated during the three months ended September 30, 2017 and such implementation changes were material. All other migrations noted above occurred during the two previous quarters of 2017. Transition to the global information system includes a significant effort in testing prior to system launch, training of colleagues who will be using the system, updating of our internal control process and procedures that will be impacted by the implementation and monitoring of the system's results. As a result of this implementation, our management has updated the system of internal controls over the impacted areas for adequacy of design and operating effectiveness. Subsequent geography deployments will be incorporated into existing controls.

There have been no other changes in ourthe Company’s internal controlcontrols over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, ourthe Company’s internal control over financial reporting.



Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Management, including the CEO and CFO, 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 CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level.



PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

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 Part I, Item 1. 1 Note 1213Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings of the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

March 31, 2020.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There

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 SEC on March 1, 2017.February 26, 2020. We urge you to read the risk factors contained therein.

We have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and may be materially and adversely impacted by it in the future.

Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on global commercial activity, including the global supply chain; and has contributed to significant volatility in financial markets, including, among other effects, a decline in equity markets, changes in interest rates and reduced liquidity. It has also resulted in increased travel restrictions and extended shutdowns of businesses in various industries including, among others, travel, trade, tourism, health systems and food supply, and significantly reduced overall economic output. As such, there is a risk that COVID-19 could have a material adverse impact on client demand and cash flow.

COVID-19 risks could magnify other risks discussed in this report and any of our SEC filings. For example, the effectiveness of external parties, including governmental and non-governmental organizations, in combating the spread and severity of COVID-19 could have a material impact on demand for our business. In addition, steps taken by market counterparties such as (re)insurance carriers to limit their exposures to COVID-19 and related risks could have an impact on their willingness to provide or renew coverage for our clients on historical terms and pricing, which could again impact demand for our business. Coverage disputes arising out of the pandemic could also increase our professional liability risk by increasing the frequency and severity of allegations by others that, in the course of providing services, we have committed errors or omissions for which we should have liability.  Also, travel restrictions have caused the postponement or cancellation of various conferences and meetings around the world and adversely impacted sales activity. The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on our business. Nevertheless, COVID-19 presents material uncertainty and risk with respect to demand for our products and services.

In addition, COVID-19 could materially disrupt our own business operations and the services we provide, as well as the business operations of our clients, suppliers and other third parties with whom we interact. As an increasing percentage of our colleagues work remotely, we face resiliency risks, such as the risk that our information technology platform could potentially be inadequate to support increasing demand, as well as the risk that unusual working arrangements could impact the effectiveness of our operations or controls. We may also make fewer information technology-based investments than previously anticipated, which could potentially create business operational risk. In addition, we depend on third-party platforms and other infrastructure to provide certain of our products and services, and such third-party infrastructures face similar resiliency risks. Also, a potential COVID-19 infection of any of our key colleagues could materially and adversely impact our operations. Further, it is possible that COVID-19 causes us to close down call centers and other processes on which we rely, or impacts processes of third-party vendors on whom we rely, which could also materially impact our operations. The rapidly evolving changes in financial markets could also have a material impact on our own hedging and other financial transactions, which could impact our liquidity. In addition, it is possible that COVID-19 restrictions could create difficulty for satisfying our legal or regulatory filing or other obligations, including with the SEC and other regulators.

All of the foregoing events or potential outcomes, including in combination with other risk factors included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or our Annual Report.Report on Form 10-K, could cause a material adverse effect on our results of operations in any period and, depending on their severity, could also materially and adversely affect our financial condition. In addition, such events and outcomes could potentially impact our reputation with clients and regulators, among others.  

Our pending combination with Aon creates incremental business, regulatory and reputational risks.

On March 9, 2020, the Company announced that it had entered into a business combination agreement with Aon. The proposed transaction with Aon entails important risks, including, among others: the risk that we are unable to obtain the requisite shareholder or regulatory approvals or satisfy all of the other conditions required to consummate the proposed transaction on the proposed terms and schedule, if at all; the risk that we and Aon are unable to successfully integrate our combined operations and employees and realize the proposed transaction’s benefits, including potential synergies, or that we are unable to realize such benefits at the times and to the extent anticipated or that results are different from those contained in forecasts when made; the risk that transaction and/or integration costs or dis-synergies are greater than expected, including as a result of conditions regulators put on any approvals of the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement and/or consummation of the proposed transaction on relationships, including with employees, suppliers, clients and competitors; the risk that we and/or the combined company will not have the ability to hire and retain key personnel; the risk that management’s attention is diverted from other matters; the risks posed by changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets and any epidemic, pandemic or disease


outbreaks; the risk of potential litigation associated with the proposed transaction; the fact that the business combination agreement subjects the Company to various significant restrictions on its operations between signing and closing (including, among others, with respect to share repurchases, the incurrence of debt above thresholds or the acquisition or disposition of assets above specified thresholds, or specified changes to compensation and benefit programs); the risk of disruptions from the proposed transaction that impact our and/or Aon’s business, including current plans and operations; the risk posed by extensive government regulation on our business and/or the business of the combined company; the risk of adverse effects on the market price of Aon’s and the Company’s securities and on Aon’s and the Company’s operating results for any reason; and other risks described in the Company’s SEC filings, including definitive additional materials, the merger proxy statement and other filings generally applicable to significant transactions and related integrations that are or will be filed with the SEC.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

During the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2020, no shares were issued by the Company without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(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 There are no expiration dates for these repurchase plans or programs.

On February 26, 2020, the Company’s repurchasesboard of ordinarydirectors approved a $251 million increase to the existing share repurchase program, increasing the total remaining authorization to $500 million.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, there was no share repurchase activity. With regards to certain prohibitions under the transaction agreement in connection with our pending business combination with Aon, the board of directors does not expect to repurchase any shares induring the third quarterremainder of 2017 and2020.

At March 31, 2020 the Company’s repurchase authority.

PeriodTotal 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
July 1, 2017 through July 31, 2017407,175
 $146.74
 407,175
 5,060,889
August 1, 2017 through August 31, 2017403,880
 $149.24
 403,880
 4,657,009
September 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017305,590
 $151.07
 305,590
 4,351,419
 1,116,645
 $148.83
 1,116,645
  
The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under the existing stock repurchase plan is 4,351,419. At September 30, 2017,2,943,774, with approximately $671$500 million remainedremaining on the current open-ended repurchase authoritiesauthority granted by the board. An estimate of the maximum number of shares under the existing authorityauthorities was determined using the closing price of our ordinary shares on September 30, 2017March 31, 2020 of $154.23.
In addition to the shares reported in the table above, the Company canceled 1,415,199 Towers Watson common shares at issue in the settlement of the Merger-related appraisal demand lawsuit (see Part I, Item 1. Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings for additional information) and an equivalent number of ordinary shares represented in the Company’s issued and outstanding share count up until the settlement date. As a result, the litigation settlement and related share cancellation had a similar impact to a share repurchase in that it reduced the number of outstanding shares of the Company.  However, it did not impact the remaining authority under the share repurchase program.
$169.85.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Disclosure under Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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.
Gras Savoye, a non-U.S. affiliate of Willis Towers Watson, acts as a broker for the Iranian Embassy in Paris, placing health insurance for the diplomatic staff and handling the related claims administration. The policy was placed with GBG Insurance Limited on December 27, 2016 for the 2017 policy year. Premium payments are made quarterly, and a premium payment of

None.



€61,848 was received by Gras Savoye for the third quarter on September 27, 2017 for the policy. Gras Savoye will retain a commission of €7,422 from this payment. Health benefits of approximately €78,719 were paid to beneficiaries during the third quarter of 2017. Gras Savoye will not renew this policy at the end of 2017.



ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit

Number

Exhibit
Number

Description of Exhibit

4.1

2.1

2.2

Appendix 3 to the Rule 2.5 Announcement, dated as of March 9, 2020 (Conditions Appendix) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Form 8-K filed by the Company on August 16, 2017)March 9, 2020).

4.2

2.3


4.3

10.1


4.4

10.1

10.2


31.1

10.3

22.1

List of Issuers and Guarantor Subsidiaries.*

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

32.1

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document*Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*

101.CAL

101.DEF

101.LAB

101.PRE

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)*

*

Filed or furnished herewith.

_________________________
* 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 6, 2017

April 30, 2020

Name:

John J. Haley

Date

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Michael J. Burwell

November 6, 2017

April 30, 2020

Name:

Michael J. Burwell

Date

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

/s/ Susan D. Davies

November 6, 2017

April 30, 2020

Name:

Susan D. Davies

Date

Title:

Principal Accounting Officer and Controller



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