10-Q 1 u07636e10vq.htm FORM 10-Q e10vq
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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-Q
 
     
(Mark One)    
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
or
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Commission file number: 001-16503
 
 
 
 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Bermuda   98-0352587
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
c/o Willis Group Limited
51 Lime Street, London, EC3M 7DQ, England
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(011) 44-20-3124-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
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 o     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
             
Large accelerated filer þ
  Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)          
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
As of October 30, 2009, there were outstanding 168,339,157 shares of common stock, par value $0.000115 per share of the registrant.
 


 

 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Table of Contents
 
             
        Page
 
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements     3  
 
PART I — Financial Information
      5  
      48  
      64  
      65  
 
PART II — Other Information
      66  
      66  
      73  
      73  
      73  
      73  
      74  
Signatures     75  
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2
 
Certain Definitions
 
The following definitions apply throughout this quarterly report unless the context requires otherwise:
 
     
“We”, “Us”, “Company”, “Group”, “Willis” or “our”
  Willis Group Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries.
“Willis Group Holdings” or “Willis-Bermuda”
  Willis Group Holdings Limited.
“HRH”
  Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs Company.
“Willis-Ireland”
  Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company.


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INFORMATION CONCERNING 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 proposed re-domestication from Bermuda to Ireland, the potential benefits of the HRH acquisition, discussions concerning the sale of a portion of our interest in Gras Savoye, our outlook, future capital expenditures, growth in commissions and fees, business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of our business and operations, plans and references to future successes are forward-looking statements. Also, when we use the words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “probably”, or similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.
 
There are important 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:
 
•  the impact of any regional, national or global political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory conditions on our global business operations;
 
•  the impact of current financial market conditions and the current credit crisis on our results of operations and financial condition, including as a result of any insolvencies of or other difficulties experienced by our clients, insurance companies or financial institutions;
 
•  our ability to achieve the expected cost savings, synergies and other strategic benefits as a result of the HRH acquisition and how the integration of HRH may affect the timing of such cost savings, synergies and benefits;
 
•  our ability to continue to manage our significant indebtedness;

•  our ability to implement and realize anticipated benefits of the Shaping our Future initiative and any other new initiatives;
 
•  material changes in commercial property and casualty markets generally or the availability of insurance products or changes in premiums resulting from a catastrophic event, such as a hurricane, or otherwise;
 
•  the volatility or declines in other insurance markets and premiums on which our commissions are based, but which we do not control;
 
•  our ability to compete effectively in our industry;
 
•  our ability to retain key employees and clients and attract new business;
 
•  the timing or ability to carry out share repurchases or take other steps to manage our capital and the limitations in our long-term debt agreements that may restrict our ability to take these actions;
 
•  any fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could affect expenses and revenue;
 
•  rating agency actions that could inhibit our ability to borrow funds or the pricing thereof;
 
•  a significant decline in the value of investments that fund our pension plans or changes in our pension plan funding obligations;
 
•  the timing of any exercise of put and call arrangements with associated companies;
 
•  changes in the tax or accounting treatment of our operations, such as the recent proposals made by the Obama administration regarding international tax reform;
 
•  the potential costs and difficulties in complying with a wide variety of foreign laws and regulations and any related changes, given the global scope of our operations;
 
•  our involvement in and the results of any regulatory investigations, legal proceedings and other contingencies;
 
•  our exposure to potential liabilities arising from errors and omissions and other potential claims against us;



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•  our insurance coverage proves to be inadequate or unavailable or there is an increase in liabilities for which we self-insure; and
 
•  the interruption or loss of our information processing systems or failure to maintain secure information systems.
 
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 additional factors see the section entitled “Risk Factors”.
 
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 unduly relying on these forward-looking statements.



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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1 — Financial Statements
 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
                                 
    Three months ended
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except per share data)  
 
REVENUES
                               
Commissions and fees
  $ 714     $ 556     $ 2,401     $ 1,969  
Investment income
    10       22       35       64  
Other income
    1       1       3       2  
                                 
Total revenues
    725       579       2,439       2,035  
                                 
EXPENSES
                               
Salaries and benefits
    (449 )     (359 )     (1,372 )     (1,198 )
Other operating expenses
    (151 )     (131 )     (428 )     (421 )
Depreciation expense
    (15 )     (14 )     (43 )     (41 )
Amortization of intangible assets
    (29 )     (6 )     (76 )     (12 )
Gain on disposal of London headquarters
                      8  
Net gain (loss) on disposal of operations
    1       (3 )     1       (3 )
                                 
Total expenses
    (643 )     (513 )     (1,918 )     (1,667 )
                                 
OPERATING INCOME
    82       66       521       368  
Interest expense
    (47 )     (32 )     (128 )     (69 )
                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    35       34       393       299  
Income taxes
    29       (2 )     (64 )     (74 )
                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    64       32       329       225  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
    16       6       42       29  
                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    80       38       371       254  
Discontinued operations, net of tax (Note 5)
    1             2        
                                 
NET INCOME
    81       38       373       254  
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
    (2 )     (2 )     (14 )     (13 )
                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS
  $ 79     $ 36     $ 359     $ 241  
                                 
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
                               
Income from continuing operations, net of tax
  $ 78     $ 36     $ 357     $ 241  
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax
    1             2        
                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS
  $ 79     $ 36     $ 359     $ 241  
                                 
EARNINGS PER SHARE — BASIC AND DILUTED (Note 6)
                               
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
                               
 — Continuing operations
  $ 0.46     $ 0.25     $ 2.13     $ 1.70  
                                 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
                               
 — Continuing operations
  $ 0.46     $ 0.25     $ 2.13     $ 1.70  
                                 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE
  $ 0.26     $ 0.26     $ 0.78     $ 0.78  
                                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions, except share data)  
 
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 203     $ 176  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
    1,815       1,854  
Short-term investments
          20  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $22 million in 2009 and $24 million in 2008
    8,980       9,131  
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $287 million in 2009 and $236 million in 2008
    353       312  
Goodwill (Note 11)
    3,271       3,275  
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $146 million in 2009 and $79 million in 2008 (Note 12)
    597       682  
Investments in associates
    308       273  
Deferred tax assets
    27       76  
Pension benefits asset
    148       111  
Other assets
    674       492  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 16,376     $ 16,402  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable
  $ 10,152     $ 10,314  
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
    305       471  
Deferred tax liabilities
    2       21  
Income taxes payable
    25       18  
Short-term debt (Note 13)
    231       785  
Long-term debt (Note 13)
    2,375       1,865  
Liability for pension benefits
    222       237  
Other liabilities
    863       796  
                 
Total liabilities
    14,175       14,507  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9)
               
EQUITY
               
Common shares, $0.000115 par value; Authorized: 4,000,000,000; Issued and outstanding, 168,313,101 shares in 2009 and 166,757,654 shares in 2008
           
Additional paid-in capital
    903       886  
Retained earnings
    1,823       1,593  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax (Note 15)
    (567 )     (630 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 83,580 shares in 2009 and 2008
    (4 )     (4 )
                 
Total Willis Group Holdings stockholders’ equity
    2,155       1,845  
Noncontrolling interests
    46       50  
                 
Total equity
    2,201       1,895  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  $ 16,376     $ 16,402  
                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                 
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
               
Net income
  $ 373     $ 254  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
(Gain) loss on disposal of operations, fixed and intangible assets and short-term investments
    (3 )     1  
Gain on disposal of London headquarters
          (8 )
Depreciation expense
    43       41  
Amortization of intangible assets
    76       12  
Addition to (release of) provision for doubtful accounts
    1       (6 )
(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes
    (1 )     32  
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
    3       (5 )
Share-based compensation
    26       29  
Undistributed earnings of associates
    (31 )     (20 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from purchase of subsidiaries:
               
Fiduciary funds — restricted
    117       (249 )
Accounts receivable
    369       (1,903 )
Accounts payable
    (364 )     2,163  
Additional funding of UK and US pension plans
          (81 )
Other assets
    (85 )     (145 )
Other liabilities
    (237 )     (8 )
Effect of exchange rate changes
    (1 )     15  
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    286       122  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds on disposal of fixed and intangible assets
    12       3  
Additions to fixed assets
    (74 )     (66 )
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
    1       (10 )
Investments in associates
    (43 )     (31 )
Proceeds from sale of operations, net of cash disposed
    42       8  
Proceeds on sale of short-term investments
    20       3  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (42 )     (93 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds from draw down of revolving credit facility
    65       120  
Proceeds from issue of short-term debt, net of debt issuance costs
    1        
Repurchase of 2010 senior notes
    (160 )      
Repayments of debt
    (750 )      
Senior notes issued, net of debt issuance costs
    778        
Repurchase of shares
          (75 )
Proceeds from issue of shares
    15       8  
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
    (3 )     5  
Dividends paid
    (130 )     (109 )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests
    (31 )     (5 )
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
    (12 )     (9 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (227 )     (65 )
                 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    17       (36 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    10       (8 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    176       200  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 203     $ 156  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents — reported as discontinued operations
           
                 
Cash and cash equivalents — continuing operations
  $ 203     $ 156  
                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.   NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
Willis Group Holdings Limited (“Willis Group Holdings”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) provide a broad range of insurance brokerage, reinsurance and risk management consulting services to its worldwide clients, both directly and indirectly through its associates. The Company provides both specialized risk management advisory and consulting services on a global basis to clients worldwide in specific industrial and commercial activities, and services to small, medium and major corporates through its retail operations.
 
In its capacity as an advisor and insurance broker, the Company acts as an intermediary between clients and insurance carriers by advising clients on risk management requirements, helping clients determine the best means of managing risk, and negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through the Company’s global distribution network.
 
In September 2009, Willis Group Holding’s board of directors approved changing its place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland. This move is part of a reorganization that will create a newly formed Irish company, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company (or Willis-Ireland). On December 11, 2009, shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the reorganization at a special shareholders meeting. If conditions are satisfied, including approval by the shareholders and the Supreme Court of Bermuda, Willis-Ireland will replace Willis Group Holdings as the ultimate parent company. The change of the Company’s place of incorporation is currently expected to become effective on December 31, 2009.
 
2.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements (“Interim Financial Statements”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).
 
The Interim Financial Statements are unaudited but include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which the Company’s management considers necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position as of such dates and the operating results and cash flows for those periods. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP have been condensed or omitted. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The results of operations for the nine month period ended September 30, 2009 may not necessarily be indicative of the operating results for the entire fiscal year.
 
These Interim Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008 included in the Company’s Current Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2009.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
During third quarter 2009, the Company adopted the new Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) as issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The ASC has become the source of authoritative US GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. The ASC is not intended to change or alter existing GAAP. The adoption of the ASC did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
2.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
 
Business Combinations
 
With effect from January 1, 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to business combinations. This guidance made substantial changes to how entities account for business combinations, establishing principles and requirements for how the acquirer:
 
•  recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree;
 
•  recognizes and measures goodwill acquired in the business combination; and
 
•  determines what information to disclose to enable users of financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination.
 
Assets and liabilities that arose from business combinations with acquisition dates prior to the effective date (financial years beginning after December 15, 2008) are not adjusted upon adoption, with certain exceptions for acquired deferred tax assets and acquired income tax positions.
 
The income tax provisions pertaining to changes in the valuation allowance of deferred tax assets and uncertain tax positions are applicable prospectively to business combinations occurring prior to the effective date. Reductions to the valuation allowance of acquired deferred tax assets and all changes to acquired uncertain tax positions occurring after the measurement period are now recorded in the statement of operations.
 
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements
 
With effect from January 1, 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to noncontrolling interests. The guidance established accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the retained interest and gain or loss when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. It clarified that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest in the consolidated entity and should be reported as equity in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
The impact of this change on the Company’s balance sheet is outlined below:
 
                         
    January 1, 2009  
    Before
    Effect of
    After
 
    application     application     application  
    (millions)  
 
Minority Interest
  $ 50       (50 )   $  
                         
Total Willis Group Holdings stockholders’ equity
    1,845               1,845  
                         
Noncontrolling interests
          50       50  
                         
Total equity
  $ 1,845             $ 1,895  
                         
 
Accordingly, certain reclassifications have been made in prior year amounts to conform to current year presentation.
 
Variable interest entities
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance which amends the evaluation criteria to identify the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (VIE) and requires ongoing reassessment of whether an


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
2.   BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
 
enterprise is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that has both of the following characteristics:
 
•  the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance; and
 
•  the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE .
 
The FASB has also issued a number of other amendments which are effective for financial years beginning after November 15, 2009 and is effective for the Company from January 1, 2010. The Company does not believe this will have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.
 
Subsequent events
 
Effective for interim or annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to subsequent events. This requires the Company to disclose the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. For the purpose of this report, this date is the filing date November 6, 2009.
 
3.   SALARIES AND BENEFITS
 
Severance costs
 
The Company incurred severance costs of $20 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 (2008: $26 million), relating to over 350 positions that have been, or are in the process of being, eliminated as part of the Company’s continuing focus on managing expense. Of these costs, $18 million were incurred in first half 2009 as part of our Right Sizing Willis initiatives and $2 million were incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2009 (2008: $1 million). Severance costs for these employees were recognized pursuant to the terms of their existing benefit arrangements or employment agreements.
 
Share-based compensation
 
The Company incurred share-based compensation, reported within salaries and benefits, of $26 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 (2008: $29 million), of which $11 million was incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2009 (2008: $10 million).
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded a $5 million credit relating to the accumulated compensation expense for certain 2008 awards which were dependent upon 2009 performance targets set at the date of grant which the Company no longer expects to achieve (2008: $nil), of which $nil was recorded in the three months ended September 30, 2009.
 
4.   INCOME TAXES
 
The third quarter 2009 tax charge benefited from two material tax credits:
 
•  a $27 million release relating to a 2009 change in tax law. As at June 30, 2009, the Company held a provision of $27 million relating to tax that would potentially be payable should the unremitted earnings of its foreign subsidiaries be repatriated. Following a change in UK tax law effective in third quarter 2009, these earnings may now be repatriated without additional tax cost and, consequently, the provision has been released; and


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
4.   INCOME TAXES (Continued)
 
•  an $11 million release relating to uncertain tax positions due to the closure of the statute of limitations on assessments for previously unrecognized tax benefits. There was a similar $5 million release of uncertain tax positions in third quarter 2008.
 
Excluding the benefit of these tax credits, the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 would have been 26 percent.
 
5.   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
On April 15, 2009, the Company entered into a contract and disposed of Bliss & Glennon, a US-based wholesale insurance operation acquired as part of the HRH acquisition. Gross proceeds were $41 million, of which $3 million is held in escrow for potential indemnification claims until second quarter 2010.
 
Bliss & Glennon’s net assets at April 15, 2009, were $39 million, of which $35 million related to identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. In addition, there were costs and income taxes relating to the transaction of $2 million. No gain or loss was recognized on this disposal.
 
On September 1, 2009, the Company disposed of the assets related to the wholesale business of Managing Agency Group (MAG), another US-based wholesale insurance operation acquired as part of the HRH acquisition. Gross proceeds were $5 million.
 
MAG’s net assets at September 1, 2009, were $3 million, all of which related to identifiable intangible assets and goodwill. In addition, there were costs and income taxes relating to the transaction of $2 million. No gain or loss was recognized on this disposal.
 
Amounts of revenue and pre-tax income reported in discontinued operations include the following:
 
                 
    Three months
    Nine months
 
    ended
    ended
 
    September 30,
    September 30,
 
    2009     2009  
    (millions)     (millions)  
 
Revenues
  $ 2     $ 9  
                 
Income before income taxes
    1       2  
Income taxes
           
                 
Income from discontinued operations
  $ 1     $ 2  
                 
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax
           
                 
Discontinued operations, net of tax
  $ 1     $ 2  
                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
5.   DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Continued)
 
Net assets and liabilities of discontinued operations consist of the following:
 
                 
    Bliss & Glennon
    MAG
 
    April 15,
    September 1,
 
    2009     2009  
    (millions)     (millions)  
 
Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3     $  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
    10        
Accounts receivable
    16        
Fixed assets
    1        
Intangible assets
    35       3  
Other assets
    2        
                 
Total assets
  $ 67     $ 3  
                 
Liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 26     $  
Other liabilities
    2        
                 
Total liabilities
  $ 28     $  
                 
Net assets of discontinued operations
  $ 39     $ 3  
                 
 
6.   EARNINGS PER SHARE
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing net income attributable to Willis Group Holdings by the average number of 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 issue of shares that then shared in the net income of the Company. At September 30, 2009, time-based and performance-based options to purchase 13.5 million and 9.3 million (2008: 13.6 million and 5.6 million) shares of Willis common stock, respectively, and 1.1 million (2008: 1.4 million) restricted shares, were outstanding.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
6.   EARNINGS PER SHARE (Continued)
 
Basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three months ended
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except per share data)  
 
Net income attributable to Willis Group Holdings
  $ 79     $ 36     $ 359     $ 241  
                                 
Basic average number of shares outstanding
    168       142       168       142  
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares
    1                    
                                 
Diluted average number of shares outstanding
    169       142       168       142  
                                 
Basic earnings per share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.46     $ 0.25     $ 2.13     $ 1.70  
Discontinued operations
    0.01             0.01        
                                 
Net income attributable to Willis Group Holdings common shareholders
  $ 0.47     $ 0.25     $ 2.14     $ 1.70  
                                 
Dilutive effect of potentially issuable shares
                       
                                 
Diluted earnings per share:
                               
Continuing operations
  $ 0.46     $ 0.25     $ 2.13     $ 1.70  
Discontinued operations
    0.01             0.01        
                                 
Net income attributable to Willis Group Holdings common shareholders
  $ 0.47     $ 0.25     $ 2.14     $ 1.70  
                                 
 
Options to purchase 21.8 million and 22.4 million shares were not included in the computation of the dilutive effect of stock options for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009, respectively because the effect was antidilutive (three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2008: 17.7 million and 16.0 million).
 
7.   HRH ACQUISITION
 
On October 1, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of HRH, the eighth largest insurance and risk management intermediary in the United States. Total consideration paid by the Company was approximately $1.8 billion, which comprised approximately 24.4 million shares of common stock valued at $792 million and $982 million of cash. The total purchase price of approximately $2.1 billion included the assumption of approximately $340 million of HRH existing debt.
 
The Company recognized identifiable intangible assets of $0.6 billion and goodwill of $1.6 billion on the acquisition. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company has finalized the purchase price allocation, resulting in an additional net $20 million of goodwill being recognized.
 
Assuming the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2007, pro forma combined revenues for the Company for fiscal year 2008 would have been $3,451 million (2007: $3,378 million), of which $1,546 million, or 45 percent (2007: $1,586 million, or 47 percent), would be attributable to the Company’s North America operations.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
8.   PENSION PLANS
 
The components of the net periodic benefit cost of the UK, US and International defined benefit plans are as follows:
 
                                                 
    Three months ended September 30,  
    UK pension
    US pension
    Intl pension
 
    benefits     benefits     benefits  
    2009     2008     2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
                                               
Service cost
  $ 5     $ 9     $     $ 5     $ 2     $ 3  
Interest cost
    25       29       10       10       2       1  
Expected return on plan assets
    (33 )     (49 )     (10 )     (11 )     (2 )     (2 )
Amortization of unrecognized prior service gain
    (1 )     (1 )                        
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss
    9             1             1        
                                                 
Net periodic benefit cost (income)
  $ 5     $ (12 )   $ 1     $ 4     $ 3     $ 2  
                                                 
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30,  
    UK pension
    US pension
    Intl pension
 
    benefits     benefits     benefits  
    2009     2008     2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost (income):
                                               
Service cost
  $ 15     $ 28     $ 7     $ 17     $ 5     $ 6  
Interest cost
    71       90       30       29       6       5  
Expected return on plan assets
    (94 )     (145 )     (27 )     (35 )     (5 )     (6 )
Amortization of unrecognized prior service gain
    (3 )     (2 )           (1 )            
Amortization of unrecognized actuarial loss
    25             6             2        
Curtailment gain
                (12 )                  
                                                 
Net periodic benefit cost (income)
  $ 14     $ (29 )   $ 4     $ 10     $ 8     $ 5  
                                                 
 
As of September 30, 2009, the Company had made contributions of $33 million, $27 million and $5 million to the UK, US and International defined benefit pension plans (2008: $111 million, $8 million and $5 million), respectively. The Company expects to contribute approximately $39 million to the UK defined benefit pension plan, $27 million to the US plan and $6 million to the International plan for the fiscal year 2009.
 
Effective May 15, 2009, the Company closed the US defined benefit plan to future accrual. Consequently, a curtailment gain of $12 million was recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2009, and the nine months ended September 30, 2009 (2008: $nil).
 
9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Claims, Lawsuits and Other Proceedings
 
The Company is subject to various actual and potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings relating principally to alleged errors and omissions in connection with the placement of insurance and reinsurance in the ordinary course of business. Similar to other corporations, the Company is also subject to a variety of other claims, including those relating to the Company’s employment practices. Some of the claims, lawsuits and other proceedings seek damages in amounts which could, if assessed, be significant.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
 
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 and self-insured risks have increased significantly in recent years. In respect of self-insured risks, the Company has established provisions which are believed to be adequate in the light of current information and legal advice, and the Company adjusts such provisions from time to time according to developments.
 
On the basis of current information, the Company does not expect that the actual claims, lawsuits and other proceedings, to which the Company is subject, or potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings relating to matters of which it is aware will ultimately have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Nonetheless, given the large or indeterminate amounts sought in certain of these actions, and the inherent unpredictability of litigation and disputes with insurance companies, it is possible that an adverse outcome in certain matters could, from time to time, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or cash flows in particular quarterly or annual periods.
 
The material actual or potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings, of which the Company is currently aware, are:
 
Inquiries and Investigations
 
In connection with the investigation commenced by the New York State Attorney General in April 2004 concerning, among other things, contingent commissions paid by insurers to insurance brokers, in April 2005, the Company entered into an Assurance of Discontinuance (“NY AOD”) with the New York State Attorney General and the Superintendent of the New York Insurance Department and paid $50 million to eligible customers. As part of the NY AOD, the Company also agreed not to accept contingent compensation and to disclose to customers any compensation the Company will receive in connection with providing policy placement services to the customer. The Company also resolved similar investigations commenced by the Minnesota Attorney General, the Florida Attorney General, the Florida Department of Financial Services and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for amounts that were not material to the Company. Similarly, in August 2005 HRH entered into an agreement with the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut (the “CT Attorney General”) and the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Connecticut to resolve all issues related to their investigations into certain insurance brokerage and insurance agency practices and to settle a lawsuit brought in August 2005 by the CT Attorney General alleging violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act. As part of this settlement, HRH agreed to take certain actions including establishing a $30 million national fund for distribution to certain clients, enhancing disclosure practices for agency and broker clients, and declining contingent compensation on brokerage business. The Company has co-operated fully with other similar investigations by the regulators and/or attorneys general of other jurisdictions, some of which have been concluded with no indication of any finding of wrongdoing.
 
In 2006, the European Commission issued questionnaires pursuant to its Sector Inquiry or, in respect of Norway, the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority, related to insurance business practices, including compensation arrangements for brokers, to at least 150 European brokers including our operations in nine European countries. The Company responded to the European Commission questionnaires and has filed responses with the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority for two of its Norwegian entities. The European Commission reported on a final basis on September 25, 2007, expressing concerns over potential conflicts of interest in the industry relating to remuneration and binding authorities when assuming a dual role for clients and insurers and also over the nature of the coinsurance market. The Company continues to co-operate with both the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
 
Since August 2004, the Company and HRH (along with various other brokers and insurers) have been named as defendants in purported class actions in various courts across the United States. All of these actions have been consolidated into a single action in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (“MDL”). There are two amended complaints within the MDL, one that addresses employee benefits (“EB Complaint”) and one that addresses all other lines of insurance (“Commercial Complaint”). HRH was a named defendant in the EB Complaint, but has since been voluntarily dismissed. HRH is a named defendant in the Commercial Complaint. The Company is a named defendant in both MDL complaints. Each of the EB Complaint and the Commercial Complaint seeks monetary damages, including punitive damages, and equitable relief and makes allegations regarding the practices and conduct that have been the subject of the investigation of state attorneys general and insurance commissioners, including allegations that the brokers have breached their duties to their clients by entering into contingent compensation agreements with either no disclosure or limited disclosure to clients and participated in other improper activities. The complaints also allege the existence of a conspiracy among insurance carriers and brokers and allege violations of federal antitrust laws, the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) statute and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). In separate decisions issued in August and September 2007, the antitrust and RICO Act claims were dismissed with prejudice and the state claims were dismissed without prejudice from the Commercial Complaint. In January 2008, the Judge dismissed the ERISA claims with prejudice from the EB Complaint and the state law claims without prejudice. Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal regarding the dismissal of the antitrust and RICO claims and oral arguments on this appeal were heard in April 2009 but there is no indication when a ruling will be issued. Additional actions could be brought in the future by individual policyholders. The Company disputes the allegations in all of these suits and has been and intends to continue to defend itself vigorously against these actions. The outcomes of these lawsuits, however, including any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.
 
Reinsurance Market Dispute
 
Various legal proceedings are pending, have concluded or may commence between reinsurers, reinsureds and in some cases their intermediaries, including reinsurance brokers, relating to personal accident excess of loss reinsurance for the years 1993 to 1998. The proceedings principally concern allegations by reinsurers that they have sustained substantial losses due to an alleged abnormal “spiral” in the market in which the reinsurance contracts were placed, the existence and nature of which, as well as other information, was not disclosed to them by the reinsureds or their reinsurance broker. A “spiral” is a market term for a situation in which reinsureds and reinsurers reinsure each other with the effect that the same loss or portion of that loss moves through the market multiple times.
 
The reinsurers concerned have taken the position that, despite their decisions to underwrite risks or a group of risks, they are no longer bound by their reinsurance contracts. As a result, they have stopped settling claims and are seeking to recover claims already paid. The Company also understands that there have been at least two arbitration awards in relation to a spiral, among other things, in which the reinsurer successfully argued that it was no longer bound by parts of its reinsurance program. Willis Limited, the Company’s principal insurance brokerage subsidiary in the United Kingdom, acted as the reinsurance broker or otherwise as intermediary, but not as an underwriter, for numerous personal accident reinsurance contracts, including two contracts that were involved in one of the arbitrations. Due to the small number of reinsurance brokers generally, Willis Limited also utilized other brokers active in this market as sub-agents, including brokers who are parties to the legal proceedings described above, for certain contracts and may be responsible for any errors and omissions they may have made. In July 2003, one of the reinsurers received a judgment in the English High Court against certain parties, including a sub-broker Willis Limited used to place two of the contracts involved in this trial. Although neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries were a party to this


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
 
proceeding or any arbitration, Willis Limited entered into tolling agreements with certain of the principals to the reinsurance contracts tolling the statute of limitations pending the outcome of proceedings between the reinsureds and reinsurers.
 
Two former clients of Willis Limited, American Reliable Insurance Company and one of its associated companies (collectively, “ARIC”), and CNA Insurance Company Limited and two of its associated companies (“CNA”) terminated their respective tolling agreements with Willis Limited and commenced litigation in September 2007 and January 2008, respectively, in the English Commercial Court against Willis Limited. ARIC alleged conspiracy between a former Willis Limited employee and the ARIC underwriter as well as negligence and CNA alleged deceit and negligence by the same Willis Limited employee both in connection with placements of personal accident reinsurance in the excess of loss market in London and elsewhere. ARIC asserted a claim of approximately $257 million (plus unspecified interest and costs). On June 9, 2009, Willis Limited entered into a settlement agreement with American Reliable Insurance Company and Assurant General Insurance Limited pursuant to which Willis Limited agreed to pay a total of $139 million to ARIC in two installments. All installments have been paid by the Company. Each party has also released and waived all claims it may have against any of the other parties arising out of or in connection with the subject matter of the litigation. The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by any party. The $139 million required to fund the settlement agreement was covered by errors and omissions insurance.
 
On September 11, 2009, Willis Limited, entered into a settlement agreement with CNA, subsidiaries of CNA Financial Corporation. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, Willis Limited has agreed to pay a total of $130 million to CNA in two installments. The first installment of $60 million was paid on October 9, 2009 and the second installment of $70 million will be paid on or before December 23, 2009. Each party has also released and waived all claims it may have against any of the other parties arising out of or in connection with the subject-matter of the litigation. The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing by any party. The Company believes the $130 million required to fund the settlement agreement will be covered by errors and omissions insurance.
 
Various arbitrations relating to reinsurance continue to be active and from time to time the principals request co-operation from the Company and suggest that claims may be asserted against the Company. Such claims may be made against the Company if reinsurers do not pay claims on policies issued by them. The Company cannot predict at this time whether any such claims will be made or the damages that may be alleged.
 
Gender Discrimination Class Action
 
In March 2008, the Company settled an action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York commenced against the Company in 2001 on behalf of an alleged nationwide class of present and former female officer and officer equivalent employees alleging that the Company discriminated against them on the basis of their gender and seeking injunctive relief, money damages, attorneys’ fees and costs. Although the Court had denied plaintiffs’ motions to certify a nationwide class or to grant nationwide discovery, it did certify a class of approximately 200 female officers and officer equivalent employees based in the Company’s offices in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. The settlement agreement provides for injunctive relief and a monetary payment, including the amount of attorney fees plaintiffs’ counsel are entitled to receive, which was not material to the Company. In December 2006, a former female employee, whose motion to intervene in the class action was denied, filed a purported class action in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, with almost identical allegations as those contained in the suit that was settled in 2008, except seeking a class period of 1998 to the time of trial (the class period in the settled suit was 1998 to the end of 2001). The Company’s motion to dismiss this suit was denied and the Court did not grant the Company permission to immediately file an appeal from the denial of its motion to dismiss. The parties are in


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
 
the discovery phase of the litigation. The suit was amended to include one additional plaintiff and another has filed an arbitration demand that includes a class allegation. The Court has decided that, to the extent a class is ever certified, the class period will end at the end of 2007 and not up to the time of trial as plaintiffs had sought. The Company cannot predict at this time what, if any, damages might result from this action.
 
World Trade Center
 
The Company acted as the insurance broker, but not as an underwriter, for the placement of both property and casualty insurance for a number of entities which were directly impacted by the September 11, 2001, destruction of the World Trade Center complex, including Silverstein Properties LLC, which acquired a 99-year leasehold interest in the twin towers and related facilities from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in July 2001. Although the World Trade Center complex insurance was bound at or before the July 2001 closing of the leasehold acquisition, consistent with standard industry practice, the final policy wording for the placements was still in the process of being finalized when the twin towers and other buildings in the complex were destroyed on September 11, 2001. There have been a number of lawsuits in the United States between the insured parties and the insurers for several placements and other disputes may arise in respect of insurance placed by us which could affect the Company including claims by one or more of the insureds that the Company made culpable errors or omissions in connection with our brokerage activities. However, the Company does not believe that our role as broker will lead to liabilities which in the aggregate would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
 
Stanford Financial Group
 
On July 2, 2009, a putative class action complaint, captioned Troice v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., Case No. 09-CV-01274, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Willis Group Holdings, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and a Willis associate, among others, relating to the collapse of The Stanford Financial Group (“Stanford”), for which the Company acted as brokers of record on certain lines of insurance. The complaint generally alleges that the Company actively and materially aided Stanford’s alleged fraud by providing Stanford with certain letters regarding coverage that the Company knew would be used to help retain or attract actual or prospective Stanford client investors. The suit alleges that these letters, which contain statements about Stanford and the insurance policies that the Company placed for Stanford, contain untruths and omit material facts and were drafted in this manner to help Stanford promote and sell its allegedly fraudulent certificates of deposit. The putative class consists of Stanford investors in Mexico and the complaint asserts various claims under Texas statutory and common law and seeks actual damages in excess of $1 billion, punitive damages and costs. On August 12, 2009, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, which, notwithstanding the addition of certain factual allegations and Texas common law claims, largely mirrors the original and seeks the same relief.
 
On July 17, 2009, a putative class action complaint, captioned Ranni v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., Case No. 09-CV-22085, was filed against Willis Group Holdings and Willis of Colorado, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, relating to the same alleged course of conduct as the Troice complaint described above. Based on substantially the same allegations as the Troice complaint, but on behalf of a putative class of Venezuelan and other South American Stanford investors, the Ranni complaint asserts a claim under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, as well as various claims under Florida statutory and common law, and seeks damages in an amount to be determined at trial and costs.
 
On or about July 24, 2009, a motion was filed by certain individuals (collectively, the “Movants”) with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the “JPML”) to consolidate and coordinate in the Northern District of Texas nine separate putative class actions — including the Troice and Ranni actions described


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
9.   COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
 
above, as well as other actions against various Stanford-related entities and individuals and the Commonwealth of Antigua and Barbuda — relating to Stanford and its allegedly fraudulent certificates of deposit.
 
On August 6, 2009, a putative class action complaint, captioned Canabal v. Willis of Colorado, Inc., et al., Case No. 09-CV-01474, was filed against Willis Group Holdings, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate, among others, also in the Northern District of Texas, relating to the same alleged course of conduct as the Troice complaint described above. Based on substantially the same allegations as the Troice complaint, but on behalf of a putative class of Venezuelan investors, the Canabal complaint asserts various claims under Texas statutory and common law and seeks actual damages in excess of $1 billion, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.
 
On or about August 10, 2009, the Movants filed with the JPML a Notice of Related Action that referred the Canabal action to the JPML.
 
On October 6, 2009, the JPML ruled on the transfer motion, transferring seven of the subject actions (including the Troice and Ranni actions) — i.e., the original nine actions minus two that have since been dismissed — for consolidation or coordination in the Northern District of Texas. The JPML, however, has not yet acted upon the Canabal or various other tag-along actions that have since been referred to it. Pending a decision thereon and the effectuation of the JPML’s initial transfer order, the defendants have not yet responded to the Troice, Ranni or Canabal complaints.
 
In addition, on September 14, 2009, a complaint, captioned Rupert v. Robert S. Winter, et al., Case No. 2009C115137, was filed on behalf of 97 Stanford investors against Willis Group Holdings, Willis of Colorado, Inc. and the same Willis associate, among others, in Texas state court (Bexar County). Based on substantially the same allegations as the Troice complaint, the Rupert complaint asserts claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as well as various Texas statutory and common law claims, and seeks rescission, damages, special damages and consequential damages of $79.1 million, treble damages of $237.4 million under the Texas Insurance Code, attorneys’ fees and costs. On October 20, 2009, certain defendants, including Willis of Colorado, Inc., (i) removed the Rupert action to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, (ii) notified the JPML of the pendency of this additional tag-along 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. That motion is currently pending.
 
Additional actions could be brought in the future by other investors in certificates of deposit issued by Stanford and its affiliates. The Company disputes these allegations and intends to defend itself vigorously against these actions. The outcomes of these actions, however, including any losses or other payments that may occur as a result, cannot be predicted at this time.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
10.   FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
 
The following table presents, for each of the fair-value hierarchy levels, the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
                                 
    September 30, 2009  
    Quoted
                   
    prices in
                   
    active
    Significant
    Significant
       
    markets for
    other
    other
       
    identical
    observable
    unobservable
       
    assets     inputs     inputs        
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    (millions)  
 
Assets at fair value:
                               
Fiduciary funds — restricted
  $ 1,815     $     $     $ 1,815  
Derivative financial instruments
          38             38  
                                 
Total assets
  $ 1,815     $ 38     $     $ 1,853  
                                 
Liabilities at fair value:
                               
Derivative financial instruments
  $     $ 37     $     $ 37  
                                 
Total liabilities
  $     $ 37     $     $ 37  
                                 
 
                                 
    December 31, 2008  
    Quoted
                   
    prices in
    Significant
    Significant
       
    active
    other
    other
       
    markets for
    observable
    unobservable
       
    identical assets     inputs     inputs        
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
    (millions)  
 
Assets at fair value:
                               
Fiduciary funds — restricted
  $ 1,854     $     $     $ 1,854  
Short-term investments
    20                   20  
Derivative financial instruments
          42             42  
                                 
Total assets
  $ 1,874     $ 42     $     $ 1,916  
                                 
Liabilities at fair value:
                               
Derivative financial instruments
  $     $ 88     $     $ 88  
                                 
Total liabilities
  $     $ 88     $     $ 88  
                                 
 
The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments held or issued to finance the Company’s operations is summarized below. Certain estimates and judgments were required to develop the fair value amounts. The fair value amounts shown below 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.
 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
10.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Continued)
 
                                 
    September 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    Carrying
    Fair
    Carrying
    Fair
 
    amount     value     amount     value  
          (millions)        
 
Assets:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 203     $ 203     $ 176     $ 176  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
    1,815       1,815       1,854       1,854  
Short-term investments
                20       20  
Derivative financial instruments
    38       38       42       42  
Liabilities:
                               
Short-term debt
  $ 231     $ 232     $ 785     $ 785  
Long-term debt
    2,375       2,620       1,865       1,546  
Derivative financial instruments
    37       37       88       88  
 
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating its fair value disclosure for financial instruments:
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents — The estimated fair value of these financial instruments approximates their carrying values due to their short maturities.
 
Fiduciary Funds — Restricted and Short-Term Investments — Comprised mainly of cash and time deposits. Fair values are based on quoted market values.
 
Short-Term Debt and Long-Term Debt — Fair values are based on quoted market values.
 
Derivative Financial Instruments — The fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is computed based on a market approach using information generated by market transactions involving comparable instruments. Derivative financial instruments are included within “other assets” and “other liabilities” on the balance sheet.
 
11.   GOODWILL
 
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. As part of the evaluation the estimated future discounted cash flows associated with the underlying business operation are compared to the carrying amount of goodwill to determine if a write-down is required. If such an assessment indicates that the discounted future cash flows are not sufficient, the carrying amount is reduced to the estimated fair value.
 
When a business entity is sold, goodwill is allocated to the disposed entity based on the fair value of that entity compared to the fair value of the reporting unit in which it is included.

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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
11.   GOODWILL (Continued)
 
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by operating segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and the year ended December 31, 2008 are as follows:
 
                                 
          North
             
    Global     America     International     Total  
    (millions)  
 
Balance at January 1, 2008
  $ 992     $ 259     $ 397     $ 1,648  
Goodwill acquired during 2008
    52       1,551       22       1,625  
Foreign exchange
    2                   2  
                                 
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 1,046     $ 1,810     $ 419     $ 3,275  
Goodwill acquired during 2009
    5       1       6       12  
Purchase price allocation adjustments
    24       (4 )           20  
Goodwill disposed of during 2009
          (27 )           (27 )
Foreign exchange
    (9 )                 (9 )
                                 
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 1,066     $ 1,780     $ 425     $ 3,271  
                                 
 
12.   OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
Other intangible assets are classified into two categories:
 
•  “Customer and Marketing related” includes client lists, client relationships and non-compete agreements; and
 
•  “Contract based, Technology and Other” includes all other purchased intangible assets.
 
The major classes of amortizable intangible assets are as follows:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Customer and Marketing related
  $ 748     $ 757  
Less: accumulated amortization
    (153 )     (78 )
                 
Net amortizable Customer and Marketing related
    595       679  
                 
Contract based, Technology and Other
    4       4  
Less: accumulated amortization
    (2 )     (1 )
                 
Net amortizable Contract based, Technology and Other
    2       3  
                 
Total amortizable intangible assets
    752       761  
Less: accumulated amortization
    (155 )     (79 )
                 
Net total amortizable intangible assets
  $ 597     $ 682  
                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
12.   OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued)
 
The aggregate amortization of intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, was $76 million (2008: $12 million), of which $29 million was recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2009 (2008: $5 million). Net total amortizable intangible assets are expected to be amortized over the following periods:
 
         
    (millions)  
 
Remainder of 2009
  $ 23  
2010
    84  
2011
    68  
2012
    62  
2013
    57  
Thereafter
    303  
         
    $ 597  
         
 
13.   DEBT
 
Short-term debt consists of the following:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Current portion of 5-year term loan facility
  $ 140     $ 35  
5.125% Senior notes due 2010
    90        
Interim credit facility
          750  
Other bank loans
    1        
                 
    $ 231     $ 785  
                 
 
Long-term debt consists of the following:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
5.125% Senior notes due 2010
  $     $ 250  
5.625% Senior notes due 2015
    350       350  
6.200% Senior notes due 2017
    600       600  
12.875% Senior notes due 2016
    500        
7.000% Senior notes due 2019
    300        
Revolving credit facility
    65        
5-year term loan facility
    560       665  
                 
    $ 2,375     $ 1,865  
                 
 
The revolving credit facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.250% and expires on October 1, 2013. The 5-year term loan facility also bears interest at LIBOR plus 2.250% and is repayable $35 million per quarter commencing December 31, 2009, with a final payment of $140 million due in the fourth quarter of 2013.
 
The Company issued $300 million of senior unsecured notes due 2019 at 7.000% at a public offering price of 99.503% per note. The Company repurchased $160 million of its 5.125% senior notes due July 2010.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
14.   SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
Supplemental disclosures regarding cash flow information and non-cash flow investing and financing activities are as follows:
 
                 
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,  
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash payments for income taxes
  $ 87     $ 30  
Cash payments for interest
    135       75  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Liabilities accrued for additions to fixed assets
  $     $ 12  
Issue of stock on acquisitions of subsidiaries
    1       9  
Issue of stock on acquisitions of noncontrolling interests
    10        
                 
Acquisitions:
               
Fair value of assets acquired
  $ 30     $ 10  
Less: Liabilities assumed
    (56 )      
Less: Cash acquired
    (12 )      
                 
Net (liabilities) assets acquired, net of cash acquired
  $ (38 )   $ 10  
                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
15.   COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
a) The components of comprehensive income are as follows:
 
                                 
    Three months ended
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Net income
  $ 81     $ 38     $ 373     $ 254  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustment (net of tax of $nil, $nil, $nil and $nil)
    11       (59 )     16       (43 )
Pension adjustment (net of tax of $(2) million, $nil, $(4) million and $1 million)
    6       (1 )     12       (2 )
Net (loss) gain on derivative instruments (net of tax of $4 million, $(2) million, $(13) million and $2 million)
    (8 )     5       35       (5 )
                                 
Other comprehensive income (loss) (net of tax of $2 million, $(2) million, $(17) million and $3 million)
    9       (55 )     63       (50 )
                                 
Comprehensive income (loss)
    90       (17 )     436       204  
Noncontrolling interests
    (2 )     (2 )     (14 )     (13 )
                                 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Willis Group Holdings
  $ 88     $ (19 )   $ 422     $ 191  
                                 
 
b) The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, are as follows:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Net foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ (57 )   $ (73 )
Net unrealized holding loss on investments
    (1 )     (1 )
Pension adjustment
    (509 )     (521 )
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments
          (35 )
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Willis Group Holdings, net of tax
    (567 )     (630 )
Noncontrolling interests
           
                 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
  $ (567 )   $ (630 )
                 


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Table of Contents

 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
16.   STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
 
The components of stockholders’ equity and noncontrolling interests are as follows:
 
                                                 
    September 30, 2009     September 30, 2008  
    Willis
                Willis
             
    Group
                Group
             
    Holdings
    Noncontrolling
    Total
    Holdings
    Noncontrolling
    Total
 
    Stockholders     interests     equity     Stockholders     interests     equity  
    (millions)  
 
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 1,845     $ 50     $ 1,895     $ 1,347     $ 48     $ 1,395  
Comprehensive income:
                                               
Net income
    359       14       373       241       13       254  
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    63             63       (50 )           (50 )
                                                 
Comprehensive income
    422       14       436       191       13       204  
Dividends
    (130 )     (12 )     (142 )     (109 )     (9 )     (118 )
Additional paid-in capital
    17             17       50             50  
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests
          (11 )     (11 )           (4 )     (4 )
Additional noncontrolling interests
          4       4                    
Repurchase of shares
                      (75 )           (75 )
Foreign currency translation
    1       1       2             (2 )     (2 )
                                                 
Balance at end of period
  $ 2,155     $ 46     $ 2,201     $ 1,404     $ 46     $ 1,450  
                                                 
 
The effects of changes in Willis Group Holdings ownership interest in its subsidiaries on equity are as follows:
 
                 
    September 30,
    September 30,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Net income attributable to Willis Group Holdings
  $ 359     $ 241  
                 
Transfers from noncontrolling interests:
               
Decrease in Willis Group Holdings paid-in capital for purchase of noncontrolling interests
    (21 )     (1 )
                 
Net transfers to noncontrolling interests
    (21 )     (1 )
                 
Change from net income attributable to Willis Group Holdings and transfers from noncontrolling interests
  $ 338     $ 240  
                 
 
17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
During the periods presented, the Company operated through three segments: Global, North America and International. Global provides specialist brokerage and consulting services to clients worldwide for specific industrial and commercial activities and is organized by specialism. North America and International predominantly comprise our retail operations which provide services to small, medium and major corporations, accessing Global’s specialist expertise when required.


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Table of Contents

 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)
 
The Company evaluates the performance of its operating segments based on organic revenue growth and operating income. For internal reporting and segmental reporting, the following items for which segmental management are not held accountable are excluded from segmental expenses:
 
  i)    gains and losses on the disposal of operations and major properties;
 
  ii)   foreign exchange hedging activities and foreign exchange movements on the UK pension plan asset or liability;
 
  iii)  significant legal and regulatory settlements which are managed centrally;
 
  iv)   amortization of intangible assets;
 
  v)    2008 expense review costs; and
 
  vi)   integration costs associated with the acquisition of HRH.
 
The accounting policies of the operating segments are consistent with those described in Note 2 — Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies to the Company’s current Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. There are no inter-segment revenues, with segments operating on a revenue-sharing basis equivalent to that used when sharing business with other third-party brokers.
 
In 2008, the Company changed its basis of segmental allocation for central costs. Foreign exchange movements on the UK pension plan asset or liability are held at the Corporate level. As a result of this change, $10 million net operating loss for the three months ended September 30, 2008, and $9 million net operating loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, previously allocated to the operating segments, has been reported within Corporate.
 
Selected information regarding the Company’s operating segments is as follows:
 
                                                         
    Three months ended September 30, 2009  
                                        Interest in
 
                            Depreciation
          earnings of
 
    Commissions
    Investment
    Other
    Total
    and
    Operating
    associates,
 
    and fees     income     income     revenues     amortization     income     net of tax  
    (millions)  
 
Global
  $ 175     $ 1     $     $ 176     $ 4     $ 33     $  
                                                         
North America
    320       4       1       325       5       70        
International
    219       5             224       6       30       16  
                                                         
Total Retail
    539       9       1       549       11       100       16  
                                                         
Total Operating Segments
    714       10       1       725       15       133       16  
Corporate and Other(1)
                            29       (51 )      
                                                         
Total Consolidated
  $ 714     $ 10     $ 1     $ 725     $ 44     $ 82     $ 16  
                                                         
 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)
 
                                                         
    Three months ended September 30, 2008  
                                        Interest in
 
                            Depreciation
          earnings of
 
    Commissions
    Investment
    Other
    Total
    and
    Operating
    associates,
 
    and fees     income     income     revenues     amortization     income     net of tax  
    (millions)  
 
Global
  $ 159     $ 8     $     $ 167     $ 3     $ 29     $  
                                                         
North America
    175       3       1       179       4       18        
International
    222       11             233       7       38       6  
                                                         
Total Retail
    397       14       1       412       11       56       6  
                                                         
Total Operating Segments
    556       22       1       579       14       85       6  
Corporate and Other(1)
                            6       (19 )      
                                                         
Total Consolidated
  $ 556     $ 22     $ 1     $ 579     $ 20     $ 66     $ 6  
                                                         
 
                                                         
    Nine months ended September 30, 2009  
                                        Interest in
 
                            Depreciation
          earnings of
 
    Commissions
    Investment
    Other
    Total
    and
    Operating
    associates,
 
    and fees     income     income     revenues     amortization     income     net of tax  
    (millions)  
 
Global
  $ 657     $ 6     $     $ 663     $ 10     $ 234     $  
                                                         
North America
    1,023       12       3       1,038       16       239        
International
    721       17             738       17       181       42  
                                                         
Total Retail
    1,744       29       3       1,776       33       420       42  
                                                         
Total Operating Segments
    2,401       35       3       2,439       43       654       42  
Corporate and Other(1)
                            76       (133 )      
                                                         
Total Consolidated
  $ 2,401     $ 35     $ 3     $ 2,439     $ 119     $ 521     $ 42  
                                                         
 
                                                         
    Nine months ended September 30, 2008  
                                        Interest in
 
                            Depreciation
          earnings of
 
    Commissions
    Investment
    Other
    Total
    and
    Operating
    associates,
 
    and fees     income     income     revenues     amortization     income     net of tax  
    (millions)  
 
Global
  $ 627     $ 24     $     $ 651     $ 10     $ 221     $  
                                                         
North America
    559       11       2       572       11       76        
International
    783       29             812       20       199       29  
                                                         
Total Retail
    1,342       40       2       1,384       31       275       29  
                                                         
Total Operating Segments
    1,969       64       2       2,035       41       496       29  
Corporate and Other(1)
                            12       (128 )      
                                                         
Total Consolidated
  $ 1,969     $ 64     $ 2     $ 2,035     $ 53     $ 368     $ 29  
                                                         
 
 
(1) Corporate and Other includes the costs of the holding company; foreign exchange hedging activities and foreign exchange on the UK pension plan asset; amortization of intangible assets; net gains and losses on disposal of operations; certain legal costs; integration costs associated with the acquisition of HRH and 2008 expense review costs.

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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
17.   SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)
 
 
The Company does not routinely evaluate the total asset position by segment, and the following allocations have been made based on reasonable estimates and assumptions:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions)  
 
Total assets:
               
Global
  $ 10,256     $ 9,319  
                 
North America
    4,294       5,088  
International
    1,933       2,071  
                 
Total Retail
    6,227       7,159  
                 
Total Operating Segments
    16,483       16,478  
Corporate and Other
    (107 )     (76 )
                 
Total Consolidated
  $ 16,376     $ 16,402  
                 
 
The following table reconciles total consolidated operating income, as disclosed in the operating segment tables above, to consolidated income from continuing operations, before income taxes and interest in earnings of associates:
 
                                 
    Three months ended September 30,     Nine months ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions)     (millions)  
 
Total consolidated operating income
  $ 82     $ 66     $ 521     $ 368  
Interest expense
    (47 )     (32 )     (128 )     (69 )
                                 
Income before income taxes, interest in earnings of associates and noncontrolling interests
  $ 35     $ 34     $ 393     $ 299  
                                 
 
18.   SHARE BUYBACKS
 
On November 1, 2007, the Board authorized a new share buyback program for $1 billion. This replaced the previous $1 billion buyback program and its remaining $308 million authorization. The program is an open-ended plan to repurchase the Company’s shares from time to time in the open market or through negotiated sales with persons who are not affiliates of the Company. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, there were no shares repurchased. At September 30, 2009, $925 million remains under the program for future repurchases.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
 
On July 1, 2005, Willis North America Inc. (“Willis North America”) issued senior notes totaling $600 million under its January 2004 registration statement. On March 28, 2007, Willis North America issued further senior notes totaling $600 million under its June 2006 registration statement. On September 29, 2009, Willis North America issued senior notes totaling $300 million under its June 2009 registration statement. The debt securities at September 30, 2009, were jointly and severally, irrevocably and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, Willis Group Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited and TA IV Limited.
 
Presented below is unaudited condensed consolidating financial information for: i) Willis Group Holdings, which is a guarantor, on a parent company only basis; ii) the Other Guarantors which are all 100% directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries of the parent; iii) the Issuer, Willis North America; iv) Other, which are the non-guarantor subsidiaries, on a combined basis; v) Eliminations; and vi) Consolidated Company. The equity method has been used for all investments in subsidiaries.
 
The entities included in the Other Guarantors column are Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, Trinity Acquisition plc, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, TA IV Limited and Willis Group Limited.
 
In addition, concurrently with the completion of the reorganization discussed in Note 1, it is expected that Willis-Ireland and certain of its subsidiaries will guarantee the obligations of Willis North America and assume the obligations of a parent entity under the indentures governing the senior notes issued by Willis North America.


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Three months ended September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 714     $     $ 714  
Investment income
                (1 )     11             10  
Other income
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total revenues
                (1 )     726             725  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (450 )     1       (449 )
Other operating expenses
    (2 )     (20 )     (91 )     (53 )     15       (151 )
Depreciation expense
                (1 )     (14 )           (15 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (29 )           (29 )
Net gain on disposal of operations
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total expenses
    (2 )     (20 )     (92 )     (545 )     16       (643 )
                                                 
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
    (2 )     (20 )     (93 )     181       16       82  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    24       97       117       (18 )     (220 )      
Interest expense
          (108 )     (48 )     (91 )     200       (47 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    22       (31 )     (24 )     72       (4 )     35  
Income taxes
          10       20       10       (11 )     29  
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    22       (21 )     (4 )     82       (15 )     64  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      16             16  
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    22       (21 )     (4 )     98       (15 )     80  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                      1             1  
                                                 
NET INCOME
    22       (21 )     (4 )     99       (15 )     81  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            (2 )     (2 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    57       122       (72 )           (107 )      
                                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS
  $ 79     $ 101     $ (76 )   $ 99     $ (124 )   $ 79  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Three months ended September 30, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 556     $     $ 556  
Investment income
                4       84       (66 )     22  
Other income
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total revenues
                4       641       (66 )     579  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (361 )     2       (359 )
Other operating expenses
    (6 )     (60 )     (2 )     (64 )     1       (131 )
Depreciation expense
                (2 )     (12 )           (14 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (3 )     (3 )     (6 )
Net gain (loss) on disposal of operations
                      (3 )           (3 )
                                                 
Total expenses
    (6 )     (60 )     (4 )     (443 )           (513 )
                                                 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
    (6 )     (60 )           198       (66 )     66  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    37       77       7       34       (155 )      
Interest expense
          (38 )     (28 )     (91 )     125       (32 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    31       (21 )     (21 )     141       (96 )     34  
Income taxes
          14       10       (38 )     12       (2 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    31       (7 )     (11 )     103       (84 )     32  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      6             6  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    31       (7 )     (11 )     109       (84 )     38  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                                   
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
    31       (7 )     (11 )     109       (84 )     38  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            (2 )     (2 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    5       (3 )     (13 )           11        
                                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS
  $ 36     $ (10 )   $ (24 )   $ 109     $ (75 )   $ 36  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 2,401     $     $ 2,401  
Investment income
                3       32             35  
Other income
                      3             3  
                                                 
Total revenues
                3       2,436             2,439  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (1,378 )     6       (1,372 )
Other operating expenses
    (2 )     49       (48 )     (439 )     12       (428 )
Depreciation expense
                (5 )     (38 )           (43 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (76 )           (76 )
Gain on disposal of operations
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total expenses
    (2 )     49       (53 )     (1,930 )     18       (1,918 )
                                                 
OPERATING INCOME
    (2 )     49       (50 )     506       18       521  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    69       290       255       163       (777 )      
Interest expense
          (307 )     (132 )     (302 )     613       (128 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    67       32       73       367       (146 )     393  
Income taxes
          (8 )     17       (69 )     (4 )     (64 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    67       24       90       298       (150 )     329  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      42             42  
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    67       24       90       340       (150 )     371  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                      2             2  
                                                 
NET INCOME
    67       24       90       342       (150 )     373  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      (3 )     (11 )     (14 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    292       251       (38 )           (505 )      
                                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
  $ 359     $ 275     $ 52     $ 339     $ (666 )   $ 359  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 1,969     $     $ 1,969  
Investment income
                14       251       (201 )     64  
Other income
                      2             2  
                                                 
Total revenues
                14       2,222       (201 )     2,035  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (1,205 )     7       (1,198 )
Other operating expenses
    (9 )     (57 )     (13 )     (357 )     15       (421 )
Depreciation expense
                (6 )     (35 )           (41 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (4 )     (8 )     (12 )
Gain on disposal of London headquarters
                      8             8  
Net loss on disposal of operations
                      (3 )           (3 )
                                                 
Total expenses
    (9 )     (57 )     (19 )     (1,596 )     14       (1,667 )
                                                 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
    (9 )     (57 )     (5 )     626       (187 )     368  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    129       233       63       53       (478 )      
Interest expense
    (1 )     (151 )     (67 )     (276 )     426       (69 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    119       25       (9 )     403       (239 )     299  
Income taxes
          9       24       (91 )     (16 )     (74 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    119       34       15       312       (255 )     225  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      29             29  
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    119       34       15       341       (255 )     254  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                                   
                                                 
NET INCOME
    119       34       15       341       (255 )     254  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      (3 )     (10 )     (13 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    122       64       (45 )           (141 )      
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
  $ 241     $ 98     $ (30 )   $ 338     $ (406 )   $ 241  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    As at September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
                (millions)              
 
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $ 109     $ 94     $     $ 203  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
                      1,815             1,815  
Accounts receivable
    1,335       3,848       4,620       8,041       (8,864 )     8,980  
Fixed assets
                34       319             353  
Goodwill
                      1,816       1,455       3,271  
Other intangible assets
                      597             597  
Investments in associates
                      382       (74 )     308  
Deferred tax assets
                      40       (13 )     27  
Pension benefits asset
                      148             148  
Other assets
          403       47       733       (509 )     674  
Equity accounted subsidiaries
    986       4,932       1,240       2,633       (9,791 )      
                                                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 2,321     $ 9,183     $ 6,050     $ 16,618     $ (17,796 )   $ 16,376  
                                                 
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                
Accounts payable
  $ 120     $ 6,167     $ 3,548     $ 9,323     $ (9,006 )   $ 10,152  
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
    2                   309       (6 )     305  
Deferred tax liabilities
                13       2       (13 )     2  
Income taxes payable
          357             (22 )     (310 )     25  
Short-term debt
                230       1             231  
Long-term debt
          500       1,875                   2,375  
Liability for pension benefits
                      222             222  
Other liabilities
    44             41       755       23       863  
                                                 
Total liabilities
    166       7,024       5,707       10,590       (9,312 )     14,175  
                                                 
Total Willis Group Holdings stockholders’ equity
    2,155       2,159       343       6,024       (8,526 )     2,155  
                                                 
Noncontrolling interests
                      4       42       46  
                                                 
Total equity
    2,155       2,159       343       6,028       (8,484 )     2,201  
                                                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  $ 2,321     $ 9,183     $ 6,050     $ 16,618     $ (17,796 )   $ 16,376  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 
                                                 
    As at December 31, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
ASSETS
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $     $ 176     $     $ 176  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
                100       1,754             1,854  
Short-term investments
                      20             20  
Accounts receivable
    1,303       3,202       4,515       12,257       (12,146 )     9,131  
Fixed assets
                26       286             312  
Goodwill
                      1,756       1,519       3,275  
Other intangible assets
                      682             682  
Investments in associates
                      338       (65 )     273  
Deferred tax assets
                      73       3       76  
Pension benefits asset
                      111             111  
Other assets
    3       328       35       452       (326 )     492  
Equity accounted subsidiaries
    628       2,744       1,847       2,427       (7,646 )      
                                                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 1,934     $ 6,274     $ 6,523     $ 20,332     $ (18,661 )   $ 16,402  
                                                 
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY                                                
Accounts payable
  $ 42     $ 6,034     $ 2,916     $ 13,506     $ (12,184 )   $ 10,314  
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
    2             4       461       4       471  
Deferred tax liabilities
                13             8       21  
Income taxes payable
          291                   (273 )     18  
Short-term debt
                785                   785  
Long-term debt
                1,865                   1,865  
Liability for pension benefits
                      237             237  
Other liabilities
    45       1             728       22       796  
                                                 
Total liabilities
    89       6,326       5,583       14,932       (12,423 )     14,507  
                                                 
Total Willis Group Holdings stockholders’ equity
    1,845       (52 )     940       5,396       (6,284 )     1,845  
                                                 
Noncontrolling interests
                      4       46       50  
                                                 
Total equity
    1,845       (52 )     940       5,400       (6,238 )     1,895  
                                                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  $ 1,934     $ 6,274     $ 6,523     $ 20,332     $ (18,661 )   $ 16,402  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  $ 70     $ 13     $ 193     $ 55     $ (45 )   $ 286  
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds on disposal of fixed and intangible assets
                      12             12  
Additions to fixed assets
                (13 )     (61 )           (74 )
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
                      1             1  
Investments in associates
                      (43 )           (43 )
Proceeds from sale of operations, net of cash disposed
                      42             42  
Proceeds on disposal of short-term investments
                      20             20  
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
                (13 )     (29 )           (42 )
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds from draw down of revolving credit facility
                65                   65  
Proceeds from issue of short-term debt, net of debt issuance costs
                      1             1  
Repayments of debt
                (750 )                 (750 )
Repurchase of 2010 Senior Notes
                (160 )                 (160 )
Senior notes issued, net of debt issuance costs
          482       296                   778  
Proceeds from issue of shares
    15                               15  
Amounts owed by and to Group undertakings
    57       (495 )     478       (40 )            
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
                      (3 )           (3 )
Dividends paid
    (130 )                 (45 )     45       (130 )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests
    (12 )                 (19 )           (31 )
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
                      (12 )           (12 )
                                                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (70 )     (13 )     (71 )     (118 )     45       (227 )
                                                 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
                109       (92 )           17  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                      10             10  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
                      176             176  
                                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $     $     $ 109     $ 94     $     $ 203  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
19.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008  
    Willis
                               
    Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  $ 120     $ 23     $ 10     $ 179     $ (210 )   $ 122  
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds on disposal of fixed and intangible assets
                      3             3  
Additions to fixed assets
                (5 )     (61 )           (66 )
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
    (2 )                 (8 )           (10 )
Proceeds from sale of operations, net of cash disposed
                      8             8  
Investments in associates
                      (31 )           (31 )
Proceeds on disposal of short-term investments
                      3             3  
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2 )           (5 )     (86 )           (93 )
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds from draw down of revolving credit facility
                120                   120  
Repurchase of shares
    (75 )                             (75 )
Proceeds from issue of shares
    8                               8  
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
                      5             5  
Amounts owed by and to Group undertakings
    57       141       (198 )                  
Dividends paid
    (109 )     (164 )           (46 )     210       (109 )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests
                      (5 )           (5 )
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
                      (9 )           (9 )
                                                 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (119 )     (23 )     (78 )     (55 )     210       (65 )
                                                 
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (1 )           (73 )     38             (36 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                      (8 )           (8 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    1             73       126             200  
                                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $     $     $     $ 156     $     $ 156  
                                                 


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Table of Contents

 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
 
In March 2009, Trinity Acquisition plc issued senior notes totaling $500 million in a private transaction. The debt securities are jointly and severally, irrevocably and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Willis Group Holdings, Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited, TA III Limited, TAIV Limited, Willis Group Limited and Willis North America. This debt has not been registered with The Securities Exchange Commission. If and when registered, the necessary financial statements will be provided.
 
The Company filed a shelf registration on Form S-3 on June 19, 2009 under which Willis Group Holdings may offer debt securities, preferred stock, common stock and other securities. In addition, Trinity Acquisition plc may offer debt securities (the “Subsidiary Debt Securities”). The Subsidiary Debt Securities, if issued, will be guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries.
 
Presented below is unaudited condensed consolidating financial information for: i) Willis Group Holdings, which will be a guarantor, on a parent company only basis; ii) the Other Guarantors, which are all directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiaries of the parent; iii) the Issuer, Trinity Acquisition plc; iv) Other, which are the non-guarantor subsidiaries, on a combined basis; v) Eliminations; and vi) Consolidated Company. The equity method has been used for all investments in subsidiaries.
 
The entities included in the Other Guarantors column at September 30, 2009 are Willis Investment UK Holdings Limited, TA I Limited, TA II Limited and TA III Limited.
 
In addition, concurrently with the completion of the reorganization discussed in Note 1, it is expected that Willis-Ireland and certain of its subsidiaries will guarantee the obligations of Trinity Acquisition plc and assume the obligations of a parent entity under the indentures governing the senior notes issued by Trinity Acquisition plc.


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Table of Contents

 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Three months ended September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
                (millions)              
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 714     $     $ 714  
Investment income
                      10             10  
Other income
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total revenues
                      725             725  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (450 )     1       (449 )
Other operating expenses
    (2 )     (1 )     6       (169 )     15       (151 )
Depreciation expense
                      (15 )           (15 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (29 )           (29 )
Net gain on disposal of operations
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total expenses
    (2 )     (1 )     6       (662 )     16       (643 )
                                                 
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
    (2 )     (1 )     6       63       16       82  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    24       8       57       131       (220 )      
Interest expense
          (41 )     (26 )     (180 )     200       (47 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    22       (34 )     37       14       (4 )     35  
Income taxes
          8       (9 )     41       (11 )     29  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    22       (26 )     28       55       (15 )     64  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      16             16  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    22       (26 )     28       71       (15 )     80  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                      1             1  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
    22       (26 )     28       72       (15 )     81  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            (2 )     (2 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    57       154       128             (339 )      
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
  $ 79     $ 128     $ 156     $ 72     $ (356 )   $ 79  
                                                 


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Table of Contents

 
WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Three months ended September 30, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
                (millions)              
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 556     $     $ 556  
Investment income
                      88       (66 )     22  
Other income
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total revenues
                      645       (66 )     579  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (361 )     2       (359 )
Other operating expenses
    (6 )           12       (138 )     1       (131 )
Depreciation expense
                      (14 )           (14 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (3 )     (3 )     (6 )
Net loss on disposal of operations
                      (3 )           (3 )
                                                 
Total expenses
    (6 )           12       (519 )           (513 )
                                                 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
    (6 )           12       126       (66 )     66  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    37       31       20       67       (155 )      
Interest expense
          (8 )     10       (159 )     125       (32 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    31       23       42       34       (96 )     34  
Income taxes
          1       (5 )     (10 )     12       (2 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    31       24       37       24       (84 )     32  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      6             6  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    31       24       37       30       (84 )     38  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                                   
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
    31       24       37       30       (84 )     38  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                            (2 )     (2 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    5       (34 )     (33 )           62        
                                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
  $ 36     $ (10 )   $ 4     $ 30     $ (24 )   $ 36  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 2,401     $     $ 2,401  
Investment income
                      35             35  
Other income
                      3             3  
                                                 
Total revenues
                      2,439             2,439  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (1,378 )     6       (1,372 )
Other operating expenses
    (2 )     1       (14 )     (425 )     12       (428 )
Depreciation expense
                      (43 )           (43 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (76 )           (76 )
Gain on disposal of operations
                      1             1  
                                                 
Total expenses
    (2 )     1       (14 )     (1,921 )     18       (1,918 )
                                                 
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)
    (2 )     1       (14 )     518       18       521  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    69       24       157       527       (777 )      
Interest expense
          (122 )     (65 )     (554 )     613       (128 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    67       (97 )     78       491       (146 )     393  
Income taxes
          28       (23 )     (65 )     (4 )     (64 )
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    67       (69 )     55       426       (150 )     329  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      42             42  
                                                 
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    67       (69 )     55       468       (150 )     371  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                      2             2  
                                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS)
    67       (69 )     55       470       (150 )     373  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      (3 )     (11 )     (14 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    292       343       289             (924 )      
                                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
  $ 359     $ 274     $ 344     $ 467     $ (1,085 )   $ 359  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
REVENUES
                                               
Commissions and fees
  $     $     $     $ 1,969     $     $ 1,969  
Investment income
                      265       (201 )     64  
Other income
                      2             2  
                                                 
Total revenues
                      2,236       (201 )     2,035  
                                                 
EXPENSES
                                               
Salaries and benefits
                      (1,205 )     7       (1,198 )
Other operating expenses
    (9 )           12       (439 )     15       (421 )
Depreciation expense
                      (41 )           (41 )
Amortization of intangible assets
                      (4 )     (8 )     (12 )
Gain on disposal of London headquarters
                      8             8  
Net loss on disposal of operations
                      (3 )           (3 )
                                                 
Total expenses
    (9 )           12       (1,684 )     14       (1,667 )
                                                 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME
    (9 )           12       552       (187 )     368  
Investment income from Group undertakings
    129       58       99       192       (478 )      
Interest expense
    (1 )     (24 )     (8 )     (462 )     426       (69 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    119       34       103       282       (239 )     299  
Income taxes
          6       (53 )     (11 )     (16 )     (74 )
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INTEREST IN EARNINGS OF ASSOCIATES
    119       40       50       271       (255 )     225  
Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax
                      29             29  
                                                 
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
    119       40       50       300       (255 )     254  
Discontinued operations, net of tax
                                   
                                                 
NET INCOME
    119       40       50       300       (255 )     254  
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
                      (3 )     (10 )     (13 )
EQUITY ACCOUNT FOR SUBSIDIARIES
    122       58       70             (250 )      
                                                 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
  $ 241     $ 98     $ 120     $ 297     $ (515 )   $ 241  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    As at September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
                                                 
ASSETS
                                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $     $ 203     $     $ 203  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
                      1,815             1,815  
Accounts receivable
    1,335       539       2,448       13,522       (8,864 )     8,980  
Fixed assets
                      353             353  
Goodwill
                      1,816       1,455       3,271  
Other intangible assets
                      597             597  
Investments in associates
                      382       (74 )     308  
Deferred tax assets
                      40       (13 )     27  
Pension benefits asset
                      148             148  
Other assets
          42       17       1,124       (509 )     674  
Equity accounted subsidiaries
    986       4,315       1,348       14,184       (20,833 )      
                                                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 2,321     $ 4,896     $ 3,813     $ 34,184     $ (28,838 )   $ 16,376  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
                                               
Accounts payable
  $ 120     $ 2,739     $ 881     $ 15,418     $ (9,006 )   $ 10,152  
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
    2                   309       (6 )     305  
Deferred tax liabilities
                      15       (13 )     2  
Income taxes payable
                317       18       (310 )     25  
Short-term debt
                      231             231  
Long-term debt
                500       1,875             2,375  
Liability for pension benefits
                      222             222  
Other liabilities
    44                   796       23       863  
                                                 
Total liabilities
    166       2,739       1,698       18,884       (9,312 )     14,175  
                                                 
Total Willis Group Holdings stockholders’ equity
    2,155       2,157       2,115       15,296       (19,568 )     2,155  
                                                 
Noncontrolling interests
                      4       42       46  
                                                 
Total equity
    2,155       2,157       2,115       15,300       (19,526 )     2,201  
                                                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  $ 2,321     $ 4,896     $ 3,813     $ 34,184     $ (28,838 )   $ 16,376  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
 
                                                 
    As at December 31, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
  $     $     $     $ 176     $     $ 176  
Fiduciary funds — restricted
                      1,854             1,854  
Short-term investments
                      20             20  
Accounts receivable
    1,303       515       1,844       17,615       (12,146 )     9,131  
Fixed assets
                      312             312  
Goodwill
                      1,756       1,519       3,275  
Other intangible assets
                      682             682  
Investments in associates
                      338       (65 )     273  
Deferred tax assets
                      73       3       76  
Pension benefits asset
                      111             111  
Other assets
    3       13             802       (326 )     492  
Equity accounted subsidiaries
    628       2,037       3,492       9,149       (15,306 )      
                                                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 1,934     $ 2,565     $ 5,336     $ 32,888     $ (26,321 )   $ 16,402  
                                                 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable
  $ 42     $ 2,617     $ 840     $ 18,999     $ (12,184 )   $ 10,314  
Deferred revenue and accrued expenses
    2                   465       4       471  
Deferred tax liabilities
                      13       8       21  
Income taxes payable
                291             (273 )     18  
Short-term debt
                      785             785  
Long-term debt
                      1,865             1,865  
Liability for pension benefits
                      237             237  
Other liabilities
    45                   729       22       796  
                                                 
Total liabilities
    89       2,617       1,131       23,093       (12,423 )     14,507  
                                                 
Total Willis Group Holdings stockholders’ equity
    1,845       (52 )     4,205       9,791       (13,944 )     1,845  
                                                 
Noncontrolling interests
                      4       46       50  
                                                 
Total equity
    1,845       (52 )     4,205       9,795       (13,898 )     1,895  
                                                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
  $ 1,934     $ 2,565     $ 5,336     $ 32,888     $ (26,321 )   $ 16,402  
                                                 


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2009  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
                (millions)              
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  $ 70     $ (97 )   $ 64     $ 294     $ (45 )   $ 286  
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds on disposal of fixed and intangible assets
                      12             12  
Additions to fixed assets
                      (74 )           (74 )
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
                      1             1  
Investments in associates
                      (43 )           (43 )
Proceeds from sale of operations, net of cash disposed
                      42             42  
Proceeds on disposal of short-term investments
                      20             20  
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
                      (42 )           (42 )
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds from draw down of revolving credit facility
                      65             65  
Proceeds from issue of short-term debt, net of debt issuance costs
                      1             1  
Repayments of debt
                      (750 )           (750 )
Repurchase of 2010 Senior Notes
                      (160 )           (160 )
Senior notes issued, net of debt issuance costs
                482       296             778  
Proceeds from issue of shares
    15                               15  
Amounts owed by and to Group undertakings
    57       97       (546 )     392              
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
                      (3 )           (3 )
Dividends paid
    (130 )                 (45 )     45       (130 )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests
    (12 )                 (19 )           (31 )
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
                      (12 )           (12 )
                                                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (70 )     97       (64 )     (235 )     45       (227 )
                                                 
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
                      17             17  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                      10             10  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
                      176             176  
                                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $     $     $     $ 203     $     $ 203  
                                                 


46


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WILLIS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
20.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT GUARANTOR, OTHER GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)
 
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (unaudited)
 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2008  
    Willis Group
    The Other
                         
    Holdings     Guarantors     The Issuer     Other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (millions)  
 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  $ 120     $ 33     $ 104     $ 75     $ (210 )   $ 122  
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds on disposal of fixed and intangible assets
                      3             3  
Additions to fixed assets
                      (66 )           (66 )
Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired
    (2 )                 (8 )           (10 )
Proceeds from sale of operations, net of cash disposed
                      8             8  
Investments in associates
                      (31 )           (31 )
Proceeds on disposal of short-term investments
                      3             3  
                                                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2 )                 (91 )           (93 )
                                                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                                               
Proceeds from draw down of revolving credit facility
                      120             120  
Repurchase of shares
    (75 )                             (75 )
Proceeds from issue of shares
    8                               8  
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
                      5             5  
Amounts owed by and to Group undertakings
    57       131       (104 )     (84 )            
Dividends paid
    (109 )     (164 )           (46 )     210       (109 )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests
                      (5 )           (5 )
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests
                      (9 )           (9 )
                                                 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (119 )     (33 )     (104 )     (19 )     210       (65 )
                                                 
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (1 )                 (35 )           (36 )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
                      (8 )           (8 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    1                   199             200  
                                                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $     $     $     $ 156     $     $ 156  
                                                 


47


Table of Contents

 
Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 

This discussion includes references to non-GAAP financial measures as defined in Regulation G of SEC rules. We present these measures because we believe they are of interest to the investment community and they provide additional meaningful methods of evaluating certain aspects of the Company’s operating performance from period to period on a basis that may not be otherwise apparent on a GAAP basis. Organic revenue growth excludes the impact of acquisitions and disposals and year over year movements in foreign exchange from revenue growth. We believe organic revenue growth is helpful in assessing the performance of operations that were part of our operations in both the current and prior periods, and is a measure against which these businesses may be assessed in the future. These financial measures should be viewed in addition to,

not in lieu of, the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
This discussion includes forward-looking statements, including under the headings ‘Business Overview and Market Outlook’, ‘Executive Summary’, ‘Operating Results — Group — Revenues’, ‘Operating Results — Segment Information — North America’ and ‘Liquidity and Capital Resources’. Please see ‘Information Concerning 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 the forward-looking statements.
 
 


REORGANIZATION
 
 

In September 2009, our board of directors approved changing our place of incorporation from Bermuda to Ireland. This move is part of a reorganization (the “Reorganization”) that will create a newly formed Irish company, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company. On December 11, 2009, our shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the Reorganization at a special shareholders meeting. If conditions are satisfied, including approval by our shareholders and the Supreme Court of Bermuda, Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company will replace Willis Group Holdings as the ultimate parent company. We currently expect the change of our place of incorporation to become effective on December 31, 2009. We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed to our shareholders a proxy statement containing important

information regarding the Reorganization, which all shareholders are urged to read.
 
We do not expect the Reorganization will have any material impact on our financial results. Upon completion of the Reorganization, we will remain subject to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, the mandates of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable corporate governance rules of the NYSE, and we will continue to report our consolidated financial results in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. We will also comply with any additional reporting requirements of Irish law. We expect the shares of the Irish company will continue to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WSH.”
 
 


BUSINESS OVERVIEW AND MARKET OUTLOOK
 
 

We provide a broad range of insurance brokerage and risk management consulting services to our worldwide clients. Our core businesses include Aerospace; Energy; Marine; Construction; Financial and Executive Risks; Fine Art, Jewelry and Specie; Special Contingency Risks; and Reinsurance.
 
In our capacity as advisor and insurance broker, we act as an intermediary between our clients and insurance carriers by advising our clients on their risk management requirements, helping clients determine the best means of managing risk, and

negotiating and placing insurance risk with insurance carriers through our global distribution network.
 
We derive most of our revenues from commissions and fees for brokerage and consulting services and do not determine the insurance premiums on which our commissions are generally based. Fluctuations in these premiums charged by the insurance carriers have a direct and potentially material impact on our results of operations. Commission levels generally follow the same trend as premium levels as they are derived from a percentage of the premiums paid by



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the insureds. Due to the cyclical nature and impact of other market conditions on insurance premiums, they may vary widely between accounting periods. Such variations can result in a reduction in premium rates leading to downward pressure on commission revenues (a “soft” market) which in turn can have a potentially material impact on our commission revenues and operating margin.
 
A “hard” market occurs when premium uplifting factors, including a greater than anticipated loss experience or capital shortages, more than offset any downward pressures on premiums. This usually has a favorable impact on our commission revenues and operating margin.
 
From 2000 through 2003 we benefited from a hard market with premium rates stable or increasing. During 2004, we saw a rapid transition from a hard market to a soft market, with premium rates falling in most markets. The soft market continued to have

an adverse impact on our commission revenues and operating margin from 2005 through 2008.
 
In 2009, the benefit of rate increases in the reinsurance market and stabilization in some specialty markets has been more than offset by the continuing soft market in other sectors and the adverse impact of the weakened economic environment across the globe.
 
Our North America and UK and Ireland retail operations have been particularly impacted by the weakened economic climate and continued soft market with no material improvement in rates across most sectors. These have resulted in declines in 2009 revenues in these operations, particularly amongst our smaller clients who are especially vulnerable to the economic downturn. However, we have seen the rate at which our North America revenues have been declining moderate in the third quarter of 2009.
 


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
 
 

Overview
 
Despite the difficult market conditions, we reported 2 percent organic commissions and fees growth for both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009 compared with the same periods in 2008. This reflected growth in our Global operations, in particular in Reinsurance, and many of our International businesses partly offset by a fall in organic commissions and fees in our North America, UK and Irish retail operations where revenues were adversely impacted by the continued soft market and weak economic conditions.
 
Operating margin for third quarter 2009 at 11 percent was in line with third quarter 2008, and for the first nine months of 2009 operating margin was 21 percent, compared with 18 percent in 2008.
 
Results from continuing operations for third quarter 2009
 
Total revenues at $725 million for third quarter 2009 were $146 million, or 25 percent, higher than in third quarter 2008. Organic revenue growth of 2 percent and a 29 percent benefit from net acquisitions and disposals in third quarter 2009 was driven primarily by the fourth quarter 2008 acquisition of HRH, which was partly offset by a negative 3 percent impact from foreign currency

translation and a $12 million decrease in investment income compared to 2008.
 
Organic revenue growth of 2 percent reflected net new business growth of 5 percent and a 3 percent negative impact from declining premium rates and other market factors.
 
Operating margin was in line with third quarter of 2009 as the benefits of organic revenue growth and proactive expense management were offset by intangibles amortization relating to the HRH acquisition, increased pension expense and lower investment income.
 
Net income from continuing operations in third quarter 2009 was $78 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared with $36 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, in 2008. This increase included the benefit of a net $29 million tax credit for the quarter and higher earnings from associates, partly offset by the dilutive impact of HRH, including increased interest expense and intangibles amortization together with the increased sharecount arising from the acquisition.
 
Results from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
Total revenues at $2,439 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $404 million, or 20 percent, higher than in 2008.



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Organic revenue growth of 2 percent was driven by growth in our Global and International operations and a 27 percent benefit from net acquisitions and disposals, mainly reflecting the HRH acquisition, which were partly offset by a negative 7 percent impact from foreign currency translation and a year over year decline in investment income.
 
Net income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $357 million, or $2.13 per diluted share, compared with $241 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, in same period 2008.
 
New shares issued as part consideration for the HRH acquisition had a $0.35 dilutive impact on earnings per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Discontinued operations
 
Income from discontinued operations relates to the disposals of our Bliss and Glennon operation and the assets related to the wholesale business of the Managing Agency Group, a US-based wholesale insurance operation, in the second and third quarters of 2009, respectively. There were no net gains or losses recognized on these disposals. These disposals were made as part of our plan to dispose of non-core HRH activities.
 
HRH acquisition and integration
 
On October 1, 2008, we completed the acquisition of HRH, the eighth largest insurance and risk management intermediary in the United States.
 
We remain confident that the acquisition of HRH will:
 
•  substantially improve our position in key markets including California, Florida, Texas, Illinois, New York, Boston, New Jersey and Philadelphia;
 
•  greatly strengthen our position as a middle market broker and reinforce our large account presence; and
 
•  enable the combined Willis North America operation to deliver enhanced value to clients through a more robust and diversified platform.
 
We have made significant progress in 2009 in implementing the integration processes that we believe will lead to successful fulfillment of our stated goals, reflected by:
 
•  maintaining high producer retention levels;

•  reducing our expense base through synergies and other cost savings. On a combined pro forma basis, we achieved approximately $50 million of cost savings in third quarter 2009 and we expect to deliver total synergies and cost savings in excess of $180 million in 2009;
 
•  good progress on integration of all work streams; and
 
•  that as of September 30, 2009, over 90 percent of HRH’s property and casualty contingent commissions have either been converted into higher standard commissions or we have reaffirmed with carriers that the existing agreements will remain in force for so long as permitted by the regulatory authorities or until the commissions are converted, whichever occurs first.
 
We recognized goodwill on the HRH acquisition of approximately $1.6 billion. Based on our internal forecasts of the combined Willis North America future revenue streams and anticipated synergies from the deal, we believe the combined goodwill for North America of $1.8 billion was not impaired as of September 30, 2009. However, if we fail to recognize some or all of the strategic benefits and synergies expected from the HRH transaction, goodwill may be impaired in future periods.
 
Gras Savoye
 
In our 2008 report on Form 10-K we noted that AXA had exercised its option to put to us its shareholding in Gras Savoye & Cie (“Gras Savoye”), our French Associate, of approximately 4 percent, subject to pre-emption provisions set out in the shareholders agreement. In March 2009, existing shareholders chose to purchase 2 percent and in April 2009 Gras Savoye bought back the remaining shares and canceled them. As a consequence of these transactions, we now control just under 50 percent of the voting rights.



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In June 2009, the Company announced that it was in discussions regarding the potential sale of a portion of its interest in Gras Savoye. Since that time the Company has entered into an exclusive arrangement with Astorg Partners, a private equity fund, but we have not yet entered into any definitive sale agreement. Pending the finalization of the financing terms, we anticipate executing definitive agreements in the next few months. We expect that finalization of the transaction will:
 
•  eliminate the put option presently exercisable by the Gras Savoye shareholders;
 
•  generate cash proceeds of between $100 to $150 million which we intend to use to pay down debt;
 
•  reduce our ownership interest to 33 percent; and
 
•  give us a call option to acquire a majority interest in Gras Savoye in 2015.
 
We believe that the anticipated revised structure would provide both Gras Savoye and ourselves additional time to effect a better transition and integration of the two companies.
 
As of the date of this report, we do not expect the other Gras Savoye shareholders to exercise their currently existing put options within the next twelve months.
 
As a result of the significant uncertainties underlying these forward-looking statements, our inclusion of this information is not a representation or guarantee by us that our objectives, plans or statements will be achieved.

Cash and financing
 
Cash at September 30, 2009 was $203 million, $27 million higher than at December 31, 2008.
 
In March 2009, we issued 12.875% senior unsecured notes due 2016 in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million to Goldman Sachs Mezzanine Partners and its affiliates which generated net proceeds of $482 million. These proceeds, together with $208 million cash generated from operating activities and cash in hand, were used to pay down the $750 million outstanding on our interim credit facility as of December 31, 2008.
 
In September 2009, we issued $300 million of 7% senior notes due 2019 at a purchase price of 99.503% per note. We launched a tender offer on September 22, 2009 to repurchase all or any of our $250 million 5.125% senior notes due July 2010 at a premium of $27.50 per $1,000 face value. Notes totaling $160 million were tendered and repurchased using the proceeds from the issuance of our 7.0% senior notes on September 29, 2009.
 
Total debt, total equity and the capitalization ratio at September 30, 2009 were as follows:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions, except percentages)  
 
Long-term debt
  $ 2,375     $ 1,865  
Short-term debt
    231       785  
                 
Total debt
  $ 2,606     $ 2,650  
                 
Total equity
  $ 2,201     $ 1,895  
                 
Capitalization ratio
    54 %     58 %
                 
 


OPERATING RESULTS — GROUP
 
Revenues
 
                                                 
                      Change attributable to:  
                      Foreign
    Acquisitions
    Organic
 
                %
    currency
    and
    revenue
 
Three months ended September 30
  2009     2008     Change     translation     disposals     growth(i)  
    (millions)                          
 
Global
  $ 175     $ 159       10 %     %     6 %     4 %
North America
    320       175       83 %     %     86 %     (3 )%
International
    219       222       (1 )%     (5 )%     1 %     3 %
                                                 
Commissions and fees
  $ 714     $ 556       28 %     (3 )%     29 %     2 %
                                                 
Investment income
    10       22       (55 )%                        
Other income
    1       1       %                        
                                                 
Total revenues
  $   725     $   579         25 %                        
                                                 
 


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                      Change attributable to:  
                      Foreign
    Acquisitions
    Organic
 
                %
    currency
    and
    revenue
 
Nine months ended September 30
  2009     2008     Change     translation     disposals     growth(i)  
    (millions)                          
 
Global
  $ 657     $ 627       5 %     (5 )%     5 %     5 %
North America
    1,023       559       83 %     %     88 %     (5 )%
International
    721       783       (8 )%     (14 )%     1 %     5 %
                                                 
Commissions and fees
  $ 2,401     $ 1,969       22 %     (7 )%     27 %     2 %
                                                 
Investment income
    35       64       (45 )%                        
Other income
    3       2       50 %                        
                                                 
Total revenues
  $   2,439     $   2,035         20 %                        
                                                 
 
 
(i) Revenues comprise commissions and fees, investment income and other income. Organic revenue growth excludes the impact of foreign currency translation, the first twelve months of net commission and fee revenues generated from acquisitions and the net commission and fee revenues related to operations disposed of in each period presented, from commissions and fees. Our method of calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited.
 

Revenues for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 were significantly higher than 2008 due to the acquisition of HRH in fourth quarter 2008. The benefit of the acquisition revenues was partly offset by an adverse year over year impact from foreign currency translation and lower investment income due to sharply reduced global interest rates.
 
Our International and Global operations earn a significant portion of their revenues in currencies other than the US dollar. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, reported revenues were adversely impacted by the year on year effect of foreign currency translation: in particular due to the strengthening of the dollar against the euro and against the pound sterling, compared with 2008.
 
Investment income in third quarter 2009 was $12 million lower than 2008 and $29 million lower for the first nine months of 2009, with the decreases

reflecting significantly lower average interest rates in 2009. The impact of rate decreases on our investment income is partially mitigated by our forward hedging program, from which we expect to generate significant additional income in 2009 compared to current LIBOR based rates. We currently expect that full year 2009 investment income will be in the range of $43 to $47 million.
 
Organic growth in commissions and fees was 2 percent for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2009 as the benefit of good growth in our Global operations and many of our International operations was partly offset by declines in our North America, UK and Irish retail operations reflecting the weak economic environments and continuing soft market conditions.
 
Organic revenue growth by segment is discussed further in ‘Operating Results — Segment Information’ below.
 
 


General and administrative expenses
 
                                 
    Three months
    Nine months
 
    ended September 30,     ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except percentages)  
 
Salaries and benefits
  $   449     $   359     $ 1,372     $ 1,198  
Other
    151       131       428       421  
                                 
General and administrative expenses
  $ 600     $ 490     $ 1,800     $   1,619  
                                 
Salaries and benefits as a percentage of revenues
    62 %     62 %     56 %     59 %
                                 
Other as percentage of revenues
    21 %     23 %     18 %     21 %
                                 
 

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We continue to manage our expense base aggressively and 2009 has benefited from both our 2008 expense review and our Right Sizing Willis initiatives. These initiatives, and the higher than expected synergies from the HRH acquisition, have allowed us to significantly reduce the pro forma expense base of the combined Group despite continued investment expenditures to support our Shaping our Future initiatives.
 
2008 expense review and Right Sizing Willis
 
Our Shaping our Future strategy is a series of initiatives designed to deliver profitable growth. In order to fund a portion of these initiatives, we conducted a thorough review in 2008 of all businesses to identify additional opportunities to rationalize our expense base.
 
Additionally, in the latter part of 2008 and in light of the global economic uncertainty, we launched Right Sizing Willis to reinforce our cost saving initiatives. Right Sizing Willis initiatives include talent management to either improve or manage out poor performers, location optimization and aggressive reduction of discretionary spending.
 
In the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we incurred severance costs of $18 million pre-tax ($13 million net of tax, equivalent to $0.08 per diluted share) in connection with our Right Sizing Willis initiatives, none of which were incurred in third quarter 2009.
 
In the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we incurred pre-tax costs of $95 million ($68 million net of tax, equivalent to $0.47 per diluted share) in connection with the 2008 expense review, none of which were incurred in third quarter 2008. The 2008 costs comprised:
 
•  $42 million to buy out remuneration packages that did not align with the Group’s overall remuneration strategy;
 
•  $24 million of severance costs relating to approximately 350 positions which were eliminated; and
 
•  $29 million of other operating expenses, including property and systems rationalization costs.
 
Third quarter 2009
 
General and administrative expenses at $600 million for third quarter 2009 were $110 million, or

22 percent, higher than in 2008. This increase was mainly attributable to:
 
•  the impact of expenses relating to HRH, equivalent to approximately 21 percentage points; and
 
•  increased pension costs, equivalent to approximately 3 percentage points;
 
partly offset by
 
•  a significant reduction in discretionary expenses, including lower travel and entertainment, legal and professional fees, driven by our Right Sizing Willis initiatives; and
 
•  a year over year benefit from foreign currency translation of $33 million, equivalent to approximately 7 percentage points, as the impact of losses on forward contracts was more than offset by gains relating to the significant strengthening of the dollar against the pound sterling, in which our London market based operations incur the majority of their expenses, and the euro, together with the benefit of lower foreign exchange losses relating to the UK sterling pension asset.
 
Salaries and benefits were 62 percent of both third quarter 2009 and 2008 revenues as the benefit of:
 
•  good cost controls including our previous Shaping our Future and 2008 expense review initiatives together with the benefits from our Right Sizing Willis initiatives in 2009;
 
were offset by
 
•  a $16 million increase in pension expense which mainly reflected the impact of lower asset levels in our UK pension plans following recent declines in the equity market, equivalent to approximately 3 percentage points.
 
Other expenses were 21 percent of revenues in third quarter 2009 compared with 23 percent in 2008, reflecting the benefits of:
 
•  a significant reduction in discretionary expenses driven by our Right Sizing Willis initiatives together with cost savings from HRH synergies in 2009, in particular our travel and entertainment expenses were approximately $30 million lower than in 2008;


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partly offset by
 
•  the impact of foreign currency translation losses arising on forward contracts maturing in third quarter 2009, compared with gains on the equivalent contracts in 2008.
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
General and administrative expenses at $1,800 million for the first nine months of 2009 were $181 million, or 11 percent, higher than in 2008 with the increase mainly reflecting:
 
•  the impact of expenses relating to HRH, equivalent to approximately 24 percentage points; and
 
•  a $41 million increase in pension costs, equivalent to approximately 3 percentage points;
 
partly offset by
 
•  the $77 million reduction in costs associated with our Right Sizing Willis and 2008 expense review, as discussed above, equivalent to 5 percentage points, of which $48 million related to salaries and benefits and $29 million to other expenses;
 
•  the benefit of a significant reduction in discretionary expenses, including lower travel and entertainment, legal and professional fees, driven by our Right Sizing Willis initiatives; and
 
•  a year over year benefit from foreign currency translation of $135 million, equivalent to approximately 8 percentage points, as the impact of losses on forward contracts was more than offset by gains relating to the significant year over year strengthening of the dollar against the pound sterling, in which our London market based operations incur the majority of their expenses, and the euro, together with the benefit of lower foreign exchange losses relating to the UK sterling pension asset.
 
Salaries and benefits were 56 percent of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared with 59 percent in 2008 reflecting the benefits of:
 
•  the $48 million reduction in costs incurred in connection with our Right Sizing Willis initiatives

  and 2008 expense review, equivalent to approximately 2 percentage points;
 
•  good cost controls, including our previous Shaping our Future and 2008 expense review initiatives, together with the initial benefits from our Right Sizing Willis initiatives in 2009; and
 
•  a $12 million curtailment gain realized on the closure of our US defined benefit pension plan to accrual of benefit for future service, equivalent to approximately 1 percentage point;
 
partly offset by
 
•  a $53 million increase in pension expense, excluding the $12 million US curtailment gain discussed below, mainly driven by lower asset levels in our UK pension plan.
 
Effective May 15, 2009, we closed our US defined benefit pension plan to future accrual. Consequently, we recognized a curtailment gain of $12 million in second quarter 2009 and we now expect the full year 2009 charge for the US plan to be approximately $8 million compared with an expected $39 million charge had the plan not been closed to future accrual.
 
We have also suspended the company match for our US 401(k) plan which will benefit full year 2009 by $9 million compared with 2008.
 
Other expenses were 18 percent of revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with 21 percent in 2008, reflecting the benefit of:
 
•  a reduction in discretionary expenses driven by our Right Sizing Willis initiatives; and
 
•  the non-recurrence of $29 million of costs relating to the 2008 expense review, equivalent to 1 percentage point;
 
partly offset by
 
•  foreign currency translation losses arising on forward contracts maturing in 2009, compared with gains on the equivalent contracts in 2008.
 


Amortization of intangible assets
 
 

Amortization of intangible assets for third quarter 2009 was $29 million compared with $6 million in

2008; and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $76 million compared with $12 million in



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2008. The significant year over year increases were primarily attributable to additional charges of $27 million in third quarter 2009 and $67 million in the first nine months of 2009 in respect of intangible assets recognized on the HRH acquisition. The third quarter 2009 charge for amortization of HRH intangible assets also included $7 million of accelerated amortization relating to the HRH brand name. Following the successful

integration of HRH into our previously existing North America retail operations, we announced on October 1, 2009 that we were changing the brand name of our North America retail operations from Willis HRH to Willis North America. Consequently the intangible asset recognized on the acquisition of HRH relating to the HRH brand name has been fully amortized.
 


Operating income and margin (operating income as a percentage of revenues)
 
                                 
    Three months ended
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except percentages)  
 
Revenues
  $   725     $   579     $   2,439     $   2,035  
Operating income
    82       66       521       368  
Operating margin or operating income as a percentage of revenues
    11 %     11 %     21 %     18 %
 
 

Third quarter 2009
 
Operating margin at 11 percent in third quarter 2009 was in line with 2008 as the benefits of:
 
•  good cost control including a reduction in discretionary expenses and the realization of savings from our previous Shaping our Future and 2008 expense review initiatives together with Right Sizing Willis benefits;
 
•  organic revenue growth of 2 percent despite the restricted cost growth; and
 
•  a year on year benefit from foreign currency translation, equivalent to approximately 4 percentage points;
 
were offset by
 
•  the acquisition of HRH which has a lower margin than the Group;
 
•  the $23 million increase in amortization of intangible assets, primarily related to HRH, equivalent to approximately 4 percentage points;
 
•  the $16 million increase in pension expense, equivalent to approximately 3 percentage points; and

 
•  the $12 million decrease in investment income, equivalent to 2 percentage points.
 
Operating segment margins are discussed in “Operating Results — Segment Information” below.
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
Operating margin at 21 percent for the first nine months of 2009 was 3 percentage points higher than in 2008, with the increase mainly attributable to:
 
•  the $77 million reduction in costs associated with our Right Sizing Willis and 2008 expense review initiatives;
 
•  the cost savings arising from these initiatives; and a $12 million US pension curtailment gain recognized in second quarter 2009;
 
partly offset by
 
•  the $64 million increase in amortization of intangible assets, principally attributable to HRH;
 
•  the $53 million increase in pension costs (excluding the curtailment gain); and
 
•  the sharp year over year decline in investment income.
 
 


Interest expense
 
                                 
    Three months ended
  Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
    (millions)
 
Interest expense
  $     47     $     32     $     128     $     69  


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Interest expense in third quarter 2009 was $15 million higher and, for the first nine months of 2009, $59 million higher than in 2008. These increases primarily reflect higher average debt levels following the HRH acquisition, together with

$5 million of premium and costs relating to the early repurchase in September 2009 of $160 million of our 5.125% Senior Notes due July 2010 at a premium of $27.50 per $1,000 face value.
 
 


Income taxes
 
                                 
    Three months ended September 30,   Nine months ended September 30,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
    (millions, except percentages)
 
Income before taxes
  $ 35     $     34     $     393     $     299  
Income tax (credit) charge
        (29 )     2       64       74  
Effective tax rate
    (83 )%     6 %     16 %     25 %
 
 

The third quarter 2009 tax charge benefited from two material tax credits:
 
•  a $27 million release relating to a 2009 change in tax law. As at June 30, 2009, we held a provision of $27 million relating to tax that would potentially be payable should the unremitted earnings of our foreign subsidiaries be repatriated. Following a change in UK tax law effective in third quarter 2009, these earnings may now be repatriated without additional tax cost and, consequently, the provision has been released; and
 
•  an $11 million release relating to uncertain tax positions due to the closure of the statute of

  limitations on assessments for previously unrecognized tax benefits. There was a similar $5 million release of uncertain tax positions in third quarter 2008.
 
Excluding the benefit of these tax credits, the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 would have been 26 percent. The effective tax rate is impacted by the projected geographical distribution of earnings. Changes in the distribution of earnings in future periods may impact the effective tax rate.
 
 


Interest in earnings of associates
 
 

Interest in earnings of associates, net of tax, was $16 million in third quarter 2009, $10 million higher than in 2008 and was $13 million higher for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. These

increases reflect our increased ownership share of Gras Savoye, its improved performance and favorable timing.
 
 


Net income and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
 
                                 
    Three months ended September 30,     Nine months ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except per share data)  
 
Net income from continuing operations
  $ 78     $ 36     $ 357     $ 241  
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations
  $   0.46     $   0.25     $   2.13     $   1.70  
Average diluted number of shares outstanding
    169       142       168       142  
 
 
 

Third quarter 2009
 
Net income from continuing operations for third quarter 2009 was $78 million compared with $36 million in 2008. The $42 million increase primarily reflected the significant reduction in the net tax charge, together with the smaller increases in operating income and earnings from associates,

partly offset by the $15 million increase in interest expense.
 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for third quarter 2009 increased to $0.46, compared to $0.25 in 2008 as the benefit of the increased net income was partly offset by a 27 million increase in average diluted shares



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outstanding due primarily to the shares issued on October 1, 2008 as part consideration for the HRH acquisition. The additional shares issued had a negative $0.08 impact on earnings per diluted share in third quarter 2009.
 
Foreign currency translation had a $0.10 favorable year over year impact on earnings per diluted share on the three months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
 
Net income from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $357 million compared with $241 million in 2008. The $116 million increase primarily reflected the $153 million increase in operating income partly

offset by the $59 million increase in interest expense.
 
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 increased to $2.13, compared to $1.70 in 2008 as the benefit of the increased net income was partly offset by a 26 million increase in average diluted shares outstanding due primarily to the shares issued for HRH. The additional shares issued had a negative $0.35 impact on earnings per diluted share in the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
Foreign currency translation had a $0.01 adverse year over year impact on earnings per diluted share on the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 


OPERATING RESULTS — SEGMENT INFORMATION
 
 

We organize our business into three segments: Global, North America and International. Our Global business provides specialist brokerage and consulting services to clients worldwide for risks arising from specific industries and activities. North America and International comprise our retail

operations and provide services to small, medium and major corporations.
 
The following table is a summary of our operating results by segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:
 


                                                 
    Three months ended September 30, 2009     Three months ended September 30, 2008  
          Operating
    Operating
          Operating
    Operating
 
    Revenues     income     margin     Revenues     income     margin  
    (millions)           (millions)        
 
Global
  $ 176     $ 33       19 %   $ 167     $ 29       17 %
                                                 
North America
    325       70       22 %     179       18       10 %
International
    224       30       13 %     233       38       16 %
                                                 
Total Retail
    549       100       18 %     412       56       14 %
Corporate & Other(i)
          (51 )     n/a             (19 )     n/a  
                                                 
Total Consolidated
  $      725     $      82       11 %   $     579     $       66       11 %
                                                 
                                                 
                                                 
    Nine months ended September 30, 2009     Nine months ended September 30, 2008  
          Operating
    Operating
          Operating
    Operating
 
    Revenues     income     margin     Revenues     income     margin  
    (millions)           (millions)        
 
Global
  $ 663     $ 234       35 %   $ 651     $ 221       34 %
                                                 
North America
    1,038       239       23 %     572       76       13 %
International
    738       181       25 %     812       199       25 %
                                                 
Total Retail
    1,776       420       24 %     1,384       275       20 %
Corporate & Other(i)
          (133 )     n/a             (128 )     n/a  
                                                 
Total Consolidated
  $  2,439     $  521       21 %   $ 2,035     $ 368       18 %
                                                 
 
 
(i) Corporate and Other includes the costs of the holding company, foreign exchange hedging activities and foreign exchange on the UK pension plan asset; amortization of intangible assets; net gains and losses on disposal of operations; certain legal costs; integration costs associated with the acquisition of HRH; and 2008 expense review costs.


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Global
 
 

Our Global operations comprise Global Specialties, Reinsurance and Faber & Dumas, our new wholesale brokerage division launched in fourth quarter 2008 on completion of the HRH acquisition. Faber & Dumas comprises HRH’s London-based wholesale operation, Glencairn, together with our

previously existing Fine Art, Jewelry and Specie; Special Contingency Risk and Hughes-Gibb units.
 
The following table sets out revenues, organic revenue growth and operating income and margin for the quarter and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009 and 2008:
 


                                 
    Three months ended
    Nine months ended
 
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except
    (millions, except
 
    percentages)     percentages)  
 
Commissions and fees
  $ 175     $ 159     $ 657     $ 627  
Investment income
    1       8       6       24  
                                 
Total revenues
  $   176     $   167     $   663     $   651  
                                 
Operating income
  $ 33     $ 29     $ 234     $ 221  
Organic revenue growth(i)(ii)
    4 %     (2 )%     5 %     0 %
Operating margin
    19 %     17 %     35 %     34 %
 
 
(i) Revenues comprise commissions and fees, investment income and other income. Organic revenue growth excludes the impact of foreign currency translation, the first twelve months of net commission and fee revenues generated from acquisitions and the net commission and fee revenues related to operations disposed of in each period presented, from commissions and fees. Our method of calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Organic revenue growth is reconciled to total revenues in “Operating Results — Group — Revenues” above.
 
(ii) In fourth quarter 2008, we changed our methodology for the calculation of organic growth in commissions and fees. Previously, organic growth included growth from acquisitions from the date of acquisition. Under the new method, the first twelve months of commissions and fees generated from acquisitions are excluded. Comparatives have been adjusted accordingly.
 
 

Revenues
 
Commissions and fees of $175 million were $16 million, or 10 percent, higher in third quarter 2009 compared with third quarter 2008 of which 6 percent was attributable to the acquisition of the HRH UK wholesale business, Glencairn and 4 percent to organic revenue growth.
 
Net new business growth was 7 percent and there was a 3 percent adverse impact from rates and other market factors. Reinsurance continued to drive the growth in net new business and we saw strong growth in both our International and North America divisions. Global Specialties organic revenues were slightly higher than in 2008, as growth in Marine, Aerospace and Financial and Executive Risks was offset by reductions elsewhere. There was continued softness in most specialty rates although there were signs of stabilization and firming in some areas, including Aerospace and Energy. The Faber & Dumas businesses continue to be adversely impacted by the weakening economic environment, especially in our blood-stock division.
 
Commissions and fees were $30 million, or 5 percent, higher for the nine months ended

September 30, 2009 with the benefit of 5 percent increases attributable to the acquisition of Glencairn and organic revenue growth, partly offset by a 5 percent adverse impact from foreign exchange. Organic revenue growth reflected strong growth in Reinsurance together with modest growth in Global Specialties, partly offset by a decline in Faber & Dumas.
 
There was a sharp decline in investment income in both the three and nine months ending September 30, 2009 compared with the same periods in 2008 as global interest rates fell markedly in the latter half of 2008 and early 2009.
 
Productivity continued to improve with a 3 percent rise in revenues per full-time equivalent (“FTE”) employee to $358,000 for the 12 month period to September 30, 2009 compared with full year 2008. Client retention remained steady at 90 percent for the first nine months of 2009.
 
Operating margin
 
Operating margin was 19 percent in third quarter 2009 compared with 17 percent in 2008 and 35 percent in the first nine months of 2009



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compared with 34 percent in 2008. This improvement reflected a significant benefit from foreign currency translation, together with organic revenue growth, particularly driven by our Reinsurance business, and good cost controls including a reduction in discretionary expenses. The benefit of these was partly offset by a significant increase in the UK pension expense and the sharp reduction in investment income.

Despite an overall reduction in headcount since December 31, 2008, we continue to recruit selectively for our Global businesses. In first quarter 2009, we recruited a reinsurance team from Carvill. This team provides specialty, casualty and professional liability experience and we expect it to be accretive in the latter part of 2009. We have also recruited specialty teams in Marine, Aerospace and Faber & Dumas.
 


North America
 
                                 
    Three months ended September 30,     Nine months ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except percentages)     (millions, except percentages)  
 
Commissions and fees
  $ 320     $ 175     $ 1,023     $ 559  
Investment income
    4       3       12       11  
Other income
    1       1       3       2  
                                 
Total revenues
  $   325     $   179     $   1,038     $   572  
                                 
Operating income
  $ 70     $ 18     $ 239     $ 76  
Organic revenue growth(i)(ii)
    (3 )%     (2 )%     (5 )%     0 %
Operating margin
    22 %     10 %     23 %     13 %
 
 
(i) Revenues comprise commissions and fees, investment income and other income. Organic revenue growth excludes the impact of foreign currency translation, the first twelve months of net commission and fee revenues generated from acquisitions and the net commission and fee revenues related to operations disposed of in each period presented, from commissions and fees. Our method of calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Organic revenue growth is reconciled to total revenues in “Operating Results — Group — Revenues” above.
 
(ii) In fourth quarter 2008, we changed our methodology for the calculation of organic growth in commissions and fees. Previously, organic growth included growth from acquisitions from the date of acquisition. Under the new method, the first twelve months of commissions and fees generated from acquisitions are excluded. Comparatives have been adjusted accordingly.
 
 

Revenues
 
Commissions and fees in North America were 83 percent higher for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with 2008 reflecting the uplift from the additional revenues of HRH, partly offset by negative organic growth as our US operations continue to be significantly adversely impacted by the soft market conditions and weakened economy. In particular, our employee benefits and construction divisions have seen significant declines. However, we have seen the rate of decline moderate in the third quarter of 2009 despite a 4 percent rate headwind.
 
Organic commissions and fees declined by 3 percent in third quarter 2009 compared with 2008 and 5 percent for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with 2008, as the negative impact of declining rates and other market factors across many sectors and a reduction in one-

time revenues more than offset a positive impact from net new business in both the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2009.
 
Our primary focus in North America in 2009 in the first half of 2009 was on the successful integration of HRH into our existing operations and the improvement of margin. In the third quarter, we have refocused our efforts on revenue growth and this has led to double digit new business generation in parts of the business.
 
Despite the decline in revenues, our productivity measured in terms of revenue per FTE employee remained high, showing only a modest decline to $222,000 for the 12 month period to September 30, 2009 compared with $225,000 for full year 2008.
 
Operating margin
 
Operating margin in North America was 22 percent in third quarter 2009 compared with 10 percent in



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2008 and 23 percent in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with 13 percent in 2008. The higher margins reflected:
 
•  the acquisition of HRH;
 
•  a reduction in underlying expense base reflecting the benefits of our 2008 expense review and Right Sizing Willis initiatives; and
 
•  a $9 million benefit from the curtailment of the US pension scheme relating to our North America retail employees;
 
partly offset by
 
•  decline in organic revenues against the backdrop of the soft market and weak economic conditions discussed above.
 
HRH integration
 
We continue to make good progress on the integration of HRH into our existing operations and, reflecting this success, we changed the brand name of our North America retail operations from Willis HRH to Willis North America on October 1, 2009. Progress to date includes:
 
•  high levels of producer and client retention;
 
•  on a pro forma combined basis we have reduced the North America expense base by approximately 16 percent year over year through merger synergies and our Right Sizing Willis initiatives. For the full year 2009 we anticipate total savings

  on a combined pro forma basis, in excess of $180 million from synergies and other cost reduction initiatives;
 
•  we have managed to renegotiate over 90 percent of the property and casualty contingent commissions HRH received, which we would only be permitted to collect until October 1, 2011. After that time we will receive higher standard commissions.
 
With effect from the acquisition date, we have conformed HRH’s revenue recognition policy with our existing policy. Consequently, it is not possible to make an accurate comparison of pro forma revenues on a year over year basis. However, we believe that the third quarter year on year decline in HRH legacy revenues is likely higher than the 3 percent decline reported by our legacy North America business due to:
 
•  an approximate 3 percent reduction of legacy HRH revenues due to producers who have left which is in line with our original estimates at the time of acquisition;
 
•  approximately 85 percent of the HRH legacy based business is commission based and directly impacted by declining rates; and
 
•  the preponderance of smaller accounts held by the HRH legacy business as these clients are more vulnerable to the impacts of the US recession.
 


International
 
                                 
    Three months ended September 30,     Nine months ended September 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
    (millions, except percentages)     (millions, except percentages)  
 
Commissions and fees
  $ 219     $ 222     $ 721     $ 783  
Investment income
    5       11       17       29  
                                 
Total revenues
  $   224     $   233     $   738     $   812  
                                 
Operating income
  $ 30     $ 38     $ 181     $ 199  
Organic revenue growth(i)(ii)
    3 %     10 %     5 %     8 %
Operating margin
    13 %     16 %     25 %     25 %
 
 
(i) Revenues comprise commissions and fees, investment income and other income. Organic revenue growth excludes the impact of foreign currency translation, the first twelve months of net commission and fee revenues generated from acquisitions and the net commission and fee revenues related to operations disposed of in each period presented, from commissions and fees. Our method of calculating this measure may differ from that used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. Organic revenue growth is reconciled to total revenues in “Operating Results — Group — Revenues” above.


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(ii) In fourth quarter 2008, we changed our methodology for the calculation of organic growth in commissions and fees. Previously, organic growth included growth from acquisitions from the date of acquisition. Under the new method, the first twelve months of commissions and fees generated from acquisitions are excluded. Comparatives have been adjusted accordingly.
 

Revenues
 
Commissions and fees in International were $3 million, or 1 percent, lower in third quarter 2009 compared with 2008 and $62 million, or 8 percent, lower in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with 2008 as double digit new business generation in most of our International units was more than offset by an adverse impact from foreign exchange of 5 percent in third quarter 2009 and 14 percent for the first nine months of 2009; a 2 percent adverse impact from rates and other market factors; and significantly lower revenues in our UK and Irish retail operations.
 
A significant part of International’s revenues are earned in currencies other than the US dollar which has strengthened significantly on a year over year basis against a number of these currencies, most notably the euro, pound sterling, Danish kroner and Australian dollar, consequently reducing International revenues on a year over year basis when reported in US dollars.
 
Despite the slowdown of the global economy, International continued its impressive record of organic growth. Excluding our UK and Ireland retail divisions, organic revenue growth was 7 percent in third quarter 2009, with Latin America, Asia and Europe, in particular Spain, Denmark and Russia, all reporting strong organic growth in both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with the same periods in 2008. However, our UK and Ireland retail division, which represents approximately 25 percent of International’s operations, saw significant revenue declines

reflecting the weak local economic conditions, with Ireland being particularly adversely impacted.
 
Productivity in International continues to improve with revenues per FTE employee increasing by 3 percent in the 12 month period to September 30, 2009 compared with full year 2008.
 
Client retention levels remained high at 91 percent for the first nine months of 2009.
 
Operating margin
 
Operating margin in International was 13 percent in third quarter 2009 compared with 16 percent in third quarter 2008. The benefit of:
 
•  the strong organic revenue growth outside of the United Kingdom and Ireland; and
 
•  focused expense management including savings in discretionary costs driven by our right sizing initiatives;
 
were more than offset by
 
•  increased pension expense for the UK pension plan;
 
•  a sharp reduction in investment income reflecting lower global interest rates; and
 
•  a weak performance by our UK and Ireland retail operations reflecting the difficult market conditions.
 
Operating margin for the first nine months of the year was 25 percent in both 2009 and 2008.
 
 


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
 

The accounting estimates or assumptions that management considers to be the most important to the presentation of our financial condition or operating performance are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
Effective May 15, 2009, we closed our US defined benefit pension plan to future accrual. We now expect:
 
•  the full year 2009 charge for the US plan to be approximately $8 million compared with an

  expected $39 million had the plan not been closed to future accrual; and
 
•  our total pension expense to be $35 million, net of the $12 million curtailment gain.
 
Apart from this change there were no significant additions or changes to these assumptions in the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
 



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NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 

There were no new accounting standards issued during the third quarter 2009 that would have a significant impact on the Company’s reporting.

 


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
 
 

During 2009, we have taken a number of actions to significantly improve our debt maturity profile:
 
•  in March 2009, we issued 12.875% senior unsecured notes due 2016 in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million to Goldman Sachs Mezzanine Partners which generated net proceeds of $482 million. These proceeds, together with $208 million cash generated from operating activities and cash in hand, were used to pay down the $750 million outstanding on our interim credit facility as of December 31, 2008; and
 
•  in September 2009, we issued $300 million of 7% senior notes due 2019 at a purchase price of 99.503% per note. We launched a tender offer on September 22, 2009 to repurchase all or any of our $250 million 5.125% senior notes due July 2010 at a premium of $27.50 per $1,000 face value. Notes totalling $160 million were tendered and repurchased using the proceeds from the issuance of our 7.0% senior notes on September 29, 2009.
 
Once the remaining $90 million of July 2010 bonds are repaid, the only mandatory repayments for our other outstanding debt over the next 5 years are the scheduled repayments on our $700 million five year term loan.
 
In September 2009, both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s improved their outlook on our current ratings from negative to stable.
 
Total debt, total equity and the capitalization ratio at September 30, 2009 were as follows:
 
                 
    September 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (millions, except percentages)  
 
Long-term debt
  $ 2,375     $ 1,865  
Short-term debt
    231       785  
                 
Total debt
  $ 2,606     $ 2,650  
                 
Total equity
  $   2,201     $   1,895  
                 
Capitalization ratio
    54 %     58 %
                 

In the short term, our capital management priority is debt reduction and we are currently targeting a debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) ratio of below 2.5 to 1. Once we are in a position to remain at or below this ratio, we would consider recommencing our stock buyback program. However, there can be no assurance that we will achieve our target debt to EBITDA ratio or recommence our stock buyback program.
 
Liquidity
 
Our principal sources of liquidity are cash from operations, cash and cash equivalents of $203 million at September 30, 2009 and remaining availability of $235 million under our revolving credit facility.
 
As of September 30, 2009, our short-term liquidity requirements consist of:
 
•  payment of interest on debt and $140 million of mandatory prepayments under our 2013 term loan;
 
•  payment of the $90 million principal outstanding on our July 2010 notes;
 
•  capital expenditures;
 
•  working capital; and
 
our long-term liquidity requirements consist of:
 
•  the principal amount of outstanding notes; and
 
•  borrowings under our 2013 term loan and revolving credit facility.
 
Based on current market conditions and information available to us at this time, we believe that we have sufficient liquidity to meet our cash needs for the 12 months from today’s date.
 
In an effort to reduce future cash interest payments as well as future amounts due at maturity, we may from time to time seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt through tender offers, cash purchases, in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Such



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repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. The amounts involved may be material.
 
For a discussion of the potential liquidity risk associated with our put and call arrangements, see the section entitled “Risk Factors — Financial Risks — We have entered into significant put and call arrangements which require us to pay substantial amounts to purchase shares in one of our associates. These payments would reduce our liquidity and short-term cash flow.”
 
We continue to identify and implement further actions to control costs and enhance our operating performance, including cash flow. These actions include the rationalization of our cost base through our ongoing Right-Sizing Willis initiatives to achieve best fit within the current environment.
 
Fiduciary funds
 
As an intermediary, we hold funds generally in a fiduciary capacity for the account of third parties, typically as the result of premiums received from clients that are in transit to insurers and claims due to clients that are in transit from insurers. We report premiums, which are held on account of, or due from, clients as assets with a corresponding liability due to the insurers. Claims held by, or due to, us which are due to clients are also shown as both assets and liabilities. All these balances due or payable are included in accounts receivable and accounts payable on the balance sheet. We earn interest on these funds during the time between the receipt of the cash and the time the cash is paid out. Fiduciary cash must be kept in certain regulated bank accounts subject to guidelines, which generally emphasize capital preservation and liquidity, and is not generally available to service our debt or for other corporate purposes.
 
Operating activities
 
Net cash provided by operations was $286 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with $122 million in 2008, with the $164 million increase mainly reflecting a $183 million increase in net income before the non-cash charge for amortization of intangible assets.

Investing activities
 
Total net cash used in investing activities was $42 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with $93 million in the same period of 2008.
 
The decrease in net cash used in investing activities of $51 million was mainly attributable to:
 
•  a $34 million increase in proceeds from sale of operations, mainly attributable to the second quarter 2009 disposal of Bliss & Glennon; and
 
•  a $17 million increase in proceeds on sale of short-term investments as we liquidated our own funds portfolio.
 
In the first nine months of 2008 we purchased a further 4 percent of voting rights in Gras Savoye, our French associate, for $31 million. In 2009, we made a $41 million cash payment in relation to the fourth quarter 2008 acquisition of an additional 5 percent of Gras Savoye.
 
Financing activities
 
Net cash used in financing activities was $227 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared with $65 million in 2008.
 
Long-term debt
 
In March 2009, we issued $500 million of senior unsecured 71/2 year notes at 12.875%.
 
We used the $482 million net proceeds of the notes, together with $208 million cash generated from operating activities and $60 million cash in hand, to pay down the $750 million outstanding on our interim credit facility as of December 31, 2008.
 
In September 2009, we issued $300 million of 7% Senior Notes due 2019. We then launched a tender offer on September 22, 2009 to repurchase all or any of our $250 million 5.125% Senior Notes due July 2010 at a premium of $27.50 per $1,000 face value. Notes totalling $160 million were tendered and repurchased on September 29, 2009.
 
As of September 30, 2009, we had drawn $65 million under our revolving credit facility compared with $nil as of December 31, 2008 and $170 million as of September 30, 2008. In the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we drew down a net $120 million on our revolving credit facility to help fund share repurchases and fixed asset



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additions related to our London headquarters building.
 
In October 2009, in anticipation of the Reorganization, we negotiated an amendment to our term loan credit agreement that provides, amongst other things, that following the Reorganization:
 
•  the new Irish holding company, together with the other new intermediate holding companies that will be formed as part of the Reorganization, will become guarantors under the credit agreement; and
 
•  the existing Bermuda holding company will be released from of its obligations under the agreement once all the Group’s subsidiaries have been transferred to the new holding company structure.
 
In addition, the amendment provides that Willis Securities Inc. (“WSI”), our new licensed broker-dealer, may invest in an aggregate amount not to exceed $300 million at any one time outstanding in debt, equity securities and/or equity-linked securities that are underwritten and/or initially purchased by WSI for the purpose of placement with and

distribution to third party investors in WSI’s ordinary course of business.
 
Share buybacks
 
On November 1, 2007, the Board authorized a new share buyback program for $1 billion.
 
In 2008, we repurchased 2.3 million shares at a cost of $75 million under the new authorization. We have not made any repurchases under this authorization in 2009.
 
Dividends
 
Cash dividends paid in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 were $130 million compared with $109 million in the same period 2008. The $21 million increase primarily reflects dividend payments on the 24 million additional shares issued in connection with the fourth quarter 2008 acquisition of HRH. In February 2009, we declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.26 per share, an annual rate of $1.04 per share. On October 26, 2009, we declared a cash dividend of $0.26 per share for holders of record on December 30, 2009.
 


CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
 
 

In third quarter 2009, we issued $300 million of 7% senior notes due 2019 at a purchase price of 99.503% per note. We launched a tender offer on September 22, 2009 to repurchase all or any of our $250 million 5.125% senior notes due July 2010 at a premium of $27.50 per $1,000 face value. Notes

totalling $160 million were tendered and repurchased using the proceeds from the debt issuance on September 29, 2009. With these exceptions, there have been no material changes in our contractual obligations in the third quarter 2009.
 
 


OFF-BALANCE SHEET TRANSACTIONS
 
 

Apart from commitments, guarantees and contingencies, as disclosed in Note 9 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements

that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
 
 


Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
 

Except as disclosed below, there has been no material change with respect to market risk from that described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts used to hedge our London market operations exposure as of December 31, 2008 was a liability of $85 million, of which $55 million related to contracts maturing in 2009. A loss of $33 million was recognized through the

consolidated statement of operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts as of September 30, 2009 is a liability of $32 million of which $9 million relates to 2009.
 
The fair value of our interest rate hedging program used to hedge our interest income as of December 31, 2008 was an asset of $39 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009 a gain of $19 million was recognized in investment



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income. The fair value of our interest rate hedging program as of September 30, 2009 is an asset of $33 million.
 


Item 4 —  Controls and Procedures
 
 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
As of September 30, 2009, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Group Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer

and the Group Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) are effective.
 
There has been no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 



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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1 — Legal Proceedings
 
As disclosed previously in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 14, 2009, Willis Limited, a subsidiary of Willis Group Holdings, entered into a settlement agreement on September 11, 2009 with certain subsidiaries of CNA Financial Corporation. Additionally, certain complaints were filed against us and our associates, among others, during the quarter ended September 30, 2009, relating to the collapse of the Stanford Financial Group for which we acted as brokers of record on certain lines of insurance. The information set forth in Note 9 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited), provided in Part I, Item 1 of this report, with respect to the settlement agreement and Willis’s other commitments and contingencies is incorporated herein by reference.
 
Item 1A — Risk Factors
 
Other than as described below, there have been no material changes to the risk factors described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” included in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which are incorporated herein by reference. Copies are available online at http://www.sec.gov or on request from the Company as set forth in Part I, Item 1 “Business-Available Information” in Willis’ Form 10-K.
 
Risks Related To Our Business
 
Competitive Risks
 
We do not control the premiums on which our commissions are based, and volatility or declines in premiums may seriously undermine our profitability.
 
We derive most of our revenues from commissions and fees for brokerage and consulting services. We do not determine insurance premiums on which our commissions are generally based. Premiums are cyclical in nature and may vary widely based on market conditions. From the late 1980s through late 2000, insurance premium rates generally declined as a result of a number of factors, including the expanded underwriting capacity of insurance carriers; consolidation of both insurance intermediaries and insurance carriers; and increased competition among insurance carriers. During 2004, we saw a rapid transition from a “hard” market, with premium rates stable or increasing, to a “soft” market, with premium rates falling in most markets. Rates continued to decline in most sectors through 2005 and 2006, with the exception of catastrophe-exposed markets. In 2007, the market softened further with decreases in many of the market sectors in which we operated and this continued into 2008 with further premium rate declines averaging 10% across our market sectors. In the nine months ended 2009, the benefit of rate increases in the reinsurance market and stabilization in some specialty markets was more than offset by the continuing soft market in other sectors and the adverse impact of the weakened economic environment across the globe.
 
In addition, as traditional risk-bearing insurance carriers continue to outsource the production of premium revenue to non-affiliated agents or brokers such as ourselves, those insurance carriers may seek to reduce further their expenses by reducing the commission rates payable to those insurance agents or brokers. The reduction of these commission rates, along with general volatility and/or declines in premiums, may significantly undermine our profitability.
 
Legal and Regulatory Risks
 
Our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity may be materially adversely affected by errors and omissions and the outcome of certain actual and potential claims, lawsuits and proceedings.
 
We are subject to various actual and potential claims, lawsuits and other proceedings relating principally to alleged errors and omissions in connection with the placement of insurance and reinsurance in the ordinary course of business. Because we often assist our clients with matters, including the placement of insurance coverage and the handling of related claims, involving substantial amounts of money, errors and omissions claims against us may arise which allege our potential liability for all or part of the amounts in question.


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Claimants can seek large damage awards and these claims can involve potentially significant defense costs. Such claims, lawsuits and other proceedings could, for example, include allegations of damages for our employees or sub-agents improperly failing to place coverage or notify claims on behalf of clients, to provide insurance carriers with complete and accurate information relating to the risks being insured or to appropriately apply funds that we hold for our clients on a fiduciary basis. 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 and self-insured risks have increased significantly in recent years. In respect of self-insured risks, we have established provisions against these items which we believe to be adequate in the light of current information and legal advice, and we adjust such provisions from time to time according to developments. Our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity may be adversely affected if in the future our insurance coverage proves to be inadequate or unavailable or there is an increase in liabilities for which we self-insure. Our ability to obtain professional indemnity insurance in the amounts and with the deductibles we desire in the future may be adversely impacted by general developments in the market for such insurance or our own claims experience. In addition, claims, lawsuits and other proceedings may harm our reputation or divert management resources away from operating our business.
 
The principal actual or potential claims, lawsuits and proceedings to which we are currently subject, including but not limited to errors and omissions claims, are: (1) the regulatory and other proceedings relating to among other things contingent compensation arrangements referred to above; (2) potential claims arising out of various legal proceedings between reinsurers, reinsureds and their reinsurance brokers relating to personal accident excess of loss reinsurance placements for the years 1993 to 1998; (3) potential damages arising out of a court action, on behalf of a purported class of present and former female officer and officer equivalent employees for alleged discrimination against them on the basis of their gender; (4) claims with respect to our placement of property and casualty insurance for a number of entities which were directly impacted by the September 11, 2001 destruction of New York’s World Trade Center complex; and (5) claims relating to the collapse of The Stanford Financial Group, for which we acted as brokers of record on certain lines of insurance.
 
The ultimate outcome of all matters referred to above cannot be ascertained and liabilities in indeterminate amounts may be imposed on us. It is thus possible that future results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by an unfavorable resolution of these matters. In addition, even if we do not experience significant monetary costs, there may be adverse publicity associated with these matters that will result in reputational harm to the insurance brokerage industry in general or to us in particular that may adversely affect our business.
 
Financial Risks
 
Our incurrence of additional debt to pay a portion of the consideration related to the HRH acquisition, to repurchase a portion of our 5.125% senior notes due 2010, and for general corporate purposes significantly increased our interest expense, financial leverage and debt service requirements.
 
In October 2008, in connection with the acquisition of HRH, we incurred incremental borrowings of $1.525 billion which significantly increased our leverage. These borrowings were drawn down under new credit facilities consisting of a $700 million 5-year term loan facility, a $300 million revolving credit facility and a $1 billion interim credit facility. In February 2009, we entered into an agreement with Goldman Sachs Mezzanine Partners to issue notes in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million. We used the net proceeds of this issuance of approximately $480 million towards the balance of the interim credit facility and subsequently repaid the remainder of the interim facility out of cash flow from operations. The issuance of the notes resulted in a significant increase in our interest expense compared to that under the interim credit facility.
 
On September 29, 2009 we issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 7.0% senior notes due 2019. We used a portion of the proceeds to repurchase approximately $160 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 5.125% senior notes due 2010 and the remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes.


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Although management believes that our cash flows will be more than adequate to service this debt, there may be circumstances in which required payments of principal and/or interest on this new debt could adversely affect our cash flows and this level of indebtedness may:
 
•  require us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the availability of cash flow to fund capital expenditures, to pursue other acquisitions or investments in new technologies, to pay dividends and for general corporate purposes;
 
•  increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic conditions, including increases in interest rates if the borrowings bear interest at variable rates;
 
•  limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes or challenges relating to our business and industry; and
 
•  put us at a competitive disadvantage against competitors who have less indebtedness or are in a more favorable position to access additional capital resources.
 
The terms of the financing also include certain limitations on the amount and type of investments that may be made, the amount of dividends that may be declared, and the amount of shares that may be repurchased. In addition, any borrowings may be made at variable interest rates, making us vulnerable to increases in interest rates generally.
 
A failure to comply with the restrictions under our credit facilities and outstanding notes could result in a default under the financing obligations or could require us to obtain waivers from our lenders for failure to comply with these restrictions. The occurrence of a default that remains uncured or the inability to secure a necessary consent or waiver could cause our obligations with respect to our debt to be accelerated and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
 
A downgrade in the credit ratings of our outstanding debt may adversely affect our borrowing costs and financial flexibility.
 
As of September 30, 2009, we had total consolidated debt outstanding of approximately $2.6 billion. A downgrade in the credit ratings of our debt would increase our borrowing costs and reduce our financial flexibility. In addition, certain downgrades would trigger a step-up in interest rates under the indenture for our 6.2% senior notes and our 7.0% senior notes, which would increase our interest expense. If we need to raise capital in the future, any credit rating downgrade could negatively affect our financing costs or access to financing sources.
 
We have entered into significant put and call arrangements which require us to pay substantial amounts to purchase shares in one of our associates. Those payments would reduce our liquidity and short-term cash flow.
 
In connection with many of our investments in our associates, we retain rights to increase our ownership percentages over time and, in some cases, the existing owners also have a right to put their shares to us. The put arrangements in place for shares of our associate, Gras Savoye, require us to pay substantial amounts to purchase those shares, which could decrease our liquidity and short-term cash flow.
 
The rights under the put arrangement may be exercised through 2011. Under the put arrangement, we will be required to buy shares of Gras Savoye increasing our voting rights from the 48 percent we currently hold up to 100 percent if all shareholders put their shares under this arrangement, subject to the pre-emption provisions set out in the bye-laws of Gras Savoye.
 
Following our initial acquisition of shares, we acquired an additional 5 percent of Gras Savoye at a cost of $25 million under these arrangements in September 2006, another 4 percent at a cost of $31 million in January 2008 and another 5 percent at a cost of $41 million at the end of December 2008. According to the put arrangement, the aggregate management shareholding may not fall below approximately 10% of Gras Savoye’s share capital while the management shareholders remain general partners of Gras Savoye. The current appointments of the relevant individuals will expire on December 31, 2009. Accordingly (and except


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in case of death, disability or retirement prior to such date), management shareholders will not have a general put right until January 1, 2010. Payments in connection with management put rights would not have exceeded $67 million if those rights had been fully exercised at December 31, 2008. In addition, we have a call option to move to majority ownership under certain circumstances and in any event from December 2009. Once we exercise this call option, the remaining Gras Savoye shareholders will have a put option to require us to purchase their shares.
 
Subject to the pre-emption provisions set out in the bye-laws of Gras Savoye, the incremental 42 percent of Gras Savoye shares held by shareholders (excluding the 10 percent holding of management shareholders described above) may be put to us at a price determined by a contractual formula based on earnings and revenue, which at December 31, 2008 would have amounted to approximately $285 million. The shareholders may put their shares individually at any time during the put period and the amounts we may have to pay in connection with the put arrangements may significantly exceed this estimate. In each case, we would have 90 days from the date of a notification from a shareholder who wished to put his shares to us to acquire those shares. The timing of any exercise of these put and call arrangements could have a material affect on our results of operations or cash flows for a particular quarter or annual period.
 
We have recently disclosed that we are in an exclusive arrangement with Astorg Partners to sell a portion of our interest in Gras Savoye pursuant to which we expect to eliminate the put option presently exercisable by the Gras Savoye shareholders. However, no definitive agreement with respect to any sale has been entered into by the parties. In addition, we have stated that we do not expect the other Gras Savoye shareholders to exercise their put options within the next twelve months. As a result of the significant uncertainties underlying these forward-looking statements, our inclusion of this information is not a representation and there is no guarantee that our objectives, plans or statements will be achieved.
 
Reorganization Risks
 
For purposes of these risk factors, “Transaction” refers to the transaction under the Reorganization whereby the common shares of Willis-Bermuda will be cancelled and shareholders will receive, on a one-for-one basis, new ordinary shares of Willis-Ireland. The Transaction will be effected by a scheme of arrangement under Bermuda law (the “Scheme of Arrangement”). References to the Reorganization include the Transaction and other related transactions as described in our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for a special court-ordered meeting regarding the proposed Transaction filed with the SEC on November 2, 2009 (the “Transaction Proxy Statement”).
 
Your rights as a shareholder will change as a result of the Transaction.
 
Because of differences between Irish law and Bermuda law and differences between the governing documents of Willis-Ireland and Willis-Bermuda, your rights as a shareholder will change if the Transaction is completed. For a description of these differences, please see the comparison chart of your rights as a common shareholder of Willis-Bermuda against your rights as an ordinary shareholder of Willis-Ireland, located in “Comparison of Rights of Shareholders and Powers of the Board of Directors” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.
 
Our effective tax rate may increase whether we effect the Reorganization or not.
 
While the Reorganization is not anticipated to have any material impact on our effective tax rate, there is uncertainty regarding the tax policies of the jurisdictions where we operate (which include the potential legislative actions described below), and our effective tax rate may increase and any such increase may be material. Additionally, the tax laws of Ireland and other jurisdictions could change in the future, and such changes could cause a material change in our effective tax rate.
 
Legislative and regulatory action could materially and adversely affect us.
 
If the Transaction is not completed, our tax position could be adversely impacted by changes in tax laws, tax treaties or tax regulations or the interpretation or enforcement thereof by any tax authority following the Transaction. For example, legislative action may be taken by the U.S. Congress which, if ultimately enacted,


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could override tax treaties upon which we rely or could broaden the circumstances under which we would be considered a U.S. resident regardless of whether we complete the Transaction, each of which could materially and adversely affect our effective tax rate and cash tax position. We cannot predict the outcome of any specific legislative proposals. However, if proposals were enacted that had the effect of disregarding all or some of the Transaction or limiting our ability to take advantage of tax treaties between Ireland and other jurisdictions (including the U.S.), we could be subjected to increased taxation. In addition, any future amendments to the current income tax treaties between Ireland and other jurisdictions could subject us to increased taxation.
 
As an Irish company following the Transaction, we will be required to comply with numerous Irish and EU legal requirements. Compliance with Irish and EU laws and regulations may incur additional costs and have a material and adverse effect on Willis’ financial condition and results of operations.
 
There continues to be negative publicity regarding, and criticism of, companies that conduct business in the U.S. and in other countries but are domiciled in countries that do not have a substantial network of commercial, tax and other treaties and trade agreements. We may become subject to criticism in connection with our proposed move to Ireland.
 
The Transaction will result in additional direct and indirect costs, even if it is not completed.
 
We will incur additional costs as a result of the Transaction, although we do not expect these costs to be material. Willis-Ireland has been incorporated in Ireland and is subject to Irish law. Our intention is that we will hold all of our regularly scheduled board of directors meetings and annual general meetings of shareholders in Ireland. We also expect to incur costs and expenses, including professional fees, to comply with Irish corporate and tax laws and financial reporting requirements. In addition, we expect to incur attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, filing fees, mailing expenses and financial printing expenses in connection with the Transaction, even if the Scheme of Arrangement is not approved or completed. The Transaction also may negatively affect us by diverting attention of our management and employees from our operating business during the period of implementation and by increasing other administrative costs and expenses.
 
We cannot guarantee that changes would not be made to the terms of our indentures in connection with obtaining the supplemental indentures required or necessary for the Reorganization.
 
We expect to seek consents or waivers and/or enter into supplemental indentures with respect to our existing indentures under which Willis-Ireland and/or certain of its subsidiaries will guarantee the obligations of the issuers of our notes and assume the obligations of a parent entity under the indentures. One of the conditions to consummation of the Transaction is that Willis-Ireland enter into the supplemental indentures on terms acceptable to us, although we may waive this condition. Please see “Proposal Number One: The Transaction — Conditions to Consummation of the Transaction” in the Transaction Proxy Statement. Although we expect that no material change would be made to the terms of our indentures in connection with obtaining the supplemental indentures, we cannot guarantee that there would not be any such material change. Please see “Proposal Number One: The Transaction — Supplemental Indentures” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.
 
We may choose to abandon or delay the Transaction.
 
We may abandon or delay the Transaction at any time prior to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective by action of our board of directors, even after the special court-ordered meeting and the sanction of the Supreme Court of Bermuda. While we currently expect to complete the Transaction as soon as practicable after obtaining shareholder approval of the Scheme of Arrangement at the meeting, our board of directors may delay the Transaction for a significant time or may abandon the Transaction after the meeting because, among other reasons, the Transaction is no longer in our best interest or the best interests of our shareholders or may not result in the benefits we expect, or our estimated cost of the Transaction increases. Additionally, we may not be able to obtain the requisite shareholder or court approvals. Please see “Proposal Number One: The Transaction — Amendment, Termination or Delay” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.


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If the common shareholders of Willis-Bermuda do not approve the distributable reserves proposal, Willis-Ireland may not be able to pay dividends or repurchase shares following the Transaction. In addition, there is no guarantee that Irish High Court approval of the creation of distributable reserves will be forthcoming.
 
Under Irish law, dividends must be paid and share repurchases must generally be funded out of “distributable reserves,” which Willis-Ireland will not have immediately following the Transaction Time. Please see “Description of Willis Group Holdings Public Limited Company Share Capital — Dividends” and “— Share Repurchases, Redemptions and Conversions” in the Transaction Proxy Statement. If the Scheme of Arrangement is approved, the common shareholders of Willis-Bermuda will also be asked at the special court-ordered meeting to approve the creation of distributable reserves of Willis-Ireland (through the reduction of the entire share premium account of Willis-Ireland or such lessor amount as may be determined by the board of directors of Willis-Ireland), in order to permit us to continue to pay quarterly dividends and repurchase shares following the Transaction. Approval of the distributable reserves proposal is not a condition to the Transaction, but is required under Irish law to continue our existing dividend payments. Accordingly, if the common shareholders of Willis-Bermuda approve the Scheme of Arrangement but do not approve the distributable reserves proposal, and the Transaction is consummated, Willis-Ireland may not have sufficient distributable reserves to pay dividends or to repurchase shares following the Transaction.
 
In addition, the creation of distributable reserves requires the approval of the Irish High Court. Although we are not aware of any reason why the Irish High Court would not approve the creation of distributable reserves, the issuance of the required order is a matter for the discretion of the Irish High Court and there is no guarantee that such approval will be forthcoming. Even if the Irish High Court does approve the creation of distributable reserves, it may take substantially longer than we anticipate and the Irish High Court may not approve the reduction of the entire share premium amount of Willis-Ireland. Please see “Proposal Number Two: Creation of Distributable Reserves” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.
 
As a result of different shareholder voting requirements in Ireland relative to Bermuda, we will have less flexibility with respect to certain aspects of capital management than we now have.
 
Under Bermuda law, our directors may issue, without shareholder approval, any common shares authorized in our memorandum of association that are not already issued. Irish law allows shareholders to authorize a board of directors to subsequently issue shares without shareholder approval for a period of five years. Additionally, subject to specified exceptions, Irish law grants statutory pre-emption rights to existing shareholders to subscribe for new issuances of shares for cash, but allows shareholders to authorize the waiver of such statutory pre-emption rights. In advance of the Transaction, the current shareholders of Willis-Ireland will have provided such authority to issue shares and waived these statutory pre-emption rights for a period of five years in each case. These authorizations must be renewed by the shareholders every five years and we cannot guarantee that these authorizations will always be approved, which could limit our ability to issue equity and thereby adversely affect the holders of our debt securities. As a result of these Irish law requirements, situations may arise where the flexibility we now have in Bermuda would have provided benefits to our shareholders that will not be available in Ireland.
 
As a result of different shareholder voting requirements in Ireland relative to Bermuda, we will have less flexibility with respect to our ability to amend our constituent documents than we now have.
 
Under Bermuda law and our current bye-laws, our bye-laws may be amended by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares, except for certain enumerated provisions. Irish law requires a special resolution of 75% of the shareholder votes cast at a general meeting for any amendment to the articles of association of Willis-Ireland. As a result of this Irish law requirement, situations may arise where the flexibility we now have in Bermuda would have provided benefits to our shareholders that will not be available in Ireland. Please see “Comparison of Rights of Shareholders and Powers of the Board of Directors — Amendment of Governing Documents” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.


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After the Transaction, attempted takeovers of Willis-Ireland will be subject to the Irish Takeover Rules and subject to review by the Irish Takeover Panel.
 
We will become subject to the Irish Takeover Rules, under which the board of directors of Willis-Ireland will not be permitted to take any action which might frustrate an offer for Willis-Ireland ordinary shares once the board of directors has received an approach which may lead to an offer or has reason to believe an offer is imminent. Further, it could be more difficult for Willis-Ireland to obtain shareholder approval for a merger or negotiated transaction after the Transaction because the shareholder approval requirements for certain types of transactions differ, and in some cases are greater, under Irish law than under Bermuda law. Please see “Comparison of Rights of Shareholders and Powers of the Board of Directors — Capitalization,” “— Pre-emption Rights, Share Warrants and Share Options” and “— Distributions and Dividends; Repurchases and Redemptions” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.
 
After the Transaction, a future transfer of your Willis-Ireland ordinary shares may be subject to Irish stamp duty.
 
In certain circumstances, the transfer of shares in an Irish incorporated company will be subject to Irish stamp duty which is a legal obligation of the buyer. This duty is currently at the rate of 1% of the price paid or the market value of the shares acquired, if higher. However, transfers of book-entry interests in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) representing Willis-Ireland shares should not be subject to Irish stamp duty. Accordingly, transfers by shareholders who hold their Willis-Ireland ordinary shares beneficially through brokers which in turn hold those shares through DTC, should not be subject to Irish stamp duty on transfers to holders who also hold through DTC. This exemption is available because our shares are traded on a recognized stock exchange in the U.S. Any transfer of Willis-Ireland ordinary shares which is subject to Irish stamp duty will not be registered in the name of the buyer unless an instrument of transfer is executed by or on behalf of the seller, is duly stamped and is provided to our transfer agent. Although in the majority of transactions there should be no stamp duty because the transaction is effected by transfer of book-entry interest through DTC, this additional risk for the buyer could adversely affect the price of our shares.
 
Any transfer of Willis-Ireland shares that is subject to Irish stamp duty will not be registered in the name of the buyer unless an instrument of transfer is duly stamped and provided to our transfer agent. Willis-Ireland’s articles of association allow Willis-Ireland, in its absolute discretion, to create an instrument of transfer and pay (or procure the payment of) any stamp duty payable by a buyer. In the event of any such payment, Willis-Ireland is (on behalf of itself or its affiliates) entitled to (i) seek reimbursement from the buyer or seller (at its discretion), (ii) set-off the amount of the stamp duty against future dividends payable to the buyer or seller (at its discretion), and (iii) claim a lien against the Willis-Ireland shares on which it has paid stamp duty. Parties to a share transfer may assume that any stamp duty arising in respect of a transaction in Willis-Ireland shares has been paid unless one or both of such parties is otherwise notified by us.
 
After the Transaction, dividends received by you may be subject to Irish dividend withholding tax.
 
In certain circumstances, as an Irish tax resident company, Willis-Ireland may be required to deduct Irish dividend withholding tax (currently at the rate of 20%) from dividends paid to its shareholders. Shareholders resident in “relevant territories” (including countries that are EU member states (other than Ireland), the U.S. and other countries with which Ireland has signed a tax treaty whether that treaty has been ratified or not) should not be subject to Irish withholding tax provided that, in each case, they complete certain tax forms. However, some shareholders may be subject to withholding tax, which could adversely affect the price of Willis-Ireland’s shares. Please see “Material Tax Considerations — Irish Tax Considerations — Withholding Tax on Dividends” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.
 
After the Transaction, dividends received by you could be subject to Irish income tax.
 
Dividends paid in respect of Willis-Ireland shares will generally not be subject to Irish income tax where the beneficial owner of these dividends is exempt from dividend withholding tax, unless the beneficial owner of the dividend has some connection with Ireland other than his or her shareholding in Willis-Ireland. Willis-


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Ireland shareholders who receive their dividends subject to Irish dividend withholding tax will generally have no further liability to Irish income tax on the dividend unless the beneficial owner of the dividend has some connection with Ireland other than his or her shareholding in Willis-Ireland. Please see “Material Tax Considerations — Irish Tax Considerations — Income Tax on Dividends Paid on Willis Shares” in the Transaction Proxy Statement.
 
Willis recommends that each shareholder consult his or her own tax advisor as to the tax consequences of holding shares in and receiving dividends from Willis.
 
The market for the Willis-Ireland shares may differ from the market for the Willis-Bermuda shares.
 
We intend to list the Willis-Ireland ordinary shares on the NYSE under the symbol “WSH,” the same trading symbol as the Willis-Bermuda common shares. The market price, trading volume or volatility of the Willis-Ireland ordinary shares could be different than those of the Willis-Bermuda shares.
 
Item 2 — Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
On November 1, 2007, the Board authorized a new share buyback program for $1 billion. This replaced the previous $1 billion buyback program and its remaining $308 million authorization. The program is an open-ended plan to repurchase the Company’s shares from time to time in the open market or through negotiated sales with persons who are not affiliates of the Company. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, there were no shares repurchased. At September 30, 2009, $925 million remains under the program for future repurchases.
 
                                 
                      Maximum
 
                      Number (or
 
                      Approximate
 
                Total Number
    Dollar Value)
 
                of Shares
    of Shares that
 
                Purchased as
    May Yet Be
 
                Part of Publicly
    Purchased
 
    Total Number
          Announced
    Under the
 
    of Shares
    Average Price
    Plans or
    Plans or the
 
Period
  Purchased     Paid Per Share     Programs     Programs  
 
July 2009
                       
August 2009(1)
    1.6 million     $ 2.04       1.6 million        
September 2009
                       
 
 
(1) The Company filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, dated July 8, 2009 and as amended on July 23, 2009 and August 7, 2009, with the SEC to repurchase for cash approximately 2.6 million outstanding eligible options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.000115 per share. The tender offer expired on August 6, 2009.
 
Item 3 — Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.
 
Item 4 — Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
None.
 
Item 5 — Other Information
 
None.


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Item 6 — Exhibits
 
         
  31 .1   Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
  31 .2   Certification Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)
  32 .1   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
  32 .2   Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350


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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 Group Holdings Limited
(Registrant)
 
  By: 
/s/  Patrick C. Regan
Patrick C. Regan
Group Chief Operating Officer and
Group Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
 
Dated: November 6, 2009


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