| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
On December 1, 2021, Willis Towers Watson plc (“WTW”) entered into a definitive Closing Letter Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (“Gallagher”) that, among other matters, amends certain provisions of the Security and Asset Purchase Agreement (“SAPA”), dated as of August 13, 2021, by and between WTW and Gallagher, pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the SAPA, Gallagher agreed to purchase WTW’s business known as “Willis Re” (the “Transaction”), to reflect the passage of time and certain other matters mutually agreed by the parties.
A copy of the Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the descriptions of the material terms of the Agreement in this Item 1.01 are qualified in their entirety by reference to such Exhibit, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Agreement is not intended to provide any other factual information about the parties thereto. The Agreement is included with this filing only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Agreement, and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding WTW or Gallagher or their respective businesses.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| * | Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. WTW hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted exhibits and schedules upon request by the SEC; provided, however, that WTW may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any exhibits or schedules so furnished. |
Safe Harbor Statement
This communication and related oral communications contain certain statements that are forward-looking in nature, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather current expectations of management about future events. Forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “plans,” “expects,” “is subject to,” “budget,” “scheduled,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “looking forward”, “potential,” “probably”, “continue,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” or variations of such words, and statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. WTW management gives no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.
These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of WTW’s operations, the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and expectations related to the Transaction. All statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities, events or developments that WTW expects or anticipates may occur in the future, including such things as its or their outlook, future capital expenditures, growth in commissions and fees, changes to the composition or level of its or their revenues, cash flow and liquidity, expected tax rates, business strategies, competitive strengths, goals, the benefits of new initiatives, growth of its or their business and operations, plans, references to future successes, and expectations with respect to the benefits of the Transaction are forward-looking statements.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from either historical or anticipated results depending on a variety of factors. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in or anticipated by the forward-looking statements: changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax laws, regulations, rates and policies; general economic and political conditions in different countries in which WTW does business around the world, including the U.K.’s withdrawal from the European Union; changes in the competitive environment or damage to WTW’s reputation; fluctuations in exchange and interest rates that could influence revenue and expenses; changes in global equity and fixed income markets that could affect the return on invested assets; changes in the funding status of WTW’s various defined benefit pension plans and the impact of any increased pension funding resulting from those changes; the level of WTW’s debt limiting financial flexibility or increasing borrowing costs; rating agency actions that could affect WTW’s ability to borrow funds; volatility in WTW’s tax rate due to a variety of different factors, including U.S. tax reform; changes in estimates or assumptions on WTW’s financial statements; limits on WTW’s subsidiaries to make dividend and other payments to WTW, as applicable; the impact of lawsuits and other contingent liabilities and loss contingencies arising from
