All accounting guidance included within the Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘FASB’) Accounting Standards Codification (‘ASC’) and related Accounting Standards Updates (‘ASU’s’) has been adopted by the divested businesses at the same date as WTW, a publicly-traded entity. As such, certain standards have been adopted prior to their required deadlines.
Risks and Uncertainties Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on global commercial activity, including the global supply chain, and has contributed to significant volatility in the global financial markets including, among other effects, occasional declines in the equity markets, changes in interest rates and reduced liquidity on a global basis. In light of the effects on Willis Re DivestCo’s own business operations and those of their clients, suppliers and other third parties with whom they interact, WTW regularly considered the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses, taking into account their business resilience and continuity plans, financial modeling and stress testing of liquidity and financial resources. Generally, the COVID-19 pandemic did not have an adverse impact on Willis Re DivestCo’s overall financial results during 2020.
The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the divested businesses and their financial positions will depend on future developments, which are difficult to predict. These future developments may include the severity and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak, which may unexpectedly change or worsen, and the types and duration of measures imposed by governmental authorities to contain the virus or address its impact. The divested businesses continue to expect that the COVID-19 pandemic will not have a material impact on their financial position.
Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates — These combined financial statements conform to U.S. GAAP, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as well as disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Willis Re DivestCo’s estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates and allocations are used when accounting for revenue recognition and related costs, the selection of useful lives of fixed and intangible assets, impairment testing, valuation of billed receivables from clients, discretionary compensation, income taxes, pension assumptions, amounts due to or from related parties, legal reserves and goodwill and intangible assets.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accrued expenses, and amounts due to or from related parties approximate their fair values because of the short maturity and liquidity of those instruments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents — The divested businesses maintain separate cash accounts, including cash accounts that are swept periodically into accounts managed and held by the Parent. Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of time deposits with original maturities of 90 days or less. In certain countries in which Willis Re DivestCo conducts business, it is subject to capital adequacy requirements. Term deposits and certificates of deposit with original maturities greater than 90 days are considered to be short-term investments.
Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities — The divested businesses collect premiums from insureds and, after deducting commissions, remit the premiums to the respective insurers. The divested businesses also collect claims or refunds from insurers on behalf of insureds. Each of these transactions is reported on the Willis Re DivestCo combined balance sheet as assets and corresponding liabilities unless such balances are due to or from the same party and a right of offset exists, in which case the balances are recorded net.
Fiduciary assets on the combined balance sheet are comprised of both fiduciary funds and fiduciary receivables:
Fiduciary Funds – Unremitted insurance premiums and claims are recorded within fiduciary assets on the combined balance sheet. Fiduciary funds are generally required to be kept in certain regulated bank accounts subject to guidelines which emphasize capital preservation and liquidity. Such funds are not available to service any WTW debt or for other corporate purposes. Notwithstanding the legal relationships with insureds and insurers, the divested businesses are entitled to retain investment income earned on fiduciary funds in accordance with industry custom and practice and, in some cases, as supported by agreements with insureds. The period for which the divested businesses hold such funds is dependent upon the dates the insureds remit the payment of the premiums to the divested businesses, or the dates the divested businesses receive refunds from the insurers, and the dates the divested businesses are required to forward such payments to the insurers or insureds, respectively.
Fiduciary receivables – Uncollected premiums from insureds and uncollected claims or refunds from insurers are recorded as fiduciary assets on the combined balance sheet. In certain instances, the divested businesses advance premiums, refunds or claims to insurance underwriters or insureds prior to collection. Such advances are made from fiduciary funds and are reflected in the combined balance sheet as fiduciary assets.
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