Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt to
Combine to Form Towers Watson
- June 28
Press
Release
Combined Company Positioned for Sustainable Growth and
Profitability with a Broader Portfolio and Wider Geographic
Footprint
STAMFORD, CT & ARLINGTON, VA, June 28, 2009 — Towers, Perrin,
Forster & Crosby, Inc. and Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE,
NASDAQ: WW) today announced that their respective Boards of
Directors have unanimously approved a definitive agreement under
which Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt will combine in a merger of
equals to form a new, publicly listed company called Towers Watson
& Co. Based on the closing price of Watson Wyatt common stock on
June 26, 2009, the implied equity value of the transaction is
approximately $3.5 billion. Watson Wyatt Chief Executive Officer
John Haley will serve the combined company as Chief Executive
Officer; Towers Perrin Chief Executive Officer Mark Mactas will
serve as President.
gThe combination of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt into Towers
Watson will create one of the worldfs leading professional services
firms, well positioned for sustained growth and profitability across
all geographies and business segments,h said Mr. Haley. gThe
combination will further strengthen our core service lines while
offering our clients an enhanced portfolio of proven offerings
across a range of financial, risk and people management areas.
Towers Watson will have tremendous global reach and service breadth
to meet the growing needs of the worldfs largest multinational
corporations. As we provide more value for our clients, we in turn
create value for our people and our shareholders.h
Mark Mactas, Chief Executive Officer of Towers Perrin, said,
gThis is an important transaction for our respective organizations
that positions us well for a future of accelerated growth and higher
levels of profitability. The fit between our firms is excellent,
starting with a deep commitment to client service and shared values
of integrity, professionalism and respect. Our service lines and
geographic strengths are also highly complementary, which creates
great opportunities for growth. We couldnft be more excited about
this combination, which will change the landscape of our industry.h
Towers Watson, which is expected to have annual revenues in
excess of $3 billion, will benefit from the scale of the combined
companies and anticipates approximately $80 million in pretax annual
synergies. While significant savings are expected during the first
two years following completion of the transaction, it is anticipated
that full realization of synergies will take three years and cost
approximately $80 million. Towers Watson will also have significant
non-cash expenses during the first two years following completion of
the transaction. The transaction is expected to be accretive to
diluted earnings per share within three years following the
consummation of the transaction.
Strategic & Financial Benefits of the Transaction
- Strengthened Organizational Capabilities: Towers Watson
will be stronger than the sum of its parts, positioned for
industry leadership long into the future and a more effective
competitor that can provide additional services to our existing
and prospective clients.
- Expanded Global Presence with Geographically Diverse
Revenue Base: The combination will expand our global footprint
to optimize service, global reach, and seamless delivery for our
clients. Towers Watson will operate within four geographic
regions: North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa),
Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
- Enhanced Products and Services: Towers Watson will
focus its operations on three segments: Benefits, Talent and
Rewards, and Risk and Financial Services. These will build on
existing thought leadership and research, and will be supported by
a more comprehensive set of services, from strategic advice to
solutions and implementation.
We believe that these benefits will lead to:
- Increased Growth and Revenue: For our shareholders, we
expect to deliver economies of scale, diversification of our
current businesses, and increased growth and investment potential.
- Greater Depth of Talent for Our Clients: We expect to
provide broader solutions and a deeper talent pool across a wider
geographic footprint.
- Greater Opportunities for Our People: For our people,
there will be an expanded set of career opportunities, a stronger
brand, greater access to resources, and a broader network of
colleagues.
- Increased Profitability through Operating Synergies:
Towers Watson expects to have an annual earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (gEBITDAh) margin
of 17%+ post-integration. We expect $80 million potential cost
synergies on a year three run rate, with $80 million in expected
one-time costs.
Transaction Terms
Under the terms of the agreement, Watson Wyatt shareholders will
be entitled to receive fifty percent of the combined companyfs
shares on a fully diluted basis. Towers Watson shares issued to
Watson Wyatt shareholders in the merger will be freely tradable.
Towers Perrin shareholders, who are all active employees of
Towers Perrin, plus a group of Towers Perrin employees to be
designated to receive certain equity incentive awards, will be
entitled to receive fifty percent of the combined companyfs shares
on a fully diluted basis. Towers Watson shares issued to Towers
Perrin shareholders will be restricted shares that become freely
tradable over a period of one to four years.
Conference Call
The companies will host a live webcast and conference call on
Monday, June 29, 2009 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss
the transaction. The webcast can be accessed via the Internet by
going to the Investor Relations section of www.watsonwyatt.com. A replay
will be available after the live call and may be accessed via either
companyfs website at www.towersperrin.com or www.watsonwyatt.com.
Approvals and Time to Close
The transaction is subject to approval by each companyfs
shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions
and regulatory review and approvals, including competition reviews
in the U.S. and other countries. Subject to satisfaction of these
conditions, the companies anticipate a shareholder vote in the
fourth quarter of 2009 and a closing date as soon as possible
thereafter.
Advisors
Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as financial advisor and
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is acting as legal advisor
to Towers Perrin. Banc of America Merrill Lynch Securities is acting
as financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is acting
as legal advisor to Watson Wyatt.
About Towers Perrin
Towers Perrin is a global professional services firm that helps
organizations improve performance through effective people, risk and
financial management. The firm provides innovative solutions in the
areas of human capital strategy, program design and management, and
in the areas of risk and capital management, insurance and
reinsurance intermediary services, and actuarial consulting. Towers
Perrin has 6,300 employees located in 26 countries and is located on
the Web at www.towersperrin.com.
About Watson Wyatt
Watson Wyatt (NYSE, NASDAQ: WW) is the trusted business partner
to the world's leading organizations on people and financial issues.
The firmfs global services include: managing the cost and
effectiveness of employee benefit programs; developing attraction,
retention and reward strategies; advising pension plan sponsors and
other institutions on optimal investment strategies; providing
strategic and financial advice to insurance and financial services
companies; and delivering related technology, outsourcing and data
services. Watson Wyatt has 7,700 associates in 34 countries and is
located on the Web at www.watsonwyatt.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You
can identify these statements and other forward-looking statements
in this document by words such as "may", "will", gwouldh, "expect",
"anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "intend", "continue",
or similar words, expressions or the negative of such terms or other
comparable terminology. These statements include, but are not
limited to, the benefits of the business combination transaction
involving Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt, including the combined
companyfs future financial and operating results, plans, objectives,
expectations and intentions and other statements that are not
historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs
and expectations of Towers Perrinfs and Watson Wyattfs management
and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual
results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking
statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results
to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements:
the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on
the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of Towers Perrin
shareholders and Watson Wyatt stockholders to approve the
transaction; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated
successfully; the risk that anticipated cost savings and any other
synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take
longer to realize than expected; the ability to recruit and retain
qualified employees and to retain client relationships; the combined
companyfs ability to make acquisitions, on which its growth depends,
and its ability to integrate or manage such acquired businesses; and
the risk that a significant or prolonged economic downturn could
have a material adverse effect on the combined companyfs business,
financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and
factors are identified under "Risk Factors" in Watson Wyattfs Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed on August 15, 2008, which is on file with
the SEC, and under "Risk Factors" in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus that will be filed by the Jupiter Saturn
Holding Company.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as
predictions of future events because these statements are based on
assumptions that may not come true and are speculative by their
nature. None of the Jupiter Saturn Holding Company, Towers Perrin or
Watson Wyatt undertakes an obligation to update any of the
forward-looking information included in this document, whether as a
result of new information, future events, changed expectations or
otherwise.
Where You Can Find Additional Information
This press release was issued on June 28, 2009. Towers Perrin and
Watson Wyatt have formed a company, the Jupiter Saturn Holding
Company (the "Holding Company"), which will file a registration
statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") that will contain a joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the
proposed transaction. YOU ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND THE OTHER
RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE COMMISSION BECAUSE THEY WILL
CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT TOWERS PERRIN, WATSON WYATT, THE
HOLDING COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. You will be able to
obtain the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when it becomes
available) and the other documents filed with the Commission free of
charge at the Commissionfs website, www.sec.gov. In addition, you
may obtain free copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when
it becomes available) and the other documents filed by Towers
Perrin, Watson Wyatt and the Holding Company with the Commission by
requesting them in writing from Towers Perrin, One Stamford Plaza,
263 Tresser Boulevard, Stamford, CT. 06901-3225, Attention:
Marketing, or by telephone at 203-326-5400, or from Watson Wyatt,
901 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA. 22203, Attention: Investor
Relations, or by telephone at 703-258-8000.
Towers Perrin, Watson Wyatt, the Holding Company and their
respective directors and executive officers may be deemed under the
rules of the Commission to be participants in the solicitation of
proxies from the stockholders of Watson Wyatt. A list of the names
of those directors and executive officers and descriptions of their
interests in Towers Perrin, Watson Wyatt and the Holding Company
will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus which will
be filed by the Holding Company with the Commission. Stockholders
may obtain additional information about the interests of the
directors and executive officers in the proposed transaction by
reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes
available.
Source: Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt
Contacts:
Towers Perrin Media:
Joe Conway
914-745-4175
joseph.p.conway@towersperrin.com
Watson Wyatt Media:
David Popper
703-258-7582
david.popper@watsonwyatt.com
Investors:
Mary Malone
703-258-7841
mary.malone@watsonwyatt.com