Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt Complete Merger to Form Towers Watson
January 03 2010 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
NEW YORK, Jan. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Towers Watson & Co.
announced today the completion of the merger of Towers Perrin and
Watson Wyatt. The transaction to form Towers Watson, a leading
global professional services company, was announced on June 28,
2009. Watson Wyatt Chief Executive Officer John Haley will serve as
Towers Watson's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Towers Perrin
Chief Executive Officer Mark Mactas will serve as Deputy Chairman,
President and Chief Operating Officer. "We are delighted to
finalize the merger and look forward to bringing a broader
portfolio of services to our clients," said John Haley. "When it
comes to managing costs, risks and people, the world is growing
more complex every day. Towers Watson is uniquely positioned to
help our clients gain the perspective necessary to take the right
actions to drive business results." The merger follows receipt of
all necessary regulatory authorizations and approval of the
transaction by the companies' respective shareholders on December
18, 2009. Towers Watson's Class A common stock will be listed on
both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ under the ticker symbol
"TW" as of January 4, 2010. Trading of Watson Wyatt's Class A
common stock under the previous ticker symbol (WW) will be
discontinued at that time. Based on the closing price of Watson
Wyatt common stock on December 31, 2009, the implied value of the
transaction is $4 billion. "Towers Watson builds on shared values
of integrity, professional excellence and collaboration with a
strong clients-first orientation," said Mark Mactas. "With our
combined experience, and breadth and depth of skills, we will be
able to provide greater insight as we work with our clients and
greater opportunities for our people and our shareholders." As a
result of the merger, Towers Watson expects to issue approximately
46.9 million shares of Class A common stock, as well as
approximately 29.5 million shares of Class B common stock, which
will be subject to transfer restrictions and will generally convert
into freely-tradable shares of Class A common stock on a
one-for-one basis over the next four years. Towers Watson will also
pay $200 million in cash and issue one-year promissory notes in an
aggregate principal amount of $200 million to certain former Towers
Perrin shareholders who have voluntarily elected to terminate their
employment with Towers Watson. For further information on Towers
Watson's capitalization and the consideration being issued as a
result of the merger, see Towers Watson's Current Report on Form
8-K, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on January 4, 2010. Towers Watson will be headquartered
in New York City. About Towers Watson Towers Watson
(NYSE:TWNASDAQ:TW) is a leading global professional services
company that helps organizations improve performance through
effective people, risk and financial management. The company offers
solutions in the areas of employee benefits, talent management,
rewards, and risk and capital management. Towers Watson has 14,000
associates around the world and is located on the Web at
towerswatson.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", "would", "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, as well as other
statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based
upon the current beliefs and expectations of Towers Perrin's and
Watson Wyatt's 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 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 company's 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 company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. Additional risks and factors
are identified under "Risk Factors" in the joint proxy
statement/prospectus included in the amended registration statement
on Form S-4/A filed by Jupiter Saturn Holding Company on November
9, 2009 with the Commission and under "Risk Factors" in Watson
Wyatt's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on August 14, 2009 with
the Commission. 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. Towers Watson undertakes no 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. DATASOURCE: Towers Watson & Co. CONTACT: Media, Joe
Conway, +1-914-745-4175, , or David Popper, +1-703-258-7582, ; or
Investors, Mary Malone, +1-703-258-7841, Web Site:
http://www.towerswatson.com/
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