Towers Watson & Co. News

Willis to Join S&P’s 500 Index on Jan. 4

Willis Group Holdings Plc, the insurance broker that’s planning a merger with consulting firm Towers Watson & Co., will join the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index and replace Fossil Group Inc. Willis climbed 4.8 percent to $49.30 at 9:45 a.m., …

Towers Watson Shareholders ‘Should Reject’ New Willis Deal, Says Proxy Adviser

Towers Watson & Co. shareholders should vote against an $8.9 billion merger with Willis Group Holdings Plc even after the insurance broker increased the offer amid a backlash from investors, proxy adviser Glass Lewis & Co. said in a report. …

Tower Watson Sweetens Willis Merger Offer by Doubling Special Dividend to $10

Willis Group Holdings Plc, the third-largest insurance broker, agreed to better terms for Towers Watson & Co. shareholders in a proposed merger after the consulting firm’s investors said that a June agreement was inadequate. The one-time cash dividend will be …

Willis Weighs Increasing Offer for Towers Watson, Amid Opposition to Deal

Willis Group Holdings is considering increasing its offer for Towers Watson & Co after failing to muster enough shareholder support for its $18 billion merger with the human resources consultancy, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Earlier today, …

ISS Advice on Willis-Towers Deal ‘Encourages’ Short-Term Shareholder Activism

Institutional Shareholder Services’ recommendation that Towers Watson & Co. investors vote against the proposed merger with Willis Group Holdings Plc is legitimizing short-term shareholder activism, ValueAct Capital Management said. The report encourages “bumpitrage,” which is where shareholder activists purchase the …

Willis ‘Disappointed’ that Tower Watson Shareholders Advised to Reject Merger

Willis Group Holdings plc said it was “disappointed” that Institutional Shareholder Services last week recommended Tower Watson shareholders reject the proposed merger with Willis. “[W]e are disappointed with their conclusion that Towers Watson shareholders should not support the merger. We …

Towers Watson Investors ‘Should Reject’ Merger with Willis: Advisers

Towers Watson & Co. investors should reject a planned merger with insurance broker Willis Group Holdings Plc, proxy advisers Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis & Co. said. The consulting firm’s holders should seek improved merger terms, or “the better …

Towers Watson Shareholders Plan to Vote Against Merger with Willis: Sources

Stakeholders who own millions of shares in Towers Watson & Co. are planning to vote against the firm’s $8.7 billion merger with Willis Group Holdings Plc if the terms of the transactions are not improved, people with knowledge of the …

Marsh & McLennan Seeks Ways to Cut Tax as Competitors Shift to London

Marsh & McLennan Cos., the largest insurance broker by market value, is seeking ways to cut tax obligations as rivals shift to Europe, where rates are lower. “The search for tax efficiency for us started several years ago,” Dan Glaser, …

Willis CEO, Casserley, Opts Against Taking Severance Pay in Towers Watson Deal

Willis Group Holdings plc’s chief executive officer, who is taking a lesser role under the insurance broker’s planned merger with Towers Watson & Co., has opted against taking some compensation that he was entitled to get. “Dominic Casserley will not …