Global consultancy Willis Towers Watson is rebranding as WTW. “Since 2016 we have been known as Willis Towers Watson, the combination of Willis and Towers Watson,” said Carl Hess (pictured), WTW chief executive officer, while leading the Nasdaq’s market opening bell ringing ceremony on Jan. 25. “Now we move forward as WTW, both a celebration […]
Aon and Willis Towers Watson are confirming the European Commission’s conditional approval of the two companies’ proposed merger. “This is a major step that demonstrates continued progress toward obtaining regulatory clearances for the proposed combination,” said the companies, in a press release. “Both firms operate across broad, competitive areas of the economy and believe this approval affirms […]
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration is suing to block the merger of two of the world’s largest insurance brokers, asserting the deal could eliminate competition, raise prices and hamper innovation for American businesses, employers and unions that use the companies’ services. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the antitrust suit filed in federal […]
Aon is selling its U.S. retirement business to Aquiline Capital Partners and its retiree health exchange business to Alight Solutions for a total of US$1.4 billion. The sales are intended to address questions raised by the U.S. Department of Justice ahead of the pending merger of Aon and Willis Towers Watson, according to a press […]
General Motors of Canada Co. is transferring the longevity risk for $1.8 billion in pension plan liabilities through a group annuity buyout. Jennifer Wright, director of communications at GM Canada, said in a statement that the automaker has been taking steps to reduce risk and strengthen its retirement plans with a view to protecting the […]
Long before the global pandemic, jurisdictions across Canada were embarking on pension solvency reform, with some moving from strict 100 per cent solvency funding requirements to going-concern plus models, which incorporate a funding cushion. Low interest rates, which make solvency funding very expensive, have been a key driver pushing the going-concern plus model, says Dean […]
Aon and Willis Towers Watson’s proposed merger has received approval by their respective shareholders. The merger, announced in March, remains subject to customary regulatory and other closing conditions. It’s expected to close in the first half of 2021. Upon closing, Willis Towers Watson shareholders will receive 1.08 Aon shares in exchange for each Willis Towers […]
At the time of my last column in May, many pension plan sponsors were catching their breath after watching funding levels take a roller coaster ride. After a steep drop earlier in the year, funding levels were slowly recovering. However, market uncertainty remained and it wasn’t clear what was coming next. Thankfully the last few […]
The top three extreme risks for investors to watch are global temperature change, global trade collapse and cyber warfare, according to a new report by Willis Towers Watson’s Thinking Ahead Institute. In the report, extreme risks are considered events that are highly unlikely to occur — but could have a large impact on economic growth […]
After increasing by 15.1 per cent in 2017, the assets under management of the world’s 300 largest pension funds fell by 0.4 per cent in 2018, according to data from Willis Towers Watson’s Thinking Ahead Institute. It found the 300 funds’ total assets under management was US$18 trillion for the year. “A tougher market environment […]