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8-K - TOWERS WATSON & CO. 8-K - Towers Watson & Co.a50556188.htm

Exhibit 99.1

Towers Watson Reports Strong Second Quarter Earnings

  • Revenue increased 8% over prior year (8% constant currency)
  • Diluted EPS of $1.15, an increase of 25% over prior year
  • Adjusted Diluted EPS of $1.48, an increase of 10% over prior year

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 7, 2013--Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: TW), a leading global professional services company, today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013, which ended December 31, 2012.

Total revenues were $946 million for the quarter, an increase of 8% (8% constant currency) from $880 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2012. On an organic basis, which excludes the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, acquisitions and divestitures, revenues increased 6% from the prior-year second quarter. The ERP deployment related receivables and reserve issues normalized this quarter for all Segments and accounted for about one percentage point of total company revenue growth.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $178 million, or 18.9% of revenues, versus $172 million, or 19.5% of revenues, for the prior-year second quarter. Adjusted EBITDA excludes transaction and integration expenses and non-cash stock-based compensation arising from merger and acquisition activity.

Net income attributable to controlling interests for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $82 million, an increase from $67 million for the prior-year second quarter. For the quarter, diluted earnings per share were $1.15 and adjusted diluted earnings per share were $1.48. Adjusted diluted earnings per share exclude transaction and integration costs, non-cash stock-based compensation arising from merger and acquisition activity, amortization of merger and acquisition accounting intangible assets and non-recurring other income. The tax rate for the quarter was 31%.

“I’m very pleased with the second quarter results. We normalized the receivable and reserve issues, completed a very successful enrollment season in Exchange Solutions and saw strong growth in many of our lines of business. I’m particularly excited about the growth we saw in the Benefits segment,” said John Haley, chief executive officer. “Not only are we well positioned to achieve our long-term growth objectives in our consulting and services businesses, but I’m also very excited about the future of Exchange Solutions. It’s been an exciting week for Exchange Solutions. We launched OneExchange, the industry’s first health benefits solution that leverages both private and public health insurance exchanges to help employers transform how they deliver health coverage for their active workers and retirees. We also announced a strategic alliance with Fidelity to provide retiring participants who are coming off company sponsored health plan coverage access to resources and support to get quality coverage. We are thrilled to be working with Fidelity, one of the world’s largest providers of financial services.”


Second Quarter Company Highlights

Benefits

For the quarter, the Benefits segment had revenues of $519 million, an increase of 9% (10% increase constant currency) from $476 million in the prior-year second quarter. Retirement, Technology and Administration Solutions and International all had double digit constant currency revenue growth this quarter. In the Americas region, Retirement had constant currency revenue growth in the teens, driven by “Bulk Lump Sum” projects, the work on payouts that relate to client pension de-risking efforts. Health and Group Benefits had high-single digit constant currency revenue growth this quarter. The Benefits segment had a Net Operating Income (“NOI”) margin of 36% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Risk and Financial Services

For the quarter, the Risk and Financial Services segment had revenues of $208 million, an increase of 1% (1% increase constant currency) from $205 million in the prior-year second quarter. Investment Consulting had low-double digit constant currency revenue growth in all regions. Risk Consulting and Software and Brokerage both had single digit percentage constant currency revenue declines. The Risk and Financial Services segment had an NOI margin of 22% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Talent and Rewards

For the quarter, the Talent and Rewards segment had revenues of $176 million, an increase of 4% (5% increase constant currency) from $169 million in the prior-year second quarter. Executive Compensation led the segment with constant currency revenue growth in the mid-teens, driven by regulation and governance activity in EMEA. Rewards, Talent and Communication constant currency revenues increased by mid-single digits. Data, Surveys and Technology constant currency revenues declined by low-single digits. The Talent and Rewards segment had an NOI margin of 34% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The first half of the year typically has stronger margins due to the seasonality of the business.

Exchange Solutions

Exchange Solutions’ economic model drives very different seasonality of financial results than our general consulting and brokerage business and impacts year over year comparisons. The Exchange Solutions business incurs significant costs in the first half of the fiscal year to enroll new members, while commission revenues are recognized over the annual policy period. Most policies have an effective date of January 1. Exchange Solutions decreased the company’s diluted earnings per share by $0.18 and adjusted diluted earnings per share by $0.12, including the interest charges associated with financing the Extend Health acquisition.

For the quarter, the Exchange Solutions segment had revenues of $16 million, net of deferral revenue required by purchase accounting rules. For the quarter, on a proforma basis, excluding the impact of the $5 million deferred revenue write-off from the acquired balance sheet required by purchase accounting rules, revenues grew by 33%. The Exchange Solutions segment had a net operating loss of $10 million and an NOI margin of (64%) for the quarter. The second half of the fiscal year is seasonally stronger due to the timing of enrollments.


Outlook for Fiscal 2013

For fiscal 2013, the company expects to report revenues in the range of $3.60 billion to $3.65 billion, reflecting constant currency revenue growth in the range of 6% to 7%, and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $5.28 to $5.38. This guidance assumes an average exchange rate of 1.60 U.S. dollars to the British Pound and 1.30 U.S. dollars to the Euro for fiscal 2013.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the company expects to report revenues in the range of $940 million to $960 million, reflecting constant currency revenue growth in the range of 4% to 6%, and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.46 to $1.51.

Conference Call

The company will host a live webcast and conference call to discuss the financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2013. It will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, and can be accessed via the Internet at www.towerswatson.com. The replay of the call will be available shortly after the live call for a period of three months. A telephonic replay will also be available for two weeks after the call by dialing 617-801-6888 and using confirmation number 30322967.

About Towers Watson

Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ: 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 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 www.towerswatson.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

In order to assist readers of our financial statements in understanding the company’s core operating results, we present (1) Adjusted EBITDA, (2) Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Controlling Interests, and (3) Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share (which are all non-U.S. GAAP measures), to eliminate the effect of acquisition-related expenses from the financial results of our operations. The company’s management uses these measures to evaluate the performance of the business and for financial planning. The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before non-controlling interests adjusted for provision for income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization, transaction and integration expenses, merger related stock-based compensation and other non-operating income. We use Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Controlling Interests (the numerator) for the purpose of calculating Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share. The company believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are relevant and useful measures widely used by analysts, investors and other interested parties in our industry to provide a baseline for evaluating and comparing our operating results.


Since the merger in January 2010, we have incurred significant acquisition-related expenses related to the transaction and integration activities necessary to combine Watson Wyatt and Towers Perrin. These acquisition-related expenses include transaction and integration costs, severance costs, non-cash charges for amortization of intangible assets, and stock-based compensation costs from the issuance of merger-related restricted shares. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are important in illustrating what our operating results would have been had we not incurred these acquisition-related expenses. We consider Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share to be important financial measures, which we use to internally evaluate and assess our core operations, and benchmark our operating results against our competitors. We use Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate and measure performance under our performance-based compensation plans.

Reconciliations of net income before non-controlling interests to Adjusted EBITDA and Diluted Earnings Per Share to Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are included in the accompanying tables to today’s press release.

Each of these non-U.S. GAAP measures is not defined in the same manner by all companies, and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Non-U.S. GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, the information contained within our financial statements.

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. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Towers Watson'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 anticipated cost savings and any other synergies from the merger of Towers Perrin and Watson Wyatt may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the ability to successfully make and integrate profitable acquisitions; the risk that the acquisition of Extend Health is not profitable or is not otherwise successfully integrated; the ability to successfully address issues surrounding the number of company shares that will become freely tradable on January 1, 2014; the risk that potential changes in federal and state health care regulations, or future interpretation of existing regulations, may have a material adverse impact on our business; the risk that our newly-acquired Extend Health business fails to maintain good relationships with insurance carriers, becomes dependent upon a limited number of insurance carriers or fails to develop new insurance carrier relationships; the risk that changes and developments in the health insurance system in the United States could harm our business; our ability to respond to rapid technological changes; the ability to recruit and retain qualified employees; and to retain client relationships, particularly in the executive compensation business, given recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory actions; and the risk that a significant or prolonged economic downturn could have a material adverse effect on Towers Watson's business, financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and factors are identified under “Risk Factors” in Towers Watson’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

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 does not undertake 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.


 
TOWERS WATSON & CO.
Supplemental Segment Information
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
(Unaudited)
             
 
Segment Revenue
 
Revenue for the Three
Months Ended Dec. 31 % Change Currency Acquisitions/ % Change
2012 2011 GAAP Impact Divestitures Organic
 
Benefits $ 519,418 $ 475,519 9 % -1 % 0 % 10 %
Risk & Financial Services 207,629 205,011 1 % 0 % 0 % 1 %
Talent & Rewards 176,185 169,192 4 % -1 % 0 % 5 %
Exchange Solutions   15,720     -   N/A N/A N/A N/A
Reportable Segments $ 918,952 $ 849,722
 
 
Revenue for the Six
Months Ended Dec. 31 % Change Currency Acquisitions/ % Change
2012 2011 GAAP Impact Divestitures Organic
 
Benefits $ 976,546 $ 930,025 5 % -1 % 0 % 6 %
Risk & Financial Services 400,036 399,149 0 % -1 % 0 % 1 %
Talent & Rewards 316,420 308,983 2 % -2 % 0 % 4 %
Exchange Solutions   29,638     -   N/A N/A N/A N/A
Reportable Segments $ 1,722,640 $ 1,638,157
 
 
Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Revenues to Consolidated Revenues
 
Three Months Ended Dec. 31 Six Months Ended Dec. 31
2012 2011 2012 2011
 
Reportable Segments $ 918,952 $ 849,722 $ 1,722,640 $ 1,638,157
Reimbursable Expenses and Other   27,293     29,988     57,854     51,904  
Consolidated Revenues $ 946,245 $ 879,710 $ 1,780,494 $ 1,690,061
 
 
Segment Net Operating Income
 
Three Months Ended Dec. 31 Six Months Ended Dec. 31
2012 2011 2012 2011
 
Benefits $ 185,817 $ 162,264 $ 321,671 $ 306,544
Risk & Financial Services 45,551 53,956 82,128 103,468
Talent & Rewards 60,078 55,760 85,869 80,974
Exchange Solutions   (10,128 )   -     (15,893 )   -  
Reportable Segments $ 281,318 $ 271,980 $ 473,775 $ 490,986
 
 
Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Net Operating Income to Income from Operations
 
Three Months Ended Dec. 31 Six Months Ended Dec. 31
2012 2011 2012 2011
 
Reportable Segments $ 281,318 $ 271,980 $ 473,775 $ 490,986
Differences in Allocation Methods (4,663 ) (5,378 ) 12,416 9,245
Amortization of Intangible Assets (20,239 ) (17,352 ) (39,842 ) (30,665 )
Transaction and Integration Expenses (9,152 ) (22,903 ) (18,425 ) (43,810 )
Stock-Based Compensation (10,672 ) (18,118 ) (18,764 ) (31,843 )
Discretionary Compensation (102,364 ) (93,985 ) (178,746 ) (184,718 )
Payroll Tax on Discretionary Compensation (5,595 ) (5,365 ) (10,095 ) (10,846 )
Other, net   (11,072 )   (9,745 )   (12,931 )   (4,206 )
Income from Operations $ 117,561 $ 99,134 $ 207,388 $ 194,143
 

 
TOWERS WATSON & CO.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
           
 
Three Months Six Months
Ended Dec. 31, 2012 Ended Dec. 31, 2012
 
Diluted EPS per GAAP $ 1.15 $ 1.96
 
Amortization of intangible assets 0.18 0.36
Transaction and integration expenses including severance 0.09 0.17
Stock-based compensation   0.06     0.12  
 
Adjusted Diluted EPS $ 1.48 $ 2.61
 
 
Three Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012 Dec. 31, 2011
 
Net Income Before Non-Controlling Interests $ 80,607 $ 65,411
Provision for Income Taxes 36,856 36,922
Interest, net 2,794 2,979
Depreciation and Amortization 45,665 38,648
Transaction and Integration Costs 9,152 22,903
Stock-Based Compensation 6,016 11,018
Other Non-Operating Income (a)   (2,696 )   (6,178 )
 
Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA Margin $ 178,394 18.9 % $ 171,703 19.5 %
 
 
Six Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012 Dec. 31, 2011
 
Net Income Before Non-Controlling Interests $ 138,393 $ 125,697
Provision for Income Taxes 68,932 72,423
Interest, net 5,055 4,337
Depreciation and Amortization 89,272 73,155
Transaction and Integration Costs 18,425 43,810
Stock-Based Compensation 12,856 22,152
Other Non-Operating Income (a)   (4,992 )   (8,314 )
 
Adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA Margin $ 327,941 18.4 % $ 333,260 19.7 %
 
(a) Other non-operating income includes income from affiliates and other non-operating income
 

 
TOWERS WATSON & CO.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
         
Three months ended December 31, Six months ended December 31,
2012 2011 2012 2011
 
Revenue $ 946,245   $ 879,710   $ 1,780,494   $ 1,690,061  
 
Costs of providing services:
Salaries and employee benefits 579,569 535,303 1,093,438 1,032,776
Professional and subcontracted services 71,621 78,749 127,696 143,021
Occupancy 35,684 32,689 74,585 68,060
General and administrative expenses 86,993 72,284 169,690 135,096
Depreciation and amortization 45,665 38,648 89,272 73,155
Transaction and integration expenses   9,152     22,903     18,425     43,810  
  828,684     780,576     1,573,106     1,495,918  
 
Income from operations 117,561 99,134 207,388 194,143
 
(Loss)/income from affiliates - (124 ) (56 ) 168
Interest income 811 842 1,505 2,158
Interest expense (3,605 ) (3,821 ) (6,560 ) (6,495 )
Other non-operating income   2,696     6,302     5,048     8,146  
 
Income before income taxes 117,463 102,333 207,325 198,120
 
Provision for income taxes   36,856     36,922     68,932     72,423  
 
Net income before non-controlling interests 80,607 65,411 138,393 125,697
 
Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests   (1,683 )   (1,528 )   (2,624 )   (946 )
 
Net income attributable to controlling interests $ 82,290   $ 66,939   $ 141,017   $ 126,643  
 
Earnings per share:
Net income attributable to controlling interests - basic $ 1.15   $ 0.92   $ 1.98   $ 1.74  
Net income attributable to controlling interests - diluted $ 1.15   $ 0.92   $ 1.96   $ 1.73  
 
Weighted average shares of common stock,
basic (000)   71,257     72,417     71,376     72,753  
Weighted average shares of common stock,
diluted (000)   71,847     72,769     71,920     73,011  
 

 
TOWERS WATSON & CO.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars, Except Share Data)
(Unaudited)
        December 31,   June 30,
2012 2012
 
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 420,786 $ 478,179
Restricted cash 120,726 171,406
Short-term investments 34,912 40,436
Receivables from clients:
 
Billed, net of allowances of $19,491 and $20,871 570,165 564,111
Unbilled, at estimated net realizable value   337,379     320,240  
907,544 884,351
 
Other current assets   189,211     185,025  
Total current assets 1,673,179 1,759,397
 
Fixed assets, net 353,874 315,000
Deferred income taxes 154,862 157,491
Goodwill 2,294,205 2,252,555
Intangible assets, net 735,940 768,848
Other assets   125,140     103,687  
 
Total Assets $ 5,337,200   $ 5,356,978  
 
Liabilities
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and deferred income $ 356,247 $ 333,443
Employee-related liabilities 422,967 558,222
Fiduciary liabilities 120,726 171,406
Term loan - current 12,500 -
Other current liabilities   50,505     39,911  
Total current liabilities 962,945 1,102,982
 
Revolving credit facility 275,000 208,000
Term loan 237,500 250,000
Accrued retirement benefits and other employee-related liabilities 828,995 880,877
Professional liability claims reserve 260,085 266,619
Other noncurrent liabilities   205,339     191,183  
 
 
Total Liabilities   2,769,864     2,899,661  
 
Commitments and contingencies
 
Stockholders' Equity
Class A Common Stock - $0.01 par value: 300,000,000 shares authorized;
63,490,364 and 63,521,654 issued and 60,001,661 and 60,666,474 outstanding 635 635
Class B Common Stock - $0.01 par value: 93,500,000 shares authorized;
11,035,878 and 11,035,878 issued and 11,035,878 and 11,035,878 outstanding 110 110
Additional paid-in capital 1,851,968 1,833,799
Treasury stock, at cost - 3,488,703 and 2,855,180 shares (203,716 ) (168,901 )
Retained earnings 1,216,051 1,117,622
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (320,753 )   (350,745 )
Total Stockholders' Equity   2,544,295     2,432,520  
Non-controlling interest   23,041     24,797  
Total Equity   2,567,336     2,457,317  
 
Total Liabilities and Total Equity $ 5,337,200   $ 5,356,978  
 

 
TOWERS WATSON & CO.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Thousands of U.S. Dollars)
(Unaudited)
      Six Months ended December 31,
2012   2011
 
Cash flows from/(used in) operating activities:
Net income before non-controlling interests $ 138,393 $ 125,697
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from/(used in) operating activities:
Provision for doubtful receivables from clients 7,824 7,461
Depreciation 49,380 42,491
Amortization of intangible assets 39,892 30,665
Provision for deferred income taxes 27,936 29,880
Equity from affiliates - 212
Stock-based compensation 23,260 36,401
Other, net (2,651 ) (916 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of business acquisitions)
Receivables from clients (19,819 ) (81,445 )
Restricted cash 53,063 18,900
Other current assets (18,865 ) (4,900 )
Other noncurrent assets 589 (29,654 )
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and deferred income 22,717 (6,488 )
Employee-related liabilities (144,650 ) (148,842 )
Fiduciary liabilities (53,063 ) (13,257 )
Accrued retirement benefits and other employee-related liabilities (111,077 ) (30,580 )
Professional liability claims reserves (8,996 ) (38,842 )
Other current liabilities 1,559 1,572
Other noncurrent liabilities 9,099 (1,237 )
Income tax related accounts   6,780     9,423  
Cash flows from/(used in) operating activities $ 21,371   $ (53,459 )
 
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Cash paid for business acquisitions (185 ) (3,012 )
Cash acquired from business acquisitions - 2,101
Fixed assets and software for internal use (54,493 ) (65,464 )
Capitalized software costs (29,007 ) (9,145 )
Purchases of available-for-sale securities (18,083 ) -
Redemptions of available-for-sale securities 27,670 45,919
Proceeds from divestitures   3,682     -  
Cash flows used in investing activities $ (70,416 ) $ (29,601 )
 
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Borrowings under credit facility 376,600 75,000
Repayments under credit facility (309,600 ) (10,000 )
Dividends paid (48,715 ) (11,921 )
Repurchases of common stock (36,531 ) (90,966 )
Payroll tax payments on vested shares (1,750 ) (6,046 )
Issuances of common stock and excess tax benefit   -     1,856  
Cash flows used in financing activities $ (19,996 ) $ (42,077 )
 
Effect of exchange rates on cash $ 11,648   $ (17,699 )
 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (57,393 ) (142,836 )
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   478,179     528,923  
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 420,786   $ 386,087  

CONTACT:
Towers Watson
Investor Contact
Aida Sukys, 703-258-8033
Aida.Sukys@towerswatson.com